Andy Samberg Leaves SNL
Andy Samberg has become the latest comedian to say goodbye to Saturday Night Live, according to a report by EW.
Samberg confirmed his departure in an interview with the New York Times on Friday, telling the paper, “It’s an incredibly emotional and strange moment in my life. Obviously it’s not a huge shock, but I did officially decide not to come back.”
After joining Saturday Night Live in 2005, Samberg collaborated with Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer to form a comedic rap group called Lonely Island. The trio was responsible for creation of the show’s viral faux-rap videos like “Lazy Sunday”, “I’m on a Boat”, and “I Just Had Sex”. Samberg also worked with Justin Timberlake to create two fake music videos, one about offering male appendages as packaged gifts.
Leaving the show was “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,” said Samberg, who added that his decision was helped by Kristen Wiig, the SNL veteran who ended her final season on the show with a bittersweet Rolling Stones sing-along.
Samberg said, “She kept saying it just feels like it’s her time. I connect with that. Something about it just feels like it’s the moment. My contract’s up and I did so much more than I ever thought I would ever even do.”
One the other hand, Samberg did not dash all hopes for more of those hilarious Lonely Island videos. Regarding the possibility for him and his buddies collaborating on another one, the former SNL comedian said, “That’s the kind of thing that I really do hope happens.”
