Writer/directing duo Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's The Interview - the pair's upcoming sophomore directorial effort after their apocalypse/Hollywood satire This Is the End - is a comedy that stars James Franco as Dave Skylark, the star of a popular celebrity tabloid TV show called "Skylark Tonight".

The latest piece of marketing for The Interview is the faux-MTV special titled "Dave Skylark's Very Special MTV Special" (watch it above). It features "The Franco" in character as the eponymous host and Rogen as Skylark's often-flustered producer, Aaron Rapoport, alongside other recognizable folk. (Jean-Ralphio! Also known as actor Ben Schwartz.) No doubt, this MTV video is even more loosely-structured and spur of the moment in its design than the actual movie it's promoting.

Still, Rogen and Goldberg's well-established improvisatory style - to mention nothing of the general irreverence of their films - is on display here, as Franco harasses fires questions at the guests on his show. As such, this clip is probably a good sampling of the kind of political satire/commentary that The Interview will actually provide - not exactly the biting kind worth getting worked up about. (Assuming you're not offended by the implication that MTV interviewers often ask musical artists such as Jason Derulo, Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj fluff and/or otherwise inane questions, that is.)

James Franco, Iggy Azalea, and Seth Rogen from the Dave Skyalark VMA Special

The Interview has already been denounced by North Korea, since the film's plot involves Franco and Rogen's characters landing a rare interview with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) - only for the CIA to step in and quietly recruit the pair to try and assassinate the dictator. In case the fact that this movie's marketing includes a video where Franco questions Nicki Minaj about her butt for several minutes didn't make it clear, North Korea's reaction here might not be entirely reasonable.

Beyond that, Rogen and Goldberg have thus far sampled quite the eclectic mix of genres with their bro-mantic comedy offerings - including, stoner crime (Pineapple Express) and costumed vigilante action (The Green Hornet) - so the idea of them going pseudo-political with The Interview doesn't seem like so much of a stretch. As it were, it looks as though Rogen, Golberg, and Franco's latest creation will be something that their fans appreciate (even if the U.S. government winds up being a little annoyed about it).

The Interview opens in U.S. theaters on December 25th, 2014.

Source: MTV