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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

JT, ’N Sync reunite at MTV awards fest

Timberlake
From Wire Reports

Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards belonged to Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake briefly reunited with ’N Sync, won moonman trophies including top honor video of the year for “Mirrors” plus the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and managed to overshadow most of today’s top pop stars while doing it.

“I don’t deserve the award, but I’m not going to give it back,” Timberlake said. “I’m taking this home.”

Dressed in a black suit and black hat with a red feather, he powered through a breathless series of solo hits before the other four members of ’N Sync – JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass – joined him on stage, opening with “Bye Bye Bye.”

“Half of the moonmen I’ve ever won, I won with those four guys right there,” Timberlake said pointing at his former bandmates while holding the Vanguard trophy. “So above all else, I’m going to share this – we can keep it my house – but I’m going to share this award with them.”

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were the night’s other top winners, taking home trophies for best hip-hop video and best cinematography for “Can’t Hold Us” and best video with a social message for “Same Love.” They performed that song with Mary Lambert and Jennifer Hudson in a show-stopping moment.

First lady, daughters visit Broadway

Michelle Obama and her daughters caught Broadway’s “The Trip to Bountiful” after spending part of the day watching tennis at the U.S. Open.

The first lady and her girls slipped into their seats at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre just as the first act was starting Saturday night and received a huge ovation when they took their seats for the second act.

The trio went backstage after the show and met the crew and cast, including Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. Tyson stars in the Horton Foote revival as a widow who wants to revisit her old home in Bountiful and recapture the vitality and purpose she seemed to lose when she left for the big city decades ago.

The first lady was in New York to promote her “Let’s Move” campaign during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the U.S. Open.

The Obamas have been big boosters of Broadway. The first lady and Sasha and Malia have attended performances of “Memphis,” “Sister Act” and “The Addams Family.” And the first couple saw “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” during a date night in 2009. Michelle Obama and six girlfriends also saw “Fela!” in 2010.

The birthday bunch

Singer Bob Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 64. Singer Shirley Manson (Garbage) is 47. Actress Melissa McCarthy (“Mike and Molly”) is 43. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 33. Singer Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line) is 28. Actress Keke Palmer (“Akeelah and the Bee”) is 20.