Welcome to The Second City Archives, in which we post an exclusive clip each week of some of comedy’s biggest superstars performing early in their careers on the legendary Chicago stage. Second City has generously given us a glimpse into their extensive archive of live performances, and over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing some rare and retro comedy never before seen on the web.
This week’s clip comes from the 2003 revue The Not Ready for $3.99 Prime Rib Players, which took place at Second City’s short-lived stage at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. In the above sketch “Senator,†Jason Sudeikis plays a United States senator who gets caught in a downward spiral of insensitive remarks and PR opportunity apologies with the help of ensemble performers Joe Kelly, Seamus McCarthy, Holly Walker, and future 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon. Sudeikis joined SNL as a writer the same year and was promoted to featured player just two years later.