Iran So Far Away | The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast Episode 23

[@xcrates]

They need to replace Andy's picture with one of Frisbee. He'll never know

[@MaximumEfficiency]

They need to make videos instead of boring podcasts

[@SamudraFlavorsYT]

@@MaximumEfficiencythey arent 20 anymore

[@Alexis-iq7lz]

This amount of non-toxic masculinity and pure love and talent is just beautiful. Thanks for always making us laugh! ❤

[@NotAnotherDouc-]

This podcast has more SNL-universe lore in it than any other three episodes combined, and I’m only 16 minutes in. - Jason being good at basketball and getting a point on Lebron - Lebron’s crew that all later became famous themselves - Like 8 different Kanye anecdotes that all slap - Andy actually being on stage for the infamous Taylor Swift moment - The background on the first ever Adam Levine/Lonely Island collab Edit like 3 minutes later: - Hilarious Lorne anecdote - Kanye sampled the Lonely Island’s beat?!?!? - Jorm getting in hot water for illegally sampling a beat

[@dianaashkevari28]

Not to get sappy in the KZbin comments section, but as a young queer Iranian I remember watching “Iran so far away” when I was younger and laughing till I cried. It was the first time that I felt seen and I thought to myself that “oh they know about us”. Thank you for this.

[@keysersoze111]

Not to get too sappy in a reply, but behind all the fun and beauty of this short is the screamed message WE SEE YOU. Of course there are gay and queer people in Iran and every other country, and no one is buying the words of a bigot trying to deny their humanity and their very EXISTENCE.

[@ngr_nj]

im from iran and just wanna say thanks jorm for the right pronunciation 😂 and also that was the best way to roast Ahmadinejad and we enjoyed it so much cuz honestly all we did during his run was making fun of the guy he was the worst 😂

[@NoName-md5zb]

What is right pronunciation? I know some people say "I ran". I presume its not correct?

[@CrispusWaterman]

​@@NoName-md5zb more like "Ear-On"

[@Kordling]

@@NoName-md5zb it's "E - run"

[@dancoyle6911]

E-rahn

[@ghost91698]

Its spelled incorrectly. Iran in English is an I. If they want us to pronounce it right. They should spell it right. Eran doesnt spell Iran.

[@MikeMeehan]

The lyrics are also so impeccably composed in tandem with the music. "So strong to me, you belong to me" goes organically with the piano, and then that little fast flourish happens and here is where each syllable of "like a very hairy Jake Gyllenhaal to me" fits so comfortably. When I got Incredibad, my top complaint was no Iran So Far Away. Definitely in my top 5 of all time.

[@JSelby]

And to your point about Incredibad, I remember an interview where they said the sampling issues they got into here were why they couldn’t put it on

[@Kordling]

As an Iranian i was waiting for this episode for so long 😂

[@sherinameless1618]

As a tween sports enthusiastic who is obsessed with outdated technology, this is my favorite podcast that also deals with old digital shorts. My demographic group always buys the stuff promoted in sponsored content, so your marketing research was spot on.

[@Lauren-mz2dh]

This podcast is the only reason I’ve gotten anything done in the last couple months and I wish that was a joke. For every ounce Andy hates the format I actually gain an ounce of strength.

[@miguelg9497]

One of my favorites. The singing was one of the best from Andy for the digital shorts. Fred being so unserious. Adam leading the kids choir. One of my favorite things is when Andy’s go all out dancing in the end of this one and the next one coming up punching people while eating.

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

This podcast makes my life better. Thank you for every laugh.😂❤

[@hazalbulut5809]

My all time favourite Lonely Island song, and I rewatch it regularly honestly

[@primis82]

Also Andy is smokin in this, it's not just the outfits but the attitude too 😍

[@jessf_]

I was always reluctant to say that this one was one of my favourite lonely island shorts, because I was under the impression that it wasn’t a popular one, but hearing that it was voted 2nd has made me decide that it could very possibly be my favourite one.

[@DaddyFatherDad]

It's crazy how much better the podcast is when Seth loves the short

[@skylerhurt]

So honored to have been in the live audience for this one. You can hear my WOO at the end of the “but we’re in NY now baby” shot! It also gets me emotional 🥺🥲

[@SeanMacadelic]

Even if it’s by proxy… you’re an absolute legend

[@inevera3530]

I was a teenager in iran when that song came out and it did mean a lot, it was so funny and made me so happy to see people who will not suffer the consequences make fun of the leaders

[@Orangefan77]

Ad ends at 22:10

[@primis82]

I loved this episode so much and I still get emotional watching the short too ❤❤❤

[@kolorytoweoke]

My favourite SNL skatch of all times. Amazing comedy

[@aaronlinnemann5655]

Hey guys we seriously need “Iran So Far” with a studio mix

[@bellalast3256]

I don't normally listen to podcasts but I can't get enough of this one.

[@Hazzie2damax]

I'm so glad Seth and the guys all voted for this as #1 in the bracket, because I could not believe it didn't win! It is by far the best digital short and so so deeply silly and melodic, I couldn't love it more!

[@kendraabatsis1449]

WOW I CANNOT BELIEVE I FORGOT ABOUT THIS SKETCH! I remember being obsessed and it's so great to hear you guys talk about it. AND hearing you talk about my favorite parts that i feel like no one else remembered, like the piano hand flop. I still do that when songs have a piano note like that!

[@juijev192]

One of my favs, still sing it from time to time, just so funny

[@Ver69]

im so glad these legends are posting again and their podcasts are hilarious! best of luck

[@Julian-Yuki]

I bet after this episode Alphex Twin "Avril 14" skyrocketed on Spotify. I for one, can't stop listen to. Good job Jorma. It is way better than it should've been. I completely understand why Kanye West was inspired. Yours it's better though. And not for nothing, this kinda kick-started Lonely Island music career. They did sketches with music before, but the music was meant to serve the sketch, to be a joke. After "Iran So Far Away", they really started to do songs that blurred the line, songs that I would listen in the car.

[@philryan9038]

I've listened to this short 4 times tonight. That hook is just... chef's kiss.

[@samara1655]

You have young listeners…my 14 year old daughter loves this podcast - as do I. Wish I could have typed this on a Blackberry qwerty 😉

[@JuliePepperell]

My favourite podcast episode so far ❤ and all of them have been a joy to listen to. This all takes me back. Thanks guys! Keep it up please.

[@heyvickijakes]

I love that you put the links in the notes - THANK YOU

[@sherinameless1618]

Seth's photo for this one looks like he's a haughty, but also possibly insane, British guy who invited the others to an island (a lonely one) where they will be killed off one by one. It's "And Then There Were Less Than None: the podcast."

[@y5mgisi]

Thank you guys for making Monday less lame. Really enjoy the show. Even if Andy doesn't like podcasts... 😅

[@AdamWick01]

My favourite podcast

[@xcrates]

It looks like Andy and Seth are sid eyeing eachother. They need to put a picture of Frisbee inbetween them

[@LivLaRaj]

"Iran So Far Away" did hit me emotionally in real time; It's a crime I haven't given one extra thought to it until this podcast. *Also 49:04 you can find Poehler's Lois Ernenpooch (sic) & Lebron sketch as an extra in The Best of Amy Poehler DVD (2010).

[@Driftwoodbaby]

this is my favorite musical short I find myself humming, also space olympics. my favorite sketch from the show was when jason sudeikis is a school counselor and lebron is saying he wants to go to college and jason tries to talk him out of it. I used to say the line "you know who went to college? I did!" all the time

[@Vermiliongod22]

I love Mondays now because of this pod! Thank you guys!

[@hmoore625]

I’ve been waiting for this one. Thrilled it was a love fest 👏

[@AngelaIshere11]

I agree with Seth. Andy declaring that he’s in New York now also made me emotional. So much has changed in the last 17 years that this today milquetoast statement was really powerful. And still is!!!!

[@MilesTheGecko]

I have a Big Apple Times games question for Seth and Andy. Have you guys played the new game strands??? Loving the pod!

[@GinoZump]

The song was also in the ending credits of Four Lions. Such a gorgeously composed track.

[@thaislimx]

about when andy said he liked jorm's optimism about you guys having younger listeners, well, i don't know how young you guys were thinking about but i'm 22 (been a fan of all of you guys since i was like 16 btw) and i listen to you guys weekly while driving to and from work! also i'm from brazil and some of my friends from here also listen to the podcast so that's a whole other demographic you probably didn't know you had!

[@canadaclaret]

Big ups to the Blackberry movie! Excellent. I watched it in Waterloo a couple of blocks from the very Bank of Montréal they visit in the movie to get a loan.

[@welle9262]

I’m just getting caught up, and I heard we can leave questions on here. This isn’t a question-just a comment. Hot Rod is one of mine and my husband’s shows. We quote it at least once a day, and You’re The Voice is the song we play as we drive our kids to school. We love it! Love the pod. It’s so fun to learn more about SNL and how it all works. Have a great day!

[@m1975k]

Young listener here.... thank you for the education on the Blackberry and on Chris Dodd.

[@ft90702]

Taye diggs, taylor lautner, and Taylor swift in just a couple minutes. Amazing.

[@rekhaajr9509]

I love the insight about the writers/cast basketball games it reminds me of the commercial parody for air force one. 😂 Also, Seth and Amy did a 'Really' about Kanye after the Taylor Swift incident. Maybe that's why he was upset and wrote fuck SNL??? Anyways love you guys.

[@ScissorKickPro]

Love this so much. Kinda shocked the red dress was not mentioned! ❤

[@ericolson326]

This was a genuinely cute look for Fred.

[@JesseWhittaker]

Question/request for the podcast from a young-ish listener who loves word games: Getting Queen Bee with no hints in Spelling Bee is just mind-boggling to me. Could Andy elaborate on his process?

[@tonytanti2510]

For a guy who hates podcasts Andy is amazing in the medium. Love your show, I'm already sad that one day you'll run out of digital shorts to talk about.

[@MickeyBeach]

Sitting here in the burbs of Kansas City hearing "Shawnee Mission West, home of the Vikings". Hadn't seen that clip before. Kind of funny they pulled that school out of a hat.

[@theendicanda]

44:18 the way i’m overjoyed to have these beautiful cis straight men defend my rights

[@AquarianSoulTimeTraveler]

You belong to me like a very hairy Jake Gyllenhaal to me lol 🤣

[@bricked2343]

Hot Rod defined how my friends and I talked to each other in high school. Haha

[@xo.d_munii]

just to confirm, there ARE younger listeners but we're still old enough to be here😂

[@wdstrut]

Seth is right: “I know you say there are no gays in Iran… but you’re in New York now baby” is likely the greatest shot in SNL history. Seth is wrong: the second best part of Iran So Far is Fred seductively mouthing “… I’m trippin’ too.”

[@wdstrut]

Also I know it’s not likely, but Sergio “the curse,” is💯my #1.

[@ghost__chips]

@@wdstrut mine too, you have great taste

[@hamburger9335]

Lots of Jorm in this one 🔥🔥🔥

[@canadaclaret]

Here's a question for the four of you: Have any of you ever had any ordinary (non-show business) jobs? And, if you did, did they contribute to your comedy?

[@katebell1974]

Hi Lonely Island and Seth! First I wanna say that I’m 28 so I vividly remember watching SNL during this era and without a doubt I agree with Seth about this being “a golden era”. So many hitters and so much classic stuff came out of this time. But I do have a question for you guys. So you’ve mentioned before that your stuff couldn’t be called The Lonely Island, but now SNL has Please Don’t Destroy, and their stuff is specifically theirs. So is there a reason for this, or is it more so that it’s just trying to draw an audience from their already established stuff? Or did you guys just start out before being able you put yourself out on a platform like KZbin under your own name? Love the podcast!

[@TheHezzaT]

OMG I commentated on a previous video that Jorm was the GOAT at producing and this just confirms I was right! Kanye literally stole your beat for that Blame Game, which is crazzzyyyy! I'm sure he stole the idea for All Of The Lights from Shy Ronnie 1 (Fire and Ice) too! Then the fact you basically wrote the script for that VMA thing is even crazier. Think a collaboration album with you guys is the only way to save his career now.

[@farshadevil1]

I love that every time they say "Ahmadinejad" they pronounce it wrong in a different way. my favorite is Seth at 25:56

[@oliviaquerzoli]

we need an episode on popstar. it is the greatest movie ever made

[@kazinwho]

Never heard this one before, this song absolutely fucks.

[@francesbigelow]

Not to be a jackal on the podcast, but Seth seems to have forgotten that he and Amy did a Really?!? about the Kanye-Taylor incident, which I'd imagine pissed him off, as well. I did a quick Google search to double-check and found a Vulture article from 2010 explaining the reference, and it was VERY jarring in 2024 to realize how staunchly pro-Kanye and anti-Taylor Swift and SNL they were. I'm loving the podcast, and this is one of my favorite shorts, also!

[@Gael78II]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one hanging on to my qwerty phone for dear life. I went more of the Android route though, with the Droid 2, 4 etc. Then I had the BlackBerry phones (Priv, Key2) with Android OS and held onto those as long as I humanly could until they were too slow. It was a sad day when I had to get a regular touch only phone.

[@AquarianSoulTimeTraveler]

We don't like sports and we don't care who knows lol 🤣

[@gmoney101896]

My question is, have you 3 ever considered writing and releasing a book? Like about each digital short and your years at SNL, and all your other works and cool stuff? That would be amazing! It would instantly be a hit! Also question 2, how can I get a signed edition!

[@IMostlyBlameMyself]

This question is for the whole gang-bangery. Robert Deneiro, RIP, famously said “1 for you, 2 for me.” how many sketches were for you? and how many were catered to what you thought SNL would want?

[@Sbouchère-q8x]

Question - What were akiva and jorma’s official jobs at SNL? Listened to the first podcast episode and can’t pick it up and i’m super curious. Huge, Huge fans of you guys, always wondered how the hell all your shorts got approved for NBC and listening to this podcast hasn’t cleared that in the slightest but still look forward to this podcast every monday.

[@BlazerRox]

This is a lame ass unrelated question, but what software are you using for the audio-reactive graphics?

[@tomcardy1]

I made the 2-spoc rap beat. Thanks for the podcast legends! kzbin.infoPKyN0I7LlAQ

[@GinoZump]

Im so sad we didnt get to see how well lit Seth was

[@ironman617]

Wow guys I just want to say this podcast has been amazing and I look forward to listening every week. I have a question for Seth though: why do you STINK?! Keep up the great guys, I love you all.

[@tracimathison20]

I loved my BlackBerry, miss it!!!

[@abogotar]

Love Jorma's fandom of Aphex Twin

[@tiannaboyes]

This episode was the first snl episode I’ve ever watched which is really random cuz I’m 14 (btw I watched the full episode)

[@mnchls]

love that the guys hammer home the fact that they (or Jorm at least) actually fuckin spoke to APHEX TWIN. i've always wondered how that sample got cleared for both initial broadcast and youtube and if i was the only one who had a hunch that Kanye (blech) got the idea to sample/interpolate "Avril 14th" from when he guested on that same SNL episode. any other huge IDM/drum'n'bass/techno/jungle heads up in here??

[@l0zz1em0zzi3]

I vividly remember my dad's friend showing us his first edition iphone and my dad said pretty much exactly what Seth said about it being a stupid idea that would never take off lol

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

I desperately want my qwerty phone keyboard back. I am technology challenged and dislike touch screens

[@TylerDurdenn1999]

Kinda same I still uses that keypad phones for calling only LoL and for listening to music

[@RinostarGames]

We're just 2 guyz who are having a good time and who like sportz.

[@illisagreenberg5057]

Hi Lonely Island! I’ve been a humongous fan since forever and I went to your show at Outsidelands like 5 years ago-I think you’ve said before that putting together a concert is super hard but any chance you would do anymore live shows? I need it

[@georgiaontap8823]

In the intro...Seth sounded like he just came from a Day Drinking taping.

[@AzureMenace]

Awesome !

[@cassidy9663]

Question for yall: are there any newer SNL sketches/shorts that you wish you wrote? Also, just wanted to say- I quote the blizzard man sketches all the time and always have to explain myself but it’s so worth it 😂

[@AquarianSoulTimeTraveler]

10 pointer lol 🤣

[@jmskabuki]

Here's a question about 30 Rock; you often talk about where things happened at 30 Rock and I'd like to know if there are specific smells ascociated with those locations that migh invoke strong memories if and when you return to visit? Like Higgins' office; Pimms and Espresso?

[@Fsant]

Oh man I miss using T9 typing where all I have to do is press the number that has the letter one time and it would auto guess the word I'm typing. I also used to type without looking

[@AquarianSoulTimeTraveler]

44:07 lol 🤣

[@reilley26]

My first smartphone had the slide out real keyboard. I kept it until it stopped working because touch screen keyboards just arent as good!

[@UnclePaulsTravelVlog]

Hey Jorm, Kiv, Seth and Frisbee! I was just wondering how Andy's pinky injury was doing after all these years, if Jorma still does "stompy time" from time to time, and what happened to the Brooke Sheild's love child and did it become the kid who plays young sheldon?

[@JonasPolsky]

Question for Seth: Since the Late Night band has been released from their bondage, will the Lonely Island record a single song to be played EVERY TIME a guest walks out?

[@SuvosreeDey-vq2wg]

WOZ IN THE HOOD IS INEVITABLE

[@shadowsaber415]

My father still has a Blackberry Seth, so you're only second to last!

[@rhysparkz4150]

Just turned 24. You do have "younger" listeners

[@tiannaboyes]

U FORGOT TO DO THE QUESTIONS

[@RinostarGames]

I'm just going to pretend they said how much it cost to license the sample because I asked that in the comments a couple of videos ago and not because duh of course they would talk about that.

[@starr_girlll]

Can you guys please do video podcast instead of only audio

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

I just found out Fred is in Fallout. I should have known he was coming after seeing Parnell with 1 eye and hearing Will Forte in the first episode. If Bill Hader isn't in season 2 I'll be disappointed

[@IJudgeYou]

Jorma as Hitler in kung fury 😂