Wednesday, 30 November 2011
2011 American Music Awards: List of Winners
Lady Gaga Bested By Charlie Brown In Thanksgiving Ratings
'A Very Gaga Thanksgiving' couldn't overtake the classic 'Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.'
By James Montgomery
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"
Photo: CBS
Lady Gaga's "A Very Gaga Thanksgiving" special may have been a triumph of overly-glammed performances, cooking segments with celebrity chefs and craft-time activities with third graders, but none of that was enough to overtake a time-tested Turkey Day classic, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
Yes, Charlie, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy et al. bested Gaga in the Thanksgiving ratings battle, though the race was much closer than you'd probably expect. (Both programs aired on ABC.) "Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" — first broadcast in 1973 — was watched by some 5.8 million viewers on Thursday night, while "A Very Gaga Thanksgiving" was seen by 5.4 million, according to the Nielsen ratings. Both drew roughly the same audience share in the 18-49 age demo, though neither could compete with the big Thanksgiving-night winner: a repeat of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory," which was watched by more than 11 million viewers.
Fox's "Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas" was the most-viewed holiday special, watched by some 7.1 million folks.
And though it couldn't beat "Big Bang" or the animated "Ice Age" critters, "A Very Gaga Thanksgiving" did perform rather solidly. In fact, it managed to beat a whole lot of competing prime-time Thanksgiving programming, including NBC's re-airing of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (3.7 million viewers) and another Charlie Brown special, "Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown," which was watched by 5 million viewers.
In the days leading up to her big Thanksgiving debut, Gaga took to Twitter to announce the release of a specially priced holiday EP, A Very Gaga Holiday. Then, again, Charlie Brown had her beat there, too: A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack was first released in 1965, after all.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1675000/lady-gaga-thanksgiving-ratings-charlie-brown.jhtml
Justin Bieber Should 'Stay Strong,' Usher Says
'All of this comes with the territory,' Ush tells MTV News of paternity-suit drama.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber and Usher
Photo: Ben Rose/ WireImage
Usher might not have known how big Justin Bieber would become when he discovered him a few years back, but he was pretty sure he had found something special.
Since Bieber burst on the scene with his My World EP back in 2009, the 17-year-old has grown up with the world watching. He's gone from up-and-comer to full-fledged pop sensation, racking up chart-topping albums and a box-office hit and becoming an all-around mega-heartthrob — all in two years.
Of course, with the good does come negative attention as well. Recently, Bieber was hit with a paternity lawsuit, which has since been dropped.
Usher, no stranger to his own controversies, had these words for the Biebs: "Stay strong. And know that all of this comes with the territory."
Aside from the drama, Usher is especially proud of Bieber's charitable side. His mentor said he "absolutely" knew the kid from Stratford, Ontario, had a big heart from the start.
"To write a check is only half of it, but when you truly take on a responsibility to be a philanthropist, you accept an effort, and I really think that Pencils of Promise is something that has a very bright future," Usher told MTV News at an event for the charity, noting that Bieber is a only a small part of it.
Usher — who appears on Bieber's new Christmas album, Under the Mistletoe — gives credit to the folks surrounding the teen superstar, including manager Scooter Braun. "Just judging from the determination and the will power of the entire team around Justin, I see a very, very promising [future] for him as a philanthropist," Usher said.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674705/justin-bieber-usher-advice.jhtml
Michael Fassbender Looks Back On 'Surreal' 2011
From 'X-Men: First Class' to 'Shame,' Fassbender is one of the actors MTV News is most thankful for this year.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Michael Fassbender
Photo: MTV News
Every once in a while, an actor with a breakout role will come along and capture the attention of both moviegoers and the people behind the films. Soon, you can find that same actor headlining films at festivals as well as scoring top billing on blockbusters.
For 2011, that actor was undoubtedly Michael Fassbender, who wowed the art-house crowd in 2008 with "Hunger" and found wider audiences a year later with Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" as the British Lieutenant Archie Hicox, who reserves a circle of hell for people who waste good scotch.
This past year, Fassbender became a superstar. He helped lead a brand-new team of mutants to box-office success as a young Magneto in "X-Men: First Class," and then delivered critically praised performances in "Jane Eyre," "A Dangerous Method" and "Shame," for which he's receiving Oscar buzz.
That's why we've named Michael Fassbender one of the actors we're most thankful for this holiday season. We sat down with Fassbender and gave him a chance to look back on 2011 and tell us why a different year — 2007 — meant everything to him.
MTV: Every year at MTV, we choose a few actors that we're most thankful for around Thanksgiving, and you've made the cut.
Fassbender: Have I really?
MTV: You have.
Fassbender: Nice one.
MTV: Obviously, a couple years back, when "Inglourious" hit, especially, that was a big moment for you, but it feels like this year has to be professionally the most satisfying year.
Fassbender: No, I got to say, for me, definitely 2007 changed my life.
MTV: "Hunger."
Fassbender: Yeah, Steve McQueen gave me an opportunity, a possibility to show some sort of capability in my profession. It was coming at a point when we were about to go into a recession. That was going to affect this business as much as any business — less jobs for less actors. For him to take a risk on an unknown in a lead role, it changed my life, really. From that, I had all these amazing experiences with Andrea Arnold, Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Cary Fukunaga, David Cronenberg, Ridley Scott.
MTV: It feels like this is where it all bears fruit. The seeds that were planted then, now it all starts to come out.
Fassbender: Yeah, you start off and you just want to be working, so jobbing actors, you're already thankful for that opportunity. To be in this position that I'm in now, it's ridiculous. Somebody pull the plug on me now. I have to say I'm blessed. When I started out when I was 17, this was the pinnacle, to be working with people that I find inspiring, I can learn from. It's a very privileged position.
MTV: Was there one particular moment in this year of 2011 that was the most surreal, the biggest high for you? A lot of premieres, a lot of production work, a lot of press. Was there one moment you can pinpoint?
Fassbender: Just lots of surreal moments. When I was sitting in a balcony in Venice — I've never been to Venice before — and I'm there with family and friends, and we're like, "Wow, this is a trip, isn't it?" We're all sort of experiencing this together. You're always sort of pinching yourself.
Being on a Quentin Tarantino set. When I was 18, I did a stage version of "Reservoir Dogs" with my friends, where I directed, produced, played Mr. Pink. I mean, I was totally green. I didn't know what the hell I was doing, but I knew that with hard work and enthusiasm, things get done. So then to be sitting on set with him, I was like, "This is weird." Already at the audition with him was strange, because he reads all the other parts. That was surreal.
To have this sort of reception we've had for both films in Venice, to be there with two films, all those things are pretty mad.
Check out everything we've got on "Shame."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674874/michael-fassbender-2011-success-thankful.jhtml
Lady Gaga Is 'Interrupted' In 'Marry The Night' Preview
Mother Monster gives a monologue as she's pushed around on a gurney by two nurses in new teaser clip.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Leon Neal/AFP
After wrapping up a performance abroad on Thursday (November 17), Lady Gaga gave fans what she'd promised.
In a tweet posted Thursday afternoon, she wrote, "MARRY THE NIGHT: THE PRELUDE PATHÉTIQUE," with a link to a teaser for the full-length clip for her latest Born This Way track.
Directed by Gaga herself and clocking in at nearly two minutes, the preview pays homage to high school feminist literature like "The Bell Jar" and "Girl, Interrupted." As the image of a brunette Gaga fades in, a very "Prozac Nation"-esque voiceover kicks in: "When I look back on my life, it's not that I don't want to see things exactly as they happened, it's just that I prefer to remember them in an artistic way.
"And, truthfully, the lie of it all is much more honest because I invented it," Gaga continues, as a close-up of her face fills the screen. "Clinical psychology tells us arguably that trauma is the ultimate killer. Memories are not recycled like atoms and particles in quantum physics — they can be lost forever. It's sort of like my past is an unfinished painting, and as the artist of that painting, I must fill in all the ugly holes and make it beautiful again."
The camera pans out a bit more to reveal that Gaga is on a gurney, being pushed down the hallway by two nurses (an image teased in a still last week). "It's not that I've been dishonest, it's just that I loathe reality," she confesses as the nurses push her down a hallway.
Still giving her monologue, Gaga adds, "For example, those nurses, they're wearing next season Calvin Klein and so am I. And the shoes? Custom Giuseppe Zanotti. I tipped their gauze hats to the side like Parisian berets because I think it's romantic and I also believe that mint will be very big in fashion next spring." As the nurses open a door, the pop star says, "Check out the nurse on the right. She's got a great ass. Bam."
In the next frame, several other patients are revealed. "The truth is, back then at the clinic they only wore those funny hats to keep the blood out of their hair," Lady Gaga says. "And that girl on the left, she ordered gummy bears and a knife a couple hours ago. They only gave her the gummy bears; I wish they'd only given me the gummy bears."
The tease closes with those two nurses pushing Gaga and leaving fans to wonder what's next for their Mother Monster. While the release date for the video is still unknown, the singer did have this information for her fans: "The full prelude is 7 min 33 seconds & 15 frames."
Last month, Gaga was spotted shooting the video in various locations throughout New York City. The song itself is a tribute to her hometown.
Share your thoughts on Gaga's latest teaser in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674610/lady-gaga-marry-the-night-preview.jhtml
Celebrity Fashion: Lady Gaga large pink headpiece
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Who Was the Most Searched for Person on Bing in 2011?
He may not have gotten publicly married and then quickly divorced; and the tabloids may not conjure up new stories every week about how he might steal back his famous ex; but Justin Bieber still reigned supreme in 2011.
At least for those who wished to Bing and Decide.
The 17-year old superstar was the most searched-for person in 2011 on that website, rising five spots from his 2010 ranking of number-six. The Biebs bumped Kim Kardashian down to number-two in the process, while Jennifer Aniston rounded out the top three.
Sandra Bullock, Tiger Woods, Michael Jackson, Jesse James, Kate Gosselin and Barack Obama were all ranked in the top 10 a year ago, but folks apparently stopped caring about cheating husbands; spoiled reality stars; and the leader of the free world in 2011. Here's a look at this year's 10 most searched-for individuals:
- Justin Bieber
- Kim Kardashian
- Jennifer Aniston
- Lindsay Lohan
- Jennifer Lopez
- Britney Spears
- Katy Perry
- Megan Fox
- Lady Gaga
- Miley Cyrus
Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/11/who-was-the-most-searched-for-person-on-bing-in-2011/
Tameka Raymond DEMANDS Sole Custody Of Kids....After Usher Cuts Off Her Charge Cards!
Hell hath no fury like Tameka Raymond without her charge cards. Chick is taking Usher to court and demanding sole custody of their kids. And his decision making when it comes to the kids in addition to him cutting off her charge cards doesn't sit well with her. Deets inside.....
According to legal documents Tameka Raymond wants sole custody of her two sons with singer Usher Raymond because she claims he doesn't involve her in his "co-parenting" decisions AND he cut off her Saks 5th Avenue card!
TMZ reports that in court papers recently filed in Georgia, Tameka claims Usher:
- repeatedly FAILED to obtain her permission to travel outside the state with the kids
- never got her approval before hiring nannies or gave her first shot to watch the kids when he's away for more than 8 hours
- didn't allow her to take the kids for 2-weeks in the summer of 2011
- didn't let her have custody of the kids during Christmas break 2010
- And, he closed her Saks 5th Avenue credit card
We're also told by a source that Usher involves his new girlfriend (who he still doesn't admit to being involved with) and manager Grace Miguel has too much influence in Usher's life. She has kids of her own from past relationships, and the two are together most of the time while he's living coast to coast. We're told he has repeatedly made decisions based off what Grace tells him to do with his personal life, and Tameka's not feeling that.
Tameka also claims he promised to pay $5k per month so Tameka could hire her own nanny, but he's now $34,000 behind in payments. Oh....and she also wants more child support. Since his career has become more successful, she feels his kids deserve more too.
I'm sure there are baby mommas and ex-wives all around the country who would love Tameka's problems. Many women just want the man to acknowledge that the kids exist and show some type of care or love (e.g. Sheree Whitfield). This one isn't going to end in a pretty way though...
Usher - Lil Freak
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Raymond V. Raymond
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563
Beyonce/ Mary J. Blige Duet Was Meant For 4
'She sent it through her A&R people to give to me,' MJB says of My Life II's 'Love a Woman.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf
Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage
Not sure how to keep your woman happy? Just ask Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé. The two divas lay out a tutorial on how to court the fairer sex with "Love a Woman," from MJB's upcoming My Life II ... The Journey Continues, Act I. But fans may be surprised to learn that the long-overdue collaboration was nearly a one-woman affair.
B initially recorded the song for her4 LP, but thought it would be a better fit as a duet with Mary.
"It was a song she recorded for her album that didn't fit her album and she sent it through her A&R people to give to me," Mary revealed to MTV News. "When the song came, her voice was on it completely and it was just amazing and I wasn't sure that they wanted to give me this record because it was so amazing."
The soothing track starts off with Mary sweetly singing, "So you think you know how to love a woman/ But I think it's still some things you need to know." As the flowery instrumental builds with a serene piano melody and accentuating horns, MJB goes on to warn that a woman needs more than material things. B turns up the heat demanding that she needs "more than sex," she needs to be made love to. From there, the song plays as a lyrical how-to. Communication is a must, as is respect, but coming home late and being a one-minute man is a no-no.
While both the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and an expecting Queen B display good chemistry on the song, a video for the track may be hard to pull off. "I'm sure 'Love a Woman' would be a single but I can't really trouble Beyoncé right now; she's pregnant and I'm sure she's doing her stuff," Mary said. "So whenever she's ready, if she's ever ready, I'm ready and it'll be great."
Should MJB and B shoot a video for "Love a Woman"? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674706/beyonce-mary-j-blige-love-a-woman.jhtml
Justin Bieber Takes Paternity Test
Even after lawsuit was dropped last week, Bieber's team is taking steps to prove the allegations are false.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
Justin Bieber is a man of his word. After promising he would take a DNA test when a paternity suit was brought against him, TMZ reports the pop star took one Friday night at a lab in New Jersey.
The gossip site reports that the test was taken under "very controlled circumstances," and the next move is on Mariah Yeater, the woman who claimed that her son is Bieber's before dropping her paternity suit last week.
Bieber and his team have maintained that the 17-year-old is not the father of 3-month-old Trystan. E! News reports that there is no timeframe for when Yeater must provide a DNA sample.
When MTV News caught up with Bieber on Thursday night, one day before he took the test, he shrugged off the controversy, instead focusing on the positive and saying he's been doing "great" these days.
Bieber sat down with NYC radio station Z100 earlier that day and joked that he'd prefer the rumors be about running away to South America with a supermodel. "Right now, I'm focusing on my album and the music and the [Pencils of Promise] charity we're doing and just being positive, because Christmastime is a time for joy and happiness, so that's what I'm thinking," Bieber said. "And as far as the whole baby situation, it's unfortunate that it had to happen like that. People make false accusations, but things happen in this industry and you have to keep your head high and be positive."
Those words mirror the advice Bieber's mentor, Usher, shared with him: "Stay strong. And know that all of this comes with the territory."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674791/justin-bieber-paternity-test.jhtml
Conrad Murray Verdict 'Very Fair,' Expert Says
'There was so much overwhelming evidence of guilt that the defense didn't really have much of a chance,' Mike Cavalluzzi tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Dr. Conrad Murray reacts after the jury returned with a guilty verdict in his involuntary manslaughter trial at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday
Photo: Al Seib/ Getty Images
The nearly six-week involuntary manslaughter trial against former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray ended Monday afternoon (November 7) with a guilty verdict. Judge Pastor announced that Murray would be taken immediately into custody and held without bail until his sentencing hearing, scheduled for November 29.
Moments after the verdict was read, MTV News spoke with Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi for his expert opinion regarding Murray's conviction on one felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.
"I'm not at all surprised by the verdict," said Cavalluzzi, who is not associated with this case. "I think the prosecution did an excellent job of laying out their case, and I think that there was so much overwhelming evidence of guilt that the defense didn't really have much of a chance. This is a very fair verdict, mainly because it isn't a verdict that calls for any intent or any malice on the part of Dr. Murray. This is about criminal negligence, gross negligence on his part, and I think it's a fair verdict."
Cavalluzzi also wasn't surprised by the amount of time — nine hours — it took the jury to reach their decision. "This is about how long one would think it would take given the amount of evidence the jury had to go through," he said. "It seems to me that perhaps the jury was a little bit media savvy in coming down with their verdict the end of a Monday morning so it would be announced early Monday afternoon. It allows them to reach the full week of the news cycle and hit all the major magazines. So it seems to me like someone on that jury knew about Us [Weekly] magazine."
Looking ahead, Cavalluzzi said more jail time isn't necessarily in Murray's future after the November 29 sentencing.
"It's a little bit early to tell what a fair sentence would be for Dr. Murray now. That's the most difficult part of the process for Judge Pastor, in which he will have to seriously consider all of the mitigating factors which would lean toward Dr. Murray not doing any jail time and all of the aggravating factors that would lead toward him going to state prison," he said. "It seems to me, at first blush, that any jail time wouldn't be appropriate in this case given the fact that Dr. Murray has no criminal record and there truly was no malice, no intent to actually harm Michael Jackson at all. What he was really doing was succumbing to the wishes of a patient, and unfortunately, that patient was not a person whose wishes should have been succumbed to."
MTV News will be covering the Conrad Murray case live. Go to MTVNews.com for breaking news, reactions and analysis from Los Angeles or tune to MTV for the latest updates.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsCharlize Theron Teases Kristen Stewart 'Showdown'
'I'm just really, really, really hoping I get to kill her,' the 'Snow White and the Huntsman' star jokes to MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Charlize Theron in "Snow White and the Huntsman"
Photo: Universal
Ever since the trailer arrived for Kristen Stewart's next likely blockbuster, "Snow White and the Huntsman" -- a.k.a. her first big post-"Twilight" movie -- we've been chomping at the bit for more info about the film.
Luckily, MTV News had a fun-filled chat recently with Stewart's "Huntsman" co-star Charlize Theron, during which the South African-born beauty revealed that she and Stewart are about to shoot the film's climactic battle sequence.
"I'm still shooting ['Huntsman'], I'm going back in two days," Theron told us as she promoted the comedy "Young Adult." "I haven't really worked with [Kristen]. I've done some small things with her, but we're about to shoot our big showdown, and fingers crossed for me. It's the big battle. I'm just really, really, really hoping I get to kill her," she said with a smile. "That is how the story ends up, right?"
While the Rupert Sanders-directed flick is a new adaptation of the classic fairy tale, somehow we don't think Theron will get her wish. Maybe her Evil Queen will wound Stewart's Snow White in some way, but death doesn't seem too likely.
For her part, Stewart has had nothing but praise to heap on the film -- so much so that she's open to the idea of doing more than one movie as the fairest one of all.
"Oh, man, to be totally candid and honest with you, when I first signed on to this thing, the idea of doing another franchise was like, 'Wow, [we'll] cross that bridge when it comes.' It was something so far outside my realm of thinking," Stewart told us recently. "I was so focused on the first one, and I thought, 'Maybe, maybe,' but I've got stars in my eyes. I'm literally over the moon about what I'm doing right now," she said of her work on "Huntsman." "Yes, I would love to [do more 'Snow White' films]."
Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674943/snow-white-huntsmen-charlize-theron-kristen-stewart.jhtml
Monday, 28 November 2011
Audrina Patridge, Ke$ha, Adam Lambert Share Prom Memories
'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 ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662981/celebrity-prom-memories.jhtml
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic Records
- Director: n/a
- Album: Moonwalker
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=206759
Britney Spears Video Tournament Down To Sweet 16!
'Toxic' and 'Oops! I Did It Again' sail into round two, while 'Sometimes' and 'I Wanna Go' are early casualties.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker
Britney Spears in her "Hold it Against Me" video
Photo: Jive
After a surprisingly tight race among the 30 Britney Spears music videos in the first round of MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years, we are now down to 16 candidates for her best video of all time!
Perez Hilton and Jordan Miller of Britney fansite BreatheHeavy.com helped the MTV News correspondents weigh in on the first round, which saw the surprising and merciless elimination of the classic "Sometimes" and the newer hit "I Wanna Go."
"I think that 'I Wanna Go' is one of Britney's all-time best videos," Perez said of the clip, which was defeated by her even newer video for "Criminal," co-starring real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick. "I like the 'Criminal' video; I don't love it."
Meanwhile, some videos were huge leaders early on, like "Toxic," "Oops! I Did It Again," "I'm a Slave 4 U," "Me Against the Music" and early "TRL"-era hit "(You Drive Me) Crazy."
Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.
The race between "Lucky" and "Boys" was a closer call than MTV News expected, with only a 7 percent margin between the two videos; "Lucky" was the eventual winner. Another interesting twist was the dark "My Prerogative" clip's triumph over the happy-go-lucky vibe of "Sometimes."
With 16 videos left, the race gets much tighter. Now, Britney's most epic and most-celebrated videos will be up against each other. "(You Drive Me) Crazy" will take on the double-pop queen-powered "Me Against the Music," featuring Madonna, while Britney's first video, " ... Baby One More Time," takes on her most recent clip, "Criminal."
"Till the World Ends" and "Piece of Me," which had byes in the first round, are no longer safe, as they are pitted against "My Prerogative" and "Hold It Against Me," respectively, in round two, which closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The Elite Eight will be announced at 7 a.m. Monday. Help your favorite videos win by voting as many times as you can and campaigning.
What's your favorite Britney video? Make sure to vote at Britney30.MTV.com or the MTV Newsroom blog, and share your picks in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674877/britney-spears-tournament-top-16.jhtml
Michael Jackson House Contents Up For Sale
Auction items from rented home include bed on which Jackson died.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Getty Images
Michael Jackson's fans are notorious for their rabid worship of the late pop star. But will they pony up big bucks to own the bed on which their icon died? We will find out on December 17, when Julien's Auctions Gallery will auction off the contents of the rented Holmby Hills, California, home that Jackson was renting at the time of his death.
Though the announcement of the sale does not mention Jackson by name, it lists a variety of fine art and furnishings from the residence, including a gilded Louis XV headboard (est. $3,000/$4,000) and a $30,000 watercolor painting by Maurice Utrillo. An Associated Press story revealed that the sale of contents of 100 North Carolwood Drive will comprise items left behind by Jackson.
The singer passed away in the home on June 25, 2009, and on Monday his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was found guilty of one felony count of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. Among the pieces of evidence brought up by prosecution witnesses attesting to Murray's medical incompetence was the fact that he gave Jackson CPR on a bed instead of a hard surface. The hundreds of items up for sale in the auction include the queen-size bed where Jackson slept.
In an ironic twist, just as Murray was getting news of the guilty verdict, reporters were being taken through the three-story home on a private tour in order to publicize the auction.
"We want to preserve the history of these items," said auctioneer Darren Julien of the contents, which include paintings and sculptures Jackson surrounded himself with in the rented home as he tuned up for his planned "This is It" comeback tour. The house, where Jackson lived with his three children from December 2008 until his death, is also separately up for sale.
One of the most-personal items on the block ($400) is a chalkboard that hung in the home's kitchen that features a note from the kids that reads, "I (heart) Daddy. SMILE, it's for free." A mirror on an antique armoire in Jackson's private bedroom featured a message the star wrote to himself that read, "TRAIN, perfection, March April. FULL OUT May," a reference to the grueling rehearsal schedule the 50-year-old was keeping up as he prepared for the string of concerts that were to begin in London in July 2009.
Reporters also saw a "medication room," the bedroom shown in evidence photos at Murray's trial, where fans can pick up upholstered chairs smudged with Jackson's makeup. An attorney for Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson said that the family is aware of the auction and has made certain that the event does not use Michael's name or likeness to help sell the items; Jackson's name is not mentioned in the promotional materials for the auction.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674021/michael-jackson-house-content-auction.jhtml
Tom Hiddleston Has A Banner Year With 'Avengers,' 'Thor'
With five releases in 2011, Brit even made time for a Woody Allen movie, and he talks about it all in MTV News' Thankful Week.
By Kara Warner with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Tom Hiddleston
Photo: AFP
To say that 2011 has been a banner year for relative newcomer Tom Hiddleston would be a serious understatement. If you didn't see him beginning to discover his mischievous roots as Loki in "Thor," you may have caught him in "Midnight in Paris" as F. Scott Fitzgerald, or noticed his name and/or face in trailers and posters for the upcoming dramas "War Horse" and "The Deep Blue Sea." Not to mention all the attention paid to the filming of his villainous role in next year's surefire summer smash "The Avengers."
It's been a banner year indeed for Hiddleston, and from the looks of things, the very talented and delightfully disarmingly charming Englishman is just getting started. It should therefore come as no surprise to see that Tom Hiddleston is one of the actors for whom we're most thankful this year.
MTV News recently caught up with the 30-year-old to discuss his big year, what he is most thankful for and what the future has in store for him.
MTV: With "Thor," "Midnight in Paris," "War Horse" and "The Avengers," this has been an amazing year for you, yes?
Tom Hiddleston: Yeah, it has been amazing. Amazing that I was even remotely considered for any of those roles. Amazing that I got them, and amazing that they turned into the films that they turned into. It's hard enough to make a film ... God knows anyone involved in the business, no one ever sets out to make a bad one. I've just been so very lucky. I've worked with some incredibly talented people whose chances of making a bad film are certainly slimmer, but they're all extraordinary films in their own right.
MTV: Looking back at the start of your career, is this the kind of success you wanted?
Hiddleston: Oh yeah, but you dare not dream about it, you dare not dream. Sometimes to dream it, you think, almost, you kill the dream by trying to conceive it in your imagination. So my way, my process of making my way in the world is to put one foot in front of the other, accept each job for its own merits and that will lead to whatever it will lead to. And suddenly you're doing five films in one year and they're all awesome.
MTV: In the spirit of being one of the actors for whom we're most thankful, what are you thankful for this year?
Hiddleston: I can't believe you're thankful for me! I am so beyond proud. I am thankful for so much. I am thankful for the things I hope I never take for granted: the love and support of my family, for my friends and their successes, and for the fact that life is generally pretty damn amazing if you let it be. I'm thankful for the fact that I can sleep on planes. ... I know many people can't. ... I am thankful for my Nike "Flywire" red-stripe/ white-tick running shoes. ... I'm thankful for my iPod Shuffle too and the music that propels me round these wonderful places. Come to think of it, I am thankful that I can run at all. There is nothing like the feeling of health: mens sana in corpore sano (a sound mind in a healthy body). I only realized that fully when I hit my late 20s. I am thankful that I made it to 30 in one piece! Thankful for my 30th birthday party, which was incredible and featured the greatest dance-off between my friends that I have ever seen. The dance floor was the star. It was raised up like a stage and had flashing lights underneath it like a cross between the sidewalk in Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and the floor in "Saturday Night Fever." ... I'm thankful for the new album by Bon Iver, which I've just seen is the most played music in my iTunes Library. I am thankful for some incredible movies. My top five for 2011 are, in no particular order: "The Tree of Life," "Warrior," "Drive," "Bridesmaids" and "The Help." But I also haven't seen a lot of the most talked-about yet: "Shame," "The Descendants," "The Artist," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." I'm looking forward to all of those enormously.
MTV: How would you summarize this last year for you, career-wise? What kind of recognition are you now getting that you might not have had before?
Hiddleston: It has been an extraordinary year. Quite literally out of the ordinary. If the 30 years leading up to this one could be classified as "ordinary," this one definitely has the "extra" on the front. ... I feel incredibly fortunate: fortunate to have worked with some of the greatest directors alive and working today; fortunate to have been in films that have affected people and ignited in their imagination; fortunate to have played such a diverse range of roles across such different projects. I have shuffled in the shoes of Scott Fitzgerald, filled the boots of a First World War cavalry captain, fallen in and out of love with Rachel Weisz and run riot (twice) as the chaos-craving comic-book mischief-maker himself. I couldn't have dreamed it better. ... In terms of what I get now that I might not have gotten before: letters! I have received letters written with such passion and fervor that they reinvigorate and reinspire me to get back to work. An actor is not an actor without an audience. And if the audience is moved and inspired, as some have beautifully expressed that they have been in their writing, then I find that more meaningful than anything in the world. But I can still walk down the street to buy bananas without getting recognized, if that's what you mean.
MTV: What's next? Where do you go from here?
Hiddleston: At the moment, I am playing Prince Hal in Shakespeare's "Henry IV" part 1 and part 2, and Henry V in "Henry V." Hal was a drunken rebel, and Henry V was the greatest warrior king of England, and the fun part is that they're the same man. It's a great character arc. We are shooting the three plays as three separate films for BBC and NBCUniversal, directed by Richard Eyre and Thea Sharrock, and produced by Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions. They'll be on TV at the same time as the broadcast of the London Olympics. It's mud, blood and warrior poetry for me. Back to my roots. "The Avengers" is released on May 4, 2012, which is, um ... exciting! And then Chris Hemsworth and I will beam back up to Asgard for "Thor 2." The rest is a blank page. Just the way I like it. The surprises are the best part.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674736/tom-hiddleston-avengers-thor-thanksgiving.jhtml
Selena Gomez 'Humbled' By 2011
'I feel like this approach of this year, I wasn't expecting any of the things that happened,' Gomez says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Selena Gomez
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Selena Gomez has had quite a year. Not sure what we're talking about? Let us refresh your memory.
She toured, hosted the VMA pre-show, hosted the EMA show in Belfast, Northern Ireland, released several music videos off her album When the Sun Goes Down, including "Hit the Lights," starred in the flick "Monte Carlo" and said goodbye to her Disney series, "The Wizards of Waverly Place."
So when Gomez looks back on 2011, what will she remember most? "To be honest, it would probably be when my series ended and not in, like, a happy way, but it was kind of like it was a new chapter in my life," she told MTV News. "I think it was a really interesting time for me and that time in this year was probably my favorite."
The series wrapped filming earlier this year, but will continue airing into early 2012.
While saying goodbye to her show resonated with the star, she could have never foreseen how big her We Own the Night Tour would be. "My music, for sure, [surprised me], like touring. I definitely was excited to get on the road and be able [to have] my first headlining tour," she said. "I was excited to go everywhere and meet my fans and experience different places. To be honest, I didn't expect the tour to do as well as it did, and we went to Canada and Canada was amazing and made me feel very humbled."
As 2011 rolls along, Gomez is going into the coming year with the same philosophy she had for the last. "I feel like this approach of this year, I wasn't expecting any of the things that happened," she said. "And so I just kind of want to go into the end of this year and the beginning of next year just excited and in a good place and not planning anything."
Before the new year does come along, Gomez has some plans to just spend the holidays with those she loves. "I'm gonna have a week off for Thanksgiving, which will be nice, and then a week and a half or two weeks for Christmas time," she said. "And then I'm going to just relax and do nothing."
She has a busy year ahead of her that includes hitting the set of her next film, "Spring Breakers," co-starring James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens and Emma Roberts.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674944/selena-gomez-2011-tour-success.jhtml
Lady Gaga - Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
- Artist: Lady Gaga
- Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive
- Director: Mary Ann Tanedo
- Album: The Fame Monster
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3061469&vid=499028
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Britney Spears 'Saddened' By Irish Fan's Death
After Spears' Dublin concert, a fan was thrown off a fairground ride outside the venue.
By Kara Warner
Britney Spears
Photo: Danny Martindale/Getty Images
Britney Spears expressed her condolences Tuesday (October 25) to the family of a fan who died after attending her concert Monday in Dublin, Ireland.
Siobhan Healy, 31, was on a fairground ride called the Tip Top outside the concert venue when she was thrown to the ground and killed instantly. According to the U.K.'s Daily Mail, Healy had attended Spears' concert earlier in the evening at the nearby O2 arena.
"I was saddened to hear of the tragic accident in Dublin," Spears tweeted Tuesday. "My heart goes out to the family. --Britney"
A family friend told the paper that the accident has devastated the residents of Healy's hometown of Willsborough. "The community is very shocked," Michael McGreal said. "I know her family very well, we are all very upset."
An investigation has been launched to find out what caused the accident, with some speculating that the recent severe weather that has swept through Ireland might have been a contributing factor.
Kenneth McFadden, the owner of the company that runs the Tip Top ride, also expressed his condolences. "We can't say [what happened], it all happened so quick," he said. "We are just in bits at the moment, we are just devastated."
McFadden also told the Daily Mail that he has had the Tip Top ride for nearly five years and never experienced any problems with it.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673176/britney-spears-dublin-concert-death.jhtml
Conrad Murray's Lawyers Planning Appeal
Michael Jackson doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Monday.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray
Photo: Al Seib/Pool/Getty Images
The lawyers for Conrad Murray are planning to lodge an appeal on behalf of Michael Jackson's former doctor.
Murray, who was immediately sent to jail on Monday following his conviction on a single felony charge, is being housed in a part of the Los Angeles County jail set aside for high-profile prisoners. According to CNN, Murray's defense team has promised to appeal the conviction, but not before they prepare for his upcoming sentencing hearing on November 29. Defense attorney Nareg Gourjian said that Murray was "devastated" by the guilty verdict, but he is "confident" that he will win release on appeal.
"What matters most right now is trying to keep Dr. Murray from taking up a prison cell in this community," lead defense lawyer Ed Chernoff said. "That's what we're focusing on right now and we'll deal with an appeal after that."
Though Murray is facing up to four years in state prison on the charge, because of recent changes in sentencing laws in California aimed at reducing prison overcrowding, he is unlikely to spend any time in a state facility. His lawyers plan to ask for probation and Gourjian said he expects his client to spend "maybe a little bit" of time in county jail.
Both lawyers said they were not surprised by the verdict but that their case was hampered by some of the pre-trial rulings that were made on evidence the defense had planned to show the jury. "I think that's essentially what denied Dr. Murray a fair trial in this case," Gourjian said. He suggested that the outcome may have been different if Murray's team had been able to introduce evidence on Jackson's past drug use and dire "financial condition."
The verdict is in on the Conrad Murray trial. Stick with MTV News for continued coverage, updates and analysis on MTVNews.com.
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Beyonce Debuts New Videos -- And Her Wedding Dress!
'I Was Here' and 'End of Time' will be featured on upcoming 'Live at Roseland' DVD.
By Gil Kaufman
Beyonce in her "I Was Here" music video
Photo: Columbia
Just because Beyoncé is cooling her heels as she awaits the birth of her first child with husband Jay-Z, that doesn't mean her musical career is on bed rest.
In fact, Lady B has just unleashed the seventh and eighth music videos from her 4 album, for the songs "End of Time" and "I Was Here." Though they're not the high-concept clips Bey is typically known for, they are a nice sneak preview of the singer's upcoming "Live at Roseland" DVD, which will be on sale exclusively at Walmart starting November 21. The four-night stand of shows was taped at New York's Roseland Ballroom in August and featured a mix of old favorites and new songs from 4.
In the "I Was Here" video, we see a pre-pregnancy announcement Beyoncé onstage in a shimmery silver minidress, giving the crowd a bit of a windup about where the song came from. "It's taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am," she says in announcing the final tune of that show. "I searched all around the world, and I found myself. You all are my inspiration. I want to sing this last song and dedicate it to all of you guys."
Beyonce As a Bride: Beautiful As Ever? Tell Us On Facebook
After a clip of a very young Beyoncé thanking the judges in a talent show, the singer stands center stage and belts out the lush, inspirational ballad over a montage of home videos from her childhood, through her rise with Destiny's Child and into solo superstardom. And, oh yeah, a blink-and-you-miss-it shot even includes a peek at the voluminous white wedding gown she wore at her very private wedding to Jigga, not to mention some silly footage of Queen B getting her Slip 'n Slide on.
The "End of Time" video is the opposite end of the spectrum, a red-laser-flashing uptempo dance marathon with Beyoncé and her four sexy backup dancers shaking it over the song's Brazilian drum beat. Fans get to see the many looks Bey tried on while performing the tune, including shots of her with her female dancers to others with a squad of male hoofers, as well as a wide range of costumes, from a yellow fringe number to a gold jacket and the silver number from the "I Was Here" clip.
Friend Us Up on Facebook For Breaking News and Exclusives on Beyonce
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Usher - Lil Freak
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Raymond V. Raymond
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563
Lady Gaga, Britney, Taylor Swift, Beyonce Drop Concert DVDs
Four pop divas released concert specials on Monday — just in time for Black Friday!
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift
Photo: Getty Images
Music fans planning to burn off those post-Thanksgiving calories with some holiday shopping are in luck: Some of pop's biggest divas dropped live DVDs on Monday (November 21): Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Britney Spears all have concert specials out, just in time for your Black Friday wish list. Here, MTV News breaks down the four releases (and one more to watch out for).
Taylor Swift
Just as Taylor wraps up her Speak Now Tour this week, the American Music Award winner is releasing "Speak Now World Tour - Live." The 18-song DVD features Swift performing some of her biggest tracks during that arena-filling trek. And if that's not enough Taylor, there's also a 16-song CD that fans can snatch up.
Beyoncé
Filmed over four shows in New York, weeks before B announced her pregnancy at the VMAs, the "Live at Roseland" DVD special shows the Queen B recounting some of the greatest moments of her career before launching into a nonstop live performance of her 4 album. It also includes behind-the-scenes footage that gives fans their first look at the wedding dress Beyoncé wore the day she married Jay-Z.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is giving her little monsters a front row seat to her epic Monster Ball Tour. Filmed during stops at Madison Square Garden earlier this year, the concert originally aired on HBO and earned the pop star an Emmy. The DVD also includes previously unseen material that didn't make the final cut on HBO. In addition, Gaga is releasing a new album, Born This Way - The Remix, today.
Britney Spears
After debuting her Femme Fatale live concert special on Epix earlier this month, Spears is releasing the spectacle on DVD this week for those who may have missed it. Full of costume changes, swirling dance numbers and a sexy lap dance, this special is perfect for the Brit enthusiast.
One to Pre-Order: Adele
A fifth diva will get into the game on Cyber Monday. On November 28, Adele drops her own concert special, "Live at the Royal Albert Hall." And given that it might be a while before the singer hits the road again (she's on the mend from throat surgery), the DVD will at least give fans a taste of Adele's live stage show.
Share your concert DVD shopping picks in the comments section!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674804/lady-gaga-beyonce-taylor-swift-britney-concert-dvd.jhtml
Mixtape Daily: Rico Love, Gunplay
The platinum songwriter and producer talks about his work with Kelly Rowland and Good friend Usher.
Photo: Triple C's
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Justin Bieber And Boyz II Men Unwrap 'Fa La La' Video
Black-and-white video showcases Bieber's heartfelt singing with his idols.
By Rob Markman
Shawn Stockman and Justin Bieber
Photo: LiveWire Entertainment
Christmas is right around the corner, but the Biebs is already in the holiday spirit. On Wednesday (November 23), Justin Bieber dropped the video for "Fa La La" with Boyz II Men. There are no reindeer or presents under the tree; instead, Justin and the Philadelphia R&B outfit sing of a warm love that will endure through the holiday season.
The black-and-white clip begins in an empty loft, where Bieber sings alone, with his arms flailing and face slightly scrunching every time he hits those heartfelt notes. Justin's solo intro leads way to a collaborative bridge, where Boyz II Men join in. "Baby you de-serve eve-ry-thing you want/ It's your night," they all sing in harmony as the "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" vocalists join the teenage star in song on the front porch of a brick house.
No elaborate set needed. With an empty city as their backdrop, the four crooners throw down in an old-fashioned sing-off. As the track builds, BIIM's Wanya Morris really gets into it, pounding his chest and kicking one leg up to accentuate his performance. Bieber, who is dressed in a white tee and slim-cut leather jacket, tugs on his collar to let you just how much his words mean to him.
On November 1, Bieber teased the clip when he tweeted, "Killed it with @BoyzIImen on DWTS and then just shot a video for our song #FALALA with @colintilley - great night! living a dream. Thanku," in reference to his appearance on "Dancing With The Stars" and the Colin Tilley-directed "Fa La La" video.
Maybe some of Boyz II Men's subject matter was a bit mature for the pint-size Bieber, but they influenced him nonetheless. "He told us his mom didn't want him to sing 'I'll Make Love to You,' so he'd sneak and go sing it somewhere," Wanya Morris told MTV News. "It's also good to know we've influenced such a good artist. It's something that makes us feel we've accomplished [something and] we're doing our job, [that] a guy so young and so into his craft [is] influenced by three guys from Philadelphia that love to sing."
Yes, "Fa La La" is the latest single from JB's holiday LP, Under the Mistletoe, but Tilley and company didn't overload the video with Christmas themes as to so implicitly tie it to December 25 -- after all, true love should last all year 'round.
What do you think of the video? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674939/justin-bieber-boyz-ii-men-fa-la-la-video.jhtml
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