Jumat, 23 September 2011

MTV News

MTV News

'Jersey Shore' Long-Distance Love 'Sucked,' Snooki Says

Posted: 23 Sep 2011 03:53 AM PDT

But JWoww's man encouraged her to have fun in Italy: 'It was actually the easiest I ever thought it was going to be,' she tells MTV News.
By Christina Garibaldi


Deena and Snooki
Photo: MTV News

Long-distance love isn't always easy to keep alive — just ask Snooki.

While filming the fourth season of "Jersey Shore," the pint-size guidette introduced us to her long-term boyfriend, Jionni. Every week, viewers have listened in on their countless phone conversations, and after much anticipation, Jionni came for a drama-filled visit to Italy on Thursday night's episode.

"It sucked from being with him six months every single day to not being with him, being in another freakin' country and, like, not talking to him. It was really hard," Snooki told MTV News of her overseas love. "It was legit like a long-distance relationship."

Yet, someone who didn't have trouble keeping her relationship strong was JWoww, whose boyfriend Roger (whom we frequently saw in Seaside during season three) just wanted her to have a good time in Florence.

"It was actually the easiest I ever thought it was going to be," JWoww said. "My ex made me feel like I never wanted to go film, so I was kind of dreading that, and Roger was like, 'Dude, I want you to have a blast, go have fun, this is your 20s, you need to go do this. I'm not going to keep you from doing this. I want you to.' Because he traveled Europe in his 20s, so getting over there, it was so easy."

The long-distance relationship with Roger may have been easy for JWoww, but the hard part was not being able to see her dogs. "The only thing I really missed, besides him, were my dogs," JWoww said. "Because I can't be like, 'Hey, what's going,' on the phone with my dogs, but it was a lot easier than I expected."

Don't miss "Jersey Shore" every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! For continuing coverage of "Jersey Shore" be sure to check in with the MTV Remote Control Blog.

'Moneyball' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 23 Sep 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Brad Pitt baseball movie almost didn't happen.
By Eric Ditzian


Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

As far as baseball books go, Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" isn't exactly an obvious candidate for Hollywood's adaptation machine. It's filled with geeky tales about the importance of obscure stats like "wins above replacement," the founding of fantasy sports and the evolution of a guy named Bill James from factory worker to baseball deity.

Yet at the center of the story is the quest of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane to turn his small-market, cash-poor ballclub into a perennial champion. And it's that story that forms the heart of Brad Pitt's "Moneyball," an underdog sports narrative quite at home among its Hollywood antecedents.

It almost didn't happen. But like the 2002 A's, "Moneyball" beat the odds and landed in theaters on Friday (September 23). Here, in cheat-sheet form, is the story of how it all came to pass.

Spring Training
The adaptation came together in late 2008, with Pitt taking on the Beane role, Steve Zaillian ("Schindler's List," "Gangs of New York") signing on to pen the script and "Devil Wears Prada" helmer David Frankel attached to direct. Steven Soderbergh, though, soon stepped into the director's chair (or, at least, he planned to; there'd be more roster shakeups in "Moneyball" land before cameras rolled).

"My clearly stated goal is to set a new standard for realism in that [sports] world," Soderbergh told MTV News in the spring of '09. "I hope it sets a new standard. Hopefully, anybody who makes a sports movie from now on is going to have to grapple with this."

Struggling in the Big Leagues
Production was slated to begin that summer, but Sony, concerned about the commercial viability of Soderbergh's take, called for a directorial pinch hitter only days before the cinematic first pitch was to be thrown. Pitt remained hopeful.

"My gut says yes," Pitt told MTV News in August when asked whether "Moneyball" could see a ninth-inning rally. "[W]e're still trying to re-mount it. I hope we get to do it soon."

It took a while, but Pitt's prediction proved correct. "Capote" director Bennett Miller boarded the project that December, reportedly beating out "(500) Days of Summer" helmer Marc Webb for the gig. Aaron Sorkin rewrote the script and Jonah Hill signed on to play Beane's assistant (a role loosely based on Paul DePodesta, now a player-development exec with the New York Mets). Hill was an unexpected pick for the dramatic role, but the actor laughed with us last year that he wouldn't ruin the film.

"I earned the part," he said. "Every guy who is in their twenties and making movies was after that part, and it was a very tough thing. I'm really proud to have earned it, you know?"

Play Ball
Shooting began in the summer of '10. It'd be a full year before the first trailer for the film hit the Web. Gone was a great deal of the baseball nerdery, as well as Soderbergh's initial plan to present Bill James in the form of an animated narrator. Instead, Miller delivered a straightforward sports movie: Adversity! Triumph against the odds! More adversity!

"These are guys that are working in an unfair game," Pitt explained to us recently. "They are a team with no money trying to fight — it's David vs. Goliath. How are they going to be competitive? How are they going to stand a chance? They can't fight the other guys' fight; they're going to lose every time. These guys had to rethink it and rethink what they were doing."

Check out everything we've got on "Moneyball."

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

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'X Factor': Simon Cowell X's Out Xander Alexander

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 07:52 AM PDT

But Melanie Amaro wins the judges over with a powerful Beyoncé cover.
By Adam Graham


Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell on "The X Factor"
Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

If Wednesday night's "X Factor" premiere focused primarily on positive auditions and warm-and-fuzzy backstories, Thursday's (September 22) episode upended that formula by highlighting failed singers and auditions that went nowhere.

The episode began in Miami, where not even a pep talk from Gloria Estefan could rile up any good fortune for the masses. A parade of hapless singers marched before the judges, with some of their stories backed by the sort of cozy instrumental beds that usually foreshadow a pass from the judges, only to have them, in the end, not quite pass muster with Simon Cowell and his crew. It wasn't until halfway through the first hour when the first singer was given the thumbs up to go to the next round.

That contestant was 21-year-old Nick Voss, who sported a modified Vanilla Ice haircut and looked a bit like onetime "One Tree Hill" hunk Tyler Hilton. With a hip-swiveling version of Elvis Presley's "Trouble," he impressed L.A. Reid, got Simon Cowell to say he "loved" him and prompted Nicole Scherzinger to dub him "Jim Carrey meets Jerry Lee Lewis, with a sprinkle of Elvis." He earned a green light to the next round.

Following a quickie montage of singers who made it through — including girl group 2Squar'd, soprano Jeremiah Pagan and bearded music instructor Brendan O'Hara — viewers were introduced to Melanie Amaro, the evening's standout who stopped the room cold with her impassioned take on Beyoncé's "Listen." Amaro wasn't given a hard-luck backstory or presented as a singer making her last ditch effort to sing for her life; she was simply a solid performer with strong vocal chops who managed to knock out the judges with her voice. Said Reid: "You have the gift, you have the soul, you have the spirit, you have the swagger. You have the X factor." Paula Abdul said Amaro's vocals were like nothing she's ever heard "in any audition that I've ever been on," and Cowell went so far as to say singers like Amaro were the reason he brought "The X Factor" to the United States. And instantly, the competition's early front-runner was born.

The second hour came from the show's Dallas auditions, with more hopeless singers appearing before the judges. A good deal of time was spent on the story of Dexter Haygood, a 49-year-old entertainer who could give Wednesday contestant Siameze Floyd a run for his money in the would-be James Brown department. The discovery of Dallas was 21-year-old Caitlyn Koch, a rugby player in her off-time who reinvented the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" as a piano ballad, the first time we've seen a singer do a top-to-bottom makeover on a song so far. Koch was given four "yes" votes from the panel and lived to see another day.

Thursday's episode closed with a singer who called himself Xander Alexander, a sassy 27-year-old who claimed he wanted to be "the next Donald Trump meets Martha Stewart without the jail time, meets Britney Spears meets Beyoncé without the ugly husband." He has a way with words, we'll give him that, but ultimately his tongue got him in trouble with Cowell, who didn't appreciate his constant backtalk (at one point, he referred to Cowell as "Simone"). Alexander's segment looked like it was going to build toward a happy ending for the performer despite his toxic attitude, but the judges pulled the rug out from underneath him at the last minute by not sending him through and ending the episode on a down note. Maybe we don't know everything there is to know about this show yet after all.

What did you think of Thursday's episode of "The X Factor"? Let us know in the comments!

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'Abduction' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 23 Sep 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Before checking out Taylor Lautner's first post-'Twilight' lead role, peruse our handy guide.
By Kara Warner


Lily Collins and Taylor Lautner in "Abduction"
Photo: Lionsgate

All right, Taylor Lautner fans: Today is the day you've been waiting for! The actor's action-packed thriller "Abduction" has officially opened. Here at MTV News, we've been as excited as anyone for the 19-year-old's first post-"Twilight" lead role, and we've been following the film since it was announced.

Take a look through our hand-crafted guide to the John Singleton-directed film, as we present everything you need to know about "Abduction":

A New Action Star Is Born
The buzz around the film began way back in February 2010, when Lionsgate Entertainment announced that Lautner would be starring in a film about a young man who sets out to learn who he really is after finding his baby picture posted on a missing-persons website. Shortly thereafter, a slew of name players were added to the cast, including Lily Collins, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello and Alfred Molina.

Just before production began in Pittsburgh, MTV News caught up with Lautner to learn about the intense training and prep work he was doing for the role, which included boxing, fight training, learning to ride a motorcycle and swimming.

Selling His Strengths
Once production wrapped, the promotion machine ramped up and we got our first look at photos of Lautner on set, in character and in action.

One of our best pre-release moments came back in April when we were very lucky to snag an early look at the first official trailer, as well as an exclusive sit-down with Lautner during "MTV First: Taylor Lautner." We heard trailer commentary straight from the source, as well as the challenges he faced during filming, his kissing scenes with Collins and whether he got any bumps or bruises from all the stunt work.

Skills to Pay the Bills
It was not long before we caught up with Lautner again in San Diego, during our Comic-Con Takeover, where we learned which seasoned Hollywood pros Lautner looked to for inspiration during filming, why Lautner was so committed to the role and how the film is different from other action thrillers out there.

With about a month left before opening day, we got our first look at Lautner's stunt work, and then we gleaned a few steamy details about a certain kissing scene from Lautner's leading lady in the film. Collins also revealed key details about her character, Karen, and how she gets pulled into the cat-and-mouse chase with Lautner's character, Nathan.

When we caught up with the entire cast at the film's premiere, we learned that kissing scenes are as challenging as action scenes, the young actors carried their acting weight as much as the seasoned pros, and everyone had a blast making the film. Oh and that Lautner always makes time for his fans.

Check out everything we've got on "Abduction."

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

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'Breaking Dawn' Soundtrack: Bruno Mars Makes It 'Rain'

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:53 PM PDT

Mars' 'It Will Rain' first song announced from upcoming 'Twilight' album.
By Kara Warner


Bruno Mars
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage

It's not enough that he's one of the most in-demand singer/songwriters working today, or that almost every song he cranks out is a chart-topper. Bruno Mars will now win over the millions upon millions of "Twilight" fans with "It Will Rain," which was announced as the first song on the "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." soundtrack.

Summit Entertainment broke the news via the "Twilight" Facebook page, along with a photo of the artwork for Mars' single.

The artwork looks like a painting, seemingly created with watercolors or oil paints. The picture depicts a brooding Mars in black silhouette, holding an umbrella in one hand, a bottle of something in the other. He's sitting in a chair, posture slightly slumped and legs spread out in front of him. The background is colorful, with swirls of paint dripping down the frame. "It Will Rain" is written in prominent thick black lettering to the right of Mars.

In knowing Mars' style, we expect the song to be sweeping, epic and possibly heart-wrenching. In being named to the illustrious ranks of "Twilight" soundtrack artists, the rising star and VMA nominee joins artists like Paramore, the Black Keys and Muse.

When we last checked in with "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon at Comic-Con, he confirmed they were putting serious thought into the crafting of the soundtrack, courtesy of composer Carter Burwell, who scored the first movie, as well as careful consideration of which acts to include. And while the director would not confirm Pattinson's inclusion on the soundtrack, he hinted that some of the musically inclined castmembers might lend their talents to a track or two.

"We're just figuring out [the soundtrack] now," Condon said during MTV News' "Breaking Dawn" Comic-Con takeover. "We have a lot of [songs]. We have like 15, I think."

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."

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

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Nirvana Recall The <i>Other</i> 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Video

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 01:48 AM PDT

Kurt Cobain was disappointed with the first version — so he went in and edited it himself.
By Gil Kaufman


Kurt Cobain
Photo: MTV News

It's one of the most iconic videos in music history, up there with Michael Jackson's "Thriller," Madonna's "Like a Virgin" or Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." But to hear late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain tell it, he wasn't that happy with how the final version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" turned out, which is why he went in at the last minute and tweaked it himself.

"Although it worked ... I like the video overall, but it wasn't what I pictured in my mind," Cobain said in a December 13, 1993, interview with MTV News about the clip that helped launch a rock revolution and turned his band into unwitting grunge poster children. "When I come up with an idea for a video, I want it to be translated exactly how I see it in my mind ... and it just wasn't that way."

Nirvana's rise to fame, in their own words.

Cobain — who was notoriously hands-on with all the imagery associated with the band, including creating the artwork for their album covers — said Nirvana just didn't take enough time to prep themselves for the shoot.

"We didn't prepare ourselves enough to have as much control as we wanted to," he explained, perhaps alluding to the fact that the clip was the first one the band filmed after making the huge leap from cash-strapped Seattle indie label Sub Pop to major label Geffen/DGC as a still mostly unknown new act.

Cobain described walking in on the first day of shooting of the video — for the first single from what would become their smash breakthrough, 1991's Nevermind — with director Sam Bayer (Green Day, Justin Timberlake, The Strokes) and realizing that the set did not look as he had imagined or drawn in his storyboarding for the clip. "I told him what I wanted, I drew pictures of it, and I walked in and it wasn't what I wanted," Cobain said. "It looked like a Time-Life commercial to me, with that backdrop, it just looked like such a contemporary ... you know those kind of commercials where people are sitting there trying to sell aspirin or something? Or an AT&T commercial? That's what it looked like to me; it looked too contemporary."

Even though he was disappointed with the look of the set, Cobain had high praise for the super-jacked real fans who were trucked in to fill out the bleachers in the studio for the exhausting 12-hour shoot. "Still, the kids made the video," he said. "Even after Sam had edited it ... he edited it and sent it to me and I didn't like it, and I flew down at the last minute to L.A. and edited it myself. I threw in a few extra things which pretty much saved it."

Reluctant to toot his own horn (while, you know, totally tooting his own horn), Cobain added that there was "a lot of really good" footage that Bayer had shot that wasn't used. "If a lot of that hadn't been used, it would have been a really bad video," he laughed, alluding to the shots of the (over) excited kids trashing the set. "There wasn't really a lot of that, and most of the stuff that was used looked really contrived. There was no spontaneity in it. So I just threw all the spontaneous parts in."

Stick with MTV News all week as we reveal the Nevermind You Never Knew, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's definitive album with classic footage, new interviews and much more.

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Daniel Craig Recalls 'Dragon Tattoo' Auditions For Lisbeth

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 02:07 AM PDT

Star of David Fincher's film says Rooney Mara was 'just spot-on' as bad-girl hacker.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Rooney Mara in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

Come on: Rooney Mara is Lisbeth Salander, or as close to the "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" hacker as anyone born outside of Scandinavia could possibly be.

We didn't need to see the latest, longest "Tattoo" trailer to be convinced the previously under-the-radar actress had transformed herself from a girl-next-door type to a worthy big-screen heir not only to the badass in Stieg Larsson's novel but to Noomi Rapace, who played Salander in the Swedish trilogy. We were sold after the first eye-popping photos of Mara in character appeared in January.

Co-star Daniel Craig needed little convincing, as well, even though Mara was reportedly competing for the role with some of the biggest names in Hollywood — everyone from Natalie Portman to Kristen Stewart.

"I think I knew pretty early on. I screen-tested with her a couple times and I saw exactly what [director] David [Fincher] was after with her," Craig told us. "If you read the books, she's just spot-on. Rooney herself is actually really rounded and normal — she's not boring, honestly — but she had to bring this very broken human being to life and she did it brilliantly."

We were chatting with Craig as he promoted "The Adventures of Tintin," Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's motion-capture adaptation of the classic French-language comic book series. While the actor spoke glowingly of the film, and previously raved to us about collaborating with Fincher on "Dragon Tattoo,", he confessed to having zero interest in reuniting with Fincher on his next effort, an adaptation of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," which will reportedly rely heavily on mo-cap technology.

"He's got all sorts of things lined up, and I do not want to be on that production," Craig said. "I will go and visit them. It would be a great film to watch."

Check out everything we've got on "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

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

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Fat Joe Says Chris Brown Collabo Is 'Crazy'

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 04:48 AM PDT

'We getting so sexy for the ladies on this album,' rapper tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Steven Roberts


Fat Joe
Photo: MTV News

The O.D.: Fat Joe

Fat Joe's recent weight loss has the Bronx MC brimming with confidence. His last album, The Darkside Vol. 1, was a hard-nosed dedication to the streets led by his Jeezy collaboration "(Ha Ha) Slow Down."

For his next LP it isn't the Snowman who will lend the assist but Chris Brown. "We getting so sexy for the ladies on this album," the Don Cartagena told Mixtape Daily. "My first single that we're gonna drop in three weeks is me and Chris Brown, it's called 'Another Round.' It's crazy."

The Terror Squad leader won't completely abandon the streets, however. "I got a joint with Maxwell on the album, I got a joint with John Legend and [Rick] Ross, we're straight talking to the ladies. Of course I'm gonna give you some bop, bop," he said. "I thug 'em out on the sexy songs, but we're talking to the ladies on this one."

Through the years, Joe Crack has recorded hits with R. Kelly, Ashanti and Trey Songz. The rapper says that all of his collaborations begin with a feeling. "I will not collaborate or do a song with nobody unless I think it is a huge, huge event. I will not bother one of my friends," he said regarding his upcoming single with Chris Breezy, with whom he once toured Africa.

To prove his point, Joe mentioned Mary J. Blige. While the two have been friends for years, Crack hasn't reached out for a feature. "I have been dying to do a song with Mary J. Blige; she hangs out in my house, she's family," he said. "But I would not approach her with a record unless it's a smash-hit event."

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Eve Is A 'Genius,' Says 'Get Em' Collaborator Wolfgang Gartner

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 03:04 AM PDT

'This was meant to be,' Gartner tells MTV News of their collaboration.
By Akshay Bhansali


Eve
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage

When MTV News caught up with rapper Eve and famed electronic dance music DJ/ producer , they were full of compliments for each other. The two collaborated on "Get Em," the latest single from Gartner's new album, Weekend in America, which dropped on Tuesday.

"She's a genius," gushed Gartner, who was born Joey Youngman. "The only two people on this album that I actually worked with in person were Eve and will.i.am. And I would say the same thing about both of them: that they are musical and lyrical geniuses.

"The hook that she wrote for this song, there is something that can't really be put into words about it," he continued. "I've compared it to Sugar Hill Gang before. It's just got this old-school innocent-chant catchiness to it."

When MTV News' Sway caught up with Eve, she too spoke very highly of working with Gartner.

"I think he's great," Eve said. "What's crazy is that I had just finished doing a record with him, but I had never seen him perform. So I wrote the first verse to the record and felt like I needed to see him perform to finish the record because I don't know that world. So after I saw him perform I was like, 'Whoa, that's a whole other world.' I think he's great. In his lane he does amazing work. So I'm happy to be a part of that movement."

In fact, Gartner has roped in quite a few hip-hop collaborators for Weekend, including will.i.am, Omarion and Cam'ron and Jim Jones. But observing Eve do her thing in the studio appeared to be extra-special for Gartner, who plans to shoot a video for "Get Em."

"In the studio with her, just the way that she starts throwing out ideas and the way that stuff comes to her — they were things that obviously I would never think of, but I'm not a lyricist, so my mind doesn't work that way," Gartner said. "But the way that she wrote this song over the music, it flows with the song. The words work with the rhythm. It just forms one cohesive sound.

"Whereas you hear a lot of dance rap tracks and it's like they wrote a rap and threw it over somebody else's beat, she wrote this thing to work with it and get embedded into it," he continued. "She was obviously feeling the beat. This was meant to be. These two things were meant to be together."

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Jay-Z Wasn't Always On Freeway's 'What We Do'

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 02:42 AM PDT

Hov was only supposed to contribute an ad-lib, but he and Beanie Sigel ended up dropping verses, Free recalls on 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Freeway and Sway Calloway
Photo: MTV News

Freeway has quite a few gems in his catalog, one being the Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel-assisted single "What We Do" from his 2003 debut, Philadelphia Freeway. The trio trade vivid verses filled with sarcastic regret over a Just Blaze-produced soul beat.

While the track remains a fan favorite, Free admitted on Wednesday's "RapFix Live" that he originally planned for the song to be a solo affair. Freeway recalled recording the track at Roc-A-Fella's Bassline Studios in New York City. On any given night, the entire Roc roster would be milling about the studio, and the bearded MC often sought musical advice from his labelmates.

"It was always that family vibe that they said was around. So I can go like, "Cam, how this sound?" Or "Jay, how that sound?" " Free remembered.

While recording "What We Do," Philly Freezer asked Jay to record an ad-lib for the song. On the track, after Free spits the line "When the teeth stop showing, and the stomach start growling, then the heat start blowin'/ If you from the 'hood, I know you feel me," Jay jumps in and adds, "Keep goin'." But after hearing what Free had already laid down, the God MC decided to contribute an entire verse.

"So when I was recording "What We Do," I originally called Jay just to do the "keep goin'." So when he heard it, he sat down on the bench in Bassline and was just vibin' out," Free said before crossing his arms and nodding his head to mimic Jay's writing technique. "He sat there for 10 minutes, then he was like, "I got you. This sh-- crazy, I got you." "

The then-rookie rapper got more than he bargained for, because after Jay offered his verse, Beanie Sigel came in to complete the trifecta. "Beans came in and heard that, and Beans was like, "Oh no, I'm next. I'm getting on that joint," " Free said.

Would "What We Do" be the same without Jay and Beans? Let us know in the comments below!

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Facebook Reveals Even More Changes At f8 Conference

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 02:38 AM PDT

Mark Zuckerberg presents new Timeline feature and explains Ticker during live stream.
By Kara Klenk


Mark Zuckerberg presents at the Facebook f8 conference
Photo: Getty Images

Brace yourselves, social-media butterflies: The "new" Facebook is about to get even newer.

At Thursday's (September 22) f8 conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed tons of new features and changes aimed at making the social network even more engaging. But who (besides us) had the time to watch the almost two-hour live stream of the conference's keynote address? (Ironically, most people were probably busy liking pictures of pandas on Facebook.) So here is a breakdown of some of the major changes coming to Facebook and what they'll mean for you:

Introducing Timeline
Zuckerberg could hardly contain his giddy laughter while showing us his own Timeline, Facebook's newest profile feature, complete with photos of his dog and some exotic dishes he's eaten. His taglines for the feature are: All Your Stories, All Your Apps, Express Who You Are. The new feature will grant something many angry users have been demanding: control. Zuckerberg said users will decide "what you show, how you display it and who can see it" on their Timeline. You will be able to add specific photos, links, check-ins, likes and more that represent your interests and passions, making it a lot like scrapbooking online. Everyone will have a Timeline, which will look sparse at first, so more private people will probably keep it bare while others can fill it up with their very latest music interests, relationships, etc. But if you thought people were revealing too much information before, get ready for more verbs! Rather than being able to just "like" things, now you can actually "do" them. Statuses will be active, i.e. Jack is hiking Mount Washington, Sara is reading "Twilight: Breaking Dawn," Kara is screaming at her computer; well, it's unclear how specific the verbs will get.

Getting Ticked Off
Many users were angry with Wednesday's redesign and specifically questioned the right-hand corner feed ("Why is there a feed inside my feed?"). But Zuckerberg explained that the Ticker is used to express "lightweight activity," such as friends liking things or commenting on a photo. The goal is for the News Feed to contain more interesting items like status updates, photos and videos. If you use a lot of apps or games, most of your activity, unless you choose otherwise, will end up in your Ticker but not in the News Feed of your friends, so you can play around on Facebook as much as you want without annoying your buddies.

Changing the Music Industry
Facebook has been working with a variety of music applications like Turntable.fm and IHeartRadio to seamlessly integrate their applications into Facebook and remedy outstanding issues using their Open Graph protocol. Huh? Basically, Facebook is making it a lot easier for apps like Spotify to work on your profile page, and they will be more interactive. You can now easily see what your friends are listening to and listen to it with them, creating a space where friends can connect and share music freely. Zuckerberg wants to tap into the feeling of "knowing you helped a friend discover something new, that they like your taste in music." The more music people listen to and the wider the variety, the more likely people are to buy music so artists can be fairly compensated, explained Spotify CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek. With Spotify already boasting 400 million user playlists, they're well on their way to accomplishing Ek's goal to "light up the world with music."

Watch With Friends
Facebook is also aiming to make the way you watch TV and movies sharable and interactive. On the newest new version of the network, interesting patterns will be highlighted and immediately accessible. So if you see that seven of your friends are watching "Glee" on Hulu, you can click and watch right along with them.

Think you're going to like these new changes? Let us know on Facebook!

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'X Factor' First-Night Ratings Underwhelming

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 12:38 AM PDT

With 12.1 million viewers, Simon Cowell's show pulls half 'American Idol' season 10 premiere audience.
By Gil Kaufman


Simon Cowell on "The X Factor"
Photo: FOX

Simon Cowell has been talking all week about how he'd like his new reality singing show to bury the competition, which, in his case is his old reality singing stomping grounds, "American Idol."

Well, "The X Factor" is going to have to do a lot better than it did during its Wednesday night debut if it's going to reach the "Idol" critical mass. According to overnight ratings, not only did "Factor" pull about half of the typical "Idol" market share, it wasn't even the highest-rated show that aired last night.

According to Nielsen, "Factor" pulled in 12.1 million viewers for its heavily hyped two-hour debut, with a 4.4/12 rating in the prized 18 to 49 demographic, which was far below the numbers for the night's ratings champ, Emmy-winning sitcom "Modern Family," which boasted 14.3 million viewers and a 6.0/15 for its season premiere. In fact, "Factor" was only the fourth most-watched show of the night.

The Hollywood Reporter noted that overall "Factor" averaged an 8.7 rating, which was half of the 16.4 rating "Idol" pulled in earlier this year in its season 10 premiere, which drew 26.1 million eyeballs in January. The trade magazine called it a "quiet start" for a show with the richest prize on TV — a $5 million recording contract — and which the mag reported cost the Fox network $250 million to obtain the U.S. rights from NBC. That's on top of the untold millions Fox spent promoting the show all summer and what we can only assume is Cowell's hefty producer/judging fee.

Before the "Factor" debut, Cowell told the Reporter he would view anything less than 20 million viewers for the first show as a "disappointment."

As with "Idol," it's likely the ratings for "X Factor" will grow as the season progresses and the competition becomes more intense among contestants to whom viewers have become attached. And judging from the first episode, while the show certainly has some glaring similarities to "Idol," there are enough novel touches — a wider age range of contestants, singing groups and a live audience at auditions — that like the hit singing competition "The Voice," Cowell's latest might find its footing and end up with solid, but perhaps not record-shattering ratings.

Or, it could be that no matter how much we love to hate Cowell, America doesn't have enough room in its heart for three celebrity-packed singing shows. Only time will tell.

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

Lady Gaga Calls For Meeting With Obama After Bullied Teen's Suicide

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 05:48 AM PDT

Following the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, Gaga pledges to help make bullying a hate crime.
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News

Lady Gaga was so shaken with the news about the death of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer this weekend that she has called for President Obama to enact laws making bullying a hate crime.

Rodemeyer, who had posted an "It Gets Better" video in May about his long struggle with bullying at school, took his life on Sunday after what his parents said was years of taunting over his sexuality.

In his video, Rodemeyer cited Gaga as an inspiration, saying, "She makes me so happy. She lets me know that I was born this way. And that's my advice to you from her: You were born this way. All you have to do is hold your head up and you'll go far." The teen seems on the verge of tears when discussing Gaga's message and promising to keep on going despite the hate.

On Wednesday, Gaga expressed her sadness over Rodemeyer's death. "The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling," she tweeted. "I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone's life." She went further, posting Rodemeyer's "Better" video, and insisting that bullying "must become illegal. It is a hate crime."

In fact, Gaga claimed in a subsequent tweet, she's so upset that she is planning to meet with President Obama on the matter.

"I will not stop fighting," she wrote. "This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey." A spokesperson for the White House could not confirm at press time if Gaga has officially set up a meeting with the president to discuss the issue.

MTV's ongoing "A Thin Line" project provides stories and resources for anyone who believes they are being cyberbullied or who is looking for ways to stop harassment by digital means.

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R.E.M. And Nirvana: The Kurt Cobain/Michael Stipe Connection

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:34 PM PDT

Bands' intensely private singers had a unique relationship.
By Gil Kaufman


Kurt Cobain and Michael Stipe
Photo: Getty Images

Tony Bennett has been making the rounds this week promoting his new Duets II album and talking about how he wanted to save late singing partner Amy Winehouse by telling her to slow down, to take it from someone who'd already been there and had gotten the same advice from his idol, Frank Sinatra.

That kind of been-through-the-fire mentoring is a time-honored tradition in the music world, one that came to mind again on Wednesday when long-running alt rock godheads R.E.M. announced they were packing it in after 31 years in the midst of the 20th anniversary celebration of Nirvana's groundbreaking Nevermind album.

You see, enigmatic R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe had been through the superstar crucible. The intensely private frontman who spent a good early portion of the band's career mumbling his cryptic lyrics while hiding behind a scraggly veil of wavy hair knew all about the pressures of fame by the time Nirvana were having their world-exploding "Smells Like Teen Spirit" moment.

One thing ends as the dawn of another is celebrated.

It's a rock circle of life that was clearly not planned, but has a very nice, round arc to it. It connects these two bands yet again, providing another reminder that it was because of the hard work of acts like R.E.M. that Nirvana was able to blast out of the Northwest and take on the world.

The coincidental chapters also recalled the fact that Stipe had gone from indie darling to worldwide rock star just months before Nevermind hit in late 1991 thanks to the breakout success of "Losing My Religion," the first single from R.E.M.'s seventh album, Out of Time.

In the ensuing years, the two men would carry on a kind of public mutual-admiration society, as Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain went to great lengths to praise R.E.M.'s influence on his own band. And critics couldn't help but notice how, like R.E.M., Nirvana had managed the tricky tightrope walk of retaining their indie edge while signing to a major label and making polished, pop-influenced music with gritty bite and uncompromising lyrical flavor.

Stipe seemed to gladly take on the role of mentor, perhaps seeing in Cobain's adoration tinges of the same relationship he had with his idol, punk godmother Patti Smith, whose influence Stipe praised publicly at every turn.

"I don't know how that band [R.E.M.] does what they do," Cobain said in a 1994 Rolling Stone magazine interview. "God, they're the greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music."

By 1994, Stipe, like many in Nirvana's inner circle of friends and management, had grown concerned about Cobain's dangerous drug spiral. In an attempt to try and bring Cobain back from the abyss, Stipe — the godfather of Cobain and wife Courtney Love's only child, Frances Bean — planned a collaboration with the doomed grunge singer.

"I was doing that to try to save his life. The collaboration was me calling up as an excuse to reach out to this guy. He was in a really bad place," Stipe told Interview magazine earlier this year. "I constructed a project to try to snap Kurt out of a frame of mind. I sent him a plane ticket and a driver, and he tacked the plane ticket to the wall in the bedroom and the driver sat outside the house for 10 hours. Kurt wouldn't come out and wouldn't answer the phone."

The superstar hookup never happened and — like Neil Young, Smith and numerous others — Stipe was inspired to write a musical eulogy for Cobain, the moving 1994 song "Let Me In," from the album Monster. Fittingly, that disc found R.E.M. adopting a grungier, harder-edge, distorted sound that went the opposite direction of their two more sedate, previous mainstream breakthrough efforts.

Once again, the celebration of a beginning and a sad ending that can forever link these two legendary acts.

Stipe grew gracefully into the role of alt-rock elder statesman, enduring the rigors of stardom with wit and confidence. "A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave,' " he wrote in a statement announcing the band's end. "We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it."

Cobain, on the other hand, was swallowed up by the machine, prematurely putting an end to his story and walking away from the party way too early. Maybe if he'd had that sit-down session with Stipe he might have managed the dream he shared with us in a 1993 interview. "I wanted to have the adoration of John Lennon but have the anonymity of Ringo Starr," Cobain told MTV News. I didn't want to be a frontman. I just wanted to be back there and still be a rock and roll star at the same time."

Stick with MTV News all week as we reveal the Nevermind You Never Knew, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's definitive album with classic footage, new interviews and much more.

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Freeway Recalls How Storied Roc-A-Fella Fell Apart

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:41 PM PDT

'At one point in time, we were a family,' Freeway tells 'RapFix Live' of Jay-Z/Damon Dash era.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Freeway and Sway
Photo: MTV News

Roc-A-Fella Records was once one of the most storied labels and rap crews in the business. Under the guidance of Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem "Burke" Biggs, artists like Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron, Memphis Bleek and Freeway were able to carve out careers for themselves that would carry on even after the label disbanded.

On Wednesday's "RapFix Live" with host Sway, Free discussed the last days of the Roc, the separation that existed between the record label's subdivisions and how he was able to bounce back.

"At one point in time we were a family. The whole thing about Roc-A-Fella that they pride themselves on is the family structure," Freeway said of the label that was composed of a number of sub-crews like the Diplomats, State Property and Bleek's Get Low clique. Free then went on to describe how the once-united crews came to be divided.

By 2005, the Jay-Z/Dame Dash feud was dominating headlines, but for Free, the reality didn't set in until after he dropped his 2007 sophomore album. "It definitely was a point in time when I was like, 'Oh sh--, what am I gonna do?' " the bearded MC recalled, saying that it was former Roc-A-Fella A&R Lenny Santiago who broke the news to him and State Property. "I think it was the time when it was really over and everybody got dropped, after ['07's] Free at Last, probably like a couple of months after that, that's when we realized. Lenny S. came to Philly to talk to us.

"He was like, 'Look, man, it's gonna be some changes again; everything ain't how it was,' basically, 'It's over.' "

Without a hint of bitterness in his voice, the street-hardened MC described his mind-set. "What I did is go back to what I normally do," he told Sway.

According to Philly Freezer, when he first appeared on Jay-Z's "1-900-Hustler" in 2000, he wasn't actually signed to Roc-A-Fella: His deal came after a series of radio freestyles and battles in which Free proved himself. So when his deal with the legendary label dissolved, he went back to what he knew, grinding on the underground level. Free's 2010 Stimulus Package, produced with Jake One, helped cement his status as a formidable MC and should nicely set up his Diamond in the Rough LP coming later this year.

To let Freeway tell it, the transition from being under the Roc umbrella was relatively easy. "When the whole breakup came, I just went back to what I know," he said. "It was actually better for me because I already had a name established from the Roc-A-Fella brand."

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Ryan Seacrest 'Not Worried' About 'Idol,' 'X Factor' Fatigue

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 08:57 AM PDT

'I think that all of these shows are great for the music business,' Seacrest tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello


Ryan Seacrest
Photo: MTV News

On Wednesday night, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and the rest of the "X Factor" gang kicked off the show on American TV.

It's the latest (and perhaps one of the most high-profile) addition to a television market already full of singing competition series.

While both shows air on Fox, "Factor" doesn't directly compete with Cowell and Abdul's old "American Idol" stomping grounds, but it does raise a question: Will TV viewers have singing fatigue by the time "Idol" kicks off next year?

When MTV News caught up with host Ryan Seacrest at "Idol" auditions in New Jersey on Thursday (September 22), he said he wasn't concerned about that at all.

"I'm not worried about audiences being burnt out," Seacrest told us as he made his way to meet with contestants. "I think that all of these shows are great for the music business and they're great for people who want to make it in the music business. The more opportunity, the more shots, the more chances dreams come true, right?"

Just as "X factor" wraps things up in December, "Idol" will be gearing up for a January kickoff. But Ryan insisted to reporters that things are "friendly" between the two shows, even revealing that he has spoken to "Factor" host Steve Jones. "I didn't give him tips; he's done this for a long time. I had a chance to meet him not too long ago and he was very, very kind and very nice and I wish him the best of luck," he said. "I think he'll enjoy his time with Simon. I had a decade with him. I think it's time for him to endure Simon."

In addition to all of the "Factor" chatter, Seacrest gushed about the talent "Idol" has seen for the upcoming season. "Good. So far, so good. I have no idea what they sound like yet [today], but they look like they have potential, don't they?" he said. "We've had a really good run so far with auditions. It's been very, very impressive. The contestants have been very, very good."

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

Justin Bieber Teases 'Shocking' Collaboration For Christmas Album

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 07:18 AM PDT

'1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!' Bieber's manager tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber
Photo: WireImage

On Tuesday, Justin Bieber had this message for fans eagerly awaiting some new music from the teen star: "oh yeah ... and i think LESS THAN A MONTH ... I'm gonna give you some #newmusic." Bieber is busy in the studio locking down features for his forthcoming Christmas album.

With rumored collaborations with Sean Kingston and Taylor Swift, as well as a confirmed track, "Falalalala," with Boyz II Men, Bieber is hustling to get the album done.

"He thought we'd be perfect for it," Boyz II Men's Shawn Stockman said of their work with the star. "And we went in and locked in."

On Wednesday, Bieber not only confirmed another guest for the album, the Band Perry, but also teased a secret one. "@thebandperry heard the final version of our song for the Christmas album!! Love it. glad to have you!" he wrote, before going back and forth with his manager, Scooter Braun, about that other feature.

"Wow. Just got an #epic phone call regarding @justinbieber xmas album. 1 of the most #Legendary performers ever is joining the album!!" Braun tweeted.

Bieber responded, "@scooterbraun cant believe it ... completely #HONORED. I think people are going to be shocked. I was. #christmas." In addition to all the feature updates, Bieber revealed, "working hard on this #SOMEDAY shoot. they are playing my first single from the christmas album. what is the name of it again .... hmmmm ....."

Bieber apparently also has something big in store for fans this week. Braun only had this to say about it: "kinda hyped right now .... @justinbieber has something pretty wild in store for this week. #remix."

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'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Trailer: The Five Key Scenes

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:10 PM PDT

The trailer gives out a lot of plot details, but fans of the book will be thrilled to see Mikhail and Lisbeth in action.
By Eric Ditzian


Rooney Mara in "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

The teaser trailer for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" didn't divulge much about the murder mystery at the center of the flick, trading story details for darkly cool imagery and a badass Led Zeppelin cover courtesy of Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Karen O.

The latest "Dragon Tattoo" trailer takes a wildly different approach, running four minutes and diving deeply into the lives of Mikhail Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the two Swedes at the center of this tale about a 40-year-old cold case of a missing girl and a rich, dysfunctional family. It's hard to argue the new footage is too spoiler heavy, considering the ubiquity of the international best-selling Stieg Larsson novel on which the film is based. Let's just say that there is a ton to unpack in the new trailer. Here are our picks for the five key scenes:

The Family Dinner
While Larsson's book is set in contemporary times, its story is inextricably tied to the past, to events surrounding the disappearance and suspected murder of Harriet Vanger, a teenange girl and scion of a wealthy family with dark secrets. Blomkvist and Salander are charged with cracking the decades-old case and largely rely on vintage photographs to assist their investigation. This scene, a glimpse of the Vanger family in the 1960s, shows that director David Fincher is using these weathered photos as the visual inspiration for flashbacks. The almost sepia-toned aesthetic differentiates the gritty present from the vintage-y past, and makes the connection that past events, captured in photos, will be the mechanism allowing Blomkvist and Salander to undercover the truth.

The Flowers
For those unfamiliar with the novel, this scene — in which Blomkvist and Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), who hires the journalist to investigate his niece's disappearance — unveils the first creepy clue of the story. Henrik has been receiving pressed flowers, in frames, for years. He's certain they're taunts from Harriet's killer, as the young girl used to present such gifts to her uncle. It turns out that Blomkvist himself has a connection to the Vanger clan, as he spent time as a young child on the family's remote estate. Taken together, these representations of the past — both in the form of memories and in physical frames — spur the reluctant journalist to take on the assignment. Well, that and the fact that he's recently suffered a profound professional humiliation and Henrik is offering him a lucrative payout.

The Genius
To assist him in the investigation, Blomkvist hires Salander, a young woman with a history of being institutionalized and underestimated. The truth is, she's a brilliant hacker with a photographic memory, as this scene makes clear. Blomkvist shows her a key piece of evidence — a set of names and phone numbers from Harriet's diary — but she needn't take another look. Salander has already memorized the information. Blomkvist realizes he's picked the perfect partner. And he also doesn't complain that she's strikingly beautiful; the journalist is something of a ladies' man, and this duo ends up having success both on the case and in the bedroom.

The Photo
As we said above, photos are the key clues in this case. Here we see evidence of Blomkvist and Salander's big break, tthe photo that unlocks everything. In the book, it's an enormously satisfying moment. After hitting roadblock after roadblock, the case finally picks up momentum, and the rest of the story proceeds at a breakneck pace. So head's up: Once this scene plays out in the film, hold onto your seat — it's going to get crazy and violent and freaky from here on out.

The Rape
That's not to say there's not plenty of crazy and freaky violence before that photo pops up. This quick shot shows Salander exacting some well-deserved revenge on Nils Bjurman, the sadistic lawyer who oversees her casework. Earlier in the trailer, we see Bjurman explaining to Salander that his assistance comes hand-in-hand with his unwanted sexual advances. Eventually Salander pays him back for his perversions: Bjurman, meet ball gag. It's gruesome stuff. And it shows how Salander may look meek and helpless, but when she's backed into a corner she can come up with some of the most creative and brutal acts of vengeance imaginable.

Check out everything we've got on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

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

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Rihanna Drops 'We Found Love' Single

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 08:19 AM PDT

Calvin Harris-produced track is the first release from Rihanna's forthcoming album, due in November.
By Jocelyn Vena


Rihanna
Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Rihanna has been amping up her fans for the release of her new single, "We Found Love." In a flurry of tweets on Wednesday, she shared with fans the lyrics to the Calvin Harris-produced track, as well as the single's cover art.

It all led up to the single's release on Thursday (September 22) morning on Facebook and the radio. As you would expect from a producer like Harris, "We Found Love" is a party-ready track. A synthy keyboard plays as Rihanna sings the opening lines of the song. It's a pretty sparse dance track that simply plays up her robotic-like vocals, a pulsing beat and a synth sound. The layers of the song are found in her vocals and Harris' production.

On the song, Ri sings about finding that special someone. "Yellow diamonds in the light/ And we're standing side by side/ As your shadow crosses mine/ What it takes to come alive/ It's the way I'm feeling, I just can't deny/ But I've gotta let it go," she sings on the first chorus.

The chorus simply features the line "We found love in a hopeless place" repeated four times. On the second verse, she sings, "Shine a light through an open door/ Love and life I will divide/ Turn away 'cause I need you more/ Feel the heartbeat in my mind/ It's the way I'm feeling, I just can't deny/ But I've gotta let it go."

For the art, Rihanna is punked out in a pompadour, loose-fitting jeans, chains, a denim jacket and chunky boots. She looks fiercely into the camera, arms crossed as she walks through the city.

Both Rihanna and Harris are giving the single four thumbs up. "Excited for people to hear the new @rihanna song, i can tell u she sounds like an #angel !" Harris tweeted.

After the song dropped, Rihanna had this message for her fans: "*pulls out glow stick*."

"We Found Love" serves as the lead single off Rihanna's as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2010's Loud album. The album is set to drop in November.

What do you think of Rihanna's new single? Let us know in the comments!

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