Tuesday, January 31, 2012
'The Grey' Captures #1 At Weekend Box Office
Katherine Heigl's 'One for the Money' and 'Man on a Ledge' also make the top five.
By Ryan J. Downey
Liam Neeson in "The Grey"
Photo: Open Road Films
It must be wintertime, because Liam Neeson is #1 at the box office again.
Following the January 2010 release of "Taken" and the February 2011 success of "Unknown," Liam Neeson returned to theaters in another action-heavy role with "The Grey" over the weekend and beat back all other contenders. "The Grey," about a group of oil workers stalked by wolves while stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, debuted with an estimated $20 million.
Katherine Heigl's "One for the Money" had a decent $11.8 million opening, which placed the PG-13 action comedy at #3 on the box-office scorecard. The Sam Worthington-led thriller "Man on a Ledge," on the other hand, opened at #5 with just $8.3 million.
Having proven his biopic mettle with heady fare like "Schindler's List" and "Kinsey," 59-year-old Neeson has entered a career groove playing rough-and-tumble anti-heroes in barn-burning action thrillers. While its opening numbers were slightly lower than "Unknown" ($21.9 million) and "Taken" ($24.7), "The Grey" enjoyed the best critical reviews of the action trio. "['The Grey'] takes death seriously, and partly as a consequence, every moment, every frame, feels alive," wrote New York Times film critic and former "At the Movies" co-host A.O. Scott.
The same cannot be said for "One for the Money," which at press time sat at just 3 percent on Rotten Tomatoes' "Tomatometer," which assigns ratings based on reviews from film critics.
"Heigl's comic timing is solid, and she knows her limitations well enough, but there's a hollowness at the movie's center, right where Heigl's heart should be," wrote Sam Adams of The Onion A.V. Club. The film's opening was lower than Heigl's 2010 rom-coms "Killers" ($15.8 million) and "Life as We Know It" ($13.2 million).
"Avatar" and "Clash of the Titans" star Sam Worthington received top billing in "Man on a Ledge," which sat at 25 percent on the Tomatometer at press time. Worthington plays a wrongly accused man who hatches an elaborate scheme to prove his innocence. The last movie co-starring Worthington was the war criminal/ spy drama "The Debt," which opened with $9.9 million.
The rest of the weekend's top five included "Underworld Awakening" at #2 with $12.5 million, which gave the fourth entry in the vampires-and-werewolves franchise a two-week total of $45.1 million, and "Red Tails" at #4 with $10.4 million. The George Lucas-produced World War II flick has made $33.8 million since it opened last weekend. Lucas financed the film's $58 million budget himself.
"The Descendants" and "The Artist" both received a boost from their respective awards season attention. George Clooney has racked up trophies for his starring role in the Alexander Payne-directed "Descendants," which expanded from 600 theaters to 2,000 and took in another $6.5 million for an 11-week total of $58.8 million. "The Artist," meanwhile, spiked 42 percent from last week. The Weinstein Co.-produced silent film has made $16.7 million after big wins at several award shows, including three prizes at the Golden Globes.
Check out everything we've got on "The Grey" and "Man on a Ledge."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Rick Ross Gets Advice From Dr. Dre In The Studio
2 Chainz Headlines His First, Sold Out New York Show
By Steven Roberts
2 Chainz performed his first headlining show in New York on Monday night (January 30) at SOBs. Correction: I waited over 3 hours to witness 2 Chaaaainz?s first headlining show in New York on Monday night at SOBs. I can't speak for the rest of the [...]
'G.I. Joe' Sequel Is 'Better Than The First,' Says Channing Tatum
Justin Bieber, Rihanna Nab NRJ Awards
Adele, LMFAO also take home prizes at the French music awards show over the weekend.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber at the NRJ Music Awards
Photo: WireImage
<P>With awards season in full gear, a number of the music industry's biggest names headed out to Palais des Festivals on the French Riviera in Cannes for the NRJ Awards. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/adele/artist.jhtml">Adele</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rihanna/artist.jhtml">Rihanna</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lmfao/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> all walked away with trophies. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="id:1672718" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Adele won two awards, taking home International Revelation of the Year and International Song of the Year for "Someone Like You." <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lmfao/artist.jhtml">LMFAO</a> also walked away with two prizes: Music Video of the Year for "Party Rock Anthem" as well as International Group/Duo of the Year. The guys performed the song at the show along with their party track "Sexy and I Know It." Rihanna won International Female Artist and later took to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/rihanna/status/163404747896926208">Twitter</a> to thank everyone for the recognition. "Thank you NRJ and my #FRENCHNavy and all the fans who voted, for your immense support!" she wrote. "I love you always #InternationalFemaleOftheYearNRJ." Shakira won the NRJ Award of Honor, and Bieber took home the male version of the award. The teen star took the stage in his baby blue printed jacket and black jeans, telling the room, "I'm just really excited to be here. I want to thank all my fans for being so amazing. I want to do another French song. I did one French song but I want to do some more French and hopefully perfect. My grandma's first language is French." He later <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/justinbieber/status/163405397548470272" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, "I never thought i would ever get out of stratford and now im celebrating in france. never gets old. ALWAYS grateful! #Ilovemyfans" Other winners included Francophone (French) Revelation of the Year for Keen V and Francophone Male Artist of the Year for M. Pokora. Mika won the International Male Artist of the Year while Shy'm took it home for Francophone Female Artist of the Year. Francophone Song of the Year went to "A Nos Actes Manqués" performed by M Pokora. Simple Plan and Marie-Mai nabbed Francophone Group/Duo of the Year while Mylène Farmer won NRJ Award of Diamond. <i>What do you think of this awards season so far? Leave your comments below!</i></p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsT.O. Stops By "WENDY"--Talks Being DONE With Mo & Kita & Finally Meeting His 5-Year-Old Son J.R. Smith's Sister FIGHTS FANS In CHina
Terrell Owens stopped by "WENDY" today to talk about his money woes, meeting his 5-yr-old son and why he's not friends with Mo and Kita. Watch Wendy dish on their interview inside and find out about JR Smith's sister fighting in China during a basketball game.
Terrrell Owens chatted with Wendy Williams today where they talked in-depth about the GQ interview he gave detailing his money problems, issues with baby mommas and distrust of Mo and Kita.
Wendy discussed the GQ article at length asking him about his money woes (he had tons of bad investments), why he doesn't trust anyone (a friend stole $300K + Mo and Kita pitched a TV behind his back), his 4 baby mamas (he said he loves his kids but really didn't know any of the women) and why he is lonely (the grandmother who raised him passed away recently).
He also shared that he is now a part of an indoor football league and hopes to return to the NFL one day.
After the show, Wendy sat down and gave her opinion about the interview wondering if we should feel sorry for T.O. or not. Sigh.....
Watch the clip here.....
And over in China......
Both the sister as well as the girlfriend of former NBA baller J.R. Smith (currently playing for the Chinese Basketball Asso.) have been blamed for a fight that broke out last night during J.R.'s Zhejiang squad's game against the host Tianjin. After fans heckled J.R., his girlfriend got into a shoving match with Tianjin fans while his sister Stephanie flipped the crowd the double-bird.
These tatts on this chick though...
Though she also had a fight earlier this month, Stephanie said this one wasn't her fault and she was just defending herself. She tweeted, 1st of all neither of us is embarrassed by each other. 2nd of all if ppl are throwing things and spitting at u what do u do?
Um.....offending folks overseas aint a good look....
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2 Chainz Headlines His First, Sold Out New York Show
Florida's College Republicans Taking 'Right Steps' To Woo Young Voters
'In my personal experience, it isn't very difficult to [register],' Kayla Westbrook, chairwoman of the FSU College Republicans, says.
By Gil Kaufman
Mitt Romney campaigns in Jacksonville, Fl
Photo: AFP/Getty Images
JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Conventional political wisdom has it that Democrats are great at registering new voters and Republicans are just as good at getting their already-registered base to come out and vote.
That adage will be put to the test in Florida this year thanks to some new voter registration laws that some argue have made it more difficult to add new voters to the rolls. In the last presidential election, more than 61 percent (763,000) of the 1.2 million 18-to-29-year-old voters who cast ballots went for President Obama over John McCain (37 percent, 462,700), according to figures provided by the civic education and research organization CIRCLE.
Kayla Westbrook, chairwoman of the FSU College Republicans, hopes to change that before Tuesday's (January 31) pivotal Republican primary. "We've talked about the new voting laws because we have a lot of freshmen coming in and they want to be registered in Tallahassee so they can be a part of local Republican groups," Westbrook said.
Westbrook is confident that the changes in voter registration laws will not have an impact on her efforts. "In my personal experience, it isn't very difficult to [register]," she said. "My roommate was a Democrat until a few weeks ago and she wanted to vote in the Republican primary for Ron Paul. So on January 3 I made sure to get her down there to register and it just wasn't that difficult."
The controversial rules in the state governing how third-party civic organizations can register new voters have spawned a number of lawsuits over claims from groups such as Rock the Vote that their mandates are "confusing" and that they breach the 1993 Voter Registration Act, a federal law designed to encourage community-based voter-registration activity.
They argue that the laws impact groups such as theirs by scaring off potential volunteers with threats of unspecified civil legal action and fines of $50 to $1,000 if the registration forms are not turned in within 48 hours. Rock the Vote and the League of Women Voters are among several Florida groups that have filed suit to overturn the law, claiming that it seeks to disenfranchise young and minority voters, among other voting blocs.
But Westbrook hopes the rules will, as intended, root out voter fraud in a state that has proved pivotal in the past three presidential election cycles.
"I think that this is doing a good job to try and help with the voter fraud, but you can't get rid of all of it," she said. "I think the people that are doing the voter registration drives don't need to fear being penalized because they have 48 hours to do it. We will have voter registration drives and whoever it is who is registered with the state will just turn them in the next day."
With CIRCLE reporting that the Florida youth population has grown by more than 270,000 since the 2008 election, that means there are lots of new potential voters out there for both parties to tap into.
"I certainly hope we can get more registered Republicans this year and close that gap," Westbrook said of her party's typical lag in signing up new voters compared to Democrats. "We're definitely taking the right steps to do that."
MTV is on the scene in Florida! Check back here around the clock for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary caucuses and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.
Related Videos'X-Factor' Bloodbath And Other Shocking TV Exits
MTV News takes a look at other shows that have suffered behind-the-scenes talent shakeups like the recent 'X-Factor' departures.
By Josh Wigler
L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell
Photo: Ray Mickshaw / FOX
Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones no longer have the "X-Factor."
Hot on the heels of its freshman season, the Simon Cowell-led U.S. "X-Factor" has removed three of its core ingredients from the equation, with word breaking late Monday night about Abdul, Scherzinger and Jones' exits.. While fans watching the Fox reality singing competition's behind-the-scenes developments closely might have seen this coming — network chief Kevin Reilly promised "some tweaks to the show" during the TCA press tour earlier this year — the simultaneous ousting of all three talents is still likely to leave onlookers a little bit stunned.
For photos of other shocking television exits, click here.
Alas, that's show business. Behind-the-scenes shakeups are par for the course in Tinseltown, with small-screen endeavors constantly excising seemingly critical players in surprising, one-fell-swoop moves — and it's not just in the world of reality television where this takes place. Indeed, there have been a lot of moves and shakes in the past year for scripted series. Keep reading for some of the recent shocking TV exits that rocked popular dramas to their core, but a warning: Some spoilers lie ahead.
Christopher Meloni, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
Twelve seasons of cracking down on pedophiles, rapists and other parties guilty of sexually based offenses was apparently enough for detective Elliot Stabler. The imposing New York City lawman and his notorious short fuse burned out quicker than fans had hoped for when actor Christopher Meloni, who had been with "SVU" since its 1999 beginning, opted out of further investigations late last year over irreconcilable contract disputes. Meloni's sudden departure left little to no room for resolution for Stabler, who had left season 12 on a cliff-hanger involving the justified shooting of a child. But even if Stabler's continued days on the street are over, the fan-favorite character will never die — not as long as TNT and USA keep their "SVU" marathons in rotation!
Lisa Edelstein, "House"
Team Huddy fans around the world were left nursing a broken heart over the summer when it was revealed that Lisa Edelstein would not be returning to "House." Like Meloni, Edelstein, who played series mainstay and Hugh Laurie's love interest Dr. Lisa Cuddy, left the Fox hospital drama for contractual reasons. And, like Meloni, Edelstein's exit came at a precarious moment in the show's narrative, with Cuddy's final appearance featuring a cliff-hanger involving House driving his car through her, well, house. To make things worse, the loss of Cuddy came right before what is very likely to be the show's final season, leaving little room for resolution for Huddy fans.
Sean Bean, "Game of Thrones"
Not all exits are due to creative differences or behind-the-scenes negotiations or other forms of squabbling. Sometimes it all comes down to telling a story truly and faithfully, no matter the possible outrage. Such was the case in HBO's "Game of Thrones," which saw the early demise of series lead Eddard "Ned" Stark just before the end of its first season. Ned's beheading at the hands — or command, at least — of cruel boy-king Joffrey stunned viewers new to the land of Westeros, even if it was a long time coming for fans of the George R.R. Martin novels the show is based upon. The Lord of Winterfell's gruesome, dishonorable death set the dangerous precedent that on "Game of Thrones," the old saying really is true: You either win or you die, no matter your star power.
Michael Pitt, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bean's "Thrones" demise wasn't the only shocking death to rock both the small screen and HBO in the past year. "Boardwalk Empire" writers made a bold statement in killing aspiring Atlantic City crime boss Jimmy Darmody in the second season finale, just as the character was really getting interesting. Jimmy's death was controversial for any number of reasons, not excluding reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil between actor Michael Pitt and "Boardwalk" producers. Both the show's writers and Pitt himself publicly maintain that the split was mutual, made solely for creative reasons.
Frank Darabont, "The Walking Dead"
Behind the scenes, there's been no greater scripted drama shakeup in recent memory than the unceremonious ousting of show creator Frank Darabont from "The Walking Dead." Despite Darabont delivering a critically acclaimed genre series with record-setting ratings to boot, AMC executives nonetheless made the shocking decision to cast the show-runner aside like walker bait, just days after the colorful filmmaker's Comic-Con appearance this past summer. The series continues to rake in unprecedented cable numbers with nearly each passing episode, but die-hard fans and casual viewers alike seem to agree that the show's quality has dipped noticeably without Darabont in command of the "Dead."
Everybody, "American Horror Story"
They didn't call it Murder House for nothing! "American Horror Story" fans were rightfully horrified by the FX thriller's critically acclaimed first season, which left the three lead characters dead as disco before all was said and done. But creator Ryan Murphy did not clean house without a reason: In a press conference held shortly after the season finale, Murphy and FX chief John Landgraf revealed that "AHS" was secretly planned as an anthology series, with every single season featuring entirely new story lines and actors. Bye-bye Harmon family, bye-bye Constance, bye-bye Murder House, in other words. We'll miss them dearly — yes, we'll even miss creepy Tate — but we applaud Murphy's decision to keep things fresh all the same.
Which cast shakeup did you find the most shocking? Tell us in the comments.
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Jude Law & Kids: Dinner Out In London
Jude Law and his children Iris, 11, and Rudy, 9, went out to dinner in London, England on Monday (January 30). Their brother Rafferty, 15, wasn't with them.
The actor held their hands as they headed to the eatery. His kids are growing up so fast!
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Elton John Tells Madonna: "Lip-Sync Good" at Super Bowl
Elton John claims to have "never seen a decent" Super Bowl halftime show, and he doesn't expect a change to start this year. When the 64-year-old British rock star was asked his opinion about the upcoming mid-game entertainment during an interview with Good Morning America, he said he didn't expect headlining performer Madonna to impress him.
Madonna's "Give Me All Your Lovin'" Sneak Peek
Giving viewers an extra special treat this week, Madonna's ?Give Me All Your Luvin? video will debut on ?American Idol."
The Material Girl?s latest creation, which features Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., will air during the singing competition show this Thursday (February 2) at 8 p.m. EST on Fox.
To help build up anticipation, Fox has released a short teaser promo of the cheerleader themed dance offering which can be viewed below.
In addition, Madge will be taking the stage for a highly-anticipated performance during the half-time show at this year?s Superbowl.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Lady Gaga Opens Italian Restaurant With Her Dad
Joanne Trattoria named in honor of her late aunt.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic
<P>Lady Gaga is known for being ostentatious, outrageous and making the biggest entrance possible. But for a star that has made her name for shocking our senses, Mother Monster's newest venture is decidedly low-key. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="id:1669247" width="240" height="211"></div><p> After dropping several mentions in interviews over the past few months about a new restaurant she planned to launch with her father, Joseph Germanotta, Joanne Trattoria will finally open its doors on Wednesday. The modest Italian neighborhood eatery on West 68th Street in New York was described by The New York Times as having a "well-stocked bar, a cozy back patio and seating for about 70 people." The walls are covered with scenes of the Tuscan countryside, and near a fireplace at the entrance, diners will see some Germanotta family photos hanging by a front booth. The restaurant will be run by Joseph and Gaga's mother, Cynthia, and her proud pop admitted that his daughter "just generates a lot of sizzle," helping to get the word out about the venture. The chef and partner in the business is Art Smith, who met Gaga at a taping for the "Oprah Winfrey Show." Smith was Winfrey's personal chef for several years. The name was inspired by Joseph's late sister, Joanne, who died of lupus at age 19. Not only is "Joanne" Gaga's middle name, but in a number of interviews the singer has opened up about her strong connection with her late aunt. "I thought I was gonna die," she said last year. "I wanted to be the artists I loved, like Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol -- and I thought the only way to do it was to live the lifestyle. But then I realized my father's sister Joanne, who'd died at 19, had instilled her spirit in me. She was a painter and a poet -- and I had a spiritual vision I had to finish her business." The <I>Times</I> noted that Gaga is not officially a part-owner of the restaurant, which Joseph said the family could have afforded to open even if his daughter had not risen to global fame. It has long been his dream to open the eatery, he said, and visitors at Joanne will dine on "Southern Italian," given that Smith is from the South and the Germanottas are Italian. That means they will chow down on dishes such as "Papa G's chicken," traditional offerings like osso buco inspired by Joanne and "Cynthia's salad," named for Gaga's mother. Hoping to temper fans' expectations, Joseph said he wasn't sure if he'd post current pics of Gaga among the family photos. Maybe, he said, just an old one in which she's not as recognizable. And though he's happy to have his eldest get the word out about the family business, if fans make the trek expecting to see a trophy case with VMAs and Grammys, "It's not going to happen," he warned.</p>
Related Videos Related ArtistsPaula Abdul Exits 'X Factor'
Fellow mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones are also out; a source tells Deadline 'none of the three left on their own accord.'
By Kara Warner
Paula Abdul
Photo: Mark Davis/ Gety Images
For any "X Factor" fans who are thinking season two of the Simon Cowell-created singing competition will be business as usual, think again, because Monday (January 30) marked a veritable bloodletting of the show's key talent and judging panel.
In addition to the losses of mentor Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones, original "American Idol" diva and delightfully unpredictable judge Paula Abdul will also not be returning to the program. A source close to Cowell told Deadline.com that all three personalities were asked to leave the show.
"None of the three left on their own accord," Deadline editor Nikki Finke wrote of what her insider source told her of the mass exodus. "It was cleaning house day at the so-so rated show."
Despite their frequent onscreen bickering and banter, Cowell spoke highly of Abdul when it was announced that she would be joining him on "X Factor." "I missed her the second she left ['Idol']," Cowell told Deadline last year. "Always loved working with her even though she can be a pain. I don't know what it is about her, but I've always clicked with her. You just have to get that chemistry, and she's right. I've never found anyone better than her."
Former Pussycat Doll and "Dancing With the Stars" champ Scherzinger was also sent packing, although a source close to Scherzinger told E! News that she left the show to focus on her music career. "She's spoken to Simon [Cowell], and he's given her his blessing," the insider told E! Scherzinger often became emotional during elimination episodes, shedding tears and expressing sympathy for ousted contestants.
As for inaugural "X Factor" host Jones, the cheeky Welshman broke the news himself via Twitter on Monday. "I won't be hosting next seasons X Factor which is a shame but I cant complain as I've had a great time," Jones tweeted to his more than 94,000 followers. "Good luck to everyone on the show."
Jones had decidedly big shoes to fill stepping into the gig, with comparisons instantly made to "American Idol" host/ media mogul Ryan Seacrest. Throughout the season, the reviews of Jones' hosting skills were decidedly mixed.
As far as we know, L.A. Reid will continue to work alongside Cowell on the judging panel. There has been no word yet from Fox on who might replace Abdul, Scherzinger and Jones, or when season two will premiere.
Who do you think should join "X Factor"? Share your ideas in the comments!
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Kristen Stewart Teams Up with Karl Lagerfeld for Vanity Fair
Having flown into the City of Lights the previous day, Kristen Stewart was spotted getting down to business in Paris, France on Monday evening (January 30).
The Bella Swan babe was loaded up with makeup including a boutiful amount of mascara as she joined forces with Chanel legend Karl Lagerfeld for the French workday.
According to a report from E!, Miss Stewart's day of work was a continuation of a new spread being shot for an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair.
The 21-year-old is readying for an ambitious press run coinciding with her multiple movies on the way, as she will be seen in "Breaking Dawn Part 2," "Snow White and the Huntsman," and "On The Road" over the course of the year.
Justin Bieber's Snake To Lady Gaga's Egg: 2011 Red-Carpet Highlights
Beyonce's baby bump was one of the year's most-memorable moments.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber at the 2011 VMAs
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
<P>Anything can happen on the red carpet at any given awards show, and in 2011, it felt like anything that could happen <i>did</i>. As MTV News reflects on some of the biggest moments of the year, we decided to remember some of the most-memorable things A-listers did live right in front of us all. </p><div class="player-placeholder right" id="id:1676574" width="240" height="211"></div><p> Lady Gaga's Egg<br> In February, Gaga had everyone guessing how she would arrive to the Grammys. Given her penchant for crazy looks, no one would have guessed she would have showed up in an egg. Designed by Hussein Chalayan, Gaga later emerged from the structure to proclaim that she was "Born This Way." What was your favorite red-carpet moment of 2011? Vote in our Newsroom poll! Snooki<br> Speaking of the Grammys, the reality star joined MTV News' own Sway Calloway to talk to all the stars at the show. After helping us out on the 2010 red carpet, we learned that anything is possible with Snooki, and 2011 solidified that she's the fieriest "meatball" to grace the "Jersey Shore." We wonder if she and Bruno Mars ever ended up dating. <b>Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed</b><br> "Twilight" star Nikki Reed surprised everyone when she hit up the MTV Movie Awards in June. No, she hadn't borrowed Gaga's egg: She was rocking an engagement rock from her beau and "American Idol" alum Paul McDonald. The couple used the red carpet as the platform to announce their engagement, and married in October. Beyoncé's Baby Bump<br> She might have rubbed that burgeoning baby bump onstage at the Video Music Awards in August, but hours before she took the stage, donning a bright orange gown, Beyoncé let the paparazzi know she was expecting her first child with hubby Jay-Z by flaunting her pregnancy glow. Justin Bieber's Snake<br> While Beyoncé shared with the world her baby news, Bieber not only planted a kiss on VMA pre-show host and real-life lady love Selena Gomez, but also introduced her to his pet snake. His name? Johnson. She seemed less interested in the snake than perhaps he would have liked. <i>What was your favorite red-carpet moment in 2011? Share your pick below!</i></p>
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Michael Jackson's Kids Step Out For Cirque du Soliel
Talk about the ultimate family fun night.
Michael Jackson's children - Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and Blanket, 9 - were seen arriving at Staples Center on Friday evening (January 27) to take in the IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil in Los Angeles, Calif.
Kristen Stewart Teams Up with Karl Lagerfeld for Vanity Fair
Having flown into the City of Lights the previous day, Kristen Stewart was spotted getting down to business in Paris, France on Monday evening (January 30).
The Bella Swan babe was loaded up with makeup including a boutiful amount of mascara as she joined forces with Chanel legend Karl Lagerfeld for the French workday.
According to a report from E!, Miss Stewart's day of work was a continuation of a new spread being shot for an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair.
The 21-year-old is readying for an ambitious press run coinciding with her multiple movies on the way, as she will be seen in "Breaking Dawn Part 2," "Snow White and the Huntsman," and "On The Road" over the course of the year.
Kyra Sedgwick's SAG Tattoo Debut
She was certainly a sight to see at Sunday night?s SAG Awards in Los Angeles, and the lovely Kyra Sedgwick chose the perfect dress to debut her new tattoo.
The 46-year-old looked stunning on the red carpet in a form-fitting, red Emilio Pucci dress with the sides cut out to reveal her fresh body art.
When asked about the symbol located on her right ribcage, Kyra replied, ?It?s a family tattoo. It?s all our initials: K,K,S, and T? - which refers to her hubby Kevin Bacon, their son Travis and daughter Sosie.
Although the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series award, in which she was nominated for, went to "American Horror Story" actress Jessica Lange, Sedgwick looked to have had a fabulous time hobnobbing amongst her fellow celebrity stars.
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'Avengers' Villain An Infinite Mystery
MTV News speculates on which Marvel Comics baddie will be joining forces with Loki when 'Marvel's The Avengers' assembles this summer.
By Josh Wigler
Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth in "The Avengers"
Photo: Paramount
"Marvel's The Avengers" promises to pit Earth's Mightiest Heroes — Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, in case you've somehow forgotten — against the trickster god Loki, as well as another nemesis that remains unidentified. Popular theories have long pegged the Skrulls, Marvel's shape-shifting alien menace, as the likeliest group to join forces with the disenfranchised Asgardian prince. Many fans are also expecting to see another possible foe, "Captain America" villain Red Skull, based on his inclusion in an upcoming "Avengers" action figure line.
But leave it to Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, to bust both rumors. Speaking with Empire magazine last week, he revealed that the still-unknown secondary baddies are "not Skrulls." Additionally, while it would be nice to see Hugo Weaving's villainous visage at some point down the line, "he's not in this one."
So, no Skrulls. No Red Skull. It's Loki, and it's ... someone or something else. But who or what?
Feige promised that while Marvel wants to hide the identity of "the alien race" that's confronting our favorite superheroes, their identity is "not impactful," even though they exist in the comic books. One imagines, then, that the Kree are out along with the Skrulls. Perhaps it's as simple as a return of the Jotunheim, last seen in 2011's "Thor." Maybe it's just arbitrary and the identity of these aliens truly does not matter.
That doesn't mean the mystery isn't important. And that doesn't mean the aliens are the mystery villain, either.
The < i>Latino Review once put forth a report — one that's unverified by all accounts — stating that Thanos, the hulking purple-skinned alien that's frequently dusted up with the Avengers and other Marvel heroes, is the secret villain we've all been wondering about. It's a rumor to be sure, but it's one I'm inclined to believe for a couple of reasons ... and it all goes back to Comic-Con.
In July 2010, the Marvel booth at Comic-Con featured a display case filled with items from the studio's upcoming comic book movies. Among them: Thor's hammer Mjolnir, Captain America's mighty shield and the bejeweled Infinity Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is one of the more prominent items in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, one that's virtually synonymous with Thanos. Indeed, its inclusion in the Marvel display case felt like an unspoken promise that Thanos would someday have a part to play in the company's cinematic future.
Cut to "Thor" almost a year later, and the Gauntlet appeared as a blink-and-you'll-miss-it Easter egg that came and went when Jotunheim thieves infiltrated Asgard to reclaim their long-lost prize, the Casket of Ancient Winters. Could it be that the Gauntlet only existed as a wink and nod to the fans back home? Entirely possible. But what if Loki, who clearly knows the history and value of the Casket, has information on the other items contained in Asgard — including what the Gauntlet is, and who would do anything to have it? For someone mightily pissed off at his brother and the Earth-dwellers he's become so fond of, that's very powerful information indeed.
Consider also that Feige, the same man who kiboshed the Skrulls and Skull, has long said that the cosmic side of Marvel is a big priority for him. In fact, just a few months ago, he revealed that movies based on the "Inhumans" and "Guardians of the Galaxy" were on the docket at Marvel Studios. Fantastic reads both of them, no question, but obscure beyond belief to the non-comic book reader. If Feige is looking ahead at "phase two" of the Marvel plan, as he's called it in the past, are "Inhumans" and "Guardians" really the best places to start?
Perhaps they are ... if someone huge, someone massive, someone like Thanos, makes his first appearance in "Avengers," and lives on to stalk the stars (and the screen) another day.
It's not the meatiest theory out there. It's based on a rumor, on a taste of what Marvel has given us both on and off the screen, and on a desire to see someone important occupy this oh-so-secretive role. For Feige to come out and say the movie's second villainous force is not the Skrulls and not Red Skull, and that Loki's alien army is "not impactful" in identity ... either he's not telling the full story on who or what this unseen enemy represents, or the big reveal is going to be a massive letdown. Given how Marvel has operated in recent years, and given the importance of "Avengers" to their brand and plans, I just don't see it being the latter option.
Here's what I do see. Loki aside, "The Avengers" will have another deeply meaningful foe to fight come May 4, 2012. And my considerably sized gut tells me it's going to be Thanos.
Who do you think the secret "Avengers" villain will be? Tell us in the comments section.
Check out everything we've got on "Marvel's The Avengers."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related PhotosSAG Awards Red Carpet Ruled By Pastels, Sexy Details
Emma Stone, Lea Michele and Angelina Jolie flaunt what they've got in couture on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Angelina Jolie at the 2012 SAG Awards
Photo: Getty Images
The SAG Awards may honor actors and their hard work, but on the red carpet on Sunday (January 29), it was all about recognizing all of the hard work they put into their looks. At the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the overarching trend seemed to be flaunting what you've got.
For photos of the stars on the SAG Awards red carpet, click here.
Zoe Saldana went light in a sequined white dress with a drop waist and floral detailing. Kristin Wiig's look, though, had a bit of a split personality: Her pale-hued Balenciaga gown was decidedly glam thanks to tailoring that showed off her long, lean body, but her black metal choker was a bit too heavy and goth for the overall look.
Two of the biggest divas on Fox's "Glee," Lea Michele and Naya Rivera, made pale colors look red-hot. Michele's lavender Versace had a body-hugging bodice and thigh-high slit, while Rivera's ice-blue dress was made even sexier thanks to a plunging neckline.
Red also ruled the carpet. "My Week With Marilyn" star Michelle Williams was chic in a bright-red Valentino dress, which was cut right above the ankle. Her ladylike look was capped off with lace detailing along her sleeves and neckline. "Dexter" star Jennifer Carpenter also opted for a red-and-lace red-carpet look.
Using a similar color palette, Sofia Vergara's hot pink, strapless Marchesa gown was super hot. Her "Modern Family" co-star Julie Bowen went Grecian in a purple gown.
Emma Stone, Angelina Jolie, Tina Fey and Ashlee Simpson decided that a little black dress wasn't too simple for Sunday's show. Jolie played up her inner vixen in a Jenny Packham halter gown with a draped neckline. Meanwhile, Stone went quirky in a three-quarter-length strapless black dress with lace details. "The Help" star played up the fun aspect of the Alexander McQueen design with platform shoes.
Simpson, meanwhile, looked like a character right out of boyfriend Vincent Piazza's show "Boardwalk Empire" in a '20s-style Jenny Packham gown with sequins and see-through fabric along the neckline. Fey brought the "va va voom" in her black strapless column dress: It was all party on top — with grey and black shades — and business at the bottom in a plain black fabric.
The guys didn't disappoint, either. Fellas like Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Jonah Hill kept it classic and simple in tuxedos, choosing ties over bowties. One guy, however, had a little fun with it, and that honor went to "Modern Family" star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who wore a blue pinstripe suit with a matching blue-velvet bowtie.
Share your favorite SAG red-carpet looks on our Facebook page.
Track all of 2012's hottest red-carpet-stunners from awards season at MTV Style and come back to Style every day for the latest fashion news.
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'The Grey' Captures #1 At Weekend Box Office
atherine Heigl's 'One for the Money' and 'Man on a Ledge' also make the top 5.
By Ryan J. Downey
Liam Neeson in "The Grey"
Photo: Open Road Films
It must be wintertime, because Liam Neeson is #1 at the box office again.
Following the January 2010 release of "Taken" and the February 2011 success of "Unknown," Liam Neeson returned to theaters in another action-heavy role with "The Grey" over the weekend and beat back all other contenders. "The Grey," about a group of oil workers stalked by wolves while stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, debuted with an estimated $20 million.
Katherine Heigl's "One for the Money" had a decent $11.8 million opening, which placed the PG-13 action comedy at #3 on the box-office scorecard. The Sam Worthington-led thriller "Man on a Ledge," on the other hand, opened at #5 with just $8.3 million.
Having proven his biopic mettle with heady fare like "Schindler's List" and "Kinsey," 59-year-old Neeson has entered a career groove playing rough-and-tumble anti-heroes in barn-burning action thrillers. While its opening numbers were slightly lower than "Unknown" ($21.9 million) and "Taken" ($24.7), "The Grey" enjoyed the best critical reviews of the action trio. "['The Grey'] takes death seriously, and partly as a consequence, every moment, every frame, feels alive," wrote New York Times film critic and former "At the Movies" co-host A.O. Scott.
The same cannot be said for "One for the Money," which at press time sat at just 3 percent on Rotten Tomatoes' "Tomatometer," which assigns ratings based on reviews from film critics.
"Heigl's comic timing is solid, and she knows her limitations well enough, but there's a hollowness at the movie's center, right where Heigl's heart should be," wrote Sam Adams of The Onion A.V. Club. The film's opening was lower than Heigl's 2010 rom-coms "Killers" ($15.8 million) and "Life as We Know It" ($13.2 million).
"Avatar" and "Clash of the Titans" star Sam Worthington received top billing in "Man on a Ledge," which sat at 25 percent on the Tomatometer at press time. Worthington plays a wrongly accused man who hatches an elaborate scheme to prove his innocence. The last movie co-starring Worthington was the war criminal/ spy drama "The Debt," which opened with $9.9 million.
The rest of the weekend's top five included "Underworld Awakening" at #2 with $12.5 million, which gave the fourth entry in the vampires-and-werewolves franchise a two-week total of $45.1 million, and "Red Tails" at #4 with $10.4 million. The George Lucas-produced World War II flick has made $33.8 million since it opened last weekend. Lucas financed the film's $58 million budget himself.
"The Descendants" and "The Artist" both received a boost from their respective award season attention. George Clooney has racked up trophies for his starring role in the Alexander Payne-directed "Descendants," which expanded from 600 theaters to 2,000 and took in another $6.5 million for an 11-week total of $58.8 million. "The Artist," meanwhile, spiked 42 percent from last week. The Weinstein Co.-produced silent film has made $16.7 million after big wins at several award shows, including three prizes at the Golden Globes.
Check out everything we've got on "The Grey" and "Man on a Ledge."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
IT'S GETTING UGLY: Evelyn Lozada's Assistant Allegedly PIMP SLAPS Jennifer Williams, Police Report Filed
During a recent "BBW" taping, Evelyn Lozada's assistant allegedly struck Jennifer Williams in the face.....and the cops were called! Deets inside....
The Evelyn/Jennifer drama is getting uglier and uglier and now the cops are invovled!
During a "BBW" day of filming at Gulf Stream Race Track in Hallandale, FL last Saturday, Jennifer Williams had a fight with Nia Crooks (Evelyn's assistant).
Things definitely reached a boiling point witht he frenemies. According to sources, during a confrontation, Nia PUSHED Jennifer in the face to get her away.
In the police report, is says Jennifer was "intentionally struck by Crooks with an open hand to the left side of her face."
The officer said he saw no injuries on Jen but told her she could file a misdemeanor complaint with the state attorney’s office.
Hmmm....wonder was this captured on film? And if so....is Shaunie REALLY gonna show this ish?
Of course she is.......
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Katherine Heigl & Naleigh: Big Apple Lunch
Katherine Heigl, her mom Nancy, and a nanny took 3-year-old Naleigh out to lunch at Da Silvano in New York City on Thursday (January 26). As they were leaving, they carried the restaurant's little bags.
The actress has been busy promoting her new film One For The Money. During the week she even brought Naleigh with her on the Jimmy Kimmel Live and The View.
'The Grey': The Reviews Are In!
Critics give mostly positive reviews to Liam Neeson's wolf-punching thriller.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Liam Neeson in "The Grey"
Photo: Open Road Films
For the third January in a row, Liam Neeson returns to kick ass more than any other 59-year-old we know. This time he isn't taking down sex traffickers like in "Taken" or whatever he was fighting in "Unknown." No, this time, it's wolves.
For a movie that was sold on the notion of wolf punching, "The Grey" has received primarily positive reviews for its deeper-than-you'd-think story and characters.
Check out what the critics are saying about "The Grey."
The Story
"We meet Neeson's character, a heartbroken loner named John Ottway, on the verge of suicide and thinking back, obsessively, to the woman who got away. His demons temporarily quelled, Ottway boards a small plane with his fellow refinery workers and in one of the most nerve-racking flights ever put on film, the aircraft runs afoul of bad weather and crashes. (For a turbulence wimp like me, this scene was not easy.)" — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The Star
"Having paid his quality biopic dues as Oskar Schindler, Michael Collins and Alfred Kinsey, Mr. Neeson has, at least for now, turned to the rougher and perhaps more lucrative work of action heroism. It takes nothing away from his earlier achievements to note that he's really good at it. He conveys a ferocious and absolute seriousness even when the going gets silly, and he finds the soul in each new angry-everyman cipher he is asked to play." — A.O. Scott, New York Times
The Wolves
" 'The Grey' is an unrelenting demonstration that wolves have no opinion. When they attack, it's not personal. They've spent untold millennia learning how to survive, naked and without weapons, in fearsome places like the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter. They aren't precisely unarmed; they have their teeth and claws, but how far would that get us, even if we had rifles?" — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Director
"We've come, in vain, to see [Neeson] danse-macabre with wolves, and the film's director, Joe Carnahan, provides the occasional horror-film sneak attack. He also manages to create one of the movies' more nightmarish plane crashes and conclude with just the sort of ludicrous finale that paying customers who've seen the ads might assume they would be getting a whole film of." — Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
The Final Word
"For all its macho standoffs and action set pieces and menacing off-screen howling, 'The Grey' is at heart a simple moral fable about how true heroism consists in helping other human beings to live as long and die as well as they can, which is, after all, the task all of us face each day, even when we're not fending off wolves with broken glass duct-taped to our knuckles." — Dana Stevens, Slate
Check out everything we've got on "The Grey."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Five Reasons To See 'The Grey'
Madonna To Debut 'Luvin' Teaser On 'American Idol'
Full-length video for Madge's new tune will premiere day after Thursday's 'AI' episode.
By Jocelyn Vena
Madonna
Photo: Getty Images
Madonna is truly an "American Idol," so it's probably fitting that the Queen of Pop has chosen the Fox reality show to debut a tease of the highly anticipated video for her upcoming single "Give Me All Your Luvin'. "
"AI" will premiere a preview of the video during Thursday's episode, a day before its proper debut on Friday, which also happens to be the day the single hits iTunes (a version was leaked late last year). Fans will finally get to hear Madge, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. in all their sassiness. (Oh, yeah, Madonna's film "W.E." hits theaters that day too!)
Along with producer Martin Solveig, Madge, Nicki and M.I.A all co-wrote "Give Me All Your Luvin', " while the "W.E." director was also onboard to co-produce the track. "Luvin" is the lead single off her upcoming album, M.D.N.A., which is now set to drop on March 26, according to Idolator.
Fans are just getting a glimpse of new artwork for the single, which features Madge sporting only a sweater in a trio of shots. On each sweater, there's a star and a portion of the song's title. In one shot, Madge has her eyes closed with her lips pursed together. In another, she's shouting; and in the third image, she has her hands in her hair, eyes closed and a smile on her face.
Other production credits for the album include William Orbit, the Demolition Crew, Marco "Benny" Benassi and Alessandro "Alle" Benassi, Hardy "Indiigo" Muanza and Michael Malih.
Madonna recently spoke to MTV News about working with Orbit. "With William, I didn't really have a discussion," she said. "We've worked on stuff for so many years that we kind of finish each other's sentences. He knows my taste and what I like. Magic happens when we get into a recording studio together."
Not enough Madonna for you? Well, she'll hit the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show next Sunday, February 5, where, rumor has it, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo Green and LMFAO will join her. While we don't know much about her performance, the pop superstar teased that it would include a lot of pom poms.
Are you excited to hear the official version of "Give Me All Your Luvin' "? Tell us on our Facebook page!
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