Lena Horne zaps Janet; Jackson barred from biopic
By Michael Fleming, Josepf Adalian
Variety.com | February 23, 2004

In the latest ripple caused by Janet Jackson's Super Bowl exposure, the singer has abruptly withdrawn from an ABC biopic about Lena Horne -- putting the project in limbo.

Storyline Entertainment partners Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have ankled as exec producers in solidarity with Jackson, who was due to play Horne.

A spokeswoman for Jackson said she was effectively dis-invited from the movie by Horne and her daughter Gail Lumet Buckley, who were incensed when Jackson flashed during the halftime show. Horne refused to return her contract for the pic until ABC guaranteed that Jackson was off the project, which is being produced by Storyline and Sony Pictures Television. ABC execs refused Horne's demand, but the issue has become moot with the reaction of Jackson, Zadan and Meron.

Alphabet insiders said the project is now up in the air; barring another superstar casting, however, it's unlikely to move forward.

"It's sad this had to happen. It was a perfect match," one ABC insider said.

The Super Bowl stunt has had far reaching implications. The FCC is investigating, and broadcasters have in turn tightened the screws to eliminate the chance of another unscripted surprise that could shock and offend mass audiences.

Stormy weather was rumored to be brewing over the ABC biopic early last week, as word surfaced that Horne's displeasure hadn't abated. At the time, it was hoped that the singers would meet and that the duet would end harmoniously. But Horne refused to meet with Jackson.

Jackson looked at the movie as a prestigious way to jumpstart her acting career, which has included roles in 1970s sitcom "Good Times" and John Singleton's "Poetic Justice." She was recently photographed as Horne in a glamorous Vanity Fair layout.

Zadan and Meron left the project right after Jackson, and a spokeswoman for the producers said they would concentrate on finding another project to do with the singer.

It's not surprising they stuck by Jackson. While ABC already had optioned a Horne bio, it wasn't until Jackson approached the producers that the project became a film on the fast track.

Jackson signed to play the elegant singer who broke racial barriers, and she also planned to re-record some of Horne's classic songs.

"She is someone I've admired my whole life," Jackson said of Horne when the project was greenlit last fall.

Roy Campanella Jr. was set to direct Shirley Pierce's script based on "Lena," the autobiography the singer wrote with Richard Schickel.

johnlegend.com | February 4, 2004

...But you can't talk about the Super Bowl without talking about Ms. Jackson. I'm not going to focus on her breast like the rest of y'all. I'm about the music. Since everyone's paying attention to her, it should bode well for her next single "Have Your Way With Me" which is gonna drop next week. We're just wrapping up the production now. It's produced by Kanye West and co-written by Kanye, Harold Lilly and yours truly. I played some piano on there too. It's a sweet, soulful song. I think it'll be a smash. Look out for that soon.

CBS Statement Regarding Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake's Participation in 'The 46th Annual Grammy Awards'
Sunday February 8, 10:17 pm ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout the week, CBS and The Recording Academy have been evaluating and deliberating the appropriateness of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake appearing at "The 46th Annual Grammy Awards." CBS had serious reservations about their scheduled appearances; however, we respected the Recording Academy's wishes to produce the program they originally intended. Ms. Jackson and Mr. Timberlake were invited to participate in the show as long as they agreed to apologize on the air for what happened during our Network's broadcast of the "Super Bowl Halftime Show." Ms. Jackson declined the invitation. Mr. Timberlake accepted.

"Just A Little While"
Producer(s): Dallas Austin
Writer(s): J. Jackson, D. Austin
Publisher(s): Black Ice Publishing/Cyptron Music/EMI Blackwood Music, BMI
Label/Catalog Number: Virgin 7243-5-48435-5-6 (CD promo)
Source: Billboard Magazine
Originally Reviewed: February 14, 2004

Janet Jackson knows how to make a great single. Her latest, "Just a Little While," is another immediate radio hit. The track was leaked to the Internet at the end of January, and while Virgin maintains it did not choose it as the lead single (from the artist's new album), there isn't any reason why "Just a Little While" won't be a smash. The song is supported by guitars reminiscent of "Dirty Mind"-era Prince, new wave synths and the kind of swirling musicality that could garner it multiformat success. In signature fashion, Jackson crafts lyrics that are innocent on the surface yet naughty upon closer inspection. Yes, Miss Jackson is talking about sex, plain and simple. This is the first preview of the artist's eighth studio album, "Damita Jo," due March 30. -KC