Kamis, 10 Maret 2011

MTV News

MTV News

Foo Fighters Bringing 'White Limo' VHS Vibe To 'Rope' Video

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PST

Brand-new clip premieres Thursday on MTV, with exclusive band Q&A to follow on MTV.com.
By James Montgomery


The Foo Fighters in their "Rope" video
Photo: RCA

Last month, the Foo Fighters foisted the clip for "White Limo" upon the world, a decidedly awesome, shot-on-VHS ode to classic hair-metal vids of the '80s and, of course, Motörhead mastermind Lemmy Kilmister too.

The response to the video was overwhelming, to say the very least: It has since eclipsed the million-view mark on YouTube, and, in a lot of ways, it influenced Foos frontman (and director) Dave Grohl's decision to make a proper video for the song "Rope," which will make its world premiere tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Because while "Rope" is most certainly a welcome addition to the Foos' already packed video cabinet, it's also their first major clip to be shot on VHS ... a move that Grohl said had everything to do with his experience of making "White Limo."

"[The video is] cool, we also did it to VHS. We did a video for the song 'White Limo' a few weeks before that, which is just something we did in a couple days," he said. "I directed it and I really wanted it to have that old VHS look to it. Because VHS tape does weird things to color and definition, and it just looks ... like VHS. And so, the ['Rope' video] is on VHS too [and] it definitely has a vibe. Just the look of the tape."

And though "Rope" is most certainly a performance video, it also represents the band embracing the DIY aesthetics of today's YouTube world, in their own rather unique way, of course.

"People used to spend, like, $5 million making a video. You think people do that now?" Grohl laughed. "They get a VHS camera, and they make a video in six hours. ... And it's cool. Anybody can do that. That's f---ing rad."

The Foo Fighters' "Rope" video premieres live at 7:54 p.m. ET/PT tonight on MTV and MTV.com, followed by an exclusive Q&A session from one lucky Foo fan's house to be live-streamed on MTV.com. Fans can submit questions via Twitter (@MTVNews using hashtag #askfoos).

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Coheed And Cambria Eye A Repeat MTV Musical March Madness Victory

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PST

Our tournament begins March 14, but Coheed and Cambria are already gearing up for another championship.
By James Montgomery


Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria
Photo: Jay West/ WireImage

In 2010, Coheed and Cambria entered MTV's Musical March Madness as an unheralded 15 seed and quickly rattled off a series of startling upsets — against #2 seed Paramore, #10 Mastodon, #6 Phish and #13 Alice in Chains — to advance to the final four, where they outlasted Tokio Hotel in an epochal (and, some might say, fishy) battle to reach the MMM championship game.

And in that championship matchup, they outlasted a game My Chemical Romance to claim the MMM trophy.

It was, to say the least, a shocking victory, one Coheed attributed to their fervent fanbase, and it set them up as automatic qualifiers in the 2011 tournament. And with the reveal of our full MMM bracket just days away (we'll unveil it on Monday), we caught up with C&C frontman Claudio Sanchez at his training compound in upstate New York to discuss his band's chances of repeating as champs. And from the sound of things, Sanchez isn't taking anything for granted this time around.

"Sometimes I don't really like setting myself up for defeat, you know?" he laughed.

It's a humility that most champions just don't possess. And while Sanchez still likes his band's chances — even though they'll face stout challenges from the likes of Linkin Park, Adele and Panic! at the Disco

"We've definitely got our fans in our corner," he said.

And after a few minutes of prodding, we got him to unleash a bit of that championship swagger ... an attitude that, when coupled with the support of their fans, once again make Coheed a favorite in the 2011 tourney.

"I'd like to think the band is much like the [Miami] Heat, in the fact that we have the Big Three, but, you know, there being four, I guess we're the Murderer's Row of this competition," he laughed. "We're just going to go in there and do our thing, and that's it."

MTV's 2011 Musical March Madness Tournament begins Monday, March 14, when we reveal the full field of 64 bands that will battle for the championship. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act made the cut, it'll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM ... but get ready, it's gonna be a war.

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'American Idol' Top 13 Perform Spirited Tributes To Personal Idols

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 07:56 AM PST

Casey Abrams shouts, James Durbin croons and Naima Adedapo puts some dancehall into Rihanna's Umbrella on Wednesday night.
By Gil Kaufman


"American Idol" top 13
Photo: Michael Becker / FOX

It may not have been live, but Wednesday night's (March 9) pre-taped "American Idol" top-13 performance show was lively, with plenty of surprises as this year's baker's dozen sought to solidify their onstage personalities off the bat.

That meant that bearded lady-killer Casey Abrams served up some more gritty soul, Naima Adedapo showed off her reggae flair and Scott McCreery, well, let's just say he stuck with the "good ol' boy" songbook.

But first up on "Your Personal Idol" night was precocious teen Lauren Alaina, who sang a song by her musical inspiration, country/pop superstar Shania Twain. Sounding a bit out of breath, Alaina swiveled her hips to "Any Man of Mine" and used all her considerable 16-year-old hair-flipping charm and reedy country twang to win over the crowd.

Showing his tough side, Steven Tyler said he loved the song, but just wished it had been "a little more kickass" and Jennifer Lopez said it was time to shift into a higher gear. Randy Jackson said it was good, but didn't allow Alaina to unleash her big, versatile voice.

Abrams was right in the pocket with Joe Cocker's cover of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," and mentor Jimmy Iovine encouraged him to feel the song with every inch of his body. Starting off sitting on the steps and singing in a soft, cuddly voice, Abrams did a slow walk down-stage as a group of gospel backup singers joined him, and his voice climbed into a high, raspy wail. Though it took a bit to warm up, by the end, Abrams was throwing in some bluesy improvisational howls that showed off his gritty side.

Lopez said she was beside herself, telling a smiling Abrams, "[You] blew me away," with Randy chiming in that he can always count on Casey to hit the notes and provide a show. "You are a rainbow of talent, man ... and you are a plethora of passion," Tyler tossed in.

After scooting in as a wild card, Ashthon Jones went with Randy's suggestion to sing Diana Ross' "When You Tell Me That You Love Me." She opened a bit shaky with some flat, breathy notes and never seemed to really find the right groove, singing a competent, but not stellar version of the tune.

Randy deemed it safe, but complimented her for recognizing when she was going off key and pulling it back. Lopez said she also saw some budding professionalism in Jones' stagecraft, but encouraged her to find more popular songs that the audience can sing along to.

Speaking of somewhat obscure songs, resident quirky guy Paul McDonald chose indie singer/songwriter Ryan Adams' "Come Pick Me Up." Wearing a military jacket, McDonald seduced the crowed with a whispery delivery, building up and bouncing all around the stage like Coldplay's Chris Martin, mixing arena stagecraft with an intimate, understated delivery.

It was a bit pitchy for Tyler, who said he still loves anything Paul sings, praising his unique character. Jennifer said McDonald's infectious smile translated into some grins in the crowd, but she wondered whether the song was too obscure.

Sudden frontrunner Pia Toscano tried to solidify her status with Celine Dion's version of the big weeper "All By Myself." Wearing a skintight golden mini-dress, Toscano looked the part and hit he kind of showy notes a diva has to have in her pocket.

Saying she topped even last week's Pretenders showstopper, Lopez called it simply beautiful and Randy said despite taking on one of the dreaded big-three female singers, Pia nailed it.

The last person you could imagine rocker James Durbin working with is hip-hopper Jim Jonsin, but the Lil Wayne producer put a thick beat to Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" and Durbin showed his sensitive side while showcasing his contemporary potential.

"Yo, this dude can do anything man. ... James Durbin is dangerous!" Randy gushed, saying he was impressed with JD's versatility. Tyler heaped on some of his twisted praise as well, adding, "James, you have taken everything you've ever felt and kicked it into the middle of next week," whatever that means.

Haley Reinhart has been singing LeAnn Rimes' "Blue" for most of her life, so she set aside the R&B sass for some hip-swaying yodeling and country-gal charm. Tyler was blown away and said Reinhart nailed it as Lopez gave her props for the versatility of her vocals. Randy? He said it was a bit sleepy, like being at a boring luau.

It was R. Kelly's uplifting "I Believe I Can Fly" for former spa concierge Jacob Lusk, who slowed it down into a vibrato-filled pop/gospel skyscraper, complete with a crazy falsetto run in the middle. "Pure passion, pure music, I can't even judge ya, that's how good you are," Tyler said, kicking off a three-judge love-fest.

After getting King of Pop comparisons last week, 16-year-old Thia Megia chose Michael Jackson's (via Charlie Chaplin) "Smile," bringing an old-school, jazz-diva class to the gentle ballad before a corny hip-hop-lite beat broke in and she kicked it up a notch. Randy loved the soft, Adele-like acoustic intro, but he and Steven thought it went a bit pitchy and wobbly in the second half.

Talk about staying in your lane: Wild card Stefano Langone chose Stevie Wonder's "Lately" and Karen Rodriguez kept tapping into her Latin background with Selena's "I Could Fall in Love," while resident country boy McCreery opted for Garth Brooks' very trad "The River."

Langone over-emoted a bit and producer Polow Da Don's thumping beat overwhelmed him at times, forcing Stefano to rush to keep up and keep the spotlight on his often-crystalline vocals. Selena superfan Rodriguez got a Beyonc é-like beat from Jonsin, but her pageant-y performance and sparkly jumpsuit fell a bit flat. And McCreery promised to not change things up too much, keeping it very old-school twangy, down to the rolling-plains backdrop and his signature froggy delivery.

Despite the difficult arrangement, Tyler and Lopez liked the dance remix in Langone's performance and Jackson said he did Wonder proud. The news was not as good for Rodriguez, with Lopez saying it was clear she was uncomfortable with some of the notes and Randy concerned it was not unique enough and a bit sleepy. "If it ain't broke, don't even consider fixin' it," the big Dawg counseled McCreery, encouraging Scotty to stay right where he is.

The "pimp" spot belonged to wild-card contestant Naima Adedapo, who sang the only (kind of) contemporary song of the night, Rihanna's 2007 smash "Umbrella." Working with the original song's producer, "Tricky" Stewart, Naima made the most of her second chance, showing off her popping-and-locking moves and throwing in an unexpected fierce dancehall reggae breakdown.

Even with some pitchy notes, Tyler applauded how she brought the flavor and Lopez said the few bum notes didn't matter, "You got fire, girl!" She suggested Naima work on her vocal control amid all the dancing.

"Idol" execs promised they would get music out from the finalists much faster this year thanks to Interscope boss Iovine's influence, and they weren't kidding. For the first time in "Idol" history, the show provided studio versions of the songs performed on Wednesday night's show at the iTunes store on a compilation album available right after the broadcast.

With help from such producers as Rodney Jerkins, the Rock Mafia, Jonsin, Ron Fair and Stewart, the songs will be sold both as a compilation album for $7.99 and as individual tracks.

Thursday night's live results show will feature sets from "Idol" alum Adam Lambert and Diddy-Dirty Money.

Who was your favorite top 13 "Idol" performer? Tell us in the comments!

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Mike Starr's Death Should Be A Warning, Addiction Specialist Says

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 04:49 AM PST

'As tragic as that is to watch, almost 20 million people are living in recovery,' Robert J. Lindsey says of ex-Alice in Chains bassist's death.
By Ryan J. Downey


Mike Starr in 1990
Photo: Marty Temme / Getty Images

The death of ex-Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr raised a number of questions for his fans, as the loss of anyone who publicly struggled with drugs or alcohol often does. Why wasn't his treatment, documented on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and "Sober House," a success? Why can't someone like Starr just stop using drugs?

"[The addiction] literally hijacks the person's brain and takes over," Robert J. Lindsey, president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, told MTV News on Wednesday (March 9). "For somebody who has become physically and emotionally addicted, stopping and staying stopped is the hardest thing in the world to do.

"The first thing to understand about alcoholism and addiction is that it's similar to other chronic illnesses, like heart disease or diabetes. It's chronic, it's progressive and it's fatal if it's untreated," he added. "Some people, despite the best efforts on their part and others, will die from their addiction. It's our hope that Mike's death will serve for many as the opportunity for them to either seek help for themselves, a friend or family member."

The NCADD estimates that there are more than 23 million people in the United States who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs. "That's almost 10 percent of the population," Lindsey pointed out. And while Starr's death made headlines, as the seemingly endless relapses of other celebrities do as well, he's quick to illustrate the growing picture of treatment. "It's equally important to highlight the fact that we estimate that maybe 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery today."

The history of Alice in Chains is unfortunately tied to drugs, specifically heroin, in many ways. The group wrote several songs about it and regularly disappeared from the limelight while singer Layne Staley battled his demons. He eventually died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine in 2002 while living as a virtual recluse. Starr had been gone from the group for nearly two decades already, reportedly fired for his inability to manage his own drug habits.

In more recent years, he seemed to be doing well on "Celebrity Rehab" and "Sober House." He was living in Salt Lake City, Utah, and reportedly making music with Days of the New when he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession during a traffic stop last month. TMZ reported on Wednesday that Starr had been mixing methadone and anxiety medication just hours before his death, according to his roommate. The report maintains that Starr was using the drugs as part of his effort to stay clean and had been "doing a pretty good job."

"In terms of recovery, for most that are successful, it starts with abstaining completely from the use of alcohol or other drugs," countered Lindsey. "At the same time, we certainly have had some experience that in some cases some medications can be very helpful in people's recovery. But it needs, absolutely, to be managed by a physician who is both specifically trained, experienced and certified in addiction medicine. This is not something that can or should be done by the individual or done with a physician who is not certified in addiction medicine."

So what separates someone like Starr from rockers like Keith Richards or Lemmy from Motörhead, who seem to be managing their lives just fine while actively engaging in the use of alcohol and most likely other substances? In the recent documentary "Lemmy: 49% Motherf---er, 51% Son of a Bitch," much was made of the 65-year-old rocker's seemingly consequence-free use of Jack Daniels and methamphetamine. Metallica's James Hetfield, who himself has been in treatment for alcoholism and other addictions, was in awe of Lemmy's resilience.

"Well. the keyword there is that he seems to be OK," Lindsey explained. "If you talked to his family, his friends, his physician, would they agree with that statement? The important point is the other pieces that are at play here are both physiology and genetics. For some people, they are able to use alcohol and other drugs with little or no consequence in their life, whether that be physically, emotionally, financially, legally or at work.

"People ask us all the time: 'How do you define alcoholism and addiction?' " Lindsey said. "Our best and simplest definition is continued use despite negative consequence. It doesn't talk about how much, how often or what. The only thing that matters is what happens when you drink or use. If it causes problems for your relationship, your health, or you get arrested and you continue to drink or use, it's time to get to somebody who is both trained and successfully experienced in dealing with alcoholism and addiction."

Perhaps the saddest part of Starr's story is that the last memory his fans had before his death was his appearance on "Celebrity Rehab," where he encouraged new castmembers with his own six months of sobriety.

"[Many people] tend to approach the issue from a commonsense perspective, and common sense says: 'If I haven't drank or used for six months or more, I should be able to go back and use a little bit like a regular person does,' " Lindsey said. "But addiction is chronic, progressive and fatal if untreated. The addiction literally starts up right where the person left off. That's why abstinence is the basis for most people's long-term successful recovery.

"[Starr's death] is alcoholism and addiction played out to its logical conclusion [when] absent recovery," he added. "As tragic as that is to watch, almost 20 million people are living in recovery. The public needs to know that story.

"There's hope, there's help, and there's healing."

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or other drugs, please visit NCADD's website for information on how to get help.

Share your well-wishes for Starr's friends and family in the comments.

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'Real World: Las Vegas' Roomies Dish On New Season

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:37 AM PST

'Vegas brought out the best and worst of all of us,' castmate Leroy Garrett tells MTV News.
By James Dinh, with reporting by Sway Calloway


"Real World: Las Vegas" cast
Photo: MTV

It's time for a new group of strangers to live in a house and have their lives taped for MTV's "The Real World."

Now in its 25th season, the reality show returns to Las Vegas on Wednesday (March 9) at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV for some hard-core partying, hookups and drama. MTV News' Sway Calloway caught up with the new gang of roomies at the show's premiere party on Saturday, where the castmates dished details about their time in Sin City.

"If anything, the girls were the least drama of the house," Nany González proudly told Sway. Another castmate, Naomi Defensor, echoed those thoughts, saying, "I don't know about the guys, but the girls were the most chill people in the house."

While the girls insist that they remained drama-free, another castmember said the new season is full of ups and downs because of Vegas' party lifestyle. "We fight. We laugh together, we party, drink. Vegas brought out the best and worst of all of us," Leroy Garrett said.

Asked if viewers will see any hot-and-heavy hookups, Defensor pleaded the Fifth, saying, "I know nothing about that."

However, Garrett, who was also hush-hush about any on-camera romance during this season of "The Real World," admitted that he couldn't help notice the overflow of women. "When I came to Vegas, that's all I cared about was women, so looking over there, I'm like, 'Damn. I love it,' " the 25-year-old castmate said.

Don't miss "The Real World: Las Vegas" every Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT!

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Notorious B.I.G.'s Junior M.A.F.I.A. Crew 'Get Money' Video, Frame By Frame

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:21 AM PST

Lil' Kim recalls the Notorious B.I.G. and takes us behind the 1996 clip, which spoofed late rapper's love-life dramas.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Ade Mangum


Notorious B.I.G. in the "Get Money" video
Photo: Bad Boy

In 1996, Lil' Kim was the standout member of the Notorious B.I.G.'s Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew. The Big Momma had stolen the show on their lead single "Player's Anthem," from the collective's album Conspiracy, and was again the main draw on their third single, "Get Money." Rapping alongside B.I.G. himself, the Queen Bee held her own and previewed the extravagant lifestyle that would play out in the video.

The Notorious B.I.G. died an untimely death on March 9, 1997, the year after the video's release, but it remains a part of his and the Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s musical legacy. When last week, she spoke to MTV News about the memorable clip, walking us through it frame by frame.

Directed by Lance "Un" Rivera, the clip echoed some of the real-life legal drama Big was wrestling with at the time. In the opening scene, set in a courtroom, Big sits at the defense table, seemingly oblivious to what the lawyers and judge are discussing.

"I remember when we really had to go to court for him, for a situation that Biggie had, and we really had to sit in court with him," Kim told us. "I remember him falling asleep in front of the judge. And he was literally snoring in front of the judge. And the judge looked at his lawyer and was like, 'Excuse me, can you wake your client up?!' "

In '96, Big was in and out of court on drug and gun possession charges.

The East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop feud was in full swing by this time as well, though Big did his best not to stoke the flames. In the "Get Money" video, he pokes fun at his personal turmoil instead. The woman in the blonde wig in the clip looks suspiciously like Biggie's then-wife, R&B singer Faith Evans (fans know that Faith and Kim have never been on the best of terms). The actress portraying the faux Faith was the (still-married) rapper's girlfriend at the time, Charli Baltimore.

The video was shot at a New York City club and in a large home that Kim revealed was once owned by actor Wesley Snipes. Cameos in the video include DJ Clark Kent, Salt-N-Pepa, Mary J. Blige and even adult-film star Vanessa del Rio, who is seen thoroughly enjoying a massage and being fed fruit by buff men.

"A lot of people don't know who she was [but] she's a famous porn star from back in the days and she was mad cool," Kim said.

Kim threw in one last factoid about the late, great Brooklyn rapper that fans might not have known. At the end of the "Get Money" clip, she's seen driving off in a shiny red car that's decorated with a bow. "People don't know, at the end of this video Big was supposed to have brought me that car, that was my gift," Kim laughed. "So, ya know, I came off at the end."

What's your favorite Notorious B.I.G. video? Share with us in the comments!

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'American Idol' Top 13 Preview: Will Pia Toscano And Casey Abrams Deliver?

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 03:25 AM PST

We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race.
By Eric Ditzian


"American Idol" top 13
Photo: FOX

Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday's (March 9) "American Idol" theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that's the farthest we'll dive into spoiler territory.

Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode, and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we've chosen to avoid all that. What's the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it?

So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let's take a look at each singer: who we're excited about, who we honestly don't care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night.

Ashthon Jones
The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain't done sh-- yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the "Idol" pack. She's got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica's "Love All Over Me" felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you're not quite there yet. There's a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again.

Casey Abrams
This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he's too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there's no doubting he's a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn't even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You," Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let's see if he can tone down the growls a bit.

Haley Reinhart
Hey, we didn't feel her rendition of Alicia Keys' "Fallin'," but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she's never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof.

Jacob Lusk
Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he's not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his "Idol" résumé, we can't say we think Lusk will take on a song penned in this century. And that's fine. We can only hope the 23-year-old morphs a tune from whatever throwback artist he idolizes into something contemporary and relevant.

James Durbin
Confession time! We just don't get this guy. He's apparently a hair-metal devotee, but last week's performance reeked of wannabe-rocker artifice. We encourage Durbin to slow it down, turn down the volume and showcase his vocals. But not that scream. Please not that scream!

Karen Rodriguez
Based on her English/Spanish mash-up last week, we're pretty certain the New Yorker will opt for a tune by a Latina chanteuse on Wednesday. The key will be which one she chooses and if her vocal chops can compare to her artistic idol. And after going for a ballad, we'll be looking for Rodriguez to pick up the tempo. Regardless, she won't be in danger of going home. According to our "Idol" poll, she's a fan favorite.

Lauren Alaina
Speaking of favorites! Lauren is clearly an artist who the producers themselves idolize — and it's rubbed off on voters. But let's be honest: At this point, she's neither Kelly Clarkson nor Carrie Underwood, despite the judges' commentary. She does, however, have the makings of an "Idol" finalist, with that country/rock vibe. Our only request is that she not deliver another Red Bull-ified performance. We want Lauren to slow it down and show us those killer vocals.

Naima Adedapo
Naima enters Wednesday in serious danger, if only because she's only around due to a judges' wild card. In a new promotional video, the singer cited India.Arie and Erykah Badu as her favorite artists. Either would be an apt choice for the new performance. We're just not sure she can do anything to steal away votes from the fan favorites — which is a shame, because she's one of the more unique talents this season.

Paul McDonald
No one seemed to be having more fun onstage last week than McDonald. Gospel-tinged Southern rock is his sweet spot, and we definitely dig it. We see McDonald reaching back into the '70s this week, and we expect another top-notch performance. Anything less would be a let-down.

Pia Toscano
Toscano, too, has almost nowhere to go but down this week, so astounding were her vocals on the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You." And therein lies a potential pitfall: We hope she doesn't try to deliver another standing-ovation-worthy vocal performance. Show us some artistic range to match those vocal chops!

Scotty McCreery
The North Carolina boy has cornered the traditional country-crooner corner, and he seems to have little interest in stepping outside it. He's cited George Strait and Randy Travis as influences. Either one's discography would make sense for Scotty to plumb this week. And since both those guys have sold millions of records, how can we advise against the choice?

Stefano Langone
He squeaked through last week via the judges' wild card, so the pressure's on. He'll have to do far better than that brutal rendition of Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" to continue on. Here's the thing: We liked the song choice and hope he stays with such radio-friendly material. He'll just have to knock the vocals out of the auditorium if he wants to assure himself a spot on next week's show.

Thia Megia
The 16-year-old apparently listens to Lady Gaga and Beyoncé on her iPod. Steer clear, Thia! Luckily, she also has an affinity for Duffy and Adele. In fact, plucking something like "Someone Like You" off of Adele's #1 album would be an inspired choice. As with Alaina, though, nothing short of having a temper tantrum onstage can keep her from advancing.

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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'Glee'-Cap: Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Sexy' Sub Teaches Us A Lesson

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:07 PM PST

Holly Holliday breathes fresh air into this week's episode, and our musical recap.
By Jim Cantiello


Matthew Morrison and Gwyneth Paltrow on "Glee"
Photo: Adam Rose/FOX

This week's "Glee" made some of us feel a little confused and funny inside. While the McKinley High kids were learning about the birds and the bees and Fleetwood Mac from Holly Holliday, Jim here made his own discovery: his crush on Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, sing along with him!

Holly Holliday, I think I love you.
The way you teach sex ed to the children makes me meow.
Holly Holliday I know I want you,
But, Gwyneth, in real life you don't arouse.

Holly, I swear
In "Glee" you breathe new air.
You won't need no teacher-Jazzercise
Once I work on those thighs!

Oh, girl...

[Pips-like backup singers: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
Oh, with Will you're a tease.
[Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
Emma's throwin' shade, "Step off my man! Bitch, please!"
[Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
Awakens Santana's Melissa Etheridge tendencies.
Brit turns her down,
She's bi, with a guy, cue the frown.
Her ladypart's now a ghost town,
But don't be sad, you go-getter,
Just ask Kurt, it gets better!

Oh, girl!

The Warblers up their sex appeal,
Practice Neon Trees with girls away from home,
Kurt's sexy face is far from "Blue Steel"
But it still makes Blaine spurt out some foam.

Oh, "Glee" I find
Your writers lost their minds,
A sex tape with Lauren and Puck
Makes me scream, "What the fudge?!"

[Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
Will's tango made me mad.
[Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
I've seen sexier scenes on "Cash Cab,"
[Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh]
But it could be I was just jealous that he got to grab
The hot substitute?
She's funny and so cute.
I'm in hot pursuit.
Holly, you're my new addiction,
I don't care that you're fiction!

[Music breakdown, Jim ad-libs.]

I gots to break this down right here right now.v I'm feelin' all naked and vulnerable with no instruments right now.
So many horny kids at McKinley High, gimme some horns.
[Horns join the track.]
Now, give me piano because I want to tickle some ivories.
[A jaunty piano gets added to the song.]
Give me some organ for the kids out there playin' with their own.
[An organ plays along.]
And how about some acoustic guitar for my lesbian friends.
[An acoustic guitar strums on the track.]

Come to my window!
Come to my window!
Come to my window!
I'll be home soon.

What did you think of this week's "Glee"? Talk about it in the comments.

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Ja Rule Won't Go To Prison Until June

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 01:23 AM PST

Inc. rapper granted furlough to finish album and settle tax issue.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Ja Rule
Photo: MTV News

Ja Rule's teeth are just fine, but the rapper's finances aren't in order, and as a result he's been extended a reprieve in his prison sentencing until June 8.

The Queens lyricist pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession in December, stemming from a July 2007 arrest. Lil Wayne, who Ja Rule performed with that night at the Cash Money star's Beacon Theater show, also was arrested that night and eventually served eight months in prison for the same offense. Wayne's sentence was postponed a number of times, including once for the rapper to undergo dental work.

According to the New York Post, a judge delayed Ja Rule's sentencing Wednesday morning (March 9) so the rapper could settle a federal tax issue. The Inc. rapper also will use the time to finish his next project, his attorney said. The furlough was issued by the judge against the prosecution's wishes, the Post also reported.

"We want to finish the album, and there's also a tax issue," his lawyer, Stacey Richman, said. "Somebody, an accountant, had filed an incorrect form, and this is to correct what was done in the past."

The case originated just over three years ago, when Ja Rule joined Lil Wayne at his first headlining gig in New York City. After the concert, both rappers' vehicles were pulled over by the New York Police Department in separate instances. Both were subsequently charged with illegal possession of a firearm; Lil Wayne also was brought up on drug charges.

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Julianne Moore To Play Sarah Palin In HBO's 'Game Change'

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 05:31 AM PST

Movie is based on best-selling book about the 2008 presidential campaign.
By Aly Semigran


Julianne Moore
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty Images

Television audiences are no strangers to seeing former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

From Tina Fey's dead-on impression on "Saturday Night Live" to the TLC reality show "Sarah Palin's Alaska" to becoming a pundit on Fox News, Palin (and her family, including daughter Bristol Palin who was a "Dancing With the Stars" contestant) has been nothing short of a mainstay in TV entertainment over the past few years.

Now, Oscar-nominated actress Julianne Moore ("Children of Men," "Boogie Nights") will be the next to take on the former Alaskan governor. People magazine confirms that "The Kids Are All Right" star will play Palin in HBO's upcoming movie "Game Change."

The movie is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's best-selling book of the same name, which was a scathing exposé on the 2008 presidential campaign, including revealing stories about Palin and Senator John McCain (particularly how and why he chose Palin as his running mate and her behavior on the campaign trail), President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, President Bill Clinton, Senator Hilary Clinton and Senator John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth Edwards (who died in December after a battle with breast cancer.)

While Moore, 50, is set to play the 47-year-old Palin, other pivotal roles, including Obama, Clinton and McCain, have not yet been cast. "Game Change" will reteam director Jay Roach ("Meet the Parents," "Dinner for Schmucks") and actor/screenwriter Danny Strong, who directed and penned, respectively, HBO's 2008 Emmy-winning film about the controversial Bush/Gore election in 2000, "Recount."

What do you think of Julianne Moore being cast as Sarah Palin? Let us know in the comments section!

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

Mike Starr's Death Continues Alice In Chains' Dark Legacy

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:01 PM PST

Singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002.
By Gil Kaufman


Photo: 2011 Getty Images

The death on Tuesday of former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr continued the tragic legacy of one of the most beloved bands to emerge out of the early 1990s grunge scene in Seattle.

Largely because of late singer Layne Staley's debilitating drug addiction, in their heyday, AIC were known almost as much for their long periods of inactivity as they were for their gloom-laden, brooding music.

Melding hard-rock guitars and the sludgy grunge aesthetic of the time, AIC stood out from the pack thanks to their adoption of a more classic heavy-metal sound and intense, almost unrelentingly bleak lyrics that touched on everything from drug addiction and isolation to the plight of Vietnam veterans.

The seeds of the group were formed in 1986, when a then-teenage Staley quit his first group, Sleeze, and formed a new band, Alice N Chains, which followed the lead of a number of other Seattle bands at the time in mixing up the gender-bending look and sound of glam metal with the more hard-hitting sound of speed-metal acts such as Slayer.

The rail-thin, enigmatic Staley met future AIC guitarist Jerry Cantrell when both were working at the Music Bank rehearsal studios, and they soon became roommates. When Alice N Chains fizzled out, Staley joined forces with Cantrell, who brought along his bandmates from the glam act Diamond Lie, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Starr. They considered a number of names for their new group, including Mothra, but decided to go with Alice in Chains because Staley thought it suggested the image of a cross-dressing speed-metal band.

After working on their patented mix of brutish, crunching guitars and grim psychedelic blues, the group quickly stood apart from future Seattle peers by honing a menacing sound that owed more to the work of metal icons Black Sabbath and Deep Purple than the punk-derived sound of such grunge contemporaries as Nirvana and Soundgarden.

A demo called The Treehouse Tapes in 1988 won them a major-label deal with Columbia Records the next year. A three-song promotional EP, We Die Young, was released in July 1990, spawning the hard-rock radio hit in the title track, followed by their first full-length effort, Facelift, in August of that year.

The album was a landmark in contemporary hard rock, mixing the over-the-top guitar heroics of the previous decade with grinding tempos. Staley's rumbling vocals were hypnotic, ominously singing lines such as "Love, sex, pain, confusion, suffering/ You're there crying/ I feel not a thing/ Drilling my way deeper in your head/ Sinking, draining, drowning, bleeding, dead" on the track "Confusion."

The album produced a bona fide hit with a song that bore the band's soon-to-be hallmark music signature, "Man in the Box." It was inspired by a story Staley reportedly overheard about how veal were raised in tiny spaces, and it combines his haunted vocals with Cantrell's fuzzed-out, choppy guitar. Other songs, such as "Sea of Sorrow" and "Bleed the Freak," set out the template for Staley's emerging creative voice: a morbidly disaffected social outcast fighting to survive in mainstream society.

AIC hit the road for their first U.S. tour that year, followed by a summer swing with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth the next summer under the title Clash of the Titans. They were back in March 1992 with a largely acoustic four-song EP called Sap, which featured the vocals of Ann Wilson of Heart and Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. Thanks to the smash success of Nirvana's Nevermind and the inclusion of the AIC song "Would?" on the soundtrack of the grunge movie "Singles" in the summer of 1992, Columbia began marketing AIC to both metal and alternative fans, which greatly increased the group's fanbase.

Work on their second full-length, Dirt, began in Los Angeles on the same day riots erupted in that city, postponing the sessions for two weeks. The resulting music was another bleak manifesto from the now commercially successful, Grammy-nominated group. While Staley sang about the ravages of drug addiction and self-destruction ("Junkhead," "God Smack," "Sickman," "Angry Chair"), Cantrell attempted to make peace with his father through the dramatic Vietnam-themed epic "Rooster."

The album was influential in a number of ways. Singer/songwriter Ryan Adams and the hard-rock band Fuel have covered "Down in a Hole," and rockers Godsmack chose their name from a song with that title.

After the album's release, Starr, then struggling with drug problems, was replaced by former Ozzy Osbourne bassist Mike Inez. Though rumors of Staley's drug issues were rampant at the time, the band successfully hit the road as part of the third Lollapalooza tour in 1993, and Dirt went on to sell more than 3 million copies.

Another EP of mostly acoustic tunes, Jar of Flies, was released in January 1994. It features two of the group's most iconic songs: the power ballads "I Stay Away" and "No Excuses." Staley broke off for a tour and album by his side project, Mad Season, in 1995, and AIC came back later that year with a self-titled album that debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart. But, as with Jar of Flies, there was no tour to support the album, and a long period of inactivity followed its release.

They got together for their first live show in three years for MTV's "Unplugged" in April 1996, an intense performance that was released on CD in July 1996. With the exception of a few opening gigs for Kiss that summer, the "Unplugged" show would be the final time the group performed live.

Cantrell released his solo debut, Boggy Depot, in 1998, with contributions from Inez and Kinney, but Staley was replaced by Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan on Mad Season's second album. A four-disc box set featuring rare and previously released AIC material entitled Music Bank was released in 1999 and a live album followed a year later. Staley became a recluse, rarely seen or heard from until news of his death emerged in early April 2002, when he was found dead of an overdose of cocaine and heroin at the age of 34, almost eight years to the day after Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain's suicide.

Cantrell continued to work solo, while Inez joined Slash's Snakepit, Black Label Society and the short-lived grunge supergroup Spys 4 Darwin. Kinney joined his former bandmates in 2005 for a benefit concert for tsunami relief, and the three original members regrouped under the AIC banner in 2006 with Comes With the Fall's William DuVall on vocals.

The re-formed bandreleased Black Gives Way to Blue in September 2009.

The original AIC had a short-but-crucial period of creativity that helped reshape the face of heavy metal in the 1990s after the excess and pop trash of the late 1980s L.A. glam-rock scene. Their nihilistic, brooding tone and dark edge helped inspire a new generation of bands, from Creed and Godsmack to Theory of a Deadman, the Deftones and Staind, and their songs remain a staple of hard-rock radio to this day.

Share your memories of Mike Starr and Alice in Chains in the comments.

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'Red Riding Hood' Star Amanda Seyfried Shoots Down Comparisons to 'Twilight'

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 08:59 AM PST

'The truth is, it's an entirely different story,' actress says.
By Aly Semigran


Amanda Seyfried in "Red Riding Hood"
Photo: Warner Bros.

Mythical folklore. Catherine Hardwicke. A steamy, young love triangle involving a pretty girl and two cute guys, one of whom may be a wolf.

There was no doubt that when the formula used to create the revamped fairy tale "Red Riding Hood" was revealed, "Twilight" comparisons were bound to be made. It's a roadblock that Amanda Seyfried, who plays the film's scarlet-caped protagonist, is entirely aware of.

MTV News caught up with Seyfried to discuss the film, which opens in theaters this Friday, and why moviegoers shouldn't go in expecting another "Twilight."

"It's a bummer that that's what's happening," Seyfried said of the inevitable "Twilight" association. The 25-year-old actress, who admitted she doesn't like when "an audience has [certain] expectations," recognized that a lot of it certainly has to do with "Red Riding Hood" director Catherine Hardwicke, who was at the helm of the first "Twilight Saga" movie. "That's her movie," Seyfried acknowledged.

Adding even more fuel to the "Twilight" fire is Seyfried's "Red Riding Hood" co-star Billy Burke, who plays her father in the film and who is known to Twi-hards as Bella Swan's dad. "Can't forget about that," she said with a smile, regarding Burke's involvement with both projects.

Still, she and her castmates, including her onscreen love interests Max Irons and Shiloh Fernandez, couldn't help but poke fun at the situation on set. "We'd make jokes about [Hardwicke] calling us Kristen [Stewart] and Rob [Pattinson] and Taylor [Lautner]," Seyfried told MTV. Interestingly enough, Fernandez was one of the actors originally considered for the role of brooding vampire Edward Cullen in "Twilight."

But Seyfried remains adamant about audiences being able to distinguish the difference between this film and the "Twilight Saga." "Red Riding Hood" is a new take on the classic fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood" that follows a young woman named Valerie, who is torn between choosing from two men, all while her small village is terrorized by a mysterious wolf.

"Yeah, I mean it does surround a girl coming of age in a love triangle, but that's a lot of movies," Seyfried said. "The truth is, it's an entirely different story.

"I think audiences are going to be really surprised when they end up seeing this movie because ... there's so many elements and there's so much going on," she assured, giving her own synopsis of the PG-13 chiller: "It's a murder mystery as well as a coming-of-age movie, and there's a lot of tension and it's scary. All those elements combine to be thrilling, I think."

Do you think "Red Riding Hood" will be able to set itself apart from "Twilight"? Tell us in the comments.

Check out everything we've got on "Red Riding Hood."

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

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Jay Electronica Drops Cryptic Album Update Via Video

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 12:21 AM PST

In new clip, MC announces aboard a plane, 'Love is the only thing that can save us all,' before landing in South Africa.
By Alvin Blanco


Jay Electronica
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

Jay Electronica is still working on his own timetable.

The enigmatic, lyrically gifted MC signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation last November, but besides a couple of songs ("The Announcement" and "Shiny Suit Theory") and a Mountain Dew commercial, little has been heard from Jay Electronica.

But this week, fans got a glimpse at what he's been up to and a preview of what's in store for his debut album thanks to a video the Internet-savvy artist uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday, titled "The Making of Act II."

The clip begins with footage of Jay aboard an airplane announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, love is the only thing that can save us all," to the seated passengers. More footage then reveals that Electronica is on the way to and has arrived in South Africa, where he has been recording his Roc Nation debut.

Electronica isn't actually seen in the video very much at all. Instead, it focuses on singer LaTonya Givens (also known as Tone Trezure) recording soulful vocals over a lush, guitar-driven instrumental. "I'm just blessed to be chosen to be a part of this amazing movement that's about to go down," Givens says at the video's conclusion. Also seen are the Bullitts, a U.K. band helmed by producer Jeymes Samuel (the Gorillaz, KT Tunstall) that Electronica has also worked with in the past.

To say that Electronica's project is highly anticipated is an understatement. After building a deafening Internet buzz that was only bolstered by the late-2009, Just Blaze-produced heater "Exhibit C," Jay-Z signed him to Roc Nation, saying Electronica would "reintroduce magic to hip-hop."

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Britney Spears Talks Madonna, Plastic Surgery

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:45 AM PST

'When it's time to pull and tuck, I'm sure I will consider it,' the almost-30-year-old singer says.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears is fine with the numerous comparisons that have been made between her and Madonna over the course of her career. After all, she tried to mold herself after the star.

When asked who she tried to emulate when she first started out, Spears answered, "Madonna. No question. She is an amazing entertainer. Besides Madonna, I also admire Sarah Jessica Parker's career and her shoe collection," the singer told Out magazine. (Madonna is also set to have her own Out cover this month when both covers drop on March 29.)

She had equally kind words for her pop contemporaries. What does she think of Lady Gaga? "Unique." What about former pop rival Christina Aguilera? "Truly talented."

Over the course of her career, Spears has recorded a number of songs ranging from the awesome ("Toxic," "Slave 4 U") to the more forgettable ("Email My Heart"), but she has no regrets. "All of my songs are f---ing amazing," she told the magazine.

Spears displayed that same swagger when talking about her latest release. "I think Femme Fatale is my most upbeat and mature album yet. I collaborated with will.i.am. I am a huge fan of Black Eyed Peas, and I have always wanted to work with him. I also worked with a new up-and-coming artist from the L.A. area named Sabi. She raps on a song I love called '(Drop Dead) Beautiful.' "

While she loves all her own tracks, there's one recent radio smash that Spears wishes she had jumped on. Spears said that she would have loved to record Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie."

The magazine also delved a bit further into the singer's personal life. When asked how she would feel if one of her sons turned out to be gay, she replied, "I love my boys no matter what." And when asked if the singer ever crushed on a female celebrity, she responded, "I only have eyes for men." Spears noted that everyone should have the right to marry, including gay people. "I think everyone should be treated equally."

Femme Fatale's release is one of Britney's major milestones for 2011. Another is the singer's 30th birthday, which she doesn't seem very worried about. "I'm excited to be out of my 20s," she said, before sharing that she's not against plastic surgery. "When it's time to pull and tuck, I'm sure I will consider it."

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Chris Brown Says He's In A 'Positive Place'

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 11:18 PM PST

F.A.M.E. singer tells Page Six Magazine, 'You can't walk around mad.'
By Terri Schwartz


Chris Brown
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ Getty Images

Chris Brown opened up about his infamous assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna, and he said he's ready to move past it.

"People are always gonna talk, but I'm in a positive place. I consider myself a grown-ass man," he told Page Six Magazine (in Thursday's New York Post).

Brown, 21, has been dealing with the fallout since his February 2009 attack on Rihanna, but his new album, F.A.M.E. (which stands for "Forgiving All My Enemies"), has been well-received, showing that the public might be ready to forgive him and accept him as an artist.

During the interview, Brown was frank about admitting he was in the wrong for the "mishap," but said he's ready to stop apologizing.

"At the end of the day, if I walk around apologizing to everybody, I'm gonna look like a damn fool," he said.

Brown admitted that he understood why some of his former friends walked away from him after the incident — "You can't blame people for how they want to be portrayed or if they don't want to be associated with somebody who had a particular mishap" — and he said he appreciated the "handful" of people who did stick by him.

At the heart of that support group were his fans, whom he thanks in the interview. Brown said he is ready to move beyond this point in his life and look into the future.

"The last two years, everybody dissed me," Brown said. "But my fans were so dedicated. The way I look at it is, you can't walk around mad, because then you just prove everybody right that you're an angry person."

Are you a fan of Chris Brown? Sound off in the comments below!

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Lil Wayne's Energy Is 'Always Up,' Cory Gunz Says

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:38 AM PST

'Regardless if you're writing a verse for somebody else's album, write it like it's for yours,' MC tells MTV News of what he's learned from Weezy.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Cory Gunz and Lil Wayne on the set of "6 Foot 7 Foot"
Photo: Rahman Dukes/MTV News

Long before Charlie Sheen proclaimed he only had one gear ("Go!"), Lil Wayne proved to be a high-octane performer. From his legendary mixtape run that saw the Cash Money rapper release a yacht-load of free material to his song-stealing cameo on DJ Khaled's posse cut "We Takin' Over," Weezy is powered like an Energizer.

It's a lesson that isn't lost on his latest protégé, Bronx rapper Cory Gunz, who guests on Lil Wayne's current banger, the rattling "6 Foot 7 Foot."

"All of his performances, whether it's a video or a live performance, his energy is always the same: It's always up," Gunz told MTV News. "If there's anything that I learned from him, it's definitely to put your heart in it. Regardless if you're writing a verse for somebody else's album, write it like it's for yours."

The upstart MC delivered for his part, with a searing verse on "6 Foot 7 Foot," which, if not song-stealing, is definitely close.

"We went straight to the studio, and Tunes [told me], 'I have something for you to hear,' and it went from there," the son of veteran New York rapper Peter Gunz told MTV News late last year. "[Wayne said], 'We gon' have to attack this.' As soon as I heard it, it was, like, instant. Some beats you hear [or] certain songs you hear in a party ... and they hit you in a certain kind of way, and that's kinda what the beat did. So we sat, and the record is now getting an amazing response. People been messing with the record, so it's dope. I'm happy to be here."

What do you think of Cory's verse on "6 Foot 7 Foot"? Let us know in the comments!

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Daniel Radcliffe Has Acting 'Chops,' Says Co-Star Gary Oldman

Posted: 09 Mar 2011 09:57 AM PST

The elder actor admires Radcliffe's plan to work beyond 'Harry Potter.'
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Daniel Radcliffe and Gary Oldman in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
Photo: Warner Bros.

Daniel Radcliffe and Gary Oldman share a special sort of bond, one forged during the filming of 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and then revisited during the more recent "Deathly Hallows" shoot.

"He's always somebody who — just from being around, I don't know whether it is from some kind of quite pure and childish desire to want to impress him or out of the fact that he just gets something out of me — having him around for some reason on the fifth film was such an amazing thing for me as an actor, and hopefully he'll have that effect again," Radcliffe told us back in the summer of 2009.

And, in turn, the impression Radcliffe left on Oldman lasts to this day and had the elder actor expressing his admiration for the boy wizard when he spoke to MTV News while promoting "Red Riding Hood."

"As the books have got darker and as the books have got more complex, he's in a different league," Oldman said. "Who would have known that Emma [Watson], Rupert [Grint] and Daniel, at 11, would have had the chops to take it through to the end?'

Yet Oldman's respect for Radcliffe extends beyond the "Potter" universe and to his other acting pursuits, like a risky stage play that required him to appear in the nude. "I don't know many 17, 18-year-olds that would have done 'Equus.' And he's now singing and dancing on Broadway. He pops up out of these holes. And he's got f----you money, so he can do what he wants. And [he's] dedicated, takes it very seriously and works very hard."

Oldman said that Radcliffe's turn in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," which officially opens on Broadway in late March, is all part of a plan to challenge himself and successfully vie for roles with other actors on a level, non-"Potter"-assisted playing field.

"When I heard that he was doing the dancing, going into training, he said, 'Look, I am not going to rest on my laurels and come out and think I'm going to get stuff because I was Harry Potter,' " Oldman said. " 'Once "Harry Potter" finishes, I'm in the arena with all those other actors who are going up for the job, who can dance and who can sing, and I have to compete with them.' "

Check out everything we've got on "Red Riding Hood."

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

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Lupe Fiasco Says He's 'Joyous' That Fans Rallied For <i>Lasers</i> Release

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:38 PM PST

'To have my fans support it in a major way feels really good,' rapper tells MTV News.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Photo: MTV News

Six months ago, Lupe Fiasco's Lasers LP was in limbo and in danger of being ignored by his record label. The Chicago rapper and Atlantic Records were at odds over creative and business decisions. But then Lupe's fans mobilized to organize the "Fiasco Friday" protest, resulting in the long-delayed Lasers, Lupe's third album, finally getting a release date, which came earlier this week.

The effort of his fans was not lost on the rapper. "I'm joyous, it's happy times. It's something that's never been done before in hip-hop, to have fans protest for the release of a record," he told MTV News. "That's never been done before, so that milestone in itself is something to be happy about. The other side of it is that it's another Lupe Fiasco record. It always feels good to put new music out there."

With Lasers, the talented lyricist aimed to target a larger audience, as evident by his current single, "The Show Goes On." "For this record, being a more popular record and being the goal of this record from its inception, no matter what changes and phases and label battles that it went through, it was always about, 'Let's take it to another level,' " he told MTV News.

That his devoted fanbase stayed on the board touched the rapper. "Getting a chance to introduce my message and my movement to a wider audience is always a good thing, but at the same time, to have my fans support it in a major way feels really good," he said.

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Dave Matthews Band Announce Festival Details

Posted: 08 Mar 2011 10:11 PM PST

Band will headline four three-day festivals this summer, beginning in Atlantic City in June.
By Aly Semigran


Photo: 2011 Kevin Mazur/ GETTY

For many, the Dave Matthews Band is summer. So, after a 20-year kinship with the band on the road, what exactly would a DMB-less summer look like for devoted fans? Lucky for "Dave heads," they'll no longer have to ponder that prospect.

In 2010 the band announced they would be taking a hiatus from touring in 2011, but in the months that followed, an announcement was made that the multifaceted group — which includes Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard and Boyd Tinsley, as well as Rashawn Ross, Tim Reynolds and Jeff Coffin (who stepped in after the death of founding member LeRoi Moore) — would be headlining a four-stop, multi-act Caravan festival from June to September.

On February 22, members of DMB's fan club, the Warehouse, received a cryptic "save the date" e-mail informing them that from June 24 to June 26 Dave and co. would be in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region and from July 8 to July 10 they'd be in the Midwest. The e-mail also alerted fans that the band would bring the tour out in August and September, but no locations or dates have been listed.

Now fans can start making some concrete plans, as details for the first part of the festival have officially been announced. From June 24 to June 26, the Dave Matthews Band will headline three shows at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In addition to closing sets from the band each evening, as well as an acoustic set featuring Matthews and Reynolds, concertgoers will see scheduled performers David Gray, Ray LaMontagne, the Flaming Lips, O.A.R., Damian Marley, Bassnectar, Dr. Dog, Amos Lee, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Warren Haynes Band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Guster, Lotus, Rebelution, Fitz and the Tantrums, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lisa Hannigan, Punch Brothers, From Good Homes, Delta Spirit, Big Gigantic, Alberta Cross, Mariachi El Bronx, TR3, Vusi Mahlasela, the Budos Band and Bobby Long.

Tickets, which will only be available as three-day passes, go on sale to the general public Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m. However, members of the Warehouse will get the option of making ticket requests from Monday, March 14, to Monday, March 21, and Citi Card members will have access to pre-sale tickets on Monday, March 21.

Will you be attending the Dave Matthews Band's Caravan festival this summer? Tell us in the comments!

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