PODCAST · comedy
SATURDAY NIGHT LATER
by Marina Tempelsman and Madalyn Baldanzi
Join sketch comedy teachers as we dissect and discuss each week's SNL sketches! The perfect way to nerd out about comedy and learn more about craft, structure, and writing. marinatempelsman.substack.com
Episodes
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Sketch teachers discuss SNL UK episode (with Danny Dyer!)
An episode that was fun to watch and learn from — hits, misses, and all. Take a listen! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or…
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Sketch teachers discuss the Shane Gillis SNL episode
A lot to say about this episode! And we get into all of it. Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...
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Discussing the Dakota Johnson SNL episode with Jonathan Braylock!
Why does an impressive prop sometimes interfere with a sketch? How do you know if a sketch isn’t set in the “right” place? And… do YOU think legal made that blur that vagina-gun prop at the last minute?!?!?! (We sure do!) All this and more on this week’s episode of Saturday Night Later, with...
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The Amelia Dimoldenberg Episode of SNL UK! (with Marina and Madalyn)
An all-around charming episode — with fun premises, big swings, and interesting misses! Check it out! And don’t forget to get a ticket to the virtual screening of Marina’s film THIS WILL NEVER WORK on Wednesday, September 30th, at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to...
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Madalyn and Marina discuss the SNL Season 52 premiere!
Why is it hard to make horniness into a sketch? How do you avoid having a disengaged Voice of Reason? And… how do you write for a non-actor host? All this and more as we discuss this weekend’s episode of SNL! Marina’s Plug: Check out a virtual one-night-only screening of the feature film she...
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A real-life sketch team pitch meeting! (Featuring UCB NY Maude Team FIRST WIFE)
I LOVE pitch meetings.* At their best, they’re the perfect middle ground between work and play — a chance to bat around sketch ideas with your friends. But I realized that if you’ve never been on a sketch team or in a sketch class, you probably haven’t ever gotten to see a pitch meeting in…
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Discussing SNL UK (Jamie Demetriou episode) with Madalyn and Dru!
How important are vibes in a sketch show? How can you improve the pacing of your sketches? And… was that gameshow sketch specific enough? All this and more in today’s episode of Saturday Night Later, with special guest Dru Johnston! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy!...
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Marina and Madalyn discuss the SNL UK Season 2 Premiere!
How could you start that King Kong sketch faster? Why are sketches set in yoga classes so hard to pull off? And… was that invisible friend sketch confusing?! Madalyn and I are BACK, and discussing the premiere of Season 2 of SNL UK! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy!...
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Sketches and pilots and late night, oh my! A conversation about all things writing with Kristen Bartlett (with a special guest appearance by Jason Gore)
How does sketch comedy prepare you to pitch pilots to networks? How do you find the balance between jokes and heart in what you’re writing? What’s one of the less-appreciated traits in a fantastic boss? We talked about all this and more in my wonderful conversation with Kristen Bartlett, with a...
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How does directing sketch comedy work? A conversation with Matt Gehring and Niccolo Aeed!
How do you decide you’re ready to direct? How do you handle pushback from a defensive writer? What’s the difference between teaching and directing? All this and more in this marvelous conversation with Matt Gehring and Niccolo Aeed! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy!...
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Writing Topical & Political Sketches: a Conversation with "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Writers Kate Sidley & Pratima Mani!
What’s the difference between an “opinion” and a “take”? How can you leverage writing about a current “condition” vs. a current “event”? What makes a writing packet pop? We discussed all this and much, much more! Take a listen. And, as always, feel free to comment with your thoughts and questions…
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The Musicality of an Impression: a Conversation about Character Sketches with Frank Garcia-Hejl!
How do you find the “musicality” in an impression? How can you use your hips to develop a character? How can “elasticity” help you build dynamics within a scene? Frank and I had a great conversation about all this and more. Take a listen, and subscribe (below) to learn about more episodes like…
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Marina and Madalyn Mailbag (M)Episode: All Things Writing & Sketch!
What is good etiquette for giving feedback? How should you structure a sketch class? How do you get butts in seats for a live show? All this and more on this very special episode of Saturday Night Later! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy! Subscribe for free to receive…
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Marina and Madalyn discuss: SNL UK season finale!
What a fun ending to the very first season of SNL UK — with plenty of teachable moments! (Especially when it comes to the first half page of your sketches.) Thank you everyone for tuning in this season. And send questions for our mailbag episode next week to [email protected]!…
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Marina and Madalyn discuss SNL Season Finale with TRISTAN GRIFFIN! (Will Ferrell episode)
Why should you watch out for references in your sketches? What’s the difference between a low-energy character and a sketch that feels boring? How do you avoid accidental de-heightening? All this and more on this week’s episode of Saturday Night Later — with special guest Tristan Griffin! Thanks...
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Marina and Madalyn Discuss: SNL UK (Hannah Waddingham episode!)
What tweaks would we have made to the Sunburnt Lawyers sketch? What makes Daniel Day-Lewis such an appealing sketch subject? And — SCRIMPCHHHHH!!! All this and more as we discuss the latest SNL UK episode (hosted by Hannah Waddingham)! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy!...
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Sketch Teachers Discuss SNL: Matt Damon edition!
Marina and Madalyn welcome special guest Kevin Hines to talk about the Matt Damon episode! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers…
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Marina and Madalyn Discuss SNL UK! (Aimee Lou Wood Episode!)
Marina and Madalyn discuss this week’s SNL UK sketches, showing that there’s still a lot to learn even when an episode is rocky. And coming up soon — we’ll be having a mailbag episode! Send your questions to: [email protected] Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch...
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Sketch teachers discuss SNL: Olivia Rodrigo episode!
What’s the line between an internet trend and your own original observation? How do you give notes on a sketch you truly don’t understand? And what made that music video sketch such an ABSOLUTE delight?! All this and more on today’s episode of Saturday Night Later, featuring the INCREDIBLE Jason...
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Sketch teachers discuss SNL UK: Nicola Coughlan episode!
How can the voice of reason help you have more fun? How do you avoid a static scene? And… What happened to that finger?!!?!??!?! All this and more as we discuss the SNL UK episode hosted by Nicola Coughlan! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch Comedy! Subscribe for free to receive...
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Sketch Teachers Discuss SNL UK: Jack Whitehall Episode!
How can a justification give you MORE room to play? What happens when your beats defy gravity? And… what’s with all the dad stuff?!?!?! All this and more as we discuss this (extremely fun!) episode of SNL UK, with special guest Niccolo Aeed! Thanks for reading Unusual Things: A Guide to Sketch...
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Sketch Teachers Discuss SNL: Colman Domingo edition! (with Natasha Vaynblat, Marina Tempelsman, and Madalyn Baldanzi)
Why is it hard to make “gross” a game? Why do some sketches fall just short of being great? And… what if we told you this table was a MAN? All this and more on today’s episode of Saturday Night Later — where we talk through the sketches from the Colman Domingo episode with the incredible Natasha...
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Sketch Teachers Discuss SNL UK Episode 3 (Riz Ahmed!)
Why do some sketches make us cranky? Why does clear labeling matter in a sketch? And… can YOU find the great big crabman?! All this and more in this episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
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Sketch Teachers Discuss SNL: Jack Black Episode! (WE TALKIN' TV)
Why are your sketches getting bogged down in side jokes? What’s the problem with having a character lie in a sketch? And… we talkin’ TV? Yes we are! Tune in as we discuss and dissect this weekend’s SNL sketches, with special guest Damian Chadwick! Guest Bio: Damian Chadwick is a UCB sketch…
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Sketch Writers Discuss SNL UK (Episode 2) with Jamie Dornan!
Why is a sketch about someone being hot so hard to heighten? What does it mean to “get on your character’s side,” and how can that help you explore? And… does Jamie Dornan really have a collection of rocks that look like potatoes?!?!?! Learn all this and more in this week’s episode of Saturday...
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Sketch teachers discuss SNL UK premiere! (Marina, Madalyn, and Shem!)
What’s the difference between a zany base reality and too many unusual things? When should you have more characters, and when should you dial BACK the number of characters? And… does a quintessentially American show like SNL translate to the UK? Can it become its own unique thing? Listen to our...
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Dissecting SNL Sketches with Achilles Stamatelaky (Broad City, Audible, UCB), Marina Tempelsman, and Madalyn Baldanzi!
Why do some bucket sketches work well, while others feel too broad? What made these two Weekend Update character bits such a great (and interesting!) pairing? And… what can a man screaming in a FedEx teach us about framing sketches? Learn all this and more in today’s Saturday Night Later, with...
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Dissecting SNL sketches with Marina Tempelsman, Geoff Garlock, and Madalyn Baldanzi (including the controversial Ryan Gosling notes sketch!)
What’s the Venn diagram of “fun” and “funny”? How many flavors of “bro” game are there? And… did this episode mark a complete turning point in SNL, or not even a little bit? (A surprisingly divisive question!) Check out my conversation with Madalyn Baldanzi and Geoff Garlock as we discuss all…
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Dissecting SNL sketches with Marina and Madalyn (and our son Connor Storrie)
What happens when a sketch leans too much on a physical joke without the writing to back it up? What’s the best way to approach a draft of a sketch that has way too many unusual things? And — WHERE DID MARINA GO?! (Spoiler alert: my wifi cut out for about a minute in the middle, but fear not, we...
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Dissecting SNL Sketches with Matt Gehring (Director of Comedy for Stella Adler!), Marina Tempelsman, and Madalyn Baldanzi!
How do you write a political sketch with a voice of reason… when no one is being reasonable? What makes a long wind-up to a reveal pay off? And… why should we all blame Madalyn for one of this week’s sketches?! Learn all this and more as we discuss this weekend’s episode of SNL (hosted by…
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Dissecting SNL with Michael Hartney (UCB Artistic Director!), Marina Tempelsman, and Madalyn Baldanzi
How can you “calibrate” your sketches? When does a Trump cold open cross over from annoying to… despicable? And… why does Michael Hartney want to walk into the sea?! Take a listen as we discuss this weekend’s episode of SNL, hosted by Teyana Taylor! Follow / subscribe to get updates about future...
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Dissecting SNL with Sketch Teachers: with guest Niccolo Aeed!
What’s the difference between a goofy base reality and an Unusual Thing? What made Wayne’s World so special? And… why weren’t there more marshmallows?!?!?!?!? Take a listen as we discuss this week’s episode of SNL (hosted by Finn Wolfhard). And share your thoughts, questions, and feedback below!...
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Saturday Night Later: ARIANA GRANDE edition!
What makes a show feel joyful? How can thinking about actors help you write your sketches? What’s the difference between a slow set-up and a confusing set-up? Learn all this and more in this week’s installment of Saturday Night Later, with Marina, Madalyn, and special guest LAURA CANTY-SAMUEL!...
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Dissecting SNL sketches: Marina Tempelsman and Frank Garcia-Hejl (Josh O'Connor episode)
What makes a parody sketch great? How do you write a character that’s based on ~vibes~? Why can basic premises sometimes become great sketches, while sometimes great premises become basic sketches? And… what do sketches and Apple Jacks have in common? Learn all this and more in this week’s...
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Dissecting SNL Sketches: Melissa McCarthy Episode
Is it more fun to watch a high-status or a low-status character? Why does specificity matter? And… how do you make sure you’re delivering a good script, and not just relying on an actor’s comedic excellence? We discussed all this and more in this week’s Saturday Night Later, with special guest...
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Dissecting SNL Sketches: Glen Powell Episode
How do you pick the right setting for your sketch? How do you decide which part of your character is unusual? And… who IS Sebastian Maniscalco? Listen as Marina and Madalyn discuss each sketch from this weekend’s SNL episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...
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Dissecting SNL Sketches: Nikki Glaser Episode
Why is it so hard to write a good sketch about sex? How do you figure out what makes your sketch interesting? And… how do you know if your idea is actually less interesting than you think? Listen as Marina and Madalyn discuss each sketch from this weekend’s SNL episode! This is a public episode.…
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Dissecting SNL Sketches: Miles Teller Episode
What are the differences between an SNL cold open and a more classic sketch? How can you write a topical sketch that doesn’t require research? And… how do you avoid blowing past the most fun parts of your idea? Listen as Marina and Madalyn process this episode — and share your thoughts in the...
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SNL Craft Conversation: Sabrina Carpenter
What’s the difference between a quirky base reality and an Unusual Thing? Is it ever okay to throw a woman in effigy against a wall? Was Bowen’s dancing… TOO sexy? Or just the right amount? This was a wild episode with some big swings and teachable moments. Listen as Marina and Madalyn process it…
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SNL Craft Conversation: Amy Poehler / Role Model
Marina and Madalyn talk about the SNL episode hosted by Amy Poehler on 10/11/25. Some highlights include... - Why this cold open was so effective. (A CLEAR Unusual Thing, and great specifics to match!) - The different ways some of the later sketches ran into trouble with justifications. - A...
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Live with Marina Tempelsman and Madalyn Baldanzi
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marinatempelsman.substack.com
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join sketch comedy teachers as we dissect and discuss each week's SNL sketches! The perfect way to nerd out about comedy and learn more about craft, structure, and writing.
marinatempelsman.substack.com
HOSTED BY
Marina Tempelsman and Madalyn Baldanzi
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SATURDAY NIGHT LATER have?
SATURDAY NIGHT LATER currently has 41 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SATURDAY NIGHT LATER about?
Join sketch comedy teachers as we dissect and discuss each week's SNL sketches! The perfect way to nerd out about comedy and learn more about craft, structure, and writing. marinatempelsman.substack.com
How often does SATURDAY NIGHT LATER release new episodes?
SATURDAY NIGHT LATER has 41 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to SATURDAY NIGHT LATER?
You can listen to SATURDAY NIGHT LATER on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SATURDAY NIGHT LATER?
SATURDAY NIGHT LATER is created and hosted by Marina Tempelsman and Madalyn Baldanzi.
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