Justin Timberlake has hired a top barbecue chef to help him combat the mixed reviews his New York restaurant has received in its first nine months.
Cook Ray ‘Dr. BBQ’ Lampe has been brought in to revamp the menu at Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality, after some restaurant critics were left less than impressed.
One writer at website NYMag.com even described the food there as “awful”. And Lampe is determined to start with the diner’s ribs and work his way up: “We want them to be competition-style (ribs), where when you take a bite the meat comes off easy, but doesn’t just slide off the bone. I don’t think the guys that were in charge before really got that.”
Timberlake and his best friends Eytan Sugarman and Trace Ayala launched Southern Hospitality in July 2007.
No matter: He’s been tapped to host ESPN’s 16th annual ESPYs from L.A.’s new Nokia Theatre on July 20, the cable network has announced.
“I can’t wait for the day of the show as I’m truly a sports junkie,” Timberlake, 27, said in a statement. “Since the last ESPYs, there have been amazing moments in sports, and I’m looking forward to recapping all of them with ESPN’s diehard fans.”
Recognizing major sports achievements, the ESPYs are determined by fans who vote online. Past hosts include Jimmy Kimmel and LeBron James (in 2007), Lance Armstrong (2006) and Friends star Matthew Perry.
Justin Timberlake doesn’t just bring “SexyBack.” The 27-year-old singer also knows how to give back – in a big way.
On Thursday, the Memphis native gave two separate donations of $100,000 to the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation.
“Music education and keeping the legacy of Memphis Music alive has always been important to me,” says Timberlake, who is in his hometown filming the indie flick, The Open Road. “That is why I will always continue to support my home town the same way they have always supported me.”
The organizations will use Timberlake’s contributions to advance music education for local students and further achieve its mission of “telling the story of Memphis Music and perpetuating its legacy.”
“Justin Timberlake has never deserted Memphis, Tennessee,” Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Executive Director John Doyle said. “He has never stopped giving back to the community, to the local music industry, and to young people.”
Justin Timberlake was in a comedic mood last night in NYC as he inducted Madonna into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He recalled how she once ordered him to drop his pants to give him a vitamin B12 shot while collaborating on her new album Hard Candy.
“She gave me a shot in my a– and looks at me and says, ‘Nice top shelf,’” he told the audience. “That was one of the greatest days of my life.”
Timberlake also took a jab at his ex, Britney Spears, while inducting the Material Mom.
“She has still found time to kiss someone I may or may not have publicly kissed myself while I was in the audience,” Timberlake said of Madonna. “Of course, you know I was talking about Sean Penn.”
Timberlake punctuated his remarks with, “The world has always been full of Madonna wannabes, and I might have even dated a couple.”
Look at those arms!!
2 more pics – plus VIDEO of Justin & Madonna after the jump!(more…)
Justin Timberlake has landed a new gig: He will produce an American version of the hit Peruvian comedy My Problem With Women for NBC.
The series “follows the adventures of Jose, a thirty-something bachelor who begins seeing a therapist in an attempt to understand why all of his romantic relationships fail,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Justin Timberlake is more than living up to his moniker “Trousersnake” with a role as a well-hung wannabe 70s porn star in a new comedy.
The pop singer sports a dodgy ‘tache, big hair, tiny speedos and little else as Jacques Grande in The Love Guru.
Grande is a professional skater and aspiring porno actor who has stolen away the wife of a rival hockey player whose career has subsequently gone on the skids.
Austin Powers star Mike Myers plays an Indian guru who makes people fall in love and he attempts to break into the US self-help market by resolving this “triangle of lurve”.
Jessica Alba, Ben Kingsley and Jessica Simpson also star in this ridiculous comedy along with Verne Troyer, who played Mini Me in the Austin Powers series.
