don pardo was first hired by nbc back in 1944. >>> well, she has already made history.anica patrick is the first woman to earn the pole position, first car, first row, for sunday's daytona 500. she long ago became the first woman to win a race in the indycar series. and when i talked to her this week about sunday's race, about the media attention, the pressure, we started about talking -- we started by talking about what her driving means to her fans. especially to little girls with big dreams of going way too fast in a car someday. >> what does this mean for little girls? i heard a story one time that i thought was really neat about a kid saying, "mommy, that's a girl driving that race car." and they got to have that conversation about a -- you know, someone stepping outside of the norm and doing something different. >> and while no one can take this achievement from you, then come sunday, what do you do about the not knowing? and by that i mean, as all of us fans of the sport know, as you know better than most, the cars bunch up. kind of the last time you have any cho

and in between setups, don pardo would announce that there was gonna be a brand new comedy show, latee a live show. i said, "hey, muppets. that's for me!" >> jimmy: muppets were heavy in "snl"'s first couple years. >> yeah, it was "saturday night live." >> jimmy: that's crazy. >> and then, i was such a freak about "saturday night live" that i actually stalked -- every time i got a chance, i'd go through 30 rock and just try to see, like, michael or donahue or gilda or anybody, you know? >> jimmy: you got to meet michael donahue? >> no, i never did. but i watched them. i just kinda watched them. [ laughter ] >> jimmy: stalking? he's neat. >> but yeah, i just loved the show that much. it was so crazy. >> jimmy: then you went on to host 12 times. and you're one of the best hosts ever. [ cheers and applause ] >> well, thanks. actually, somebody told me that i was around in your first show. you and maya. >> jimmy: yeah. >> isn't that weird? >> jimmy: that was my first show. >> wow. >> jimmy: yeah, i'll never forget it. it was with alec baldwin. and alec baldwin said, "what is your name?" i