32 Best SNL Digital Shorts From The ’00s

For decades, Saturday Night Live (SNL) has been renowned for its short films as a key element of its rich comedy tradition. During a distinctive period, the SNL Digital Shorts stood out, thanks to the offbeat humor of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer from The Lonely Island. Relive those memorable times by revisiting our picks of their most outstanding works.

Threw It On the Ground (Season 35)

Many outstanding SNL Digital Shorts by The Lonely Island double as their music videos, like “Threw It On the Ground,” where Andy Samberg’s character rebels against “The System” by angrily tossing items to the ground while rapping. However, the supposed oppressors he faces are often friendly gestures, absurd misunderstandings, or situations he shouldn’t involve himself in, such as when he disrupts Ryan Reynolds and Elijah Wood’s dinner, leading the “Hollywood phonies” to retaliate.

The Tangent (Season 31)

In a sketch from SNL, Fred Armisen portrays Joel, an individual who has a habit of speaking incessantly without pausing. This peculiarity initially strains his friendship but eventually catches the eye of a talent agent, leading to roles in a sci-fi film with Scarlett Johansson and guest appearances on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and NBC Nightly News. However, when his movie flops at the box office, he finds himself back where he started, having forgotten his brief stint in show business.

Jack Sparrow (Season 36)

One outstanding skit on Saturday Night Live involving a musical artist is “Jack Sparrow” by The Lonely Island, where Michael Bolton collaborates on a song with them. Initially, their raps seem serious, but it’s Bolton who takes charge, incorporating references to his favorite films, particularly the Pirates of the Caribbean series and the character portrayed by Johnny Depp in those movies.

Shy Ronnie (Season 35)

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself captivated by the skit titled “Shy Ronnie.” In this production, it’s me – the wallflower (Andy Samberg) – who shares a duet with none other than the music sensation, Rihanna, in front of a bunch of elementary school kids. However, when Rihanna is present, I struggle to find my voice and express myself confidently. This number was originally from an SNL Digital Short, which later gave birth to a sequel called “Ronnie and Clyde.” In this spin-off, we reprise our roles as bank robbers in the Depression era, joining forces once more on our daring escapades.

Hero Song (Season 33)

In various memorable superhero spoofs on Saturday Night Live, many classic comic book characters are mockingly portrayed. However, there is one Digital Short that presents an entirely fresh, costumed crimefighter. Andy Samberg plays the role of an ordinary man in “Hero Song,” where he sings a ballad about his metamorphosis into a vigilante. Unfortunately, his transformation is disrupted when he intervenes to save Amy Adams from a mugger (Jason Sudeikis), only to be brutally defeated by him instead.

I’m On A Boat (Season 34)

Among The Lonely Island’s well-known hits is the tune “I’m on a Boat,” starring rapper T-Pain, who frequently uses auto-tune. This popular ditty about sea travel was first presented in the SNL Digital Short, where Andy Samberg wins a yacht trip and decides to invite Akiva Shaffer and T-Pain (rather than Jorma Taccone) as his companions.

The Shooting (Season 32)

In the climactic scene from Season 2 finale of The O.C., character Trey (Logan Marshall-Green) gets shot by Marissa (Mischa Barton), accompanied by Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” playing in the background. If you were to replay this sequence multiple times within a short span, you would recreate the style of the popular SNL Digital Short titled “The Shooting,” or “Dear Sister.

Laser Cats! (Seasons 31-37)

Among the outstanding recurring SNL Digital Shorts, one that stands out is “Laser Cats!”, a seven-part series where Andy Samberg and Bill Hader persistently pitch their post-apocalyptic sci-fi concept to Lorne Michaels. This futuristic tale unfolds in a dystopian world populated by cats capable of firing lasers from their mouths. Despite the elaborate presentations they showcase, including assistance from acclaimed directors like James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, who make appearances as themselves in later episodes, Lorne Michaels remains unimpressed.

Natalie’s Rap (Season 31)

Natalie Portman has been nominated for three Academy Awards and even took home the Best Actress award for her role in “Black Swan” from 2010. However, one of her most popular projects is an SNL Digital Short titled “Natalie’s Rap.” In this video, she playfully mocks her clean-cut image by spitting some explicit verses about a secret wild side. This led to a sequel when she returned as the host for Season 43.

Lazy Sunday (Season 31)

The SNL Digital Shorts hold a significant place in the annals of viral video history, notably due to the phenomenal success of “Lazy Sunday.” This skit garnered an astounding number of unauthorized downloads. In one such clip, Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rap about their experiences watching Dr. Dre’s album “The Chronic” – and yes, that’s right – the Chronicles of Narnia. Seven years later, a sequel was released, showcasing their visit to see Sister Act: The Musical on Broadway.

The Mirror (Season 33)

In an underappreciated SNL Digital Short titled “The Mirror,” some overused horror movie clichés receive a humorous take. The main character, played by Elliot Page, repeatedly wakes up from nightmares featuring Andy Samberg as a ghoul with a head wound. However, there’s more to this spooky reflection than meets the eye.

The Curse (Season 35)

In a turn of unfortunate events, an oblivious entrepreneur (Andy Samberg) unwittingly shatters a treasured trinket of a street dweller (Fred Armisen). As retribution, the homeless man casts a spell on him. Consequently, a saxophonist with a striking resemblance to Tim Cappello from the iconic scene in “The Lost Boys” (portrayed by host Jon Hamm) starts bizarrely appearing uninvited, causing chaos and disrupting his life at seemingly random moments.

Stomp (Season 37)

Prior to Andy Samberg spearheading the cast of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Bill Hader appearing as a regular character, they previously portrayed cops in an SNL Digital Short that was Broadway-worthy, titled “Stomp.” In this skit, a police station served as the stage for a performance similar to the namesake show. However, when two members of Blue Man Group attempted to participate, they assumed them to be aliens and responded with gunfire.

Party At Mr. Bernard’s (Season 36)

A gathering at Mr. Bernard’s place” could be likened to a modern retelling of the 1989 film “Weekend at Bernie’s“, where it quickly becomes apparent that the host, played by Robert De Niro, has unfortunately passed away. In this revised version, the characters portrayed by Andy Samberg and Bill Hader are spared from incarceration when their attorney presents Bernard’s video will, which reveals his final wish: to have a lively beach bash using his lifeless body.

Zach Drops By The Set (Season 35)

In this video, comedian Zach Galifianakis not only took center stage in an SNL Digital Short, he also made appearances in various NBC shows. This clip features him making cameos on the backdrop of the NBC Nightly News and engaging with stars from 30 Rock and Law & Order. The highlight, however, is a younger version of Galifianakis sporting a beard, seen as an audience member during a Robin Williams-hosted Saturday Night Live episode from the ’80s.

Drake Interview (Season 37)

In this Digital Short, SNL’s host and musical guest Drake participates in various interviews conducted by Andy Samberg, each with a unique, peculiar twist. For example, the interviews are either extremely short, very intimate, excessively flirtatious, and so on.

Wish It Would Rain (Season 37)

The music video for the R&B break-up song “Wish It Would Rain,” although typical, becomes unusual due to Andy Samberg’s blonde hair and fake mustache. However, the unusualness intensifies when Samberg’s character deviates from his role, acting dry, and the weather remains unusually warm, defying a forecast predicting rain.

Batman (Season 37)

In some contemporary Batman films directed by Christopher Nolan, such as the Dark Knight Trilogy, we see Batman often sneaking up on Commissioner Gordon and mysteriously vanishing. This Saturday Night Live Digital Short humorously amplifies this trait, portraying Batman (played by Andy Samberg) dropping in uninvited at Gordon’s apartment, interrupting him during a doctor’s visit, and causing awkward situations in other private moments.

Close Talkers (Season 31)

In the opening of “Close Talkers,” it appears as though Gary (Steve Martin) and Ben (Will Forte) are on the verge of a romantic encounter, their faces nearly touching in an intimate moment that’s about to become passionate. However, as the SNL Digital Short unfolds, it becomes clear that this is simply how these longtime friends express themselves, with Ben noting that Gary has moved a bit closer than normal in their conversation.

Lettuce (Season 31)

The first-ever SNL Digital Short, titled “Lettuce,” is arguably one of the most puzzling skits you could encounter from Saturday Night Live. In this sketch, two friends (Andy Samberg and Will Forte) share a conversation about a recent, sorrowful event, all while munching on lettuce between their dialogues. The twist comes at the end, as it turns out that the entire video was actually an advertisement for the vegetable product.

Business Meeting (Season 32)

Unusual Business Gathering”

The title “Business Meeting” is quite engaging due to the participation of Rainn Wilson, known for his role as Dwight Schrute in The Office, portraying a corporate figure years before he took on the role of Scranton Manager in Season 9. However, what makes this meeting particularly intriguing is that as Wilson’s character discusses budget cuts with his colleagues, they exhibit peculiar idiosyncrasies and identities. Among them are an anomalous turkey sub sandwich and the week’s musical guest, Arcade Fire.

Roy Rules! (Season 32)

Andy Samberg appears to be someone you might not want to challenge in a prank exchange, as he has the knack for executing jokes exceptionally well. To illustrate, during a 2012 interview with IGN, he disclosed that “Roy Rules!”, an SNL Digital Short where he admits romantic feelings for his sister’s husband, was in fact a clever prank he played on his actual brother-in-law.

Harpoon Man (Season 32)

Title character “Harpoon Man” is featured in an SNL Digital Short, styled as a gritty ’70s exploitation movie theme tune. John C. Reilly portrays a vengeful ex-whaler on a rampage in New York City, seeking retribution. In the song, the singer mocks our protagonist, but he soon uncovers that the antagonist is actually a killer whale (played by Andy Samberg). Naturally, Harpoon Man takes matters into his own hands and impales the whale with his signature harpoon.

I Broke My Arm (Season 36)

In a humorous SNL Digital Short, Emma Stone’s character – a trendy teen – brags about an injury from slipping on a pool of grape jelly. Unfortunately, she has three more accidents involving the same sticky substance, leaving her as a paraplegic who communicates via computer. The grape jelly, brought to life by Andy Samberg, retaliates with a rap verse claiming no responsibility for the series of mishaps.

Great Day (Season 35)

One engaging Public Service Announcement sketch from Saturday Night Live is titled “Great Day,” which humorously yet poignantly addresses the dangers of illicit substances. This skit presents a day in the life of an addict, portrayed by Andy Samberg, who exuberantly but tragically sings about neglecting his fatherly responsibilities and his fantasies of being pals with host Alec Baldwin, musical guest Tom Petty, and residing in The Matrix.

Zach Looks For a New Assistant (Season 36)

In the skit titled “Zach Galifianakis Seeks a New Assistant,” the comedian Zach Galifianakis conducts interviews for his assistant role in a manner similar to his famous Between Two Ferns show. Unlike the popular web series, this Saturday Night Live Digital Short is largely improvised, with the children’s responses being entirely spontaneous, as confirmed on The Lonely Island’s website.

Helen Mirren’s Magical Bosom (Season 36)

When Helen Mirren consents to Nasim Pedrad’s touch during the Oscar winner’s acceptance speech, the encounter is far more profound than Pedrad expected. This interaction seems to transport Pedrad to a dimension surpassing space and time, a place where Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters, often finds himself.

My Testicles (Season 31)

As a movie critic, I found myself captivated by the quirky duo of Tom Hanks and Andy Samberg, who breathe life into the ’90s dance music group known as Ariel and Efrim. Their hit single “My Tesicles” is an amusing exploration of their peculiar fixation on… well, let’s just say certain private areas.

The video, as uncomfortable as it may sound, is nothing short of a side-splitting rollercoaster ride from start to finish. From the first frame to the last, it manages to strike that perfect balance between discomfort and laughter, making for an unforgettable viewing experience.

The Date (Season 35)

The SNL Digital Short titled ‘The Date’ features Will Forte as a S.W.A.T. team commander with a gruff voice, dining with Megan Fox’s character. Despite the fact that she is far beyond his league, it turns out that he has no intention of sharing a life with her, as humorously revealed in the end.

Motherlover (Season 34)

In another amusing team-up by Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake for an SNL Digital Short, they reprise their iconic roles to perform a song titled “Motherlover.” This catchy number is centered around the idea of finding the ideal Mother’s Day gift – dating each other’s mothers. Patricia Clarkson portrays Timberlake’s mom, while Susan Sarandon appears as Samberg’s, who surprisingly has never hosted Saturday Night Live.

Doogie Howser Theme (Season 34)

During his stint as host on Saturday Night Live (SNL), Neil Patrick Harris was recognized for portraying Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother series, but he initially gained prominence by playing the lead character of Doogie Howser M.D. In this SNL Digital Short, he revisits his past fame by singing the famous theme song from Doogie Howser M.D., with the cast accompanying him on instruments while dressed as the young medical prodigy.

Iran So Far (Season 33)

Titled “Iran So Far”, this R&B music video features Andy Samberg expressing his affection towards former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (portrayed by Fred Armisen). The sketch, originally aired on Saturday Night Live, was a response to Ahmadinejad’s statement denying the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran. The digital short also includes Adam Levine from Maroon 5 singing the chorus, which is reminiscent of A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran”, and a brief appearance by Jake Gyllenhaal, who is referenced in Samberg’s rap.

2025-01-14 20:08