While appearing as a guest host on Wednesday's (April 3) "TRL," P. Diddy announced a lineup change for Dream, his Bad Boy Records girl group. Seventeen-year-old Melissa Schuman, whom P.D. referred to as "one of the older members" of the group, has left to pursue an acting career. P. Diddy later told MTV News that there was "really nothing more" to Melissa's departure and that there were no hard feelings.
Melissa was the last girl to join Dream's original lineup, entering as a friend of group member Holly Blake. As pop legend now has it, the girls were performing at a showcase in Beverly Hills in early 2000 when they were spotted by the man then known as Puffy, who immediately offered them a deal with Bad Boy. They went on to score a #2 hit with their first single, "He Loves U Not," selling more than 1.5 million copies of their debut album, It Was All a Dream, and taking part in last summer's "TRL" tour.
Although Melissa has left, the remaining members — Holly, Diana Ortiz and Ashley Poole — are already about halfway finished with their second album, which Bad Boy hopes to release by the fall. They've got an A-list of writers and producers working with them, including the Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins, 'NSYNC's right-hand man, Wade Robson, and P. Diddy himself. A single is expected out late this summer.
And what about that vacant fourth spot in the lineup? P. Diddy said they've had auditions and have narrowed it down to a few girls, but there's also a chance that Dream may continue on as a trio.
—John Norris
Posted by Jen on Thursday, April 4, 2002 @ 11:08 a.m.
Jennifer Lopez has settled a lawsuit over a rumoured sex video of the singer-actress that was to be distributed via the Internet.
Wire service AFP reports that the lawsuit was launched last year after Death Row Records boss Marion "Suge" Knight reportedly claimed he was looking to obtain a copy of the tape and distribute it online.
The tape reportedly was secretly recorded during a long-ago tryst between Lopez and a boyfriend. Lopez's attorney Stanton Stein told AFP that Knight and his company acknowledged shortly after the story appeared that they did not have a copy of the video, and did not know for certain that the tape existed.
But Lopez had kept the lawsuit active, just in case someone subsequently came forward claiming ownership of the tape. With no one coming forward, the case has been settled. Terms were not disclosed, the report said.
Posted by Jen on Thursday, April 4, 2002 @ 11:05 a.m.
Prairie rockers Wide Mouth Mason will be sharing screen time with Al Pacino in the upcoming film "The Farm."
The spy thriller, which recently wrapped shooting in Toronto, stars Pacino and fast-rising newcomer Colin Farrell. Wide Mouth Mason shot two scenes in January at the Toronto-area bar Nashville North.
WMM performed their song "Change" (from the group's CD "Stew") and "Reconsider," which is intended for a new album the band is recording for release this summer.
"The Farm" is scheduled in theatres for October. The film is directed by Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out," "Cocktail"). It is reportedly loosely based on the case of a double agent who was caught working at the CIA's training facility in Camp Peary, Virginia, known as The Farm. (More on Wide Mouth Mason)
Posted by Jen on Thursday, April 4, 2002 @ 11:03 a.m.
Jon Bon Jovi's commitment to finish his next album, "Bounce," has bounced him out of the cast of "Ally McBeal."
The New York Daily News said Bon Jovi's character, Victor Morrison, won't return after his ninth episode this month.
"The 'Ally' people either want me to marry 'Ally' or it's over," he told The Daily News.
""But I have a day job to go to, also. I've already started a record with
my band. I want to finish it and go on tour. I have four other guys in
Jersey going, "Hey, what the ----?"
So work will instead continue on the group's new album, "Bounce," which is scheduled for release in the fall, the report said. (More on: Bon Jovi)
Posted by Jen on Thursday, April 4, 2002 @ 11:01 a.m.
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