JC interview from WBLI Long Island (5/30/04)
(6/1/04) WBLI (thanks to rizuki for transcribing and to Eva!)

Steve: Long Island's number one hit music station, 106.1 BLI.. Yeah, Jones Beach, it's Steve and Maria, we're backstage at BLI SummerJam 2004 --
Maria: You know what, time has stopped, time has stopped for me at this moment because we're sitting here with JC Chasez! --
JC: Hi.
Maria: and I can't even believe I can touch you --
JC: I'm this close, yes.
Maria: I'm touching his arm..
JC: ..Okay.
Maria: And his lovely..
JC: *laughing somewhat* You're scaring me a little bit.
Maria: .. jean jacket. *laughing*
Steve: He's twitching, he's twitching weird.
Maria: I-I'm sorry to scare you, JC.
JC: Ahh. Nah, no it's all good.
Maria: It's just, it's just such a pleasure to have you, it really is.
JC: Well, thank you very much, I'm glad to be here.
Maria: It -- you know, it's just so neat when we have artists come backstage and they're just so relaxed and so cool and you think like, you know you're so famous now, and now you're a solo artist and all.
JC: Yeah, but there's -- there's sense in being high strung, you know what I mean, you're supposed to enjoy life and enjoy yourself, you know, this is what I like to do so.. I'm back here and I'm laid back and I'm having a good time.
Maria: Are the fans making you nuts? 'Cause I know, I mean, they -- they got back here somehow, I'm telling ya --
JC: I mean, again, that's the reason you do it. If people don't buy the record --
Maria: He's been so sweet. He's been so sweet.
JC: *quietly* Yeah. I mean, yeah you don't make a living. *laughs quietly*
Maria: Just, kissing everybody and hugging everybody. Obviously, you don't have OCD and don't have a problem with that touching thing.
JC: No, it don't bother me none. I'm cool.
Maria: *while JC's speaking* No?
JC: I don't -- I'll meet anybody.
Maria: Has anybody every gotten a little too out of control? Grabbing you a little too much..?
JC: Yeah I mean, there's always gonna be, you know, the exceptional cases or whatever when people are gonna go too far, but, I mean, for the most part, you know what, all people really wanna do is say hi..
Maria: *while JC's speaking again* Yeah.
JC: you know, maybe give you a hug, you know, and an autograph, and everybody's happy and everybody wins.
Maria: Yeah. Now, I mean, is there a downside to the whole fame thing? I mean, 'cause it must be tough just sitting in a restaurant and tryin' to have a darn burger and like, there's somebody always coming over.
JC: No.
Maria: No?
JC: Not really. You know the only thing that's probably killer about it is, uh, when you're working, it's really, like it's a hectic schedule. But when you're down, it's like you have down time, but when you're working it's like non-stop.
Steve: What's your favorite place to eat in the entire world?
JC: Uhmm..
Steve: You like Hard Rock Cafe? It's a cool place right?
JC: .. It's not a bad place.
Steve: I don't mean to out you here, but we have inside information that --
Maria: *while Steve's talking* Uh oh.
Steve: -- You've been collecting menus from the Hard Rock Cafe, we have you on camera actually removing the menus from the restaurant?
JC: Yeeeah, I wouldn't doubt it. Yeah. I mean I, I did it when I was a kid, I haven't done it in quite a few years, but.
Steve: So you're not saying you have a collection of Hard Rock Cafe menus at home or anything
JC: Oh I definetly have a collection.
Steve: Oh you do? Oh oh, okay.
Maria: Whether or not you're doing it anymore, yeah.
JC: Absolutely. Because -- Yeah. I haven't done it in years so, I just had so many -- And by the time it got out that I was kinda collecting them, people started giving them to me and that kinda destroyed the point.
Steve: Got it.
Maria: Of course.
JC: I wanted to get them from where I went to and so it's like.. Yeah.
Maria: Yeah, like Japan..
Steve: You wanna feel like, you did the job yourself.
JC: I got one from Japan when I was there, I got one from Paris when I was there you know what I mean? So it was really cool to see this collection of things.. you know.
Maria: Exactly. So what will you be collecting here at SummerJam, BLI SummerJam 2004?
JC: Um..
Maria: A kiss from me, it's yours, whenever you need, I will be happy to.
JC: *laughing* Nah, I just wanna go out there and sing songs and have fun.
Steve: Isn't great to be here? We're outside.
JC: It's outdoors. That's always.. You know what.
Steve: It's a beautiful night, the wind died down.
JC: Yeah. It's summertime man, it's on.
Maria: How has the, uh, solo tour been going?
JC: It's been great man, it really has. I've had a chance to express myself, um. You know, with my show and with my music. When you're on your own, you don't have to make any compromises, and that's exciting. You know, everything that you've always wanted to do, and everything that you've always wanted to say to everybody, you get to. And that's it. Um.. So I'm having fun doing it. You know, I get somethin' off my chest.
Steve: I gotta, I wanna tell you this, and I really mean this, honestly, I'm proud of you, for busting out and doing your own thing, and when you came out with Blowin' Me Up, I mean, I was just like, that is a cool song.
JC: Thank you, man.
Maria: Really, very cool.
Steve: It really is good stuff.
JC: Yeah I'll play it tonight, so everyone'll have some fun with it.
Maria: Oh you better, you better.
JC: Yeah.
Maria: Now, I mean, do you miss the guys at all?
JC: Of course, of course I do.
Maria: I mean that whole group thing, NSYNC, you know.. So many years.
JC: Um, you know. Yeah. We talk, but we talk all the time. It's not like we don't see each other, we see each other all the time, we talk to each other on the phone all the time. Um.. you know, and it's just a matter of time before we do the next record, you know, it's just a matter of the right songs coming together 'cause it's all on the back of all of our minds about, you know, putting together the next record, it's just a matter of getting the right songs together, um so.
Maria: And having time, obviously.
JC: No, we'll make time for that. You know like I said, when the right songs come along, it's a done deal.
Steve: Do you ever do that? Like you're working on your CD and you come up with a song and you say, 'you know, that's better for the group and not for me.'
JC: Absolutely.
Steve: Yeah?
JC: Yeah I mean, because, you can tell, um, there's certain influences from the other guys 'cause I spent so much time with them and when, you know, when I feel like it's kinda leaning that way, then that's what it's for.
Steve and Maria: Yeah, yeah.
Maria: Is it weird? I mean obviously you say you talk to them and hook up with the guys from time to time, but is it weird, I mean do you read the magazines, and do you see yourself in People magazine and stuff like that and like, do you call Justin and be like, 'Justin man you had a huge pimple in that picture dude what's up?'
JC and Steve: *laugh*
Maria: Do you do that stuff?
JC: No, I wouldn't say all that, man.
Maria: 'Cause I, I'm a total, I-- 'cause when I see the tabloids, I'm a total tabloid freak.
Steve: She rips people apart, I'm telling you right now.
Maria: I know, I love to look up close and be like 'damn Gwenyth Paltrow has some ugly toes man'. Do you do that stuff?
JC: Well we all got our flaws though, you know, you just have to live with that, I mean there's no way around it. Uh, I don't really wanna be known for my physicality, I wanna be known for my tunes, that's what I care about, so.
Maria: Absolutely. Your music. And I always said it, I mean, if there's anyone that's gonna go solo from NSYNC it's you know JC and Justin. The two best voices, the two cutest ones, I have to say.
JC: Thank you.
Maria: I know, I know you're gonna be like, yeah we're all talented, blah blah blah, but, I always said that you were the most precious and beautiful.
JC: Thank you.
Maria: And the nicest voice and he's like 'okay enough, enough!'
JC: Yeah now that I'm sitting next to you it's yeah yeah yeah..
Steve: Now take your hand off him.
Maria: Okay I'm turning red, I'm turning red, stop, stop, stop.
JC: Nah it's cool.
Maria: So, um, as far as like when you do the solo thing and do a kinda show like this, do you have to -- do you do the same songs or do you say 'tonight I feel like doing another one..'
JC: Oh no, it all -- changes the list every night according to the crowd. You know what I mean? And that's fun, I mean there's always gonna be a few songs that I play pretty consistantly because you gotta play what the crowd wants to hear. There's certain songs that you know the crowd wants to see, and certain songs that I feel are dynamic for me to perform live. Um. But then, you know, the rest of the time you play with it, you decide, 'oh tonight we'll do these five, tomorrow night we'll do these three, and we'll change these two or three right here. You know, we're gonna do an hour set we do everything..
Steve: You got it, 'cause I would get bored doing the same stuff in the same order over and over again. You gotta change it up a little bit.
Maria: Now before you go JC, let's talk about, you know, we do see in the tabloids often --
JC: Yeah.
Maria: -- your buddy Justin --
JC: Yeah.
Maria: -- with a certain someone who --
JC: Yeah.
Maria: -- his certain someone --
JC: Yeah.
Maria: -- but we never see you with anybody, what's the story dude? We need the info, the 411.
JC: I mean, I'm quiet, I'm under the radar. I mean I go out and I date and I have fun and everything like that --
Steve: Is she here tonight?
JC: Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm not, I'm not dating anybody seriously now.
Maria: Specific, no one specific.
JC: No, nobody specific.
Steve: So there's a chance for anybody here tonight at Jones Beach? You never know.
JC: I guess so. Uh, more, more focused -- yeah, I mean, right now my whole life is my record. Schizophrenic is the name of my album and it's out now, and that's the most important thing in my world.
Maria: Absolutely. So no time right now for the hardcore love scene..
JC: Like I said, I'll hang out, but I'm not looking, you know, I'm not looking for that someone right now, right now I'm just looking to get my feet back off the ground and..
Maria: Well you're out there, that's for sure. And I'm glad that after that whole Schizophrenic uh thing, that whole controversy..
Steve: The issue over the CD cover, big deal. It's crazyness.
Maria: I'm glad that's over with so we an move forward and sell that album and get people out there, you know?
JC: Yeah, you know it's funny, people can't just dislike something, they have to get offended by it nowadays, it's just that's what it is.
Maria: We get that all the time.
JC: Oh I'm sure, you're in the business..
Steve: Oooh you know it.
Maria: We can't even say shoe without getting in trouble, and I know they'll call right now and say 'Maria said shoe and my mom got killed by a shoe and I don't appreciate it..'
Steve and JC: *laughing*
Maria: And that's just how it goes.. And I, you know, we get it and obviously when you're out..
Steve: Gotta express yourself, too.
JC: Totally, and you know, it's like, it's music, I'm not a doctor, let it be. You know, take it for what it is.
Maria: Yeah and I truly felt sorry for you, 'cause I'm like the guy just picked a name for an album. I mean let it go already.
Steve: It's a picture..
JC: Yeah, yeah.
Maria: And I'm glad that it's over.
JC: Thank you, yeah.
Maria: And that you're here tonight and it's gonna be great.
JC: We're playing songs and having a good time.
Steve: You know it, it's good.
Maria: We're gonna have a good time tonight with JC, everybody!
Steve: JC Chasez, thank you man.
JC: Thanks for having me.
Steve: Have a great show.
JC: Yup.
Maria: Thanks for dropping by, baby go! Go kick butt on stage!
JC: Take it easy, yeah. Indeed I will.
Steve: We are live, Jones Beach, Steve and Maria, 106.1 BLI.

Notable quotes at Tony time
(6/1/04) Playbill.com

Heard among the whirlwind of awards shows, CD signings and parties:

...Douglas Sills (who plays the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors): "Audrey II is not happy about Joey Fatone joining Little Shop of Horrors [on June 24] because she fears he’ll upstage her. But Audrey II might leave Broadway and set her sights on higher office. She offers, as an example, George Bush. She says, ‘Look how far a well operated puppet can go!’"

Vegas Sightings
(5/31/04) Norm Clarke Las Vegas Review-Journal (thanks raedoro!)

...'N Sync's Joey Fatone, getting the name of his fiancee, Kelly, tattooed on the inside of his lower lip Friday at the Hart & Huntington Tattoo Salon at the Palms. It was part of Fatone's bachelor party weekend...