Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Lady Gaga's Fragrance To Launch Spring 2012

Singer will serve as creative director alongside Haus of Gaga team in creating the scent for Coty.
By James Dinh


Lady Gaga
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

From the meat dress to the disco stick, Lady Gaga has been known to introduce her share of inventive ideas. And in spring 2012, her monsters will able to share one of her more tangible creations, her fragrance line.

According to a press release, the singer has teamed up with global beauty company Coty Inc. to release the line. As with most Gaga originals, the project will be a collaborative effort between the singer and her Haus of Gaga design family. While it was reported last month that the fragrance would be called Monster, the release did not confirm the name.

"Lady Gaga's universal appeal makes her a subject of fascination," Coty CEO Bernd Beetz explained in the release. "A force like no other, Lady Gaga is explosive, provocative and sexy, three traits which pave the way for an extraordinary fragrance experience for consumers."

Though Gaga is joining a long list of other celebrities with their own fragrances, Beetz said that the team is aiming at marking new territories with this scent. "We welcome Lady Gaga to the Coty family and look forward to breaking boundaries that will allow people to experience beauty in a different and unique way," he said.

The marketing plans for the fragrance are still in development, but Gaga's "little monsters" can expect the scent to make a splash on the scene that differs from her pop-star peers. Coty marketing exec Steve Mormoris described the forthcoming campaign for the fragrance as "unprecedented and groundbreaking" and said he hopes to create a packaging design that encompasses the singer's "artistic sensibility."   What do you think a Lady Gaga fragrance should smell like? Share your ideas in the comments.

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Russell Brand Won't Face Charges In Paparazzi Case

Prosecutors have decided to drop the case, stemming from the actor's September altercation with a photographer.
By Gil Kaufman


Russell Brand
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/ WireImage

Chivalry is not dead. Two months after Russell Brand was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for getting into a scuffle with a paparazzo who he claimed was trying to take upskirt pics of "The Tempest" actor's then-wife-to-be, singer Katy Perry, Brand learned on Wednesday that he likely will not face sanctions in the incident.

According to the Associated Press, Brand and his lawyers met with prosecutors on Wednesday in Los Angeles and city attorney spokesperson Frank Mateljan said the legal officials decided not to pursue charges.

Brand had been facing a potential misdemeanor simple battery charge in the September 17 incident, which was caught on video. The couple, on the way to Las Vegas for Perry's bachelorette party, were besieged by paparazzi in the Delta Airlines terminal and Brand was caught on tape as he swatted at a photographer and hit his camera. Brand was arrested and later released on $20,000 bail.

According to Mateljan, a prosecutor is slated to meet with the photographer involved in the altercation — who placed Brand under citizen's arrest after the scuffle — on Friday (November 19). While the prosecutor's office could still file a case against Brand after the meeting, Mateljan said "it doesn't seem likely."

Married life appears to have mellowed the once infamously out-of-control British actor. He recently told Us Weekly that his marriage to Perry is "just normal" and not what you might expect from two young stars constantly in the spotlight.

"The other day, I put a shirt on, and she went ... 'You're wearing that shirt, are you?' I thought, 'That's actually happening?' That's a thing off a sitcom," he said. "That happened in my actual life. I wasn't allowed to wear it. If she says don't wear that shirt, I don't wear it."

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Dane Cook Sizes Up New-Release Rivals Kanye West, Justin Bieber, More

Comedian drops I Did My Best - Greatest Hits the same week as new albums from Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha and a load of other megastars.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Matt Elias


Dane Cook
Photo: Getty Images

With all the hype surrounding MTV News' musical Mega-Release Week — Bieber! Kanye! Nicki! Ke$ha! Jay-Z! MCR! — you might not be aware of yet another album hitting stores this week: Dane Cook's I Did My Best - Greatest Hits.

Lucky for us, the man behind the album stopped by our office to discuss his just-released comedic stylings, as well as his thoughts on the other big albums dropping this week. So why release a greatest-hits album?

"I've been doing stand-up comedy 20 years altogether — ten years of recording tracks and club sets and arena sets," Cook explained. "So I thought it would be a great way to close out the decade, a great 'thank you' to fans to say, 'These are the high-water marks that we shared,' remaster it, make it sound great. To new fans that are always discovering me saying, 'Where do I start?,' this is really the collection of what I think are the highlight moments," he said.

And for the die-hard fans out there who already have some of those greatest hits, he included a bunch of unreleased tracks on the album as well. "There's something for everyone on there," he assured us.

Regarding his competition in the new-releases category, we asked Cook to share his thoughts on some of the big names. First up, Kanye West. "Never heard of him. What is he about?" Cook deadpanned. "Kan-J? Kanye? I'm just going to call him West. That's great. I'll definitely look him up."

With Nicki Minaj, Cook pretended that we were asking about something suggestive — "Oh, no, I'm thinking of a ménage a trois that I once had" — but then praised the talents of that "guy or girl."

What about Ke$ha and Justin Bieber? "Ke$ha is like mini-Gaga," Cook said. "I think whatever outfits Gaga doesn't end up using, she probably just gets those and spins them into hits.

"Justin Bieber is, first of all, he's adorable," he said, sincerely. "That Bieber hair that caught on for a little bit, and he enchants the little girls. That 2- to 5-year-old demographic I think is really where he's at. And he's going to have a really long career, or until they turn 8 or 9," he quipped. "As long as they stay 2 to 5, I think that kid's going to be around for a long time."

Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.

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Akon On Lady Gaga And Michael Jackson's New Albums

The singer has nothing but praise for the two artists.


Photo: MTV News

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Akon Disagrees With Will.i.am Over Michael Jackson's Posthumous Release

'These records would have come out whether he was alive or dead,' 'Kon says.
By James Dinh


Michael Jackson and Akon
Photo: Getty Images

As with many other posthumous releases, the forthcoming Michael Jackson album, Michael, is already creating controversy. After will.i.am told Entertainment Weekly that he thought it was "disrespectful" to release the collection of previously unheard material from the King of Pop, fellow collaborator Akon struck back.

'Kon, whose "Hold My Hand" collaboration with Jackson dropped on Monday as the LP's first single, insists that releasing new music is actually a way of honoring the icon.

"I think that's probably will's opinion," Akon told TMZ of the Black Eyed Peas frontman's statement. "Me personally, I think that's keeping his legacy alive, if you ask me. I don't see anything disrespectful about it. He got his people taking care of it. We all did records that we actually worked on together on the album. These records would have come out whether he was alive or dead, so I think this actually to helps keep his legacy alive. I honestly disagree with that."

The hip-hop star explained that he hopes "Hold My Hand" will reach "another level" and be properly distributed as he and the Jackson team had originally planned.

Last week, will.i.am slammed the project, suggesting that there's no honor in the upcoming release, due in stores December 14. "Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are," he told EW. "To say that what [Michael] contributed during his life wasn't enough. He just wasn't any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it's disrespectful. There's no honoring."

Not only did Akon call his sessions with MJ "amazing," but he also gushed that it was nothing short of a dream come true saying, "He was a very incredible person, very creative. That was really a dream come true on my end. I enjoyed every moment of it."

Do you agree with Akon or will.i.am on the new Michael Jackson album? Share your thoughts below!

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MTV News Extended Play: Drake

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Monday, November 29, 2010

Cher Recalls Holding Lady Gaga's Meat Purse At The VMAs

'Here, Cher, will you hold my meat purse?' singer/actress remembers Gaga asking onstage.
By Kara Warner


Cher and Lady Gaga at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Picture Group

For the Cher fans out there old enough to remember her famous "Turn Back Time" outfit, the fact that the 64-year-old is still able to rock the heck out of that very small piece of fabric stood out as one of the highlights of this year's Video Music Awards.

When MTV News caught up with the legendary diva while she promoted her new movie "Burlesque," we had to ask what inspired her attire that night.

"Well, I wear that every night in Las Vegas, so I just whipped it out. I didn't have time to think of, like, getting a costume," she explained. "So I had it and thought it would just be fun to just take off on myself, not knowing I was going to be handling the meat purse," she said, referring to Lady Gaga's now-famous meat dress and accessory. "But, you know, there's those moments you just remember [forever]," she said with a chuckle. " 'Here, Cher, will you hold my meat purse?' "

For someone who has been in the business for so long, Cher is very down-to-earth about her fame — no matter how big the freak-outs of fans (and a few journalists we watched try to contain their excitement at the "Burlesque" press day). We asked what it feels like to experience such unbridled enthusiasm and love from her fans.

"You know, I would tell you the truth, and it's going to sound so awful, but I'm kind of used to it," she said. "I've been around so long. This guy said, 'My grandmother loves you.' If somebody's grandmother loves you, they've known you for a long time," she said, adding that the fans who have known her via a grandmother or mother have more of a history with her, which translates into being totally starstruck.

What did you think of Cher pulling out the "Turn Back Time" outfit for the VMAs? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Burlesque."

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

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Cher Recalls Holding Lady Gaga's Meat Purse At The VMAs

'Here, Cher, will you hold my meat purse?' singer/actress remembers Gaga asking onstage.
By Kara Warner


Cher and Lady Gaga at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Picture Group

For the Cher fans out there old enough to remember her famous "Turn Back Time" outfit, the fact that the 64-year-old is still able to rock the heck out of that very small piece of fabric stood out as one of the highlights of this year's Video Music Awards.

When MTV News caught up with the legendary diva while she promoted her new movie "Burlesque," we had to ask what inspired her attire that night.

"Well, I wear that every night in Las Vegas, so I just whipped it out. I didn't have time to think of, like, getting a costume," she explained. "So I had it and thought it would just be fun to just take off on myself, not knowing I was going to be handling the meat purse," she said, referring to Lady Gaga's now-famous meat dress and accessory. "But, you know, there's those moments you just remember [forever]," she said with a chuckle. " 'Here, Cher, will you hold my meat purse?' "

For someone who has been in the business for so long, Cher is very down-to-earth about her fame — no matter how big the freak-outs of fans (and a few journalists we watched try to contain their excitement at the "Burlesque" press day). We asked what it feels like to experience such unbridled enthusiasm and love from her fans.

"You know, I would tell you the truth, and it's going to sound so awful, but I'm kind of used to it," she said. "I've been around so long. This guy said, 'My grandmother loves you.' If somebody's grandmother loves you, they've known you for a long time," she said, adding that the fans who have known her via a grandmother or mother have more of a history with her, which translates into being totally starstruck.

What did you think of Cher pulling out the "Turn Back Time" outfit for the VMAs? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Burlesque."

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

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'RapFix Live' With Lloyd Banks

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Nicki Minaj Uncovers Onika Miraj, Embraces Fame In 'My Time Now'

Young Money raptress records Pink Friday, sheds her alter egos as she opens up about music industry and Trinidad roots in MTV News documentary.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Nicki Minaj in "My Time Now"
Photo: MTV News & Docs

Whether you don't get her or can't get enough, it's hard to deny that it's Nicki Minaj's time to shine. And Sunday night (November 28), days after the release of her major-label debut, Pink Friday, Minaj showed viewers of her MTV News documentary, "My Time Now," what life is really like in the spotlight.

Produced by much of the same team behind Minaj's Young Money labelmate Drake's June documentary, "Better Than Good Enough," the film follows the bewigged mic-ripper as she crafts her hotly anticipated album, which dropped on Monday. The curtains are pulled back on the "Right Thru Me" lyricist's hectic lifestyle as she closes in on the November 22 drop date, giving fans a rare glimpse of the Trinidadian-born, Queens MC born Onika Miraj as she grapples with her past and faces her promising future.

Journalists from magazines such as Spin and Rolling Stone comment on the perfect storm of hype that has accompanied the Young Money femcee's debut — Team Minaj's major presence on and off the Web, the impressive list of high-profile features — maintaining that the Queens spitter needs to churn out a pretty much flop-proof album, a task that Minaj readily rises to. With her favorite dried cranberries and almonds on standby — Minaj insists on snacking on the trail-mix ingredients while recording — viewers got an intimate look at the wordsmith in the studio as she crafted Pink Friday.

Fueling the Minaj mania are her turns on the awards-show stage, including her notable appearances at the 2010 BET Awards, which sparked debate over whether the Young Money diva was lip-synching. The chatter frustrates Minaj but ultimately the drama motivates her to really turn it out at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show, where she helmed her first solo televised performance alongside will.i.am.

"I've been led down a lot of dead-end roads," Minaj says candidly about her winding journey to hip-hop stardom, recounting pre-fame gigs as a waitress, customer-service rep and office manager. However, the "Your Love" MC didn't let the roadblocks shut down her dream, and her ferocity is evident in a scene where Minaj lays down the vocals for the Eminem collabo "Roman's Revenge."

"Roman is a crazy boy who lives in me and he says the things that I don't want to say. He was born just a few months ago. I think he was born out of rage," she explains of her disorderly alter ego Roman Zolanski, who fittingly trades bars with Em's belligerent Slim Shady persona on "Revenge." "He was conceived in rage so he bashes everyone and he threatens to beat people and he's violent."

Minaj also breaks down her writing process in the scene, explaining that whatever persona she invokes — whether it's the unchecked fury of Zolanski, the saccharine cheekiness of "Barbie" or the throaty, theatrical wails of Zolanski's mother — the words come to the MC organically.

"When I write a rap, like, my brain doesn't compute, 'Now write rap.' It doesn't. You just have to let it happen and just don't second-guess yourself too much and then it gets done," she says. "To me, music is spiritual, so it moves you in a weird way that you cannot teach in school. I'll hear a beat and words just start coming to me."

The "Check It Out" spitter also sounds off about the business behind the music. In one scene, Minaj rattles off a powerful invective about what she sees as unfair double standards for women in entertainment.

"When I am assertive, I'm a bitch. When a man is assertive, he's a boss. He bossed up. No negative connotation behind bossed up. But lots of negative connotation behind being a bitch," Minaj remarks, while going off about sub-par photo shoot amenities and getting visibly frustrated about an unnamed person who refuses to return a favor to Minaj. "Donald Trump can say you're fired. Let Martha Stewart run her company the same way and be the same way. [People will say], 'F---ing old evil bitch!' But Donald Trump, he gets to hang out with young bitches and have 50 different wives and just be cool. 'Oh, Donald, we love you, Donald Trump!' "

The assertive, no-nonsense Nicki is a side of the hip-hop star fans who've been following her since her "Come Up" DVD and Beam Me Up Scotty mixtape days are familiar with. But in "My Time Now," the Barbie army gets to check out the lyricist's more vulnerable side as she journeys to Trinidad for the first time in seven years for a concert. Minaj greets family members she hasn't seen in years without all of the fussy trappings of a global celebrity, sporting dark, straight locks and a T-shirt. Minaj squeals, enveloping excited relatives in warm embraces and catches up with her kin as they all pile up onto a couch in a swanky hotel. Later, she picks up the tab for a family shopping spree as rabid fans descend upon the mall for a shot of the hip-hop Barbie.

Raised by her grandmother while her parents laid the groundwork for a better life in the U.S., Minaj gets emotional in one scene as she remembers her late elder, who died before the young Nicki scored success. She faintly nods and struggles to hold back tears as she concedes her grandmother would be proud of her achievements, before quickly picking up a mirror to salvage her makeup.

"A lot of times, when you're from the islands, your parents leave and then send for you because it's easier when they have established themselves; when they have a place to stay, when they have a job. I thought it was gonna be for a few days, it turned into two years without my mother," she says of staying behind with relatives on the island nation.

She also speaks about her father's debilitating drug addiction, which rocked the youngster's Queens household.

"When you're on crack, you can't keep a job. And when you can't keep a job, you don't have money. And when you don't have money, you steal. And you steal from your family," she says.

Ultimately, Minaj's story ends on a note of triumph, as she cruises through a Long Island neighborhood in a chauffeured Maybach and tours the home she just purchased for her mother and younger brother, who she playfully ribs as they discuss paint colors, just like any other big sister.

"I am amazed at what I've seen in this film," Minaj said in a statement. She continued, "This film is my heart & soul. The visual component to Pink Friday. My fans are the most incredible humans on this planet. Words could never translate my gratitude. Thank you for standing by me. It's our time now."

What did you think of Nicki Minaj's documentary"My Time Now"? Let us now in the comments!

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Christian Bale Excited To Star With Tom Hardy In 'Dark Knight Rises'

'He seems like he's a balls-out actor,' Bale says of the 'Inception' star.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Christian Bale
Photo: Jun Sato/WireImage

Who will Tom Hardy play in "The Dark Knight Rises"? Rumor has it the "Inception" actor is set to become a villain, though director Christopher Nolan has gone on record as saying the Riddler won't factor into his upcoming third installment of the "Batman" reboot. There's talk that Hardy would do well in the role of troubled psychologist Hugo Strange, crime lord Black Mask or gun-toting hit man Deadshot.

Whoever Hardy ends up portraying, the man he'll likely do battle against is excited for the opportunity to act with him. "I liked him in 'Inception' and I did see 'Bronson' as well," said Christian Bale — Bruce Wayne/Batman himself — in a recent interview with MTV News. "He seems like he's a balls-out actor."

When we asked Bale if he was looking forward to Hardy as an opponent, he answered, "Yeah, sounds good."

Did Bale confirm that Hardy will in fact be a villain in "The Dark Knight Rises"? Did the "opponent" part of our question breeze right by Bale? Watch the video interview and judge for yourself.

While Bale left the door slightly open to returning for a fourth "Batman" flick, he seemed fairly convinced that "The Dark Knight Rises" will be his and Nolan's final installment in the DC Comics franchise. "I think so. That's up to Chris," he said. "That was always what the discussion was. But you know, if Chris says, 'I see another story here,' then we'll be up for it. But in my mind, I'm expecting this will be it."

Of course, there's always the fanciful hope that Bale and Nolan will reunite a few decades from now for an adaptation of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," which tells the story of a 55-year-old Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to become the Caped Crusader once again.

"That maybe would not be bad," Bale laughed of the idea. "Maybe in 20 years time, but you need that break."

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Kanye West, Justin Bieber Join Tradition Of Mega-Release Weeks

This isn't the first time labels have loaded the shelves with new releases all at once.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker


Kanye West
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

The sheer volume of mainstream albums dropping this week makes our head spin like that ancient artifact, the vinyl record. Monday saw the release of Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ke$ha's Cannibal, Jay-Z's The Hits Collection Vol. 1, Lloyd Banks' Hunger for More 2 and My Chemical Romance's Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. And Friday is the big day for Justin Bieber's My Worlds Acoustic.

Many may wonder why the bigwigs of the music industry would put out such a gargantuan selection all at once. But there's a precedent for this kind of strategy. In fact, music lovers have been through this very same overload dilemma a handful of times over the last decade. Here's a look back at some of them:

September 11, 2001 became a national tragedy, though it was supposed to be a huge day for the music business. Mariah Carey's "Glitter" soundtrack, Jay-Z's Blueprint, Bob Dylan's Love and Theft, Ben Folds' Rockin' the Suburbs, Nickelback's Silver Side Up and P.O.D.'s Satellite were among the many albums that were released at the beginning of the week.

November 18, 2003 marked the start to one of the year's biggest music release weeks. The range of albums seemed to hit every demographic imaginable. Releases included Britney Spears' In the Zone, Blink-182's self-titled fifth studio album, Timbaland & Magoo's Under Construction, Part II, Christmas albums from Whitey Houston and Ashanti, compilations from Michael Jackson, Moby and Joe Satriani, and live albums/DVDs from Dave Matthews Band and Linkin Park.

Following the pattern of Thanksgiving week album releases, November 22, 2004 began another big week. Two "American Idol" winners, Fantasia and Ruben Studdard went head-to-head with Free Yourself and I Need an Angel, respectively. The shelves were also packed with U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, Gwen Stefani's solo debut Love. Angel. Music. Baby., as well as other releases from Creed, Anthrax, Evanescence, Nirvana and Jessica Simpson.

September 12, 2006 was the drop date of Justin Timberlake's second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, which produced five smash hit singles. That week John Mayer's Continuum and Bob Seger's Face the Promise were released, and both eventually went platinum. Other albums and compilations came from the Mars Volta, Papa Roach, Lionel Richie, Veruca Salt, Everclear, and the Barenaked Ladies.

On September 11, 2007 after threatening to retire from music if his album Curtis was outsold, 50 Cent came in second to Kanye West's Graduation. And though he wasn't included in the 50 Cent Challenge, Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Pirates and Poets was released the same day and sold very well. The date also marked the release of Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam, which didn't exactly pose a threat.

One of the wildest weeks of 2009's album drop calendar was easily that of November 16. Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster, Justin Bieber's My World, Leona Lewis' Echo, OneRepublic's Waking Up, Kris Allen's self-titled debut, Norah Jones' The Fall, and compilations from both Janet Jackson and Fall Out Boy were some of the new additions to the music scene.

Which new albums are you buying this week? Talk about it in the comments!

Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.

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Rihanna Opens American Music Awards With Island Flavor

Loud singer belts 'Love the Way You Lie Part II,' 'What's My Name?' and 'Only Girl in the World,' in nine-minute long set.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Rihanna performs at the American Music Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/DCP

Days after dropping her fifth disc, Loud, Rihanna made a flamboyant statement at the American Music Awards on Sunday night (November 21).

Although the Barbadian singer, who was also nominated for Favorite Female Artist, recently admitted to MTV News that kicking off the show "is a lot of pressure," the flame-haired songstress handled awards-show opening duties with aplomb and her typical sassy energy.

The singer opened the performance a cappella with "Love the Way You Lie Part II," perched on a stylized tree hovering above a field of sable-colored blades of grass. After plummeting from the "tree," which was actually a glowing spiked set piece, she emerged from plumes of fog and busted into "What's My Name?" A lightning-quick costume change revealed her in a black-and-white bra top and boy shorts, her red hair twisted into tight curls as she gyrated to the beat of the calypso-tinged jam. She belted the track solo until dancers in fringed skirts invaded the stage for a dancehall--themed breakdown.

Rihanna then kicked up the island theme, as drummers pounded away and more dancers rocking tribal-themed garb hit the stage for "Only Girl in the World." The drummers encircled the Ri and the strobe lights kicked on as she rocked the bridge, jamming alongside the musicians with sultry abandon. Flames shot up from the back of the set as about a dozen dancers helped her wrap up the high-energy, cross-cultural performance. All the characters left the stage to allow Rihanna to return to the large spiky set-piece and end as she began, crooning the final notes solo. The star-packed audience rose for a standing ovation.

While Rihanna is still in her early twenties, the songbird is five albums deep into her superstar career. Even with a towering stack of hits behind her the Loud singer has said she's amped to unleash her latest effort, which she pegs as a collection of tracks that really sum up what she's all about.

"I can't believe it's the fifth album already," she told the BBC in October. "That's insane to think about. ... I've never been this excited about anything I've done creatively, and this is just the perfect Rihanna album: Every song is tailored to me."

She also wanted the record to reflect her signature style, not just crank out standard-issue pop jams.

"I wanted songs that were all Rihanna songs that nobody else could do. I didn't want the generic pop record that Ke$ha or Lady Gaga or Katy Perry could just do and it'll work. I wanted a song, or songs, that were Rihanna songs, that only I could do, had that little West Indian vibe to it, had that certain tone, a certain sass and a certain energy."

What did you think of Rihanna's performance at the AMAs? Let us know in the comments!

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'Twilight Saga: Eclipse' DVD -- Watch An Exclusive Clip Here!

We have a preview of the 'tent scene,' including hilarious commentary by Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
By Kara Warner


Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart in "Eclipse"
Photo: Summit Entertainment

All right Twilighters, have we got a Thanksgiving treat for you! While "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" DVD doesn't come out until December 4, MTV News is delighted to present an exclusive clip from the highly anticipated release — complete with commentary from Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart!

This isn't just any clip either. Summit has kindly bestowed upon us a juicy little snippet from the fan favorite "tent scene."

In this clip, fans get to see the heated exchange between Edward (Pattinson) and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) as they discuss how Jacob will have to get into a sleeping bag with Bella (Stewart) in order to keep her warm and save her from freezing to death. Edward, of course, is not at all pleased with Jacob getting anywhere near Bella, but he must concede for Bella's sake. Jacob, taking advantage of the situation, revels in the fact that his warmer-than-normal body temperature means he can do for Bella what Edward can't.

The scene itself offers plenty of entertainment, but it's Pattinson and Stewart's hilarious voiceover commentary about the scene that really sells it.

"Slurp your coffee a little bit more," we hear Stewart say to Pattinson. "That's what the fans want."

"It's not coffee," Pattinson responds. "It's an Arnold Palmer," he says, attempting to pronounce it with an American accent.

"You're drinking an Arnold Palmer?" Stewart asks, sounding amused. "Having a little lemonade and iced tea?"

Meanwhile, Jacob has just crawled into Bella's sleeping bag, which draws Stewart and Pattinson back to the clip.

"God, he's so gross, so brazen!" Pattinson says of Lautner's werewolf. "I really don't like Jacob."

"Aww," Stewart says.

"Look at him and his tattoo and stuff. Ugh," Pattinson mock scoffs.

"He's just young and overzealous," Stewart says defending the young wolf.

"He's not!" Pattinson insists. "He does it on purpose. He's looking at me when he's saying this stuff."

"Yeah, that is weird," Stewart agrees.

"What is wrong with him? He's like, 'I don't even care about her, I just want to,' " Pattinson trails off.

"Look at him cradling!" Stewart points out, which provokes a burst of laughter from Pattinson. "His little head nooked in there," she adds.

"You look like you're milking him," Pattinson says as both "Twilight" actors break out laughing.

A terrific tease, and if that little sneak peek doesn't make you want to pre-order that DVD now, we don't know what will.

What do you think about the clip? Stewart and Pattinson's commentary? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Eclipse."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

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Lindsay Lohan's Part In 'Inferno' Might Be Recast

'She is still our number one choice [but] we do have a Plan B,' director admits.
By Eric Ditzian


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After months of sticking by Lindsay Lohan through her multiple stays in prison and in-patient drug treatment centers, the director of the upcoming film "Inferno" has opened the door to recasting her starring role.

Director Matthew Wilder has for the first time suggested Lohan might not play the part of X-rated film star Linda Lovelace in the biopic. "You know we have been through a lot with this project, and although she is still our number one choice — we do have a Plan B if she cannot film 'Inferno,' " he told Radar Online.

Not only has Wilder indicated that Lohan could lose her job, but he admitted to communicating with other actresses about taking on the role. "And actually we have had a great response from other people who really want the part, too," he said.

Filmmakers had previously planned to shoot "Inferno" in Louisiana following Lohan's completion of her initial imprisonment and drug-treatment stay. After a positive drug test in September, though, the 24-year-old "Mean Girls" star landed back in rehab. She has since completed a stint at the Betty Ford Center and has entered a facility in the Los Angeles area.

Wilder had been unwavering in his support up until now, even as he admitted frustration with Lohan's behavior. "I understand people's exasperation," he told MTV News in September. "I share it. But there is a tremendous gift underneath all the obvious baggage."

The director's comments to Radar Online, however, mark the first indication that he's willing to go forward without his controversial and attention-grabbing star.

"[W]e will wait until Lindsay has fulfilled all of her rehab and court obligations to see if she will be able to take her place as we had originally planned," Wilder said.

Do think another actress should be hired to star in 'Inferno'? Tell us in the comments.

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Katy Perry Sets Off 'Firework' At AMAs

Singer sparkles during-high energy American Music Awards set on Sunday.
By James Dinh


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Katy Perry has already revealed her inspiration for her latest single, "Firework." But the pop star took the track a step further during a high-energy performance that included sparklers at the American Music Awards on Sunday (November 21).

As the number began, a children's choir crooned the chorus of the empowering tune. It was Perry, however, who really made an entrance, descending from a star suspended from the ceiling. Dressed in a furry red dress (one she later ripped off to reveal another ensemble), the "Teenage Dream" singer walked to the front of the stage as the choir dispersed and backup dancers joined her onstage. Meanwhile, backdrop screens showed a slew of fireworks as Perry's dancers shot sparklers through handheld gadgets.

The pop star ended the visual light-fest on a high note, singing the last few notes of "Firework" while her dancers lifted her high up in the air. Perry is also nominated in multiple AMA categories, including Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Album and Artist of the Year.

The newly married Mrs. Brand teased the performance via Twitter a few days ago, writing, "Just finished AMA rehearsal... I am so excited about this remix performance. It's going to be a mixture of adorable & gorgeous. #AMA'S."

Perry spoke to MTV News about writing the inspirational track, her third single from Teenage Dream. "I think that's why I wrote it, is because I really believe in people and I believe that people have a spark to be a firework," she said. "It's just up to them, and a lot of times it's only us that's standing in the way of reaching our goals, fulfilling our destinies, being the best version of who we possibly can be, so that's why I wrote it."

What did you think of Katy's sparkling performance? Share your thoughts below!

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Emma Stone Is The Actress We're Most Thankful For In 2010

With winning turn in 'Easy A,' 'Spider-Man' casting and 'SNL' hosting gig, the 22-year-old has had quite a year.
By Eric Ditzian


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As MTV News' Thankful Week draws to a close, we begin to cast our gaze away from the big screen and towards tables soon to be the scene of turkey-crazed feasts. But we have one last honor to bestow: the actress we're most thankful for in 2010.

The winner is none other than Emma Stone, a move that completes a nifty "Spider-Man" double win, as we also honored Andrew Garfield — who's stepping into the role of Peter Parker — as the actor we're most thankful for this year. Stone won the part of Gwen Stacy in October, capping a stellar year for the 22-year-old.

From the top-notch teenage rom-com "Easy A" to her "Saturday Night Live" hosting gig to the opportunity to shoot flicks opposite the likes of Steve Carell ("Crazy, Stupid, Love") and Justin Timberlake ("Friends With Benefits"), Stone was already having a great 2010. Then "Spider-Man" director Marc Webb came calling. Her life is never going to be the same — and she couldn't be more excited.

The always-energetic actress called up MTV News in the midst of "Spider-Man" preproduction to talk about what a surreal year it's been and how she's dealing with the pressures of taking on the iconic Marvel series.

MTV: Thanks for calling up to chat.

Emma Stone: Thank you for having me!

MTV: Well, you're going to be very excited in a second.

Stone: What is it? What's it going to be? You like how I'm excited at the mere mention that I'm going to be excited?

MTV: Uh-oh, I really have to come through now. Look out your window — there's a blimp with your face on it!

Stone: Oh my god, it's so beautiful, I'm looking right now! You wanna know what's really insane about that? I actually pulled back the curtain and looked at the sky.

MTV: I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can tell you that every year we honor various people we're thankful for, and this year you're the woman we're most thankful for.

Stone: Oh my god, shut up! Get out of here! I prepared a 10-minute speech, is that OK?

MTV: I'm afraid we don't have enough time. You know, the man we're most thankful for this year is your "Spider-Man" co-star Andrew Garfield.

Stone: Hey, I know that guy! We've met. He's the worst!

MTV: I won't tell him you said that. It has been quite a year for you. "Easy A" gets a great reaction, you're shooting movies with people like Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling, you host "Saturday Night Live," and then you land "Spider-Man." Does 2010 feel like a landmark year?

Stone: It feels kind of scary saying this because that means it's only downhill, but it's been the best year of my life. Not just with how lucky I've been work-wise, but with my family and friends. I'm totally terrified for 2011. I have such a disaster mentality, it's not even funny.

MTV: Which raises the question, are you ready for something as big as "Spider-Man"? Can you ever be ready for something like that?

Stone: The way I have to approach it, and I think Andrew would agree, is just like any other movie. You're going to put the same amount of focus into this that you would with anything. It just happens to be an exponentially bigger budget. So there's that. It'll probably feel different when we start to do press, but we won't have to deal with that for another year and a half. And there are harnesses I'm going to have to use in this one. That's the only difference: just the harnesses.

MTV: Seriously, though, it's been quite a year for you with onscreen love interests. The women in the office are jealous — Penn Badgley, Timberlake, Gosling, Garfield. You're a lucky woman ...

Stone: What can I say? You cannot compare them. They are so wonderful in their own ways. Again, it's been an amazing year.

MTV: Has there been one surreal point in particular that kind of encapsulates 2010 for you?

Stone: Hosting "Saturday Night Live." That's always been my ultimate dream. That moment before you come out those doors when Don Pardo says your name and you're standing there ... I had never let myself imagine what that would feel like. That moment when you walk through those doors was probably the most surreal moment, not just of this year, but ever.

MTV: So you guys are in rehearsals for "Spider-Man," right? What is that process like at this point?

Stone: Today I went and did hair tests, because I have blonde hair now since Gwen has blonde hair. My natural hair is blonde, so it's kind of nice. I looked in the mirror and said, "Oh my god, it's me again, it's been so long!" We're finalizing the visual stuff. And I think we'll start actually rehearsing, because we start shooting in two weeks. Andrew and I went and learned about science yesterday. Gwen really likes science, so we learned about science. I was homeschooled, so I never went to chemistry class in a traditional setting like Gwen is into. That was really beneficial.

MTV: There seemed to be so much competition for the role of Gwen Stacy. Do you ever think, "Why me?" What do you think won you the part?

Stone: I ask myself that question every day. I have no f---ing idea. It's the most amazing idea, I can't even tell you. I don't think I ever will figure out how it happened. It's been mind-blowing. I know things will eventually change, so I'm just trying to avoid thinking about it and just enjoy it while it's happening. Ugh, what am I even saying? Don't write any of that down!

Thanksgiving is a time for taking stock, expressing gratitude and, most importantly, overeating. We at MTV News have been gorging all year at movie theaters, so it's about time we looked back and gave thanks to our favorite actors and filmmakers of 2010. Enjoy exclusive interviews with our winners all week long.

Check out everything we've got on "Spider-Man."

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

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Kanye West Makes Fantasy Real With Secret NYC Show

Nicki Minaj, Justin Vernon, Teyana Taylor join 'Ye at Bowery Ballroom to celebrate album release.
By Jayson Rodriguez


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NEW YORK — Kanye West is nothing if not a showman, and on Tuesday, the rapper celebrated the release of his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, with a performance that was as daring and dashing as it was fraught with traces of the petulant MC of the past.

Shortly after midnight, West took to the stage at the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan accompanied by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and femcee/singer Teyana Taylor.

The trio launched into "Dark Fantasy," the spirited opening number of 'Ye's new set.

Sporting a skin-tight dress, Taylor admirably belted out the chorus to the track and stuck around to ride shotgun with the G.O.O.D Music chief.

"New York City, make some noise," West told the gathering crowd after the opening selections. "Today, I'm gonna do My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."

From there, West breezed through "Gorgeous," "Power" and "All of the Lights," the latter of which was a rumbling effort.

Nicki Minaj joined Yeezy on stage for some album-release unity when the DJ spun "Monster," sans Jay-Z.

Rick Ross arrived onstage for the Bink-produced "Devil in a New Dress."

When West teased the first few chords of "Runaway," the crowd — which included Diddy, music executives Lyor Cohen and Sylvia Rhone, ?uestlove, comedian Aziz Ansari and Selita Ebanks — erupted with approval.

The dramatic rendition was easily the night's highlight and featured artist Pusha T looked possessed on the microphone. Meanwhile, West was like a mad scientist pounding away on his MPC machine, creating musical backdrops to match almost each song.

After over an hour of performing, Yeezy closed the proceedings with a stirring, slowed-down rendition of the song "Lost in the World," the song he's slated to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.

He reappeared on stage shortly after for an encore and powered through brief versions of "Christian Dior Denim Flow" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing."

Although he finished with "Good Life," it may have been the defiance of "Can't Tell Me Nothing" that stuck with 'Ye after the performance, when he spoke to the crowd.

"As you know, it's been an extremely hard year for me," he began. "But getting back to music, G.O.O.D. Fridays, and the album ... I never thought I'd say this, I wanna thank the magazines for perfect scores across the board. I always felt like I could do anything.

"To do 100,000 digitally," Ye continued, remarking on his first day tally in sales from Monday. "And slated to do 600,000 the first week. I'm not here to do mother----ing politics. I'm here to make music. I'm not here to talk in no interviews; no one ask me any stupid f---ing questions."

Open the floodgates! It's Mega-Release Week, with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and Lloyd Banks all dropping new albums. Stick with MTV News for everything you need to know about the brand-new music.

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