Blogocentric Formulations

Dick In A Box / Motherlover / 3-Way (The Golden Rule)

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Song: "Dick In A Box" / "Motherlover" / "3-Way (The Golden Rule)"
Artist: Justin Timberlake & Andy Samberg
Album: n/a (Saturday Night Live digital shorts)


Okay, these three Saturday Night Live digital short music videos are probably the best thing I've seen on the venerable late-night sketch comedy show in the last decade. "Dick In A Box" caught just about everyone by surprise when it first aired, and quickly became one of the most viewed sketches online thanks to the hilarious lyrics and over-the-top acting of Samberg and Timberlake as early 90s ballad singers. The invention of a comedy troupe known as The Lonely Island (who had previous success with the "Lazy Sunday" song sketch), "Dick In A Box" (and its two follow-ups) were meant to showcase Timberlake's comedic talents and vocal range.

Here's the first song, "Dick In A Box" ... and I apologize for the side-by-side comparison to FNL (Furries Night Live), but it was exceedingly difficult to find a YouTube version of this sketch with both video and audio intact. Just pay attention to the right side of your screen, unless you enjoy furries, in which case, by all means enjoy the whole video:

After the success of "Dick In A Box" (the music video for which ended with the guys getting arrested for, well, putting their dick in a box and giving it as a gift to women), The Lonely Island created a follow-up called "Motherlover" and the video picks up right where the narrative left off, with Timberlake and Samberg getting out of the "Brooklyn Detention Complex" and realizing that they didn't get their mothers any gifts for Mother's Day. Thankfully, these two geniuses have "the second best idea they've ever had" and, well, feel free to watch the video (guest starring Patricia Clarkson and Susan Sarandon! ) to see where they take it from there:

And finally, for those keen enough to spot the not-so-thinly-veiled attraction between Samberg and Timberlake's characters, the "3-Way (The Golden Rule)" video picks up the morning after Mother's Day and show us what happens when the friends show up for a booty call at the same girl's apartment at the same time (special appearance by Lady Gaga):

I know these digital short music videos are juvenile and silly, but I think they work perfectly for an SNL sketch. In an era where a lot of SNL sketches go on too long and aren't that funny or memorable, The Lonely Island crew managed to create some pretty catchy songs and the music videos accompanying the lyrics are pretty well done.

This kind of sketch comedy has a special place in my heart; I first figured out what I wanted to be a filmmaker when I helped a friend in high school with video projects for our class assignments. Anytime a teacher gave us an option for an assignment (you know, when they say you can choose an essay, a presentation, a test, etc.), he would always ask, "Can I make a short film?" Helping him with that process was what first made me fall in love with the medium and, of course, as teenage boys, most of our stuff was immature humor. This is exactly the kind of video we would have made just for the experience of making something, so watching these videos rekindles that little spark I felt back then and makes me want to develop another short just to have some fun.


On the larger issue of the whole "The Soundtrack of Your Life"  this year, I had a really great time putting together this playlist. With the new job, I had to scramble a couple of times after getting a few days behind, but I'm proud of (most of) the music that I put together and think it's a pretty accurate reflection of the one-hit wonders, guilty pleasures, soundtrack-inspired tracks, and perennial favorites. I always look back at the end of an activity and review all the songs and blog entries I've written over the preceding months and I have to admit, I'm pretty happy with my choices this time around. Can't wait for the next one!