After college, he and his childhood friends, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, moved to Los Angeles and began making comedy movies.[4] Theater director Tony Taccone brought home the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a choice the other men teased as being "too theatrical". The film, however, inspired Schaffer to write an overwrought play, in the style of Tennessee Williams, called The Lonely Island, in reference to their apartment. The name eventually extended to the comedy group itself.[4] On the Internet, Schaffer got his start directing The Lonely Island's The 'Bu, the group's record-breaking contribution to Channel 101, which was a parody of The OC and starred Sarah Chalke as Melissa, as well as Samberg and Taccone.[5] Schaffer has contributed to several other Channel 101 productions as part of the Lonely Island.
The Lonely Island has released three albums (Incredibad, Turtleneck & Chain, The Wack Album) along with two full soundtracks (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience).[8] In 2014, the group co-wrote "Everything is Awesome", the theme song to the film, The Lego Movie.[9][better source needed] It was nominated for Best Original Song which they performed at the 2015 Oscars.[10] That same year, Everything Is Awesome was certified platinum by the RIAA, joining their previous platinum singles, "I'm on a Boat" (2×), "I Just Had Sex", "Jizz in My Pants", and the gold-certified single "Like a Boss".
Schaffer was credited as an executive producer on the film MacGruber.[7] The film was co-written and directed by Jorma Taccone.
In 2016 Schaffer co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in the Judd Apatow produced feature film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.[7] The film focuses on pop/rap superstar Conner4Real (Samberg), who goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life collapse after his new album fails to sell records.
The Lonely Island co-produced both seasons of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, most episodes of which Schaffer has co-directed with Alice Mathias.[7] Also in 2019, they released Netflix's The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, a visual poem about former Oakland A's legends Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.[7] That summer, The Lonely Island embarked on their first ever live tour, instantly selling out venues across the United States and drawing some of the biggest crowds of the weekend at the Bonnaroo Festival and Milwaukee's Summerfest.
Schaffer hosts The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast with Samberg, Taccone and Seth Meyers, which discusses The Lonely Island's SNL Digital Shorts.[14]
Personal life
Schaffer is married to comedy writer and actress Liz Cackowski; they have two children.
Rescue Rangers director; Voices of E.T, Colonel, Harold, Mr. Natural, Officer Chameleon, Officer Puppet Sock, Black and White Cartoon Shoeshiner, Hungry Mouse, Pig in a Sauna
^Schaffer, Akiva (August 3, 2007), Hot Rod (Comedy, Sport), Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane, Jorma Taccone, Paramount Pictures, Broadway Video, Michaels Goldwyn, retrieved April 15, 2021
