Network Marketing Today: 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010

Michael Jackson Producers Defend Posthumous Michael Album

'Michael mentored me so much to where I kind of knew how to complete his sentences,' Theron 'Neff-U' Feemster tells MTV News of picking up where MJ left off.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Steven Roberts

Michael Jackson's Michael
Photo: Epic Records

Michael Jackson's first posthumous album, Michael, has been met with mixed emotions by fans of the King of Pop. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am lashed out at MJ's estate for commissioning the album, while Akon, a contributor on the project, hailed the effort.

Some of the songwriters and producers behind Michael are simply asking people to give it a chance before making a decision.

"They're gonna love the music, because it speaks for itself," Eddie Cascio, who is credited as a songwriter on "Breaking News," told MTV News. "Michael sounds great. The songs are great. The production sounds great. Teddy Riley did a phenomenal job finishing off the songs. The quality and production are incredible."

Theron "Neff-U" Feemster agreed. The producer had a hand in three of the album's 10 tracks, including "Hollywood Tonight" and standouts "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" and "Best of Joy." Feemster worked with Jackson in the past, as did the majority of the contributors to Michael, which he thinks made the project uniquely authentic despite MJ having little say in the way his tracks were completed.

"It wasn't difficult," Feemster told MTV News of picking up the rough material. "It was like coloring. It was coloring a frame that was already structured. Michael mentored me so much to where I kind of knew how to complete his sentences. I understood the expectations that he wanted. He wanted to be beyond great. He wanted to give the world a gift, something they'd never heard or seen before. So even after his passing, it was great to have a great team of people to work with who also had experience working with Michael. It made it that much easier. Bringing very creative people together and people who understood his integrity and what he wanted as well, it was great."

What do you think of Michael? Share your reviews in the comments.

Related Photos

Michael Jackson's 'Michael' Cover Decoded

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Michael Jackson

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654266/20101214/jackson_michael.jhtml

Nicole Richie Nicole Scherzinger Nicollette Sheridan Nikki Cox Nikki Reed

2011: The Year In Rock

Experts weigh in on who influenced the music industry more - Britney Spears or Lady Gaga.

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King

Photos | The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees

The 2010 Soul Train Awards Nominees

Kristen Bell Kristin Cavallari Kristin Kreuk Kristy Swanson Kylie Bax

Nicole ?Snooki? Polizzi Will Drop IN A Ball On New Year?s Eve . . . In The Jersey Shore

Earlier this month we learned the odd news that MTV Jersey Shore star Nicole Snooki Polizzi would be dropped in a ball of her very own in Times Square, NYC as the final seconds of 2010 ticked away (in the same way that the larger, more famous Times Square Ball drops every New Year’s Eve) [...]

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Tricia Vessey Trista Rehn Tyra Banks Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens

Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy

If U Seek Amy

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive, Zomba Label Group
Director: Jake Nava
Album: Circus

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=354290

Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton Mary Elizabeth Winstead Megan Ewing Megan Fox

Natalie Portman & James Franco Do ?Entertainment Weekly? Magazine

Newly engaged & pregs Natalie Portman and Academy Awards host James Franco each grace their own cover of this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly magazine. The coverstory for this week’s issue is focused on the Oscar Race for the 83rd annual Academy Awards so Natalie and James, both front-runners for Oscar noms for their work [...]

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Penélope Cruz Pink Piper Perabo Poppy Montgomery Portia de Rossi

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Britney Spears - Piece of Me

Piece of Me

Artist: Britney Spears
Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
Album: Blackout

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=195543

Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku

Lindsay Lohan's Family Threatens To Sue Over 'Dogs In Pocketbooks'

Mom Dina Lohan says the family has 'a very strong case' against satirical film.
By Terri Schwartz

Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

It took less than a day for reps from the Lohan family to speak out against Charles Casillo's latest film, "Dogs in Pocketbooks." The screenplay was written as a satire of Lindsay Lohan's life, though Casillo was emphatic that the film was "in no way mean-spirited toward Lindsay," adding, "It's the kind of thing she has spoofed about herself in the past."

But the Lohan family has been notoriously sensitive about anything that makes a mockery of Lindsay, most recently seen when they sued E-Trade for $100 million because of an ad that was modeled after her and ran during the Super Bowl.

Dina Lohan, Lindsay's mother, spoke with TMZ and said the family is considering legal action against Casillo. She said the new movie is "definitely based on Lindsay's likeness" (something Casillo did not try to hide when the film was announced Monday) and that the family has "a very strong case. It's shadowing E-Trade."

The Lohan family has already contacted their lawyer, Stephanie Ovadia, who told TMZ she thinks they have a case against the film. "They are again using [Lindsay's] likeness without her being compensated," the lawyer said. "Not only that, but they are advertising the fact they are using her likeness. Anyone bringing negativity will be dealt with accordingly."

When TMZ contacted Casillo for comment, he backpedaled and said that allegations that the movie is based on Lindsay are "totally blown out of proportion." He argued that the character is a composite of many young Hollywood starlets, including Lohan, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow.

"Dogs in Pocketbooks" follows a "bratty movie goddess in and out of rehab, in trouble with the law, and hounded by greedy agents, predatory paparazzi, off-the-wall stalkers and crazed media." The title is an obvious reference to the trend Hilton started by carrying around her teacup Chihuahua in her purse, but the rest of the character description sounds markedly similar to Lohan.

On Monday, it was announced that model and heiress Lydia Hearst Shaw would play the lead, with Joan Collins cast as her agent. Casillo said of Hearst Shaw, "She's one of the few supermodels who can actually act. She's smart, well-read, charming and very beautiful. We looked at a lot of actresses for this role, and I was really knocked out."

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

Related Artists

Lindsay Lohan

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655004/20101228/lohan_lindsay.jhtml

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Photos | Justin Bieber's AMA Night

Justin Bieber's AMA Night

Chyler Leigh Ciara Cindy Crawford Cindy Taylor Cinthia Moura

Stephen Dorff Says Filming 'Somewhere' Was 'Pretty Extreme'

'It's the most naked part you could ever play,' Dorff says of his role in the Sofia Coppola-directed film.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Stephen Dorff
Photo: MTV News

For many moviegoers familiar with his work, Stephen Dorff is most recognized for playing dark, destructive and evil characters à la Deacon Frost in "Blade" — the role for which he took home an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. His new movie "Somewhere," written and directed by Sofia Coppola, is a complete departure from much of his previous work, a role that required Dorff to step into new territories of both filmmaking and acting.

"This one was pretty extreme because [Coppola] wanted to experience some real-time acting on film," Dorff told MTV News of Coppola, whose unique directorial style involved getting lingering shots of his character just staring off in the distance or literally doing nothing. "So if I smoke a cigarette, that might be one line in the script but in the movie it might be five minutes, so it's very authentic," he added.

Dorff said the role of Johnny Marco, a disenchanted movie star and absent father to 11-year-old Cleo (played by Elle Fanning), was the most challenging of his career thus far.

"It's the most naked part you could ever play, really, because there's no plot driving the emotion," he said. "There's no explosions, nobody dying to trigger an emotional breakdown, there's no bank robbery. This is a film that's based on almost a portrait of a guy we open with, and we find the monotony in his life. Then when Elle comes into play, Cleo, it becomes really this movie about an adolescent father who needs a change in his life or he's headed for disaster."

Dorff described Marco as broken, lost, confused and bored with his life, until his daughter comes along and he starts to realize how spending time with her, actually being a father, makes him happy.

"While he's been going through that, he's missed probably three years of crucial time with his daughter and the fog starts to lift throughout the film," he explained. "He starts to see this beautiful girl and starts to get his act together."

"Somewhere" began a limited run in theaters on Wednesday.

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

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654859/20101223/story.jhtml

Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King

Photos | 2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez Paula Garcés Paulina Rubio

Reese Witherspoon's Love Life: From Ryan Phillippe To Jim Toth

As the actress announces her engagement, we review her dating history.
By Jocelyn Vena

Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon in October 2006
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Reese Witherspoon joined an ever-growing list of engaged celebrities Tuesday when she announced that she and boyfriend Jim Toth plan to tie the knot. Over the course of her public life, Witherspoon has been married once before (to Ryan Phillippe) and even dated Jake Gyllenhaal for quite a bit of time. With congratulatory wishes to Witherspoon and Toth, we take a look back at Witherspoon's dating history.

(Check out photos of Reese with her past loves.)

Before meeting and marrying Phillippe, Witherspoon had been romantically linked to Jason London, Stephen Dorff, Chris O'Donnell and Mark Wahlberg, but it was Phillippe who Witherspoon settled down with for about a decade.

As the story goes, Phillippe arrived to Witherspoon's 21st birthday party in 1997, where love bloomed. The "Cruel Intentions" co-stars got engaged in December 1998 and married in June 1999. The pair quickly started a family with the arrival of their daughter, Ava, in September of that year. Four years later, they welcomed their son, Deacon, in October 2003.

Before they split in 2006, Witherspoon opened up about married life, noting that it wasn't always easy. Revealing that she and Phillippe went to couple's therapy, she said, "We've done that in the past, and it's always struck me as odd that people grabbed onto that story and made it sound so negative. In what capacity is working on yourself or your marriage a bad thing? What marriage isn't a journey? If you don't have money to go to therapy, there's always church. You can get together with groups and friends and talk about things with other couples."

After divorcing Phillippe in 2007, Witherspoon was spotted with her "Rendition" co-star Jake Gyllenhaal. The two tried to keep their relationship quiet, but after being photographed together multiple times, it was Phillippe who let the cat out of the bag. "It's bizarre," he told USA Today in March 2008 of seeing photos of the couple.

Witherspoon herself eventually confirmed the relationship to Vogue in October of that year, calling Gyllenhaal "very supportive."

"Suffice it to say, I'm very happy in life, and I'm very lucky to have a lot of really supportive people around me who care very much for me, and, you know, that's all you can hope for in life," she said. "I am very blessed in that way."

But the couple was broken up by November 2009. After several months alone, Witherspoon began dating talent agent Jim Toth in February 2010. The pair's announcement of their engagement Tuesday comes after nearly a year of dating.

Witherspoon opened up to Glamour about being in a relationship with someone who's not a celebrity, saying, "I have a little perspective on this. I wouldn't say it's easier. Every relationship has its own dynamic. And I don't want to disparage any of the other relationships that I've had that were meaningful and wonderful. But what I'm finding out is that it's very comfortable to be with somebody who understands my career, but doesn't do what I do. He's a great guy. He's wonderful."

Send your well-wishes to Witherspoon and Toth in the comments section below!

Related Photos

Reese Witherspoon's Dating History

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655037/20101229/story.jhtml

Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Is A Verizon iPad On The Way?

Earlier this month we heard the rumor that Apple is planning the release of the second generation iPad for February 2011 (tho, the rumors have been updated to a release date in April). Today we hear another rumor that when the iPad 2 does get released, it will be available in 3 different formats … [...]

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Marika Dominczyk Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff

AMA 2010 Performance Highlights

Taylor Swift performs at the 2010 American Music Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Film Magic

Miranda Kerr Mischa Barton Missi Pyle Missy Peregrym Molly Sims

Michael Jackson - Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Director: Bill Dicicco
Album: Dangerous

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208381

Minka Kelly Minki van der Westhuizen Miranda Kerr Mischa Barton Missi Pyle

Usher's 'OMG' Gets Celeb Endorsement As Song Of The Year

'It's undeniable,' Travie McCoy says of the track that topped MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010.
By Jocelyn Vena

Usher
Photo: Getty Images

2010 had some great jams, and all week, MTV News has been counting down some of its best. Everything from Lady Gaga's "Telephone" and Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" to two of Kanye's West's killer My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tracks, "Power" and "Runaway," made the top 10. But it was Usher's bombastic party jam "OMG" that rose to the top and came in at #1.

So what made that song such a party anthem? "Oh my God! That's exactly what I would say! Oh my God!" Pauly D joked about 2010's top party jam. "Dope, dope track. I love playing it. The crowd goes crazy when I play it. Usher's the man!"

Travie McCoy added: "It's a great song. It's undeniable, you know what I mean?"

"Dancing With the Stars" pro Lacey Schwimmer admitted that "OMG" was the track that got dancers, both professional and amateur, on the dance floor. "You guys got a great dance anthem," she said. "So be prepared for people who do not know how to dance just going to town!"

Producer Alex Da Kid gave props to will.i.am for the song's epic beat. "I love 'OMG.' I think it's definitely something different for Usher," he said. "And it still has all the dance performance elements Usher's known for, but it's something slightly different and done in a will.i.am kind of way, and it's different and that's why it connected to so many different people. It's a great song."

Celebrities also weighed in on their favorite jams of 2010, choosing everything from Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" to B.o.B and Hayley Williams' "Airplanes."

Why did you love "OMG" in 2010? Tell us in the comments!

Related Videos

MTV News' Top Songs Of 2010

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MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010

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Usher

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653966/20101209/usher.jhtml

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Photos | Albums That Sold 1 Million Copies In The First Week

Albums That Sold 1 Million Copies In The First Week

Uma Thurman Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Marcil Vanessa Minnillo Vanessa Simmons

Photos | Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?

Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?

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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love

Whole Lotta Love

Artist: Led Zeppelin
Label: Swan Song
Album: The Song Remains the Same

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=993&vid=84215

Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks Shakara Ledard

Photos | The Evolution Of: Britney Spears

The Evolution Of: Britney Spears

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Britney Spears

Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1619579

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Photos | Albums That Sold 1 Million Copies In The First Week

Albums That Sold 1 Million Copies In The First Week

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Photos | Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

Related Artists

Michael Jackson

Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1620796

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Les News, 122710

Little Fockers was the #1 movie at the box office this weekend. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange signs a $1.3 million dollar deal for his memoirs. Teena Marie, the Ivory Queen of Soul, passed away at the age of 54 :( A Real Housewife of Beverly Hills shows up in Aspen, CO. Will Apple tackle holograms [...]

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Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader

Michael Jackson's Michael Has King Of Pop's 'Spirit,' Producer Says

'This feels like Michael, this feels like the spirit of Michael,' Teddy Riley tells MTV News.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Steven Roberts

Teddy Riley at the Michael Jackson album-release party
Photo: MTV News

Teddy Riley had a long-standing working relationship with Michael Jackson, and the producer said Jackson's latest project, Michael, is as authentic an LP as any of the superstar's past work.

"Oh, they're gonna say this is him, that's the first thing," Riley told MTV News about fan's anticipated reaction to the set. "And this feels good. This feels like Michael, this feels like the spirit of Michael. And we love him, that's what they're gonna say."

The project, which arrived in stores and online Tuesday (December 14), is the first posthumous MJ collection since the singer died in June 2009.

Riley, along with Akon, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, The-Dream) and a host of other producers and songwriters were commissioned to complete the project, which was birthed from a spate of unfinished material in Jackson's archives. In the past, Riley has helmed MJ's Dangerous album, on which he produced "Remember the Time" and "Jam," among other tracks.

For Michael, which Riley was called in to work on during the last three months of production, the former Guy and Blackstreet member had a handy trick to help him retrieve the vibe he shared with MJ.

"Just by bringing his spirit in the room, in the actual studio," Riley explained. "I had his pictures all over the place. Time after time, I would [also] go back and forth to Thriller and listen to all the music to get the spirit and keep his spirit in the room. To keep the bad energy out of the room. He was always about the good energy. Anytime there was a negative energy, nothing would happen. The computers would react, they would just go out. There was serious spirits in the room. Shutting down computers. That was the problems we were going through. But when it felt good and the energy was good, everything went smooth and we got through the project."

Have you heard Michael yet? Share your reviews in the comments!

Related Photos

Michael Jackson's 'Michael' Cover Decoded

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Michael Jackson

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654228/20101214/jackson_michael.jhtml

Aisha Tyler Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel

Monday, December 27, 2010

Britney Spears To Release Next Album In March

'I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March,' she tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears
Photo: Fame Pictures

Britney Spears tweeted Thursday (December 2) that her next album will drop in March. The singer, who has been working with a number of producers, including Dr. Luke and Max Martin, shared with her fans that she is "in love" with the yet-untitled project.

"I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March," she wrote. "I AM IN L-O-V-E WITH IT!"

She also thanked fans for sending birthday wishes; the singer turned 29 on Thursday. "My fans mean the world to me & waking up to all of your wishes really made me smile, so here's something that I hope will make you smile... ," she wrote. "Just wanted to thank all of you for the amazing birthday wishes you guys have been sending all day."

The singer also sarcastically responded to recent reports that her beau, Jason Trawick, has abused her. "Ok, off on a romantic weekend with Jason for my birthday. xoxo Brit," she tweeted. "PS - Star Magazine, Radar Online, Jason Alexander and the rest of you liars, Ya'll can kiss my lily white southern Louisiana a**!"

While no additional details about the album, which is a follow-up to her 2008 release have been made available, Dr. Luke did recently tease that fans may hear new music from the singer very soon. "Time to get this song out the door and out to mix," he tweeted late last month. "I think you know what artist i'm talking Bout... Right???"

"She's such an icon, I don't want to let anyone down," Dr. Luke recently said about working with Spears. "But most importantly, I want to make good music. ... I'm excited to be co-executive producing with Max Martin, the person who kind of invented Britney, and to make good music. And she's such an amazing vehicle to getting that music out to a lot of people in every country."

What are you expecting from Brit's next album? Let us know in the comments!

Related Photos

The Evolution Of: Britney Spears

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Britney Spears

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653477/20101202/spears_britney.jhtml

Kelly Brook Kelly Carlson Kelly Clarkson Kelly Hu Kelly Monaco

Photos | Celebs Get 'Dolled' Up

Celebs Get 'Dolled' Up

Kate Hudson Kate Mara Kate Moss Kate Walsh Katharine McPhee

Snooki Declares East Coast Blizzard A 'Snow Party'

Sofia Vergara, La La Vazquez and a pair of New Jersey Housewives are also tweeting about the massive snowfall.
By Jocelyn Vena

Snooki
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Starting Sunday, the East Coast was hit by a massive storm, prompting many in the area to extend their holiday weekend by one more day. And it seems that some of the region's biggest celebs have mixed feelings about the snow.

"Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara simply tweeted, "Finally snowing in the house!! Wuuu hooo!" She then posted a photo of herself bundled up in the snow.

"Jersey Shore" star Snooki seemed content with the weather. "Still up and enjoying this snow storm !! #snowpartyallnight." She later added: "Ahhh the reindeer are getting burried Wahhh! Poor things," followed by a photo of herself hanging out among the snow drifts.

VH1 reality star and former MTV VJ La La Vazquez went to Twitter for a weather update: "Is it still snowing in NYC?"

If La La needed an answer, all she had to do was look to the Twitter feeds of some of reality TV's biggest stars, who were out in full force reacting to the intense snow that fell over much of the Tri-State Area.

"I have to say I freakin HATE snow," tweeted "Real Housewives of New Jersey" alum Dina Manzo. "Does nothing but cause problems & put people I love in danger. It should only snow in the mountains."

Fellow New Jersey housewife Danielle Staub had a more positive reaction to the epic downfall, tweeting, "It's snowing!!! Good morning. My kids are so excited about all the snow falling!! Yay!!! The snow came and its beautiful!!" Things got dire, though, when she later added, "Mayor's office called a state of emergency."

Have you been impacted by the snow? Share your storm stories in the comments!

Related Photos

New York City Gets Snowed In

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654922/20101227/story.jhtml

Noureen DeWulf Olivia Munn Olivia Wilde Padma Lakshmi Paige Butcher

'Little Fockers' Celebrates At The Holiday Box Office

'Fockers' won a meager first-place prize, while 'True Grit' blasted its way to second place.
By Josh Wigler

Ben Stiller in "Little Fockers"
Photo: Universal Studios/DW Studios

'Tis the season to be jolly, but while the holiday spirit was present in millions of households this past weekend, it wasn't felt with nearly as much fanfare at the movies.

It was a fairly quiet weekend at the box office this holiday season, with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro's "Little Fockers" leading the pack with an estimated $34 million from Friday through Sunday and a five-day total of $48.3 million. But while Jack still has his eye on Greg, few people entered the circle of trust this go-around, as "Fockers," the second sequel to the critically acclaimed "Meet the Parents," failed to match the success of its predecessor "Meet the Fockers," which earned $70.5 million in its first five days in 2004.

Indeed, the second-place showing for "True Grit" was more impressive than the first-place "Fockers" in many respects. For one, the Jeff Bridges-starring Western drew $36.8 million since opening on Wednesday of last week, nearly crushing its entire $38 million production budget in a single session. "True Grit" also marked the single-best opening for any Coen brothers movie to date, easily surpassing the $19.1 million "Burn After Reading" earned in 2008.

"Tron Legacy" remained on the gaming grid this weekend with a third-place finish worth $25.6 million. The movie suffered a steep 54 percent drop from its opening performance last weekend, leaving some to wonder whether Disney's decision to revitalize the science-fiction franchise was a sound one.

The weekend's biggest disappointment was Jack Black's "Gulliver's Travels," which debuted Saturday and ended the weekend in seventh place with $7.2 million. Releasing the film on Christmas Day was a risky gamble on Fox's part, and despite the message that "Gulliver" has to offer, size really does matter when it comes to business, and unfortunately for the studio, the opening numbers on "Gulliver" are simply too small to consider the film anything but a flop.

The Box-Office Top Five
#1 "Little Fockers" ($34 million)
#2 "True Grit" ($25.6 million)
#3 "Tron Legacy" ($20.1 million)
#4 "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" ($10.8 million)
#5 "Yogi Bear" ($8.8 million)

Upcoming Releases
It's going to be another quiet weekend at the box office next week, with smaller-budget dramas "Another Year" and "Blue Valentine" sneaking in as the weekend's only new releases with a combined total of 10 theaters between the two of them.

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

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'Little Fockers' Clips

Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas Eva Green Eva Longoria

Michael Jackson - Liberian Girl

Liberian Girl

Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Bad

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208399

Leslie Bega Leslie Bibb Lil Kim Lily Allen Lindsay Lohan

Britney Spears Set To Audition Dancers For Music Video

A Britney fansite reports that video will shoot in January.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/ Le Studio/ Wireimage

Although Britney Spears' next album isn't set for release until March, her fans can start gearing up for new music now.

According to a Spears fansite, BreatheHeavy.com, a notice about auditions for a new Britney video was sent out by her camp.

Tryouts will reportedly be held on Wednesday (December 22), and Spears is looking for male and female dancers to join her in the video for the single, which is set for a January release, according to the notice. "Hold It Against Me" is rumored to be the title of the song, though no details regarding the single or video have been confirmed.

"The dates for the project are still to be determined but it will be happening on either the 9th and 10th of January with rehearsals anytime after Xmas and leading up to those dates or on the 15th and 16th with rehearsals leading in after Xmas as well," the notice reads. "He is looking for men and women with fabulous bodies and faces. They must be versatile. This is not for the tour at this time or even promo. It is just for the video."

Spears' choreographer, Brian Freidman, hinted about the auditions on his Twitter. He has worked with the singer on videos for "Toxic" and "Me Against the Music." "Countdown... 2 days till that very special audition I am holding in LA. Very exciting!!!" he wrote on Monday.

On Tuesday he wrote, "Breaking my body choreographing for 2moros casting. Get ready! I'm makin y'all work for this gig! The start of a new era! Stretch!!! I must go 2 bed NOW! Have 2 B up in 6 hours! Everyone who's auditioning get some rest & dress 2 impress! I want STARS not classroom dancers!"

Are you eager to hear new music from Britney? Tell us in the comments!

Related Artists

Britney Spears

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654828/20101222/spears_britney.jhtml

Joanna Krupa Joanne Montanez Jodi Lyn OKeefe Jolene Blalock Jordana Brewster

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Photos | Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel Jessica Cauffiel Jessica Paré

Celebs Celebrate Xmas 2010 By Feeding The Hungry

Celebrities like Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alyssa Milano, Kate Linder (from The Young and the Restless) and Brandy joined a group of volunteers along with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus yesterday to serve hot meals and pass out gifts to the less fortunate people of Los Angeles at the LA Mission. As you may recall, some [...]

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Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon Rhona Mitra Rihanna

Topher Grace On The Complicated Life Of 'Take Me Home Tonight'

The '80s-set flick's depiction of cocaine use was partly responsible for long release-date delay.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Topher Grace in "Take Me Home Tonight"
Photo: Imagine Entertainment

The inner workings of Hollywood are a perpetual mystery, particularly when film scheduling is involved. The normal filmmaking, script-to-screen process is, in a nutshell, basic: Script is written, produced, filmed, edited, promoted — and voila! It hits theaters. But as many beleaguered writers/producers/directors/actors know, things don't always go so smoothly.

Take, for example, the comedy "Take Me Home Tonight" (formerly titled "Kids in America"), which stars Topher Grace (who's also executive producer), Ana Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer and Michelle Trachtenberg. Not exactly an indie, no-name cast, and yet the film completed principal photography in late 2006/ early 2007 and is just now getting released.

When MTV News caught up with Grace recently, we asked him to take us through the producing process that finally led to its release date.

"[The film came from] this idea that every generation had a film that looked about 20 years back," Grace said, adding the fact that no one had captured the spirit of the '80s in film without making fun of the decade. "We wanted to do something that felt like it was literally made in the '80s. So, we brought this to a different studio, and they were very supportive when they made the film, so we're very grateful for that."

What slowed down the process from there, Grace explained, was a hesitation from the studio with several scenes that involve cocaine use. "It tested really well," he said. "It's an audience film. It's not drama, but there was a real hesitation because there is so much cocaine in it, and our feeling at the time was, 'You can't do a movie about Prohibition without alcohol, and you really can't do a movie about partying in the '80s, at the age these kids are, without showing cocaine use."

Lucky for Grace and his producing partner Gordon Kaywin, the film received new life at Imagine Entertainment, via veteran producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.

"We had fun producing, but those guys are the real deal," Grace said of Howard and Grazer. "We learned a lot from them, and they're probably the greatest producers of our time. So, they encouraged us to not change the cut, which I thought was a really cool move."

Grace also credited Ryan Kavanaugh, the CEO of Relativity Media (the studio that is now releasing the film), with understanding and helping execute their original idea.

"He understood that you can't make a movie like 'Dazed and Confused' if it doesn't have pot in it," Grace said. "You just can't; it doesn't ring true. It's not that real thing we talk about, and he and his team embraced it, and that's the film we got to see."

The former "That '70s Show" star said he's thrilled with the final result.

"We're so happy with the film. It's creatively exactly what we wanted, and it's exactly the opposite of the normal situation where stuff gets cut," he said. "[For us] it was the opposite: We got to put stuff back in."

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654786/20101221/story.jhtml

Kate Beckinsale Kate Bosworth Kate Groombridge Kate Hudson Kate Mara

Taylor Swift Tops Billboard Again, While Michael Jackson Debuts At #3

In a big week for sales, Swift's Speak Now fends off Susan Boyle for #1.
By James Montgomery

Taylor Swift's Speak Now
Photo: Big Machine Records

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... especially for the music industry. Album sales surged thanks to all you holiday shoppers, and you put Taylor Swift back on top of next week's Billboard albums chart. Swift barely edges out Susan Boyle in a week that saw plenty of big numbers put up across the board.

Swift's Speak Now sold more than 259,000 copies (up 30 percent from last week) to claim the #1 spot, according to figures provided by Neilsen SoundScan. Meanwhile, Boyle's The Gift sold more than 254,000, ending her run atop the chart. The week's highest debut belongs to the late Michael Jackson, whose posthumous Michael album sold nearly 228,000 copies to open at #3. A pair of holiday-themed releases — Jackie Evancho's O Holy Night and the "Glee" cast's Christmas album — round out the Top 5, selling nearly 191,000 and 158,000 copies, respectively.

Up next at #6, it's R. Kelly's Love Letter, which debuts with sales of nearly 154,000 copies, and, at #7, it's Diddy-Dirty Money, whose long-delayed Last Train to Paris opens to the tune of nearly 101,000 copies sold. The rest of the Top 10 is filled out by Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday (#8, more than 97,000 copies sold), Kid Rock's Born Free (#9, nearly 94,000) and the "Glee" cast's The Music, Volume 4 (nearly 87,000).

Outside the Top 10, there are debuts from "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox, whose Farmer's Daughter sold nearly 58,000 copies — 20,000 more than "Idol" champ Lee DeWyze sold in his first week — to open at #28. Smoove R&B crooner Tank's Now or Never bows at #35 (more than 43,000 sold), and Ciara's Basic Instinct, has a meek debut at #44, with sales of nearly 37,000 copies.

Nearly every album in the Billboard top 50 posted a sales increase from the previous week's numbers, including Katy Perry's Teenage Dream (#15), which saw a 26 percent increase in sales, Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#18, with a 36 percent bump in sales) and Eminem's Recovery (#22, with a 39 percent jump). And that trend looks to continue on next week's Billboard chart, too, since there are still two shopping days left before Christmas.

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Tricky Stewart Defends New Michael Jackson Tune, 'Keep Your Head'

'This was a record that [MJ] wrote and that he produced. And I just got in there,' the producer maintains.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by James Lacsina

Tricky Stewart
Photo: MTV News

While detractors of Michael Jackson's Michael album cry foul over the unfinished material that makes up the bulk of the posthumous project, producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is insisting that his contribution to the release was material MJ put together — and finished — himself.

In the case of "Keep Your Head Up," one of the album's biggest standouts, Stewart told MTV News that the track was not a remake of any kind. Rather, he just added minor additional production flourishes to the number.

"The main thing I wanted to do was make sure that Michael would like it," said Stewart, who has worked with Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and The-Dream. "And that it would feel like something he would do naturally if he was here. A lot of it was probably me overthinking it a little bit. And trying to deliver what I think he would do. And there's so much music that he made that I could reference the precision of what he was into musically. I did that and this was a song that he wrote. It wasn't he and me making a record. This was a record that he wrote and that he produced. And I just got in there.

He added, "It was really just about getting into his mental space and trying to find out the best way to deliver that record."

"Keep Your Head" leaked online prior to Michael's release and was under scrutiny regarding the validity of MJ's vocals.

Although, it's evident that Jackson's lead crooning on "Keep Your Head" is authentic and new, some of the background vocals are alleged to be from previously released material, like the 1995 tune "Earth Song."

Stewart confirmed that the primary vocals are Jackson's and said he was satisfied with the result.

"It was really surreal," the producer said of the experience. "Getting into that moment and getting into that space, to have the opportunity to work with the greatest entertainer of all time. Or work on, I should say. It was a tremendous time in my life to just get in there and listen to his voice, be able to strip down the track and listen to him in his purest form — something that most people can't do. It was a great experience. I'm glad I did it, I had a lot of fun doing it and I think the track came out great."

What's your opinion about "Keep Your Head"? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654447/20101216/jackson_michael.jhtml

Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian Kim Smith Kim Yoon jin Kirsten Dunst

Celebs Celebrate Xmas 2010 By Feeding The Hungry

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Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Zac Efron Debuts Buzz Cut

Actor gets a military 'do for 'The Lucky One' and urges film's crew to get in on the haircuts for charity.
By Terri Schwartz

Zac Efron
Photo: Twitter

Zac Efron already ditched his token shaggy locks for a flipped-up 'do in "Charlie St. Cloud," but now he's made a radical hair change that could rival Watsongate. Efron traded his pretty head of hair for a military buzz cut while he was filming on the set of "The Lucky One," and a fan who snapped a photo with the former Disney star debuted Efron's new look via Twitter.

Filming wrapped on "The Lucky One" on Tuesday, but Efron decided he wasn't going to be the only lucky member of the crew to walk away with a shorter haircut. Since everyone is feeling charitable for the holidays, Efron made a deal with the crew of "The Lucky One" last week. For every crewmember who shaved their heads like he did, Efron would donate cash to the local charity Kingsley House. The Louisiana-based organization lists its mission as educating children, strengthening families and building community.

Thirty crewmembers took Efron up on his proposal, New Orleans' daily paper the Times-Picayune reported, including two who donated their hair to Locks of Love. The exact amount of money Efron has agreed to donate to Kingsley House hasn't been announced yet, but the Times-Picayune is reporting that it's thousands of dollars.

"He likes doing things for charity -- two Make-A-Wish kids made a visit to the set while he was there -- and he felt like he wanted to do something for a New Orleans charity since he had such a nice time shooting there," Efron's publicist Gina Hoffman told the New Orleans newspaper.

So for everyone out there hoping Efron's radical hair change was a result of his recent breakup with longtime girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens, your hopes have gone unanswered. When People recently caught up with Hudgens at her birthday party last week, she also confirmed that she and Efron are "good" after their split.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654890/20101223/story.jhtml

Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough Julie Benz Julie Berry

Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Selita Ebanks Shakara Ledard Shakira Shana Hiatt Shania Twain

Photos | Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Bieber And More Nominated For 2010 BET Awards

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Katy Perry Praises Lady Gaga, Ke$ha In Maxim

The 'Firework' singer reveals, 'I've known Ke$ha forever. She's actually in the 'I Kissed a Girl' video.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Katy Perry on the December 2010 cover of Maxim
Photo: Maxim

Everyone knows that Katy Perry is besties with Rihanna, so it might not be too surprising that Perry has only the kindest words for fellow female pop contemporaries Ke$ha and Lady Gaga, even if she has been critical of one of those women's artistic choices in the past.

"I love what Gaga is doing, and I love what Ke$ha is doing," Perry says in Maxim's new issue, for which she also serves as the cover girl. "I've known Ke$ha forever. She's actually in the 'I Kissed a Girl' video."

But, Perry isn't just dishing on her fellow lady celebrities, she's also showing some love for the fellas, one of whom she married in the fall. "I've said Justin Bieber [was my celebrity crush] quite a few times, but I think I'm over it now. I think it's probably safe to say I married my celebrity crush," the singer shares about husband Russell Brand. "Don't barf on this magazine."

Earlier this year, Perry was chosen to top Maxim's 2010 Hot 100 list, and she admits that the honor has really given her cred all over the place.

"It's a worldwide thing — the rest of the world makes it their standard," she says. "It's one of the questions they ask me in all interviews now, even in places where Maxim doesn't exist. I'll go to Timbuktu, and they'll be like, 'You're the #1 hottest,' and I'm like, 'Maxim said so, but thank you so much for saying so in Timbuktu.' "

So, what does Perry think makes ladies sexy? A fun-loving attitude, obviously.

"The way she presents herself and the air she has about her. You can feel her power and her confidence," Perry explains. "Also, the way she uses her ability to communicate, her brain and personality. I think that's really sexy because you all know the hottest woman can be the biggest bitch, and that's not cool."

Still riding high on the success of her Teenage Dream album, Perry shows no signs of slowing down, with a 2011 tour and a role in the "Smurfs" film on the way.

"You know, I wasn't allowed to watch 'Smurfs' growing up, ever. I grew up in a sheltered household, and my parents would keep us from certain things they thought were too much for us and our eyes," she recently told MTV News regarding her role as Smurfette. " 'Smurfs' had what my parents said was a lot of sorcery and magic."

Thalía Thandie Newton The Avatars of Second Life The Pussycat Dolls Thora Birch

No hay más Led Zeppelin

A pesar de lo dicho ayer, Peter Mensch, manager del guitarrista Jimmy Page, se retractó totalmente en eso que la banda buscaría un reemplazo al ultragenial Robert Plant para seguir rockeando y toureándola por el mundo tras su show de 2007 en el O2 Arena de Londres por el poder de la música más sexual de la historia. No habrá más Led Zeppelin, no hay planes de que lo haya.

Mensch comentó: "Led Zeppelin se acabó. Si no los vieron en el 2007, se los perdieron. Probaron reemplazantes a Robert Plant, pero nada funcionó. Se acabó. No hay planes para continuar. Francamente, ojalá todos dejaran de hablar al respecto."

Los fans no están nada contentos, especialmente los británicos, considerando los precios delirantes de las entradas del show reunión.

¿Y a ti? ¿Qué te parece todo esto?

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602369/20090109/led_zeppelin.jhtml

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Beyoncé - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia/Music World Music
Director: Jake Nava
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=288546

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Friday, December 24, 2010

Photos | Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1620796

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Brad And Angie's Christmas In Namibia

They're always off on an adventure!
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt went Christmas shopping at a mall in Windhoek, Namibia on Thursday.
Looks like some good stuff in there, but we wonder if those are for their own kids or the less fortunate.
You never know with those do-gooders! Love 'em.
[Image via AP Images.]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-12-24-brad-pitt-and-angelina-jolie-christmas-shopping-in-namibia

Maggie Grace Maggie Gyllenhaal Majandra Delfino Malia Jones Malin Akerman

Matt Damon's 'True Grit' Character Has No Beef With Shia LaBeouf

The man behind Texas goofball LaBoeuf also had a hand in LaBeouf's career -- coincidence?
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Matt Damon in "True Grit"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

In "True Grit," the upcoming and much-buzzed about western from the Coen brothers, Matt Damon gets a chance to showcase his playful, comedic side via his character, LaBoeuf, pronounced "La Beef."

Given the familiar-ish spelling of the character's name and Damon's history in working with actor Shia LaBeouf — one of his first non-child-actor roles was in "The Battle of Shaker Heights, the feature film made from Damon and Ben Affleck's "Project Greenlight" series for HBO — we jokingly asked him if the goofball Texas ranger LaBoeuf in "True Grit," bears any resemblance or relation to "Transformers" star LaBeouf (pronounced "La Buff").

"Not unless he's changing his pronunciation to 'Le Beef,' " Damon joked back. "I thought it was pronounced 'La Buff' when I first saw it, but the book is very clear it's pronounced 'Le Beef.' "

Fair enough. Speaking of LaBeouf (which really does mean "the beef" in French), we wondered if Damon feels responsible for any of the blockbuster success the star has achieved thus far in his career.

"I wish I could take responsibility for his career," Damon said of Shia, who actually got his start on the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens." "He's had a terrific career and he's a terrific actor. We thought that when we saw him on 'Project Greenlight.' We thought, 'Wow, who is this kid?' I'm very happy to see everything that's happened to him; he's a terrific guy."

Perhaps there is a Damon/LaBeouf project in the future? Or better yet, a LaBeouf/LaBoeuf "Funny or Die" video/parody?

Check out everything we've got on "True Grit."

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

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654695/20101220/story.jhtml

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