TIME HAS COME TODAY: Who’s backing up...

TIME HAS COME TODAY: Who’s backing up Janet Jackson in her upcoming video, “Control,” which will hit the airwaves next week? None other than the Time, or at least most of the original members of the band (Jesse Johnson and Morris Day were out of town).

The reunion is a signal of bigger things to come. It may be a while before you’ll see an official announcement, but the Time--a band that was only fully appreciated after it broke up--is getting back together, at least long enough to co-star in a new A&M; Films movie. It will feature ex-Time members Day, Johnson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (now a hot production team) along with Janet Jackson and ex-Prince chum Jerome Benton (it’s also possible that even Vanity will have a part in the film).

The movie, still untitled, is scheduled to go into production next spring. It will focus on the fictional misadventures of Day and the Time, who meet up with Jackson when the group moves to New York from the Midwest. Of course, the group will do a sound-track album as well, which will offers songs from everyone involved, including a possible duet between Day and Jackson. The film is being written and directed by Reginald Hudlin, with A&M; Records A&R; exec John McClain, “Krush Groove” producer George Jackson and Taboo Records chief Clarence Avant on hand to handle the production chores.