Thursday, March 31, 2011

Daniel Radcliffe Says Final 'Harry Potter' Press Tour Will Be 'Weird'

'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' actor will trade Broadway for red carpets when 'Deathly Hallows' premieres in July.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Daniel Radcliffe
Photo: MTV News

The end is almost upon us. Over a decade after production on the first "Harry Potter" began, the final film hits theaters in July, and as J.K. Rowling promised Daniel Radcliffe, she's not going to write more books about the boy wizard.

That's fine by Radcliffe, who has joked on many an occasion that he's ready to leave the franchise behind, not least because there'd be something unseemly about playing Harry as the actor approached middle age. But he's not done with "Potter" yet. There's still the upcoming press tour for the second part of "Deathly Hallows," which will require Radcliffe to step away from his new Broadway musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," for a few days.

And, as he told MTV News recently, transitioning from one show-business world to another is going to be strange.

"In a way, it will probably be weird to suddenly have to switch out of the mode I'm in for this show and then go and do press," he said, adding with a laugh, "But I can do that. I'm very versatile!"

Being able to jump from performing to plugging and back again, Radcliffe added, simply comes with the territory.

"I think any actor that does a big film or even a show like this now without the expectation that they will have to do press for it is very naive," he said. "It's part of the job. It's as much a part of the job almost as anything else."

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Britney Spears Announces Tour With Enrique Iglesias

Spears tells 'Good Morning America' the tour will start in June.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears performs at her "Good Morning America" concert
Photo: Flanigan/ FilmMagic

After rumors hit the Internet about Britney Spears' forthcoming summer tour, on Tuesday morning (March 29), the singer confirmed the news. In between songs at her pretaped San Francisco show on "Good Morning America," the singer made the huge announcement.

The tour is scheduled to kick off on June 17 in Sacramento and will run for 26 dates through North America, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.

Hanging out backstage with her dancers, wearing a billowing white shirt and jeans, she told the show's host, Robin Roberts, "I'm going on tour with Enrique Iglesias in June."

Fans gathered at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to watch Spears shimmy her way through Femme Fatale tracks "Hold It Against Me," "Big Fat Bass" and her latest single, "Till the World Ends," in varying body-hugging sexy costumes.

"Thank you so much for all your love and support. You guys are beautiful," she told the audience. "I love it. I love music. It's my world. It's my everything."

Before Britney even hit the stage in San Francisco, the room was kept entertained by five local drag queens, who told MTV News after Spears left the building that the performer really proved that she is still the pop star everyone knows and loves.

"As a huge Britney fan, it was amazing," Pollo Del Mar told us. "I was excited just to have Britney Spears here in San Francisco, but to participate and be a part of it was amazing.

"It shows why she's a superstar and certainly, I think that the crowd response showed that she's beloved. ... The reason I love Britney Spears is, throughout her career, she's shown she's human, she's fallible ... I think that makes her someone people can rally behind and love."

Spears' Femme Fatale album drops Tuesday.

Britney's tour dates with Enrique Iglesias, according to Live Nation Entertainment:

» June 17 - Sacramento, CA @ Power Balance Pavilion
» June 18 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
» June 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
» June 24 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
» June 25 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand
» June 28 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena
» June 29 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
» July 1 - Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
» July 4 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
» July 6 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Center
» July 8 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
» July 12 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
» July 13 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
» July 15 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
» July 17 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
» July 20 - Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
» July 22 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
» July 26 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
» July 28 vDetroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
» July 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
» July 31 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
» August 2 - Uniondale, NJ @ Nassau Coliseum
» August 5 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
» August 8 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
» August 11 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
» August 13 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

Watch the trailer for the upcoming MTV special "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" Tuesday night at 7:58 p.m.

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Charlie Sheen Returning to TV on Drew Carey's New Show

Charlie Sheen Returning to TV on Drew Carey's New Show

Well, it's not HBO, but Charlie Sheen is going to be back on TV in just two weeks. According to Entertainment Weekly, the former Two and a Half Men star will take a break from burning bridges to appear on Drew Carey's new GSN show, Improv-A-Ganza. The half-hour improvised comedy, taped live before a studio audience in Las Vegas, Nev., will feature familiar faces from Carey's improv game show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" -- as well as guest stars like the Vatican Assassin Warlock himself.

So will GSN viewers see a preview of Sheen's Violent Torpedo of Truth Tour? Sadly, no -- according to the network, the episode was taped back in January, when Sheen was playing nice(r) with the powers that be.

Meanwhile, Uncle Charlie is working on his next venture: a rap single with Snoop Dogg, which he describes as "Sheenius." (If we may paraphrase Mean Girls for a moment: Stop trying to make "Sheenius" happen, Charlie. It's not happening.) Hmm... what happens when you combine Snoop Dogg with tiger blood? Guess we'll all find out when the single drops.

Sheen's guest appearance on Improv-A-Ganza will air on GSN on April 12. Check out a preview for the show below!

 


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Kevin Federline Is Having Another Baby!

Kevin Federline may not be good at doing any actual work but he is, apparently, really good at making babies. Not only did he father two children with his babymama Shar Jackson before he left her to father two more children with his ex-wife Britney Spears ? but today we are hearing that he managed [...]

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Extreme Musicians Tell Child Where Babies Come From

You can spit raw pig organs out into the crowd, play blast beats at deafening volume or wear enough corpse paint to clog your pores until next Halloween, but the real test of whether a musician has balls of steel can b tested most effectively by an eight year old kid asking them where babies [...]

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ke$ha To Release Dance Remix Album In March

I Am the Dance Commander + I Commander You to Dance: The Remix Album hits stores March 22.
By Jocelyn Vena 


Ke$ha
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Ke$ha has made a name for herself as a party girl who makes party songs. But maybe you find the choice tracks on her debut, Animal, and the follow-up, Cannibal, not quite up to snuff for your dance-floor needs. And maybe that's why the singer has decided to release her first ever remix album, I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album, on March 22.

For the album, Ke$ha hooked up with a number of dance DJs and producers, as well as a few notable guests. The track listing includes: "Blow" (Cirkut Remix), "The Sleazy Remix" (which includes an appearance by Andre 3000), "Tik Tok Untold Remix," "F--- Him He's a DJ" (live version), "Animal Switch Remix," "Your Love Is My Drug" Dave Audé club remix, "We R Who We R" Fred Falke club remix, "Take It Off" Billboard remix, "Tik Tok" Chuck Buckett's Veruca Salt remix and her track with 3OH!3, "Blah Blah Blah" DJ Skeet Skeet radio remix.

In addition to the new music, Ke$ha is also set to release the music video for her latest single, "Blow." She tweeted about filming it in late January. On Tuesday, the singer shared that she saw some footage from the video, writing, "Just saw the final cut of my new video for BLOW all I can say is HOT DAMN."

Currently, Ke$ha is on the road for her Get $leazy Tour, which she kicked off last week in Portland, Oregon. She's set to wrap up her tour in Las Vegas on May 7. 

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Guess Who's Moving To Hollyweird???

Teen Mom stars Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley! (Hide ya kids! Hide ya wife!)
Supposedly, the MTV reality pair are heading out our way, to El Lay, to shoot some stuff for the show and have decided that while they're already here, they might as well look for a place to settle down.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

'Black Swan' Body Double Sarah Lane Stirs Controversy

Lane says there's been a 'cover-up' to promote idea that Natalie Portman did most of the dancing.
By Eric Ditzian


Natalie Portman in "Black Swan"
Photo: FOX Searchlight

"It was really extreme," Natalie Portman told MTV News in November. "And I definitely felt both physical and mental aftershocks from the experience, because it was the first thing I've ever done that was this physically demanding on top of an emotionally demanding part."

She was speaking about the 10 months she spent training to play a ballerina in "Black Swan," a role that would earn her a Best Actress Oscar in February. Now that awards season is over, however, a controversy has erupted over how much of the dancing in "Black Swan" was executed by Portman and how much was the work of her professional ballet-dancing body doubles.

Sarah Lane, a 27-year-old soloist at the American Ballet Theatre who stood in for Portman in the film, told Entertainment Weekly that she has been the victim of a "cover-up" meant to tout Portman's work at the expense of her own.

"Of the full body shots, I would say 5 percent are Natalie. All the other shots are me," she said. "They wanted to create this idea in people's minds that Natalie was some kind of prodigy or so gifted in dance and really worked so hard to make herself a ballerina in a year and a half for the movie, basically because of the Oscar. It is demeaning to the profession and not just to me. I've been doing this for 22 years."

Following Lane's comments, Fox Searchlight released a statement that was both supportive of the dancer but emphasized the amount of Portman's own ballet that made it into the movie. "We were fortunate to have Sarah there to cover the more complicated dance sequences and we have nothing but praise for the hard work she did," the statement read. "However, Natalie herself did most of the dancing featured in the final film."

The debate caught fire last week after Benjamin Millepied, Portman's fiancé and "Black Swan" choreographer, told the Los Angeles Times, "There are articles now talking about her dance double [Lane] that are making it sound like [Lane] did a lot of the work, but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouettés, and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio. Honestly, 85 percent of that movie is Natalie."

MTV News asked Portman's reps for comment but had not heard back as of press time.

Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan."

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

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Randy Quaid and wife Evi are taking their craziness to the big screen

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Britney Spears Announces Las Vegas Nightclub Performance

'Looks like my little secret isnt a secret anymore,' she tweets before tonight's Rain gig with DJ Pauly D from 'Jersey Shore.'
By James Dinh


Britney Spears
Photo: Jive

With less than a week until Femme Fatale hits stores, Britney Spears is adding another date to her promotional calendar. The "Hold It Against Me" singer took to her Twitter on Friday afternoon (March 25) to announce a performance at Rain nightclub at Las Vegas' Palms Casino and Resort scheduled for later this evening.

"Looks like my little secret isnt a secret anymore. Whos coming to watch me take the stage TONIGHT at @RainLasVegas at @PalmsLasVegas?" the pop star tweeted. "You're all invited. Be there or be square bitch!"

Check out hot photos from Britney's Las Vegas show.

Britney is no stranger to the Rain stage. Back in 2003, the pop titan gave fans a sneak peek of her album In the Zone by surprising about 1,800 clubgoers with a 30-minute set, which included songs like "Me Against the Music" and "Breathe on Me."

Spears' Vegas performance is the latest in her string of promotional ventures for her upcoming LP. Last week, it was confirmed that she would pre-tape her "Good Morning America" appearance on Sunday, two days before it will air on the show. On the day of her album release, she will also appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for a late-night performance of her two latest singles: "Till the World Ends" and "Hold It Against Me."

In addition to her concert specials, MTV will dedicate March 29 to the singer for what is being dubbed a "Britney Takeover" day. The entertainer will also make appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and the Kids' Choice Awards on April 2.

Spears has been keeping fans on the edge of their seats for months with video and song teasers leading up to Femme Fatale's Tuesday release. When MTV News interviewed Britney's manager, Larry Rudolph, after the premiere of her "Hold It Against Me" video, he had high praise for the pop star's latest project, comparing the album to a Madonna classic.

"In my opinion, this is her strongest album ever. It's somewhat of a departure from what she's done. It's more mature," Rudolph told us last month. "It's more of a dance record and this really is ... Britney's Ray of Light album."

What are you expecting from Spears' new album? Let us know in the comments below!

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David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren Bring Ultra Music Fest To A Close

All-star lineup of Erick Morillo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, will.i.am, Diddy, Chemical Brothers and many more close out three-day bash.
By Akshay Bhansali


David Guetta and Flo Rida perform at Ultra Music Fest
Photo: MTV News

MIAMI — On its third and final day, the Ultra Music Festival delivered a blazing one-two punch of trance and house star power for the 50,000 fans in attendance on closing day of the annual get-together held at Bicentennial Park.

The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am joined an impressive roster of house-music performers that included Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, Erick Morillo, Robbie Rivera, Wolfgang Gartner and David Guetta.

Dutch trance music star Armin van Buuren celebrated the 500th broadcast of his A State of Trance show, this time dubbed ASOT 500, in honor of the milestone. The show filled in the slot normally taken by Carl Cox's stage on Friday and Saturday, and van Buuren brought some well-known trance-DJ friends like Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB and the night's closer, Sander Van Doorn, all of whom helped to pack a few thousand fans into the tent, chest to back, to capacity.

Just before 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, AVB joined friend/countryman/collaborator Corsten onstage. But a hug and a few jokes later and it was van Buuren's turn to steer the ASOT 500 ship, and he throttled into his set. Van Buuren also held down hosting duties throughout the night, revealing in an on air-interview with ATB the pair have collaborated on a track titled "Vice Versa."

On the main stage, Gartner didn't just hit fans with hits like "Spacejunk," "Illmerica," and his deadmau5 collabo, "Animal Rights." He also tested out a few new songs, including still-unreleased gems "818," and his next single, the electro-house banger "Forever," which features vocals by will.i.am.

Later, house legend Morillo blessed the crowd with three top-notch vocalists: Rachel Starr, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and powerhouse singer Shawnee Taylor took turns joining him onstage. Fans sang along with Taylor as she belted the hits "Stronger" and "Live Your Life" among others. Finally, Diddy joined his buddy Morillo onstage, dropping his bars from Dirty South's remix of Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home," a Miami Music Week DJ-set staple.

David Guetta was feeling particularly electro-clubby. He hammered fans with hair-raising renditions of his material, kicking things off with "Gettin' Over You," and then a baritone horn-driven thumper of a tune that some fans may have heard days before at Mansion.

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am joined Guetta onstage at various points of the night, adding vocals to Guetta's remixes of BEP hits "The Time," and "I Gotta Feeling." But probably the more unexpected cameo was Flo Rida, who showed up with an entourage of Super Soaker-wielding friends and charged onto the stage for the Guetta/Flo hit "Club Can't Handle Me."

Perhaps the most moving moment of the day came when rising star Afrojack joined Guetta and addressed the audience. "Miami, last year, I played here for the first time, through David," Afrojack said. "I had a great time. David is all about the love. David, I love you. Miami, I love you. This guy is the f---ing sh--! So Miami, make some noise for David Guetta!"

Needless to say, the crowd seemed to agree with the 22-year-old Dutch phenom. They returned his request with a roar.

Did you attend Ultra Music Festival in Miami this year? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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Beyonce Donated Gadhafi Money To Haiti Relief Last Year

Music industry urges other stars who played for Libyan dictator's family to donate their earnings.
By Gil Kaufman


Beyonce
Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage

Just days after singer Nelly Furtado announced that she planned to donate to charity money she received for playing a concert for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, a spokesperson for Beyoncé said that the "Halo" singer had already done the same.

Documents obtained by the WikiLeaks website revealed that stars including Beyoncé, Usher and Mariah Carey had played big-paycheck gigs for Gadhafi. On Monday, Rolling Stone magazine reported that the industry was urging the stars (noting that rapper 50 Cent had also played such gigs) to return the money they earned for the concerts.

"They've done it for tons of artists," an unnamed music-business source told the magazine about lavish parties by Gadhafi's son, Muatassim, which are reportedly often "jammed" with supermodels. "Those guys are all over the world."

On Wednesday, a rep for Beyoncé — who played a New Year's Eve gig for Muatassim with Usher on the Caribbean island of St. Barts in 2009 — told the Huffington Post that the singer had long ago resolved the matter.

"All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago," her publicist said. "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."

The money was donated to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of last year's devastating earthquake, and a spokesperson for the fund confirmed that it received the $1 million check in the weeks after the January 2010 earthquake.

According to her official Twitter feed, Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado confirmed on Monday that she once did a show for the dictator's family and now plans to donate the money to charity. "In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy," she wrote on Monday. "I am going to donate the $."

The star-studded shows were part of the extravagant lifestyle of the dictator's sons, whose splashy parties and out-of-control spending have angered their countrymen, many of whom wallow in poverty as the Gadhafi clan benefits from the country's oil riches.

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Prince William & Kate Middleton?s Wedding Cake Unveiled

Earlier today we learned the scant details available about Prince William‘s bachelor party which took place over the weekend and right now we get our first look at the wedding cakes that will be used in William‘s wedding reception to his bride-to-be Kate Middleton. The wedding cakes will be floral themed and are being designed [...]

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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray's Trial To Be Televised

Judge rules that camera will be allowed in the courtroom for manslaughter case.
By Gil Kaufman


Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images

For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.

Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.

The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.

Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.

Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.

TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.

Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.

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BumpWatch: Selma Blair?s Leather Look

Pregnant Selma Blair toughens up her maternity wardrobe with a leather jacket, chain-link purse and knee-high boots while running errands Friday in Los Angeles.

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Justin Bieber's Grammy Performance Will Be 'A Crossover,' Usher Says

The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.

Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.

"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."

And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.

"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."

And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.

"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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Britney Spears for Good Morning America: Concert Pics, Video


Britney Spears is taking the West Coast by sexy storm.

In preparation for the release of her new album, the pop singer surprised fans in Las Vegas with a concert on Friday night. She then took the show to California and performed a three-song set in San Francisco.

It will air tomorrow on Good Morning America, the same day "Femme Fatale" drops.


Britney Spears - Hold It Against Me (Live)

After singing "Hold it Against Me," "Big Fat Bass" and "'Til the World Ends," Britney told fans: "I love my music. It's my world. It's my everything."

And it's like she never left. Check out one of these renditions above, visit our Britney Spears photo gallery for a dozen images from this concert and check out a handful below, as the artist writhes around on stage.

X-Rated Britney

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Myleene Klass Welcomes Second Daughter

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New 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

The new preview gives us a few clues about Jack's journey to the Fountain of Youth.
By Eric Ditzian


Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow
Photo: Disney

We've just crossed the two-month mark; there's now a mere 59 days until "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" shoves off and into theaters. What's more, there's now a brand-new trailer for Johnny Depp's seafaring 3-D adventure flick, giving us important pieces of plot info and raising all new questions about what we're going to see when the movie debuts. As we continue to count down the days until that premiere, let's take a look at the new trailer's five key moments.

Looks Like They Took a Wrong Turn
We've already seen a variation of this scene — Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow walking under some kind of stone archway on an island — but in the new trailer, we see the camera push forward a little, giving us a peek at what's on the other side: a ship perched on a cliff high above the water line. How'd it get there? Well, as we see throughout the new footage, the laws of physics get twisted in all sorts of funky ways. Just as compelling a question as what the ship is doing up there is: Whose ship is it?

She's Alive
Speaking of ships, the Black Pearl is back in the mix, though this time it seems to be in the hands of nefarious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). And as Captain Barbossa explains, Blackbeard has made some unconventional improvements to the craft. "The rigging had come to life. Our own ship turned against us," he tells Jack as we see shots of ropes whipping around like tentacles and plucking up pirates. What sort of dark magic does Blackbeard wield? A confusing one, no doubt, because after Sparrow gets caught up in the ship's new powers, he blurts out, "Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names!"

Capturing the Mermaids
We've seen plenty of mermaids floating through previous "Pirates" footage, but the new trailer gives us the most information yet about how these creatures fit into the storyline. Turns out, a mermaid is needed to locate the fountain of youth — that mythical place everyone in "On Stranger Tides" is trying to find. That explains why, as in earlier footage, we see a shot of a mermaid trapped in a seriously large fish tank. Captivity, however, can kill a mermaid. Given that under his tattoos and dreadlocks, Sparrow is a very moral guy, we suspect Jack might go from capturing a mermaid to setting one free.

Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged
From the very first official "On Stranger Tides" photos, we've seen Jack being dragged into Old Royal Naval College by King George II's guards and offered the job of finding the fountain of youth. But the captain isn't one take to orders. How does he slip away from King George's men? A clue seems to arrive in the form of Jack wearing a musty old wig and a bright red robe, just like a British judge: nothing like a clever disguise to help a pirate escape.

Water, Water, Everywhere
As we mentioned, Jack's quest for the fountain brings him into contact with lands in which the laws of physics don't entirely apply. Early in the new trailer, for instance, a drop of water seems to fall upwards, hitting Jack's hands as it goes. Here we see our hero in a sort of cave that has a roof of water. How exactly does something like happen? And, furthermore, how is he pulled up into the water as if by reverse gravity? We likely won't get the full answer until the movie arrives on May 20.

Check out everything we've got on " Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides."

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

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Photos | Behind-The-Scenes: Ke$ha At 'SNL'

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I once emailed a bunch of photos like this to my ex-boyfriend with the subject "You f*cked her."?

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Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson's Box-Office Record

'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' has outgrossed MJ's 'This Is It' in U.S.
By Gil Kaufman


Justin Bieber in "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Michael Jackson may have dubbed himself the King of Pop, but the late icon didn't hold the box-office crown for long. Less than a year after the posthumous MJ documentary "This Is It" became the most successful concert-themed film in U.S. history, Justin Bieber is poised to snatch the mantle.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" has earned $72.2 million in domestic box office so far, passing Jackson's $72.1 million haul. And while Bieber has racked up those impressive numbers in just six weeks, he's got a long way to go before he laps the global receipts for the MJ doc.

"This Is It" has grossed $189.1 million overseas for a global total of $261.2 million. Music films don't typically play well overseas, and THR noted that "Never Say Never" has grossed a more modest $10.8 million overseas so far, with Paramount executives predicting that it could top out around $20 million internationally.

The impressive U.S. numbers were likely goosed by the re-release of the film recently with 40 additional minutes of bonus footage from director Jon M. Chu. Bieber still has a little way to go to climb the list of the top-grossing documentaries of all time. "Never Say Never" is currently stalled out at the #3 position, around $5 million behind "March of the Penguins," according to Box Office Mojo, and well short of the all-time record held by Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which has taken in $119.1 million to date.

Bieber set off a classic MJ-style fan frenzy a few weeks ago when he visited Liverpool, England, for his world tour. And just a week later, he posed with his new wax figure at London's Madame Tussauds, checking off another item on the list of milestones to an MJ-like career.

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Britney Spears Surprised Fans With A Live Performance In Vegas Last Night

Britney Spears thrilled fans in Las Vegas on Friday night by playing a surprise show at a Sin City nightclub. The pop superstar, who is preparing to launch her new album Femme Fatale, took to the stage at Rain Nightclub in the Palms Casino & Resort to showcase a number of tracks from the record. [...]

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Robert Pattinson's MTV Live Chat: Everything He Said About 'Twilight'

From 'Breaking Dawn' to leading lady Kristen Stewart, RPattz was an open book.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Robert Pattinson
Photo: MTV News

Robert Pattinson likes his leading ladies "hot," thinks his "Breaking Dawn" love scene with Kristen Stewart is "funny" and looks back at his first "Twilight" red carpet and thinks, "I looked like an old alcoholic."

Yes, we ranged far and wide across the "Twilight" universe on Friday night during "MTV First: Robert Pattinson," a 30-minute live chat with the 24-year-old star. In fact, we hit so many topics of interest to fans of the vampire franchise that we've gathered them all on one page. Consider this a Twi-cheat sheet of everything Pattinson had to say about the series:

On Kristen Stewart
While Rob drew a line of comparison between his "Twilight" co-star and other leading ladies with whom he's shared the screen — "I like being in movies with lots of hot girls," he laughed — he also pointed out how different he is from Stewart.

"I like the kind of cerebral aspect of things, and she has kind of an immediate emotional response to stuff every single time," he said about making various acting choices. "She's like, 'Why can't you understand? It's obvious. You don't know. You shouldn't be an actor!' "

Unsurprisingly, the duo's upcoming "Breaking Dawn" love scene — which we got a peek at in a photo earlier this year — also cropped up during the conversation. "You've got to really know what you're doing. If it's just a sort of arbitrary love scene, it'd be quite difficult," he explained. "The one on 'Breaking Dawn' is pretty funny."

On "Breaking Dawn"
Of all the new talent joining the franchise, 10-year-old Mackenzie Foy, who plays Edward and Bella's daughter, is the one everyone has an eye on. "She's a great actress. She's really sweet," Pattinson told us. "She has to do a hard part as well, because she's doing — I don't want to get into special-effects stuff — but she's playing a baby in some scenes. Oh, man, some of the stuff is so strange. I mean, we've done very strange things on the 'Breaking Dawn' shoot."

Rob also dished a bit about the musical aspects of the upcoming films, shooting down a rumor that he'll sing a lullaby but revealing he will show off some of his musical abilities. "I did play some piano. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be secret," he said. "I was very impressed. I hadn't played piano in years, and I learned it in about 10 seconds."

On Revisiting the Past
While we had Rob live and in studio, we couldn't help but flash back to our first-ever "Twilight" interview back in the spring of 2008. Though much time has passed, Pattinson said that now, much like then, he still can't quite grasp the full breadth of Twi-mania. What has changed, he added, is how he acts during interviews.

"I never got that I was supposed to be talking about 'Twilight.' I thought I had to be funny all the time and that's it," he said.

But he doesn't regret trying to be the always-on funnyman. Looking back on the last few years, Pattinson told us he really has just one regret. "I wouldn't have worn the suit I wore for the first 'Twilight' premiere. It was too small," he said. "I was also a little bit nervous, so I had a couple of drinks beforehand. I look like an old alcoholic."

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Justin Bieber's Grammy Performance Will Be 'A Crossover,' Usher Says

The 'O.M.G.' singer looks forward to sharing the stage with his protégé on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: Amanda Edwards/ Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — At Sunday's 53rd Grammy Awards, Usher will be pulling double duty as both a nominee and a performer. Of course, given the massive year he just completed — with the success of his smash single "O.M.G." and as a mentor to rising phenom Justin Bieber — Ush's Grammy plans seem rather fitting.

Especially since he'll be performing with Bieber (and Bieber's pal Jaden Smith), a move that's just as much about celebrating Usher's successes as it is the successes of his young protégé.

"Having been through [the Grammys] so many times, you couldn't want for anything more than for your young protégé to have the opportunity to have one, so, in support of him having his moment, I wanted to be here," Usher told MTV News on Thursday, hours before his performance at the (Belvedere) RED launch party in Hollywood. "And also to be there to perform, to kind of tell the story of how we came together. This music business has definitely been good to both of us, and this year we have a lot to be happy for."

And just how will the dynamic duo tell that story? Well, Usher wasn't about to reveal all the details, but he did say that he's hoping their performance will show another side of Bieber ... a side most tend to overlook.

"The performance will be fun," Usher explained. "We want to get up there and just do what we do. Be comfortable, and have a great time. ... This is kind of a crossover for Justin. Having performed on so many different stages, this is the way that I wanted him to be seen and an opportunity to show the industry — a lot of the industry, that didn't believe [in him] — some of his other talents. He's going to play acoustically, and also, we'll get down a little bit."

And though Ush is up for a pair of Grammy awards on Sunday — Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album for Raymond v. Raymond — he's most looking forward to sharing the stage with Bieber and giving fans a look at where the young artist will be heading next.

"I'm very proud, man. I definitely saw it from the beginning, but thanks to the team that we have around us, it was made to happen. And that story has only just begun," Usher said. "The story of Justin Bieber doesn't stop with screaming girls; we need screaming fans all around the world ... a cultural experience that's much more than just fanfare. And that's what this is. That's what the Grammys will be; that's what my next phase for Justin is. This is the way I found him: I found him with a guitar in his hand, so I want him to be seen that way."

Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!

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Elizabeth Taylor was buried in an $11,000 casket

The 79-year-old actress – who was laid to rest in a private Jewish ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in California, yesterday afternoon – was committed to the earth in a “top of the line, traditional Jewish casket”. According to gossip website TMZ, the burial chamber was created entirely out of mahogany wood and lined [...]

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Britney Spears Says 'Till The World Ends' Has 'Good Energy'

'If it puts me in a good mood, it clicks for me,' singer tells Ryan Seacrest of Ke$ha-penned track.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears
Photo: Jeremy Cowart/ WireImage

Britney Spears got her fans amped up for her forthcoming album, Femme Fatale, when she released its second single, "Till the World Ends," on Thursday. The chugging, Ke$ha-penned club banger is all about getting your dance on. And when Spears stopped by Ryan Seacrest's radio show on Friday (March 4), she admitted that the song just felt right for her as soon as she heard it.

" 'Till the World Ends' is fun! It's fun. I like it. It's good energy," she said of the track, which was produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Billboard. "I'm a vibe person, and I think I love good-mood songs, and if it puts me in a good mood, it clicks for me."

As for the album, which already spawned a chart-topping single, "Hold It Against Me," she teased, "I think it's my best work yet. I listened to it on the way over here. It's definitely something you want to work out to. ... And I'm a dancer, so it's definitely something I can work with."

"Oh my God! Will.i.am is amazing," Spears said of the producer, who teased the track "The Big Fat Bass" recently. "He's so much fun and he's funny and he's a charm. His music is so much fun. When they told me I was going to be working with him, I couldn't wait. If it gets you going, you get excited, and he has that type of energy."

In addition to talking about the album, Spears also shared plans for a summer tour. And she talked about how she's keeping in shape these days as she amps up to promote the album, which drops March 29. "I have a trainer. [I go] on the treadmill for 30 minutes and we do a lot of cardio, running," she explained. "He kicks my butt. You pay to hate your trainer!"

It seems that the workout regimen has also had an effect on her beau, talent agent Jason Trawick, who, according to Seacrest, was "pudgy" before he hooked up with the pop star. "He wasn't pudgy," she laughed. "He wasn't pudgy. He is definitely ripped. He just got on this health kick. I guess he's on a health kick. He eats what he wants."

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Usher - There Goes My Baby

There Goes My Baby

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'30 Rock' Recap: TWINKIES

'30 Rock' Recap: TWINKIES

TGS goes on a forced hiatus in Tracy's absence, so Lemon looks to the staffers to maintain solidarity. This plan goes down about as well as you might expect, with Frank abandoning ship for stand-up gigs, Pete returning to his teaching career, and Jenna relying on her culturally stereotypical "Jenna Babies," who spout such phrases as "Excuse me, G.I., do you miss your girlfriend? I'm good at math."

As such, Lemon quickly recognizes that she needs to explore other options. Other options, apparently, means Aaron Sorkin. Just when Lemon thinks all hope is lost, Kenneth lets slip that Tracy often eats slices from a local pizzeria when they video-chat. Lemon realizes that Tracy is nearby and can forestall the forced hiatus. Hurrah!

CLICK TO READ THE FULL RECAP

Watch the full episode below:

 

 

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Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher

Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News

Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.

In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.

"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.

"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."

But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."

As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.

"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.

"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."

On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.

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