From their favorite holiday recipes to stories about Santa, stars share their holiday memories and traditions exclusively with iVillage!
Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler
From their favorite holiday recipes to stories about Santa, stars share their holiday memories and traditions exclusively with iVillage!
Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler
Say you're Ricky Martin, and you're contemplating a return to TV. Sure, your last real acting gig, on General Hospital in the mid-nineties, was nice. But you're prime-time ready now! Which show to guest star on? No, Martin didn't opt for a spot on Law & Order SVU -- the sexy Latin singer is up for a spot on Fox's Glee!
Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.
In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.
But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.
"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."
Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.
"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.
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Michael Jackson cardiologist found guilty but legal experts doubt he will do hard time.
By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray being remanded after his guilty involuntary manslaughter verdict is announced
Photo: Pool/ Getty Images
With the involuntary manslaughter trial of former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray finally wrapped, following the jury's guilty verdict on Monday afternoon (November 7), the next question is, how much time will Murray serve behind bars and where?
Before the jury's verdict came down on Monday, MTV News spoke to Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Mike Cavalluzzi, who explained what kind of sentence Murray is likely to face.
"The overcrowding laws in state prison right now could very well result in Conrad Murray getting a probationary sentence, meaning that any custody time would be spent in county jail rather than state prison," said Cavalluzzi, who does not have first-hand knowledge of the case, but has worked a range of criminal matters in L.A. courts from misdemeanor battery to homicide. "Right now, the ruling is that state prisons should be only for the most violent offenders, and I don't think that Conrad Murray would fall into that category."
Cavalluzzi said that involuntary manslaughter, of which Murray was convicted on one count, is a nonviolent offense that doesn't involve the cardiologist being accused of intentionally harming Jackson. "What they're saying is that he may have been a good man who made a horrible mistake and that the mistake that he made rises to criminal negligence," he said.
After the verdict was announced, Murray was denied bail and ordered to jail, where he will remain in custody until his November 29 sentencing hearing.
Although the charge Murray was facing carried a maximum four-year prison sentence, Cavalluzzi said that often times a defendant like Murray, with no criminal record and who has been convicted for the first time, has a very good chance of staying out of custody altogether. But given the high-profile nature of the case and the pressure from Jackson's family — Michael's mother Katherine, father Joe and siblings Jermaine and La Toya Jackson were among the family members who turned up at the courthouse after the verdict on Monday — to have Murray slapped with the maximum penalty, it's likely he will do some time in custody.
Following the announcement of the guilty verdict, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley confirmed to reporters that due to those recent changes in California law, Murray was not likely to do any prison time. "It was a homicide, someone lost their life, three children lost time with their father because of someone's criminal negligence," said Cooley when asked if the prosecution was worth it given the almost-certain knowledge that Murray would not spend time in prison. "In that regard, it was worth it to prove that point."
Cooley lashed out at the new sentencing guidelines (called AB109) for nonviolent offenders and reiterated that he was against them from the beginning, labeling them a "fool's errand," and predicting that the Murray case would be the first of "many, many, many poster children cases that will reveal why 109 is a complete failure and criminal justice disaster."
Professor Robert Weisberg, co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center and a law professor at Sanford agreed that because of sentencing laws, Murray will probably do his time in county lockup. "Involuntary manslaughter might sound violent, but it's not, so he won't go to prison," said Weisberg, who does not have a connection to the case either. As we've seen with other nonviolent offenders such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, the overcrowding situation in Los Angeles county jail is also an issue, and due to similar mandates, defendants often avoid serving anywhere near their full sentences in county as well.
"It is very common, especially for a probationary sentence, where someone is sentenced to custody time in county jail, that the county will then release them on something called house arrest," Cavalluzzi said. "It is very common in a case like this that someone could be given house arrest if they are sentenced to probation."
House arrest has several forms, though, which can range from 24-hour-lockdown home confinement, where a person is prohibited from leaving their home to exceptions in which they are allowed to come and go for doctor's appointments, counseling or professional business.
At the sentencing hearing later this month, Jackson's family is likely to make the case for the maximum sentence, while the defense may once again bring up former patients and colleagues who will attest to the doctor's good qualities. In the end, though, it is up to the judge to decide Murray's sentence. "[Both arguments] could sway the judge either way," Cavalluzzi said. "It's difficult to know how home confinement would look for Dr. Murray because one of the main exceptions to home confinement is a person's ability to continue to engage in their livelihood."
Given that Murray is now a convicted felon who has been found guilty of homicide in California, Cooley said the doctor will lose his license to practice medicine in the state. He added that he hoped other states would follow suit and revoke Murray's right to practice medicine as well.
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.
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Gathering together to raise money for quite the worthwhile cause, the stars were out at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City for the 2011 UNICEF Snowflake Ball on Tuesday night (November 29).
Held annually as one of the most notable black-tie galas, the ritzy soiree drew out celebrity host committee members including Sarah Jessica Parker, Uma Thurman, Angie Harmon and Vera Farmiga.
Also in attendance at the fundraising fete which has a mission to help create a healthier and safer life for children all over the globe were Jonas Brothers rocker Kevin Jonas and his lovely wife Danielle, along with Zoe Kravitz and Adrien Brody.
As for the entertainment, guests were treated to special musical performances by the Young People's Chorus of New York City and Natasha Bedingfield while the Spirit of Compassion Award was doted upon Mark B. Grier of Prudential.
Open to the public, a single ticket to the Snowflake Ball ran a cool $2,500 while the priciest admittance was that of a Philanthropist, which purchases two prime tables for ten at the cost of $100,000.
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Even with a jam-packed, non-stop schedule, Britney Spears still manages to find the time to sit down and fit in a good book every now and then.
While chatting with UK?s Stylist magazine, the ?Circus? star revealed that she?s been reading The Mastery of Love, which was written a decade ago by Mexican spiritualist author Don Miguel Ruiz.
"It's basically an analysis of love and what it means to love," Spears explained. "It goes through all the different aspects of love ? who you are as a person, knowing yourself before you even attempt to love anyone else, that sort of thing. It's really well-written and thought-provoking."
When asked if she would recommend the book to anyone in a relationship, Brit said, "Yes definitely, it's very cool. It's not so much about learning something; it's one of those things where you already know this stuff, but it's good to instill it in yourself again."
Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/britney-spears/britney-spears-trying-master-love-565341
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Post-Conrad Murray trial projects include Fan Fest in Las Vegas, Bad reissue and Cirque du Soleil's 'Immortal' soundtrack.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Michael Jackson has remained just as big a star in death as he was in life — if not bigger. Like Elvis, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra and Tupac Shakur before him, interest in all things Jackson spiked following the singer's death and continues to be strong two years after his shocking passing on June 25, 2009.
Jackson's name has been in the news on a daily basis over the past month thanks to the involuntary manslaughter trial of his former physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was found guilty, the jury announced Monday. It's not the kind of publicity the Jackson estate is looking for, but with the trial now over, the focus will likely turn to the next projects from the singer's vaults.
To date, the estate has been busy lining up one project after another, beginning with 2009's This Is It, the documentary on Jackson's planned comeback tour that grossed close to $200 million worldwide on its way to becoming the #2 music documentary of all time.
That was followed by the release of Michael, a posthumous album with unreleased Jackson tracks that sold more than 500,000 copies, alongside more than 1 million units of the This Is It soundtrack. There were also 3 million units shifted of the Ubisoft video game "Michael Jackson: The Experience," which helped rack up the more than $1 billion the estate has brought in since Jackson's death through a combination of music sales, film/TV revenue, music publishing, licensing and a $31 million recording contract with Sony.
Cirque du Soleil's traveling MJ extravaganza, "Immortal," made its American debut this month, boasting a soundtrack that features a number of mash-ups and reimaginings of the singer's music, plus some previously unheard bits. The show's soundtrack is slated to hit stores November 21.
When the show hits Las Vegas in December, it will coincide with the annual Michael Jackson Fan Fest (December 3-14), the ritual gathering of the flock that this year will include a raft of never-before-seen memorabilia from the King of Pop. Among the items at the first-ever estate-authorized fest at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino are the actual gates of Neverland Ranch, Jackson's personal book collection, the 1999 Rolls Royce Seraph limousine with 24-karat gold embellishments designed by the singer, the 10-foot-tall HIStory statue, the spaceship set from the "Scream" video, the throne from the Egyptian-themed "Remember the Time" clip and the tank from the "Earth Song" live performance.
Also reportedly due soon is a repackaging of Jackson's 1987 Bad album, which, like previous reissues, is expected to feature previously unearthed bonus material. The original album featured landmark songs such as the title track, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror," "Smooth Criminal" and "Dirty Diana."
Given the amount of unreleased material that was reportedly left in the vaults at Jackson's death, there is a strong possibility that another album of unheard tunes could be in the offing soon as well.
Are you excited to hear more unreleased tracks from the King of Pop? Tell us below!
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'Twilight' enthusiasts' repeat viewings could keep flick box-office king.
By Kara Warner
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Summit
Happy "Twilight" Tuesday! It's time for another installment in our resurrected series of columns dedicated to all things regarding Edward Cullen, Bella Swan, Jacob Black and the rest. Today's topic: Just how long will "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 1" reign as box-office king?
Knowing the serious dedication the "Twilight" fanbase has to the film franchise, it's no surprise "Breaking Dawn" dominated the box office during its opening weekend. And even with a slew of highly anticipated films opening this weekend — "The Muppets," "Hugo" and "Arthur Christmas" among them — the fervor still surrounding "Breaking Dawn" and fans' commitment to see the film multiple times means that the vampires and werewolves are very likely to hold the #1 spot for a while.
"I have seen the movie twice," Cade Johnson, of Salinas, California, told MTV News via email. "I would like to see it in theaters at least four times, maybe five," he said. "It is definitely the best out of the four so far, in my opinion."
Yvonne R. Villani of Hiram, Georgia, has also vowed to see the film multiple times and has a strategy in place for how to keep herself immersed in "Twilight" goodness as long as possible: "I've seen this movie multiple times and plan on seeing it a few more times because I just really liked it!" she said. "I have been waiting all year and part of last year, since I read the book, for this movie to come out. I have 'Breaking Dawn' both in paperback and audio CD, so I figure I will start either reading it or listening to it again this week, then when I get to where the movie left off, I will go see it again to remind myself of the differences and really compare."
"Twilight" expert Laura Byrne-Cristiano, who runs TwilightLexicon.com, said she's noticed a lot of fans changing their opinions about "Breaking Dawn" the book now that the film version has opened.
"I've also noticed a real shift in opinion that caught me by surprise so much so that I ran a poll about it," said Byrne-Cristiano said. "When the novel 'Breaking Dawn' came out, it was a love/hate thing. But from what I've seen, people have really started to change their minds about it, and have come to like it.
"The people who got into 'Twilight' after the movies came out seem to pick 'Breaking Dawn' as their favorite book by a landslide, which is something that never occurred to me in a million years because of all the backlash when it first came out."
So, what is it about these films that has fans so engrossed and committed? It's a "clean movie" with universal appeal, according to fan and repeat viewer Alessandra Sorgato, who wrote to us all the way from Milan, Italy.
"I'm glad that so many people can identify themselves with the characters of 'The Twilight Saga,' " she said. "It kind of surprises me because Stephenie Meyer wrote a love story which is anything but ordinary — it's not based on sex, adultery and things like that. Lately it has become quite unusual to see movies focused on morals like eternal love, true friendship, the value of family at the top of the box office," she added. " 'Breaking Dawn' is a 'clean movie,' still it's very successful all over the world, and I love it."
Speaking of worldwide love and success, we found out via a quick Twitter poll that there are a slew of very dedicated fans out there who have already seen "Breaking Dawn" six times, with one on her way to a 20th viewing!
"I will keep going till they stop playing it!" wrote Robyn Smyly.
"I will see it 6 times and my fave scene is when Bella takes her 'human minutes' when they get on the island," said Kalynn Drake.
"I've officially seen it 5 times now as of yesterday afternoon. What can I say? I'm addicted," admitted fan Jodi-Lynn.
"I plan on seeing BD at least a dozen times in theatre, I've already seen it three times," Mel Douglas chimed in.
There are so many more where those came from, but the award so far for most viewings definitely goes to Fran Richards, who wowed us with this stat: "I have seen Breaking Dawn [Part] 1 a total of 19 times so far," she wrote. "Doing a 5 show marathon today!"
What would you like to see on "Twilight" Tuesdays? Hit me up @KaraWarner on Twitter to make your voice heard!
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Thoroughly enjoying his time in the City of Lights, Bradley Cooper was spotted grabbing some lunch in Paris, France today (November 29).
The ?Failure to Launch? stud sported a black coat, grey v-neck sweater and dark wash jeans as he made his way out of Ralph?s Restaurant on Boulevard Saint Germain to find some local shutterbugs waiting near the exit.
In his People magazine ?Sexiest Man Alive? interview, Bradley chatted candidly about his reaction to being given the illustrious honor.
Cooper shared, "I'm a single 36-year-old male. I don't see myself as a ladies' man. But I love women. Do you know what I'm saying?"
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The TV personality is rocking a daring new 'do! Check out more star tress-formations and tell us what you think!
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'Everybody debated it a lot,' screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg says of back-and-forth over where to split the finale.
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Robert Pattinson in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Summit Entertainment
If you were among the devoted "Twilight" fans who lined up to see "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" over the weekend, then you already know the film has a pretty dramatic conclusion. But MTV News has learned that the first of the two-part finale wasn't always intended to end where it does, even if it seems like the obvious choice.
When we caught up with screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and director Bill Condon shortly before "Part 1" hit theaters, the creative duo admitted to a lot of early discussions trying to decide the best place to split the final two movies. While Rosenberg and Condon felt that the current ending was the most "organic" place to pause before "Part 2," the studio wanted to make sure it was a spot in the story line that would best serve the entire series.
"We went back and forth a lot and, initially, this seemed like a very obvious place for the split, but then as the creative process went forth, myself, the studio and [author] Stephenie [Meyer], [producer] Wyck [Godfrey] and everybody debated it a lot," Rosenberg said. "I tried a couple different things but ultimately this was a natural, very organic place to split it."
Condon said he was always a defender of the existing split, even if many members of the creative team debated him on it.
"When I came on, I really felt very strongly this is where it should be [divided]," he told us.
Fans of Meyer's novel should have a general idea of where "Part1" ends even if they haven't seen the movie. But if you're afraid of spoilers, we'll just say that Bella (Kristen Stewart) undergoes some pretty significant changes as the film winds to a close.
Rosenberg actually considered a split that would have pushed "Part 1" even further along in the novel. "Pushing from further into the second movie, pushing into the first act of the second movie," she said of the other options she had toyed with. "But it wasn't organic, it wasn't right."
Do you think the filmmakers chose the right place to split the two "Breaking Dawn" films? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
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Blogger can't believe 'Criminal' is pulling ahead of one of his faves in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker
Britney Spears in her music video for "I Wanna Go"
Photo: Jive
The first round of the Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years is well under way, and we asked celebrity blogger and Britney mega-fan Perez Hilton to weigh in on some of the closest competitions in the tournament:
"Sometimes" vs. "My Prerogative"
While "Sometimes" — as one of Britney's oldest videos — holds a special place in the hearts of her fans, Perez thinks "My Prerogative" has the advantage in this matchup. "In terms of video-making, spectacle, big grandiosity, 'My Prerogative' feels like a much larger to-do," Perez said. "If I was to pick a winner between these two, I would go with 'My Prerogative.' "
"Lucky" vs. "Boys"
"I am not a fan of the 'Boys' music video," Perez admitted of the clip, featuring Pharrell Williams and Mike Myers as Austin Powers. "To me, the competition between that and 'Lucky' is easy. 'Lucky' all the way.
"It's such a classic Britney video," Perez said about the clip, featuring Britney's movie-star alter-ego (in the pre-"Crossroads" world). "She looks so beautiful in it! It's from the golden era of Britney — those first few years where she was pretty much untouchable."
"I Wanna Go" vs. "Criminal"
Perez echoed other Britney experts' surprise that Britney's latest video, "Criminal," is significantly pulling ahead of "I Wanna Go."
"I think that 'I Wanna Go' is one of Britney's all-time best videos," Perez said. "She looked amazing in it, it's fun, it feels different for her, and she had never done a video quite like that before."
As for "Criminal," Perez shook his head. "I like the 'Criminal' video; I don't love it. I was also distracted and slightly unhappy with the casting of her boyfriend [Jason Trawick] in it."
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!
Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News' Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674860/britney-spears-tournament-perez-hilton-i-wanna-go.jhtml
Kim Kardashian puts some party in her pout! Plus, check out more stars' cute, candid and crazy Twitter photos
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Critics are overwhelmingly happy with the big-screen reboot featuring Kermit and the gang.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Miss Piggy in "The Muppets"
Photo: Muppets Studio
It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights. It's time to meet "The Muppets" for the first time in over 10 years. Everyone's favorite felt friends are back in a big-screen reboot brought to life mostly on behalf of the hard work of lifelong Muppet fan Jason Segel.
The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. (You can see our own rave here.) Critics have praised the return of the Muppets as fun, warm, family-friendly fare, true to the characters and the fans who have loved them for decades.
Check out our roundup of the reviews.
The Story
"A clever idea holds this reboot together, as simple as making one brother (Gary, played by Segel) human and the other (Walter, voiced by Peter Linz) a Muppet in love with the Muppets legacy. (He sports a Kermit wristwatch.) The locale is Smalltown, USA, which Gary and Walter introduce to us in the opening number, 'Life's a Happy Song.' Gary, his schoolteacher sweetheart Mary (Amy Adams) and Walter journey to Los Angeles for a vacation. Touring the old Muppet Studios facility, the trio learn of the plan to raze the historically significant and sentimentally priceless structure. There's oil under the ground, see, and the weaselly millionaire (Chris Cooper) after it doesn't give a Gonzo's patoot about nostalgia. To preserve the old homestead the visitors must gather together the Muppets from various locales and raise $10 million in a save-the-Muppets telethon." — Michael Phillips, The Chicago Tribune
The Songs
"The setup works like a charm. So do the songs, with several new ones by ["Flight of the Conchords"] star Bret McKenzie. Adams rocks out on 'Me Party.' And Segel's heartfelt ballad 'Man or Muppet?' deserves Academy attention as the movie song of the year." — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The Comeback
"As a theatrical troupe, the Muppets haven't exactly been AWOL these past dozen years; the gang rocked YouTube in 2009 with their kick-ass rendition of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' But they've certainly been lying low while our twitchy, tweet-y times have favored snarkier, more air-quote-driven entertainment, even from puppets. And in a way, that showbiz hiatus has worked in favor of The Muppets. For adults, the movie's gentle, clever, unironic humor feels freshly, trendily retro now, enhanced by laughs provided in cameos from a very up-to-date roster of stars." — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
The Muppets
"These are the same old, adorable Muppets, as sweetly innocent and likable as ever. Winking at itself, the movie is casually, amusingly self-reflexive. In one joke Kermit the Frog considers telephoning President Carter. 'The Muppets' makes no attempt to match the wisecracking hipness of the 'Shrek' movies. If it doesn't provoke belly laughs, it elicits many affectionate chuckles." — Stephen Holden, The New York Times
The Final Word
"The remarkable thing about the Muppets, then and now, is what distinctive personalities and presences they have. When 'The Muppet Movie,' the first in the series, came out in 1979, there was astonishment that — ohmigod! — Kermit was riding a bicycle! How could a Muppet do that? Today, characters can do anything in the movies, but these Muppets are still played by Muppeteers, and they're still endearing." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Check out everything we've got on "The Muppets."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674915/muppets-movie-reviews.jhtml
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Not to say that Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes are getting serious, but they've moved on from afternoons at Disneyland to weekends in Paris! The actors, who have been publicly dating since September, spent Saturday and Sunday together exploring the world's most romantic city.
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Box-office experts weigh in on whether 'Twilight' series can top blockbuster 'Harry Potter' finale.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "Breaking Dawn - Part 1"
Photo: Summit
Opening weekend has come and gone for the first part of the "Twilight Saga" finale, and "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" bowed to an impressive $139.5 million at the box office, just short of the series-record $142 million for "New Moon" in 2009.
But $139.5 million is certainly nothing to shake a stick at, and a number of box-office experts MTV News spoke with agreed that the number represents a serious accomplishment, despite coming up just short.
"When the final numbers come in today, 'Breaking Dawn' will have the fifth-best opening ever, a record I'm sure every studio wouldn't mind having," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "And even though 'Breaking Dawn' will always be in the shadow of 'New Moon,' which hit $142 million two years ago when it debuted over the same weekend, 'Breaking Dawn,' and the 'Twilight' franchise in general, is one of those rare commodities in Hollywood that sustains its audience from film to film."
The question of the drop in revenue from "New Moon" still remains. By normal box-office logic, returns would ramp up in anticipation for the finale, yet the penultimate entry in the series could not top the second. Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com, said it has to do with the fanbase.
"I think a healthy portion of the audience is growing up and forgetting about this franchise. It's not enough to put a significant dent in the grosses, but there's definitely an impact," he said.
As "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" approaches, fans of both the "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" series anxiously await to see which finale will come out on top at the box office. Gitesh Pandya from Box Office Guru said Potter's record will remain.
"Since 'Part 2' is the final 'Twilight' film, I expect it to open a little higher and maybe even beat 'New Moon,' " Pandya said. "But it won't match the numbers for the final 'Harry Potter' unless it's converted into 3-D."
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674788/breaking-dawn-box-office-analysis.jhtml
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'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.
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Plus, the debate over pepper spraying protesters at Occupy UC Davis, how Jessica Simpson could become the new Weight Watchers' spokeswoman and what we're thankful for at iVillage 5.
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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.
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Ending out the year with a magazine cover spot, Scarlett Johansson is featured on the front of Interview magazine?s December 2011 issue.
The ?In Good Company? actress looked dark and dangerous in skimpy black getup as she worked her magic for a spread shot by photographer Solve Sundsbo.
Meanwhile, highlights from Miss Johansson's chat with the magazine are as follows. For more, be sure to visit Interview!
On her averseness to social media:
"I don't have a Facebook or a Twitter account... I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than have to continuously share details of my everyday life."
On attending the White House Correspondents Dinner:
"My brother was totally geeked out by Katie Couric. I think he followed her around the entire night. I was chasing after him, and I turned around and I had a bunch of Republican Senators chasing after me."
On being in the spotlight:
"It's a gamble every time you put yourself out there, and certainly, I'm always readjusting to it. But I hope it never becomes normal to feel scrutinized."
Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington on the aftermath of Scarlett's divorce and nude photo scandal:
?Instead of cloistering herself away or lashing out at the paparazzi, she pressed ahead with her business with a kind of unflappable grace."
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