dinadudgeon7: March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Stars At The Airport!

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Stars At The Airport!

Lil Wayne, T.I., Wiz Khalifa To Get 'Sleazy' With Ke$ha

Tip confirms second remix in the works for track, which previously featured a remix verse from Andre 3000.
By Jocelyn Vena

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/kesha_/artist.jhtml">Ke$ha</a>'s already gotten <a href="/news/articles/1656039/andre-3000-pops-up-on-kehas-sleazy-remix.jhtml">"Sleazy" with Andre 3000</a>. Now, a few more rappers want to get dirty with the glittery pop singer. <a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/10/t-i-andre-300-lil-wayne-wiz-khalifa-record-kesha-remix" target="_blank">XXLmag.com</a> reports that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/t_i_/artist.jhtml">T.I.</a> plans to jump on the track, and Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa will also be joining Andre and Tip on a new version of "Sleazy." Weezy should be a welcome addition to <a href="/news/articles/1651081/keha-gets-sleazy-on-new-cannibal-track.jhtml">Ke$ha's dance tune</a>, as it sounds somewhat like Wayne's single "A Milli." And while not much else is known about the remix, T.I. promised that he's going to go big with his verse. "I haven't heard anybody but mine. ... I'm gonna put my money on mine," the newly freed rapper, who <a href="/news/articles/1671950/ti_prison-release.jhtml">ended an 11-month prison sentence</a> in September, told the website. The Andre 3000 remix dropped earlier this year and appears on K-Dollar Sign's album Cannibal. The guys will have a lot of swagger to compete with because when Andre appeared on the first remix, he had this to say: "We start out so cute in our baby pictures/ That mama shot for our daddy so that he wouldn't forget you/ He forgot anyway, but hey, one day he'll remember/ If not, he's human, I'm human, you human, we'll forgive him/ I call her Keisha, she like it because it's 'hood to her/ She call me Andre 6000 because I'm good to her." Tip told XXLmag.com that his appearance on the Ke$ha song is just one of many remixes he's amped about. He has also worked on remixes for Meek Mill and Rick Ross's "Ima Boss," as well as Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne song "N---as in Paris." "I'm looking for some more records to jump on," he said. "That's what I'm doin' right now. I'm commandeering hit records right now. I'm hijacking hit records. If you got a hit, I'm on it." Are you looking forward to the new "Sleazy" remix? Tell us in the comments!

Usher - OMG

OMG

Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Album: Mental Sports Mixes

Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron

Justin Bieber Tricks Taylor Swift on 'Punk'd' Premiere

After all the pranks he's pulled, Punk'd creator Ashton Kutcher can no longer be the one acting like your annoying big brother. If you were his celebrity pal, wouldn't you expect to have your car "stolen" or your movie trailer "destroyed"?

Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh

Trayvon Martin's Hoodie Is Not The Issue, Rappers Say

'People are starting to identify this culture of people by their clothing ... and that's simply not fair,' Bun B says on 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway

Trayvon Martin
Photo: AP

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, the outraged public has latched on to a few symbolic items. When he was shot, young Trayvon was wearing a hooded sweatshirt on his way home from a store where he bought iced tea and a bag of Skittles. It was the hoodie that gunman George Zimmerman told police made the 17-year-old appear suspicious and in support of Martin, demonstrators have donned hoodies as a show of solidarity.

Others have even gone as far to suggest that the hood that Martin was wearing in some ways contributed to his death. During a televised Fox News broadcast, veteran journalist Geraldo Rivera argued that parents should not allow their black and Latino children to wear hoodies. "I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was," he reasoned.

"The hoodie is something that we see all over America and all over the world," Bun B said in response on Wednesday's episode of "RapFix Live." "People are starting to identify this culture of people by their clothing and starting to attribute certain things by the way they dress and that's simply not fair."

Illinois congressman Bobby Rush was removed from the House floor after he protested Martin's murder by wearing a hood over his head. "Just because someone wears a hoodie does not make them a hoodlum," he said.

Rather than focus on the article of clothing that Trayvon was wearing when he was gunned down, Mississippi rapper and producer David Banner looked at what he feels is the deeper issue. "America is showing young black men: If you don't make us comfortable around you, we will kill you," he told MTV News on March 29. "As much as people don't want to admit it, that's what this is about."

Banner urged Martin supporters to not focus on the clothes Martin was wearing, but rather the issue at large. Hoodie or not, he said black men are often the target, citing the 2009 police shooting of Oscar Grant and the 1991 LAPD beating of Rodney King as examples.

Instead, Banner urges demonstrators to focus their energy to change legislation that ensures that young black men like Martin are protected from corrupt police and overzealous authority figures. "If we don't find what that is after this is no longer a trending topic, then we just lost another child again," he said.

Related Photos

Diddy, Chris Brown Tribute Trayvon Martin

Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris

BeyoncÃ© - Party

Party

Artist: BeyoncÃ©
Label: Columbia Records
Director:

Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris

Jason Hoppy Moves Out

A few days ago I reported that Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy’s marriage was on the rocks. Well, now new reports are out claiming that Jason has moved out of their $5 million Tribeca apartment. Jason has traded his newly renovated apartment for a hotel nearby because Bethenny’s “energy has been nervous and neurotic. He can’t take it anymore, so he’s been doing everything on his own.” Jason is telling friends that he moved due to renovations, but why would mom and baby stay behind while daddy leaves? that is a typical break up move. Bethenny isn’t letting on if they have split, tweeting about their 2nd wedding anniversary. Bethenny is the first one to admit that she struggles with relationships, so I am not a bit surprised. I do hope they can work it out. Seriously after watching their reality show, it is not ALL Bethenny. Sure she can be difficult, she is a woman, we all are;) but Jason is a big baby. He is so attached to his parents and so quick to judge Bethenny, who could deal with that? Meanwhile it seems Bethenny’s Bravo reality series is taking a back burner while her new talk show [...]

Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Hugs

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Hugs

Friday, March 30, 2012

Justin Bieber, 'Watch Your Back': Carly Rae Jepsen Loves Pranks Too!

'I'm going to give him a run for his money,' Bieber protégé tells MTV News of recent 'Punk'd' mastermind.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Carly Rae Jepsen
Photo: MTV News

"Punk'd" kicked off in a big way Thursday night. Justin Bieber was enlisted to host the premiere episode of the new season, and he didn't shy away from pulling fast ones on his A-list friends.

Bieber made Taylor Swift believe she ruined a wedding, leaving her in tears. And when he pranked MTV's own Rob Dyrdek, he caught on and ended up joining forces with the Biebs to get Sean Kingston instead; the stunned singer stood up for an angry assistant who drove her boss' car into a restaurant. Bieber also double-crossed Miley Cyrus, who thought she was pranking him, but he ended up fighting the kids she sent out to poke fun of him. She definitely wasn't expecting that and ended up pretty shocked by the reverse prank.

Bieber is a known prankster in real life, and his pal and label signee Carly Rae Jepsen opened up to MTV News about his punker side — and proudly said she's ready to take him on anytime.

"I haven't seen that side of him myself yet, but I heard he's a bit of a prankster, which is good. I like that," she told MTV News. "I'm going to give him a run for his money. I enjoy a prank or two myself. It's on! Watch your back!"

Cyrus will be back for more "Punk'd" fun later this season, when she hosts her own episode. She'll punk beau Liam Hemsworth and pal Khloé Kardashian. Demi Lovato, the Wanted and more will also get "Punk'd" later this season.

Don't miss "Punk'd" every Thursday at 10 p.m. on MTV. For continuing "Punk'd" coverage, be sure to check in with MTV's Remote Control blog.

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Punk'd | Flipbook

'Wrath Of The Titans,' 'Mirror Mirror,' And More: Double Feature Friday!

If one movie is never enough for you and you're looking for a flick to get you in the mood for this week's new release, Double Feature Friday is here to help. Every week we break down the new releases and pair them with older movies that you should catch before heading out to the [...]

Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel

Photos | Ke$ha, Chris Brown Heat Up The Us Hot Hollywood Party

Ke$ha, Chris Brown Heat Up The Us Hot Hollywood Party

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Ke$ha

Cinthia Moura Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru

Justin Bieber Ripe For Spoofing, 'Stevie TV' Star Says

'Guys are like, 'I don't know what it is, but you're really hot,' comedian Stevie Ryan says of playing the teen superstar on VH1 show.
By Christina Garibaldi

Stevie Ryan may make fun of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> on her new VH1 show <a href="http://www.vh1.com/shows/stevie_tv/series.jhtml" target="_blank">"Stevie TV,"</a> but the actress and the pop star actually have something cool in common: They were both discovered on YouTube. Ryan began her career impersonating celebrities and creating her own characters on her YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/stevieryan" target="_blank">channel</a> and instantly became an Internet star. Now the 26-year-old comedian gets to do her routines on VH1, portraying some of today's biggest celebs and reality TV stars. <embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:752244/cp~vid%3D752244%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A752244" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> "It's just a female's perspective on pop culture, really, at least that's the way I think about it," Ryan told MTV News on Tuesday. "It's really just kind of making fun of pop culture, what's happening in it, just making fun of these celebrities that are rewarded for bad behavior." So far on "Stevie TV," Ryan has created a music video that mocks <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/perry_katy/artist.jhtml">Katy Perry</a>'s "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)," gotten into character as <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a> and done some cross-dressing to get into one of her favorite roles, Justin Bieber. Ryan explained that Bieber has been the most fun to play "because I always tell everybody how guys and girls always like me when I'm Justin Bieber. ... Girls are like, 'You're so cute, like, are you really a girl?' And then guys are like, 'I don't know what it is, but you're really hot.' But I really like playing everybody," she laughed. And though she may poke fun at celebrities, Ryan said she's really a fan of most of the stars ... except maybe one. "I just thought, 'What a great way to kind of show that this is what the younger generation is growing up with, that who little girls like, is Kim Kardashian,' " Ryan said. "It's just observing these weird behaviors and finding a place for them that makes sense because you can always make fun of Kim Kardashian — she has a big butt, she made a sex tape — but at the same time you have to step back and look at the big picture; people are actually wanting to be like this." As for future episodes, Ryan really wants to impersonate a certain Young Money rapper. "I would like to do <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj,"</a> Ryan revealed. "There's nothing that I want to make fun of about her, because I'm obsessed with her and I really, really love her." Asked if she's gotten any backlash yet for the sometimes harsh jokes on her show, Ryan said she hasn't, but she's ready if it comes her way. "It hasn't happened before and I'd give a flying f--- about what any of them have to say," Ryan said. "Because I'm just doing my job just like they are and so whatever, if anyone has anything to say, bring it!" <a href="http://www.vh1.com/shows/stevie_tv/series.jhtml" target="_blank">"Stevie TV"</a> airs Sundays at 11 p.m. ET on VH1. What do you think of "Stevie TV"? Let us know in the comments!

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Justin Bieber's Birthday: Celebrating 18!

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Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle

'Game Of Thrones' Season Two: The Reviews Are In!

Critics are raving about new season, with one reviewer describing HBO fantasy series as 'spiritual heir' to 'The Sopranos.'
By Josh Wigler

Carice Van Houten as Melisandre in "Game of Thrones"
Photo: HBO

Winter is behind us in real life, but in the brutal realm of Westeros, it's just days away.

When "Game of Thrones" returns Sunday for its second season, the days of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell will be behind us, with the reign of Tyrion Lannister (and another Emmy-worthy performance from Peter Dinklage) in our future. Based on the second novel in George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, "A Clash of Kings," season two of "Thrones" promises even more political intrigue, warfare, sex and violence than ever before — and given the show in question, that's certainly saying something!

Several critics have already seen the first episode of the new season of "Thrones," and with very few exceptions, their reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Here's a taste of the reviews:

The Story "It's a pleasure to see that 'Game of Thrones' hasn't lost a grip on its ability to tell a vast, interconnected story without slowing down the pace. What's truly impressive is that as life is breathed into these storylines, 'Game of Thrones' just gets better and more fulfilling as a top-tier television series. The intrigue of the plot and the keenly drawn characters — plus the sense instilled in Season 1 that absolutely anything can happen and no one is safe — makes the show all the more compelling." — Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter

Accessibility for Non-Readers "I had read the first volume of George R.R. Martin's saga 'A Song of Ice and Fire' (the source material for this series) before I watched the first season of 'GoT' so I would be familiar with the vast array of characters and plots that would develop. But I intentionally did not read the epic's second volume, 'A Clash of Kings,' before watching the start of 'GoT' season 2, because I wanted to see if I'd have trouble following the new intricacies. And I'm here to report that my lack of homework in no way prevented me from becoming enthralled with this series all over again. That's a testament to what adapters David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have accomplished in whittling down and reshaping Martin's novels for weekly TV. It's difficult enough to hook a viewer like me, who resists sprawling, noncontemporary narratives; it's another level of pop culture wizardry to make such storytelling seem so vivid, so vital, and just plain fun." — Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly

Blood and Boobs " 'Thrones' creates such a rich visual feast — replete with plenty of gratuitous nudity and blood-letting — as to almost obscure its fundamental storytelling pleasures, which are as much a mob drama as anything else, having traded bullets for broadswords. By that measure, this really might [be] the closest spiritual heir to 'The Sopranos' HBO has delivered since the show's notorious whiteout." — Brian Lowry, Variety

The New Guys in Town "Even though I'm a fan of Martin's novels, I must confess that I always found the Stannis retainer Davos Seaworth fairly bland and boring, but Liam Cunningham, like Emilia Clarke, ably brings to life a character who could seem rather remote on the page. Several other smaller roles have been filled with lively specificity, but I have to wonder if we'll get enough time with each of these people. Will the plight of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), a stoic warrior who nurtures an unrequited love for royal contender Renly Baratheon, be as sadly evocative as it was in the books? Will there be time for the show to do more than lightly sketch the dilemmas of minor but interesting characters like her?" — Maureen Ryan, Huffington Post

The Bottom Line "As with the novels, this 'Game of Thrones' is breathtakingly ambitious, an ever-unfurling tapestry that threatens, at times, to overwhelm its frame. That it does not is a testament to the power of piecework — art is not defined by the space it occupies but by its details, the truth it captures. Many heads bend over this adaptation, each belonging to a master of his or her craft, and what emerges is a truly new, and miraculously accurate, definition of epic television." — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times

Are you excited for more "Thrones" action? Tell us in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter @roundhoward!

Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford

Lady Gaga's 26th Birthday: Her 10 Best MTV Quotes!

As Mother Monster celebrates her birthday, MTV News takes a look back at her most-interesting confessions ... so far!
By Jocelyn Vena

Listen up, Little Monsters: It's Mother Monster's 26th birthday! And in that quarter of a century (plus one year!), <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a> has managed to reinvent the pop wheel with her eccentric persona and pumping, politically charged dance music. When asked how she planned to celebrate another year, she simply told a Monster on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ladygaga" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, "Quinceanera." While we'll be Quinceañera-ing in spirit, we will celebrate her colorful life and career by remembering 10 of the most-revealing bites she's shared with MTV News. So, dabble on some glitter, put on your best wig, platforms and leotard, and let's take a stroll down memory lane — in no particular order. 10. In 2009, Gaga sat down and explained that when <a href="/news/articles/1610702/lady-gaga-says-kanye-west-saw-past-her-poker-face.jhtml">"Poker Face" was re-imagined by Kanye West and Kid Cudi</a> as "I Poke Her Face" (later changed to "Make Her Say"), she felt that it was time for someone to get the true meaning of the lady-love euphemism. <center><a href="http://www.mtv.com/content/news/2012/lady_gaga_26th_birthday_soundboard/"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/l/lady_gaga/birthday_soundboard_032712/420x300.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.mtv.com/content/news/2012/lady_gaga_26th_birthday_soundboard/">Check out our Lady Gaga soundboard, and leave a birthday message for Mother Monster!</a></center> "It's funny, because a lot of my fans were like, 'Gaga, Kanye wrote a song ... and it's not about what your record's about. Your record is about gambling, and this song is about dirty sex things,' " she recalled. "I said to them, 'You're wrong. Kanye was right,' " she explained, laughing. "That's exactly what this song is about. The record is about how I used to fantasize about women when I was with my boyfriend. It was really exciting that he had so much insight into what the song was about. He's a cool guy." 9. Gaga's pop-music kinship with <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> has been well-documented in two songs: G's <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/lady-gaga/741160/telephone.jhtml#artist=3061469">"Telephone"</a> and B's <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/beyonce/455581/video-phone-extended-remix.jhtml#artist=1236911">"Video Phone."</a> When Gaga headed to shoot the Hype Williams-directed <a href="/news/articles/1626441/lady-gaga-paid-tribute-to-beyonce-in-video-phone-clip.jhtml">video for "Video Phone,"</a> she had this message for the team: "I said, 'I want to do you in your video, and I want to tribute you. I want to dress up like you,' " Gaga recalled telling her co-star. "And Hype Williams ... was so excited. He was like, 'Gaga, I want no makeup on your face.' It was really stripped down — real Beyoncé hair, and we wore the same outfit in the video, and I [paid tribute to] her." 8. Gaga's love for her hometown of NYC is hardly surprising, and she shared on the <a href="/news/articles/1664761/lady-gaga-marry-the-night-fernando-garibay.jhtml">MTV special "Inside the Outside"</a> that when she sat down to write the track <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/lady-gaga/742547/marry-the-night-official-video.jhtml#artist=3061469">"Marry the Night,"</a> "he" was the perfect muse to inspire the song. "It's never gonna go away, the tan of New York never goes away," she explained about always identifying with the city that bred her. 7. During the same special, Gaga opened up about her other inspiration — <a href="/news/articles/1664709/lady-gaga-fans.jhtml">her fans</a> — adding, "The biggest surprise to me has been my relationship with my fans. They've changed my life. The fans are the thing that you can't learn; they were the instrument in the music that nobody taught me about." 6. Always politically charged and motivated, Gaga has made it her mission to not only make chart-topping music, but also be a voice for the disenfranchised. When she sat down for <a href="/news/articles/1669351/lady-gaga-president.jhtml">"MTV First: Lady Gaga"</a> in 2011, she explained that, despite her strong political beliefs, she wouldn't want to run for office. "Well, first of all, I wouldn't want to be president for the day," she said. "And I say that because I really, for myself, it's important that my message, although it has political implications, I like to keep myself separate because politics can constrain things," she continued. "So, our message can be completely free of any politics, and we can just surge forward." 5. During that <a href="/news/articles/1669370/lady-gaga-mermaid-sex-you-and-i.jhtml">"MTV First,"</a> when she debuted her <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/lady-gaga/742495/you-and-i.jhtml#artist=3061469">video for "Yoü and I,"</a> the singer discussed how difficult love can sometimes be and how her art explores that theme. "Sometimes in love, you can't make it work," she said. "No matter what you do, there's this giant boundary between you and someone else. So, that's what it's about: perceiving in your imagination that there's something magical inside of you that you can make it work." 4. At the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011">2011 VMAs</a>, she pulled the ultimate costume change by appearing as her male alter-ego, <a href="/news/articles/1669944/lady-gaga-jo-calderone-monsters-fans.jhtml">Jo Calderone</a>. Gaga, as Jo, took home the Moonman for her fist-pumping equality anthem <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/lady-gaga/742058/born-this-way.jhtml#artist=3061469">"Born This Way."</a> Afterward, Jo explained, "She was texting me after the award, after I picked it up for her, and she just said, 'You know, more than anything I've ever gotten before, this means more to me, because "Born This Way" is about the fans and the fans are more important to me than anything I do; more important than f---ing breathing, you know?' " 3. In late 2011, Gaga released her semi-autobiographical <a href="/news/articles/1675400/lady-gaga-marry-the-night-costumes.jhtml">video for "Marry the Night,"</a> noting that history can be reinterpreted for her art, if need be. "This was one of the first times that the fashion didn't propel so much of the story line," she explained. "It is autobiographical, so the entire story's true, and it's through the lens of how I choose to repaint my past." 2. Behind every great woman is a great Haus. Gaga's famed, rarely spotted, <a href="/news/articles/1625758/lady-gaga-explains-her-haus-of-gaga-no-one-gets-it.jhtml">Haus of Gaga</a> are the folks who help create the live shows, fashions and accessories she wears. And they mean everything to her. "They're my best friends," she said. "I'm not really sure what the world thinks ... but I do hear things like, 'Who is the Haus of Gaga?' and 'Are you putting out a fashion line?' And no one gets it. It's not a commodity. It's not something that's meant to be sold. "It's a real bond and relationship, and that's what I think music and art is about," she said. "They are my heart and soul. They believe in me, and they look at me like a mother and daughter and sister, with pride and love." 1. In the end, everything Gaga does is for her art, and there's no place Gaga feels more at home than onstage in front of thousands of screaming fans. "I don't see the live show as extension of the record at all, it's meant to be a completely different experience with the artist, with myself. I want my fans to come and go to a party," <a href="/news/articles/1610781/lady-gaga-on-success-the-turning-point-for-me-was-the-gay-community.jhtml">she told MTV News</a>. "I want them to watch the show and think, 'I'm so f---ing cool that I am here right now.' It's about them. It's about love. It's about art. The show is meant to bring a tremendous feeling and sentiment of escapism." Share your birthday wishes for Gaga in the comments below!

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Lady Gaga

Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto

Photos | 2011 Pre-Grammy Celebrations

2011 Pre-Grammy Celebrations

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Usher

Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears

Is Britney Spears Getting Closer To 'X Factor' Gig?

'I'm fascinated by her,' Cowell says of singer, who's rumored to be contender to join show.
By Jocelyn Vena

There are several women's names currently being tossed around as potential judges for the upcoming season of "X Factor." Avril Lavigne, <a href="/news/articles/1679730/x-factor-new-judges-hosts.jhtml">Janet Jackson and Britney Spears</a> are the leading rumored contenders to replace <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul</a> for the show's completely revamped second season, which kicks off later this year. In a recent press call, Simon Cowell would not confirm who producers were talking to, but he did not deny that Jackson was on the table. "You can probably count on two girls," fellow judge L.A. Reid added. "That we can confirm." Cowell recently addressed the Britney buzz on Billy Bush's <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/billy-bush/simon-cowell-x-factor-would-be-a-walk-in-the-park-for-britney-spears_articletab_61327" target="_blank">radio show</a>, continuing to play coy about the chatter. "Well, I'm fascinated by her. The fact that she's still one of the most talked-about — not just pop stars, but people — in the world today means that you've got this star power. This girl's got resilience, and the fact that she's survived this and she's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial ... there's a reason for that. "I would think that if she's managed to sustain a family, a career, which is tough, this is a walk in the park," he added, noting that he believes she would be a good judge. While Cowell seems to be dancing around the issue, British "X Factor" judge Louis Walsh may have let the cat out of the bag in an <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/uk-x-factor-judge-confirms-talks-with-britney/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">interview</a> on U.K. talk show "Craig Doyle Live." He shared that Spears was indeed talking to producers about possibly joining the show. "I know he is talking to Britney. I know he's definitely talking to Britney to do the American show. Absolutely true and maybe Janet Jackson," he said. In the end, Cowell summed up the current spate of rumors on that conference call. "There's a load of speculation, some true, some not true. It's true to say that a lot more people have entered the frame this year. We were waiting to see who was going to contact us before we actually contacted people," he said last week. "We're in that place right now, which is a good place to be in. We will meet a number of people over the next few weeks, mainly to explain to them that this is a big commitment when you do a show like this because of the mentoring aspect."

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MTV News Extended Play: 'X Factor' Judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid

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Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Miami Music Week Track Of The Week: Vote Now!

Swedish House Mafia or Arty? Knife Party or David Guetta? Vote for your favorite Miami track now!
By Akshay Bhansali

Photo: Opium Group

Miami Music Week may have come and gone, but for dance music fans, whether they were in Florida for the get-together or watching from afar, the music will live on for months to come. EDM brands, both big-name and lesser known, used the week to play their hits and showcase new music. And while fans banged their heads and enjoyed, we at MTV News were eagerly taking notes.

With names ranging from Swedish House Mafia to Arty and Knife Party to David Guetta, we humbly put it to you, the fans, to decide who to honor with Miami Music Week's Track of the Week. With a seemingly unending list of great bangers showcased for fans in Miami, we submitted the tracks we heard most often, the ones that caused the loudest ruckus. So take your pick! Don't see your favorite anthem on the list? Let us know in the comments.

Vote for your favorite banger above, and MTV will announce next week fans' pick for Miami Music Week's Track of the Week!

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'Titanic' Theme Song Makes Kate Winslet 'Feel Like Throwing Up'

'Bless you, Celine, but it does rather haunt me,' the actress admits to MTV News of 'My Heart Will Go On.'
By Fallon Prinzivalli

Kate Winslet
Photo: MTV News

"Like throwing up." That's how Kate Winslet feels when she hears Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," the once-inescapable theme to "Titanic."

"No, I shouldn't say that," Winslet added, thinking through her response before coming to this conclusion: "No, actually, I do feel like throwing up."

Since its release in 1997, the film has stuck with Winslet wherever she goes. It was the movie that helped her sky-rocket to the A-list, after all, and no one is likely to forget Dion's iconic song from "Titanic," set to be re-released in 3-D on April 4.

"I wish I could say, 'Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!' But I don't," Winslet admitted. "I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll."

Winslet went on to explain that every time she walks into a bar or a restaurant with a pianist, they never miss an opportunity to start playing the notes. "It's thrilling for people to surprise me with the Celine Dion song," she laughed.

But they not only play the tune for her, they also encourage the Oscar winner to sing it herself. "I did a talk show recently in Italy and they actually had a live pianist who started gently playing the theme song. I was not even gently, rather severely, urged to go and sing it as though I had in fact sung it myself in the first place. It was like, 'No! I'm not going to do that.' They're like, 'Oh no, come on it will be funny.' No, it won't be funny. At all. And I'm not going to."

Unfortunately for the actress, it's not just the theme song that haunts her. Whenever she boards a boat, she's the butt of jokes.

"Honestly, I actually now get onto boats and say, 'No jokes, OK? No jokes. Can we just move on from that? And if you have any jokes, let's just get them out of the way right now. Thank you. Anyone? Jokes, jokes? OK, moving on.' And then they still tell jokes," Winslet said. The most common joke is asking her to head to the front of the boat with them to reenact the iconic scene between hers and Leonardo DiCaprio's characters on the rail. To that she replies, "Oh, yeah! Oh, that one! Oh, don't worry, it's my party piece. Sure, come on up, bring your granny."

But Winslet is actually an amazing sport about the jokes. She understands how deeply the film touched its audience. And now that it will be on the big screen again, it can reach a whole new generation — including her children who will see it for the very first time.

"What's negative about it? Really, nothing at all," she said of the 3-D treatment. "It's very different and much more present. It's bigger — if you can believe that — but it is and you really do feel like you're in it."

Audiences will be able to relive the tragic love story — or experience for the first time — when "Titanic" it hits theaters in 3-D on April 4.

Check out everything we've got on "Titanic."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Lady Gaga - Marry The Night (Official Video)

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Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher Talk Punk'd, Sex in Space on Jimmy Kimmel Live

The new season of the new version of Punk'd premieres tonight, with former host Ashton Kutcher behind the camera as a producer and a rotating weekly emcee in front of it, beginning this episode with some guy named Justin Bieber.

In promotion of the show, both stars appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, dishing on topics that included:

Justin's freedom now that he's 18 years old.
Justin somehow forcing Ashton to purchase a new home.
Justin wanting to make Taylor Swift cry via a major prank.
Kutcher, hilariously clueless about his reputation since splitting from Demi Moore, wondering how people can have sex in space.

Watch a quarter of clips from the interview now:

Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Part 1)

Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Part 2)

Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Part 3)

Justin Bieber and Ashton Kutcher on Jimmy Kimmel Live (Part 4)

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'American Idol' Veteran Haley Reinhart's New Single 'Defines' Her

'Free,' which the singer describes as a 'playful, fresh' break-up track, is the first single off her debut album, Listen Up!
By Christina Garibaldi

Haley Reinhart
Photo: MTV News

She may not have been crowned the winner of last season's "American Idol," but that hasn't seemed to have any effect on the career of third-place finisher Haley Reinhart. The singer captivated viewers week after week on "Idol" by bringing her own soulful flare to songs like Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and Lady Gaga's "You and I."

And now, nearly a year later, the jazzy singer is finally ready to show fans who she really is with "Free," the first single off her debut album, Listen Up!

"It's amazing," Reinhart told MTV News Wednesday (March 28) of the release of her single. "I know I took some time after the tour just to make things work and really worth it for me and the fans. It feels amazing to actually put it out there, my own material. I just wanted to make sure it had substance to it, and really could define me and show the artistry."

Reinhart, who returned to the "Idol" stage last week to perform "Free," says it's the perfect song to define the artist she's striving to be.

"I picked it out while I was touring with the 'Idols' and I was getting all these songs shipped into me," she said of "Free." "This one I just had to stop and say 'Hey this has my name written on it.' It's something that I can look in the future and see it being able to define me. It's got elements of the sultry, even hints of jazz in there."

On Tuesday, Reinhart made her acting debut when she played herself on "90210," and we will see her stretch her acting ability even more when she debuts the video for "Free" on Thursday. She said the filming the video was "a dream come true."

"I had this vision and the director, Christopher Sims, really brought it to life for me," she said. "There's a guy involved, it is kind of a motivational break-up song, so I wanted to keep it mature, yet have the playful scenery behind us. We put it out in a '50s-style diner and just kept it playful, fresh."

And she's bringing that playful, fresh vibe to Listen Up! which features collaborations with rapper B.o.B and Reinhart's own father (whom she performed with on "Idol").

"You're going to be surprised to hear a lot of different flavors, but at the same time it all meshes well together," she said of the album, which hits stores May 22. "I show a lot of different sides. I have my roots I come from a lot of different genres, so you'll hear definitely sultriness throughout the entire thing, very retro yet modern take, and there's pop undertones in it with some funk jazz rock, it's got a lot going on."

What do you think of Haley's single "Free"? Let us know in the comments.

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jennifer Lawrence Not Skinny Enough for 'Hunger Games'?

When Jennifer Lawrence was first cast in The Hunger Games, a surprising number of fans revolted because they couldn't picture a blonde actress as Katniss. One year and a bottle of hair dye later, Lawrence, 21, is getting hit with an equally ridiculous criticism: that she's "too big" for the role.

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: The Most Awesome 2012 Grammys Photos!

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Hilary Duff: Motherhood "Is No Joke"

Hilary Duff has played dozens of roles in her career, but she's currently experiencing her toughest part ever -- new motherhood.

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Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps

Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery

On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years. The albums featured in the new series are the <a href="/music/artist/rolling_stones/artist.jhtml">Rolling Stones</a>' Let It Bleed, <a href="/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s IV, <a href="/music/artist/bowie_david/artist.jhtml">David Bowie</a>'s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, <a href="/music/artist/mike_oldfield/artist.jhtml">Mike Oldfield</a>'s Tubular Bells, <a href="/music/artist/clash/artist.jhtml">The Clash</a>'s London Calling, <a href="/music/artist/new_order/artist.jhtml">New Order</a>'s Power, Corruption and Lies, <a href="/music/artist/primal_scream/artist.jhtml">Primal Scream</a>'s Screamadelica, <a href="/music/artist/pink_floyd/artist.jhtml">Pink Floyd</a>'s The Division Bell, <a href="/music/artist/blur/artist.jhtml">Blur</a>'s Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — <a href="/music/artist/coldplay/artist.jhtml">Coldplay</a>'s A Rush of Blood to the Head. Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery. "Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time." Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date." "We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."

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Felix Cartal Builds On Miami Momentum With Different Faces

'I want people to remember it,' EDM up-and-comer tells MTV News of just-released album.
By Nicholas Philippou

Felix Cartal
Photo: MTV News

Felix Cartal is one of the most promising young stars of EDM, a fact that became even clearer at this year's Miami Music Week, where he played multiple shows days before the release of his latest album.

Cartal's Different Faces was unleashed on iTunes on Tuesday (March 27) under Steve Aoki's Dim Mak label. Fresh off of his second Ultra Music Festival appearance and the success of his latest single, "Don't Turn on the Lights," Cartal told MTV News he's been eager for the album's release.

"It's been the last year of my life kind of putting this thing together," Cartal said. "The record's basically all that's going on in my life. I want people to remember it, and hopefully it means something to them."

MTV News was able to catch some of Cartal's set at the National Hotel during Miami Music Week, and it was obvious that "Don't Turn on the Lights," featuring Polina, has become a certifiable breakthrough hit. But what was most surprising was how many of Cartal's fans could be seen singing so many of his songs throughout the set.

"I play all the singles every set, and everyone was singing along today," Cartal said. "I don't think you can ever get tired of that feeling."

He may not have to, because his new album is loaded with potential smashes, already finding tracks trickling into some sets of the biggest DJs in the world. The record will feature some collaborators that EDM fanatics have followed, like Miss Palmer, whom he works with on "Black to White"; Miss Palmer is best known to EDM fans for "No Beef," one of the biggest tracks of 2011 by Afrojack and Steve Aoki.

Cartal also combined with Sebastien Grainger, from Death From Above 1979, and his contribution on "H.U.N.T." pushes the album's boundaries beyond EDM.

"I think that's what moves music forward, because anytime genres are colliding, I think that's what helps music become something new," Cartal said. "I think a lot of people thought that electronic music was just going to be a passing phase, and I kind of compare it to rap music, where it kind of brought a whole culture with it, and I think that's why it's lasted and continued to grow."

Cartal told MTV News his next move will be a two-month tour through May, touring major cities and finishing up at the Sasquatch Festival in Washington. And since he's part of the Dim Mak family, and because he's such a nice guy, we asked if he even had it in him to cake someone, à la Steve Aoki.

"I've got it in me to cake someone," Cartal said. "It'll happen eventually — at one of Steve's shows, though. I don't want to bite on his thing."

Miami Music Week is a wrap, but stick with MTV News as we continue to roll out the latest EDM news and behind-the scenes interviews with your favorite dance music stars!

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