HBO to air Justin Timberlake concert special

LOS ANGELES - HBO is bringing the concert specials genre back with Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake’s first solo concert special for HBO will be taped Aug. 16 at Madison Square Garden, during the second U.S. leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow world tour. It will air Sept. 3.

This is the first concert special for HBO since it carried a Rolling Stones show from the hallowed venue in January 2003.

Meanwhile, the genre has been ice-cold at the broadcast networks after a series of high-profile events that tanked, including NBC’s Madonna and Tony Bennett specials.

HBO Entertainment senior vice president Nancy Geller said bringing back concert specials was about timing, with HBO emphasizing its slate of original series for the past several years.

“The concert specials always have been icing on the cake, but the series were so important,” she said. “When Justin said he was going on tour, it was a no-brainer. It just felt right — he is a classic HBO star, it feels like the right time, and he’s the right guy.”

As member of pop group ’N Sync, Timberlake starred in the band’s 2000 special for HBO, which also was filmed at Madison Square Garden. His second solo album, “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” has sold nearly 6 million copies and garnered two Grammys.

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