The chatter was anything but idle backstage at the 2002 Teen Choice Awards, with several stars of film, TV, music and sports popping backstage to sound off on their wins, the evening’s performances and their teen fans.
‘Love’ songs
Before the show Jennifer Love Hewitt seemed a little jittery about making her big public singing debut with the Meredith Brooks-produced tune “Barenaked,” but the actress was decidedly giddy backstage after her performance, which seemed to go over with the young fans in the audience.
“I didn’t actually get over the nerves–I didn’t have time,” she admitted. “All of a sudden I saw this little girl in the front and she was singing along every word to my song. It’s a song that I’ve written and it means a lot to me, so I thought, wow, if she can be a teenager and deal with that every day, then the least I can do is get my song done and have a good time.”
Hewitt admitted that she wasn’t quite as in touch with the reactions of the major pop stars–Britney Spears, ‘N Sync, Eve and Usher among them–in the audience. “I wouldn’t look at any of the celebrities, because I wouldn’t know whether to pee or sing when I saw them…I just pretended that they were not here and sang to the kids.”
The actress, clad in a very rock star-ish black bustier, leather pants and a scarf, then surprised the journalists by launch into an impromptu rendition of Terence Trent D’Arby‘s “Who’s Loving You.”
Still, she’s not quite ready to quit her day job–yet. “I really like doing both, but I have to say that what I just did was possibly the best thing that I’ve ever felt in my whole life!”
Choice Breakout Music Artist award winner Ashanti gave Love kudos for her performance (“I think it was hot, I liked the song a lot…she’s doing something to show she has a lot of versatility”) but balked at a backstage demonstration of her own vocal prowess. “Sing a song? I gotta get paid!…Where’s the money at?” Nevertheless, she did warble a lyric or two from one of her hits.
Mac attack
Bernie Mac, whose eponymous Fox sitcom took home the Choice TV Breakout Show, revealed what he plans to do with the TCA’s distinctive surfboard-shaped awards. “The surfboards go to the kids [on the show], and probably my nieces and nephews are going to take [mine] from me!” he said. “It ain’t about me. I’m a grown man; I’ve had my due. When I see these kids come in, you’ve gotta boost their confidence, show them they can do something…And when this is over, they can go on and do their own thing. They can surf all the highways, you know what I mean?”
The comedian will hit the highway himself once he’s sure his popular series is on solid ground in its upcoming second season. “I’m going back on tour [but] I don’t think I’ll be going this year, because I want to kick the show off,” he said.
Mac also didn’t rule out a future Kings of Comedy reunion tour (“What happens down the road, I don’t know”) and took a good-natured swipe at fellow comedy King Steve Harvey when asked if he would invite Harvey to guest on his series. “He didn’t bring me on his, he ain’t gonna show on mine,” Mac deadpanned. “Write that s— down.”
Good sports
In keeping with the event’s beachy theme, Olympic ice skater and Choice Female Athlete award winner Michelle Kwan traded her frilly skirts for a teeny bikini and wrap skirt, but admitted she may have taken the sun-and-fun concept a bit further than the other attendees. “No one else was wearing beachwear, and I was in the car saying, ‘I’m not getting out…I’m wearing a bathing suit,'” she said.
Kwan said she was enjoying meeting the artists who are mainstays on her CD player. “I just saw Usher [whom] I was listening to before I competed, so I had to give him a hug,” she said. The skater also suggested that she might be willing to give acting a go someday. “There’s so many options–why not? Why not try it?” But knowing that Hollywood can be slipperier than any skating rink, she plans to proceed with caution. “You have to choose wisely. You don’t want to make a fool out of yourself.”
Los Angeles Laker point guard Kobe Bryant, who took home the Choice Male Athlete award, admitted he was feeling his age–a ripe old almost-24–at the TCAs.”I’m way over the hill when it comes to teens,” he said. “Man, I’m so out, it’s ridiculous. I look around and you’ve got people like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, all these people who are like 19, 20 years old, and I’m an old-headed [guy].”
Bryant also poked fun at his own image in his early days of superstardom. “Did you see me when I first came here?” he said, laughing. “When you’re a teenager you go through your periods of insecurity…that period in your life when you don’t know which direction you want to take. You still have to figure out which path in life you want to go down. I went through the same thing…Every time I felt insecurity, I stepped onto a basketball court.”
It’s a small world
After Smallville star Tom Welling was named the male Choice Breakout TV Star award, his co-stars (and TCA presenters) Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Allison Mack and Sam Jones III revealed that life isn’t always so serious on the set. “We’re always goofing around and having fun together,” said Rosenbaum. “Tom and I, when we’re working together, he’s like, ‘Do your Christopher Walken while I’m in my close-up,’ and the director’s like, ‘Please don’t do that!'”
The 2002 Teen Choice Awards will air Monday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX
