Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' L.A. Premiere
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Former ?Sopranos? Actor Reuniting with James Gandolfini for Film
Daniel Miller Vincent Curatola, who played Johnny Sack on the mob show, has been cast in "Cogan?s Trade."read more
Michael Michele Michelle Behennah Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin
Beyonce Jokes She's Been Pregnant With Concert Special
'I was pregnant with this DVD,' she laughs to MTV News as 'I Am ... World Tour' is set to air Thanksgiving Day on ABC.By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.
"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.
The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.
"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.
Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."
Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.
"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."
Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."
Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!
Related Artists
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé never really seems to slow down, so when the time came to choose a director for her concert special DVD "I Am ... World Tour," the singer decided to take on those duties too. It's an accomplishment the singer jokes may have sparked those pregnancy rumors.
"I was pregnant with this DVD, yes!" she joked to MTV News.
The DVD hits stores on November 30, but fans can catch the 90-minute "I Am ... World Tour" TV special when it airs on ABC Thanksgiving night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Beyoncé opened up about what it was like to sit in the director's chair.
"Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled," she said at the New York City screening for the flick.
Beyoncé said she was completely hands-on, deciding which moments made the final cut and which ones wound up on the cutting-room floor. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it."
Her parents, Mathew and Tina Knowles, who also attended the screening over the weekend, said the film gives B the recognition she deserves after years of collaborating on many of her own videos.
"I'm really excited about this because Beyoncé has been making little short films and really helping to direct her videos," Tina told us. "So it's nice that she'll get credit for doing something that she really loves doing and that she's very talented at."
Dad Mathew recalled all of the effort his superstar daughter put into the special. "I'm so proud," he said. "I had an opportunity [to see the film], I've been to Houston with a screening; I've been to Bentonville, [Arkansas], with a screening, and to see the excitement from the audience, what an incredible job Beyoncé did as a director in the editing, I'm just so proud. Hopefully, all the fans go out and get the DVD and soundtrack and look at that ABC special coming on Thanksgiving."
Are you excited to see Beyoncé's concert special? Tell us in the comments!
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Beyoncé
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'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
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
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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Mary J. Blige
Led Zeppelin
Travis Barker
Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News
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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Mary J. Blige
Led Zeppelin
Travis Barker
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher
Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
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Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News
Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.
In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.
"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.
"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."
But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."
As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.
"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.
"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."
On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.
Related Videos
Discovering Justin Bieber
MTV Rough Cut: Justin Bieber
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Sarah Silverman Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson
Tony Yayo Gets Down And Dirty In This Exclusive 'S.W.A.T. 2: Firefight' Clip
Way back in 2003, an action thriller came out called "S.W.A.T.," starring Colin Farrell, Sam Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Michele Rodriguez and LL Cool J. The film was based on a 1970's television series about a group of elite cops taking on the bad guys, and the movie was more or less a fun ride. Now [...]
Britney Spears Shakes It In Fifth 'Hold It Against Me' Clip
Spears and her buff male backup dancers show off moves in another look at the video's dance sequence.By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" teaser #5
Photo: Jive
As news broke on Tuesday (February 8) that Britney Spears would premiere her "Hold It Against Me" video on MTV on Thursday, February 17, fans also got another taste of what to expect from the Jonas Åkerlund-directed clip. The latest tease seems to pick up where Monday's preview left off.
She tweeted out the fifth preview, which shows the singer standing in the outfit seen in the fourth teaser (hot pants, bustier, boots), as her male dancers appear behind her. Lights fill the room where she's performing and then the camera focuses on Brit mid-dance. At the end, Britney coos, "All right."
Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me" teaser #5
Photo: Jive
As news broke on Tuesday (February 8) that Britney Spears would premiere her "Hold It Against Me" video on MTV on Thursday, February 17, fans also got another taste of what to expect from the Jonas Åkerlund-directed clip. The latest tease seems to pick up where Monday's preview left off.
She tweeted out the fifth preview, which shows the singer standing in the outfit seen in the fourth teaser (hot pants, bustier, boots), as her male dancers appear behind her. Lights fill the room where she's performing and then the camera focuses on Brit mid-dance. At the end, Britney coos, "All right."
Just what Bangkok needs: Another luxury hotel/shopping mall complex
Details of the long-awaited ?Central Embassy,? which will be built on the former site of the British Embassy, have been released. Owned by Thai shopping giant Central Retail Corp, building plans include a 37-floor complex featuring an eight-story retail and lifestyle area and a 30-floor luxury Park Hyatt with 222 rooms. According to a report in The Nation, a sky-bridge will connect Central Embassy to upscale department store Central Chidlom, which will also undergo a refurbishment.read more
Emma Watson Confirmed For 'Perks Of Being A Wallflower' Film
Actress will star opposite Logan Lerman in her first post-'Harry Potter' leading role.By Terri Schwartz
Emma Watson
It's been nine months since Variety first announced that Emma Watson might be starring in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and now Watson's first post-"Harry Potter" leading role has been confirmed. Both she and Logan Lerman will headline the adaptation that Summit Entertainment recently picked up.
Watson confirmed the casting on her Facebook page, saying, "Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that the rumours are true - I'm going to be playing Sam in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' opposite Logan Lerman. Love Em xx."
Chbosky will both write and direct the film, with John Malkovich executive-producing it. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" follows 15-year-old wallflower Charlie (Lerman) who writes a series of letters to an unknown person about his life, including his love for a girl named Sam (Watson), the suicide of his best friend and his struggle to find a group of friends in which he belongs. It is considered to be one of the best interpretations of adolescence in the 1990s out there.
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" isn't the only film on Watson's slate. She's filmed a small but important role in the upcoming Michelle Williams-starring film "My Week With Marilyn" and is also a top contender to star opposite Taylor Lautner in the adaptation of the young-adult novel "Incarceron." There's also the last "Harry Potter" film, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which is scheduled to hit theaters July 15.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Emma Watson
It's been nine months since Variety first announced that Emma Watson might be starring in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and now Watson's first post-"Harry Potter" leading role has been confirmed. Both she and Logan Lerman will headline the adaptation that Summit Entertainment recently picked up.
Watson confirmed the casting on her Facebook page, saying, "Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that the rumours are true - I'm going to be playing Sam in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' opposite Logan Lerman. Love Em xx."
Chbosky will both write and direct the film, with John Malkovich executive-producing it. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" follows 15-year-old wallflower Charlie (Lerman) who writes a series of letters to an unknown person about his life, including his love for a girl named Sam (Watson), the suicide of his best friend and his struggle to find a group of friends in which he belongs. It is considered to be one of the best interpretations of adolescence in the 1990s out there.
"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" isn't the only film on Watson's slate. She's filmed a small but important role in the upcoming Michelle Williams-starring film "My Week With Marilyn" and is also a top contender to star opposite Taylor Lautner in the adaptation of the young-adult novel "Incarceron." There's also the last "Harry Potter" film, "Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which is scheduled to hit theaters July 15.
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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The Evolution Of: Emma Watson
Justin Bieber Gets Killed . . . On An Upcoming Episode Of ?CSI:?
The last time popstar Justin Bieber appeared on the CBS TV series CSI: he played a bad boy juvenile delinquent. Welp, it turns out that Bieber will be returning to CSI: in an upcoming new episode … but this time around, things will turn out differently for the lad. He’s gonna get murdered, y’all. Don’t [...]
Friday, February 11, 2011
Meryl Streep Reteams With 'Prada' Director David Frankel for 'Great Hope Springs'
Borys Kit The comedy, from Mandate Pictures, aims to begin filming August 2011.read more
Sarah Shahi
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Wynter
Scarlett Chorvat
Scarlett Johansson
Selita Ebanks
Sarah Shahi
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Wynter
Scarlett Chorvat
Scarlett Johansson
Selita Ebanks
Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray's Trial To Be Televised
Judge rules that camera will be allowed in the courtroom for manslaughter case.By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.
The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.
Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.
Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.
TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.
Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.
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Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.
Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.
The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.
Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.
Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.
TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.
Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.
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Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos
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Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio Lead Flurry Of Movie Remakes
Russell Brand, Willow Smith, Jonah Hill are just a few stars looking to revamp film and TV classics like 'Arthur', 'Annie' and '21 Jump Street.'By Terri Schwartz
Beyoncé
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
What do Willow Smith and Beyoncé have in common with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Kenny Wormald? They're all starring (or in talks to star) in the latest round of remakes of beloved films and TV shows coming down the pike.
On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé would be starring in a Clint Eastwood-directed remake of the 1976 Barbra Streisand classic "A Star Is Born" (which was a remake of a 1954 movie that remade a 1937 film). In the meantime, Will Smith is reportedly petitioning Sony to remake "Annie" (the 1982 movie and 1977 musical) starring his 10-year-old daughter, Willow, best known for whipping her hair.
In October it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio and best bud Tobey Maguire would be starring in Baz Luhrmann's 3-D retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," with Carey Mulligan joining as Daisy Buchanan.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been working on bringing the '80s Johnny Depp-starring television series "21 Jump Street" to the big screen since 2008, and they might even get Depp to cameo in it in time for the film's March 16, 2012, release date.
And let's not forget the long hunt for a Ren McCormack (the character Kevin Bacon made famous in 1984), after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford dropped out of the planned "Footloose" remake that finally landed dancer Kenny Wormald the role of his life.
Then there's "Arthur," the Russell Brand-starring remake of the 1981 screwball comedy about a happily drunk millionaire who risks everything for love. The film has tapped everyone from Helen Mirren to Greta Gerwig and Nick Nolte.
Two recently announced remakes are "Lethal Weapon" and "The Wizard of Oz," which are still in early development and without stars attached. Warner Bros. announced their plans to reboot the Mel Gibson-starring franchise on Thursday and tapped writer Will Beall to pen the script with completely new characters. And director Robert Zemeckis announced back in November that he planned on remaking the 1939 Technicolor classic using the script from the original film, with Warner Bros. hoping Robert Downey Jr. will play Oz.
Just this past year, films from "Clash of the Titans" to "The Karate Kid" to "A Nightmare on Elm Street" were remade for the big screen and were well-received by audiences. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Clash of the Titans" went on to become two of the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2010, while "Piranha 3D" and "The A-Team" also went on to strong successes, proving that there definitely is a market for these kinds of remakes.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Leo, Beyonce And More Remake The Classics
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Beyoncé
Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images
What do Willow Smith and Beyoncé have in common with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill and Kenny Wormald? They're all starring (or in talks to star) in the latest round of remakes of beloved films and TV shows coming down the pike.
On Thursday, news broke that Beyoncé would be starring in a Clint Eastwood-directed remake of the 1976 Barbra Streisand classic "A Star Is Born" (which was a remake of a 1954 movie that remade a 1937 film). In the meantime, Will Smith is reportedly petitioning Sony to remake "Annie" (the 1982 movie and 1977 musical) starring his 10-year-old daughter, Willow, best known for whipping her hair.
In October it was announced that Leonardo DiCaprio and best bud Tobey Maguire would be starring in Baz Luhrmann's 3-D retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," with Carey Mulligan joining as Daisy Buchanan.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have been working on bringing the '80s Johnny Depp-starring television series "21 Jump Street" to the big screen since 2008, and they might even get Depp to cameo in it in time for the film's March 16, 2012, release date.
And let's not forget the long hunt for a Ren McCormack (the character Kevin Bacon made famous in 1984), after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford dropped out of the planned "Footloose" remake that finally landed dancer Kenny Wormald the role of his life.
Then there's "Arthur," the Russell Brand-starring remake of the 1981 screwball comedy about a happily drunk millionaire who risks everything for love. The film has tapped everyone from Helen Mirren to Greta Gerwig and Nick Nolte.
Two recently announced remakes are "Lethal Weapon" and "The Wizard of Oz," which are still in early development and without stars attached. Warner Bros. announced their plans to reboot the Mel Gibson-starring franchise on Thursday and tapped writer Will Beall to pen the script with completely new characters. And director Robert Zemeckis announced back in November that he planned on remaking the 1939 Technicolor classic using the script from the original film, with Warner Bros. hoping Robert Downey Jr. will play Oz.
Just this past year, films from "Clash of the Titans" to "The Karate Kid" to "A Nightmare on Elm Street" were remade for the big screen and were well-received by audiences. "Alice in Wonderland" and "Clash of the Titans" went on to become two of the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2010, while "Piranha 3D" and "The A-Team" also went on to strong successes, proving that there definitely is a market for these kinds of remakes.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011
5 last-minute Valentine's dates in Hong Kong
These unique Valentine?s dates make the best of Hong Kong?s terrain, scenery and culture. Picnic at the PeakAdmire the bright city lights from above and take your special someone on a picnic date at The Peak, and we don?t mean Whoppers on Burger King?s balcony. The Victoria Peak Garden is the perfect setting for a Valentine?s picnic. This real-life secret garden is tucked away off the Morning Trail and features a rarity for Hong Kong parks: green, green grass to sink your toes into. Lay a blanket onto these lush little blades or spread your meal out onto one of the many picnic tables available. Better yet, build a little dinner haven in one of the European-inspired gazebos. read more
Valentine?s Day in Bangkok: Ideas for the non-traditionalist
Let?s face it. Valentine?s Day can be a miserable affair. Watching love-struck couples flit about is grating, especially if you?re single and missing out on the action. Too often, you get ripped off at restaurants and pay over the odds for a mediocre meal notable only for a wilting rose on the table and a cheap heart-shaped box of chocolates. In Bangkok, however, it is possible to both shun V-Day?s saccharine stereotypes and have a ball with your respective belle or beau at the same time.read more
Ben Affleck And Jennifer Garner Grab Coffee Together
As all of you married couples out there know, once kids come along, you have to grab couple time together whenever you can! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were spotted having coffee together yesterday morning.
I hope they make some time to go out and celebrate this evening: Ben's new movie, 'The Town,' is projected to be the #1 movie this weekend! It was expected to come in #2 behind the teen movie 'Easy A,' but unless the teens turn out in force tonight, 'The Town' is expected to win the weekend.
After all his ups and downs, I'm sure Ben is a happy guy today :)
Photos by FAME
I hope they make some time to go out and celebrate this evening: Ben's new movie, 'The Town,' is projected to be the #1 movie this weekend! It was expected to come in #2 behind the teen movie 'Easy A,' but unless the teens turn out in force tonight, 'The Town' is expected to win the weekend.
After all his ups and downs, I'm sure Ben is a happy guy today :)
Photos by FAME
Usher, Ke$ha And More Help Dance Music Go Pop In 2010
But is it here to stay? Our music-industry experts weigh in.By Akshay Bhansali
Ke$ha
Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images
In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.
Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?
The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.
So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.
"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."
"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."
Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."
Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.
"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."
"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."
Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."
"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."
So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.
"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"
"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."
"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."
Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."
What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos
Stories Of 2010
Related Artists
Usher
Ke$ha
Ke$ha
Photo: Andreas Rentz/ Getty Images
In 2010, pop princesses, R&B icons and chart-dominating newcomers all danced to the same beat. Not only did dance music go pop, but pop music caught the club-music bug.
Between Katy Perry's "Firework," Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" and "OMG" and countless other singles, established artists definitely looked to dance beats for surefire hits. And two of this year's biggest success stories in music were Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz; could there be a soul left in this country who hasn't heard "Dynamite" or "In My Head"?
The love went both ways, with dance music's biggest stars finding mainstream success this year. Dance-music maestro deadmau5 took up house-artist duties at this year's VMAs, and Swedish House Mafia and Usher teamed up for a medley of their gems at the American Music Awards.
So how did this happen? We caught up with some music-industry experts to get their takes.
"You definitely saw tempos go up this year," Jon Caramanica of The New York Times told MTV News. "And I think what you had are a lot of producers who are really familiar with nightclub stuff. They are familiar with Europe. Things are happening on a more global scale now."
"I think everything from Europe, and sometimes even Asia, it comes to America, and we just adopt things a little bit slower," said Jared Eng of JustJared.com. "I think it was just a change. People like different types of music at different times. And dance was of this moment."
Noah Callahan of Complex magazine added: "I think 2010 saw the merging of the pop and dance genres. Pop artists realized that there were best practices that could be borrowed from dance music. And, ultimately, [all] pop music that has been made in the past 20 years had ended up being remixed for the club by dance artists. I think they basically just cut out the middleman and went straight there."
Dance music being introduced into the hip-hop and R&B realms was particularly notable this year.
"I think David Guetta kind of at the end of last year and the beginning of this year spearheaded it," said freelance writer Julianne Escobedo Shepherd. "He produced a lot of tracks. I think as trends go, people revile 'unst-unst.' But it's just coming back around. Big-room techno was a way for people to get decadent in a year that no one could get decadent."
"You have someone like will.i.am, who's like, 'Well, I spent all this time in Ibiza, and this is what they are doing,' and he wants to find a way to bring that into his music," Caramanica said of the Black Eyed Peas mastermind. "R&B especially became dance music. And especially with your Jason Derülos, Taio Cruzes. Guys like that would have literally been blocked at the border two years ago. That would not have made it through customs. And now all of a sudden they have #1 songs. I think will.i.am had a lot to do with that last year."
Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com added: "It's actually even affected hip-hop. I was talking to Q-Tip, and his next record, I feel like that's gonna kind of go in that vein. I know that was also Jay-Z's thought process with Blueprint 3 at first, that he wanted to make a little bit more of a world music [vibe], a little more dancey. I think the kids today want to go to the clubs. They wanna have a good time. They wanna dance. So I think the artists of today are trying to kind of feed that audience."
"I think it's caught on this year because the people who've done it have been successful," offered Clover Hope of Vibe magazine. "Like 'OMG,' with usher, he didn't have success until he made a dance record. He had 'There Goes My Baby' and these really, like, adult-contemporary records that didn't really catch on. And then once you see that everybody is doing it and that people are liking it, they are like, 'OK, let me just try this out.' It's like Auto-Tune. Like, 'Let me see what I sound like on a record by David Guetta.' They end up liking it and doing more of it."
So does the club-music trend have staying power. According to our tastemakers, not so much.
"I do think it's a blip," Caramanica said. "I don't think that's gonna be something that lasts in America. I think this is gonna be a moment we'll all look back on and go, 'Wasn't that weird when Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz had #1 records?"
"At some point, these R&B artists will get kind of sick of it and be like, 'Let me go back to my soul background,' " Hope said. "When you actually have to say something, dance doesn't really lend itself to substance. And I think that R&B artists, they really want to talk about love and in a deep way, and to do that, you need to do, like, a soul or a traditional R&B record. I want to say that it's kind of a fad."
"I think music is very cyclical," Eng offered. "So I think dance music might be here for a little bit, but I'm sure it will phase out at some point."
Wilson called dance music "the sound of today. I think that people want more aggressive, faster beats, and I think that that probably has legs until at least next summer."
What do you think? Is dance music here to stay? Let us know in the comments!
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Snooki's Best 2010 Grammy Moments, From Justin Bieber To Katy Perry
'Jersey Shore' starlet will be back on the red carpet for 'Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys,' kicking off at 6 p.m. ET Sunday on MTV.com!By Jocelyn Vena
Katy Perry, Sway and Snooki at the 2010 Grammys
Photo: Gil Kaufman/MTV News
Snooki is set to return as one of MTV News' Grammy red-carpet correspondents, getting all the dish from some of the music world's biggest names. And for the first time, she and co-host Sway will anchor MTV News' red-carpet live stream from the event. The pair will be seen live on MTV.com for two hours (6-8 p.m. ET), talking to all the night's big attendees, presenters and performers.
But, before she kicks off the live-stream event this Sunday, MTV News is taking a look back at her greatest moments from last year's carpet.
Who could forget her memorable chat with Justin Bieber? "Do you watch the show? Are you allowed?" she teased the young star about "Jersey Shore." "Do you get a lot of, like, girls?" she later inquired. "I think you're really cute. How would you feel about a blowout? You could make an amazing blowout, like Pauly D's, with your hair. When you turn 18 or something, call me up."
Later, when she was with Mario Lopez, she confessed, "He's my #1 Spanish guido right now!"
Not only did she hit on Bieber and Lopez, she also found a few ladies she thought were pretty hot.
"I think you are gorgeous. Like, I want to make out with you right now," she told supermodel Marisa Miller. "I don't know if you're a lesbian or not."
Speaking of kissing girls, she and Katy Perry had a funny little exchange on that topic. "Did you really kiss a girl?" she asked the singer. Perry's response? "Yes, Snooki, but I can't kiss you anymore, 'cause I'm engaged."
"I heard," Snooki told Perry, who is now married to Russell Brand. "He's really cute. Good job, girl!"
After the stars all made their way inside, Snooks admitted that she'd love to come back. Lucky for everyone, she will once again get her time in the sun. "I would love to do the Grammys again. I think the celebrities loved me, and you saw — they're screaming at me! They want me!" she said. "So next time you do an awards show with music or celebrities, I should be here, because they're waiting to look for me."
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
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Katy Perry, Sway and Snooki at the 2010 Grammys
Photo: Gil Kaufman/MTV News
Snooki is set to return as one of MTV News' Grammy red-carpet correspondents, getting all the dish from some of the music world's biggest names. And for the first time, she and co-host Sway will anchor MTV News' red-carpet live stream from the event. The pair will be seen live on MTV.com for two hours (6-8 p.m. ET), talking to all the night's big attendees, presenters and performers.
But, before she kicks off the live-stream event this Sunday, MTV News is taking a look back at her greatest moments from last year's carpet.
Who could forget her memorable chat with Justin Bieber? "Do you watch the show? Are you allowed?" she teased the young star about "Jersey Shore." "Do you get a lot of, like, girls?" she later inquired. "I think you're really cute. How would you feel about a blowout? You could make an amazing blowout, like Pauly D's, with your hair. When you turn 18 or something, call me up."
Later, when she was with Mario Lopez, she confessed, "He's my #1 Spanish guido right now!"
Not only did she hit on Bieber and Lopez, she also found a few ladies she thought were pretty hot.
"I think you are gorgeous. Like, I want to make out with you right now," she told supermodel Marisa Miller. "I don't know if you're a lesbian or not."
Speaking of kissing girls, she and Katy Perry had a funny little exchange on that topic. "Did you really kiss a girl?" she asked the singer. Perry's response? "Yes, Snooki, but I can't kiss you anymore, 'cause I'm engaged."
"I heard," Snooki told Perry, who is now married to Russell Brand. "He's really cute. Good job, girl!"
After the stars all made their way inside, Snooks admitted that she'd love to come back. Lucky for everyone, she will once again get her time in the sun. "I would love to do the Grammys again. I think the celebrities loved me, and you saw — they're screaming at me! They want me!" she said. "So next time you do an awards show with music or celebrities, I should be here, because they're waiting to look for me."
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
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Photos | The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
The 2010 Grammy Awards Red Carpet
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Lady Gaga's Rumored Beau To Publish Diet Book
Bartender Lüc Carl plans to release 'The Drunk Diet' in 2011.By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga's rumored boyfriend Lüc Carl is set to release a book this year. The New York City bartender is penning a memoir/ diet book titled "The Drunk Diet," in which he shares his experiences of going from flabby to in shape without cutting out the good times.
The book is expected to drop sometime in 2011 and, according to Carl's website it's "not your ordinary diet book." A description on the site reads, " 'The Drunk Diet' is simply a year in the life of author Lüc Carl. His memoirs of a year in which he went from being an out of shape, bloated a--hole, to the sexiest, most delightful man on the planet.
"You will not find any 'do this, don't do that' in 'The Drunk Diet.' This is simply one ordinary rock n roller's story, filled with awe-inspiring, hilarious accounts of his day to day life," the post continues. "After reading countless books and being told time after time that it's impossible to lose weight while drinking alcohol heavily, Lüc Carl decided to take matters into his own hands. Join him on his journey to lose 40 pounds, without giving up his principles of being a hard drinking party maker."
Carl recently spoke to Gaga bestie Perez Hilton about the book and clarified that he wasn't pushing an alcohol diet, but rather information on how to go out and make healthier choices.
According to a press release, Carl's book shows how he transforms "a lifestyle based around whiskey and 5 a.m. cheeseburgers into a wildly successful fitness regime."
Related Artists
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Lady Gaga
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga's rumored boyfriend Lüc Carl is set to release a book this year. The New York City bartender is penning a memoir/ diet book titled "The Drunk Diet," in which he shares his experiences of going from flabby to in shape without cutting out the good times.
The book is expected to drop sometime in 2011 and, according to Carl's website it's "not your ordinary diet book." A description on the site reads, " 'The Drunk Diet' is simply a year in the life of author Lüc Carl. His memoirs of a year in which he went from being an out of shape, bloated a--hole, to the sexiest, most delightful man on the planet.
"You will not find any 'do this, don't do that' in 'The Drunk Diet.' This is simply one ordinary rock n roller's story, filled with awe-inspiring, hilarious accounts of his day to day life," the post continues. "After reading countless books and being told time after time that it's impossible to lose weight while drinking alcohol heavily, Lüc Carl decided to take matters into his own hands. Join him on his journey to lose 40 pounds, without giving up his principles of being a hard drinking party maker."
Carl recently spoke to Gaga bestie Perez Hilton about the book and clarified that he wasn't pushing an alcohol diet, but rather information on how to go out and make healthier choices.
According to a press release, Carl's book shows how he transforms "a lifestyle based around whiskey and 5 a.m. cheeseburgers into a wildly successful fitness regime."
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011
'Cast in Metal: Airbourne Frontman Joel O'Keefe
If AC/DC aren't cranking out albums fast enough for you and Rhino Bucket don't get your engine revin,' then check out the new Airbourne album 'No Guts, No Glory.' The second disc by these Aussie/DC obsessives is a feast of sleazy, slammin' rhythms, jagged flesh-cleaving guitars and howled melodic vocals that sound like Angus-and-company on [...]Zoe Saldana Zooey Deschanel
Aaliyah
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Adrianne Curry
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Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff
Usher's 'OMG' ' 'Kills It Every Night,' Says Tourmate Miguel
'There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out,' Miguel says of MTV News' Song of the Year.By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker
Usher
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
MTV News just named Usher's "OMG" the #1 song of 2010, and clearly we're not alone in our admiration. But what is it like to watch it performed night after night? Miguel, who is currently opening for Usher's OMG Tour gave us a little insight.
"There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out, and he really gives the fans what they want," Miguel laughs. "He kills it every night."
Before his latest string of hits, Usher was out of the spotlight for a period of time in 2009, when he was dealing with personal issues including a divorce. Miguel finds his 2010 comeback inspiring.
"There was a period of time, when a lot of people didn't believe in Usher and thought he was finished ... just kind of going to ride off into the sunset and disappear," the up-and-coming singer noted.
With the release of Raymond vs. Raymond and its extended, companion EP, Versus, in 2010, Usher proved the skeptics wrong with chart-toppers including "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love."
"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel beamed. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!
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Usher
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
MTV News just named Usher's "OMG" the #1 song of 2010, and clearly we're not alone in our admiration. But what is it like to watch it performed night after night? Miguel, who is currently opening for Usher's OMG Tour gave us a little insight.
"There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out, and he really gives the fans what they want," Miguel laughs. "He kills it every night."
Before his latest string of hits, Usher was out of the spotlight for a period of time in 2009, when he was dealing with personal issues including a divorce. Miguel finds his 2010 comeback inspiring.
"There was a period of time, when a lot of people didn't believe in Usher and thought he was finished ... just kind of going to ride off into the sunset and disappear," the up-and-coming singer noted.
With the release of Raymond vs. Raymond and its extended, companion EP, Versus, in 2010, Usher proved the skeptics wrong with chart-toppers including "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love."
"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel beamed. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."
MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!
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Beyoncé - Kitty Kat
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Artist: Beyoncé
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Michael Jackson Doctor Ordered Hundreds Of Bottles Of Propofol
Also during the preliminary hearing Monday, judge rules that evidence from Dr. Conrad Murray's phone can be used.By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray (file)
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images
One thing became clear during testimony in the preliminary hearing of Dr. Conrad Murray on Monday (January 10) in Los Angeles: The cardiologist ordered a lot of the powerful anesthetic propofol in the months before his client Michael Jackson's death.
Los Angeles County Coroner's officials determined that the pop star died of a lethal dose of the surgical anesthetic in June 2009. Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted that he administered propofol to the singer in the hours before Jackson's passing.
And while Murray's lawyers have said that their client did not do anything that "should have" caused Jackson's death and may be preparing a defense in which they will claim that it was Jackson himself that administered the fatal dose, during continuing testimony in the second week of Murray's pretrial hearing on involuntary manslaughter charges, it became clear that there was plenty of propofol around.
According to TMZ, pharmacist Tim Lopez of Las Vegas Applied Pharmacy Services — Murray has offices and a home in Las Vegas — testified that Murray ordered more than 250 vials of propofol in the two months before Jackson's death. The drug is intended for use in a clinical setting during surgery where equipment is on hand to monitor blood pressure and oxygen levels.
Investigators executed search warrants on Murray's Las Vegas home and office, as well as Applied Pharmacy, in summer 2009 in search of evidence connected to an investigation into Jackson's death. The coroner's investigation reported that 12 vials of propofol were found in the bedroom and closet of Jackson's rented mansion after his death, and last week, one of the singer's bodyguards testified that in the moments before a 911 call was placed, Murray asked him to help put medical evidence in a bag, including vials that appeared to contain a milky substance that resembled propofol.
Jackson, a chronic insomniac, allegedly used propofol as a sleep aid, and according to Lopez's testimony, from the time Murray came onboard as Jackson's physician in April until the singer's death, the doctor ordered 130 vials of propofol in 100-millileter doses and another 125 in 20-millileter vials, as well as more than 40 vials of the sedative Versed and the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, which, like the propofol, was sent to Murray's girlfriend's home in Santa Monica, California, where he was staying while caring for Jackson. According to The Associated Press, Murray told Lopez the Santa Monica address was for one of the doctor's clinics.
Also on Monday, the judge in the case, Michael Pastor, ruled that recently obtained data from Murray's iPhone can be admitted as evidence in the case. The evidence reportedly includes a handful of voicemails and 12 screenshots.
The AP reported that a retired federal investigator testified on Monday that he retrieved e-mail from Murray's cell phone that included an exchange between the doctor and a London insurance broker who was handling the policy for Jackson's planned series of "This Is It" comeback shows. On the morning of Jackson's death, the broker asked Murray to respond to reports that the 50-year-old singer was in poor health. "As far as the statements of his health published by the press, let me say they're all malicious to the best of my knowledge," Murray replied.
So far, prosecutors have used phone records and testimony from police and Murray's current and former girlfriends to create a timeline that shows that the doctor was on the phone throughout the morning of Jackson's death, including the time after he administered the last of several doses that morning of propofol to the pop star. Previous testimony has focused on Murray's botched attempts to deliver CPR to Jackson, the delay in calling 911 and the belief by paramedics that the "Thriller" singer was already dead when they transported him to a local hospital.
The preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Murray to trial is expected to last around two weeks. Murray has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, which could land him in prison for up to four years.
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Dr. Conrad Murray (file)
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images
One thing became clear during testimony in the preliminary hearing of Dr. Conrad Murray on Monday (January 10) in Los Angeles: The cardiologist ordered a lot of the powerful anesthetic propofol in the months before his client Michael Jackson's death.
Los Angeles County Coroner's officials determined that the pop star died of a lethal dose of the surgical anesthetic in June 2009. Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted that he administered propofol to the singer in the hours before Jackson's passing.
And while Murray's lawyers have said that their client did not do anything that "should have" caused Jackson's death and may be preparing a defense in which they will claim that it was Jackson himself that administered the fatal dose, during continuing testimony in the second week of Murray's pretrial hearing on involuntary manslaughter charges, it became clear that there was plenty of propofol around.
According to TMZ, pharmacist Tim Lopez of Las Vegas Applied Pharmacy Services — Murray has offices and a home in Las Vegas — testified that Murray ordered more than 250 vials of propofol in the two months before Jackson's death. The drug is intended for use in a clinical setting during surgery where equipment is on hand to monitor blood pressure and oxygen levels.
Investigators executed search warrants on Murray's Las Vegas home and office, as well as Applied Pharmacy, in summer 2009 in search of evidence connected to an investigation into Jackson's death. The coroner's investigation reported that 12 vials of propofol were found in the bedroom and closet of Jackson's rented mansion after his death, and last week, one of the singer's bodyguards testified that in the moments before a 911 call was placed, Murray asked him to help put medical evidence in a bag, including vials that appeared to contain a milky substance that resembled propofol.
Jackson, a chronic insomniac, allegedly used propofol as a sleep aid, and according to Lopez's testimony, from the time Murray came onboard as Jackson's physician in April until the singer's death, the doctor ordered 130 vials of propofol in 100-millileter doses and another 125 in 20-millileter vials, as well as more than 40 vials of the sedative Versed and the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, which, like the propofol, was sent to Murray's girlfriend's home in Santa Monica, California, where he was staying while caring for Jackson. According to The Associated Press, Murray told Lopez the Santa Monica address was for one of the doctor's clinics.
Also on Monday, the judge in the case, Michael Pastor, ruled that recently obtained data from Murray's iPhone can be admitted as evidence in the case. The evidence reportedly includes a handful of voicemails and 12 screenshots.
The AP reported that a retired federal investigator testified on Monday that he retrieved e-mail from Murray's cell phone that included an exchange between the doctor and a London insurance broker who was handling the policy for Jackson's planned series of "This Is It" comeback shows. On the morning of Jackson's death, the broker asked Murray to respond to reports that the 50-year-old singer was in poor health. "As far as the statements of his health published by the press, let me say they're all malicious to the best of my knowledge," Murray replied.
So far, prosecutors have used phone records and testimony from police and Murray's current and former girlfriends to create a timeline that shows that the doctor was on the phone throughout the morning of Jackson's death, including the time after he administered the last of several doses that morning of propofol to the pop star. Previous testimony has focused on Murray's botched attempts to deliver CPR to Jackson, the delay in calling 911 and the belief by paramedics that the "Thriller" singer was already dead when they transported him to a local hospital.
The preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to bring Murray to trial is expected to last around two weeks. Murray has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, which could land him in prison for up to four years.
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Sports & Me
This is how I'll be during Sunday's football games.
Onion SportsDome
Onion SportsDome
Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen Estella Warren
Photos | Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
Usher - Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)
Fed Up (featuring Usher, Young Jeezy, Drake, Rick Ross)
Artist: Usher
Label: We The Best, E1 Music
Director: Gil Green
Artist: Usher
Label: We The Best, E1 Music
Director: Gil Green
Most bizarre in-flight requests
Flying to 30 destinations around the world, you'd think the Virgin Atlantic crew encounters quite a wide spectrum of travelers on the job.
A recent survey of 3,000 cabin crew compiles a list of most unusual requests they have ever received.
In order of unusualness, they are:
"Can you show me to the showers?"
"Can you take my children to the playroom?"
"I have dropped my glass eye, please could you help me find it?"
"Is there a McDonald's onboard?"
"Please can you open the window?"
"Please can I have a cup of tea and book a massage for my Barbie doll?"
"Please can the captain stop the turbulence?"read more
A recent survey of 3,000 cabin crew compiles a list of most unusual requests they have ever received.
In order of unusualness, they are:
"Can you show me to the showers?"
"Can you take my children to the playroom?"
"I have dropped my glass eye, please could you help me find it?"
"Is there a McDonald's onboard?"
"Please can you open the window?"
"Please can I have a cup of tea and book a massage for my Barbie doll?"
"Please can the captain stop the turbulence?"read more
Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars
MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars
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6 Shanghai dishes, 6 delicious ways to be lucky
Over the past 30 years, Shanghaining have had an ever-expanding variety of food choices, making the once-a-year family reunion dinners on Chinese New Year ever more tantalizing.
Even with the growing variety of food to choose from, when Spring Festival approaches, there are always several dishes on almost every Shanghainese family?s table. They not only represent Shanghai?s particular -- and delicious -- cooking style, but they also take on new meanings within the city itself.
Here are six of the traditional lucky dishes that have a special place in the heart of Shanghaining everywhere.
read more
Even with the growing variety of food to choose from, when Spring Festival approaches, there are always several dishes on almost every Shanghainese family?s table. They not only represent Shanghai?s particular -- and delicious -- cooking style, but they also take on new meanings within the city itself.
Here are six of the traditional lucky dishes that have a special place in the heart of Shanghaining everywhere.
read more
Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish Adriana Lima Adrianne Curry Adrianne Palicki
Beyoncé - Diva
Diva
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Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Melina
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Director: Melina
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Justin Bieber Reveals Best Part Of Being A Teen Sensation
The 'Never Say Never' star tells MTV News he has to 'stop and just thank God sometimes' for his 'crazy' rise to fame.By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images
If anything is evident from watching Justin Bieber's 3-D movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," it's that Bieber is just a small-town kid who lived up to the hype and managed to rise to superstardom.
"Never Say Never" not only chronicles the star's rise to fame but also focuses on the work he put into his Madison Square Garden show last September. When MTV News spoke to the star at the film's NYC premiere, he admitted that even he's sometimes astounded by how far he's come.
"It's been crazy," he said. "This whole experience has been amazing and I definitely have to stop and just thank God sometimes and be like, 'You know, it's amazing.' "
Before he was whisked off the red carpet, the singer also dished on what he loves most these days about his crazy life. "The best thing about being Justin is just I get to perform for my beautiful fans every night," he shared.
And his fans are very important to him. He thanked his Beliebers at the screening, letting them know how much he appreciated all the support they've given him.
"I'm feeling good," Bieber added. "It's great to be here. All my fans have been really supportive, so I'm really glad to be playing them my movie. ... Fans will be really excited to see that I'm just a regular 16-year-old having fun just living my dream. And it's possible for anyone to live theirs."
The movie is part concert film, part documentary and includes interviews from some of the people closest to the teen phenom. It also features cameos from Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ludacris, to name a few.
Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images
If anything is evident from watching Justin Bieber's 3-D movie, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," it's that Bieber is just a small-town kid who lived up to the hype and managed to rise to superstardom.
"Never Say Never" not only chronicles the star's rise to fame but also focuses on the work he put into his Madison Square Garden show last September. When MTV News spoke to the star at the film's NYC premiere, he admitted that even he's sometimes astounded by how far he's come.
"It's been crazy," he said. "This whole experience has been amazing and I definitely have to stop and just thank God sometimes and be like, 'You know, it's amazing.' "
Before he was whisked off the red carpet, the singer also dished on what he loves most these days about his crazy life. "The best thing about being Justin is just I get to perform for my beautiful fans every night," he shared.
And his fans are very important to him. He thanked his Beliebers at the screening, letting them know how much he appreciated all the support they've given him.
"I'm feeling good," Bieber added. "It's great to be here. All my fans have been really supportive, so I'm really glad to be playing them my movie. ... Fans will be really excited to see that I'm just a regular 16-year-old having fun just living my dream. And it's possible for anyone to live theirs."
The movie is part concert film, part documentary and includes interviews from some of the people closest to the teen phenom. It also features cameos from Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ludacris, to name a few.
Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Lyrics: Fans Weigh In!
Little monsters give high marks to upcoming single's lyrics, with one calling singer 'our generation's John Lennon.'By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Paul Morigi/ WireImage
Lady Gaga's little monsters seem to love the lyrics to "Born This Way," which the singer released in full on Thursday. Gaga sings about equality and love, and it's that message that her fans are relating to most.
"This is awesome! I love it. She sings about equality for not only gays, lesbians, transgenders, etc., but for people of all races," Lucy wrote on MTV.com. "She's like our generation's John Lennon."
Booklady added, "I love it and I can't wait to hear it! Definitely powerful and resonant in times like these."
Gaga, who recently told Ellen DeGeneres that she'll be performing the song at the Grammy Awards, has fans going crazy to hear the final version of the track. Ryan wrote, "I love it. Can't wait till Feb. 13. Gaga is going 2 sing it! Can't wait till I hear it with rhythm and her voice. Baby I was born this way."
"It's official. SHE'S A LEGEND!!!" Chifi55 wrote about the track, which was written and co-produced by Gaga with production help from Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.
"Gorgeous, beautiful," Fame Monster said of the lead single off Gaga's May album of the same name. "Will win song of the year at 2012 Grammys."
dQuiggz continued that "Lady Gaga is on her way to inspiring world peace, one sequin at a time. ... These lyrics are beautiful, original, and are something that anybody and everybody can relate to."
"I LOVE IT!!! Goosebumps," Francesco wrote. "It's not just about the lgbt community, it's about human beings and how we are born the way we are."
Even music lovers who aren't little monsters seem to be appreciating what Gaga is saying in the song. Irene noted, "I'm not a huge Gaga fan, but I'm for anyone willing to spread a message of peace. I'll take it. Effort-FTW."
What do you think of the "Born This Way" lyrics? Tell us in the comments!
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Photo: Paul Morigi/ WireImage
Lady Gaga's little monsters seem to love the lyrics to "Born This Way," which the singer released in full on Thursday. Gaga sings about equality and love, and it's that message that her fans are relating to most.
"This is awesome! I love it. She sings about equality for not only gays, lesbians, transgenders, etc., but for people of all races," Lucy wrote on MTV.com. "She's like our generation's John Lennon."
Booklady added, "I love it and I can't wait to hear it! Definitely powerful and resonant in times like these."
Gaga, who recently told Ellen DeGeneres that she'll be performing the song at the Grammy Awards, has fans going crazy to hear the final version of the track. Ryan wrote, "I love it. Can't wait till Feb. 13. Gaga is going 2 sing it! Can't wait till I hear it with rhythm and her voice. Baby I was born this way."
"It's official. SHE'S A LEGEND!!!" Chifi55 wrote about the track, which was written and co-produced by Gaga with production help from Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow.
"Gorgeous, beautiful," Fame Monster said of the lead single off Gaga's May album of the same name. "Will win song of the year at 2012 Grammys."
dQuiggz continued that "Lady Gaga is on her way to inspiring world peace, one sequin at a time. ... These lyrics are beautiful, original, and are something that anybody and everybody can relate to."
"I LOVE IT!!! Goosebumps," Francesco wrote. "It's not just about the lgbt community, it's about human beings and how we are born the way we are."
Even music lovers who aren't little monsters seem to be appreciating what Gaga is saying in the song. Irene noted, "I'm not a huge Gaga fan, but I'm for anyone willing to spread a message of peace. I'll take it. Effort-FTW."
What do you think of the "Born This Way" lyrics? Tell us in the comments!
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Usher Gets Sick, Walks Offstage Mid-Show In Berlin
Singer cancels kick off date of European leg of his OMG Tour due to illness.By Gil Kaufman
Usher (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
Usher was forced to delay the kick off of his European OMG Tour on Wednesday night in Berlin because of illness. In a statement released to fans, the singer apologized for the last-minute scratch, saying he felt he was suffering from a "sinus complication." Although the gig was rescheduled for Thursday night at the O2 World arena in Berlin, his German fans apparently weren't appeased by his effort.
"I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show," the singer said in a statement about Wednesday's aborted concert. "I was ill and felt that I would not have been able to give them the show that they properly deserve. ... I am looking forward to performing tomorrow and giving Berliners a great show."
According to the statement, the singer received treatment from doctors for a sinus issue that affected his balance, but a visibly still-ailing Usher was unable to finish the Thursday make-up show, reportedly abandoning the stage after just five songs.
On Friday (January 14), a follow-up statement from his spokesperson confirmed that he was too ill to play Thursday night's Berlin date and has been forced to reschedule the next three dates on the tour as well. The Rotterdam show originally scheduled for this week has been moved to March 1 and a show in Antwerp, also slated for this week, has been bumped to March 7.
The statement also updated the singer's condition: "Usher is suffering from upper respiratory illness, which is currently preventing him from performing a proper show. After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery."
Footage posted on YouTube that was purportedly taken at the make-up performance in Berlin shows Usher standing silently at the microphone seemingly unable to sing, with fans booing him at first and then chanting, "Usher, Usher," as he approaches the microphone and apologizes to them for his struggles. "I appreciate your support," he told the fans wearily.
"I have been very excited about my European Tour and I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows," the singer said in the new statement. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans. My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve."
Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his tour in December and his overseas dates are slated to last through the spring.
What do you think of the fans' reaction to Usher's walking offstage mid-show? Tell us in the comments.
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Usher
Usher (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
Usher was forced to delay the kick off of his European OMG Tour on Wednesday night in Berlin because of illness. In a statement released to fans, the singer apologized for the last-minute scratch, saying he felt he was suffering from a "sinus complication." Although the gig was rescheduled for Thursday night at the O2 World arena in Berlin, his German fans apparently weren't appeased by his effort.
"I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show," the singer said in a statement about Wednesday's aborted concert. "I was ill and felt that I would not have been able to give them the show that they properly deserve. ... I am looking forward to performing tomorrow and giving Berliners a great show."
According to the statement, the singer received treatment from doctors for a sinus issue that affected his balance, but a visibly still-ailing Usher was unable to finish the Thursday make-up show, reportedly abandoning the stage after just five songs.
On Friday (January 14), a follow-up statement from his spokesperson confirmed that he was too ill to play Thursday night's Berlin date and has been forced to reschedule the next three dates on the tour as well. The Rotterdam show originally scheduled for this week has been moved to March 1 and a show in Antwerp, also slated for this week, has been bumped to March 7.
The statement also updated the singer's condition: "Usher is suffering from upper respiratory illness, which is currently preventing him from performing a proper show. After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery."
Footage posted on YouTube that was purportedly taken at the make-up performance in Berlin shows Usher standing silently at the microphone seemingly unable to sing, with fans booing him at first and then chanting, "Usher, Usher," as he approaches the microphone and apologizes to them for his struggles. "I appreciate your support," he told the fans wearily.
"I have been very excited about my European Tour and I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows," the singer said in the new statement. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans. My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve."
Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his tour in December and his overseas dates are slated to last through the spring.
What do you think of the fans' reaction to Usher's walking offstage mid-show? Tell us in the comments.
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New Led Zeppelin On The Way? Jason Bonham Hints At 'Jam' Sessions With Jimmy Page -- But Not Robert Plant
Drummer admits he doesn't know what will come of 'new material.'By Chris Harris
Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Jason Bonham
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images
On Friday morning, mere hours before he was due to take the stage with classic rockers Foreigner at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, drummer Jason Bonham — the son of late Led Zeppelin kitman John Bonham — told Jim Johnson and Lynne Woodison of local rock station 94.7 WCSX that he'd be an ex-member of Foreigner as of September 1. But that's not the only thing he said.
Much to the delight of Led Zeppelin fans everywhere, Bonham revealed that he's been meeting up with Led Zep guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones in recent months and that they've been "trying to do some new material and writing."
It was the first time since Led Zeppelin announced they would re-form for a single performance (which happened late last year at London's O2 Arena, in honor of the late Ahmet Ertegün, who signed the band to Atlantic Records in 1969) that anyone connected to the band has confirmed publicly that new music could be on the horizon for the iconic rockers. While the bandmembers have stopped short of definitively ruling out such a reunion, singer Robert Plant insisted in the wake of last year's show that he intended to focus on promoting and touring behind his critically lauded album with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss, Raising Sand.
Not that Bonham knows what — if anything — will happen with the new material he's been working on with Page (who collaborated with pop singer Leona Lewis on an uneven version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love" at the Olympic closing ceremonies in Beijing on Sunday night) and Jones. He said he just shows up and takes his seat behind the kit.
"I've been over [to England] a couple of times," Bonham said. "I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do ... some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something. At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me. It's my life. It's what I've dreamed about doing."
He said it's still too early to tell what will become of these "jam" sessions, but admitted that the "possibility of doing something is in the cards. I really felt it was in the cards from the moment we walked offstage at the O2." Bonham also explained that, before there could be a Led Zep LP, "lots of politics [would need to] get ironed out," but added that recording with Zep is "something I've always wanted to do."
Bonham noticeably didn't mention frontman Plant's name during the discussion. A spokesperson for Page's management had no comment on the matter, and a spokesperson for Jones' management could not be reached by press time.
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Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Britney Spears' 'Hold It Against Me' Gets Remixed
DJs and producers have begun putting their spin on Spears' banging single.By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Todd Williamson/WireImage
It didn't take long for the club scene to put their spin on Britney Spears' single "Hold It Against Me." In the weeks since the pop star released the hard-pounding dance cut, DJs and producers have begun work on making sure it bangs the club even harder.
A few days ago, house legend Paul Oakenfold revealed on Twitter that he was putting together a "HIAM" remix, tweeting, "I'm in the studio working on Britney Spears remix its going well." Oakenfold previously remixed Spears' "Gimme More."
While fans have yet to hear how Oakenfold plays with "Hold It Against Me," electropop act Robots With Rayguns already have released their own, space-aged rendition on the tune. Their version combines '80s-inspired synths, robot noises and sparse beats, while keeping Spears' vocals at the forefront of the track. It sounds like Kylie Minogue's version of dance pop, playing up Spears' sex-kitten image.
DJ Mike Rizzo has offered up his own take on "Hold It Against Me," subtitled "Funk Generation Club Mix," and it goes dark where Robots With Rayguns went light. Playing up the song's already-heavy electro and house groove, this remix sounds like it would be right at home at any given dance party, with its lopped vocals, sirens and thumping beat.
The dance community has been vocal about their support of "Hold It Against Me."
"The more the stuff that is underground becomes mainstream, the more the underground is gonna change," Skrillex told MTV News with regard to the Dr. Luke/ Max Martin-produced tune. "I think it's gonna inspire people to obviously do something different.
"I thought the track was great overall," he added. "I'll be honest, man: I love Max Martin. I think he's an absolute genius. And Dr. Luke did it, right? I think they are a f---ing dream team. I love the track!"
Meanwhile, super-producer David Guetta says he's all for the track and Spears' further journey down the dance rabbit hole.
"My favorite part is that dub step break. I think that's really cool," he explained to MTV News. "It's like the beat is really simple and you're like, 'OK,' and then there's this huge chorus it's like, 'OK,' but then when they come with that dub step break ... It gives a totally different approach to the record. I love this. It's surprising. It's a big record."
What do you think of Britney's "Hold It Against Me" and the remix tracks that you've heard? Share your opinion in the comments.
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Photo: Todd Williamson/WireImage
It didn't take long for the club scene to put their spin on Britney Spears' single "Hold It Against Me." In the weeks since the pop star released the hard-pounding dance cut, DJs and producers have begun work on making sure it bangs the club even harder.
A few days ago, house legend Paul Oakenfold revealed on Twitter that he was putting together a "HIAM" remix, tweeting, "I'm in the studio working on Britney Spears remix its going well." Oakenfold previously remixed Spears' "Gimme More."
While fans have yet to hear how Oakenfold plays with "Hold It Against Me," electropop act Robots With Rayguns already have released their own, space-aged rendition on the tune. Their version combines '80s-inspired synths, robot noises and sparse beats, while keeping Spears' vocals at the forefront of the track. It sounds like Kylie Minogue's version of dance pop, playing up Spears' sex-kitten image.
DJ Mike Rizzo has offered up his own take on "Hold It Against Me," subtitled "Funk Generation Club Mix," and it goes dark where Robots With Rayguns went light. Playing up the song's already-heavy electro and house groove, this remix sounds like it would be right at home at any given dance party, with its lopped vocals, sirens and thumping beat.
The dance community has been vocal about their support of "Hold It Against Me."
"The more the stuff that is underground becomes mainstream, the more the underground is gonna change," Skrillex told MTV News with regard to the Dr. Luke/ Max Martin-produced tune. "I think it's gonna inspire people to obviously do something different.
"I thought the track was great overall," he added. "I'll be honest, man: I love Max Martin. I think he's an absolute genius. And Dr. Luke did it, right? I think they are a f---ing dream team. I love the track!"
Meanwhile, super-producer David Guetta says he's all for the track and Spears' further journey down the dance rabbit hole.
"My favorite part is that dub step break. I think that's really cool," he explained to MTV News. "It's like the beat is really simple and you're like, 'OK,' and then there's this huge chorus it's like, 'OK,' but then when they come with that dub step break ... It gives a totally different approach to the record. I love this. It's surprising. It's a big record."
What do you think of Britney's "Hold It Against Me" and the remix tracks that you've heard? Share your opinion in the comments.
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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Zombie Pop Stars
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Michael Jackson - Hold My Hand
Hold My Hand
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Columbia Records/SMG
Album: Michael
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Melissa George
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Album: Michael
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Usher - There Goes My Baby
There Goes My Baby
Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Artist: Usher
Label: LaFace Records, JLG
Director: Anthony Mandler
Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera
Justin Bieber Talks 'Never Say Never'
'It's been so much fun to be able to live my dream,' singer says on 'Today' show.By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber on the "Today" show on Monday
Photo: NBC
Justin Bieber is on press rounds promoting his 3-D movie "Never Say Never," out next weekend. He appeared on the "Today" show, where he sat down with Matt Lauer to talk about the film and how it chronicles his rise to fame.
"Not just that I've been working hard, just showing what I've been going through and how much it takes out of you. It's been so much fun to be able to live my dream," he said, with a crowd of screaming fans watching.
The film is part concert film, part documentary, and his fans play a big role in it. Bieber said that the part in the film where he gives away tickets to his fans is his favorite. "I love that part. It's one of my favorite parts because everyone gets happy. It makes everyone happier. You go in the back and you give them tickets ... it's amazing."
Bieber explained that while his rise to fame was no accident, he had no idea it would be this meteoric or epic. "It was crazy because I started out posting videos online and not wishing for anything and then this all happened really fast," he said. "I've been playing music since I can remember. It's such a big part of my life and I want that to be shown, especially in my movie."
Sure, Bieber is busy being a pop star, but he says that he makes sure that in addition to working hard, he gets some time to play hard. "Well, I make sure I have at least one day off a week. I need one day of downtime. The rest of the week is all jam-packed. I have to have at least one day," he said. "It's hard because I'm away from my family, like, my brother and sister. You only live once, but at the same time, by brother and sister are going to grow up and they're going to be proud of me."
These days Bieber's other big challenge is puberty. "My voice is definitely changing, gradually," he said. "It's how you go through it. I have a good vocal coach."
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Justin Bieber on the "Today" show on Monday
Photo: NBC
Justin Bieber is on press rounds promoting his 3-D movie "Never Say Never," out next weekend. He appeared on the "Today" show, where he sat down with Matt Lauer to talk about the film and how it chronicles his rise to fame.
"Not just that I've been working hard, just showing what I've been going through and how much it takes out of you. It's been so much fun to be able to live my dream," he said, with a crowd of screaming fans watching.
The film is part concert film, part documentary, and his fans play a big role in it. Bieber said that the part in the film where he gives away tickets to his fans is his favorite. "I love that part. It's one of my favorite parts because everyone gets happy. It makes everyone happier. You go in the back and you give them tickets ... it's amazing."
Bieber explained that while his rise to fame was no accident, he had no idea it would be this meteoric or epic. "It was crazy because I started out posting videos online and not wishing for anything and then this all happened really fast," he said. "I've been playing music since I can remember. It's such a big part of my life and I want that to be shown, especially in my movie."
Sure, Bieber is busy being a pop star, but he says that he makes sure that in addition to working hard, he gets some time to play hard. "Well, I make sure I have at least one day off a week. I need one day of downtime. The rest of the week is all jam-packed. I have to have at least one day," he said. "It's hard because I'm away from my family, like, my brother and sister. You only live once, but at the same time, by brother and sister are going to grow up and they're going to be proud of me."
These days Bieber's other big challenge is puberty. "My voice is definitely changing, gradually," he said. "It's how you go through it. I have a good vocal coach."
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Rihanna 'Brought It' In 'Battleship,' Josh Pence Says
'I respect the fact that she's willing to put a lot on the line,' her co-star tells MTV News.By Kara Warner
Rihanna
Photo: Dominique Charriau/ WireImage
Our inner-10-year-olds have been excited for the film version of the game Battleship since it was announced last year. That childhood excitement veered into genuine adult interest, however, when the highly attractive cast was announced.
The easy-on-the-eyes lineup includes Alexander Skarsgård, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna and unseen "Social Network" actor Josh Pence (his body plays the other Winklevoss twin, while his face was superimposed with that of Armie Hammer's), to name a few.
When MTV News caught up with Pence at the SAG Awards on Sunday night, we asked him how it feels to be part of such a striking crew of actors.
"It's a great cast. It'll be a fun movie," Pence said. "I play a combat system coordinator in the CIC [combat information center] of a destroyer. The military loves their acronyms. It's basically just the second in command and the brains of the ship."
Regarding the film's origin, Pence echoed Skarsgård's earlier words, saying that the board-game aspect is a very small part of a much bigger concept. "It comes in, but it's a small part of it all," he said.
When asked about acting newbie Rihanna's talents, Pence said the singer held her own onscreen.
"I had a scene with Rihanna. She was great! She brought it," he said. "She came in, and I respect the fact that she's willing to put a lot on the line, and it's like Justin [Timberlake] with 'The Social Network,' " he explained of the two singers crossing over into acting. "You know, they've got a lot to lose and a lot of people judging them. It takes a lot of courage."
Check out everything we've got on "Battleship."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Rihanna
Photo: Dominique Charriau/ WireImage
Our inner-10-year-olds have been excited for the film version of the game Battleship since it was announced last year. That childhood excitement veered into genuine adult interest, however, when the highly attractive cast was announced.
The easy-on-the-eyes lineup includes Alexander Skarsgård, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna and unseen "Social Network" actor Josh Pence (his body plays the other Winklevoss twin, while his face was superimposed with that of Armie Hammer's), to name a few.
When MTV News caught up with Pence at the SAG Awards on Sunday night, we asked him how it feels to be part of such a striking crew of actors.
"It's a great cast. It'll be a fun movie," Pence said. "I play a combat system coordinator in the CIC [combat information center] of a destroyer. The military loves their acronyms. It's basically just the second in command and the brains of the ship."
Regarding the film's origin, Pence echoed Skarsgård's earlier words, saying that the board-game aspect is a very small part of a much bigger concept. "It comes in, but it's a small part of it all," he said.
When asked about acting newbie Rihanna's talents, Pence said the singer held her own onscreen.
"I had a scene with Rihanna. She was great! She brought it," he said. "She came in, and I respect the fact that she's willing to put a lot on the line, and it's like Justin [Timberlake] with 'The Social Network,' " he explained of the two singers crossing over into acting. "You know, they've got a lot to lose and a lot of people judging them. It takes a lot of courage."
Check out everything we've got on "Battleship."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Michael Jackson - Heal the World
Heal the World
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Album: Dangerous
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Label: Epic
Album: Dangerous
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Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Other Stars Make Forbes' Top-Earning Of 2010 List
Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus also made the magazine's top 20 list of Hollywood moneymakers.By Jayson Rodriguez
Beyoncé
Photo: Columbia/Music World
On the East Coast, revenue streams are slowly rising as banks are still cratering and trying to recover from the recession. But out West, money ain't a thing, as Jermaine Dupri and Jay-Z once rapped.
Forbes has released their list of Hollywood's 20 Highest Earners of 2010, with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus among those rubbing elbows with the likes of power players like Oprah Winfrey.
The venerable talk-show host topped the list with a whopping $315 million haul. Winfrey's earnings were generated for the most part by her multimedia deals, which include a syndication deal for her TV show, a magazine and her soon-to-be-launched network.
"Avatar" creator James Cameron came in second, more than $100 million behind Winfrey, with a tally of $210 million. Director and playwright Tyler Perry ($125 million), blockbuster movie producer Michael Bay ($120 million) and golfer Tiger Woods ($105 million) rounded out the top five.
Beyoncé was the only pop star to break the top 10. The "Single Ladies" superstar landed at #9, sandwiched between George Lucas and Dr. Phil. Mrs. Carter, whose hubby, Jay-Z, was named Hip-Hop's Cash King by Forbes in August with a tally of $63 million, pulled down $87 million over the past 12 months.
The blond-haired trio of Britney Spears ($64 million), Lady Gaga ($62 million) and Madonna ($58 million) made their mark on the list at numbers 13, 14 and 15, respectively.
Pop tarts Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift capped the list. The young stars placed at 18 and 19 on the list, with Disney star Cyrus pocketing $48 million, and country singer Swift depositing $45 million into her bank account.
Hollywood's 20 highest-earning men and women of 2010, according to Forbes:
1. Oprah Winfrey, $315 million
2. James Cameron, $210 million
3. Tyler Perry, $125 million
4. Michael Bay, $120 million
5. Tiger Woods, $105 million
6. Jerry Bruckheimer, $100 million
7. Steven Spielberg, $100 million
8. George Lucas, $95 million
9. Beyoncé, $87 million
10. Dr. Phil, $80 million
11. Simon Cowell, $80 million
12. Jerry Seinfeld, $75 million
13. Britney Spears, $64 million
14. Lady Gaga, $62 million
15. Madonna, $58 million
16. Sandra Bullock, $56 million
17. Ellen DeGeneres, $55 million
18. Miley Cyrus, $48 million
19. Taylor Swift, $45 million
20. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million
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Beyoncé
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Photo: Columbia/Music World
On the East Coast, revenue streams are slowly rising as banks are still cratering and trying to recover from the recession. But out West, money ain't a thing, as Jermaine Dupri and Jay-Z once rapped.
Forbes has released their list of Hollywood's 20 Highest Earners of 2010, with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus among those rubbing elbows with the likes of power players like Oprah Winfrey.
The venerable talk-show host topped the list with a whopping $315 million haul. Winfrey's earnings were generated for the most part by her multimedia deals, which include a syndication deal for her TV show, a magazine and her soon-to-be-launched network.
"Avatar" creator James Cameron came in second, more than $100 million behind Winfrey, with a tally of $210 million. Director and playwright Tyler Perry ($125 million), blockbuster movie producer Michael Bay ($120 million) and golfer Tiger Woods ($105 million) rounded out the top five.
Beyoncé was the only pop star to break the top 10. The "Single Ladies" superstar landed at #9, sandwiched between George Lucas and Dr. Phil. Mrs. Carter, whose hubby, Jay-Z, was named Hip-Hop's Cash King by Forbes in August with a tally of $63 million, pulled down $87 million over the past 12 months.
The blond-haired trio of Britney Spears ($64 million), Lady Gaga ($62 million) and Madonna ($58 million) made their mark on the list at numbers 13, 14 and 15, respectively.
Pop tarts Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift capped the list. The young stars placed at 18 and 19 on the list, with Disney star Cyrus pocketing $48 million, and country singer Swift depositing $45 million into her bank account.
Hollywood's 20 highest-earning men and women of 2010, according to Forbes:
1. Oprah Winfrey, $315 million
2. James Cameron, $210 million
3. Tyler Perry, $125 million
4. Michael Bay, $120 million
5. Tiger Woods, $105 million
6. Jerry Bruckheimer, $100 million
7. Steven Spielberg, $100 million
8. George Lucas, $95 million
9. Beyoncé, $87 million
10. Dr. Phil, $80 million
11. Simon Cowell, $80 million
12. Jerry Seinfeld, $75 million
13. Britney Spears, $64 million
14. Lady Gaga, $62 million
15. Madonna, $58 million
16. Sandra Bullock, $56 million
17. Ellen DeGeneres, $55 million
18. Miley Cyrus, $48 million
19. Taylor Swift, $45 million
20. Judge Judy Sheindlin, $45 million
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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray Didn't Seem To Know CPR, Bodyguard Testifies
Jackson's two oldest children were in bedroom witnessing drama, bodyguard Faheem Muhammed said.By Gil Kaufman
Conrad Murray (file)
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
One of the most shocking revelations to emerge from the first day of testimony in the pretrial hearing of former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray is that as the pop icon lay dying in his rented Los Angeles mansion, cardiologist Murray asked in a panic, "Does anyone know CPR?"
According to CNN, that's what bodyguard Faheem Muhammed said on the stand. Tuesday was the first day of testimony in hearings aimed at determining whether there is enough evidence to try Murray on a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the King of Pop.
The hearing is slated to last around two weeks and feature 20 to 30 witnesses, most of whom will be medical professionals. But it was the shocking testimony of Muhammed on Tuesday that grabbed headlines. He said that he and fellow guard Alberto Alvarez walked in on a scene in which Murray was crouched next to the motionless body of Jackson and it appeared that the heart surgeon did not know how to give CPR.
As they waited for paramedics to arrive, Muhammed said Murray stood next to Jackson's bed and asked in a panicked voice if anyone else in the room knew how to administer the life-saving technique.
"I looked at Alberto because we knew Dr. Murray was a heart surgeon, so we were shocked," Muhammed said. When defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked whether Murray was asking for help because he was exhausted after staying up all night administering sleep aids to the chronically insomniac Jackson, Muhammed replied, "The way that he asked it is as if he didn't know CPR." He also said that he never witnessed Murray performing CPR on Jackson before paramedics arrived and that the singer's two oldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, were in their father's bedroom as the drama was unfolding. Among the Jackson family members in court on Tuesday to watch the proceedings were family matriarch Katherine, sister LaToya and brothers Randy and Jackie.
Prosecutor David Walgren referred to Murray's use of "ineffectual" CPR, which included using one hand while Jackson was on a soft bed, which is counter to recommended techniques. Walgren also told the judge in the case that medical experts would testify that Murray took "a number of actions" that "showed an extreme deviation from the standard of care," after being hired to serve as Jackson's personal physician in the lead-up to a series of comeback shows in England.
The prosecutor also claimed that Murray waited at least 21 minutes to call an ambulance after he found Jackson unresponsive. "By all accounts, Michael Jackson was dead in the bedroom at 100 North Carolwood prior to the paramedics' arrival," Walgren said. The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that the singer died of "acute propofol intoxication," saying the overdose of the surgical anesthetic and the combined effects of other sedatives caused his death.
Chernoff has said that Murray administered propofol and other sedatives to Jackson in the hours before the pop star's death, but not in quantities that "should have" caused his death. CNN reported that Murray's defense team hinted that it would argue that Jackson was facing intense pressure over his upcoming 50-date This Is It comeback series of shows at London's O2 Arena and that led to his demands for treatment to help his chronic insomnia.
Also testifying on Tuesday was the director of the shows, Kenny Ortega, who described Jackson as "involved, active, participating" at his final rehearsal, which ended 12 hours before his death. That was very different from the out-of-it singer who could barely make it through rehearsals on June 19, six nights before his death. At a meeting called after Ortega sent Jackson home that night for some rest, the director described a scene in which Murray scolded him for cutting the rehearsal short.
"Dr. Murray told me that this was not my responsibility, and he asked me not to act like a doctor or psychologist," Ortega said. Murray has pleaded not guilty in the case, and according to a recent report, Walgren believes that the doctor's lawyers may claim that Jackson self-administered the final, fatal dose of propofol and essentially killed himself after waking up in a panic from a fitful night of sleep.
Testimony in the case will continue on Wednesday (January 5).
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Conrad Murray (file)
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images
One of the most shocking revelations to emerge from the first day of testimony in the pretrial hearing of former Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray is that as the pop icon lay dying in his rented Los Angeles mansion, cardiologist Murray asked in a panic, "Does anyone know CPR?"
According to CNN, that's what bodyguard Faheem Muhammed said on the stand. Tuesday was the first day of testimony in hearings aimed at determining whether there is enough evidence to try Murray on a felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the King of Pop.
The hearing is slated to last around two weeks and feature 20 to 30 witnesses, most of whom will be medical professionals. But it was the shocking testimony of Muhammed on Tuesday that grabbed headlines. He said that he and fellow guard Alberto Alvarez walked in on a scene in which Murray was crouched next to the motionless body of Jackson and it appeared that the heart surgeon did not know how to give CPR.
As they waited for paramedics to arrive, Muhammed said Murray stood next to Jackson's bed and asked in a panicked voice if anyone else in the room knew how to administer the life-saving technique.
"I looked at Alberto because we knew Dr. Murray was a heart surgeon, so we were shocked," Muhammed said. When defense attorney Ed Chernoff asked whether Murray was asking for help because he was exhausted after staying up all night administering sleep aids to the chronically insomniac Jackson, Muhammed replied, "The way that he asked it is as if he didn't know CPR." He also said that he never witnessed Murray performing CPR on Jackson before paramedics arrived and that the singer's two oldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, were in their father's bedroom as the drama was unfolding. Among the Jackson family members in court on Tuesday to watch the proceedings were family matriarch Katherine, sister LaToya and brothers Randy and Jackie.
Prosecutor David Walgren referred to Murray's use of "ineffectual" CPR, which included using one hand while Jackson was on a soft bed, which is counter to recommended techniques. Walgren also told the judge in the case that medical experts would testify that Murray took "a number of actions" that "showed an extreme deviation from the standard of care," after being hired to serve as Jackson's personal physician in the lead-up to a series of comeback shows in England.
The prosecutor also claimed that Murray waited at least 21 minutes to call an ambulance after he found Jackson unresponsive. "By all accounts, Michael Jackson was dead in the bedroom at 100 North Carolwood prior to the paramedics' arrival," Walgren said. The Los Angeles County coroner later determined that the singer died of "acute propofol intoxication," saying the overdose of the surgical anesthetic and the combined effects of other sedatives caused his death.
Chernoff has said that Murray administered propofol and other sedatives to Jackson in the hours before the pop star's death, but not in quantities that "should have" caused his death. CNN reported that Murray's defense team hinted that it would argue that Jackson was facing intense pressure over his upcoming 50-date This Is It comeback series of shows at London's O2 Arena and that led to his demands for treatment to help his chronic insomnia.
Also testifying on Tuesday was the director of the shows, Kenny Ortega, who described Jackson as "involved, active, participating" at his final rehearsal, which ended 12 hours before his death. That was very different from the out-of-it singer who could barely make it through rehearsals on June 19, six nights before his death. At a meeting called after Ortega sent Jackson home that night for some rest, the director described a scene in which Murray scolded him for cutting the rehearsal short.
"Dr. Murray told me that this was not my responsibility, and he asked me not to act like a doctor or psychologist," Ortega said. Murray has pleaded not guilty in the case, and according to a recent report, Walgren believes that the doctor's lawyers may claim that Jackson self-administered the final, fatal dose of propofol and essentially killed himself after waking up in a panic from a fitful night of sleep.
Testimony in the case will continue on Wednesday (January 5).
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