Streeter Seidell, a name synonymous with comedic brilliance, made his mark early on with CollegeHumor before transitioning to the iconic Saturday Night Live (SNL). Since 2014, Seidell, a Fordham University alumnus (FCRH ’05), has been a writer for SNL, a dream he nurtured since childhood. His ability to craft humor, honed during his CollegeHumor days, has made him a key player in creating some of SNL’s most memorable and talked-about sketches in recent years, often in collaboration with writing partner Mikey Day. Here, Seidell himself highlights five of his personal favorite sketches from his SNL tenure, offering insights into their creation and impact.
1. Close Encounter (2015)
Still from SNL's Close Encounter sketch, showcasing Kate McKinnon's comedic alien abduction performance.“Close Encounter” marked a turning point for Seidell at SNL. He recalls, “This one was the first one where it really just destroyed in the room.” The sketch’s overwhelming positive reception was a significant moment, as he felt it was when “Lorne [Michaels] started to know my name after that one.” Seidell emphasizes the sketch’s impact on his SNL career trajectory, stating, “It truly changed my trajectory here. It was the first one I had that really just crushed.” He also credits Kate McKinnon’s comedic genius as essential to its success: “And Kate [McKinnon] was so funny. Everything about that one just worked.” This sketch not only became a favorite for Seidell but also solidified his position as a prominent writer within the SNL team, showcasing the kind of innovative and character-driven comedy that resonates with audiences, reminiscent of the humor style he developed during his CollegeHumor years.
2. Haunted Elevator (2016)
Tom Hanks in a still from SNL's Haunted Elevator sketch, reacting to bizarre and humorous scenarios.
“Haunted Elevator,” featuring Tom Hanks, had a different journey to success. According to Seidell, “This did great in the studio, but it didn’t start out that way. It didn’t really work until the final one on air.” The sketch evolved throughout the week, improving with each iteration. There was initial uncertainty about its reception, “going into the show, we were like, ‘I don’t know if people are going to like it.’” However, it ultimately became a hit. The rewarding outcome was amplified by working with a personal hero, Tom Hanks. Seidell shares, “Tom Hanks is just a hero of mine and Mikey’s, and just having him go all in on such a stupid thing, just trusting these two idiots—and Bobby [Moynihan], excuse me, these three idiots, to bring him through that thing … It’s just nice knowing Tom Hanks is as friendly and cool as you want him to be.” This sketch exemplifies the collaborative and improvisational nature of SNL, where ideas are refined and elevated throughout the week, sometimes culminating in unexpected comedic gold, much like the unpredictable nature of CollegeHumor’s creative process.
3. Civil War Soldiers (2017)
Jimmy Fallon and cast in SNL's Civil War Soldiers sketch, blending historical themes with modern humor.“Civil War Soldiers,” featuring host Jimmy Fallon, allowed Seidell to indulge his interest in history within a comedic framework. He describes the sketch: “I did this one with Jimmy Fallon when he hosted where they’re singing this old Civil War song, and he keeps jumping in with what he calls his ‘fat catchy hook’ that just sounds like a modern song called ‘Party at My Parents’ House.’” Seidell’s enthusiasm for the concept is evident: “I just loved it. It did pretty well on the show. Jimmy was so funny, and just got the concept right away.” He adds, “I love history stuff. Whenever I can get a history thing on, I get excited about it.” This sketch showcases Seidell’s ability to blend niche interests with mainstream comedy, creating humor that is both educational and entertaining. This approach of injecting clever, unexpected twists into familiar scenarios is a hallmark of both SNL and CollegeHumor’s comedic styles.
4. New Mercedes (2016)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in SNL's New Mercedes sketch, humorously highlighting absurd product concepts.
“New Mercedes,” a commercial parody featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, stands out for its sheer absurdity and visual humor. Seidell explains the premise: “We did this commercial with Julia Louis Dreyfus for a Mercedes car that ran on like 5,000 AA batteries.” He appreciates the core joke and the sketch’s aesthetic: “I love the joke, and the way it was shot was just gorgeous.” However, the behind-the-scenes anecdote is what truly makes this sketch memorable for him. “But I think I love it more for the fact that they really bought like 20,000 AA batteries, and there was a guy on set whose job was just shoveling batteries. He had, like, a snow shovel.” The commitment to the gag and the resulting on-set spectacle amused Seidell immensely: “It would be, ‘Action,’ then 10,000 batteries fall out of a hole in this car. Then ‘OK, cut,’ and this dude had to come in and shovel batteries all day. It was just making me laugh.” This sketch exemplifies the commitment to physical comedy and over-the-top scenarios that are frequently explored in both SNL and CollegeHumor productions.
5. Rap Song (2017)
SNL cast in the Rap Song sketch, a collaborative and high-energy performance from Season 42.
“Rap Song” holds sentimental value for Seidell, marking the end of a significant era at SNL. “Season 42 was just such a momentous season for the show, and this was from the last episode,” he recalls. The sketch was a large-scale collaboration: “I got to do a thing with the full cast.” It also coincided with the departure of cast members Bobby Moynihan and Vanessa Bayer, making it a poignant moment. Seidell shares, “I knew that Bobby [Moynihan] was leaving, and Vanessa [Bayer] was leaving, and Bobby in particular was one of my buddies, and so it was cool to just have everybody there.” The personal connection and celebratory atmosphere made the experience particularly enjoyable: “It was really fun on a personal level of like, ‘Oh wow, we got to do this really big, deeply stupid song thing at the end of the season.’” This sketch represents the camaraderie and shared comedic sensibility within the SNL cast and writing team, a spirit that Streeter Seidell likely cultivated throughout his career, starting from his early days at CollegeHumor.
—Inspired by Joe DeLessio, FCLC ’06, from New York magazine’s reporting.
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