Why the First Saturday Night Live Cast Were Called The Not Ready for Prime Time Players

Debuting in 1977, The Nerds became one of Saturday Night Live’s most beloved recurring sketches — pairing Gilda Radner as awkward teen Lisa Loopner and Bill Murray as her neighbor Todd DiLaMuca. Created by Alan Zweibel, the sketches captured the hilariously cringeworthy charm of adolescence: nasal voices, bad posture, and relentless teasing — with Todd’s “Oh, Lisa, you’re such a spazz!” and Lisa’s deadpan “Never mind!” becoming instant catchphrases. The chemistry between Radner and Murray was re