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Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Maumee, OH
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|  *NEW* Britney Flashback - Entertainmenteen Magazine (November '00) | |
Hi guys! I was sorting out all of my Britney stuff last night, including old magazine interviews and articles. Well, I happened to find this great interview from November 2000, in Entertainmenteen Magazine, a tell all from Chuck Yerger, who was a star tutor to Britney, JC, Justin, Lance, Christina, Tony Lucca, Nikki DeLoach, and Ryan Gosling. This is a very cool article, I hope you guys enjoy it.
*NSYNC, Britney, Christina, Tony, Keri
Their Mouseke-tutor Tells All
When *NSYNC’s Lance Bass was in the hot seat opposite Regis Philbin on ABC’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire last May, he got stuck on the $125,000 question. Playing as a celebrity contestant for charity, he knew he was in trouble.
Asked to name the airfield Charles Lindbergh took off from in his historic nonstop solo flight from New York to Paris, Lance needed expert help. Using the phone-a-friend “lifeline,” he called former *NSYNC high school tutor, Chuck Yerger.
With 20 years of experience in public schools, and about 10 at Disney Studios, Nickelodeon and other production companies where he taught English, Social Studies, Government, etc., to showbiz kids, Mr. Yerger was the perfect choice. Still, being Lance’s “lifeline” on network TV spelled p-r-e-s-s-u-r-e. “It was the most terrifying 30 seconds of my life,” Mr. Yerger admits from his Orlando-area home. “I knew there was a chance Lance might need my help. But when the phone actually rang, the reality set in big time. I suddenly realized that I wasn’t just Lance Bass’ old high school teacher, I was his ‘expert’ tutor. And to top it off, the category question was about history, one of my specialties, a subject I taught him.”
Mr. Yerger, as his famous former students respectfully call him, is much more than your average teacher. During the ‘90’s he tutored many young performers who’ve become today’s hottest superstars. And they were crazy about him, because he helped them focus on their studies no matter where they were. “It didn’t matter if we were at a hotel, in a trailer, at the beach or backstage about to perform for a huge crowd, says ex-Mouseketeer and solo artist, Tony Lucca. “There was something special about the way Mr. Yerger presented the curriculum that silently demanded our attention until the last possible moment we were given to work with him. The way he dedicated his time and attention only made it fair that we return ours. He was our Mouseke-tutor.”
Besides Lance and Tony, the list of Mr. Yerger-tutored stars read like a Who’s Who of showbiz: Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Nikki DeLoach (Innosense), Ryan Gosling (Remember The Titans), Kenan & Kal, Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina…), Marc Worden and Rhona Bennett.
“Lance, Justin, and JC were all good students,” Mr. Yerger proudly says of his multi-talented former pupils who went on to form *NSYNC. “Overall, performing youngsters are like students anywhere. Some are better in English than math, some are better in math than science and so on. The big difference is that these kids were eager to learn, motivated by their families and friends and willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. And despite the age and grade-level differences, because they lived in the same area and did the same things, something quite magical happened – they bonded as real-life friends.
“That friendship evolved into a very special kind of star support system,” Mr. Yerger confides. “Today, even as their schedules sometimes keep them apart, you have this close-knit group of young celebrities who stay in touch through e-mail, telephone, and even by attending each other’s events – being there for one another on a constant basis. There’s also a competitive spirit between them,” he explains. “Success is the name of the game. But what’s also important to them is each other. Their lives and careers are connected because of the friendship that took root when they were kids and is now blossoming as they mature. Their fans are right to admire them because these young stars truly appreciate and care about other people.”
The stars’ bonds remain solid. Tony Lucca reveals, “I would say the older we get and the further away from the whole Mouseketeer experience, the more we’re able to understand the strength of our connection. Obviously, some of us had a bit more in common with each other than the relationships portrayed on the show. Most of it was age-related differences, keeping in mind that some of us were 18-19 during the last season, working side by side with 12-13 year olds. We were all peers to an extent, but didn’t always have much to share with each other. Keri, JC, the older kids, and I spent good times together. Britney, Justin, Ryan, Christina and the other younger cast mates were enjoying the beauty of early adolescence together. Now, of course, age does seem rather irrelevant, as it always tends to become the older we get.”
Mr. Yerger reminisces: “I taught Justin and JC through their entire time on the Mickey Mouse Club. My teaching Justin, however, went beyond MMC, because he was the youngest. Justin was in the 8th grade when we began. MMC ended around the time the boys were starting *NSYNC; Justin was in his sophomore year. In order for him to earn his diploma, I worked with him on weekends at his home in Orlando.”
But Justin’s appetite wasn’t just for education, says his tutor. “That kid loves cereal more than anyone I know. I would arrive at his house early in the morning, and he’d meet me at the dining room table. He’d take a huge bowl, the kind you use to make a cake, open a box of cereal, and just about empty it into the bowl, then pour in a full quart of milk. While I started the lessons, Justin would hold the bowl next to his mouth and wolf down the cereal in world-record-breaking time with a ladie-sized spoon!”
Justin also had a thirst for knowledge. “Justin was eager to learn,” Mr. Yerger explains. “He’s got real drive, is conscientious, and focused. And he’s blessed with parents who not only encourgaged his talent, but also taught him the rules for proper behavior – how to respect yourself by respecting others. Justin, and for that matter most of the kids, were polite to each other and their elders. They always called me Mr. Yerger and still do…All of the kids I was fortunate enough to tutor are great role models for their generation” Still, Mr. Yerger remembers an incident when Justin slipped – and mom was there to catch him.
“The kids’ courtesy extended to all adults. They called my wife, Ms. Sherry. One day, Sherry [whose family album photos of Justin and friends appear on these pages] was at Justin’s house with me. But when Justin accidentally addressed my wife as, ‘Sherry,’ his mother heard it and yelled aloud, ‘Justin!’, in a way only a mother can. Without his mother having to say another word, Justin quickly said, ‘I’m sorry, Ms. Sherry.”
JC Chasez became a Mouseketeer when he was in the 10th grade. “With his ever-active creative mind,” Mr. Yerger says, “JC devised his own unique way to organize his thoughts. JC built himself a little basketball-type wire net and set it up on a book shelf near his desk. When he needed to think, he would crumble up a piece of paper, push his chair back, and shoot the paper up towards the shelf, right into the basket. When I first noticed him tossing wads of paper, I said ‘Oh, come on, JC, quit playing around and do your schoolwork.’ Then he explained, ‘I’m not playing, Mr. Yerger, I’m thinking.’ And I knew it was his special way of saving and organizing his thoughts.
JC showed outstanding ability with accounting. In fact, he excelled in it so much, he actually helped me explain it to his classmates. While some of the other kids struggled, JC would take a look at a row of figures, and in a few moments figure out where a mistake had been made. His *NSYNC buddies are fortunate to have him in the band. Besides being a great talent, here’s a guy who can make sure the books are balanced.”
While teaching freshman through senior levels, Mr. Yerger was also tutoring young MMC-ers, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Mr. Yerger remembers the two young divas as exceptionally bright, down-to-earth kids. “Their curriculum was simpler than that of the older students, because they were in grades 6-8 when I taught them,” he recalls. “While the 9th-12th graders were doing algebra, geometry, trignometry, and British Literature, Britney and Christina were still learning spelling rules, basic geography, and arithmetic.” Mr. Yerger describes young Britney and Christina as, “Earnest young children. Both of those little girls were somewhat awed by it all,” he says. “The older Mouseketeers were their stars, their idols, and their heroes.”
Mr. Yerger adds, “They also were friends. Britney and Christina got ‘adopted’ by the bigger kids, taken under their wing, so to speak. As youngsters, they naturally looked up to the older kids and wanted to be like them. When Britney, Christina, and Justin came into MMC, the other kids had already been there a few years, Justin was bigger physically, but they all were innocent kids.”
Mr. Yerger admits he gets miffed when he hears criticism about Britney showing too much midriff for “image purposes” when she performs. “She’s not showing off her tummy for attention,” he explains. “That is Britney’s style, the way she has always dressed. I read in an interview where Britney said she [perspires] a lot, and wearing the shorter tops simply allows her to keep cooler. This is completely true,” he says matter-of-factly. “Pictures don’t lie. Britney dressed like that long before she concerned with image.”
When she was 11,” Mr. Yerger reveals, “Britney was cute, wholesome, the girl-next-door type. She was an exceptional dancer and singer, but then so were all the kids. Who could’ve imagined back then that our little Britney would become the star she is today. Very close to her wonderful mother, Britney has always been devoted to her family. She also treasured her friends and teachers back in Louisiana. When doing her schoolwork, Britney was concerned that she did it exactly the way her teachers back home would have wanted her to. I can best describe Britney as sweet, charming, smart, and superbly talented. Come to think of it, she hasn’t changed much, has she?”
Chuck remembers Christina as a “small, waif-like girl with long straight blonde hair. The producers wanted her hair to have a certain curl. So the first thing she had to do on production days was go out to the stylist to have her hair rolled up. She did a lot of her schoolwork with her hair in those pink rollers, which only came off a few moments before the cameras or an audience. But Christina’s voice was totally awesome even then. Here was this little thin kid, hair rollers being the biggest thing about her, belting out a song. When she sang, we looked at each other in amazement, wondering how she was able to project such a tremendous sound. When they heard that powerful voice coming from that little body, visitors wrongly assumed they were using electronics to enhance her overwhelming sound.”
With Disney and Nickelodeon located close together, the young stars from the two studios go to know one another. Mr. Yerger confides, “Britney met Melissa Joan Hart when Melissa was doing Charissa Explains It All, before she became Sabrina. Although there were a few years age difference between them, they eventually became best of friends. Melissa has appeared in Britney’s music videos, and Britney has been on Melissa’s show of course. This is an example of how these young superstars continue to help each other.”
“That friendship is a key ingredient of their successful careers,” Mr. Yerger insists. “Kids everywhere can profit in their own lives by following this fine example of loyalty, honesty, respect, and the spirited, good-natured competition between friends. They’re like one big, happy family. You hear how Britney is going to be doing a show with *NSYNC, how Nikki DeLoach’s friendship with JC and Justin led her to joining the all-girl group Innosense; how Ryan Gosling and Justin still hang out every chance they get. A solid education is very essential. Having true friends is a blessing. Combine those two factors and your chance for success increases greatly,” says Mr. Yerger.
Success certainly didn’t bypass student Lance Bass, either. “Lance Bass came to Florida from Mississippi in his last year of school to audition for *NSYNC…Lance’s school records were sent to him. Between band rehearsals, constant practice, and lots of hard work, I helped him finish up his term and graduate. That’s how I became his tutor and wound up as his Millionaire ‘lifeline,” explains Mr. Yerger. “Luckily, when he called, I knew the right answer – Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field. I was thrilled to help Lance win $125,000 for *NSYNC’s charity, Challenge For The Children.
“When I hear about all the good these kids are doing, I’m filled with pride. I couldn’t be happier if these were my very own kids,” says the superstar tutor.
Courtesy Of Entertainmenteen Magazine
Last edited by XtremelyBJS2004 : 08-19-2003 at 08:50 AM.
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