Thursday, September 30, 2010
Les News, 093010
Stone Temple Pilots Reunited In Hopes Of Opening For Led Zeppelin, Bassist Says
'If time allows, there will definitely be new music,' Robert DeLeo adds of STP's future.
By Chris Harris
Stone Temple Pilots' Robert DeLeo and Scott Weiland
Photo: Charley Gallay/ Getty Images
There are a number of reasons why Stone Temple Pilots decided to reunite after nearly five years apart — some are obvious, and others, not so much.
Of course, the financial windfall of reviving the grunge stalwarts for an extensive U.S. tour was too good to pass up, and bassist Robert DeLeo readily admits as much. And then there are the fans, the ones who had been with STP since the very beginning as well as those who discovered the band only after it first split back in 2003 and who, woefully, have yet to catch the Pilots live.
On a more personal level, though, Stone Temple Pilots' resurrection was purely selfish, and very much an anticipatory (not to mention optimistic) move on the band's part: If, after the months and months of rumors and denials, there ever is a full-on Led Zeppelin reunion tour, STP wanted to be ready to offer their services as an opening act.
"Believe me, that was one of the reasons," laughed DeLeo. "We thought, 'We should get together now, in case Zeppelin does tour.' I'm serious, man. That would be one hell of a bill: STP and Led Zeppelin. I mean, we could play a doghouse, out in the middle of the ocean, and if I got to play with Zeppelin, that would be a highlight of my life."
Yes, DeLeo — and the rest of the band — had several reservations about raising STP from the dead — a feat DeLeo jokingly referred to as "Mission Impossible." For the band's members, the idea of regrouping was terrifying at first, but with time, the boys settled their differences and tried to think positive.
"For me, it was about putting down some of the things that I was used to getting bitten by," explained the bassist — who, with guitar-playing brother Dean DeLeo, has been collaborating with Peter Frampton on material for his next LP. "After you get bitten, it's hard to go back. I wanted to go into this with an open frame of mind and a positive attitude and just have fun with it. We should have fun with it, which God knows we didn't always have with our career when we were younger. If that's all I can say, and that's what I can get out of this reunion, great.
"I think I speak for all of us when I say there's a lot of unfinished business that we didn't get around to the first go," he continued. "Enough time has gone by, and it feels really good to be back. I don't really want to put too much thought into how it feels — I'm just kind of going with it and keeping a good positive attitude about it. I just needed to get over the things that we all needed to get over, and that's been working so far. If everyone shows up and does this thing, I think it's going to be really amazing."
DeLeo claims that during recent rehearsals, STP were "sounding as good as ever," and he credits sobriety as part of the reason the band's in tip-top shape.
"My brother's going on four years of sobriety," he said. "We have a lot more clarity in the band now, and I think with clarity comes appreciation. I saw that the other night, when we played [a secret gig in Los Angeles]. I saw it in my eyes, and in the eyes of the rest of the band. There's a lot more rock in this band now."
As for an STP record, DeLeo is not 100 percent sure that's going to happen. The goal for STP over the next few weeks, he said, is to reacquaint themselves with their songbook and prepare for their return to the road. Once the band is back in that mindset, the bassist said new STP material is very possible.
"I've always got stuff written, and there's always a long list of songs that are always there — it's a matter of timing," DeLeo said. "If time allows, there will definitely be new music. I think it would be silly not to release new music. I'd like to believe we still have a writing relationship, but the first step is getting reacquainted with what we know."
While STP were on hiatus, frontman Scott Weiland teamed up with Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers joined forces with Filter's Richard Patrick for Army of Anyone — who are now on hiatus after releasing a poorly received self-titled LP. Does DeLeo foresee an AOA reunion somewhere down the line?
"You never know," he said. "It's just like STP — I didn't know if I was going to return. Whether we get back together and do anything, I think we made a great record, bottom line. That's all that matters to me. If we make another one, I want to make sure it's great, and that applies to STP and anything I do. But I was pretty heartbroken over [the feeble response to AOA's album]."
Related Photos Related Artists
Beyoncé - Ego (Remix)
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia, Music World Music
- Director: Beyonce, Frank Gatson
Diddy, Trey Songz Applaud Chris Brown's Emotional BET Awards Performance
'He left his heart on the stage,' Songz says of singer's Michael Jackson tribute; host Queen Latifah and others also react.
By Rochell Thomas
Chris Brown at the 2010 BET Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic
Folks had nothing but love for Chris Brown, who fell apart during his tribute to Michael Jackson at the 10th annual BET Awards on Sunday night (June 27).
At the afterparty, hosted by the tag team of Diddy and "Hustle & Flow" actress Taraji P. Henson, everyone from a show producer to the cast of the soon-to-be-revived BET series "The Game," as well as some of the night's winners and presenters, had something to say about Brown's emotional performance of "Man in the Mirror," during which the singer fell to his knees crying, genuinely unable, it seemed, to sing the song.
"You know who stole my heart tonight?" Henson asked.
"Chris Brown!" answered Diddy, host Queen Latifah, BET personality Tigger and a group of others in near-unison.
"He was so vulnerable," Henson continued. "I love you, Chris!"
During the tribute, Brown channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean."
The winner in the Best Male R&B Artist category, Trey Songz, said, "Chris killed that. He left his heart on the stage. He gave genuine emotion. I was proud of him and I was happy for him for having that moment." Songz didn't mention Brown choking on the lyrics during the song: "He did that justice. Everybody's been waiting for that."
Brown may have been waiting for his turn to do a tribute to his idol Michael Jackson, but he also was happy to have an opportunity to speak to his fans later in the show.
"I let y'all down before, but I won't do it again," he said as he accepted the award for the AOL Fandemonium prize, which was presented by siblings Brandy and Ray J. "I promise." Fans voted online, giving Brown the win over Nicki Minaj, Trey Songz and Justin Bieber.
What did you think of Chris Brown's Michael Jackson tribute? Tell us in the comments
Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists'Glee' Tackles Britney Spears' Snake-Charming VMA Set
Heather Morris rocks a boa and bikini similar to Spears' 2001 Video Music Awards performance.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Heather Morris on "Glee"
Photo: Adam Rose/ Fox
Hold tight, Gleeks! The all-Britney Spears episode of "Glee" is just days away, and details about the pop star's tribute are trickling in.
We already know the McKinley high-schoolers are going to revamp Brit's debut smash " ... Baby One More Time" and her Madonna match-up "Me Against the Music." The song-and-dance crew has also reached beyond Spears' trendsetting clips to one of her iconic stage performances: the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards rendition of "I'm a Slave 4 U."
A picture surfaced Friday (September 24) of the megastar's "Glee" namesake Brittany (played by Heather Morris) rocking a bejeweled green-and-blue two-piece similar to Spears' skimpy VMA ensemble, with a yellow boa draped over her shoulders.
Morris recently opened up about the arc of Tuesday's episode, dishing that the glee clubbers rebel against Schuester's ban on retooling Spears' hits.
"Through a special substance, I go under and have a couple of dream sequences — not only myself, but with Santana [Naya Rivera]," Morris told Australian magazine TV Week. "A lot of it has to do with Will [Matthew Morrison] not allowing us to perform Britney Spears songs, because he doesn't agree with what kind of entertainer she is, so it's our fight to do Britney. But it's not just us doing Britney in show choir; there are other sequences — it's our homage to her."
Tuesday's show is shaping up to be a busy one for Morris, who is also vamping it up opposite Spears herself in their reworking of "Music." However, the actress insisted her previous encounters with Spears helped her stay cool around the pop icon.
"It wasn't really nerve-racking, because I've met her before and I wasn't really overwhelmed by who she is," she said. "But the idea of what she has given us for the show and, for me, getting to dance with her and play with her on set, I was just staring at her at one point and thinking, 'This is just so frickin' awesome.' "
Are you excited for the Britney takeover on "Glee" next week? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsWednesday, September 29, 2010
Seal & Heidi Klum Get Sexy & Naked In His New Music Video
'Social Network' Star Jesse Eisenberg Says Internet Can Be 'Cruel'
'It's incredibly painful to read it, so I stay off of it,' actor says of reading about himself online.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf
Jesse Eisenberg
Photo: MTV News
Early in "The Social Network," a young Mark Zuckerberg returns to his Harvard dorm after getting dumped by his girlfriend. The future Facebook CEO fires up his computer and promptly begins to trash his ex online, writing on his blog, among other things, that she's hardly as busty as she likes to claim.
It's spiteful stuff, and leaves her in tears. And it's just that sort of harsh commentary that has led Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Zuckerberg in the new film, to avoid reading about himself online.
"I know that I'm written about online — we're all written about online," he told MTV News. "It's incredibly painful to read it, so I stay off of it. People can write things that are terribly cruel because of the anonymity of the Internet."
Not everybody on the Web, though, slings hate in his direction. In the summer of 2009, as word of a Facebook movie broke, we suggested Eisenberg was the best choice to play the curly-haired, flip-flop-wearing Zuckerberg. When we reminded Eisenberg that many folks on the Internet tagged him as the best fit for the role, he remained skeptical. "That happens to be something nice, but once you read something like that, you'll read 10 things that are bad, and then you can't sleep at night," he said.
At least he says that now. Back in the fall of '09, when Eisenberg's name came up in "Social Network" casting rumors, we asked the actor if there was any truth to all the gossip, and he jokingly admitted that he was an obsessive self-Googler.
"I read about that online. I search my name every day," Eisenberg deadpanned. "I do it manually, because Google Alerts you can't trust. I have a lawyer do it for me in my bathroom."
Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos'Breaking Dawn' Casts Maggie Grace As Irina
'Lost' and 'Taken' actress will play a 'vegetarian' vampire who turns on the Cullens.
By Kara Warner
Maggie Grace
Photo: Katy Winn/ Getty Images
With production set to begin very soon, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1" continues to add members to its already-crowded cast.
Last month we learned that "The Pacific" actor Rami Malek had joined the "Dawn" ranks in the role of Egyptian vampire Benjamin. On Monday (September 27), it was reported that "Lost" and "Taken" actress Maggie Grace has signed on to play "vegetarian" vampire Irina.
A rep from Summit Entertainment confirmed the casting to MTV News, and the original story appeared first on Deadline.com.
So who is Irina? Those familiar with Stephenie Meyer's source material will recall that she is a member of the Denali coven, one of the only other "vegetarian" vampire covens and allies with the Cullens — that is, until Irina blames the family for the death of her former lover, Laurent, and vengefully reveals a Cullen family secret to the Volturi.
The other "Dawn" newbie, Benjamin, is a member of the Egyptian coven who comes to help Bella and the Cullens battle the Volturi. Benjamin is a young vamp blessed with the special ability of controlling the elements (à la Storm from X-Men), though he has yet to fully master his powers.
"I think it's going to be great," Rami told "ET" of his joining the cast last month. "It's going to be super exciting, and I'm thrilled."
Summit announced in June that "Breaking Dawn" would be divided into two parts; the first of the two films is scheduled to hit theaters November 18, 2011, and the second on November 16, 2012.
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1."
For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Adam Lambert Recalls Lady Gaga, Madonna Career Advice
'You just have to count on yourself and go for it,' Lambert says Gaga told him.
By Jocelyn Vena
Adam Lambert
Photo: Kevin Parry/ WireImage
Adam Lambert has managed to speed through every stage of fame during his brief time as a celebrity. He's been loved by his fans, hated by his critics, released an album and hit the road for his first headlining tour. And Lambert has managed to deal with all the pressures of fame thanks to some great advice he's gotten from two very famous ladies.
"She told me about the previous three years. She worked really, really hard before she made it. She told me there's no glamour, you don't get a lot of sleep, you don't get a lot of stability in your social life — you just have to count on yourself and go for it. It was a good pep talk," Lambert told Australia's news.com.au about his pal Lady Gaga's advice. "And she was right."
Like Gaga, Madonna, has warned Lambert about some of the negative sides of fame, including all those haters. "She told me that you can't get wrapped up in all the media and message boards, that everyone's going to have an opinion. People will criticize you, especially when you're doing it well. You can't do much better than getting career advice from Madonna," he said. "She's the queen, right? I've [learned] there are plenty of challenges, but if you work hard enough you can arrive. You find a spot for yourself and get to communicate with your art and hopefully inspire people. That's what I'm working towards."
Like both those iconic women, Lambert has become a bit of a face for the gay community. But he doesn't want that to be the only thing he's known as.
"I'm very comfortable with my sexuality and I have no qualms talking about it," he said. "It's important for me to be bold about it. There are not a lot of examples of that in pop culture. I'm happy to fill that role.
"But I did an interview the other day and every question was a sensationalized question about being gay and the gay lifestyle. There's a fine line," he continued. "As open as I am to mentioning it, I'm not a gay spokesman. I'm a singer. I'm an entertainer who happens to be gay. I'm going to work hard with the next album to make that the message. When the first line is 'Openly gay singer Adam Lambert ...' it gets a little frustrating. The singer part should definitely come first. That's what I do."
Related Photos Related Artists'Wall Street 2': The Reviews Are In!
Critics are divided, but one praises Oliver Stone sequel as 'urgent and strangely necessary.'
By Eric Ditzian
Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"
Photo: 20th Century Fox
Twenty-three years ago, Oliver Stone's "Wall Street" finished third at the weekend box office, losing out to "Throw Momma From the Train" and "Three Men and a Baby."
Times, and tastes, have changed. Stone's sequel, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," is likely to nab this weekend's top box office slot. No matter that critics have not exactly been kind to the film since its Cannes opening in May, after which Stone was said to have headed back into the edit room in search of a new cut. What he found there should be enough to dispatch the animated owls of "Legend of the Guardians" and secure Stone his first #1 opener since 1999's "Any Given Sunday."
Here's what the critics are saying:
The Story "Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas, sly and purry as ever) walks away from jail in the movie's 2001 opening scene, brick-like cellphone in hand. Seven years pass and he's back on top, with a new book ('Is Greed Good?') and untold millions. But the money can't buy what he wants: a relationship with his estranged daughter Winnie (Carey Mulligan). She lives with her boyfriend Jake (Shia LaBeouf), an up-and-coming young trader who hears Gekko speak and is enamored by his message. Drawn into Gekko's orbit — the older man hopes to use the younger as a conduit to Winnie — Jake gets caught up in the world of deal making, not necessarily to his benefit." — Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times
The Performances "Douglas is terrific, and he's joined by fellow heavyweights Josh Brolin, Eli Wallach and Frank Langella as rival financial titans. But the movie belongs to LaBeouf. Stone loves to show us the convoluted world through the lens of a young striver still clinging to antiquated ideals. LaBeouf's shark-in-training manages to keep all of the balls in the air with a winning performance that balances moral wranglings with love and ambition." — Clint O'Connor, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Director "Using an ingeniously layered visual design, split screens and sinuous mobile cameras that move through scenes like the human sharks who inhabit them, Stone here proves that he's still a director of bold muscularity. If some of his references hit too squarely on the nose — the shot of a child's soap bubble standing in for the metaphoric financial version, for example, or the vaguely fascist corporate insignia of a malign CEO played by Josh Brolin — Stone has a knack for pacing, detail and atmosphere that manages to feel authentic and fancifully allegorical at the same time." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
The Dissenters "This time around, the team does show occasional flourishes of the original's snap and urgency. However, it's nearly impossible to stay invested in a narrative stuffed with pliable characters whose actions fail to stay true to their natures. That's particularly glaring in a climax that ties everything up with a hunky-doryness that should have been liquidated faster than a risky hedge fund." — Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News
The Final Word "The movie's punch-drunk energy can't quite make up for what, without giving away any plot points, I can only describe as a third-act lapse into maudlin sentimentality. By the film's last frame, Gordon Gekko has gone from evil to sympathetic to ambiguous so many times that we no longer trust any twist involving him. But thanks in no small part to Michael Douglas' evident joy in playing the role, Gekko has now become one of those characters, like 'The Big Lebowski' 's Dude, who no longer needs a movie to sustain him. Oliver Stone's account of the events of 2008 is as unsubtle in its charms as Gordon Gekko himself. But like Gekko, the film also feels urgent and strangely necessary." — Dana Stevens, Slate
Check out everything we've got on "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
'Wall Street' Brings In Box-Office Bucks
'Money Never Sleeps' takes $7 million in theaters on Friday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Michael Douglas and Shia LaBeouf in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps"
Photo: 20th Century Fox
The Box-Office Top Five
#1 "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" ($7 million)
#2 "The Town" ($5 million)
#3 "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" ($4.6 million)
#4 "Easy A" ($3.6 million)
#5 "You Again" ($2.8 million)
Proving money still talks — at least, to moviegoers — "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" took the top spot at the Friday box office. Michael Douglas' return as Gordon Gekko, 23 years after he powered the cautionary money, power and success tale of the original "Wall Street," rang up $7 million in ticket sales.
Another cash-grabbing flick, "The Town," also scored big with audiences, landing in the second-place slot. The film, which follows vault looters (Ben Affleck), ladies (Blake Lively and Rebecca Hall) and the law (Jon Hamm) as they get caught up in the nefarious Boston bank-robbing underworld, made $5 million. The haul brings the movie's total estimated tally to just over $38 million since its debut last Friday.
The Friday top five wasn't all about money grubbing and shady ethics. The animated feature "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" debuted in third place. Adapted from the children's book series by author Kathryn Lasky, and boasting voice-over performances from Helen Mirren and Geoffrey Rush, the kid-friendly fantasy flick raked in an estimated $4.6 million.
The high-school comedy "Easy A" continued to turn in good marks at the box office. Featuring a cast of young Hollywood names, including Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Amanda Bynes, the flick pulled in $3.6 million during its second Friday on screens.
Rounding out the top five with a tale of post-high school awkwardness is "You Again." Audiences plunked down $2.8 million to catch Kristen Bell's turn as a successful PR professional grappling with the fact that her brother's fiancé is her onetime schoolyard nemesis.
Check out everything we've got on "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," "The Town" and "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosFirst Look: Disney Movie 'Tangled'
Here's the first look at Disney's new movie, 'Tangled.' It's the story of Princess Rapunzel who falls in love with a bandit. Mandy Moore is the voice for Rapunzel while 'Chuck' star Zachary Levi is the voice of Flynn Ryder.
Looks like a good movie to take the kids to :)
Britney Spears - Piece of Me
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Wayne Isham
- Album: Blackout
Monday, September 27, 2010
New 'Harry Potter' Trailer Shows Humor Along With Action
Footage features Harry's oddly dressed doppelgängers and Dobby the house elf.
By Eric Ditzian
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
Photo: Warner Bros.
The first trailer for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" dropped in June and kept its focus squarely on action: whirlwind spells, explosions galore and plenty of boy-wizard-vs.-Voldemort fisticuffs. The second trailer, so it seems, will add a healthy dose of whimsy to the supernatural action.
USA Today has a sneak peek at the newest trailer, which is set to arrive online early Wednesday evening (September 22), and it looks like we're going to get looks at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his oddly dressed doppelgängers, Dobby the wrinkly-faced house elf and some wacky, warped-out, elevator-based magic. There will also, of course, be plenty of action, including a creepy glimpse of Voldemort entering the tomb of Hogwarts head honcho Dumbledore.
"These are dark times," says Bill Nighy as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in the trailer, according to USA Today. "Our world has faced no greater threat than it does today. But you can't fight the war on your own, Mr. Potter. [Voldemort] is too strong."
Harry's going to have plenty of help. One of the new photos shows off Harry's magical doppelgängers (variously, hilariously dressed in oversized coats and tight-fitting tops), which help our hero flee the nefarious Death Eaters. Other pics showcase Harry casting a Patronus charm while in an elevator, Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) visiting his parents' grave, and Harry and Ron (Rupert Grint) engaged in an intense argument while Hermione looks on.
"Ron and Harry are arguing and in conflict," explained producer David Heyman. "The relationship's become frayed. The pressure is on them, and their relationship has become heightened and more intense.
"We're reaching the climax, so the relationship between the three is more intense," he added. "They're on the run, and they're not in the safe confines at Hogwarts. The pressure is on them to sort things out. It's ominous in the sense that the end is nigh."
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Les News, 092710
Is Lindsay Lohan Finally Ready For Rehab?
Baby Talks Lil Wayne's Birthday And New Album
'We pop bottles for him while he's gone,' he tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Lil Wayne
Photo: ozonemag.com
Executive Decisions: Birdman
Last year, Birdman handed over a sachet with $1 million in cash to his son Lil Wayne for his birthday. But on Monday (September 27), Wayne's 28th birthday, the #1 Stunna can't celebrate with his loved one like he wants to. Wayne is still incarcerated on Rikers Island.
"It ain't kicked in," Baby told MTV News. "My family, I like to do things for him for his birthday, you hear me? This the first time we not gonna get a chance to do that. But he is putting a new album out called I Am Not a Human Being. We pop bottles for him while he's gone."
Wayne's album landed online Monday; 10 songs are being sold digitally, and on October 12, a physical copy of the album will land at retailers. That version has 13 tracks.
"When Wayne do what he do, he takes serious pride in his work," Birdman told us in Miami last week for the kickoff of Drake's Light Dreams and Nightmares Tour. "Nothing we do is half-stepping or half-cocked. I think it's a great album. To me, he's switching back. This album has no Vocoder; he's back to raw rap. He's just rapping how he's feeling. He's a genius, so the music is always gonna be great. He wanted to put I Am Not a Human Being out to show people he's always in the building. Every album we put out, we're going to do the most. We're gonna go for it. We're never gonna come half- cocked. You expect to see a lot, you gonna get a lot. It's a great album."
Wayne has exactly 39 days left on his sentence until he comes home November 4. Birdman said he'll most likely go see his family right away.
"That's my son. I love him. You always gonna miss a loved one. At the same time, we doing what we have to do," the Cash Money CEO said. "Work hard. We all excited he's about to come home. He's happy. He wanna get out that place. That ain't no place for him to be. Everybody is energized that he's coming home. He walked the little walk. That was a left turn in our life. We wasn't expecting nothing like that."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
Related Videos'Waiting For Superman' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
We present the facts about this incisive education-themed documentary from Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim so you don't have to cram.
By Kara Warner
Students in "Waiting for Superman"
Photo: Paramount
After his last filmmaking effort, "An Inconvenient Truth," took the Oscar for Best Documentary, director Davis Guggenheim had the bar set rather high for his future projects. He seems to have met the challenge as his latest work, "Waiting for Superman," has been generating awards-show buzz and serious acclaim since it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival early this year. ("Superman" won the fest's Documentary Audience Award.)
MTV News has been following the poignant film, from its start at Sundance to the debut of the first trailer, and even logged some conversation time with Guggenheim. The arresting documentary finally arrived in theaters on Friday (September 24), and we've gathered all the facts you need to know.
First of all, what's all the fuss about? The film takes a long, hard look at the state of America's public school system, following five students in various U.S. cities who are struggling to get a quality education. It also features commentary from several leaders in the education field: philanthropist Bill Gates; Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone in Harlem, New York; and Michelle Rhee, chancellor of the Washington, D.C., public schools.
When the film traveled to Park City, Utah, in January 2010 for Sundance, it was quickly snatched up by Paramount Vantage, becoming the festival's first official sale, days before it even premiered there. "Superman" went on to win the Documentary Audience Award.
Four months later we got our eyes on the first trailer, and three months after that, MTV partnered with the Get Schooled campaign to host a screening of the film for members of various Chicago youth groups
Shortly thereafter, as part of our Fall Movie Preview, we had an insightful chat with Guggenheim about education reform, the reasons MTV viewers should care about their neighborhood schools and what the average person can do to sustain the conversation he hopes to start with this film. Leading up to the film's release, Guggenheim took the film and its important message — joined by Bill Gates and chancellor Rhee of the Washington, D.C., school district — to "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
This week, MTV News hit up the Los Angeles premiere of "Waiting for Superman" on the famed Paramount lot. There, Guggenheim celebrated with VIPs like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
"This movie has got to be a catalyst for real change," Villaraigosa said. "It's got to do for education what 'An Inconvenient Truth' did for climate change and the struggle to educate people about global warming. This is the pre-eminent challenge facing America. It is the civil-rights issue of our time. When you look at the kids in urban schools, the level with which they're dropping out and the abysmal success rate of our urban public schools."
On the lighter side of things, but still in the spirit of "Superman," we made a list of our favorite fictional schools over at the MTV Movies Blog, where Hogwarts and "Back to the Future" 's Hill Valley earned nods.
What's your opinion on the education issues raised by "Waiting for Superman"? We want to hear what you think in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Waiting for Superman."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
Related ArtistsSunday, September 26, 2010
Britney Spears' Ex-Bodyguard Must Prove Ongoing Harassment, Expert Says
Attorney Michael Bononi explains that the burden is on Fernando Flores to prove his hostile work environment.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Britney Spears
Photo: Pacific Coast News
After mounting a successful comeback and maintaining a relatively low profile in the press for the past year, Britney Spears is now dealing with another bout of disturbing claims regarding her personal life.
On Wednesday, Spears' former bodyguard, Fernando Flores, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit alleging that the singer made multiple unwelcome passes at him, exposed herself on numerous occasions and engaged in sex in front of her two young sons. A post on Spears' site denied the allegations.
The accusations are harsh, however, according to a legal expert, it's up to Flores to provide the evidence.
"What he's gonna have to show in making these allegations is that he was subjected to a hostile work environment, and it's gonna have to be hostile in two ways: one, that a reasonable person similarly situated would have been offended by the conduct and secondly that he was actually offended by the conduct," Michael Bononi, a partner at Bononi Law Group in Los Angeles, told MTV News.
Bononi, who has worked for castmembers of "Desperate Housewives," is not involved in Spears' case, though has represented both sides in sexual harassment cases. He said juries typically look for material evidence, in the form of official complaints or concerns voiced to friends, that indicates wrongdoing on the defendant's part.
"What courts and what juries look [for] is: Did he act consistently with the way you would expect someone to act who was actually offended by this type of conduct? In other words, did he make complaints? Did he tell her to stop? Did he talk to his friends and colleagues?" Bononi said. "Is there corroboration that at the time this was happening it was actually bothering him, and are people going to come forward and be able to testify that at the time this stuff was transpiring, he was talking to them about it, talking about how offended if, at all, he was?"
The suit states that Flores reported an incident in which Spears called him up to her room "for no other purpose or reason than to expose her naked or near naked body to Plaintiff." According to the suit, Flores' supervisor, Josh McMahan, shrugged off the incident, saying, "You know you liked it." Flores also apparently voiced his issues several times, but "his complaints were ignored or mocked, and no action was taken to rectify the situation."
Bononi described California's sexual harassment laws as "employee-friendly," noting that there is no cap on punitive damages. However, the onus is still on Flores to demonstrate the extent to which his experience with Spears affected him.
"That's the big hurdle that he's gonna have to get over: How offensive was this to him?" he said. "From what I've read ... if it's that she's walked around him nude a few times and similar things, I haven't read anything where she's demanding sex or anything along those lines."
Bononi also noted that as member of a superstar's security detail, Flores was likely prepped for challenging and intense situations. "As far as the salacious nature of these allegations, he's a bodyguard ... how offended was he if the conduct that he's talking about is truthful. How injured is he? It's hard to believe that he's scarred from seeing her in her room a few times."
Bononi mentioned that Spears' celebrity may work against her if she has actually crossed any boundaries. The high-profile nature of the case would likely spur others to come forward if the singer has a history of inappropriate behavior with her employees.
"The celebrity status, where it can really have an impact on these cases, is if she has engaged in similar sort of conduct with other people in the past, this provides ... an avenue for them to come forward and say, 'Look what happened to me,' " Bononi said. "The celebrity status really does encourage people to come forward that have seen some of this or have experienced similar sort of stuff in the past from Britney if she has in fact done it."
While Spears' past troubles may inform public opinion, Bononi said her previous personal issues or the fact that she makes a living touring the world, touting an ultra-sexy image, shouldn't factor into the sexual harassment case.
"There's nothing in her past that I'm aware of that has anything to do with sexual harassment of employees," Bononi said. "It should not be held against her. It makes her an easy target for these types of allegations."
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Lindsay Lohan Freed From Jail
Actress leaves prison after posting $300,000 bail.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lindsay Lohan at Beverly Hills Courthouse Friday
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
After spending less than a day in prison, Lindsay Lohan was released after posting $300,000 bail. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told The Associated Press that the actress left jail around 11:40 p.m. Friday night.
Lohan was jailed Friday morning, a week after the actress admitted to failing a court-ordered drug test. Judge Elden Fox initially denied the troubled star bail and she was immediately taken into custody following her hearing. The move was reportedly designed to keep the actress in prison until her upcoming October 22 court date and reduce the chance of an early release due to overcrowding. However, Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, later insisted her client was entitled to bail and a second judge, Patricia M. Schnegg, overturned Fox's ruling. Lohan is still due back in court next month.
TMZ reports that Lohan is required to wear a SCRAM bracelet and avoid venues where alcohol is the "chief item of sale." Lohan is familiar with the alcohol-monitoring device as she was outfitted with a SCRAM bracelet in May, which reportedly went off at an MTV Movie Awards afterparty.
After serving 13 days of a 90-day jail sentence and 23 days of court-ordered rehab, Lohan recently conceded that she was still grappling with her addiction issues.
"Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if I am asked, I am prepared to appear before judge Fox next week as a result," Lohan tweeted a week ago. "Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away over night. I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps forward every day. I am testing every single day and doing what I must do to prevent any mishaps in the future. ... This was certainly a setback for me but I am taking responsibility for my actions and I'm prepared to face the consequences."
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsKe$ha Talks VMA Garbage Bag Ensemble, Lady Gaga's Meat Suit
'It was amazing. I got to wear a garbage bag on national TV,' singer says.
By Kyle Anderson, with reporting by Kara Warner
Ke$ha
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic
Even if they didn't walk away with Moonmen, just about everybody who attended the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards exited the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles a winner. Taylor Swift started some buzz with new music, and Paramore's Hayley Williams finally got to do a live tag-team with B.o.B. Another winner in spirit? Ke$ha, whose first visit to the VMAs was a positive one.
"It was amazing. I got to wear a garbage bag on national TV," Ke$ha gushed on the red carpet at the premiere of the second season for the HBO show "Eastbound and Down." "It was fun. It was good. And I got nominated for four, and it was a dream come true just to be there."
The 23-year-old singer, who did indeed wear a dress made from garbage bags, was impressed with the level of fashion experimentation at this year's show. "It was fun. I think everybody was having fun with it," she said. However, she is not entirely sure she would be able to take the steps that Lady Gaga did with her head-turning meat-based ensemble. "I don't know if I could actually put raw meat on me," she admitted.
With the VMAs behind her, Ke$ha is working on a new album, but was mostly excited to get out and support her favorite show on television. "I don't watch TV, but this show I connect with on a really deep level," she said. "I kind of feel like I'm the female version of Danny McBride: Kind of white trash, just ready to party."
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
Related Photos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber, Nicki Minaj And More VMA Virgins
Sunday is a big night for these first-time nominees and performers.
By Kelley L. Carter
Justin Bieber
Photo: Robyn Beck/ Getty Images
Be gentle with these guys — it's their first time as nominees or performers at the MTV Video Music Awards. Here's a look at this year's VMA virgins and where you'll see them come Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Ke$ha
It was almost impossible to turn the radio on and not hear Kesha's party-happy pop track "Tik Tok" over the past year. (She also did the background vocals on Flo Rida's ubiquitous "Right Round.") The singer is up for Best New Artist, and she'll present an award Sunday. "This is such a monumental thing for me to be nominated, because it really means people do really like what I'm doing," she said.
Nicki Minaj
Lil Wayne's wig-loving protégé will perform during the VMA pre-show on Sunday, and perhaps the mixtape diva will give us a taste of her forthcoming debut album, Pink Friday. "Obviously, this is something everybody dreamed of being part of, and I'm no exception to that rule," she said. "I just feel like this is my coming-out party. This is major for an artist with no album out."
Cascada
Natalie Horler fronts this German Eurodance group, and along with DJ Manian and Yanou, the band will make their VMA debut Sunday. They'll be competing in the newly revamped Dance Music Video category. Earlier this year, it was announced that they were the second-most-downloaded dance artists of all time. Who's the most downloaded? French DJ David Guetta, which brings us to our next rookie ...
David Guetta
The French DJ is responsible for sweating up dance floors, both international and domestic, and he finally nabs his first VMA for "Sexy Chick," featuring Akon.
B.o.B
The Atlanta rapper is up for five VMAs, and he'll take the stage for the first time.
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machine's Florence Welch is bringing her funked-out, soulful vocals to the VMA stage this year, where she's up for four awards.
Jason Derülo
The pop singer feels like he already won at the VMAs. Last year, he attended the awards, but he sat in the back of the house. "This year, I'm nominated for two awards. It's incredible," said the singer, who has opened for Lady Gaga. "I've watched these awards my whole entire life, so to finally be a part of it is a dream come true. Pinch me, please." Derülo will be taking the stage with VMA house artist Deadmau5.
Justin Bieber
Bieber presented a VMA with Ke$ha at the 2009 show, but this year, he's up for Best New Artist and is set to perform.
Deadmau5
In case you're wondering, it's pronounced "dead mouse" (real name: Joel Thomas Zimmerman), and he's a Canadian house producer. He'll be working as this year's house artist.
Chelsea Handler
The comedian is the first woman to host the VMAs since 1994. Prepare for laughter beyond belief from the E! talk-show hostess.
Drake
The Toronto rapper (and Lil Wayne protégé) is up for three Moonmen; he'll also perform at the VMAs for the first time.
Robyn
Fresh off a tour with Kelis, Robyn, a Swedish pop singer, will perform with deadmau5 on Sunday at the VMAs.
Bruno Mars
Up for one VMA (along with collaborator B.o.B), Bruno Mars will also perform for the first time at the VMAs.
Who's your favorite VMA virgin? Share your thoughts in the comments!
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSaturday, September 25, 2010
'Eastbound & Down' Team Reveals What To Expect From Season Two
Kenny Powers realizes 'he might be an ass man,' Danny McBride says of his character's 'moral dilemma.'
By Kara Warner
Danny McBride
Photo: MTV News
LOS ANGELES — Well, "Eastbound & Down" fans, your wait is almost over. HBO's outrageous, irreverent comedy is back for a second season beginning Sunday, complete with Marilyn Manson's obsession and cameo bid. Kenny Powers has fled North Carolina for the comforts of a small town in Mexico, where he's joined by familiar faces and new ones.
MTV News hit up the show's Mexican fiesta-themed premiere recently to find out what this new season is all about.
"He's got a new haircut, as we can see," creator/writer/director Jody Hill said of Kenny Powers' cornrows. "He's in Mexico. There's a whole new group of characters, so all the people you knew in the first season, we've kind of wiped the slate clean and started fresh."
"I play his neighbor," "Eastbound & Down" newbie Efren Ramirez said. "And in the second season, I play the straight guy wrapped around all these character actors, and that's a good thing, because I'm always playing all the character roles," he explained (i.e. Pedro of "Napoleon Dynamite" fame) and this is finally something completely and totally different."
Actor Michael Peña filled one of those character roles, as wacky local ball club owner Sebastian Cisneros. "I play the owner of a baseball team who might be like a little bit rich, especially for Mexico standards," Peña said, but wouldn't reveal whether his character was a good guy or bad.
So why send Kenny to Mexico?
"He's a disaster wherever he goes," Hill admitted. "We figured that having him come back home [in the first season] was the lowest he could go, but in movies or westerns, the outlaws always run off to Mexico when they're trying to escape the law or run, so we figured that would be a perfect place for Kenny," Hill explained. "Seeing as how he sees himself as a guy in a western movie, like a cowboy."
From Danny McBride's perspective, his character Kenny's trouble all boils down to a familiar burden: women. Specifically, Powers learns he might be an "ass man" and not a "breast man" like he previously thought.
"Kenny this season is at a moral dilemma," McBride revealed. "He thought his whole life he was a boob man, but now he's realizing in Mexico that he might be an ass man."
The lovely lady who stirs up this controversy is Ana de la Reguera, who plays Kenny's new love interest Vida. "He gets really confused," Reguera said. "Because I have certain parts of my body that [hometown love] April doesn't have and reverse. He gets really confused."
McBride broke it down with a simple food analogy: "Sometimes you think you don't like tomatoes, and then you try one and suddenly you like tomatoes," he explained. "It happens to all of us."
What are you expecting from the new season of "Eastbound & Down"? Let us know in the comments!