Saturday, April 30, 2011
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.
Related Photos Related ArtistsAdele Says Beyonce Helped Her Overcome Anxiety
British songstress talks stage fright and body image in Rolling Stone cover story.
By Gil Kaufman
Adele
Photo: Larry Busacca/ Getty Images
While she was besting Britney Spears on the American album charts and helping to lead a new British invasion, U.K. soul pop diva Adele also landed the cover of the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine.
And though the cover marks yet another milestone of her rising fame, Adele isn't immune to some of the same fears as the rest of us, say, stage fright. Despite her calm assurance in the studio and apparent ease at coping with her sudden success, the Grammy winner told the magazine that she still has nervous nights.
"I'm scared of audiences," she said. "One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot."
And it's not just audiences that freak her out, it's other celebrities. But the singer revealed that she has drawn some strength from an unlikely source: Beyoncé. "I was about to meet Beyoncé and I had a full-blown anxiety attack," Adele said. "Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.' "
When she later found herself on a balcony, crying hysterically, Adele asked herself, " 'What would [Beyoncé's alter ego] Sasha Fierce do?' That's when Sasha Carter was born." The composite of Sasha Fierce and late country icon June Carter is pulled out whenever Adele needs to give herself a shot of confidence.
The 22-year-old also said that in a world of size 0-2 pop divas, she has no problem being a bit more voluptuous than her peers. "My life is full of drama, and I won't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like," she said. "I don't like going to the gym. I like eating fine foods and drinking nice wine."
That said, Adele noted that while she's not likely to do any nude photo shoots anytime soon, she can totally appreciate the sight of her fellow female pop stars' naughty bits.
"Even if I had a really good figure, I don't think I'd get my t--- and a-- out for no one," she said. "I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my music is about. I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears."
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“Gossip Girl” Star Chace Crawford Strikes Deal In Drug Case
Actor Chace Crawford has entered a deal after being charged with marijuana possession in June 2010. “Gossip Girl” actor Chace Crawford was arrested and charged [...]
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'Housewives' Spin-Offs For NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak?
The women of The Real Housewives of Atlanta are busy filming season 4, which so far has included a baby shower for Kim Zolciak. Meanwhile, the show's two biggest stars -- arch enemies NeNe Leakes and Zolciak -- are in talks to headline their own spin-off series on Bravo, sources tell The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Leakes' series would follow her as she moves to L.A. and tries to break into Hollywood; Zolciak's series would chronicle her life with NFL player Kroy Biermann and their new baby.
Of course, the network doesn't want them both to leave the mother show; they are the two most prominent personalities of the group, after all.
But keeping them both in the original show may be even more problematic. "The two no longer trust each other, much less like each other," writes The Atlanta Journal Constitution's radio and TV blogger Rodney Ho. "This dynamic must be creating challenges for Bravo producers shooting season four, since they want to maximize interaction among the six cast members while Kim and NeNe probably want to spend as little time face to face as possible."
Odds are that Leakes would be the one to make the break for good. Like Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York, Leakes has parlayed her Houswives notoriety into other Hollywood gigs -- such as her current, high-profile stint on The Celebrity Apprentice -- and exploited the media exposure at every turn. That includes a big-time feud with Star Jones, which spilled over beyond the reality series when Leakes made the talk show rounds, complaining about Jones.
No doubt, some may say that The Real Housewives franchise has reached a saturation point, and there's no need for another spin-off. But producers can simply point out that The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the most popular one of all of them. Since it averages about 4 million viewers a week, largely on the draw of stars like Zolciak and Leakes, then maybe these women could carry their own shows. As far as TV execs are concerned, there's only one way to find out.
Watch: ?Transformers: Dark Of The Moon? Releases A Fourth Movie Trailer
Earlier this week, we got to see a few new promo posters and photos from the upcoming sequel film Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Today we get to check out the fourth trailer released for the film … and this one is good. I’ve been, for the most part, very impressed with all of the [...]
Friday, April 29, 2011
Lady Gaga Performs "Judas" Live on 'Ellen'
Whenever we start to think Lady Gaga is getting over-exposed, she reminds us what an incredible talent she really is. On Thursday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Gaga showed off her serious vocal and dance skills with the live premiere of her new single "Judas." Dressed in what appeared to be a sexy deconstructed rain poncho, the 25-five-year-old singer rocked the crowd to a standing ovation. Watch below!
During the interview portion of the show, Gaga -- wearing a black mini-dress with giant cut-outs in the bodice, accessorized with dramatic long gloves and a wide-brimmed hat -- talked to her friend Ellen DeGeneres about the meaning behind "Judas."
"Do I feel like a loser sometimes? Of course. We all feel like losers sometimes," said Gaga. "I said to the fans last night, some of you may feel like Judas, and I swear I just saw so many of them just burst into tears so quickly. You may feel misunderstood by the world and that is how I feel sometimes. I really celebrate my identity and urge you to feel impassioned by what is magical inside of you. I live happily between reality and fantasy at all times."
When DeGeneres joked that Lady Gaga was incapable of wearing jeans and sneakers, Gaga admitted that she's not always a glamour queen. In fact, she often spoils her costumes and makeup by falling asleep in them.
"My best friends always call me a beauty queen disaster," Gaga confessed, "because I wake up and my wig is falling off my head and my fake mole is on the other side of my face."
Watch the interview segment below!
Gaga's new album Born This Way drops on May 23.
Lady Gaga Debuts 'Glee' Clip From 'Born This Way' Episode
Singer took to Facebook to share 50-second teaser that shows Mr. Schuester giving New Directions Gaga assignment.
By James Dinh
Lady Gaga
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
"Glee" is ready to go Gaga all over again. But this time, the New Directions gang will not only pay tribute to the pop star, they'll also embrace themselves in an episode devoted to self-acceptance.
Lady Gaga took to her Facebook on Friday (April 22) and premiered a clip from the highly anticipated episode, which airs Tuesday. In the preview, Mr. Schuester tells the club they'll be performing songs of self-love, including a group number of the singer's hit "Born This Way."
Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) kicks off the 50-second teaser by asking Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison) why Ms. Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) is attending their glee club meeting. Schuester tells the students that the guidance counselor will be helping out with the weekly assignment.
"Now, this is the only club at school that is represented by just about every race, religion, sexual orientation and clique, but many of are you are still having a hard time with acceptance," he says.
Despite rebuttals from the students, the club director explains that while they may embrace one another, they still don't accept themselves — for all of their good and bad qualities. Mr. Schuester then reveals the two-part assignment: singing tunes of self-acceptance that highlight their best and worst aspects, as well as performing "Born This Way."
"We're going to do a group number by the queen of self-love, Gaga. We're going to perform her anthem to acceptance, 'Born This Way,' " he tells the students, who break into cheers and applause.
Back in January, "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy opened up about why he chose to feature the hit song in the episode, which has been super-sized to 90 minutes. "I love that that song is [an] anthem," Murphy told Entertainment Weekly. "This show is by nature optimistic, and I think a character like Karofsky could turn to booze or pills or alcohol and kill themselves or do something dark. But I also love Max [Adler, the actor] and I love that character and I sorta want that character to have a happy ending. So I don't really know what that's going to be, but I do know we're going to do a whole episode that's about that song."
Are you excited for the "Born This Way" episode of "Glee"? Weigh in below!
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Kate Hudson Supports Her Mom's MindUP Mission
Supporting her mother's charitable efforts, Kate Hudson attended the inaugural Hawn Foundation event for "MindUP" at the Metropolitan Club in New York City yesterday (April 28).
The glowing momma-to-be looked beautiful as she stepped out for her mom Goldie Hawn's event, dressing her baby bump in a green and black leopard print gown and peep-toe heels.
"MindUP," which began in 2005, is part of an educational initiative focused on providing kids with the emotional and cognitive tools to help them improve learning and behavior.
Goldie recently revealed her inspiration for the project to the Huffington Post, telling, "I guess it was after 9/11. I realized at that point that our world was probably never going to be the same again. And I was really focused on the kids, because there was a lot of stress and a lot of uncertainty." adding, "Let me figure out a way to do something, maybe in the schools, to simply bring kids a little bit more resilience and a little bit more happiness. Simple mission."
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail
On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.
The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.
Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.
"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."
Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."
"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."
Related Photos Related Artists
Vanessa Hudgens' Sherman Oaks Shopping Spree
Treating herself to a relaxing retail romp, Vanessa Hudgens ventured out shopping in Sherman Oaks, CA on Thursday afternoon (April 28).
Joined by her little sister Stella and mother Gina, the "Sucker Punch" star looked casual cute as she roamed about the Westfield Mall before sharing a warm embrace with her younger sibling.
The retail outing comes after Miss Hudgens caused a mini-frenzy with a PDA filled night out with rumored new beau Josh Hutcherson the previous night.
The twosome looked awfully cozy, as they had their hands all over each other while getting in a little bowling at the popular Pinz Lanes.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Did Kate Middleton Inadvertently Give A Sneak Peek Of Her Wedding Vows?
We are just about 1 day away from the Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales and his fianc�e Kate Middleton and earlier today, the couple ran thru the final wedding rehearsal before the big day. When next the couple meets inside Westminster Abbey, they will be joined in holy matrimony. Before the rehearsal took [...]
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Royal Wedding Fever has gone way too far. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart get a dog together. Hack the Planet Hands-free breast-pumping is the wave of the future. Peace the Spork Out, Friendster. Adele really loves it at the top of the music charts. Before Henry Cavill becomes Superman, he was Immortal. The Cosmopolitan of [...]
Lady Gaga Performs "Judas" Live on Ellen
As promised, Lady Gaga performed her new hit song "Judas" live on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today, and as expected, she did not disappoint.
Mary Margaret's First Flight
So I'm at O'Hare right now getting ready to fly back to New York with my babies. Bev and Mary Margaret are in one bag together.
Earlier there was some cuddling, but now I hear a bit of growling. Mary Margaret has a tendency to terrorize poor Beverly...
The big thing I'm afraid of, however, isn't the growling—it's that Mary Margaret will poop in her bag. If she does poop, I've decided that I'm going to poop too, because me shitting myself will totally trump her shitting herself, right?
That's gross... girls shouldn't talk about poop.
Poop, poop, poop.
Anywho... I'll check in later to tell you how it goes. The flight is delayed right now, which just makes the possibility of pooping more likely. For me and her.
(I know, I know... girls shouldn't talk about poop.)
Seth Meyers 'Excited' By Lady Gaga/ Justin Timberlake 'SNL' Prospects
'Saturday Night Live' writer tells MTV News he has yet to start working on May 21 episode.
By Jocelyn Vena
Seth Meyers
Photo: MTV News
When "Saturday Night Live" wraps up its season on May 21, it will have two of the biggest names in the entertainment world on hand to keep everyone buzzing through Monday morning. "SNL" darling and Hollywood A-lister Justin Timberlake has been tapped to host with pop music superstar Lady Gaga onboard to delight fans as the night's musical guest.
It's a pairing that has "SNL" writer/ "Weekend Update" host Seth Meyers very excited.
"Timberlake and Gaga! [I've got] nothing. It's a month out!" he told MTV News at the Time 100 gala in New York City about his plans for the twosome.
"I'm not even thinking about it! I have two shows before then. I can't believe how I'm slacking," he joked, adding, "Mostly, I'm just taking care of the business ahead of me, like athletes taking it a game at a time."
Fans would probably love to see Justin and Gaga pair up for a sketch, and the "SNL" head writer said he isn't against that idea. "I would love it," Meyers said. "[Lady Gaga] was great. She was one of the best musical acts we've ever had. Obviously, when it comes to being a performer, she's without peer, so I'm really excited to have both of them there together."
As for Timberlake, who has won two Emmys for his work on the late-night comedy staple, Meyers admitted, "Basically, he owns it!"
The multitalented pop stars will appear on the show in time to promote some of their latest projects. Timberlake's flick "Bad Teacher" opens on June 24 and Gaga's Born This Way drops May 23.
Would you like to see Gaga and Justin do an "SNL" skit together? Share your ideas in the comments!
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- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: RCA, Jive, Zomba Label Group
- Director: Dave Meyers
- Album: Circus
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never' DVD Coming May 13
Bieber announces release date Wednesday on Twitter.
By Jocelyn Vena
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" DVD
Photo: Paramount
On Wednesday (March 30), Justin Bieber shared with his fans the DVD release date for his flick, "Never Say Never." So, when will fans be able to experience Bieber in 3-D in the comfort of their own homes?
"So here is the big news they were waiting for me to announce to u once off stage ... Thanks to everyone for seeing #NSN3D around the world! so we are ... OFFICIALLY getting #NEVERSAYNEVER3D to Blu-ray & DVD May13th," he tweeted. "Preorder NOW."
He also had another special announcement for a few lucky fans who purchase a special version of the flick, adding, "And I'm signing some for my fans! #MUCHLOVE."
Aside from what fans already saw in theaters, the Blu-ray/DVD combo features a dance-off between Bieber and his crew, the full-length performance of "Favorite Girl," Bieber's team surprising fans with free tickets and a sendoff for JB's old swoop hairstyle.
Fans already came out to see the flick when it hit theaters in February, helping to solidify its status as one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time. This will mark the third release for the film, which hit theaters twice already.
Regarding the film's message, Bieber explained to MTV News, "People didn't really know, they didn't understand that I've been playing music ever since I was born, and it's always been in me. And this movie is really going to show that I'm not just some packaged thing that some A&R put together. It was actually just me living my dream and just making music.
"Fans will be really excited to see that I'm just a regular 16-year-old having fun, just living my dream," he said. "And it's possible for anyone to live theirs."
The film shows Bieber skillfully playing piano, drums and guitar. It is part concert film, part documentary, complete with interviews from some of the people closest to the teen phenom. It features cameos by Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ludacris, among others, in interviews and concert performances filmed at Madison Square Garden last year.
Check out everything we've got on "Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and Justin Bieber updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Beyonce's 'Run The World (Girls)' To Hit Radio, iTunes Thursday
Singer has also posted a 17-second video teaser on her website.
By James Dinh
Beyonce in her "Run The World (Girls)" teaser
Photo: Columbia
A demo version of Beyoncé's new single "Run the World (Girls)" may have made the rounds online earlier this week, and now the singer will unveil the official version sooner than expected.
According to a press release, the club-ready tune, which samples Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor," will hit radio airwaves and iTunes worldwide on Thursday.
Produced by Switch, Beyoncé and Shea Taylor, "Run the World (Girls)" is the lead single from the pop star's yet-untitled fourth studio album. Like her previous smash "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," the singer wrote the girl-power anthem with the help of R&B mastermind The-Dream.
If that weren't enough to appease fans' appetites, the entertainer has also released a 17-second video teaser called the "B Revolution" on her website. The teaser, which appears to be a taste of the song's forthcoming video, begins with a shot of a sunset, a rusty dark car with the word "Revolution" painted on it and a shredded newspaper. B soon appears in an all-white ensemble on top of a horse, which lifts its legs high in the air. The clip appropriately ends with the singer's new "B" logo and the iTunes release message.
While not much is known about the video plot for "Run the World (Girls)," MTV News was lucky enough to speak with the clip's director, Francis Lawrence, on Sunday. "The video's for the songs 'Girls'; it's off her new album," he confirmed. "She would probably have me shot if I said anything. ... Some stuff spilled out, but she wasn't happy about it, so I've been sworn to secrecy."
Despite Lawrence's attempt to stay mum on details, the director revealed that the clip will be a standout among the singer's videography. "It'll be big. It'll probably be one of the bigger Beyoncé music videos ever done," he said. "And I can say that I think the song is unbelievable."
Are you excited for the final version of "Run the World (Girls)"? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsStone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related Artists'The Voice': Is It the Next 'American Idol'?
With five weeks left in its season, American Idol is going strong,defying those who doubted that it could stay on top without Simon Cowell. Meanwhile, Cowell's new talent show, The X Factor, is making headlines daily, as he draws out the process of choosing his judging panel.
In the midst of all this, tonight NBC will premiere its own singing competition, The Voice (Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET), exec produced by Mark Burnett (of Survivor and The Apprentice fame). Like those other two singing shows, The Voice has been hyping its own team of high-profile stars. Also like them, it's searching for America's next pop star -- and a piece of the vast viewing audience that likes to watch that star emerge. But can The Voice really give American Idol a run for its money? And, for that matter, can it eclipse a show created by the controversial and charismatic Cowell?
We'll find out soon enough. NBC is presenting The Voice as a different animal, similar to Idol but different... and, the network hopes, better.
To begin with, there's the blind judging aspect. Like the show it's modeled after, The Voice of Holland, this series' judges (Christina Aguilera, "Forget You" singer Cee Lo Green, Maroon Five frontman Adam Levine and country star Blake Shelton) will sit in giant red chairs that face away from the contestants. When they hear a contestant they'd like to mentor, they hit a button, and the chair swivels around. If more than one of the stars swivel, the contestant gets to choose his/her mentor from among them.
"Young people seem to be so enamored with just becoming famous," Voice host Carson Daly tells TV Guide. "This immediately takes all of that out. Here, you need skill. You need to be an artist that established artists want to help mold."
And that brings us to the other difference between The Voice and American Idol. After the initial auditions, Augilera and company switch from judges to mentors. The competitors will move forward with the help of their celebrity and his or her team. As on Idol, viewers will vote for the winner (starting once the 32 contestants have been narrowed down to a group of 16).
Despite its differing tactics, The Voice is, of course, still basically a singing competition in the vein of Idol. And it sounds very similar to Cowell's X Factor, which also puts a strong emphasis on musician mentoring. Just listen to how Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly describes X Factor: "A lot of the mechanics are similar (to Idol)," he tells USA Today. "But the mentoring aspect is so major, the spectacle nature of it, the production of it feels very different." When the newspaper asked whether he thought there was room for four talent competitions (Idol, X Factor, The Voice, and America's Got Talent), he replied, "I wouldn't think so, and I don't think there will be four (on the air for long)."
But NBC's head of reality programming, Paul Telegdy, sees it differently. "This wasn't an aggressive move against Idol," he tells TV Guide. "I look at it as the football season overlapping with another sports season. We'll take our chances."
And at a rumored cost of $1.4 million per episode of The Voice, NBC is taking a big chance indeed.
'The Voice' Stars Say Show Is 'Serious' But 'Fun'
'I think the commonality between all four of our coaches is their passion for music,' show host Carson Daly says.
By Kara Warner
"The Voice" coaches Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton
Photo: NBC
For die-hard fans of reality TV singing contests who just can't get enough, NBC has a treat for you in the form of "The Voice." Hosted by Carson Daly and featuring superstar mentors Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, the show hopes to discover yet another future pop star.
MTV caught up with the new reality TV cast recently to get some scoop on the music veterans working on the show.
"I'm really excited about 'The Voice,' " Daly said. "I think the commonality between all four of our coaches is their passion for music, and they're all excellent voices, they're all very business savvy."
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine guaranteed that while they are taking the job seriously, there's plenty of lightheartedness too.
"This show is just fun, and throughout the whole thing, we're interacting with each other," he said. "And yeah, it's serious, it's a competition, [and] we want these guys to succeed."
"We've been a little apprehensive about allowing ourselves to be considered or called judges," Green admitted. "At the end of the day, we're doing a bit more mentoring and a little more coaching more than we're judging."
Green has also said that part of the draw of "The Voice" is its unconventional concept.
"At first, I thought it was a very cool and original concept," Green said, speaking of the format in which coaches sit with their backs to contestants to focus on their vocals instead of their looks as they decide whether to mentor them through later rounds. "We're all coming from such different worlds that there's a coexistence," he added. "[But] there's a bit of friendly competition because we're all playing to win."
After getting advice from the professional singers during battle phases — where they can also call in choreographers, stylists and producers to help their charges — the wannabe stars will go on to live performance shows where the TV audience will vote on who advances and wins the $100,000 prize and recording contract.
"The Voice" premieres Tuesday (April 26) at 9 p.m. ET.
Related ArtistsTeen Mom Education Seminar: Amber Portwood & Catelynn Lowell Dispel Sex Myths in MTV Special
Teen Mom stars Amber Portwood and Catelynn Lowell are setting the record straight when it comes to safe sex. Hey, they would know what NOT to do.
The two girls' infamously unplanned pregnancies and baby daddy drama have been documented on the MTV hit show and in celebrity gossip tabloids.
Portwood gave birth to their daughter Leah Leann (whose father is Gary Shirley) in November 2008 and has struggled to remain sane and out of jail.
Lowell and boyfriend Tyler Baltierra welcomed daughter Carolyn "Carly" Elizabeth in 2009, giving her up for adoption in a painfully difficult choice.
In a new MTV special, Top 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths, they break down what they've learned and some myths that just aren't true, such as ...
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
BumpWatch: Natalie Portman Hits the Gym
Pregnant Natalie Portman doesn't let her baby bump get in the way of her workout routine as she leaves a fitness center in New York's Tribeca neighborhood on Monday.
Michael Jackson - Beat It
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: Bob Giraldi
- Album: Thriller [Bonus Tracks]
Ian Ziering Welcomes Baby Daughter!
Welcoming his first born into this world, Ian Ziering is the proud father of a baby girl.
The former ?90210? star?s wife, Erin Ludwig, gave birth last night (April 25) at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, CA.
Word has it, the couple named their new addition Mia.
Taking to Twitter to express his excitement before the little one was born, Ian wrote, ?OMG life is about to change. Going baby shopping for the first time! Strollers, crib, yikes!"
Elton?s John: Zachary?s Breast Milk Comes via Fedex
"We have the breast milk Fedexed from where she is," says the musician, referring to the surrogate who carried his and partner David Furnish's 4-month-old son, Zachary Jackson Levon.
Britney Spears - Dance Till The World Ends
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
- Director: Ray Kay
- Album: Femme Fatale
'Breaking Dawn' Wedding Day Was 'Wet And Cold,' Peter Facinelli Says
'I haven't really had that moment of remorse or blues,' he tells MTV News of still shooting final film.
By Kara Warner
Peter Facinelli
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
Earlier this week, MTV News learned of an exciting "Twilight" and "American Idol" mash-up between Peter Facinelli and "Idol" castoff Paul McDonald on the "Loosies" soundtrack. Naturally, we couldn't let Facinelli hang up the phone until we addressed another important subject matter: "Breaking Dawn."
Unlike co-star Robert Pattinson, Facinelli has yet to wrap his work on the "Twilight" saga.
"I still have another two weeks of second-unit stunt work, so for me, it doesn't feel quite done yet," he said. "I haven't really had that moment of remorse or blues, you know, the blues of finishing. I'm in the midst of still finishing myself."
Regarding a few key scenes that his co-stars have mentioned — specifically the Taylor Lautner vs. Kristen Stewart fight scene — Facinelli agreed that seeing the much smaller Stewart take on Lautner was entertaining.
"Oh yes, I was there for that," he said. "[It was] very funny. ... But you have to kick his butt a little bit," Facinelli added about the idea of Lautner's character Jacob imprinting on Bella and Edward's daughter Renesmee.
Although he couldn't go into too much detail, we asked Facinelli to describe the heavily hyped wedding scene for us.
"Beautiful and spectacular," he said. "It's funny, because whenever we have a big important scene on 'Twilight' [movies], it rains. I was doing the baseball sequence [from 'Twilight'], and it was raining. But you never see it on film," he said of the filmmaking crew's movie magic. "With this wedding, it rained the whole time we shot the two scenes. But you'll never see it on film, they block out the rain. They put tarps up and you'll never see it. But for us, it was very wet and muddy and cold."
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.
Related PhotosMichael Jackson's Family Upset With James Durbin Over 'American Idol' Pepsi Quip
'We were shocked to see this,' read the Jacksons' message; Durbin tweeted an apology on Thursday.
By Gil Kaufman
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
Related ArtistsMonday, April 25, 2011
On Parade.com: The Osmonds Talk Vegas, Fame, and Justin Bieber
Music and TV icons Donny and Marie Osmond talked to Parade.com about their long career together, how their family keeps them grounded, why the sibling rivalry is real and much more. Here are some highlights: Their advice to today’s young stars like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift? Donnie: It’s a bumpy rollercoaster ride. Hang in [...]
'Paul Reiser Show' Canceled After Two Episodes
"Well that was fast!!" Paul Reiser tweeted on Friday, shortly after NBC canceled The Paul Reiser Show. It was just two episodes in. "Apparently networks like big numbers quickly," he added. "Who knew?"
But the cancellation does seem a little extreme. His show's numbers (3.3 million the first episode and 2.5 million in the second) weren't big enough, quickly enough, to earn even a third airing. Two strikes and... next batter up.
Reiser's show -- which marked his first trip back to series TV since Mad About You -- follows in the footsteps of other series that were quickly during the 2010-11 season after failing to earn large audiences right out of the gate. Fox's buzzed-about drama Lonestar was canceled after just two episodes; ABC's ensemble drama My Generation was scuttled after two airings; and Fox's Running Wilde didn't make it a full season, despite the winning comic pedigree of exec producer Mitch Hurwitz and stars Will Arnett and Keri Russell.
The L.A. Times speculates that Reiser might go down fighting, since he's slated for a Monday night guest spot on The Tonight Show. "Could this be an opportunity for him to ignite a campaign to bring the show back?" asks the Times. But it hardly seems likely that the network would reverse its decision. Critics didn't care for the show, either: In a summary of 22 reviews on Metacritic, it received a score of 38 out of 100, or "generally unfavorable."
"Reiser has made a career out of playing whiny, self-deprecating characters, and his self-titled show is no better," wrote a critic from TV Guide. "The only difference here is he’s playing a version of himself. And while that worked for Matt LeBlanc on Episodes, it doesn’t even come close here."
Obviously, NBC is struggling with this 8:30 p.m. timeslot. It was home to the low-rated Perfect Couples before this, and the network will air repeats of The Office there until the TV season ends. It's also struggling with the 9:30 pm slot, where Outsourced has underwhelmed critics and viewers alike. Could it be that NBC's idea for a six-sitcom night of TV was too ambitious? Four of the comedies -- Community, The Office, 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreation -- have won favorable reviews and enough viewers to allow them to stay put. But filling out those other two time slots has obviously been problematic.
Let's hope NBC has some better options lined up for fall.
Britney Spears 'Till The World Ends' Bollywood Remix Hits Web
The Femme Fatale singer takes to Twitter to encourage fans to 'check out this incredible ... remix.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Max Morse/Getty Images
Last week, Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" got the Bollywood treatment when Indian composers Salim-Sulaiman remixed her feel-good disco track. Now, Britney Spears is feeling the Indian love from entertainment website Desi Hits! and the Culture Shock production team, who put their Bollywood-style spin on "Till the World Ends."
"Check out this incredible Desihits remix of Till The World Ends. I LOVE it!!!" Britney tweeted on Monday about the track.
The swirling take on Spears' hit tune boasts a "Punjabi breakdown" section that features some South Asian-sounding vocals from Culture Shock's Lomaticc and Sunny Brown. The track includes some added Desi flavors courtesy of dholki, dhol and tumbi beats, which are common in Indian music.
"Our goal was to take Britney's smash hit single and give fans a total Desi adrenaline rush," Culture Shock's Baba Kahn explained. "The result is a Culture Shock musical Desi roller coaster that hopefully everyone around the world will want to join."
It seems that Spears' camp was crucial in orchestrating the remix. "We wanted to build an even greater connection between the world's biggest pop star and one of the world's largest audiences," Mark Flaherty, senior vice president of Jive Label Group, says of the reimagined tune. "Britney has been engaged with South Asian culture for many years. From the groundbreaking Bollywood-inspired remix of 'Me Against the Music' to her recent collaboration with Indian fashion designers Falguni and Shane Peacock on the 'Hold It Against Me' video, she has embraced the incredible sights and sounds of this vibrant community throughout her career."
The original version of "Till the World Ends," the second single from Britney's Femme Fatale album, was produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Billboard. At last look, the tune held the #8 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Are you loving the Bollywood-style "Till the World Ends" remix? Tell us in the comments.
Related Videos Related ArtistsKatie Couric to Make 'CBS Evening News' Exit Official This Week
Katie Couric is leaving CBS Evening News when her contract runs out.
You've got to love all these announcements about future announcements. By the time Couric actually does something, the public will be tired of hearing about it. The same might be said about Fox's The X Factor, with its weekly leaks about who Simon Cowell has tapped to join him on the judging panel. Today's news that Paula Abdul is on the verge of signing on to the show is hardly surprising; her name has been in the mix for weeks.
And by the time Donald Trump decides whether he'll run for President, political junkies and Celebrity Apprentice viewers alike will already be sick of hearing him talk about it!
As for Couric, the real news is where she will go next. Will it be a daytime talk show? It looks that way, but that's still just an allegedly.
Kings Of Leon Going On Tour This Summer! Dates Announced!
Looks like Kings of Leon fans WON'T have to wait until November to see the band perform on tour!
Last we heard about it, Kings of Leons' touring company announced that the tour would be postponed until November 2011 so that Nathan Followill would have time to recover from surgery.
Guess he's made a speedy recovery, [...]
Last we heard about it, Kings of Leons' touring company announced that the tour would be postponed until November 2011 so that Nathan Followill would have time to recover from surgery.
Guess he's made a speedy recovery, [...]
Royal Wedding Guest List
The names of some high-profile people set to attend the April 29 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton already have leaked out, but the official guest list has just now been released by Clarence House.
Among the celebs are David and Victoria Beckham, Elton John, singer Joss Stone, director (and Madonna ex) Guy Ritchie, Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson (a friend of Prince Charles), Mario Testino, the photographer who snapped the couple's official engagement photos and Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe.
In total, about 1,900 people have been invited to the service at Westminster Abbey, with 650 invited to a lunchtime reception at Buckingham Palace given by Queen Elizabeth II, and about 300 asked to attend the dinner at Buckingham Palace given by Prince Charles.
Most of the wedding guests -- more than 1,000 -- are family and friends of the prince and princess-to-be's with the rest of the attendees comprising of people from various aspects of their lives: more than 50 members of the royal family; more than 40 members of foreign royal families; more than 200 members of government, parliament and diplomatic corps; about 80 guests drawn from Prince William’s charities, including some people who are not in senior positions but who William has known for some time; 60 governors-general and realm prime ministers; 30 members of the military as well as religious leaders and members of the royal household.
As expected, Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson did not get an invite, though their daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will be there, along with Britain's prime minister David Cameron and his wife, as well as the sisters and brother of Lady Diana Spencer, the prince's mother, and other members of the Spencer family.
Among the more personal guests will be Holly Dyer, Susie Roberts and John Major. Dyer's sister Joanna, a friend of the prince's and a 2nd lieutenant in the British Army, was killed by a bomb in Iraq in 2007, while Roberts' husband, Major Alexis Roberts, was killed in Afghanistan in 2007 and was the royal’s platoon commander at Sandhurst. Meanwhile, former prime minister Major was appointed a guardian to princes William and Harry after the death of Princess Diana in 1997, with responsibility for legal and administrative matters.
Clarence House did not release the names of every person on the list, and among those not officially named but expected to be there are the former flames of the royal and Middleton.
Notable for their absence are such people as President and Mrs. Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, though the wedding is not officially a formal state occasion so does not require the inclusion of world leaders.
The wedding will begin at 11 a.m. London time April 29 and you can follow events as they unfold by joining iVillage's live wedding chat.
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