Was That Supposed to Be Funny?': Seahawks Sketches Face Laughter Deficit

It seems like comedy gold: a vehemently outspoken, hyper-competitive player and his taciturn, media-shunning teammate.

Yet comedians seem to be spinning the gold into straw.

"Saturday Night Live" took on the Seattle Seahawks players Richard Sherman, known for his trash-talking outbursts, and Marshawn Lynch, known for basically the opposite.

'SNL' portrayed the pair as part of the wider strangeness of Seattle (and included a jab at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio), but the clip drew a chill reaction.

Watch the clip below (content warning: mild language):

Mediaite's Adam Kirell dubbed the 'SNL' sketch "mediocre," and commenters on Twitter laid into the bit, calling it "lame" and "not funny."

Wow. The SNL opening is ALL Seattle & not one bit funny. So lame. Can't even remember when this show was entertaining.

— Jeff Meisner (@horrorwriter74) February 1, 2015

Would I need to be a huge football fan to grasp why this #SNL cold open is funny? Or is it simply not funny?

— Michael Slezak (@MichaelSlezakTV)

February 1, 2015

Remember when SNL was funny? Cause their jokes about the Seahawks & their fans seemed borrowed from haters' inane comments on Facebook.

— Dr. Elizabeth Switaj (@EKSwitaj) February 1, 2015

Of course, the sketch did have some defenders.

Ok, that cold open on #SNL was pretty funny with Not!Marshawn Lynch and Not!Richard Sherman. #GoHawks

— Peggy B (@blazerrose)

February 1, 2015

The opening seahawks skit on SNL was so funny I was literally in tears LOLOL

— Ayano :•) (@ayanospivey) February 1, 2015

"SNL" wasn't the only comedy group that tried tackling the Seahawks this week.

Comedy Central's "Key & Peele" released a sketch based on the same concept — Sherman and Lynch in a joint press conference — and it, too, fell flat.

Watch below:

"[W]as that supposed to be funny?" asked one commenter.

The top-rated YouTube comment on the video: "Dont know bout u guys but i didnt laugh once."

—

Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter