Andy Samberg Claims Lin-Manuel Miranda Took ‘Hamilton’ Inspiration From Their ‘Lazy Sunday’ Sketch — Here’s Why It Matters

Andy Samberg boldly claims Lin-Manuel Miranda lifted the “Hamiltons” lyric from their 2005 SNL sketch — a moment that connects two cultural revolutions and redefines creative legacy in modern entertainment.

The Sketch That Changed the Game

Two decades after The Lonely Island’s “Lazy Sunday” became a viral sensation, its legacy is being reexamined — not just as a comedy classic, but as a cultural catalyst. Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer, now household names, recently sat down with GQ alongside Chris Parnell and Seth Meyers to reflect on how their SNL sketch redefined the internet’s relationship with sketch comedy — and, according to Samberg, may have directly influenced the birth of “Hamilton.”

The trio’s second sketch for SNL, “Lazy Sunday,” was a raw, DIY creation shot on borrowed equipment and filmed in a single day. It featured a fictional rapper duo, “The Lonely Island,” performing a song that blended hip-hop with absurdity — and a lyric that would echo through Broadway: “You can call us Aaron Burr, by the way, we’re dropping Hamiltons.”

Samberg, who remembers the moment vividly, said: “This was in a pre-Hamilton world. And I’ve told Lin [Manuel Miranda] to his face that I’m pretty sure he took it from us.”

From SNL to Broadway: The Unlikely Bridge

Samberg’s claim isn’t just a joke — it’s a historical footnote. “Hamiltons” was the perfect punchline for a sketch about a fictional rapper duo trying to sound like real rap stars. But its cultural resonance was undeniable. The lyric’s absurdity — replacing “Benjamins” with “Hamiltons” — was a stroke of genius that turned a sketch into a meme.

Chris Parnell, who played the role of the sketch’s “aggressive rapper,” laughed, “I think I came up with the idea of using Hamiltons instead of Benjamins. It’s so lame.”

But the lyric’s legacy was far from lame. It became a cultural touchstone — and, according to Samberg, a direct inspiration for Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I remember him [Samberg] looking up something online or whatever because he wanted to see who shot Alexander Hamilton, and he wasn’t sure, but he had a pretty good idea,” Parnell recalled.

While Miranda never confirmed this, the claim is supported by the fact that “Hamiltons” was a phrase that would have been instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with the sketch — and the fact that the lyric was so widely quoted and parodied, it became a cultural shorthand for “Hamilton” itself.

The Legacy of “Lazy Sunday”

“Lazy Sunday” wasn’t just a hit — it was a turning point. The sketch’s success forced SNL to rethink its approach to online content, and it paved the way for future sketches that embraced the internet’s potential. “It’s impossible to talk about ‘Lazy Sunday’ without falling into the worst tropes of biopics or VH1’s Behind the Music, but the reality is, the minute I saw it at dress rehearsal, I thought the words, ‘everything has changed forever,’” Seth Meyers said.

For The Lonely Island, the impact was immediate. “We did ‘Lazy Sunday’ and came back to LA for meetings in January and all of a sudden our meetings were with the heads of movie studios. It was definitely the one that made the biggest difference. This was the one going from unknown to known,” Schaffer said.

The sketch’s DIY aesthetic — shot with a borrowed camera, recorded with garbage equipment — was a deliberate choice. “I loved that part of the show; it felt like it truly was the not-ready-for-primetime, kids f—ing running the asylum,” Taccone said.

Why This Matters — And Why Fans Are Obsessed

For fans, this isn’t just trivia — it’s a narrative that connects two cultural milestones. “Hamilton” revolutionized Broadway with its hip-hop sound and diverse cast, while “Lazy Sunday” revolutionized how comedy was consumed online. The fact that Samberg believes Miranda drew inspiration from their sketch adds a layer of intimacy to the story — it’s not just about two shows, but about the creative DNA that links them.

“It unquestionably did change my life. I’m just so happy it happened,” Samberg said — a sentiment that resonates with fans who remember the sketch’s viral explosion and the way it reshaped the internet’s relationship with comedy.

What’s Next?

While no sequel to “Hamilton” is on the horizon, the legacy of “Lazy Sunday” continues to grow. The sketch’s influence can be seen in everything from viral memes to modern comedy sketches that embrace the DIY spirit. And as fans continue to dissect the creative process behind both works, the story of “Hamiltons” will remain a key part of that conversation.

For now, Samberg’s claim stands as a testament to the power of creative influence — and the way that a single lyric can bridge two worlds, two eras, and two cultural revolutions.