What happens when you were was famous but are no longer famous? Can you still hang out with your old friends who still happen to be famous—much more famous than you are now? Here are two stories that suggest: no!
Have you been to Justin Timberlake’s New York restaurant, Southern Hospitality—a “hotspot” “fine dining” establishment in that it 1) has wifi, 2) serves food and 3) is fine, I guess, if we’re being charitable? Did you happen to notice if the place was overrun with mice? Because New York City’s Department of Health did.
The duo of Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon took it all the way back to the summer camp of your '90s childhood last night in a sketch where they landed roughly 1.5 good jokes, one of which was "Remember Third Eye Blind's 'Jumper?'" Pretty good joke.
Justin Timberlake appeared on last night's season premiere of Oprah Presents Master Class. By asking celebrities to discuss their success and the reasons for it in what amounts to a 40+ minute monologue, the show is basically a setup for failure or at least rambling self-indulgence. The brags, be they of the humble variety or original recipe, abound.
Even Michael Powell thinks Nipplegate was overblown, now.
Katy Perry opened Sunday's American Music Awards in geisha drag. Or maybe it was Madonna circa '99 drag. Either way, and as usual, her look and performance were tedious and bereft of personality. Perhaps Perry realized the best she could do was make Twitter users cluck their tongues, and inspire think pieces in which the word "problematic" would feature prominently.
Whatever Justin Timberlake had, musically, he's lost—at least for now, if his excruciating The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 is an indication. Some critics who stretched to defend the uninspired first half of this unpleasant "experience" earlier this year can't even muster a pro argument for this collection of outtakes of an album that already sounded like outtakes in the first place (2 of 2 is to 1 of 2 as 1 of 2 is to FutureSex/LoveSounds). The guy has nothing to say, and so he structures the majority of the overlong songs here around thematic metaphors, like R. Kelly without the humor, smarts, panache, individuality, and soul. His trusty producer, responsible for the bulk of 2 of 2's beats similarly has nothing new to say. Who's hungry for twice-reheated '00s revivalism?
Last night, President Obama and the First Lady hosted the 10th concert in the In Performance at the White House series. Justin Timberlake, professional charmer and sometimes-crooner, encouraged his hosts to join him for Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." Timberlake appealed to the whole ragtag bunch of fancy concert-goers by cajoling: "Mr. President, everybody, come on!"
Justin Timberlake's third album, The 20/20 Experience, would be a disappointment were we not adequately prepared to be underwhelmed. This is the kind of album whose mellow, nothing-more-than-nice first single is puzzling until you hear the rest of the album and realize that it's the most commercial pop on a collection whose musical m.o. is to be nothing more than nice. "Suit & Tie," at least, has a sense of spunk, which is more than can be said for most of 20/20. The album sounds like a conscious attempt at musical maturity that is never quite earned or fully realized.
The Bud Light Platinum spokesperson and five-time Saturday Night Live host is streaming his long-awaited new album, The 20/20 Experience, on iTunes for free a week before its scheduled release. What do you think? Do you care? Is it better than the mediocre lead-off single "Suit and Tie"? Should he just go back to his overrated acting career? Let's discuss.
While performing the musical equivalent of twinkletoes, "Suit & Tie," on Saturday Night Live this weekend, Justin Timberlake altered one of its lines in an apparent jab at Kanye West. "My hit's so slick got rappers acting dramatic," sang Timberlake instead of the usual, "Shit so sick got a hit and picked up a habit." Oooh, burn. Calling Kanye West dramatic is like calling him a rapper or an oxygen breather.
Justin Timberlake performed "Mirrors" from his upcoming 20/20 Experience album at last night's BRIT Awards in London. When that track was released after the Grammy Awards, it seemed like an energizing, skittery return to FutureSex/LoveSounds Justin. In the live context, it was just as dull as his R. Kelly-lite Grammys rendition of "Suit & Tie" and "Pusher Love Girl."
After an ill-advised foray into acting and the release of a mediocre comeback single, there was only one direction left for Justin Timberlake to take: creative director for Anheuser Busch's high-alcohol new-ish product, Bud Light Platinum. As part of his new gig, Timberlake will be in charge of providing Bud Light Platinum's "creative, musical and cultural curation." He will also star in a commercial for the beer, which will debut during Sunday's Grammy Awards. Timberlake's take on the move?
Is Justin Timberlake getting really to unveil his first new single in years?
