“Bad Teacher” Star Justin Timberlake Gets His Degree In Comedy

And now, a word from Justin Timberlake on bad teachers:

“I had a teacher in seventh grade who told me I should have more realistic goals than being a songwriter and in a band because my schoolwork was suffering,” he recalls. “And you can quote me on this directly to her: Suck it.”

Timberlake, the pop star whose comedy chops have become almost as finely tuned as his singing and dancing skills, was mostly kidding, of course – he’s just channeling the vibe of his latest film “Bad Teacher” (“The teachers that we actually learned more from were the ones that were who taught us life lessons more than trigonometry,” he says in all seriousness. “They're underappreciated and underpaid”).

The envelope-pushing comedy reunite Timberlake onscreen with former real-life leading lady Cameron Diaz, playing a straight-laced and independently wealthy schoolteacher whose bankbook tantalizes Diaz’s opportunistic educator. And the two collaborate on what might be cinema’s greatest dry-humping scenario.

“I think we created the ONLY dry humping scene ever seen in a movie,” he tells PopcornBiz. “I would like to say that [director] Jake Kasdan – he wasn't literally between us, but figuratively he was there. He was my humping coach. I've got to say, there's nothing wrong with a good jean jam. And it is jammin’!”

“But also we felt collectively, the both of us, that we had a responsibility,” he says of the denim-on-denim dalliance. “And that was to the young people who are going to buy tickets to, I don't know, 'Transformers' the second week, and go sneak into this movie because they're underage. It really is a public service announcement for safe sex. Nobody ever got pregnant with their jeans on.”
Yeah, kidding again. Timberlake admits, when it comes to comedy, he’s game to do anything – including digging into the seriously bad side of his singing talents.

“In the script there was a loose idea about the teacher band show and [my character] Scott doing kind of a singer/songwriter thing. And I remember Jake coming to me and saying, If we're going to do this, we have to create something that's going to be terrible.' And it's pretty obvious that I put my body on the line for comedy, so why not put my voice on the line for comedy? I just tried to create the most terrible melody that I could to it. And the mission was to make it so bad that they would not be able to market it in the trailer.”

Timberlake says he’s grateful for the chance to show off his sillier side, crediting his guest stints on “Saturday Night Live” for allowing audiences to see him in a different light. “I directly owe any opportunity that I ever get on film to be in a comedy to 'SNL,’” he says, “so I'm so thankful for that show as a kid and as an adult.”

“I've hosted four times – the season finale was just my fourth time,” says Timberlake. “Although it does seem like more because when I'm in New York City they can't keep me out of 30 Rock, which is probably annoying to them on some level. I grew up with 'SNL'. It is part of the humor and chemistry between me and my father. I come from a divorced family and didn't get to spend a lot of time with my father when I was young. And it's something that we share that is really special to me."

"Growing up with that show, it was just an institution," he recalls. "I remember staying up late – I mean, it was really bad parenting because I was too young to be watching some of the jokes that were on 'SNL' but, hey, I turned out okay. But I'm just such a huge fan of that show. I owe getting a shot to be in 'Bad Teacher' with these genius comedians and comediennes directly to 'SNL' and Lorne Michaels for letting me be there and rock out with…”

“Your d--- in a box?” chimes in Diaz.

“All I got,” he nods. “And can we just say? That IS a thoughtful Christmas gift.”

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