MTV Buzz Today: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

2012 MTV Movie Awards Nominees: Complete List

Ready to pass out another batch of golden popcorn trophies, the nominees for the 2012 MTV Movie Awards were unveiled on Monday evening (April 30).

With the show being held at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California on June 3rd, this year sees "The Hunger Games" and "Bridesmaids" perched atop the pack with eight nominations apiece.

As for individual accolades, the Favorite Actress category is quite the heated race with Emma Stone, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Wiig and Rooney Mara all in the running.

As for their male counterparts, Favorite Actor hopefuls include Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Hutcherson and Ryan Gosling.

With fan voting opening up online beginning on Tuesday, May 1st at 8AM ET, the complete list of nominees for the 2012 MTV Movie Awards is as follows:

MOVIE OF THE YEAR
Bridesmaids
The Hunger Games
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Help
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Emma Stone ? Crazy, Stupid, Love.
Emma Watson ? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Jennifer Lawrence ? The Hunger Games
Kristen Wiig ? Bridesmaids
Rooney Mara ? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Channing Tatum ? The Vow
Daniel Radcliffe ? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Joseph Gordon-Levitt ? 50/50
Josh Hutcherson ? The Hunger Games
Ryan Gosling ? Drive

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
Elle Fanning ? Super 8
Melissa McCarthy ? Bridesmaids
Liam Hemsworth ? The Hunger Games
Rooney Mara ? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Shailene Woodley ? The Descendants

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
Jonah Hill ? 21 Jump Street
Kristen Wiig ? Bridesmaids
Melissa McCarthy ? Bridesmaids
Oliver Cooper ? Project X
Zach Galifianakis ? The Hangover Part II

BEST CAST
21 Jump Street (Sony Pictures) ? Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Dave Franco, Ellie Kemper, Brie Larson
Bridesmaids (Universal Pictures) ? Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros. Pictures) ? Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton
The Help (DreamWorks) ? Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain
The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) ? Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz

BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION
Collin Farrell ? Horrible Bosses
Elizabeth Banks ? The Hunger Games
Johnny Depp ? 21 Jump Street
Michelle Williams ? My Week with Marilyn
Rooney Mara ? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

BEST FIGHT
Channing Tatum & Jonah Hill vs. Kid Gang ? 21 Jump Street
Daniel Radcliffe vs. Ralph Fiennes ? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson vs. Alexander Ludwig ? The Hunger Games
Tom Cruise vs. Michael Nyqvist ? Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Tom Hardy vs. Joel Edgerton ? Warrior

BEST KISS
Channing Tatum & Rachel McAdams ? The Vow
Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson ? The Hunger Games
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart ? The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn
Rupert Grint & Emma Watson ? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone ? Crazy, Stupid, Love.

BEST GUT-WRENCHING PERFORMANCE
21 Jump Street ? Jonah Hill & Rob Riggle
Bridesmaids ? Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper
Drive ? Ryan Gosling
The Help ? Bryce Dallas Howard
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol ? Tom Cruise

BEST ON-SCREEN DIRTBAG
Bryce Dallas Howard ? The Help
Collin Farrell ? Horrible Bosses
Jennifer Aniston ? Horrible Bosses
Jon Hamm ? Bridesmaids
Oliver Cooper ? Project X

Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel Ashanti

Ke$ha - Take It Off

Take It Off

Artist: Ke$ha
Label: RCA
Director: Paul Hunter, Dori Oskowitz
Album: King of the Blues Guitar

Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco

Ke$ha Calls Bob Dylan Cover 'An Emotional Purging'

Pop singer sings 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right' for Amnesty International anniversary album.
By Jocelyn Vena

It's hard to associate <a href="/music/artist/_kesha_/artist.jhtml">Ke$ha</a> with songs about anything other than hot guys, body glitter and partying. But she's defying her usual topics of interest for human rights organization Amnesty International. The singer is one of the many musicians on the org's Chimes of Freedom compilation of Bob Dylan's music, out January 24. <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Ke$ha Calls Bob Dylan Cover Choice 'An Accident'" id="vid:720838" width="240" height="211"></div> When MTV News spoke with K-Dollar Sign last week about her <a href="/news/articles/1676172/kesha-sleazy-remix.jhtml">all-star remix of "Sleazy,"</a> she also opened up about switching gears vocally and emotionally for her version of Dylan's classic "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." "I mean, I think it's pretty well known that he's one of, if not my most, favorite artists of all time and ... one of the most amazing lyricists as well — the original storyteller," she explained. "So I love Bob Dylan and this was just, like, a dream. When they asked me to do a cover, I was just, like, salivating and going through all my records. It was so fun. It was the best homework assignment you could possibly have." K's version of Dylan's song is a slow-burning, heartbreaking ode to the already heartbreaking classic, where she channels Dylan through lyrics like "Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say/ To try and make me change my mind and stay/ We never did too much talkin' anyway/ So don't think twice, it's all right." <div class="player-placeholder right" title="What Is The Biggest Perk Of Being A Headliner?" id="vid:642810" width="240" height="211"></div> Ke$ha had originally intended to record another Dylan track, but when she heard that someone else had their sights set on it, she settled on "Don't Think Twice," prompting a catharsis she could never have imagined. "This song was kind of an accident. I sat down and this is the first take that I ever sang," she recalled. "I just sat down on my bed for the first time after months of being on tour and I just started crying, and it was kind of like an emotional purging, and you can hear it on the record." In addition to Ke$ha and her contribution, the album will feature 75 other Dylan classics recorded by nearly 80 artists including Adele, Miley Cyrus, "Glee" star Darren Criss, My Chemical Romance, Evan Rachel Wood and Sugarland. The album pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International.

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Photos | Best Couples Of 2011

Best Couples Of 2011

Dear Beyonce: Why We Love You Till The End Of Time

Above the Buzz pays homage to Queen B after the singer pens a few heartfelt letters to her own idols.
By Jocelyn Vena

These days, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> is breaking down her personal "fourth wall," letting fans into her life more and more, after living as a pop-star enigma for more than a decade. She recently re-launched her website, began tweeting, <a href="/news/articles/1682565/beyonce-tumblr-personal-pics.jhtml">started a personal Tumblr</a> account and even <a href="/news/articles/1683546/beyonce-skypes-remix-contest.jhtml">Skyped with a contest winner</a> this week after her "End of Time" remix competition. Somewhere in there, Blue Ivy's mama found the time to handwrite letters to several famous people and post them on her site. She <a href="http://www.beyonce.com/news/michelle-obama" target="_blank">shared</a> her warm, fuzzy feelings for some key figures, including First Lady Michelle Obama, the late New York artist <a href="http://www.beyonce.com/news/basquiat" target="_blank">Jean-Michel Basquiat</a> and <a href="http://www.beyonce.com/news/sade" target="_blank">R&B star Sade </a>. In honor of that, I decided to turn this week's Above the Buzz into a letter to Beyoncé, in the key of B, of course. <CENTER><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:724613/cp~name%3Dnews%26id%3D1676907%26vid%3D724613%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A724613" width="430" height="242" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></CENTER> Dear Beyoncé, First off, I just want to say "Hey Girl!" You're truly an inspiration to girls everywhere. You represent ladies in a great way, what with your girl power anthems and messages of female independence. And it seems these days, in spite of how busy you are, you're focused on <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/04/19/beyonce-back-to-school-new-york/">heading back to school</a>. Education is a really awesome message to spread to all the young women out there. Stay in school kids, right, B? Next, I just want to let you know that I am still into <a href="/news/articles/1665479/beyonce-4-leak.jhtml">4.</a> It's a pretty great album to just leave on repeat while I'm at work or just living life. I mean, those are some jams on there. And, not to quote you or anything, but you shared with Sade that her music helps you get through times, good and bad — well, back at you. Also, you've been rocking some awesome street style recently. Those "cat" flats you donned a few weeks back have me dreaming of kitschy, animal-themed couture every night. I can only imagine the kind of crazy looks you are planning for the string of shows you have lined up <link type="content" id="1681308">next month in Atlantic City. I assume my tickets are in the mail? Anyway, I don't want to take up too much of your time. I know you're busy being a mom and working on new music and probably prepping for your show and all, but if you and Jay-Z can make the time, I think I can pencil you guys in for dinner or whatever. I'm cool with wherever you guys pick. You know me, pretty easy-going and all. Alright then, talk to you later. Your girl, Jocelyn <a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a>

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Who Are the Best-Dressed Celebrities of 2012?

This was the year for the young stars of The Twilight Saga to reign on the red carpet, and now they're being recognized for it.

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Justin Bieber - That Should Be Me

That Should Be Me

Artist: Justin Bieber
Label: Island Records
Director: Mark Kalbfeld
Album: Forever Now [Expanded]

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Rihanna Teases 'Badass' Role In 'Battleship'

'We did training just before the shoot, speeding the boat, turning, learning how to shoot and handle the weapon,' singer-turned-actress tells MTV.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by MTV UK

Rihanna in "Battleship"
Photo: Universal Pictures

There are only a few more hours until Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna and Brooklyn Decker will hit our airwaves for "MTV First: 'Battleship' " to premiere an exclusive clip from their buzzworthy summer blockbuster. In the meantime, we are happy to hold you eager fans over with a snippet from our interview with Rihanna about the film.

"I wanted to do something badass but I didn't imagine it would be grungy, like straight Navy soldier, no makeup," Rihanna said of her expectations for her first movie role. "I enjoyed it. We did training just before the shoot, speeding the boat, turning, learning how to shoot and handle the weapon, and two hours later we were shooting that scene."

The "Talk That Talk" singer has received nothing but rave reviews for her work in the film.

"She was great," director Peter Berg told MTV News of Rihanna's acting chops. "She has a very strong part. I was surprised no one had ever thought to hire Rihanna," he added. "I was a huge fan of her videos. Obviously she's sexy, but she had this real intensity. I'm like, 'Someone's going to get her.'

"When I met with her, she came in a T-shirt and jeans, no makeup, very natural," Berg recalled. "She was like, 'Look, I want to be an actress. Don't kiss my ass. Don't lie to me. Push me. Treat me as you would any other actor. Help make me good.' She is really, really good in 'Battleship.' "

Don't forget to tune in to MTV on MTV tonight at 7:56 p.m. ET to watch the premiere of the exclusive "Battleship" clip, followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with the film's stars on MTV.com, hosted by MTV News' Josh Horowitz. Fans can get in on the action by submitting video or text questions via MTV.com or via Twitter using @MTVNews, hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskBattleship.

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

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

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Usher And Diplo Found 'Chemistry' On 'Climax'

In-demand producer/DJ also talks to MTV News about upcoming projects with No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, more.
By Zachary Swickey

MADISON, Wisconsin — It was just four years ago that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/diplo/artist.jhtml">Diplo</a> put his production prowess on full display with M.I.A.'s mega-hit <a href="http://www.mtv.com/videos/mia/195024/paper-planes.jhtml">"Paper Planes."</a> Since then, the DJ/producer has become a go-to producer for major acts like Usher, whose latest single, R&B jam "Climax," features work from the Philadelphia native. On Tuesday, MTV News hit up the first stop on the campus-themed <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/03/28/diplo-chiddy-bang-axe-one-night-only-tour">AXE One Night Only Tour</a> in Wisconsin, and we caught up with the headlining DJ to talk about his upcoming projects. "We got really luck on that one," he said of the track from Usher's upcoming album. "We just had great chemistry. I was super-nervous working with him the first two days. ... The way we did it, it was just a super-open format. He was down to do whatever we were excited about. "I love Usher," Diplo gushed. "I'm an Usher fan. I love him for records like 'Confessions Pt. II' and 'Burn,' those are some of the first R&B records from my generation that are still lasting forever. And we did some uptempo stuff too. I don't know what'll make the album, but I think there are definitely three songs that'll make it." Diplo is currently involved with a number of projects and luckily he was willing to dish. After working last summer with <a href="/news/articles/1670849/no-doubt-album-release.jhtml">No Doubt on their upcoming record</a>, the producer revealed he had good news to share. "We just finished. I was actually in Jamaica last month and I went in and did some extra stuff on that record," he told us. "I'm super-excited. It's probably going to be a single for their album. They've been [tweeting] about the song, so they're excited about it. I think it's going to be a 'No Doubt featuring Major Lazer' record, because we were producers, and there's another artist on it, too, that we recorded in Jamaica. "But you'll have to wait," Diplo warned, "I don't know how far off that record is, but every song I've heard is a bona-fide hit. ' The superstar DJ also recently took to his Facebook page and casually mentioned that he's already started production on 18 tracks for a record with <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/snoop_dogg/artist.jhtml">Snoop Dogg</a>. "Snoop Dogg is an icon, man; he's bigger than the music," Diplo said. "What we're doing is a reggae record. It's like Snoop Dogg and Major Lazer together. It's all reggae and he's singing and he's doing a f---ing awesome job and I never knew it, but he had his heart in every song. ... We're going to get back into the production of it next month, and I'm really proud of that record. It's the first record I've ever executive-produced and his crew is amazing.

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The Most Unexpected Leading Men

Move over, matinee idols! From Jason Segel to Owen Wilson, see the actors who've made their own unique mark on Hollywood

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Do Foo Fighters Know Robert Pattinson From Robert Plant?

During band's rehearsal break for Sunday's Movie Awards, we put Foos to the test.
By Ryan J. Downey, with reporting by Jim Cantiello

UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Hard rock, heavy metal, hardcore and punk have long gone hand-in-hand with evil wizards, magic, vampires and werewolves. And with a collective sub-cultural pedigree that includes stints in the Germs, No Use for a Name, Sunny Day Real Estate, Scream and some band called Nirvana, you'd think the <a href="/music/artist/foo_fighters/artist.jhtml">Foo Fighters</a> — set to perform at Sunday's <a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2011/">Movie Awards</a> — would know their "Potter" from their Zeppelin. Certainly they can recognize a "wand" reference and pinpoint its origin? <div class="player-placeholder right" title="The Foo Fighters Take The Movie Awards Quiz" id="vid:660301.id:1664959" width="240" height="211"></div> Right? Before we put MTV News' magically crafted trivia to the band, it seemed safe to assume the Foos would accurately distinguish between the words of Harry Potter, a "Twilight" character and Led Zeppelin. But was their underground nerd cred blown to shreds? Read on — and click the video! — to see how the Foo Fighters fared when we caught up with them on the Universal Studios lot, shortly after they finished rehearsing their <a href="/news/articles/1664297/foo-fighters-mtv-movie-awards.jhtml">Movie Awards performance</a>. Our own Jim Cantiello played dungeon master as Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear were given a series of semi-famous lines and asked whether they originated with "Harry Potter," the "Twilight Saga" or the lyrics of hard-rock pioneers Led Zeppelin. Here's a sampling of a few of those one-liners: » "The elder wand, the most powerful wand ever made." » "Why don't you let me be yours ever truly? Can I make your garden grow?" » "You're lying, Dolores! You mustn't tell lies!" Can you guess whether the lines above came from the "Potter" flicks, "Twilight" or Robert Plant? Watch as the Foos try their best to do exactly that. Then tune in to the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday to catch the Foo Fighters rock the stage with their new single, "Walk." Will wizards, vampires or dream thieves steal the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2011/">2011 MTV Movie Awards</a>? Find out June 5, when the 20th annual show airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT that night for the "America's Best Dance Crew" finale and Movie Awards pre-show, loaded with live action from the red carpet, exclusive movie clips and a special edition of <a href="http://www.mtv.com/shows/after_hours_josh_horowitz/series.jhtml">"After Hours."</a>

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Judd Apatow's 'This Is 40' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd are back as Debbie and Pete, picking up in their marriage where they left off in "Knocked Up."
By Fallon Prinzivalli

Melissa McCarthy and Paul Rudd in "This is 40"
Photo: Universal Pictures

Ever wonder what happened to Alison's sister and brother-in-law from "Knocked Up"? The dynamic duo of Debbie (Leslie Mann) and Pete (Paul Rudd) had a few key scenes in the film, including Debbie taking Alison (Katherine Heigl) to the club where she meets Seth Rogen's character.

Now Judd Apatow aims to brings us back into the lives of the couple as Debbie celebrates her 40th birthday in "This Is 40." Continually lying about her age as she refuses to accept it, Debbie wonders if she's living the best life possible and decides she and Pete need to make some changes.

"I've made a list," she tells her husband in a scene from the trailer, which was released on Friday (April 27). "It's the 'do-better' list. We're 40 years old, if we don't do it now, when are we going to do it?"

Read on for more on five key scenes from the clip!

Counting the Rings
At the gynecologist's office, the nurses try to figure out if Debbie was born in 1972, '74 or '75 since her paperwork lists a range of dates of birth. When Debbie finally blurts out, "I lie about my age, OK? OK?" her gynecologist responds, "I know how old you are. I'm counting the rings." And with that line, we know typical Apatow humor will be on display in this flick. After that exchange, Debbie decides it's time for a change and makes a list of the top three things she and her husband need to focus on now that they're in their 40s: exercise, the kids' education and being patient.

Exercise Every Day
In one scene, Debbie works with a personal trainer, which allows the filmmakers to bring back Jason Segel's "Knocked Up" character, also named Jason. "I can turn your body into a boner machine," he tells Debbie. When she points out that every woman gives him a boner, he replies, "Don't sell yourself short," before adding in a whisper, "Barb doesn't give me a boner." Looks like Jason's crush on Alison's sister never went away.

Get Involved in School
As Pete confronts a mother whose son is picking on his daughter, "Bridesmaids" star Melissa McCarthy makes a cameo as the confrontational mommy. She tells Pete to get his daughter's meds right and Pete calls her son an animal. When Pete gives her shoulder a little shove, she screams, "You touched my nipple!" When he tells her he merely touched her below her shoulder, she replies, "I have very high nipples!" How Rudd kept from breaking into laughter during that scene is beyond us.

More Patience With the Kids
Another key scene opens with Pete and Debbie's daughters pulling each other's hair as they fight in the back seat of the car. It then cuts to them at the dinner table, where Debbie announces they're cutting back on the girls' gadget use so they'll spend more time outside. She suggests instead that they build a fort, to which the exasperated eldest daughter exclaims, "And do what in the fort?" When Debbie says, "You don't need technology," the youngest daughter holds an iPhone up to her mouth and says, "No technology," as a monkey on the screen mimics her words.

Payback Time
The final scene shows Pete spread-eagle on a bed, holding a mirror up to his crotch trying to look at ... something. (We honestly don't want to know what.) When he asks Debbie to take a look, she asks if they can just keep a small shred of mystery in their relationship. Pete replies, "I saw you have babies — payback time." At least being in your 40s isn't boring.

"This Is 40" is set to hit theaters Christmas 2012.

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

Emma Heming Emma Stone Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui

Could Justin Bieber Perform With An Elvis Hologram?

The creators of Tupac's Coachella hologram reveal other artists they'd like to bring back to life: Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson.
By Jocelyn Vena

The world can't seem to get enough of that <a href="/news/articles/1683173/tupac-hologram-coachella.jhtml">Tupac hologram from the Coachella festival</a>. The late rapper's lifelike image left fans in awe as it performed alongside Snoop Dogg during his set with Dr. Dre. The people behind the projection system that created the incredibly realistic likeness of the MC are now cooking up ideas of who else they might want to bring back to life. Speaking to <a href="http://www.nme.com/news/2pac/63453" target="_blank">NME</a>, Sanj Surati, head of music at Musion Technology Ltd, explained that one of music's greats could one day perform alongside one of pop's biggest stars. Asked whether there were plans to bring back Elvis Presley and perhaps have him perform next to Justin Bieber, Surati said it "would be a cool thing." <embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:757407/cp~vid%3D757407%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A757407" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> If an Elvis/Bieber collabo can't shake out, Surati explained there are others he'd like to see come to life: "Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, oh, and Michael Jackson would be the ultimate one," he said. "Maybe even Whitney Houston." As for the future of the famous Tupac-ogram, well, Surati hopes it can be resurrected once again on a bigger-scale tour. "This is obviously a historic and exciting initiative that we're all witnessing currently, and it would make sense for them to bring it to Europe," he said. "And maybe take it to the rest of the world." Since the debut of the Tupac hologram, fans have been wondering what other beloved performers could find new life using this technology. On the <a href="/news/articles/1683858/left-eye-tlc-death.jhtml">10-year anniversary of Left Eye's death</a>, there was an unconfirmed report from <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/25/tlc-reunion-tour-left-eye-lisa-lopes/#.T5hXEeDoruQ" target="_blank">TMZ</a> that TLC might bring back the group's sassy rapper for a "massive 2012 reunion tour." The group has yet to comment on the rumor. Which artist would you like to see brought back to life as a hologram? Sound off below! <a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a>

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Is Rambo Coming Back? Sylvester Stallone Is Game

'The magma of Rambo is coming to the surface,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Sylvester Stallone in "Rambo II"
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images

Any day is a good day to chat with action hero Sylvester Stallone, particularly when the topic of conversation turns from the highly anticipated "Expendables" sequel to the always-anticipated "Rambo" sequels.

The last time we checked in with Stallone about the future of his famed Vietnam vet John Rambo, it seemed as though there might not be any more story to tell and that the hero needed "to stop running" and take a rest.

Thanks to our recent run-in with the main man at CinemaCon, it seems as if Rambo's rest has come to an end and we might see him rise again.

"There's a volcanic eruption [brewing]. The magma of Rambo is coming to the surface," Stallone said when asked about his thoughts on bringing the character back to the big screen.

So is there another story to tell?

"I know there is," he said definitively. "It's one thing where you lay down the final culmination of your life where you can articulate it, but also act on it where he realizes what his destiny really is," Stallone said, speaking for the character and how he might take a moment to reflect on his life and realize his work isn't finished. "It's not to be a farmer, it's not to be obscure; it's to go out in a blaze of glory in a heroic fashion. But is he really doing it for himself or is he doing it because that's just his id? That's who he is.

"I like the whole Mexican situation, what's going on down there," Stallone continued, hinting at the film's possible setting and building the plot around the real-life conflict in Mexico. "So I'm working on a formula for it right now."

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

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Jim Jones Prepares To F.E.A.S.T. With New Mixtape

Mixtape Daily previews Jones' new tape, which drops Tuesday.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Michael Primo

Jim Jones
Photo: MTV News

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Jim Jones has quite the street catalog. From his 2002 mixtape Ryder Muzik to his original M.O.B. tape with ByrdGang in 2006 and The Ghost of Rich Porter in 2010, Jim has no shortage of quality underground material.

On Tuesday, Capo plans to follow tradition when he drops F.E.A.S.T.

"I've been working on the mixtape called the F.E.A.S.T.; it's called 'Family Eatin' and Stay True,' " Jones told Mixtape Daily. "We've got a dope group of individuals. Some you've seen before, some new faces."

Jones isn't stopping with music. For F.E.A.S.T., he plans to drop a number of cinematic music videos. "I picked, like, eight songs, and I've strung 'em along like movies," he said. "Something good for people to look at. I haven't seen something like that in a minute. I think it'll be very interesting."

Check back with Mixtape Daily on Tuesday to see more on Jim Jones' F.E.A.S.T., and check out the tape's track list below!

1. "F.E.A.S.T Prelude"
2. "No Way" (featuring Trav)
3. "Paper Chase" (featuring Trav)
4. "Comin From" (featuring T.W.O and Sen City)
5. "Get Mine" (featuring Sen City)
6. "True Religion" (featuring Ryder and Hynief)
7. "60 Rackz" (featuring T.W.O)
8. "Show Off" (featuring Trav)
9. "Don Juan" (featuring Mel Matrix)
10. "Don't Judge Me" (featuring Future)
11. "Top of the Year" (featuring Sen City, Mel Matrix, T.W.O, Lady H, Trav, Shoota, Chris Luck and Pure)
12. "Suicide" (featuring Ryder, T.W.O and Sen City)
13. "Forgive" (featuring T.W.O)
14. "Youu" (featuring Sen City)
15. "AirOnes" (featuring Ryder)
16. "Sleep When You're Dead" (featuring Trav, Mel Matrix and Shoota)
17. "Vamp Life"

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball Kicks Off Amid Protests

Seoul, South Korea, set list heavy on new material, but Gaga's biggest hits come out to play.
By John Mitchell

Lady Gaga arrives in Seoul on April 20
Photo: Getty Images

Lady Gaga kicked off her hotly awaited Born This Way Ball at Seoul, South Korea's Olympic Stadium on Friday (April 27) in front of 45,000 fans, and despite protests from Christian groups saying Mother Monster was "obscene" and could "taint" young people with her performance, the concert appears to have gone on without incident.

Intrepid Twitter fans are already showing off pictures and video of the BTW Ball's enormous Gothic castle backdrop and myriad costume changes, making it clear that Gaga has outdone even her own Monster Ball in terms of spectacle.

While we wait for reviews to trickle in from halfway around the world, one thing is certain: No minors were corrupted at the show. Earlier this month, the Korea Media Rating Board decided to elevate the age rating for the concert from 12 to 18, prohibiting minors from seeing the concert. When the board notified Gaga's tour promotion company and a sponsor of the change in age restrictions, it did not offer a reason why the show — which at the time was still in rehearsals and had not been reviewed publicly — was considered unsuitable for children under 18.

The likely catalyst for the board's decision came more into focus as the concert neared and protests from a group of conservative Christians calling itself the Alliance for Sound Culture in Sexuality ramped up. The group covered Seoul with posters accusing Gaga of "spreading unhealthy sexual culture" through "lewd lyrics and performances."

The superstar and her fans, however, were undeterred. Though she tweeted her hopes that the Korea Media Rating Board would reverse its decision (it didn't), she continued on as planned. Many fans reportedly arrived at the show wearing versions of Gaga's most well-known flamboyant costumes, and there have been no reports of disturbances at the concert.

Before the show, Gaga tweeted, "I can you hear you Korea. I'm shaking."

Gaga's performance was heavy on material from her Born this Way album, though her biggest hits, including "Bad Romance," Poker Face" and "Just Dance," were represented.

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball set list:

» "Highway Unicorn"
» "Government Hooker"
» "Born This Way"
» "Bloody Mary"
» "Bad Romance"
» "Fashion of His Love"
» "The Queen"
» "Just Dance"
» "Love Game"
» "Telephone"
» "Just Dance"
» "Heavy Metal Lover"
» "Bad Kids"
» "Hair"
» "Yoü and I"
» "Electric Chapel"
» "Americano"
» "Poker Face"
» "Scheiße"
» "The Edge of Glory"
» "Marry the Night"

Did you see Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball? Let us know what you thought of the show in the comments below!

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Stupid Celebrities Gossip » Myspace Drama, Riley Giles and Bree Tierney
Bree Tierney and Riley Giles get into a heated argument on Myspace after Bree started talking with the media about the two of them. You can thank lindsay Lohan for this one!

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'Glee' Star Chris Colfer Teases Michael Jackson Tribute Episode

'I sing part of 'Black [or] White.' I'm the 'white' in 'Black [or] White,' ' actor reveals on the Golden Globes red carpet.
By Amy Wilkinson, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Fox's song-and-dance series "Glee" is no stranger to a star-studded cameo or two, with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, John Stamos and Kristin Chenoweth all walking the halls of McKinley High during the past two and a half seasons. And as the show returns from a month-long hiatus, Gleeks aren't the only ones anticipating a few more famous faces. As star Chris Colfer told MTV News on the Golden Globes red carpet, there's plenty to look forward to when New Directions warble again January 17. "Well, the Michael Jackson episode ...," Colfer answered when asked about his most-anticipated upcoming episodes. "We have a Spanish episode coming up with Ricky Martin. We have a Valentine's Day episode coming up, so that's going to be fun." <CENTER><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:725517/cp~name%3Dnews%26id%3D1677338%26vid%3D725517%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A725517" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></CENTER> Martin is slated to play "the hottest Spanish teacher ever in the history of Ohio," according to <a href="http://www.tvline.com/2011/11/glee-ricky-martin-season-3/" target="_blank">TVLine</a>. The actor/singer recently <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ricky_martin/status/155141894333140993" target="_blank">tweeted</a> a joyful picture from his first day on set. As to how the King of Pop's prolific songbook will manifest itself in the January 31 tribute episode, Colfer explained, "Well, I sing part of 'Black [or] White.' I'm the 'White' in 'Black [or] White,' and I sing 'Ben,' that famous song he wrote for the rat." The rodent in question is the pet of a young boy named Danny in the 1972 film "Ben." Jackson sang a version of the theme song that appeared in the movie's closing credits and was later included on his 1972 album also named Ben. The track "Black or White" was the first single off of Jackson's 1991 album Dangerous. <big>Stick with MTV News all night for the 2012 Golden Globes winners, and don't miss all the fashion from the <a href="http://style.mtv.com/2012/01/15/golden-globes-red-carpet/">Golden Globes red carpet</a>!</big>

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Friday, April 27, 2012

'Dark Shadows' Sneak Peek Reveals Johnny Depp's De-Fanging Plan

New featurette is dedicated to late star of original soap, Jonathan Frid.
By John Mitchell

Johnny Depp in "Dark Shadows"
Photo: Warner Bros

With just two weeks left until the big release of "Dark Shadows," Warner Bros. is stoking the coals of excitement with a new featurette that brings not only behind-the-scenes interviews and footage, but offers up an important new plot detail from the film.

"The legend of the vampire has been told for centuries, capturing the dark shadows of our imagination and inspiring filmmakers and actors to breathe new life into the undead," a voice-over reminds us at the top of the clip. "But there's never been a vampire like Barnabas Collins."

Depp said the idea to do the film came naturally to him and Burton, who have worked together on eight films. "I'd always been sort of attracted to horror films and things like that, even as a very young kid," Depp explains. "I said, 'Tim, we should do a vampire movie together.' "

And when Johnny Depp and Tim Burton decide to do something, it has a way of getting done.

A large part of the featurette focuses on the history of vampires in movies and reminds us that one of cinema's great vampires, Christopher Lee, is featured in "Shadows."

"One of my favorite moments I've ever been able to experience in a film was I got to hypnotize Dracula; I got to hypnotize Christopher Lee," Depp says. "He was, you know, the great Dracula."

To get into character as Barnabas Collins, Depp didn't stray far from the source material. "For Barnabas, everywhere I searched character-wise, I kept coming back to Jonathan Frid," the actor explains. "He really did something beautiful with that character on the 'Dark Shadows' series back in the '60s and early '70s."

Frid, who cameos in the film and is shown arriving at a party at Collinwood in the featurette, died earlier this month in his native Canada. The clip closes with an "In Memoriam" dedication to the classically trained actor, who maintained a close relationship with the show's fans by appearing at "Shadows" conventions and readings as recently as 2011, before his health began to decline.

The clip features some great new scenes from the film, including a fun bit where Depp's Barnabas seeks advice from Chloe Moretz's Carolyn Stoddard on "the art of courting a woman of this time," but importantly introduces a major plot twist that we wondered (all the way back in October!) whether Burton would include in his film: Barnabas' attempt to de-fang himself with the help of Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter) and become mortal again to pursue a romantic relationship with Bella Heathcote's Victoria Winters.

"If a man can become a monster, then a monster can become a man," Barnabas says in a voice-over while Dr. Hoffman surveys large blood-filled beakers and Depp sits with IV lines running from him. It's a story line carried over directly from both the original soap and its short-lived '90s remake. (Indeed, this particular story line was the focus of NBC's revival starring Ben Cross and Joanna Going.)

"By tapping into vampires, witches, ghosts, the reason they're powerful is because we all kind of experience those feelings on some level," Burton says of the film. "It's something that remains in our popular culture because it's strangely part of our everyday lives."

Just two weeks to go, "Dark Shadows" fans! Are you excited for the flick? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Dark Shadows."

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

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Happy Friday

Here's a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:

Don't you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn't like to talk about it.)

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Lindsay Lohan Is "Most Insured Actress," Says Producer

Producer Larry Thompson isn't worried that his Liz and Dick leading lady has a scandalous reputation.

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The Killers' Sax Player Tommy Marth Commits Suicide

Tommy Marth, a saxophonist who played with indie pop group The Killers, was found dead in his Las Vegas home Monday. According to local newspaper Las Vegas Weekly, the official cause of death has been ruled suicide. Marth, who is survived by his parents and two siblings, was 33 years old.

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PHOTOS: See Heidi Klum Without Makeup!

Heidi Klum shares a pic of her getting-ready routine! Plus, check out more stars' cute, candid and crazy Twitter photos

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Usher - Promise

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Lady Gaga Taps The Darkness To Open Born This Way Ball

Re-formed British rock band 'honoured' to serve as openers on European leg of Gaga's tour, which kicks off August 14 in Bulgaria.
By James Montgomery

Perhaps looking for some actual Heavy Metal Lovers, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a> has tapped reunited British rockers <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/darkness/artist.jhtml">the Darkness</a> as the opening act on the first — though we're willing to bet not last — leg of her Born This Way Ball, which kicks off August 14 in Sofia, Bulgaria. <embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:717952/cp~vid%3D717952%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A717952" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> The Darkness confirmed the news Tuesday morning (April 10) on their official site (which, in a very Darkness move, is called <a href="http://www.theactualdarkness.com/home/" target="_blank">TheActualDarkness.com</a>), writing that they were "honoured [British spelling, extra classy] to announce their addition to the bill as main support for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball tour 2012." The glammy, hammy rockers — best known for theatrical hits like "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and "Growing on Me" — <a href="/news/articles/1484374/darkness-believe-in-a-thing-called-touring.jhtml">burned bright before imploding in 2006</a>, but announced a reunion (and plans for a new album) just last year. And as a way of kickstarting the next chapter of their career, frontman Justin Hawkins appeared in a well-received Samsung commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLV, in which he starred as a Spandex-clad pied piper who rescued folks from the monotony of everyday life. So, you know, it was basically a documentary. It's not clear if the Darkness will serve as the opening act on all of Gaga's Euro dates (a spokesperson for the band did not respond to MTV News' request for comment by press time), but, thanks to the Mother Monster herself, we now know that there are European dates for the much-discussed BTW Ball. <a href="http://twitpic.com/97zvzf" target="_blank">Gaga unveiled the first 21 shows</a> early Tuesday morning on her Twitter account. After kicking off August 14 in Bulgaria, she'll make stops in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany, France and the U.K. before wrapping October 6 in Barcelona. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a>

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Original 'Joe Millionaire' Is Sorry for Being a "Douche"

Remember Evan Marriott, a.k.a. Joe Millionaire? The original star of the 2003 Fox reality hit, Marriott was a very handsome construction worker masquerading as an eligible millionaire; the audience knew his secret, but the women in the Bachelor-style competition did not. After the season ended, Marriott got a little drunk with his newfound fame, telling People that he didn't like any of the girls on the show (including the one he chose) -- and that all he wanted was a "blonde with big boobs, a little waist and a big, thick bubble butt."

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Usher's Next Album 'Soulful, Catchy,' Taio Cruz Teases

'He always wants there to be the soul in there,' Cruz tells MTV News about his 'Without You' collaborator.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> is hard at work on his next album. Set to work with fellow hitmaker <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/cruz__taio/artist.jhtml">Taio Cruz</a>, the two already cooked up some magic with their <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/guetta_david/artist.jhtml">David Guetta</a> anthem <a href="/news/articles/1670301/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml">"Without You,"</a> and it seems they are hoping to recapture that spirit for Usher's follow-up to 2010's Raymond v. Raymond. <div class="player-placeholder right" title="Taio Cruz's Collabo With Usher Is A 'Secret'" id="vid:717257" width="240" height="211"></div> "I saw Usher a few times, but I spoke to him at length at David [Guetta]'s house when we were in Ibiza [Spain]," he told MTV News in L.A. after his Jingle Ball set. "He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise." Given that Usher has never shied away from exposing a bit of himself in his music, while also keeping the party going, Cruz wants to make sure they can connect the mind, body and soul for this next release. "He always wants there to be the soul in there," he explained. "I'm kind of, not the opposite, but I'm always like, 'Let's get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.' "So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy," he added. Cruz can't yet discuss what they're working on: Besides "Without You," he said, "Everything else is secret." Usher said he was drawn to the <a href="/news/articles/1674782/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml">Guetta hit</a> because he connected to it emotionally, explaining to MTV News recently what an important part that plays in his musical philosophy. "I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I've actually been on in the last three years," he said. "Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There's many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is." <div style="background-color:#000000;width:428px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:713197/cp~vid%3D713197%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A713197" width="420" height="236" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></div></div>

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

John Varvatos: Jessica Simpson Is ?Counting the Days?

"She's doing great," John Varvatos says of the stylish mom-to-be, who's due later this month. "She's counting the days right now. I know she can't wait to deliver."

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Does Britney Spears Have 'The X Factor'?

MTV News takes a look at the pros and cons of bringing Spears onboard as a judge for the reality singing competition.
By John Mitchell

The news that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> is reportedly in final negotiations to <a href="/news/articles/1680782/britney-spears-x-factor-judge-offer.jhtml">join "The X Factor"</a> has set the <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com">MTV Newsroom</a> on fire. Opinion on whether the pop star is a good fit for the reality singing competition has been sharply divided, so we decided to take on the topic the way we're sure Simon Cowell did before making Spears a reported $10 million offer: a good, old-fashioned pros and cons list. <embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:698603/cp~vid%3D698603%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A698603" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed> <big>Pro: She'll attract viewers</big> The <a href="/news/articles/1671220/x-factor-simon-cowell-ratings.jhtml">debut season of "The X Factor"</a> performed well below expectations. Its heavily hyped premiere pulled in 12.1 million total viewers and a meager 4.4/12 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18 to 49 demographic. That's about half of what the 2011 season of "American Idol" averaged ("Idol" is having its own ratings woes this season), and it didn't even win the night: Emmy-winning sitcom "Modern Family" drew 14.3 million viewers and a 6.0/15 for its season premiere. The poor ratings precipitated the overhaul that saw judges <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger</a> and host Steve Jones fired from the show. There's no question that Spears would bring viewers to "The X Factor." She enjoys a large and devout fanbase who will basically follow her just about anywhere. And beyond her own fans, Spears' celebrity would also likely draw attention from the general public, who will tune in simply to see how she does. <big> Con: She's become nervous on camera </big> Though she can still wow a crowd live in concert, as evidenced by last year's successful tour behind her hit album Femme Fatale, Spears has become increasingly tentative during interviews. She rarely grants on-camera sit-downs, and when she does, she seems nervous and uncomfortable. To be a strong judge or mentor on a reality show, you have to be very comfortable on camera. Part of what made Jennifer Lopez click last season on "Idol" was that she came across as confident, direct and often empathetic. She even broke down in tears after <a href="/news/articles/1658584/americaon-idol-top-24.jhtml">sending home contestant Chris Medina</a>, whose fiancée suffered a severe brain injury in a car accident. The key word here is after. It's hard to imagine Spears being able to keep it together and deliver such difficult news in similar circumstances. It's worth noting that a high-drama situation arose on the first season of "The X Factor" -- one that left <a href="/news/articles/1675936/x-factor-rachel-crow-elimination-reaction.jhtml">contestant Rachel Crow sobbing</a> onstage and Scherzinger a wreck ... a wreck who received <a href="http://www.thefablife.com/2011-12-05/paula-abdul-and-nicole-scherzinger-receive-death-threats-after-the-x-factor-elimination/" target="_blank">death threats</a>. Producers should also consider whether it's wise to send Spears, who has dealt with emotional issues in the past, into a genre that thrives when the emotional stakes are high. <big>Pro: she is a contemporary artist</big> One of the things we like most about <a href="/news/articles/1680496/the-voice-battle-rounds.jhtml">"The Voice"</a> is that its judges — Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton — are all active artists. They are all still hitting the studio to make hit records, and that lends a great deal of credibility to their opinions when they critique a contestant's performance. We don't mean to slight Abdul or Scherzinger, but you could argue that a legacy singer who hasn't released an album in over 17 years and a performer who has had a difficult time getting her own solo singing career off the ground aren't the best judges of who does and does not have "The X Factor." On the other hand, Spears may be. <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/03/29/britney-spears-femme-fatale-reviews/">Last year's Femme Fatale</a> gave Spears three top-10 singles — the most of any of her seven albums — and earned some of the best reviews of her career. While it's true that she did not write or produce much of the record, she was most certainly involved in picking her collaborators, which actually could speak well of her ability to know talent when she sees it. Spears also smartly chose red-hot rapper Nicki Minaj to open on the North American leg of her tour. When it comes to the contemporary pop music scene, Spears knows what works. <big>Con: She's not known for her singing</big> Unlike Aguilera, whose talent as a vocalist is indisputable, Spears is not known for her singing. By signing her to judge and mentor a singing competition, "X Factor" producers are setting themselves up for inevitable criticism. "Who is Britney Spears to judge a singing competition?" critics will scream (and they won't be wrong). When Aguilera critiques a performer's vocals, she speaks with authority — and her ear for singing proved to make her the most discerning judge on the "Voice" panel during the <a href="/news/articles/1679565/the-voice-christina-aguilera-jonathas-usher.jhtml">blind auditions</a>. Spears' judging style will likely be based on liking what's already there, but she's not going to have much insight on missed notes or pitch, which will cripple her ability to further mentor her team. How can she help them improve as vocalists when it's a truth universally acknowledged that she's not really a vocalist herself? Do you think Britney Spears is a good choice for "The X Factor"? Let us know in the comments below.

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