Because the Comedy Channel, HBO, and Cinemax were all owned by Home Box Office, Inc. (operated as a subsidiary of what was then known as Time Warner), the show was used to promote the parent corporation's programming.

In 1990, the Comedy Channel reformatted the show and hired Jon Stewart and Patty Rosborough to present it—which they did until 1993.

The show now took place in "the basement of Comedy Central", it was shortened to a half-hour and centered on one topic, and Marc Maron was hired as host.

In 2002, several years after SAST's conclusion, Comedy Central broadcast a similar series called Comic Remix.

from SAST were animated for inclusion as bonus material for the DVD-Video release of the first season of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.