Super Bowl 2018 halftime show: TV schedule and performers

Fact: Justin Timberlake peaked with “What Goes Around ... Comes Around.” Scientists have proven this. The rising soloist, well on his way to becoming one of the pop world’s singular talents, paved the way for his romantic revenge tour four years earlier with “Cry Me a River.” That song, a classic to be sure, ethered Britney Spears’ (allegedly) cheating ass.

But the opening notes of “What Goes Around”? That circular, twangy guitar riff? That was the sound of Timberlake stepping up to the operating table.

For the next seven-and-a-half minutes, JT went to work. He knows you cheated, girl. And now you’re coming back looking for sympathy? Apologies, but no. Timberlake takes an extremely familiar subject — there have been approximately 6,000,000 songs about cheating and revenge in the past century — and manages to express it better than almost anyone before him.

Around the five-minute mark, the song begins to slow down, which is where the radio edit typically cuts off. Don’t accept this inferior version. Stick around for Timbaland’s interlude, which adds a little more bass and makes the whole song a bit more threatening without losing the playfulness exuded by a man who spent much of his life looking like the offspring of a Muppet and a Chia Pet:

And then there’s the video, which has Timberlake chasing down Scarlett Johansson while being one of the rare 1 percent of the population who can wear a trilby without immediately looking like a dick. Johansson turns out to be both hot and off her rocker because everything in Timberlake’s life is a cliche. After a torrid affair, she breaks his heart by cheating on him with his best friend. In a truly relatable move, they resolve their differences by racing expensive sports cars through a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. ScarJo crashes and dies. Everyone leaves sad.

It’s pretty good.

But Timberlake’s believable, if a little overwrought, bitter streak couldn’t last. Jessica Biel came into his life, and a happy Timberlake lost the edge that made his larger-than-life pop a little more believable. “Suit & Tie” was a disjointed, experimental mess that would have been dismissed if the names on the record weren’t JT and Jay-Z. “Mirrors” is the exact opposite of “What Goes Around.” “Can’t Stop the Feeling” is a song specifically made for the party pool at a Sandals’ resort. He’s got a new, country/R&B (?) album, Man of the Woods, coming out Friday. It’s all content, but ... who cares?

“What Goes Around...” was the last time Timberlake seemed like a real person and not just an algorithm designed for maximum media penetration. It’s naive to think a young man transitioning from a very weird teens and 20s into actual adulthood wouldn’t change. It’s just disappointing to see it happen in such a wing-clipping fashion. 2006 was a creative peak the artist may never see again, and while it’s great to see him develop into a happy adult, maybe it’s time to take a break from singing about how great everything is.

Anyway, Timberlake is your Super Bowl 52 halftime performer. We highly doubt Britney will join him. After last time, Janet Jackson probably won’t be there, either. Joey Fatone also shot down rumors about a possible *NSYNC reunion.

So, Timberlake better just give the world what it needs in 2018 -- an extended, 14-minute version of What Goes Around ...

When: Sunday, Feb. 4

Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: NBC

Online: NBC Sports