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*NSYNC's Lance Bass has virtually no acting experience, save for performing in community stage productions as a kid in Mississippi. Yet he won his guest-starring spot on 7th Heaven pretty easily: One of the show's stars, 19-year-old Beverley Mitchell, is an *NSYNC fan.
A few short weeks after Beverley first suggested the idea to the show's producers, Lance is in his trailer, reflecting on the 7th scene he just shot. "I was nervous," he says. "It's a lot harder than people think, with fifty people watching you and cameras everywhere. And I have to lose the southern accent. I've been in Mississippi for the last two weeks and it's really strong. I'm supposed to be an Italian Californian!"
Nevertheless, director Joel Feigenbaum is impressed: "I think he has a future as an actor, it that's what he wants to do," he says. If Lance's on-screen love interest has anything to do with it, his future will be on 7th Heaven - as a regular. Feigenbaum says that right after Lance and Beverley shot a kissing scene, the actress could be heard squealing all the way to her trailor.
The TV gig has helped Lance relax and get his mind off his troubles - six weeks before, he and his mates were hit with a $150 million lawsuit by their ex-business manager, Louis J. Pearlman, and BMG Entertainment.
Here's a brief recap: In September 1999, *NSYNC announced they were leaving RCA for Jive Records. On October 12, Pearlman and his Trans Continental Records, along with RCA parent BMG, filed a $150 million breach-of-contract suit against *NSYNC and Jive's parent, Zomba Recording Co. (Trans Continental originally signed *NSYNC and licensed them to BMG.) NSYNC then hit Pearlman with a countersuit, seeking at least $25 million in damages.
In November, *NSYNC celebrated a small, but promising victory: A judge had chosen not to grant Pearlman a preliminary injunction preventing *NSYNC and Jive from using the *NSYNC name or releasing any recordings. That set the stage for an out-of-court settlement of both suits in late December. As Teen People went to press, the complete details were not available, but this much was certain: The band would be able to keep its name while remaining with its new label - resulting in the months-delayed release of *NSYNC's third album, No Strings Attached, on Jive on March 7.
Looking back, Lance says the group's nonstop work and travelig (*NSYNC often performed six nights a week during their 1999 tours) probably prevented them from being as on top of their finances as they should have been. Yet the always polite 20-year-old says he doesnt hold anything against Pearlman personally; he credits him with helping them get their start, and agrees Pearlman deserves a fair share of the wealth. But, he adds, "he tried to take too much. He's a little greedy."
According to papers filed by *NSYNC's lawyers, Pearlman initially alloted himself 65% of all merchandising (that means everything from *NSYNC T-shirts to *NSYNC: The Offical Book to their fan club); 62% of all record royalties (the remaining 38% is split among the group's five members); and 100% pf music publishing (meaning, he owns all their songs). Exactly what Pearlman will recieve under the terms of the December 29 settlement is unclear, although his company, Trans Continental Records, will recieve future compensation from *NSYNC.
Pearlman's lawyer, Michael D. Friedman, objects to his client's being labeled greedy. "Without Lou, there would be no *NSYNC," Friedman says. "These five young men might well be among the thousands of talented young performers who took a shot at the highly competitive music business and remain in obscurity."
As a budding manager, Lance - whose company, FreeLance Entertainment, handles two young country artists, Meredith Edwards and Jack Dofoe - doesn't intend to practice what he says Pearlman preaches: "I told them straight up, 'These projects that I am working on with you are not for me to make money. It's something I love to do.' I would never take advantage of them."
What Joey Fatone loves to do is act. But for now, the 21-year-old is content to be financing and overseeing the creation of an acting handbook for students across the country written by Karen Rugerio, his former drama coach at Orlando's Dr. Phillips High School.
Tonight, though, Joey is focused on his main sideline: fun. It's the night after Thanksgiving, and *NSYNC has just performed to a sold-out crowd of 14,000 at Las Vegas's MGM Grand Arena. "I go out after a show to let off some steam," he says. Tonight's destination is Rumjungle, a club at the end of the Strip. "I love going out to clubs. Can't help that," says Joey in the Brooklyn accent he retains despite the fact that he relocated to Florida 10 years ago.
Joey is such a die-hard clubber, he'll go without the others if he has to, but tonight he's able to lure Lance and Justin along with about a dozen friends. Lance and Justin are happy to sit back while born charmer Joey works the room. But clubbing isn't just for kicks - it's research for a potential future business plan. "One day, me, Lance and Justin may open up a club," he says, studying and admiring the layout of Rumjungle, which is lavishly decorated with waterfalls.
Not much gets the cheerful Joey down - not even the lawsuit. He says it didn't affect the group's morale at all. One reason they remained positive and upbeat is because of their fans, like the ones who organized