Toronto's in for Spice surprise

Today is expected to be D-day for the Spice Girls -- as in decision day.

The British pop group's record company, Virgin Music Canada, hopes to know by the end of today what exactly the four Spices will do for Toronto fans on Sunday. They play a sold-out show at the Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday night.

A press conference previously scheduled for this morning at CHUM-FM studios was cancelled, with a CHUM spokesman saying on Friday: "This deal did not happen, it has fallen through after many hours of negotiation."

But this was news to both Virgin and MuchMusic, and the situation -- as they say -- remains fluid and seems to be changing almost hourly.

"The Spice Girls are committed to doing something for the city of Toronto," said Virgin Music Canada's Jeff Remedios. "What that event is is absolutely not confirmed. We are working it out. In terms of this entire event, it's all still up in the air because there are so many parties involved."

The latest rumor has the Spices doing some kind of "special outdoor event" without performance and an Intimate & Interactive -- which would including a performance -- at MuchMusic.

Meanwhile, just as Spice Girls fever builds in the city of T.O., MuchMusic has got its hands on Miami Spice, a half-hour special, which will air Wednesday night at 6:30 and 10.

In the special, taped around the time of the Spice Girls' June 15 launch of their North American tour in Miami, the four members are interviewed by a British journalist about the departure of Ginger Spice (Geri Halliwell), among other things.

"When Geri left, it was a complete shock to all of us," says Posh Spice. "We had no idea. As far as we were all concerned, everything was fine. Obviously there are arguments that go on, but it had never run as smoothly as it had for the last six or seven months.

"We were all very happy; there was no tension within the band."

But the four Spices do admit that they were all exhausted after their "grueling" European tour.

"Obviously we knew Geri was tired and Geri knew we were tired, but we never ever dreamed that she'd get up and go," says Baby Spice.

Adds Sporty Spice: "Maybe it just wasn't for her."

As for British tabloid reports that it was Scary Spice's taunting that drove Ginger out of the group, they all deny that was the case -- although Scary does admit they used to clash.

"We did all the time, 'cause me and Geri were like quite close," Scary Spice (Melanie Brown) says.

"We used to have screaming arguments. But in the last two years, we didn't have any arguments."

Adds Posh: "A lot was blamed on Melanie and at the end of the day we all argue -- it's natural. There's no one person to blame.

"Everyone thinks she's scary, but she's a pussycat really."