Lance Bass has a backup plan if Justin Timberlake refuses to participate in an *NSYNC reunion tour for the fans. On the August 30 edition of Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle’s Boy Meets World podcast, Timberlake revealed who he’d select to replace Timberlake if he doesn’t reconcile with his old bandmates, given that he previously didn’t join them during Ariana Grande’s 2019 Coachella concert.
During the show, Fishel asked her ex-boyfriend a «fictitious world question» (yep, she dated Bass in 1999, and they’re even creating a rom-com based on their young romance). «If you guys were to go on the road today as *NSYNC but you had to fill in for Justin, who do you think you would choose?» she questioned, comparing the situation to John Mayer touring with members of the Grateful Dead as Dead & Company. «Oh, I know who that would be,» Bass said. «He’s particularly good at harmonizing.» Darren Criss studied music and is a master of harmony.
Bass continued by saying that he «loves boy bands» and that, at 35, he’s «from that age» when ’90s boy bands were supreme. «He’d be the ideal match for us,» he added. Criss has yet to comment on Bass’ idea, but given his obvious love for *NSYNC, he’d most likely be flattered.
In a 2013 interview with Fuse, Criss described being embarrassed by his middle schoolmates for listening to *NSYNC’s iconic 2000 album No Strings Attached. «This was before like, *NSYNC became suddenly vintage, fashionable, and sardonic,» he said. «I was the first fan. I didn’t care.» I recall thinking, ‘This record is amazing,’ and then, for the first time, experiencing music retention, to which my buddy replied, ‘That’s so ridiculous.’ ‘I like Soundgarden.’ Maybe it was meant to be a guilty pleasure at the time, but it was never. They’re still badass. And, look, Justin is suddenly a celebrity, so eat my nuts.»
In March 2018, the Emmy winner’s *NSYNC devotion came full circle when he performed the band’s single «It’s Gonna Be Me» for SiriusXM. Just a few weeks later, at his ’90s-themed St. Patrick’s Day party, he called out JC Chasez to scream out some *NSYNC favorites, including «Tearin Up My Heart» and «I Want You Back.» «When I found out he was going to be singing with us, I was like, ‘Yep, get your phones out, this is the best thing ever,'» he said of their collaboration to Entertainment Tonight. «JC has an incredible voice, and I can’t believe he said yes.» If Timberlake cancels a reunion tour, Criss’ next move might be to sing onstage with the full band.