- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: RCA
- Director: Chris Marrs Piliero
Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=703015
Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=703015
'All of this comes with the territory,' Ush tells MTV News of paternity-suit drama.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> might not have known how big <a href="/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> would become when he discovered him a few years back, but he was pretty sure he had found something special. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Advises Justin Bieber To 'Stay Strong'" id="vid:712878" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Since Bieber burst on the scene with his <i>My World</i> EP back in 2009, the 17-year-old has grown up with the world watching. He's gone from up-and-comer to full-fledged pop sensation, racking up chart-topping albums and a box-office hit and becoming an all-around mega-heartthrob — all in two years. </P><P> </P><P>Of course, with the good does come negative attention as well. Recently, Bieber was hit with a <a href="/news/articles/1674509/justin-bieber-paternity-suit-dropped-2.jhtml">paternity lawsuit, which has since been dropped</a>. </P><P> </P><P>Usher, no stranger to his own controversies, had these words for the Biebs: "Stay strong. And know that all of this comes with the territory." </P><P> </P><P>Aside from the drama, Usher is especially proud of Bieber's charitable side. His mentor said he "absolutely" knew the kid from Stratford, Ontario, had a big heart from the start. </P><P> </P><P>"To write a check is only half of it, but when you truly take on a responsibility to be a philanthropist, you accept an effort, and I really think that Pencils of Promise is something that has a very bright future," <a href="/news/articles/1674628/justin-bieber-new-york-city.jhtml">Usher told MTV News at an event for the charity</a>, noting that Bieber is a only a small part of it. </P><P> </P><P>Usher — who appears on Bieber's new Christmas album, <a href="/news/articles/1673032/justin-bieber-usher-christmas-song.jhtml"><i>Under the Mistletoe</i></a> — gives credit to the folks surrounding the teen superstar, including manager Scooter Braun. "Just judging from the determination and the will power of the entire team around Justin, I see a very, very promising [future] for him as a philanthropist," Usher said.</p>
Related ArtistsSource:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674705/justin-bieber-usher-advice.jhtml
Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris
'All of this comes with the territory,' Ush tells MTV News of paternity-suit drama.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><a href="/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> might not have known how big <a href="/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> would become when he discovered him a few years back, but he was pretty sure he had found something special. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Advises Justin Bieber To 'Stay Strong'" id="vid:712878" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Since Bieber burst on the scene with his <i>My World</i> EP back in 2009, the 17-year-old has grown up with the world watching. He's gone from up-and-comer to full-fledged pop sensation, racking up chart-topping albums and a box-office hit and becoming an all-around mega-heartthrob — all in two years. </P><P> </P><P>Of course, with the good does come negative attention as well. Recently, Bieber was hit with a <a href="/news/articles/1674509/justin-bieber-paternity-suit-dropped-2.jhtml">paternity lawsuit, which has since been dropped</a>. </P><P> </P><P>Usher, no stranger to his own controversies, had these words for the Biebs: "Stay strong. And know that all of this comes with the territory." </P><P> </P><P>Aside from the drama, Usher is especially proud of Bieber's charitable side. His mentor said he "absolutely" knew the kid from Stratford, Ontario, had a big heart from the start. </P><P> </P><P>"To write a check is only half of it, but when you truly take on a responsibility to be a philanthropist, you accept an effort, and I really think that Pencils of Promise is something that has a very bright future," <a href="/news/articles/1674628/justin-bieber-new-york-city.jhtml">Usher told MTV News at an event for the charity</a>, noting that Bieber is a only a small part of it. </P><P> </P><P>Usher — who appears on Bieber's new Christmas album, <a href="/news/articles/1673032/justin-bieber-usher-christmas-song.jhtml"><i>Under the Mistletoe</i></a> — gives credit to the folks surrounding the teen superstar, including manager Scooter Braun. "Just judging from the determination and the will power of the entire team around Justin, I see a very, very promising [future] for him as a philanthropist," Usher said.</p>
Related ArtistsSource:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674705/justin-bieber-usher-advice.jhtml
Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco
'I'm fascinated by her,' Cowell says of singer, who's rumored to be contender to join show.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>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. </P><P> </P><P>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. </P><P> </P><P>"You can probably count on two girls," fellow judge L.A. Reid added. "That we can confirm." </P><P> </P><P>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. </P><P> </P><P>"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. </P><P> </P><P>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. </P><P> </P><P>"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. </P><P> </P><P>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."</p>
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Beyonc? Bianca Kajlich Bijou Phillips Blake Lively Blu Cantrell
'I'll be honest, I felt there was a lot of contradiction,' Van Pelt tells MTV News after her elimination.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Erika Van Pelt
Photo: MTV News
To just about anyone who tuned in to this week's "American Idol," Erika Van Pelt's exit was a shocker, to say the very least, especially since her performance of "New York State of Mind" was one of the highlights. But also because, you know, Heejun Han is still on the show.
Rather than using her three minutes to goof off, Van Pelt genuinely seemed determine to put her best foot forward on Wednesday night, whether it was listening to "Idol" judges' previous advice to minimize her onstage movements or taking designer Tommy Hilfiger's hairstyling tips to heart. Oh, and then she delivered a sultry, soulful version of the Joel classic, all of which seemed to guarantee she'd be safe ... for at least another week.
But, as it turns out, that wasn't the case, and on Thursday night's results show, it was Van Pelt who was sent packing. And immediately after her ouster, let's just say Van Pelt was still trying to figure out what went wrong — though she's got a pretty good idea of where to start.
"I felt confused every week, I'll be honest," she told MTV News. "I felt there was a lot of contradiction, and as an artist and someone who takes their singing very seriously, it's hard for me to take critique of my work, period, and then when you feel like you sorta have people telling you one thing and then telling you something completely different the week after, it's hard.
"Because constructive criticism to me is something I can go home, work on, fix and come back and say, 'Here, I fixed it.' I feel what happened to me in this competition was I would take all the advice, I'd work on things, I'd bring something different to the table, and they'd tell me the complete opposite. It's been really hard for me, I can admit that."
And to that end, when asked which judge or mentor actually provided her with the best guidance, Van Pelt took a diplomatic pause and then answered rather truthfully: none of them.
"This might sound really weird, but I feel like my fellow contestants taught me the most," she said. "We have this inner-working where we all help each other, we all offer up our advice ... it's all about throwing these ideas out and never telling someone what they should do; it's about giving them suggestions."
Of course, she did add that, ultimately, her "Idol" exit was of her own doing. "I will never blame anyone for misleading me in any way, shape or form; I'm a grown woman," she said. And she's grateful for all the opportunities the show has provided for her, chief among them being that, for a while at least, she doesn't have to go back to her day job as a wedding DJ.
"I don't think I'll be doing any DJ'ing for a while," she laughed. "To be totally honest, I need to sleep!"
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681725/american-idol-erika-van-pelt-reaction.jhtml
Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/cez9OX7AhTE/
'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter
<P>And now we've seen her. </P><P> </P><P>On Friday (February 10), <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> posted the first photos of his and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a>'s daughter, <a href="/news/articles/1676906/beyonce-jay-z-baby-born-ivy-blue.jhtml">Blue Ivy Carter</a>, on his <a href="http://lifeandtimes.com/glory" target="_blank">Life + Times</a> website. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="All About Beyonce And Jay-Z's New Arrival" id="id:1676907" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father. </P><P> </P><P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/thumbnails.jhtml?fid=1679016&view=thumb"><b>Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed.</a></b> </P><P> </P><P>There's a note that reads: "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family." </P><P> </P><P>The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to <a href="/news/articles/1678877/beyonce-jay-z-blue-ivy-trademark.jhtml">trademark Blue Ivy's name</a>. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. <i>The Washington Post</i> reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children. </P><P> </P><P>Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. <a href="/news/articles/1678670/beyonce-post-baby-appearance-jay-z.jhtml">B was photographed twice</a> this week, including at the first night of <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall</a>. </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!</i></p>
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Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera Amerie
A decade into her career, the pop megastar reinvented herself this year as the ultimate Femme Fatale and made a big commitment to Jason Trawick.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>Maybe <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a>' lucky number is 30. The singer turned 30 this year, marking the landmark birthday on December 2 with a fan-voted MTV News tournament that crowned <a href="/news/articles/1675289/britney-spears-tournament-winner-30th-birthday.jhtml">the Best Britney Video of All Time</a>. But her 30th year also proved to be an incredibly successful period in her career. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:720934/cp~vid%3D720934%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A720934" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>For the first time in a while, she seemed comfortable being the pop megastar that she is. More than a decade into her career, Spears re-emerged as a <a href="/news/articles/1675474/britney-spears-femme-fatale-favorite-album.jhtml"><i>Femme Fatale,</i></a> giving fans a fist-pumping album, embarking on a flashy tour and dropping more memorable music videos. Britney Spears fandom was reenergized as the singer came out of her shell, opening up about this phase in her career as well her personal life in several high-profile interviews. So it's probably not surprising that Spears will cap off the year at #4 on MTV News' <a href="/news/articles/1676177/newsmakers-2011-lady-gaga-amy-winehouse.jhtml">Top Newsmakers of 2011</a> list, just behind Lil Wayne. </P><P> </P><P>"When I was younger, I was busy, busy, and I was always singing and dancing all the time. I was just really creative," she recalled in the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/638813/britney-hits-the-studio-with-william.jhtml#id=166112">MTV special "I Am the Femme Fatale."</a> "That's when my mom realized I'm a really creative person." </P><P> </P><P>She let that creativity shine over the past 12 months. From <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/britney-spears/624145/hold-it-against-me.jhtml#artist=501686">"Hold It Against Me"</a> to <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/britney-spears/639722/till-the-world-ends.jhtml#artist=501686">"Till the World Ends"</a> to her Chris Marrs Piliero-directed "I Wanna Go" and "Criminal," Britney made headlines every time she dropped a music video. But no vid stirred up as much controversy as her <a href="/news/articles/1672795/britney-spears-criminal-video-director.jhtml">"Criminal" clip</a>, which featured real-life boyfriend <a href="/news/articles/1676120/britney-spears-is-engaged.jhtml">(now fiancé) Jason Trawick</a> — and his abs. </P><P> </P><P>"At the end of the day, Jason killed it," Piliero told MTV News of Trawick's cameo. "That was one of those things I was really stoked [about], as much as I went into it like, 'Wow, he's not an actor. This is going to be interesting,' but I really do like a challenge, and I really do like the idea that I'm a director and my job is to direct and get the performance. For me, it was a fun challenge to be like, 'I'm gonna make sure that you are awesome,' and he was." </P><P> </P><P>Between video shoots, Spears hit the road with <a href="/news/articles/1668836/nicki-minaj-britney-spears-tour.jhtml">the likes of Nicki Minaj</a>, Joe Jonas, and DJ Pauly D. Spears fully embraced her sensuality on the <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tour, a spectacular show full of costume changes, elaborate stage setups and stunning mini-films. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Hits The Studio With will.i.am" id="vid:638813.id:1661123" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>And while much of the 2011 VMA buzz was about <a href="/news/articles/1669849/beyonce-pregnant-vmas.jhtml">Beyoncé's baby bump</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1669843/lady-gaga-you-and-i-video-music-awards-performance.jhtml">Jo Calderone</a>, Spears stole the spotlight by walking away with a Moonman for Best Pop Video and the prized <a href="/news/articles/1669873/britney-spears-vma-tribute.jhtml">Video Vanguard Award</a>. She also had tongues wagging after an onstage kiss from Jo (a.k.a. Lady Gaga), just before she was honored with an electrifying dance tribute that highlighted some of biggest career moments. </P><P> </P><P>"It was really crazy. I had no idea what to expect," Spears told us backstage at the VMAs. "The kids were amazing and so entertaining, and it was a really fun night. It was really cool. I was like, 'Wow, that's really sweet!' " </P><P> </P><P>As 2011 came to a close, Spears wrapped up her tour, and MTV News threw her a birthday bash in the form of the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/content/news/2011/britney30/index.jhtml">"30 Videos for 30 Years"</a> tournament. The competition was heated but in the end, Spears' iconic "I'm a Slave 4 U" took home the prize. And just when it seemed things couldn't get any better, <a href="/news/articles/1676167/britney-spears-jason-trawick-engaged-timeline.jhtml">Britney confirmed she was engaged</a> to Trawick after dating for two years. She showed off her Neil Lane ring during a celebratory weekend in Las Vegas. </P><P> </P><P><b>MTV continues our <a href="http://www.mtv.com/specials/best_of/">Best of 2011</a> coverage by looking back at the biggest pop-culture stories of the year. As we count down the newsmakers that mattered to you most, also check out our <a href="/news/articles/1675981/best-artists-2011.jhtml">Best Artists</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1675921/best-songs-2011.jhtml">Best Songs</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1675822/best-mtv-live-performances-2011.jhtml">Best MTV Live Performances</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1675726/best-edm-artists-2011.jhtml">Best EDM Artists</a> of 2011.</b></p>
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Critics mostly agree that Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum's undercover cop comedy is 'a vibrant reboot of a rather forgettable '80s TV series.'
By Eric Ditzian
Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in "21 Jump Street"
Photo: Sony
Where my laughs at?
We've been suffering through a far-too-serious start at the 2012 box office. The first three-and-a-half months of the year have been dominated by weepy dramas ("The Vow"), kid-friendly animated fare ("The Lorax"), middling horror flicks ("The Devil Inside") and films that should have kept geek flags around the country flying high but instead could barely inspire a gust of nerdy enthusiasm ("John Carter," "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"). Even the adventure-comedy "Journey 2: The Mystery Island" — #4, somehow, on the year's top-grossing-movies list — elicited more forehead-smacking guffaws than genuine belly laughs.
"21 Jump Street" is about to change all of that. As our friends over at NextMovie put it, Jonah Hill's new film is the "first must-see comedy of the year." The majority of critics agree, praising the movie's big laughs, star players and killer supporting performances. Read on for a deep dive into the "21 Jump Street" reviews.
The Story
"Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as novice cops who are forced to go undercover as high-school students to bust up a drug ring? Come on, that movie's going to blow, right? But '21 Jump Street' doesn't blow — which could have been this movie's raunchy, self-deprecating tagline if it didn't already have several. '21 Jump Street' isn't a wild, fresh reinvention of the movie-cliché-spoofing genre — this isn't 'Airplane!' we're talking about — but it's also not a drearily overfamiliar retread of it." — Dana Stevens, Slate
The Laughs
"A vibrant reboot of a rather forgettable '80s TV series sounds nearly impossible to pull off. And yet '21 Jump Street' accomplishes it with a fresh script, flip humor and inspired casting. ... It's no surprise that Hill, as bumbling officer Schmidt, generates so many laughs. But who would expect Tatum, as the dimwitted officer Jenko, to be so comical? More often cast as a standard heartthrob — most recently in the sappy 'The Vow' — Tatum holds his own with Hill and every other comic actor in the film. Their chemistry is terrific." — Claudia Puig, USA Today
The Supporting Players
"Rob Riggle as a blustery coach, Chris Parnell as a self-important drama teacher, Jake Johnson as a fed-up principal, Ellie Kemper as a science teacher with the hots and then some for Jenko -- they're all about as hilarious as can be while barely being there. With Jenko falling out with Schmidt, Schmidt falling for classmate Molly (the utterly adorable Brie Larson) and Capt. Dickson breathing down both of their necks, there are already plenty of hijinks to go around, and that's not even mentioning a couple of cameos." — William Goss, Film.com
The Dissenters
"At times '21 Jump Street' seems sufficiently clever and sly to avoid the pitfalls that befall most movie adaptations of TV series. In the early going, it mocks its own existence, its embrace of clichés, and, indeed, the very conceit at its heart. ... But directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller quickly abandon any pretense that they wish to puncture the silliness of the idea and, instead, embrace it. And after that capitulation, the film becomes a hit-and-miss hodgepodge of plotting and jokes redolent at least as often of desperation as of inspiration." — Shawn Levy, The Oregonian
The Final Word
" '21 Jump Street' admits from the start, in a nicely timed and very meta joke, that it's really just an attempt to mine the past for nostalgia and ideas -- in this case, adapting a somewhat beloved '80s TV show about undercover cops in high school. But while that might have been Sony's goal when they set up the movie with star and producer Jonah Hill, the movie itself is more of an excuse to combine a surprisingly touching buddy story with wild, absurdist comedy.... Unpredictable and very silly but with real emotional stakes, '21 Jump Street' makes up for a shaggy script with a wily, endearing energy that feels like anything but a tired retread." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend
Check out everything we've got on "21 Jump Street."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1681237/21-jump-street-reviews.jhtml
Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani Halle Berry Hayden Panettiere
Meanwhile, Paula Abdul has been absent from the set since her final group was eliminated last week.
By Jim Cantiello
<P><i>MTV News' own Jim Cantiello is exclusively covering "The X Factor" rehearsals. Read on for his fly-on-the-wall backstage report!</i> </P><P> </P><P><b>LOS ANGELES</b> — "The X Factor" top seven are back on the lot after their first (and only) mini-vacation of the season. And as the Thanksgiving tryptophan wears off, the anxiety of another double elimination is setting in. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:714741" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Adding to the stress? "The X Factor" is tackling the songs of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml">Michael Jackson</a> on Wednesday night (November 30), on the 29th anniversary of <i>Thriller</i>'s release, no less. </P><P> </P><P>One of the contestants is so stressed over the theme he's emerged as a total perfectionist. During Monday's rehearsals, he had already nixed multiple arrangements the show had provided him. "This is the most unprepared I've felt on a Monday," he said to his mentor as they rushed out of Stage 36. There was a camera crew chasing them to capture the drama — as well as the ensuing late-night emergency meeting with the vocal coaches — so don't be surprised if some of this intense footage ends up in your living room. (This afternoon's dress rehearsal went swimmingly, for the record.) </P><P> </P><P>Meanwhile, one contestant had a full-on battle with his/her mentor over a chair. The mentor said, "Sit and sing." The contestant said, "Again?! How about I do something on my feet for Michael Jackson week?" Another mentor came to the defense of the contestant. In the end, the contestant is sitting after all. Don't worry, contestant. The eerie arrangement of an MJ classic is what folks are going to be buzzing about. No one will care if you sit or stand. In the control room, I spied one of the bigwigs utter the word "brilliant!" after the contestant's dress rehearsal. </P><P> </P><P>Another hot topic: wardrobe! When paying homage to one of the biggest music icons ever, it's tempting for the stylists to include clothing nods to Michael's various looks. But several singers are worried they'll look too much like Jackson impersonators, which has caused many a headache in the wardrobe trailer. But stylist June Ambrose is still able to keep things light in the midst of the drama. While waiting around for a contestant's last-minute fitting, she started an impromptu MJ dance party on the lot. Crotch grabs and "woo" included! </P><P> </P><P>Lastly, Paula Abdul's sunny energy has been noticeably absent on the CBS lot now that all her groups have been eliminated. She went from being the most hands-on mentor to an on-set ghost. "The X Factor" family can't wait to welcome her back for her first live show as strictly a judge. What do you think she's been doing with her newfound free time? </P><P> </P><P><b>You can catch Jim on the "X Factor Pepsi Pre-Show," streaming at 7 p.m. ET tonight on <a href="http://www.thexfactorusa.com/" target="_blank">TheXFactorUSA.com</a>!</b></p>
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Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich
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http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=603136
Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel
'He's a bit of a wiseass, and he thinks he's above them all,' Neal McDonough tells MTV News about playing the bleach-blond big bad on the show.
By Josh Wigler
Neal McDonough on "Justified"
Photo: FX
"Justified" lawman Raylan Givens has faced no shortage of memorable nemeses in his days as a Lexington, Kentucky-based U.S. marshal: hoodlums with "four kidneys," an "apple pie"-brewing and weed-slinging mama crime boss, not to mention the born again and born again and born again Boyd Crowder.
But Robert Quarles? In a sea of backwoods Kentucky killers and thieves, this bleach-blond mobster may very well take the cake.
Television veteran and "Captain America" actor Neal McDonough has graced the FX drama "Justified" with his formidable presence for the show's currently airing third season, and viewers are better off for it — even if deputy Givens, the modern-day cowboy played by lead actor and producer Timothy Olyphant, is ruing the day that McDonough's Quarles first set foot in Harlan County.
"It's like two great chess players in the same room," McDonough told MTV News about this season's ongoing battle between Quarles and Givens. "We both learn about each other. We've done our background checks on each other. So we both know we're worthy opponents — but when we get in front of each other, it's pretty awesome, because we're on the opposite sides of the spectrum, but there's a respect level for what each of us does. We're both really good at what we do. But there's also that ultimate disrespect from both of us: 'Don't think you're going to beat me. I'll let you dance with me for a while, but I'm going to crush you.' "
Quarles has already dished out some crushing blows. In just eight episodes, the Detroit mobster has dropped by Raylan's home unannounced, executed the deputy's ex-wife's ex-husband (it's complicated), framed Raylan for the murder and set him up as a dirty cop. None of that mentions Quarles' other atrocities, such as fatally shooting a businessman and his secretary mainly to prove a point, as well as brutally torturing a prisoner while simultaneously fielding a phone call from his very young son. What kind of monster can commit such crimes, you ask? According to McDonough, a very funny one.
"He has a bit of a sense of humor," said McDonough, who has played other villains with significantly fewer wisecracks to their names, including those in "Walking Tall" and "Street Fighter." "This one, Quarles, his tongue is firmly in cheek in a lot of scenes. He's a bit of a wiseass, and he thinks he's above them all. To play that, and then have him unravel, trying to keep that veneer up, is what makes it really fun for me to play."
Indeed, the walls are closing in on Quarles. Raylan Givens is not his only obstacle: Quarles is now completely cut off from the Detroit crime syndicate he once worked for, and is starting to abuse the illicit pain pills he's been pushing in Harlan County.
"He's a lot like me in a lot of ways: a businessman, but family first," McDonough said of his character. "But Quarles gets addicted not just to the rush of power, but worse, to OxyContin. We all know how bad that gets when you're hooked on junk like that."
Just how bad will Quarles' addiction get? The actor teased, "The only thing I've asked of ['Justified' executive producer and show-runner] Graham Yost is that by episode 10 or 11, I'd like to be naked and hopped up on my own stuff. He goes, 'Already thought of that, trust me!' "
"Justified" marks the third collaboration between McDonough and Yost, having previously worked together on "Boomtown" and "Band of Brothers." In fact, Quarles was written specifically with McDonough in mind, said the actor, who added that he would happily work with Yost on any project, anytime, anywhere.
"If Graham Yost called me and said, 'I have a three-minute infomercial to shoot in Bulgaria, are you in?' I'd say, 'Yes, what time is the flight?' " he said. "Graham tells me what to do and I do it. He gives me the juiciest stuff I can imagine as an actor."
The juicy stuff isn't always cruel and unusual, either. McDonough teased an upcoming scene that shows a "beautifully altruistic" side of Quarles that he described as one of his top moments of the season.
"There's one scene in particular where a young boy comes into my trailer threatening to kill me," said McDonough. "How I disarm him, not just physically but emotionally ... it was maybe my favorite scene of the year. It's just simple, emotional, truthful acting. Graham lobbed it in the air for me and I hit it out of the ballyard for him."
In short, to say that Quarles is an astounding addition to the "Justified" rogues' gallery would be a tremendous understatement — and given where the character is headed in the back half of season three, it appears that we haven't seen anything yet.
"The first half of the season was great," McDonough said. "But the second half ... the second half is money. It's fantastic for me as an actor."
Freshly renewed for a fourth season, "Justified" airs on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680686/justified-neal-mcdonough.jhtml
Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke
Label boss Jimmy Iovine calls criticism 'a drag.'
By Gil Kaufman
<P>To look at her, you'd think <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rey_lana_del/artist.jhtml"_blank">Lana Del Rey's</a> inspirations come mostly from 1940s detective movies and sepia-toned Hollywood pinups. But the "Video Games" singer told England's Magic 105.4 that one of her big fashion and music icons is Britney Spears. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:724891.id:1677189" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>"I'm not really interested in a ton of female musicians but there is something about Britney that compelled me — the way she sings and just the way she looks," Del Rey said. And even though she's just released her major-label debut under the Del Rey name, she added that she's already kind of over music-making. </P><P> </P><P>"The thing that makes me happy now isn't really singing," she said. "Music was once the be-all and end-all, but when you lose everything you have over and over again, it's not so important." </P><P> </P><P>It might be a bit early for her to bail on the whole music thing though, since her album, <I>Born to Die</I>, topped the iTunes album charts in 14 countries this week, including the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Ireland and Mexico. </P><P> </P><P>The chart triumph — and a possible #2 debut next week on the <I>Billboard</i> albums tally — came despite a rash of negative or <a href="/news/articles/1678050/lana-del-rey-album-born-to-die-reviews.jhtml">middling reviews</a>
 of the album as well as the continuing fallout from her shaky <a href="/news/articles/1677389/lana-del-rey-snl.jhtml">"Saturday Night Live"</a>
 debut last month. </P><P> </P><P>The haterade has gotten her label boss, Interscope's Jimmy Iovine, to chime in on the flack his latest protégé has been taking. "It's a drag," Iovine told <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lana-del-rey-backlash-jimmy-iovine-286378" target="_blank"><I>The Hollywood Reporter</I></a>. "Maybe this is a new sport. It's something we've never seen before. Or maybe it's [like] the Giants and the Jets." Del Rey herself told <I>Rolling Stone</I> that she thought she looked "beautiful" and sang "fine" on the show, saying that "that's just the way I perform, and my fans know that." </P><P> </P><P>Say what you want about Del Rey's looks, attitude and performance ability, but Iovine said there is one thing you can't mess with. </P><P> </P><P>Musically, he thinks <I>Die</I> is "really good. Great lyrics and great songs. I don't care what anybody says, 'Video Games' is a great song. When she sings that song, it moves me. It's how we signed her — she sang and it was beautiful. I think she's really talented. Period."</p>
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Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
<P>You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin. </P><P> </P><P>In early February, reports began circulating that <a href="/news/articles/1631297/mary-j-blige-records-led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven.jhtml">Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven,"</a> working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her <i>Stronger With Each Tear</i> album, due Monday. </P><P> </P><P></p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float:left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:491065" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D491065" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering <i>another</i> Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the <i>Essence</i> Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine. </P><P> </P><P>"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun." </P><P> </P><P>Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon. </P><P> </P><P>"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.</p>
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Source: http://perezhilton.com/2012-03-07-zoe-saldana-and-christian-bale-in-talks-for-new-film
Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura
Paris Fashion Week wraps up today after a whirlwind week of high style and boldface names. Sarah Jessica Parker lent her star power to Louis Vuitton, while Stella McCartney's A-list show gathered her famous dad Paul, Alicia Keys, and Salma Hayek. Kim Kardashian even trekked to France for Kanye West's presentation, and Diddy hung out at a couple front-row gatherings himself. Click through to see everyone who's made the scene, and make sure to check out all of our Fall Fashion Week coverage.
View Slideshow ›Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris
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Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)
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http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=461562
Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten
Source: http://perezhilton.com/2012-03-07-rick-springfield-to-return-to-general-hospital
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