C.J.: Tim Allen makes his debut at Janet's release party

Original article from the Star Tribune

Tim Allen was a stand-up kind of guy Saturday when asked about his tween-age daughter, Kady, being a no-show at the album release party for Janet Jackson at Flyte Tyme Productions in suburban Minneapolis. "Tim. Sue. Where's your daughter?" Flyte Tyme exec Sue Owens asked, while introducing herself to Allen. "Um. We switched," Allen said. "I got somebody from the staff [who's] a big Janet fan. I asked my daughter, 'You wanna go?' If it was Destiny's Child [she'd have been there, but Janet] is kind of like a lounge singer to her." Janet does not sound like Kady's daddy's kind of lounge singer on her "All for You" album. All the moaning and private sexual remarks Janet makes on the CD will have parents saying to their kids: What ARE you listening to? Sorry, Miss Jackson, seems you have sex on the brain. Allen, the comedian and the star of ABC's "Home Improvement," is in the metro shooting a movie, "Joe Somebody." Before Owens greeted Allen, he was just hanging around near one of the studios -- instead of out in the elaborately decorated tent -- checking out framed covers of albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Allen was unaware of Janet's Twin Cities music connection. "Tell me what's happening? Does she know somebody here?" Allen asked me. "I've never been to one of these things. I've been to movie premieres. I thought I'd come out and take a look and see what she looks like in person." I pointed out the line of B96 FM radio fans who'd won the chance to attend the party, all queued up to meet Janet. Told Tim that I didn't think he'd have to wait in line, and sure enough, moments later he was whisked past the line and into the studio, where Jackson was privately meeting and greeting. Joe Brandmeier of River Road Entertainment, hired by Flyte Tyme to shoot the gala, couldn't believe how some fans left their meeting with Janet with tears streaming down their faces. Tim managed not to tear up.

Knight bowls 'em over

JordanKnight, the New Kids alum, was wandering around the Janet Jackson gala in what looked like very expensive bowling shoes. "Bowling shoes are in for some reason," said Knight, who's recording at Flyte Tyme. Someone walked by me and Knight to say that girls were running around the party looking for Jordan and his autograph. So Jordan's been busy driving Twin Cities fans crazy? "Nah," he said bashfully. "I keep a low profile." Knight said he gets recognized much more if he's out at malls, so he avoids them.

Did Mint splinter?

Lips were smacking when members of Mint Condition walked in, for reasons other than the tremendous spread of food at Janet's party. I was told that saxist Jeff Allen and bassist Ricky Kinchen attracted attention because everybody just assumed they'd be in Atlanta that Saturday where their keyboardist bandmate, Keri Lewis, was marrying Toni Braxton. Maybe they were there earlier and flew back? Maybe these were Jeff and Rick look-alikes? Am told, by someone who's not sure of Mint Condition's group status, that Allen and Kinchen have been doing some late-night studio work at Flyte Tyme.

'Mo' foolishness

Virgin Records is handling Janet's new CD, so the party was crawling with music and radio execs. That included Tony Fields, the veep of programming for Ohio-based Blue Chip Broadcasting, the parent company of B96. Steve Woodbury, B96's GM, noted that Fields was behind B96's branding itself as "Mo Fo" as in "More music, more fun," said Woodbury. Really. Isn't "Mo Fo" slang for a particularly offensive 12-letter word that describes Oedipus Rex's behavior? "Mother ... Teresa?" said Fields, quizzically. Nice try, Fly Guy, but those are two names, not one word.

Elegance, big ideas

The setting for Janet's party was extremely elegant, unless you wore pumps and stockings that got splashed from the rain-soaked indoor-outdoor flooring every time someone walked near. Janet's friend Lisa Harris -- her sparkling, bejeweled shirt displaying Janet's visage designed by Stevie -- described the adjacent tented area. "The tent's the size of a football field, don't you think?" said Lisa. Seemed smaller to me, but let's go with it. "Jumbotrons at the front and back. Draped with chiffon and white Tivoli lights. [Think movie theater footlights]. Centerpieces on every table, some tall, some short, some candles, some flowers." It was so lovely that B96 GM Steve Woodbury decided he'd better help his daughter, Heather, keep a grip on reality. "This would be great for a wedding, but don't count on it," Woodbury quipped to Heather. Although Heather took this as fatherly disapproval of her current beau, it wasn't. "He's a nice guy; I just don't think you should get married yet." I volunteered my guidelines: not until you're 30, have had defined your own career identity and have known the guy for three years, since they can hide their real personalities that long. "They can hide their real personality for 30 years," said Woodbury. "I've been married for 30 years, and Peg still doesn't know me."