|Through The Looking Glass| Pussycat Dolls @ the Roxy (2002)

[jorge.]

The Pussycat Dolls, before Nicole and the other girls with 2 hit singles (right?), were a weekly burlesque show that attracted celebrity guest performers, like Gwen Stefani and Carmen Electra.

In 2002, Christina had done Lady Marmalade for the Moulin Rouge soundtrack, and in her own words, this show was right up her alley.

It just looked like fun to get up there and do songs that weren't your own. How can I get into it?!
- MTV Diary

ET interviewed her and recorded some of the rehearsal performances





The night of the show, Christina brought the house DOWN with some deliciously sultry covers.









The show and Christina's appearance were covered in her MTV Diary at the time, including rehearsals and performances.



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During the Stripped promo tour, X further highlighted these looks, in photoshoots for MAXIM and BLENDER.





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What's your favorite part of this iconic moment that teased some of what Stripped would become?

Through The Looking Glass: 1st Edition
(Thanks to @Anitta for the suggestion)

[DirrtyHancock]

nice history lesson, didn't know most of this
gonna check the videos out naw

[pato]

OMG loved this. I remembered the MTV diary during the rehearsal part when xtina didn't want to dance in front of her stepfather lol

[DevotionHURTS]

I love how organic Christina's growth as an artist has been. Despite the fact that she took many left field or wild decisions at the time, they all make sense now. In the greater scheme of things, LM lead to PCD, which in turn inspired B2B and took her all the way to Burlesque.

It is truly a very iconic trajectory, which I'm sure many of the newcomers will continue imitating for years to come.

[jorge.]

I love how organic Christina's growth as an artist has been. Despite the fact that she took many left field or wild decisions at the time, they all make sense now. In the greater scheme of things, LM lead to PCD, which in turn inspired B2B and took her all the way to Burlesque.

It is truly a very iconic trajectory, which I'm sure many of the newcomers will continue imitating for years to come.

Yep. It felt right when Anitta suggested this topic, just because it does serve as an anchor for many other decisions if you go through the timeline, just like you said.

Lady Marmalade started her shedding of the teeny-bopper image, she did this and made sure it was recorded for MTV Diary, which also included the Stripped photoshoot. That whole thing served to signal the independence from her previous persona. Even from the people involved in this project, you can trace it to Burlesque and her taking on that role.

'Twas iconic, darling!

[Xxtopher]

I remember seeing the maxim cover and would just love it. The performances at the Roxy were amazing.

[X-mael]

This is fantastic! I remember watching ET weekend or something, they showed Christina Sneak peak of the show with the hair looks she will use for stripped I was shocked the way she looked and her body.

[Plain Loser]

Man, I watched that clip of "Fever" on repeat like I was edging.

[jorge.]

Man, I watched that clip of "Fever" on repeat like I was edging.

Edge a bit more, my good big dick energy sis.

[electronicsupersonic]

I remember being shocked when the first pics came out of this show. Then we got that video of Fever and I played it non stop for weeks. Such an iconic moment that set her on many paths.

[Anitta]

Love it! The Big Spender performance lives in my head rent free.

[X-mael]

Why this was never recorded?!

[jorge.]

Why this was never recorded?!

Let me copy/paste this in the Hollywood Bowl show.

But the excuse for that time: this is 2002, before iPhones and smartphones were an everyday thing.

And MTV Diary probably has the whole thing, but we'll probably never get that.

[X-mael]

Why this was never recorded?!

Let me copy/paste this in the Hollywood Bowl show.

But the excuse for that time: this is 2002, before iPhones and smartphones were an everyday thing.

And MTV Diary probably has the whole thing, but we'll probably never get that.

I know! But I meant like a show it could’ve been super cool. Yes, the MTV diary is the only close thing to it.

[wanted]

Those Maxim / Blender shoots give off the same kind of confidence / boss energy she provided during Dirrty promotions. I think that's interesting because usually you can sense the photographer or director's influence, but here, it's clear Christina knew what she wanted and what she was doing.

I think one of the reasons she was so easy to stan - apart from that voice - was her vision. She was an actual artist. So many stars are disposable; some are lucky and work with the right people and get enough chances before finally coming through with their own vision, and some aren't. Christina bypassed all that. She knew what she wanted and didn't really care what others had to say about it.

[jorge.]

Those Maxim / Blender shoots give off the same kind of confidence / boss energy she provided during Dirrty promotions. I think that's interesting because usually you can sense the photographer or director's influence, but here, it's clear Christina knew what she wanted and what she was doing.

I think one of the reasons she was so easy to stan - apart from that voice - was her vision. She was an actual artist. So many stars are disposable; some are lucky and work with the right people and get enough chances before finally coming through with their own vision, and some aren't. Christina bypassed all that. She knew what she wanted and didn't really care what others had to say about it.

STANNNNNNNNN my good VIP sis

[pato]

Why this was never recorded?!

I remember Steve Antin wrote somewhere that he recorded all the show. let me see

Yep:

[NewAgenda]

I thought I was straight for a second when I saw this picture.

[X-mael]

Why this was never recorded?!

I remember Steve Antin wrote somewhere that he recorded all the show. let me see

Yep:

OMG maybe it can see the light of the for the 20th anniversary next year.

You see @jorge. it was recorded.

[Jimmy]

I wasn't a fan back then si I didn't watch this, but this looks amazing!

[DevotionHURTS]

Steven Antin loves Christina!!!

[DirrtyHancock]

Steven Antin loves Christina!!!

The Shelly Kearns jumping owt

[George]

Iconic photos and performances.

Maxim magazine was a fold out cover with different versions featuring Xtina, Christina Applegate or Carmen Electra on the front, alongside some of the original Pussycat Dolls

[Jenna]

The show was recorded.

Steven Antin was going to release a DVD of all the celeb Pussycat Dolls performances. Some of it can be found on Youtube. He provided some content to someone from CMM, and she leaked it, thus ruining the chances of the DVD ever being released.

[Yummy]

The show was recorded.

Steven Antin was going to release a DVD of all the celeb Pussycat Dolls performances. Some of it can be found on Youtube. He provided some content to someone from CMM, and she leaked it, thus ruining the chances of the DVD ever being released.

Arhh who leaked? and where can we see that?

[Lydekane]

Why this was never recorded?!

Let me copy/paste this in the Hollywood Bowl show.

But the excuse for that time: this is 2002, before iPhones and smartphones were an everyday thing.

And MTV Diary probably has the whole thing, but we'll probably never get that.

Didn't Steven Antin (Burlesque director and Robin's brother) mention a while back that he had footage from the show? I vaguely remember something like that.

[SweetSurrender]

I love this! Nice to revisit it all these years later.

[Anitta]

The show was recorded.

Steven Antin was going to release a DVD of all the celeb Pussycat Dolls performances. Some of it can be found on Youtube. He provided some content to someone from CMM, and she leaked it, thus ruining the chances of the DVD ever being released.

[George]

[George]

Steven Antin loves Christina!!!

Nice to see him continue to stan. He needs to release the footage from the Roxy before it gets lost