Friends since childhood from Berkeley, California, The Lonely Island coined their name from the cramped West Coast apartment they shared as comic start-ups. They became a mainstay of the L.A. short-comedy film culture launched by Channel 101, a constantly evolving webisode/film contest where attendees could vote for their favorite five-minute comedy video, and whose alumnus includes Jack Black, Drew Carey, Sarah Silverman, and even Flavor Flav. Their willingness to embrace the digital possibilities of comedy was christened by the launch of their own website in 2001, thelonelyisland.com, which was very much in sync with a growing internet fan base that eagerly followed their online antics. The triumvirate's breakout skits and experimental embeds would eventually snag them pilot deals with more established comedy holding companies like Comedy Central and Fox, as well as a plumb writing gig for the MTV Movie Awards that would lead to a successful audition with Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels.