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Andy Samberg on Birth of Timberlake Duet “Motherlover”

5/12/09, 10:15 am EST

Photo: Gentner/Getty

Coming off the massive viral success of “Dick in the Box,” SNL and the Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg tells Entertainment Weekly he was reluctant at first to pen a sequel to the hit “SNL Digital Short” when he heard Justin Timberlake was returning to host this past weekend’s episode. “We didn’t want to ruin it and, you know, like, crap on it by driving it into the mud,” Samberg said, fearing that a redux couldn’t top the original “Dick.” Instead, Samberg, his partners-in-comedy and JT huddled to create what has become the highlight of the SNL season, “Motherlover.”

The song is an ode to loving your best friend’s lonely mom on Mother’s Day, and Samberg says Timberlake played a big role in the song’s creation. “We actually built the song together with him in the room and wrote the lyrics all out together. It was fantastic,” Samberg tells EW, adding that it was Timberlake who insisted they write a sequel to “Dick.”

“[Justin] was like, ‘But what if we did do it again? How unprecedented would that be?’ That’s a big swing. We knew going in from the very start that we were taking a real, real big swing and that if it didn’t work — and if the joke didn’t really land — that we were going to look like big jerks. But you know, he’s so confident and we started writing it and it was making us laugh really hard, so we just went with it, and said, ‘Fuck it. ‘ “

As for getting acclaimed actresses Susan Sarandon and Patricia Clarkson involved, Samberg said JT is friends with Sarandon while Samberg shares a publicist with Clarkson. “They’re really doing dramatic stuff, but they’re not really asked — or given the opportunity — to loosen up and do weirder, sillier stuff. And a lot of them are really excited to do it,” Samberg said. Despite having to watch her boyfriend get intimate with Sarandon, actress Jessica Biel also approved of the skit, telling MTV, “I thought it was amazing. I mean, it was so wrong, it’s right. Just so wrong, it had to be right.”

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Comments

TheCoz | 5/12/2009, 11:00 am EST

I don’t have any ill-will towards Timberlake but I wish just ONE thing of his would fail massively. Does everything he does have to be so damn popular? He needs to be humanized a little.

That being said, these two cooked up a very funny short. I thought they had milked the concept dry with “I’m the Boss” but this was undeniably funny.

Ohbeer | 5/12/2009, 11:46 am EST

These guys are hilarious, Timberlake has been the best host per season for the past three seasons.

Jessica Biel is a nitwit | 5/12/2009, 11:48 am EST

“Just so wrong, it had to be right.” It HAD to be right? Really? Dumbass.

S.O. | 5/12/2009, 12:01 pm EST

Totally agree w/ you TheCoz. This skit was LMFAO great! & he’s a great host on SNL. But yes, I think JT invades almost anything on TV or pop culture lately its getting a little annoying.

It wouldn’t suprise me if he’s a new cast member on LOST next season, he’s going to be in the new White Stripes album, and he’s also cast as the next villain in another Star Trek movie (if one happens in a few years).

JD | 5/12/2009, 12:57 pm EST

Didn’t T-Lake fail miserably in the turkey Love Guru? Although I think he’s a ham, he’s a better actor than singer in my mind. That being said, why does every piece of music he records get nominated for a grammy even though his music is crappy? His recent collaborations with Ciara and T.I. are instant Grammy nominees simply because his name is on it.

Anonymous | 5/12/2009, 3:09 pm EST

Justin Timberlake = horrible dramatic actor/singer/musician/songwrit er.

But the guy is extremely funny.

dragonmoon | 5/12/2009, 4:10 pm EST

he does fail, look at the golf club project he and his mother and step father are into. They can’t even build the club house. Sad but true.

Mark | 5/13/2009, 1:02 am EST

Say hi to ya mutha fo’ me.

susan | 5/13/2009, 4:04 pm EST

This digital short was hysterical. Timberlake is extremely talented which is why he dosen’t fail at most things he does. Get over yourselves people. And his golf course dragonmoon is coming along fine. It’s suppose to open in a few months. He’s paying for it not building it asshole.

mrut | 5/13/2009, 5:43 pm EST

Timberlake has great timing and he’s an accomplished comic performer. I haven’t seen him in a stinker skit on SNL yet, and that show really cranks out the stinkers. Timberlake is funny because he plays his parts seriously, without any irony to cue the audience to lower its expectations. He’s really very good.

crow2008 | 5/13/2009, 6:09 pm EST

This Samberg character is just a rubber-faced, smirky moron who really isn’t very funny at all. I can’t understand why anyone would like him — I watch SNL but when he cones on, I become nauseous!

crow2008 | 5/13/2009, 6:09 pm EST

This Samberg character is just a rubber-faced, smirky moron who really isn’t very funny at all. I can’t understand why anyone would like him — I watch SNL but when he comes on, I become nauseous!

crow2008 | 5/13/2009, 6:10 pm EST

This Samberg character is just a rubber-faced, smirky moron who really isn’t very funny at all. I can’t understand why anyone would like him — I watch SNL but when he comes on, I become nauseous!

YeahYeahYeah | 5/14/2009, 4:29 pm EST

Wow, I had no idea anyone would actually be so ignorant on this topic.

If you didn’t think it was funny, fine, just state that.

My personal opinion, I love everything Andy Samberg does. I have yet to dislike any digital short he’s created. He’s an awesome writer and super funny. I totally support everything he does, and not only him but Lonely Island. I’d like to see some of you people make me or millions of people laugh.

As far as Justin Timberlake, Really? He sucks at what he does? That’s just an ignorant thing to say. He’s a really talented musician and one funny dude. He’s not just nominated because of his name, he’s nominated because he works hard at what he does. But then again, what do I expect from some douche bags who hate on anyone that is successful.

yumyumcherry | 5/16/2009, 6:54 am EST

People often underestimate the value of humor. Kudos to Samberg and Timberlake–break a few taboos.

The first episode of “All in the Family” was SHOCKING in America. “I Love Lucy” featured quite a few cringe worthy moments….

Frankly, even the beat is better than a lot of what I hear canned and marketed as “Music” these days.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the ‘Third Best Idea’ that this Duo ever had WILL BE.

Thanks Guys.

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