 The sketch, dubbed an ""SNL" Digital Short", received millions of views online (especially on the then-fledgling video site YouTube), turning the trio, particularly Samberg, into stars.Lorne Michaels, the creator of "SNL", convinced Paramount to allow the troupe to direct and star in the film.The trio had no prior experience with feature-length films, but Michaels had confidence, envisioning the film as a "different generation's comedy."