Nancy from Blogging America's Best Dance Crew spoke with Howard and Karen Schwartz, creators of America's Best Dance Crew at the New York auditions for ABDC Season 7. In this first of two videos with them, they describe their hopes for the new season, and what they've seen and are looking for in several types of auditioners: new crews who have never auditioned, crews that have already appeared on ABDC, international crews, and younger teams. And, they reveal that the new season will air on Wednesday nights at 10pm ET/PT, starting (probably) on April 11, 2012. [source and video]

While people left and right were fawning over Justin Timberlake’s Futuresex/Lovesounds a few years ago, several thoughts were running through my head. First was the fact that John Mayer’s Continuum (released the same day) was so much better (as agreed upon by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, who gave Johnny the Best Pop Album Grammy over JT,) the second was “man, this dude needs to take a lyric writing class (“Hi, my name is Bob/and I work at my job” still makes me want to give JT the gas face,) and the third thing was “Hey, didn’t JC Chasez make an album very similar to this a few years ago that no one paid attention to?”

When a popular group breaks up (and let’s face it, they almost all eventually do), usually one member goes on to solo glory while the other members ease on down the road to nowheresville. It’s extremely rare that more than one member of a popular collective goes on to hit superstar status. Yeah, Destiny’s Child split into three pieces, but does anyone really care about Kelly & Michelle? The odds are inevitably stacked against you if you’re not the focal point. Anyone out there remember the albums Marlon, Jackie & Randy Jackson put out? I rest my case.

*NSYNC was the come-from-behind boy band success story. Although The Backstreet Boys had a couple years tenure on them, *NSYNC managed to steal all their thunder, a point made even more resounding when the group’s resident hearthrob Justin Timberlake scooped up millions in sales, hosted “SNL” a few times, won some Emmys and a couple of Grammys, and bagged Jessica Biel, Alyssa Milano, Janet Jackson AND Cameron Diaz. Sheeeit, screw the Backstreets, what the hell were the rest of the *NSYNC team gonna do? JC Chasez’ solo debut, Schizophrenic, should have been the start to a massive solo career, not the album that turned him into one of *NSYNC’s four Andrew Ridgeleys.

JC wasn’t always *NSYNC’s second banana. If you listen to each of the group’s albums, you’ll notice that JC’s role faded further and further into the sunset as Justin took prominence. This is despite the fact that JC is actually a better vocalist. While Justin is an excellent melodic singer and has a smooth quality similar to “Off The Wall”-era MJ, JC has a fiery, soaring voice that recalls the angrier, more edgy version of Michael.

On Schizophrenic, the vocal differences between the two were highlighted due to the differences in musical styles. JC co-helmed most of Schizophrenic with his homies Riprock & Alex G with fleeting assistance from Rockwilder & Dallas Austin. The album encompassed everything from rock riffage to skittering dance beats to smooth ballads, all held together by JC’s strong voice and his solidly PG-13 lyrics. Sound familiar yet? [source]

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Former N’Sync boy-bander JC Chasez was a hero saving a baby in Miami Beach on New Year’s Day. A helicopter flew so close to the beach in front of the Fontainebleu that the umbrellas in the sand flew up from the force of the rotors. One parasol began hurtling toward a stroller carrying a 1-year-old baby girl. Chasez sprung into action and grabbed the umbrella before it fell onto the child. Hotel security confirmed the incident, and sources say Chasez was “sweet and humble” about his heroics. The night earlier, Chasez had partied at a Fontainebleau private bash hosted by “Gossip Girl” star Chace Crawford.

[source]

Those in the line of fire included little Shirel, her mother, Netali Nissim, and their family.

"Shirel is safe because of him," Nissim, an Italian jeweler, told PEOPLE through her rep. "I want to tell him thank you from the bottom of my heart. If it had not been for him, my daughter could have been seriously hurt." [source]

Description: JC Chasez arrives at LAX after returning from Miami, where he celebrated New Year's Eve at the Fontainebleau.

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Description: JC Chasez and his girlfriend enjoy some beach time in Miami.

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