Mel, like, totally Spiced off

Girls are set to get Intimate & Interactive with fans on Sunday

There will be an oh-so-Spicy alternative to World Cup final TV viewing Sunday afternoon.

And Mayor Mel Lastman isn't happy about it.

The Spice Girls have confirmed they'll take part in an Intimate & Interactive show at MuchMusic from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The much-rumored I & I, which was finally announced by both MuchMusic and Virgin Music Canada yesterday, comes the day after the four Spice Girls play a sold-out show at Molson Amphitheatre on Saturday night.

Lastman insists there was a free outdoor Spice Girls concert in the works at Mel Lastman Square for Sunday and the I & I doesn't cut it for him. The MuchMusic show will include the four Spice Girls performing five songs and answering questions from fans in the studio or via phone, fax, e-mail or Speakers Corner.

"Everything was all arranged Tuesday (a week ago) for Sunday to have a second concert free for the people," said Lastman last night. "It was going to be a free show and we were going to try and make room for 100,000 people."

Not according to Virgin Music Canada's vice-president and general manager Bill Banham. He said the event was going to be sponsored (by CHUM-FM radio) but that everything was still up in the air.

"There was an idea thrown out about a possible appearance," said Banham. "The venue changed about four or five times. There was discussion with the girls to confirm. Somebody brought out a figure of way too many people that would be attending this thing, and they got freaked out because they thought with that many people, there's too much risk of somebody getting hurt."

Denise Donlon, MuchMusic's vice-president and general manager, reiterated Banham's comment that negotations were under way with the Spice Girls but that nothing was set.

"We were engaging in those discussions when we heard back that, in fact, the girls weren't interested in doing an outdoor show," said Donlon.

As of yesterday, Lastman was still invited to present the keys from the megacity to the Spice Girls on a stage to be built outside MuchMusic, but he said he's not interested.

"What do I want to present keys for?" said Lastman. "What do I want to take pictures for? It's not me. It's the people I wanted this for. I wasn't looking for me. For me to be there, it serves no purpose. I wanted something for the kids. I wanted something for the people of Toronto.

"I don't think the Spice Girls are interested in the people of Toronto. I'm just completely disappointed in them, I really am. What are they doing for the city? What the hell are they doing for the city?"

Banham, meanwhile, hopes Lastman might have a change of heart.

"I'd love to have him present the girls with the keys and, of course, the girls want that. It makes for a great Toronto event -- one, because it's never been done before, two, because he's been very, very supportive, and three, the girls have met many political leaders all over the world and this is a chance for Toronto to be front and centre."

As for the I & I, as of 1:30 p.m. today, MuchMusic will broadcast a special 800 number which fans can call to answer a Spice Girls question. If they answer correctly, they win access into the event. Be forewarned, though, the studio holds only 200 people.

It's expected thousands will turn up at MuchMusic to catch a glimpse of their favorite Spice as fans did for shows featuring Madonna in March and the Backstreet Boys in January.

Donlon, however, is urging people to stay put.

"The best seat in the house for these shows really is your couch. The visibility from the street to the Spice Girls in the environment is about 20 people looking through that window. Coming down to the building is not going to allow you to see the Spice Girls in the flesh."

And contrary to one rumor, no additional tickets have been released for Saturday's Molson Amphitheatre show, and none will be.

"There's none left," said a Universal Concerts Canada spokesman yesterday. "There are no Spice Girls tickets being released."