From 93X in Minneapolis, Minnesota (January 25, 2002)

(Where does she find the energy for all her creative projects?)

• "I'm not always upbeat. I do have a dark side! But, I'm fueled by a passion to contribute something positive to the world. This is a lofty goal that requires my full attention."

(What's next for Deborah?)

• "I always have irons on the fire. I love to write so I am constantly brainstorming project ideas... mainly for the stage and some for T.V. Also, I've been promoting my M.Y.O.B. album all year. Has it charted yet? (Ha!)"

(Interviewer heard Deborah is married. Is she?)

• "Never been married! Where'd ya hear that? Are you confusing me with Tiffany who's happily married with a 9 year old son? Aren't I still a teenager?!? (ha,ha) I'm not ready!"

(What does Deborah do to relieve stress?)

• "I do yoga, I'm a movie fanatic, I read and write, and my pets (2 dogs and a cat) keep me grounded! Oh... and I bowl!"

(Is Deborah really down-to-earth?)

• "I'm sorry... I was too busy polishing my platinum records... can you repeat the question? Tee hee hee! Of course it's most important to be kind, compassionate and down to earth... everything else is fleeting, so I try!"

(What does Deborah think about Britney Spears?)

• "A lot of things. Hard working, talented, and – a walking contradiction. The 'virgin thing' in relation to the 'watch me work my body thing' confuses me."

(Does Deborah think Britney's breasts are fake?)

• "No comment. Who knows? Who cares? Oh... millions of people. Not me. Mine are real though... in case you wondered."

(How many times has Deborah been asked to pose for Playboy?)

• "3X. Different $ at different times. Came close to doing it once but, I couldn't use Matthew Rolston to photograph, so I passed."

(What's the wildest thing a fan has ever done?)

• "Let's just say people have gone to great lengths. But, the wackiest? An escaped mental patient swam miles, walked miles, then jumped over the front gate of my home... NAKED!"

(What kind of things does Deborah look for in a guy?)

• "A high tolerance for my schizophrenia which leads me to... sense of humor. Very important to be quick witted. Sounds corny but... kindness. No phonies or hipsters please! Also, he needs to love music... not necessarily be musical, but understand music is key."

(What turns off Deborah?)

• "Posers... keep it real please. Also, lack of spontaneity."

(Has Deborah ever had women hit on her?)

• "Some. I'm in the theater so I meet many homosexuals and I am not freaked out by it so, I think lesbians like that openness. I do prefer men though."

(What would Deborah's fantasy be?)

• "No. Anything you could imagine would be far more interesting than what I have in mind. I'm pretty basic... and private!"

From Katrillion.com (April, 2002)

(about Tiffany posing for Playboy)

• "It is sad that it took something like this to get booked on many shows. This is not a commentary on her, but on our society's insatiable appetite for scandal."

From a chat on America On-Line (May 7, 2002)

(about Deborah's reactions to "That '80's Show" airing that night)

• "I am thrilled that the show is airing tonight. I actually have a house full of people tonight who are joining us. For as long as I have been in showbiz, I still get excited anytime something airs. And I would like to welcome you all to the chat."

(Deborah explains the guest character she plays on "That '80's Show")

• "I play an obnoxiously perky show tunes fan, who is the first customer in Margaret's record store to ever challenge her when asked to leave."

(what was it like to get dressed up for the part on "That '80's Show")

• "It was kind of bizarre, because my hairstyle and outfits look very much like I did in the very beginning of my career, with the pretty dresses and even a hat."

(how has the music scene changed from the '80's to now?)

• "I think that the biggest change I've seen has not been in the music, but has been in image, especially amongst the teen girl singers. It seems as if there is a lot more of a need to dress more provocatively."

(will any more songs be released to DGIF members only?)

• "I definitely would like to make more songs exclusively to fan club members, because I feel as if I can be creatively free with my diehard fans."

(are there any plans for touring in the near future?)

• "I would love to tour, but there are no definite plans as of yet."

(what are Deborah's favorite and least favorite things about the entertainment industry?)

• "My favorite thing is being to be able to connect with people through creativity. My least favorite is the politics."

(which of Deborah's old-school hits is her favorite?)

• "Probably 'Only in My Dreams' and 'Lost in Your Eyes.' I am able to rework the arrangements every time I perform them to keep them fresh."

(what is the status of "Teen Queens"?)

• "I am not sure when it is coming out, because it is on hold. If the option runs out with VH1, I have interest from other producers. It is tentatively titled 'Teen Queen.'"

(would "Teen Queens" be true-to-life regarding Deborah and Tiffany?)

• "It definitely is about the way rivalries are created by the media. It reflects the fabricated rivalry between Tiffany and I, yes."

(what are Deborah's plans for the future?)

• "There are more theater plans for the end of the year, and doing a sitcom is a dream of mine."

(Deborah talks about her first summer love)

• "Oh, my goodness! The one that stands out in my mind the most was a lifeguard at the public pool that I went to growing up on Long Island. This guy surprised me with tickets to see Paul Young in concert. He was one of my favorites at the time."

(does Deborah sometimes wish she were still a "pop princess"?)

• "In some ways yes, and other ways no. I am glad to have a somewhat sane life, although I would absolutely love to have more hit records."

(how has Deborah's life changed, for better or worse, since her fame in the '80's?)

• "For the better. I've been able to spend more time with family and friends, which is something that you can't do when your whole life is about traveling. But, of course, I do love performing in front of large groups of people, which is the part I am anxious to get back to."

(what was it like working with the cast of "That '80's Show"?)

• "They were so down-to-earth, incredibly talented and generally fun to be around. LOL. Morgan Fairchild, who was also a guest star on this episode, is also a lovely and super-professional lady."

(what was Deborah going to do for her mother on Mother's Day?)

• "My family will all be together at my mom and stepdad's house, and it will be a casual day in the back yard, LOL, which is what makes my mom happiest."

(was it weird "going back to the '80's"? Any off flashback-type moments while on the set?)

• "Just being surrounded by albums instead of CDs was kind of odd but refreshing. And seeing the character of Tuesday with her punky hair reminded me of the girls I was scared of in high school."

(what is the most interesting thing a fan has done for Deborah?)

• "One thing is some fans got me an autographed CD of Michael W. Smith's, because they knew I was a fan, and they gave him a signed one from me in return, which I thought was very clever. But the oddest/scariest thing was when a fan paid my home a visit in the buff. LOL."

(would Deborah ever want to be on a celebrity edition of "Survivor" or "Fear Factor"?)

• "No. No. I think surviving the music business is enough for me. I could never eat the bugs. Couldn't do it, couldn't do it."

(would Deborah dye her hair blond again?)

• "It's funny you should ask, because my hair is like a honey-colored dirty blonde at the moment. I actually dye my hair different color whenever I am bored."

(how has Deborah's life changed since September 11?)

• "I think it's made everyone a little more patient, a little friendlier and a little bit more compassionate."

(who does Deborah think is the cutest boy band out right now?)

• "LOL. The cutest boy band as a whole, or the cutest member? LOL. Because each band has their cuties. I am just going to go with the cutest member. I think that JC from *NSYNC is the cutest member, tied with Howie D. from Backstreet Boys."

(who are some of Deborah's musical inspirations?)

• "I'm inspired by musical-theater music, by great singer/songwriters like Billy Joel and Elton John, and also current pop music."

(what does Deborah think of today's pop princesses (Britney, Christina, Mandy)?)

• "I think that they each have their strong points, as far as their talent is concerned, but my favorite of the three is definitely Mandy. She is a natural performer and just a class act."

(if Deborah had the chance, would she fight Tiffany in a celebrity boxing match?)

• "No. Absolutely not! As Michael Jackson once said, "I'm a lover, not a fighter." ROFL!"

(is Deborah planning to release an album in the future or going on tour?)

• "I definitely will release a new album. I am actually demoing new music currently. And I am counting on all of you to make the next one a hit, so I can do another major tour."

From USA Weekend (May 10-12, 2002)

(about when her pop career faded)

• "People rebelled against the genre. Nirvana replaced New Kids On The Block. Grunge came in. Perfected pop production was out."

(why Deborah has turned down "Playboy")

• "Instant attention isn't that important."

From The Eagle Tribune (October 24, 2002)

(about playing Velma Kelly in "Chicago")

• "I'm not a criminal, I just played one on stage."

(about putting theater on hold for her pop career)

• "It was a heartbreak to put theater on hold. It was always my intention to return to theater in an even bigger way."

(about having the opportunity to dispel her clean-cut image by playing Velma)

• "I have got a cynical side and a jaded side, that I don't like to bring out in my daily life. It's great to be able to draw on that for this character. I feel like I have this trick up my sleeve that I haven't shared with people yet and this will allow me that opportunity."

(about the song "Razzle Dazzle" from "Chicago" and how it applies to her)

• "It's about blinding the audience with an image and kind of manipulating people's perceptions of you. Coming from the pop world I can kind of watch 'Extra' and 'Entertainment Tonight' and really identify who is giving people the razzle-dazzleand who is giving people the real deal. I can identify with the number a lot, even though it's not mine."

(about working in theater)

• "It provided me with a stability that pop music doesn't allow you to have. Although I like to be at the head of a project, sometimes it's nice to be part of a group, part of a cast. It keeps me from being a victim of the music business roller coaster."

(theater isn't necessarily any easier than the music business)

• "I feel like the theater audiences are tougher than the pop audiences, but for the right reasons. People are paying a lot of money for a ticket and they want quality work."

(about fans flying in from other countries to see her in theater)

• "I have people that fly in to see things which never ceases to amaze me."

(about being an opening act for *NSYNC's tour)

• "A lot of kids thought I was a big teenager."

(about wanting to have pop success again)

• "Absolutely I would like to have that again. Kids are out there and they don't know the difference between the artist who is 20 and the artist who is 30. They are out there and I would love to tap into that again. There is kind of no age limit on it these days it seems."

(about working on a new album and trying to secure major label distribution)

• "It's so much about the politics and having the big machine behind you, unfortunately. I am not one of those people who says 'If it happens, it happens.' I enjoy getting my music out to the masses. When you write your own music, it's too meaningful to have it be heard by too (few) of the people you would like it to be heard by."

(about working on her musical, "Skirts")

• "My writing style is very suited for the theater. I write very theatrical melodies anyway in my pop music. Every time I read a book I am always thinking of a way to turn it into a musical."

From The Lowell Sun (October 24, 2002)

(about playing Velma Kelly in "Chicago")

• "I've wanted to play Velma all my adult career. It's a dream come true for me."

(differences between pop and theater)

• "I love the pop world and writing my own music. But pop is politics and image. Pop music is not as pure as theater, and I love that purity. It's a real world."

(about working with Betty Buckley)

• "Betty is a force of nature and can be difficult, but she knows how to get things done. She's always on edge, pushing herself. She knew what she was doing with me creating a real mother-daughter relationship."

(about taking one of Betty Buckley's acting classes)

• "Her class is so candid, to a fault. She psychoanalyzes you. She called me a pop world people pleaser and tried to get that out of my acting. I have the ultimate respect for her talent."

(how Deborah got the role in "Chicago," while doing a work session with Barry Ivan)

• "I'd been to see friends in various performances and it came up in conversation while working with him that I wanted to do Chicago. Barry saw the jaded, cynical side in me and cast me. He's pushing my buttons and nurturing me. He is a great communicator, and knows what he wants. He has a vision for the show and is great at verbalizing that."

(about doing the production "in the round")

• "There is nowhere to hide and this show is all about the characters and creating a mood."

(about writing music and working on "Skirts")

• "Musical theater will always be the thread running through my career. My goal is to be creative and I see my 30s as a time to be at the helm of projects."

From The Boston Globe (October 25, 2002)

(dispelling rumors about a rivalry with Tiffany and why she hasn't "fallen apart")

• "Totally incorrect. People want to hear the story that depicts the former idol in her bedroom saying, 'Woe is me, what happened to my success?' I never had the woe-is-me moment. I never had the time. I always joked that I haven't had my VH1 'Behind the Music' because they wouldn't have anything to talk about."

(about going into theater in the 90's)

• "I did 'Les Miserables' when I was 21, and we were getting praise from business people around us saying what a great career move it was. But it wasn't a business move, it was something I really wanted to do."

(about being better suited for theater than pop)

• "It was always wasted in the pop world. It was cooler if you weren't prepared, or showed up late. But that's not me."

(about wanting to do television appearances)

• "There's a lot of artists out there like Joey McIntyre, waiting for a David E. Kelley to come along, giving permission for people to like them again. People need this outside validation. Look at Paula Abdul. When the network gets behind you, fans get off the fence."

(about how her career has gone)

• "I fee like I've been through the worst of it. I've been to the top of the charts, and I've been to the bottom of the charts. I've done Broadway, and I've done national tours, which are sometimes not so glamorous. I've been the butt of jokes, and I've had great reviews from the critics who were surprised that I can act and sing. I laugh at it all at this point. The perception doesn't matter to me. As long as I'm performing, I'm happy."

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