Justin Timberlake Says FCC Tried to Block “Dick in a Box” 'SNL' Sketch, Ranks His Solo Catalog

"Dick in a Box" finally aired on 'SNL' with 16 bleeps.

April 9, 2020

The infamous Saturday Night Live sketch “Dick in a Box” almost didn’t air due to the Federal Communications Commission regulations.

Justin Timberlake shared the untold tale on the newest episode of First We Feast's Hot Ones. The singer told host Sean Evans that the idea behind the 2006 SNL Digital Short “Dick in a Box” originated with show producer Lorne Michaels suggesting Timberlake and Andy Samberg work together.

“We hit it off immediately,” Timberlake said about himself and Samberg’s first meeting.

As the two began to iron out some concepts, they suggested the idea of two guys who are “still stuck in a time and certain style,” who chose to wear silk suits, herringbone chains, and had “meticulously sculpted” facial hair.

As they fleshed the idea out, someone suggested they do the “'popcorn-at-the-movies prank,' a.k.a., dick in the popcorn,” Timberlake described. “And I was like, ‘That's super creepy, bro.’ To which we then said, ‘Yeah, that sounds totally appropriate for two guys that are completely misled about what's appropriate,’” he added.

He then said they shot footage “all day” on Friday and didn’t finish until 3 a.m. on Saturday. That’s when the FCC showed up and told them, “you can't say ‘dick’ on the air. And we were like, ‘Oh, right. But if you just bleep it, would we be fine?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, if you bleep it out.’”

The video was then allowed to air with 16 bleeps. “The irony of that is I think the funnier version is the bleeped-out version.”

Between bites of spicy wings, Timberlake also ranked his own albums around the 27-minute mark, giving 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds the No. 1 spot, with 2002's Justified coming in at No. 2, 2013's first part of The 20/20 Experience at No. 3, 2018's Man of the Woods at No. 4, and The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 rounding things out at No. 5.

Justin Timberlake produced the Trolls World Tour soundtrack alongside Ludwig Göransson, with features from SZA, Anderson .Paak, and more. Trolls premieres via video on demand on April 10.