The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast

Great Day

10 snips
Feb 3, 2026
The crew reunites and teases the origin of a misheard Alicia Keys line that inspired a running joke. They reminisce about making early shorts with no script and unpack the fast-paced creation of a manic musical short. Technical talk covers choreography, VFX, and shooting on Cherry Lane. Old sketches and a long-developed Timecrowave piece also get playful defense and breakdown.
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ANECDOTE

Misremembered Lyric Became A Running Joke

  • Chester admits the Backseatsman flubbed the Alicia Keys address and owned the mistake honestly.
  • He explains the 56th and Lenox line came from memory and a misremembered lyric, not clever intent.
INSIGHT

Making For Ourselves Fueled Risky Creativity

  • Early Lonely Island shorts were made without scripts and purely to learn by doing.
  • That freedom let them experiment, fail quickly, and keep creative pressure off viewership.
INSIGHT

Freedom From The Algorithm Shaped Early Work

  • Early shorts existed outside the algorithm, so creators didn't chase clicks and could focus on experimentation.
  • That freedom produced some enduring, personally cherished lines and moments.
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