Saturday, July 31, 2010

Jay-Z and Kanye West -- Tweet About This!

Jay-Z and Kanye West -- Tweet About This!

Filed under: Kanye West, Kanye West Tweet of the Day

Kanye West took a break from his new favorite addiction -- tweeting -- to have dinner with pal Jay-Z in NYC last night. Ever since West joined Twitter a few days ago -- dude's been dropping Kanye-isms left and right ... in fact, here's a taste ... We'll… Read more




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Ellen's Departure Doesn't Surprise 'American Idol' Experts

Ellen's Departure Doesn't Surprise 'American Idol' Experts

Close watchers of the show say they saw this 'difficult decision' coming.
By Gil Kaufman


"American Idol" season nine judges
Photo: Michael Becker/ FOX

Ellen DeGeneres was the first to admit that her first, and as it turns out, last, season on "American Idol" was not smooth sailing. In the statement announcing her departure from the show, the daytime talk queen and veteran comedienne copped to feeling uncomfortable criticizing young singers. "It was a difficult decision to make," DeGeneres said, "but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings."

MTV News reached out to its panel of "Idol" experts for reaction on Friday (July 30), and each member said they were not shocked that DeGeneres pulled the ripcord on her three-year contract.

"I've been hearing the rumor for a long time, so I wasn't surprised," said Entertainment Weekly senior writer Jessica Shaw. "She started off very strong and was critical and fun and was some much needed new energy on the show. But as the season progressed, she got more and more stale. I think people thought she wouldn't add that much to next season."

Whether DeGeneres jumped or was pushed, Shaw said she left the show in a very classy way that just enhances her image as the daytime queen of nice.

MJ Santilli, who runs the "Idol" fansite MJ's Big Blog, admitted that she initially expected DeGeneres to be back for a second season, but after going back and watching season nine she can see why Ellen opted out.

"She just always seemed like the outcast that didn't fit in and didn't seem comfortable giving critiques," said Santilli, who was pulling for DeGeneres after having initial misgivings. "I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt when [her hiring] was first announced, because she was such a likable person. During Hollywood week they edited her very well and she seemed funny, but during the live shows it got worse and worse. What she said was often of little value, her jokes were stale and the more I looked back on it the more uncomfortable it was. I could understand why she'd be ready to bail by the end of the season."

Santilli's low point was when DeGeneres broke the show's etiquette and rushed on stage to give Teflon singer Tim Urban a hug after one of his many mediocre performances, a move that likely saved Urban and pushed out more beloved singer Alex Lambert. "That was the epitome of why she sucked as a judge," said Santilli.

Throughout the season, Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University and longtime "Idol" watcher, was pulling for DeGeneres. But he was left wondering why someone with more than two decades of performing experience could not seem to get it together.

"She's a gifted comic actress, but when she got into the judge's seat none of her talents came out and she didn't belong there," said Thompson, who thought it was best for the show that DeGeneres bowed out. "Her presence on the panel was not working at all."

The trick now, he said, is to find that elusive chemistry that will work in the absence of both DeGeneres and departed lead judge Simon Cowell — as well as the possible absence of Kara DioGuardi, who has reportedly been let go. Rumors that singer Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler are in line to join the panel have surfaced, but Thompson noted that finding the right mix of judges will be tricky.

"Ellen's the perfect example," he said. "She's someone you thought would be good because she's so good on her talk show, but she was uncomfortable. So it's not only how they perform, but also the chemistry of all of them together. You don't know how two chemicals will react until you put them in a beaker and see if they explode."

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Jennifer Aniston On Her Way To ‘Cougar Town’?

Jennifer Aniston On Her Way To ‘Cougar Town’?
Yesterday we learned that Courteney Cox-Arquette‘s hit ABC comedy Cougar Town will be keeping it’s name for the second season and beyond despite the fact that the name no longer seems to fit the sitcom any longer. Today we learn a bit of new information about the show that has nothing to do with the [...]

Yesterday we learned that Courteney Cox-Arquette‘s hit ABC comedy Cougar Town will be keeping it’s name for the second season and beyond despite the fact that the name no longer seems to fit the sitcom any longer. Today we learn a bit of new information about the show that has nothing to do with the title and everything to do with a report from Entertainment Weekly that Jennifer Aniston is close to signing a deal that will bring her on the show in a guest spot:

Courteney Cox is cooking up something bigger than a title change to lure viewers to the undiscovered gem that is her ABC comedy Cougar Town: Jennifer Aniston! After a year’s worth of will-she-or-won’t-she speculation, Aniston is nearing a deal to reunite with her former Friends costar (and real-life BFF) in an early episode of the show’s second season (premiering on Sept. 22), sources confirm to me exclusively. ABC declined to comment, while Cougar Town executive producer Bill Lawrence would only say, “I would love for it to happen but there’s nothing to talk about yet.”

As you may recall, Arquette‘s other female Friends co-star Lisa Kudrow made a guest appearance on Cougar Town last season so it makes sense that Aniston would be stopping by as well. Courteney and Jennifer previously worked together on the short-lived FX series Dirt and it was rumored that Aniston would be making a cameo in Arquette‘s upcoming new film Scream 4. The universe just wants these real-life BFFs to work together again … I’d bet very good money that Jen will be showing up on Cougar Town this coming season … and I can’t wait! I wonder how long until the male Friends alums start showing up on the show as well. HMMM.

[Source]




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TMZ's Mug Shot Match Game!

TMZ's Mug Shot Match Game!
Remember the old school card game Concentration? This is like that ... but with celebrity mug shots ! Read more




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'Jersey Shore' Fans React To Angelina's Return At Her Season-Two Premiere Party

'Jersey Shore' Fans React To Angelina's Return At Her Season-Two Premiere Party

'I was so happy that she's back,' pal tells MTV News at Angelina's 'Jersey Shore' viewing party.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Ignacio Guzman


Angelina and The Situation in Thursday's episode of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

Angelina came back to the "Jersey Shore" this season, and drama followed. But her supporters — including her friends, family and fans who showed at the Fushimi Japanese Cuisine & Lounge in Staten Island, New York, where Angelina was holding a premiere viewing party — think that it was the perfect time for their girl to make her return to the show.

"I was so happy that she's back on the show and that she went to Miami and that she had fun," pal Gina Landano told MTV News. "I spoke to her every once in awhile while she was there, and she told me she was having fun with all the guys there."

Angelina's mom, Ann Marie Pivarnick, excitedly reacted to her daughter's second season on the hit reality show. "I'm very proud of her, that she went back," she said. "And she was trying her best to get along with the cast."

Another one of her pals, Johnny Donovan, teased what he thinks will happen as season two gets under way. "What I expect to happen this season is a lot of crazy drama, a lot of situations, a lot of fist-pumping down in Jersey," he said. "A lot of crazy, jam-packed action in Miami Beach like you'd never expect."

Drama seemed to be the overarching theme of fan expectations at the party. "I mean, you can tell there's a lot of drama, that's what the show is based on, but it's just exciting to see exactly what goes on there in Miami," Shimon said. "You never know what's going to happen down there."

Heck, Angelina gave some hints as to what fans can expect from her as the season rolls on. "This season you can expect, basically, me to show my emotions more," she said. "I'm trying to show that I have a good side too. I want people out there to know that I do have a sweet side."

"Jersey Shore" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!

Were you excited that Angelina came back? Tell us in the comments!

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‘Inception’ passes $100 million mark

‘Inception’ passes $100 million mark
Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” joined the $100-million club on Thursday, its seventh day of release. The Warners/Legendary production, which is playing in 3,792 theaters in North America, took in an estimated $8.6 million for the day. Adding that to its other solid mid-week grosses, the thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has reached $100.1 million domestically as it moves [...]





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Photos | Wango Tango 2010

Photos | Wango Tango 2010

Wango Tango 2010

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Bieber Concert Protestors Anger Parents

Bieber Concert Protestors Anger Parents
Justin Bieber, you controversial 16 year old, you! Protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church made their disdain for the Biebs known with their presence outside his Sprint Center concert in Kansas City, MO, and many parents made their disdain for the protestors known as well. An angry mother screamed the following at the protestors: "You're a shame that [...]

jbiebsjulye.jpg

Justin Bieber, you controversial 16 year old, you!

Protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church made their disdain for the Biebs known with their presence outside his Sprint Center concert in Kansas City, MO, and many parents made their disdain for the protestors known as well.

An angry mother screamed the following at the protestors:

"You're a shame that you think you can walk around this god-forsaken country and treat people that way.”

Another angry mother, Amber Heavner, lashed out and said the following:

“He has not done anything wrong. He's here to entertain the public, I guess just like she's here to entertain the public. He has not done anything wrong. These are children …these are children… my children can read, my children can see, my children can see that she's got signs that say 'God hates America!'"

Wow Biebs, you really got this Church group angry. What satanistic things are you doing at your concerts? Is there something we should know about?

[Image via WENN.]




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EXCLUSIVE: 'Centurion' Stills Are All Action And Combat

EXCLUSIVE: 'Centurion' Stills Are All Action And Combat
Like the best war movies, "The Descent" writer/director Neil Marshall's "Centurion" focuses on a small, tight-knit group of soldiers. This particular movie looks far back in time, long before the age of gunpowder, a time when warriors needed to get up close and personal on the battlefield to kill one another. In 117 AD, [...]

Like the best war movies, "The Descent" writer/director Neil Marshall's "Centurion" focuses on a small, tight-knit group of soldiers. This particular movie looks far back in time, long before the age of gunpowder, a time when warriors needed to get up close and personal on the battlefield to kill one another. In 117 AD, a Roman legion is ordered to squash a rebellious force in northern Britain. But when a guerrilla ambush results in the capture of the Roman General Virilus (Dominic West), it is up to a small platoon led by Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender) behind enemy lines to save him.

MTV News is pleased to bring you a collection of four exclusive images from the movie. Just click the one below to check out our full gallery. "Centurion" hits VOD, VUDU, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Marketplace, Amazon and theaters on August 27.




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Photos | Mariah Carey, Usher, More Stars Scheduled To Appear At Michael Jackson's Memorial

Photos | Mariah Carey, Usher, More Stars Scheduled To Appear At Michael Jackson's Memorial

Mariah Carey, Usher, More Stars Scheduled To Appear At Michael Jackson's Memorial

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Eddie Cibrian Has A New Job

Eddie Cibrian Has A New Job
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter

For a little while, at least, actor Eddie Cibrian has found another job after his unexpected firing from 'CSI: Miami.' He's been hired for a multi-episode arc on the new NBC show 'Chase,' according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello.

The actor will play a bounty hunter in at least two episodes, the first of which will air in October.

Chase centers on a team of U.S. marshals that hunt America’s top fugitives.

Does this make you more or less interested in 'Chase,' or are you just indifferent?

Photos by FAME

Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter
Eddie Cibrian pictures LeAnn Rimes pictures Eddie new job Chase bounty hunter



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Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy

Britney Spears - If U Seek Amy

If U Seek Amy




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Photos | Britney Spears' Red-Hot Summer

Photos | Britney Spears' Red-Hot Summer

Britney Spears' Red-Hot Summer

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Gap Winner

Gap Winner

I couldn't connect to Mark and David's printer to print the comments (damn network issues) and pull one from a fish bowl, so I used a random number generator I found on the internet to pick the winner. The number picked was "9"...

...so if I count down nine comments, the lucky winner is... Lisa K.!

Congratulations, Lisa! And thank you, everyone!




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Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest React To Ellen's 'American Idol' Exit

Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest React To Ellen's 'American Idol' Exit

'She's always been in control of her own destiny,' Cowell says.
By James Dinh


Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell
Photo: Kevin Parry/ WireImage

Fans and bloggers aren't the only ones sharing their reactions to the news that Ellen DeGeneres is leaving "American Idol" after just one season. Fellow departed judge Simon Cowell and current host Ryan Seacrest have also revealed their feelings about the news.

Cowell, who left the show after last season, seemed to imply that he thinks DeGeneres is making the right move. "As I got to know Ellen, I grew to really, really like her," Cowell said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. "I have huge respect for her because she's always been in control of her own destiny."

Ryan Seacrest also dished his two cents on the comedian's unexpected exit. The host took to Twitter on Thursday night with nothing but kind words for his colleague. "Spoke with ellen d tonight aka @theellenshow‬. I will miss her on Idol. She's one of the kindest and most talented people in Hollywood," he tweeted.

On Thursday, Ellen announced her departure from the show in a statement she posted on her website. "It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for," she wrote. "I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on 'Idol' and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be."

What do you think about Ellen's departure from "Idol"? Will you miss her? Let us know in the comments!

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

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Angelina Calls 'Jersey Shore' Season-Two Premiere 'Intense'

Angelina Calls 'Jersey Shore' Season-Two Premiere 'Intense'

'Jersey Shore' star tells MTV News that other cast members picked on her.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Ignacio Guzman


Angelina hosts a "Jersey Shore" premiere viewing party
Photo: MTV News

On Thursday night, Angelina made her big return to "Jersey Shore." And her return did not get a very warm response, especially from the ladies.

"I think that the show is pretty intense so far," she told MTV News at a viewing party at Fushimi Japanese Cuisine & Lounge, which is located in her native Staten Island, New York. "I think that the whole entire cast is picking on me so far on the show and you can see that if you're watching it. I think it's really upsetting and at the same time I think that I held my own."

After watching her heated confrontation with JWoww, Snooki and Sammi, Angelina — who left the first season of the show early — said that she felt like she got the chance to vent all her feelings. "I just basically said what I wanted to say to the three girls and they lashed back at me," she explained. "I don't think that's correct and I lashed back at them and I said what I wanted to say."

Despite being somewhat accepted by the guys on the show, Angelina still can't believe how much tension there is between herself and the rest of the "Jersey Shore" crew. "I think that what stuck out to me most about this episode is how the cast won't accept me and how the people won't accept me in the house," she said. "It's really upsetting because I came back with a clear head and I wanted to start over again with them and they wouldn't let me. It really is upsetting."

However, she does appreciate the fact that The Situation and the rest of the males in the house gave her a bit more of a chance than the ladies. "My favorite thing about the episode is me sleeping in the boys' room, me sharing a room with them, and even though they didn't really accept me at first I think they will warm up to it eventually," she said. "And I actually like the fact that I can be, like, cool with the guys."

"Jersey Shore" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!

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Lady Gaga's Summer Jam Victory: Readers React

Lady Gaga's Summer Jam Victory: Readers React

'I love most of the songs that were nominated, but 'Alejandro' is my favorite,' one fan wrote.
By Kyle Anderson

On Tuesday, Lady Gaga not only chatted with Larry King and unveiled the preview for her latest envelope-pushing video, but she also won yet another accolade. "Alejandro," the latest single from Gaga's The Fame Monster, took home the top prize in the MTV News Summer Jam 2010 poll, beating out strong contenders like Katy Perry's "California Gurls" and Usher's chart-topping "OMG." And while there were a handful of write-in votes and protests, most readers were enthusiastic about the crowning of the official song of summer.

"I knew she'd win," reader Kayla posted in the comments section. "I love most of the songs that were nominated, but Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' is my favorite." Shane said he was happily surprised at the success of Gaga's latest single. " 'Alejandro' is one of Gaga's best songs. I was kind of disappointed when she chose it as a single because it doesn't sound like something that mainstream American idiots can absorb. But how shocked was I!"

Reader Brandon saw the coronation of "Alejandro" as an official summer jam as the next logical step in Gaga's growing legacy. " 'Alejandro' is truly a summer song. The summer song of 2010 needs to be pop," he wrote. "Pop is what has dominated the charts for the past year. And who has been at the top of the charts for the past two years? Lady Gaga, of course."

Still, there were a handful of people who thought that despite the growing popularity of "Alejandro," it didn't have the right kind of feel to be a summer song. "I don't see how this is a summer jam," wrote jarthon. " I hear 'Alejandro' and I feel depressed. The beat is just too slow to be good for the summer."

In addition to her devoted fans, Gaga herself expressed excitement over the ascension of "Alejandro." "MTV voted ALEJANDRO Song of the Summer little monsters!" she wrote on her Twitter page. A few minutes later, she corrected herself. "So apparently the WIN: ALEJANDRO AS SUMMMER SONG 2010 was due to my rabid and luminous fans, not MTV, although they held the wonderful contest," she wrote.

Are you satisfied with Gaga's win? Keep up the summer songs debate in the comments below.

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Chris Brown Melts Down During BET Awards Michael Jackson Tribute

Chris Brown Melts Down During BET Awards Michael Jackson Tribute

Singer dances flawlessly but is overcome by emotion when time comes to sing.
By Rochell Thomas


Chris Brown at the 2010 BET Awards
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

When Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and New Edition were performing tributes to Michael Jackson during last year's BET Awards show, Chris Brown was nowhere to be found, even though many felt he was an obvious choice to honor the fallen legend. Brown's assault on Rihanna several months earlier presumably kept him out of the show.

On Sunday night (June 27), Brown finally got his chance to publicly honor the man he idolized -- and while his dancing was flawless, when the time came for him to sing, he simply fell apart.

After being introduced by Jermaine Jackson, Brown beautifully channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." Yet when he grabbed a mic to sing "Man in the Mirror," he choked up, visibly weeping.

"I'm gonna make a change for once in my ..." Brown's voice trailed off. He was out of breath and sounded hoarse. Tears stained his cheeks as he paced the stage, holding the microphone by his side. "This ... wind is blowing my ... Who am I to..." He clearly knew the lyrics but they failed to come out.

Brown faded in and out of the song, closing his eyes, grimacing, trying to soldier on. Whether it was the emotion of the moment or the past 16 months, Brown struggled and failed to find his voice, even though the pre-recorded backing vocals played on.

Finally, he gave up, raised a bandaged finger to the sky and fell to his knees as Michael Jackson's voice could be heard saying, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." The camera cut from Brown to an audience member who clearly uttered "Oh my God," in shock.

The audience loudly sang the words that Brown could not. Their aid seemed to move Brown to rise from his knees and mouth the words along with Jackson's voice, while gesturing along with the mic as tears rolled down his face. In the audience, actress Taraji P. Henson could be seen mouthing, "That's all right baby," as Brown walked offstage to Jermaine Jackson, who moved to console him.

Brown's emotional performance echoed through the rest of the show. When Niecy Nash came onstage to present the Video of the Year award, she said, "When Chris Brown started crying I got choked up."

Backstage, "a lot of folks were getting misty-eyed, understanding that he was overwhelmed with emotion," BET publicist Zabrina Horton said. "Me, personally, I think 'Man in the Mirror' was great for him to do because I'm sure he still feels bad about Rihanna and wants to be forgiven. He has to make that change himself for himself and he knows that."

Later in the show, when accepting the AOL Fandemonium prize, which measures an artist's "online and mobile fan power," Brown spoke briefly.

"I didn't really prepare a speech because I didn't really think I was gonna be backstage," he said. "But bottom line, I couldn't never do this without my fans. Team Breezy, all the support I've been getting from day one.

"I just wanna say one thing,' he concluded. "I let y'all down before but I won't do it again, I promise. I love y'all, good night."

What did you think of Chris Brown's Michael Jackson tribute at the BET Awards? Let us know in the comments below.

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Usher Gets Steamy In 'There Goes My Baby' Video

Usher Gets Steamy In 'There Goes My Baby' Video

R&B heartthrob goes shirtless in sexy new clip released online Tuesday.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Usher's "There Goes My Baby"
Photo: LaFace/ Jive

Usher has taken on critics who say he's lost his swagger. And with a new video for his single "There Goes My Baby," the singer continues to push back at detractors who dare to suggest he's slipped.

His last single, the Will.I.Am-produced "OMG," is still riding high on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, currently resting comfortably in the #3 slot.

And now, he's pushing his next number with a video for the slow-burning ballad "There Goes My Baby." Released on Tuesday (July 13), the clip features Usher and his leading lady trading sweaty moves under a desert sun.

In the opening scene, Usher has his back to the camera as the sun rises just over his right shoulder. The R&B crooner, sporting a black tank top and dark jeans, slowly pulls his love interest closer toward him in the next scene, and then ditches his tee as he sings to her.

"There goes my baby," he sings on the chorus. "Loving everything you do/ Ooh girl, look at you." As the song's climax begins, the pair unite once again and exchange kisses as the sun fades.

"There Goes My Baby" is the latest from Usher's Raymond v. Raymond, which the singer recently announced would be made available in two separate extended editions next month. Versus will feature eight new songs, including "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," a Pitbull-assisted number that premiered on the singer's website earlier this month. Usher will also release Raymond v. Raymond (The Deluxe Edition). That edition of the album will include tracks from Versus, as well as material from the original version of Raymond v. Raymond that had initially leaked online prior to his album's official release and wasn't included on the retail set.

What do you think of Usher's new video for "There Goes My Baby"? Tell us in the comments!

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‘127 Hours,’ ‘Black Swan’ release dates set

‘127 Hours,’ ‘Black Swan’ release dates set
The latest films from Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire," "28 Days Later") and Darren Aronofsky ("The Wrestler," "Requiem for a Dream") have received Oscar-consideration-friendly release dates. "127 Hours," Boyle's survival drama in the vein of "Touching the Void" and "Into the Wild," launches November 5. The film stars James Franco as an injured mountain climber trapped in an [...]





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Friday, July 30, 2010

'Dinner For Schmucks': Idiot Patrol, By Kurt Loder

'Dinner For Schmucks': Idiot Patrol, By Kurt Loder

Paul Rudd and Steve Carell make the most of a very light comedy.


Steve Carell and Jemaine Clement in "Dinner for Schmucks"
Photo: Paramount Pictures

"Dinner for Schmucks" is as light as a fistful of feathers — as a comedy in the age of Apatow, it's barely there. But the sharp cast is smart enough not to weigh down the airy tale with heavy shtick (which might have been a temptation), and director Jay Roach lays out the story with straightforward simplicity. The movie becomes funnier than you might expect at the beginning; as summer comedies go, it's a small surprise.

Paul Rudd plays Tim, an upwardly mobile finance hotshot at an L.A. investment firm. After he reels in a wealthy new client, an enormously snooty Swiss moneybags named Mueller (David Walliams, of "Little Britain"), Tim's boss (Bruce Greenwood) tantalizes him with the prospect of a big promotion — but on one condition: Tim will have to attend an annual company dinner to which each top executive is expected to bring an idiot — the most pathetic specimen of humanity he can find. The exec with the biggest idiot wins.

Tim's girlfriend, a gallery owner named Julie (Stephanie Szostak), is so appalled by this idea that he promises her he won't take part. For one thing, he's starting to worry that Julie might fall into the clutches of her hottest new artist, the egomaniacal Kieran (Jemaine Clement), whose outsize paintings all feature him in dementedly heroic poses. Finally, though, Tim is overcome by ambition and decides to attend the dinner. Now he just has to find an idiot.

Fortuitously, while driving down the street in his pricey sports car, Tim accidentally runs into Barry (Steve Carell), who turns out to be a perfect goofus. ("I've been hit by a Datsun before," he says excitedly, "but never a Porsche.") Barry is an IRS drone by day, but his real passion is creative taxidermy: collecting dead mice, stuffing them, outfitting them with handmade clothing and then arranging them in elaborate tableaux. (One of these, meticulously housed in a display case, is an all-rodent restaging of the Last Supper.)

Here, unfortunately, the movie, which is a remake of a 1998 French film, hits an unpleasant bump. Barry is supposed to be a complete moron (Carell seems to have derived this toothy nutcake from the Jerry Lewis canon, minus Lewis' abrasive whininess), but his "mouster-pieces," as he calls them, really are inspired. When Tim fails to realize this at first, and pushes ahead with his dinner plan, we begin to question his character in an unsmiling way. He'll eventually have a change of heart — that's the preordained point of the story — but a sour taste lingers.

The movie is naturally pointed like an arrow toward the concluding idiot dinner. Along the way to it, though, we meet some fine daffy characters, among them Barry's IRS boss, Therman (Zach Galifianakis), who has a private passion of his own for mind control (he's written a book called "Your Mind Is My Puppet"); and a lunatic party girl named Darla (Lucy Punch), who has been stalking Tim ever since he drunkenly went to bed with her three years earlier. (She comes on to men tongue-first.)

Additional oddballs turn up at the idiot dinner itself, of course: a blind fencing enthusiast, a lonely ventriloquist with his wooden-headed "wife," and a dead-pet psychic who disrupts the feast when she starts receiving messages from the main course (broiled lobster). It's no surprise that the dinner collapses into a slapstick fiasco (which goes on a little too long), or that in the end the sleazy guys all get their comeuppance and the idiots emerge as misunderstood sweethearts whose obsessions make sense in the context of their eccentric lives. As Barry puts it, more or less quoting John Lennon: "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not."

Don't miss Kurt Loder's review of "Charlie St. Cloud," also new in theaters this week.

("Dinner for Schmucks" is a Paramount Pictures presentation. Paramount and MTV are both subsidiaries of Viacom.)

Check out everything we've got on "Dinner for Schmucks."

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

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'Jersey Shore' Fans Weigh In On Miami Move

'Jersey Shore' Fans Weigh In On Miami Move

Philadelphia viewers are divided on how Snooki, JWoww and company will fare in Florida.
By Andrew MacLean


"Jersey Shore" premiere party in Philadelphia
Photo: David Bui

PHILADELPHIA — On Thursday, at the Blockley in University City hundreds of college students converged to celebrate their two favorite things, drinking and the "Jersey Shore." Co-owner and manager Nick Mucyccka said he decided to host the season-two premiere party because, " 'Jersey Shore' is like a little dirty secret that everyone likes to keep. But whether you admit it or not, you like to watch it."

As excited as the fans were to see the new season, some patrons revealed to MTV News that they were a bit disappointed to see the fist-pumping action relocated away from the nearby beaches of the Garden State for the first part of the season.

"I'm not really that pumped up for Miami," Nico Miceli admitted. "You know the 'Jersey Shore' is all about the Jersey Shore. So I don't really like how they switched it, because it's a completely different scene. It's a different style of people."

Mucyccka was also skeptical about the move down South. "I think it's going to slack," he said. "You know, the Jersey Shore is something that can't be replicated. You know, Miami's Miami and the Jersey Shore's the Jersey Shore. I think that moving to Miami is kind of weak, but it should be interesting either way."

But there are of course many who were excited to see their favorite guidos and guidettes expand their horizons. "I actually think it's more interesting they went to Miami, just because the Jersey Shore can get old, it's the same people, same places," Vincent Tuths said. "I mean Miami is one of the biggest party places in the U.S."

Many are interested to see how the cast's newfound fame will influence the show. "I love the second season because they got outside the Jersey Shore," Andrew Fortin shared. "I love the fact that they are going down to different spots, but I think it's a little different that they're actually stars now."

Do you think the "Jersey Shore" cast acted differently now that they're in Miami and famous? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Coming Tuesday: ET to Stream Sheryl Crow 'Live from Letterman'

Coming Tuesday: ET to Stream Sheryl Crow 'Live from Letterman'

On Tuesday July 20, Sheryl Crow will be the latest in a roster of superstars who have taken the Live from Letterman stage, and ET will be streaming as the concert happens!

After she tapes her appearance (to air later Tuesday night) on "The Late Show with David Letterman," the nine-time Grammy winner will perform a live set at the Ed Sullivan Theater beginning at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST. Come back and visit etonline.com then and watch the show as it happens!

The singer will play some of her biggest hits, as well as music from her upcoming album, 100 Miles from Memphis, which is set to be released Tuesday.




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Daniel Craig takes the lead in ‘Dragon Tattoo’ – plus ‘Fire’ and ‘Hornet’s Nest’

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