Kamis, 13 Mei 2010

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MTV News

Betty White Gives 'Saturday Night Live' Ratings A Boost

Posted: 10 May 2010 06:57 AM PDT

Showbiz legend, with help from Jay-Z and famous alums like Tina Fey, helped show to its best numbers in 18 months.
By Gil Kaufman


Betty White on "Saturday Night Live"
Photo: NBC

With her muffin-touting, hardcore screamo antics and help from an all-star cast of "Saturday Night Live" alumnae, not to mention two solid performances from Jay-Z, Betty White helped "SNL" notch its best ratings in nearly two years.

According to figures provided by Nielsen, White gave the 35-year-old late-night staple its highest overnight numbers in more than 18 months, averaging an 8.8 rating, its biggest viewership since a November 1, 2008, show hosted by Ben Affleck that featured appearances by then Republican presidential nominee John McCain and Tina Fey as running mate Sarah Palin. Entertainment Weekly reported that "SNL" was up 66 percent in Nielsen-metered homes over the same night last year.

It helped that a who's-who of "SNL" alums showed up to provide support for the 88-year-old showbiz legend whose suddenly-hot again status was cemented by a 500,000-member Facebook group that helped convince her to finally say yes to hosting the show after decades of declining invitations.

Among the famous faces reprising some of their most beloved sketches were Maya Rudolph (serving up some of her patented loopy Whitney Houston), Tina Fey and Amy Poehler back behind the "Weekend Update" anchor desk, Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon donning their frumpy wool sweaters for their NPR parody "Delicious Dish" and Rachel Dratch, who played a number of utility roles but whose appearance as her Debbie Downer character was, sadly, left on the cutting-room floor.

The show also featured a nearly 10-minute medley from Jay-Z, who was joined by his new artist Bridget Kelly for "Empire State of Mind" and later by Mr. Hudson for "Young Forever," which the rapper dedicated to "the most incredible Betty White."

How hot is White? Even Justin Bieber was feeling her, tweeting after the show, "BETTY WHITE RULES."

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'Iron Man 2' Star Scarlett Johansson Talks Deleted 'Repulsor' Scene

Posted: 10 May 2010 06:27 AM PDT

'There was a moment where there was a little bit of repulsion, a jolt of some kind,' she tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Scarlett Johanssen
Photo: MTV News

If "Iron Man 2" fans heading to the theater are hoping to see what MTV News has dubbed "the repulsor moment" in the flick, they may be disappointed to find that the scene didn't make the final cut. Those in need of a refresher can watch what we alluded to, at the 2:13 mark, in the trailer that premiered in March.

But moviegoers aren't the only ones in the dark about the moment in question. "A repulsor? Oh, yeah. ... It's not in the film?" Scarlett Johansson said when MTV News asked her about the now-deleted scene. "Am I with Robert [Downey Jr.]? I don't know. I have not yet seen the film, so I'll be looking out for that.

"But there is a scene where Natalie is sort of cozying up to Tony, and I do have that repulsor, as you call it," she said of her character, Natalie Romanoff, a.k.a. the Black Widow. "There was a moment where there was a little bit of repulsion, a jolt of some kind. Maybe it didn't make it into the movie, I don't know."

Although that particularly explosive scene didn't make the film, Johansson relished in the action scenes that did. "It was a bit daunting at first, especially when I was watching whatever Tom Harper, our stunt coordinator, had cut together, these sequences that he was planning and choreographing," Johansson recalled. "It was like, 'I'm going to be doing that in how many months?' It just seemed like it'd be really painful. And it was. It all paid off in the end."

Did you see "Iron Man 2" over the weekend? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Iron Man 2."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Bobby Brown Gets Engaged To Manager Alicia Etheridge Onstage

Posted: 10 May 2010 06:20 AM PDT

Singer popped the question to girlfriend of three years at Funk Fest in Florida.
By Jocelyn Vena


Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge
Photo: Leon Bennett/ Getty Images

Bobby Brown proposed to his girlfriend of nearly three years, Alicia Etheridge, onstage in Florida over the weekend.

Playing a show at the Funk Fest concert at Jacksonville's Metro Park on Friday night, according to the Florida Times-Union, Brown was joined onstage by Etheridge with their 11-month-old son, Cassius, on hand. He then got on one knee and asked Etheridge, his manager, to marry him.

Speaking to the Florida Times-Union, fans said that the crowd went crazy when Brown popped the question. "We shouted, we screamed," Carol Pearsall told the paper. "We supported him." Her husband, Paul, added, "Hopefully he'll get it right this time."

Brown was very infamously married to R&B diva Whitney Houston for 15 years. The two have a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, 17. Brown, who appeared on "Celebrity Fit Club," also has three other children from previous relationships.

While Brown has remained under the radar for the last few years, Houston released an album last year, I Look to You. During the publicity tour, she spoke openly about her troubled relationship with Brown. "He was my drug," Houston, 46, said. "I didn't do anything without him. I wasn't getting high by myself. It was me and him together, and we were partners, and that's what my high was — him. He and I being together, and whatever we did, we did it together. No matter what, we did it together."

What do you think is next for Bobby Brown? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Christina Aguilera's 'Not Myself Tonight' Moves Inspired By 'Burlesque'

Posted: 10 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT

'Dancing always came sort of secondary to me,' she says of her career before the Cher-starring movie.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias


Christina Aguilera
Photo: Denise Truscello/ Wireimage

Over the years, Christina Aguilera has established herself as the pop singer with the big voice. While some of her contemporaries hit the stage and made music videos displaying their prowess on the dance floor, Aguilera relied primarily on her impressive vocal range. But in the new video for her single "Not Myself Tonight," she wanted to experiment a little.

"There is dancing, and I learned so much also as a dancer doing the 'Burlesque' film, moving my body in ways that were, I feel, never as precise before," she told MTV News about working dance moves from the Cher-starring movie into the Hype Williams-directed video. "Dancing always came sort of secondary to me. Vocals were my first love and where my heart really was."

The singer, who is set to release her album Bionic on June 8, said she now has a whole new appreciation for grooving on the dance floor. "I never was as passionate about dancing, per se," Aguilera said. "But after 'Burlesque,' I really fell in love and I adapted that in the dancing for 'Not Myself Tonight,' but it was really, really fun to take what I learned from the movie."

Her upcoming film wasn't Aguilera's only source of inspiration for the video, though; the pop star also looked closer to home. "A lot of that [video] was based on my visual inspiration," she explained. "I took Hype into my salon area in my home ... it's like my creative den. He took the ideas and then took other ideas and related to the ideas, and it just was really iconic imagery."

What did you think of Christina's dance moves in the video? Let us know in the comments!

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'Iron Man 3' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 10 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT

Now that you've seen 'Iron Man 2,' here's everything we know about 'Iron Man 3' so far.
By Larry Carroll


Robert Downey Jr in "Iron Man 2"
Photo: Warner Bros.

Now that you've seen "Iron Man 2" over the weekend, there's only one thing on your mind: When can I see "Iron Man 3"?

Well, you'll have to hold on just a little bit longer, but while you're waiting, check out what we know about "Iron Man 3" so far, in our MTV News cheat sheet.

Iron Man 3
Even before the smash success of the original "Iron Man," Marvel Studios was addressing the possibility of multiple sequels. Sure enough, after the movie opened to over $100 million, Jon Favreau was trying to decide between "Avengers" and "Iron Man 2" — by now, you might be able to guess which he chose. On the verge of "Iron Man 2" opening, Favs told us that he was ready to have Tony Stark suit up again after the "Thor," "Captain America" and "Avengers" movies came out. He also revealed that he wanted the Mandarin to be the villain.

The Ideas
The franchise stars are already pondering the possibilities of where Tony Stark could go after taking on Whiplash and other assorted foes in "Iron Man 2." Gwyneth Paltrow wanted her Pepper Potts to see some action; Robert Downey Jr. had some strong ideas about where he wanted to take Tony; and even the creator of War Machine weighed in, saying he hoped the filmmakers would finally uncork the beloved "Demon in a Bottle" story line from the Marvel comics.

The Villain
Favreau spoke extensively about how he hoped "Thor" and the other films would make magic more plausible in the Marvel universe so he could incorporate the Mandarin into "Iron Man 3." Even Faran Tahir, the actor who captured Tony Stark in the original film, laid the groundwork for his return in the role.

3-D in 2013?
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has expressed his love for 3-D technology, as has Favreau. So will "Iron Man 3" go down that road? We'll have to wait and see.

Iron Man, Big Plans
Marvel is rewriting the history books with all these great movies they're making, and the momentum should carry over for years to come. First, there was the big deal with Paramount, and then the signing of Sam Jackson to appear in as many as nine Marvel movies as Nick Fury. What's next?

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Lena Horne, Jazz Singer, Actress, Civil-Rights Icon, Dead At 92

Posted: 10 May 2010 06:06 AM PDT

The 'Stormy Weather' singer and activist died Sunday in New York.
By Gil Kaufman


Lena Horne
Photo: Yvonne Hemsey/ Getty Images

Singer, actress and civil-rights icon Lena Horne died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 92 of undisclosed causes. The jazz icon, whose signature song was "Stormy Weather," famously fought racist attitudes in Hollywood in her efforts to become the first black leading lady on the big screen. She died at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, according to The New York Times.

Horne came to Hollywood in the 1940s and tried to break into the movies. Though she earned a contract with MGM, she was barely cast in her early career because of the color of her skin. Ironically, the paper noted, she was so light skinned as a girl that other black children accused her of having a "white daddy."

Early in her career Horne earned fleeting roles in big-screen musicals such as 1946's "Ziegfeld Follies," appearing in one or two numbers that could easily be cut from the movie when it played in the South, where the idea of a black performer appearing in any role that was not subservient amid an all-white cast was unacceptable.

She was born Lena Calhoun Horne on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Her paternal grandparents were early members of the NAACP civil-rights organization and in a precursor to her lifelong battle on behalf of equal rights, Horne was the cover girl for the NAACP's monthly bulletin in October 1919 when she was 2 years old. After her parents' divorce, Horne was largely raised by her grandparents. When she was 16, her mother pulled her out of school to audition for the dance chorus at the famous Harlem night spot, the Cotton Club.

Horne made her Broadway debut a year after joining the Cotton Club chorus, appearing in the short-lived "Dance With Your Gods" in a voodoo dance sequence in 1934. She married at 19 and gave birth to two children before attempting to launch her movie career.

Blessed with stunning good looks, an elegant, slightly mysterious stage presence and an unmistakably sexy allure, Horne's big Hollywood debut was a disappointing one-song appearance in the 1942 musical "Panama Hattie." According to the Times, she had better luck in a pair of all-black musicals from 1943, including "Stormy Weather," which included the achingly sad title track that would become her signature song and which helped earn her the nickname "Negro Cinderella" early in her career. She refused to take the stereotypical roles offered to black performers — such as prostitutes and slaves — holding out for more substantial parts, which, in turn, limited her ability to appear in major films.

She became the top-earning black performer in Hollywood by 1945, playing lucrative nightclub gigs and gaining popularity among both white and black G.I.'s during World War II, who often kept pictures of her in their footlockers. While doing U.S.O. tours, she openly criticized the treatment of black troops, which earned her a rebuke from the organization. She secretly married white arranger/conductor Lennie Hayton in 1947, and she claimed that the combination of her U.S.O. comments and friendships with such left-leaning civil-rights figures as singer Paul Robeson got her blacklisted in Hollywood, preventing her from working for nearly a decade after her MGM contract lapsed in 1950.

Horne continued to make some TV appearances during that time on shows such as "What's My Line" and "The Judy Garland Show," as well as singing in nightclubs and recording albums. By the early 1960s she became actively involved in the civil-rights movement, participating in protests and marches, including the 1963 March on Washington, as her film career began to fade. Her final acting gig in 1978, in which she played Glinda the Good Witch in the big screen version of "The Wiz," came nearly a decade after her only substantial leading role, as a brothel madam in love with Richard Widmark in 1969's "Death of a Gunfighter."

In addition to two Grammy awards, she won a special Tony Award for her 1981 one-woman Broadway show, "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music," and continued to release albums into the 1990s and tour extensively in Europe and North America.

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'The Avengers' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 10 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT

Can't wait until May 2012? Here's all we know about the superhero supergroup.
By Eric Ditzian


Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle in "Iron Man 2"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

With the mega-opening of "Iron Man 2" behind us and the release of "Thor" and "The First Avenger: Captain America" coming down the line in 2011, it's time to turn our attention to "The Avengers," Marvel's planned big-screen adaptation of their team of iconic superheroes. Debuting in the early '60s, the comic book's members have at one time or another included Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and others.

"Avengers" isn't set for a theatrical release until May 4, 2012. But details about the project are quickly coming together. Here is MTV News' cheat sheet on the movie: everything you need to know about "The Avengers."

"Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" Get Things Started
At the end of 2008's "Iron Man," Samuel L. Jackson pops up as Nick Fury, the eye-patched head of the superhero-focused spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. who's putting together the Avengers. Not only was it an awesome and unexpected cameo, but it served as notice to fans that Marvel was dead set on weaving together the cinematic universes of their classic superheroes.

Little more than a month later, Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark — a.k.a. Iron Man — appeared briefly in "The Incredible Hulk," talking about getting a team together. Again, it was a satisfying cameo and further proof that "Avengers" was most definitely Marvel's long-term — and long-planned — goal.

Further along in '08, "Iron Man 2," "Thor," "Captain America" and "Avengers" got release dates. While all except "IM2" would end up being pushed back ("Avengers" was originally slated for summer 2011), they were all at least officially on Marvel's docket. By early '09, the official release dates for all the films were in place.

The Team Comes Together
In fall 2008, the cast and crew began to fall into place. Downey and Don Cheadle (as War Machine) signed on to reprise their "Iron Man" roles in "Avengers," and "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau shifted into an executive-producer role. Zak Penn ("X-Men: The Last Stand") was recruited to pen the script and delivered a first draft in March. Meanwhile, Edward Norton, who played Hulk in the '08 film, wouldn't commit to reprising his role, even though Hulk is set to appear in the film. Scarlett Johansson, who played Black Widow in "Iron Man 2," hinted at a juicy role for her character in "Avengers." Chris Hemsworth was cast as Thor both for his own movie and for "Avengers," while after a lengthy search, Chris Evans was signed as Captain America for his titular flick and "Avengers." Last month, Joss Whedon nabbed the coveted director job and also got a chance to rewrite the script.

The Remaining 'Avenger' Questions
While the core team is in place, oodles of questions remain. Which other heroes and villains will pop up in "Avengers"? How about Loki (to be played by Tom Hiddleston in "Thor") or Red Skull (to be played by Hugo Weaving in "Captain America")? What other characters will enter the "Avengers" universe, like Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Panther and Vision?

And then there's the question of who will be the de facto leader of the Avengers. History points to Captain America, but nothing is set in stone. "I don't know if they're going to make him the boss," Evans told MTV News in April. Joked Downey: "I'll clown all of them. I'll just clown those fools."

Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'Iron Man 2' Blasts Away Box-Office Competition

Posted: 10 May 2010 05:19 AM PDT

Sequel surpasses first 'Iron Man' debut, but fails to beat 'The Dark Knight' for best opening weekend.
By Josh Wigler


Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 2"
Photo: Paramount

#1 "Iron Man 2" ($133.6 million)
#2 "A Nightmare on Elm Street" ($9.2 million)
#3 "Date Night" ($6.8 million)
#4 "How to Train Your Dragon" ($5.3 million)
#5 "The Back-Up Plan" ($4.3 million)

With repulsor rays armed to their fullest capacity, "Iron Man 2" burst off the ground and onto the big screen this weekend with all of the action and adventure a moviegoer would expect from Marvel Studios' premier franchise. The result was an extraordinary $133.6 million weekend, Paramount Pictures' single best debut of all time, as well as the fifth-best opening weekend in Hollywood history.

"Iron Man 2" began the weekend with an impressive $7.5 million start from 2,500 midnight showings on Thursday, expanding into a record-breaking 4,380 screens on Friday morning. But the records ended there, as "Iron Man 2" was unable to dethrone "The Dark Knight" ($158 million) for the best opening weekend of all time. Still, the Robert Downey Jr.-starring sequel was able to outperform its own predecessor, which earned $98.6 million during its first weekend in theaters in 2008.

In addition to its performance at the domestic box office, "Iron Man 2" earned a solid $57.2 million overseas from more than 10,000 theaters, bringing the film's foreign intake to $194 million and its global total to $327.6 million. Given its reported $200 million production budget, "Iron Man 2" didn't need to break any records this weekend in order to solidify its status as a highly lucrative endeavor for Marvel Studios.

A success in and of itself, "Iron Man 2" also represents a comeback of sorts for comic book films in general, as recent efforts "Kick-Ass" and "The Losers" failed to light up the box office as many had expected.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" fell from first to second place this weekend with $9.2 million, a miniscule result compared to the might of "Iron Man 2." "Date Night," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "The Back-Up Plan" rounded out the top five.

Upcoming Releases

Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe return to medieval times with "Robin Hood" next weekend, while Summit Entertainment writes "Letters to Juliet" and Queen Latifah performs "Just Wright."

Check out everything we've got on "Iron Man 2."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Jay-Z Dedicates 'Young Forever' To Betty White On 'SNL'

Posted: 09 May 2010 06:21 AM PDT

Rapper's first performance on show featured medley of hits including 'Empire State of Mind.'
By Jayson Rodriguez


Photo: NBC

During her appearance on "Saturday Night Live," 88-year-old host Betty White referenced her age often, both as a nod to her spunky old-lady persona and her expansive Hollywood career. Jay-Z, the musical guest, is roughly half White's age, but the legendary rapper's resumé is just as vast, spawning 11 #1 albums. And the Brooklyn MC seemed intent on showcasing as many of his LPs as possible as he ran through a five-song medley of his hits.

Clad in jeans, Timberland boots, a white T-shirt and a gold-studded sleeveless leather biker vest, Hov kick-started things with "Public Service Announcement" off The Black Album. "I'm flyer than a piece of paper bearing my name/ Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain," he rapped.

Backed by his Roc Boys touring band and engineer Young Guru on the turntables, a lively Jay smiled often from behind his dark sunglasses.

"On to the Next One" quickly led into "99 Problems." Then "Me and My Girlfriend" sans Beyoncé turned into "Empire State of Mind" just as fast. The rapper's artist Bridget Kelly, singing Alicia Keys' part, turned more than a few heads in a black micro mini that was tighter than her boss' rhyme.

"I'm the new Sinatra and since I made it here I can make it anywhere," Jay rapped on the track, which comes off his most recent project, The Blueprint 3, and was the first #1 hit of his career.

Later in the show Jay-Z returned for a second performance, and although the rumored sketch between him and the night's host never happened, he made sure to shout her out. "This is dedicated to the most incredible Betty White," Jay said, as Mr. Hudson joined him for the rapper's newest single, "Young Forever."

The two stars finally came together minutes later when White signed off; Jay-Z wrapped his arm across the actress' shoulders while she thanked the cast, audience and everyone else for the opportunity to serve as "SNL" host.

What did you think of Jay-Z's "Saturday Night Live" performance? Let us know in the comments!

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Ludacris, Pete Wentz, Jillian Michaels Get Nostalgic On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 09 May 2010 05:58 AM PDT

'My father did not know how to cook,' Luda says of working at Pizza Hut for money — and meals.
By MTV News staff

Ludacris once delivered pizzas instead of rhymes. Instead of motivating people to live a better life on "The Biggest Loser," Jillian Michaels wasn't very motivated to hang out with anyone in high school. And Pete Wentz kicked around a soccer ball instead of playing bass.

How do we know all this? Well, they dished all about it on the latest episode of MTV's new show "When I Was 17," airing Saturdays at 11 a.m.

While he's the face of Fall Out Boy these days, Wentz didn't think he'd find fortune or fame as a rock star. In fact, he thought he'd be the next David Beckham. "I played soccer, but I wasn't really a jock," Wentz said in the episode. "It was something I was really passionate about. I feel like I had a magical connection with the ball. I wanted to play professional soccer in Europe."

Ludacris also had an alternative career back in the day: He used to work at Pizza Hut. "Not only did I get a job at Pizza Hut to get a little extra change in my pocket, but I also did it so that I could eat," he explained. "I lived with my father. God bless my father, I love him to death, may he rest in peace, but my father did not know how to cook. Simple as that."

It seems that food service is quite the popular industry for 17-year-old future celebs. Michaels, admittedly, wasn't very good at it though. "I began looking for jobs. I became a waitress," she recalled. "I was the worst freakin' waitress in the world. I was not very good at customer service. [I was like,] 'Oh, you don't like that? Sorry.' Waitressing was not for me."

Don't miss "When I Was 17," airing Saturdays at 11 a.m. on MTV!

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Betty White Is Golden As Host, Jay-Z Performs Medley Of Hits On 'SNL'

Posted: 09 May 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Episode also featured return of Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Molly Shannon.
By Amy Wilkinson, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena


Photo: NBC

At 88 1/2 years old, "The Proposal" star Betty White proved she's one of America's hardest-working grandmothers as she cursed, kicked and roughed up young hoodlums on this week's episode of "Saturday Night Live," featuring musical guest Jay-Z.

Eschewing its usual political cold open, the show opted for a "Lawrence Welk Show" Mother's Day tribute sketch, bringing back many of the series' famous female stars, including Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Molly Shannon. White's appearance in the sketch garnered prolonged applause from the studio audience.

Later, in her opening monologue, White joked about her age and the Facebook campaign that brought her to the "SNL" stage.

"When I first heard about the campaign to get me to host 'Saturday Night Live,' I didn't know what Facebook was," she said. "Now that I do know what it is, it sounds like a huge waste of time."

Not surprisingly, White played some variation of a grandmother figure in nearly every sketch, to hilarious effect. She drove a motorized scooter as MacGruber's nana, whom he confessed his undying love for and ultimately (and oh-so awkwardly) proposed marriage to. She donned a khaki jumpsuit to play tough-as-nails Grandma MacIntosh in Kenan Thompson's recurring "Scared Straight" sketch. And in a jab at CBS' older viewership, she portrayed a crime-fighting senior citizen in the spin-off "CSI: Sarasota."

Fans of White's classic television show "The Golden Girls" also got a treat as the cast sang a version of the series' theme song, "Thank You for Being a Friend," during the night's Digital Short, with White revamping the ditty into a scary, ear-busting screamo version.

Several of the returning "SNL" alumna also reprised their most memorable characters, including Shannon's kicking and stretching 50-year-old Sally O'Malley and Rudolph's Whitney Houston. Gasteyer and Shannon also resurrected their NPR "Delicious Dish" hosts, chatting up baker Florence Dusty (White) about her signature muffins. "My muffin hasn't had a cherry since 1939," White deadpanned.

When MTV News caught up with White earlier in the week during rehearsals, she said she had practiced a couple of sketches with Jay-Z, but none of them ultimately made Saturday night's live taping. Nonetheless, White said she was thrilled to hang with Jay-Z in order to raise her cool quotient. "I'm very excited about meeting him, and I bragged to all my friends who think I'm over the hill," White joked.

The feeling must have been mutual as the rapper dedicated his performance of "Young Forever" featuring Mr. Hudson to the "most incredible Betty White." Earlier in the show, Jay-Z performed a medley of his hits, beginning with two singles off of the 2003 Black Album, "Public Service Announcement" and "99 Problems." Following a short interlude of " '03 Bonnie & Clyde," he then dove into his 2009 hit "Empire State of Mind," with Bridget Kelly singing Alicia Keys' part.

Next week's season finale of "SNL" will feature host Alec Baldwin, who will tie his Oscar co-host and "It's Complicated" co-star Steve Martin for most times hosting at 15. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be the musical guest.

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Crystal Bowersox Addresses 'American Idol' Quitting Rumors

Posted: 07 May 2010 05:47 AM PDT

'It's been blown out of proportion,' the 'American Idol' front-runner says at a news conference.
By Audrey Kim


Crystal Bowersox
Photo: MTV News

LOS ANGELES — Crystal Bowersox, the last lady standing on "American Idol," wants to put an end to the reports that she almost quit the hit show.

After all the rumors, tweets and general confusion regarding a conversation she had with host Ryan Seacrest back in April, Bowersox is setting the record straight — and at the scene where all the rumors began, no less. At a news conference on the "American Idol" soundstage Friday afternoon (May 7), Bowersox turned to the media to lay the rumors to rest.

"It's been blown out of proportion," Bowersox said, sitting beside her fellow finalists: Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze and Casey James. "It was a brief conversation I had with Ryan after a show. I missed my kid. I just missed my son. I never had any intention to quit. I was not angry at Ryan. It was just a brief conversation. He gave me great advice — and that was it."

On April 18, soon after reports surfaced that Seacrest had saved Bowersox from quitting "Idol," she tweeted about how the incident had been warped: "Media is a funny thing. Stretched and skewed and far from the truth."

"I'm not really sure how it got out," Bowersox continued at the news conference. "It was just a conversation between him and I. It got out, and people were like, 'Oh, she stormed out the back door, she threw a fit, she's angry at Ryan.' [It was] none of that. It was a very civil, helpful conversation."

Her conversation with Seacrest did help her affirm why she is still a contender. Bowersox said she is doing this to make her young son, who she refers to as her "little man," proud. "I hope he'll grow up and look back and be proud to know that his mom did everything she possibly could to make his life better."

What do you think of Crystal's explanation? Let us know in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Mother's Day: Understanding The History

Posted: 09 May 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Honoring mom is a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece.
By Josh Wigler


Photo: Blend Images

As time marches on and children grow up, it's easy to drift away from the parents who raised you. But every year, there are days devoted entirely to celebrating the bond between parent and offspring — such as Sunday (May 9), Mother's Day.

Over the years, Mother's Day has evolved from a religious celebration into a more personal affair celebrated among families. The holiday actually dates all the way back to ancient Greece, when people would come together to worship Rhea, "mother" of the gods. The sacred aspect of Mother's Day carried through the centuries and across various practices of worship. During the 1600s, for example, Christians in Europe congregated for Mothering Day, which honored the Virgin Mary, and was modified eventually to include everyday mothers.

But the tradition of Mothering Day was discontinued when the earliest English settlers first came to America, only to re-emerge as Mother's Day shortly after the end of the American Civil War. A few decades later, Mother's Day was declared a national holiday on May 9, 1914.

Of course, Mother's Day isn't relegated solely to the United States. The holiday is celebrated internationally in a range of ways and on many different dates. Americans honor Mother's Day each year on the second Sunday of May, as they do in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, China and South Africa. But in other places, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland, it falls on changing designated days during the year.

Although the holiday is celebrated differently across the globe, there is one common bond that links the various takes on Mother's Day: No matter where we are, we devote an entire holiday to honoring the women who we know as "mom."

How will you celebrate Mother's Day? Let us know in the comments!

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Drake Wants To Return To Acting, But Has Been Offered 'Ehh' Projects

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:06 AM PDT

'I can actually act,' the 'Degrassi' alum tells XXL.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Drake
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Although Drake's career as an actor has been on the back burner since his rise to fame as a rapper, the former "Degrassi: The Next Generation" star isn't opposed to returning to his roots.

The problem, however, is the lack of quality material that he's offered.

"That's probably my biggest goal, is to get back into acting and really pick the right projects," Drake told XXL magazine. "I've been reading different scripts, but I know what I want to do and what type of project I want to be involved in, and I've just been getting the typical projects that they'd offer to a new rapper, and it's like, 'Ehh, that's not really what I want to do or how I see myself.'

"I can actually act," he added.

Before breaking out with 2009's So Far Gone mixtape, Drake made his first splash in the entertainment world on "Degrassi" as Jimmy Brooks, a standout basketball player who becomes paralyzed after a shooting incident. The rapper, then known as Aubrey Graham, played Jimmy for seven seasons, and his character even pursued a career in music, mirroring Drake's real life.

Since Drake parted ways with the television series, he's focused primarily on his career as an MC. Last year, however, he told MTV News he would be open to returning to acting via a comedy, particularly of the Judd Apatow variety. A former castmate of his and the rapper even had their own project green-lit, a sitcom that will be produced in Canada.

"I like to give things to people, so whether it be a movie or I have a TV show that me and one of my best friends [fellow 'Degrassi' actor] Mazin Elsadig did," he said. "We write. It's comedy comparable to, like, Judd Apatow and Michael Cera, but with black people in it. So, I mean, there's all kinds of forms of self-expression, and it carries over, obviously, into music. My music is really personal. It's really based on honesty, so it's not much acting involved. And, you know, [Lil] Wayne is a character when he performs. When he spits, he's animated. With me, with rapping, it's more intimate, it's more organic and more personal. My music, I think there's more acting on the business side of it than the music side of it."

Do you want to see Drake return to acting? Let us know in the comments!

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Christina Aguilera Tells Oprah She Feels 'Superhuman' As A Mother

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:20 AM PDT

Xtina performs her new single, 'Not Myself Tonight,' at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
By Eric Ditzian


Christina Aguilera on "Oprah"
Photo: ABC

Christina Aguilera's comeback is well under way.

With a live performance slated in early June at the MTV Movie Awards, followed by the release of Bionic, her first studio album since 2006, it's shaping up to be a crazy couple of months for the pop star. On Friday (May 7), Xtina stopped by a live airing of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at New York's Radio City Music Hall to chat about motherhood, charity work and her break from the music scene.

"I like to take time between records and just live life for a moment, just gather my thoughts, my inspiration, and figure out what the next record is going to be," she said. "I just take those moments to live life so I can be even more inspired as an artist."

Since her 2006 album, Back to Basics, Aguilera has moved into a new home, become a United Nations ambassador for world hunger and given birth to her first child, Max. As she told Oprah, having a son has helped to increase her own confidence in her body.

"I think as women, our bodies go through such amazing things, and we are superhuman," she said. "We give life, we give birth, we are our child's source of everything. Our bodies are not our own for a time period, and we givingly and willingly do so for our child. But then when we get them back, you feel that much stronger and that much better and more confident. Sure, I have a difference in my body than before, but I'm more confident in that."

After chatting with Oprah, Aguilera took the stage at Radio City to perform her new single, "Not Myself Tonight." In a haze of green laser lights and smoke, she appeared in a black one-piece, a long black trench coat and high black boots. Backed by a group of "Matrix"-esque dancers, Xtina stomped to and fro across the stage, at one point declaring: "This song is all about letting go and expressing yourself!"

What did you think about Christina's "Oprah" appearance? Let us know in the comments!

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'American Idol' Final Four Are Friends, But 'We All Want To Win'

Posted: 07 May 2010 06:42 AM PDT

'We all want the number-one spot,' Lee Dewyze admits at an 'Idol' news conference.
By Audrey Kim


Lee Dewyze
Photo: MTV News

From the top 24 to the final four, and with only three weeks left in the competition, it all comes down to this: lovable underdog Lee Dewyze, Texan guitarist Casey James, soulful Michael "Big Mike" Lynche and finale favorite Crystal Bowersox. At a rare news conference on Friday (May 7), the "American Idol" finalists were more friendly than frenemies.

"We're not competing with each other," said James, whose golden locks have become just as recognizable as his voice. "It's like apples and oranges. One's not the other. People voting for Mike aren't going to vote for me or Crystal."

Bowersox agreed: "The line between friend and competitor doesn't exist. We're all being catapulted by fans because they like us. Some people voting for Lee might not vote for me. We all want the number-one spot, but we can only do our personal best every week. The fans are the ones who take us there."

But Dewyze, arguably Bowersox's main competition for the "Idol" crown, put it more bluntly: "I do think there's somewhat of a line. We're all friends. That's not going to change. As far as the show, at the end of the day, we all want to win. We all want the number-one spot."

Dewyze also reminisced about how it all started for him back in Chicago: "Being in the top four, it's insane, because, like, just the other day, I was looking with some people at videos from Chicago when I was there in that stadium. When I look back and there's thousands of people, and I was just a little dot on the screen — we've gone from that to just us four. The thing is, there's so many talented musicians out there, and we've been given such an opportunity. I'm so grateful for it. It's amazing."

Who are you rooting for in the final four? Let us know in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Miley Cyrus Says She's Being Herself In 'Can't Be Tamed' Video

Posted: 06 May 2010 11:50 PM PDT

'What you see in me is the same since I was 11-years-old on 'Hannah Montana,' ' she explains.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by James Lacsina


Miley Cyrus
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Miley Cyrus' latest music video, "Can't Be Tamed," shows the Disney star leaving her Hannah Montana wig and image in the dust in favor of wings, skin-hugging outfits and sexy dance moves. As she dances in her exotic-bird getup, Cyrus continues to show that while she may not be a woman just yet, she's not a girl anymore either.

"I think it definitely shows a change of what people remember me as, but it's not trying to not be me," Cyrus told MTV News about the first video off her new album, Can't Be Tamed, due out in June. "I didn't want to be just a character. I wanted to be myself and just in a bird-like form in the way I dressed."

And while Cyrus is trying to appear more mature in the darker-themed video, directed by Robert Hales, she isn't planning on becoming unrecognizable to her original fans. "I think that's why the video is so unique," she offered. "The lighting is different, the outfit may be different, but what you see in me is the same since I was 11-years-old on 'Hannah Montana.' "

Miley thinks that fans will look at the clip and say, "There's the smile we know her for. ... These are things that she does."

What do you think of Miley's artistic evolution? Tell us in the comments!

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'Iron Man 2' Pulls In $7.5 Million At Midnight Screenings

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:15 AM PDT

Film is on track to make $140 million to $160 million, which could top 'Dark Knight' opening weekend.
By Eric Ditzian


Photo: Paramount Pictures

"Iron Man 2" has landed on U.S. soil, and it's already doing big business. The sequel to 2008's second-highest-grossing film reeled in $7.5 million during its midnight screenings early on Friday (May 7), according to multiple reports.

The Robert Downey Jr.-starring comic book adaptation opened at midnight on 2,500 screens and then expanded to a record-setting 4,380 screens for the bulk of the weekend. Those are impressive midnight numbers, but they're nothing compared to the midnight performance of "New Moon" when it opened last November. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson's vampire flick grossed a whopping $26.3 million on 3,500 screens.

Nonetheless, "Iron Man 2" is tracking in the neighborhood of $140 million to $160 million for its opening weekend, giving it the chance to vanquish "The Dark Knight" ($158 million) for the biggest opening ever. And "Iron Man" has already grossed over $130 million internationally. What's more, MovieTickets.com reports that 90 percent of all online ticket sales have been for "Iron Man" showings, including 842 sellouts as of Friday morning. Clearly, fans are pumped for more Tony Stark.

"I thought it a worthy sequel," said MTV News reader Chuck. "The other characters were more developed without killing the popcorn fun of this movie. It is worth going to the theater to see on a big screen. I will go again soon and will add to my Blu-ray collection when it hits stores."

Reader Jonathan wrote: "I thought it was pretty good. Better than the first? I'd say close. The drone thing didn't appeal to me though. And as for Whiplash, I thought he was pretty badass. And of course it was CGI-heavy. How could you possibly expect to make a movie like this without the CGI being abundant? I would definitely see it again."

Have you seen "Iron Man 2" yet? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Iron Man 2."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Katy Perry Debuts New Single 'California Gurls'

Posted: 07 May 2010 12:36 AM PDT

'SUMMER STARTS NOW!' she tweets about the sunshiney new track.
By James Montgomery


Katy Perry's cover art for "California Gurls"
Photo: Capitol

With a single tweet, Katy Perry entered the summer-jam sweepstakes, unveiling her brand-new single, "California Gurls," to the masses. And, oh, don't think she didn't know it.

"SUMMER STARTS NOW!," Perry shouted ... er ... wrote on her Twitter page. "WHO'S READY TO HEAR MY SINGLE 'CALIFORNIA GURLS' ?"

She then posted a link to her website, which now bears the slogan "Summer Starts Now!" and features a promotional image of a blue-haired Perry reclining on the beach in a bejeweled bikini. Although you can hear "California Gurls" on the site, within minutes of Perry announcing the track, it was practically everywhere on the Net, including Perez Hilton's site and Ryan Seacrest's blog.

Perry wasn't exaggerating when she said the summer starts now, either. "Gurls" is a big, bright, decidedly beach-friendly pop tune, full of sunshiney synthesizers, starry, electronic whooshes and loose, funky, wah-wah guitar flourishes. As if all that weren't enough to guarantee it instant summer-jam success, well, then wait until you hear the positively massive chorus, on which Perry sings about Daisy Dukes-wearing California gurls with "sun-kissed skin so hot [it'll] melt your popsicle." Oh, and Snoop Dogg also shows up midway through to contribute a verse dedicated to the "toned, tanned, fit and ready" Cali girls he loves.

In short: Welcome to your favorite sun-tanning song of 2010.

Co-written by Perry and hitmakers Dr. Luke, Max Martin and Benny Blanco, "Gurls" will hit radio May 25. The tune's debut comes just one day after snippets of it — and two other songs, "E.T." and "In Between" — leaked online. There's still no word on what Perry is planning to call the follow-up to her breakthrough One of the Boys album or when it will hit stores.

What do you think of "California Gurls"? Let us know in the comments!

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Christina Aguilera Made 'Magic' With Hype Williams For 'Not Myself Tonight'

Posted: 07 May 2010 02:05 AM PDT

'I think it's really iconic and classic,' Aguilera says of her new video.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias


Christina Aguilera
Photo: MTV News

Christina Aguilera burst back on the scene last week with her incredibly sexy, over-the-top "Not Myself Tonight" video. The Bionic singer said that while the clip's sensuality — which includes simulated sex and girly make-out sessions — is uniquely Aguilera, legendary video director Hype Williams brought his own flavor to the mix.

"We never even crossed paths, never met, anything," she told MTV News about finally working with Hype, who recently shot the Lady Gaga/ Beyoncé clip for "Video Phone." "And someone with that much of a catalog under his belt and success as a video maker, he's like a legend. So again entering into the collaborating factor, I didn't know what to expect ... and he's probably thinking the same about me. And when we walked away from working with each other, it was just a love connection."

Their love, she said, led to some unbelievable work. Aguilera even embraced some new looks for the clip, including bondage gear. "I wanted to maintain and keep consistent with the look of the album packaging and book," she said. "And I really wanted to keep all that in line, and so he really paid attention, and I think it's really iconic and classic."

Aguilera thinks the video will be remembered for decades to come. "We totally made magic together on a creative level," she said. "It was absolutely amazing. He really got in and listened to where my music was at."

What did you think of their collaboration? Discuss in the comments!

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