The Lonely Island guys aren't so lonely any more

Last year, when Andy Samberg became a cast member on Saturday Night Live, he scored a victory for an entire generation of amateur comedians and filmmakers. For all those of us who spent high school making stupid Internet movies with our friends, then headed off to college to pursue majors as spurious as Film or Television, we can now look to the “The Lonely Island” team of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone as the first to successfully turn their Internet videos into mainstream success. Last weekend, The Daily Free Press sat down with the guys to figure out just how they did it, and what they're doing next.

“After we had all gotten back from college, we met at Jorma's mom's house and watched our student films,” said Samberg. “And we kind of realized, we were all still on the same page. So we just decided right there that we were going to move to LA together and try doing the comedy thing,” said Samberg.

And so they went and did what so many COM majors do after graduation: moving to LA, waiting tables, getting internships and taking any little job that comes along.

“At one point we had taken a job writing for the MTV Movie Awards. Jimmy Fallon was hosting and we hit it off with him, so he recommended us for an audition at SNL,” said Schaffer. Soon thereafter, Samberg joined the cast, while Schaffer and Taccone became SNL staff writers.

“We just got extremely lucky,” said Taccone.

In their first season on the show, their video about going to see The Chronicles of Narnia, “Lazy Sunday,” aired on SNL (which the guys humbly refer to as “the show”), and became a runaway YouTube hit. And it was no fluke. Their later videos, including “The Natalie Portman Rap,” and “D**k in a Box,” have gone on to similar fame.

In January 2006, Samberg was approached by Lorne Michaels about a script called, Hot Rod, written by Pam Brady, who co-wrote the South Park movie, as well as Team America. Samberg loved the script and immediately accepted, and soon after Schaffer was hired to direct. This was now a “Lonely Island” production.

The film tells the story of Rod Kimble (Samberg), a stunt man un-extraordinaire, and his misfit crew, mechanic Dave (Bill Hader), ramp-builder Rico (Danny McBride), videographer and step-brother Kevin (Taccone), and Rod's neighbor and love interest, Denise (Isla Fisher). The team is determined to raise $50,000 dollars, so that they can buy Rod's dying step-father (Ian McLellen) a new heart. That way, Rod can finally kick his ass, and earn his step-father's respect once and for all.

As former college filmmakers themselves, the guys had plenty of advice for up-and-comers.

“In my experience, the way is to do many crappy movies, thats how you're going to learn what you're like, what your style is,” said Schaffer.

Samberg agreed: “Just make stuff, as much as possible. Shoot on video, don't bother spending the money for film. Just do it until you get your amateur moves out of the way so they don't show up later.”

With all they've accomplished in such a short period of time, The Lonely Island team certainly makes comedy look easy. But as Samberg puts it, “Sure, it's easy when people are laughing, but when they're not, it's really hard.”