The reviews are in, and they're not all that kind. Over the last few days, leading up to the June 28 debut of Anger Management (FX, Thursday, 9 p.m. ET), TV critics have been skewering Charlie Sheen and the comeback vehicle he's riding in on.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Swedish House Mafia And Usher Bring Ibiza To Atlanta
'We'd rather work with someone we respect than just a big name,' Angello tells MTV News of SHM's two Looking 4 Myself tracks.
By Akshay Bhansali
<P>With the release of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a>'s seventh studio album, <a href="/news/articles/1686990/usher-looking-4-myself-evolution.jhtml"><i>Looking 4 Myself,</i></a> the veteran R&B star reveals a personal evolution that fittingly corresponds with today's pop-music appetite. In addition to the sumptuous soul one expects from Mr. Raymond, perfectly exhibited on songs like "Lessons for the Lover" and "Dive," it's evident that Ursh has a serious love of dance music. And after his euphoric collaboration on <a href="/news/articles/1670301/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml">"Without You"</a> with EDM crossover star David Guetta, dance-music fans should be elated to find that in his three-year journey of discovery for <i>Looking,</i> Ursh worked with some of the biggest names in EDM.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Swedish House Mafia Produce 'Numb & Euphoria' For Usher" id="vid:791038" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>Before the album's release, fans were treated to the first single with producer Diplo, underscoring his versatility yet again in the <a href="/news/articles/1682000/climax-usher-diplo.jhtml">soft-synthy "Climax."</a></P><P>Of course, the revelation that Mr. Raymond would be putting out a double dose of Swedish House Mafia productions, "Numb" and album closer "Euphoria," was big news, too. Alesso appears in the production credits with <a href="/news/articles/1660513/swedish-house-mafia-masquerade-hotel.jhtml">Axwell</a>, <a href="/news/articles/1681804/miami-music-week-size-records-steve-angello.jhtml">Steve Angello</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1678633/swedish-house-mafia-sebastian-ingrosso-alesso.jhtml">Sebastian Ingrosso</a> on "Numb," which has a lighter, simpler beat than one typically expects from the Swedes. This is certainly in contrast to the whopping banger "Euphoria," which won't need too much retooling before being added to a SHM set.</P><P>MTV News caught up with Angello this weekend at Las Vegas dance-music mecca XS Nightclub, where he revealed just how these two gems came to be.</P><P>"We did the [2010 American Music Awards performance] with Usher," Angello said. "And then he came to hang out with us in Ibiza. [After that] we were in Atlanta and we were all working together for five days. And then we brainstormed and wrote the records from start to finish."</P><P>As Swedish House Mafia fans are well aware, the holy trinity of house are extremely selective about whom they work with. But the chance to work with a time-tested R&B legend they respect was an opportunity they relished.</P><P>"He's always been a great artist," Angello continued. "He always knows what he wants. Good collaboration, all in all. For us, we'd rather work with someone that we respect than to just work with a big name. It was the same with Pharrell [Williams, on <a href="/news/articles/1643772/pharrell-williams-calls-swedish-house-mafia-necessary-rock-stars.jhtml">SHM's "One (Your Name)"</a>] and Tinie Tempah [on <a href="/news/articles/1647200/axwell-hes-hyped-play-new-yorks-electric-zoo-fest.jhtml">"Miami 2 Ibiza"</a>]."</P><P>While Angello reminded us that "Numb" and "Euphoria" are Usher records, not Swedish House Mafia joints, they ought to hold you SHM fans over until Ax, Seb and Steve deliver their upcoming Australia-inspired <a href="/news/articles/1682265/swedish-house-mafia-single-australia.jhtml">"Emotional" single</a>, which is almost complete.</p>
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Britney Spears, Demi Lovato Will Bring 'Serious Wisdom' to 'X Factor'
MTV News talks to 'So You Think You Can Dance' cast about Fox's decision to enlist the two pop stars for the reality singing show.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P><b>NEW YORK</b> — As the fall TV season continues to make news, Fox has had the most buzz thanks to the <a href="/news/articles/1685004/demi-lovato-x-factor-judge.jhtml">news that Demi Lovato</a> and <a href="/news/articles/1684879/britney-spears-x-factor-deal-judge.jhtml">Britney Spears will sit down</a> beside Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid as female judges on "The X Factor," replacing Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul.</P><P>On Monday (May 14), as talent from many of the network's leading shows lined up to talk to the press at the Fox event, what everyone really wanted to know was how these two artists might fit on the reality competition show.</P><P>Given that both have made names for themselves thanks to their own unique charms as pop stars, some of the more seasoned network vets offered up some sage advice for the reality show newbies. MTV News chatted with the folks of "So You Think You Can Dance," in the hours before the presentation where they were confirmed, to get their sage advice for Brit and Demi.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'So You Think You Can Dance' Cast Weigh In On Britney Spears, Demi Lovato For 'X Factor'" id="vid:768829" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>"You know, I don't have any advice for those ladies," "SYTYCD" host Cat Deeley explained. "What I do like about it though is they will be able to absolutely impart some serious wisdom. I love the idea that they've been in the business for so long and since being kids and so quite often they've had successes and they've had failures on things.</P><P>"And I think the most important thing is the mistakes we make," she added. "You learn so much from mistakes that you make and I think they'll be able to impart their wisdom to the new kids coming through. I think it's a great booking."</P><P>Judge Mary Murphy seemed excited by the chance to run into the girls at Fox-related events, and even shared that she'd love to see dancer Britney make an appearance on her show as well.</P><P>"So she would be a good [guest] too if she wanted to pop on over, but I think she's going to be a busy young woman with everything she has going on," she said. "I think we'll tune in to find out what the heck she's gonna say!" she said, going on to share some judging advice. "Just try to speak from the heart and you can't go wrong."</P><P>While Murphy and Deeley focused on the positive when it comes to their highly publicized judging spots, Nigel Lythgoe wondered if the singers (Britney, 30, and Demi, 19) might be too young for a mentor-type position.</P><P>"Well they've got to look on it as a brand-new show, to be frank. I don't think they need to look at the first season. I think they've got to be honest as they can be," he said of coming in for season two. "They're both artists and artists will always couch any criticism because they know that they've been criticized, so they've got to ignore that.</P><P>"They've got to be as honest as they can be with their contestants and just inspire them to be better," he said, before sharing his one hesitation about them.</P><P>"My only reservation is they're both young and I do think that mentors should be of an age," he added, joking he fears it might put older experts, like him, out of a job. "I do think mentors have had so much experience before they mentor. At the same time, both of these young ladies have had incredible personal experience and been through so much in their own lives that hopefully they can bring that to the party too. But at the end of the day, they are going to take newcomers and literally push them through a reality television competition. It's tough."</P><P><i>Do you think Demi Lovato and Britney Spears will make good judges on "The X Factor"? Leave your comment below!</i></p>
Related ArtistsFriday, June 29, 2012
Adele Is Pregnant
Superstar singer and boyfriend Simon Konecki expecting their first child.
By John Mitchell
Adele
Photo: Getty Images
Singing sensation Adele announced Friday (June 29) that she is pregnant with her first child.
The Grammy-winning vocal powerhouse, 24, whose blockbuster album, 21, detailed the tumultuous end to her last relationship, is expecting a child with her boyfriend, 36-year-old Simon Konecki, a former financier and co-founder of the U.K. bottled-water company Life Water.
"I'm delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together," Adele wrote in a blog post titled "I've Got Some News" on her website. "I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we're over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time. Yours always, Adele xx"
The happy news comes after years of troubled romantic relationships, which Adele has famously committed to song. Tracks like "Someone Like You" and the Grammy-winning "Rolling in the Deep" from her blockbuster album 21 dealt deeply and explicitly with her breakup from her last boyfriend.
Konecki also heads Life Water's charity, Drop4Drop, which brings clean water to developing countries. He has been married before, and after reports circulated earlier this year that he was still married when he and Adele began seeing each other, the singer was forced to address the rumors, writing on her website (via People), "Contrary to reports and headlines in the press today, Simon is divorced and has been for 4 years."
21 has sold 9.3 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Rolling Stone, making the set the biggest-selling record since Usher's 2004 album Confessions. With the exception of her well-received performance at this year's Grammy Awards, Adele has been taking it easy as she continues to recover from surgery related to a vocal cord hemorrhage.
Share your well-wishes for Adele in the comments!
Britney Spears To Get New 'Glee' Tribute Episode
Fox comedy will also move to Thursday, like 'X Factor,' where Brit has signed on to judge.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>After drawing <a href="/news/articles/1648982/britney-spears-glee-episode-draws-record-setting-ratings.jhtml">record ratings the first time around, "Glee"</a> has announced plans to pay homage to <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> ... one more time. The news comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Spears will join the "X Factor" as judge, when the competition show returns to Fox this fall on Thursday nights. (Glee also moves to Thursdays for season four.)</P><P>While Brit appeared in the September 2010 tribute episode, which used her impressive collection of hits, the 2012 tribute episode will instead focus on her "Glee" namesake, Brittany S. Pierce (played by Heather Morris), without any appearances from Spears. <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/15/glee-scoop-second-britney-tribute-exclusive" target="_blank">EW.com</a> reports that the new episode will be the second in the show's fourth season, returning in the fall.</P><P>The Spears-centric episode will feature eight of her songs, and a source revealed that Fox is excited to have Spears joining the network on "X Factor" and that the "Glee" ep is partly a reflection of that.</P><P>Spears was on hand Monday at the Fox Upfront presentation in New York City, where she appeared alongside fellow <a href="/news/articles/1685057/demi-lovato-britney-spears-x-factor.jhtml">"X Factor" newbie Demi Lovato</a>, as well as returning judges L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell. At the event, the judges and host of "So You Think You Can Dance" weighed in on the <a href="/news/articles/1685066/britney-spears-demi-lovato-x-factor.jhtml">ladies joining the show</a>.</P><P>"I don't have any advice for those ladies," "SYTYCD" host Cat Deeley told MTV News. "What I do like about it though is they will be able to absolutely impart some serious wisdom. I love the idea that they've been in the business for so long and since being kids, and so quite often they've had successes and they've had failures on things.</P><P>"And I think the most important thing is the mistakes we make," she added. "You learn so much from mistakes that you make and I think they'll be able to impart their wisdom to the new kids coming through. I think it's a great booking."</P><P><i>Are you excited for another Britney tribute episode on "Glee"? Tell us what songs you want to hear in the comments section!</i></p>
Related ArtistsUsher - Climax
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- Label: RCA Records
- Director: Sam Pilling
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Take It Off! 20 Stars Who Have Played Strippers
As the hot men of Magic Mike shed their clothes in theaters on June 29, check out stars who have stripped down before them on screen
Weekend Movies: See 'Magic Mike' or 'Ted'?
From the male-stripper movie Magic Mike to the raunchy Ted, get the scoop on what's playing in theaters.
Britney Spears - I Wanna Go (Desi Hits!: Remix)
I Wanna Go (Desi Hits!: Remix)
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive
- Director:
- Album: Loco de Amor
Brittany Lee Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Around the Web?
Take a timeout this Thursday for some afternoon reading: What do you do when you don’t look like your kids? ? Today Moms Germany bans circumcisions ? Times of Israel Remembering Nora Ephron: her thoughts on children and pregnancy ? TheBump.com Is it ever okay to bribe your kids? ? BabyCenter.com The benefits of spoiling [...]
EXCLUSIVE! See Victoria Justice in New 'Fun Size' Trailer
In the upcoming comedy Fun Size, Victoria Justice plays a teenage girl who's not too pleased to be stuck babysitting her kid brother on Halloween -- especially since she's been invited to the biggest party of the year.
Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers
'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll
<P>You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.</P><P>In early February, reports began circulating that <a href="/news/articles/1631297/mary-j-blige-records-led-zeppelins-stairway-heaven.jhtml">Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven,"</a> working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her <i>Stronger With Each Tear</i> album, due Monday.</P><P></p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float:left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:491065" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D491065" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div><p></P><P>But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering <i>another</i> Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the <i>Essence</i> Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.</P><P>"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."</P><P>Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.</P><P>"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.</p>
Related ArtistsKim Kardashian, Beyonce Bond At Watch The Throne Concert
Kanye West and Jay-Z's lady loves look chummy while dancing together at Birmingham, England, show.
By Jocelyn Vena
<P>Kim Kardashian and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> got chummy while watching their men perform at a <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/west_kanye/artist.jhtml">Kanye West</a>/ <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> gig in Birmingham, England, on Friday.</P><P>The women were <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/23/beyonce-kim-kardashian-hang-kanye-west-show">photographed</a> giggling with one another among the <i>Watch the Throne</i> tour concertgoers. <a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kim-kardashian-dances-with-beyonce-at-kanye-west-and-jay-zs-concert-2012236#ixzz1yoZVf9sE" target="_blank">Usmagazine.com</a> reports that the ladies, dressed rather casually, had a full-on ladies' night. "Kim and Beyoncé were dancing all night!" a source said. "They even went into the mosh pit! It was the most hectic thing ever!"</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="'Kim Is So Happy' With Kanye West, Khloe Kardashian Says" id="vid:768812" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>In another photo taken Friday night, Kim looked like she was singing along while Queen B rested her head on the reality star's shoulder. It's the first time Jay and Yeezy's lady loves have been photographed together. There had been previous reports that B was shunning K even though Kim had been scrambling to make a connection to the pop star. A source adds that it was just a rumor. "Kim and Beyoncé have always been cool," the insider said. "Beyoncé and Jay love Kim and think she's a good match for Kanye."</P><P>On Sunday night, the second half of <a href="/news/articles/1688065/kim-kardashian-oprah-kanye-west-dating.jhtml">Oprah Winfrey's interview</a> with the Kardashian family aired. In this installment Kim opened up about being friends with the rapper for years before they took a chance on love.</P><P>"We met maybe almost a decade ago. I've known him for a really long time — we've been friends for like six or seven years — so it's very comforting to have someone that knows everything about you that respects you, understands, has gone through similar things," the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star said. "I can really relate to his mother passing, he can really relate to my father passing. I mean, there's so many similarities in our life that I feel like I'm at a really happy, good space.</P><P>"I don't know why it took so long for us to kind of get together," she added. "But I think I needed to go through all my experiences and some that he's gone through."</P><P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a></p>
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Molly Sims Names Son Brooks Alan
After welcoming their first child on June 19, Molly Sims and husband Scott Stuber have finally settled on a name for their son: Brooks Alan, a source confirms to PEOPLE.
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Brian Austin Green Kisses Megan Fox's Baby Bump!
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green get romantic in Hawaii! Check out more pics of Hollywood's tightest twosomes
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps
Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery
<P>On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.</P><P>The albums featured in the new series are the <a href="/music/artist/rolling_stones/artist.jhtml">Rolling Stones</a>' <i>Let It Bleed,</i> <a href="/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s <i>IV,</i> <a href="/music/artist/bowie_david/artist.jhtml">David Bowie</a>'s <i>The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars,</i> <a href="/music/artist/mike_oldfield/artist.jhtml">Mike Oldfield</a>'s <i>Tubular Bells,</i> <a href="/music/artist/clash/artist.jhtml">The Clash</a>'s <i>London Calling,</i> <a href="/music/artist/new_order/artist.jhtml">New Order</a>'s <i>Power, Corruption and Lies,</i> <a href="/music/artist/primal_scream/artist.jhtml">Primal Scream</a>'s <i>Screamadelica,</i> <a href="/music/artist/pink_floyd/artist.jhtml">Pink Floyd</a>'s <i>The Division Bell,</i> <a href="/music/artist/blur/artist.jhtml">Blur</a>'s <i>Parklife</i> and — the most recent album on to make the cut — <a href="/music/artist/coldplay/artist.jhtml">Coldplay</a>'s <i>A Rush of Blood to the Head.</i></P><P>Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.</P><P>Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for <i>IV</i> — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.</P><P>"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."</P><P>Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their <i>Rush of Blood</i> stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."</P><P>"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."</p>
Related Photos Related ArtistsCute Alert! Jessica Simpson Tweets a Pic of Baby Maxwell
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Screenwriter Nora Ephron Dead At 71
Oscar-nominated writer of 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'When Harry Met Sally ... ' died of pneumonia.
By Josh Wigler
Nora Ephron
Photo:
Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and director Nora Ephron died Tuesday (June 26) from pneumonia. She was 71. News of Ephron's passing first hit the Internet late Tuesday when journalist Liz Smith, a friend of Ephron's, published a column remembering the late director.
"She never gave the answer I expected to anything. She was grave in her humor, which made it deadly, unexpected, truly funny and dauntingly intelligent," wrote Smith. "She seemed never to want or expect anything, while always demanding the best from the rest of us. She was — always — right and somehow left the smartest, most ambitious and silliest of us in the dust at her feet."
Ephron lived a storied life both on set and behind the scenes. Born in New York City in 1941 and raised in Beverly Hills, California, Ephron worked as a journalist for numerous years before trying her hand writing and directing for film. Her writing appeared in such outlets as Esquire and New York, and she was even married to Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame from 1976 until 1980. She later wed screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi in 1987; they remained married until the time of her death.
In 1983, Ephron's first major Hollywood movie, "Silkwood," arrived in theaters. Starring marquee names including Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher, Ephron's "Silkwood" was based on the true story of Karen Silkwood, who was killed in a suspicious accident during her investigation into the unethical practices of the nuclear power plant that employed her. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including one for Ephron's screenplay.
Over the course of her career, Ephron cemented her place in Hollywood as one of the industry's finest romantic comedy writers. She wrote the iconic "When Harry Met Sally ... " and directed numerous films, including the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan-starring "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail." Her final film as writer and director was "Julie & Julia."
"I won't say, 'Rest in peace, Nora,' " Smith wrote in her eulogy of Ephron. "I will just ask, 'What the hell will we do without you?' "
Share your condolences for Ephron's family and friends in the comments.
Related Videos Related PhotosNora Ephron: A Big-Screen Love Letter
We fondly remember the cinematic legacy of the director/screenwriter who died Tuesday at the age of 71.
By Amy Wilkinson
Nora Ephron
Photo:
It couldn't have been more than six months ago that a male friend and I were engaged in an uncharacteristically earnest Gchat conversation about the genius of "When Harry Met Sally..." And as philosophical discussions of that sort often go, we couldn't help but wonder why they don't make romantic comedies like they used to. (Oh, the loathsome they: such a handy scapegoat!)
Of course, each generation is wont to think theirs did it best, but it was probably a curious conversation for us to be having considering we hadn't even finished the second grade when the film debuted in 1989. But our belated affinity for the film speaks volumes to the timelessness of a screenplay written by filmmaker Nora Ephron, who died Tuesday at the age of 71.
Ephron wasn't the first to ponder the oft-fraught friendships that develop between men and women, but her commentary on the subject remains among the most true. More than 20 years after Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) met and road-tripped from Chicago to New York City, the question of whether the "sex part" always gets in the way continues to be a favorite cinematic trope (see: "Friends With Benefits," "No Strings Attached"). But those efforts seem superfluous in the shadow of Ephron's Oscar-nominated achievement.
The New York-born writer was a journalist by trade, who made her foray into feature films with 1983's "Silkwood," which starred Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell and Cher. Ephron (along with co-screenwriter Alice Arlen) received her first of three Oscar noms for the biopic's script based on the life of Karen Silkwood, who died under suspicious circumstances while investigating the processing plant where she worked. Ephron penned a handful of dramatic screenplays (including a a few politically charged scripts that never saw the light of day), but it is her earnest romantic comedies that Ephron will always be remembered for.To wit, today's mostly treacly romantic romps make Ephron's films seem a revelation— and, thankfully, never once a rescue mission. Her female characters were never sad-sack spinsters whose only aim was to find a man. In fact, often time, such as in "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail," the female protagonist was already in a relationship when a new one began to blossom with the real Mr. Right.
But if an Ephron heroine were ever to be considered in need of salvation, so too were her heroes: both equally formidable and equally flawed. In "Sleepless in Seattle," Meg Ryan's Annie, stuck in a lackluster relationship with Bill Pullman's Walter, was as much rescued by Tom Hanks' widowed Sam as she rescued him, bringing him back to life atop the twinkling Empire State Building.
Much of what made Ephron's characters so indelible was what came out of their mouths. The screenwriter exceled at witty, quippy dialogue that often beat with the quickened pulse of New York City (a frequent setting for her films). I mean, "I'll have what she's having"? Come on! And don't even get me started on Harry's proclamation of love to Sally. To this day, I can't even read the monologue without getting a little misty-eyed: "... And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." (Do yourself a favor and read her entire quotes page on Goodreads.)
Of course, Ephron wasn't just a scribe but a keen director, who got the best out of her actors and understood the power of a Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks one-two punch. And in the end, she had no delusions about what her career was and wasn't, telling MTV News in a 2009 interview while promoting her final film, "Julie & Julia," that she never felt penned in by the romantic-comedy genre.
"I'm not complaining about any box that I'm in, because I can write whatever I want," Ephron said. "Fortunately, I'm not just in the movie business, so I don't feel that the only way I can express myself is by the movies I make."
Fortunately for us, she was in the movie business, and she never once faked it.
Share your condolences for Ephron's family and friends in the comments.
Related Videos Related PhotosKe$ha - Your Love Is My Drug
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Honey
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
'Avengers' Sunk 'Battleship,' Director Peter Berg Says
'What I need everyone to do is go see 'Battleship' now that they've seen 'Avengers' five times,' Berg tells MTV News of sequel chances.
By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Taylor Kitsch in "Battleship"
Photo:
If there's one thing you can count on Earth's mightiest heroes to accomplish, it's kicking alien ass. Iron Man, Captain America and the rest of the gang didn't just destroy the extraterrestrial threat in their movie, either — they also sunk the aliens of "Battleship" without even knowing it.
"Battleship" director Peter Berg spoke with MTV News recently about his thoughts on the box-office earnings of his latest big-budget blockbuster. The Hasbro adaptation has earned $235 million overseas, but only $63 million at the domestic box office — an outcome Berg pins on the outstanding success of "Marvel's The Avengers."
"The movie kicked butt internationally, but we kind of ran into a wall when 'Avengers' refused to go away," he told MTV News. " 'The Avengers' outperformed everything. It was impossible for 'Battleship' to get any oxygen."
Asked if he would do anything differently with the "Battleship" release knowing what he knows now, Berg had one idea in mind.
"I would have loved to have come out three weeks before 'The Avengers' domestically, like we did internationally," he said. "We did OK, but in hindsight — which my grandmother used to say is worth about a bucket of spit — we would have [released the movie] ahead of 'The Avengers,' not realizing it would have become, I think, the second biggest film in history behind 'Avatar.' "
"Avengers" is actually the third-highest-grossing film of all time behind "Titanic," but who's counting? Berg is. When asked if he'd be interested in filming a "Battleship" sequel, he had a numbers-oriented answer in mind.
"What I need everyone to do is go see 'Battleship' now that they've seen 'Avengers' five times. If they do that, we can definitely make a sequel," he said. " 'Battleship' is a film that I would definitely like to do a sequel to. I loved making that film. I had a great time with it."
Do you want to see a "Battleship" sequel? Tell us in the comments below!
Related Videos Related PhotosMichael Jackson Still The King Of Pop Three Years After Death
MJ's continued influence on pop culture has proved that the King of Pop will forever remain in the hearts of music fans.
By Nadeska Alexis
<P>Music fans the world over can mark June 25, 2009 as one of those eerie days that force them to recall exactly what they were doing in the moments before they heard tragic news. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614744/michael-jackson-dies-at-50.jhtml">Michael Jackson died</a> that day, at the age of 50, and the world was not ready to see him go.</P><P>No entertainer could ever fill the void that MJ left behind, but his memory has not faded in the three years that he's been gone. In the past 12 months alone, we've seen Jackson-inspired productions, heard narratives from celebrities who continually cite him as a key influence, and this summer his face will be plastered on Pepsi cans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his classic album <i>Bad.</i> Keep reading to see a few examples from the past year that prove that Jackson has remained forever in the heart of pop culture.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Remembering Michael Jackson" id="id:1614746" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P><strong>Conrad Murray manslaughter trial</strong></P><P>The public and very messy <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673780/michael-jackson-trial-conrad-murray-prosecution-defense.jhtml">manslaughter trial for Jackson's doctor</a> Conrad Murray began in late September, and it was an excruciating and drawn-out ordeal for fans who were hoping to find closure after the star's death. After a painstaking six-week trial, which included testimony from 49 witnesses, a jury delivered a guilty verdict on involuntary manslaughter charges for Murray on November 7, and the world let out a collective sigh of relief.</P><P><strong><i>Watch the Throne</i> shout-out</strong></P><P>The guilty verdict in Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial was handed down just hours before Jay-Z and Kanye West's <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673963/jay-z-kanye-west-watch-the-throne-madison-square-garden.jhtml"><i>Watch the Throne</i> tour</a> hit Madison Square Garden in New York, and it was clear that the hip-hop Titans were paying attention, just like everyone else. While spitting his lines on the <i>WTT's</i> "Welcome to the Jungle," Jay threw extra emphasis on the line, "Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5," which drew applause from the crowd.</P><P><strong>Cirque Du Soleil launches Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour</strong></P><P>After a few preliminary shows in Canada, in October Cirque Du Soleil launched <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682347/michael-jackson-immortal-cirque.jhtml">Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour</a> in the U.S., dedicating a two-hour production entirely to the fallen legend. The mind-blowing mashup of dance and acrobatics, set to MJ's music, was an immediate hit, and the 65 artists who trained intensely for their performances did not take their responsibilities lightly. When <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682612/michael-jackson-immortal-world-tour.jhtml">MTV News caught up with</a> one of the dancers backstage, following a performance set to "Danger," he admitted that the entire production was deeply emotional, and that if MJ could see the show, "he would feel such a sense of pride of what he has given us to work with."</P><P><strong>Jackson tops fans' hologram wish list</strong></P><P>Tupac's hologram appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April set off a firestorm of speculation about which deceased entertainer we could expect to see onstage next. Not surprisingly, MJ was on the tip of many a fan's tongue. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lmfao/artist.jhtml">LMFAO</a>'s Redfoo put MJ's name at the top of his hologram wish list, while a quick poll of fans in the Times Square area found that the masses wholeheartedly agreed."It's a really cliché answer, but in my time I've never seen [Michael Jackson] and it would just be something awesome to watch," <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684073/michael-jackson-amy-winehouse-holograms.jhtml">one fan told MTV News</a>.</P><P><strong>Justin Bieber's "Die in Your Arms" single inspired by MJ</strong></P><P>Justin Bieber stopped by MTV's Times Square studio on June 19 for his "Bieber Live" special, during which the 18-year-old superstar performed one of his new singles <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1687838/justin-bieber-die-in-your-arms-michael-jackson.jhtml">"Die in Your Arms,"</a> and explained that the track was inspired by old MJ footage he viewed during a session with producer Rodney Jerkins. "Before I got in the booth, [Rodney Jerkins] showed me this hour-long video of Michael [Jackson] footage, never been seen before. It's Michael's personality, him in the booth dancing. It's some really special stuff," Bieber recalled. "So me seeing that, going in there and being inspired and working with Rodney, who worked with Michael — it was incredible."</P><P><strong>Pepsi 'Live For Now' Campaign</strong></P><P>In 1984 Michael Jackson first linked up with Pepsi for a $5 million marketing campaign, and 28 years later the soda giant is teaming up with the Jackson estate to commemorate the 25th anniversary edition of his classic album <i>Bad.</i> The <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1684460/michael-jackson-pepsi-cans.jhtml">"Live for Now" campaign</a> will find the icon's face plastered on special, limited-edition Pepsi cans this summer. The cans will include special download codes treating fans to <i>Bad</i> remixes.</P><P><strong>Rick Ross shouts out MJ on <i>Self Made Vol. 2</i> </strong></P><P>From Bieber to Rick Ross, no artist has escaped the influence of Michael Jackson. The Maybach Music Group CEO is unveiling his latest compilation album <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/06/21/maybach-music-self-made-vol-2-album-stream/"><i>Self Made Vol. 2</i></a> on Tuesday, just one day after the anniversary of Jackson's death, and that fact didn't escape him. Ross begins the LP's intro by telling fans, "If Michael Jackson came alive right now, he'd ask you to smoke one for him. So in his honor [lights up]."</P><P><b>Jackson Brothers launch Unity Tour</b></P><P>Five days before the June 25 anniversary of MJ's death, his four brothers — Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon — launched their <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/04/23/michael-jackson-hologram-jackson-brothers-tour/">Unity Tour</a>. The Jackson brothers revealed that a joint tour has been in the making for years, but admitted that they needed time to heal after losing the most famous member of the Jackson 5. Following Michael's death, all four brothers were featured on the A&E reality series "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty," which found them coping with their loss. In April it was rumored that an MJ hologram would make an appearance on the jaunt, but there's been no confirmation that the early reports were true.</p>
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'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Track List Revealed
First single from Trent Reznor/ Atticus Ross soundtrack is Karen O cover of Led Zeppelin song.
By Gil Kaufman
<P>You kind of can't go wrong when the soundtrack you've put together for one of the most eagerly anticipated literary adaptations in years kicks off <a href="/music/artist/yeah_yeah_yeahs/artist.jhtml">Yeah Yeah Yeahs</a> singer Karen O's take on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s "Immigrant Song."</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" id="vid:693384" width="240" height="211"></div><p></P><P>Fans heard the throbbing industrial take on the rock classic cooked up by former Nine Inch Nails mastermind and O when a trailer for the David Fincher-directed "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" leaked back in May. And on Thursday, Oscar-winning industrial-rocker-turned-film composer Reznor and musical partner Atticus Ross unveiled the full track list for their "Tattoo" score album.</P><P>The follow-up to their award-winning "The Social Network" score was a labor of love, according to a <a href="http://nin.com/?id=102677" target="_blank">post</a> Reznor put up on the NIN site on Thursday announcing the disc. "For the last fourteen months Atticus and I have been hard at work on David Fincher's 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,' " he wrote about the American version of the tale of pierced and punished hacker <a href="/news/articles/1655879/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara)</a> and her muckraking journalist compatriot <a href="/news/articles/1667542/daniel-craig-rooney-mara-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig)</a>. "We laughed, we cried, we lost our minds and in the process made some of the most beautiful and disturbing music of our careers. The result is a sprawling three-hour opus."</P><P>The album will be released on iTunes on December 9 in two versions. Right now, you can download the Karen O song on iTunes when you pre-order the 39-track album. That download purchase will also give you a link to the <a href="/news/articles/1675297/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-trailer-extended.jhtml">eight-minute "Dragon Tattoo" trailer</a>, for which Reznor and Ross created a unique score.</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Daniel Craig Talks 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'" id="vid:674399" width="240" height="211"></div><p></P><P>But, if you visit the <a href="http://www.nullco.com/GDT/usd.php" target="_blank">NIN online store</a>, Reznor is offering the soundtrack in a variety of forms, from a free six-track sampler to a deluxe 3,000-piece limited-edition signed $300 package with your choice of MP3 formats; the full album on six pieces of 180 gram vinyl; a deluxe book package with a metal cover; an exclusive custom 8 GB metal razor blade USB drive pendant containing the full album; and a fold-out poster.</P><P>The full album score track list is as follows: <br> <b>»</b> "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) [ft. Karen O]<br> <b>»</b> "She Reminds Me of You"<br> <b>»</b> "People Lie All the Time"<br> <b>»</b> "Pinned and Mounted"<br> <b>»</b> "Perihelion"<br> <b>»</b> "What If We Could?"<br> <b>»</b> "With the Flies"<br> <b>»</b> "Hidden in Snow"<br> <b>»</b> "A Thousand Details"<br> <b>»</b> "One Particular Moment"<br> <b>»</b> "I Can't Take It Anymore"<br> <b>»</b> "How Brittle the Bones"<br> <b>»</b> "Please Take Your Hand Away"<br> <b>»</b> "Cut Into Pieces"<br> <b>»</b> "The Splinter"<br> <b>»</b> "An Itch"<br> <b>»</b> "Hypomania"<br> <b>»</b> "Under the Midnight Sun"<br> <b>»</b> "Aphelion"<br> <b>»</b> "You're Here"<br> <b>»</b> "The Same as the Others"<br> <b>»</b> "A Pause for Reflection"<br> <b>»</b> "While Waiting"<br> <b>»</b> "The Seconds Drag"<br> <b>»</b> "Later Into the Night"<br> <b>»</b> "Parallel Timeline With Alternate Outcome"<br> <b>»</b> "Another Way of Caring"<br> <b>»</b> "A Viable Construct"<br> <b>»</b> "Revealed in the Thaw"<br> <b>»</b> "Millennia"<br> <b>»</b> "We Could Wait Forever"<br> <b>»</b> "Oraculum"<br> <b>»</b> "Great Bird of Prey"<br> <b>»</b> "The Heretics"<br> <b>»</b> "A Pair of Doves"<br> <b>»</b> "Infiltrator"<br> <b>»</b> "The Sound of Forgetting"<br> <b>»</b> "Of Secrets"<br> <b>»</b> "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" (Bryan Ferry cover)</P><P><b>Check out everything we've got on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/456914/moviemain.jhtml">"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."</a></P><P>For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit <a href="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/">MTVMoviesBlog.com</a>.</b></p>
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Britney Spears - Circus
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive
- Director:
Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum
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