DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, Seth Meyers is joined by his former SNL colleagues Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone (collectively known as The Lonely Island) to discuss their beginnings at Saturday Night Live and the origins of their iconic digital shorts. They reminisce about their initial struggles to get sketches on the show and the process of auditioning and being hired, with Andy recalling his Swedish chef impression and Akiva remembering a memorable flop.
The group reflects on the disappointing experience of their first pre-taped sketch, 'JJ Casuals,' which led them to realize the need to shoot their own material. This realization led to the creation of their first viral video, 'The Bing Bong Brothers,' shot during a break and eventually aired on another network. Encouraged by Lorne Michaels and the producers, they decided to create more digital shorts starring Andy and using the SNL cast.
The episode covers the early days of the digital shorts, including their first effort, 'Lettuce,' and the challenges of getting material on the show. It also touches on the dynamics between the group and their different strengths, as well as the support and guidance they received from veterans like Will Forte and Mike Shoemaker.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Lonely Island initially struggled to get their style of humor and material onto Saturday Night Live, leading to their realization that they needed to create their own pre-taped segments.
- Their first viral video, 'The Bing Bong Brothers,' was a turning point that demonstrated the potential of creating their own content and led to the beginning of the digital shorts era.
- The group's dynamic, with each member contributing their unique strengths, played a key role in shaping the successful digital shorts.
- Despite their initial missteps, the support and guidance of SNL veterans like Mike Shoemaker helped The Lonely Island find their footing and develop their iconic style.
- The decision to prioritize maintaining creative control over their material, even at the risk of turning down traditional writing opportunities, was a pivotal factor in the group's trajectory.
- The digital shorts allowed The Lonely Island to showcase their comedic sensibilities in a way that resonated with audiences, paving the way for their future success.
- The group's early experiences at SNL highlight the challenges of breaking into the industry and finding one's voice, as well as the importance of perseverance and adaptation.
- The origins of the digital shorts era demonstrate the power of collaboration and the ability to create groundbreaking content by embracing new formats and technologies.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I remember one of the first things we wrote for the show was a sketch that was a musical. Correct me if I'm wrong, guys, but it was Andy, as a young man who wants to wear his shorts at night, and his overly strict father, who I believe was forte, won't let him wear his shorts at night. And it was a musical. And then at one point, he flew out of a window on shorts like, aladdin of, like, his dream of wearing shorts at night.“ by Akiva Schaffer
- “We purposefully didn't take jobs specifically because a friend of ours had sort of gotten into the circuit of writing for, like, sitcoms and then never got to do their own stuff. So we'd sort of seen, like, oh, if you get into that world, sometimes that's the end, and you just start writing for other people. And so we always kind of wanted to do our own thing.“ by Akiva Schaffer
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Episode Information
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers
4/8/24