Justin Timberlake on Convincing Beyoncé for SNL

Behind the Scenes of an Iconic Comedy Moment

Remember the SNL parody with Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake? After all these years, Justin still remembers the effort he put in to make the sketch a success.

Spoiler alert: It involves heels, leotards, and shocked Beyoncé. Justin is well-known for his humorous personality and this SNL skit shows this trait of his perfectly.

The “Single Ladies” Phenomenon

Single Ladies by Beyoncé took the world by storm and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. And when she appeared on SNL, it was the perfect song for a parody.

The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 and earned several awards. The music video, featuring Beyoncé and two dancers became iconic.

SNL’s Idea for a Parody

SNL in 2008 recognized the widespread popularity of Beyoncé’s Single Ladies music video. The creative team at SNL saw this opportunity for a humorous parody.

The idea was to recreate the video’s iconic dance routine but of course with a comedic twist. Male cast members and guest host Justin Timberlake were going to perform as Beyoncé’s backup dancers.

Beyoncé’s Initial Hesitation

Beyoncé was initially hesitant when approached with the idea of parodying the Single Ladies music video. She had reservations about how the parody would be executed and its potential impact on her image.

Justin Timberlake heard about her doubts and took it upon himself to ease her concerns. He ended up visiting Beyoncé’s dressing room with a mission to convince the icon.

Justin Timberlake’s Involvement

Justin Timberlake was chosen as one of the male dancers in leotards alongside Beyoncé. The ‘Prince of Pop’ wasn’t just a backup dancer, his comedic charm also helped him persuade Beyoncé.

Justin was already known for his performance and previous successful SNL appearances. Timberlake when presented with the idea was quick to embrace it.

The Convincing Plan

Justin Timberlake schemed a bold plan to show his commitment to the sketch. He decided to wear a black leotard and heels, similar to the attire worn in the original music video.

Justin then walked into Beyoncé’s dressing room, revealed his outfit, and started performing the choreography. This showed Justin’s dedication to the cause.

Beyoncé’s Reaction

Beyoncé was taken aback by the unexpected sight for she had never seen Justin wearing heels and a leotard. She fought hard to maintain her composure and humorously remarked, “I can’t look anywhere but your face right now.”

She was surprised by Justin’s commitment and dedication to the role. Beyoncé ended up reconsidering her decision.

Decision to Proceed

Whatever initial reservations Beyoncé had about the role quickly evaporated upon seeing Justin in his attire.

Beyoncé eventually agreed to be a part of the sketch. This collaboration paved the way for SNL’s most iconic performances which became a very well-known pop culture moment and is still referenced today on the internet.

The Sketch Setup

The setup featured Beyoncé performing her hit song. She was accompanied by three male backup dancers, allocated by guest host Justin Timberlake and SNL cast members, Andy Samberg and Bobby Moynihan.

The sketch was framed as a behind-the-scenes look at a music video shoot. The parody ended up being a memorable and entertaining one.

Paul Rudd’s Role

In the Single Ladies sketch on SNL, Paul Rudd played the role of a director overseeing the music video shoot. His character was completely oblivious to the male backup dancers’ unconventional performance.

This added a layer of humor to the sketch. Rudd’s perfect comedic timing and delivery played a great role in elevating the absurdity of the situation.

The Live Performance

The role of Beyoncé, Justin, Andy, and Bobby made the sketch a success. However, their involvement wasn’t the only reason behind the success.

The live parody was considered one of the best due to its spontaneous comedic timing. The backup dancers were fully committed to their role and by the end of the sketch, it seemed like the audience was watching an original music video being filmed.

Audience Reception

The Single Ladies sketch on SNL ended up receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from the live audience. Seeing Beyoncé perform alongside male cast members in absurd outfits had the audience roaring with laughter.

This twist was an unexpected one for the audience, making the sketch a standout one in SNL history. The audience’s enthusiastic reaction was a reflection of the sketch’s success.

Justin’s Comments

Justin recounted the story of the sketch in Questlove’s documentary saying that he had no plans to appear in the episode until he received a text from Samberg.

Justin said in the documentary, “He said Bobby Moynihan has this great idea for a sketch about you, me and him being Beyoncé’s background dancers that never made the cut. I was like ‘Full leotard’? And he’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘This is too funny. We have to do this.’ “

Justin Narrates the Moment

Justin also recounted the moment of him dressing up in the costume he and others would be wearing. He said, “I put the leotard and the heels and the hose on and everything, and put a robe on.”

The singer added, “I walked and knocked on her door, I threw the robe down and put my hands on my hips and she was like, ‘No you didn’t!’ “

Samberg’s Comments

When asked about the moment, Samberg explained how everyone encouraged Justin to be the one to ask Beyoncé. Samberg told in a podcast, “he’s very famous [and] she’s very famous so that would go better. And also it’s him being like, ‘I’m going to be in a leotard, we’re celebrating you.’ “

Apart from this iconic TV moment, SNL has also given its performers quite a tough time as Pete Davidson wanted out after the first SNL season, let’s find out what happened.

A Pop Culture Milestone

Fans to this day gush over the parody on various platforms. On Halloween, social media is full of fans wearing outfits inspired by the parody.

Tom Hanks recently appeared on Saturday Night Live, and some fans expressed concern about his health. If you’re curious about his well-being, Tom Hanks Sparks Health Concerns After SNL Appearance contains all the details.

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