Taccone and Samberg left at the end of the program's 2011–12 season. By this time, each member of the group increasingly began taking time off from "SNL": Taccone for television work, Schaffer for directorial efforts ("The Watch"), and Samberg with leading film roles. The trio found it increasingly difficult to get together and work, as they all lived in different cities. In an interview with "Splitsider" the following year, they mentioned that different responsibilities and work in other fields strengthened their work as a unit: "I think if we just did this Lonely Island all the time, then it maybe we would be in trouble, but going off and doing other things reminds us it's more fun to work with your friends," said Schaffer.