I have no idea where else to ask this, but since the event in question was indeed taped for television (don't know which network/cable station), it IS on topic here. I was on the express bus from the Bronx yesterday morning (Monday, Aug. 26, 2006) going down Fifth Ave. when we passed Central Park. There was a long line to get into the park. People were carrying foldable lawn chairs and things like that. It was raining. The line stretched from 110 St. down to 102 St. where it snaked into the park toward the North Meadow (or North Lawn, whatever the one at around 98 St. and Fifth Ave. is called). As we passed the North Meadow, there were dozens of production trucks and trailers parked on the street. On the meadow, they were setting up a large stage with towers for the lights, camera platforms, etc. I stuck my head out the window to ask who was performing, but the nearest person couldn't hear me. On the other side of the North Meadow, another long line was forming from the other direction.
Who was performing? And when? The line of attendees was about 99% white and between 80-90% female, with the majority ranging from late teens to 30s, but with a significant number of much older women (middle age and senior citizens). Who could draw such a crowd to sit in the rain for many hours and wait?
I figured it must be a country/western singer. Then I thought maybe it had something to do with "American Idol." Either way, there was nothing in any of the daily papers or the TV schedules. And no Google search turned up anything other than a Tai Chi demonstration scheduled at the North Meadow Recreation Center for around that time. (What happened to the people who showed up for THAT?) Nothing on the Parks Department or Central Park websites. I asked around at work and nobody knew of anything.
I thought it might have been a scene for a movie and they invited people to come and be in the audience for the filming, but I saw too many signs that said Ticket Entrance, meaning people had to have tickets for this. Although it's plausible that people recruited for an audience still needed tickets to show up.
Anyway, I'm stumped.
How do I find the answer?
Just thought I'd ask.
| QUOTE |
| Season four of "The Ellen DeGeneres" show is kicking off in the sexiest way possible -- with Justin Timberlake. The episode, which will tape August 28 and air September 4, will feature the Grammy winner performing his newest single, "Sexyback," at East Meadow in New York's Central Park. AOL will serve as sponsor of the special show. |
I realize it says East Meadow, but it would seem to fit the description you mention.
That's it. (So they call that patch of land East Meadow...maybe I knew that, maybe I didn't.) And one of the parked vehicles did indeed have AOL on it.
That's astounding, though. Who the hell knew that Justin Timberlake and/or Ellen DeGeneres could draw that many people (thousands!) to a wet piece of ground in Central Park on a weekday MORNING in the middle of the rain? Which of course begs the question of which one was the bigger draw, Justin or Ellen. I'm guessing Ellen, unless Justin's appeal inexplicably extends to the over-20 crowd, since there were few teenyboppers in attendance. (Hmmm, Justin's been around long enough that his hardcore fans are now all EX-teenyboppers.) As for the handful of nonwhites I saw on line, a few were Latino and a few were Asian, but I didn't notice one single black person. So much for Justin's crossover appeal. (Wasn't he trying to do a white rapper routine at one time?)
Thanks loads for that, but where did you find it?
You're welcome. I have the hyperlink above where it says "Is this it?"
As to how I eventually found it, I'm embarassed to say that I can't quite retrace my steps now. I know I stumbled upon Timberlake's name while searching Google and went from there, but how I got to his name is the puzzle now looking back. Being tanked up on cold medicine due to a bad cold has left it all a bit of a haze, I'm afraid. :lol:
I personally would lean towards people being more inclined to see Justin than Ellen, as he does trade off of that whole "American Idol"/reality show vibe (up to complaining about the latest winner of AI recently in an interview). To be honest, I'm just not sure how big of an audience Ellen has for her cable show, but maybe it's popular enough to draw that large of a group. Perhaps a combination of the two is what did it for the mix there. Then again, a free show is a free show, so that might have dragged some people out no matter who was there.
And, yeah, I too heard he was trying for a hip rapper-like vibe with his new album.
Anyway, glad to be of service.