Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lonely Island Uncovers Inspiration Behind Iconic SNL Character Shy Ronnie
Lonely Island Uncovers Inspiration Behind Iconic SNL Character Shy Ronnie
3 Oct
Summary
- Shy Ronnie character inspired by goth son from HBO's Hung
- Samberg asked SNL stylists to differentiate Shy Ronnie's look from another character
- Samberg has "a lot of love" for Shy Ronnie, feels it represents "truth" in all of us
In a recent episode of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast, Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island bandmates Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone dive into the history of the iconic Saturday Night Live character Shy Ronnie. The digital short stars Rihanna as herself and Samberg as the mumbling, awkward Shy Ronnie.
Samberg reveals that Shy Ronnie's distinctive look, including braces, uncool glasses, a striped sweater, and a mangy auburn wig, was inspired by a character from a TV show, though he initially struggled to remember which one. Schaffer later suggests it was the goth son Damon Drecker from the HBO series Hung, and Samberg confirms this was the case.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star also recalls asking SNL's hair stylists to differentiate Shy Ronnie's look from another of his lesser-known characters, Clementine from 'Daiquiri Girl.' Despite Shy Ronnie's quirks, Samberg says he has "a lot of love" for the character, feeling it represents "truth" in all of us.
