*NSync News - July/August

(28/8) STUDENTS TO SHARE THRILL OF SPACE EXPLORATION WITH LANCE BASS
Source: Larry Kellogg

In the continuing quest to inspire the next generation of explorers, NASA on Thursday will provide students across the country an opportunity to interact over the Internet with a popular music star who hopes to become the youngest person to travel in space later this year.

Lance Bass, a member of the pop singing group 'N Sync, will be at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston this week to train for an upcoming space mission in which he would join two others in a Russian Soyuz flight to deliver a replacement "lifeboat" to the International Space Station. During a Web chat, Bass is expected to share his experiences to date in training for space travel, and to discuss what inspired him to seek out this space flight opportunity. 

The Web chat, hosted by NASA's Distance Learning Outpost and education Web portal, Quest, will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. EDT Thursday, August 29.

An audience of 9- to 12-year-old students from Pearl Hall Elementary School, Pasadena, Texas, will join Bass in the Johnson studio and ask questions face-to-face. Thousands of students from around the United States also will be able to submit questions via the on-camera host, Erika Guillory, who will then ask questions of Bass.

The webcast also will look at the importance of music education -- how music is metered, structured and formed, and still allows the mind to be creative. Similar approaches are needed for problem solving in math, science and technology or in design challenges related to space exploration.

"What a great opportunity for students to interact with a popular figure who can help inspire them to pursue careers in the space industry," said Susan Anderson, distance-learning manager at Johnson.

To participate in the Web chat, students and teachers should visit either the Distance Learning Outpost site at:

http://education.jsc.nasa.gov 

or the Quest web site at:

http://quest.arc.nasa.gov 

For more information about the International Space Station, the Expedition 5 crew and the taxi crew of which Bass will be a member, visit the NASA Human Spaceflight Web at: 

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov 

Lance Goes Space!!
Source: Lou

Singer in the American pop group NSync Lance Bass, who hopes to join a taxi mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as a space tourist, is leaving on Saturday for a week of simulator training in the American segment of the ISS at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

He will fly to Houston and train there at his own expense.

Meanwhile, the Russian Aerospace Agency has expressed grave concern about the observation of the financial side of the contract for the singer's space mission. The singer's backers has not paid the contract sum so far, a source at the agency told Interfax. The investors have been constantly lagging behind the schedule of payments.

The sources said that if they fail to make payments due in the next few days, the singer's training at the Gagarin space training will be stopped.

At the Gagarin training center on Friday, Interfax was told that Bass is scheduled to study the control panel of ISS onboard systems, the structure and maintenance of life-support systems in the Russian segment, and the organization of ham radio communications.

On Thursday, Bass received training in zero gravity with the crew of the taxi mission: Russian crew commander Sergei Zaletin and European Space Agency flight engineer Frank De Winne from Belgium. Zero gravity was simulated during air maneuvers of a special Il-76 MDK aircraft.

Justin & Brit Revealed
Source: Lou

For the record, Spears says that "first Justin broke up with me, and then I broke up with him." Why? "The two of us were always on the same page," she says, denying that either side cheated. "If he was starting a tour, so was I. But now we're doing different things." Although they "recently tried to get back together," she notes that "right now in my life, it's not right." For his part, Timberlake -- who told PEOPLE in April that he holds Spears "in the highest light" but declined to comment for this story -- has since been linked to dancer Jenna Dewan, 21, and singer Janet Jackson, 36. "Justin's 21, and I would expect him to go out with girls," says Spears, who first met Timberlake in '93 when the pair costarred on The Mickey Mouse Club. Not that it doesn't sting. " (The breakup) was horrible. Very upsetting and it took a lot out of me. He was my first real love, and I doubt I'll ever be able to love anyone like that ever again," she says. "But I'd rather spend two days with my soulmate than the rest of my life with some guy who doesn't mean as much." Mom Lynne, who still talks to Justin, adds, "I pick on him for going out with those other girls." As for her daughter's next boyfriend, says Lynne, " Britney needs somebody into his career, so he won't be jealous of her. I think someone older too. Britney's very mature. Always has been."

Justin Dating Alyssa?
Source: Judy

Thought you'd like to know that Justin and Alyssa Milano are dating! i went today to the grand avenue club in Los Angeles where they're filming Justin's new solo video, "Like I Love You". I was an extra in the video for a club scene and I brushed up against Justin!

Alyssa was on the set, and later on in the day, I spotted Justin and her holding hands. I was about 10 feet away from them, so I know I wasn't seeing things! I heard later from another extra that they were hugging each other in the back of the studio. And when 10:30pm approached, Alyssa left the set. But not before catching Justin's attention. Justin was filming a booth scene, and when he caught sight of her motioning at him, he mouthed "Where are you going?" to which she responded, "Home." He made a sad face and did the "Call me" sign with his hand, and then she left.

I don't know if they're an item, but they definitely looked pretty cozy today! So I thought I'd pass along the info.

Justin's New Album
Source: Lou

Justin Timberlake will be the first to break ranks from his 'N Sync mates with the Nov. 12 release of his Jive solo debut, "Justified." First single "Like I Love You," like the rest of the material on the album, was co-written by Timberlake. The soul-tinged track was delivered earlier this week to U.S. radio outlets and is already being spun on such major-market stations as WBLI New York, WKSC Chicago, and KIIS Los Angeles.

A video for the track will debut Sept. 9 on MTV's "Making the Video." Beforehand, Timberlake will perform the song at the MTV Video Music Awards, to be presented Aug. 29 at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Although the album is one of the most anticipated of the fall season, official details have been scant. Among the producers who lent a hand are the Neptunes, Timbaland, and P. Diddy, while Brian McKnight and Mario Winans are also confirmed to have participated.

According to the artist's agent, no Timberlake solo tour is being planned yet, but he may hit the road sometime next year.

Timberlake began taking greater control of the songwriting responsibilities in 'N Sync on last year's "Celebrity," which found him co-writing 10 of the 13 tracks with group member J.C. Chasez. He also co-wrote the song "What It's Like To Be Me" on ex-girlfriend Britney Spears' latest Jive set, "Britney."

While Timberlake has been working on "Justified," the other members of 'N Sync have been busied with various pursuits. Joey Fatone is appearing on Broadway in the hit musical "Rent," while Lance Bass is training in earnest for a potential trip into outer space. As reported yesterday, the Russian space agency said that if payment is not received by Friday (Aug. 23), Bass will not be permitted to take part in the mission, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 28. The price tag for such a "space tourist trip" is said to be about $20 million.

Virtual tour of JC and Justin's homes
Justin's new Hollywood Hills home is up at virtualhollywoodtour.com so take a minute to check out the house from a couple different angles. While you're there, get another look at JC's house too.

(16/8) Good Charlotte Video (feat. Chris K) Premieres 8/20
Source: JJ, Epic Records NL 

Power pop punkers, Good Charlotte, are back - rocking this summer's Warped Tour and gearing up for the release of their new album -- 'The Young And The Hopeless' -- arriving in stores October 1! Twin brothers, Joel and Benji, hit TRL on Tuesday, August 20, for the premiere of "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous" -- the first single from their new album! Have a listen, and read all about it: 
http://www.goodcharlotterocks.com/?ee0814 

(14/8) Justin Buys a New Home in Hollywood Hills 
Source: latimes.com 

Justin Timberlake of the pop group 'N Sync has purchased a Hollywood Hills home in the low $8-million range. 
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter, who was raised in Tennessee, also has a three-bedroom home in Orlando, Fla. 

Timberlake's new home has five bedrooms and 8 1/2 bathrooms in about 12,000 square feet. On several acres behind gates, the Mediterranean-style house also has a theater, gym, guest house and tennis court. 

The home has a cobblestone motor courtyard and covered parking for three vehicles. Timberlake has at least nine cars, including a Dodge Viper and a Porsche, plus five motorcycles. He has a game room with a pinball machine in his Florida home. 

(10/8) Joey Fatone's Broadway Debut Earns Raves From 'Rent'-Heads 
Source: mtv.com 

'NSYNC fans and Rent-Heads seem like they come from two different worlds, but if Joey Fatone's first week on Broadway is any indication, those worlds are in sync. 
On August 5, the curtain rose on Fatone's debut in the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical "Rent," in which the pop star stepped into the lead role of Mark Cohen, the struggling documentary filmmaker who acts as the narrator and moral conscience of a group of New York City 20-somethings (see "Joey Fatone Finds Broadway 'Exciting,' But 'A Lot Of Work"). While "Rent" has been running on Broadway for six years, this was the first time that a music star had taken a role. 

"A lot of people in the industry do understand that Broadway is a very hard thing to do, because we're doing eight shows a week," Fatone said on Thursday prior to curtain call at the Nederlander Theatre. "Not many stars or artists or singers do a lot of shows. Maybe when they first start out, you know, every artist that's starting out tries to do a lot of shows. But we do eight shows a week, and it's kinda tough." 

Opening night, Fatone said, was the toughest show of all. Not because of all the pent-up expectations — many Rent-Heads expected him to fail, or at least believed he wouldn't be up to snuff — but because it was a lifelong dream come true. 

"I was a little nervous, obviously, and the adrenaline was rushing," he said. "It was very exciting to be doing it. My parents didn't even tell me they were coming. And I slipped up a little on some lines here and there, but it was all right. I'm sure I'll probably mess up again. You do brain freezes, or you zone out sometimes, but we'll see what happens." 

Thursday night's sell-out crowd attracted a mix of obsessive "Rent" fans — some of whom had seen the musical upwards of 50 times — and rabid 'NSYNC fans making their first foray into theater. Many of the fans questioned, some of whom had traveled as far as from Dallas and Detroit to see the show, were attending for the second time that week, and had seen Fatone's debut on Monday. The overall response? Fairly positive. 

'NSYNC fans like Kate, 18, said that he sounded better singing in the theater than in concert. "It's more mature," she said. "I liked it a lot better than his kiddie concerts." 

"Rent" fans like Nicki, 19, said that she had low expectations for Fatone and was pleasantly surprised. Not that his performance completely converted her. " 'NSYNC could get on a bus with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and drive off a tall mountain for all I care," she said. "But I wasn't as disappointed as I thought I would be." 

If anything, the conversion will most likely be the other way around, "Rent" fans predicted. "I was actually really impressed with Joey," Andrea, 19, said. "I couldn't picture him at first being Mark, because Mark is usually a dorky kid, but he pulled it off. I just think that this is different than 'NSYNC, and maybe it'll convert a few 'NSYNC fans, which is cool because this is really an eye-opening play." 

"I spent most of my college years sleeping on the streets for cheap tickets for 'Rent,' " said Krista, 25, who considers herself equally rabid about the group as she is the musical. "I can't even count all the guys I've seen play Mark. And honestly, Joey is probably the second best I've seen, compared to the original. He was really, really natural on stage, and for this being his first show was phenomenal. Usually Justin and J.C. are the singers in the band, and you don't hear that much from Joey, which is unfortunate, because he can really sing." 

'NSYNC fans were also happy to note that Fatone had incorporated at least one signature dance move into "Rent"'s choreography — when he sings the lyric about "any passing fad" in "La Vie Boheme," Fatone busts out a bit from the "Pop" video. "It's the little, you know, '80s/'90s breakdance kinda thing," he said. "It was just my own interpretation, you know, to do whatever, so that's what I did. That's what came out." 

Even diehard "Rent" fans were willing to put aside rock elitism and allowed that Fatone managed to make the switch from pop to rock singing quite effectively. Fatone said that he thought the transition would be rough on his voice at first. 

"We don't have ear monitors, so it's kind of hard to hear everything," he said. "And a lot of it is over-articulation so people in the back can obviously understand what you're saying. I thought it was going to be pretty bad, but it's been holding up pretty well, actually. I'm very shocked at myself." 

"If he would have opened the show, with the original cast, the Tony Award would have gone to him," Brandon, 18, said. "He's got the voice, he's got the looks, he's got everything. This is the best thing they could have done for 'Rent.' " 

So much so, Fatone got a standing ovation — and he didn't even notice. "It was weird, because I was not really paying attention that much," Fatone said. "My parents kinda told me what happened, because I was like, I was just, 'I finally got through one show!' It was overwhelming. 

"A couple of people have told me it felt like I've been doing it for a long time," he continued. "So it's been pretty interesting. It's scary that I'm kinda relaxed, which is weird in a sense, because I mean, every time before I go out, I am a little bit nervous. And it's like, 'Let's just do it,' and the minute I get out there, I'm fine." 

Fatone's stint in "Rent" runs through [until] December 22. 

(10/8) Chris to Appear in Good Charlotte's Music Video
Source: mtv.com 

The odd trio of 'NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick, Tenacious D's Kyle Gass and alternative rock icon Mike Watt appear in the video for Good Charlotte's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." The track is the first single from The Young and the Hopeless, due October 1. 

(9/8) Chris Will Host Miss Teen USA 2002 Pageant 
Source: billboard.com 

Pop stars Chris Kirkpatrick of 'N Sync and Willa Ford will share hosting chores for the Miss Teen USA 2002 pageant, set for Aug. 28 on South Padre Island, Texas. The event, which will also feature a performance by teenage rapper/actor Bow Wow, will be broadcast live on CBS at 9 p.m. ET (and tape delay broadcast at 9 p.m. PT). Contestants from the 50 states will be judged in swimsuit, evening gown, and interview categories for the title of Miss Teen USA. The competition is staged by the Miss Universe Organization, which sponsors awareness and educational seminars on breast and ovarian cancer. 

For more information on the pageant, including 2002 delegates, tickets, and the reign of Marissa Whitley as Miss Teen USA 2001, visit the event's official Web site: missteenusa.com 

(9/8) JC Named Boy of Style 
Source: seventeen.com, Sarah 

'N Sync's JC Chasez was named our Boy of Style in the seventeen "Stars and Style" special issue for his edgy cool. Read on -- even JC loves a good hair day. 
Whose style do you most admire? 
I think Lenny Kravitz is the coolest looking dude on the planet. I couldn't pull it off. I'm not into, like, piercings and tattoos like a lot of people are. Actually, I don't have any tattoos or any piercings, but I think if anyone's going to pull it off, it's going to be him. He looks like he feels comfortable in his own skin. He really does it in a cool way. 

What about a female's style? 
I would say either Madonna or... I like girls who are chameleons and aren't afraid to wear different things, like not your everyday stuff, so I guess I mean Janet Jackson, because she's so cute. Gwen Stefani, she's probably the coolest dresser though. There you go, that was a good one. 

What makes you feel most confident and sexiest? 
A good hair day! I don't know; I just like to be comfortable. If I feel comfortable in something, I'll feel good about myself. 

What fashion trend can you not stand? 
I'm kind of over the big go-go boots. You know how they were in for awhile? And the Taylor Dayne bellbottoms, I'm over those too. If I see those, I go run away. 

Do you reinvent your look a lot? 
I don't concentrate on it, believe it or not, I just do what comes natural. If I see something new and it's exciting, I'll wear it. Or I'll wear what's comfortable. Sometimes what I like to wear is totally not what people are into, but I don't care. I don't really think about my look changing, I just wear whatever I like, and if it seems maybe different than what I wore the day before, so be it. 

Do you wear accessories? 
Belts, yes, but I'm not a jewelry guy. I only have one necklace. I've been wearing it for 10-15 years or something like that. It's just a stone, a lion, because I'm a Leo. I like watches, but I'm not into iced-out watches, I just like funky watches. I actually like colorful watches, like anything with a cool color on it or something. 

Do you keep clothes from photo shoots? 
If we like stuff, we keep it, yeah. 

Dolce & Gabbana's one of your favorite designers. What clothes of 
theirs do you especially like? 
They've got a lot of stuff, but usually their jeans are really cool. And their T-shirts with patchwork are really cool. 

What about Chris Kirkpatrick's Fu Man Skeeto line? 
Yeah, of course. I wear a lot of the caps because he doesn't have a lot of guys clothes. He's got sweatshirts and lids. 

(9/8) Q&A: *NSYNC's RENT Boy 
Source: newyorkmag.com, Sarah 

Just when you thought Times Square couldn't possibly squeeze in one more pimply prepubescent pop-music fanatic, what with all of them worshiping in front of MTV's studios, 'N Sync's Joey Fatone goes and lands himself a gig a few blocks away. The Brooklyn native makes his Broadway debut this week in Rent, as wannabe filmmaker Mark. "It's grueling," Fatone says. "I'm going to be doing eight shows a week. But it's been interesting, singing these high notes and all that shit." 
Rent is a modern retelling of La Bohème. Have you ever seen La Bohème? 
I have not. I know very little about it. 

So how much rent are you paying while you're in town? 
A lot. Regardless of what it is or who it is, it's a lot. 

People assume that because you're in 'N Sync, you were just handed the role. Were you? 
No. First I auditioned for Roger's part. I told them it was too high for my range, and they were like, "No big deal, let's just do it." So I sang for them, and then they said, "Can you audition for Mark?" 

Mamma Mia! is inspired by Abba. Will there be an 'N Sync musical someday? 
Maybe. But it won't be called Bye Bye Bye. 

Do you want to join Lance Bass in space? 
Airplanes are the only thing that will take me off the ground. I'm not into it when you start leaving the stratosphere. 

Are all your cousins in Brooklyn coming to see you in Rent? 
My mother said, "Your aunt and your uncle are coming, and they have 34 people with them," and I'm like, "Great." 

You're paying, right?
Hell no. They're paying for it. I don't comp nothin'. 

(6/8) Nelly Outsurfs 'NSYNC, Ja Rule, Usher At Teen Choice Awards 
Source: vh1.com 

'NSYNC, Ja Rule and Usher are close behind, but with teenagers Nelly is #1. 
The St. Louis rapper took a ride out of Sunday's Teen Choice Awards with three awards, more than any other artist. 

Two of Nelly's awards, Choice Single and Choice Hook Up, were for "Girlfriend," his remix collaboration with 'NSYNC. "Hot in Herre" nabbed Choice Song of the Summer. 

'NSYNC's wins give the guys 10 Teen Choice Awards total, more than any other group. With two Choice Male Hottie awards under his belt, Justin Timberlake now has a record 12. 

Timberlake's ex, Britney Spears, won her second consecutive Choice Female Hottie award and third consecutive Choice Female Artist award. However, as happened at the MTV Movie Awards, Mandy Moore's "A Walk to Remember" performance beat out her "Crossroads" role for breakout performance. Both are now available on DVD & VHS. 

Ja Rule won Choice Male Artist and Choice R&B/Hip-Hop/Rap Single for "Ain't It Funny" with Jennifer Lopez, while Usher took home two surfboard trophies for Choice R&B/Hip-Hop/Rap Artist and Choice Love Song for "U Got It Bad." 

"I guess I need to learn how to surf now," Usher said backstage of the awards, which are voted on by fans. "Seriously, this means everything. This is an opportunity to know if the fans really dig you." 

As if it wasn't clear enough, fans definitely dig Ashanti. She ousted B2K, the Calling and others for Choice Breakout Artist. 

Meanwhile, Kelly Osbourne won a breakout award of her own, for female TV star. "The Osbournes" nabbed Choice TV Reality Show. Kelly's brother, Jack, was up to his usual shenanigans at the ceremony, sporting the same "F--- MTV" tie he wore to the MTV Movie Awards earlier this summer. 

Nelly and the St. Lunatics opened up the show, which also featured performances by BBMak and Jennifer Love Hewitt. 

"What I just did is possibly the best thing I have ever felt in my whole life. I had a really good time," Hewitt said backstage, where she treated reporters to an encore performance. 

Other stage highlights included Jamie Lynn Spears threatening to sell bathtub pictures of her heartthrob sister on eBay if Britney continued to interrupt her presentation, and a man in a spacesuit, a stand-in for Lance Bass, joining 'NSYNC for their acceptance speech. 

Before the awards, Pamela Anderson, Bernie Mac and dozens of others walked a red carpet that featured a rather interesting human backdrop — the dancer from Dirty Vegas' "Days Go By" video strutting his stuff. 

Fox, which sponsors the Teen Choice Awards with Seventeen magazine, will air the ceremony August 19 at 8 p.m. 

(25/7) Justin's Working on His Star-Packed Solo LP 
Source: mtv.com, Mallory 

Justin Timberlake's debut solo project is not only one of the most anticipated albums of the year, it is one of the most well guarded. The 'NSYNC star has been in and out of recording studios all year, yet neither his record label nor his management will say anything about the record. 

Still, the music industry is buzzing and details are trickling out.Most are coming from collaborators ¡X and there appear to be many ¡X 
but Timberlake himself has spilled a few beans. 

Phoning in to Orlando's WJHM-FM last week, he told DJs the album will be out "hopefully this fall." A spokesperson for Jive Records, however, said the as-yet-untitled project is not on their release schedule. 

As for the record's nitty gritty, here's what we know: 

Behind the boards, the Neptunes are working on multiple tracks, and P. Diddy and his production partner Mario Winans have donated an up-tempo track. 

Mike City (Brandy, Nappy Roots), Raphael Saadiq (Bilal, Ginuwine) and Rodney Jerkins (Michael Jackson, 'NSYNC) are also planning to produce tracks for the album, but as of last month none had logged any studio time with Timberlake. 

"I just got a call about working on the project," Jerkins said at the BET Awards. "Whenever he wants it, it's done." 

As for guest vocalists, two artists Timberlake has recorded with will likely return the favor on his record. 

Brian McKnight's manager said he has already recorded with the 'NSYNC star, who appeared on his "My Kind of Girl" single from last year's Superhero, while Nelly has been telling reporters the two friends are discussing another collaboration. Timberlake sings on Nellyville's "Work It" (see "Nelly Collaborates With His Dirty, Justin Timberlake"). 

Angie Stone revealed early in the year that she had been in the studio with Timberlake (see "Angie Stone Makes Studio Time With Timberlake, Moby, Keys"), and Usher said last month he hoped to log some studio time with him too. 

"We're supposed to sit down, have a meeting, talk about it, just creatively," Usher said. "Hopefully, the schedule won't come into play. I know definitely it would be one of the hottest records ever placed out. Ever." 

Even if all of the aforementioned artists do end up working with Timberlake, there's no guarantee their tracks will make his album, which is likely the reason his spokespeople have not revealed any information. (BT, not Jive Records, announced his collaborations with Britney Spears for her last album, only to have the material not make the final cut.) 

One thing is for certain: Timberlake will be teaming up with all sorts of artists this weekend as Nelly, Usher and McKnight are scheduled to appear at 'NSYNC's Challenge for the Children IV celebrity basketball game on Saturday in Orlando, Florida. 

(25/7) Joey Talks of His Broadway Experience Thus Far 
Source: mtv.com, Mallory 

As Justin Timberlake works on his solo album and Lance Bass prepares to go into space, Joey Fatone isn't about to be the odd man out of 'NSYNC. 
For his downtime during the boy band's hiatus, Fatone's broadening his acting résumé to include the Great White Way — as the lead in "Rent". 

"It's very exciting," he said. "I've always wanted to do Broadway. ... About a year ago I went and saw 'Rent,' and it was really cool, and I thought it would be a cool show to do. It's so edgy and so based on real life. It's something I would love to do, and now we have that window." 

A modern retelling of Puccini's "La Bohème," the rock opera "Rent" is set in New York's East Village. Where Puccini's Bohemian artists battled star-crossed love, landlords and tuberculosis in 1830s Paris, the young artists in "Rent" find that AIDS is their generation's scourge. 

"It's a really touchy situation and subject, but it's something that's real," Fatone said, "and something that should be heard, and that's why it's such a great musical. You really got to focus on what the whole story is about, and the whole idea of what 'Rent' is, how close-knit a family these people are that are struggling to make ends meet and everything else." 

Of the artists, lesbians, drag queens, drug addicts and street people that comprise the 15-member cast, Fatone has not only the lead, but one of the most straightforward parts — aspiring documentarian Mark Cohen, "Rent"'s parallel character to "La Bohème"'s Marcello, the group's narrator. 

"He's somewhat on the outside looking in," Fatone said of his character, "and at the same time he's always seeing everyone's points of view and what's going on in these people's lives. Sometimes he feels like he's left alone. He had a girlfriend, his girlfriend left him for another woman, so he has nobody. He has his friends, but no girlfriend now. He always keeps coming back to his family, which is his friends." 

Fatone said he originally auditioned for the part of Roger, a rock songwriter who falls for HIV-infected dancer Mimi, but his voice wasn't high enough. "Then they called me back the next day and said, 'Hey, can you come back next week to audition for Mark?' " Fatone recalled. "And I said, 'Sure.' So I auditioned for Mark and ta-da, there you have it, I'm rehearsing." 

For the past two weeks, Fatone has been preparing for his stint, slated to start August 5 and run through December 22. His first few days of rehearsals have found him blocking, practicing songs and doing character work-up. Already, he's finding the schedule challenging. 

"It's a lot of work, it really is," Fatone said. "It's obviously different from touring, which is good and bad. I mean, it's good that I'm in one place for a while, which is nice, than constantly having to travel around a lot. But you do eight shows a week, that's what I'm doing. Usually [with 'NSYNC], I'm doing five or six shows a week with two days off. Here you only have one day off, and you do four shows over the weekend for matinees, so it's going to be interesting on my voice." 

In joining the cast of "Rent," Fatone adds to the ever-increasing list of music stars making Broadway crossovers, a list that includes Sebastian Bach ("Jekyll & Hyde," see "Sebastian Bach Does Broadway"), Deborah Gibson ("Grease," "Beauty and the Beast," "Les Misérables"), Aaron Carter ("Seussical the Musical"), Joan Jett ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show"), Vanessa Williams ("Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Into the Woods") and Toni Braxton ("Beauty and the Beast," see "Braxton Prepares For Stage Debut While Recording Career In Limbo"). 

"It's cool, it's fun, it's edgy, it's rock and roll, it's got a lot of real-life stuff," Fatone said. "I think everybody will enjoy it if they haven't seen it, and if you have seen it, come again because I'm in it. I'm in it, can you believe that? Who would have thought?" 

(25/7) Lance Will Not Be Attending CFTCIV 
Source: clarionledger.com, Just Justin, JayneOC 

Lance Bass, the pop star from Clinton, aced his written test on rocket propulsion. 
He passed the centrifuge test, where he was strapped in a chair and spun at speeds that created the extreme gravitational forces of a space launch. 

Next up for the 23-year-old Bass, who is hoping to fly with two cosmonauts to the International Space Station in the fall: Survival training in the Black Sea, just in case the spacecraft misses its dry landing target. 

The launch, Diane Bass says, could occur "sometime between October 22 and November 4." But obstacles remain in her son's endeavor to become the third tourist to fly into space. 

Bass has been approved by Russian physicians, but the 16-nation International Space Station party must still approve his journey. Also, some reports say the launch could be delayed because fuel-line cracks have grounded U.S. space shuttle launches. 

Bass, the bass singer for the world-renowned pop group *NSYNC, has been training in Star City, Russia, since mid-May. 

"I talk to him on the phone almost every day," Diane Bass says, "and he talks to his dad (Jim) a lot, too. And we e-mail." 

Jim and Diane Bass were hoping to see Lance for the first time in about four weeks this weekend, when *NSYNC has its annual Challenge for the Children charity event in Orlando. It raised about $1 million last year. 

"But the Russians were pretty adamant about Lance staying there and not wasting any training days," Diane Bass says. "The training has been pretty intense, but Lance has done just great. It's challenging both physically and mentally for him. He does a lot of swimming, some weight-lifting. 

"He says one of the toughest things is learning the Russian language. He has to know enough to be able to communicate up there, and it's not an easy language to learn in a short amount of time." 

Diane Bass says *NSYNC fans should pay no attention to the rumors that the group is breaking up. 

"They had already planned to take this year off," she says. "Lance was going to do a little acting, but then all this came up. 

"As far as I know, the boys still plan to get back into the studio in January and begin work on a new CD. In fact, I've talked to a couple of them just recently and they both said they're about to go crazy and can't wait to get back to work." 

Bass' space trip — priced at an estimated $20 million — is being funded by MTV and other corporations. MTV is planning a documentary of the week-long mission. 

(24/7) *NSYNC Nominated for MTV VMAs! 
Source: eonline.com, EllieBear99 

*NSYNC is nominated for the following MTV Video Music Awards. The awards will be on Aug. 29 on MTV (and MuchMusic!). 

* Best Video of the Year for "Gone" 
Eminem, "Without Me" 
Linkin Park, "In the End" 
P.O.D., "Alive" 
Nas, "One Mic" 
The White Stripes, "Fell in Love With a Girl" 

* Group Video for "Girlfriend" ft. Nelly [Remix] 
No Doubt, "Hey Baby" 
Blink-182, "First Date" 
Linkin Park, "In the End" 
Dave Matthews Band, "Everyday" 
P.O.D., "Alive" 

* Pop Video for "Girlfriend" ft. Nelly [Remix] 
Pink, "Get The Party Started" 
Shakira, "Whenever, Wherever" 
Michelle Branch, "All You Wanted" 
No Doubt, "Hey Baby" 

Tough categories. Tough competition. If *NSync actually win... yeah right. Compare their videos to things like "In The End", "Hey Baby", POD and Eminem - hard to say who's gonna get it!

(17/7) Lance Bass Gets Russia's Nod For October Space Flight 
Source: mtv.com, LoViN_LaNcE 831 

After months of hedging, the Russian Space Agency has finally decided that Lance Bass has the right stuff. 
The agency has asked the International Space Station Multilateral Coordination Board for permission to launch the 'NSYNC singer as early as this fall, according to a letter sent to the nation-partners in the International Space Station. 

"It's official, he's their candidate," confirmed NASA spokesperson Dwayne Brown on Tuesday (July 16). "We did indeed receive a letter nominating Lance Bass for the October flight." 

Also on the Russians' list for the prospective three-person crew are professional cosmonauts Sergei Zalyotin of Russia and Frank De Winne of Belgium. The crew proposal letter, dated July 12, is currently being reviewed by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel, confirmed a spokesperson for the Canadian Space Agency,! which is hosting the panel meetings this week in Quebec. "Right now, they're looking at the criteria," spokesperson Anna Kapiniari said, "and determining his eligibility." 

Whatever the outcome of those panel meetings, the board of international partners — space agencies from Russia and 16 other nations, including Japan, Canada and members of the European Space Agency — will have only a few weeks to give their final approval. "Things are moving fairly quickly," NASA's Brown said, "because, in essence, this is coming in late." 

Bass already started his preliminary cosmonaut training at Star City, despite approval for his candidacy still pending. The Russian letter notes that though training for a civilian usually takes six months, Bass' four-month crash course shouldn't derail him, since his progress is being monitored. "The Russia! ns feel he meets the criteria," Brown said, "and though his training will be shorter than desired, the operative word is safety." 

Bass' backers are still working out the financial details of the business plan to fund his $20 million flight, but said that the process is moving along. 

Though contracts have yet to be signed, negotiations for corporate sponsors and a network deal appear to be nearing completion. 

"As final negotiations continue," MirCorp spokesperson Jeffrey Lenorovitz said, "everything is being left open for Lance to fly. If and when the contract is signed, Lance will still have a chance. The mental approach from the Russians is positive, the whole atmosphere is positive, and people are pulling together. So if the conditions are met, he should have the opportunity to do it. It looks good." 

"The process has been started," Brown said, "and the clock is ticking." 

(14/7) Justin Timberlake Lets Music Ease Toll on His Heart 
Source: OrlandoSentinel.com, Just Justin, JayneOC 

It has been a summer of transition for Justin Timberlake. He is working on a solo album, his first material since *NSYNC announced a recording and touring hiatus in the spring. He's also putting his personal life in order after the international media frenzy over his breakup with Britney Spears. This week, the New York Post linked the singer with Janet Jackson, a report that wasn't denied by Timberlake's publicists. 

The yet-to-be-titled album, expected to be ready for fall release, was recorded in Orlando, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Virginia Beach, Va. Timberlake co-wrote all the songs with a variety of producers, but doesn't want to say much about the album's style. 

"It's almost done, and I'm very happy with it," he says. "I just traveled on my own, and it was good for me to not feel like I was working. The things that have happened for me personally have definitely taken a toll on my heart. It's been really hard for me." 

Timberlake will reunite with *NSYNC members Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez for the group's annual Challenge for the Children celebrity benefit weekend July 26-28 at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando. 

Entertainers and athletes including Aaron Carter, Brian McKnight, Shannon Elizabeth, Antawn Jamison and Warren Sapp will participate in a scavenger hunt, "skills challenge" and celebrity basketball game. Proceeds benefit organizations that support children's causes ranging from educational issues to pediatric AIDS, adoption, foster care, alcohol and drug prevention programs. 

Timberlake, 21, says that feedback from *NSYNC's charity work is rewarding, particularly after recent gossip about his personal life. 

"It's tough when the tabloids want to print something that's not true, especially when you're going through a hard time about something that meant so much to you." 

He adds that his new music has been "the most therapeutic thing I've had." 

"When you see a therapist, people basically talk their problems out with a neutral party. That's kind of the way I look at my music. It's a neutral partner, and I get to say everything that's on my mind to myself and get it off my chest." 

(14/7) Lance Will Be Dropped into Black Sea to Fend for Himself 
Source: mtv.com, Ariane 

As part of his rigorous cosmonaut training, which the pop star finally started last week in Star City near Moscow, Bass will be dropped into the Black Sea in an emergency-splashdown test and left to fend for himself in a Russian forest without food or supplies. Though the Russian Space Agency has yet to confirm that Bass will be their candidate for a third seat open in a fall rocket mission, which is set to launch October 22, Bass started his preliminary training on July 4, just over a month after he announced that he passed the medical qualifying exams. 

Bass will train in cyclical rounds divided into one-month blocks, with his current round of training ending August 4. This and other rounds will include survival training for different climatic and geographical areas, in case the capsule doesn't land according to plan upon re-entry and the cosmonauts are forced to wait for a rescue team to arrive. To prepare for the possibility of the capsule landing in the wilderness, Bass will learn shooting techniques to defend himself against wolves and other predators, in addition to basic preservation skills such as building a shelter and starting a fire. 

Bass will also have to learn Russian, space flight theory, spacecraft flight control systems and standard operations of the International Space Station. His flight simulations for Soyuz spacecraft will take place in a functional full-size simulator and will take him through the entire launch, flight and re-entry procedure on the ground. 

Sources close to the project explained that space-tourists-in-training usually take time off in between each round of training until right before the mission, where they would train straight up through the launch. In his case, however, Bass might not have the luxury of time off, and would likely have to work nights and weekends. 

"It's going to be hard for him, obviously," Bass' 'NSYNC comrade Joey Fatone told MTV Radio on Wednesday, "because they're cramming their six-month course into four months, crushing everything [he has to learn] into four months." 

Bass' crash course — which started with zero-gravity work last week — doesn't guarantee him a seat, since details are still being worked out as far as funding is concerned. A spokesperson for the Russian Space Agency confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday that they were in talks with the singer's spokespeople and added that no contract had been signed. 

"The talks could lead to one being signed," spokesperson Konstantin Kredenko told Reuters, "but so far there is no time frame for this." 

Fatone said that Bass remains optimistic and is currently being fitted for his spacesuit. "Doesn't that sound stupid?" he observed. "It's really weird." 

The spacesuit fitting is likely to prepare Bass for his spacesuit training, where he'd have to put on and take off his suit after a simulated emergency landing in water and under zero-gravity conditions. 

"We'll see what happens," Fatone said. "People are always going, 'Oh, he's just going to go up in space and mess around' and stuff. But he actually wants to do a lot of different experiments as well as stand around going, 'Look, I'm in space,' so that's pretty good. Not me. I'd be like, 'Let's float around. Let's pee in space' or something. It would be fun." 

(10/7) A Final Good Bye to Chris' Grandmother 
Source: Rachel, fumanskeeto.com - Fuman Forum 

Frances C. Kirkpatrick, 84, of Fourth Avenue, Clarion, died Monday, July 8, 2002, at UPMC Northwest Medical Center, Franklin. Born Jan. 9, 1918, in Clarion, she was the daughter of Andrew and Matilda Wilson Hiwiller. 

Mrs. Kirkpatrick worked for at the Owens-Illinois Glass plant in Clarion and was a homemaker. 

She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Clarion where she was active in the Women of Grace. She was also a Sunday school teacher for 49 years. 

Mrs. Kirkpatrick enjoyed hunting. 

She was married Aug. 18, 1945 to Arthur Kirkpatrick who survives. 

Surviving in addition to her husband are three sons, Clifton Kirkpatrick and his wife Martha of Enosburg Falls, Vt., Raymond Kirkpatrick of Clarion and Byron Kirkpatrick and his wife Crystal of Clarion; and four grandchildren, Chris Kirkpatrick of Orlando, Fla., Scott, Stacey, and Stephen Kirkpatrick of Enosburg Falls, Vt. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jim and John Hiwiller; and two sisters, Emma and Mary Hiwiller. 

Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the XXXXX Funeral Home in Clarion. 

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the XXXXX XXXXXXXX Church in Clarion. Rev. XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX will officiate. 

Interment will follow in the Clarion Cemetery. 

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation. 

(10/7) Justin & Joey to Attend Teen Choice Awards 
Source: rockontv.com, Just Justin 

Show: The Teen Choice Awards 
Episode: The 2002 Teen Choice Awards 
Network: (FOX) FOX 
Date: Monday - August 19, 2002 
Time: 08:00 pm - 10:00 pm ET 
Multi-talented film and television star Jennifer Love Hewitt makes her nationally televised singing debut, performing the single "BareNaked" from her forthcoming album of the same title. Hewitt will headline the awards special, which celebrates the hottest teen icons in film, television, music and sports. 

Other musical artists scheduled to appear include Justin Timberlake and Joey Fatone of *NSYNC, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Britney Spears, Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys, Destiny's Child's Beyonce Knowles, Nelly, Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath, Tweet, Usher and Toni Braxton. 

(10/7) Joey on Broadway in "Rent"
Source: popstars@electricartists.com 

In a move likely to thrill untold scores of teenage girls as well as a handful of Broadway producers, Joey Fatone, a member of the multiplatinum boy band 'N Sync, will join the cast of the long-running musical "Rent" next month, its producers said yesterday. Mr. Fatone, 25, will be making his Broadway debut in the role of Mark, a struggling video artist who acts as the musical's narrator and its moral compass. Mr. Fatone's first performance is set for Aug. 5; he is to stay with the show through Dec. 22. He began rehearsals yesterday at a studio in Midtown Manhattan, though producers were loath to say exactly where, for fear of screaming, rehearsal-interrupting fans. 

On a break from rehearsal, Mr. Fatone said he had wanted to do a Broadway show since high school, when he performed in several musicals. So when he had a gap in his schedule — the band's last tour ended in April and his bandmate Lance Bass is training for a potential space mission — Mr. Fatone decided to audition. "It's just a cutting edge kind of thing," Mr. Fatone said of "Rent," adding that he had also considered auditioning for "Beauty and the Beast," the Disney musical. "It's nice to have a chance to play a character, not just be myself." 

"Rent," a modern retelling of "La Bohème" set in the arty grottoes of the Lower East Side, was written by the composer Jonathan Larson and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1996. It has been running at the Nederlander Theater for more than six years. 

Since moving to Broadway, the production has grossed approximately $125 million, and even more than that from its national tours and international productions. And while the show's sales have slowed in recent years, producers hope Mr. Fatone will tap into a whole new audience for the production. 

"It's one of those wonderful things where both parties wanted it to happen," said Kevin McCollum, one of the show's producers. "When things are mutual, it doesn't take long to make a deal." 

(9/7) Chris Talks Music, Fashion and Dating 
Source: post-gazette.com, Just Justin 

Singer, designer and now golfer, Chris Kirkpatrick of the ultra-popular boy band 'N Sync was in Pittsburgh recently to support the Mario Lemieux Foundation and play a round. Born in Clarion, Pa., and raised in Dayton, Ohio, he studied music and dance before leaving college to concentrate on 'N Sync. Along with his own clothing line and production company, Kirkpatrick designed his recently completed new home.

Q. Have you discovered golf's transcendental qualities? 

A. No. I just got addicted to it. I'm not in the transcendental phase -- I'm in the "God, I hope I hit the ball" phase. 

Q. What's your handicap?

A. Very, very bad. I usually don't even know what it is. In other words, I'm still a hacker. [The Lemieux tournament] was an amazing time, though. I hit some really bad shots, and I hit a couple of really good shots, but overall it was great to be out there and know that everybody was there for a great cause.

Q. What prompted you to design the fumanskeeto clothing line?

A. Instead of complaining about a shirt or complaining about anything, I could say, you know, I'll just make it. I'll just design it this way. I enjoy trying to inspire myself. I enjoy the artistic side of everything. Music, art, fashion, everything. I just like to be on the cutting edge of it. I'm into designing houses and interior design. I like change. You know, I like creating. I like creating things out of nothing.

Q. Does the group support launching 'N Sync's Lance Bass into outer 
space?

A. Of course. He's been wanting it a long time, and we're behind his thing. We support each other in everything we do. I mean, whatever he wants, we are into it, too. He's talked about it forever and said he always wanted to be an astronaut.

Q. So you really are all friends?

A. Oh, yeah, for sure. We all got into it as a group, and of course we want each other to succeed in other endeavors. We never dreamed in a million years that we would have done this. 

Q. How did 'N Sync develop a relationship with Michael Jackson?

A. It started when he asked us to come on his anniversary special. Then, we asked him to come on MTV with us, and then we did a couple of special charity benefits with him, and it kind of grew from there. 

Q. What is he like? 

A. He seems like a regular guy. I mean, in that business, what really is regular? It's kind of hard to say because nobody has been through what he's been through. You've just kind of got to understand him and deal with who he is.

Q. How do you maintain such a young fan base?

A. I don't know -- it's hard to say. I guess we are very immature or something. You know, maybe it's just fun. It's fun music, and the kids appreciate that.

Q. Is it hard to date? 

A. It is really hard to date. You never know what a girl is coming to you for. You know so many people are out there to get you. You have to be careful with everything, and you can't get yourself in any situations. You usually know by the middle of the date. You know, they say, "I really don't know anything about you, but one time about two years ago when you guys were playing in Hamburg ..." Then you are, like, "Yeah, how'd you know about Hamburg?" It's great to find people that aren't into the whole hype. It's nice if they appreciate what you do as long as they don't go overboard the other way, either. Like, "Oh, I don't even like your band, and I don't like you guys, but I think you're a cool person ..." Whatever. You just want to find somebody who thinks the band is good, someone who appreciates what you do. That's cool. It is probably easier to date celebrities. But I have just been randomly dating here and there. So I haven't really had time for any one girl lately, but, you know, I've been kind of dedicating myself to just music. Hopefully I'm going to relax a little bit coming up and get back into the dating scene and see what happens. 

(6/7) Joey Hangin' With the Rockers at Korn Show 
Source: cdnow.com - AllStar 

One never knows what celebs will show up at a big rock show, but no one could've guessed that 'NSync's Joey Fatone would be rocking out to Korn. Joey was spotted backstage at the Jonathan Davis-fronted band's show in New York at Madison Square Garden Monday (June 24) night. Most of the hipsters there were quite surprised to see him hanging with the rock crowd. 

(5/7) "How to Live Like a Celebrity Pet" on MTV UK 
Source: Robert Sloan - MTV.co.UK 

Tune into MTV UK on Sunday, July 7th @ 9.30pm and catch CRIBS: HOW TO LIVE LIKE A CELEBRITY PET. 
CRIBS is the MTV show that exposes the ‘taste’ of the biggest, flashiest stars in music. Forget your magazines with their two-dimensional looks at the rich and famous - CRIBS sees music stars giving the MTV cameras a personal tour of their own home! Guided by the stars themselves, the MTV audience gets to see, first hand, where they work, play, sleep and live! 

If you’ve seen CRIBS before you’ll already be familiar with the interiors of the homes of Pamela Anderson, Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams, Destiny’s Child et al. But fear not… CRIBS is now going one stage further into the private lives of the famous… 

Yes this month MTV checks out the ridiculously opulent lifestyles of celebrities’ pets! We dig deep into the daily routines of the pampered pets of the famous and expose lifestyles that average pets cans only dream of. Sit in gob-smacked incredulity as you witness pet taxis, pouch massages, dog psychics and thousand dollar collars and coats. We'll also be talking to the experts who provide the services to the most indulged and spoilt pets in the world, and checking out Christina Aguilera's chihuahua and *NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake’s yorkies. You can see for yourself what life is like on the road for Ozzy Osbourne’s dogs, hear about Drew Barrymore’s life-saving Labrador and get the indispensable ‘beauty tips’ of Pink’s pink Maltese. Essential TV viewing! 

(5/7) Lance Bass and Nick Carter to Guide Company to Stardom 
Source: timebeat.com, Just Justin 

Timebeat.com Enterprises Inc. (OTC BB: TMBT) is pleased to provide this update on the development of its subsidiary company 2LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. 2LIVE is nearing the completion of negotiations with "Lance" of *NSYNC, one of the leading singing groups focused on the teenage and young adult market. Successful completion of these negotiations will result in Lance joining the management team of 2LIVE. 
This, coupled with the successful conclusion of negotiations leading to Nick Carter also joining the 2LIVE management team, would result in two members of the music industry's most successful singing groups coming together for the first time ever. This union has the potential to create excitement in the music industry unheard of for many years. Collectively, the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC have an incredible following of some 50 million fans worldwide. 

2LIVE is in the process of opening its first fully staffed demo recording studio in the Orlando, Florida area. Initially, this studio will be used for promotional purposes, but will soon become an integral part of the evolving business plan. This business plan will see 2LIVE create several integrated yet synergistic business units: recording; marketing; media; merchandising; video and radio production. In addition, 2LIVE plans to open a super-station recording studio in the Ft. Lauderdale area in the next 6 to 12 months. Once completed, this will be the only super-station studio within 700 miles - from Nashville to South America and has already attracted the attention of major recording labels. 

Based on the discussions at hand, 2LIVE expects to have senior management in place in the next 2 to 4 weeks. Lamar Young, VP of 2LIVE commented "With a management team in place that has over 100 years experience managing and producing the likes of BackStreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Latoya Jackson among others, 2LIVE is making great progress. The technical teams necessary to make the individual business units a success are in place, leaving the conclusion of negotiations with Nick and Lance as the final step before we begin the IPO process." 

With Lance and Nick together in one company, the merchandising potential is enormous. Based on a collective following of 50 million fans worldwide, music industry marketing professionals believe 2LIVE has the potential to generate some $300 million in merchandise revenue in its first year of operations. Even at its early stages of corporate growth, the company has begun to generate revenues by writing advertising "jingles" for a number of retail stores. At the same time, 2LIVE has begun screening demo tapes as part of its mandate of identifying the next music industry phenomena. 

(4/7) The Rise and Rise of *NSYNC Rescheduled 
Source: Robert Sloan - MTV.co.UK 

As many of you may have realised, the UK Premiere of THE RISE AND RISE OF N*SYNC was not on today at the time advertised. 
I have spoken to the scheduling department and they and I are terribly sorry for this mistake. I have, however been informed that the programme will now be on Sunday 18th August at 9am. Once again I apologize for this mistake. 

(4/7) MTV Hits Pop Knockout Cup 
Source: Robert Sloan - MTV.co.UK 

1st Round: Saturday 6th July 12-3pm 
2nd Round: Saturday 13th July 12-2pm 
3rd Round: Saturday 20th July 12-1pm 
4th Round: Saturday 27th July 12-1pm 
5th Round: Saturday 4th August 12-1pm 

Everybody loves a good battle, which is why last time MTV Hits ran the first pop knockout cup they received over 30,000 votes in the final round! Who needs the singles charts to see whether Will or Gareth are the nations favourites when you can you have the MTV Hits Pop Knockout Cup! 

The rules are clear, the biggest pop stars to come out of the music industry in the past year or so have been put up against each other on MTV Hits, and you the viewer determines who goes through to the next round by texting your votes to MTV Hits. 

The first round takes place on Saturday 6th July, with 32 acts battling it out for pop supremacy. 

The full run down is as follows: 

Holly Valance v Pink
S Club Jnrs v S Club 7
Sugababes v J-Lo
N’Sync v Westlife
Shakira v Britney Spears
Aaliyah v Anastasia
Mary J Blige v Janet Jackson
Blue v Oasis
Gareth Gates v Will Young
Enrique Iglesias v Ronan Keating
Marilyn Manson v Robbie Williams
Alien Ant Farm v Sum 41
Missy Elliot v Kylie Minogue
Shaggy v Ja Rule
Liberty X v A1
Rik Waller v Backstreet Boys

VOTE:
Vote now on your mobile phone. Txt GO then leave a space, then write the artist you want to go through. So if you're voting for Blue against Oasis, the Txt will read GO BLUE. 

MESSAGE:
You can also get your messages on the TV during show. Txt POP then leave a space, then write your message. Eg. POP I LUV WESTLIFE. MTV HITS IS THE BEST! 

THE NUMBERS: (only for UK residents)
VODAFONE and O2: 82688
T-MOBILE: 82188

Tune in to MTV Hits every Saturday to make your vote count in the one, the only, MTV Hits Pop Knockout Cup! 

For more details check out mtv.co.uk/hits 

(2/7) Eminem Picks *NSYNC Over Marriage 
Source: eonline.com, Just Justin 

"I would rather [bleep] be on a coach flight with *NSYNC at the back of the plane in the last row in them seats that don't go back, just stuck there with the bathroom out of order...than get married again." -- Eminem tells Rolling Stone. 
The divorced rapper also says he briefly dated Mariah Carey. 

(2/7) *NSYNC Featured on "Now 10" Compilation 
Source: katrillion.com, Just Justin 

The 10th compilation album in the "Now That's What I Call Music!" series hits stores July 23, 2002. 
Want to know who made the cut? Here's the tracklisting for "Now 10": 

Britney Spears, "Overprotected" 
Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" 
Enrique Iglesias, "Escape" 
Marc Anthony, "I've Got You" 
*NSYNC featuring Nelly, "Girlfriend (Neptunes remix)" 
Jennifer Lopez featuring Nas, "I'm Gonna Be Alright" 
Paulina Rubio, "Don't Say Goodbye" 
Baha Men, "Move It Like This" 
Aaliyah, "More Than a Woman" 
B2K, "Uh Huh" 
Ja Rule featuring Ashanti, "Always on Time" 
Jade Anderson, "Sugar High" 
Musiq, "Half Crazy" 
Shakira, "Underneath Your Clothes" 
Vanessa Carlton, "A Thousand Miles" 
Celine Dion, "A New Day Has Come" 
Moby, "We Are All Made of Stars" 
Blink-182, "First Date" 
Lenny Kravitz, "Stillness of Heart" 
Nickelback, "How You Remind Me" 

(2/7) Nelly To Perform At Challenge For The Children IV
Source: launch.com 

Destiny Productions' David Krieff, the TV producer who is playing a lead role in the effort to put *NSYNC singer Lance Bass into space, says a television network is sending the Russians a substantial "nonrefundable deposit" to keep the project alive.Chart-topping rapper Nelly as well as Triple Image, 3rd Faze, and 3rd Storee are among the acts confirmed to perform at * NSYNC's Challenge For The Children IV celebrity basketball game at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando, Florida on July 28. *NSYNC will hold its celebrity skills challenge on July 27. Other stars attending the annual charity event include Brian McKnight, Usher, Christina Milian, Jermaine Dupri, Shannon Elizabeth,Antawn Jamison, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Baron Davis, Gabrielle Union, Warren Sapp, Taye Diggs, Lalaine (Lizzie McGuire), Donald Faison (Big Fat Liar), Alfonso Ribeiro, Pat O'Brien, and Sterling Sharpe, among others. 

*NSYNC's manager Johnny Wright, the CEO of the Wright Entertainment Group, will also be on hand. Wright's company also represent Boyz II Men, Britney Spears, and P. Diddy, among others, so there is always the possibility that unannounced artists will show up for the weekend's events. 

(1/7) List of Celebrities to Attend CFTCIV 
Source: nsyncstudio.com, Marie-Anne 

A Celebrity guest-list for this year's Challenge for the Children has been confirmed! More celebs will be confirmed.. keep checking back! 
Musical Group 3rd Storee
Alfonso Ribeiro
Antawn Jamison
Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets)
Brian McKnight
Christina Milian
Dale Davis
Derek Brooks (Tampa Bay Buc's)
Donald Fiason (Clueless, Scrubs)
Gabrielle Union
Grant Hill
Jermaine Dupri
LaLaine
Leon
Nate Butler (Producer)
Nokio (Musical Group Dru Hill)
*NSYNC
Pat O'Brien
Sisqo
Sterling Sharpe
Taye Diggs
Tracy McGrady (Orlando Magic)
Tory Hudson (Orlando Magic)
Usher
Vencie Glenn
Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay Bucs) 

(1/7) Lance Bass and Meredith Edwards Part Ways 
Source: tennessean.com, nsyncstudio.com 

Lovely/talented teen country singer Meredith Edwards (A Rose is a Rose) is restarting her stint at Mercury Records without the one who brung her. 
Meredith, 18, was the first management project for 'N Sync member Lance Bass, a childhood chum from Mississippi. Lance heard her beautiful voice in church and a year or so later, he was in Nashville pitching her to record labels, and Mercury landed her. 

Before long, Meredith became known as "that girl discovered by Lance Bass," a title that grew a little tiresome for her. 

As for the split, which Meredith calls a friendly one, "it was the best thing I could've done for my career and my life at this point." Then she said she didn't want to talk about it anymore. 

Meanwhile, Meredith says she'll fly without a manager "until I have to have one." She and Mercury exec Mary Martin are looking for songs for her next album. 

And Meredith remains close to booking agent Greg Oswald at William Morris Agency, who just placed her on a Fourth of July USO tour with Wayne Newton, Bo Derek, some Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders, Miss USA and Drew Carey. 

"I'm excited!" she says. "That'll be cool." 

(1/7) Celebrities to Decorate Baseball Bases for Charity
Source: http://www.businesswire.com, Just Justin, ImInJCsPants 

As America prepares to proudly display her colors this July 4th, Mervyn's, a family favorite shopping destination, has partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a new cause-related initiative called "Bases to Benefit RBI," a special program benefiting Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI). 
The program has enlisted the aid of celebrities such as John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg, Joey Fatone (*NSYNC), Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys), MTV's Daisy Fuentes, "Spy TV's" Ali Landry, "The Other Half's" Mario Lopez, Latin singing sensation Jon Secada, "Entertainment Tonight" host Bob Goen and "The Today Show's" Al Roker, as well as the Dodgers' Shawn Green and Jim Tracy, who have each agreed to decorate an actual baseball base in different Americana themes, which will be auctioned off on Yahoo!(R) Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com) beginning July 11, 2002. 

All proceeds from the Yahoo! auction will be donated to RBI, a grassroots outreach program designed to promote youth interest in baseball, increase the self-esteem of disadvantaged children and encourage kids to stay in school. The program, which began in 1989, is supported league-wide and has helped more than 100,000 boys and girls each year in 137 cities across America. 

"Mervyn's has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities in which we do business," said Frank Castiglione, Senior Vice President Marketing for Mervyn's. "By partnering with the Dodgers and some of Hollywood's biggest stars, we can raise both awareness of this outstanding program as well as financial resources to help give disadvantaged youth in America the opportunity to play ball and be a part of the Great American Pastime." 

"It is a great pleasure to team up with Mervyn's and RBI for this terrific cause," said Kris Rone, Los Angeles Dodgers Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "The Dodgers have actively been involved with RBI, and the 'Bases to Benefit RBI' program is just another way of reaching out and helping RBI and kids in our local community." 

Mervyn's and the Dodgers' "Bases to Benefit RBI" program kicks off July 11 with the unveiling of a display of all the bases at Dodger Stadium during the pre-game show and the simultaneous launch of the items on Yahoo! Auctions. The celebrity-decorated bases will be listed for a 10-day time period, with the auction officially closing on Saturday, July 20. Additionally, on July 20 the Dodgers will hold a special silent auction at Dodger Stadium during the game where attendees may bid on the bases decorated by Green and Tracy. A check presentation will take place Sunday, July 21, during the Dodgers home game vs. the San Francisco Giants, with all proceeds from the Yahoo! auction donated to the RBI Program. 

The Mervyn's/Dodgers "Bases to Benefit RBI" program is just one part of Mervyn's exclusive sponsorship of the Dodgers "Think Red, White & Blue Week" campaign taking place June 24-27 during the Dodgers home game series vs. the Colorado Rockies. 

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 Main credits to nsyncstudio.com, nsynclandonline.com, nsync-land.com and lbfc.net 

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