Around the block and back
Joey McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight and Danny Wood. Is it just me or does Jordan look like the love child of Jon Cryer and Matthew Broderick? [AP photo]
There are many things I've feared hearing in my life, but "New Kids on the Block have reunited" is right up there with "You're allergic to whiskey" and "Sean Daly and you are partners on 'Dancing with the Stars' next season."
But here they are again, and The Not So New But Still Annoying Kids are causing problems already. Rollingstone.com reports that NKOTB's appearance on the Today show this morning caused a near stampede of thirysomething-year-old women (dressed as teens for some reason). Shrieks of "Still hot!" and "We love you, Donnie!" echoed through Manhattan. (Sounds of vomiting by males covering the event also were probably audible.)
The group formally announced that a new album is set for release during the summer, to be followed by a fall tour. Let's just hope they meet the same indifferent fate as last year's Spice Girls reunion.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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I loved NKOTB when I was a teen. Even went to see their concert wearing Skidz clothes and arriving in a limo (with a few friends so our parents wouldn't worry). And Donnie was my favorite. Only Donnie wasn't at the concert I went do because he hurt himself the concert before. Not that I was bitter or anything. Or that I'm still bitter ...
The point is, they were never that great to begin with. They danced. And they said recently that they'll be dancing again. Seriously, all I'll do is laugh if I see them do the Hangin' Tough dance again. They're too old. And from the song samples I've heard so far, they're dated. I'm sorry to say it.
Posted by: Lisa | April 10, 2008 at 01:59 AM
I loved NKOTB when I was a teen. Even went to see their concert wearing Skidz clothes and arriving in a limo (with a few friends so our parents wouldn't worry). And Donnie was my favorite. Only Donnie wasn't at the concert I went do because he hurt himself the concert before. Not that I was bitter or anything. Or that I'm still bitter ...
The point is, they were never that great to begin with. They danced. And they said recently that they'll be dancing again. Seriously, all I'll do is laugh if I see them do the Hangin' Tough dance again. They're too old. And from the song samples I've heard so far, they're dated. I'm sorry to say it.
Posted by: Lisa | April 10, 2008 at 01:58 AM
When VH1 tried to reunite them a few years ago, a few of them refused. Wonder what changed? Probably the fact that they will only have to get along long enough to perform a couple shows and collect a massive paycheck. Let's just hope the NKOTB doesn't bring back the bedsheets, lunch boxes, dolls, etc. that they had back in the day.
Posted by: | April 07, 2008 at 09:06 PM
i have to say i was wondering the same thing about Donnie. unlike the rest of them, he actually has a decent career going on; i can't see why he would put a blemish on his acting career. i was just watching "The 6th Sense" for the upteenth time the other day and thinking what a great actor he really is and that i hope he starts to get bigger roles and then this....
Posted by: melissa | April 07, 2008 at 03:20 PM
The time they spent as 'new kids' was probably the best time of their lives. I am not surprised by the reunion. Who wouldn't want to relive the best time of their life?
Posted by: KD | April 07, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Oh...come on guys...
Let us NKOTB fans have some fun. It was one of my only obsessions with a band and it was short-lived - just like Donnie's series Boomtown. I loved that show. Why did they take it off the air!
My other great but short-lived obsession was Bros. I would kiss their posters every night but my mean dad wouldn't take me to the concert when they came to Australia (I was 13). Ironically, I ended up working in London with the Goss twins' step-mother (My husband worked with their dad who was a copper) and although I was 22 I asked her to tell Luke that I used to be in love with him. How freaky is that!
Posted by: Emily | April 06, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Argh! That comment up there was me.
Posted by: Marissa | April 05, 2008 at 08:43 AM
"Hot" as in a burning sensation from injesting too many jalepenos and causing killer acid reflux?
Posted by: | April 05, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Donnie was my heart throb when I was 14 in 1990. I was so in love with him. I am sad to say I am one of those excited women in their EARLY thirties, though I wouldn't scream or line up to see them.
They look really hot...God, I can't believe I am typing this!
Posted by: Emily | April 05, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Yeah, I'm bitter. I blame acts like New Kids for killing everything I loved about the '80s. They put looks and choreography above the music. It's a trend that would pretty much infect the music business like an STD for the next 28 years.
Truth be told, Madonna had her role in this plague too. She stopped being a musician and became a "dancer/performer."
Anytime there are more dancers on stage than musicians, something is seriously wrong.
I really out to disavow the New Kids. They really were a 90s thing anyway.
Posted by: Spears | April 05, 2008 at 05:59 AM
Aww you all sound so bitter. I personally am psyched about this reunion. NKOTB was my second grade love.
And I must say the boys are all looking mighty fine. Aside from Danny, but he was always the fug one. My favs were Joe and Jordan. (I had a Jordan doll!!!!!)
Posted by: | April 05, 2008 at 01:57 AM
Sorry, I had a brain burp. For some reason I thought this was Sean's Pop Life blog. I apologize Steve. And I still couldn't agree with you more.
Posted by: Bassnote | April 04, 2008 at 11:46 PM
"Let's just hope they meet the same indifferent fate as last year's Spice Girls reunion."
I couldn't agree with you more Sean. Enjoy the Blasters tune!
Posted by: Bassnote | April 04, 2008 at 11:43 PM
In 1988, I was working on the third floor of an older office building in Winston-Salem, N.C., right across from a Hilton or Hyatt or some such.
It was late, around 11 or so, when the co-workers spotted something odd on the street below (it was Winston-Salem on a Friday night, so people on the street at 11 pm was odd).
A bus had pulled up and just sat. A crowd, figuring the post-concert timing from the Coliseum was about right, thought it was "The Kids" and squealed and squealed and surrounded the bus.
Actually, the kids were long gone in a private jet to their next town, but this poor bus of birdwatchers or antiquers or something sat completely engulfed in a sea of 17 year old girls for about 20 minutes.
Classic.
Posted by: Eric62 | April 04, 2008 at 05:38 PM
my thoughts exactly, Clark... this totally seems like a career step backwards for 'ole donnie.
I'm completely meh about this reunion as I was well into my twenties when NKOTB were at their zenith and not really in their target demographic... not even the interest of my inner mrs Robinson is piqued by these guys.
Posted by: jane | April 04, 2008 at 05:10 PM
mo money mo money mo money
that's got to be the only reason! there has been pressure for a few years for them all to get back together and they all finally fell to the pressure.
well I loved them back then, saw them twice in concert (yes I am embarassed about the second concert, but the first one was great fun) but I don't think I'll be running out to see them this time around.
Posted by: specialkness | April 04, 2008 at 05:01 PM
I gotta wonder why Donnie Wahlberg would do this, after all the time and effort it took to establish credibility as an actor?
Posted by: Clark | April 04, 2008 at 04:17 PM