You’re probably aware of the comedy trio of The Lonely Island. Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone have been making comedy rap songs for almost two decades now, famously appearing on multiple episodes of “Saturday Night Live.” However, in recent years, they’ve been a bit silent, each working on their own projects. But now, thanks to Netflix, the comedians are back with a “Lemonade”-style musical event, “The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience.”
And no, we didn’t just invoke the holiest of holy people, Beyoncé, for nothing. Much like her HBO special “visual album” from a few years back, “Bash Brothers’ is a similar idea, finding The Lonely Island men tackling a concept album through the use of various music videos. Except where Beyoncé tackled issues of infidelity and family, Samberg, Schaffer, and Taccone are covering the controversial Oakland A’s baseball players Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, aka The Bash Brothers.
If you’re not a fan of ‘80s/’90s Major League Baseball, you may not be aware of the Canseco/McGwire drama. But don’t worry, that’s where Lonely Island comes in. Through the use of hilarious songs (you can watch two below), the trio go over the entire saga of drugs, women, steroids, and baseball, in only the way they can. Joining them are Haim, Maya Rudolph, Hannah Simone, Jenny Slate, Jim O’Heir and Sterling K Brown as Sia.
“The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience” is on Netflix now.
Here’s the synopsis:
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Oakland Athletics’ 1989 championship season, The Lonely Island has allowed a greater power to speak through them and create a visual poem/ love letter to their childhood heroes: Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire AKA The Bash Brothers.
In a stunning act of artistry/ fandom, Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer (who were born to play Canseco and McGwire due to their equally muscular physiques), have gifted all of Netflix’s 190 countries with a 27 minute musical poem experience honoring The Bash Brothers, the Oakland A’s, and the game of baseball. Including special appearances from Haim, Maya Rudolph, Hannah Simone, Jenny Slate, Jim O’Heir and Sterling K Brown as Sia.
