Robert Smigel Wrote an Amazing Tribute to Cheri Oteri on SNL — and Cited This Sketch
While the "TV Funhouse" creator praised several cast members, he thinks "she helped revive SNL and it's never been the same since."
For Robert Smigel, Saturday Night Live can be divided into two eras: before and after Cheri Oteri.
Appropriately, on February 14 — Valentine's Day — the longtime SNL writer raved about Oteri's impact on the show in a lengthy tribute on Instagram. It was a fitting tribute shared just days ahead of SNL50: The Anniversary Special, which both Smigel and Oteri attended.
"Posting a Cheri Oteri piece because I dunno, I'm not sure anyone else changed the show as much as she did," Smigel began his tribute. The creator of "TV Funhouse," Robert Smigel was a writer on SNL across several periods from 1985-2011, and a Featured Player from 1991-1993 — during which he was best known for his appearances in the "Bill Swerki's Superfans" sketches.
"As great as so many female cast members were up to then, SNL really was male dominated, in terms of the writers and the majority of recurring characters and impressions. Cheri was the first female cast member to come in and grab the show by the nuts, the first to consistently create big, hit sketches for herself," Smigel wrote in his Instagram caption.
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"She helped revive SNL and it's never been the same since," he continued. "A ton of geniuses have followed and flourished, and women cast members and writers are as and often more prominent on the show than men." Read Smigel's full homage here.
SNL writer Robert Smigel shouts out Cheri Oteri and "her perfectly observed Barbara Walters" impression
Smigel also shouted out other legendary women of SNL; specifically, Molly Shannon, Gilda Radner, and Tina Fey. "But if you had to pick one single performer who advanced women at SNL... I think you could honestly look at pre-1995 as B.C. (Before Cheri)," he argued, sharing one of his favorite Oteri impressions, "her perfectly observed Barbara Walters."
Oteri was touched by Smigel's kind words, and reshared his tribute on her own Instagram page.
"Thank you Robert Smigel, your post meant so much to me," Oteri captioned her post. "As a legendary SNL writer having those words come from you filled my heart."
Oteri shared the same SNL sketch as Smigel did in his original post: A sketch in which Oteri played Barbara Walters interviewing SNL Musical Guest Snoop Dogg. In a February 2025 Time interview, Oteri named Snoop Dogg as "the most memorable Musical Guest" from her time as an SNL cast member — and looked back at her hilarious sketch with the rapper.
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"The sketch was last in the 8 p.m. dress rehearsal, meaning there wasn’t much hope for it to get to air" she told Time. "But Snoop knew the assignment and it killed, putting us first on the live show. Snoop and I ran into each other’s arms, hugging and laughing. Those wins were the best high ever." Oteri also told TODAY that Snoop requested several of his cousins appear in the sketch, which is why there are so many "bodyguards" in the background.
When was Cheri Oteri on SNL?
She was a cast member from 1995 to 2000.
"SNL was the experience of a lifetime. I'm so proud to have been part of its legacy," Oteri told Time.
And she truly did leave a legacy, from her impressions like Barbara Walters to characters like Spartan Cheerleader Arianna, "Simmadownna!" Nadeen, and Queens housewife Rita DelVecchio.
