Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Ian Ziering, Wife Expecting First Child
The couple are expecting a baby girl in April, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Woman of the Week 2010
Maria Shriver is our pick this week as a female star to celebrate. See who else has made our list!
Jennifer Garner Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison
Lady Gaga Postpones Paris Shows Due To Strikes
Singer pushes back dates, citing fuel/transportation concerns amid refinery workers' protests.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lady Gaga's French fans will have to wait until the end of the year to catch the Monster Ball spectacle in concert. The pop superstar's tour backer, Live Nation, announced Wednesday (October 20) that her Paris dates, scheduled near the end of the month, will be pushed back as a result of ongoing strikes in the region.
"As a result of the logistical difficulties due to the strikes in France, Live Nation today announced that the Lady Gaga performances in Paris at Bercy previously scheduled for this Friday and Saturday 22 & 23 October are postponed until 19 & 20 December, 2010," read a statement posted on the star's website.
The European nation has been in the throes of civil upheaval for weeks since French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a proposal to bump the minimum retirement age up from 60 to 62 and raise the age that citizens can receive pension benefits from 65 to 67. Many workers have gone on strike, including employees of France's oil refineries, leading to fuel shortages throughout the country.
"Unfortunately, as there is no certainty that the trucks can make it to the Bercy for this weekend's shows, the Lady Gaga performances are now postponed," the statement continued. "The December 19th concert will replace the 22-October show and December 20th concert will replace the 23-October performance."
According to the statement, Gaga's little monsters have until mid-November to turn in tickets for a refund or swap out a new ticket for either of the winter dates.
"Fans with tickets to the rescheduled shows must exchange their tickets or claim for refund from now through November 14th at their point of purchase," the statement read. "Tickets dated October 22 and 23 will not be valid at the new dates." The statement concluded with "Lady Gaga apologizes to her fans for any inconvenience."
The postponed dates are a setback for an acclaimed global trek that has racked up cash around the world. Gaga's tour is projected to pull in roughly $200 million when it winds down in April 2011.
Are you upset that Gaga has postponed her Paris shows? Sound off in the comments!
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Ke$ha: VMA Noms Are 'Blowing My Mind'
'I'm getting more and more nervous,' 'Tik Tok' singer says of finding out whether she'll take home a Moonman.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
Ke$ha is ready to storm the VMAs on Sunday to see if she can turn any of her three nominations into Moonmen. The "Tik Tok" singer — who is up for Best Female Video, Best New Artist and Best Pop Video — is not only feeling some pre-show jitters, she's still floored by the fact that she's up for any awards at all.
"I'm getting more and more nervous," she told MTV News on Saturday in Los Angeles, where she performed at the 2010 MTV VMA Concert to Benefit Lifebeat. "To be nominated at all has been just crazy. It's still kind of blowing my mind."
And there's a bit of fear in there as well. "I'm a little terrified about it still," she continued. "It's amazing really to be recognized for things I've written, really just being honest. And now I'm being nominated for three VMAs for that."
While she faces stiff competition across the board, she admits that her toughest rival might be Justin Bieber, who's also nominated for Best New Artist. "It's gonna be hard taking the Biebs down," she explained. "It's gonna be hard, but my fans — we can do it!"
Ke$ha may have a wild rep, but she only has nice things to say about the ladies she's facing in the Best Female Video category. "Gaga and Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — everybody in there I respect, so it's kind of like I have no disses to throw," she said. "That's a tough category."
Tune in tonight for the 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles! The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. You can still vote for Best New Artist at VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if you're a Verizon subscriber).
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As the “Whip My Hair” singer plans to celebrate her 10th birthday on Oct. 31, see some of her fiercest tress-formations
'Today' Show Hosts Dress As Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber For Halloween
Segment also featured cameos from Will Ferrell and Tina Fey as their 'Megamind' characters.
By Jocelyn Vena
Meredith Vieira as Lady Gaga on the "Today" show
Photo: NBC
This year's "Today" show Halloween segment may have been short on Matt Lauer, but the show made up for it thanks to cameos from Will Ferrell and Tina Fey as their "Megamind" characters. But even those superstars were upstaged by some crafty costumes worn by the "Today" show hosts Friday morning (October 29).
In what turned out to be one complex segment, the Halloween fun started with Lauer and Roker looking at "Megamind" footage in a pretaped segment. Then the story went a bit zany. As Roker escorted a Clark Kent-looking Lauer out of the building, Lauer used his highly sensitive hearing to sense that Fey was in trouble.
In order to become Superman, he entered a phone booth to call Ferrell's Megamind to meet up with him, and out came Roker, in Lauer's place, as Superman. Ferrell and Roker then rushed to the side of Fey (dressed as "Megamind" reporter Roxanne Ritchi) to save her and toss to an old-timey newsreel, in which Ann Curry made her entrance as Amelia Earhart, who apparently had been hiding out in 30 Rock for the better part of a century.
Once she reemerged in the modern world, Earhart said she'd noticed that a lot has changed. Like what? Well, music. With that, Natalie Morales came out playing a convincing Justin Bieber, all the way down to the dance moves during "Baby."
But it was Meredith Vieira as the "monster of all monsters," Lady Gaga, dressed in the Armani orbit gown the singer wore to the Grammy Awards earlier this year, that really upped the production value. She sang the pop star's hit "Bad Romance," complete with backup dancers.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSaturday, October 30, 2010
Howard K. Stern Found Guilty in Anna Nicole Smith Drug Conspiracy
The verdict is in on the most recent legal battle surrounding the late Anna Nicole Smith. In August, three people close to Smith at the time of her death -- her doctor Sandeep Kapoor, psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich, and lawyer/boyfriend Howard K. Stern -- went on trial for the crime of knowingly supplying drugs to an addict. In other words: Smith's doctors and boyfriend were accused of feeding the addiction that killed her in 2007. And only one of them was found innocent.
On Thursday, Howard K. Stern was found guilty of conspiring to get drugs for Smith by ordering prescriptions under his own name. Eroshevich, the psychiatrist, was found guilty of writing fraudulent prescriptions, as well as supplying addictive drugs to an addict. Both will face sentencing (a maximum of three years) in January. Kapoor, however, is free to go; he was acquitted of all charges.
So: does the "guilty" verdict answer any questions about Anna Nicole's death?
Not really. The official cause of death was accidental overdose, due to the combined effects of nine different prescription drugs. The reason Stern, Eroshevich and Kapoor were on trial is that all those drugs were prescribed by Eroshevich -- even though they should never have been prescribed simultaneously. And eight of them were prescribed in Stern's name. While they were convicted of supplying these drugs, Stern and Eroshevich were cleared on multiple other charges which would have put more responsibility for Smith's death (and up to six more years of jail) on their shoulders.
What happens to Stern and the doctors now is pretty inconsequential, as far as Anna's legacy is concerned. But the case does shed some light on how drug-addicted celebrities can manipulate the people around them to get prescriptions. From the evidence presented, it looks like Anna Nicole maintained a close, even borderline sexual, relationship with both of her doctors. An entry in Dr. Kapoor's private journal, read to the jury, contained this excerpt:
"I was making out with Anna, my patient, blurring the lines. I gave her methadone, Valium. Can she ruin me?"
The jury was also shown "a photo of Smith and Eroschevich naked and embracing in a bathtub." Although both Kapoor and Eroschevich swear that they were providing Smith with necessary drugs, due to her mental problems after the death of her son, they were obviously willing to blur the lines of the doctor-patient relationship and bend standard ethical rules, all for the sake of keeping their celebrity patient happy. Stern, too, put aside his better legal judgement in order to ease Smith's pain. Maybe none of them actually meant any harm. But then again, did Michael Jackson's doctors mean to hurt him? What about Heath Ledger's doctors? If Anne Nicole's psychiatrist gets jail time, maybe that will send the necessary message to celebrity doctors: sometimes, the best way to help is by saying no.
Do you think the doctors who prescribe too many drugs to celebrities should go to jail? Chime in below!
Star Snapshots
Trick or treat? The Today show cast dresses up for Halloween! Plus, see more of your favorite celebs on the scene!
Michael Jackson Doctors Won't Be Charged In Singer's Death
California state investigators will not file charges against seven other doctors who treated the late star.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Michael Jackson
Photo: Getty Images
Seven doctors who treated the late Michael Jackson will not be charged in the singer's death. According to The Associated Press California officials said Wednesday (July 28) that they will not file charges against the doctors who were under scrutiny as part of an investigation launched by the state's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
Jackson passed away in June 2009 after suffering cardiac arrest. His personal doctor Conrad Murray — who was not one of the seven doctors included in the investigation — has been charged in his death and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter after allegedly giving the star the potent anesthetic propofol.
"I am very disappointed," said Brian Oxman, an attorney for Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson. "The misuse of medications by Michael Jackson in the last years of his life was excessive and to fail to bring that to the public eye is ignoring reality." Oxman is serving as Joe Jackson's lawyer in a wrongful death suit against Murray.
Bureau spokesperson Christine Gasparac told the AP that one of the doctors who was under investigation was referred to the California Medical Board for prescribing drugs to one of Jackson's aliases, however, a spokesperson for the board did not confirm the referral. A spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Agency told the AP that it has also dropped its investigation into Jackson's doctors.
Murray lawyer Ed Chernoff has maintained that the doctor did not administer a fatal dose of propofol and has suggested that either Jackson gave himself the anesthetic or another person may have supplied the late star with the dose. However, an anesthesia expert has said the possibility of Jackson administering the drug himself is unlikely.
A preliminary hearing in the Jackson manslaughter case is slated for August and Murray faces a sentence of up to four years in jail.
Related Photos Related ArtistsBeyonce Pregnancy Rumors Surface Again
Sources tell UsMagazine.com that the singer is pregnant, months after similar rumors were shot down.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé
Photo: Rob Loud/ Getty Images
Back in March, rumors that Beyoncé was pregnant were quickly shot down by the singer's rep. Now, seven months later, the same rumors are back. On Wednesday (October 20), UsMagazine.com reported that unnamed sources say B and her rap mogul husband, Jay-Z, are expecting a bundle of joy.
"B was shocked," one source reportedly told the site. "She loves kids, but she wasn't ready to be a mother just yet. She really wanted to get her album done and tour the world again." Another source added, "This is a gift from God and she's so happy." Although nothing is confirmed from Beyoncé or Jay-Z, it's being reported that the singer is in her first trimester.
The pair has always kept their private life private, but Beyoncé has been open to talking about motherhood. Earlier this year, she spoke to Allure magazine about the prospect of being a mother. "I definitely want to have a child, but I know from my nephew it's a lot. I hope that those things will just happen naturally. I still haven't had time to relax," she said.
The pair married in April 2008 and that same year Beyoncé told "Access Hollywood" there was a loose timeline of when she might want to have children. She explained, "The kids, I don't know ... in three years, maybe. It's a lot of work."
Regardless of whether or not she is pregnant, fans have been gearing up for a different kind of new arrival from B. Late last month, many speculated that Beyoncé would soon release a new single after producer Los Da Mystro — a frequent collaborator of The-Dream, who worked with Tricky Stewart on "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" — tweeted that he was listening to a new track that was going to be released in three weeks. That was in late September. No new music has been released yet.
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Audrina Patridge?s mother Lynn Patridge drunken rant video
Have you seen the Audrina Patridge’s mother Lynn Patridge drunken rant video? Granted for a lot of people who watched Audrina’s elimination from Dancing With the Stars, they were in shock to see that The Hills star would be ousted over a couple of those left in the competition. However, what’s done is [...]
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Jay-Z, Beyonce, Usher Support Alicia Keys At AIDS Charity Ball
Jay, Janelle Monae, Swizz Beatz were among performers at Keys' 8th annual Keep a Child Alive event.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Hillary Crosley
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
Alicia Keys has proven to be as selfless in real life as she is in song.
The singer held her 8th annual Keep a Child Alive Black Ball event in New York on Thursday night. The fundraiser brought out Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Usher, Jay Sean, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston and more.
Jay-Z and Keys' husband, Swizz Beatz, performed "On to the Next One," and Jay later performed "Empire State of Mind." Monae also hit the stage, as did Keys and Sade, who performed a duet, "Love Is Stronger Than Pride."
"It's my heart and soul," Keys told MTV News about the organization she co-founded. "Since the beginning, we've been very driven to do incredible work. I'm proud to show what four to five women who are very dedicated can do."
The organization benefits children and families who have been affected by AIDS but can't afford to purchase medicine; the event reportedly helped raise $2.4 million.
This year, Keep a Child Alive introduced the "Buy Life" T-shirt. The shirt features a large barcode on the garment; donors can buy the shirt and scan the code with their smart phones to make a donation to the charity. Every time the code is scanned by a phone, a donation goes through. Ryan Seacrest, Kim Kardashian and Katie Holmes are among the celebrity spokespeople appearing in ads for the shirt.
"It's like a dream to me to be among these people singing and performing, and opening people's eyes to what Keep a Child Alive can do," Keys said.
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'Saw 3D' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know About The 'Saw' Movies In 500 Words!
Seven movies in six years. If nothing else, that's an amazing turnaround that the "Saw" franchise should be quite pleased with. Indeed, the seventh entry into the franchise ? titled "Saw 3D" ? lands in theaters today, once again bringing Jigsaw's terrible torture devices to theatergoers just in time for Halloween!
But after seven films, you'll [...]
But after seven films, you'll [...]
Friday, October 29, 2010
Ne-Yo 'Doesn't Know What To Do' With Songs He Wrote For Michael Jackson
'I can't sell them on to someone else, as that would be disrespectful,' the singer said.
By James Dinh
Ne-Yo
Photo: Getty Images
While producer Rodney Jerkins is expecting to begin work on an album of unreleased Michael Jackson music, Ne-Yo, on the other hand, isn't sure what to do with the material he wrote for the late King of Pop before MJ's death last year. The R&B singer/songwriter told Australia's Daily Telegraph that he was sending Jackson three or four drafts a week prior to his unexpected death. More than a year later, Ne-Yo now still stands at a crossroads as he contemplates what to do with the songs he created specifically for the one and only MJ.
"I can't sell them on to someone else, as that would be disrespectful, but I also think it might be disrespectful to bring them out myself. So I don't know, I'll sit on them and wait. It's definitely quality music but they were songs written absolutely for Michael Jackson."
According to the newspaper, Jackson hand-picked Ne-Yo as well as Black Eyed Peas producer Will.I.Am to work on his comeback album. It was only a matter of time before Ne-Yo was met face to face with his musical idol.
"I felt quite bad, as I'd allowed what the media had done to his name and image to have me thinking, 'OK, what's this about to be? Is this going to be weird?' " he recalled. "But he walked in a black suit and some sunglasses and was a genuine, nice guy. And it wasn't because he wanted something from me, he just had no reason other than to be a decent guy."
During their meeting, the duo talked about the current state of the music industry, something Ne-Yo says Jackson wasn't too pleased with. "He believed what was wrong with a lot of music today is that people aren't singing about anything. If it's not about a party or sex then it's about money, and there's not really much to that."
Ne-Yo, who has penned hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna as well as himself, explained that the entertainer wanted songs that were "melodic and meaningful." "Michael told me the melodies needed to be the ones you heard once and could sing back, and the lyrics needed to have meaning and depth," he said.
Unfortunately, Ne-Yo's submissions weren't recorded by Jackson, because the singer put his album on hold to rehearse for his This Is It concert series at London's 02 Arena before passing away.
But Ne-Yo has hope that one day he'll figure out what to do with the Jackson tracks. "Hopefully the songs will see the light of day, it just has to be the right way," he said.
What do you think Ne-Yo should do with the songs he created for Michael Jackson? Should he keep them locked up or let someone else give them a try? Let us know what you think below!
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Ke$ha: VMA Noms Are 'Blowing My Mind'
'I'm getting more and more nervous,' 'Tik Tok' singer says of finding out whether she'll take home a Moonman.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez
Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News
Ke$ha is ready to storm the VMAs on Sunday to see if she can turn any of her three nominations into Moonmen. The "Tik Tok" singer — who is up for Best Female Video, Best New Artist and Best Pop Video — is not only feeling some pre-show jitters, she's still floored by the fact that she's up for any awards at all.
"I'm getting more and more nervous," she told MTV News on Saturday in Los Angeles, where she performed at the 2010 MTV VMA Concert to Benefit Lifebeat. "To be nominated at all has been just crazy. It's still kind of blowing my mind."
And there's a bit of fear in there as well. "I'm a little terrified about it still," she continued. "It's amazing really to be recognized for things I've written, really just being honest. And now I'm being nominated for three VMAs for that."
While she faces stiff competition across the board, she admits that her toughest rival might be Justin Bieber, who's also nominated for Best New Artist. "It's gonna be hard taking the Biebs down," she explained. "It's gonna be hard, but my fans — we can do it!"
Ke$ha may have a wild rep, but she only has nice things to say about the ladies she's facing in the Best Female Video category. "Gaga and Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — everybody in there I respect, so it's kind of like I have no disses to throw," she said. "That's a tough category."
Tune in tonight for the 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards, broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles! The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET/PT. You can still vote for Best New Artist at VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if you're a Verizon subscriber).
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?Star? Magazine Maintains That ?Real Housewives? Star Kim Zolciack Is Pregnant
Yesterday Star magazine published a story online that made the claim that Kim Zolciak, star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is pregs by her current beau Kroy Biermann. As soon as that story came out, Kim‘s mother denied the claim as false. Today, Star magazine is sticking by its story and is hitting back [...]
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Thursday, October 28, 2010
Celebrate Wendy O. Williams' Birthday With Bobblehead Doll
What better way to celebrate Wendy O. Williams' 61st birthday on May 28 (if she hadn't blown her head off at age 48) than with a cute, scantily clad bobblehead doll.
Yes, Aggronautix, the company that, in 2009, presented a bobblehead of GG Allin -- the lovable now-deceased counter culture character who beat up audience members, [...]
Yes, Aggronautix, the company that, in 2009, presented a bobblehead of GG Allin -- the lovable now-deceased counter culture character who beat up audience members, [...]
'Paranormal Activity' Creator Answers More Burning Sequel Questions
'PA 2' producer Oren Peli addresses our lingering queries about the horror film.
By Eric Ditzian
Oren Peli
Photo: MTV News
On Monday, just hours after "Paranormal Activity 2" finished up its $40.7 million opening weekend, MTV News stepped in to answer some burning questions about the horror film with the help of director Tod Williams.
But you know what? We had even more questions we wanted answered, so we brought in "PA" creator Oren Peli — who stepped into a producer role for the sequel — to respond to some other lingering queries we had about the film (major spoilers below).
What Happened to the Dog?
As the demon presence ramps up its activity in Kristi and Dan's home, their dog essentially freaks the hell out and has to be rushed to the vet. Perhaps he had a seizure, one of them speculates. But the dog is never seen again. So is the German Shepherd OK?
"Many are concerned," Peli laughed. "As far as I know, the dog is OK. There's a line in there that they're going to pick her up from the vet. So I think she's OK."
What Did the Scratches on the Door Say?
The demon seems to have taken up residence in their basement, and after Kristi is dragged kicking and screaming down there, the camera focuses in on the door. It appears as though a word is scratched into the wood. Does it actually say anything?
"I will say that it does say something, but I'm not sure when is the right time to reveal that," Peli confirmed. "We might want to save that for later. I'm going to keep quiet on that."
Aren't They Glad They Didn't Kill Off Katie in the First Movie?
As fans of the first movie know, Peli filmed a few different endings. In the ending that made it into the theatrical release, Katie survives. But in an alternate ending, she's shot by police. But "PA 2" begins its story prior to the events of the original and ends after those original events take place, with Katie showing up at Kristi's house to commit a few murders. Given that storytelling technique, how happy is Peli that he didn't kill off Katie in the first movie?
Turns out, Peli is confident that even if the alternate "PA" ending stuck, Katie could still have showed up to wreak bloody havoc at the end of "PA 2." "When I did the first one, I wasn't thinking about a sequel or anything like that," he explained. "But there are a lot of smart writers out there. There's probably ways to get around anything."
How Did They Avoid the 'Blair Witch 2' Curse?
"PA" is often compared to "The Blair Witch Project," insofar as they are both breakout horror hits that utilize the found-footage narrative technique. While "Blair Witch" grossed almost $250 million worldwide, the sequel abandoned its found-footage roots and ultimately made just 19 percent as much as the original.
For "PA 2," Peli and his fellow filmmakers learned the lessons of "Blair Witch 2" well and were sure to preserve the elements of "PA" that made it so popular. " 'Blair Witch' was an example of a movie that really worked and they really changed the format. The audience that loved the first one came to see the second one, and they got something very different," he said. "We wanted to make sure that the fans that had been waiting will not be disappointed. The things that they liked about the first one, we tried to stay true to that but also give them a different story and a grander scope of things, so it'll be both new and consistent with what worked the first time."
What Did Peli Actually Do on 'PA 2'?
While Peli wrote and directed "PA," he stepped into the role of producer for "PA 2." So, um, what the heck did Peli actually do for the sequel?
"I was there during the entire shoot," he said. "It was much more of a collaborative effort. [Tod] was the main guy running the show, but he was very collaborative. Everyone got to chip in their ideas, and I had a lot of ideas. There was a lot of teamwork involved, but it was so tricky to pull off the right tone. Everyone checked their egos.
"We all really love Tod. He got what made the first one work," Peli added. "Tod is also a writer, so he brought a lot of good ideas in. Also, I've already lived with 'Paranormal Activity' for four years, so I was ready to move and transition and let someone else take over."
Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
'Paranormal Activity' Creator Answers More Burning Sequel Questions
'PA 2' producer Oren Peli addresses our lingering queries about the horror film.
By Eric Ditzian
Oren Peli
Photo: MTV News
On Monday, just hours after "Paranormal Activity 2" finished up its $40.7 million opening weekend, MTV News stepped in to answer some burning questions about the horror film with the help of director Tod Williams.
But you know what? We had even more questions we wanted answered, so we brought in "PA" creator Oren Peli — who stepped into a producer role for the sequel — to respond to some other lingering queries we had about the film (major spoilers below).
What Happened to the Dog?
As the demon presence ramps up its activity in Kristi and Dan's home, their dog essentially freaks the hell out and has to be rushed to the vet. Perhaps he had a seizure, one of them speculates. But the dog is never seen again. So is the German Shepherd OK?
"Many are concerned," Peli laughed. "As far as I know, the dog is OK. There's a line in there that they're going to pick her up from the vet. So I think she's OK."
What Did the Scratches on the Door Say?
The demon seems to have taken up residence in their basement, and after Kristi is dragged kicking and screaming down there, the camera focuses in on the door. It appears as though a word is scratched into the wood. Does it actually say anything?
"I will say that it does say something, but I'm not sure when is the right time to reveal that," Peli confirmed. "We might want to save that for later. I'm going to keep quiet on that."
Aren't They Glad They Didn't Kill Off Katie in the First Movie?
As fans of the first movie know, Peli filmed a few different endings. In the ending that made it into the theatrical release, Katie survives. But in an alternate ending, she's shot by police. But "PA 2" begins its story prior to the events of the original and ends after those original events take place, with Katie showing up at Kristi's house to commit a few murders. Given that storytelling technique, how happy is Peli that he didn't kill off Katie in the first movie?
Turns out, Peli is confident that even if the alternate "PA" ending stuck, Katie could still have showed up to wreak bloody havoc at the end of "PA 2." "When I did the first one, I wasn't thinking about a sequel or anything like that," he explained. "But there are a lot of smart writers out there. There's probably ways to get around anything."
How Did They Avoid the 'Blair Witch 2' Curse?
"PA" is often compared to "The Blair Witch Project," insofar as they are both breakout horror hits that utilize the found-footage narrative technique. While "Blair Witch" grossed almost $250 million worldwide, the sequel abandoned its found-footage roots and ultimately made just 19 percent as much as the original.
For "PA 2," Peli and his fellow filmmakers learned the lessons of "Blair Witch 2" well and were sure to preserve the elements of "PA" that made it so popular. " 'Blair Witch' was an example of a movie that really worked and they really changed the format. The audience that loved the first one came to see the second one, and they got something very different," he said. "We wanted to make sure that the fans that had been waiting will not be disappointed. The things that they liked about the first one, we tried to stay true to that but also give them a different story and a grander scope of things, so it'll be both new and consistent with what worked the first time."
What Did Peli Actually Do on 'PA 2'?
While Peli wrote and directed "PA," he stepped into the role of producer for "PA 2." So, um, what the heck did Peli actually do for the sequel?
"I was there during the entire shoot," he said. "It was much more of a collaborative effort. [Tod] was the main guy running the show, but he was very collaborative. Everyone got to chip in their ideas, and I had a lot of ideas. There was a lot of teamwork involved, but it was so tricky to pull off the right tone. Everyone checked their egos.
"We all really love Tod. He got what made the first one work," Peli added. "Tod is also a writer, so he brought a lot of good ideas in. Also, I've already lived with 'Paranormal Activity' for four years, so I was ready to move and transition and let someone else take over."
Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Is ?Real Housewives? Star Kim Zolciak Pregnant?
Star magazine is reporting that The Real Housewives of Atlanta star and Tardy for the Party singer Kim Zolciak is pregnant with another child by her new beau Kroy Biermann. According to the magazine, news of this pregnancy comes form Kim‘s ex-lesiban lover and DJ Tracy Young … which, in the reality TV world of [...]
Ke$ha To Return With Cannibal On November 22
Animal companion will feature eight new songs.
By James Montgomery
Ke$ha
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images
Taking a page from Lady Gaga's playbook, Ke$ha will return November 22 with Cannibal, a nine-song "companion" to her platinum-plus debut disc Animal that, like Gaga's The Fame Monster, will be sold both as a standalone album and as part of a deluxe reissue.
According to a press release sent Wednesday (October 13) by her label, RCA, Cannibal will feature eight brand-new songs — produced by the likes of Max Martin, Benny Blanco and Bangladesh — and a new remix. The first single from the mini-album, "We R Who We R," is scheduled to hit radio Thursday.
Cannibal is set to be released both on its own and bundled with Ke$h's Animal disc in a reissue called — fittingly enough — Animal + Cannibal. And if the whole thing sounds rather, well, ravenous, well, that's pretty much what the singer had in mind.
"This year has been carnivorous and life-changing. I have my rowdy, gorgeous fans to thank for taking me on the ride of a lifetime," she said in a statement. "My only goal with this record is to keep them dancing. The songs on Cannibal were made to inspire people to ignore any hate or judgment and be themselves unapologetically. It's the perfect companion to Animal and I hope you guys like it. And if you don't like it — bite me."
Well, OK then. The announcement of Cannibal comes one day after the news that Ke$ha had been nominated for three American Music Awards — more than any artist not named Eminem, Justin Bieber and Lady Antebellum. The AMAs will air November 21, one day before Ke$ha's albums hit stores.
Will you pick up Ke$ha's new music? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsJames Cameron Making 'Avatar 2' And 'Avatar 3' As His Next Films
James Cameron won't be turning Angelina Jolie into a 3-D "Cleopatra" anytime soon. The director has announced that he's cinched a deal with Twentieth Century Fox to head back to Pandora to shoot two "Avatar" sequels as his next films, with release dates for the tentatively titled "Avatar 2" and "Avatar 3" slated for December [...]
Lady Gaga Not Appearing On Rihanna's Loud
Rihanna's rep says, rumors of the two collaborating on a song called 'Broken Heels' are 'not true.'
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images
Sad news for anyone eager to hear that rumored Rihanna/Lady Gaga collaboration: It's not happening.
That's according to a rep for RiRi, who told MTV News on Friday (October 15) that a story about a team-up between the two artists — reportedly on a song called "Broken Heels" — was "not true."
Earlier this week, reports began circulating that the two talents — who, between them, have more #1s on Billboard's Pop Chart than any other artist — would be joining forces on "Heels," which was set to be featured on Rihanna's forthcoming album Loud. The source for those reports was an alleged scan of the album's back cover, which listed the song as "featuring Lady Gaga."
The rep didn't say anything about that image to MTV, but Just Jared quotes a rep for Rihanna as saying that it's a fake. A spokesperson for Rihanna's label, Island/Def Jam, did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the matter.
Loud is scheduled to hit stores on November 16, and it does feature confirmed guest appearances from Drake (on a remix of "What's My Name?") and Nicki Minaj (on a "fun ... quirky" song called "Raining Men"). On Wednesday (October 13), Rihanna premiered the video for "Only Girl (in the World)," the official first single from the album. "Only Girl" is in its fifth week on the Billboard Hot 100, where it sits at #6.
Related ArtistsTuesday, October 26, 2010
Celine Dion was in tears after the birth of her twins
The ‘My Heart Will Go On’ singer – who delivered the two boys via Caesarean section on Saturday (23.10.10) – found the experience particularly emotional after undergoing six in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts in the last year alone. Her husband Rene Angelil explained: “When Saturday at 11:11, they showed us the first baby that was [...]
Justin Bieber Fans Rave Over 'Classic' 3-D Trailer
'It feels like it's more of a documentary,' one fan says after preview of 'Never Say Never' clip at concert in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias
Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount
Some lucky Justin Bieber fans got the first glimpse of what to expect from his 3-D movie when he premiered the trailer for "Never Say Never" during his My World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Monday night. And the verdict from the fans MTV News spoke with can be summed up in one word: amazing.
"He said, 'Hey L.A., we have a special surprise for you. Something no one else has seen yet and you're only seeing it here tonight,' " Nicole Reddin recalled after the Staples Center concert. "And everyone was super excited. It feels like it's more of a documentary. It's a little bit more real than the things you see. It's a lot more [that] you get to know him and that's what we want to see."
Priestly Cleveland gave the trailer a glowing review. "It's the trailer for his movie, which is actually coming out Valentine's Day weekend. ... I loved it," she said. "My favorite part of the trailer was definitely when he was younger and singing and playing the guitar. I loved it ... it was cute, classic."
Added Juliana En, "It shows a bunch of baby pictures of him while he's growing up and pictures of him backstage just, like, doing random stuff."
The preview had special meaning for another longtime Belieber. "I remember when I used to watch Justin Bieber on YouTube before he got famous and I was totally a fan," Rachel Kelly said. "So this is really exciting."
"Never Say Never" won't hit theaters until February, but the singer's fans plan to keep busy until the flick's release date.
"I can't wait to see it," Cleveland told us. "In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep going on YouTube."
What do you think of the "Never Say Never" trailer? Tell us in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsTake That Relight the Fire With New Tour
Oct. 26 - A reunited Take That talk about their newly announced summer tour plans and reveal how they coped having Robbie Williams back in the group.
Usher - OMG
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Raymond V Raymond
Unreleased Michael Jackson Music On The Way, Rodney Jerkins Says
'It's definitely going to come, but it takes time,' says producer, who worked with King of Pop on Invincible.
By James Dinh
Michael Jackson
Photo: Time Life Pictures/DMI/Time Life Pictures/Getty Im
Michael Jackson had a wealth of unreleased songs in the vaults at the time of his death last year, but very little has since seen the light of day. Producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who worked with the King of Pop on his 2001 album Invincible, revealed that he is about to work on a project with unreleased material from Jackson.
"I'm about to work on an unreleased project that we're talking about doing right now," Darkchild revealed in a chat with VladTV. "It's definitely going to come, but it takes time. You got to do a lot of the red tape but there's definitely going to be an unreleased Michael Jackson [album]. There's definitely going to be stuff to come and hopefully I'll be a part of that."
Darkchild later spoke about how working with the entertainer had always been a childhood dream of his.
"It was a blessing. It was definitely a goal of mine as a kid. When I first wanted to be producer, at 11 years old, on a little piece of paper [I] was like, 'One day I wanna work with Michael Jackson.' I just believe that God granted my wish," he said. "I had the chance to work with him. We became friends. Of course, we miss him dearly. He was truly the greatest."
Last year, former Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola revealed to Time magazine that unpublished Jackson music could date back decades. "Let's say 12 or 13 songs end up on the album; Michael could have possibly recorded 15, 20 or 30 songs," Mottola explained. "This would probably go for every album he recorded and probably predating [Sony] to his Motown days."
Jackson was reportedly working on a comeback album at the time of his death with contemporary R&B producers like Akon, Ne-Yo and Will.I.Am. He was also in talks to hit the studio with everybody from Kanye West to T-Pain to Chris Brown.
Based on a recent report from Reuters, more music from Jackson would only further increase music sales for the singer. The entertainer's music has raked in $430 million in sales since June 2009.
An album wasn't the only unfinished project Jackson had on his plate at the time of his death last June. The King of Pop had asked then-newcomer Lady Gaga to open his This Is It shows in London. "I guess I can speak about it now. I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour. We were going to open for him at the O2," she revealed earlier this year.
Would you be excited to hear unreleased music from the King of Pop? Tell us your thoughts below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsMonday, October 25, 2010
New 'Jersey Shore' Roommate Is 'A Breath Of Fresh Air,' JWoww Says
'There's a lot of stuff that went on,' she teases of season three.
By Jocelyn Vena
JWoww
Photo: MTV News
When season three of "Jersey Shore" kicks off, there will be a new kid in town. While the surroundings will be similar (the cast will be back in Jersey), fans of the show will finally meet Deena Nicole Cortese after hearing so much about her.
While details about the season were hard to get out of JWoww, she did open up about having Cortese join the show, saying the new roomie brought that certain something the crew was lacking. "She was like a breath of fresh air, very bubbly," she said. "Something we really needed in the house. That being said, the house changed. There's a lot of stuff that went on. I can't give you anything! It's so long away before you get to see it!"
Back in August, MTV News caught up with Cortese, who admitted that her relaxed attitude works great with the rest of the crew. "I'm different, because I'm just a personable person. I don't take things to heart. People can make fun of me till the day I die, and I will just take it in and be like, 'Yeah, you know what? Whatever,' " Cortese laughed. "I just don't care what people think, and I think that's what everybody in the house loves about me. They can bust on me all the time, and the next day I'll just be like, 'All right, get real.' "
With production on season three wrapped, JWoww admits that she's down for a lot more "Jersey Shore" in her future, if it's in the cards. "I got a couple more in me for 'Jersey Shore,' " she laughed. "So I don't want that to go anywhere!"
Are you looking forward to a new "Jersey Shore" castmember? Let us know in the comments!
Related PhotosKaty Perry and Russell Brand?s wedding was gatecrashed by a tiger
The couple – who married in a lavish ceremony on Saturday at the luxury Aman-i-Khas resort in Rajasthan, India – and their 85 guests were joined by armed guards, who stepped in to protect the party from the man-eating beast after it was discovered just 50ft away from the celebrations after being attracted to the [...]
EXCLUSIVE! First Photos Of Taylor Swift And Jake Gyllenhaal Together! Plus, More Details On Them!!!
OH EM EFFING GEE!
We have photos!!!!!!!!!
Check out (above) pics - taken by a Perezcious reader - of Taylor Swift out and about in Brooklyn, NY, this weekend with Jake Gyllenhaal!
And these two must have really hit it off, because it sounds like they spent the entire WEEKEND together!
Taylor brought Jake with her to [...]
We have photos!!!!!!!!!
Check out (above) pics - taken by a Perezcious reader - of Taylor Swift out and about in Brooklyn, NY, this weekend with Jake Gyllenhaal!
And these two must have really hit it off, because it sounds like they spent the entire WEEKEND together!
Taylor brought Jake with her to [...]
Smell Just Like Justin Bieber!
Adding yet another celebrity fragrance to the market, Justin Bieber is gearing up to release his own signature smell.
The ?Baby? singer is teaming up with Etoile Nation Beauty for a new line of wristbands and dog tags steeped in a unisex fragrance called ?My World.?
The Biebs? new product line will drop on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) in Wal-Mart stores across the country.
Last week, Justin told press he?d been working tirelessly on the perfect scent. ?They actually brought me a bunch of stuff to smell today. One of them smelled too young, too fruity. One was really good.?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
'Paranormal Activity 2' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
Clutch these fun facts to your chest and hope the nightmares subside!
By Eric Ditzian
"Paranormal Activity 2"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
"Paranormal Activity 2" is the story of what happens when a horror movie that cost about as much as a brand-new Ford Fiesta makes almost $200 million at the worldwide box office.
How are you not going to make a sequel to a movie that has become the most profitable flick in Hollywood history? Giving "PA 2" a green-light was a no-brainer for Paramount. What was considerably trickier was making a movie that would please all the fans who embraced the original film last year. Crazy thing is, the studio seems to have pulled it off, as early reviews have been extremely positive. The sequel, in short, is scary as hell.
So think of MTV News' "Paranormal Activity" cheat sheet as a safety blanket of sorts: Clutch it to your chest and hope the nightmares subside. Alas, they probably won't for a while. Enjoy!
Activity on More 'Activity'
After a limited rollout during it's first three weekends, "PA" went wide and popped off grosses of $19.6 million, $21.1 million and $16.4 million over the following three weekends. By that point, sequel talk was already out in the open. Paramount was pressing forward and confident in its ability to come up with the right creative approach.
Writer/director Oren Peli would not be reprising his duties, so who would? Early word was that the director gig would go to Kevin Greutert ("Saw VI"), but that never came to pass. Then there was a wacky rumor that Brian De Palma would get the job. That never happened either, and the man who ended up occupying the director's chair was Tod Williams ("The Door in the Floor").
Who's Screaming Now?
As the crew came together, the question remained: Would Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat reprise their roles? And given how "PA" ended, could they reprise their roles?
Sloat hinted he would when we caught up with him in March. "All I can tell you is I'm very excited for the project, it's really cool, it's gonna be really interesting and it's not gonna suck," he said.
Featherston, by contrast, was totally in the dark. "I don't know. I'm waiting to hear," the actress told us in March. "If they had a way to put me in there in a way that would be reasonable and make sense — I don't know how they'd do that — I'd definitely be down for it. If I get that phone call, I will be there. I will be scared or happy or whatever they want me to be."
Did they eventually make the cut? Who else did? That's entering spoiler territory, so we'll leave it there and just say, "See the freaking movie!"
Time to Freak Out
In June, the trailer arrived. It, too, avoided spoilers — and got us very pumped about the sequel. A second, more revealing trailer popped up in September. A slew of viral videos and a clip soon followed.
Finally, it came time for fans to see the movie. Paramount staged 19 midnight screenings across the country, and we were there in New York and Los Angeles to take in the terror.
"I'm scared," one L.A. fan told us after the movie. "We're not going to sleep. Drink coffee, stay up tonight, watch some cartoons, but we're not going to sleep."
Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Blame It On The Devil
It is with a very heavy heart that I must report … Paranormal Activity 2 is a terrible movie. Believe me, no one is more bummed about this fact than I am. I LOVED the original film so much, I was really hoping the sequel would be just as good. Actually, the sequel didn’t even [...]
TV Ad For Norwegian Deaf Metal
This image, which nicely compliments the video below, is for a 1993 metal comp that featured some pretty ripping bands, including Eucharist, Dissection, Impaler, At the Gates, Pitchshifter and Therion, along with a bunch of groups we've never heard of. Good luck tracking it down. But before you try, check out this Norwegian TV ad [...]
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Around the Web?
Some stories to send you into the weekend: Research shows that what dad eats can affect his daughter’s health, too ? Chicago Tribune When the ‘pregnancy police’ get to be too much ? TODAYMoms Celeb mama Cat Cora cooks up some healthy treats with the Muppets ? lilSugar A tenth California infant has died from [...]
Chris Cornell Filling In For Robert Plant On Led Zeppelin Tour? That's News To Him
'I have not been approached to fill in for Robert Plant on the Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be,' singer says.
By Chris Harris
Chris Cornell
Photo: MTV News
Former Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has spoken out for the first time about rumors that he's been asked to fill in for Robert Plant on a proposed Led Zeppelin reunion tour. The trek would feature original guitarist Jimmy Page, original bassist John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham taking over on drums for his late father, John Bonham.
Cornell has been mentioned — along with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, White Stripes mastermind Jack White and Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy — as a potential Plant fill-in. Plant has already said that he wouldn't take part in the tour.
"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," Cornell told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour."
Cornell's denial comes just a day after Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford confirmed reports that frontman Steven Tyler recently met with Zeppelin for an impromptu jam session. "They did it for fun," Whitford said during an appearance on the syndicated show "Todd N Tyler Radio Empire." "I actually think Jimmy wanted Steven to come over and play a little bit because I think he was trying to light a fire under Robert."
Rumors of a Zeppelin reunion tour have abounded since the iconic band played a single reunion set last year at London's O2 Arena. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider added fuel to the fire last month when he revealed that the group was thinking of touring, with or without Plant.
According to Snider, the rest of the band told Plant, " 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Myles Kennedy].' "
"And he can sing the sh-- out of Zeppelin," Snider added. "They're going to hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in."
In a recent interview, Jones told BBC Radio Devon that a new singer was being sought to take over for Plant. "We are trying out a couple of singers," he said. "We want to do it. It's sounding great, and we want to get on and get out there."
But Jones insists that he, Page and Bonham aren't interested in finding a Plant clone. "It's got to be right," he said. "There's no point in just finding another Robert. You could get that out of a tribute band, but we don't want to be our own tribute band. There would be a record and a tour, but everyone has to be onboard."
Of course, even if Zeppelin were to approach him, Cornell might be too busy to take over vocals for the band. His upcoming Timbaland-produced solo LP, Scream, will be released within the next few months. Cornell told MTV News last month that some of his fans might consider Scream something of a departure, but he doesn't see it that way.
"It makes me happy that there's this perception that I have a group of fans that I'm now sort of throwing a curve at and what their reaction will be," he said. "But I've been in this situation so many times already. When I put out [1999's] Euphoria Morning, my main goal was to create an album that sounded like nothing I'd done in Soundgarden, and I did that. I also had that with Temple of the Dog, where I showed up with songs that weren't necessarily riff-based. And then, of course, the pairing of me and members of Rage Against the Machine had everyone sort of speculating about what that would sound like.
"It feels like I've done this so many times that when it's presented to me as being a departure, I feel that's a misconception," he added. "I feel like that's my theme at this point."
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