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| 5/27/04 |
In vogue on the road ...While boomer acts are booming this season, the bubblegum bubble has burst. The second leg of Britney Spears' U.S. tour is expected to fill arenas, and Jessica Simpson and Hilary Duff might draw crowds, but there's little else on the tour schedule to bolster the genre. "A few years ago, you had the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync doing stadium-level business," Waddell says. "That's gone, maybe forever." No acts, in fact, are booking stadiums, a venue quickly becoming obsolete in music. Superstars prefer the cost-effective option of inflating ticket prices and playing multiple nights in a single arena...
Bynes Sets Sail for 'Lovewrecked' LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Amanda Bynes will cast off for her latest movie adventure. The teen star of the WB's "What I Like About You" will star as the less-than-truthful lead in the romantic comedy "Lovewrecked," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bynes will play a resort worker who goes on a cruise and then gets marooned on a deserted island with her favorite rock idol. When she discovers that a full-blown resort is just on the other side of the island, she somehow neglects to tell the rock star and keeps him all to herself. Randal Kleiser, who is familiar with tropical settings after helming 1980's "The Blue Lagoon," will begin shooting "Lovewrecked" in late June in the Caribbean. Bynes, 17, last starred in 2003's "What a Girl Wants."
Force of Gravity #9 on dance chart "The Force Of Gravity", by BT and featuring JC Chasez, has broken the top ten on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, reaching #9 this week.
Tony Broadcast to Feature Five-Second Delay Parents need not worry should there be any wardrobe malfunction as Wicked's Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth fly throughout Radio City Music Hall on June 6. A CBS spokesperson confirmed that the 58th Annual Tony Awards ceremony will feature a five-second delay. Kate Fisher of CBS' Media Relations told Playbill On-Line, "It's standing operating procedure for all of our live broadcasts. There is a five-second delay in both audio and video." The five-second delay was a result of the recent Super Bowl halftime show that featured a live performance by Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. During their performance, Jackson flashed her bare breast to the audience and viewers throughout the country. Timberlake later blamed the incident on "a wardrobe malfunction." The 2004 Tony Awards — hosted by The Boy From Oz Tony nominee Hugh Jackman — will be broadcast on CBS-TV, 8-11 PM ET.
Joey to perform at "Stars in the
Alley" Actors scheduled to participate in the annual "Stars in the Alley" concert June 2 have been announced. Among those expected to take part in the free event include James Barbour, Elizabeth Berkley, Stephanie J. Block, Patrick Cassidy, Michael Cerveris, Mario Cantone, Frenchie Davis, Susan Egan, Joey Fatone, Tovah Feldshuh, Jenny Fellner, Neil Patrick Harris, Shirley Jones, Swoosie Kurtz, Michael Mckean, Jefferson Mays, Joe Machota, Alfred Molina, Denis O'Hare, Tonya Pinkins, Phylicia Rashad, Christy Carlson Romano, Roz Ryan, Eric Stoltz, John Tartaglia and Tom Wopat. The annual concert, held in Shubert Alley, will begin at 11:30 AM. The morning event, presented by Continental Airlines and produced by The League of American Theatres and Producers, will also include the presentation of the 2004 Star Award to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Star Award is presented annually to "individuals and organizations in public or government service that have demonstrated significant support for Broadway theatre." Shubert Alley is located west of Broadway between 44th and 45th streets. Audience members should enter on 44th Street.
Lance will star in 'Lovewrecked' Lance Bass has finally found a follow-up to "On the Line" in "Lovewrecked," which he will star in and produce when shooting starts next month. The 'NSYNC singer will play a rock star who gets stranded on a desert island with a love-struck fan who manages to conceal their resort is walking distance away.
PopMatters review: JC in NYC JC CHASEZ In America, the only thing more contentious than politics is pop music. Pop music -- the stuff that's mainstream but not hip-hop, urban, rock, dance, or anything else that might give it a shred of cred on another chart -- is highly controversial, its high profile always eliciting fervent and unqualified reactions both in support and disdain. The music's accessibility is either read as a sign of populism -- the apple of democratic values -- or formulism -- an emblem of the numbing effects of a cookie cutter-prone music biz. Moreover, because some critics often go after pop for its apparent lack of the elements necessary to make music worth its salt (such as artists adept at instruments, guitars, or a largely male fan base), championing the sheer joy created by listening to pop music often resembles chalking up the nutritional value of Twinkies. Unlike rock, pop fans have to argue for the music, justify their appreciation, and somehow explain how to listen to it as something heartier than fluff. Even this introduction, in a way, is a testament to the dangerous terrain that a potential pop enthusiast faces. Especially dangerous indeed: the subject currently at issue is JC Chasez, who is one of the most, if not the most, difficult pop icons to defend. A recent addition to the solo artist circuit, Mr. Chasez has two humungous strikes against him: 1) he was a member of the widely hated (or else, unabashedly adored/ironically appreciated) boy band (boo! hiss!) *NSYNC; and 2) he has released his solo album in the wake of the outstanding success of his former groupmate Justin Timberlake. Thus discussing Chasez on his own merit is a difficult task indeed. To mix metaphors, homeboy is not only plagued by a 900-pound gorilla, but he's got an albatross around his neck and there's a huge pink elephant chilling up in his crib. But while undoubtedly informed by these markers, Chasez's Schizophrenic (Jive, 2004) far transcends them to be, quite simply, an ambitious, creative, and highly enjoyable endeavor, so above and beyond the aforementioned output that comparison seems silly. If J.T. has been likened by some to Michael Jackson -- as much for his saucy singing and dance spasms as for his appeals across the racial divide -- then JC has his roots with none other than Prince: soulful flows that meld seamlessly with post-orgasmic screams, race (and gender and sexuality) so fucked that the issue becomes moot. And like the notorious Artist, Chasez unties pop's straightlaces to become something not only naughtier but also far more subversive. While remaining firmly seated in its traditions (which these days mandate firm nods to hip-hop, R&B, dance, rock, and electronic motifs), his mélange is so varied that it also unhinges them. For a listener, the album demands a wide and varied listening palette. For a performer, it demands and even wider one, not to mention a hugely flexible performing capabilities. Such diversity, breadth, and dynamism were on full display during his go at New York's Roseland Ballroom. Though the club was shockingly underattended, what it lacked in volume it made up in variety, running the gamut from yuppie to groupie and hipster to hippie. And Chasez's years of performing multiple nights to crowds ten times as large were put to good use. Complete with dancers, costume changes, lights, and props, Chasez crossed the line from sheer musician to pure entertainer, justifying at every turn the somewhat steep $35 ticket price. Even the somewhat canned jokes gave the night an air of professionalism. If the music business is a circus, Chasez set out to produce The Greatest Show on Earth. All of this is just gravy, however, when coupled with the monstrous force of Chasez as a vocalist. Opening the night with single "All Day Long I Dream About Sex", Chasez thrusted, jerked, and pumped his way through an aerobic set, both physically as well as vocally. His voice is, without question, a miracle: elastic and tough, it can move from curdling to coddling in an instant, pushing the limits of what one would think is humanely possible. "If You Were My Girl"'s excitable screams, for instance, did not bruise him for the night's sweeter fare; the ballads and slow songs which followed it were as downy as lullabies. Indeed, as Schizophrenic's variance presented a potentially tough pool of songs to draw from, Chasez's steadfast vocals marked a parallel between them that was at once dynamic and constant. Chasez can sing. He can sing anything-any style, any genre, any speed. And apparently, any order, on record or in real time. The show promoted most of Schizophrenic, but a cover of "Let's Go Crazy" solidified Chasez's kinship with the Velvet One. Though the reference clearly seemed to be lost on the bulk of the crowd, most of whom were skirting just below their 20s. No matter: another truism of a Chasez concert is that his is a fanbase of believers, willing to go with him through stylistic deviations and amalgamations. Never have I seen a crowd seem equally thrilled for guitar noise and technofunk. And for those who disparage pop music for its inability to challenge audiences, I'll ask you this: how many rock bands do you know that can get diehard b-girls to thrash? Schizophrenic is an appropriate title for an album (and live performance) that's all over the place -- one that fractures genres like a stroboscope fractures light. But JC Chasez's head is firmly atop his shoulders. While visionary might be too strong a word, the man clearly sees the links across artificial musical subdivisions, and has put together an album which transcends and obliterates them not as a novelty, but as a necessity. For him, a certain schizophrenia is not only natural and logical, but also beyond question. It is only us that seem to think there's something to argue about.
Gender panel discusses women in mass media ...Highlighted during the discussion were recent examples of the media's portrayal of famous women who have experienced legal trouble, such as Janet Jackson and Martha Stewart. Jackson was reprimanded by the Federal Communications Commission for her Super Bowl halftime show, in which one of her breasts was exposed. Panelist and lifestyle reporter for The Philadelphia Tribune Bobbi Booker suggested that the media had unfairly focused a great deal criticism on Jackson. Booker said that while Jackson was attacked by the media in the days and weeks following the Super Bowl, Justin Timberlake --who was also involved in the incident -- received only a slight admonishment...
Super Bowl smut suit gets nowhere in court A Davis County attorney's lawsuit over what he deemed an offensive Super Bowl halftime show failed Wednesday. Eric Stephenson sued CBS owner Viacom for $5,000 in small claims court, arguing the company had violated Utah's false advertising laws. Stephenson had pointed to promotions and write-ups mentioning marching bands, balloons and dancers he said led him to believe he would see a halftime show suitable for watching with his children, ages 6, 4 and 2. Instead, he said he was stunned by explicit song lyrics, singer
Janet Jackson and her dancers simulating sex acts on stage, and
what he called singer Kid Rock's desecration of the American flag
by wearing it as a poncho. Not to mention Jackson's infamous "wardrobe
malfunction," in which one of her breasts was bared during
the live broadcast after singer Justin Timberlake ripped off a panel
of her clothing. Salt Lake City attorney Jeff Hunt, who represented Viacom, was not immediately available for comment. He had argued Viacom did not lead viewers to believe anything false about the halftime show, and that Stephenson had made his own assumptions. Stephenson said he was disappointed with Wednesday's ruling and has not yet decided whether he will appeal it to the district court. "The real loser here is the consumer. Without a victory here it gives advertisers a license to lie and get away with it." The Feb. 1 halftime show, produced by MTV, is the subject of a Federal Communications Commission probe. Thousands have complained to the FCC about the broadcast.
Is three a boy band? Two's a crowd, three's a trend: A trio of boy-band refugees is circling Broadway, with Joey Fatone ('NSync) set to perform in "Little Shop of Horrors," Drew Lachey (98 Degrees ) joining the cast of "Rent," and Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) likely to step into "Wicked." Fatone will take over the role of nerdy Seymour in "Little Shop" on June 24. Hunter Foster, who is nominated for a Tony for his performance as Seymour, exits June 6 to star in "The Producers" as Leo Bloom, the part originated by Matthew Broderick. Understudy Jonathan Rayson will play Seymour in the interim. Lachey will begin paying "Rent" in late September. He'll play Mark, the filmmaker Fatone played in his Broadway debut in 2002. McIntyre, who was a regular on the Fox TV show "Boston Public" and who appeared in the Jonathan Larson musical "tick, tick ... BOOM!" is in talks to play Fiyero, the Wicked Witch's love interest. Norbert Leo Butz leaves July 18 for the Broadway-bound musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." |
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