We need to talk about the confusion. If you search for Andy Samberg Welcome to Hell, you’re probably mashing together two very different, very legendary eras of Saturday Night Live.
Here is the thing: Andy Samberg didn’t actually star in the famous "Welcome to Hell" music video. That sugary-sweet, neon-pink nightmare about the reality of being a woman premiered in 2017, years after Samberg had already hung up his digital short crown.
But I get why the wires get crossed.
Samberg basically invented the SNL music video format. When you see a high-production parody song on that stage, your brain automatically goes to The Lonely Island. Plus, Samberg has a very specific, very famous bit about the phrase "Welcome to Hell" that has nothing to do with 1980s pop aesthetics and everything to do with the sheer terror of having a newborn baby.
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The Viral Mix-Up: Two Hells, One Keyword
So, let’s clear the air. There are basically two things people are looking for when they type in Andy Samberg Welcome to Hell.
First, there’s the iconic 2017 sketch featuring Saoirse Ronan, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, and Kate McKinnon. It was a biting, #MeToo-era anthem that used a Katy Perry-esque visual style to explain that while men were just then "discovering" how bad things were, women had been living in that "hell" forever. It’s brilliant. It’s scathing. But Samberg isn't in it.
The second—and the reason his name is so attached to the phrase—is his legendary stand-up bit and interview anecdotes about fatherhood.
Samberg has described the transition to parenthood as a bait-and-switch. Everyone tells you it’s going to be "magical" and "heavenly." Then, the second the kid is born, those same people lean in with a demonic grin and whisper, "Welcome to hell." He’s talked about this on Late Night with Seth Meyers and in countless interviews. It became a defining "Samberg-ism" for his post-SNL life.
Honestly, it's kind of funny that the phrase has become a bridge between his personal life and the show's later political satire.
Why "Welcome to Hell" Felt Like a Samberg Sketch
The 2017 music video felt like a spiritual successor to what Andy, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone started back in 2005. Before "Lazy Sunday," SNL was mostly static sets and live flubs. Samberg brought the "Digital Short"—pre-taped, cinematic, and absurdly catchy.
When "Welcome to Hell" dropped, it used the exact same DNA:
- The Contrast: It paired bubblegum pop visuals with dark, heavy subject matter (harassment, the Salem witch trials, the danger of walking to your car).
- The Production: It looked like a real music video, not a cheap parody.
- The Hook: It was a genuine "earworm."
The writers of that sketch—Aidy Bryant, Anna Drezen, Sudi Green, and the cast—were clearly standing on the shoulders of the house Samberg built. It’s no wonder fans get the attribution wrong. You've got the king of SNL music videos on one side and a literal song about hell on the other.
The Reality of the 2017 "Welcome to Hell" Anthem
If you’re here because you want to revisit the actual sketch, it’s worth noting just how much it hit the zeitgeist. It wasn't just a funny song. It was a "one-stop shop" for every microaggression and safety concern women navigate daily.
They listed things that were "ruined" for them:
- Parking lots.
- Walking alone.
- Ubers.
- Ponytails (it’s a handle, guys).
- Vans.
It was a sharp pivot from the usual absurdist humor Samberg was known for, like "Dick in a Box" or "I’m on a Boat." While Samberg’s shorts were often about the "confident idiot" persona, "Welcome to Hell" was about the "exhausted realist."
Samberg’s Personal "Hell": The Parenting Pivot
Now, back to Andy.
When he talks about Andy Samberg Welcome to Hell, he’s usually talking about the sleep deprivation of the SNL years combined with the new "hell" of raising a daughter. He told the New York Times that working at SNL was actually the perfect training for being a dad because he was already used to functioning on zero sleep and high stress.
It’s a darker, more personal brand of humor. He’s described it as a secret club. You don't tell the "pregnant people" the truth because you need them to join the club. You need them to suffer with you.
It’s that classic Samberg delivery—manic energy, slightly wide eyes, and a punchline that hits you right when you think he’s being sincere.
Why This Matters for Comedy Fans
Comedy evolves.
The reason Andy Samberg Welcome to Hell is such a popular search term in 2026 is that we are constantly looking for those "bridge" moments in pop culture. We want to see how the "Digital Short" era influenced the "Social Commentary" era of SNL.
Samberg left the show because he was "falling apart" physically. The schedule is brutal. He’s been very open about how the pressure to deliver a viral hit every week took a toll on his mental health. When he left, he left a vacuum that was eventually filled by these high-concept, female-led musical numbers.
Summary of the Key Differences
If you’re trying to settle a bet or find the right video, here is the breakdown:
- The Sketch: Titled "Welcome to Hell." Aired Dec 2, 2017. Stars Saoirse Ronan, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Cecily Strong. Focuses on sexual harassment.
- The Samberg Connection: He popularized the format (SNL Digital Shorts). His famous "Welcome to Hell" quote refers to the "trickery" of parenthood.
- The Vibe: Both use "hell" as a metaphor for an inescapable, exhausting reality that people on the outside don't fully "get" until they're in it.
Basically, if you’re looking for the song with the colorful outfits and the lyrics about "habitual predators," you’re looking for the 2017 cast. If you’re looking for a guy screaming about how "everything is magic until the baby comes," you’re looking for Andy.
What to Do Next
If you want to see the evolution of this style, go watch "Lazy Sunday" and then immediately watch "Welcome to Hell" back-to-back. You can see the shift from pure absurdity to pointed social satire while keeping the high-gloss production values.
Check out the original "Welcome to Hell" clip on the official SNL YouTube channel to see the 2017 cast in action, or find Andy Samberg's 2017 interview with Seth Meyers to hear him describe the "Welcome to Hell" of parenting in his own words.