MTV News |
- Nicki Minaj Makes Hottest MCs In The Game Debut At #6!
- Taylor Swift's 'Story Of Us' Inspired By Awards-Show Awkwardness
- 'Paranormal Activity 2' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
- Kanye West Will Take Fans' Twitter Questions After 'Runaway' Debut
- 'Jersey Shore' Season Two: Our Five Favorite Moments
- Jay-Z Hopes 'Decoded' Will Show 'Depth' Of Hip-Hop
- Missy Elliott Says She's 'Just Behind The Scenes Right Now'
- TJ Lavin Gets On-Air Encouragement From 'Challenge' Cast
- Kings Of Leon Say 'Radioactive' Isn't A Stadium-Friendly Anthem
- JWoww Teases 'Jersey Shore' Season-Two Finale Melee
- Mel Gibson's 'Hangover 2' Cameo Scrapped
- 'Paranormal Activity 2' Taps Into 'Primal Fears,' Producer Says
- Willow Smith Explains Her 'Warriorettes' Crew
- 'Jackass 3D' Guys Reveal What Might Make '3.5' DVD
- 50 Cent Addresses Rumors He's Dating Chelsea Handler
- Taylor Swift Reveals Inspiration Behind <i>Speak Now</i>'s Key Songs
- Christina Aguilera To Perform At American Music Awards
- Katy Perry, Russell Brand To Wed Saturday In Hindu Ceremony
- <i>GQ</i> 'Glee' Photos Are 'Not A Big Deal,' Mark Salling Says
| Nicki Minaj Makes Hottest MCs In The Game Debut At #6! Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT Young Money princess is the first female on the list, thanks to her game-changing features and over-the-top image.
Last year, Nicki Minaj was a buzzed-about femcee who was holding her own in the male-dominated rap game. Now, she's a star in her own right, eclipsing many of her peers and becoming an icon for her Barbiez worldwide.
Her influence — whether it's through her music and the many lyrical characters she embodies, her fashion sense or speaking out about important issues like child abuse and discrimination — is now strong enough that the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust voted her the #6 Hottest MC in the Game. And, like the true pioneer she is, she's the first woman to make the list. "She showed that not only is she the most talented female right now, she's one of the most talented rappers," MTV News' Shaheem Reid said during the Hottest MCs roundtable discussion. "This girl has star power. She took a little bit of [Lil] Wayne's blueprint ... and she just jumped on records." Indeed, aside from the fact that Nicki had a radio staple this summer with the Annie Lennox-sampling single "Your Love" — which hit #1 on Billboard's Rap Songs chart — where she really made her presence felt was in the company of others, outshining the best of them. Witness her standout verses on songs with Kanye West, Rick Ross and Jay-Z ('Ye's "Monster") and Ludacris ("My Chick Bad") and her show-stealing appearance on DJ Khaled's star-studded "All I Do Is Win" remix. She also stood out among her crew on Young Money's "Bedrock," while arguably out-spitting Drake on his own song, "Up All Night." But Nicki's appeal wasn't just limited to hip-hop. Christina Aguilera called on her for "Woohoo," Sean Kingston recruited her for the reggae-tinged "Letting Go," Usher tapped her for "Lil Freak," and labelmate Jay Sean did the same for his pop hit "2012." And to further cement her status as the top feature artist of 2010, Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" is currently #2 on Billboard's R&B Songs chart. On top of all that, her debut album, Pink Friday, doesn't even drop until next month. Nicki's not without her critics, though. At first glance, with her provocative name and image, she could be written off as just another female MC looking to flaunt her sexuality. But when people actually hear her, the talent is undeniable. "I know a lot of women who don't like her because of her characters," MTV Jams' Sheila Grullon said. "But for me, it's entertainment. If you're gonna come in this game, you gotta entertain me." RapFix editor Hillary Crosley agreed: "The cool thing about Nicki is ... she tapped into that Lady Gaga format, where she has that same sort of swag. That's why she's on Out magazine, and she's got her gay fanbase. People are really looking to her, like, 'What does Nicki have to say?' " But it's Nicki's whole package that has new Barbiez signing up every day, from performing on the VMA pre-show with a pink beehive hairstyle or dressing up like a geisha girl in her "Your Love" video. MTV News associate producer Steven Roberts acknowledged that some of these theatrics aren't necessarily new, but they're definitely not commonplace in hip-hop these days. "Anything she does now may look foreign, but it's only [because] no one's really tackled that female MC," he said. "We haven't seen that in a while." What really sets Nicki apart is that she's carving out her own identity, not playing second fiddle to an already popular male rapper. "She's not trying to be the sidekick," said MTV News senior writer Jayson Rodriguez. "She's not trying to be the Foxy Brown to Jay-Z, the Lil' Kim to Biggie. She has her own language, with like the Nicktionary, all these Barbiez. She's trying to be a leader herself, and I think she's sort of amplifying her own star power with these things she's creating. She doesn't have to lean on Drake, she doesn't lean on Lil Wayne. She has her own foundation she can lean on. And I don't think we've seen that from a female MC in a long time." The 2010 Hottest MCs in the Game rollout is now under way! As in 2008 and 2009, the criteria is based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, Web presence and cultural influence. Upload your comments, reactions, arguments and/or your own list to Your.MTV.com or send tweets with the hashtag #hottestmcs — the best responses could be on TV or our hip-hop blog, RapFix! Tune in to MTV2 for the entire one-hour "Hottest MCs in the Game" special on Sunday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET, where we'll reveal who will be crowned 2010's Hottest MC. Then log on to MTVNews.com following the show to see Nicki Minaj on "RapFix Live" at 2:30 p.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift's 'Story Of Us' Inspired By Awards-Show Awkwardness Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'We were both fighting this silent war of pretending we didn't care that the other was there,' she tells MTV News.
On Friday, Taylor Swift gave fans a taste of the Speak Now track "Story of Us." She explained to MTV News that the song is about the awkward moments two people go through after their love affair has ended. Swift was inspired to write the song when she had one of those moments with a former beau at an awards show — though she kept the details of the event (and the ex) under wraps.
"That actually happened during what ended up inspiring the last song I wrote for this record called 'Story of Us,' " she said about the last time she found it hard to, well, speak now. "And I was at an awards show, and there was a guy there, obviously — it all starts there, doesn't it?" For Swift, many times, it does start there. Much of her album is about the boys in her life who have caused her pain or vice versa. This tune is no different. "It was a guy I had been in a relationship with, falling out, then we end up at the same awards show," she recalled. "Both trying to act like we don't care ... both like, you know, chatting up the people next to us." It was after the incident that she knew there was enough there to write a song. "Afterward, I just felt so empty, like we were both fighting this silent war of pretending we didn't care that the other was there," she said. "And I went home, and I wrote this song about it. And at that point, I had this gut feeling, and I knew the album was finished." Who do you think "Story of Us" is about? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT Clutch these fun facts to your chest and hope the nightmares subside!
"Paranormal Activity 2" is the story of what happens when a horror movie that cost about as much as a brand-new Ford Fiesta makes almost $200 million at the worldwide box office. How are you not going to make a sequel to a movie that has become the most profitable flick in Hollywood history? Giving "PA 2" a green-light was a no-brainer for Paramount. What was considerably trickier was making a movie that would please all the fans who embraced the original film last year. Crazy thing is, the studio seems to have pulled it off, as early reviews have been extremely positive. The sequel, in short, is scary as hell. So think of MTV News' "Paranormal Activity" cheat sheet as a safety blanket of sorts: Clutch it to your chest and hope the nightmares subside. Alas, they probably won't for a while. Enjoy! Activity on More 'Activity' Writer/director Oren Peli would not be reprising his duties, so who would? Early word was that the director gig would go to Kevin Greutert ("Saw VI"), but that never came to pass. Then there was a wacky rumor that Brian De Palma would get the job. That never happened either, and the man who ended up occupying the director's chair was Tod Williams ("The Door in the Floor"). Who's Screaming Now? Sloat hinted he would when we caught up with him in March. "All I can tell you is I'm very excited for the project, it's really cool, it's gonna be really interesting and it's not gonna suck," he said. Featherston, by contrast, was totally in the dark. "I don't know. I'm waiting to hear," the actress told us in March. "If they had a way to put me in there in a way that would be reasonable and make sense — I don't know how they'd do that — I'd definitely be down for it. If I get that phone call, I will be there. I will be scared or happy or whatever they want me to be." Did they eventually make the cut? Who else did? That's entering spoiler territory, so we'll leave it there and just say, "See the freaking movie!" Time to Freak Out Finally, it came time for fans to see the movie. Paramount staged 19 midnight screenings across the country, and we were there in New York and Los Angeles to take in the terror. "I'm scared," one L.A. fan told us after the movie. "We're not going to sleep. Drink coffee, stay up tonight, watch some cartoons, but we're not going to sleep." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kanye West Will Take Fans' Twitter Questions After 'Runaway' Debut Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:27 AM PDT After 35-minute short premieres on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, use the hashtag #askkanye to probe West during a live Q&A on MTV and MTV.com.
If Kanye West is nothing else, he is a complex MC. For his latest visual, "Runaway," the rapper directed a 35-minute short film that tells the story of a fallen phoenix. The video is awe-inspiring, puzzling, celebratory, dark, anything you can think — except simple.
After the clip premieres this weekend, however, viewers will have the chance to ask the man himself, Kanye West, about the vision behind the project. West will sit down with MTV News' Sway and take Twitter questions from fans using the hashtag #askkanye. The interview is set for Saturday, October 23, and will broadcast live on MTV and MTV.com immediately after the debut airing of "Runaway" at 8 p.m. ET. The Chicago lyricist has been screening the short film around the world, first overseas in London and Paris and this past week, Stateside, in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. After the L.A. premiere, Kanye spoke with MTV News about the protagonist in the film, the fallen phoenix, and how it relates to his own journey. "I love characters in general, but [I loved] how colorful the bird is and just the design, it's just something I would've picked or drawn as a 5-year-old," West explained. "It definitely relates to everything that I've been through, like, burning to the ashes and rebuilding and becoming a better person and delivering better product." In addition to West, Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks stars in "Runaway" portraying the aforementioned phoenix. Ebanks traveled to Prague to film the production and was effusive in her praise of West. She credited his artistic vision with giving her a sense of ease on the set. "It's extremely easy to work with him, understanding that everything with him comes from an artistic standpoint, because he is an artist and he has this vision," Ebanks told MTV News. "I honestly was just so excited and honored that he even considered me for it." Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2 and BET, and will also stream live on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com, followed by a live Q&A session on MTV and MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' Season Two: Our Five Favorite Moments Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:33 AM PDT From Uncle Nino to Snooki and Angelina's throw-down, it's been a season to remember.
This is just crazy. Our mission is to select our five favorite moments from the second season of "Jersey Shore," but how can we choose? Where does one draw the line? Remember the time the Situation and his date picked out some pre-coital pajamas before they even went out on the town for the first time? Gross! Or the evening when nice guy Vinny was stood up by the girl he'd basically already decided would become his wife? Sad! How about JWoww's smush chart, Angelina's tampon or that poor girl's plastic cleavage enhancer floating in the hot tub? Good times, all. But none of them make our top five. That's just the kind of season it's been. Which is to say: awesome. Here are the moments we enjoyed the most. The Situation's Egg Sandwich There Sitch lay on his bed, munching away while Pauly got busy doing his thing. Creepy? Fraternal? Homoerotic? All of the above? At least the Situation was considerate enough to ask his buddy, "You want half?" Pauly, to his credit, did not make the same offer. Uncle Nino In a season filled with new pleasures and perils, Vinny's uncle was easily the most entertaining fresh face of them all. You could barely understand a word the guy said, but that didn't stop the potbellied, vino-swilling Nino from being utterly endearing, the life of the party, a true and unforgettable character. During his brief time on the show, he snuggled with JWoww in the hot tub, told largely incomprehensible stories at the dinner table and, well, won our hearts. T-Shirt Time As in, you've downed a bunch of Ron Ron juice, the cabs are minutes away from whisking you away to Klutch, you just know it's gonna be a sick night, and you call out to your homies, "It's T-shirt tiiiiiiiiiime!" and they shout back, "It's T-shirt tiiiiiiiiiime!" Ronnie and the Jell-O Shot Girl The duo had barely been in Miami long enough to get a tan before Ronnie ended up sucking face with two (un)lucky ladies and, as he later bragged, "I was onstage motor-boating the Jell-O shot girls." Sammi and Ron's drama then took over the show for a few weeks. Remember those fights? And the anonymous letter? And, um, those other fights? It all started when Ronnie went out and, in his precious words, "did mad work tonight." Snooki vs. Angelina Hair was pulled, punches were thrown and bitches were encouraged to bring it on. And Snooki laid down the greatest taunt ever heard during a girl-on-girl throw-down: "Hey, I'm still pretty!" Don't miss the "Jersey Shore" season finale tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Photos |
| Jay-Z Hopes 'Decoded' Will Show 'Depth' Of Hip-Hop Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:49 AM PDT 'Rap is really poetry; it's not just a bunch of guys putting rhyming words together,' he tells MTV News.
Jay-Z's debut foray into the literary world, "Decoded," will be more than just a run-of-the-mill memoir — and not just because the author has led a far from run-of-the-mill life. The tome has been described as both an autobiography and analysis of some of Hov's most acclaimed lyrics. However, Jay has recently said he wants "Decoded" to not just relay the story of his life and music, but also demonstrate the sophistication of hip-hop as a genre.
"I think, more so than anything, just to explain or to let people realize who just listen to rap [like] 'Let's browse through it,' to show people the depth in rap and its poetry," Jay-Z told MTV News during a Miami event with Microsoft search engine Bing on Wednesday promoting the forthcoming release. "[I want to show] that rap is really poetry; it's not just a bunch of guys putting rhyming words together. There's thought behind it and there's cleverness and there's inspiration. There's social reason and there's political reason and there's angst and there's anger and all these different things inside music." Jay explained that many of the sensational elements of hip-hop expression get more attention from rap novices — an issue he feels can obscure the complexity of the content. "For the casual listener — people who don't listen to rap — what they do is listen for buzz words. So if somebody say 'bitch' or somebody say one of those buzz words, it's like, 'Aw, there they go again,' "Jay said. "But they don't realize the depth behind the writing." In the weeks leading up to the November 16 release of "Decoded," Hov is making fans dig deep for a chance to check out an early look at the book. In partnership with Bing, the MC has tucked away pages of the tome in cities across the globe and has charged rap-loving sleuths with uncovering them by cracking a series of clues Hov will dish out. Jay dropped the first hint on Monday and followed up with another — nestled within the lyrics of his UGK-assisted hit "Big Pimpin' " — on Wednesday in Miami. "Quite simply, it's almost like a preview of the book. We put all these pages out into the world to be found, and then, through Bing, you bring it all back together and you can read the book," Jay said. "That's really the simple part of it. But for participating in it, you get these prizes, like if you're the first one to find this page, you get it signed, you get it autographed, and it's yours to keep. And there's only one of them, so I thought that was pretty cool." Are you looking forward to checking out Jay-Z's "Decoded"? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists |
| Missy Elliott Says She's 'Just Behind The Scenes Right Now' Posted: 21 Oct 2010 06:47 AM PDT MC/producer says she's been focusing on artists like Jazmine Sullivan but plans to drop a new single, 'Blow Your Whistle.'
Missy Elliott spent the better part of the late '90s and early 2000s concocting elaborate and often nutty visuals, rocking absolute craziness in those visuals, spitting slick rhymes and cooing breathy vocals. Oh, and she created some of R&B and hip-hop's most memorable hits, from her woozy, bass-heavy 1997 debut track, "The Rain," to the wobbly sass of 2002's "Work It." Factor in chart-topping collabos with everyone from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, and Missy became a one-stop shop for hits.
However, in recent years the inventive MC has retreated from the spotlight, laying low since her jangly 2008 club anthem "Ching-A-Ling." When MTV News recently caught up with the multi-hyphenate star, she said her days in the limelight were numbered and she's turned her focus to nurturing other artists. "People always be like, 'Where [you] been?' but you gotta remember, I got Jazmine Sullivan out there, I had Monica 'Everything [To Me']," Missy explained on the red carpet for Tao New York's 10th Anniversary Party carpet last week. "I'm always having artists that I'm doing records on so I'm just behind the scenes right now. I did the artist thing, now I'm just writing and producing." Elliott has been tending to Sullivan, who the MC worked with for years, including producing her 2008 reggae-tinged debut single, "Need U Bad." Elliott said that the Philadelphia songstress is a "beast" and predicts a lengthy career ahead for Sullivan. "It's been a long time coming but she gon' be around for a long time. She's gon' make people have to step up they singing," Missy beamed. "Jazmine sing from the soul. She sing from a different place. She's not just a singer, she sings from a place where you feel like she been through those things before. And she got a husky voice and we haven't heard that really in R&B in a long time so she [has] a unique voice." But she's not giving up everything to her protégés. Elliott revealed that although she's primarily staying behind the boards, she plans to drop a "club record" called "Blow Your Whistle," to which she promises fans "gon' be dancing." However, any proper Missy Elliott track needs to be accompanied by an out-of-control visual. Elliott assured fans that her forthcoming single, which will drop "in a minute," won't be any different. "I gotta figure out this video thing and then we gon' drop it. It's gotta be a whole thing, it's a puzzle for me. It's not just the record, it's about the video too," Elliott said. She's still tinkering with the concept but she did promise a clip that, for the woman who has donned garbage bags, rhymed in cornfields and swung from chandeliers in her videos, will be quintessentially Missy. "Something crazy," Elliott smiled. "I'm taking my foot off this time. I don't know. Something crazy though." Would you like to hear a new Missy Elliott single? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| TJ Lavin Gets On-Air Encouragement From 'Challenge' Cast Posted: 20 Oct 2010 10:42 PM PDT 'T.J., you're always pushing us to our limits ... and now we want you to do the same,' one castmate says on Wednesday's show.
TJ Lavin, host of MTV's "The Challenge," got some televised well-wishes from several members of the cast. During Wednesday night's episode, Cara Maria Sorbello, Abram Boise, Chet Cannon, Derek Chavez and Jenn Grijalva stood together to send their love to Lavin, who is recovering from an injury he suffered during a BMX bike competition last week. "T.J., you're always pushing us to our limits, encouraging us to hang in there, and now we want you to do the same," Boise said as his castmates stood by his side. Derek added, "And now we want you to do the same." Sorbello wanted Lavin to know that "if there's anyone who's not a quitter, it's you." Cannon concluded the clip, saying, "Hang in there, get well, and we'll see you soon." The sentiments mirrored those MTV News has already heard from many of the other "Challenge" castmates "Basically, I would never come back to a 'Challenge' unless TJ was there," said Kenny Santucci, who started out on the "Fresh Meat" season and hosts the "Jersey Shore" aftershow. "I hope [he has] a quick recovery, and I give him my best and my family gives him our best, because him and I got really close over the last couple of years, and he's been a good friend to me. I wish him a quick recovery and all the best." On Wednesday, pal Chas Aday said he expected Lavin to make a "full recovery." "Everybody's been really strong and positive, and they just all want to see him get better. His mom's held up awesome. His fiancée's held up awesome," he said. "It's just everybody being really strong and supportive. All his sponsors, MTV, just everybody ... it's been great. He's getting a ton of support. It's just been amazing. We're just thankful that there's that many people pulling for him." Share your well-wishes for TJ Lavin and his family and friends in the comments. |
| Kings Of Leon Say 'Radioactive' Isn't A Stadium-Friendly Anthem Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:49 AM PDT 'I didn't think it would be a single, let alone the first one,' frontman Caleb Followill says of Come Around Sundown track.
You probably wouldn't know it — what with its arching guitars, soaring vocals and expansive, windswept breakdown — but "Radioactive," the first single from the Kings of Leon's just-released Come Around Sundown, is by no means "anthemic" or "stadium-friendly." At least according to Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill it's not. Shoot, the way he talks about the song, it's barely even a single.
"I didn't think it would be a single, let alone the first one. I mean, the vocal, I mess up on the first verse, I mess up on the second verse, I mean, my voice is off, so I really didn't think the label would want that as a single, but they wanted it first," he laughed. "I don't know, I think at this point, we could do something with me tapping my foot and singing into a can and [critics] would be like, "Oh, it's so anthemic" or "Oh, it's so stadium-friendly." " Railing against the band's critics has become a rather popular pastime for Followill these days, especially given the swing-for-the-fences nature of Sundown, an album that aims to be all things to all people and does so without the slightest shred of regret. The Kings have clearly enjoyed the hard-fought success they found with 2008's massive Only by the Night, and they're not about to let it slip away. So while "Radioactive" might not have been his choice as Sundown's first single, Followill will proudly admit that he's been following its chart performance closely. After all, he'll be the first to tell you that there's a lot riding on its success. "Actually, my e-mails weren't working, and so I wasn't getting any updates on anything about the record, and then finally, one day, like, 85 e-mails came in, and I read one of them, and it was like " "Radioactive" is #1 after three weeks on Modern Rock," " he recalled. "I had been sitting there like, "Man, our record's not doing good. We've lost it," and I had no idea ... so, yeah, I'm happy." What do you think of KOL's "Radioactive"? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| JWoww Teases 'Jersey Shore' Season-Two Finale Melee Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:11 AM PDT 'It was multiple levels,' she tells MTV News about argument that pits the 'Shore'-mates against one another on tonight's episode.
It wouldn't be a "Jersey Shore" episode unless there was a good fight. And the show's season finale, airing Thursday night (October 21), has a good one. And like many of the brawls that have shaken up the Shore, it all stems from alcohol and misunderstandings.
When the woman at the center of the feud, JWoww, stopped by MTV News on Thursday, just hours before the premiere, she talked about what led up to the incident. "It was multiple levels. It was, like, stress. It was the last day; everyone's tired and partying," JWoww said. "We probably had a couple drinks in us at that time." Without giving away too much, all of the castmates start arguing after they play a game in which they're forced to answer questions about each other. Madness ensues from there. "You know, it really came down to me and Pauly's emotions towards each other, 'cause we care so much about each other," JWoww explained. "So I was, like, extremely insulted thinking that Pauly called me fake, 'cause I love, I absolutely love that kid with all my heart. And he was extremely insulted that I thought he did because he loves me the same. "So it was like we butt heads and I took it the wrong way," she continued. "And he took it the wrong way. Mike took it the wrong way ... Nicole did," she added of the Situation and Snooki getting roped in to the conflict. Earlier on Thursday, JWoww and her "Jersey Shore" pals visited CBS' "The Early Show," where Pauly D proudly proclaimed he had no regrets about how the second season wraps up. "I'm glad the way I came off on the show," he shared. "They made me look exactly the way I was ... They make you look exactly the way you are, there's no script. So I don't really have any regrets." He added, "That's the best part about it — we're just doing what we're normally doing anyways." Don't miss the "Jersey Shore" season finale tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! |
| Mel Gibson's 'Hangover 2' Cameo Scrapped Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:17 AM PDT Director says decision to cast the troubled actor 'did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew,' reportedly including Zach Galifianakis.
What a difference a few days can make. For those "Hangover" fans who were excited — or maybe just perplexed — to hear the news about Mel Gibson signing on for a cameo in "The Hangover 2," it appears the deal has unraveled. According to The Wrap, Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures and director Todd Phillips have confirmed that Gibson's cameo has been scrapped. "I thought Mel would have been great in the movie," Phillips said in a statement. "And I had the full backing of [WB president] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew." "Hangover" breakout star Zach Galifianakis was reportedly upset with Gibson's cameo. Galifianakis hinted to Comedy Death-Ray Radio host Scott Aukerman that he was upset about a recent turn of events related to a film on which he's currently working. "But a movie you're acting in, you don't have a lot of control — you just show up and vomit your lines out," Galifianakis said. "I'm not the boss. I'm in a deep protest right now with a movie I'm working on, up in arms about something. But I can't get the guys to [listen] ... I'm not making any leeway." It's an interesting development since not one, but two sources close to the production told MTV News on Monday that Gibson's cameo was confirmed. He was reportedly set to play a tattoo artist when filming kicks off in two weeks. What do you think of Mel Gibson's cameo being dropped from "Hangover 2'? Let us know in the comments. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2' Taps Into 'Primal Fears,' Producer Says Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:03 AM PDT 'When you can't really see what's going on, your imagination starts to run wild,' actor Micah Sloat tells MTV News.
Judging by the terrified, shaky reactions from some of the 2,000 excited, screaming fans who showed up to the midnight screening of "Paranormal Activity 2" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the highly anticipated sequel more than lives up to the scare factor of the first film. When MTV News caught up with the stars of the first (and possibly second) film, Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat, as well as producer Oren Peli, they weren't able to reveal any plot details, but they did say why they think the movies were so scary.
"It ultimately comes down to the difference being disgusted or being scared," Sloat said. "You can be shocked, but it's a totally different experience than feeling this, like, creeping dread of something that's about to happen. When you can't really see what's going on, your imagination starts to run wild. And the truth is that anything you can imagine is going to be better than anything you can actually see." Featherston described the differences between "Paranormal Activity" and other horror movies: "As opposed to a lot of blood and guts and gore that you see in a lot of films, it's the kind of movie that really taps into your imagination," she said. "There's a lot of suspense and dread that builds up, and so it's really intense in that way. I think people kind of scare themselves. What's more scary than your own imagination?" More than just the audience's imagination factors in to the type of fright that can occur while watching the movie. As Peli said, because it's presented as found footage, people connect to it on a personal level rather than thinking they're watching a movie. "It taps into people's primal fears of what happens at night and while you're asleep and most vulnerable," he said. "So, the first one, and this one as well, kind of taps into those types of fears that everyone, across the world, shares." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Willow Smith Explains Her 'Warriorettes' Crew Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:36 AM PDT 'It takes a warrior to stand up for themselves,' Smith says of colorful camp in 'Whip My Hair' video.
With "two snaps and a W," 9-year-old budding pop sensation Willow Smith introduced MTV News to the amped-up crew of sassy kids in her recently released "Whip My Hair" video: the Warriorettes.
In the clip, the precocious Hollywood spawn of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith splatters paint on the walls of a hue-deprived elementary school with full-throttle jerks of her super-long braids. Also bringing the pre-teen swagger is a troop of hair-lashing kids Smith has dubbed the Warriorettes. Smith broke down how the concept developed and revealed what it takes to be a Warriorette. "Me and my mom first came up with Willowettes, and then we came up with Warriorettes," Smith explained. "It takes a warrior to stand up for themselves and not let anybody tell them that what they're wearing or what they're saying or what they're doing is wrong." Smith added that while being a Warriorette means staunchly standing by your beliefs, you need a soft side as well. "It takes a warrior to do that, but it still takes sensitivity ... also," she said. "We were kind of sloshing between Warriorettes and Willowettes, so we just called them Warriorettes, 'cause that's the stuff that you need to do that." And who better to whip their locks around in her debut video than some Warriorettes who aren't afraid to express themselves as they please? Smith also explained that the concept of the clip is about letting it all hang out. " 'Whip My Hair' means don't be afraid to be yourself," Smith said, "and don't let anybody tell you that that's wrong. Because the best thing is you." What do you think of Willow Smith's Warriorettes? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Jackass 3D' Guys Reveal What Might Make '3.5' DVD Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:41 AM PDT 'I was watching that today and was like, 'Man, should we have put that in the movie?' ' Johnny Knoxville says of one bit that got cut.
Hot off the record-breaking success of "Jackass 3D," the question on a lot of minds is: How long will fans have to wait for more "Jackass"? The short answer, according to Johnny Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine, is "not too long." "The plan is [to release 'Jackass] 3.5' first," Knoxville told MTV News recently. "We had so much footage left over, '3.5' is going to come out online and on DVD around January. That was the last conversation we had."
"We're not sure, because it changes," Tremaine admitted. "But 'Jackass 3D' on DVD comes out after Christmas; it doesn't come out on Christmas. '3.5' probably comes out before that — not Christmas, but sometime before [the] 'Jackass 3D' DVD. We're a little confused as to what's going on, but we do have a lot of fun extra footage that we're going to put out." The guys said they're still ironing out the specifics, but "Jackass 3.5" will likely follow in the same vein as "Jackass 2.5," with more than an hour of extra footage that didn't make the cut for "Jackass 3D." And just what bits and pieces were too hot for the feature film? "Oh, God! There's a lot of good stuff," Knoxville said. "Just the three-minute, four-minute bit on [Chris] Pontius' penis. All the different things we tried with his wang. It's hilarious. And 'Incredible Nut Shots,' we spent more time on that than any bit we've ever shot. That turned out really good. The 'Slip and Bow,' where we pranked the guys, they were on a super slippery surface as bowling pins, and the Street Bike Tommy comes down and takes them all out, and they think that's the bit, but no. [We] had a remote-control helicopter built with paintball guns on it, and they kind of can't get away." "They're out there on a big giant Slip 'N Slide," Tremaine added. "A big thing that they couldn't get up and run away. They just slide off. Yeah, man, there's so much, like there's the 'Rocket Ship to Your Anus.' " "The 'Rocket Ship to Your Anus'! I was watching that today and was like, 'Man, should we have put that in the movie?' " Knoxville said. "There's a few of those bits — more than a few of those bits — in '3.5.' " With a catchy title like that, we had to ask: What exactly is the rocket ship? "We don't want to give anything away," Knoxville teased. "Well, it's Bam [Margera] on one end with a string on his butt and the string connects to [Ryan] Dunn's crotch, and he's got a rocket connected to that string," Tremaine explained. "The rocket is actually a prosthetic penis, and it fires up and lands in your anus." "Yeah, pretty clever, right?" Knoxville added. "And it plays just that stupid." Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 50 Cent Addresses Rumors He's Dating Chelsea Handler Posted: 21 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT 'I think she's amazing,' Fif tells E! but says they've met up only to 'talk about a film project.'
Chelsea Handler has denied rumors of a romance with 50 Cent several times, and now it seems that Fif is sticking to that story. The rapper sat down with E! on Thursday (October 21) and cleared the air about their relationship status. "I'm not gonna answer that question!" he joked. "No, I'm not dating her," he admitted about the comedian, before adding, "Yeah I did send her flowers [after the VMAs] ... why not?" There's actually a good explanation for why he was spotted meeting with the comedian, 50 said: They were talking about flicks as the "Get Rich or Die Tryin' " actor recently entered into a $200 million film deal. "We actually was talking about a film project. She's working on a movie now with [director] McG [called 'This Means War']. And we spoke, you know, so, because I just did the Lionsgate deal, I've been sitting with different people talking about film projects. "I think she's amazing," he added. Handler has been open about the fact that she's not dating the rapper. Earlier this month, the two were spotted reportedly canoodling at a New Orleans nightclub, where the rapper also performed. At the time, her rep responded, "She saves all her comments for her own show." "I'm not banging ... I'm not banging," Handler confirmed on her E! show "Chelsea Lately." "He wasn't singing to me," she added. "He was singing and I saw it ... When I have something to say, I will say it on this show. There's nothing to talk about. Seriously." Handler has also tweeted about the gossip, writing that she and Fiddy are really only working on a film project: "Everyone, calm down. I met with Mr. Cent about a potential project. There's nothing to report yet, I'll let you know if there is." Do you think 50 and Chelsea would make a good match? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Reveals Inspiration Behind <i>Speak Now</i>'s Key Songs Posted: 20 Oct 2010 10:51 PM PDT 'Every single song is like a road map to what that relationship stood for,' she tells Yahoo! Music.
By now, Taylor Swift has made it pretty clear that on her upcoming Speak Now album, she's not pulling any punches — especially when it comes to her exes or Kanye West or even mean-spirited members of the media, for that matter. In fact, there's so much dirt dished on Speak Now that you practically need a scorecard to keep up with it all, and luckily, now you have one. In a new interview with Yahoo! Music, Swift gets in-depth about several key songs on the album — though, really, she prefers to think of each track in different terms. "Every single song is like a road map to what that relationship stood for, with little markers that maybe everyone won't know, but there are things that were little nuances of the relationship, little hints," she said. "And every single song is like that. Everyone will know, so I don't really have to send out e-mails on this one." In the interview, Swift described first single "Mine" as "a confession of some sort" about a real-life situation where a would-be boyfriend (rumored to be "Glee" star Cory Monteith) attempted to take their burgeoning relationship to the next level. "This is a situation where a guy that I just barely knew put his arm around me by the water, and I saw the entire relationship flash before my eyes, almost like a weird science-fiction movie," Swift explained. "After I wrote the song, things sort of fell apart, as things so often do. And I hadn't talked to him in a couple months. And the song came out, and that day, I got an e-mail from him. And I was like, 'Yes!' Because that one was sort of half-confession and half-prediction or projection of what I saw." Swift said "Back to December" — which is reportedly about her breakup with "Twilight" heartthrob Taylor Lautner — is her first apology song ("Up until now, I haven't really felt like I really needed to apologize to someone ... it's just necessary"), and "Speak Now" takes its inspiration from a friend's real-life dilemma about interrupting a childhood sweetheart's wedding. "One of my friends ... the guy she had been in love with since childhood was marrying this other girl," she said. "And my first inclination was to say, 'Well, are you gonna speak now?' And then I started thinking about what I would do if I was still in love with someone who was marrying someone who they shouldn't be marrying. And so I wrote this song about exactly what my game plan would be." "The Story of Us" was born out of a recent run-in with an ex (Lautner? Joe Jonas?) at an awards show, and the "terribly, heartbreakingly awkward" silent war the two parties embarked on that night. "Enchanted" was inspired by a meeting in New York with a mysterious man who captured Swift's heart and how she hopes to continue the relationship. "I started writing that in the hotel room when I got back, because it was just this positive, wistful feeling of 'I hope you understand just how much I loved meeting you,' " she said. "Using the word 'wonderstruck' [in the lyrics] was done on purpose, because that's a word which that person used one time in an e-mail ... so I purposely wrote it in the song, so he would know." Finally, Swift talks about "Innocent," the song she wrote about West and subsequently premiered at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. She calls it her most "important" song, because it helped her finally put West's VMA interruption behind her. "You have to try really hard to regulate what you feel, what you let in, and what you don't ... but then when it comes to making an album, if you make everything general and kind of gloss over your actual, raw feelings, that doesn't benefit anyone," she said. "As far as what to feel and what level to feel it, I can't really control any of that. It's just how things hit you, and what you let in is definitely something you've got to find a balance for." Which song are you most looking forward to on Speak Now? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Christina Aguilera To Perform At American Music Awards Posted: 21 Oct 2010 01:23 AM PDT Singer will perform a song from her movie 'Burlesque.'
Christina Aguilera will take to the stage just days before her new movie "Burlesque" hits theaters, performing at the American Music Awards live from the Nokia Theatre on November 21. Aguilera is the latest musician announced as a performer on the show, joining Bon Jovi, Pink and Usher. "Christina is known for her powerful and engaging performances," AMA producer Larry Klein said in a statement. "We are looking forward to her 'Burlesque' number, which will showcase moments from one of the most anticipated films of the season." Eminem is up for five awards at the 2010 AMAs, tied with country juggernauts Lady Antebellum for the most nominations. Justin Bieber scored four nods, while B.o.B, Katy Perry, Ke$ha and Usher are each up for three. Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna and Drake are also nominated in various categories. Eminem is nominated for Favorite Male Artist in both the Pop or Rock (up against Bieber and Usher) and Hip-Hop categories, Favorite Album in both the Pop or Rock and Hip-Hop categories, and Artist of the Year (where he'll face off against Gaga, Perry, Bieber and Ke$ha). Bieber's four nods are for Favorite Male Artist - Pop or Rock, Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Album of the Year - Pop or Rock for My World 2.0. While Aguilera is preparing to promote "Burlesque" and perform at the AMAs, she also recently announced her divorce from her husband, Jordan Bratman. "It's not easy, and there have been a lot of tears and sadness," she says in the December issue of Redbook magazine. "Out of respect for my husband, I prefer to keep the specifics private. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out how to make it through each day." Related Artists |
| Katy Perry, Russell Brand To Wed Saturday In Hindu Ceremony Posted: 21 Oct 2010 01:59 AM PDT 'Brand and Perry would be attired in Indian wedding attires,' an organizer says of the six-day Rajasthan bash kickoff.
Details about Katy Perry and Russell Brand's wedding in India this weekend are trickling in. The couple landed in Jaipur on Wednesday and now The Associated Press reports the pair is slated to get hitched Saturday near the state's Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary. Mohan Singh of local events company Rajasthan Tours told the AP that the pair will tie the knot in a Hindu wedding ceremony and the weekend nuptials will kick off six days of festivities. "This would be a colorful Rajasthan wedding, and both Brand and Perry would be attired in Indian wedding attires," Singh said. Singh also said the betrothed hired 13 vehicles to shuttle their approximately 80 guests to the wildlife sanctuary for tours. The couple will stay at Aman-i-Khas resort in a luxury tent, which is close to the sanctuary. Guests will stay at the Vanyavilas and Sher Bagh resorts. Since the pair decamped to Jaipur, Perry's family members, including her father, brother and sister, have been spotted in the city. Brand's mother, Barbara, has also been seen about town. Private security is reportedly hanging out at the resorts but local authorities were unaware of the wedding revelry. "We have no clue about the celebrations. But we would not allow playing of musical instruments and blaring loudspeakers after 10 in the night," Sawai Madhopur district police chief Vishnu Kant said, adding that fireworks and other racket that might bother sanctuary guests and animals are not allowed. Even though the wedding sounds pretty epic, Perry has begged for privacy via her Twitter account. "I have something to say... TWIT BREAK: Greatest gift u can give us is respect & [love] during this private X. No use wasting ur X w/ STOLEN or FALSE info. Thnk u for this." What do you think Katy Perry and Russell Brand's wedding will be like? Sound off in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| <i>GQ</i> 'Glee' Photos Are 'Not A Big Deal,' Mark Salling Says Posted: 20 Oct 2010 11:37 PM PDT 'There's more important things to worry about in the world,' 'Glee' co-star says.
When "Glee" stars Lea Michele, Corey Monteith and Dianna Agron appeared on the cover of GQ, it immediately caused a frenzy — at least with the Parents Television Council, which said the racy photo spread "borders on pedophilia." While the three stars play high school students on the hit show, in real life, they are all in their 20s, and "Glee" co-star Mark Salling is coming to their defense, noting that he doesn't see the controversy in the Terry Richardson-shot pics. "Personally, I think it's not a big deal," Salling said in an interview with 102.7 KIIS FM's JoJo Wright. "Lea is 23 years old and has every right to do that. I mean, come on! We're obviously not in high school. It's tongue-in-cheek that we're in high school. People are starving, [Dallas] Cowboys are losing — there's more important things to worry about in the world." While Michele and Monteith have both been silent on the matter, Agron blogged about the controversy and apologized to anyone who may have been offended by the shoot. "In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, 'Gossip Girl,' other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans ... we are not the first," she wrote. "Now, in perpetuating the type of images that evoke these kind of emotions, I am sorry. If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention." What do you think of the photo spread? Share your thoughts in the comments! |
| You are subscribed to email updates from MTV News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar