The Lonely Island just dropped what they’ve dubbed a “visual poem/love letter” to their childhood heroes on Netflix, called The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, and it’s pure, unadulterated Lonely Island nonsense, in the best possible way.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with 1980s American baseball players, the ‘Bash Brothers’ are Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, who played for Oakland and helped lead them to victory in the 1989 World Series.
They became known as the ‘Bash Brothers’ because they took to “celebrating homers by bashing each other’s forearms”, and the moniker has since been applied to a number of sporting duos, including two Brisbane Heat players and two players from Disney’s The Mighty Ducks.
@thelonelyisland are back with a West Coast banger for the ages! pic.twitter.com/IkJ8Usom0A
— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) May 23, 2019
If you’re not sure what a “visual poem” is, one writer for the Guardian described it as “Like Beyoncé’s Lemonade… but for 80s baseball players”, and that description is pretty accurate, tbh (please don’t come for me, Beyhive).
It’s available as an album as well as a visual experience – the album includes collaborations with Sia, HAIM and Maya Rudolph, while the visual poem features cameos from so many of your faves, including Jenny Slate, Hannah Simone, Steph Beatriz, Sterling K. Brown, and Jerry/Gary/who-knows-at-this point from Parks & Rec, AKA Jim O’Heir.
It’s been in the works for over a year, if this video of Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer performing the opening track, ‘Jose & Mark’, in LA in May 2018 is anything to go by. Keep watching, and you’ll also enjoy a cameo from Jorma Taccone as Joe Montana.
You don’t need to be an expert in 80s baseball to appreciate this love letter to the era – just being a fan of The Lonely Island is enough. The visual poem is typically hilarious, and a fantastic homage to the incredibly decadent 80s lifestyle enjoyed by multimillionaire sports stars.
Plus, Jose Canseco has already responded via Twitter, and given out his manager’s number to the entire internet in the process:
@thelonelyisland just watched The Unauthorized Bash Brothers video! I can't stop laughing. Loved it. If you want to do a follow up video contact my Manager Morgan: 7023743735
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) May 23, 2019
I’ll leave you with one of the best songs from the Experience, featuring Sterling K. Brown as Sia. You’re welcome.
Is this song what sex is? @thelonelyisland pls advise pic.twitter.com/LljG8giGEF
— Netflix Is A Joke (@NetflixIsAJoke) May 23, 2019