Former Jay-Z Protege Tru Life Gets Eight Years In Jail

Former Jay-Z protégé Tru Life has reached a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors that will land the rapper in jail for eight years, MTV News has learned.

The New York native was offered a deal last week stemming from a 2009 incident that resulted in the stabbing death of a 20-year-old man, Christopher Guerrero. Tru Life, born Roberto Rosado, and his brother Marcus Rosado were accused of the crime, but the rapper pleaded down to second-degree gang assault, while Marcus pleaded to first-degree manslaughter and will serve 10 years behind bars.

"Robert and Marcus Rosado accepted responsibility today for their role in the tragic incident that occurred in June 2009," the brothers' attorneys, Alan M. Abramson and Joel S. Cohen, told MTV News in a statement. "They wish to express their deepest sympathies to the Guerrero family, and it is their hope that by accepting responsibility they can bring some measure of closure to the family."

The altercation took place June 15, 2009, after Tru Life and Guerrero exited New York nightclub Pacha. Court documents reveal that Guerrero died later as a result of a stabbing, and a second man, who was allegedly involved in the scuffle, was hospitalized for stab wounds.

Tru Life was once slated to be a cornerstone of Jay-Z's then-burgeoning Latin-orientated Roc La Familia, along with Texas rapper Aztec, but the Puerto Rican rapper never released a project under the label.

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Ciara Says Online Post About Label Woes 'Came From A Real Place'

Ciara took to her Facebook page last week to address fans and ask her label, Jive Records, to release her after two lackluster albums. When MTV News caught up with the R&B singer recently, we asked about the headline-making post.

"My letter was a message to my fans, and it came from a real place and I just wanted my fans to know where I was," she explained.

The 25-year-old singer, who has had chart-topping hits such as "Goodies" and "1,2 Step," wrote in the post, titled "My Time to Speak": "It is true that I have asked and I pray that my label will release me. I have had some great times and success with my label, but sometimes like all great things, it's at that point where I feel we don't share the same views on who I am as an artist."

She called her last two efforts with the label -- Fantasy Ride and Basic Instinct, which, in its first week on the Billboard albums chart, debuted at #44, moving just 37,000 copies -- "frustrating" because she was allegedly all but ignored by label execs.

Ciara then told her Facebook fans that she spent "tens of thousands" of her own money to promote her latest single, "Gimme Dat," and "more than one hundred thousand dollars" to get the subsequent music video made.

In one final plea, the multiple Grammy nominee wrote, "I have so much of me as an artist I still want to give to the world and my fans, A release would allow me to go be creative with people who care and understand me as an artist. In a short time, I will be able to bring to you a new music energy and a visual excitement! Thank you so much for standing by me through the good, bad, and the confusion. I love you all."

Jive Records has yet to comment on the Facebook post.

Despite her concerns about what comes next, Ciara confirmed to MTV News, "I am still going to be doing shows, of course." Late Tuesday night, the singer posted a video of a recent performance, tweeting, "I live for moments like this! Love my Fans! http://tinyurl.com/476mwef Its a #CiaraMovement baby!!"

Ciara reiterated, as she did in her Facebook post, that she was going to make her fans, shows and "having fun" her top priorities, while allowing everything else regarding her future in music to "fall in place the way it's supposed to."

Do you think it was a good move for Ciara to address her label woes with Jive on Facebook? Let us know in the comments!

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Nicki Minaj: My Appeal Lies In Showing It's 'OK To Be Weird'

Nicki Minaj is a platinum-selling rapper but she's still adapting so many aspects of fame. The Young Money MC says she's learning that she has to censor herself and that not all of her followers are fans.

"I have to watch my mouth sometimes," she tells BlackBook magazine in a new interview.

"All of those people who follow me on Twitter? They aren't my friends. Some of them are fans, but many of them are people who hate my guts and are just waiting for me to tweet something that they can put on their blogs. It's easy to see 2 million followers and think, 'Look at all these people who love me!' But not all of them love me. Whether I'm smiling or not, I know that people are always waiting for me to slip up."

Last November, MTV premiered Minaj's documentary, "My Time Now," and the 26-year-old raptress tells the magazine she was afraid she'd been "too real" and revealed "too much of the actual person behind Nicki Minaj" during filming.

"Someone once told me, 'People love the façade of pop stars. It's not good to be a real person,' so I lost sleep over it," the rapper says. "But then I met tons of people who said, 'I've became a fan of yours after watching that documentary.' I'm realizing now that I'm never really going to know the rules. I just have to play."

The chart-topping rapper also sees similarities between herself and another breakout artist: Lady Gaga. Nicki tells the magazine that the two are walking similar paths to fame with "the awkward, non-pretty thing."

"What we're saying — what I'm saying, anyway — is that it's OK to be weird. And maybe your weird is my normal. Who's to say? I think it's an attitude we both share," the "Moment 4 Life" MC says.

Do you think Nicki and Gaga have a lot in common? Share your thoughts below!

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Lindsay Lohan 'Will Be Going To Jail' If She Accepts Plea Deal

Lindsay Lohan arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday morning (February 23) facing the possibility of jail time, after being offered a plea deal related to her alleged theft of a $2,500 necklace on January 22. She left without accepting the deal, and with the prospect of jail still very much in the cards.

Lohan, who wore a low-cut black top to the proceedings, was told by Judge Keith Schwartz that if she does accept Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers' offer to settle the case, she "will be going to jail." According to TMZ, the deal is for six months of jail time.

Schwartz — who would handle sentencing if she accepts the plea — let it be known that he wouldn't allow her celebrity to affect his decision, telling her, bluntly, "I don't care that you're Lindsay Lohan.

"One of the things about me is that I treat everybody the same," Schwartz continued. "What I look to in sentencing is, 'What is the prior record?' In this particular case, there has been so much speculation in the press [that] I'm just going to tell you a couple of things: If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail. There might be an issue about the amount of time, but if the case settles here, you will be going to jail."

Schwartz said that if Lohan accepts the DA's deal — thereby pleading guilty to felony grand theft — she would be found in violation of her probation and would serve time. He also recommended a psychological evaluation of Lohan to help him determine an appropriate sentence.

After posting bail on the felony charge, Lohan took to Twitter to proclaim her innocence, and, with attorney Shawn Holley at her side, she maintained that tact on Wednesday. All indications are she plans to stand trial on the charge and, if found guilty, could face up to one year in state prison.

Lohan is due back in court on March 10. But before then, Schwartz instructed both attorneys to meet and discuss the possibility of accepting the plea.

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'Glee'-Cap: Rachel Berry Drives Us To Drink

This week's "Glee" seems to have inspired a one-man party here in the MTV Newsroom. After Rachel's wild party, our own Jim Cantiello seems to have hit the sauce and, well, to quote Jamie Foxx, if you can't follow along with this song, blame it on the alcohol.

Rachel Berry's dads left her alone in a big empty house.
They're off on Rosie's gay cruise.
Her songwriting sucks, she says, "Aw shucks, I live like a church mouse;
It's time for me to drink some booze."

They play Spin the Bottle,
Rachel and Blaine kiss.
His loins start to throttle,
Does it mean he's into misses?

Kurt freaks out 'cause his buddy who's out
Now might be bi or living a lie.
Again their lips lock, now he's sober and shocked
Confirms that he's gay, no vagina any day!

It's Alcohol Awareness,
Such unfairness!
Teachers are hypocrites, getting sloppy and
sh--faced on their nights off.
Will and Beiste's honky tonk!
Tries to chase Emma's tail,
But leaves Sue a voicemail.

I started drinking tonight because "Glee" taught me that it's alright
And now I want another pour.
[guzzle guzzle, burp]
Like Rachel, Sam and all the gang, I drank everything in sight.
I'm so trashed I want to dance just like Thom Yorke.

[Footage goes black and white. Jim, in a fancy hat, twitches around the office à la Radiohead's "Lotus Flower" video.]

" 'Glee' inspires kids to join choirs,"
Said Ryan Murphy to the press.
Until minute 55, drinking was glorified,
Forgot about those 7-year-olds, I guess.

Rachel hits the sauce
Like she's livin' with the Hoff.
She sneaks in liquor
Glee kids get sicker.
[Jim is increasingly inebriated, wobbly and emotional.]
I puke when I hear Ke$ha too.
I don't know what to do,
I'm so frickin' drunk
And my favorite show's in a funk. The stories are crazy,
But one-liners save the day.
... Hold me ...

Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-lcohol,
I blame it on the writers o-o-o-o-on call,
Wish they would reca-a-a-a-all
How to enthra-a-a-a-all.

[Jim is totally sloshed, just rhyming stupid things now.]

Shopping ma-a-a-a-a-ll
Urban spra-a-a-a-awl
Montrea-a-a-a-al
City ha-a-a-[yawn]-all
Bocce ba-a-a-all.

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Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Teaches Fans To 'Be Proud'

Fans have been donning their best Lady Gaga costumes for the first three stops on the latest leg of her Monster Ball Tour, and MTV News has been there all the way. Gaga's dedicated Little Monsters have been turning out in droves to see their Mother Monster belt out her hits, including her latest smash, the anthemic disco number "Born This Way."

Fans told MTV News that the song's feel-good message has resonated with them. "I think it's fantastic that she decided to put that song out first before any other more noteworthy songs she might have," Juliana explained. "Because it meant something to her."

Lisa further explained that "it means no matter what you are, who you are, who you want to be, you just can't help it, because you were born this way."

Meghan thinks "Born This Way" is a great track to pump yourself up with when you're feeling low. "It means that no one should really be able to tell you who you can and can't be, because obviously you can't change how you are," she said. "And you should just express that."

Kristen added: "Nobody should discriminate against you for anything. Just be who you are, be proud and that's it."

Mon Cheri boiled down what the song means to her: "Do what you want to do! I mean, keep it real, keep it safe and keep it legal, but you got to do you, hon."

Not only does the song have a great message, but as Alicia pointed out, it also is awesome to dance to. "It's just perfect. ... Everything that she's about is in that song," she said. "And it has an amazing, catchy beat, as usual."

Marie said the tune sums up what Lady Gaga is all about: "It's everything she says in interviews all wrapped up into a song."

What do you think of "Born This Way"? Share your reviews in the comments!

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'Spider-Man' Musical Star Talks Production Delays And Fighting Fear

"Things are constantly changing. It's a very creative process," T.V. Carpio told MTV News, explaining the seemingly ever-shifting nature of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

For some observers on the outside looking in, that might come off as spin, an "it's all good" mentality meant to calm the public while inside the musical's playhouse, "Spider-Man" continues to struggle to find its creative footing. But to Carpio, it's all part of the inspirational process of working with Julie Taymor, the visionary behind the "Lion King" musical and films like 2007's "Across the Universe."

"You have to be down to jump, because Julie is always having these crazy visions," said Carpio, who took on the role of the villainess Arachne after the original actress left the production. "She's amazing like that, and you just have to go with it."

Still, there's no doubting that the cast of "Turn Off the Dark" has had a lot to just go with. From multiple delays in the show's official Broadway debut to highly publicized safety issues and injuries, the musical is being buzzed about for all the wrong reasons. Recent reports suggest fresh behind-the-scenes talent is being welcomed into the fold.

Carpio, however, denied reports that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, a playwright and comics writer, has been hired to work on script issues. "I haven't heard anything about a writer joining us. Whenever they do change anything, they make an announcement to the cast," she said. "They told us that all the rumors, if we haven't been told about them, aren't true."

The cast has been working closely with musical supervisor Paul Bogaev, one of Taymor's longtime collaborators, to enhance various musical numbers. "There aren't any new songs," Carpio said. "Paul's just working with the songs we already have. Yesterday, he helped write a new part for my monologue in the second act. And we put in a new flight. He's just another set of outside eyes helping sculpt what's already there. But he is the only new one who's actually there and working.

"Although it's new, because he hasn't worked on 'Spider-Man' all along, Julie works with a lot of the same people," she added. "The family we have working on the music -- the choreographers, dancers, actors -- is sort of like the family from 'Across the Universe.' It didn't feel crazy, like, 'Who's this guy?' It was like, 'Oh hey, Paul!' "

Through all the changes, Carpio has kept herself insulated within what she affectionately calls her "'Spider-Man' bubble" and has been readying for the upcoming premiere of "Limitless," a thriller in which she co-stars with Bradley Cooper that hits theaters on March 18. Whatever happens with "Turn Off the Dark" in the future, the actress has managed to keep anxiety at bay -- the original Arachne, Natalie Mendoza, dropped out after suffering a concussion during a high-flying stunt -- and focused on the task at hand: delivering an entertaining Broadway experience.

"To give the kind of performance you want to give, there's no room for fear. There's always adrenaline, but it's not about fear. You just have to trust you can do it," she said. "I don't care about what goes on outside. I can't control what people say; I can only control my performance. That's the only thing I can give."

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

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Snoop Dogg And R. Kelly Strive For 'Greatness' On 'Platinum'

West Coast icon Snoop Dogg and Chicago R&B veteran R. Kelly teamed up with production whiz kid Lex Luger for the booming track "Platinum." Snoop sat down with MTV News to talk about the track, which will be featured on his 11th studio album, Doggumentary, saying his and R. Kelly's approach to music is what made their partnership a natural and familiar fit.

"I think me and Kells understand who we are and what we do to make each other better," Snoop said. "He has a deep love for music, and sometimes he goes over the head of the people that's listening just like myself, because we're too in-depth with music. We don't just listen to our genre. We find ourselves enjoying all walks of music."

In his 20-year career, Snoop somehow possesses the hunger of a hip-hop up-and-comer. He explained the reason behind that drive and how R. Kelly helped him on this latest journey.

"We wanna be great. We don't wanna make cool records. Because any time I hear R. Kelly, he's great," the cool Californian said. "Whenever he hears Snoop Dogg, I'm great. So why not come together and make some greatness?"

The song, however, almost didn't make the final cut, as Snoop had finished up recording the album. Snoop's friend previewed the Lex Luger track for the rapper, which impressed him enough to jot down a few bars. After sending his sketch to Kelly, the crooner replied with his own rough demo, leading the pair to finally complete the record.

What do you think about the combo of Snoop and Kells? Let us know in the comments!

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Justin Bieber's Haircut: Fans Weigh In!

This week Justin Bieber made headlines thanks to a new haircut. The Biebs had his famous swooping bangs cut into a shorter, cropped look, and he told talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres he doesn't "really care" what people have to say about his 'do.

But his fans have been weighing in on the new hairstyle anyway, and many of them approve of the haircut.

"I really like it and it actually makes him look older!!!! And for all u down there hating on Bieber well if it was Angelina Jolie I'm sure you'd have something to say so don't hate 'cause he's sexy and he ain't even legal yet," Amanda wrote on MTV.com.

Lilia added, "AAh, he looks better with the new hair! Suits him!"

Beliebers have been debating the star's latest look since he debuted it earlier this week. Coote noted on our site that Bieber is much more than a head of hair. "I think he [looks] sexy ... i don't love him for his hair... i love him because he is sweet, cute and perfect," Coote wrote.

MTV News also took to the streets of New York City to see whether people preferred the "Never Say Never" star's old look or the new one.

"I like it, I think it looks good on him," Catherine said of Bieber's longtime haircut. She added about the brand-new cut: "I like it better than the other one, but I think that a lot of his fans liked the [old] one. ... Everyone loves him for his hair and now he doesn't have it anymore."

Meanwhile, Tiffany loved the original but was blown away by the new version. "I think it's very Bieberish, I like that long swoop. It definitely works for him," Tiffany said before we showed her the updated look. "Oh my god! It's such a transformation! I just love it! He looks so much older!"

"It's just beautiful," Christina explained of the old 'do. "I liked him with his longer hair better. That's just who he was discovered as."

"He looks a little geeky," Sofia said of his famous original hairdo. "It's much better," she said of the cropped cut. "He doesn't look like my brother anymore. He looks five years older. He's so cute."

Which do you prefer: Bieber's long locks or his cropped cut? Tell us in the comments!

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Justin Bieber's <i>Never Say Never - The Remixes</i> Tops <i>Billboard</i> Chart

In a week in which the post-Grammy sales boom finally took hold, sending several long-dormant albums rocketing back up the charts, it was the kid who got shut out at the big show who ended up topping the charts.

Justin Bieber's Never Say Never - The Remixes debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard top 200 albums chart, giving the pop star the second chart-topping bow of his young career. The album sold more than 161,000 copies, easily surpassing Mumford & Sons' breakout Sigh No More, which benefited from the group's Grammy-night performance with Bob Dylan (and the Avett Brothers), selling nearly 133,000 copies — a 169 percent increase in sales from the previous week — to hold steady at #2.

Former chart champ the Now 37 compilation lands at #3, with sales of nearly 95,000 copies, and Lady Antebellum — who not only performed at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, but took home the awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year — posted a 205 percent sales jump, selling more than 85,000 copies to snag the #4 spot.

Grammy winner and performer Bruno Mars' Doo-Wops & Hooligans sold nearly 61,000 copies (a 55 percent burst in sales) to come in at #5, followed by a host of other Grammy beneficiaries: Eminem's Recovery at #6 (nearly 61,000 copies sold), the 2011 Grammy Nominees compilation (#7, nearly 56,000 copies sold), Bieber's My World, 2.0 (#8, more than 54,000 copies), and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday (#9, nearly 46,000 copies). Rihanna's Loud rounds out the top 10, with sales of more than 45,000 copies sold.

That Grammy bump continues outside the top 10 too, starting with Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, which, thanks to her Grammy performance, jumped 30 percent in sales, moving nearly 42,000 units to land at #11. Surprise Album of the Year winners Arcade Fire's The Suburbs posted a 238 percent sales jump to come in at #12, selling more than 40,000 copies ... and moving past the 500,000 mark in total sales as a result.

Other winners and performers who leapt up the charts include Florence and the Machine, whose Lungs moved from #28 to #19; Cee Lo Green's The Lady Killer (from #53 to #22); Lady Gaga's The Fame (from #35 to #23); and the Black Keys' Brothers, which posted a 25 percent sales jump to grab the #24 spot.

Aside from Bieber's Never Say Never, other notable Billboard debuts include Bright Eyes' The People's Key, which opened at #12 with sales of nearly 41,000 copies, Hillsong United's Aftermath (#17, with sales of more than 27,000 copies), Ginuwine's Elgin (#30, with sales of more than 19,000 copies), and PJ Harvey's Let England Shake, which bows at #32 with sales of nearly 18,000.

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Ke$ha To Release Dance Remix Album In March

Ke$ha has made a name for herself as a party girl who makes party songs. But maybe you find the choice tracks on her debut, Animal, and the follow-up, Cannibal, not quite up to snuff for your dance-floor needs. And maybe that's why the singer has decided to release her first ever remix album, I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album, on March 22.

For the album, Ke$ha hooked up with a number of dance DJs and producers, as well as a few notable guests. The track listing includes: "Blow" (Cirkut Remix), "The Sleazy Remix" (which includes an appearance by Andre 3000), "Tik Tok Untold Remix," "F--- Him He's a DJ" (live version), "Animal Switch Remix," "Your Love Is My Drug" Dave Audé club remix, "We R Who We R" Fred Falke club remix, "Take It Off" Billboard remix, "Tik Tok" Chuck Buckett's Veruca Salt remix and her track with 3OH!3, "Blah Blah Blah" DJ Skeet Skeet radio remix.

In addition to the new music, Ke$ha is also set to release the music video for her latest single, "Blow." She tweeted about filming it in late January. On Tuesday, the singer shared that she saw some footage from the video, writing, "Just saw the final cut of my new video for BLOW all I can say is HOT DAMN."

Currently, Ke$ha is on the road for her Get $leazy Tour, which she kicked off last week in Portland, Oregon. She's set to wrap up her tour in Las Vegas on May 7. 

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Paul McDonald Brings Nashville Cool To 'American Idol'

The coolest contestant of season 10's "American Idol" has stepped out in the form of Paul McDonald.

The 25-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, was voted through to the "Idol" top 24 on Wednesday's (February 23) episode, and his laid-back, easygoing style makes him an early standout among the semi-finalists.

The scruffy-bearded McDonald, who auditioned for "Idol" in his hometown of Nashville, was first seen on Wednesday singing the Beatles' "Blackbird" during the Las Vegas round with his duet partner Kendra Chantelle. McDonald's smooth vocals — which have sort of a Jason Mraz-meets-Mike Posner quality — caused judge Steven Tyler to exclaim, "Yeah! I love his voice," mid-song, while Jennifer Lopez turned to Tyler to show him the goose bumps on her arm. Lopez later praised McDonald's "soft, beautiful tone," saying it "cut right through" and made him stand out.

His voice wasn't the only thing that made McDonald stand out. For his final audition, McDonald sported a white Nudie Suit, complete with embroidered roses and that looked like something out of Jeff Tweedy's closet. Not only that, but he chose to forgo popular logic and sang an original song for his final shot in front of the judges instead of a cover. The guy couldn't blend into the background if he tried.

"I've gotten this far based on, you know, just doin' my thing, and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be," McDonald said in voiceover. It was meant to be: In his final sit-down with the judges, they praised his unique qualities and said while they're not quite sure where he'll land in the competition, it will be those same attributes that could potentially take him far. "We're gonna bank on that and put you through," Lopez told him.

McDonald took the news in stride; raising his arms in victory, he let out a hearty laugh before thanking the judges. And while he said he's spent the last few weeks "relaxin,' hangin' out," now, he admitted he's got some work ahead of him. "I gotta learn some songs!" he said.

While he works on those new songs, his fanbase is already starting to grow. By the end of Wednesday's episode, McDonald was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter, and he already had at least one former "Idol" contestant in his corner. "Paul McDonald is the man," "Idol" season-eight finalist Matt Giraud tweeted. "Really impressed me."

What did you think of Paul McDonald? Let us know in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Emma Roberts, Dave Franco Get Cozy In Cults' 'Go Outside' Supervideo

On Tuesday, a supervideo for Cults' "Go Outside" starring Dave Franco and Emma Roberts debuted on MTV.com.

In the video, Franco plays a character obsessed with 1960s Jean-Luc Godard films. His obsession comes to life when French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot (played by Roberts) steps out of his favorite Godard flick, "Contempt," and into his living room. The two embark on a nightlong romantic escapade throughout Los Angeles, and providing the soundtrack is the dreamy "Go Outside" by New York duo Cults.

The supervideo is actually the second effort in a partnership between MTV and Mean magazine. The first video brought Anna Kendrick and director David Ayer together for LCD Soundsystem's "Pow Pow."

MTV News caught up with Franco and Roberts on the set, where they talked about what it meant to film the video.

"I love Brigitte Bardot," Roberts said. "I've always been drawn to her style, and I just think there's something so timeless about her that she's still such an icon today. And I just thought it'd be fun to get to kind of do a little mini-film to music, and I love the concept and I was excited Davie was a part of it and it's just been really fun."

Of course channeling the iconic bombshell meant going blond for Roberts, which she loved: "I feel like a Barbie doll. I think it's cool."

And a major part of the Bardot persona meant another thing. "We have to make out in the video -- a lot," Roberts added.

While the treatment meant that the two would be getting very intimate, luckily for Franco, he wasn't going in blind.

"We knew each other a little bit before the video," Franco said. "Which is great for this kind of project, where you can kind of jump into it and just have fun with it, rather than trying to get comfortable with each other and literally within 10 minutes of meeting each other, your tongues are in each other's mouths."

From the looks of the video, they got to know each other a lot better by the end.

What did you think of the supervideo? Let us know in the comments!

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Junior Sanchez Cuts Right To The 'Raging' On <i>Seize The Fewcha</i>

Hip-hop heavyweights aren't the only ones making waves with mixtapes these days. Dance music has taken the States by storm, and world-class DJs are having a field day with the seemingly endless supply of fresh beats and distinctly unique sounds.

One of the best in the biz is veteran DJ/producer Junior Sanchez. After the massive success of "Where You Are," his collaboration with Harry "Choo Choo" Romero and Alexander Technique, and the forthcoming release "I Believe In," slated for Miami in March (both released on Steve Angello's Size Records), Sanchez has positioned himself to be one of the biggest names of 2011, starting with his powerful new mix CD, Seize the Fewcha.

"A lot of people build a CD and build it up, but I was like, 'Let's just go for the gusto and play all of these amazing tracks that people really don't get to hear,' " Sanchez told MTV News. "I don't have seven hours to build to that moment. So you just want to get to that moment and get to the moment where everyone is just kind of raging."

Junior dives headfirst into the meat of Seize the Fewcha, hitting heavy right out of the gate with the Armand Van Helden and Steve Aoki collaboration "BRRRAT!" and moving swiftly into a dubstep homage to dot-com dating with a remix of Christopher Just's "You Looked Much Cuter (On My Computer)."

"There's a lot of dubstep influence," he said. "I love cats like Rusko, and when I make dance music in general, I tend to borrow from a lot of different genres, because my palette is really pretty wide with music."

Sanchez dabbles in some of the freshest floor-fillers ever thrown on to one disc. From the digitally distorted and mind-bending "Attack Muzik" by Sanchez and DJ Reza to "Select Start," a techno-laden, infectiously hooked monster pumped out by up-and-coming Russians Hard Rock Sofa and Swanky Tunes, the level of intensity and off-kilter variety of Sanchez's track selection never ceases to amaze.

Garnished intermittently with Cirez-D "Total Departure"-esque infinite builds throughout "Elevator," featuring Joel and Benji from Good Charlotte, and "nEthang!," a classic electro groove that only Felix Da Housecat and Junior Sanchez could conjure up, Seize the Fewcha is a dazzling commentary on what is and what will be huge in dance music over the next year.

Having produced Katy Perry's "Ur So gay" and, most recently, Mya's upcoming album, Sanchez is a true renaissance man whose talents are sought after by some of the biggest names in the game.

"I'm working on her album; it's kind of like a rediscovery of Mya, a reinvention of Mya. We are doing some really interesting sounds," he said. "It's a lot of dance-influenced stuff, but there are some tracks that are really dark pop, like really industrial; kind of Depeche Mode-influenced, but it's still really dance-y. It's a gambit of creativity, but the main thing at the end of it is like the songs are there. The songs are amazing."

Sanchez is also poised to release an R&B /dance record with newcomer O'Neil McKnight entitled "Crazy."

"It's amazing. He's an amazing artist. And he's the future of R&B right there, for sure," Sanchez said.

"It's a dance track. It's kind of like what [Sanchez] does best: Dance music meets '80s," McKnight said. "Everybody who has heard it thus far has been going crazy. I was at Puffy's house a couple weeks ago, and he was playing it, like, 30 times just dancing around. He was like, 'This is so refreshing,' so it's a good feel!"

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'American Idol' Reveals First Batch Of Top 24

In its 10th season, "American Idol" has already gone coast-to-coast (and, uh, Milwaukee), in search of the next pop superstar. So when it came time to whittle their list of hopefuls down to the top 24, a few additional miles probably weren't going to hurt anyone.

On Wednesday night's (February 23) show, "Idol" trekked from Hollywood to Las Vegas — where the 61 remaining contestants were hacked down to just 40 — and then back to the show's hometown of Los Angeles, where, at long last, the voyage came to a close with the unveiling of the 24 singers who will compete for this season's crown ... or, at least, that's what we were told.

But before we got to the cliffhanger climax, we had to make the trip from Hollywood to Las Vegas. The action on Wednesday's episode began immediately following the oft-treacherous Hollywood Week, which meant that those who had survived didn't have long to celebrate. Rather, they boarded buses and headed down to the Mirage Resort and Casino in Vegas, where they performed songs from the Beatles' legendary catalog.

And the results of those performances were mixed. Singing in pairs and trios, some "Idol" frontrunners kept up the pace — Jacob Lusk, Haley Reinhart and Naima Adedapo thrilled on "The Long and Winding Road"; Tim Halperin and Julie Zorilla turned in a sweet version of "Something"; and Paul McDonald and Kendra Chantelle wowed the judges with their soulful take on "Blackbird" ("So beautiful ... I really loved it," Jennifer Lopez raved) — while others fell off.

Those in the latter category included the trio of TaTynisa Wilson, Jerome Bell and Lakeisha Lewis, who puzzled the judges with their version of "I Saw Her Standing There," and (most notably) the duo of hotly-tipped teens Melinda Ademi and Thia Megia, who failed to wow with "Here Comes the Sun."

Others who stumbled in Vegas included the trio of Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and Denise Jackson, who fumbled through "Hello, Goodbye" (first before a cadre of producers that included Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine, Alex Da Kid and Jim Jonsin, and then on the Mirage stage), and quirky Ashley Sullivan, who decided to get hitched at Vegas' iconic Little White Chapel before her performance, and then whiffed on "We Can Work It Out."

At the end of the two-day Vegas performances, most of those who stumbled were sent packing — not to mention memorable contestants like White House intern Molly DeWolf Swensen, goofy Carson Higgins and rocker dude Caleb Hawley — as the "Idol" judges cut the remaining 60 down to 40 ... and then put them back on the bus for Los Angeles, where the Top 24 was revealed in dramatic fashion.

Or, part of it was anyway.

Because though "Idol" producers had spent most of the two-hour episode touting that big reveal, in the end, we only learned the identities of a handful of the 24 finalists: Adedapo, Reinhart and McDonald plus Clint Jun Gamboa and Ashthon Jones. And while that swerve was somewhat shocking, it was the news of who didn't make the final cut that really caused jaws to drop.

Namely, breakout star Chris Medina, who won over viewers — and the "Idol" judges — with his dedication to his fiancée (who was seriously injured in a car accident. And when Lopez broke the news that his "Idol" journey was over— "It honestly breaks my heart to say this," Lopez said — she broke down and needed to be consoled by her fellow judges.

And with that (and Lopez's sobbed admission that she didn't know if she could continue on as a judge), Wednesday night's episode came to a dramatic close. The remainder of the Top 24 will be revealed on Thursday ... and who knows what will happen then.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Oscar Preview: Will Natalie Portman Fly High? Can Colin Firth Be Stopped?

Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences coalesced around two ideas in the lead acting categories: for Best Actor, it was time to anoint a man whose time had come; for Best Actress, a populist favorite deserved the career thumbs-up that only a small golden statue can deliver.

And so five-time nominee Jeff Bridges finally triumphed for his unfettered turn in "Crazy Heart" and Sandra Bullock, long an American sweetheart but hardly an enduring critical fave, took home the win for her uplifting and cheesiness-eluding performance in "The Blind Side." Oscar, of course, is as fickle a gentleman as you'll find in Hollywood.

So this year, we find in Annette Bening ("The Kids Are All Right") a four-time nominee who's never managed to create a voting-community consensus that, shoot, this is my year, dammit! Thus, she finds herself trailing Natalie Portman ("The Black Swan") for Best Actress, though the winner in that category is hardly clear-cut at this point. The same cannot be said for Best Actor, in which Colin Firth ("The King's Speech") staked out an early lead that he hasn't relinquished all awards season.

As MTV News continues its week-long Oscar preview -- ahead of the big show Sunday, February 27, when MTV News will be live-streaming from the red carpet at 6 p.m. ET -- let's take a closer look at the two lead acting categories.

Best Actress
It's not Bening's fault. No one can take away anything from what she accomplished onscreen in a warts-and-all portrait of a lesbian couple struggling to keep their family together; 2011 just isn't her year. But hey, Al Pacino lost six times -- including for the first two "Godfather" films and "Dog Day Afternoon" -- before nabbing Oscar glory for "Scent of a Woman." Bening will eventually get her Academy win.

The trouble for the 52-year-old actress is that she's facing off against Portman, who trained as a ballerina for 10 months, displayed a ripped physique onscreen and delivered a gutting portrayal of one woman's psychological disintegration in "Black Swan." It's a far showier performance than Bening's, and the fact of the matter is that subtlety doesn't often pay off when it comes to awards.

That's not to say it never does, and several influential Oscar prognosticators are picking Bening to pull off one of the evening's biggest upsets. Either woman would be deserving. And don't even get us started about why Michelle Williams isn't at least in the running after a "Blue Valentine" performance so depressingly unnerving she should be standing outside theaters giving out free hugs. That's just not the way the world works, and we're going to go ahead and say a very pregnant Natalie Portman will be up onstage Sunday accepting the Best Actress win.

Best Actor
Bridges is back again, and you could even say his "True Grit" performance is finer and tighter than his turn in "Crazy Heart." But Tom Hanks, he ain't (Hanks is one of only two actors to take the category in consecutive years, following wins for "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump"), especially not in a year when Firth learned to stutter and went on to dominate awards season.

Seriously, the guy has barely lost even an obscure critics association award, winning at the Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards and, oh, six dozen other ceremonies. Like Portman's performance, Firth as the eventual King George VI is a flashier performance than any other in the category, save perhaps for James Franco's (who, hey, didn't actually lop off his arm for "127 Hours" and nixed any miniscule chance he had at an upset when he accepted a job as Oscar co-host).

While we welcome Jesse Eisenberg to the ranks of the critically lauded -- he's been on our radar since a pitch-perfect debut as an anxious teen in 2002's "Roger Dodger" -- the 27-year-old actor never really had a shot to unseat Firth once the Brit's awards-season supremacy became clear early on. What's more, "The Social Network" peaked too early and now doesn't have the momentum to pick up Eisenberg's turn as Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and carry it toward victory.

Best Actor, then, is an easy pick -- perhaps the easiest of the major categories. Say hello to Colin Firth, your Best Actor in these 83rd Academy Awards.

Will it be a regal evening for "The King's Speech"? Can "The Social Network" dial up Oscar gold? Don't miss MTV News' "2011 Oscars Live" at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 27, when we'll be chatting with your favorite Hollywood stars live from the red carpet on MTVNews.com, and stick with us all Oscar night for winners, interviews, photos and more!

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Jay-Z, LeBron James Talk Two Kings Charity, Doing 'Good All Over'

Jay-Z and LeBron James don't just want to hold a can of soda and smile for the cameras. The two men prefer to be hands-on when it comes to giving back to the community. So during NBA All-Star weekend festivities this past Saturday, Hov and King James personally greeted children at the Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles and unveiled a newly renovated gymnasium at their facility.

For the third year in a row, Jay-Z and LeBron's Two Kings charity teamed up with Sprite to promote a worthy cause at All-Star Weekend. MTV News spoke to James and Jay about their participation.

"If you stay focused and you follow your dream, stay in school, you can be ... well, you might not be this tall," Jay told the club members, gesturing at James as wife Beyoncé looked on. "But you can definitely make it in life."

Although the duo are longtime friends, they're also technically rivals of sorts. James, of course, now plays for the Miami Heat, while Jay is a minority owner of the New Jersey Nets. Nevertheless, the pair are close and have used their popularity for philanthropic purposes.

"You've seen LeBron James on TV," Jay-Z told MTV News of why someone like the Heat star is an effective role model. "Just that thing that's tangible, that they can touch him and shake his hand and know that this is a young man who comes from the same areas as they do, and look where he's made it to. So it makes it real."

James, who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, echoed the Brooklyn-born MC's sentiments.

"Could you imagine if Michael Jordan showed up to your community?" James said. "Or whoever that you just dreamed and loved and watched every day on TV and you thought that was superhuman, just showed up to a community [center]? That one moment right there could be the difference between you making a left or making a right."

In addition to making renovations to the Boys & Girls Club gym, Jay and LeBron also unveiled a mural by famed graffiti artist and designer Mr. Cartoon, who was also present at the event.

"Whenever I'm doing a big mural like this, I gotta think about, 'It's there for the youngsters, it's there for the kids, but I want it to be on a hard-core graffiti website," the Los Angeles native told us. "I want to motivate and inspire the youngsters. I want kids to look at it like, 'Man, I want to do that!' "

According to Jay-Z, actively participating in events like these, as opposed to just posing for pictures, is essential.

"We wanted to just have a further dialogue with the people we were doing business with," Jay explained. "To let them know we weren't just paid endorsers and gonna sit there and just be smiling with a can in our hand or something. We wanted to take this [business] relationship and do some good. Take all these people, put them in a room, take their power and influence, and use them. But use them in a good way. Use them to affect good all over."

That same evening, the Two Kings charity held its fifth annual dinner, which was sponsored by Microsoft's Bing search engine. Some of the heavyweights in attendance included Ne-Yo, Miami Heat player Chris Bosh, Kanye West, Leonardo DiCaprio and Drake.

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Justin Bieber Is 'Really Growing Up,' Says 'Never Say Never' Director

MTV News first interviewed Justin Bieber in September of 2009, when the pint-size pop singer was on the cusp of breaking beyond his core audience into mainstream pop stardom. Then 15 years old and relatively new to the national media spotlight, Bieber wasn't nervous so much as generally tentative, a bit clipped and repetitive in his answers.

When Bieber walked into the MTV Newsroom earlier this month to promote the difference in his on-camera demeanor couldn't have been more different: He projected a breezy confidence, at times humorous or eye-on-the-prize focused, and was engaging throughout.

That Bieber has truly matured — not just as an artist, but as a person — isn't apparent only to those who occasionally cross his path. Jon M. Chu, who directed and began working with the singer in August, has noticed the change as well.

"With the movie and going to the Grammys and being respected on so many different levels beyond just his own fanbase, he's really growing up and learning how to interact with people," Chu said.

The director said he noted a great difference in the young star's disposition following the completion of his seven-month, 86-show tour.

"He's just had time to rest," said Chu, who started shooting "Never Say Never" as Bieber was in the midst of that nonstop North American tour. At first, Bieber was standoffish. Only gradually did the two establish a close creative partnership.

"Half of it was just me gaining trust with him because I was in his face with a camera," Chu said. "It was very much like 'Almost Famous,' where I was just on the bus and he didn't really want me there. Once we got past that, we were fine."

Have you noticed a change in Justin Bieber? Tell us below!

Check out everything we've got on "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."

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

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Anne Hathaway & James Franco Do Grease's 'You're The One That I Want'

Is James Franco the one that Anne Hathaway wants for the Oscars?

Apparently so, as the Academy Awards co-hosts reenact the iconic carnival scene ("You're The One That I Want") from 1978's Grease in a YouTube clip that the Oscar-nominated actor posted on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.

In the 19-second video, Franco slicks back his hair a la John Travolta's Danny Zuko and Hathaway shakes her tush – clad in the skin-tight leather pants made famous by Olivia Newton-John's Sandy Olsson.

Will this homage to Grease be included in their Oscars telecast? You'll have to tune into the 83rd annual Academy Awards, airing live Sunday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ABC, to find out!
– Janet Mock

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Tonya Harding Welcomes a Son

Tonya Harding

Donald Kravitz/Getty

Former figure skating champ Tonya Harding is a mom.

Harding, 40, gave birth to a boy on Saturday in a Washington State hospital, The Oregonian reports.

"Everybody's healthy and happy," her friend Don Horn tells the newspaper.

"She's always wanted a baby," Horn adds. "She was told she could never have a child ... and guess what? It really is a miracle and she really is very happy."

It's the first child for Harding, who is married to Joseph Price, 42, and lives in Washington.

Harding gained prominence when she won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1991, but became notorious after her ex-husband and bodyguard hired another man to injure her competitor Nancy Kerrigan's leg.

Harding pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and was banned from amateur skating.

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INSIDE STORY: How Dreams Turned Deadly for Hijacked American Sailors

Phyllis Mackay and Robert A. Riggle

Joe Grande/AP

The mood was somber at the Del Rey Yacht Club in Los Angeles Thursday, and the flag was flying at half-staff.

It was here that California couple Jean and Scott Adam, world travelers who loved the water, often moored their boat Quest when they were in town.

"The Del Rey Yacht Club was their home away from home," Club Commodore Gary Deitsch told the Los Angeles Times.

And they will be missed. The Adams, along with Seattle couple Phyllis Macay and Robert Riggle, were killed Tuesday as gunfire broke out between their Somali pirate captors and the U.S. Navy.

Deitsch is just one of the people mourning the grim outcome. "All of us at the club are devastated this horrific event has occurred," he said, going on to describe the Adams as being "very dedicated to serving mankind."

Family, friends and acquaintances of both couples have emerged to share their fond memories – and their confusion over the gruesome events. The big question: Why did the four, sailing on the Quest, break away from the safety of the fleet?

Their journey was meant to be part of an around-the-world expedition organized by Blue Water Rallies, whose organizers say the Quest broke off from the group on Feb. 15, taking an alternative route to Oman after leaving Mumbai. The four were reportedly en route to Djibouti to refuel when pirates hijacked them.

"Some of the story just doesn't make sense to me," Richard Peace, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena who was friends with Scott Adam told the L.A. Times. "Why would he depart from the group? That's the only thing that gave him a sense of security."

Adds Macay's niece Nina Crossland: "[My aunt] did her research. Why they were in that area we do not know. She was not haphazardly out on the ocean. My aunt was very adventurous, [but] if this was something that was going to scare her I don't think she would be doing it." Scott and Jean Adam

Pacific Coast News

What is known is that both couples viewed the trip as a happy adventure.

Macay "was living her dream – sailing around the world for this now her third year ... She enjoyed every port and every experience she had," said Crossland.

The oldest of six children, Macay, 59, grew up in Michigan before many members of her family relocated to the West Coast, and she ended up staying in Seattle where she met Riggle when both were members of the Seattle Singles Yacht Club.

Riggle, a vet, chipped in at the Seattle Animal Shelter when it was short staffed. "It has not sunk in yet," the shelter's Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas told Seattle's KING 5 News. "We're just in shock. We truly thought they would make it back."

According to Scott and Jean Adams's personal Web site, as part of their travels, they were engaging in "friendship evangelism – that is, finding homes for thousands of Bibles, which have been donated through grants and gifts, as we travel from place to place."

Scott Adam converted to Catholicism many years ago, when according to Peace, he had a "mystical experience where God was calling him to ministry." And when the Adams weren't sailing, Jean Adam, a dentist, sang in the church choir.

"They died doing what they wanted to do," Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson of St. Monica Catholic Church, where the couple worshiped, told the Times. "They found so much joy in doing it."

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Kim Kardashian: No Babies for Me - Yet

Kim Kardashian

Mathew Imaging/WireImage

Kim Kardashian has a new boyfriend, but don't expect her to rush into the marriage-and-baby stage.

When asked in a new interview about her plans to have kids, she told Extra, "Not anytime soon."

She did confess that she's left herself a little wiggle room, adding, "But I never know what the future holds."??

Kardashian, 30, seems smitten with her new man, NBA star Kris Humphries. "I think I haven't found one thing wrong with him, let's just put it like that," she said with a laugh.

As for the business side of her life, which includes forays into television, fashion, fragrance and jewelry, she says there's still more for her to tackle.

"People think, like, 'Oh what else can you do?' " she said at the launch of her new fragrance "Kim Kardashian" at Macy's in Glendale, Calif. "Well, there's a lot more."

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Does James Franco Have Anne Hathaway's Oscar Vote?

Franco (left) and Hathaway

AP(2)

James Franco will be pulling double duty at this year's Academy Awards, as both a host and a nominee.

So will fellow emcee Anne Hathaway show him some love by throwing her vote his way for Best Actor in 127 Hours?

Unfortunately for Franco, she's not saying.

"Actually, the ballot says on the front: 'Important, do not tell anyone, especially The Hollywood Reporter," she laughs during an interview with magazine, the pair's first together, before adding diplomatically, "I'm a big fan of James's performance."

As for what viewers can expect come Sunday night, THR reports that organizers will stage the Oscars as a visual journey through movie history, with Franco and Hathaway travelling back in time in an opening montage. They'll end up inside a digitally-enhanced "virtual" set.

One thing we won't see: The actors ribbing their fellow thespians, a la Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes.

"I can guarantee that if you're looking for someone to call people out, we're not your hosts," Hathaway, 28, says. "I think that humor is really difficult to pull off, and I'm not particularly adept at it. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it. Also, I don't mean to sound overly serious, but I am the youngest host in history and I have no business being cynical or calling anyone out. I certainly haven't earned the right to do that."

Asked whether Aron Ralston, whom Franco, 32, played in 127 Hours, might show up on stage at some point, the actor says, "Who knows? Aron is full of surprises. I'm sure he'll find his way into the show."

Franco – who says he's just learning how to use Twitter and "it might be fun" to try Tweeting during the show – also says he's managed to reduce some of the pressure of being a nominee.

"Well, nobody is shy about saying Colin Firth is going to win [for The King's Speech]," he says. "I've accepted that. By hosting, it makes it easier to go to the events and not feel like a total schmo."

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New Details of Jennifer Aniston's 'Sexy' Hairstyle

Jesus Aparicio/BuzzFoto

Jennifer Aniston may no longer be sporting “the Rachel,” but the fascination with her every strand of hair continues. Aniston caused quite a stir this week by chopping her luscious long locks into a sexy bob, so it’s no surprise that the world wants to know all the nitty gritty details of her perfectly cut coif. Aniston’s longtime stylist Chris McMillan shared his method behind the hair change-up with Allure.com. “It was just time for a change,” McMillan said. “We had a blast doing it. And we’ve always liked this haircut. It’s about keeping things simple.” But why a bob? “I’m loving bobs again,” he explained, citing the recent styles featured by fashion houses like YSL and Celine. “It’s a sexy look.” But could it be that the real inspiration also had something to do with reality TV? Just ask McMillan. “The reason that I’m loving a bob at the moment… There are so many long, layered hairstyles and—don’t get me wrong, I love that. But The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills all have that. You know what I mean? And what’s the opposite direction you can go in.” Seems like this sleek and chic bob is pretty far in the right direction to us. Tell us: What do you think of Jennifer Aniston’s new bob?—Kim Peiffer
VOTE NOW ON OTHER STAR HAIR CHANGES!

Edited by Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

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FIRST LOOK: Daniel Radcliffe Sings & Dances on Broadway!

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday February 23, 2011 04:00 PM EST

Daniel Radcliffe (front and center), rehearsing How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with John Larroquette behind him

Ari Mintz

Jon Hamm, move over. The latest looker to leap back into the 1960s: Daniel Radcliffe, who is assuming the musical role of quintessential company man J. Pierrepont Finch in the new Broadway revival of the 1961 classic How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

As shown in these exclusive-to-PEOPLE rehearsal shots, Radcliife is already off and running ahead of the chorus. As Finch, he starts in the mailroom of Manhattan's World Wide Wicket and works his way up the corporate ladder.

En route, he meets the adoring secretary Rosemary Pilkington – played by Philadelphia-born Rose Hemingway, in her Broadway debut after touring nationally in Mamma Mia. She's also appeared in Donmar Warehouse's U.S. production of Parade at Los Angeles's Mark Taper Forum.

In the production, which marks Radcliffe's return to the Great White Way for the first time since starring in a 2008 revival of Equus – Anderson Cooper narrates Finch's meteoric rise ... and fall.

"Anderson Cooper just always stood out for me," the Harry Potter star, 21, says on the How to Succeed Web site about the CNN anchor. "He always had this kind of really cool ... playful glint behind his eye, I think, which I always found quite funny."

Also in the cast: John Larroquette, as J.B. Biggley, the boss of the World Wide Wicket Company, who admires Finch's fortitude. Previews begin Feb. 26 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, with the opening night set for March 27.

Coincidentally, Radcliffe's role made a star of Robert Morse when he originated J. Pierrepont Finch in the original How to … 50 years ago (and in the 1967 movie) – and, today, Morse, 79, memorably stars on Mad Men, as the advertising company's founder, Bertram Cooper. Rose Hemingway and Daniel Radcliffe

Ari Mintz

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Justin Bieber's Hairstylist: He Was Ready for a New Look

CBS/INF

Justin Bieber revealed his newly cropped do earlier this week, inciting a national debate over the singer’s new look (admit, you miss the trademark hair swoosh just a little). To get to the root of the matter, PEOPLE chatted with his longtime hairstylist, Vanessa Price, to see what prompted the change. “He was ready,” she explains of the more mature style. “Cutting your hair is just part of the evolution and growing process for anyone, and I think he was just ready,” she says. But don’t think this was a snap decision. Price reveals, “We’ve been talking about it over the last 6 months or so — more or less, it’s definitely been in the works for awhile.” It is all a collaborative process between the pop mega-star and his trusted stylist. “Justin has always been clear about what he wants done,” Price explains. “That said, he trusts me to make the right judgment with it, we really orchestrate his hairstyle together. He knows what he wants and I know what will work best with his features and hair type.” Paying close attention to his bone structure and extra fine hair, Price employed a method called “fine point cut layering, which gives it a really texturized look.” The resulting style is choppier, but still retains the star coif’s trademark touchability. “It’s like silk,” she admits. “He has very, very soft hair; I hope it stays that way forever.” Tell us: Do you like Justin’s new haircut? —Justine Harman; reporting by Kate Hallett

?WEIGH IN ON MORE CROPPED DOS IN: ‘LONG OR SHORT: WHAT’S HER BEST HAIR?’

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Rachel Zoe Celebrates Her Baby Shower

On Saturday, Rachel Zoe celebrated the upcoming March arrival of her baby boy with a shower in her honor. The intimate affair was hosted by close friend Pamela Skaist-Levy and the stylist’s sister, Pamela Glassman.

Accompanied by husband Rodger Berman, Zoe, 39, wore a dress by The Row, paired with an Oscar de la Renta necklace. In lieu of gifts, guests were given the option of donating to Los Angeles-based charity Baby2Baby, an organization that donates infant items to families in need.

RELATED: Rachel Zoe’s Maternity Style 101

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Why Is Ace Frehley So Sad?

Posted 2/21/2011 at 1:00 pm by Adam Tod Brown

In the name of full disclosure, we’ll kick this off by stating that we aren’t 100% sure if this really is former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley in the above photo. Hopefully any die-hard KISS fans reading this can forgive us for that. The band wears full makeup and we’re not nearly into them enough to make a positive identification based on body language and distinguishing facial crags alone. Sorry.

But that’s completely beside the point, because there’s a serious problem here. Ace Frehley is really sad, you guys!

Is it because that other dude is cupping what may be his wife, girlfriend or escort for the night’s breast? Is it because he doesn’t have a breast to fondle? Is the guy he’s talking to serving him with court papers or something? Is Gene Simmons suing him for some reason? Gene strikes us a pretty litigious kind of guy, but we think we would have heard a story like that somewhere, so it’s unlikely.

So what the hell is it that has Ace Frehley so down in the dumps? Our sources tell us the picture was taken in Las Vegas, so whatever the problem is, it must be pretty horrible. If you’re depressed in a city like Las Vegas, things have gone completely off the rails. So what’s the problem? We want to know! Can you help us figure it out?

(picture via alepisaball.com)

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Michigan Man Facing 20 Years in Prison for YouTube Video

Posted 2/21/2011 at 9:00 am by Adam Tod Brown

The title of this article might sound crazy, but there are plenty of things you could do in a YouTube video that would be worthy of a lengthy stint in prison, like abusing animals or vandalizing property or professing your love for Nickelback. All of those acts are morally reprehensible and committing them to video is just begging for jail time. But this isn’t that kind of YouTube video.

A Michigan man named Evan Emory is facing 20 years in prison after posting a video featuring him singing a sexually explicit song to a group of school children in their classroom. That certainly sounds scandalous enough, especially after you have a look at some of the lyrics…

“See how long it takes to make your panties mine”

“I’ll add some foreplay in just to make it fun”

“I want you to suck on my testes until I spurt in your face”

“I’ll lick on your chewie”

“I want to stick my index finger in your anus”

“I’ll be the bus riding your ass up and down my town”

“I’m gonna use my sausage to make fettucine, then for dessert have a Harry Houdini”

Yikes! It’s easy to see why charges might be filed against a person who pulled a stunt like that. But here’s the rub, Emory didn’t actually sing those lyrics to the kids in the video. The video is just the result of some crafty editing work.

Evan Emory did, in fact, sing for a group of assembled kids, but he sang a perfectly harmless kids song which, by all accounts, the kids loved. It wasn’t until later that, as a joke, he edited the video to make it look like he was singing the sexually explicit lyrics.

As you would expect, school administrators weren’t amused after word of the explicit video got back to them. Even less impressed was Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague, who had Evan Emory and arrested and charged with manufacturing child sexual abusive material. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Before we go any further, let us go on record as saying that what Evan Emory did was indeed a horrible idea and an incredible display of poor taste and judgement. That said, it’s hardly an act worthy of a 20-year prison sentence, especially when you consider that it took place in Michigan. Call us crazy, but Michigan strikes us as a state with bigger fish to fry than making sure a 21-year-old YouTube jokester rots for what amounts to a bad joke. They do realize Detroit is in Michigan, right? How about spending some cash to build that rusty heap of scrap metal up a bit instead of wasting it on frivolous prosecutions like this?

We’re not the only ones who feel this is all a bit ridiculous. There’s even a “Free Evan Emory” Facebook page dedicated to the case. Click here to check it out. And for the record, we didn’t post the video because, naturally, it’s been pulled from YouTube.

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Viral Outbreak: The Honey Badger Don’t Care!

Posted 2/18/2011 at 12:00 pm by Adam Tod Brown

You would never guess it due to its pansy sounding name, but the honey badger is often referred to as “the most fearless animal in the world.” With a reputation like that, you better live up to the hype once the cameras start rolling. And don’t get us wrong, when we first saw this amazing animal in action, we had no complaints about the badger holding up its end of the badass bargain. There was still something missing, though. We just couldn’t put our finger on what this display of jungle cat chasing and snake eating was lacking.

As it turns out, the missing touch was some sassy voice over work. Fortunately, some guy named Randall took this footage and added all of the necessary touches to make the badger’s exploits really pop. Now, the honey badger isn’t just the most fearless animal in the world, it’s also the most FIERCE!

Check out the video below to see what we mean…

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Paz Vega’s Sexy New Cat Run Movie Poster

Posted 2/18/2011 at 11:30 am by Adam Tod Brown

You might remember Paz Vega from her star turn in the Adam Sandler flick Spanglish. This April, she makes a welcome return to the silver screen in the violence infused action-comedy Cat Run.

In the film, two friends find themselves at that point in life where career options are at a minimum and, like we all wish we could do, they start a detective agency. Unfortunately, their very first case finds them tasked with protecting a high class escort, played by Vega, and soon find themselves on the run from the mob, a US Senator and a ruthless Mary Poppins-like assassin.

We got our hot little hands on an exclusive preview of the official movie poster and, we must say, Paz Vega makes for a damn sexy silhouette. Check it!

Cat Run stars Paz Vega (Spanglish), Janet McTeer (Tideland, Tumbleweeds), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Tony Curran (Gladiator, Underworld: Evolution) Scott Mechlowicz (EuroTrip), and DL Hughley. Check it out in select theaters starting April 1, 2011.

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Britney Spears, Girls Gone Too Wild, Blake Griffin and More

Posted 2/21/2011 at 7:00 am by Adam Tod Brown

Morning Dump is your AM guide to the best links on the web.

American Awesomeness, Long Butts, Oregon Cheerleaders and More Posted 07/01/10 Johnny Cash’s To Do List, Halloween Madness, Literal Tramp Stamp and More Posted 10/29/10 Steroids Suck, Sex Tape Tips, Snoop Dogg as a Lady Sprinter and More Posted 07/30/10 SI Model Twitpics, Sexy Housewives, Toys of the 90’s and More Posted 02/16/11 Fish Hadouken, Celebrity Sideboob, Internet Hoaxes and More Posted 08/13/10 Shoes Every Man Needs, Sofia Vergara GIFs, TSA Fun Facts and More Posted 11/22/10 Legendary Mustaches, Real Tunnel Prison Escapes, Sadistic Experiments and More Posted 09/24/10 Real MacGyvers, Sporty MILFs, 21st Century Playboys and More Posted 11/15/10

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A Comic’s Take on Getting Into Sporting Events for Free

Don’t let a lack of spendable cash keep you from living the high life. In this weekly column, standup comic Danny Lobell explains how to live a Playboy lifestyle on a welfare budget. This…is Budget Ballin’.

I have found that the greatest way to watch live sports is for FREE. Free, you ask? How do you do that?! And the answer is, of course, it’s all about who you know. Here is the trick, there are hundreds of employees working at every sports stadium and all you have to do is make friends with one of them and they can likely hook you up with free tickets. Sometimes those tickets will be the ones that have not been sold yet. Even better, sometimes the reason they have not been sold yet is because they are too expensive, so what winds up happening is you might find yourself in a luxury box or field side.

Next question: How do I become friends with someone?

Hopefully you mean “how do I become friends with a stadium employee?” If you’re just asking how to make a friend in general then…shit, that’s sad. You should worry less about free sporting events and spend a little more time on not being a friendless shut in.

As for befriending a stadium employee, that’s easy, set your sights on the hot dog vendor. In my experience, the hot dog vendor is the quickest path to free sporting event fun.

Okay, so how do I make friends with the hot dog guy?

Befriending a hot dog vendor is not at all unlike what I imagine a serial killer “befriending” their next victim is like. All you really need to do is hang out in a stadium parking lot and offer them a ride to the bus. During that ride you strike up a conversation and by the end of it somebody is lying dead in the trunk of your car. Except, you know, substitute “lying dead in a trunk” with “friends on Facebook” or something.

Not only is the hot dog guy usually good for free tickets, but it’s a given that they can get you beer and food also.

But what if I don’t have a car?

Wow. No friends and no car. You’re not making this easy on me, are you?

Anyway, there are many ways to make friends with the hot dog guy, just be creative. Follow him home if necessary. Learn the quirks of his daily commute. Does he stop at the same coffee spot every night? If so, make sure you’re conveniently stationed there some night and make your move. Like I said, think like a serial killer, or like a run of the mill stalker if you’re more comfortable with that.

When you finally build up the courage to make your move, know this… hot dog people generally love talking about hot dogs outside of work. It’s a weird thing, I know, but I’ve found it to be true. Most people do not like talking about their jobs outside of work but hot dog guys generally love it. Slip some rare hot dog facts into your conversation. Here are a few to get you started:

Did you know that in 1905 Hebrew National opened shop on Manhattan’s lower east side but it wasn’t until 1965 that they came up with the phrase “we answer to a higher authority?” That means for 60 years they were just answering to equals.Did you know that the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile was created in 1936 and has toured the United States for 70 years during which time six more have been built?

I’m telling you, throw a couple lines like those at a hot dog guy and before you know it you’re hanging out in the dugout sippin’ down Gatorade with Jeter.

Seriously though, make friends with an employee that works at your favorite stadium and I guarantee you will never pay for ball game tickets again and you will get VIP treatment. It’s that easy.

And to all you sports fans out there, just a word of advice: When your team wins a game don’t go around the next day saying “we won the game.” Professional athletes who are the best at the sport in the world won the game, you ate cheetos on your basement couch.

That said, I realize I might just be saying this because I feel a bit resentful that comedians such as myself don’t get the same treatment from our fans. Tell you what- here is what I propose. If you insist on taking partial credit for your team’s victory,  that’s fine. But then also come and see my show and walk around the next day telling everyone “we killed last night.” Unless “we” didn’t, of course. In that case, keep your mouth shut. We’ll get ‘em next time.

In the meantime, study up on your processed meat history and enjoy your newfound friendship with your local stadium hot dog vendor, and all the perks that come with it.

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Atlas Shrugged and So Did We, Plus More Movie Trailers

Posted 2/18/2011 at 9:00 am by Tyler Trykowski

In this week’s trailer park we confront the paranormal, the abnormal and Ayn Rand. We can’t decide which of those three is scarier to confront- probably Ayn Rand, though. In any case, these trailers are thoroughly confusing, and mildly frightening. So, they’re probably going to be blockbusters. Enjoy a Diet Coke, why don’t you, and watch the trailers with us in your weekly Trailer Park.

11-11-11

This is one of those movies that sounds dumb in concept, then looks dumb in concept, thereby proving it was a dumb idea all along. The guy who directed this also directed Saw 2, 3 and 4. So far, this “they” they’re referencing in the trailer looks too ambiguous to know whether it’ll be scary or not yet. Will an impressive director make up for a weak idea, with the script based around a mere coincidence? ONLY TIME WILL TELL!

Insidious

Again, an extremely ambiguous “phenomenon” haunts our characters, and we’re shown scary footage and supposed to piece it all together, or something. And just like 11-11-11, the creators worked on Saw! It’s like that movie is a shiny sticker you can slap onto any old horror movie for a great little attendance boost. Admittedly, Saw was very good, and these are just teaser trailers. Will Insidious actually be insidious? Good question, probably not.

Atlas Shrugged: Part 1

Admittedly, I never read Atlas Shrugged. I don’t know if reading the book would’ve even helped much, here. This trailer attempts to introduce about 45 characters and 17 individual story lines to you in the span of two minutes. Isn’t Atlas Shrugged about 1000 pages long? Who the hell would EVER want to cram all those words into a 120-minute film? Madmen. Hope this one does well at the box office so the studio can afford to pay all these actors, there’s gotta be at least 120 main characters in this one.

Brotherhood
(Trailer NSFW)

Mmm, y’know, when Variety’s remarking that you’ve “achieved the sweaty-palmed intensity of film noir” and Indiewire says you’re “a breathless thriller,” you might be a good film. Hazing: it’s all fun and games until someone gets shot in the shoulder and you can’t go to the hospital because that’ll get your chapter suspended from campus. Life lessons.

Check out this interview with pledge Kevin Fahley from the film, while you’re at it:

Pledge interview- Brotherhood

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Viral Outbreak: Arcade Fire Hipster Attack

Posted 2/17/2011 at 3:00 pm by Adam Tod Brown

We spent a little time discussing Justin Bieber’s epic Grammy upset earlier today, but he wasn’t the only artist involved in an award show shocker that night. In a win that nobody saw coming, Canada-based indie band Arcade Fire walked away with the biggest prize of the night for Album of the Year.

They aren’t quite as obscure as Esperanza Spalding, but plenty of people still have no idea who they are. Hell, thanks to Barbara Streisand’s mishandling of the announcement, a lot of people still think the band’s name is The Suburbs.

If you’re one of those people, don’t let your lack of knowledge escape your careless mouth while in the vicinity of a roving pack of hipsters. If you do, the above video clearly demonstrates what will likely happen next.

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Girl on Girl: Kimberly Heart and Jessica Vaugn

When I think about great asses, Kim comes to mind. Not JUST Kim Kardashian, but Kim Heart too! I met Kimberly Heart in the middle of 2010 for a lighting and retouching seminar we both modeled for. I didn’t know what to expect, but five minutes into the day, as I was doing her hair and makeup in a cramped hotel bathroom, we really hit it off! Ever since that day this Italian beauty has been a JV fave.

Since then we’ve shot together again and really made some great pictures, people call us the twins!! (Go see for yourself!)

If you love curves (26-25-35), and I KNOW you do, Kimberly is someone to follow! You can keep up with her on Twitter @KimberlyHeart69.

Hometown: San Bernardino, California

Current location: Birmingham, Alabama for college

What will make you definitely drop a guy on a first date?

Try and move too fast- in that special way boys do.

Something new you’ve learned about yourself?

I am bisexual! How fun to be a girl and like them too!

Favorite sports Team?

Alabama Crimson Tide Football

Favorite band?

Motley Crue

Fave food?

Mac and Cheese

What is your favorite part of your body?

I love my back and shoulders!

What is your “thing” in bed?

I love to take control now and then! Most times I love passionate and gentle touches day to day.

Celeb Crush?

I’ve actually itemized this! I’d love to kiss Angelina Jolie’s lips, grab Nicki Minaj’s ass, and of course I crush on Jess Vaugn! As far as guys, I really crush on Gerard Butler because of his sense of humor and sex appeal.

Fave part of a man’s body?

I love great teeth and a warm heart.

Play it safe or take the dare?

I always go for the dare. I would rather take the risk and not make it work than to look back and wonder.

Does your family know you’re taking sexy and scandalous pictures?

Yes, and they love and support me. I don’t have a super close family, so we all do our own thing.

I know you have a motorcycle, tell us about it!

Its a Kawasaki Ninja but I hope to upgrade soon enough.

We know you’re adventurous, where’s the craziest place you’ve ever had sex?

I was dating this guy who worked security at a building in my hometown. I came to visit him at work one night and was doing a round with him when we decided to walk to the car for a few minutes on break. I was so turned on from not having seen him for days that I rode him in the car- It was so fast but great!! Later that same night we had sex again on the hood of his car in public! Good thing it was dark and no one saw us!

Obsessions?

Lingerie, I collect sets!! Hot bubble baths, and of course, vibrators.

Have you been in Playboy?

Not yet, I’m fresh meat, but I plan to be one day! What an iconic magazine Hef has built… I’d really love to be a part of the Playboy family.

Freestyle a goodbye to all your new Playboy reader fans!

Please add me on Facebook and Twitter to see all my new pictures, I shoot all the time so there’s always something new! Also, no matter what your dreams are, remember, you are in charge of your own destiny and only you can make it happen- go for it!!

Photo credit: www.dannygriffin.net

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