| Casey Abrams Feels 'Really Good' About His 'American Idol' Exit Posted: 29 Apr 2011 12:10 AM PDT Latest castoff denies dating 'very special musical friend' Haley Reinhart.
By Gil Kaufman 
Casey Abrams
Photo: FOX When Casey Abrams ended up standing next to Jacob Lusk and Scotty McCreery on "American Idol" on Thursday night, he had a feeling the end was nigh. Then, when Lusk was sent to safety, well, that was all she wrote. "Everyone was just so incredible [on Wednesday night]. ... My performance was pretty good, but seeing Jacob kill it and then seeing Haley kill it, seeing Scotty and Lauren kill it and Durbin obviously ... it just made me feel like, 'These guys are incredible. These guys could carry the show. I don't really need to be here, so if I go home tomorrow, I'm prepared,' " he said of the thoughts going through his head after Wednesday night's Carole King performance show. But, facing a deluge of questions about the status of his relationship with frequent duet buddy (and reported offscreen paramour) Haley Reinhart during a call with reporters on Friday morning (April 29), Abrams made sure to clear up the most important bit of business about the rest of his career first, saying that the moment the two shared at the end of his final performance on Thursday night was unplanned and not a sign of anything other than good times. "I was saying goodbye to my very special musical friend," he explained of their eye-lock, emphasizing that they are not, and never were, a couple. Abrams said he was "feeling really good, actually" about things on Friday morning and that he never really got too upset about the results. "I felt really good even afterwards. Maybe I'll break down crying some other time. But right now, I feel really good about what happened last night." In his typical fashion, Abrams went out with a bang, not only having his "Haley moment," but also kissing audience members and the judges and rolling around onstage. "What was going through my mind was just, 'Make this good,' " he said of his jubilant goodbye. "I was completely on random mode. I didn't plan on ending up on Haley; it just happened that way. Nothing was planned." Though we saw him play acoustic and electric bass, piano, guitar and melodica on the show, Abrams revealed that he also dabbles in drums, sitar, accordion, cello and clarinet. When it comes to how he might corral all that prodigious instrumental talent into a live show, he said it would likely bear the title, "Pure Craziness" and encompass everything from hard rock to smooth jazz, much like his first post-"Idol" album. With a number of shaky vocal performances over the course of his tenure on the show, Casey said that, even with his long background in studying and playing music, being on "Idol" has done a lot for his confidence as a performer. "Everything. It's done every single thing," he said. "I used to not like to sing in public, and now I feel like I'm singing a little bit too much. Now I'll sing in the hallways with random people I don't even know. Maybe that's a bad thing, but I just feel a lot more comfortable onstage, and I feel like I can do anything onstage now." Although the judges and mentor Jimmy Iovine had warned Casey to dial back the growling and scowling after his take on Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the singer had fallen back into his old ways in recent weeks, begging the question of whether he was purposely ignoring their counsel. "It is kind of how I sing when I don't think about it," he explained. "I think that's a good place to be when you don't think about how you sing. ... It's a gray area. It's hard to define what's a good growl and what's a bad growl." Like other contestants who have benefited from the judges' save in the past, Abrams said he felt the pressure of having the panel bail him out and dedicated himself to working even harder because it would have been "really embarrassing" to go home the very next week. That said, Abrams admitted he never expected to get as far as he did, or win, and feels pretty great about making it to the top six. Asked for his final thoughts, Abrams said simply, "Don't take yourself too seriously. Take music seriously, but not yourself." Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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. Related Videos Related Photos |
| B.o.B Says His Odd Future Dis Song Wasn't 'That Serious' Posted: 29 Apr 2011 12:42 AM PDT 'You feel flattered,' B.o.B tells Sway about Tyler, the Creator's lyrical swipe.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway 
B.o.B
Photo: MTV News It isn't all #1 singles and catchy melodies with B.o.B; sometimes the Atlanta MC just wants to rap! After being called out by Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator on his breakout single "Yonkers," Bobby Ray was motivated to get in the booth and fire back. "I remember when I made that, I was in my basement," the Grammy-nominated rapper told Sway. "I was like, 'You know what, man? I just wanna rap.' So I just threw together a beat and we just leaked it and put it out there." On "Yonkers," Tyler raps, "I'll crash that f---ing airplane that that f----t n---a Bob is in/ And stab Bruno Mars in his goddamn esophagus." The ATL MC fired back on the OFWGKTA dis song "No Future" in late March. "Keep f---ing with me, you ain't gon' have no future," B.o.B rapped. Tyler addressed the track via Twitter: "I don't think the 'No Future' song is even a diss. But I've never heard him spit like that. Took me by surprise, cus it's tight." B.o.B also downplayed the beef. "You feel flattered. I didn't take it as a dis at all. I think in the hip-hop world, the more that we accept competition ... " Bob told Sway before coming to his point. "Listen, you cannot accept competition and still be competitive. "It's when you lose, when you're on the losing end, that's when it gets serious and escalated," he said. "But I think it wasn't really anything that serious." What did you think of Tyler's song and B.o.B's response? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists |
| Bad Meets Evil Producers Tease 'Top-Secret' Eminem/ Royce Da 5'9" EP Posted: 29 Apr 2011 04:46 AM PDT 'The album is dope. That's all I can tell you about it,' Denaun Porter tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman 
Eminem and Royce Da 5' 9"
Photo: Courtesy of Tim Westwood Behind the Beats: Denaun Porter, Havoc, DJ Khalil and Bangladesh
Eminem is looking to thrill hip-hop fans once again. Earlier this week, it was announced that Shady Records will release a joint EP featuring Em himself and fellow Detroit lyricist Royce Da 5'9", under the group moniker Bad Meets Evil. But fans aren't the only ones excited about the upcoming project. Producers Denaun Porter, Mobb Deep's Havoc, DJ Khalil and Bangladesh have all been tapped to provide beats for the project and seem to be pretty pumped for the final product, which is set to drop June 14. "The album is dope. That's all I can tell you about it," said Porter when Mixtape Daily caught up with him at his Detroit studio. (Big Mixtape shout-out to photographer Patrick Daly.) The idea for a Bad Meets Evil EP first came about while Porter and Royce were working on Royce's solo album. "We had one song and it turned into, 'Yo, what do you think about getting Em on this record?' " Denuan recalled. Soon, Royce and Em were bouncing ideas back and forth, and more producers were eventually brought into the fold. Havoc, who also worked on Eminem's Recovery, submitted a number of tracks to the Shady camp, but initially had no idea what Em and Royce were cooking up. "A couple of months ago I got hit up and they told me that they're using another track for some future project," he said. "So I found out along with everybody else what it was actually for, because they like to keep things top-secret." West Coast beatsmith DJ Khalil has been a longtime fan of the Bad Meets Evil duo and has fond memories of buying Em and Royce's first collaborative 1999 single, "Nothin' to Do." "I remember buying the 12-inch back in the day when I was DJ'in'," he said. "It's like a classic; I still have the vinyl." Bangladesh, like Havoc, didn't learn that he was going to be on the EP until recently. "I ain't know that [Eminem] even had this beat, I didn't even know he liked the beat. I ain't know I was gonna be on this EP until probably like two weeks ago." The producers couldn't say much in terms of song detail, but Bangladesh did confirm that his track has a vocal sample in the hook, while Havoc said his beat has an eerie feel and sounds like, "You're going down a dark hall with a whole bunch of monks just screamin' at you." Denuan, an original member of D12 and a longtime friend and collaborator of both Em and Royce, is perhaps the most thrilled about the upcoming Bad Meets Evil project. "I was happy to see it because I thought the songs that they did back in the day was dope." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Thor' Star Chris Hemsworth Says There's 'Tension' In 'Avengers' Posted: 29 Apr 2011 05:10 AM PDT 'You've got big egos on these superheroes,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz 
Chris Hemsworth
Photo: MTV News All of MTV News' recent interactions with Chris Hemsworth, a.k.a. the man about to grace movie screens as the God of Thunder in "Thor," have naturally been very focused on the highly anticipated film and all the nerdy details that come with portraying a comic book superhero. We love everything "Thor," of course, but since the Norseman will also be appearing in the possibly even more anticipated and mysterious "Avengers" movie, we can't help but pester everyone in the high-profile cast about the film, which just started production. So when we caught up with Hemsworth recently to expand on our ever-growing database of "Thor" information, we prodded the Aussie for some "Avengers" details. Although he couldn't give us much, he seemed excited that his onscreen brother Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) will be joining him on set, as well as the potential for a superhero smackdown. "[It's great] to have my brother there. Even if we don't get along," Hemsworth joked. "[Hiddleston] is fantastic. [He gave] an incredible, incredible performance in the film, and he's going to do the same in this one." With regard to how all those superheroes will be interacting, particularly Tony Stark, Hemsworth said the environment will be tense. "There's certainly some tension. You've got big egos on these superheroes," he said. "None of them want to be told what to do or form an alliance with these people who they don't understand anything about," he said. "In the comic books, you see that it's not an easy mix; that's definitely in [the movie]." When asked if we'll see the ensemble cast (Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Hemsworth and Hiddleston) come to blows, Hemsworth surprised us with an answer in the affirmative. "Well, you'd want it, wouldn't you? Otherwise, why are we all there? I think it would be safe to say you can expect something like that," he said. Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Andy Samberg Has MTV Movie Awards Hosting Tips For Jason Sudeikis Posted: 29 Apr 2011 02:59 AM PDT 'Make sure 'Twilight' wins everything so the crowd is lively,' he tells his 'SNL' castmate before he hosts the June 5 show.
By Eric Ditzian 
Andy Samberg at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Andy Samberg slayed the crowd as host of the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. He shared a naked limo ride with Justin Timberlake, pronounced himself "the best intro-er of people intro-ing things" and lampooned action movies in a hilarious video in which he crooned, ''Cool guys don't look at explosions. They blow things up and then walk away.'' The "Saturday Night Live" star, in other words, knows a thing or two about hosting the wackiest movie awards show on the planet. And thus, he's got some sage advice for "SNL" castmate Jason Sudeikis, who's taking on emcee duties for this year's show, airing live on June 5 — not that he thinks Sudeikis needs much help. "What advice can you give to a guy that has it all?" Samberg said when we caught up with him and his Lonely Island pals while they were promoting their upcoming comedy album, Turtleneck & Chain. "Be yourself, grab 'em by the scruff of the neck and don't let go," he went on to advise Sudeikis. "Wear a nice suit. Hydrate. Crunches. Make sure 'Twilight' wins everything so the crowd is lively. Rig the results!" Hmmm, that's one way of doing it. Another way would be to follow the helpful tips of Aziz Ansari, who hosted the Movie Awards last year. "It's so much work, so definitely have a lot of uppers on hand, like just drugs that'll get you fired up," he joked to us recently. "PCP is good to stay up all night, get all the work done. It's a cool thing, though; it's back in vogue. It's like Twitter, PCP. It's like trendy things: Twitter, PCP, Jonas Brothers." The MTV Movie Awards nominees — based on your votes at MovieAwards.MTV.com — will be announced Tuesday, at which point you'll be able to vote for your favorite films and stars in categories like Best Fight, Best Kiss, Biggest Badass Star, Best Villain and, of course, Best Movie. Voting will continue through June 4, though Best Movie will remain open throughout the live ceremony on June 5 — meaning you'll have a chance to affect the night's biggest prize until the very last minute. The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Paul Walker Says Brazilian People Were 'Excited' To Host 'Fast Five' Posted: 29 Apr 2011 04:31 AM PDT 'I love to travel, and that's one of those places that, on my own, I would have never have ventured,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner 
Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in "Fast Five"
Photo: Universal Pictures For those heading to the theaters this weekend to see the action-packed, souped-up-car-gasmic "Fast Five," there are only a few things you should know going in: The cast is teeming with members from all four previous films (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris are all back) and the movie was filmed all over the world, including in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Georgia and California, but mainly in and around the illustrious city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — including the storied and dangerous favela districts. When MTV News caught up with Walker, we asked him how the crew managed to get clearance to film in such tough areas. "That's the best part about the job, is we have a VIP card," Walker said of the production's exempt status. "For most people, especially the tourists, the favela is off limits, but we got permission basically from the drug lords to come up there and film," he revealed. "We got cops with us, but everyone knows the reason we're there isn't because the cops said, 'Go ahead and come up and in'; it's the cooperation with the drug lords." Walker said he hung out with people from the area, as did the film crew, and everyone had a great time during the shoot. "That's one of the best aspects of my job. I'm up there hanging out, and the people are friendly and I don't have anything to worry about. People are just excited we're there," he said. "I love to travel, and that's one of those places that, on my own, I would have never have ventured, but because we're here doing this, it made it all possible." Check out everything we've got on "Fast Five." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| Bangladesh Says He's Good With Lil Wayne And Young Money/ Cash Money Posted: 29 Apr 2011 04:46 AM PDT Boardsmith says that, despite minor frustration, he has a great relationship with Wayne. 
Lil Wayne
Photo: Jeff Gentner/ Getty Images |
| Slaughterhouse Are Working 'Slowly And Surely' On Album Posted: 29 Apr 2011 03:36 AM PDT 'We're about seven or eight songs in,' Royce Da 5'9" tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman 
Slaughterhouse's Crooked I and Royce Da 5'9"
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage Though Royce Da 5'9" is busy putting the finishing touches on his Bad Meets Evil EP with Eminem, the Detroit MC says that his upcoming group album with Slaughterhouse is still a priority. "It's just something to set up Slaughterhouse anyway," Royce told MTV News about the Bad Meets Evil project. "That's our main focus right now, is Slaughterhouse and then we got Yelawolf. We're just trying to start a movement." The group, which consists of Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Crooked I and, of course, Royce, first formed in 2008 after appearing on a Budden track together. In 2009, the rap quartet dropped their self-titled debut album independently on E1 (formerly Koch) then signed to Eminem's Shady Records in December 2010. Since the high-profile signing, fans of the group have been awaiting their second LP, Monster. Royce assures that Slaughterhouse is hard at work, although news broke this week that he and Eminem will be dropping a joint EP in June. "Yeah, we're working on it slowly but surely, slowly and surely," he said of the Slaughterhouse. "They're coming here [to Detroit] for seven days starting on the 12th of May. We did the last album in six days, so sky's the limit on how much we gonna get recorded while they're here." Royce also revealed that he and the crew already have a number of tracks recorded. "We're about seven or eight songs in. Just cutting randoms, just to see where we are at." As of now, no release date has been set for Slaughterhouse's Monster. Are you looking forward to the next Slaughterhouse album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Prom' Stars Suggest 'Elaborate' Ways To Get A Date For The Dance Posted: 29 Apr 2011 03:36 AM PDT 'I like it where people ask in a way where it's unique to that person you're asking,' Kylie Bunbury tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner 
Kylie Bunbury and De'Vaughn Nixon
Photo: MTV News For those who are in high school, or maybe work at one, the release of Disney's sweet and wholesome "Prom" movie kicks off that heavily hyped season of dress shopping, date anxiety and general excitement that surrounds one of America's most storied traditions. When MTV News caught up with the film's stars, we asked them to discuss the challenging task of asking someone to prom and what should be done in order to get a prospective date to say "yes." "An elaborate way," Janelle Ortiz said. "I think it has to be an elaborate way, because you're going to remember prom for the rest of your life." "It's got to be creative," Joe Adler added. "Throw some effort on it." "Exactly, you don't want it to be some stupid little flower: Go big or go home," Ortiz said. "I like it where people ask in a way where it's unique to that person you're asking," Kylie Bunbury explained. "One of my friends, she was a softball player, and the boy wrote 'prom' on softballs and wrapped them around her car or something like that." "[I like] the way his character asks my character," Yin Chang told us of co-star Jared Kusnitz, who plays Chang's long-term boyfriend in the film. "He got big posters of each letter and had a little speech for each letter." "At the end of my speech, a spotlight shines down, and I'm holding a question mark," Kusnitz continued. "Very simple. Silence says it all." "I think just be creative," Danielle Campbell advised, reiterating the thoughts addressed by her co-stars. "Know the girl you're asking. There are a lot of cool ways people ask in the movie. You can definitely steal an idea from there or create your own. We probably raise the standards with the movie," she said. "Be creative, and hopefully she'll say yes." Check out everything we've got on "Prom." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| DJ Khaled Talks 'Welcome to My Hood' Remix Video Posted: 29 Apr 2011 04:16 AM PDT 'It's the whole hip-hop game on one record,' DJ Khaled tells MTV News of the star-studded clip.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Rahman Dukes 
DJ Khaled
Photo: MTV News DJ Khaled wants nothing less than the best and for his latest video he assembled hip-hop's finest. T-Pain, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Mavado, Twista, Birdman, Ace Hood, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Bun B and Waka Flocka Flame all appear alongside Khaled in his "Welcome to My Hood (Remix)" clip. (Game is also featured on the track, though he doesn't turn up in the vid.) In an exclusive interview with MTV News, Khaled explained the video's simple-yet-effective concept. "We're tryin' [to] kinda do it like a cipher, but sorta with more real dramatic shots [and] camera tricks," the charismatic DJ said. "It's the whole hip-hop game on one record." According to Khaled, the remix, which will appear on his upcoming Cash Money album, We the Best Forever, is one of many all-star collaborations on the LP. "I definitely worked with the usual suspects, the team: Ross, Ace, Wayne, Jeezy, Birdman, Joe. Expect the team always," he said. "But I've worked with a lot of people that I haven't worked with that I've been trying to work with for years and have been fans of for years, and they're on the album. "I got a trick up my sleeve," the DJ teased. "Every song on the album is like a single. I was talkin' to Birdman and he's gonna give me the opportunity to put 'em all out." As always, an expert self-promoter, Khaled was brimming with confidence. "I'mma own the summer, spring, winter, fall, all of that. So we're gonna keep making these hits." We the Best Forever drops June 28. What do you think of the "Welcome to My Hood (Remix)" video? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Vanessa Hudgens 'Fell In Love' With 'Moulin Rouge' Posted: 29 Apr 2011 01:51 AM PDT MTV News will revisit Baz Luhrmann's 2001 movie musical Monday.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner 
Vanessa Hudgens
Photo: MTV News Vanessa Hudgens knows the power of the movie musical. She starred in two uber-successful "High School Musical" movies and played Mimi in "Rent." So, if anyone can speak to the undeniable influence of Baz Luhrmann's 2001 movie musical masterpiece, "Moulin Rouge," it's her. "Oh my goodness! It was just a beautiful, very specific look that I feel like everybody could completely submerge themselves into," she told MTV News about the film before Monday's upcoming "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event." "And it was fun, and it was thrilling, and your heart just went out for these characters. I fell in love with the movie, and I have not stopped watching it since." Hudgens' "Sucker Punch" co-star Jena Malone immediately drew comparisons between "Moulin Rouge" and their equally fantastical flick, thanks to their musical scores. "It's an interesting segue because Marius [de Vries] also did the music for 'Moulin Rouge' and he did the music for 'Sucker Punch,' and he does such crazy abstractions," she said. "I mean, Baz Luhrmann's incredible." MTV News will reunite Luhrmann, and the movie's stars, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, on Monday at 3 p.m. ET on MTV.com. The director and actors will be joined by co-star John Leguizamo, who played artist Toulouse-Lautrec, and Catherine Martin, who won the Oscar for costume design and art direction. Hosted by MTV News' Josh Horowitz, the live stream will include special appearances and live interviews while looking back at how the film came to be and how its legacy continues to grow. Don't miss "Moulin Rouge at 10: A Spectacular Spectacular MTV News Event" on Monday at 3 p.m. ET on MTV.com! Get in the conversation by tweeting @MTVNews with the hashtag #AskMoulin. Related Artists |
| Kenneth Branagh Talks 'Thor,' Sequels And The Marvel Movie-Verse Posted: 29 Apr 2011 03:28 AM PDT 'They definitely were aware and for the idea that every movie has to work on its own right,' director tells MTV News of Marvel films.
By Rick Marshall 
Kenneth Branagh
Photo: MTV News "Thor" thunders into theaters next week, adding yet another chapter to Marvel Studios' big-screen universe and bringing audiences that much closer to next year's superhero team-up extravaganza, "The Avengers." As part of this year's Summer Movie Preview Week, MTV News spoke to "Thor" director Kenneth Branagh about taking on Marvel's hammer-wielding hero and the daunting task of integrating the god of thunder into the same world occupied by Iron Man, Hulk and — in a few months — "The First Avenger" himself, Captain America. MTV News: So let's go back to the very early days of this project. Everyone was surprised — and pleasantly so — when your name was first announced as "Thor" director. Why did you take the job? Why did this project appeal to you? Kenneth Branagh: I suppose it was partly that I wanted to surprise myself. I was happy to surprise a few other people. It's nice to challenge your own sense of what you think you might be able to do and other people's preconceptions. I thought that it was a total breath of fresh air, and the freshness about the whole adventure was something I'd enjoy very much. But you can't do it for just those reasons. I was drawn to the character and the story and the understanding that it would happen on an epic scale. The size of it, and the chance to tell a big — and hopefully popular — movie on a large scale was just such a very, very exciting possibility. MTV News: Much like Iron Man was in 2008, Thor isn't all that well-known prior to his big-screen debut. One would think that this, along with his magical, godlike powers and origin story, makes the character an even harder sell for mainstream movie audiences. How did you approach that challenge? Branagh: There's no question that everybody at Marvel felt that way, and I would have to agree with them. Although, nearly 50 years of Thor comics say there's a real fanbase for the character out there, and he's interacted with the other members of the Avengers in the comics many times. But there are many challenges to laying out a Thor origin story and letting it interconnect with the rest of the Marvel universe, which I, as a cinema viewer, am very intrigued by and enjoy. The happy coincidence was that I was certain that a large part of the movie should take part on Earth. For me, the story being partly on Earth was absolutely crucial, regardless of whether it had to fit into any other kind of movie, in order to maximize a number of things — chiefly, the humor. In the two or three months while we were talking about whether we want to make the same type of picture, that was one of the key conversations, and thank god we agreed. MTV News: When we spoke with the "Captain America" writers, they mentioned that the central story came first, and then there was a point when they went back over the narrative and added references to the greater Marvel movie universe where appropriate. Was that the same for "Thor"? How did you handle the need to connect "Thor" with the other Marvel movies? Branagh: Some of that was planned upfront, but to be honest, I never had to think about it too much myself, because my job and my value to the project was to keep the Thor story front and center. The rest would just organically start falling together. Sometimes it would be a case — particularly with names and things — where one could do a little blending in various places that would intersect. ... But I have to say that at no point did I feel like I had to try and guess where I was fitting into in some great Marvel wall chart of all of this. They definitely were aware and for the idea that every movie has to work on its own right — and not to assume anything — and once it's feeling secure and tight, we can have the fun stuff sprinkled throughout, and hopefully it will add some value. MTV News: Well, the cat's out of the bag as far as Jeremy Renner's debut as Hawkeye in "Thor," so what else can you tell us about working with him and that character's role in Thor's universe? Branagh: I'm not able to divulge anything in great detail, but the time I did spend with him was excellent. He's prepared, smart, very detailed, and what he's going to bring is something extremely interesting. He's an unusually big fan of the comics and knows the character well. There's likely to be a very, very interesting development from one film to the next with that character. MTV News: There have been some rumors of a sequel in the works, and though nothing's official at this point, is this a world you'd like to return to down the road? Branagh: I'm still so in the midst of the "Thor" experience that it's impossible to see anything other than simply finishing the delivery of it. We've been going around the world and getting fantastic reactions, and the thing I've been so pleased with is the number of people who have been surprised with how much they enjoyed the movie -- because it wasnt' necessarily what they expected or wasn't a character they knew. I'm also thrilled about the consistent delight in the humor of the film, and necessarily and sort of triumphantly, the emergence of Chris Hemsworth as a really significant actor here in the role of Thor. So all of those things are hugely exciting, but we only just opened in Australia, and we're opening in the UK as we speak, but given this is where we made it and where the comics come from, it's going to be phenomenally important how we do here in the U.S. So, being the Irish superstitious man that I am, I'm not going to even think about "Thor 2" until -- and if -- we are lucky enough to have the right kind of audience for "Thor 1." Head over to MTV Splash Page for more from Kenneth Branagh on how Thor changed from comic book to screen, which scene "Avengers" director Joss Whedon was involved in and more from our "Thor" interview! It's Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated films of the coming months. Get ready to gorge on inside looks at "Captain America," "The Hangover Part II," "X-Men: First Class," "Cowboys & Aliens" and more. Check out everything we've got on "Thor." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lil Wayne's '6 Foot, 7 Foot' Producer Bangladesh Says He Hasn't Been Compensated Posted: 28 Apr 2011 10:21 PM PDT 'I f--- with Wayne, man; I had the opportunity to give him more music,' Bangladesh says.
By Rob Markman 
Bangladesh
Photo: MTV News Lil Wayne is still riding high with his Tha Carter IV jump-off single "6 Foot, 7 Foot," but the track's producer Bangladesh — not so much. Bang, who was also the maestro behind Wayne's 2008 hit "A Milli" cried foul after he wasn't properly paid for that Tha Carter III banger. And though the producer went in to craft "6 Foot, 7 Foot," he is now claiming that he hasn't been properly been compensated for that track either. "I f--- with Wayne, man; I had the opportunity to give him more music," Bangladesh told MTV News this week. "It's just hard to do. It's just hard to keep working for free." In regards to "6 Foot, 7 Foot," Bangladesh claims to have waived the upfront fee that he usually charges artists, just so he could have the opportunity to work with Tunechi again. "It's not about the money, it's not about me charging him for the beat, because he is Lil Wayne; he's gonna sell albums," the producer said. "You only really charge people that you think is not gonna really sell too much, so you want to get your money off top. You might not get it on the back-end because albums don't sell no more." Instead of charging Cash Money for the track, Bangladesh said he struck a deal in which Wayne would do a feature on the beatsmith's long-talked-about debut album. When asked why he hasn't put out the album yet, Bangladesh answered, "It's hard to do when I can't get Wayne features." The producer isn't sure whether the holdup on those features is Wayne himself or the label. "I don't know if it's the people around the situation or it's the actual person," he said. Cash Money had no comment on Bangladesh's complaint. What he does know is that he can't continue to work with Cash Money until things get resolved. "Every time we come up with a solution, it never gets taken care of," Bangladesh said. "I just can't keep really giving them music." Related Artists |
| Audrina Patridge, Ke$ha, Adam Lambert Share Prom Memories Posted: 28 Apr 2011 11:02 PM PDT 'Me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m.,' Ke$ha tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Audrina Patridge
Photo: MTV News It's prom season, and that means high schoolers across this great land will be renting tuxes, buying fancy dresses and negotiating the details of their curfews with parents. So, before you take your pictures and get in your limos, we asked some Hollywood A-listers to recall their fondest prom memories. "I had a great prom," Ne-Yo told MTV News. "I didn't get to go with who I wanted to go with. I got my second choice, but my second choice turned out to be the one I was supposed to be there with, so it turned out good." Ke$ha, never one to say no to a party, had the best night of all her friends. "I went to prom with my gay best friend, and let me tell you, I had way more fun than anybody else at a prom with their boyfriends," she recalled. "Everybody else was, like, crying and drama and breaking up, and me and my gay best friend just danced until 8 a.m." "Hellcats" star Aly Michalka doesn't have a favorite prom memory — because she never went to prom. "I was homeschooled, so I don't even think we had a fake prom," she lamented. "Like, maybe we had a home-school prom and I wasn't invited?" While everything always seems to be in peril on "The Vampire Diaries," star Nina Dobrev had a less tumultuous night: "Having everyone get together and such a final celebration [is what I remember]." Romeo went big for his prom. "My senior prom, I remember I pulled up in my red Ferrari. I was feeling like James Bond," he said. "And it was one of the best nights of my life." "My favorite prom memory was probably going shopping for a dress, and our boyfriends at the time dressed up as 'Dumb & Dumber,' " Audrina Patridge laughed. "And so we were like, 'We can't dress up dorky ... we have to look good.' " Roots drummer ?uestlove made a big decision on the night of his prom: "June 2, 1989, was my very last haircut; prom haircut, totally butchered my hair. He butchered my hair, and I vowed never again to ever get in a barber chair, so I grew that Afro on my prom night." Adam Lambert said his prom date was a 10, so he definitely had a fun night. "I had a great prom. I had an awesome time," he said. "I went with one of my best friends in high school. Her name was Lauren, and she was really hot. She wore a really hot red dress, so I felt like I had arm candy." Share your prom memories in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 30 Seconds To Mars Reveal New Single To Be 'Night Of The Hunter' Posted: 28 Apr 2011 11:33 PM PDT Band broke the news about fan-favorite track during our 30STM 'State of the Union' live stream.
By James Montgomery 
30 Seconds to Mars
Photo: Sohyung Kang/ MTV News During our "State of the Union" live stream on Thursday night, 30 Seconds to Mars spoke at length about their past (Jared Leto's Kurt Cobain fascination), their present (Friday's headlining slot at the Bamboozle Festival) and, of course, their future. And when it came time to discuss that last point, they took the opportunity to break a bit of news: They'd chosen "Night of the Hunter" as the next single off This Is War. And yes, they're very happy about it. Because, ever since they released their album in late 2009, they've been battling to get the song heard. "We never thought this would happen, but we think it's going to be our next single in the States. There's always a song that fans latch onto, that the real music-lovers and the listeners [latch onto]," 30STM frontman Jared Leto told MTV News. "And this is the one, early on ... when we asked, 'What do you think should be a single?' [fans] always mention this, but people didn't quite think that this was the one at the time — some of the people at the record company or at radio stations — but they've warmed up to it, and now it's really fun to have a song that's eclectic and different to be a single." In short, it's the kind of song a band has to earn the right to release. And 30STM have certainly done that. So now, their favorite track — Leto said it "encapsulates everything about 30 Seconds to Mars that we are interested in, musically" — is set to be released to radio ... with an appropriately epic video, of course. "I would love to make a video for 'Night of the Hunter,' because I think it's one of the most cinematic songs on the record; when we play it live onstage, it always evokes imagery to me," Leto said. "The song really grew from ... my brother and I were born in Louisiana, we had a single mom ... who, at the time, was a high school dropout living in the South, [so we] really didn't have very much in terms of materialistic things. And although we moved out of the South when we were kids — you know, we joke we kind of climbed out of the muddy banks of the Mississippi River with food stamps in one hand and our instruments in the other — our mother helped carve a new life for us. And I think that song has some spirit of the South in it; some kind of American Gothic feel." Are you glad to hear there will be a video for "Night of the Hunter"? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: Casey Abrams' Last Showmance Posted: 29 Apr 2011 07:40 AM PDT The Carole King songbook results in Abrams' second elimination of the season.
By Jim Cantiello 
Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart
Photo: FOX This week on "American Idol," the top six sang from the Carole King songbook, but the real theme of the night was showmances: Casey and Haley! Lauren and Scotty! Lauren and ... this dude [random audience guy]! Lauren and Steven Tyler! [Clip of Steven Tyler with a little blond toddler on his lap.] Damn, girl, are you trying to audition for "The Real World" or something? But if we're talking musical promiscuity, Casey Abrams was the real "Hi De Ho." Pianos, trumpets, saxes, harmonicas ... The only thing he didn't hook up with was a melody. Sit, Ubu, sit! Good dog. [Footage of Casey screaming plays with the sound of the Ubu "bark" from that '80s sitcom vanity plate.] James Durbin had his best week yet but the brightest star on "Idol" was crazy Penny Marshall. [Jim is in a blond wig and sunglasses]. She is my inspiration. I want to be her friend, I want to be Scotty's friend, and I really want to be Haley's fu-uh-riend, too. Yo, Randy, why don't we "turn the other cheek" to Thursday night's results show, where Jimmy Iovine gave his two cents, and Haley told him where he could shove his two cents! [Clip: Seacrest introduces Crystal Bowersox, but then the camera cuts to a burly male harmonica player.] Whoa, Crystal really let herself go, didn't she? But Arrested Development hasn't aged a bit! [Footage of Bruno Mars and his 45-piece backing band, who were all sitting on a couch.] And results! There's your fake bottom three [the last contestants standing], there's your real bottom three [Lauren, Casey and Jacob sitting on the couch from earlier in the episode]. [Jim holds out a microphone as if he's a sports reporter on the field after the Super Bowl.] Hey, Casey Abrams! You just got cut from "Idol" for the second time. What are you going to do now? [Jim shouts in a Casey voice.] "I'm going to Creepy World!" [Footage of him grabbing girls by the back of the neck and pulling them in for a kiss during his farewell performance.] Ding! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Spy Kids 4' Inspired By Jessica Alba's Diaper Duty, Robert Rodriguez Says Posted: 28 Apr 2011 11:26 PM PDT 'She gets to show the actual trials of dealing with a baby while having a career,' director tells MTV News.
By Eric Ditzian 
Jessica Alba in "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World"
Photo: Rico Torres/ Dimension Films Over the course of MTV News' Summer Movie Preview Week, we've featured popcorn superhero flicks ("Captain America" and "Green Lantern"), hard-R comedies ("Bad Teacher" and "30 Minutes or Less"), rebooted franchises from the past ("Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Conan the Barbarian") and much more. But we haven't yet focused on movies aimed at kids. All that changes on Friday (April 29). We'll be rolling out an exclusive clip from "Kung Fu Panda 2" this afternoon, and right now, we're bringing you an exclusive chat with Robert Rodriguez, the writer/director of "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World," the first film in the series since 2003. The new movie introduces new characters — including Jessica Alba as a spy mom — but also stays true to the original mythology and integrates familiar faces from earlier installments. In this way, Rodriguez told us, "Spy Kids 4" is not so much a reboot as a sequel with fresh talent. In a wide-ranging conversation, he laid out extensive plot details, explained why these films continue to be appealing a decade after they were first introduced and the surprising (and kind of gross) inspiration that led to the movie, which hits theaters in 3-D on August 19. MTV News: It doesn't matter if you're doing something like "Machete" or a "Spy Kids" movie, you've always got some tricks up your sleeve. How are you going to wow us with "Spy Kids 4"? Robert Rodriguez: Man, I can't say everything just yet! There are going to be some things you'll see and go, "Hey, why didn't he tell me that?" You know, we did three of these movies, and then stopped because the kids were getting older. But families still come up to me and say they're watching them, so 10 years later, it felt right to do another one. I got the idea when I was making "Machete" and Jessica came over to my house for lunch with the kids, and she was bringing her daughter out of the backseat. But her diaper had exploded and the kid had made a huge mess and just seeing Jessica dressed up, so beautiful and glamorous, but having to deal with this baby with an exploded diaper, I just thought, "I'd love to see her as a spy mom." I wrote it around her and figured she'd have two new stepkids who don't think their mom is cool, but she's really a spy and their dad plays a spy hunter on a TV show and doesn't know his wife is a spy. There's a robot dog and a spy baby and a new villain, played by Jeremy Piven. And I was looking at my own kids and how quickly time is going by and how you wish you could freeze a moment, so the villain is the Timekeeper, and he is taking time from people and the world is getting faster. MTV News: Amazing! All of this, born from one dirty diaper. Rodriguez: That's the thing. Sometimes storytelling is very visual and it inspires you. Then you build and you build, and suddenly you have a movie you're excited to make. You forget it's the fourth one. Oh, and the original spy kids show up, and they're in their 20s. They're the older spies who are trying to reopen the spy agency, which got shut down because of budgetary reasons. Jessica plays Antonio Banderas' younger sister, so she's still part of the original family. She's the aunt of the original spies. It's not really a reboot, so much as a sequel with new kids. And the Timekeeper, he takes time away from you if you're not spending it with your family, because of a personal thing he went through. It's a pretty cool villain plot, because he's not really a villain. And Jessica is so awesome as the spy mom. MTV News: Yeah, we just saw that first picture of her with the baby strapped to her chest, but she's still wearing her badass spy gear. Rodriguez: Yeah, the badass spy gear! The opening scene is a flashback where she's about to give birth to the baby. The day she quit being a spy was the day she gave birth, so she's on her last mission, nine months pregnant, on her way to the hospital and still catching the bad guy. So she's repelling, sliding across the cars. Anyone who's been pregnant will tell you: "You're not supposed to do that!" MTV News: We haven't really seen Jessica in a mature role like this, playing a mom. Did you have a sense that she wanted to take that next step in her career? Rodriguez: Yeah, I think she liked the idea, because she got married young and had the baby young, so she was dealing with the whole baby situation when we had this idea. We thought it would be a perfect way to deal with what her life is really like, except in this, she's an ass-kicking badass. She gets to show the actual trials of dealing with a baby while having a career. MTV News: Being that there's a connection between her situation and her character's, did she help build this character and pitch in ideas? Rodriguez: Completely. She's very collaborative. She said, "I really want to be funny. I should do this, I should do that. I think when I'm with the kids, this is the kind of game I'd play with them." She really brought a lot to the table. She knows children and what would come off best for the character. MTV News: You've got a lot of funny actors in this one, like Joel McHale. Rodriguez: Joel McHale, he's awesome! He really is a scene-stealer. He brings you ad libs. Even if it's written, you look at the script and go, "Oh, he just made it sound funnier." Sometimes I'd tell him just the concept of the scene, and he'd ad lib 30 things and they're all funny. The hard part is figuring out which one to use. MTV News: Do you see this as the start of a whole new trilogy? Rodriguez: We'll see what happens with number four. I know they want to make more of them. The reason these movies do well is that there's not many live-action films that are very empowering to children. Parents could never understand it, but that's why Power Rangers are so popular — because there are kids beneath those suits. Kids like and support anything that empowers and supports them. It's a powerful idea to know you can be a kid but also a spy and you can strap on a jetpack and fly around the world and not have to have your mom drive you to the mall. It's Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated films of the coming months. Get ready to gorge on inside looks at "Captain America," "The Hangover Part II," "X-Men: First Class," "Cowboys & Aliens" and more. Check out everything we've got on "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| My Chemical Romance's 'Sing' Is 'Propaganda,' Glenn Beck Says Posted: 29 Apr 2011 09:11 AM PDT Fox News pundit singled out the song, performed on 'Glee' in February, during his broadcast Thursday.
By James Montgomery 
My Chemical Romances' Gerard Way and Glenn Beck
Photo: Getty Images Having apparently run out of things to terrify your parents (and your aunt in Arizona) with, conservative radio host/Fox News pundit Glenn Beck is now turning his attention to My Chemical Romance and their song "Sing," which he describes as "propaganda." During Thursday's broadcast of his self-titled daily Fox News show, Beck — who in the past has vilified everyone from Barack Obama to "reform rabbis" — launched into an attack that was, at first, about the content of the TV show "Glee" (which he admitted he watched in "stunned horror and admiring awe"), but then quickly segued into a dissection of "Sing's" lyrics, which Beck read aloud with fervent terror. "Pay attention to the lyrics," he cautioned. "This is propaganda ... it's an anthem saying 'Join us.' How can you and I possibly win against that?" Beck was bringing up "Sing's" lyrics (which he attributed to "Chemical Romance") because, as he warned his viewers, our children "are not tethered to anything" and parents "have to be über vigilant" about the shows they watch, since "our whole culture right now is set up for you and the values you grew up on to lose." "You don't have to live by the standards that society has set," he said. "You know what is right." "Sing" was performed on an episode of "Glee" back in February, and My Chemical Romance has since reissued the song to raise money for the Red Cross' ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan, in part because, as they told MTV News last week, they noticed their fans had begun using the lyrics to send messages of hope to the nation. "We talked about something that we could do, and at first we were thinking about writing a new song to raise money for charity," MCR guitarist Ray Toro said. "And on Twitter, something we had seen was #SINGitforjapan, and it was kids starting this Twitter feed, writing messages of hope. And that really inspired us, and we just set to work, and after a couple weeks, we were able to pull this thing together." A spokesperson for the band did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on Beck's statements, but in a tweet Thursday, Toro wrote simply, "Mission accomplished," and included a link to Beck's segment on the song. Guitarist Frank Iero was less polite, tweeting, "Yay! F--- that dude's face with Obama's birth certificate." Related Artists |
| Victoria Beckham, Miley Cyrus Tweet About Royal Wedding Posted: 28 Apr 2011 10:52 PM PDT Celebrities send well-wishes to Prince William and Kate Middleton.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Prince William and Kate Middleton
Photo: Getty Images The world has royal wedding fever. On Friday morning (April 29), Prince William and Catherine (Kate) Middleton tied the knot with millions of eyes on them. And, immediately, Hollywood began reacting to the lavish nuptials on Twitter. Victoria Beckham, one of the wedding's guests, even put her two cents in, giving fans an inside view of the fairytale-like ceremony. "London looks beautiful!!!" she shared. "We are so proud to be British! X VB x." The pregnant singer attended the wedding in a loose-fitting navy gown, with a fancy hat atop her head. She was joined by her hubby, David Beckham, who wore a very formal tux. The pair spoke to UsMagazine.com about the wedding. "Today's ceremony was beautiful and heartfelt," he said. "Catherine looked wonderfully elegant, and we were honored to be part of such a special, historical day for our country." They were not the only celebs in attendance, however. Elton John and David Furnish, Guy Ritchie and Joss Stone also managed to snatch an invite. MTV's very own DJ Pauly D joked that he would be providing the beats at the wedding, tweeting, "Djin The #RoyalWedding !!!!#DJPaulyDSwagg #londonSwagg." Some celebs who didn't make the guest list decided to send the couple their well-wishes on Twitter. Miley Cyrus tweeted, "wow wow wow #royalwedding soooo romantic. FLAWLESS. How lucky is Kate? Its every girls dream to be a princess. Harry??? haha jkjk." Katy Perry got into the spirit by painting the monarchy on her nails. She wrote, "In honor of the Royal Wedding, I present you... My royal NAILS! CONGRATS!" Emma Bunton, who met the royal family back in her Spice Girls days, added, "Absolutely beautiful couple!!! They look exquisite!" British pop chanteuse Estelle said, "This is def a marriage for our generation (brits) I feel like they had a chance to do it RIGHT." She added, "Top hats and fascinaters, This wedding was gorgeous. Just. Gorgeous." Share your thoughts on the royal wedding below! Related Photos |
