A CRUSH ON FAME WITH A NO. 1 SONG AND NEW ALBUM, EDEN'S CRUSH HOPES FOR MORE TIME IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

Earlier this year, America watched as hundreds of young women, aspiring to be stars, auditioned for a reality-based TV show whose title, alone, could guarantee them fame.

The show was the WB's ``Popstars,'' a 21st-century version of the manufacturing of bubble-gum bands that hoped to cash in on youth-oriented music trends.

Producers have been doing this since long before even the Monkees were created for a 1960s TV comedy series and ended up scoring big with hits like ``I'm a Believer'' and touring as legitimate performers.

Many of these acts were one-hit wonders whose careers never amounted to much. Little Eva was the baby sitter for Brill Building tunesmiths Carole King and Gerry Goffin when she cut ``Locomotion,'' a No. 1 hit in 1962. The only hit for Crazy Elephant, produced by Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, was 1969's ``Gimme Gimme Good Lovin.' '' It just missed the Top 10 in America.

Now come the ``Popstars''-manufactured Eden's Crush. The group - Ivette Sosa, 24; Ana Maria Lombo, 22; Rosanna Tavarez, 24; Nicole Scherzinger, 22; and Maile Misajon, 24 - is the next in a long line of ready-made acts seeking longevity.

In addition to being a bunch of pretty faces, the members are talented.

``We have all been working in this business our whole lives up until this opportunity came along,'' says Sosa, whose dream of performing on Broadway led her to pursue a degree in dance.

The only member of Eden's Crush who doesn't hold a degree or is close to earning one is Lombo. She and her family recently performed as backing vocalists for Julio Iglesias Jr.

Given their individually artistic backgrounds, the members of Eden's Crush believe they stand as much of a chance as the Monkees - or possibly the Archies, who were a step removed from the Monkees in that they existed in animated cartoon form for the '60s TV series based on the ``Archie'' comic books.

The Archies' single ``Sugar, Sugar'' went No. 1 in 1969, and the animation was even played on ``The Ed Sullivan Show.''

``I called my mom and said, 'I'm gonna be on ``The Ed Sullivan Show'' but not quite,' '' says Ron Dante, the singing voice of Archie who later went on to produce hits for Barry Manilow. ``It was a fun moment to see Ed Sullivan introduce the Archies. A real piece of history.''

Like ``Sugar, Sugar,'' which earned a boost thanks to the Archies animated TV series, the Eden's Crush single ``Get Over Yourself,'' used as the theme of ``Popstars,'' has also become a chart buster.

The week of March 13, the single rocketed to No. 1 in sales and made Eden's Crush the first all-female group to place so high with its debut track.

It remains one of the top-selling songs in the country, according to Soundscan, and has been certified gold.

``It hit hard and it hit fast just like everything we've experienced so far,'' says Scherzinger, who recently spent the day autographing stacks of Eden's Crush posters inside a Beverly Hills office at London-Sire Records.

The rest of the group is quick to agree.

``The past six months was about really becoming a pop group, and now it's being the pop group,'' says Tavarez.

With little time to spare in the ever-changing pop world, Eden's Crush will be striking while the iron is still hot. The group's self-titled debut arrives in stores today, and Eden's Crush will be ushering it in with a guest spot on ``The Tonight Show With Jay Leno'' and an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in Burbank.

But the profile booster could really come this summer when Eden's Crush hits the road with 'N Sync.

``That's big,'' says Rob Durkee, author of the book ``American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century.'' ``I mean, they're going to be a success.''

Eden's Crush will spend a month opening on tour for America's biggest boy band, including stops July 24 and 25 at the Rose Bowl.

The members of Eden's Crush are understandably thrilled about the opportunity of touring with 'N Sync, saying they can only imagine what it will be like.

Misajon says she has somewhat of an idea based on the experience of having recently attended a U2 concert.

``Just the sound of the arena gave me chills up and down my spine,'' she says. ``I was looking around for my other band mates in the audience, and I was like: I am going to die when the five of us play an arena like this.''

According to the WB, there is talk about catching up with the group over the summer for a few more episodes of ``Popstars.''

``It'll be interesting to see how the girls respond to the adulation and the big money and the pressures that come along with being famous,'' says Dante.

Of course, nothing has yet been confirmed.

In the meantime, Eden's Crush is gearing up for its first nationwide promotional tour in support of the album. What happens next is anyone's guess.

``We're well aware that groups have an expiration date,'' says Tavarez. ``Eden's Crush, I don't think, could be around until age 45 because it's about being youthful and enjoying that time. Right now, we're just really invested and we're going to see where that takes us.''

Meet Eden's Crush 7 to 9 tonight at the Virgin Megastore, 851 N. San Fernando Road, Burbank.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) They're believers

Like the Monkees, the group Eden's Crush is a TV creation. Now, with a No. 1 hit, the five aspiring stars are hoping they'll have some staying power

(2 -- color) Eden's Crush - Ivette Sosa, left, Maile Misajon, Rosanna Tavarez, Nicole Scherzinger and Ana Maria Lombo - performs at the Palace in Hollywood. The group releases its debut album today and tours with 'N Sync this summer.

(3) Having already laid bare their ambition on TV's ``Popstars,'' the members of Eden's Crush now hope to cash in on their celebrity.