Justin in PGA video game
(9/3/04) the newest Entertainment Weekly (thanks candy!)

Body rocker Justin Timberlake will play a scar-faced pimpster in a three-piece suit named "The Hustler." Too bad it's only in EA Games new Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 game, due out Sep. 20. Timberlake, a golfer, approached EA about appearing in the game and spent a day in a motion-capture suit, which means that when Justin's other character, "Justin," gets a hole in one, the dance he does is Justin's! And the game's theme song? Features original human beat-boxing by JT! Let's hope for a movie spinoff: It's a musical Tin Cup meets Scarface!

 

Dancing With Myself
(9/3/04) Laura Foy G4TV

Welcome. As my very first time writing this column, I feel like I should make some grand introduction about who I am and what these articles will be about. But how intimidating is that? So much responsibility and importance, all placed on my first few words. That’s a lot for me to handle. It’s just too much pressure. Instead, I think I’ll skip that thankless ritual and get right to the meat of it.

First off, we’re not going to talk about video games here. You can get plenty of video game chatter from me on the boards, in chat and by watching the show. So if that’s what you’re looking for, search elsewhere. Instead, we’ll just get to know each other a little bit. If we’re going to form this relationship, there are a few things about me that you need to know. Let’s start at the beginning.

I’m pretty sure I was a strange little kid. Now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I’m also a strange grown-up but that’s not the point. Anyway… looking back at some of my childhood theories I have to laugh. I’ll share a few with you.

POP MUSIC IS FOR LOSERS
I was certain that pop music was lame, and if I liked it then I was most definitely lame too. I developed a hatred for the stuff, while secretly lip-synching to it in my room. Well, no more. Why can’t I like pop music? Let me tell you something -- Pink is damn talented. That girl has one helluva powerful voice. And you know what else? Justin Timberlake can dance like nobody’s business. I’m sick of people declaring how “alternative” they are simply because it’s not cool to like popular music. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a great indie rock band as much as the next gal, but I don’t have to denounce any other music to validate my taste in music. If only I had come to this realization earlier, I might have been a New Kids On The Block fan… think of all those pin-ups I missed out on!...

 

Lance to guest star in Disney cartoon episode
(9/3/04) Mickey News

Press Release, Disney

A colorful new TV series for preschoolers, "Higglytown Heroes," and its fresh perspective on heroism has attracted an impressive array of celebrity guest stars including Naomi Judd, Donald Faison, Kathie Lee Gifford, Camryn Manheim and Betty White who provide the voices of various "heroes" in episodes of the animated series.

Other guest stars include Sharon Stone, Susan Lucci, Lance Bass, Sean Astin, Serena Williams, Katie Sagal, Cyndi Lauper, Ed McMahon, Smokey Robinson, Jamie Lyn DiScala, Anne Heche, Jane Krakowski and Trace Atkins.

...Guided by an established curriculum, "Higglytown Heroes" helps preschoolers learn about and discover the broader world and the people (both conventional and less expected "heroes") who sustain a community. Children learn the hero's role in the community, see the tools the hero uses and develop an understanding of the problem that each hero is able to solve. The series further introduces the concept that everyone in some way, through some contribution, is a hero no matter their duty, profession or skill.

Kid actors Rory Thost, Frankie Ryan Manriquez, Taylor Masamitsu and Liliana Mumy provide the voices for the core cast -- the Higglytown kids -- along with Edie McClurg as their friend, Fran the Squirrel.

"Higglytown Heroes" premieres in a special primetime presentation, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 (6:30 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel and has its timeslot premiere MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 (8:00 a.m., ET/PT) during the learning-based programming block, Playhouse Disney.

 

'Shark Tale' Soundtrack Characters
(9/3/04) Shark Tale Official Website (thanks popdirt.com!)

The official website for the new movie Shark Tale has posted animated characters for singers appearing on the film's soundtrack, including Sean Paul, *NSYNC star Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Ziggy Marley, and Will Smith. Check them out on the 'Soundtrack' section of Sharktale.com.

 

Fake CDs, DVDs seized
Police have received tips about several piracy operations since thousands of allegedly pirated discs and tapes were found this weekend.
(9/3/04) TIM POTTER Wichita Eagle

Following up on the seizure of allegedly pirated videos and CDs from a flea market Saturday, Wichita police have confiscated equipment and thousands more movies.

The case, involving two vendors who have had booths at the Village Flea Market, will be presented to prosecutors for consideration of possible federal charges, police Lt. Ralph Clark said Thursday.

Federal prosecutors have expressed interest in the case, said Clark, who supervises financial crimes investigations.

What makes this case different, he said, is the large volume -- several thousand pieces of what appear to be illegal copies of recorded movies or music.

...The seized videotapes, DVDs and CDs appear to represent a full range of styles, Clark said.

"This is all mainstream movie-type stuff," he added.

Among the recordings police displayed Thursday afternoon were an Al Pacino "Scarface" DVD, Jimmy Buffett and Justin Timberlake CDs, and a videotape of "The Terminator."

The packaging, police said, had the signs of counterfeit production: fuzzy images on the covers, thin paper, packages held together by flimsy tape, lack of printing, and on the CDs: no tooled numbers etched into the discs.

...Piracy is big business; the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry estimates that 35 percent of all music discs sold worldwide are illegal copies. In the United States, pirated discs account for about $4.5 billion worth of sales.

Wichita police have been working with an investigator with the Recording Industry Association of America, Clark said.

"He was impressed by the magnitude of the cases we have down here."

The industry investigator has estimated that just one group of the seized CDs has a retail value of $54,000, Clark said.

Clark expected that the items would eventually be destroyed once they no longer have value as evidence.

 

Dance with Ashlee, Avril
(9/3/04) Marty Hughley Oregon Live

For some reason, the bigs at the radio station known as Z100 seem to think that dancing is prohibited during the final two weeks of summer. Their annual Last Chance Summer Dance always comes around Labor Day, not at the Autumnal Equinox.

Oh, wait. They don't mean summer according to the stars, but summer according to the schools. It's a party to keep the tyranny of textbooks at bay for another day.

After all, the lineup skews young. Avril Lavigne and instant superstar Ashlee Simpson provide rockin' role models for preteen girls. If they don't seem young enough for the task, there's 13-year-old R&B demi-diva JoJo.

Even those artists of drinking age fit in. Ryan Cabrera, a 21-year-old who made his debut album with help from the Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik, presents a paint-by-numbers kit disguised as real rock, but his performances are polished enough to be impressive if you don't know better. But since the event is called a dance, there's yet more R&B-leaning pop in store, with 'N Sync's JC Chasez, former Crazy Town member Shifty, Monica (the singer who dueted with Brandy on "The Boy Is Mine" way back in '98), and grizzled veteran lover man Keith Sweat.

8 p.m. Sunday, Tom McCall Waterfront Park; $28 advance, Ticketmaster; 503-224-4400.