‘Potato Chip’: The Behind-The-Scenes Story Of The Weirdest ‘SNL’ Sketch Ever
This originally published on Uproxx on May 19, 2016 but was deleted from the internet after Uproxx purged its archives. My favorite anything changes on what seems like a daily basis so it's always tough for me to declare something is my "favorite," but if I were forced to choose a favorite sketch from Saturday Night Live, this is probably it. This one actually saddened me that it was just gone, which is why I'm saving it now at The Hard Pass.
A couple of notes before we get to the original post. I spoke to every involved in this sketch except host Blake Lively. I spoke to her publicist on the phone who seemed genuinely perplexed what this piece was even going to be or why anyone would want to write this or read this. Then, after it published, I heard from her publicist again who said she wished it were explained better to her that it was an actual reported out piece. Alas. (Technically I also did not speak with Taylor Swift, who was the first host to perform Potato Chip, but it was cut at dress. Jason Sudeikis is from Kansas City. Little did Taylor Swift know at the time how much of her future would be tied to that particular city.)
Jason Sudeikis, after discovering I was a huge fan of this sketch, tells me that after this particular show they had Playbills made to commemorate Potato Chip. He then mentions he has an extra and will send it to me. Now, this kind of statement is more common than you might think, and also almost never comes to fruition. I don't think it's phony, because in the moment people usually mean it. But then people get busy and finding and sending something like a mock-up of a Playbill seems less and less of a priority. A few weeks later I get a package in the mail from Jason. Not only did he send me the Potato Chip Playbill, he had it professionally framed. It currently resides on our wall.
Here is the Potato Chip piece as it appeared on May 19, 2016:
‘Potato Chip’: The Behind-The-Scenes Story Of The Weirdest ‘SNL’ Sketch Ever
“Potato Chip” isn’t the kind of thing that’s going to run in a “best of” montage during, say, SNL’s 40th anniversary show. Have you ever heard how certain comedians are referred to as “a comedian’s comedian,” in that the material makes other comedians laugh? “Potato Chip” is a lot like that. It’s the definition of a cult favorite.
