"Andy Samberg"

Andy Samberg reflects on his path to becoming a mainstay in the world of comedy, from his early love for the craft to the rapid ascent of his career with The Lonely Island and beyond.

Andy's early interest in comedy and his desire to become a comedian from a young age

From a young age, Andy Samberg aspired to be a comedian. In a letter written to his eight-year-old self, he expressed this aim, recounting his interest in WWF wrestling and how it related to his enjoyment of a Saturday night show. He reiterates that it was his genuine aspiration to be on "Saturday Night Live."

Andy's comedy troupe, The Lonely Island, and their rise to fame through digital shorts on SNL

Andy's early comedy work included creating the sketch comedy pilot "Awesometown" for Fox alongside his lifelong friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. Known collectively as The Lonely Island, the trio began by doing stand-up and shooting their own videos, such as "Dear Sister," which Samberg developed with Taccone and his friend Chester Tam.

The breakthrough with MTV and SNL

The Lonely Island's first big break came when they secured a writing gig for the MTV Movie Awards, returning for a second year by sharing a single writing check. During the first year helmed by Lindsay Lohan, and the second year by Jimmy Fallon, they caught the eye of SNL producers Steve Higgins and Mike Shoemaker. Through their sketches that inserted the host into blockbuster movies, the group exhibited their unique comedic voice.

Upon being discovered by the SNL team, The Lonely Island, with Samberg at the front, were hired as both cast members and writers. With an already established portfolio of joke raps and videos, they quickly adapted to the pace of SNL, leading to their pioneering work on the show's popular digital short format.

Andy's successful acting and producing ...

The Lonely Island, consisting of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone, achieved notoriety primarily through their innovative digital shorts on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), transforming the landscape of sketch comedy and online video sharing.

The Lonely Island's early homemade comedy videos and their transition to SNL

Before their tenure on SNL, The Lonely Island created homemade comedic videos and joke raps that resonated with viewers and caught the attention of industry insiders. Will Arnett mentions seeing "Awesometown," a pilot produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, which exhibited The Lonely Island's humor. Andy Samberg describes their early days of creating content, such as comedy raps for their website thelonelyisland.com, including a nod to the Yin Yang Twins with "Bing Bong Brothers." This work led to their first big break, as Samberg and his group presented their material to SNL's Shoemaker and Higgins, who recognized the trio’s talent and allowed them to use cast members in their videos, simplifying their assimilation into SNL's creative process.

The immense popularity and impact of Lazy Sunday, the Lonely Island's breakout digital short

"Lazy Sunday," the group's first SNL digital short featuring Samberg and Chris Parnell, marked a pivotal moment for The Lonely Island, resonating with viewers and becoming a viral sensation. Will Arnett points out the significant shift in the show’s digital content and its reach following "Lazy Sunday." Samberg reflects on the release, acknowledging its tremendous shortcut to success and expressing surprise at the immediate resonance with the audience and the press's interest in their work. The fortuitous timing of YouTube's emergence as a video-sharing platform played a crucial role in the widespread success of "Lazy Sunday," aiding the digital short’s immense popularity, and by extension, the popularity of SNL's digital content as a whole.

The Lonely Island's continued creativity and innovation within the digital short format

The Lonely Island continued their success by blending music, comedy, and celebrity cameos, creating iconic SNails shorts such as "Dick in a Box" and "J ...

Andy Samberg’s love for music goes beyond his comedic sketches and parodies; it's rooted deeply in his upbringing and personal life, particularly reflected in his relationship with his wife, acclaimed musician Joanna Newsom.

Andy's deep passion and appreciation for music, stemming from his upbringing

Samberg talks about the rich music culture in the Bay Area where he was raised and the diverse range of genres he loved, including dancehall, reggae, contemporary and old hip hop, old funk, and soul. He credits his passion for hip hop as the gateway that led him to explore the roots of his favorite songs. This passion was fueled further by digging through crates at Amoeba Records several times a week during his teen years. He also had an early affection for Bob Dylan, to the extent of wearing his mom’s purple scarf to emulate the music icon in high school.

Samberg shares that music was always present in his childhood home, an influence passed down from his father, who had a voluminous record collection. He and one of his sisters were particularly obsessed with music—a trait that would later find its way into his comedic endeavors with The Lonely Island, where their music-driven comedy often reflects Andy's broad musical interests.

Andy's marriage to acclaimed harpist and singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom

Sean Hayes brings up Andy’s wife, Joanna, learning that she is a talented harpist and singer. While Andy clarifies that they don't collaborate creatively—he humorously notes his music is "pretend" compared to her "best" quality works—the deep respect and admiration he has for her craft are evident.

Andy fondly recalls attending Joanna's concert along with his friends, further emphasizing his obsession with her music before they even met. The cou ...