Awards shows aren't as glamorous in person as they are on TV, but it was such a special experience to see the newness and enjoyment wash all over MattyB.
Plus he had so [...]
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She has quite the big weekend ahead of her, and Taylor Swift kicked things off by making an appearance at the Westwood One Remotes room in Las Vegas on Friday (March 30).
Held as part of the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards festivities, the "Mean" singer joined up with fellow country star Dierks Bentley with the pair offering up an interview to 99.5 WYCD radio station.
During the course of her hectic Friday, Miss Swift was also spotted grabbing dinner at Il Pastaio restaurant while still clad in a bright yellow and white dress with a pair of red heels.
As for the next two days, Taylor will be attending the ACM Awards on Sunday night (April 1) while she's also set to be doted with the Big Help Award during Saturday night's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
Making the occasion extra-special, the 22-year-old will be presented with the honor by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Chosen as the recipient thanks to her philanthropic endeavors - which includes her work with U.S. tornado and flood survivors - Nickelodeon Executive Vice President, Marva Smalls, said of the selection: ?Taylor?s dedication to helping others has encouraged her fan base to do the same, and this is the very core of what The Big Help is, inspiring others through action. We are honored that First Lady Michelle Obama, a past recipient of The Big Help Award will be presenting this formidable and inspiring artist with this much deserved honor.?
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Top nine take on their idols, with surprising results. Who soared? Who sunk? Here are our grades!
By James Montgomery
Joshua Ledet and Heejun Han
Photo: Getty Images
We can all probably agree that the highlight of Wednesday night's "American Idol" was Jason Derülo's bedazzled neck brace, which shone brighter than a dozen Jessica Sanchezes and had more charisma than an army of Hollie Cavanaghs.
But alas, we can't give out grades based on style alone, which means that once again, we're forced to focus on the singing. And luckily, said singing was actually pretty spot-on this week, as the top nine took on the songs of their idols, leading to some genuine "goosies" moments (thanks, J.Lo) and more standing ovations than the State of the Union address.
Sure, there were the usual assortment of middling performances, too ... but for one night at least, "Idol" was back to its old compelling self. Sort of. Look, it's Season 11; I'm trying as hard as I can. So who soared? Who scored redemption? And who should probably start packing their bags right now? Read on for our report card!
Joshua Ledet: Oh sh--, he's doing Harry Nilsson! Oh, wait — he's doing the Mariah version of "Without You." Still, this was a total powerhouse of a performance. Subtle in some spots, big (big!) in others, perfect throughout, he put genuine emotion into the tune, got raw and vulnerable and, as a result, stole the show. Of course, it's entirely possible some folks might think this one was too weird or something, but there are still people out there who think Rick Santorum would make a good president, too. After a few weeks in the wilderness, Mantasia officially roared back tonight. And Google "Harry Nilsson" please. A
Jessica Sanchez: Totally called she'd be doing Beyoncé. She slowed down "Sweet Dreams," which was a bit of an odd choice, and yet also a supremely confident one. For once, she pulled things back, and maybe suffered a bit for doing so, but there were still plenty of subtly great moments, particularly in the verses. Might not have been her best — it definitely lacked in vocal fireworks — but who says she has to blow it out of the box every week? And really, it was good enough on this night. Can't wait until she loses to Phillip Phillips or Colton Dixon in the finals, and I never have to watch this show again. B
Heejun Han: Newly humble Heejun ditched the shtick and instead focused on the singing and, in the process, totally reinvigorated his "Idol" campaign. His breathy, confident take on Donny Hathaway's "A Song for You" had everyone going nuts, and understandably so: It was a perfect song for him and a nearly perfect performance. I've taken a few potshots at him in these report cards, but I'll be the first to admit that when Heejun is on, well, Heejun is on. Seemed willing to atone for last week's debacle, too, until he did a knock-knock joke. Dammit, dude. B
Phillip Phillips: Growled and shouted ("growted"?) his way through Jonny Lang's "Still Rainin'," and I would bring up the point that in previous years, competitors like him would've been criticized for doing the same thing every week, but since this season everyone just does the same thing every week, well, never mind. The vein in his forehead was the most compelling part of this, by far. "I feel like we're standing up too much tonight," J.Lo declared. You're not the only one, sister. C+
Colton Dixon: Did Lifehouse's "Everything," which he'll have you know is his "favorite worship song." And just to reinforce that point, he ended it on his knees. Now we know who Tim Tebow's voting for. Sorta pitchy — bordering on bleating — and a bit meandering, but it's not like any of that really matters, since the girls liked it. Randy doubled up the praise, first saying he could see him "doing Switchfoot" (a compliment?) and then proclaiming, "I could be looking at a contender for the title!" Of course, dawg ... he is a toothsome white guy, after all. C
Skylar Laine: No way, she did Miranda Lambert! Way to step outside the comfort ... oh, why does it even matter? For those keeping score at home, she took on "Gunpowder and Lead," and it was basically the same thing we've seen every single week from her: bounding, energetic, twangy, a bit of 'tude, a few high spots thrown in for good measure. "Unbridled," J.Lo said. "Over the top," Steven added. "Mississippi!" Randy piled on. Yep. Surely she needs to do something different eventually, right? C
DeAndre Brackensick: Ryan introduced him by yelling, "Just think, you could be driving to work tomorrow jamming to DeAndre!" perhaps because vehicular manslaughter has been trending down in recent years. Did Eric Benet's "Sometimes I Cry," since "Eric Benet is exactly what I want to be" (a sex addict?), then he took the stage wearing a leather duster and vest that made him look like Dr. Sexx, Frontier Loverman. Despite all that — and his warbly falsetto (which bordered on torturous) — it was still sorta bland. Of course, he got a standing ovation from the judges. And then Steven declared, "You gave Prince a run for his money." I officially give up. C-
Hollie Cavanagh: The biggest problem with Cavanagh isn't her voice, which is probably the second-best in the competiton, but rather the sub-robotic level of emotion she brings to the stage. And the latter was definitely on display tonight. After bonding with Stevie Nicks (Stevie Nicks!) during rehearsals, she pledged to bring genuine spirit to her version of Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel." What we got instead was a flat, by-the-numbers ballad, the kind of thing she's been doing for weeks now. Almost instantly forgettable, she may be in trouble. But, hey, at least there was snow! C-
Elise Testone: Did Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," thus proving that she'd be a totally fun chick to hang out with. Also seemed to have borrowed Steven Tyler's bellbottoms to do so (Seacrest totally noticed, which is why he's the best live-man in the business). Look, this was fun, and it sorta rocked, but it was also really shouty, and no matter what the judges said, this is usually the kind of performance that sends female singers packing. She'll get voted off on Thursday (March 29). As a performance? B As a tactical decision? D
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Hilary Duff has played dozens of roles in her career, but she's currently experiencing her toughest part ever -- new motherhood.
Hilary Duff has played dozens of roles in her career, but she's currently experiencing her toughest part ever -- new motherhood.
For 'Twilight' Tuesday, we imagine the vampires and wolves in a battle to the death.
By Kara Warner
Taylor Lautner in "Breaking Dawn"
Photo: Summit
Like most of our fellow "Twilight" fans, we spend a lot of time thinking about and overanalyzing the mythical world Stephenie Meyer created and the record-breaking film franchise it spawned. And even though we still have too many months to wait to see "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2," the wait was made slightly less painful this week due to a couple of new trailer teases.
Since we've had the series on the brain more than usual this week, along with the countless stories about "The Hunger Games" reaching "Twilight"-level numbers, I've decided to philosophize my way through this week's "Twilight" Tuesday with the question: If the Cullens and the wolf pack were featured in a "Hunger Games"-style, fight-to-the-death tournament organized by the Volturi (of course), who would come out a victor?
The first thing to address is who would be reaped into the tournament? And how many? If we go with 24, the ranks are difficult to fill out due to a lack of named weres. Nevertheless, here are the contenders (including a few of those who don't live through the end of the series): Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, Alice Cullen, Emmett Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Jasper Hale, Renesmee Cullen, Sam Uley, Quil Ateara V, Embry Call, Paul Lahote, Jared Cameron, Leah Clearwater, Seth Clearwater, Collin Littlesea, Brady Fuller, James, Victoria, Laurent, Riley Biers and one of the unnamed wolves from the end of "Breaking Dawn" who show up as part of Sam's pack. Whew.
Now, who will be defeated and how? My colleague Katie Byrne makes the very astute point that the Cullens are total pacifists and will not kill each other, no matter what. I say that Jasper might be the one to crack, since he doesn't always have total control over his actions, but the rest of the Cullens will probably rein him in and quarantine him or something. Also, as much as it pains me to admit it, the vampires will likely outlast the werewolves (confession: I prefer wolves to vamps), particularly the Cullens with their supernatural abilities. But again, would the Cullens allow the seemingly needless fights-to-the-death to happen? This is a Volturi-created death match after all, so they might make like the end of "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" and save everyone. Except for James, Victoria, Laurent and Riley, of course.
Ms. Byrne argues that if the Volturi did somehow succeed in making the tournament end in death and destruction, the Cullens would all join hands, eat a few handfuls of nightlock (assuming that the poisonous berry also works on non-humans), and end the "Games" with a civilized, non-bloody mass suicide. Or the Volturi might recognize the Cullens' value (just like the Gamemakers did) and let them live — under the constant threat of death and destruction, that is.
Who do you think would win the "Twilight" Hunger Games? Share your thoughts in the comments or tweet me @karawarner with your theories!
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Bobby Brown & Whitney Houston Planned Vegas Wedding?
The author of Bobby Brown’s autobiography, Derrick Handspike, claims that Bobby and Whitney Houston were set to re-marry in Las Vegas with only their daughter [...]
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'We liked what we're doing in this current time and space,' producer William Orbit tells MTV News about working with the Queen of Pop.
By Jocelyn Vena
Madonna
Photo: Courtesy of Interscope
When Madonna hit the studio with longtime pal William Orbit to work on MDNA, in between brainstorming and recording sessions for the tracks, the twosome also shared many laughs. And in the lull of long recording sessions, they zeroed in on fun, instead of deconstructing the current musical landscape.
When Orbit spoke to MTV News about making the album, he insisted that despite the flurry of pop music floating around these days, they didn't give much thought to the music on Top 40 radio. Instead, they focused on their own music and the bubble of creativity they were living in.
"We never played tracks by everybody else, all the current artists. It's a dangerous road to go down," he said. "It doesn't work," he explained, because those songs are good for their own reasons, so it's futile to find out why they were good and how that can be replicated.
"We liked what we're doing in this current time and space," he continued. "What we tended to do was watch old French films from the '60s or listen to music that was so far away that it wasn't, in any way, relevant."
However, there was one person who managed to squeeze into their bubble and give them a good laugh: "I did remember, one day, there was a moment when we were waiting for Pro Tools to reboot, or something like that, and we were just looking at links on YouTube," he recalled. "And I was showing her Kreayshawn, and I've been working with her, and I really like her. And she's obviously got this track out called 'Hoes on My Di--' [with the line] " 'cause I look like Madonna.' And, I played it for Madonna ... then she was saying afterwards 'Hoes on my di--, 'cause I am Madonna.' That was about the only time we looked at any serious contemporary pop music."
At the end of the day, with the dance parties and Kreayshawn sing-alongs long over, Orbit insists the team couldn't be more pleased with the way MDNA turned out. He added, "It was a good adventure, and we pulled it off."
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Don't you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn't like to talk about it.)
Opera Singer Andrea Bocelli Welcomes Baby Girl
Opera star Andrea Bocelli, 53, has become a dad to a baby girl. The blind Italian singer’s fiance and manager, Veronica Berti, 28, gave birth [...]
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Katy Perry knows how to keep us guessing. Three weeks after unveiling a surprisingly glamorous image on the cover of Interview magazine, the pop star has washed off her makeup and put on combat fatigues for her newest music video. In "Part of Me," which premiered Wednesday night on MTV, the singer plays a jilted girlfriend who decides to move on... by joining the Marines. Watch below!
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The actress and her husband, hockey pro Mike Comrie, announce the birth of their first child! Plus, see more stars who welcomed new bundles of joy
Liam Hemsworth “Embarrassed” By Miley Cyrus’ Antics
Liam Hemsworth reportedly gets ”concerned” about girlfriend Miley Cyrus’ hard-partying ways. The “Hunger Games” actor is said to appear to be “embarrassed for her” when [...]
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If there's anything we've learned from our multiple viewings of the French teaser trailer for Cosmopolis, it's that we should just embrace the weirdness. Yes, that is Robert Pattinson shooting himself in the hand. Yes, those are giant dinosaurs and rats wandering around Manhattan. Yes, he is getting naked and having sex with about a million-and-a-half people (approximately) in this 30-second video. Watch it below!
Liam Hemsworth “Embarrassed” By Miley Cyrus’ Antics
Liam Hemsworth reportedly gets ”concerned” about girlfriend Miley Cyrus’ hard-partying ways. The “Hunger Games” actor is said to appear to be “embarrassed for her” when [...]
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Kristin Cavallari has put wedding plans on hold to prepare for her first baby... and potentially her second! The former star of The Hills, who is expecting a baby with fiance Jay Cutler, tells Glamaholic magazine that she'll probably be a mom of two when she finally walks down the aisle.
Top 10 take on the songs of Billy Joel with mixed results on Wednesday night's show.
By James Montgomery
Jessica Sanchez on "American Idol"
Photo: FOX
It was difficult to decide what was the most shocking part of Wednesday night's "American Idol": Erika Van Pelt's new "Little Nicky" hairdo? The fact that Elise Testone may have finally found her way out of the bottom three? Or that, with the full Billy Joel catalog at their disposal, none of the contestants decided to take on "The Stranger" or "I Go to Extremes"?
Nah, we're gonna say it was whatever Heejun Han was attempting to do with his mid-set strip show (just in case you haven't watched yet, boy was this a special episode of "Idol"). Anyway, while we're still scrubbing H.H. from our collective consciousness, we took a minute to hand out some grades for a truly Joel-a-riffic night. Who rode high on the River of Dreams? Who drove their car into a house in the Hamptons? Read on to find out!
Jessica Sanchez: She's the one to beat, and now she seems to know it, as evidenced by her thorough throttling of "Everybody Has a Dream." It was perhaps a bit too literal (like, we get it, this is your dream), but dang, when she lets it rip, there's really no one else who even comes close. Standing ovation, massive praise from the judges, the overwhelming desire to just give her the crown right now ... with Sanchez, it's the same every week, just like our grade for her performance. A
Elise Testone: It only took her three weeks, but Testone finally found her groove, positively killing "Vienna" (wait, that sounds weird). Her full repertoire was on display, and she even worked in some of those goofy hand gestures that all the great divas make when they know they're on point. And she was. She earned a richly deserved standing ovation for her efforts, and if she's in the bottom three again this week, America is officially the worst. A
Erika Van Pelt: Her newly darkened hair only added to her attitude, and there was plenty of it on display during her version of "New York State of Mind." Sultry and soulful, if perhaps a touch too lounge singer for our liking, but still, she was miles above pretty much everyone else on this night ... and for once, people are actually talking about her. Even if it is because of her hair. Small victories, folks. B+
Skylar Laine: She's got a great voice, and the fact that she's still standing in the competition is proof that she's a survivor, but still ... it would be nice to see her step outside her country comfort zone for once. Shoot, she did Garth Brooks' version of "Shameless." Kinda screechy in parts, but a solid ending probably ensures she's safe for another week. The judges didn't do her any favors, though. B-
Hollie Cavanagh: Another week, another big ballad from the pint-size powerhouse. This time it was "Honesty," and yes, as Steven pointed out, it was plenty pitchy. Randy also got in on the act, giving her the dreaded "come on now." Yowch. Perhaps the cracks are starting to show. Also, it would be nice to see her change things up a bit, provided she's still here next week, of course. C+
Joshua Ledet: His roller-coaster ride through "Idol" (The highs! The lows! The Mantasia!) bottomed out this week, as he struggled to connect with "She's Got a Way." Still, he battled through, hit some nice notes (and some not-so-nice ones, too), but we have a creeping suspicion the Josh-a-coaster might be entering its final turn, which is a shame, considering all he's capable of. Like the suddenly sage-like Randy said, "Never ever feel defeated!" C
Deandre Brackensick: He kicked off the show with an even — if forgettable — version of "Only the Good Die Young," and after three weeks of live performances, "even" and "forgettable" are about par for the course for him. Earned polite praise from the judges, a few screams from the crowd, wore a cool vest thingy, but perhaps this is the week the somewhat-good really do die young. C-
Colton Dixon: Oh, no way, he did "Piano Man"! Shocking. Also, lyrical content aside, isn't this song supposed to be fun? Not in Colton's world, apparently. Gave J.Lo goosies, probably because she was sitting on an air conditioner or something. The girls in the audience liked it, too, so once again he'll be safe, but c'mon man, lighten up a bit. And change your hair. It's not 2003 and Warped Tour doesn't kick off for a few more months. C-
Phillip Phillips: Totally "Phillip Phillps'd" (thanks Steven!) "Movin' Out," which basically means he slowed the thing down to a dirge and growled a bunch. Congrats, dude, you proved it's possible to suck the life out of even the most jovial of tunes! Randy, who was apparently watching a different show or something, called it "one of the best renditions of the song ever." Go buy a house out in Hackensack, dawg. D
Heejun Han: He mystified both Diddy and Tommy Hilfiger, which hasn't happened since Nelly decided to get into the clothing game, then went out and mystified everyone watching "Idol" with his goofy version of "My Life." Apparently it was supposed to be funny or something. Gee, it's a good thing the judges decided to keep him and not, you know, someone who actually wanted to win this thing. Note to Heejun: You're not as clever as you think. F-
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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Critics are divided over Will Ferrell's campy telenovela parody.
By Kara Warner
Will Ferrell and Diego Luna in "Cada de mi Padre"
Photo: Pantelion Films
At this point in his storied career, Will Ferrell has taught his fans to expect the unexpected. His latest film, "Casa de Mi Padre," is a perfect example. The outrageous, purposefully campy and telenovela-esque flick is most certainly not a movie for everyone, and critics are divided on whether its ridiculousness is fun or just plain ridiculous; it currently has a 46 percent Fresh rating over at Rotten Tomatoes. Vamanos a las criticas de "Casa de Mi Padre"!
The Premise:
"Will Ferrell, speaking passable Spanish (with English subtitles), plays Armando Alvarez, a Mexican rancher hot for the fiancée (Genesis Rodriguez) of his brother (Diego Luna) and in a death battle with a drug lord (Gael García Bernal). Luckily, Ferrell is at his funniest being serious. 'Casa de Mi Padre,' shot in 24 days for $6 million, is really an 'SNL'-ish sketch stretched to feature length. But Ferrell is an hombre loco. Mi gusta." — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
The Mexploitation Factor:
"Is 'Casa de Mi Padre' brilliant or pointless? Indubitably it's both, as Ron Burgundy might put it. It's a parody of something so specific that it never quite existed in the first place: the Mexican telenovela plus the spaghetti western plus the straight-to-VHS action flicks of the '70s, maybe. If you fell asleep in the hot-tub time machine and woke up stoned in 1982, this is the movie you'd find yourself watching on some UHF channel (right after the soccer match between Tigres and Toluca). Some of its gags absolutely fall flat — having a climactic action scene replaced with still photos of miniatures is pretty funny, while an on-screen note apologizing for it is not — but considered as a whole it's a wonderful and hilarious phenomenon, most of it is executed to Dadaist perfection." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
The Ferrell Factor:
"The folks who dislike Will Ferrell always will. He's furry. He's childish. He was kind of creepy in 'Elf.' He has this beady-eyed way of puffing his cheeks and fixing his gaze that makes his entire face look like a butt imprinted with raisins. But mostly, the haters hate him because he's weird. Eccentricity is a tough sell at the movies, with exceptions made, now and then. But as the telenovela parody 'Casa de Mi Padre' clearly demonstrates, Ferrell is a surrealist prankster of the most confounding type. If he were more pretentious about it, more stuffily highbrow and art-house-ready, he might be hailed as a shrewd absurdist commentator on the loonier conventions of contemporary film and life. ... ['Casa de Mi Padre' is] 84 minutes of maximum Ferrellian oddness. Fans, this one included, will find the loopy, elongated comic rhythms both familiar and hilarious; you can always count on Ferrell to push each joke about 30 seconds past the point of normalcy. And you can always count on him to be weird." — Amy Biancolli, The San Francisco Chronicle
The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style:
"The biggest joke in 'Casa de Mi Padre' is that Mr. Ferrell speaks Spanish without winking throughout the hyperserious proceedings, and as he often does, he turns his character's innocence into a strange state of grace. The sincerity of his performance makes Armando seem foolish and therefore funnier, at least when he has enough good material. Mr. Bernal and Mr. Luna, by contrast, mostly seem to be having a goof playing cowboys and narcos, and their barely contained smiles, however shining, work against Mr. Ferrell's commitment and undermine the movie's poker-faced interests. 'Casa de Mi Padre' is best when it stops pretending that anyone, including the filmmakers, cares about the pointless story, which also includes too much unfunny business with a few American lawmen that wastes the mustachioed brilliance of Nick Offerman. Far better are its oases of absurdity, like an increasingly preposterous sex scene featuring the inevitably naked Mr. Ferrell, once again flaunting his furred assets, and a lysergic trip to the other side with a conspicuously ersatz white leopard whose coat is almost as matted." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
"The film feels ultimately hollow, perhaps because mocking soap operas is the comic's equivalent of shooting fish tacos in a barrel. In fact, the concept for 'Casa de Mi Padre' seems born out of one too many tequila-infused evenings in the Funny or Die writers' room — unsurprisingly, director Matt Piedmont and writer Andrew Steele are both Funny or Die and 'Saturday Night Live' veterans. The movie has a deliberate cheapness that grows tiring — self-contained 'outdoor' sets, sex scenes with mannequin body doubles, and what must be the worst puppet the Jim Henson Workshop has ever built. Its theatrical release feels like a mistake: Surely this belongs online? Or on Comedy Central at 3:00 a.m.?" — Andrew Lapin, NPR
"Ferrell, though, mostly plays it straight (it takes all of 30 seconds to get used to him speaking impeccable Spanish), and so does the movie. And that, in a funny way, is the joke: that Ferrell went this far to do a faux-Mexican genre potboiler with nary a laugh line. Even if you choose to experience 'Casa de Mi Padre' as a postmodern wink at the audience, it's a very abstract wink. Yet if you take the film on its own terms, as a kind of Elvis movie dipped in guacamole, it's quirkily engrossing. Ferrell is a good straight actor for the same reason that he's an inspired comedian: He commits himself to every moment. Even in a movie whose highest ambition is to be true to its quaintly delectable tackiness." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Check out everything we've got on "Casa de Mi Padre."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Gearing up for the March 25th season five premiere, the stars of "Mad Men" joined together for at The Times Center in New York City on Tuesday night (March 20).
There for the TimesTalk: A Conversation with the Cast of 'Mad Men' event were co-stars Christina Hendricks, January Jones and Jon Hamm, along with fellow castmates such as Jared Harris, Dave Itzkoff, John Slattery and Vincent Kartheiser.
Joining the actors and actresses of the Emmy-winning show at the Times Talk panel was the show's creator, Matthew Weiner, who recently was asked by the NY Times about how he prepares for writing a new season.
To this, Weiner replied, "What really happens is there?s about a three-week rumination period, which involves a lot of napping, a lot of holding books. Whether I?m reading them or not, I cannot say. A lot of conversation, unrelated to the show, where I think about my own life. I get a sense of where I?m going and what I think is the next part of these people?s lives."
Continuing on, Matthew added, "Before the premiere of Season 4, I didn?t tell anybody whether or not they had a new agency, or whether or not they?d failed. We could have come back and they could have been back at Sterling Cooper in those offices. Just taking [Don's] engagement: so is that going to go through or not? What is the next stage in this person?s life? What is the story I want to tell about that?"
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'I'm an actor digging through Angelina Jolie's garbage,' 'Hunger Games' star jokes to MTV News about replacing the actress in Cooper's next flick.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Jennifer Lawrence
Photo: MTV News
"The Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence has admitted she's not sure when she'll be on set for the next film in the franchise, "Catching Fire," but that doesn't mean she doesn't have plenty of projects to keep her busy until then.
"I just wrapped a movie called 'The Silver Linings Playbook,' and that'll be out at some point, I don't know when," Lawrence told MTV News recently. "And then I'm going to go shoot another Bradley Cooper movie. It's not a Bradley Cooper movie — Bradley Cooper's in the movie — it's a Jennifer Lawrence movie with Bradley in it," she joked. "Bradley Cooper and I are going to come out with a Jennifer Lawrence/ Bradley Cooper box set."
That box set, should it ever get made, would focus on two very different films starring Lawrence and Cooper: "Silver Linings," due in November, revolves around a man who tries to put his life back together after spending years in a mental institution, while "Serena" is about a Depression-era couple who face personal complications when they learn the wife cannot bear children, possibly destroying the future of their lumber company.
Lawrence will play Cooper's wife in "Serena," a part originally intended for Angelina Jolie.
"I'm not at the status where I have her roles. I have her leftovers, let's be clear," she joked of Jolie. "She left it for me. I have her garbage. No, that's a wonderful place to be. I'm an actor digging through Angelina Jolie's garbage. I've made it." Shooting on "Serena" has yet to start.
Although Lawrence has several films on her production docket, she wouldn't rule out getting back into the "X-Men" mindset as Mystique if given the chance. "I would love to do another one. I'm hearing the same as everyone else, there's mumblings," she said of her "First Class" role. "I can't wait to get painted again."
If fans can't wait that long to see Lawrence's on the big screen, they can head to theaters on March 23 when the highly anticipated "Hunger Games" hits theaters.
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Related Videos Related PhotosTim Burton opts for gonzo comedy that should please many but may rile fans of the original soap opera.
By John Mitchell
Johnny Depp in "Dark Shadows"
Photo: Warner Bros
The wait is over! With less than two months to go before the May 11 release of "Dark Shadows," we finally have a trailer, and it's a doozy.
We're going to come right out and say it: We love the trailer. It's Tim Burton doing what Tim Burton does best. The look is dark and Gothic, but the feel is certifiably gonzo with a heaping side of camp and comedy. Based on its soapy source material, Burton could have taken "Shadows" one of two ways: He could have stripped it of the over-the-top camp and played it as a straight romantic drama where the protagonist was a conflicted vampire, which is what the creators of the early-'90s TV remake did, or he could turn the volume all the way up and have a little fun, flipping the super serious vibe of the original soap opera upside down and making a blood-splattered comedy. He clearly chose the latter, and that's just fine with us.
"Shadows" stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, a rich and powerful playboy who is turned into a vampire and buried alive by the jealous witch Angelique (Eva Green). Two centuries later, in 1972, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb by thief Willie Loomis (Jackie Earle Haley) and finds the world quite changed and his once great estate, Collinwood Manor, in disrepair. His descendants, including reclusive family matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer), her drunken, snobby brother Roger Collins (Johnny Lee Miller) and bratty teenage daughter Carolyn (Chloe Moretz), haven't fared much better. In the present, not only does he have to again face Angelique, but he has to contend with nosy psychologist Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter, who has more than a few secrets of her own.
Here are our five key scenes from the "Dark Shadows" trailer:
First Glimpse of Barnabus as a Vampire
After a fleeting look at a pre-vamp Depp in his 18th-century prime (and seriously, can we talk about how this guy never ages?), we see Angelique working her evil magic and casting her spell. Cut to Depp's Barnabas taking in his monstrous new self from the crashing waves at the bottom of Widows' Hill, the cliff where his love, Josette duPres (Bella Heathcote), took her own life. "What have you done?" he yells up at her.
The aesthetic created for Widows' Hill is pure vintage Burton. The dark, rocky facade builds up to a point that looks like something from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" brought to life. Which means it's pretty awesome.
Meet the Collins Family
Sitting around the dinner table to welcome their long lost relative, we get introduced to all the key players in the film. "Who the hell is this?" Bonham Carter's straightforward Hoffman asks."I'm a vampire, Madame," Barnabas responds.
The whole gang — Miller, Moretz, Pfeiffer, Bonham Carter and Gulliver McGrath (David Collins) — is there, and boy are they curious about this pale-faced creeper in some very vintage wares, but Barnabas is ready to hit the road to take care of business. "How soon can the horses be ready?" he asks. "We don't have horses; we have a Chevy," Pfeiffer admits.
"What Sorcery is This?"
Barnabas just can't seem to grasp the technological innovations that happened while he was chained up in that casket for a few hundred years. Of particular concern is the television, which he seems certain is nothing more than witchcraft.
"Reveal yourself, tiny songstress," he demands before tearing into the back of the set. It's a pretty random scene, but it perfectly sums up the tone of the humor the film seems after. Things are so weird nowadays, you guys, and the old dead guy just can't wrap his head around it. Depp's delivery is spot-on though, and we can see why test audience reaction to this scene was so warmly received.
Angelique Rides Back Into Town
Burton has taken many liberties with his film, but the most interesting of them might be his characterization of Angelique as a sassy fox with a mean-girl streak and plenty of attitude. When she returns from the late-1700s, she isn't wearing her old corsets and talking about the old days; she pulls up to Collinwood in a cherry red convertible wearing modern clothes.
"You cursed me to be this hideous creator," Barnabas cries. "You may strategically place your wonderful lips upon my posterior and kiss it repeatedly."
Barnabas and Angelique's Freaky, House-Trashing Makeout
Even though she, you know, cursed him to eternal damnation because he just wasn't that into her, we can certainly see why Barnabas can't keep his claws off Green's sexy witch. At the end of the clip, Depp and Green engage in some very rough foreplay. The magical pair throw each other from wall to wall before ending on the floor, where Angelique gives Barnabas one last lick with her very long tongue.
"That was a regrettable turn of events," Barnabus says, taking in the destruction left in the wake.
So "Dark Shadows" fans, are you loving the fun and campy way Burton decided to tackle the sudsy soap? Or do you think he should have gone a different direction? Let us know in the comments below and hit me up on Twitter @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions on all things "Shadows."
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