Get Ready For All-Britney, All The Time
November 8, 2003
Roger Catlin
Prepare to get really sick of Britney Spears.
Her new album, "In the Zone," won't be in stores for another 10 days, but she'll be spending most of the time until then on TV promoting it like Ron Popeil in a bustier.
Spears' media blitz is occasion for the first new episode of "Behind the Music" (VH1, Sunday, 10 p.m.) in a year. Spears hasn't quite had the arc of most subjects in the series (she has yet to hit "rock bottom"; the "drugs" that flash on screen as part of the opening montage highlighting "success," "fame" and "celebrity" hasn't been a big part of her story). So the promotions may have to play up the sexy dressing thing.
Because she agreed to sit down for an interview for the show, it sounds as if VH1 has fallen into promotional mode. One blurb calls the program "an unprecedented look at the Britney that is now fully a woman, with a new image, a new outlook and a new album that will change sonic perceptions about her forever."
Other people lined up to talk about her - from her sister, brother, mom, cousin, manager and record-company president to `N Sync's JC Chasez - don't exactly comprise an enemies' list.
Other chances to catch her this weekend include "All Eyes on Britney Spears" (MTV, noon and 7:30 p.m.), "Dateline NBC" (Sunday, 7 p.m.) and "The Fabulous Life" (VHI, Sunday, 1:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.).
Next week, she pops in on MTV's "Total Request Live" on Monday (where she is to return Nov. 18) and on its "Making the Video" Tuesday. She's got a "Primetime" interview with Diane Sawyer Thursday, the same night she appears on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
Following that, there's "Britney: In the Zone & Out All Night" Nov. 16 on MTV, a performance on the American Music Awards on ABC the same night and her own prime-time special, "Britney Spears: In the Zone," Nov. 17 on ABC, the same night she's on "The Tonight Show." A "Today" show concert performance is set for Nov. 21.
Spears didn't fly to Scotland for Thursday's "2003 MTV Europe Music Awards" (rerunning today on MTV2, 4 p.m.) because she was reportedly feeling sick. (Maybe of herself.)
