news archives

November 30, 2001 - Jay Leno joked during his monologue on Thursday, "All right. Let's start the clock. Go! Hey, Kev, what do you get when a cross Britney Spears with a sheep?" Kevin, "What's that?" Jay, "A virgin wool."

November 30, 2001 - US Weekly reports Britney Spears' dressing room was robbed just two days before her HBO special in Las Vegas on November 18. Included in the stolen items was a white Elvis-inspired rhinestone suit that she wore in ads to promote the event and had planned to wear during the show. Spears had to get a new wardrobe for the show made at the last minute according to sources.

November 30, 2001 - E! Online's Ted Casablanca reports Jennifer Aniston was spotted getting her hair cut at Tova's Body telling a friend that she and hubby Brad Pitt checked out the Britney Spears HBO special and added that Brad thought Britney Spears wasn't lip-synching. This prompted Casablanca to ask, "Those movie-stahs are so benevolent, are they not?" 

November 30, 2001 - Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun Times reports Britney Spears was spotted in Chicago at the trendy Anthropologie store on North State Street Wednesday afternoon. Britney was with her friends and a couple of huge bodyguards and bought a bunch of Indian sari cloth wine gift bags and a ton of candles while repeating the holiday phrase, ''this would be just perfect'' for so-and-so.

November 30, 2001 - The National Enquirer Britney Spears was again targetted by Rolling Stone legend Mick Jagger who after blasting her 'Satisfaction' remake of his tune, expanded on those comments and said this to a German newspaper, "Britney wears too much makeup and harly any clothes. Her version of 'Satisfaction' was not bad, but I consider it children's pop. I would never sing a duet with her. Michael Jackson can do that."

November 30, 2001 - ABC News spoke with Britney Spears' competitor on Star Search when she appeared at the age of 11 against 12-year-old Marty Thomas. Thomas beat Spears in the competition but in the long run Britney by far has enjoyed greater success. But is Thomas jealous? "There's always going to be a certain amount of, 'Man, I wish that were me.' But I've never for a minute felt jealous of it. I've never for a minute felt anything but sheer pride for her." Read more from Star Search celebrity competitors, including Anna Nardona who beat out Justin Timberlake here.

November 29, 2001 - Britney Spears was nominated for Female Musical Performer for the 28th annual People's Choice Awards which will be telecast live on CBS on January 13.

November 28, 2001 - There's a six page article in the magazine 'Who Weekly' discussing Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore's addiction to shopping and how they spend their millions. According to the article, Christina is the least demanding. Read more.

November 28, 2001 - Shocking blind item in this week's Star as they dish, "This pop-music queen may not be as innocent as she claims. There's a NYC nightclub deejay who's telling his friends he showed the young lady some of the ways of the world that are usually not discussed in public - when he worked her 16th birthday party not too long ago. And he swears he wasn't her first!" Age and recently certainly narrows the mix, as well as someone who's well known at 16. Britney Spears, Mandy Moore? Who do you think, or is the deejay just full of it?

November 28, 2001 - Now 8 and Britney Spears' latest captured the #2 and #3 spots in this week's album charts according to Hits Magazine, who shows Spears selling 453,778 copies of 'Britney' (up 35%) while 'Now 8' crossed 586,000. Other's charting high were Enrique Iglesias at #9 and Michael Jackson dropping to #12, with Madonna right behind at #13. The Backstreet Boys Chapter 1 got a bump with a 40% jump in sales to #18. Creed topped all by far with nearly 900,000 sales of 'Weathered.'

November 28, 2001 - Star reports Britney Spears was asked why she decided to cover the '80's hit 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' where the singer replied, "Because I love Pat Benatar!" Uhhh, Brit, that was Joan Jett & the Blackheart's song!

November 28, 2001 - Dave Tianen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was at the Britney Spears concert Tuesday night at the Bradley Center and asked after watching her more eroticized, "If your audience is made up of very young teen and preteen girls, what pressure is there to project a more sexual, adult persona? You wouldn't think there were many 12-year-old girls leaving the Bradley Center Tuesday complaining, 'Gee, I wish Britney had given us more cleavage.'" Read more.

November 28, 2001 - AP Radio spoke with Britney Spears on where she sees herself 15 years from now where the singer said, "I do want to get married and have kids and stuff like that, but my heart will always be with music." Read more.

November 28, 2001 - Britney Spears will make her big-screen debut in the coming-of-age film Crossroads, which is due out February 15. Spears has now formed her own production company and is in talks to star in a feature written by Contact screenwriter James V. Hart.

November 27, 2001 - Kelley L. Carter of the Detroit Free Press was on hand at Britey Spears' concert Monday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills. While impressed with Britney's dancing, Carter said, "But it's the panache that Janet and Madonna bring to a show that's missing. Well, that and their inherent ability to talk to a crowd, make some spontaneous moves (or at least have us believe they're spontaneous) and sing live." Read more.

November 27, 2001 - The Globe reports Britney Spears ran into Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and when the computer mogul tried to strike up a conversation with Spears saying, "Hi, I'm Bill Gates, you know, the computer guy," Britney just looked at him blankly and said in response, "Nice to meet you. Maybe you can help me with my website."

November 27, 2001 - The Sun has a photo of Britney Spears' latest ad campaign for Pepsi, Britney holding mistletoe above her. An insider for Spears told the Sun, "Pepsi were unhappy after she was pictured drinking Coke but these sexy ads have more than made up for it." Check out the picture here.

November 24, 2001 - WENN reports organizers with the Top of the Pop awards are happy that Jennifer Lopez is going through with plans to fly and perform at the UK awards show. One of the organizers said, "To be honest, we're not too surprised by petty weedy behaviour from some U.S. stars." Read more.

November 24, 2001 - CDNow's Kevin Raub checked out the Britney Spears show at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim on Tuesday and said of the show, "Musically, the Dream Within a Dream show sees the pop princess seemingly sing live a bit more this time around, though much was still on tape, and utilizing the frivolous "Woo!'s" (to prove her mike is on) a lot less -- an annoying and obvious crutch to her last tour." Read the full review here.

November 24, 2001 - The Journal Sentinel has a funny game profiling what Britney Spears career moves will have positive and negative impacts on her popularity. Check it out here.

November 24, 2001 - The New York Daily News reports Mick Jagger wasn't too impressed with Britney Spears' cover of the Rolling Stones hit, 'Satisfaction'. Mick said during an AOL chat, "I was with my 9-year-old daughter. We quite liked the beginning of it … [but] it didn't seem to go anywhere."

November 24, 2001 - The Sun reports Britney Spears managed to rip up her leather catsuit during her tour forcing a dancer to cover her while she changed backstage in Salt Lake City. A witness revealed, "She looked really embarrassed. Someone rushed over with a towel to cover her up, otherwise who knows what the audience would have seen. Her wardrobe assistant was up all night making a new suit for the next show."

November 23, 2001 - Garth Brooks landed the top spot for sales last week in the Soundscan music charts with sales of 465,000 copies of 'Scarecrow'. Britney Spears' album dropped a spot to #2 with 336,000 in sales while Shakira's debut 'Laundry Service' got #3 with 202,000 sales. Madonna's greatest hits album didn't fare well at all selling around 150,000 copies, putting it at #7 and behind Michael Jackson's 'Invincible' at #4 and Enrique Iglesias' Escape at #6.

November 23, 2001 - Rolling Stone has a photo ratings set of pages for pictures taken for their cover session with Britney Spears. To cast your votes for best pictures, click here.

November 22, 2001 -  Jay Leno joked during his Wednesday monologue, "Last Sunday night, Britney Spears performed in Las Vegas. You know, wherever she went in Vegas, people stopped and stared, not because she's a celebrity, it's just -- people in Vegas have never seen a virgin before. 'Oh, my god'" After that, they ran a skit for 'Baby Doll Britney' about the new Britney Spears doll...

November 22, 2001 -  Britney Spears' mother Lynne resumed her 'Lynne's Corner' feature on Britney's official website with a new entry on Sunday. Lynne wrote, "Jamie Lynn and I are traveling with Britney on tour for the next two weeks. We had planned to leave after one week, but we've postponed our flight home three times. Now, we're going to finally go home after the HBO Special in Las Vegas -- Really!!!" Read more.

November 21, 2001 - There was a guy on Dees Sleaze today talking about how Britney Spears was out all night and "partying a little too hard" at the CD release part for *NSYNC earlier this year.

November 21, 2001 - Enquirer reports Britney Spears is telling her friends to leave Valentine's Day open as she and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake plan on getting married on the romantic day. An insider revealed, "Britney refuses to say where the ceremony will be, but she promises it will be the most romantic wedding ever!"

November 21, 2001 - LFO will open for Britney Spears for several dates in December in the place of O-Town, who'll be playing dates of their own that conflicted with Spears' dates. You can check out the LFO shows in Boston Dec. 11, Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 14, Atlanta Dec. 15 and New Orleans Dec. 16.

November 21, 2001 - Access Hollywood reports 5 million people watched the Britney Spears HBO special on Sunday night, which wasn't enough to eclipse the 6 million that watched Madonna's live concert in August. 

November 21, 2001 - Bridesmade.com is auctioning off a Betsey Johnson outfit worn by Britney Spears to a Madonna concert which is currently bid at $900.25 in an auction that ends November 24. The outfit is a size 4 and can be viewed/bidded on here. Another size 4 outfit, the fabulous beaded gown that was worn by Britney to the American Music Awards in 2000, is also being auctioned and is currently bid at $1713. Check it out here. Both auctions benefit the Twin Towers Fund.

November 21, 2001 - Variety reports pop sensation Britney Spears and musician Quincy Jones may be playing themselves in the third upcoming movie Austin Powers movie, Goldmember, along with Michael Cane, who will supposedly play Austin's father.

November 20, 2001 - Shane Harrison of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reviewed the Britney Spears HBO special last night and wasn't impressed with the dream-themed Las Vegas spectacle. Harrison says, "What about the music? It hardly seemed to be the point. With a new, more mature album topping the album charts, Spears could have upped the musical ante in concert. Instead, the music felt secondary and canned, and though it was never less than immaculately performed, it never generated its own excitement. The songs were there in service to the spectacle." Read more.

November 20, 2001 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports Britney Spears and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake stayed at Rio's Palazzo Suites during their stay in Vegas over the weekend but didn't attend the Maxim magazine party there on Saturday. Britney was spotted at the Velvet Lounge (The Venetian) on Friday for the 19th birthday of her choreographer, Wayne Robinson.

November 19, 2001 -  The Las Vegas Review Journal reports insiders on the Britney Spears tour have said the ideas borrowed from the Siegfried and Roy show were only used during her MTV Awards show in September, not on her tour.

November 19, 2001 - The Los Angeles Times talked with Britney Spears about her new ballad, "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman," which Spears calls her favorite song on the new album. Britney admits, "Yes, I'm on the verge of being a woman. I need my own identity. I need to grow and do things on my own."

November 19, 2001 - Yahoo! has two pictures of Britney Spears shooting her video on a floating stage in front of the Ballagio hotel in Las Vegas on Friday, November 16. Check them out here.

November 18, 2001 - WNEW's Fezitorial sounded off on Britney Spears swearing on her new album, which he says is her lame attempt to try and 'shock us'. It's pretty funny bit. Check it out here.

November 18, 2001 - WireImage.com has photos of Britney Spears and her little sister Jamie Lynn Spears at the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Friday. Check them out here. 

November 18, 2001 - 98Rock in Baltimore has a twisted tune spoofing Britney Spears and her new album. Included are comments from an imposter Britney talking about how she's slept with 4 or 5 guys since she's turned eighteen but not to tell NSYNC's Justin Timberlake, even though she thinks he's gay anyways. Check out an MP3 of the goof commercial for Britney's new album 'Jitney' here.

November 18, 2001 - Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live joked about Britney Spears with Tina Fey saying, "Britney Spears' November 18th live HBO concert will also air on the American Forces Network, where Britney will interact with soldiers via satellite. The soldiers in turn will interact with Britney, via masturbation."

November 18, 2001 - 97.5 PST In Philadelphia will be simulcasting the Britney Spears HBO special concert in Las Vegas on Sunday at 8 PM Eastern. The station does have a webfeed as well. Check it out here.

November 17, 2001 - For Rolling Stone's interview with Britney Spears in the current issue, the singer admits she's not a big fan of The Gap, but instead, "I love Trashy Lingerie. When you go there, sometimes if you go through everything, you can find some really cute shirts, not just lingerie." To check out their not so virginal clothing line, click here.

November 17, 2001 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports cast members for Siegfried & Roy are somewhat miffed over Britney Spears incorporating bigs from their act into her own show. After seeing the famous act about a year ago, Britney has added a few routines that are staples of the duo's act, including a scene where the evil queen emerges from a basketball with an albino snake around her neck and another segment with a puppet army. The cast think Brit has a lot of nerve to bring the show into their own backyard of Las Vegas.

November 17, 2001 - Access Hollywood talked with Britney Spears ahead of her HBO special in Las Vegas on Sunday as she tells Tony Potts how she first came to the conclusion she 'made it' saying, "Ah, I remember a few years ago I got in the car. I'd been traveling everywhere. Like a major overseas commercial tour and I got home, and my song came on the radio. I was like, man, this is cool!"

November 17, 2001 - Ahead of Britney Spears live concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, which is broadcast on HBO at 8 PM ET/PT, the network has a trailer for the special on their website. Britney talks about the new album and the special. Check it out here.

November 16, 2001 - Sean Richardson of the Boston Phoenix is reviewing both Britney Spears' and Michael Jackson's latest works this week. Sean says "'Britney' isn’t quite as ambitious as [*NSYNC's] Celebrity, but by that definition it’s an unqualified success." As for Jackson's latest, "Like most 80-minute pop albums, Invincible gets a little tedious toward the end," and added of his off-stage behavior, "His bizarre personal life may well have done irreversible damage to his popularity. But he hasn’t lost his skills as an entertainer." Read more.

November 16, 2001 - Britney Spears was on Access Hollywood tonight to reveal her thoughts on debuting number one where she admitted, "You know what? Everyone's been asking me, how do you feel about the album, are you nervous? I was like, man, my main goal, I just want it to go to number one."

November 15, 2001 - Britney Spears zoomed to the top of the charts this week with her lastest effort, 'Britney' clearing 745,744 copies to become this year's second best-selling album in its first week, albeit less than her previous album, , Oops! … I Did It Again, which also debuted at number 1 in May of 2000 on first week sales of 1.3 million. Pink Floyd's Echoes was around 1/2 million sales behind to get the #2 spot. As for getting two weeks atop the charts, Britney will have to fend off Shakira who's album debuted yesterday and appears poised for the top spot, according to early numbers from Wherehouse Music.

November 15, 2001 - Russell Baillie of the New Zealand Herald is giving his thoughts on Britney Spears' latest effort giving it a 3 star ranking. Baillie says of the disc, "While her singing — which still equates that adenoidal tone to friskiness — hasn’t improved, this shows her acting is better. On an album designed to ease her out of teenpop mould, it sounds as if Britney has grown into the Britney role rather well." Read more.

November 15, 2001 - The Las Vegas Review Journal reports people should expect gridlock on Las Vegas Boulevard Friday as Britney Spears will be in town to record her next video from 5 to 10 P.M. Britney will be on a stage built on the Bellagio lake which is positioned to showcase the dancing fountains in the background. Expect the video to debut December 4 at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand.

November 15, 2001 - Conan O'Brien joked during his monologue Tuesday, "This week, Britney Spears is gonna be performing a live concert from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. And to publicize the event, there's a 30-story cutout of Britney hanging outside the hotel. 30 stories high. It's amazing. Yeah, not only that, there's currently 30 guys climbing her left one."

November 14, 2001 - WENN reports Atomic Kitten star Jenny Frost is taking a shot at Britney Spears superstar lifestyle and mocks her virgin claims saying, "We are not like Britney Spears, we don't live superstar lives, we are three normal girls." Read more.

November 14, 2001 - Dees Sleaze reports this issue of Rolling Stone magazine is about as close as you'll get to seeing Britney Spears topless. Rick says her right nipple is as exposed as you can get without it being in a porn magazine. Rick tells Britney, "You can not out-Madonna Madonna."

November 13, 2001 - Entertainment Weekly has new details for the upcoming TV specials for pop stars Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez that will occur over the few days & weeks. Director Marty Callner says of the Britney show, ''This show is packed -- it's got water, fire, bungee jumping." As for Lopez's show, producer Jeff Pollack said of the post September 11 taping, "This was a momentary diversion that I think was incredibly appreciated." Read more.

November 13, 2001 - Peoplenews.com reports Britney Spears refused to take part in a commercial promoting the city of Las Vegas ahead of her show at the MGM Grand Sunday. Spears says she's against gambling so doesn't want to appear to endorse the city's main form of tourism.

November 13, 2001 - Michael Musto of the Village Voice attended Britney Spears record release party at Centro-Fly in New York where a press person said of her late arrival, "I don't mind waiting. I'm a pedophile and I'm not going anywhere!" As for Britney, upon arriving she proclaimed, "I want everyone to dance and have fun tonight. I'm wearing my boots and I'm gonna dance!" Musto says he never saw her dance and that the only time the place actually played her music, she was in the VIP room.

November 13, 2001 - Any thoughts that Pink Floyd's new album would mount any challenge to 'Britney' were erased after early figures from Hits magazine show 'Echoes' isn't even getting 1/3 the sales of Britney Spears' latest. With 63% of the numbers in, Britney has 464,300 sales while Pink Floyd has 133,601.

November 11, 2001 - US Weekly reports Britney Spears bought several books on witchcraft and expressed her interest in the occult to the clerk at Brentano's bookstore in Los Angeles. This on top of reports earlier this year that Britney has spent over $100,000 on goth style leather clothing and silver jewelry at Chrome Hearts in L.A.

November 11, 2001 - Dees Sleaze reports Britney Spears is explaining why she can't pay for anything when she goes out as she doesn't carry cash, "Have you see how low my pants are? I can't even wear panties! I don't have any pockets!"

November 10, 2001 - Jim Farber of The New York Daily News was at Wednesday's Britney Spears concert at the Nassau Coliseum and admitted of the heavy taped backing of the gig, "Singing was never really the point. More relevant was hitting all the marks and looking pretty in whatever costume she turned up in next." As for her setlist, Farber added, "The songs served as her accessories. She modeled them like handbags you sport and quickly discard." In summing up Spears, Farber made the comparison that "Britney becomes the world's life-size Barbie: gorgeous, bendable and plastic." Read more.

November 10, 2001 - Britney Spears' HBO special concert from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas will be broadcast not only on the pay cable network, but simultaneously on armed forces radio and TV without charge. Throughout the show, Spears will interact via satellite with people at four military bases: the Marines' Camp Pendleton and San Diego Naval Station, both in California, the Army's Fort Polk in Louisiana and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The show airs on Sunday, November 18.

November 9, 2001 - The liner note message addressed to *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake in Britney Spears' latest CD 'Britney' refers to him as 'J' saying, "You're the one I love -- the one I live for -- the one I can't live without."

November 9, 2001 - Peoplenews.com reports Britney Spears is pleased with the results of her debut movie 'Crossroads' admitting, "Making the movie, honestly, was probably one of the things I'm most proud of that I've done so far. The movie is really heartfelt, it's just a chick movie. You want to just watch it with your girlfriends."

November 9, 2001 - Newsday's Glenn Gamboa reviewed Britney Spears' show at Nassau Coliseum Wednesday night but focused on the larger issue as to where Britney is heading with her career as well. Gamboa says, "Spears must soon decide whether to push to become an actual artist -- like her heroes Madonna and Janet Jackson -- or remain a perfectly produced performer, an actress playing a singer, who eventually will run out of tricks like a 21st-century Paula Abdul." Read more.

November 9, 2001 - USA Today talked to *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears at her launch party Tuesday in New York where Justin kept mum on what he planned for Britney's 20th birthday present December 2. Timberlake said, "I'm not going to tell you! I can't give it away!" Stay tuned.

November 9, 2001 - Actually that's what I thought she was singing when I first heard 'Slave 4 U' myself, but Britney Spears is denying reports she said that in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Jansing. To check out the clip of Britney denying the claim, click here.

November 9, 2001 - Conan O'Brien took shots at Jacko, Britney, and Madonna during his monologue on Wednesday.  For Britney, Conan said, "This is interesting. A radio station in Chicago has decided to change their photo contest from 'Boobies Like Britney' to 'Bodies Like Britney.' They changed it. True story. Yeah, apparently, when the contest was 'Boobies Like Britney,' people were sending in their plastic recycling."

November 8, 2001 - The New York Post is reporting pop couple Britney Spears and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake were a nightmare during their stop at B Bar's weekly Tuesday night Beige party, where they not only were rude to the staff but left without paying their bill. A witness told the Post, "The poor waiter had to run out and bang on the window of their car to get them to pay." Read more.

November 8, 2001 - The Chicago Sun Times reports Chicago's WKSC-FM promotion for young female listeners having a chance to win "Boobies Like Britney" didn't go over too well. After beginning the promotion, the station was flooded with complaints regarding the sexist contest. Read more.

November 8, 2001 - WireImage.com has photos of Britney Spears' CD release party in New York last night. On hand at the gig were *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake, O-Town, Wade Robson, Stephen Baldwin, Faith Evans (who dropped an album herself), Nikki Hilton, Kari Wuhrer, Brad Fischetti of LFO, and of course Britney. Check out the photos here.

November 8, 2001 - The New York Daily News reports Britney Spears was spotted chatting with Monica Lewinsky about fashion at Henri Bendel last weekend. Britney was with *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake at the store. No word if that fashion talk included the two discussed getting incriminating stains out of dresses.

November 8, 2001 - Hits Daily Double reports Britney Spears new album is on pace to finish #1 for the week. 'Britney' is estimated to sell 600-700,000 copies for the week, easily beating Pink Floyd's greatest hits album Echoes, pegged at somewhere over 300,000 in sales.

November 8, 2001 - MuchMusic talked to Britney Spears in Toronto on Monday where she admitted to enjoying the end of her new video 'Slave 4 U' saying, "The very end scene in the video for 'Slave', where the guy licks my face, I didn't know he was going to do that. The director said, 'well look, what we'll do is, we'll use it if it looks really good and if you don't like it, we won't use it." Britney at first didn't want it in but later changed her mind. "This is the most sensual videos I've ever done and the build up for it (the lick) was tastefully done and I liked it." 

November 8, 2001 -  WireImage.com has photos of Britney Spears, Pink, and Gwyneth Paltrow on the set of MTV's TRL with host Carson Daly. Check out the photos from Tuesday's show here.

November 8, 2001 - Entertainment Weekly profiles Britney Spears in their current issue and talk to her 'Crossroads' film director Tamra Davis, who thinks she plays the virgin-whore role well admitting, ''She definitely plays with that duality.'' As for Britney herself, she's not so convinced, ''There are so many other teenagers out there that dress more provocatively than I do and no one says anything about them." Read more and check out their photo gallery here.

November 7, 2001 - Daphne Gordon of the Toronto Star was at Britney Spears' show at the Air Canada Centre on Monday night where she said, "The show's kitschy theatrics served only to highlight the fact that Spears is a little more eye candy than she is musician." As for her vocals, Gordon explained, "It was clear Spears' voice was at least supplemented by backup tracks, if not totally lip-synched." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - A warmer review of Britney Spears' latest effort comes our way from Shane Harrison of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who gives 'Britney' a 'B' calling the album "stronger than ever." Shane adds, "This feels like Spears' attempt at [Janet Jackson's] 'Control.' That album's combination of sass and statement is still beyond Spears' grasp, but a touch of maturity suits her better than you might expect." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Jim Abbott of the Orlando Sentinel gave Britney Spears' new album out today 2 out of 5 stars and blasted the work saying, "'Britney' is clumsy at best. In the worst moments, it may offend longtime fans with its language and racy themes while at the same time making any potential older audience laugh uncontrollably." Abbot added, "Vocally, Spears still remains the most one-dimensional of teen-pop commodities." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Jonathan Takiff of The Philadelphia Daily News reports Britney Spears has done it again, that is jeopardizing her Pepsi contract. Britney asked her assistant during a press conference in Toronto to to fetch a “Coke with ice” to wash [potato chips] down. As for her comments in the press conference, Takiff wasn't impressed with how much Britney has grown. Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press weighed in on Britney Spears' latest effort giving 'Britney' only 2 out of 4 stars in a decidedly negative review. Says McCollum, "Like Michael Jackson on his new 'Invincible,' she obsesses on topics with which few mortals can sympathize: namely, maintaining humanity amid superstar fame. Not interesting." Brian credits Rodney Jerkins calling him "The album's saving grace." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Elysa Gardner of USA Today reviewed Britney Spears' new album, 'Britney' giving it 2 1/2 out of 4 stars. Gardner says "'Britney' may be more musically satisfying than previous outings, but as a coming-of-age manifesto, it only emphasizes the teen idol's lack of personality and maturity." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - During Britney Spears' press conference a gay reporter for Fab magazine asked if she could set him up with Justin Timberlake. Britney reponded, "The Justin thing -- I'll have to get back to you on that. Seriously, all of my friends, all of my dancers are gay and I love them; they're my best friends. No, for real. I love them. I probably talk to them more than I do my girlfriends." Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Allpop's Stephanie McGrath was on hand at the Britney Spears concert in Toronto where she called the show "flawed and overdone in places" but gave the singer hope saying, "Spears showed actual talent and the potential to be able to truly perform and connect with her audience on an intimate level instead of acting as the pop-puppet and marketing tool for tweens that she's often accused of being." McGrath noted that fellow Jive artist and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt was at the concert as well. Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Foxnews.com's Roger Friedman wondered aloud why Britney Spears didn't once try to sing during her MTV Diary special. Says Friedman, "I've spent countless amounts of time with vocal performers and I can tell you that they are usually unrestrained about singing" adding, "Even the most illiterate performer might feel compelled to show off a little for the camera. Not Britney." As for Britney's performance on Rosie, Friedman blasted, "The lip-synching was so dreadful that it seemed like Spears didn't even know the song... Spears seemed as though she was performing in a Japanese sci-fi movie." Ouch... 

November 7, 2001 - Isaac Guzman of the New York Daily News chimed in on Britney Spears' new album, 'Britney.' Guzman admits while it is better than her previous efforts considering the willingness to experiment with new sounds and styles, it show an "utter lack of any personal insight." As for the Justin Timberlake featured track, Guzman added, "[Justin] and Wade Robson re-create the skittering beats of "Celebrity" with an unexceptional vocal effort by their star." Guzman gave it a 2 star rating. Read more.

November 7, 2001 - Access Hollywood talked to Britney Spears about how the singer is tired of people telling her what to do as she replied, "I am put up there where a lot of people have a lot of opinions about me and say a lot of things about me. And they do try to tell me what to do to a certain extent. I think I've come, within the last year, I've put myself in a position where I call the shots." As for the new album, Britney said, "I'm just really proud of this record musically, because I had such a part of it and just want my fans to buy it and really respect it."

November 6, 2001 - Jay Leno joked during his monologue on Monday, "Hey, how about this? Virgin Britney Spears -- did you hear about this? That's what she called herself. She's a virgin. That's what she said. She was spotted in a Santa Monica strip club the other day with her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake -- you know, from NSYNC? She said she was there looking to learn the dance moves from the strippers. She was watching the strippers put on the dance moves for her act. And she said it was nice of her boyfriend Justin to go along and support her. What a hell of a guy, huh? You see what I'm saying? Yeah, there you go. What a terrific guy. 'Honey, you keep watching. I'm gonna be gettin' a lap dance in the corner here. You keep your eye on --'"

November 6, 2001 - All of the promoting that *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake has been doing with girlfriend Britney Spears over the weekend may be caused by his glaring omission when asked by Cosmopolitan magazine, 'Who are the sexiest women in the world?' Justin replied that 'Beyonce, J. Lo and Janet' were on the list, but left out Britney.

November 5, 2001 - Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were at Z100 radio in New York and someone was kind enough to write up a transcript. Justin didn't want to promote *NSYNC but his girlfriend's new album saying, "Man I'm not here to toot my own horn. I'll toot her's. Oh don't take that the wrong way."

November 5, 2001 - Earlier reports that Lynne's corner on Britney Spears official site was ousted because she wanted to appeal to an older audience and break the mother connnection appear to be false or premature as the page tentatively is back. Lynne says, "That's right, I'm back! We're ready to fire things up again with Britney's World Tour." Read more.

November 4, 2001 - Britney Spears was nominated for 'Is It Hot in Here or Is It Just My Video' and 'Navel Academy' at this year's My VH1 Music Awards. The event will take place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on December 2. Cast your votes here.

November 4, 2001 - Britney Spears is nominated for Top Pop Act in the Top of the Pops Awards 2001. The Awards ceremony will take place on November 30 in Manchester's Evening News Arena. Cast your votes here.

November 4, 2001 - News of the World's Rav Singh talked to Britney Spears who revealed she and *NSYNC star Justin Timberlake hope to marry in 2002. Spears said, "I love Justin and want to spend the rest of my life with him. I want to grow old with him. I couldn't ask for a kinder and lovelier boyfriend. We are going to get married. We were thinking about next year but it all depends on our schedules, really." Read more.

November 3, 2001 - Popdirt.com's latest poll asks "Which female pop singer is the most talented vocalist?" Voting is capped at 1 time/day. Click here to vote for Britney or whoever your favorite is.

November 3, 2001 - Justin Timberlake was on BET's 106 to talk about their latest song 'Gone' and how it has become an urban hit. Justin admits that after filming the video, he did get flack from Britney but he didn't feel the same for her videos with other men saying, "You can't, you can't. I know she didn't mean it, and she loves me with all her heart."

November 3, 2001 - Britney Spears told Glamour magazine when she's not all dressed up for events she feels ugly at home. Spears said, "Most of the time I look in the mirror and think how ugly I look. I usually feel like a complete slob. I wear a Mickey Mouse Club T-shirt, black sweats and ugly tennis shoes." Read more, including comments on Britney enjoying Amaretto cocktails here.

November 3, 2001 - Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press reviewed last night's kickoff to Britney Spears' new concert tour saying, "Her dance moves were crisp, her voice was strong and her clothes were barely there," adding "Spears exuded confidence, control and power through it all. She added a little more grown-up attitude and a little less girlish pout." Read more.

November 3, 2001 - Launch.com talked to Britney Spears on her role in the 'What's Going On' project that benefitted Artists Against AIDS Worldwide and the September 11 relief effort where she admitted it wasn't going to be as packed with top musicians orginally but, "then, all of a sudden, so many people, which is a beautiful thing, started coming in and just wanting to be a part of it and it became this really big thing, you know?" Read more.

November 3, 2001 - Hits magazine reports music store owners who have pre-ordered around 3 million copies of Britney Spears' new album 'Britney' are worried that they may have overestimated demand for her music. Sales of her concert tour are softer than expected and her debut single off the album, 'Slave 4 U' hasn't proven to be much of a radio hit. While initially hoping for 750k-1 million in first week sales, some are beginning to think 500-600k is more realistic, making it vulnerable in the album charts to Pink Floyd best-of album, Echoes, out the same week.

November 2, 2001 - Jive records announced the soundtrack for "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" due November 20 which includes many of the label's known heavyweights. The animated movie opens in theaters on December 21. Read on for a track listing.

November 2, 2001 - WorldofBritney.com has special coverage of the Britney Spears show in Columbus, Ohio last night, including photos and an audio report. If you can put up with all the self adulation they provide while giving this news, click here.

November 2, 2001 - Channel V talked to Britney Spears during her visit to Australia during September. Britney talks about the new album, growing up, performing with Michael Jackson (she called it "very very cool" and "like a blur"). Britney says her favorite track on 'Britney' is 'Boys.' Check it out here.

November 2, 2001 - WENN reports Britney Spears doesn't plan on getting as over the top sexually as her idol, Madonna. Britney said, "I don't think I'm a sexually provocative performer. I really just get into what I do. I haven't masturbated on a bed." As for her most provactive VMA strip performance, Britney said of the crowd on hand there, "They were completely freaked out. I wasn't naked, it was just a nude stocking."

November 2, 2001 - Katrillion reports the mayor of Frankfurt, Germany has temporarily renamed streets around the venue for the MTV Europe Awards on November 8. Bright-orange plastic signs bearing the names of stars including Britney Spears, U2, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Robbie Williams will remain on top of the city's real street signs until November 10.

November 2, 2001 - The New York Post talked to Britney Spears about her ultimate fashion mistakes where she admitted to wearing white socks with sandals adding, "But the worse fashion mistake I ever made was wearing high cut-off jeans and cowboy boots." Needless to say, Britney wouldn't feel comfortable starting her own fashion line, "I think I'd need help. I wouldn't want to do it by myself."

November 2, 2001 - Britney Spears will have a press conference in Toronto on Monday which will be broadcast live on MuchMusic at 1:30 PM Eastern. Britney will later perform a show at the Skydome in Toronto, the night before her album is released.

November 1, 2001 - The New York Post reports their sources in Los Angeles say Britney Spears and *NSYNC's Justin Timberlake have been regular visitors to the Granville Club on Santa Monica Boulevard for its Thursday strip show night. They insist though that Britney's only going there looking for dance moves.

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