MTV News |
- Eminem Remembers '8 Mile' Co-Star Brittany Murphy In <i>Vibe</i>
- Randy Jackson On 'American Idol' Rumors: 'Nothing Has Been Decided'
- Kanye West's Twitter: Can He Keep Up His Dizzying Pace?
- Katy Perry Premieres 'Peacock' At MTV World Stage
- Chris Brown Did '96 Percent' Of His Stunts For 'Takers'
- Allison Iraheta Gets 'Brotherly' Advice From Adam Lambert
- Eminem, Jay-Z Join Drake At Toronto Tour-Closer
- Many 'American Idol' Judge Rumors Are True, Fox Chairman Says
- Lindsay Lohan: A History Of Rehab
- What Is 'Inception' Director Christopher Nolan's Box-Office Secret?
- Lady Gaga Talks Sex, Drugs in <i>Vanity Fair</i>
- Kristy Lee Cook: From 'American Idol' To 'Goin' Country' Hunting Show
- Cali Swag District Break Down Origin Of 'Teach Me How To Dougie'
- Heidi Montag Calls Divorce From Spencer Pratt 'Heartbreaking'
- Justin Bieber To Release Illustrated Memoir
- Burnham Dish On Jonas Brothers Comparisons, Debut Single
- Ellen DeGeneres 'Will Be Missed' On 'American Idol,' Jordin Sparks Says
- Lady Gaga Nude On 'Vanity Fair' Cover
- Steven Tyler Says He'll 'Probably' Be A Judge On 'American Idol'
- Donnis Says He's 'Always Late,' But MC Is Right On Time For The Game
| Eminem Remembers '8 Mile' Co-Star Brittany Murphy In <i>Vibe</i> Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:18 AM PDT 'It's crazy, because at one point, we were very close,' Em reveals in cover story, which also features Dr. Dre.
Eminem and Dr. Dre return to grace the cover of the 15th anniversary of Vibe's "Juice" issue, eight years after the pair first landed on the front of the magazine. In the issue, on newsstands August 16, Em opens up about being haunted by death and talks about the death last year of his "8 Mile" co-star, Brittany Murphy. "It was crazy," the rapper told Vibe about Murphy's death. "It's crazy, because at one point, we were very close, and she was a really good person. It's crazy when you see things not just with her but just all these things that are happening in Hollywood with people in music, with people in acting. ... Famous people. Famous people are overdosing at alarming rates and — that almost sounded like a commercial. Wow. "But they are," he continued. "And it's one of those things, man, where you're famous, doctors will kiss your ass because they love the celebrity. 'Oh, I can call up Eminem and get him on the phone right now. Oh, hi Marshall, how are you doing? Do you need that [prescription]?' There are doctors that will give you certain things just because of who you are." The rapper acknowledged that he's been prone to think about his own demise. After battling a well-publicized drug addiction, only in the past two years has he rebounded from his dark slide. Still, Em said thoughts of dying, especially given his brushes with overdosing, can be frightening. "I think about it a lot," he said. "I try not to think about it but I do and it creeps me the f--- out. It creeps me out because they say that if I got to the hospital two hours later then I would be gone. I think about that a lot. When I lay in bed at night is when I think about it the most. It creeps me out, man." What do you think about Eminem's comments on Brittany Murphy and celebrity drug abuse? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Randy Jackson On 'American Idol' Rumors: 'Nothing Has Been Decided' Posted: 02 Aug 2010 04:59 AM PDT 'The only thing that's for sure is Ryan [Seacrest],' he tells E! News.
After Ellen DeGeneres announced she was leaving "American Idol" and Kara DioGuardi was reportedly fired from the show, everyone from Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest to Jordin Sparks and Crystal Bowersox weighed in on the shake-up. Now comes a few comments from seemingly the only remaining "Idol" judge, Randy Jackson. "The only thing that's for sure is Ryan [Seacrest]," Jackson told E! News, regarding which "Idol" personality will remain on the show. "Nothing has been decided." Jackson reportedly would not comment on the rumors that he and Kara DioGuardi are on the chopping block, but he did give his blessing to rumored replacement judge Jennifer Lopez. "If Jennifer Lopez is a judge, I would be very happy," Jackson told E! "I love her." Jackson's vague comments are in line with the equally nonspecific statements Fox chairman Peter Rice gave to Entertainment Weekly on Monday (August 2). "No one has signed a deal on either side of the camera who wasn't on the show last year," he said, adding that "much of the information that has been written is accurate," but that some of the reports have also been "widely inaccurate." Of the other rumored new judges — which include Jessica Simpson and Steven Tyler — the Aerosmith rocker is the only candidate who hasn't completely avoided the issue. When asked about his possible new gig recently, Tyler gave a candid, confident response: "Probably going to be a judge on 'American Idol,' " Tyler said. "I'm doing it! What do you think?" So what do you think? Would you watch the show without Randy and Kara? 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. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Kanye West's Twitter: Can He Keep Up His Dizzying Pace? Posted: 01 Aug 2010 10:20 PM PDT After shooting off nearly 200 tweets — from kooky to self-promotional — in six days, social web experts offer some tips for the newcomer.
In the six days since he joined Twitter, Kanye West has popped off no less than 172 missives. It's been a furious pace for the social Web newcomer, as he's unleashed a seemingly nonstop stream of wacky non sequiturs ("Fur pillows are hard to actually sleep on"), statements of self-inspiration ("working on being a doper person"), and glimpses into his larger-than-life existence ("I replaced my bottom row of teeth with diamonds"). After lying low in the aftermath of his 2009 VMA dustup with Taylor Swift, Kanye is back — and people are loving it. But can he keep up the tweet-a-minute rate after the newness wears off? Will he eventually tire of the social Web? And could the whole experiment be setting him up for another public meltdown? "He can't keep it up," Dave Larson, a social Web expert with 200,000 Twitter followers, told MTV News. "He has too many tweets to follow easily, and is very self-promotional. People tire of that pretty quickly, and celebrities get angry when they get the huge amount of criticism Twitter can generate." Celeb Twitters come in all varieties. Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, for example, have made it a priority to interact with their fans online, retweeting content and replying to messages. Conan O'Brien, by contrast, sends out about one jokey tweet per day but has not created a two-way interactive street with his followers. Yet all three of these celebs maintain huge follower counts, proving there's no one path toward effective Twitter use. And while some social Web experts may not think Kanye is setting himself up for long-term Twitter success, others disagree, pointing to the rapper's particular style. "Since all the tweets are mainly his random thoughts, he doesn't have to keep up to any pace except the one he wants to set for himself," Scott Stratten, president of an online marketing firm called UnMarketing, told us. "There is a difference if a celeb comes on and starts interacting with fans and creates the expectation that they're there for conversation, that's when burnout can happen. His is more of a dictation-style account without interaction." What gives Kanye's feed added value is the fact that it seems as if you're being directly plugged into his brain: The filter is gone and what's left is the digital equivalent of hanging out next to West as he spews thought after thought. His Twitter is funny, bizarre, completely random and grammatically challenged — and that's only what you get in a few minutes. In short, it's him. At least, it feels that way, even if, Chris Latko a Web developer with more than 220,000 followers, believes otherwise. "I strongly suspect that he has a PR team that either filters or edits tweets coming from him or a ghost writes the material," Latko said. "They'll never burn out. And his handlers will make sure to sanitize anything controversial." Contrast Kanye's Twitter, then, to Leonardo DiCaprio's, which he clearly does not handle himself and which has a decidedly corporate feel to it. No surprise, then, that despite having the #1 movie in the country for three straight weekends, the "Inception" star has barely more than 200,000 followers. As magical as his Twitter has been, though, Kanye (and perhaps, whoever is helping him) has set himself a tall task: to keep up both the pace and the, well, Kanye-ness. Or perhaps that might not be his task at all, as Larson argues. "You get more publicity and retweets from sending lots of tweets, but over time you lose some followers because you drown out everyone else they are following," he explained. "It's good to start fast and ease up. If he does that, he should be fine." But will his fans want him to ease up? And what happens if his fans — or his haters — start to toss a little too much criticism his way? Just look to Kevin Smith's Twitter troubles for an example of how fans can quickly turn on a celeb. For a guy who's not always exercised good judgment in public, is Twitter setting up Kanye for another ghastly fall? "Twitter is so reaction-based that it's the perfect storm to get him into trouble again, but I think that's part of his plan," UnMarketing's Stratten said. "The worst thing that can happen to a celeb, especially in the music biz, is apathy. People were getting sick of the Kanye act that peaked at the Taylor Swift incident. This is certainly a great way for him to get back into the spotlight. The true test will be a month from now when it's no longer new that he's on there and whether he'll still be committed and if people will still care." Do you think Kanye is overdoing it with the tweets? Share your social-networking advice for the rapper in the comments! Related Artists |
| Katy Perry Premieres 'Peacock' At MTV World Stage Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:52 PM PDT Teenage Dream track is 'the world's biggest innuendo,' Perry tells MTV News.
During her Saturday night set on the MTV World Stage in Malaysia, Katy Perry might have surrounded herself with sweets — cupcakes, lollipops, a giant banana split — but she was also in the mood to get a little tarty, too, debuting "Peacock," a bawdy little song from her upcoming Teenage Dream album that's all about, well, check out the last four letters of the song title. "It's all right. It's just about a bird," Perry joked before launching into the tune, a go-going, call-and-response tune equally indebted to Toni Basil's 1982 hit "Mickey" and the wisdom of bathroom stalls everywhere. "Come on baby, lemme see/ What you're hiding underneath," she sings at one point. "Are you brave enough to let me see your peacock?/ Don't be a chicken, boy, stop acting like a beeyotch." Apparently unsatisfied by what she's seen up to this point, Perry adds that she is looking for peacocks of the "jaw-droppin', eye-poppin', head-turnin', body-shockin' " variety. Back in June, Perry told MTV News that she had added "Peacock" to her album (due August 24) at the last minute, after some rather inspired sessions with Swedish production team Stargate. And despite its late addition, the song has quickly become one of her favorites on Teenage Dream — mostly because of that entendre-riffic title. "Halfway through the record, I was telling [Capitol Records], 'I've got a lot of jewels, but I don't really have that crown. I really don't have that full-blown presentation,' " she said. "So I wanted to go in with Stargate, and I finished off a couple of songs: one called 'Fireworks,' which is probably my favorite song off the record, something I'm most proud of, and then a song called 'Peacock,' which is like the world's biggest innuendo." What do you think of Katy's "Peacock"? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Chris Brown Did '96 Percent' Of His Stunts For 'Takers' Posted: 02 Aug 2010 02:58 AM PDT 'Some stunts they wanna use the doubles; I don't wanna use the double!' singer/actor says.
Chris Brown plays Jesse Attica, the youngest in a crew of bank robbers, in the upcoming movie "Takers." The band of thieves, which also includes Idris Elba and T.I., has just days to plan and pull off a multimillion-dollar heist. In a show-stealing action sequence, Brown is chased through the streets of L.A. by Matt Dillon's character, Detective Jack Welles, and partner Eddie Hatcher (played by Jay Hernandez). The singer-turned-actor leaps through windows, scales buildings, jumps on cars and anything else necessary to avoid being captured.
"I've never had to do so much running in my life," Dillon said about the scene. "For that sequence, we were just, like, four days straight, just running through the streets, and this kid Chris is an unbelievable athlete. This guy Chris Brown, he's unbelievable, man. So keeping up with him was a challenge even in itself, which was perfect for our characters." Brown said he enjoyed bringing his skills to another medium, and he enjoyed getting physical for the part. The singer said the exhilarating stunts you see him pull off onscreen are all him — well, almost. "The most thrilling part about this movie is probably the stunts," Brown said on the film's set. "I do, like, 96 percent of my stunts. Some stunts they wanna use the doubles; I don't wanna use the double! And they're like, 'We have to for safety and insurance issues.' I think the most exciting parts are the stunts, getting to blow stuff up, shoot guns, you know what I'm saying. It's all fun!" Brown said he was attracted to "Takers" because it stood out from his other roles. "When acting, I feel like it's cool to use your strengths, but it's also cool to use your other abilities as well," he said. "I didn't just wanna do movies that had consistent dancing and singing. I wanted to do stuff that pushes me as an actor at the end of the day. Because you have people like T.I. and Common that do stuff that's not around what they do in the entertainment industry as far as music, and they succeeded. So I just wanna branch over to that, especially like Will Smith. He comes from rapping and going right into the acting thing, so I wanna come from the singing parts and go into acting, and people can tell the difference. I think that with this role, it was more intense, more action, more stuff that I love to do, what I love to see in movies." "Takers" hits theaters August 27 and also stars Michael Ealy, Zoe Saldana, Hayden Christensen and Paul Walker. Check out everything we've got on "Takers." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Artists |
| Allison Iraheta Gets 'Brotherly' Advice From Adam Lambert Posted: 02 Aug 2010 04:59 AM PDT Former 'American Idol' contestant feels 'so much more comfortable' performing than she did a year ago.
Night after night, Adam Lambert's Glam Nation Tour invades a city and throws a big glittery party for its residents. And night after night, provided the venue isn't 21+, Lambert's "American Idol" pal Allison Iraheta kicks off the festivities with an opening set that is as ferocious and colorful as her fiery hair. When the Glam Nation Tour hit New York City this summer, Iraheta told MTV News that being on the road with Adam Lambert is as wild and crazy as you might imagine. "We are sharing the bus with Adam's band ... The energy on that bus is insane. We entertain ourselves, pretty much. We don't play board games," she smiled, refusing to divulge any behind-the-scenes dirt.
Iraheta has grown close to all of the players in the Glam Nation Tour, from her own bandmates to co-opener Orianthi (who appears on Allison's latest single, "Don't Waste the Pretty") to Adam's bassist (and occasional onstage makeout buddy) Tommy Joe Ratliff, whom she's gearing up to prank. "I think I'm just gonna steal Tommy's glitter. Or lip gloss. What is he gonna do without that?" she joked. But the 18-year-old promises she's not being corrupted by the rock and roll on-the-road lifestyle. (Don't worry, Mama Iraheta!) "[Adam's] always giving me the advice, the brotherly advice," she said. If anything, being surrounded by such seasoned professionals has helped Allison come into her own as a performer. "Let me just say that on the 'Idol' tour, I was all over the place ... which is why I lost my voice every other night. But now I guess you learn," Allison said. "I feel so much more comfortable onstage." Perhaps that increased comfort is why Iraheta's opening slot quickly became one of the tour's highlights — so much so that fans created an online petition to keep Allison on the road with the Glam family through October. (Originally, she was only booked to perform the first half of the tour.) Which means Allison now has plenty of time to execute her glittery prank. Keep your lip gloss locked up, Tommy. Have you seen Adam Lambert's Glam Nation Tour? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Eminem, Jay-Z Join Drake At Toronto Tour-Closer Posted: 02 Aug 2010 07:44 AM PDT Rick Ross, Fabolous, Young Jeezy also appeared onstage at Sunday's show.
TORONTO — Sporting an October's Very Own varsity jacket, black t-shirt, fatigue pants and a pair of black Air Jordan sneakers, Drake looked every bit the part of collegiate jock during his OVO Festival performance Sunday night (August 1).
The homecoming star basked in the adoration of the local audience, which cheered every line Drake either spit or sang, from his springy breakout "Best I Ever Had" to the hardened Thank Me Later number "Up All Night." It was quite a showing for the upstart MC; the show doubled as the inaugural OVO Festival and the last leg of his Away From Home Tour, which he launched this past spring. But like a respectful freshman type, Drake made sure to welcome the upperclassmen — who threatened to steal the show — to his Caribana-tinged party. Drizzy brought the capacity crowd to its feet when he invited both Jay-Z and Eminem to the proceedings as the two legendary artists joined the So Far Gone artist for back-to-back performances to close out his show. "I want this s--- forever," Drake said after introducing Bun B to the crowd and acknowledging the UGK veteran who helped open the concert. The blaring horns of "Forever" then boomed through the Molson Amphitheatre speakers and Drake kick-started the all-star posse cut. "Last name, ever, first name, greatest," he rapped. "Like a sprained ankle, boy, I ain't nothing to play with." Drake was without Kanye West, who didn't appear, and Lil Wayne, who is currently incarcerated. But Eminem, the song's other key cog, was present and he caused the crowd to shriek when he appeared onstage. Decked out in black from head to toe, Slim Shady's time was brief, but the Detroit superstar made every second count. "There they go/ Packing stadiums as Shady spits his flow," Em rapped. "Nuts they go/ Macadamian they go, so ballistic, whoa/ We can make them look like bozos/ He's wondering if he should spit this flow/ F--- no, go for broke/ His cup just runneth over/ Oh no." The Drizzy/Shady summit proved to be piercing as the pair drew the loudest cheers of the night. Rick Ross ("B.M.F. [Blowing Money Fast]"), Fabolous ("Throw It in the Bag"), Young Jeezy ("Unforgettable") and Kardinal Offishall ("'Ol Time Killin' ") all joined the Toronto rapper onstage throughout the festivities. Moments after Eminem left the stage, though, Drake was joined by yet another heavyweight: Jay-Z. Drake teased the crowd prior to Hov's appearance as his DJ blasted Kanye West's "Power," leading many in the venue to assume 'Ye would appear from backstage. But after a brief delay, the iconic Brooklyn superstar arrived onstage; in front of him, thousands of "Roc diamonds" shaped by audience members' hands made Jay-Z feel right at home. "I wanna pay respect to the people that inspired me that couldn't be here," Drake yelled as "Power" silenced. "Play something else," he said calmly, then Andre 3000's "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" verse rang through the sound system. After working the crowd up into a frenzy, Drake stopped the music once again to address the audience. "Gimme something from a man who's inspired me more than anybody else in my f---ing life, I'd say," he said before "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" powered throughout the Toronto sky. And then, just like that, Jay-Z surprised the sold-out audience with a rumbling rendition of "Run This Town." "I want you to give them the anthem they deserve tonight," Drake said. The decibel levels easily pushed past safety settings as the speakers thundered with rattling bass. Drake closed things out on his own with a stirring rendition of his first single, "Over." The lyrics were prescient; prior to the show, Drake had explained to MTV News how last year he was surprised to learn tickets to his show were being scalped. A year later and his meteoric ascent is nearly complete, with him having brought a bevy of stars to his hometown. "I swear it feels like the last few nights we been everywhere and back/ But I just can't remember it all," Drake rapped over the triumphant strings. "What am I doing, what am I doing/ Oh, yeah, that's right, I'm doing me." Then, speaking to the crowd, Drake said his final goodbye: "I love this city with my entire life," he told the audience as it roared its approval. Were you at Drake's OVO Festival Sunday night? Let us know what you thought about the show in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Many 'American Idol' Judge Rumors Are True, Fox Chairman Says Posted: 02 Aug 2010 02:36 AM PDT But Peter Rice also says some reports are 'widely inaccurate.'
Fox's presentation Monday (August 2) at the Television Critics Association press tour came and went with no clarity on the future of the "American Idol" judging panel. So there's still no word whether those Jennifer Lopez rumors are true, no confirmation of the claims that two-season judge Kara DioGuardi has been axed and not a whisper about Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler taking Simon Cowell's place behind the table. What Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice did tell the nation's TV reporters, though, was that much of what you've heard is true, but a bunch of it is also totally false. According to Entertainment Weekly, Rice said he couldn't provide an update on the ongoing negotiations with potential "Idol" judges, except to say that "no one has signed a deal on either side of the camera who wasn't on the show last year." As for the Lopez, DioGuardi and Tyler whispers, he offered cryptically, "much of the information that has been written is accurate," but added that some of the reports have also been "widely inaccurate." He also did not confirm reports that former executive producer Nigel Lythgoe is slated to make a return to the show after two seasons away. "The goal has to be to put on a great TV show," Rice said. "There is a journey finding these kids, and there is sort of alchemy (to achieve) on the judges' panel. Does that mean we should replace them identically and cast the same person? I don't think so, but we have the obligation to put on the best TV show. Simon's departure meant there was going to be a natural evolution. ... When we are working with the #1 TV show, the scrutiny is enormous. I truly wish we were going to [debut] a panel of judges and that could be a celebration for us, and we could engage with you on that; I'm sorry that is not going to happen." A spokesperson for "Idol" has offered a "no comment" on the various reports about the changes in the judges' panel, and representatives for Lopez, Tyler and DioGuardi have not returned requests for comment. Confirming what DeGeneres wrote in her note last week announcing her departure, Rice said he began talking to her about her desire to leave the show in June and that he was unable to persuade her to give it one more year. The current plan calls for the show to have a full panel of judges by the time the auditions for upcoming season 10 kick off in earnest in September. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Lindsay Lohan: A History Of Rehab Posted: 02 Aug 2010 12:39 AM PDT Actress has been to three other facilities before her latest court-ordered stay.
When troubled actress Lindsay Lohan exited the Century Regional Detention Facility in the early hours of Monday (August 2) morning, she was shuttled directly to a place she's quite familiar with: rehab.
Though the "Mean Girls" star only served 13 of the 90 days in jail she was sentenced to in connection with a probation violation from a 2007 DUI conviction, she will have to serve the entire 90 days of court-mandated rehab at a UCLA Hospital-affiliated facility in order to complete her sentence. Since her struggles with substance abuse first surfaced more than four years ago, the 24-year-old actress has made several attempts to get clean. A short time after rumors began to emerged of problems on the set of her 2006 movie "Georgia Rule," Lohan checked into the Wonderland Center rehab facility in January 2007 and checked out after completing a 30-day stay for treatment of an undisclosed substance issue. "I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health," the singer said in a statement at the time. "I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." In December, Lohan's publicist revealed that Lohan had been voluntarily attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Lohan attempted to get her movie career back on track after being dropped from "The Edge of Love" when director John Maybury said it was too difficult to insure the unreliable actress. But she was arrested for DUI in May 2007. Her car struck a curb in that incident, and after investigators said they found what they believed to be cocaine on the scene, Lohan checked Promises Treatment Center for 45 days to deal with her problems. She celebrated her release by soberly partying with some friends at Pure nightclub in Las Vegas. After her release, she voluntarily agreed to wear a SCRAM bracelet to monitor her sobriety. But she was arrested again in July for a second DUI and felony drug charges, which sent her back to rehab. She stayed at the Cirque Lodge Treatment Center in Sundance, Utah for six weeks, until October 5, 2007. And, of course, the reason she was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in inpatient rehab was because she didn't attend her court-mandated amount of alcohol education classes. Does Lohan have any hope that this latest stay will be her last? "Without question, Lindsay can recover," Robert J. Lindsey, president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), told MTV News. "We have seen over and over people whose lives have progressed to the point where they lose their job, they lose their family, they lose their physical health, they lose their freedom. But still, people can and do recover from their alcoholism and addiction." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| What Is 'Inception' Director Christopher Nolan's Box-Office Secret? Posted: 02 Aug 2010 01:48 AM PDT One film analyst points to Nolan's knack for combining a cinephile's intelligence with a 'blockbuster mentality.'
For the last five years, Christopher Nolan has been arguably the most successful director in Hollywood. When it comes to domestic box-office mega-business, Nolan's movies have out-sold Michael Bay and his "Transformers" flicks, Gore Verbinski's final two "Pirates of the Caribbean" films and even James Cameron's "Avatar." Beginning with "Batman Begins" in 2005, a Nolan film has not once missed hitting the #1 spot during opening weekend. "The Dark Knight" was the top grosser of 2008 and now, "Inception" — based on an original idea rather than an existing property — has just notched its third-straight weekend at the top of the box office. Even his least lucrative project, "The Prestige," which still managed to gross more than $100 million worldwide, is a critically respected film. So how does he do it? What's the secret ingredient to his special sauce, both creatively and at the box office? "As a traditional movie fan and someone who is steeped in film history, Nolan brings with him a richness that cinephiles appreciate," explained Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "Yet he also has a blockbuster mentality, a key element that has transformed him, in a very short period of time, into the preeminent director of the present time." While no one doubts Cameron's ability to mix cinematic richness with popcorn-flick verve ("Avatar" did a mind-boggling $2.7 billion at the worldwide box office), he works on a much slower creative timeline, with more than a decade passing between "Titanic" and his blue alien epic. Nolan has simply worked at a much faster clip — and has the ticket sales to back up that creative approach. Tim Burton, meanwhile, has found his greatest successes with adaptations of existing material, from "Alice in Wonderland" to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." That's also the case with Bay and Verbinski. With the wholly original "Inception," Nolan has effectively transformed himself into a brand and proven that audiences will turn out for his films — original or adapted — in much the same way they will show up for big-ticket franchises. Of course, none of that matters if the movie stinks. But "Inception" rocks. It's a nearly critic-proof flick that has inspired repeat viewing (note the film's impressively small weekend drops at the box office). It's a film that has all the whiz-bang theatrics of a blockbuster with a cerebral core that invites debate. "Nolan, with each successive multilayered effort, is looking more and more like a cinematic wunderkind — capable of having a storybook career in Hollywood and joining the elite ranks of a Steven Spielberg, a James Cameron or a Martin Scorsese," Bock said. In the past, we've seen other directors threaten to join that vaunted club. A few years before Nolan came on the scene, M. Night Shyamalan made a staggering debut with "The Sixth Sense" and then delivered "Unbreakable" and "Signs," three films that combined to gross $615 million domestically. Yet, a handful of misfires later, Shyamalan finds himself facing a critical and fan backlash. His latest, "The Last Airbender," was eviscerated online and performed disappointingly at the multiplex. Could Nolan someday find himself in this position, accused of being a one-trick pony who just likes to mess with your head? As high as Nolan's cool factor has risen recently, it's important to exercise some caution before thrusting him into Spielberg territory. After all, Roland Emmerich's films have done $1.6 billion worldwide since 2004, and no one is calling "2012" the next "E.T." "Let's see Nolan make a second original to gross over $150 million worldwide before we deify him," said David Poland of Movie City News. "What comes of this premature deification is the tear-down when his film after the next 'Batman' doesn't do massive business or just isn't what his rabid fans expect. Not pretty when it happens, and no one of this talent level deserves it." Is a Nolan backlash in the works? Not anytime on the horizon: He's simply exercised too much creativity, been frothed over by too many rabid fanboys and shown that he deserves all the adulation. Will the cool factor hold until the summer of 2012, when the next "Batman" hits theaters? All we can say for sure is that Nolan is guaranteed to receive tons of public attention and that the movie will sell crazy numbers. That and, oh, yeah, he's never made a bad movie. "Expect nothing less than another dazzling show," Bock predicted. "While the film will never measure up to the Heath Ledger factor — in terms of box-office gross or mass pop-culture hysteria — it will most certainly be an entertaining and intelligent ride." Do you think Christopher Nolan should be considered among the great directors like Steven Spielberg? Tell us what you think in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Inception." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Lady Gaga Talks Sex, Drugs in <i>Vanity Fair</i> Posted: 01 Aug 2010 11:41 PM PDT Pop superstar admits to 'occasional' cocaine use and fears of losing creativity 'through my vagina.'
Giving her best come-hither stare and appearing in nothing more than a choker, Lady Gaga opens up in Vanity Fair magazine's style issue about her love life. The always honest Gaga admits that while she does occasionally partake in sex, she isn't sleeping around. And, she has a very specific reason for it. "I do f---, but I'm certainly not promiscuous," she says in the September issue, out Wednesday, in which she also talks about her appearances at Mets and Yankees games earlier this summer. "I have this weird thing that if I sleep with someone, they're going to take my creativity from me through my vagina." Her decision to forgo love and sex, it seems, has a lot to do with her dedication to her "little monsters." To Gaga, they come first. "I've looked every man that I've ever dated in the eye and every woman I've ever been friends with [in the eye], and there will never be something that I put before my fans. It's about loving who you are," she said. "I don't want people to love me; I want them to love themselves. ... I want to say and sing the right things for you, and I want to make that one melody that really saves your spirit that one day." Gaga does admit to using "mostly cocaine" because she's "terrified of heroin," explaining: "I won't lie; it's occasional. And when I say occasional, I mean maybe a couple of times a year." However, she has a warning for her fans: "But if you print that, I do not want my fans to ever emulate that or be that way. I don't want my fans to think they have to be that way to be great." What do you think of Lady Gaga's take on sex and drugs? Sound off in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kristy Lee Cook: From 'American Idol' To 'Goin' Country' Hunting Show Posted: 02 Aug 2010 02:23 AM PDT Aspiring singer also works toward landing a record contract in new reality show.
You might remember Kristy Lee Cook as the red-blooded country gal who went for broke with Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" during the seventh season of "American Idol." So it's not exactly surprising that she's just returned with an equally red-blooded new hunting show called "Goin' Country." The show — which premiered this weekend on the Versus network — follows Cook as she travels across the country blowing away animals, including deer, pheasant and turkey. Along the way, she also works toward landing a record contract (though not while hunting). "I'm hoping that people will see the hunts as a chance to hang with family and friends and share an experience. It's so much fun in the outdoors, and when you harvest something for the meat, it really means much more than just going out to the grocery store and buying it," Cook told Fox News' Fox411 blog. "I never used to like killing animals until I got out and experienced it. It's the food chain. Animals are here for us to eat. In my family, we grew up without a lot of money, so I take all this meat home and anything that's left we give to homeless shelters or orphanages so all the meat is going somewhere and I get to feed all these people." According to Versus' website, the next episode of "Goin' Country" airs Sunday at 9 a.m. ET. And, as the show's official site promises, you can "Expect to be mesmerized. Laugh. Awed. Amazed! Watch and see what this young lady representing female Americana in a most favorable, professional, and possible lifestyle is capable of accomplishing." So long as you're not a white-tailed deer or something. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Cali Swag District Break Down Origin Of 'Teach Me How To Dougie' Posted: 02 Aug 2010 01:24 AM PDT The West Coast crew tells MTV News they recorded the dance anthem after seeing the moves a friend picked up down South.
Cali Swag District have made their mark on the hip-hop scene with their catchy single "Teach Me How to Dougie." And although the members of CSD — DJ C-Smoove, dancer M-Bone and rappers Yung and JayAre — rep the West Coast, their breakout hit was inspired by moves a pal picked up down South. "A friend of ours went to Texas Southern [University]. He picked up on the [Dougie] dance [and] he learned how to do it [the way] they do it in Texas," C-Smoove recently told MTV News. "He came back like, 'Y'all should make a song about this dance.' So we made it happen. We went in the booth and we tore it down."
Following their homie's advice, C-Smoove says they hopped in the studio and were quickly inspired by the instrumental. "Our verses were done before the beat was even finished because once we started to hear the beat we were like, 'This song is [going to] go,' " C-Smoove recalled. "We watched it grow and it became huge." Once the crew put their Cali spin on the dance, the song took off. Los Angeles radio station Power 106 put it in rotation and the high-energy collective performed with legendary beatbox king Doug E. Fresh at the 2010 BET Awards Pre-Show. The group even scored a slew of stars for the remix, with Jermaine Dupri, B.o.B, Red Café and Bow Wow jumping on the track. Cali Swag broke down their approach to live shows and explained that they keep the audience in mind when performing. "We put on a crazy show," C-Smoove said. "The crowd goes crazy. Before we go onstage we think, 'What would we want to see if we were sitting in the audience?' So [when] we go onstage, we're full of energy." CSD added that they feed off the energy the crowd throws back at them: "When they know your words or something like that, it all just fuels this fire to make us just go out and tear the stage down," Smoove said. What do you think of Cali Swag? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Heidi Montag Calls Divorce From Spencer Pratt 'Heartbreaking' Posted: 02 Aug 2010 01:14 AM PDT 'We just want different things in life,' onetime 'Hills' star tells People magazine.
After filing for divorce from Spencer Pratt last week, Heidi Montag admits that she still has feelings for her estranged husband. "This has been a heartbreaking experience to go through, and it's not that I don't love Spencer," the former "Hills" star told People magazine about the split. "We just want different things in life."
While Pratt still loves life in the public eye, he told People that Montag would prefer to live a more low-key life. Right now, that low-key life includes settling the details of their divorce. "We don't live together," Heidi told the mag. "Spencer and I are finally moving forward with our lives, but with any divorce, there is much to work through. We've been together almost five years — there are assets to divide, work to be discussed, and we share our puppies." Pratt has been busy tweeting about his love for mankind and the ways of the universe. "Remember, your thoughts are sent out on a magnetic frequency into the Universe," he wrote. "Think only good things for yourself and the world and we can change all the negative energy into white positive energy for the earth. I am like you and you are like me. I love all people. I love the world. I love creating. ... Everything in our life should be based on love. I live the YING and the YANG!" What do you think Heidi and Spencer should do next? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber To Release Illustrated Memoir Posted: 02 Aug 2010 09:49 AM PDT 'Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story' will hit bookstores in October.
Think you know everything about Justin Bieber? Well, fans of the 16-year-old pop star will learn much more when HarperCollins releases his official illustrated memoir, "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story." In a press release, Bieber said, "Every day I wake up and count my blessings. My fans have played such a large part in all of this and they help me live my dreams every day. I'm excited to share just a little bit more of my world with them through this book. Between the behind-the-scenes pictures and the story I think this is going to be something they can all enjoy. This is just another way for me to say thank you to my fans." The book, due in October, will chronicle Bieber's beginnings in Stratford, Ontario, his work with his manager Scooter Braun, his landing a record deal with Usher and his success in pop music thanks to hits like "Baby" and "Somebody to Love." "Justin's adoring and devoted fanbase that started on YouTube now follows him to packed concert halls around the world," Susan Katz, president and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said. "He is a force in the music industry and we are incredibly excited to be publishing this photographic memoir of his amazing journey." "This is a real coup for us and we are very excited about adding Justin to our autumn program," Harper nonfiction senior commissioning editor Anna Valentine added. "Justin is the hottest star of the moment and this book will be the perfect gift for his millions of fans worldwide." Bieber also announced on Twitter that he's hard at work on a few other projects. "New Vids comin from both MY WORLD and MY WORLD 2.0 in the coming weeks!" he wrote. "Proud of these albums, proud of the music, and thankful 4 ur support." The singer, who is currently on tour, is also slated to make his network TV acting debut on "CSI" this September. "CSI premieres on Thursday, Sept 23rd on CBS ... and I told you I was a BAD MAN!!" he tweeted, along with a photo of him being arrested on the show. According to CBS, he plays Jason McCann, a "troubled teen who is faced with a terrible decision regarding his only brother — a decision that leads him into an explosive confrontation with the CSIs." Related Artists |
| Burnham Dish On Jonas Brothers Comparisons, Debut Single Posted: 02 Aug 2010 01:07 AM PDT Vermont trio of brothers calls their sibling predecessors the Jonas Brothers 'amazing.'
Few things are as perennial in pop music as groups made up of brothers who hope that their catchy tunes will catch the attention of teens around the world. Burnham, a trio of siblings from Vermont who specialize in hooky pop-rock, are following in a long line that includes the likes of Hanson and the Jonas Brothers. The comparisons between the three Burnhams — Alex, Andre and Forrest — and their brotherly predecessors are inevitable. But are they fair? "I see ourselves in the way that we're all brothers, obviously. We get that comparison. The Jonas Brothers, of course, are really amazing," Andre Burnham told MTV News.
"A lot of our influences musically, we were always listening to classic music like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, all the kinds of classic stuff that our dad brought to the table cause he's old-school," Andre continued. "But we also love a lot of the contemporary artists like Coldplay, OneRepublic, Killers, [and] Kings of Leon." In September, the guys will hit the road as one of the opening acts on pop sensation Justin Bieber's My World Tour. Until then the guys are hard at work on their debut album, which will have collaborations with the likes of OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder and Rihanna producer Brian Kennedy. "It's been really great," Forrest, the youngest, explained. "We've learned so much." Their album is scheduled to come out in either late 2010 or early 2011. In the meantime, the guys have fans gushing over their debut single "Catch Me If You Can," which was produced by Tedder. "It's really fun," Alex — the oldest Burnham — said of the song. "It's about your girlfriend [breaking up with] you and then all of a sudden she wants you back. And you're like, 'No, you just dumped me! I'm still mad at you. So, catch me if you can.' It's that kind of vibe and it's all fun and stuff, but it translates really well to a song." Are you excited about Burnham? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Ellen DeGeneres 'Will Be Missed' On 'American Idol,' Jordin Sparks Says Posted: 02 Aug 2010 09:39 AM PDT 'She lit up the room,' season-six winner tells MTV News.
Last week, "American Idol" fans were surprised to learn that Ellen DeGeneres would not return to judge the show, leaving after only one season at the judges' table. Though the announcement was met with mixed reactions, Jordin Sparks, who won the sixth season of the show, says she thought that once Ellen settled in, the talk show host "caught a good groove." "I'm surprised because I didn't know until now and because I thought she caught a good groove with the show once she got used to it," she told MTV News in an e-mail. "I'm definitely going to miss watching her. She lit up the room and definitely knew how to break the ice if things got tense." Now that there are two seats vacant, would Sparks, who has always been a vocal fan of Paula Abdul, want the former judge to step in? "I love Paula and I root for her either way," she explained. "She should come back if she wants to and if the show wants her." And what if Sparks got the offer? Would she consider it? "Yes, because I've been in the contestant's position," she said. "And no because, even though it wouldn't be on purpose, I don't like hurting other people's feelings." Last week, Crystal Bowersox, who competed on DeGeneres' one and only season of the show, opened up about DeGeneres' decision to walk away from the show. "Ellen is an amazing and kind human being, and I respect her and her decision to leave 'American Idol,' " Bowersox said. "She brought a smile to the show and so much more, and I am very happy to have been a part of her time there. I wish nothing but the best for her, and also to 'American Idol.' " Season nine winner Lee DeWyze tweeted, "The show will be fine," while Conan O'Brien made light of the situation, writing, "Ellen has walked away from a television institution after one year, but I'm sure it's the right decision." What will you miss most about Ellen? Tell us in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Nude On 'Vanity Fair' Cover Posted: 02 Aug 2010 08:11 AM PDT Pop megastar addresses controversial appearances at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium in mag's September issue.
She may grace the cover of the style issue of Vanity Fair, but it's Lady Gaga's lack of clothes, again, that will have fans buzzing. Gaga appears on the cover of the magazine's September issue, which arrives on newsstands Wednesday, wearing little more than a long gray wig, a diamond choker and a smirk. The text next to the cover shot of Gaga, who is making a peace sign in the photo, asks: "Naked came the world's #1 pop star. Who is she? Why is she? Should you worry?" She was photographed by Nick Knight, who has shot fashion campaigns for the likes of Christian Dior and the late Alexander McQueen, and styled by Nicola Formichetti, who also handled stylist duties for the "Alejandro" video. In the attached story, penned by contributing editor Lisa Robinson, Gaga opened up about flipping the bird at Citi Field and crashing the clubhouse at Yankee Stadium earlier this summer. "I want to go to things like ballgames, but when I go to the ballgame, they're going to write the story that will sell papers," she said. "Look, I'm not an idiot — I recognize that I'm a public figure and I'm going to be recognized if I'm wearing a bikini or a potato sack." She also noted that she was inebriated while engaging in these antics. "Of course I got drunk at Yankee Stadium," she said, adding that she let out her "true New York 24-year-old Italian girl" and "slutty Italian girl" that night. But she still makes no apologies for it. "Why would I rub my t--s in front of Yankees?" she said. "I'm not interested in dating any ballplayers." She's confident that her fans will stick with her and not be distracted by what the tabloids report. "My real fans know who I truly am," she explained, "and they know what I represent and what I mean, and my music and my performance is what really speaks." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Steven Tyler Says He'll 'Probably' Be A Judge On 'American Idol' Posted: 02 Aug 2010 09:39 AM PDT Reports say that Fox has yet to sign on any judges for show's 10th season.
According to the folks at Fox, there are no announcements forthcoming about just who will replace recently departed "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres (or the rumored-to-be-exiting Kara DioGuardi, for that matter) behind the show's judges' table. But according to Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, well, that's just a formality at this point. Probably. On Saturday (July 31), at a party after Aerosmith's show in Las Vegas, Tyler — who, last week, brushed off rumors he'd be joining the show for its 10th season — was asked about his plans following the band's tour. And this time, he didn't play it quite as coy. "Probably going to be a judge on 'American Idol,' " Tyler said. "I'm doing it! What do you think?" Of course, that still may be speculation. Because according to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox hasn't inked any new judges for the upcoming season of "Idol," and there was no update on just when the signings would be announced. Along with Tyler, Jennifer Lopez has been rumored to join the returning Randy Jackson at the judges' table. Tyler's sorta-confirmation was cheered by inaugural "Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson, who took to her Twitter account Monday (August 2) to write that she was "thinking of auditioning again just so I can see him every week." A spokesperson for 19 Entertainment, which produces "Idol," did not respond to MTV News' request for comment by press time, nor did a spokesperson for Tyler. Auditions for the 10th season of the show got under way last month in Nashville. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Donnis Says He's 'Always Late,' But MC Is Right On Time For The Game Posted: 02 Aug 2010 09:41 AM PDT The Fashionably Late Atlanta MC is finally popping off, in Mixtape Daily.
This Week's Main Pick Street King: Donnis Holding It Down For: Atlanta Mixtape: Fashionably Late Real Spit: Fresh off the plane, Konnichiwasnitches and peace to all our loved ones. Mixtape Daily goes international this week as we bring you one of the original candidates for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010": Donnis. Donnis, an Atlanta native, went back to a place where he really got started with his career, Japan (Yes, we're stuntin' on you right now from foreign terrain: D spoke to us from the Tokyo shop Swagger.). He served overseas in Japan, but while in the land of the rising sun, started to build up his rap rep, performing shows. Obviously, it worked out for him. He's on a strong come-up and recently put out his overdue but much-anticipated mixtape Fashionably Late.
"Fashionably Late because I been doing the music thing for quite some time," he explained of the title. "I have a lot of friends that made it before me and popped off a little bit before my career started to really blossom. Using that term, I'm a little late to the party that they're already at. So that's what gave me the idea to name my mixtape Fashionably Late. Along with the fact that I'm fashionable and always late." Joints to Check For: "Yup." "This was produced by my homeboy Needlez. It features a Rihanna sample from her record 'Hard' featuring Young Jeezy," The Atlanta native detailed. "We sampled 'yup, you know this.' I was in the studio, and we had the idea of making this record because we thought it was such a strong line in that song. ['Yup'] is such a braggadocious song. I'm stuntin' on all the other rappers in the game. Lettin' them know I'm here and I'm ready to be the best out here." "Dream Chaser." "It's basically a record that I think everybody could relate to if you ever had a dream," Don rationalized. "It's a record that makes you want to get up, get out and do something. It came about by me wanting to be at a certain place in my career. It's a record I wrote down in Atlanta, thinking things can be better than they are right now." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc. Related Videos Related Artists |
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