'Sopranos,' 'Ugly Betty' receive most nods for September awards show.
Come September 16, Justin Timberlake might be able to add a fourth step to the chorus of the viral megahit "Di-- in a Box": Put an Emmy in that box.
Along with his digital-short co-star, Andy Samberg, and several "Saturday Night Live" staff writers, Timberlake was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday (July 19) for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the pair's wildly popular song about surprise packages. Timberlake's credits on the nomination are for music and lyrics, and he'll be facing off against "My Drunken Irish Dad" from "Family Guy," "Merry Ex-Mas" from "Mad TV" and a pair of tunes from the musical episode of "Scrubs": "Guy Love" and "Everything Comes Down to Poo."
Shortly after "Box" became an Internet phenomenon, Samberg told MTV News that Timberlake was more than game to sing the raunchy tune on the show. "We presented it to Justin once we thought it was funny enough, and he didn't even blink. He was like, 'Oh yeah! Absolutely!' " he said, adding that Timberlake came up with the tune's hook.
Among other profane nominees are those for Outstanding Animated Program, including "Robot Chicken", "The Simpsons" and "South Park".
The "American Idol" finale is up against "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show," "Saturday Night Live" and a Tony Bennett special for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. "Idol" got seven nods total, among them Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, Outstanding Technical Direction and Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series for its star-studded "Idol Gives Back" charity special. In that category, it will face off against, among others, the Robin Sparkles episode of "How I Met Your Mother."
Queen Latifah was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her role as Ana in the HBO movie "Life Support"; she'll square off against such acting legends as Gena Rowlands and Helen Mirren. The Super Bowl halftime show featuring Prince was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Program and Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or Special.
The final season of "The Sopranos" dominated the nominations with 15 nods, including Best Drama and acting bids for onscreen husband and wife James Gandolfini and Edie Falco . "Ugly Betty" received the second-most nominations with 11.