Mitchell, Rachel and I sat on the sea wall last night, and the ocean was as flat as a lake. There was a full moon and the glimmering path of white in the water stunned us. If only I could have followed that path. A yacht lay anchored out a bit, close to the sea wall … I’ve never seen one so close … normally that area is much more rough … and off in the distance we could see the lights of the Newport Bridge glowing. We had gone out to dinner, we went and got some homemade ice cream, and then we sat and talked … about Mitchell’s trip, about my writing, about horrible bug stories (prompted by Alex’s recent apocalyptic struggle with a grasshopper) and about Rachel’s most recent adventure in the employ of Justin Timberlake.
Rachel is a humble person, so I hope I’m not embarrassing her too much but here goes: any time Justin Timberlake has to do anything, host an awards show, show up and blab, Rachel is called in to help write the material. JT loves her and she has written a ton of stuff for him so far. We loved hearing all the INSANE stories about Rachel’s recent experience writing the material for the ESPY’s, which Timberlake hosted. INSANE. The project was a hydra, in many ways – a multi-headed beast – and it was also a beast with many masters. The folks at ESPN, the producers, the athletes themselves, and Justin Timberlake.
One of my favorite parts of the story was Rachel saying, “At one point, we realized that we needed a breakaway tuxedo, and a copy of Matlock and Debbie Does Dallas.” The randomness of it. So off someone was sent … to create a breakaway tuxedo, and someone else was sent off to track down copies of Matlock and Debbie Does Dallas. hahahaha Mitchell said to her, “I swear to God, if you say ‘breakaway tuxedo’ one more time …”
Mitchell’s analysis of what it was that is so great about the “I Love Sports” number which was the big production number at the ESPY’s (written by Rachel and her writing colleagues) … will be left for another post. Needless to say, I completely agree with him … about the entertainment value of the number, and how the whole variety-show entertainer aesthetic is pretty much dead in American culture – due to a fear of seeming cheesy, perhaps? – but once upon a time, we had entertainers like Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin who knew how to handle themselves as entertainers. And Justin Timberlake does, too.
Watch him in the number. This is a hard number. He had a week to learn all those lyrics. And the dance moves. And “making it work”. It looks effortless.
So he deserves the kudos, obviously … and he also deserves the kudos because he’s nice to my friend, he’s a hard worker, he takes advice, and he treats her well. If it’s a challenge? Justin Timberlake wants to do it. But I’m biased. I think RACHEL deserves the kudos, too. Brava!!! She was responsible for a couple of the best “bits” in the number … but I won’t point out which ones, since this was also a group effort. But if something seems to really “pop”, that seems really funny? It’s probably Rachel’s idea.
LOVE. IT. Old-school. It’s old-school variety-show entertainment.
Enjoy! (If you haven’t seen it already) …
I thought that Timberlake’s performance as host on the ESPYs was probably the best hosting job I’ve seen since the days when Carson hosted the Academy Awards. He’s the one they should get for next year’s Oscars!
If that happens, I hope you get a ticket.
There’s talk of offering him the Oscar hosting gig.
Go, Rachel!!
I’ve asked Mitchell to write a little something about Justin Timberlake – we were talking about him last night, and Mitchell was able (as always) to put it into words in a way I never could!
We’ve always been fans … Mitchell more so than myself … I am a recent convert to the JT train, and LOVE his latest album … but it’s his energy and persona as a HOST that is startling to me. Who would have thought he’d be so good at it?
Congratulations to Rachel! I’ve always liked JT, but I like him even better knowing that he appreciates Rachel.
Kelly – I know, right??
I am thinking of the three of us in that crazy late-night show, oh, so many years ago … it just makes me laugh!! What a fun time that was.
That was amazing! And…I miss the ocean!
OK So I have no comment on award shows or Mr. Timberlake HOWEVER; I had a grasshopper experience today and thought alex should hear about it:
Setting: Wine & Spirit shop Minneapolis Sunday 9:50 a.m.
Scene: inventory, the store is closed.
Players: Me (Phil) and Jeff a 20-something employee of the liquor store; he is happy to get the overtime and he is VERY hungover.
We are counting the wine. I lift a bottle and a grasshopper that has found it’s way on to the display leaps and flutters to the floor it startles me…
Phil: What the fuck?…
Jeff: well you’re a tile hopper now motherfucker
END
Phil – hahahahaha I love that you write it as a script!
“At one point, we realized that we needed a breakaway tuxedo, and a copy of Matlock and Debbie Does Dallas.”
Remember the movie Roadie, with Meat Loaf in the title role? “I need a potato, a Ford hubcap, and a beer!” (I think he was trying to get a solar-powered PA system going or something.)
That was really cool and smart! That was one of the best production numbers I’ve seen on an awards show in YEARS, and who would have expected it at the ESPY’s??
I was a bit disturbed by that last bit with Favre being a bit of a jerk… But that’s just because I’m a Packers fan.
(oh, and by the way: I love Hope!! She’s such a great cat!)
I have to tell you that everyone at my new office has been discussing Timberlake’s hosting gig (it’s the PR and marketing department – all they chat about is entertainment and media). We just had a big discussion about a) how talented he is and b) how he CLEARLY had a brilliant writer.
So, yeah, all my co-workers basically sat around at lunch talking about Rachel being awesome. They just didn’t know that was who they were talking about.
I never really thought much of him until two things happened: I saw Black Snake Moan and I moved here to Millington, his home town. He’s a freakin’ hero here. Pretty neat.
Marisa – I love to hear that!! Behind such an extravaganza is a hard-working writing staff – it’s so hard to remember that – but it’s awesome that the writing was being discussed in your office!
JT hosting the Oscars? So you mean they might get someone to host the thing who can actually freakin’ sing again?
What a concept.
This was some great writing Rachel, you should be proud.
I think the writer-behind-the-performer talk got started because our intern brought up Timberlake’s performance and was talking about how amazing he was – but heavily referencing the jokes and what was actually SAID. Well, several people in the staff are writers, editors, etc. So NATURALLY we all immediately began talking about how he clearly had an incredible writer, etc. although we also talked about what a strong team it must require – someone who writes great material AND someone who can deliver it.