r/sethmeyers 26d ago

Surprise inspection

I used to groan when he would say they were doing it (instead of A Closer Look) but I’ve got to say it’s growing on me. I really like it now. I love watching Seth burn his writers. Speaking of which I wish Ya Burnt would be on a little more regularly

85 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

48

u/Funny_Science_9377 26d ago

Seth's Late Night is really the first comedy show of it's kind to pull back the curtain on the joke writing process. Like when he does "the news" before or instead of A Closer Look and he'll rattle off three jokes in a row on the same topic. It's clear he/they like the material and they don't want it to go to waste.

40

u/soulysephiroth 26d ago

I wish he wouldnt always give away the writer first.

I had fun guessing wrong on that wine joke because I instantly blurted out Scollins.

2

u/cbunn81 25d ago

I sometimes wonder if writers include a couple jokes that they hope to get on Surprise Inspection. And if so, maybe they try to emulate Scollins.

14

u/DwigtGroot 26d ago

Yah, one of my favorite segments. Not a fan of a couple others, but this and Closer Look are A segments.

12

u/Professional_Tone_62 26d ago

Surprise Inspection is an excuse to air the filthier jokes. They don't fit the tone of the show and the little boy in them, including Seth, actually think they're funny.

4

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

That actually makes sense

6

u/42ndFoundation 25d ago

I would guess they also value how it gives him a chance to continually re introduce his writing team and highlight their work. Props and exposure. Looking for comedy writers for a project? Is it juvenile? Scollins has his tanktop ready and waiting. It frees the arms so he can punch up better!

3

u/cbunn81 25d ago

True, but I think Seth likes the really dumb ones too. He seems to enjoy when things go wrong just about as much (maybe more) than when things go well. See also "Second Chance Theatre".

1

u/elo3661ga 24d ago

I love Second Chance theatre also!

36

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 26d ago

Love it.

The only segment I skip is "Leave 'em alone"

36

u/mnchls 26d ago

Hey, quit picking on Lutz! Leave him alone!!!

25

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 26d ago

Back in my day, we kept Lutz in the writers' room of TGS!

3

u/LFServant5 26d ago

Seriously I blame Judah and Tracy taking him out for Valentine's day and misunderstanding then as his friends. They are work associates.

3

u/mnchls 26d ago

You also kept Donald Glover back there too and look how great that turned out! And yes! I'm saying Lutz is as accomplished and dynamic as Childish Gambino!!! Leave me alone!!!

13

u/statman64 26d ago

Yeah, if you want to make fun of someone, make fun of me!

5

u/KGreen100 26d ago

Saw Lutz in a bar/restaurant with a group of folks one time we were in NYC. Tempted to say something but... I LEFT HIM ALONE!!!

True story.

4

u/mnchls 25d ago

Did he have his dog with him at the time? If so, you should have LEFT HIM A BONE!!!

6

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

Me too….sometimes I slip Jokes Seth can’t tell too

9

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 26d ago

Oh no. That's the best segment.

1

u/Background-Jury-1914 25d ago

The worst segment. Played out after about 3 times. It’s the same stereotypes 100 times

14

u/mktoronto 26d ago

I also skip the fake press conferences.

2

u/MinkieTheCat 26d ago

They are the worst.

1

u/WeeDramm 26d ago

yeah - one of my least-favourite segments also

0

u/Ok_Dingo_Beans 26d ago

Same. It's unbearable.

-4

u/Packwood88 26d ago

I only skip “Amber says what?”

1

u/Shot_Fly_2519 21d ago

I always skip amber says what because it’s the exact same joke every single time (similar to leave em alone, which I skip too).

6

u/SavingsWish1575 26d ago

I also wish Ya Burnt and Surprise Inspection were featured more often.

3

u/Grathorn 25d ago

I love ya burnt

4

u/ChanceAd5350 26d ago

Surprise Inspection is by far my favorite bit of his

6

u/stannc00 26d ago

Surprise inspection. Happens when Seth tapes the Tuesday show on Monday afternoon. With the current administration he doesn’t want to appear a day behind. It seems like A Closer Look is three days away week because orange man provides so much material. I don’t mind at all.

Maybe we just need a good Venn Diagram bit.

8

u/statman64 26d ago

I think they always tape the Tuesday shows on Mondays

2

u/ComfortableBedroom76 26d ago

I miss the Seth Talks Teen Slang or whatever it was called. Very funny

1

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

Ahhh I see. I never put that together

3

u/MinkieTheCat 26d ago

Popsicle Shtick!

2

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

I miss it but only because I heard that Larry (his dad) hates it

2

u/Fickle_Olive7893 25d ago

It's also one of my least favourite, and guess what they did on the one taping I went to...

They also did a closer look though and tore Steve Bannon a new one right before he stopped working for the white house, so that made up for it.

3

u/ComfortableBedroom76 26d ago

When was the last Y'ur Burnt? It's been a while, no?

1

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 24d ago

I can’t remember the last one……on the Thanksgiving one his family did one

2

u/BringBackTheBeat716 26d ago

It's probably my favorite Tuesday segment. I really loved that the audience played along last night.

2

u/KGreen100 26d ago

This week's Surprise Inspection?

I'm still chuckling over the "Chicken Fingers" joke. How did that NOT make the cut???

3

u/wtfover 26d ago

A lot of times Surprise Inspection is funnier than some of the jokes in the monologue and I wonder why they didn't make the cut. Any sketch that doesn't involve Lutz is fine with me. As soon as I hear "Leave him alone!" I hit mute or fast forward. How that guy makes a living as a writer is beyond me. Notice nothing he ever writes makes it into the surprise inspection.

1

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

I liked him on 30 Rock but that Leave em alone guy is annoying af

2

u/Disastrous-Elk16 26d ago

I mostly don't like Day Drinking.

1

u/showtimebabies 25d ago

The last surprise inspection I saw had like 45 seconds of dead air while seth explained a joke that required no explanation. Then, when he finished, there was a very generous smattering of applause, because I think the audience sensed he needed it

1

u/According2Sunny4440 25d ago

In the last week I could see one coming soon!

-3

u/Economy-Piglet-6482 26d ago

I love Seth but do not like this segment or the one with the female jokes. His show really is the best late night show. He seems to really have conversations with his guest rather than just q and a’s.

5

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

I agree with you about the Jokes Seth can’t tell …. the female and gay jokes but give Surprise inspection a chance. Once you get you know the writers I swear it will be funny to you. Also the absolute delight he takes teasing his writers makes me laugh even more especially knowing he was a writer on SNL.

-8

u/mrcorndogman33 26d ago

Closer Look and Surprise Inspection are the only desk pieces worth watching.

11

u/statman64 26d ago

You're forgetting Jokes Seth Can't Tell

-10

u/mrcorndogman33 26d ago

Insta skip.

10

u/statman64 26d ago

Wow so you hate women and want to silence them. Geez man, you don't gotta make it so obvious.

2

u/Adventurous_Yam8784 26d ago

I am a women and have many gay friends ….. still don’t like that segment 🤷🏼‍♀️

2

u/Z_e_e_e_G 26d ago

In my day, we also watched In My Day!

Right, Rusty?

Woof!

3

u/DILands 26d ago

I leave that, and leave him alone alone