“Seinfeld,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Bruce Almighty” and “Click” all have something in common. These TV shows and films were written by Steve Koren, a Binghamton University alumnus. Koren has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in Hollywood following his time at BU and took time out from writing a new script to chat with Release.

Release: What was your major at BU?

Steve Koren: I majored in English and creative writing. So I’m one of the few people who actually went into a field they studied — not that it was ever my intention. I just found writing classes fun. I figured it was hard to flunk someone for not being “creative” enough. I almost double-majored in theater and spent a ton of time in the acting program. I originally started out wanting to be a professional actor but later took up writing as a career. Actually, I think I’m only one class shy of getting a theater degree, so occasionally I think I should pack up my stuff and move back to Binghamton to get that second degree.

Release: Where did you live on campus/off?

SK: On campus I lived in Newing. Bingham dorm, second floor. That’s where I met most of my lifelong friends. But I spent part of my freshman year in Dickinson — surrounded by foreign exchange students and a lot of incredibly stoned deadheads. Or maybe the deadheads were just so stoned that they couldn’t speak correctly and I thought they were from another country. Eventually moved to 14 Walnut St. on the West Side of Binghamton. I have a ton of fond memories living in that decrepit freezing house.

Release: When was the last time you were back at the University?

SK: I haven’t been back in years, but I would love to come back. The last time I went, all my old college buddies piled into a car and drove up for fun. We hung around campus, visited teachers and friends and went to the Rat at night. As time passes, people start building families and it becomes harder to plan those types of trips. Now that I live in California, it’s almost impossible. But I would love to come back soon and speak to students interested in pursuing a career in show-biz.

Release: Has your writing been influenced by your time at BU? Any specific incident?

SK: During my senior year, on a lark, I entered a stand-up comedy contest in the campus pub. My housemates thought I was nuts. I’m not particularly funny in real life. In fact, most comedy writers I know are pretty quiet and sedate. Anyway, in order to to do stand-up, you need to come up with an act — basically sit down and write something funny. Long story short, to my shock, I almost won the contest. I think everyone was just very drunk because my act was incredibly stupid — I used props, sex jokes, sang dopey songs — but somehow I got laughs. In the end, I got beat by this guy who was very funny and experienced. He was really good. My point is, before that night I had only injected a few funny things in my creative writing classes. I never thought “comedy writing” could be a career.

But that night I did stand up, I started focusing in the comedy-writing direction and never stopped. After graduating, I started doing stand up in Manhattan clubs. Soon I realized I could make money by writing jokes for the other comics. A few years later I ended up writing for “Saturday Night Live.”

Release: You have a pretty extensive resume. Out of all your projects, what has been the most fun to work on?

SK: I had a blast working on “Saturday Night Live.” You can write something on a Tuesday and suddenly that Saturday night millions of people hear whatever silly thing you’ve written. You can even influence political elections. It’s an incredible job. But I was really young and constantly worried about getting fired. Everyone there usually worries about getting fired because it’s this famous place and you keep thinking, “How the hell did I get in the door?” So it’s very high pressure.

In terms of pure fun, I’d say “Seinfeld” was tops. At the time, it was the No. 1 show on television. It was like being at the center of a storm. I had more confidence in my writing at that point and all the actors on the show were incredible. They took every joke and situation in your script and brought it to another much funnier level. Plus, there were almost no notes — meaning not many people were looking over the writers’ shoulders telling us to change things. They pretty much let us do whatever we wanted. Later, I discovered in movies and other TV shows, that situation doesn’t exist. You are constantly getting notes and requests to change your work. So, I’d say overall “Seinfeld” was the most fun. Also, you mentioned my “resume.” It’s funny, a screenwriter’s resume generally only lists the stuff that got produced. For every “produced” script, there’s probably a dozen more scripts you wrote that weren’t produced. I’ve written several TV pilots, romantic comedies, spy movies, small indie type scripts and I’ve also done rewrite work on famous movies where I just didn’t get screen credit. That’s the life of [the] Hollywood screenwriter.

Release: You mentioned you’re writing currently. What’s next for you? Upcoming projects?

SK: I just finished a spy comedy that will hopefully get made at Paramount. Currently I’m writing a script that may star Adam Sandler.

I have a movie coming out next year called “A Thousand Words.” It’s about a man who’s never sincere when he speaks — a BS artist. So, he gets cursed and only has 1,000 words left to say before he dies — hence the title. So it’s funny but gets serious as his words run out. At the moment, I can’t tell you if that movie is good. I hope it is. I haven’t seen the final product. There are so many people involved in the movie-making process that being a screenwriter is, like, almost like playing a slot machine. Your script is like a dollar coin — you put it in the Hollywood studio machine (if someone buys it and decides to make it) and what comes out of the machine is beyond your control. Especially with comedy. Executives, directors, actors all have different opinions of what’s funny and your work is constantly evolving. Or devolving. It’s all subjective. In the future, I’m hoping to start directing so I have more control over my work and, I hope, increase my odds of having a hit. I’m also considering writing plays for the theater.

Release: Any advice for BU students (in general and for those trying to break into the writing business)?

SK: The best advice I can give anyone aspiring to be a writer is to just start saying, “I’m a writer,” not “I want to be a writer.” The moment I started saying “I’m a writer,” people started taking me more seriously — including myself — even though, at the time I was also a full-time waiter.

This change seems minor, but psychologically it made a big difference. Also, actually doing the writing is key. People will discourage you and tell you how there’s millions of people competing, but the more dedicated you become, the smaller that gigantic world becomes. I’m not saying there isn’t tons of competition. There definitely is. But someone has to make it. That someone can be you. The world needs writers and actors. You can fail for years but suddenly one great script can change your life and give you a career.

It’s risky. The one thing I can guarantee is that if you never try — you’ll definitely never make it. I would also say get as close as you can to the place where people are doing what it is you want to do. Work for free if you have to.

At one point, my dream was to work on “Saturday Night Live.” So I got a job giving tours in the building where they produced the show. Then I volunteered to work for free as an intern one night a week between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. just so I could meet the writers. I basically fetched them coffee and pizza. I literally did whatever I could. Everyone’s path is different. Today you can grab a camera and shoot your own story and put it on YouTube the same day. I couldn’t do that, but if I started today, I’m sure I would some form of it. Tons of young people get hired off the Internet now. There are no rules. In fact, the guys who break the rules usually get noticed first and get hired. So just focus on whatever is in your heart and go for it. Do everything you can do to make your dreams come true. Sounds cliche, but it can honestly work.