Courtesy of NBC.
“An SNL Digital Short.” Those simple words on a title card brings back nostalgia for mid-2000’s fan of the landmark sketch series. It meant that a new outing from The Lonely Island - comprised of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer - was on the way. In recent years, we haven’t seen much of it, prior to Sushi Glory Hole back in September. Now, though, it seems like the boys are coming back. The Charli XCX episode - where they debuted their latest short - was further proof of this.
It started when we learned that they started writing music again during the writers and actors last year. While they’re still not sure what will come of this material - it may or may not be an album - they have been dipping their toes back in for Saturday Night Live this season. It also helped that Andy was around to play Doug Emhoff for September and October. But that was a gig that actually ended prior to the Charli XCX episode.
Andy Samberg details how the SNL Digital Short "Here I Go" quickly came together.
According to Andy on the latest episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, he wasn't supposed to be on the show anymore. But when he heard that Charli XCX would be hosting, he reached out just because he wanted to work with her. He pitched her two ideas that were already written prior to her involvement, and she picked one called Here I Go.
The premise - which was a song Andy wrote solo with a beat my Jorma’s brother, Asa - is pretty simple. He is a guy that can’t stop calling the police on people. We see him having a neighbor arrested, an elderly woman, a Girl Scout, and even a dog. Then, his wife - played by Charli XCX - is introduced, who also shares in this past time. It’s one of those songs that is catchy as hell, but the video really brings the jokes home.
Andy and Akiva quickly wrote a new verse for Charli XCX, and much like anything else at the show, it all came together at the last minute. They were actually flying to New York while the short was already starting production with location scouting. By the time they landed, they had a finished short within 48 hours. It all happened that fast.
According to Andy and Akiva on the podcast, Charli was game for anything. She came with her own ideas that actually helped improve the overall short. It is just more proof that sometimes, the best art is created in the zero hour, under unusual circumstances.
