Thursday, September 30, 2010
Alexander Skarsgard 'Impressed' With His 'Battleship' Co-Star Rihanna
'This is her first movie but she's great,' the 'True Blood' star tells GQ UK.
By James Dinh
Alexander Skarsgård
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ Getty Images
Rihanna has already proved she can conquer the dance floor, and if her her "Battleship" co-star Alexander Skarsgård is to be believed, she's not having problem transitioning into the world of film either. In an interview with GQ UK, the "True Blood" star talked about working on the songstress' feature film debut.
The Swedish actor, who will play a commander of a Navy destroyer, said that despite Rihanna's busy schedule, she's performing well.
"This is her first movie but she's great, she's really really good in it," Skarsgård said. "She's got a crazy schedule. She's really diligent and I'm impressed. We would work and then she'd fly to LA to perform at the MTV [Video] Music Awards and then fly back redeye, land, go straight to set, work all day. No complaints, nothing. She's really solid."
MTV News caught up with Rihanna at the 2010 VMAs, and she said couldn't be happier on the set of the board-game-based film. "I'm really enjoying it, actually. I like it," she gushed.
When asked how it was working with Skarsgård, Rihanna replied, "He's really cool, just laid-back. He doesn't get in the way. [He's] not very talkative, but he's a really cool guy and that's [to] everybody — not just the cast."
Skarsgård, who co-starred in Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" video, described that shoot as "crazy" and "a lot of fun," and he revealed that the experience with the Barbadian songstress is a bit different considering the amount of time he's spent working time with the pop stars. "[Filming Battleship] is a different experience because Rihanna, we're out there together for a couple of months," he said.
Photos of a Rihanna in Hawaii, sporting a short brunette hairdo and a traditional U.S. Navy uniform, surfaced earlier this month.
"Battleship" will land in theaters on May 25, 2012.
How do you think Rihanna will do in "Battleship"? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Battleship."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Artists'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps' Rakes In Box-Office Cash
The long-awaited sequel debuts with $19 million.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Michael Douglas in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"
Photo: 20th Century Fox
The Box-Office Top Five
#1 "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" ($19 million)
#2 "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ($16.3 million)
#3 "The Town" ($16 million)
#4 "Easy A" ($11 million)
#5 "You Again" ($8.3 million)
Moviegoers didn't sleep on the long-awaited follow-up to the 1987 financial drama "Wall Street." Twenty-three years after banking villain Gordon Gekko first fascinated audiences, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" took the box-office crown. Featuring Michael Douglas as fallen financial titan Gekko, Carey Mulligan as his estranged daughter Winnie and Shia LaBeouf as her fiancé, the sequel picked up $19 million during its debut weekend.
The animated, fantasy film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole," about a crew of intrepid owls out to save the owl kingdoms from powerful foes, flew into second place. The adaptation from a children's book series, featuring voice-over contributions from Helen Mirren and Geoffrey Rush, raked in $16.3 million.
"The Town" maintained a top-five slot during its second weekend on screens. The Ben Affleck-helmed, cops-and-robbers flick is close behind "Ga'Hoole" with $16 million. The film's total estimated tally now stands at roughly $49 million.
Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Amanda Bynes' high-school laugh-getter "Easy A" also maintained a solid second-week showing. Punching up well-worn, teen-friendly themes, such as rumor-mongering and social acceptance, the flick raked in $11 million. The weekend ticket sales bump the movie's total haul to nearly $33 million.
The rom-com "You Again" wrapped up its first weekend in theaters in fifth place. The film stars Kristin Bell as a PR professional faced with the prospect of her high-school enemy (played by Odette Yustman) becoming her sister-in-law. Hollywood vets Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver also turn in performances as soon-to-be-in-laws with their own strained past. The flick raked in $8.3 million.
Check out everything we've got on "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" and "The Town"
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'Glee' Star Reveals Britney Spears Episode Details
'I was just staring at her at one point and thinking, 'This is just so frickin' awesome,' ' Heather Morris says.
By James Dinh
Heather Morris
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images
Britney Spears has always had her share of doubters, but in an upcoming episode that plays homage to the singer, the students of William McKinley High will have her back as they fight for the pop princess, according to castmember Heather Morris.
In an interview with Australian magazine TV Week, the actress dished about the plotline surrounding next week's "Britney/Brittany" episode and what it was like working with the pop icon.
"Through a special substance, I go under and have a couple of dream sequences — not only myself, but with Santana [Naya Rivera]," Morris explained. "A lot of it has to do with Will [Matthew Morrison] not allowing us to perform Britney Spears songs, because he doesn't agree with what kind of entertainer she is, so it's our fight to do Britney. But it's not just us doing Britney in show choir; there are other sequences — it's our homage to her."
In the episode, which airs next Tuesday, viewers might catch a rendition of Spears' 2003 hit collabo with Madonna "Me Against the Music." Last month, the singer tweeted on-set photos of her and Morris re-enacting a scene from the girl-on-girl clip. Aside from the Madonna collaboration, " ... Baby One More Time" and "Toxic" are also reported to be part of the episode.
Morris told TV Week she wasn't nervous to work with the pop star since it wasn't her first encounter with Spears. "It wasn't really nerve-racking, because I've met her before and I wasn't really overwhelmed by who she is," she admitted. "But the idea of what she has given us for the show and, for me, getting to dance with her and play with her on set, I was just staring at her at one point and thinking, 'This is just so frickin' awesome.' "
While show creator Ryan Murphy has already revealed his admiration for the singer, Morris' idolization might be a bit more personal. "She was my idol from, like, age 12 to 16," she told the magazine. "I sang to her [songs] in my living room and danced to her — I learned all her moves. And I had my talent shows and I lip-synched to her. I just kept flashing back to growing up and being obsessed with her."
The 23-year-old actress might not have been fazed by Spears' presence, but that wasn't the case for everyone on set. "It was literally like the president had come," Murphy previously said. "We all had to wear wristbands. I couldn't get into my own sets at one point, which I thought was hilarious."
Mr. Schuester isn't the only character worried that Spears' music will wreak havoc on the halls of McKinley High. "Sue Sylvester is of the opinion that Britney Spears is basically the anti-Christ," Jane Lynch told TV Week of her character. "How does she put it? 'A pop-culture provocateur and responsible for every out-of-control impulse ever created.' So she fears that if Britney Spears' music is played, it will create a sex riot — and it does."
Are you excited for the Britney takeover on "Glee" next week? Share your thoughts below!
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Lady Gaga - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Lady Gaga
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
Portia de Rossi Rachael Leigh Cook Rachel Bilson Rachel Blanchard
Ne-Yo Calls Potential Lady Gaga Collabo 'Intriguing'
'Would I jump into her world? Would I pull her into mine?' he says to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Ne-Yo
Photo: Kim Schier / MTV News
While Lady Gaga has worked with everyone from RedOne and Akon to Teddy Riley and Rodney Jerkins, she sticks to a pretty tight-knit group of collaborators when it comes to her albums, including the forthcoming Born This Way. But that doesn't mean singer/songwriter Ne-Yo hasn't been trying to get in the studio with the "Bad Romance" songstress.
"We've been talking to Gaga's people about some stuff," he said. "Gaga's very difficult to get a hold of as of late, for obvious reasons. She's very busy. We've been talking to her people about doing some stuff."
Ne-Yo is best known for working with artists like Rihanna and Beyoncé and crafting pop-influenced R&B tunes. So how would he apply his hitmaking formula to the dance queen's music? "I have no idea! That's kind of the intriguing thing that I have no idea what that song would sound like," he said. "Like, would I jump into her world? Would I pull her into mine? I don't know, but I feel like it would be interesting to see. Maybe we should get a camera crew over when that happens."
While a Gaga collabo isn't a sure thing, Ne-Yo has confirmed that he's working with Beyoncé on her next album.
"The thing about working with Beyoncé is that she definitely has her own agenda," the "Irreplaceable" songwriter said. "She's an artist that knows exactly what she wants to do.
"She's going to give you directions [like] 'Here's where I'm going, so here's where I need you to be,' " Ne-Yo explained. "And, you know, I'm a person that follows direction well. [And she'll be like], 'So this is the sound, this is the vibe; make it happen.' And I write and she likes it or she doesn't. And in this case she did, and there you have it."
Would you like to hear a Ne-Yo and Gaga collabo? Let us know in the comments!
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Brad Womack to return to The Bachelor
Despite his failure to find a future wife on season 11 of The Bachelor, Brad Womack is ready to give true love another shot. The Austin bar owner, who infamously left the ABC reality show empty-handed after turning down his two finalists, DeAnna Pappas and Jenni Croft, in 2007, will return for the series' next season, it was announced during Dancing With the Stars on September 27. So what is the blue-eyed hunk looking for in a lady love? "A beautiful woman inside and out, but more importantly, a true friend," he tells In Touch. 
Lady Gaga 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Speech 'Resonated' With Maine Crowd
'She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to,' one supporter tells MTV News at rally.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Cliff Kucine/ Getty Images
PORTLAND, Maine — On Monday, thousands packed into Deering Oaks Park to witness Lady Gaga's rather spur-of-the-moment speech in support of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." Many of them were students at the nearby University of Southern Maine, active in the school's Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, and they were understandably amazed that one of the biggest pop stars on the planet had come to their town to speak on their behalf.
But, as MTV News learned in speaking with some of them, the event had a much deeper meaning too. As it turns out, many of them also had a personal stake in the ongoing debate over "don't ask" — which failed to get enough Senate votes on Tuesday (September 21) to spur a formal debate — and to have Gaga in their corner meant more than they could express.
"Her speech really resonated with me because, actually, this summer, I thought about joining the military, but because I'm gay, I can't," USM student Kelly Golek said. "If it's repealed, there's a very good chance I will [enlist]. So I thought this whole event was amazing, because you really don't see something like this. Like, what other pop star would come out and do this? She's very brave, and I was totally moved by that speech."
"It really resonated with me, because I've actually been considering the military, because I took my ASVAB [military aptitude exam], and I got an incredibly high score, so I could basically do anything I wanted to in the Navy," Ellen McDonald said. "But because I'm a lesbian, I'm not able to do that at the moment. So, [her speech] really touched me, because those are my hopes and dreams."
And even those who weren't prohibited from serving openly still felt a personal connection to Gaga's speech, because, the way they see it, she's lending her voice to the voiceless.
"She wasn't paid to come here and speak; she did it because she felt like she needed to. [She said] 'I'm coming to Maine ... be there,' " Chris Johnson said. "It makes you feel like you have a voice, because she takes the issue and says, 'I will be your voice, because I know you're not being heard right now.' She's the voice of this generation that's not old enough to vote, but we have different points of view from the generation that raised us."
"There are celebrities that do things to help humanity, but Lady Gaga really does things," USM student Marepheen Berry said. "She has a way of putting forth her messages. She shocks people, and that's what I like about her: She shocks people, and it really opens up their eyes and turns heads."
Of course, there were also those in the crowd who, while active in the fight to repeal "don't ask," were mainly there to see Lady Gaga. And, really, can you blame them?
"I think it's unbelievable. I was in shock when we first heard. I don't even know how to describe it," USM freshman Joseph Sibley laughed. "When we found out, I was like, 'There's no way, nobody ever comes to Maine, and nobody ever talks to us.' ... And I'm glad I came. It was awesome."
What do you think about Gaga's rally against "don't ask, don't tell"? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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Justin Bieber Gets 'Kudos' For His 'CSI' Cameo
Show's exec producer sings the star's praises over his appearance on the show, airing Thursday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber on "CSI"
Photo: CBS
Justin Bieber might be one of a handful of pop stars to make a cameo on "CSI," but he has certainly left his mark on the cast and the crew of the hit CBS crime drama. When Bieber hits the small screen Thursday night (September 23) for his performance as Jason McCann, he will certainly leave fans stunned by his acting chops, one of the show's producers told MTV News.
"I thought that he did a really good job. We only had Justin for a day, for 10 and a half hours, and he had a lot of work crammed into those 10 and a half hours," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn said about the first of Bieber's two appearances on the show. "And he had one super big scene, and the scene was an interrogation scene in the police department with [actor] George Eads, and George actually took Justin under his wing."
Why did the veteran "CSI" actor feel that Biebs was worthy of his mentorship? "George said that when he was just starting out, Tom Selleck took him under his wing, so I think he tried to return that kindness, and he really had some time to work the material," she explained. "We built in some time, and I thought that scene was really good, and Justin had a couple of scenes where he didn't have a lot of dialogue or no dialogue and then two pretty heavy scenes."
Noting that Bieber did a "really good job" with the heavier work, Mendelsohn added that Bieber has some acting chops. "It's hard for any accomplished, mature actor to come on the set and fall right into character and do your work, so kudos to Justin," she said.
Are you planning to watch Justin's "CSI" debut? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsLeonardo DiCaprio Calls Gloria Stuart 'A Force'
Actor says he was 'honored' to have worked with the late actress on 'Titanic.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Leonardo DiCaprio
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Although they never actually appeared onscreen together in "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio has fond memories of Gloria Stuart, his co-star from the 1997 blockbuster who passed away at age 100 over the weekend.
"Gloria Stuart was a force both on and off screen," the actor said in a statement about the actress, who was diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago and died in her home in Los Angeles. "An amazingly sweet person, a fantastic actress, and someone who always fought for what she believed in."
DiCaprio added that he felt privileged to have worked with Stuart, who began her career in the 1930s. "She was one of the last great actresses from the Golden era of Hollywood," he continued. "I was honored to have worked alongside her. She will be missed."
In the '30s, Stuart was under contract with Universal and 20th Century Fox and acted alongside big names of the time like Claude Rains, James Cagney and Shirley Temple. But in 1939 her contract with 20th Century Fox was not renewed, and she spent a few years struggling to find work before retiring from film in 1946.
Cameron resurrected Stuart's career in 1997 when he cast her as the elder version of Kate Winslet's character Rose Calvert in "Titanic." Stuart nabbed a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for the role; she was 87 at the time, making her the oldest actress to receive an Academy Award nomination. Though "Titanic" won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Stuart lost out to "L.A. Confidential" star Kim Basinger. Stuart's "Titanic" scene was later immortalized by Britney Spears in her hit song, "Oops ... I Did It Again."
Stuart was born on July 4, 1910, in Santa Monica, California. She is survived by a daughter, four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. "When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed," she wrote in her 1999 memoir, according to The Washington Post. "I didn't realize it would take so long."
Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
In Touch Exclusive Photos & Interview:Kim Zolciak says, "I love my new boobs"
Looking at pictures of herself on vacation in Miami four months ago, Kim Zolciak couldn?t believe what she saw. ?My boobs looked crazy and saggy,? she reveals to In Touch in an exclusive interview. So, Bravo?s Real Housewives of Atlanta star had three hours of surgery to replace the saline implants she?d gotten at age 20 with lighter silicone ones. Though she was thrilled with the results, Kim had to go back under the knife once more after tearing some of her stitches. Now healing and happier than ever, Kim, 32, says, ?I love my new boobs. They?re so perky. I feel fantastic!? 'Glee' Tackles Britney Spears' Snake-Charming VMA Set
Heather Morris rocks a boa and bikini similar to Spears' 2001 Video Music Awards performance.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Heather Morris on "Glee"
Photo: Adam Rose/ Fox
Hold tight, Gleeks! The all-Britney Spears episode of "Glee" is just days away, and details about the pop star's tribute are trickling in.
We already know the McKinley high-schoolers are going to revamp Brit's debut smash " ... Baby One More Time" and her Madonna match-up "Me Against the Music." The song-and-dance crew has also reached beyond Spears' trendsetting clips to one of her iconic stage performances: the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards rendition of "I'm a Slave 4 U."
A picture surfaced Friday (September 24) of the megastar's "Glee" namesake Brittany (played by Heather Morris) rocking a bejeweled green-and-blue two-piece similar to Spears' skimpy VMA ensemble, with a yellow boa draped over her shoulders.
Morris recently opened up about the arc of Tuesday's episode, dishing that the glee clubbers rebel against Schuester's ban on retooling Spears' hits.
"Through a special substance, I go under and have a couple of dream sequences — not only myself, but with Santana [Naya Rivera]," Morris told Australian magazine TV Week. "A lot of it has to do with Will [Matthew Morrison] not allowing us to perform Britney Spears songs, because he doesn't agree with what kind of entertainer she is, so it's our fight to do Britney. But it's not just us doing Britney in show choir; there are other sequences — it's our homage to her."
Tuesday's show is shaping up to be a busy one for Morris, who is also vamping it up opposite Spears herself in their reworking of "Music." However, the actress insisted her previous encounters with Spears helped her stay cool around the pop icon.
"It wasn't really nerve-racking, because I've met her before and I wasn't really overwhelmed by who she is," she said. "But the idea of what she has given us for the show and, for me, getting to dance with her and play with her on set, I was just staring at her at one point and thinking, 'This is just so frickin' awesome.' "
Are you excited for the Britney takeover on "Glee" next week? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsJustin Bieber Gets 'Kudos' For His 'CSI' Cameo
Show's exec producer sings the star's praises over his appearance on the show, airing Thursday.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber on "CSI"
Photo: CBS
Justin Bieber might be one of a handful of pop stars to make a cameo on "CSI," but he has certainly left his mark on the cast and the crew of the hit CBS crime drama. When Bieber hits the small screen Thursday night (September 23) for his performance as Jason McCann, he will certainly leave fans stunned by his acting chops, one of the show's producers told MTV News.
"I thought that he did a really good job. We only had Justin for a day, for 10 and a half hours, and he had a lot of work crammed into those 10 and a half hours," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn said about the first of Bieber's two appearances on the show. "And he had one super big scene, and the scene was an interrogation scene in the police department with [actor] George Eads, and George actually took Justin under his wing."
Why did the veteran "CSI" actor feel that Biebs was worthy of his mentorship? "George said that when he was just starting out, Tom Selleck took him under his wing, so I think he tried to return that kindness, and he really had some time to work the material," she explained. "We built in some time, and I thought that scene was really good, and Justin had a couple of scenes where he didn't have a lot of dialogue or no dialogue and then two pretty heavy scenes."
Noting that Bieber did a "really good job" with the heavier work, Mendelsohn added that Bieber has some acting chops. "It's hard for any accomplished, mature actor to come on the set and fall right into character and do your work, so kudos to Justin," she said.
Are you planning to watch Justin's "CSI" debut? Let us know in the comments!
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Halle Berry And Her Daughter Hit The CB2
Halle Berry got some important mother and daughter bonding time in yesterday in West Hollywood. The 44-year-old actress took her daughter, Nahla for a shopping trip, stopping by trendy CB2 furniture store. Halle propped the cute two-year-old on the counter as she paid for her purchases. Halle is back in Los Angeles after filming Dark [...]
Drake Reveals He's Working With Rihanna On Loud
'I just did this great song with Rihanna,' rapper tells MTV News.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Drake
Photo: MTV News
Before Drake's brief Twitter affair with Nicki Minaj, the Toronto lyricist had a celebrity romance with Rihanna, whose last project he did unreleased work on and whom he was spotted smooching in a New York bowling alley.
The rapper recalled the incident on his debut, Thank Me Later, spitting about their dalliance and later saying he was Rihanna's "pawn" in an interview.
Now the fire appears to be doused, as the two are reuniting for Rihanna's forthcoming project, Loud, according to Drake.
"I just did this great song," he told MTV News. "I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it. I just did this great song with Rihanna; hopefully we can do a video for it. I'm really excited about that."
The two had a fling before Rihanna became involved with Los Angeles Dodgers player Matt Kemp. Drake denied his involvement with the singer many times, but he finally let loose on his song "Fireworks."
"I was a pawn," Drake told the New York Times earlier this year about his time with RiRi, which began with an invitation to pen a track for the singer. "You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, 'Wow, this feels terrible.' "
Are you excited to hear Drake and Rihanna's collabo? Let us know in the comments!
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Joe Jonas May Drop Solo Album Next Year
Jonas Brothers singer working on 'a more dangerous sound' for the project, E! News reports.
By Jocelyn Vena
Joe Jonas
Photo: George Napolitano/ FilmMagic
Nick Jonas did his own thing with the Administration, and in 2011, Joe Jonas also plans to go it alone. It has been confirmed that the Jonas Brothers singer will release a solo album sometime next year, something he's been hinting at for a while now.
E! News reports that the 21-year-old is currently recording the album, and sources tell the website that he is going for "a more dangerous sound," similar to Justin Timberlake.
"Joe has been working with various writers and producers but there's no confirmation on what it will be for," a Jonas Brothers rep told MTV News.
Joe hasn't been secretive about his desire to pursue other projects. "I've been working on lots of music," he told MTV News in August. "I've been working [with] lots of musicians having a great time. [I have] been writing with a lot of friends of mine and some artists here and there, and we'll see what comes out it."
And his music has even gotten his brothers' seal of approval. "I've heard it. It's awesome," Nick said, before Kevin chimed in, "It's really good music."
Joe has been very busy in 2010 with his own projects, mostly in the acting department. Between an appearance on "Hot in Cleveland," a November guest spot on "90210" and a mysterious acting project with Tom Hanks, Joe has been branching out from the JoBros.
How does Joe feel about all the work? "Life is wonderful," he tweeted last week. "Thank you all who impact my life. Family, friends, fans! Xo"
What do you think about Joe Jonas going solo? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsNew ?Glee?k on the Block: Darren Everett Criss to Play Kurt?s Love Interest?
We already met two new students joining the ranks at William McKinley high, but get ready for No. 3! That’s right ? the Glee crew is getting a newbie castmate, Darren Everett Criss!
Darren will play a new gay student at the high school and a possible love interest for Chris Colfer’s character Kurt, according to [...]
Darren will play a new gay student at the high school and a possible love interest for Chris Colfer’s character Kurt, according to [...]
Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia/Music World Music
- Director: Jake Nava
- Album: I Am... Sasha Fierce
Diddy, Trey Songz Applaud Chris Brown's Emotional BET Awards Performance
'He left his heart on the stage,' Songz says of singer's Michael Jackson tribute; host Queen Latifah and others also react.
By Rochell Thomas
Chris Brown at the 2010 BET Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Folks had nothing but love for Chris Brown, who fell apart during his tribute to Michael Jackson at the 10th annual BET Awards on Sunday night (June 27).
At the afterparty, hosted by the tag team of Diddy and "Hustle & Flow" actress Taraji P. Henson, everyone from a show producer to the cast of the soon-to-be-revived BET series "The Game," as well as some of the night's winners and presenters, had something to say about Brown's emotional performance of "Man in the Mirror," during which the singer fell to his knees crying, genuinely unable, it seemed, to sing the song.
"You know who stole my heart tonight?" Henson asked.
"Chris Brown!" answered Diddy, host Queen Latifah, BET personality Tigger and a group of others in near-unison.
"He was so vulnerable," Henson continued. "I love you, Chris!"
During the tribute, Brown channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean."
The winner in the Best Male R&B Artist category, Trey Songz, said, "Chris killed that. He left his heart on the stage. He gave genuine emotion. I was proud of him and I was happy for him for having that moment." Songz didn't mention Brown choking on the lyrics during the song: "He did that justice. Everybody's been waiting for that."
Brown may have been waiting for his turn to do a tribute to his idol Michael Jackson, but he also was happy to have an opportunity to speak to his fans later in the show.
"I let y'all down before, but I won't do it again," he said as he accepted the award for the AOL Fandemonium prize, which was presented by siblings Brandy and Ray J. "I promise." Fans voted online, giving Brown the win over Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz and Justin Bieber.
What did you think of Chris Brown's Michael Jackson tribute? Tell us in the comments
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsThe Hoff hangs up his dancing shoes
After being regarded as one of the ?most-watched men in the world,? David Hasselhoff was hoping the same might translate to viewer votes this season as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars. But sadly, after one dance, it wasn?t meant to be, as The Hoff and his partner, Kym Johnson, found themselves the first victims of elimination on Tuesday?s results show.
Click here to read more.
Sara Spraker Sarah Gellman Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Mutch
?Jackass? Star Johnny Knoxville & Naomi Nelson Wed
Funny man Johnny Knoxville has finally taken a more serious turn in life, settling down with his long time girlfriend this week.
The Jackass star married Naomi Nelson on Friday according to E! Online.
JOHNNY KNOXVILLE DEFENDS AIRPORT GRENADE INCIDENT
The 39-year-old and his now wife already have one child together, Rocko, born in December.
Johnny stars in the [...]
The Jackass star married Naomi Nelson on Friday according to E! Online.
JOHNNY KNOXVILLE DEFENDS AIRPORT GRENADE INCIDENT
The 39-year-old and his now wife already have one child together, Rocko, born in December.
Johnny stars in the [...]
Justin Bieber Joins Ranks Of Pop Stars With 'CSI' Cameos
Bieber's season-premiere debut follows guest turns by Diddy, Taylor Swift and more.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber in "CSI"
Photo: CBS
Justin Bieber is making his "CSI" debut on Thursday night (September 23), and while it remains to be seen whether the teen idol can pull out an Emmy-worthy performance, his appearance on the show continues the series' tradition of casting marquee names for guest spots.
Taylor Swift got to live out her dream in March 2009, when she played Haley, a girl found dead outside of a motel. While Swift didn't have very many lines, the pop singer did display some chops onscreen and got to indulge her morbid acting fantasies.
"I've always joked around with my record label and my mom and everybody — all my friends know that my dream is to die on 'CSI,' " she said last year. "I've always wanted to be one of the characters on there that they're trying to figure out what happened to."
But not everyone plays the victim. When Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz made a cameo on the show in March 2009, they hit up the East Coast version of the show on "CSI: NY." The Wentzes went dark for their parts as Chester Byron and Lila Wickfield, playing a young couple entangled in the world of drug-dealing.
"It's easy to play passionate roles with the person you love," Wentz said about hooking up with his wife onscreen. "There's nothing weird about it when you love the person."
Diddy worked the opposite end of the legal spectrum when he was cast as a defense attorney on "CSI: Miami" in December 2008. Describing his character as a "nemesis" to David Caruso's he explained, "I wanted to keep on studying and learning; working with great actors, directors, great shows. I've never done a television drama. I've always wanted to play a lawyer. I didn't want to play, like, a rap artist or a criminal."
And that brings it back to Bieber, who'll make his first of two appearances this week as troubled kid Jason McCann on "CSI" (the second will air in February). He'll certainly be showing fans a side of him they haven't seen.
"He's a troubled young man, raised in the foster-care system, whose hard-luck life has left him scarred and angry," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn told MTV News last month. "When we first meet Jason, we meet him at a community center where he's giving a testimonial in honor of a man who takes Jason and his older brother in when they had no one else, and that man is now in jail and Jason's brother is out for revenge and looking for payback."
Are you planning to watch Justin's "CSI" debut? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSunday, September 26, 2010
'Black Swan' Was Custom-Made For Natalie Portman
Darren Aronofsky explains the advantages of having a beautiful star portray 'uncertain ground and darkness.'
By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"
Photo: Fox Searchlight
Director Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" doesn't hit theaters until December, but many of the moviegoers who were lucky enough to see the film on the festival circuit are already predicting Oscar nominations for lead actress Natalie Portman. As Aronofsky explains it, it's not difficult to understand why Portman's portrayal of troubled ballerina Nina Sayers is getting so much praise — after all, the role was constructed for Portman from the very beginning.
"Like the way we kind of knew that Mickey Rourke was going to be in 'The Wrestler' and we were able to construct the material for him, Natalie had been attached to the film for eight or nine years; so when we were thinking about it, we were thinking about Natalie," Aronofsky told MTV News about developing Portman's character. "First and foremost, we just wanted to make the character work and make sense of the character. Then Natalie, through her own work, was able to get to a place where she was able to play it."
Indeed, "Black Swan" buzz has been building for quite some time, thanks in large part to the electric chemistry between Portman and co-star Mila Kunis. But once upon a time, rumors floated around that Portman herself would portray both her own character and Kunis' — the same way that Odette and Odile are typically played by the same ballerina in "Swan Lake." And Aronofsky himself won't exactly deny that rumor.
"There were lots of different versions about what was going on," the director confessed. "It's been a long, long evolution."
In the end, Aronofsky believes that a mixture of ingredients helped to shape Portman's profound performance, not the least of which is the actress herself.
"Having a big movie star like Natalie Portman gets you a lot of advantages," he said. "People want to like her; she's very beautiful and very youthful. That helps when you start to move things towards uncertain ground and darkness."
Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
The secret to Brooke Burke's smile
With 21 million people tuning in to watch the Dancing With the Stars season 11 premiere on Monday night, co-host Brooke Burke tells In Touch that it?s crucial she looks and feels her best. So she teamed up with Oral-B and Operation Smile to spread the word on how to keep teeth pearly white. ?A healthy, bright smile is one of the first things I notice about someone,? she told In Touch at the Townhouse Spa in New York. ?And with four kids, brushing our teeth is a big part of our whole routine at home.? From now until November 30, Oral-B is offering a 50 percent rebate on select rechargeable toothbrushes (visit oralb.com for details). Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian
Lady Gaga Rallies Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
The singer rallied in Portland, Maine.
Photo: Matt Harper/ MTV News
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Beyoncé - Video Phone (Extended Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Hype Williams
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Our Dear Britney Spears Is A Paragon Among Hollywood ?It? Girls
Amid all the insane craziness from Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, her Hollywood “It” Girl compatriots, I would just like to call all y’alls attention to the fact that our dear Britney Spears spent her week completely out of trouble … lookin’ good all the while: In fact, while Paris was bizzy getting expunged from [...]
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Ryan Reynolds Likens Filming 'Buried' To 'A Fever Dream'
'I would have been a fool to not pursue this with everything I had,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Ryan Reynolds
Photo: MTV News
Props to Ryan Reynolds for stepping out of his standard zany comedy and blockbuster action film roles and into the intense — and claustrophobia-inducing — thriller "Buried." The entire film takes place inside a wooden coffin buried under the sand of the Iraqi desert. Reynolds plays Paul Conroy, a desperate man trying to escape, and he is the only actor shown onscreen.
When we caught up with Reynolds and his "Buried" director, Rodrigo Cortes, we wondered what kind of prep the "Green Lantern" actor did to get ready to be in that box for so long.
"This is the only film I've ever done where I did not rehearse a moment of it before stepping onto the set," Reynolds said. "I just don't know if you could. Who wants to? It would be awful to try and rehearse this at home and try to express all of these different kinds of emotions in a close-up.
"It's just something you've gotta do when you're out there, and then it will feel like a fever dream," he continued. "And that's what it was. I walked away thinking it felt like I had a weird nightmare."
So would Reynolds rather get back in a box for a sequel or do another "Van Wilder" movie?
"Gosh, that's a good question," he said. "I'll take another film in a box, because the reward is pretty great doing a film like this."
Speaking of rewards, Reynolds' director had nothing but the highest praise for his star.
"[Ryan is] an actor able to develop very deep and very committed emotions with very small things, in a very organic way," Cortes said. "It's impossible to catch him lying. He never acts; he always is. It's amazing. It's so heartbreaking."
He went on to compare Reynolds to one of the most memorable actors in Hollywood history: Cary Grant.
"He has an alien sense of timing. I haven't seen anyone like that since Cary Grant, so it's a gift for a director," Cortes said. "So from the very first moment, he was a long shot, he was going to say no, it was between 'The Proposal' and 'Green Lantern,' so come on, is he going to come to Barcelona to our little box? But for some reason, he said yes. I still wonder why."
A humbled Reynolds seemed flattered by the compliments. "That is high praise. I've taken it with a grain of salt or a crate of Valium," he laughed. "It was a unique opportunity, and I would have been a fool to not pursue this with everything I had. It was just such an amazing script with an amazing filmmaker and something that had never, ever been done before."
Watching "Buried" with an audience, Reynolds said, is as unique as filming the project. "I've never been a part of a film where you walk into the theater and everybody takes a deep breath before the credits start rolling and you don't exhale until the end," he said. "It's just amazing."
Check out everything we've got on "Buried."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Justin Bieber's Got Big Post-VMA Plans
Bieber has movies, videos, a memoir and a new album in the works.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber performs at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
He performed on the VMAs and even took home a Moonman for Best New Artist, so it looks like Justin Bieber's plan to take over the world is working. What will be his next steps to global domination? Here, we've gathered everything we know so far, but given how fast his career has moved in the past year, we're sure there's much more to come.
Bieber recently revealed plans to release a new album sometime next year and has mentioned some dream collaborations he'd like to get for the follow-up to his successful sophomore release, My World 2.0.
"[It'll] probably [come out] fourth quarter next year," he told MTV News on the VMA white carpet. "Drake is gonna be on that album; I'm not sure [who else]. I'm gonna ask him if he can get [Lil] Wayne on there."
Currently, Bieber is shooting the video for his next single, "U Smile," directed by Alfredo Flores. In new photos from the shoot posted on Idolator, Bieber is shown dressed in all black, trying to woo a teenage girl near a run-down movie theater.
"Been working on a new video for U SMILE today," he tweeted. "Different versions. Hope u guys will like it. Some water fights goin on. Good times."
Bieber fans can also look forward to the October release of his illustrated memoir, "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story." "Every day I wake up and count my blessings. My fans have played such a large part in all of this and they help me live my dreams every day," he explained when the book was announced. "I'm excited to share just a little bit more of my world with them through this book. Between the behind-the-scenes pictures and the story I think this is going to be something they can all enjoy. This is just another way for me to say thank you to my fans."
Next week, Bieber will appear on "CSI" in one very "explosive" story line, and the teen star has said that his two episodes on the show (one airs on September 23 and the other early next year), are very "high energy."
"At the end of the episode, we're left with the question: Is Jason a good kid stuck in a bad situation or is Jason a bad kid hiding behind his cuteness? You can see why Justin was such a perfect choice to play this role," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn told MTV News. "It's an explosive story."
But Bieber isn't just taking his skills to the small screen. He's currently working on his 3-D movie, which is part concert film and part biopic.
"[It's] a movie for his fans, a movie for people who don't know him, and we're gonna tell the underdog story of where he came from," director Jon Chu told MTV News last month. "Because it's a really fascinating story, and it has a lot to do with our sort of digital lifestyle now. He was able to do what corporations try to do now when they use YouTube and they don't even know what to do with it yet. It's a pretty cool story for our time."
Really, there's no shortage of film work for Bieber. Manager Scooter Braun told Teen Vogue that Bieber will join the cast of the forthcoming top-secret Will Smith movie, and director Garry Marshall said he'd love to get the star onboard for the forthcoming, "New Year's Eve."
What do you want to see next from Justin? Share your ideas in the comments!
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Lauren LC Conrad, the girl who found fame and fortune on the MTV reality TV series shows Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills, has announced that she will be making her return to reality TV on the network that made her a star. As you may recall, LC bowed out of appearing [...]
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Jay-Z Will Not Replace Mathew Knowles as Beyonce's Manager
Knowles denies rumors that he will no longer manage Beyonce's career.
By James Dinh
Beyoncé
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Jay-Z may be Beyoncé's husband, but the hip-hop heavyweight will not be managing the pop star anytime soon. According to a statement posted by the singer's management website, Music World Entertainment, Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles is not being replaced by Jay-Z or anyone else as her manager.
"Contrary to false rumors online, Beyoncé and her manager Mathew Knowles unequivocally have had and continue to have a close personal and business relationship. Mathew Knowles is the sole and exclusive manager of Beyoncé," the statement reads.
Mathew Knowles has always played an important part in his daughter's career, dating all the way back to her days in Destiny's Child. When the group split in 2005, Mathew continued managing Beyoncé as well as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. But Rowland and Williams recently parted ways with Knowles and his Music World Entertainment team. Earlier this year, he also denied claims that the trio were in talks to reunite Destiny's Child.
In addition to refuting the online rumors, the management company confirmed that the singer is working on upcoming music projects. "Furthermore, Beyoncé is readying the release of her new, highly anticipated DVD and has started the recording process for her new album," the statement concluded.
One producer that the singer may be reuniting with for her next record is Ne-Yo. The pair previously worked together on her hit single "Irreplaceable" back in 2006. Just last week, the soon-to-be father tweeted, "Mornin' NY!!! Studio with Mary J Blige last night, Beyonce tonight. I LOVE MY JOB!!! Shout out Jerry Wonder!!"
How do you think Mathew Knowles does at managing Beyoncé? Share your thoughts below.
Related ArtistsNew Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'
By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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"Buried," which opens in limited release today before going wide on October 8, is an unconventional film, to say the least. It's 94 minutes in a box with Ryan Reynolds. There are no cutaways, no flashbacks, nothing like that.
Even more unusual is the manner in which the film was shot, which is to say chronologically. [...]
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Selita Ebanks on ex Nick Cannon: ?He?s amazing with children!?
She may have split from Nick Cannon three years ago, but Selita Ebanks has total faith in her former fianc�?s fatherhood potential. ?He?s amazing with children!? the Victoria?s Secret model told In Touch of Nick, who seems to be expecting with his wife, Mariah Carey, at the New Yorkers for Children 2010 Fall Gala in New York on September 21. Despite Selita and Nick?s 2007 breakup, the beauty wishes only the best for her ex?s high-profile romance with the hit-making diva. ?There?s no doubt in my mind that Mariah is a lucky woman to have a great man!? she gushed. Though she has yet to confirm a pregnancy, Mariah sparked rumors when she was spotted with what appeared to be a baby bump at a Brazilian concert in August.
Watch Another 1:40 Of ?Dexter? Season 5
A week ago today I shared with y’all the first 1:40 seconds of the season 5 premiere episode of Dexter titled My Bad. Today, I’m sharing another 1:40 clip from that very same ep … which will air in its entirety on Sunday night when the new season of Dexter premieres on Showtime at 9PM [...]
Friday, September 24, 2010
Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
- Artist: Led Zeppelin
- Label: Swan Song
- Album: The Song Remains the Same
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