In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the history of Saturday Night Live’s first major entry into the American lexicon: "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

We explore how host Chevy Chase turned the media's weeks-long "death watch" of the Spanish dictator into comedy history during SNL Season 1 (then known as NBC’s Saturday Night). Tune in to learn how this Weekend Update gag evolved from a parody of breaking news into a recurring bit featuring Garrett Morris and the "New York School for the Hard of Hearing."

We also discuss the joke's lasting legacy, from its precursors like the "John Garfield Still Dead syndrome" to its modern usage by pundits like Keith Olber ...