News Headlines

December 2002

Page 4

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• MTV Fight For Your Rights Celebrity Auctions

• Despite Lawsuit, Nick Carter Still Looking Forward To Next Backstreet Boys Album

• Magically magnificent makeover

• Backstreet Boy to play shady lawyer in "Chicago" on Broadway

• MTV Fight For Your Rights Celebrity Auctions     back up
  Source: The Janesville Gazette - Janesville, Wisconsin, USA
  
  MTV's Fight For Your Rights Celebrity Auction is auctioning off a bowling pin autographed by Backstreet Boy AJ McLean.
  After dancing and singing their heart out at February 2001 concert performance in Denver, A.J. of the Backstreet Boys needed to rest and unwind. So, what does every red-blooded American do after performing a sold-out show in a Denver arena? Obviously, bowling! And that's just what A.J. did. We're not sure what happened inside the bowling alley, but we can imagine. Lots of strikes and spares. Lots of strikes and spares. He must have caroused with some of the locals on that fateful night in Denver, Colorado, because somebody got him to sign a bowling pin. They understood what a great cause this was, and donated it to us. The pin was singed on 2/20/01.
  Bidding starts Friday, December 6th at 11 am ET.

• Despite Lawsuit, Nick Carter Still Looking Forward To Next Backstreet Boys Album back up
  Source: Launch.com
  
  By: Gary Graff, Detroit
  The Backstreet Boys are eyeballing a new album and tour for 2003, despite recent legal problems with its Jive Records label.
  The group's Nick Carter--whose new solo album, Now Or Never, is said to be responsible for the turmoil--tells LAUNCH that he expects the quintet to break some new ground when it reconvenes in the studio: "I'll be honest with you, you know, we're gonna have to definitely change some things around," he says. "I want to do another album, but we're gonna have to evaluate that situation, and that's what we're gonna do. Of course, the times have changed from that, that whole pop era. Hopefully this is what I can do, is bring a new vibe to the band, you know? And when I do go back and do another album, I can put my input in and be, like, 'Yo, let's try something like this now,' you know what I'm saying?"
  On November 25, the Backstreet Boys filed a $75 million suit against Zomba Recording Corporation, the parent company of Jive Records, in U.S. District Court. The suit claims that the label opted not to release a new group album last spring in order to concentrate on Carter's solo album. Carter is named along with his groupmates as a plaintiff in the suit.

• Magically magnificent makeover     back up
  Source: Dailybulletin.com
  
  By: Angela Riccio
  There's a new reality show on VH1 that a lot of people have been talking about. "Rock the House" is a show where die-hard fans enter a contest to have their favorite rock star redecorate their house and there's a bit of a twist: VH1 does NOT contact the winner, but instead, they get their close friends to keep them away from their house while their idol redecorates -- then we watch them get the shock of their lives as they see their newly "rocked" house and meet their hero who made it all happen.
  The new decorated rooms have ranged from the elegant, classy style of Paula Abdul to the crazy, wacky imagination of Weird Al Yankovic. It's truly a big surprise to the winners when they walk through the door of their homes and find someone like rapper Snoop Dogg or R&B artist Usher standing in their unrecognizable, totally new room decorated in the style of their favorite artist.
  I was surprised to hear that "Rock the House" was coming right here to my hometown of Long Beach. Anna Manasala, 22, was the lucky fan chosen for this episode, which airs Jan. 6.
  Anna is the world's biggest Backstreet Boys fan and her idol is AJ McLean. So while Anna was kept away from her house, AJ was there remodeling her living room, just for Anna!
  I joined in the fun during the taping at her home and got to get up close and personal with the host, Lisa Snowdon, and star designer AJ McLean.
  Lisa is a beautiful ex-model from the UK. She was telling me about how she got involved with VH1's "Rock the House."
  "I've been a host in England for a couple of years, I've been working for MTV and the BBC doing lots of music-involved shows," she said. "I just happened to be in a VH1 studio one day and I found out that they were looking for a host of this new show, so I told them that I was a host, and I got the job. Pretty simple, right?"
  I'm sure that her beauty and talent had a lot to do with it. I asked Lisa what she liked best about hosting "Rock the House."
  "I love the fact that I can be myself, be energetic, and bring people together," she said. "That's the really cool idea of this whole show getting the ultimate fan, then getting the music star and bringing them together. That's just the best feeling in the world, it's so cool!"
  Even the celebrities agree.
  "I just think this show is great, and I like the fact that fans' dreams can come true by meeting the people that they just love so much," AJ said. "I'm glad to be here and I'm looking forward to meeting Anna a lot."
  I asked AJ what he was expecting her reaction to be when she saw him and the way he decorated the room.
  "I don't really know what her reaction will be like," he said. "But I really hope she likes the room and the style and colors I chose and I think she will."
  And why wouldn't she? The room is now decorated in really cool bright colors and features a new, big-screen TV and a really nice piece of artwork by AJ himself!
  When the room was finished, it was finally time for Anna to arrive to her house that had been secretly "rocked" and meet the guy of her dreams.
  We all waited with anticipation to see what her reaction would be. It was so exciting to watch Anna get the shock of her life to see her newly decorated house, then cry tears of joy when she met her hero, AJ, as he came walking in through the room singing her favorite Backstreet Boys song.
  She screamed and hugged him tightly (let's just say she didn't want to let go!)
  Afterwards, when Anna got a chance to calm herself, I had to ask what her emotions were when she first saw AJ walk into the room.
  "After I saw the room decorated I wasn't really expecting anything more to happen, I was so preoccupied on the change from the old way it used to look to the new way it looks now," she said. "So when he walked in, I was shocked. It was totally unexpected."
  I also asked Anna how she would describe the feelings of the whole night put together. She said: "Indescribable, a dream come true, and really just amazing!"
  You, too, can have a chance to have your house "rocked" by YOUR favorite rock star by logging on www.VH1.com and entering their "Rock The House" contest. And make sure to check out Anna and AJ's episode next month.

• Backstreet Boy to play shady lawyer in "Chicago" on Broadway     back up
  Source: AP
  

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