The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast The Criterion Episode (2024 Re-release)
Dec 30, 2025
Join Jake Tapper, a prominent television journalist, and Mike Schur, creator of iconic comedies like Parks and Recreation, as they delve into the world of The Lonely Island's digital shorts. They discuss which sketches deserve Criterion status, highlighting the cultural impact of 'Lazy Sunday' and Natalie Portman’s memorable performance. The conversation includes debates on category definitions like 'Kim’s Videos' and reflections on sketches such as 'Dick in a Box' and 'Too Many Cooks,' revealing their lasting influence in comedy.
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Episode notes
Bathroom Voice Note Backstory
- Seth recorded a holiday voice note sitting in a bathroom for acoustics and joked he wasn’t actually using the restroom.
- He prefaces the episode by explaining this quirky setup to avoid listener confusion later.
How Guests Became Superfans
- Jake Tapper and Mike Schur explain how they became listeners and critics of the podcast through texts and episode recaps.
- They describe texting immediate reactions and following every episode closely before joining as guests.
Conservative Criterion Threshold
- The group debates what fraction of shorts should be 'Criterion' and leans conservative, suggesting about 20–25%.
- They frame Criterion as the top tier comparable to an A grade or Hall of Fame selection.