The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
Join Seth Meyers as he sits down with fellow SNL alum and comedy-music sensations The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) to discuss their wildly popular and groundbreaking series of SNL Digital Shorts that aired on Saturday Night Live beginning in 2005. Episode by episode they'll discuss how each short was created, what the response to it was at the time, and what impact, if any, it still has today. Aided by Seth, the guys will relive their time at SNL and reminisce on the nearly 50-year-old show from a time when putting short comedy sketches on the internet was so novel that they maybe even helped launch YouTube to do it. Along the way they'll talk all things SNL from guests, fellow cast members, and favorite live sketches including many that never aired.
Our Editor's Take
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast lets listeners imagine conceiving some of the most iconic videos in the world. Host Seth Meyers joined Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2001. Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akima Schaffer arrived in 2005. They changed SNL's viewing capabilities forever.
Samberg, Taccone, and Schaffer comprise The Lonely Island, a "frapping" (fake rapping) group. Their songs combine ridiculous lyrics with musical talent. The group's first digital short film, "Lettuce," aired on SNL on December 3, 2005. Two weeks later, their "Lazy Sunday" video was so popular that they put it on YouTube. That may sound unimpressive, but in 2005, watching SNL on YouTube was innovative. Viewers no longer needed to stay up late. On the podcast, Meyers interviews his peers about creating catchy songs.
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast details how each short originated. Meyers says the trio's momentum began on December 17, 2005, the "Lazy Sunday" debut. They recorded part of that video outside of Magnolia Bakery. It was part of their "Lazy Sunday" itinerary, which included The Chronicles of Narnia. A Magnolia employee asked them to stop filming. SNL's lawyers disagreed. They could film on public streets if no tripods touched the ground. Meyers concedes that nobody knew they were recording an instant classic. After it aired, Magnolia Bakery sent SNL hundreds of cupcakes and banana pudding.
Many of The Lonely Island's lyrics became common vocabulary. "I'm on a Boat" with T-Pain generated countless media references. Justin Timberlake collaborated with the "frappers" about an erotic gift. That video won an Emmy Award.
Actress Natalie Portman surprised viewers with her first of two "fraps." The actress asked to perform with them. She rapped Lil' Kim's lyrics in their consultation. They couldn't stop laughing. The comedians joke that they had to ruin Portman's reputation. She's a Harvard graduate and a Star Wars princess. That's not her role in "Natalie's Rap." Meyers appears in that video. Portman slaps him. That's not the most unexpected part. The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast proves that unexpected moments are the funniest.
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