logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
51m 21s

Live From New York, It's Your Grandmothe...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

During its first 50 seasons, Saturday Night Live has welcomed legendary actors, superstar athletes, and notable politicians. But for one memorable night in 1977, Lorne Michaels turned the show over to an 80-year-old amateur. 

*

Special thanks to Connie Crawford for sharing her story. And thanks to the great Bill Carter for stopping by! You can read more of his work at LateNighter, or check out his many classic books.

*

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Thanks for listening. We'll return to our weekly publishing cadence later next month. Exciting things in the works! Until then, you can always email the show at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com, or go check out the back catalog. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
Hush! The Battle Over 'Goodnight Moon'
Today, Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is considered a classic. The deceptively complex children’s book has been passed down for generations. But if the New York Public Library had gotten its way, you’d have never even heard of it. * Thanks to our Very Special guests Amy Gar ... Show More
49m 13s
Jul 2
Who Really Wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? [Re-Release]
Although American schoolchildren still recite The Pledge every morning in nearly every classroom, we still aren't sure who actually wrote it. And all these years later, the long-accepted story is showing some cracks. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten ... Show More
43m 40s
Jun 27
JFK's Forgotten Summer in Journalism (with Rob Reiner)
Eighty years ago this summer, a young John F. Kennedy took a job as a journalist for Hearst newspapers, filing dispatches in the final days of World War II. His columns capture the mood of a changing world. Even the most seasoned JFK scholars often overlook this chapter. In today ... Show More
45m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Big Parma
Stuffed crust pizza. Grilled cheese burritos. How did so much cheese get into so many things? On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Dairy Industrial Complex — AKA Big Parma.  * VERY SPECIAL CREDITS On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story e ... Show More
40m 30s
Jun 2024
Miles Davis
Miles Davis admitted in his autobiography to being a pimp that sold women for sex to support his heroin habit, and that was just the tip of the iceberg for this brilliant jazz musician who was incredibly honest about his many, many vices. You can find clips of the show on TikTok ... Show More
45m 18s
Apr 2024
Westward Hoax: The Secret History of Palisade, Nevada
In the 1870s, Palisade, NV was the meanest little town west of the Mississippi. Every week, newspapers announced another gunpowder-fueled cowboy showdown. Palisade put the wild in the “Wild West.” But there was a lot more to the story that didn’t make the papers. * Very Special E ... Show More
34m 5s
Apr 2024
Charles Dickens and JM Barrie
A literary Scumbags double-header! Featuring the not-so-great personal histories of the authors of "A Christmas Carol" and "Peter Pan".Scumbags of History is a production of Voyage Media and Enthusiast Gaming. The series is produced by Nat Mundel, and Dan Benamor (Voyage Media), ... Show More
53m 35s
Dec 2024
Episode 508 || Yes, Virginia
This week on From the Front Porch, Annie’s dad, Chris Butterworth, reads the New York Sun reporter Francis P. Church’s timeless response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s question: “Is there a Santa Claus?” Read the letter from 1897 and learn about its history here. From the ... Show More
9m 2s
Dec 2024
Stealing Baby Jesus
While leafing through 75 years of local newspapers, Zaron Burnett uncovers an American Christmas tradition as ingrained in our culture as the red-and-white Santa: sneaking up to a nativity scene and stealing the Baby Jesus. And, in many cases, immediately regretting it. Note: Ple ... Show More
22m 39s
Feb 2025
Bonus Episode: Jay-Z Developments, Sid and Nancy, and a One Buck Utopia
This week, Jake shares some surprising developments in the Jay-Z case and their ramifications for the ongoing Diddy cases. Plus we hear from you on the Sid and Nancy story, and Jake imagines a better world where hot dogs, coffee and cheap beer cost just one dollar.Next week, we'r ... Show More
40m 32s
Mar 2025
Bonus Episode: RIP David Johansen and Gene Hackman
This week, Jake reflects on the recent passing of two legends: David Johansen and Gene Hackman. Plus, we hear from you on rock n' roll actors, great guitarists, and day drinking with punk legends in a strip club.Next week, we're bringing you a story about Thin Lizzy. In honor of ... Show More
43m 3s
Mar 2025
THE MONDAY EDIT: Watch Out for THIS Supreme Court Ruling on Gender-Affirming Care
Welcome to The Monday Edit! This is the official Getting Better companion podcast where JVN and senior producer Chris are diving into all things BTS from the pod, answering listener questions, and breaking down the world at large. This week, we’re talking: Doechii, Hannah Einbind ... Show More
34m 28s