The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
Episode: Golden Girls Theme
Date: January 13, 2026
Overview
In this lively episode, Seth Meyers reunites with all three members of The Lonely Island—Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone—for a nostalgic, hilarious, and often delightfully chaotic deep-dive into their SNL and post-SNL adventures. They reminisce about awards season, listener feedback, inside jokes, and ensemble hijinks, capping off with a discussion of the "Golden Girls Theme" SNL Digital Short from the legendary Betty White episode. Along the way, they roast each other, brainstorm oddball merch ideas, and debate the ever-expanding "Criterion Collection" of their iconic shorts.
Main Discussion Points and Insights
Reunited and Recharged (00:00–05:00)
- The entire original group is back together after some episodes apart, marking the first time all four hosts have been together for a while.
- Jorma debuts a new, jokingly "explosive" podcast theme that draws laughs and becomes a running bit about "classic Lonely Island."
- The group teases each other about their caffeine (Red Bull) consumption, sleep deprivation, and adjusting after the holidays.
Awards Season & SNL Nostalgia (02:40–10:25)
- Congrats to Akiva: He wins a Critics’ Choice Award for "Naked Gun CC8."
“Best comedy. Eat shit, Tim Robinson.” — Andy Samberg (02:51) - Andy and Seth reminisce about hosting the Golden Globes and joke about the new podcast category at the awards.
- Hilarity ensues about how live events treat podcast nominees, logistics of plus-ones, and their desire for nomination solely to attend and party.
Listener Feedback and Community Bits (14:12–22:00)
- Seth reads highlights from listener comments—including amusing critiques and observations about past listener Q&A episodes, various recurring digressions (burrito brain, eating on mic), and fan-made challenge coins for “Quaid Army.”
- Ongoing debate about podcast hosts eating on mic and the resulting in-jokes around “burrito brain” and “apple chew” energy.
Awards Shows, Fans, and Celebrity Surprises (09:00–13:31)
- Akiva recounts chance encounters at Critics' Choice:
- Meeting actor Jacob Elordi, who stops his entourage to tell Akiva how much he loves "I'm On a Boat" and pirated "Hot Rod" in college (12:52).
- Discussion of how overwhelmingly friendly awards events can be for "middle-tier" celebs and the insider fun of seeing old SNL cast and crew.
- The group reflects on the power of their work resonating with such a wide array of people, including A-listers.
Notable Quote
“It made my day. It made my week. I was so happy about it, because, you know, I’m a Saltburn head. You know that.”
— Akiva (13:21)
Merch and In-Joke Brainstorming (34:57–37:30)
- Proposes fan-driven merchandise based on inside jokes with pitches like:
- “Not a Gonk/Yes a Gonk” shirt (goose front/gnome back)
- “Too Burrito-Brained to Winter Soldier”
- “SNL Digital Short” in original font.
- Touches on the joy of community-driven humor:
“I think I would wear a T-shirt that said ‘Too Burrito-Brained to Winter Soldier.’ That makes me very happy.” — Andy (35:38)
SNL Digital Shorts "Criterion" Debates (45:15–51:14)
- Deep, tongue-in-cheek arguments over which shorts belong in their “Criterion” (all-time classic), “Kim’s Video” (cult/fan faves), or even new “Laser Cats” (runaway weirdness) categories.
- Friendly roasting and meta self-awareness over the sheer volume of time they spend categorizing their own work.
- Listener and guest input (from past episodes with Questlove and Lin-Manuel Miranda) shapes the ongoing selection process.
Notable Quote
“I’ll be honest. I’m embarrassed for having talked about it this long.”
— Andy (50:54)
Revisiting Listener and SNL Memories (54:58–57:46)
- Listeners’ favorite usages for “Karate Guy,” discussions of SNL’s influence on subsequent viral content (e.g., Sexy Saxman), and the delight in how their jokes—like “challenge coins”—take on lives of their own among fans.
Iconic Episode: Betty White SNL and "Golden Girls Theme" (59:01–67:27)
- Background: Reminisces about the historic 2010 Betty White SNL episode, noting it was the only time the internet successfully campaigned for a host, much to Lorne Michaels’ surprise.
- Betty’s vibrant energy at age 88, her legendary afterparty hotdog and vodka combo.
- Lorne bringing back Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, and others for a Mother’s Day celebration.
- Memorable moments: Kenan and Betty White’s chemistry in a “Scared Straight” sketch; Michael O’Brien’s infamous, unaired “Unicorn” sketch with Betty.
- Golden Girls Theme Digital Short:
- The short is discussed as a sweet but ultimately “limp” parody, seen as derivative of their earlier “Doogie Howser” and “Tizzle Wizzle” shorts.
- Honest criticism but appreciation for the all-cast effort, with Andy’s “serious face” during the saccharine lead-in especially praised.
- Jokes about who gets left out of group singalongs and the oddities of SNL production needs (e.g., shorts timed just right for set changes).
Notable Quotes
“She had a hot dog and vodka at the afterparty.”
— Seth (59:56)
“I think both [Golden Girls Theme and Tizzle Wizzle] serve as maybe a little bit of a detriment. Has a little bit of Doogie Howser, has a little bit of Tizzle Whistle. And much worse of both.”
— Akiva (64:04)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Awards:
- “Best comedy. Eat shit, Tim Robinson.” — Andy (02:51)
- “I bet the podcast tables are front and fucking center.” — Andy (05:37)
On Celebrity Encounters:
- “I gotta meet you...I’m On a Boat is his karaoke song. He used to bittorrent Hot Rod…” — Jacob Elordi to Akiva (12:51)
On Podcast Fan Culture:
- “For all the fan. For all the fan. For all the fan.” — Running joke about their allegedly huge podcast audience (07:44)
- “Two Burrito-Brained to Winter Soldier.” — T-shirt brainstorm (35:26)
On SNL Nostalgia:
- “I mean, it was. Nothing was more fun than listening to O’Brien go off about Betty White.” — Seth (62:30)
On the “Golden Girls Theme” Short:
- “It’s fine. What are you so mad about, Ke? Nothing wrong with that.” — Andy (66:31)
- “You sell the shit out of it.” — Seth to Andy, re: his “sincere face” (64:32)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–02:10: Reunion, new theme, caffeine jokes
- 02:40–05:00: Awards and Golden Globes banter
- 09:00–13:31: Akiva’s celeb encounters, especially Jacob Elordi
- 14:12–22:00: Listener feedback, recurring bits (burrito brain, coin gifts)
- 34:57–37:30: Merch and inside joke brainstorms
- 45:15–51:14: “Criterion” debates—song vs. sketch, guest input
- 59:01–63:07: Betty White episode background, SNL oral history
- 63:08–67:27: Discussion and “live” screening of "Golden Girls Theme"
Tone and Style Notes
The tone throughout is unfailingly playful, improvisational, and self-deprecating, echoing the in-joke-laden, digressive vibe of their SNL heyday. Nostalgia and comic energy fuel the discussion, with moments of sincerity (especially regarding Betty White), interspersed with meta-commentary and in-character banter. They frequently break into bits, roast one another, and invite the audience into their secret language of “Quaid Army,” “burrito brain,” and Criterion-obsessed neuroses.
Conclusion
For long-time fans of The Lonely Island, SNL, or comedy-writing process, this episode is a treasure trove of affectionate roasts, detailed behind-the-scenes stories, and sharp, absurd tangents. The hosts demonstrate why internet fan culture (and the world of podcasting) remains such fertile ground for both nostalgia and invention, with sharp wit and genuine camaraderie keeping the marathon conversation engaging right to the end.
For More
- Follow along with inside jokes by browsing archived SNL Digital Shorts.
- Join the “Quaid Army” by submitting your own challenge coin or T-shirt idea.
- Revisit the original Betty White SNL episode for maximum context.