Lazy Sunday

Background:

Comedian Andy Samberg, a member of the comedy troupe “The Lonely Island,” is popular among TV viewers as a featured player on the hit NBC sketch comedy/variety show "Saturday Night Live" (aka "SNL"), which he joined in 2005. During his stint on the show, the comic became an overnight star thanks to the hit digital shorts "Lazy Sunday" and "D*** In A Box," which aired on the holiday episodes of "Saturday Night Live." He has since crossed over to film and has appeared in "Hot Rod" (2007), "Space Chimps" (2008; voice), and "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" (2008). He will next be seen in the upcoming films "I Love You, Man" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (voice).

“If someone wants to think I'm good-looking, then great, but I certainly don't. I know that's not my biggest strength and not the foot I want to put forward.” Andy Samberg

The 5' 10" Emmy-winning funny man was in the 2006 issue of People Magazine's “Hottest Bachelors.” He ranked 33rd for “The Most Overrated of 2007” in Radar magazine’s “The Hyde Report” and was selected as one of People Magazine's “Hottest Bachelors of Summer 2008.” He was rumored to be dating actress Kirsten Dunst in 2006.

“It’s weird to have people so interested in your personal life. It’s a part of the business that grosses me out. I’m always bummed out for people who just happen to be dating a celebrity and they’re also famous and they can’t live their life.” Andy Samberg

Ardy

Childhood and Family:

“When I was growing up, I was into movies like ‘Ace Ventura’ and ‘Billy Madison’ and ‘Airplane.’ You know, movies where it’s like, ‘Welcome to Crazy World!’ That to me was so refreshing and freeing, that people actually made a whole movie about bulls***.” Andy Samberg

In Berkeley, California, David Andrew Samberg, nicknamed Ardy, was born on August 18, 1978. Son of a photographer father and an elementary school teacher mother named Marjorie, Samberg has two sisters. He attended Berkeley High School and graduated in 1996. He then enrolled in the NYU (New York University) Film School and the University of California as a film student.

“Going from being totally anonymous to even sort of famous is a big adjustment. It was definitely weird being like, ‘Hey, people know who I am.’ The world gets a little smaller. It feels a little like everywhere is your hometown, like you’re always bumping into someone who knows you.” Andy Samberg

Saturday Night Live

Career:

“I like things that are immature and offbeat and bizarre; random jokes, weird stuff, and stupid. Stupid is the highest compliment a person can pay to me.” Andy Samberg

A former student at the NYU (New York University) Film School, Andy Samberg, whose first theatrical experience was when he played Daddy Warbucks in a third grade production of “Annie,” began his career as an entry-level production assistant on the ABC sitcom starring Michael J. Fox, “Spin City.” Along with childhood friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, he formed the comedy filmmakers group “The Lonely Island” in 2001 and began creating short films for a website. With “The Lonely Island,” Samberg was seen in such short comedies as "White Power" (2001) and "Regarding Ardy" (2003). He also appeared in "Comedy Central Laughs for Life Telethon 2004" (2004) and co-wrote, with Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, various award shows, including the 2004 and 2005 "MTV Movie Awards." Additionally, Samberg was spotted as a guest in an episode of Fox’s sitcom "Arrested Development."

In 2005, Fox commissioned “The Lonely Island” to create a pilot for a new series called “Awesometown.” However, the low-budget sketch comedy program never aired. Another pilot was made for MTV, which was also rejected due to its content.

“I used to stay up at night and sneak into the TV room, past my parents who were asleep, to watch ‘Saturday Night’s Main Event.’ That’s how I started watching ‘SNL’ on accident.” Andy Samberg

That same year in the fall, Samberg, who had dreamed of appearing on “Saturday Night Live” since he was 8, finally joined the hit NBC sketch show as a featured player, alongside newcomers Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis and Kristin Wiig. At the same time, his fellow “The Lonely Island” members Jorna Taccone and Akiva Schaffer were hired as writers.

"I think, in a certain sense, everyone that's new is doing well. I have nothing to compare it to, but it certainly feels like there's been a sense of excitement all through this season." Andy Samberg (on the new season of "Saturday Night Live")

Samberg subsequently costarred in the popular digital short “Lazy Sunday” with “Saturday Night Live” cast member Chris Parnell. The digital short would become a huge Internet sensation and gain the #1 spot on YouTube after airing on the holiday episodes of "Saturday Night Live." He recalled, “'Lazy Sunday' was watched over 5 million times [before NBC pulled it from YouTube]. This one was able to take off even more because NBC posted it themselves on YouTube.”

During his SNL tenure, Samberg performed stand-up on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” show and was reunited with “The Lonely Island” for the comedic game show "Channel 101" (2006). In the following year, he co-starred with Eduardo Alvarado, Rob Delaney, and James Vogel in the 16-minute short comedy film "Nature of the Beast" (2007). He also played the lead role of self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Kimble, a part originally intended for Will Ferrell, in "Hot Rod" (2007), a comedy film written by Pam Brady and directed by “Lonely Island” member Akiva Schaffer that also featured Sissy Spacek, Jorma Taccone, Will Arnett, Danny R. McBride, Ian McShane, Isla Fisher, and Bill Hader.

“If anyone feels the way about ‘Hot Rod’ that I felt about the comedies I liked growing up, I feel like it’s a success. It will get bad reviews. Comedy is traditionally not reviewed that well. I was excited for (the well-received) ‘Knocked Up.’ Any time people give it up for comedy, it’s a victory.” Andy Samberg (on “Hot Rod”)

In 2008, Samberg lent his voice to the character of Ham III, the grandson of the first chimpanzee in space, to the computer animated science fiction comedy film "Space Chimps" and its video game version. He also had an unaccredited role in Peter Sollett's romantic teen comedy film based on the novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist," starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings. Additionally, he guest starred in two episodes of MTV’s sketch comedy show "Human Giant" and appeared in a Super Bowl XLII Pepsi commercial featuring Justin Timberlake.

Samberg has completed his latest film project, "I Love You, Man," a comedy written and directed by John Hamburg starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. He is currently filming "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," an animated film adaptation of a 1982 children's book written by author Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. In the film, he will provide his voice alongside Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader, and James Caan.

“I’m trying to take it really slow, especially because it’s been happening really, really fast. I went from collecting unemployment to starring in a movie in a little over two years. It’s insane.” Andy Samberg (on his career)

More recently, in 2009, Samberg and “The Lonely Island” released an album called "Incredibad" through Universal Republic Records.

“Everyone who has gambled on keeping the three of us together, so far it’s gone well. We figured it couldn’t hurt to see how long we could ride it.” Andy Samberg (on continuing to work with Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer)

Awards:

• Emmy: Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, "Saturday Night Live," 2007