Bartenders Jon Schott and Tyler Kent won the first two rounds of E!'s new mixology competition series Cocktail Wars during its premiere on Aug. 18. Cohosts Joey Fatone and Lance Bass joined mixology expert Melissa Brooke and celebrity guest judges Justin Sylvester and Melissa Gorga to evaluate the competing drinks.
Schott, a Washington, D.C.-based foodie representing RiffRaff, claimed the first $10,000 prize after mastering episode one's creative challenge of using cold as an ingredient. He crafted a rum-based drink named Staycation finished with cold pistachio cream and served over a large ice cube containing an edible orchid.
Brooke praised the creation during judging. "John took the challenge and ran with it," Brooke said. "The foam very much tasted like one specific thing, which was great by the way. And the cocktail tasted like another thing."
Reflecting on his victory, Schott shared his passion for the craft. "Winning feels unreal," Schott said in a confessional. "When I was bartending when I was 21, people would ask me what my real job is and I'll tell you right now: This is what I do. I win Cocktail Wars, I make drinks and I have fun doing it."
The Staycation recipe combines Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum, Fee Brothers Cardamom Bitters, Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters, Monin Yuzu & Pineapple Syrup, Monin Passion Fruit Syrup, lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a big ice cube with an edible orchid. Episode two winner Tyler Kent of Marie’s Crisis secured victory with the Almond Sail Away cocktail. His recipe features Fords Gin, orange juice, Orgeat syrup, Fee Brothers Orange Bitters, aromatic bitters, citric acid, egg white, and a garnish of orange peel and edible glitter. Cocktail Wars airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on E!.
The Formation of *NSYNC
Beyond the mixology showcase, cohosts Fatone and Bass provided extensive historical details from their time in *NSYNC. The group began after 23-year-old Chris Kirkpatrick was passed over for the Backstreet Boys by impresario Lou Pearlman. Kirkpatrick proposed forming a new group if Pearlman funded it, leading to the recruitment of 14-year-old former The All New-Mickey Mouse Club singer Justin Timberlake and 19-year-old JC Chasez.
Christina Aguilera recalled Chasez's role to Rolling Stone. "JC was the cool older guy, and Justin wanted to be just like him," Aguilera said. Kirkpatrick then invited 18-year-old Fatone, whom he knew from Universal Studios in Orlando. Seeking a deeper voice, Timberlake's vocal coach recommended 16-year-old Lance Bass of Mississippi, who flew to Florida on Oct. 1, 1995, and was picked up at the airport by Pearlman and Timberlake in a black Rolls Royce. Backstreet Boys member Howie Dorough recalled in 2015 that his group had asked Pearlman to help Kirkpatrick fulfill his dream.
Bass was not the initial fifth member of *NSYNC. Jason Galasso, who knew Fatone from high school choir and hung out with Mickey Mouse Club stars, auditioned with Boyz II Men's "End of the Road." While impressed by Timberlake's vocal talent, Galasso was also singing with an R&B and hip-hop trio called Unreal. When Pearlman presented European techno tracks and a thick contract listing himself as a sixth band member, Galasso opted to remain with Unreal. He now works in the mortgage loan business.
Band Name Origins and American Breakthrough
The group name derived from the final letters of the original members' first names: Justin, Chris, Joey, Jason, and JC. When Bass replaced Galasso, the band joked for a year by calling him "Lanceton" to preserve the acronym. Bass recalled that either Lanceton or Landon was suggested before the nickname faded after signing a record deal.
After initial success building a fan base in Germany with tracks like "I Want You Back" and "Tearin' Up My Heart" written by Max Martin, *NSYNC achieved their American breakthrough in 1998. When the Backstreet Boys declined a Disney Channel concert performance, *NSYNC filled the spot. Repeated broadcasts of NSYNC in Concert transformed their career, with Bass telling 20/20 that the gig made the band in America.
Life on the road included lighthearted friction. Prior to a Miami press call for their Challenge for the Children charity basketball game, Fatone arrived 15 minutes late after discovering Timberlake had taken a bite out of his room service burger. Bass recalled on the Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum podcast that Fatone was furious, prompting ongoing jokes among bandmates. Bass also admitted telling Kirkpatrick to shut up during non-stop interviews when Kirkpatrick's jokes doubled interview lengths. Bass created his signature frosted tips by applying hair bleach directly with his fingertips when the band lacked time for barbershop visits.
Financial Battles and Album Successes
In 2000, after their 1997 debut album 'N Sync reached diamond status with 10 million copies sold, manager Johnny Wright and his wife Donna presented the five members with diamond-and-platinum pendants. Timberlake joked to Rolling Stone: "We are diamond. Screw all of you. I'm done. Forget this boy-band thing."
Despite record sales, the band faced financial hardship under Pearlman, who died in prison in 2016 serving a 25-year sentence for money laundering and a Ponzi scheme. In 1998, Pearlman hosted a check-presentation party in Los Angeles where each member received $10,000. Bass tore his check up upon returning to his hotel room, noting he could not afford his Orlando apartment. Realizing Pearlman took one-sixth of band profits as a sixth member alongside management fees, *NSYNC switched to Jive Records. TransContinental Records and BMG Entertainment filed a $150 million lawsuit to block the band name. *NSYNC countersued for $25 million and settled out of court in 1999, retaining their name.
The group released No Strings Attached in March 2000, taking its name from Pinocchio's song "I've Got No Strings" as a symbol of independence. JC Chasez, who had previously won a seventh-grade talent contest singing Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting," worked with Marx on the track "I Promise You." The album incorporated Michael Jackson's delivery style and sold 2.4 million copies in its first week, including 1.1 million on day one. Timberlake joked to Rolling Stone: "We're pissed off now; that's what it is. We're angry white boys who didn't get our props."
Michael Jackson Stage Appearances and Personal Lives
In 2001, Michael Jackson joined *NSYNC at the MTV Video Music Awards after their performance of "Pop." Days later, they performed "Dancing Machine" together at the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden, broadcast on CBS. Bass revealed on The Meredith Vieira Show in 2016 that Jackson stopped speaking to him for a year after Bass giggled when Jackson insisted Bass and Fatone stay for "Heal the World" for the children, unaware Jackson was serious.
Financial success allowed band members to make major purchases. Timberlake bought a Mercedes, a BMW M Roadster, a Dodge Viper, an Audi TT, a Porsche 911, a Cadillac Escalade, and decorated an Orlando bachelor pad featuring a white grand piano, an acrylic nude statue, a Jimmy Buffett game room, a country kitchen, and a safari bedroom. Fatone bought a black Cadillac truck and homes for family members. Bass purchased homes in Orlando, Mississippi, and Floribama, while Kirkpatrick bought a home for his mother. Chasez acquired a $2,500 Helmut Newton photography book.
The band members pursued varied personal lives. Kirkpatrick married Karly Skladany in 2013 with all bandmates attending. Timberlake dated Britney Spears, telling Rolling Stone he preferred to keep relationships personal. Bass dated Danielle Fishel of Boy Meets World before publicly coming out as gay in 2006 and marrying Michael Turchin in 2014. Fatone married high school sweetheart Kelly Baldwin in 2004, welcoming daughters Briahna in 2001 and Kloey Alexandra in 2010 before splitting in 2019. Chasez dated Bobbie Thomas in 2001 and revealed his relationship with Jennifer HuYoung on Instagram in 2019.
Side Ventures, Onstage Injury, and Unannounced Split
In 2000, members initiated side ventures: Bass started Freelance Management for country artists, Timberlake launched an arts education foundation, Chasez produced music for Wild Orchid, and Kirkpatrick founded fashion and music company Fuman Skeeto. Responding to public perception, Timberlake told Rolling Stone in 2000: "We don't try to make ourselves do cute, we just are who we are. We're boys. We burp and fart, just like boys." Rolling Stone described Kirkpatrick as a wild guy, Bass as patient and smiling, Chasez as quiet offstage, and Fatone as rambunctious.
During a 2001 rehearsal in New Orleans, a stage platform trapped Fatone's lower leg, creating a deep wound that exposed bone and tissue. Hospital staff removed damaged tissue and rinsed metal fragments from the injury. Fatone returned to dancing onstage with a cane weeks later. Bass noted that despite public scrutiny, the band maintained tame habits, with Bass preferring Jack and Coke while serving as designated driver. Bass described fame to Rolling Stone as "like going to Disney World, going into the tunnels and seeing Cinderella smoking a cigarette. The whole magic is gone." Timberlake noted spirituality helped him manage depression and separate his public image from his private life.
Appearing on CNN's Larry King Live in 2001, Kirkpatrick and Timberlake emphasized their close bond. The band earned a reported $2.5 million per night during their PopOdyssey tour promoting their 2001 album Celebrity. Following their Celebrity Tour in 2002, *NSYNC entered an unannounced hiatus as Timberlake released Justified and Chasez released solo single "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)." Bass later expressed disappointment that management and record labels hid the band's permanent end for three years while he prepared for a new album. Though bandmates did not attend Timberlake's 2012 wedding to Jessica Biel in Italy, the group reunited at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. During *NSYNC's 2018 Hollywood Walk of Fame induction, Bass explained he previously hid his sexuality to protect the careers of his bandmates and crew, expressing gratitude to the LGBT community.
