The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast

Episode: “Threw it on the Ground” – August 19, 2025

Guests:

• The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone)
• Host: Seth Meyers
• Special guests: Stephanie Beatriz and Jonah Hill

Overview

This episode dives deep into the conception, creation, and legacy of The Lonely Island’s SNL Digital Short “Threw It On the Ground.” The conversation is filled with heartfelt (and hilarious) behind-the-scenes stories, playful roasting, and recurring inside jokes, with tangents into SNL lore, gearhead cinematography, celebrity cameos, and the joy of absurd musical comedy. Special guests Stephanie Beatriz and Jonah Hill add warmth, comedy, and further show the reach and affection the group’s work has had. The hosts also touch on other sketches from the Ryan Reynolds SNL episode and reflect on what makes “Threw It On the Ground” enduringly quotable and beloved.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Stephanie Beatriz’s Casting Story (00:17–07:05)

• Stephanie’s initial callback for “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” with Andy Samberg
  • “They told me my callback was going to be with Andy, and I was like, ‘Oh, no, I'm not going to get it. Because I was – I threw it on the ground. I’m not a part of your system.’” – Stephanie Beatriz (00:29)
• Method and transformation for the role of Rosa
  • Stephanie describes how she shifted her voice and demeanor to fit the archetype the script called for—originally written for a “fiery redhead named Meghan of Irish descent,” which Stephanie humorously notes she is not.
  • “I could see the archetypes that were molded into the script... my choice was black leather jacket, black boots, and the deepening of the voice.” – Stephanie (02:45)
• Chemistry reads and the audition process
  • Joking about Andy's "dead fish" chemistry test.
  • “If Andy doesn’t have it, he just gets up and storms out.” – Akiva (01:14)
• Industry Tangents
  • Discussion about Comic Con, Encanto’s success, and what kids are saying these days (“you chomped” vs. “you ate”).

2. Pop Culture Catch-Ups and Tangents (07:13–19:19)

• Discussions on recent works and Comic Con events, fandoms (K Pop Demon Hunters), kids' reactions to projects, and in-jokes about how fast youth slang shifts.
• Classic riffing on “Modern Family” and problematic old sitcom tropes.

3. Jonah Hill’s Drop-In and “Threw It On the Ground” Fandom (19:08–23:58)

• Jonah Hill accidentally drops in on Zoom, effusively praises “Threw It On the Ground,” tying it to backpack-rap parody and “science rap.”
  • “It’s so dope for the backpack rap, fat beats, heads like me... mocking what I call science rap... That’s why I love when you get so specific.” – Jonah Hill (19:39)
• Jonah launches into an absurd, faux-naive explanation of the “Dave Chappelle Show,” which leads to a classic multi-person riff on comedy sketch formats.
• Light, meta banter about podcast editing and accidental Zoom invites.

4. Discussing the “Threw It On the Ground” Digital Short: Origins & Production (33:11–45:08)

• The Beat, the Camera, the Backstory
  • The group traces the idea’s roots to Akiva’s obsession with the Phantom Camera (super slo-mo tech used in “The Hurt Locker”) and Drew Campbell’s beat.
  • “I wanted to see things blow up in slow motion!” – Akiva (35:38)
  • The character’s genesis: a satire of self-righteous, “anti-system” backpack hip hop culture.
  • “It’s almost like hip hop slam poetry, really up its own butt… the co-opted version.” – Jorma (36:55)
• Music and Visual Choices
  • Realization the song/video “wouldn’t make sense” on an album.
  • Costume and archetype: Andy as the pseudo-revolutionary, explained as Bay Area/hipster counterculture.
  • “He’s maybe the worst dude… you are rooting against this guy immediately.” – Seth (37:28)
• Quotable, Understated, & Absurd Moments
  • The “not my dad, this is a cell phone” line emerged as an intentional, old-school, simple joke—a hallmark of the group’s style.

5. In-Depth: Watching and Breaking Down the Video (45:26–77:01)

• On Visuals & Style
  • They explain the difficulty of making thrown objects explode in slo-mo and the practical challenges (e.g., needing tons of light for the Phantom).
  • “It gives it this kind of golden hue… because the camera needs so much light at that speed.” – Andy (51:00)
• Beat-by-Beat Commentary
  • From the “energy drink scene” establishing the character’s anti-corporate posturing, to the infamous “hot dog stand” (love of junk food undermining his holier-than-thou stance), to the instantly iconic “not my dad, this is a cell phone” (60:25).
  • Special attention to the absurd escalation to “tase you in the butthole” (71:50+), which is debated as possibly the best joke in the short alongside “happy birthday to the ground.”
  • Nostalgic and affectionate shout-outs to cameo players (Jenny Slate, Ryan Reynolds, Elijah Wood) and to the visual/wardrobe inspirations (e.g., Andy’s “pre-Andor” fashion).
  • The Phantom camera’s impact—becoming a mini-sensation in the short, and even showcased by the camera company at trade shows.
• Audience Impact and Unexpected Kid Fandom
  • “We were not expecting this to be much. And then slowly it started becoming a thing… It’s the most quoted one to you… and that and ‘happy birthday to the ground.’” – Akiva (75:03)
  • “Every kid’s dream is to just immediately embrace your worst instincts… I just want to take what you did and throw it on the ground.” – Seth (75:38)
  • The video’s popularity at live shows and the glee of audiences singing “butthole” en masse.

6. Sidebar: Sketches from the Ryan Reynolds Episode (41:01–44:46, 77:01–end)

• Seth enthuses about underseen sketches like “Blendafresh25,” “Norwegian Actors Playhouse,” and others.
• Nostalgic highlights (sketches with Lady Gaga and Madonna), favorite moments on SNL, and observations about European interpretations of American pop culture.
• Playful ribbing about wardrobe choices, including “Common”-inspired hats and the iconic “pre-Andor” vest.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephanie Beatriz, on audition anxiety (00:29):
  “I threw it on the ground. I’m not a part of your system. I mean, I was fully in it.”
• Akiva Schaffer, on casting chemistry reads (01:27):
  “Even joking about it gives me hives.”
• Jonah Hill, on “Threw It On the Ground” (19:39):
  “That is why it is very specific. The kind of rap song you’re mocking is what I call science rap...”
• Akiva Schaffer, on the video’s origin (35:38):
  “Because I wanted to see things blow up in slow motion.”
• Andy Samberg, on the character’s hypocrisy (37:36):
  “He’s kind of every troll on the Internet now.”
• Seth Meyers, on relatability (75:38):
  “It is a really fun thing. Well, I think it's like every kid's dream, right, is to just like, immediately embrace your worst instincts with an interaction.”
• Akiva Schaffer, describing fan reactions (76:48):
  “It would be one of my favorite moments of every concert… it’s a very quotable, easy one to sing along to and they would be like ‘butthole’ over and over…”
• Akiva Schaffer, summarizing the surprise appeal (75:03):
  “We were not expecting this to be much… It’s a very quotable, easy one to sing along to…”
• Jorma, on the “not my dad, this is a cell phone” joke’s simplicity (61:36):
  “I remember you having a problem with it.”
• Seth, on underwhelming visuals (65:35):
  “It’s so funny how underwhelming it is.”
• Group, fandom and live shows (76:48):
  Andy: “And they would be like, ‘butthole’ over and over. And it’d be 10,000 people saying it word for word. And it would be so funny.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:17–07:05: Stephanie Beatriz on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” casting, audition stories, and the art of transformation.
• 19:08–23:58: Jonah Hill’s unexpected drop-in; “Threw It On the Ground” backpack-rap appreciation; Chappelle’s Show meta-joke.
• 33:11–45:08: Birth of the digital short; Phantom camera inside scoop; establishing the archetypal character.
• 45:26–77:01: Scene-by-scene deconstruction of “Threw It On the Ground,” focusing on technical, comedic, and performance choices.
• 60:25: “Not my dad, this is a cell phone”—breakdown of the line’s origins and why it resonates.
• 71:50+: The “tase you in the butthole” section—debating best line status, audience joy, and alternate endings.
• 77:10–end: SNL sketches reminisce—“Norwegian Actors Playhouse” and more, celebratory closing shoutouts.

Tone and Vibe

The overall tone is loose, self-deprecating, and affectionate—a balance of comedy nerd energy, longstanding friendship, and irreverent, affectionate ribbing. There’s a genuine sense of gratitude for the fans, surprise at the longevity and quotability of their sillier material, and great warmth toward collaborators past and present.

In Summary

This episode is equal parts oral history, comedy clinic, and friendship hangout. Whether you’re an SNL or Lonely Island fan, a music video diehard, or just curious how an absurdist viral short became a minor generational anthem, this is a rich, engaging listen—full of behind-the-scenes insight, pop culture nostalgia, and plenty of “butthole” jokes sung by thousands. The group’s signature style—a blend of sharp parody, technical cleverness, and unapologetic goofiness—has rarely been better dissected, celebrated, and roasted.

Final words:
“Love you guys.” – Everyone, multiple times, as is Lonely Island tradition.
“Later, Quades.” – (81:13) Sharon Stone, in a delightful concluding cameo.