in front of an audience. and there was also just the idea that it was this sort of low-rent thing. it was this sort of by the seat of their pants kind of operation that gave it an authenticity. now that our programming day has been extended, i'm gonna be spending a lot... where do you want me to put the kielbasa mrs. prickley? put it in the fridge, butch. yost: you were rooting for the show and the characters that they had created. there was just something that you got behind. whereas, you know, "snl" right from the -- from the gate and through the '80s was this big enterprise. franken: after five golden years, lorne decided to leave and so did those close to him, including me, al franken. so nbc had to pick a new producer. now most knowledgeable people, as you might imagine, hoped it would be me, al franken. shales: there was a real question of whether "saturday night live" would continue at all