Joey Fatone is in sync with 'Producers' challenge
Source7.04.10
If you didn't know that Joey Fatone was part of 'N Sync, the boy band that sold 56 million records, or that he finished second on "Dancing With the Stars" a couple of seasons ago, or that he has two Broadway shows and several movie roles under his belt, you wouldn't suspect anything of the sort from the easygoing guy in the seat across the table.
But the jovial Mr. Fatone has done all of those things, plus voice-overs and TV hosting duties -- and he's got that ever present trim beard and mustache, so he's easily recognizable when he walks into a small conference room in the Benedum Center.
He's wearing a T-shirt and shorts after a wardrobe fitting for Pittsburgh CLO's "The Producers," and he shares an iPhone image of himself in the lederhosen and Nazi helmet of his character, the Hitler-adoring playwright of "Springtime for Hitler," Franz Liebkind.
The role was played by Will Ferrell in the movie version of "The Producers" and earned Brad Oscar a Tony nomination on Broadway.
When 'N Sync dissolved, Mr. Fatone, 33, looked to his first love, musical theater. In 2002, he was offered his choice of a role in the Broadway revival of "Rent," but asked to audition.
"The Producers"
Where: Benedum Center
When: Tues.-July 18. 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; 2 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sun.; and 2 p.m. Sun., July 18.
Tickets: $26.50-$70.50; 412-456-6666 or pgharts.org.
"When I did 'Rent,' it was a huge leap for me coming out of 'N Sync. Of course I embrace [the band years], that's where I came from, but you try to set yourself away from it. I wanted to become someone on Broadway."
He auditioned for the part of Roger, the tortured rocker and recovering addict. He wound up as the narrator Mark, the role he had coveted from the beginning because it was more within his voice range.
As a replacement in the 2003-04 revival of "Little Shop of Horrors," he again had his choice: the sadistic dentist or Seymour. "I said Seymour, because it's a lot more challenging for me to do a role that even though he's funny and slapsticky, he's not trying to be funny. He's just geeky, and that's who he is."
Several stops along the way will come in handy for his role as Franz Liebkind in "The Producers." It's a relatively small role with the potential showstoppers "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop" and "Haben Sie Gehort Das Deutsche Band (Have You Ever Heard the German Band)?"
He joined 'N Sync fresh out of a Florida high school that did three stage productions a year -- one Shakespearean, a one-act drama and a musical. The boy band was launched in Germany, where he recorded and toured for about 21/2 years.
"I know a lot more German than I should; sometimes some of the bad words," he says with a chuckle.
After one day's rehearsal, he's mostly struggling with hand motions, like a schoolyard clapping game, that go with "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop."
"The words were getting all screwed up because I was trying to concentrate on this crazy, silly hand thing that's so simple, it's driving me nuts." He demonstrates, without the words.
"There, I've got it now," he says.
His experience on "Dancing With the Stars" has been of help, too.
"They're very similar in a way because you're getting thrown into something and you literally have about a week to learn it. Same thing with 'Dancing With the Stars.' You were learning on Wednesday and you would actually have it pretty much done by Friday or Saturday, because you have the blocking and rehearsal in costumes on Monday. For this, it's weird because I can't run it over and over again with the cast I'm doing it with, because they're off rehearsing another scene. So it's really relying on yourself and the rehearsal time you have at hand when you're with other people."
His scenes are mainly with John Treacy Egan, who plays Max Bialystock, a role he understudied and moved into on Broadway, and another veteran of the New York stage, Jim Stanek, of Seneca Valley High and Carnegie Mellon.
The opportunity to play opposite other Broadway veterans in Mel Brooks' musical comedy that won 12 Tony Awards was among the attractions that initially brought Mr. Fatone to regional theater.
Among his dream roles is a part in "The Pirates of Penzance," He said listening to the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta was part of his earliest exposure to musical theater and cemented his desire to be a part of it.
He has followed an unusual path to the stage, from band member to Broadway pop-rock musicals such as "Rent" and "Little Shop of Horrors" to a more traditional show such as "The Producers" here in Pittsburgh.
"It means a lot to be here, actually, because it's kind of where ... I'd be starting to make a career out of it. I think it's great because it builds up your chops," Mr. Fatone says.
He marvels at the ensemble members who go through the short rehearsal process for all of CLO's shows.
"I would lose my mind. But it's a great learning tool. Say you're going to be hired as an understudy on a Broadway show and you only have a week to rehearse -- they can do it. It's probably a no-brainer for them to absorb what they need to know. I heard as far as 'Curtains' was concerned, it had never been seen [here] before, and they all did an amazing job. And they didn't have a ready reference, there is no movie of 'Curtains,' and it's kind of like hitting out in the dark."
For Franz, he has not only the long-running Broadway and touring success, but two movies -- the original 1968 version and the 2005 musical.
"The character is fun and a little hokey, but Franz has been basically -- OK, a pun -- cooped up in his coop area; it was just him and his birds. This is the first time he's seen people, and he's like, why are they up here on the rooftop where this is my sanctuary, my place? So he is kind of coo-coo."
He says you can joke about Franz and the show within a show, "Springtime for Hitler," because of Mel Brooks' ability to transcend the notion of being politically correct.
"You have to break boundaries, and he is just so smart the way he does it, you can't help but laugh at it. That's why he's so great doing all the things he did, 'Blazing Saddles,' 'Young Frankenstein,' 'The Producers.' I love a lot of the stuff he does. 'History of the World' is hysterical. So wrong, yet so right in so many ways."
After Pittsburgh, Mr. Fatone plans to spend some time with his family. His wife, Kelly, endured a difficult pregnancy before the birth of his second daughter, Khloey, now 5 months old. After some time off, he may be headed back to a recording studio to follow up his recent single, "Radio."
"The industry, I didn't know how they would react, because [former bandmate] Justin [Timberlake] has been out there doing his thing, and they didn't know my take on it. So we didn't promote it, we just put it out there. And it sold -- nothing extensive or tremendous, but the response has been positive. That's good because now I can go and do the promotion. After this, the next [single] should probably come out in mid-July, and hopefully I'll do a lot more production after that."
He also has a movie in the can, his first foray into the horror genre after roles in comedies such as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." He plays a police detective in "Inkubus," starring the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund.
It's something different that might be of help in another challenge he's hoping to conquer -- a play. He's already done voice-over work on shows such as "Robot Chicken" and hosting gigs on NBC's "The Singing Bee" and the TV Guide Channel's red-carpet coverage.
For his role in "The Producers," a relatively small but memorable one, "I just want to do the character justice."
"What I've done, I've been very lucky, very fortunate. ... Whatever it is, I'll put 110 percent into it. I'm not trying to put all my eggs in one basket. I found out there's a lot of things, you want to take a chance, you definitely don't want to take a huge chance. 'Cause you don't want to go off the deep end."
Comments (0) 07.05.2010. 09:06
In Sync With Justin Timberlake
Source6.14.10
Who is Justin Timberlake? By his own admission he lives in a world creating personas to suit whatever is next on the agenda. With first-hand experience of the man himself tabloid! looks at the many sides of one of the most famous men in music…
Justin Timberlake was in Dubai on Sunday, and yet most people had no idea. He wasn't here to perform, sadly, and he wasn't having a private holiday (although he did have a go on the rides at Aquaventure). The last time he hit our city was three years ago, when, after his unforgettable Abu Dhabi performance, he sneaked into Dubai to play a round of golf. How did one of the world's top stars slip so quietly into the UAE, and what on earth was he doing here?
Well, this weekend, it wasn't Timberlake the singer, dancer, actor or golfer who sat in Atlantis wearing dark, ripped William Rast jeans (yes, that is his fashion line. Does the man sleep?) to chat to tabloid! It was Timberlake the sexy face of a new perfume, one for women. According to French fashion house Givenchy, which first enlisted Timberlake as the face of their male scent Play, women love him so much he can even sell them perfume, which led to the creation of Play For Her, and the ensuing commercial starring Timberlake and Canadian model Noot Seear running up the Eiffel Tower. However sexy he is it's rather odd for a guy to be the face of a women's scent.
"I said the same thing!" Timberlake told tabloid! with a laugh. "But it works. When they came to me with the idea and how to pitch it I was hesitant about the men's fragrance but we did it right. It's interesting how we constructed the women's campaign, it was kind of the opposite of you how usually do it the ad was shot first and then the still was based off the commercial."
tabloid! sat down with Timberlake for an exclusive chat about scents, sex and his future sounds.
For an entertainment writer, the opportunity to speak to Justin Timberlake must be like a political reporter meeting Barack Obama: the dream interview. He's the nec plus ultra of music, fashion and celebrity: one of the world's most attractive men who has the entertainment industry in the palm of his hand. Except for one thing. In person, the world's hottest entertainer isn't very... entertaining.
Perhaps my expectations were set rather high. Having seen Timberlake perform in Abu Dhabi three years ago, a concert from which I, an avowed alt-rock fan, walked away saying it was the best gig ever, I was expecting to fall in love all over again. (Reader, rest assured I maintained my composure throughout the interview.) Questions about his personal life were off the cards, I was warned by his publicist, and even subtle attempts to ask about his relationships were cut dead by Timberlake, who apparently despises the word "tabloid" because of American magazines' constant intrusion into his private life. His PR confirmed to me later that another journalist who spoke to Timberlake after tabloid! on Sunday was removed from the interview after asking about Jessica Biel.
On stage, Timberlake's voice and dance moves are riveting hypnotic, even. You can't take your eyes off the man. But as he told me about his life as an artist and the purpose of entertainment I have to confess I found myself casting my eyes over the fish painted on the wall of the Atlantis' Bridge Suite.
Well, I suppose it's only fair during the time we spent together, Timberlake rarely made eye contact, preferring to eye up the door to the suite. Planning your escape, Justin?
Life as a star can't be easy prior to this two-day visit to Dubai, he was promoting the perfume in New York and left yesterday to do the same in Paris and Timberlake is hardly the most trying interviewee tabloid! has ever seen. But that spark we were all expecting this is the man behind some side-splitting Saturday Night Live sketches and fever-inducing dance routinesseems to be firmly locked away, only to be brought out for special performances or maybe just one very special lady.
Hope he's worth it.
On being called a sex symbol
"I'd rather not answer that question. Yes, the word sex was in the [album] title. I think in art and fashion, It's more aspirational than anything. My last album, it was a character that I created in my mind. I obviously portrayed it because I can't write the music and record it and then have someone else do the video. I don't think I necessarily think of myself that way. I think I see it as: if you have a voice and a way that you are communicating what you are doing, that's what being an artist is about. You can be a great director, you can have all the talent as a director, all this talent as a songwriter but if you don't have a specific voice to communicate it to people, then you become like that talented artist who never made anything of themselves."
On futuresex/love sounds album
"I think my last album was really just a character in my mind. Once you have a spark in your mind, you just take it. The bravado that came out of that album wasn't totally me, it was just an idea that I had. Every once in a while, you put on an outfit, you're like your favourite version of yourself at that moment, and you have other times where you're the worst version of yourself, you hurt people and you make mistakes. We're complicated creatures, we're human. But that's what I think art and entertainment are there for — to inspire you to be the best strongest, sexiest, what have you... the ‘whatever'-est version of yourself."
On having a stage persona
"When I'm on stage, it's a version of myself; on film it's a version of myself. You're require to lose pieces of yourself but you're also required to put a little bit of yourself in it as well — because you're required to play the truth, and I think you have to do that in music as well as on stage. Just because it's not dressed up like some of the artists you see today, doesn't mean it's not a character. I think a lot of artists do that. My favourite ones do, like Prince. He could really be living that [persona]. But if you have to ask yourself that question, it means he's doing his job. And I think that people ask themselves that question about me."
On working on new material
"I have not done anything on my own stuff. I mean yes and no — I'm always cataloguing stuff in my brain and on my hard drive for future use.It's great to spice it up, but if you don't like it... I don't know until I get there. That's the thing with artists, man. We don't know until we know. And then you'll know."
On making his mark in Hollywood
"I am enjoying doing films right now. There's certain people in Hollywood that actually care what I think now. I've actually put enough time into that process that I have to see that through and not turn my back on it."
On staying gorgeous
"Grooming is on a whim. I may not shave for like a month then all of a sudden just completely shave all the hair off my face. And then sometimes you have your hair [and say]: ‘OK, I'm gonna shave my head,' and you just go and shave your head. That's the thing about being a guy we don't put thought into a lot of things. It's not high on the priority list. With that being said, I obviously take care. If there's anything guys should do, at this point, it's be thoughtful of your skin. Wear sunblock... it is your friend."
Comments (0) 06.14.2010. 06:20
Interview with Joey Fatone from Time Out New York Kids
source6.8.10
Although he's no longer tearin' up our hearts as a member of 'N Sync, Joey Fatone is tackling new territory as a host, singer, dancer and dad to two daughters: nine-year-old Brihana and four-month-old Kloey. It's that last role that inspired him to take a guest spot on the Disney Channel's tot rockin' show Imagination Movers. On the Saturday, May 22 episode at 10am, Fatone plays baseballer Joey Giordano, who enlists the Movers' help when he realizes that his big game conflicts with his son's birthday party. It's the kind of quandary the always-busy Fatone can totally relate to. Somewhere between promoting his brand-new single, "Radio," and juggling other entertainment and family commitments, the busy papa squeezed in a quick chat with Time Out Kids about his career, his Brooklyn boyhood and being a kid at heart.
Did you always want to go into showbiz?
Yeah. When I lived in Brooklyn my dad was always into the arts. He sang in a '50s doo-wop group–nothing big–but I always listened to him and developed a fascination with street harmonies. When I moved to Florida at 13, I started singing and doing plays.
What did you do for fun as a kid in Brooklyn?
If we got good grades we'd go to a place called Nellie Bly [now known as Adventurers' Family Entertainment Center]. It was a theme park where they had video games. Day to day, I'd just hang around with friends on the block. We'd sit on the stoop and talk and play music and stuff. We'd go to movies. I wasn't that athletic, but I'd try to play stickball.
Have your kids been to your old neighborhood?
I've brought Brihana back to the city. There's a pizza place in Brooklyn she loves called Spumoni Gardens. She keeps asking if she's from New York or from Florida. I tell her she's a Floridian, but she's kind of a New Yorker because I keep bringing her back to taste all the food and culture, and we still have family living in Staten Island.
Any other favorite NYC spots you like to hit with the family?
I've taken her to Nellie Bly. We like to see Broadway shows. We've been to the ice-skating rink in Central Park a bunch of times. She loves to go to the American Girl Place. For the past seven years or so we've gone to New York for Thanksgiving to watch the parade, and she thinks it's the greatest thing. I can't wait until my other daughter gets a little bit older so I can take her.
Tell us about your guest role on Imagination Movers.
I play a baseball player with a huge dilemma. My son's birthday party is on the same day as one of the biggest games of my career, and I have to try to figure out how to have this party for my son and play the game. The Imagination Movers agree to help me, so we go through different trials and test out different things.
Why did you decide to take this part?
It was a lot of fun and it changes things up a bit. Also, I want my kids to be excited about what I do. My daughter doesn't care about what I did with 'N Sync, but once I did Hannah Montana about a year ago, I became God to her. My nephew loves Imagination Movers, so it's going to be cool for him to see me on that.
How's life treating you now that you have two kids?
I'm loving it. It's a lot of work, obviously, but it's really great. I'm traveling around right now and it's one of the first times I've been away from them, which is a little nerve-racking. I definitely miss them.
I read somewhere that your wife feels like she's got three kids sometimes, with you being the third.
[Laughs] I'm the third kid, definitely. I'm kind of a big kid at heart. I'm a fun guy, I always want to take my daughter to theme parks and stuff like that.
Does Brihana have showbiz aspirations?
She loves to sing and entertain, and she's done some plays at school already. She did The Wizard of Oz where she was a crow. She was actually offered the part of the Wicked Witch, but she turned it down because she got nervous and wasn't sure she could learn the lines.
What else are you up to these days?
Right now I'm in L.A. because I'm doing some stuff with Dancing with the Stars [see below], and I just flew in from Rhode Island, where I'm working on a horror movie called Inkubus. And I just released a single, "Radio," off my upcoming album.
Will your album sound anything like 'N Sync?
No, not at all. I would say it's pop and kind of rock. "Radio" is a fun song, nothing too serious. I don't know what you'd want to call it. Let me know if it sucks! [Laughs]
Comments (0) 06.09.2010. 12:09
Justin Timberlake loves golf so much he carries a club around with him when he is at home.
Source5.28.2010
The singer is known to be a fan of the sport, and even created his own golf course near his hometown of Memphis. There have been rumours he has a special room in his house where he goes to practice his putt, but Justin has laughed off the claim.
“I have way too many expensive pieces of furniture in my house to do that. That’s a little ridiculous,” he laughed. “But, yeah, I mean I do wake up in the morning and I walk by my clubs and well, look at me now. I’m sitting here with a wedge in my hand right now. And I’ll walk around my house with a wedge. I have hardwood floors and I’m tapping it on the floor as I walk around the house.”
Justin’s love of golf comes from his father, Randall. He was adamant his son should practice the sport from a young age, but Justin was less keen. It wasn’t until he became a teenager that he grew to enjoy games.
“My dad tried to get me into it when I was about ten years old, but I never really picked up the game. And then, about six or seven years ago, I took up the game and immediately became addicted,” he explained to callawaygolf.com. “More or less because I was on tour and I wanted to get outside. It was a great way to get outside. Then I started really hitting the ball. From there it became, ‘OK, how do I switch those interviews around so I can go hit balls?’”
Comments (0) 05.28.2010. 05:31
RI production company wraps first film
source5.27.2010
Mary Abraham
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Local production company, Verdi Corrente Productions , has wrapped production on its first feature film, Inkubus.
The horror film stars Robert Englund - the original Freddy Krueger. It also stars William Forsythe of Halloween, and Joey Fatone of *NSYNC.
Michael Corrente, a Pawtucket-native, says "What started as a small horror project has turned into a smashing success."
Inkubus is about a skeleton crew working the final shift at a soon-to-be demolished police station. The night takes a gruesome turn when the demon, Inkubus (Englund) shows up with a severed head.
The movie was filmed in Cranston and New York City.
VCP has launched the official website for Inkubus.
Director Glenn Ciano says "We'll be putting up behind the scenes footage, teasers and trailers, and plan to run a massive contest starting very soon."
Inkubus is the first of four films VCP will produce within the next year - including Loosies, starring Twilight-star Peter Facinelli, horror-flick Infected, and Paz, the story of Rhode Island boxer, Vinny Pazienza.
Loosies will go into pre-production on Monday.
Comments (0) 05.27.2010. 05:23
Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake to Co-Star in "The Social Network"
Source5.27.2010
Film and stage star Jesse Eisenberg will team up with and pop music star and Emmy Award winner Justin Timberlake in the film "The Social Network" about the formation of Facebook, according to Variety.
The film will be directed by allstar David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and written by the famed Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night and The Farnsworth Invention). Eisenberg will play founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Timberlake will play Sean Parker, the Napster co-founder who became Facebook's founding president. The film will also star Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder who fell out with Zuckerberg. Filming is scheduled to begin shortly with an anticipated 2010 release.
Eisenberg co-starred in the Atlantic Theater Company's production of Scarcity; his other film credits include Rodger Doger, The Village, The Squid and the Whale, and the upcoming Kill Your Darlings and Zombieland. He made his Broadway debut as an understudy in a 1996 revival of Summer and Smoke. He made his screen debut on the 1999 television series Get Real, which was canceled in 2000. After appearing in the made-for-television film Lightning: Fire from the Sky, he starred in the independent film, Roger Dodger (for which he won an award at the San Diego film festival), and in the inspirational film The Emperor's Club, both of which were released in 2002 to generally positive reviews. In 2005, Eisenberg appeared in Cursed, a horror film directed by Wes Craven, and The Squid and the Whale, a well-reviewed independent drama also starring Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels. In addition to Scarcity at the Atlantic Theater Company (2007), Eisenberg also appeare in a workshop production of Lyle Kessler's Orphans in Los Angeles (2006). In 2007, he starred opposite Richard Gere and Terrence Howard in The Hunting Party, a comic thriller in which he plays a young journalist in Bosnia. In 2009, Eisenberg played the lead role in Adventureland, a comedy directed by Greg Mottola and filmed in Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Filming ended in October 2007 and the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009.
Justin Timberlake has won six Grammy Awards as well as two Emmy Awards. He got his big break when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club. Timberlake became famous in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the boy band 'N Sync. In 2002, he released his debut solo album, Justified, which sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and spawned the hits "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body". Timberlake continued his success with his second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and produced the US number-one hit singles "SexyBack," "My Love," and "What Goes Around.../...Comes Around." Aside from music, he has also begun an acting career appearing in films such as Alpha Dog and The Love Guru, while his other ventures include record label Tennman Records, fashion label William Rast, and the restaurants Destino and Southern Hospitality.
Comments (0) 05.27.2010. 04:02
Justin Timberlake announces eyewear line
Source5.25.2010
Justin Timberlake has announced plans for two new eyewear lines.
Timberlake and Trace Ayala's fashion brand William Rast will release William Rast Eyewear and William Rast Racing Eyewear for men and women.
The branded eyewear will include sunglasses and prescription glasses, according to a statement from the company.
The line will debut in 2011 in William Rast's branded shops and other retail outlets.
According to Just Jared, Timberlake is also busy recording with Memphis hip-hop/soul band Free Sol, who have signed to his Tennman Records.
Comments (0) 05.25.2010. 04:01
Joey Fatone Debuts Solo Single 'Radio' After Wife's Scary Pregnancy
Source5.18.10
Former *NSYNC member and 'Dancing With the Stars' season 3 runner-up Joey Fatone is back, but this time he's going solo. His first single 'Radio' (available on iTunes) is "a tongue-in-cheek, fun summer song," Fatone tells PopEater. "Some people try to change themselves when they go solo, but I did not want to 180 from my pop-rock roots and become a rapper or anything. 'Radio' is just me being myself and having fun."
But getting to his solo single release has been a bumpy ride, as Fatone admits he "shut down" during his wife Kelly's recent pregnancy when doctors discovered blood clots in both of her lungs. Further tests revealed she had a rare genetic condition called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which increases the chances of babies being born with chromosomal defects like Down syndrome. "When she was in the hospital, I just shut down. I didn't really say much to anybody. It was pretty scary. Every doctor that I talked to said, 'Your wife is really lucky to be alive.' It was that serious," Fatone recalls.
"I was like, 'I am not doing s**t.' I decided, I'm not working. I'm just going to stay home, be with my wife and wait until the baby is delivered. I wanted to make sure everything was okay," he recalls.
When Fatone's wife showed symptoms of distress, doctors induced labor, though she was two weeks shy of her due date. His wife gave birth to Kloey Alexandra Fatone in Orlando, Fla., on January 11.
Today, Fatone admits his family is doing great and that baby Kloey is happy and healthy. "Thank goodness everything worked out really well. The blood clots are gone. Her heart rate is doing good. The baby is fine," Fatone says.
So you're jumping back into the music business with your new solo project. How does it feel? It's exciting. It's been in the making for a while. We wanted to get this song out there and have fun with it. Music has always been a passion of mine and hey, everybody else is doing an album, so why not get my own single out there?
Your first single is 'Radio.' Did you write the song?Actually, no. I wrote a couple other tracks, but a friend of mine wrote the song a while back, and I recorded the vocals. We went back and revamped it. Basically, it's just a fun summer song.
Yeah. I heard the song and really enjoy it.
Thanks. This single really jumps out at you. I just want to have fun and be myself.
Is there a full album coming, too?Yeah. It's still in the works. It's nice though, because nowadays it is such a singles market, so we can determine how far to go into making an album. It's great to release a single and then go, 'A lot of people responded to it and love it, so let's go ahead with the album.' Right now, I have seven or eight songs ready, but we're still recording and writing. Hopefully once the single kicks off, it will do well, and I'll be able to finish the album and go on tour.
How does it feel coming back – without four other guys (*NSYNC) with you?This solo career gives me something to work on from the ground up. Obviously, with *NSYNC, that led me to other things like hosting, acting and being on shows like 'Dancing With The Stars.' But this is a whole new chapter in my life.
Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez have been solo for a while. Have you talked to them about your new project?Yeah. We're all very supportive of each other. We're honest, if it sucks, we let each other know ... I talked to Justin at the Kentucky Derby and told him what I was doing. He was like, 'Good luck. This is awesome.' We critiqued each other in *NSYNC and still critique each other now with our solo work. It's good.
Are you planning to do more intimate shows this time around?Yeah. I'd love to do smaller shows. I want that cool, intimate vibe.
So your wife gave birth to your second child in January. Is it easier this time around?Joey Fatone, wife Kelly and daughter Briahna. My oldest daughter is nine years old now, so I have to go back and start changing diapers again. It's interesting because two weeks after my first daughter was born, I was back on the road and was gone for three or four months with *NSYNC. I missed changing diapers, feeding her ... I literally left and then when I came back for a day or two, we were starting to feed her. Then I'd come back a few months later, and she was just about to walk. I didn't miss a lot, but you don't realize how much time you have to spend with a newborn.
Has anything major changed?Not really. But my wife just says she has three kids now. [Laughs] It's been a blast. I can't wait for Kloey to get a little bit older, so I can take both girls to Disneyworld. Of course, I don't want them to grow up too fast.
How is Briahna doing as the older sister?She loves it! She holds Kloey, feeds her and changes her -- but she won't change the poopy diapers. What's great about it is as she gets older, I'll have a built in babysitter, so my wife and I can get away.
Do you like having all girls or do you want a boy?For us, we really haven't thought about having another kid. I never really cared if it was a boy or a girl. As long as the baby had ten fingers, ten toes and was healthy, I'm good.
So what other projects do you have coming up?I'm actually in Rhode Island shooting a horror film, 'Inkubus.' It stars the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund. I play Detective Caretti. The plot starts with the officers and myself working the final shift of a closing police station when a demon named Inkubus walks in with the severed head of his girlfriend. It's crazy! There are a lot of twists and turns ... This role was so new for me because I'm usually the comedy guy. This movie has blood and gore, and Inkubus has quite an interesting way of killing people.
You're also returning to 'Dancing With The Stars' on May 18. How does it feel?Great. Melissa Rycroft and I are both coming back to dance the tango together ... It's crazy because we only get about a week to rehearse ... I was in the running against a bunch of former 'DWTS' contestants, and this time two celebrities were picked to dance together, which is the first time the show has done that.
Fans and viewers voted for you. Did you think you'd get picked?I got a call that they wanted to put me in the running, and if people voted for me, I'd come back and dance. I said, 'Yeah. I probably won't get picked.' And sure enough, my dumba** got picked. [Laughs]
Comments (0) 05.18.2010. 07:16
Usher, Justin Timberlake, Will.I.Am Surprise Fans On 'Oprah'
www.mtv.com5.10.2010
Usher, Justin Timberlake, Cher and the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday afternoon (May 10) as part of the talk-show host's "Star-Studded Harpo Hookups" special.
Timberlake appeared via Skype and gave away a pair of golf clubs to a lucky fan who was surprised to learn she'd be taking lessons on the links with the "Cry Me a River" star. The woman, who claimed to be JT's biggest fan, is set to be married soon, and her fiancé helped organize the surprise. The fan told Timberlake that she listens to his CD when she's having a bad day to feel better.
Another fan, named Josh, was flown to a Cher concert by his partner but got "hooked up" by getting a chance to meet the diva herself backstage.
Peas frontman Will.I.Am took cameras on a tour of his childhood home in Los Angeles and later helped out a family that was struggling financially. The superstar producer helped the family avoid foreclosure. "That's a great hookup," Winfrey beamed after the producer's announcement.
Usher then appeared in the studio at the end of the show to perform his #1 hit "OMG," produced by Will.I.Am. The singer had fun during his appearance, dancing with Oprah and even tossing his designer shades toward her after he walked away from their twirl.
Oprah was fully engaged in Usher's performance, especially during the song's chanting "Oh, oh, oh," which she repeated while wearing Usher's shades.
Comments (0) 05.10.2010. 06:27
'Saturday Night Live': Justin Timberlake to make special appearance in finale?
www.blog.zap2it.com5.10.2010
Is Justin Timberlake going to wrap up the 2009-2010 "Saturday Night Live" season with a special digital short? We certainly hope so.
The New York Post is reporting that backstage at Broadway musical "Memphis," Justin Timberlake "was overheard telling cast members he had just come from taping a secret segment for ['Saturday Night Live']."
Timberlake is infamous for his hysterically funny digital shorts with Andy Samberg "D*** in a Box" and "Motherlover." We're also fans of his various two-guys-on-the-street-singing-at-passersby skits where he promotes places like Omeletville and Plasticville. And who can forget his "Single Ladies" dance for Beyonce?
We hope this rumor is true because whatever it is is bound to be an excellent sketch. The season finale of "SNL" airs Saturday, May 15 and will be hosted by Alec Baldwin and feature musical guest Tom Petty. Just for fun -- here's Timberlake's "D*** in a Box" digital short. Naughty words ahead!
Comments (0) 05.10.2010. 05:55