Transcript of JC interview on Star 105.5 with Molly J
January 27, 2010

DJ : Star 105.5, you know, on the hotline now, a very, very busy man in the entertainment industry, JC Chasez. What’s happening?

JC : Hey, how are you?

DJ : Oh my gosh! I’m, I’m just, I’m shaking. I’m so excited to be talking to you. I grew up watching you on the Mickey Mouse Club, on Nsync and now on America’s Best Dance Crew. You are quite the busy guy. You’re going on your fifth season now as a judge one of the hottest dancing competition shows on tv, America’s Best Dance Crew. JC, what made you decide to be a part of America’s Best Dance Crew?

JC : Well, I mean, first thing is, you know, Randy put together a great show. This is Randy Jackson presents America’s Best Dance Crew and Randy and I have been friends for years and always talked about doing something together and when he approached me with this, you know, I was excited just to be doing something with him because he’s such a great guy. And then, I love the concept. I love the idea. I love the fact that, you know, we’re going after, you know, the underground of dancing, you know. I know a lot of other shows are based on classical training and training and things like this but this show is more about the raw emotion of what it is to dance and self-made, you know, dancers and things like that so they really have to rely on their creativity more than anything else. Not just the technique but real creativity. So that’s why I wanted to be a part of it.

Follow up:

DJ : That’s awesome! That’s awesome. Now, obviously the fifth season kicks off tomorrow night. What can we expect from this season of the show? I mean, are there any new twists? Any particular group that we should keep our eye on?

JC : This show has really been given a face-lift for this, for season 5. You know, we had to kind of raise the bar. The fact is there was such a demand for the show, we’ve actually added three episodes and they’re audition specials, you know, regional auditions. The judges for the first time went to the cities, you know, into the South, up to the East Coast and out to the West Coast to be a part of the audition process. So we put together three shows of regional auditioning to add on to the season so that’s exciting. And as well, we have a brand new judge, who is a fantastic dancer and a great point of view on the panel which is now Omarion.

DJ : Omarion, exactly. He’s replacing Shane Sparks who has been with you guys on the show for the last four seasons. Now, what do you think Omarion is going to bring to the table that might be a little bit different than Shane might bring?

JC : Well, we talked, you know, we talked, we met and he’s a great guy and I think, you know, the best part about what he brings, is, you know, he started off growing up as a dancer first, you know, the qualifications for that are there. But he also has the performer’s perspective, you know, so he understands what it takes to convey that point of view, that style, that dance. And he’s had success making an impression on an audience so he knows what it takes to be successful as a performer and to have a successful performance. So I think those, you know, those things that are in his repertoire make him a great judge.

DJ : Absolutely, absolutely. And he’s got some dance moves, you have to be honest.

JC : Hey, man, he’s a great dancer. Like backstage, he’s always kind of popping his chest and moving around.
DJ : Sure, sure! They can definitely learn a lot from him! Now, Jabbawockeez may be the most known of the groups to come out of America’s Best Dance Crew. What kind of casting process do you have to go through in order to get the dance crews for the competition?

JC : I mean, literally, we just send out, you know, any way we can, through the internet, through television promotion and things like that about we’re gonna be in this city on this day and then essentially just go through the hundreds and hundreds of crews that show up. And that’s what you’re gonna see actually in the first three shows. You’re gonna see, you know, us in the cities, you know, going through piles and piles and piles of crews until we get the best ones.

DJ : Awesome! I really like that you guys are adding these, you know, three episodes in the very beginning because I think from the outsider’s perspective, it’s certainly going to let these people, you know, who, may be inspiring dancers, know what to look forward to, you know, how to get there, basically.

JC : Also, we’re trying to show, you know, give them an opportunity in their comfort zone and yet give them something recognizable, you know. They’re not just sitting in front of a panel of producers and people they don’t know. They know they have to leave a great impression from the get-go. No slacking at any point in this audition process anymore.

DJ : Right, right. Well, we are on the phone with JC Chasez from America’s Best Dance Crew, premiering tomorrow night at nine o’clock on MTV. Now, we kind of touch based a little bit about this but do you have any advice for someone out there that has always dreamed of becoming a professional dancer? What’s the best way to start?

JC : The best way to start, honestly, it’s just a matter, it’s hard work. You know, that’s what anything essentially boils down to. If you wanna be good at anything, you just have to work extremely hard at it. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Because being clean is the best thing, you know, is your best friend because somebody might have the most creative routine in the world but if they don’t execute it, you’re not gonna see it. If you do something clean, it’s striking. You know, so, I would say repetition and just, you know, work hard.

DJ : Exactly. Now, JC, you may kill me on this one, I don’t know, but you probably knew there was no way I could end this without mentioning the word Nsync. Is there any chance of a comeback from you and the guys?

JC : No. We’re all excited working in the careers that we’re working in now and working on the projects we’re working on so.

DJ : How about another solo album from you?

JC : You know, that could be in the cards. You know, but right now, my focus recently has been writing for other artists but something I started toying with again, is the idea so.

DJ : Yeah, you’ve written, you know, several tracks for Leona Lewis and even the Backstreet Boys which is surprising, you know, you coming from Nsync and working with the Backstreet Boys so that’s pretty awesome. Now, my sister, I told her all about this, said I was gonna be talking to you and she wanted me to tell you a) she said hello and b) to ask you if you weren’t famous, what would you be doing?

JC : I mean, I would be, you know, working. *laughs*

DJ : *laughs* That’s what we thought you would be saying!

JC : We all gotta pay our bills and eat but, you know. The fame thing isn’t something that I really spend a whole lot of time thinking about. I think about my work, my day to day, you know, and that’s what I focus on anyway. If somebody comes up and says “hi” and you know, “I appreciate what you do”, that’s fantastic. That’s flattering. But you know, at the same time, it’s always just been about putting my head down and going to work and being proud of my work.

DJ : Absolutely. Well, you certainly should be proud. You are a very busy man and you’re phenomenal, is all I have to say. So, JC Chasez, he’s gonna be on the fifth season of America’s Best Dance Crew, premieres tomorrow night on MTV at nine o’clock here in Chicago. JC, thank you so much for hanging out with me today.

JC : My pleasure.

DJ : Man, I love it, I love it! Hey buddy, you have a good one. Good luck with everything!