BEST OF: Kevin Nealon on His Career in Comedy!

The Al Franken Podcast1h 2mMay 31, 2026
AI-Generated Summary

Kevin Nealon, the legendary SNL cast member and comedy veteran, reflects on a career spanning decades of groundbreaking work, from his iconic 'Hans and Franz' sketches to his role in the cult hit 'Weeds.' In this candid, best-of episode, Nealon reveals the absurdity behind his famous 'subliminal' bit — a sketch born from a simple idea about slipping words into conversations — and how it unexpectedly made him a household name. He shares jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes stories, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's surprise visit to the SNL set, where the Terminator himself praised the characters they mocked. Nealon also opens up about the emotional toll of the SNL grind, the quiet competitiveness of the cast, and the surprising way he found purpose in his later years through his hiking show, which he films solo with a drone. Most revealingly, he discusses living with a benign brain tumor — a condition he shares with his wife — turning a medical scare into dark comedy. The episode is a masterclass in resilience, humor, and the unglamorous truth of showbiz: that the most memorable moments often come from panic, improvisation, and the courage to keep showing up — even when you're sick, scared, or just plain tired.

Key Takeaways
1

You can't memorize SNL sketches — you rely on cue cards, so if you forget a line, you just improvise and keep going.

2

Arnold Schwarzenegger loved the 'Hans and Franz' sketches so much he came to SNL to play the character, surprising Nealon and Dana Carvey.

3

Nealon's 'subliminal' bit was inspired by a real-life habit of slipping words into conversations — and it became a cultural catchphrase.

4

He once called Albert Brooks by mistake while trying to reschedule a podcast, revealing how easily chaos can unfold in a busy schedule.

5

Nealon and his wife both have the same benign meningioma tumor in the same spot — a bizarre coincidence he jokes about as a sign of soulmates.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
0:03
1 min

Welcome Back: A Best-of Episode with Kevin Nealon

Al Franken introduces a special 'best of' episode featuring his longtime SNL colleague Kevin Nealon, marking a rare break from political commentary to celebrate comedy and nostalgia.

1:29
1 min

The SNL Legacy: From 'Hans and Franz' to the 'Weird Year'

Nealon reflects on his 15 seasons on SNL, including the infamous 'weird year' with a young cast and the challenges of casting young actors in serious roles.

2:31
1 min

The 'Weird Year' and the Young Cast

Nealon recounts the chaotic 'weird year' when SNL had a cast of teenagers, including Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Michael Hall, making it impossible to do serious sketches.

3:20
1 min

The Near-Cancelation of SNL

Al Franken and Nealon discuss how SNL was nearly canceled due to low ratings, a shocking idea in hindsight given the show's legacy.

4:13
1 min

Jan Hooks: The Unsung Comedy Genius

Nealon praises Jan Hooks as one of the top three SNL cast members, highlighting her immense stage fright and how she transformed into a powerhouse on stage.

High-Impact Quotes
So sure enough, he drops his pants, he sticks his butt out there and he takes this big old dump but he's not out far enough so it lands on the windowsill. And it's still there to this day.
Kevin Nealon55:35
But I only did it so that I could stay awake long enough to make sure that Belushi didn't do too much.
Kevin Nealon50:51
My wife has one the same size in the exact same location. Are you kidding me? No. Susan has the exact same tumor? Metageoma tumor, same size, benign.
Kevin Nealon10:47
Speakers

Host

Al Franken

Guest

Kevin Nealon
Topics Discussed
snl history95%hans and franz90%attitude player88%hiking show87%comedy sketches85%benign brain tumor83%snl writing room82%weeds tv show80%
People & Brands

Saturday Night Live

other

150xPositive

Kevin Nealon

person

120xNeutral

Al Franken

person

98xPositive

Dana Carvey

person

15xNeutral

Arnold Schwarzenegger

person

12xPositive

Jan Hooks

person

10xPositive

Weeds

other

10xPositive

Jack Handy

person

8xPositive

Chris Farley

person

8xPositive

Lorne Michaels

person

7xNeutral

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