Wiz Khalifa To Crash 'RapFix Live' Pittsburgh Party

There's going to be a Pittsburgh party on Wednesday's "RapFix Live." Mac Miller isn't the only Pittsburgh rapper making his return to the red couch on Wednesday, as Wiz Khalifa will also be sitting with host Sway Calloway to talk about his latest and greatest.

It's perfect timing too. On Monday, Khalifa released "Work Hard, Play Hard," the first single from his sophomore album O.N.I.F.C. (Only N---a in First Class). The catchy track, which was crafted by Stargate and Benny Blanco, finds Young Khalifa flaunting his success in the face of less fortunate haters.

Wiz is coming off the heels of his critically acclaimed Taylor Allderdice mixtape. He's prepping O.N.I.F.C. for an August 28 release, and if that wasn't enough, Mr. Khalifa and fiancée Amber Rose are planning a wedding. (It was during a March 2011 episode of "RapFix Live" where the lovebirds gave their first interview.) The Taylor Gang captain is also about to hit the road with Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Chevy Woods on the Under the Influence of Music tour, so there is plenty to talk about.

"It means everything, Mac's my little homey. It's good for his fans; it's good for everybody who've been wanting to see us do what we do together," Wiz told MTV News about the tour, which kicks off July 26 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Chevy's my guy. I grew up with him so I know he's gonna bring a lot of crazy energy. Kendrick and Schoolboy got a bunch of fans on their own and people that they're gonna entertain as well, so I think it's just gonna bring a lot of different worlds together as well as create some new energy that hasn't been done before."

That's not all "RapFix Live" has to offer, as California spitter Casey Veggies will also be coming through. Trust us, you don't want to miss this!

Catch Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller and Casey Veggies on "RapFix Live" Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists @MTVRapFix!

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'The Lucky One': The Reviews Are In!

In the film adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel "The Lucky One," Zac Efron plays Logan, a Marine who returns from Iraq in search of the woman he believes was his good luck charm overseas. He finds her (Beth, played by Taylor Schilling) and learns she runs a dog kennel with her son Ben and grandmother Ellie. Despite Beth's reservations, Ellie hires Logan to help with the work around the kennel, and Ellie ends up warming to the soldier.

Overall, critics are not impressed with the Scott Hicks-directed movie, but their reviews are mixed. Some claim that the acting is bland and the storyline is the typical "boy-meets-girl" Sparks experience, while others believe the romance is "well-constructed" given the source material. Either way, the film is sure to appeal to the author's fans and should fare well with romance lovers at this weekend's box office.

The Story
"The Sparks-styled romance has almost become its own movie genre — predictable, pure of heart, sentimental and never straying from the boy-meets-girl basics, or the surface, for that matter — and in that 'The Lucky One' delivers." — Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

The Romance
"The central love story is well-constructed for what it is; it offers the requisite amount of fantasy with just a miniscule dollop of realism." — James Berardinelli, Reelviews

"Their love scenes, like every other element of Hicks' film, are lighted in a way that gives everything an impossibly warm, romantic glow. You can roll your eyes, or you can give in." — Christy Lemire, The Associated Press

Zac Efron
"Efron does fill out the hunky-guy uniform nicely. He's no longer the scrawny teen from 'High School Musical.' But despite his promise in smaller movies like 'Me and Orson Welles,' here he's all flat affect, taking bottled-up angst to an extreme where you never actually see it. He's perfectly likable but never riveting, dropping the ball on the chance to portray the complicated psychology of a war veteran. Apart from one early scene in which he flinches at a video-game shooting, you never have the sense he's dealing with combat repercussions." — Sara Stewart, New York Post

The Final Word
"Part of the experience of a Nicholas Sparks movie is encountering revelations and reversals in the plot that challenge your sense of the preposterous. That's how destiny works: unlikely incidents pile up [and] good intentions go awry ... If realism is what you're after, you'll do better at 'The Three Stooges.' 'The Lucky One' is where you will find death, redemption and kisses in the rain." — A. O. Scott, New York Times

Check out everything we've got on "The Lucky One."

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

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Rihanna Preps Fancy Footwork For 'Where Have You Been' Video

Rihanna has never been known as a dancer, but she's ready to step her game up for her upcoming "Where Have You Been" video. In an almost three-minute-long behind-the-scenes montage clip that surfaced on Thursday, the megastar takes her Navy to the dance studio, where she's seen practicing a routine for the upcoming clip alongside a crew of dancers.

Rocking some appropriate rehearsal attire and simple sneaks, Ri turns to the camera at one point to admit that a dance routine was necessary for the hard dance track's video, saying, "I was never going to shoot this video if I couldn't do choreography, 'cause it would be pretty pointless. It would be disappointing."

As with the foot skills she performed in clips like "Rude Boy" and old-school joint "If It's Lovin' That You Want," choreographer Hi-Hat helped keep Rihanna's moves in line with the singer's comfort and style, while still showing off the most choreography we've ever seen her do.

As one of the world's biggest pop stars, the recent Billboard Music Awards nominee also revealed that devoting time to performance skills for videos is rare. "My schedule has always been so busy, it never really allowed for us to spend time rehearsing and making up dance moves," she said.

Just last week, Rihanna took to her Facebook to tease a dazzling black-and-white shot from the clip, where she's seen exposing her midriff and kneeling before forest-like scenery. No word on when the video will be released, but with a recently announced musical guest gig on "Saturday Night Live," "Where Have You Been" is likely to be one of the singer's performance sets on the May 5 show. This will mark her third appearance on the late-night sketch comedy show, which will be hosted by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

What do you think of Rihanna's fancy footwork? Sound off below.

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Olivia Munn A 'Voyeur' On The 'Magic Mike' Set

There's so much man meat in the "Magic Mike" trailer that it's easy to forget that there are actual ladies in the June film.

Sure, "Mike" stars Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer and Joe Manganiello — we know, you need a second to catch your breath — but the Steven Soderbergh-directed flick also boasts some talented ladies, including Olivia Munn.

When MTV News caught up with the actress — who was being honored by Us Weekly as a "sexy tomboy" at the mag's Hot Hollywood event — she opened up about being around all those guys and loving each and every minute of it.

"I think on set, with all these guys, I'm not a sexy tomboy; I'm not a tomboy; I'm not anything," she said. "I'm just a voyeur, watching them."

She then recalled hitting the set long before her call time just to gawk at the studs. "I'm on set when I'm not even working for, like, four hours, but I heard they're dancing and they're going to be naked, so I'm gonna be here early watching. So that's what I am on set: more the voyeur watching."

As for all the smooth moves, she shared that the film's star — Magic Mike himself, Channing Tatum — might be the smoothest. "He's truly, truly talented, and he's so fun to watch, and it's so sexy as well," she said. "And then the person I was really impressed with was Matt Bomer, 'cause I didn't know he could dance. He's got this juicy butt. Like, I just want to make wishes on it, it's so beautiful."

Check out everything we've got on "Magic Mike."

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

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Tiesto's <i> Club Life - Volume Two Miami</i> A Tribute To City He Loves

When EDM icon Tiësto drops a new album, it isn't just a new collection of songs. It's nothing short of a highly anticipated event in dance music, and Club Life - Volume Two Miami lives up to that description.

While the first installment of his Club Life series was a nod to Las Vegas, with Volume Two — released Tuesday (April 24) — Tiësto salutes the city that's had his back since day one.

"Literally the first place I came to in America was Miami, and since then I've always been in love with the city," Tiësto revealed to MTV News recently. "They've always been very supportive of my music. Like, even in the beginning of 2002, when the whole of America was not really into dance music, Miami had already embraced my music here and played it in all the stores."

Indeed, Tiësto has, over the years, seen Miami absorb EDM into its very fabric. Each week, the biggest names in dance music play Miami nightclubs, and Ultra Music Festival had around 165,000 people pass through its gates this year. It's fair to say, Miami is a dance music town.

"Miami is such an amazing city," Tiësto said. "The people. The restaurants. The clubs. The festival. It's the best city in America for dance music.

"I'm so happy that I've seen the whole change, because I never really expected it to happen," Tiësto confessed. "Five years ago, I was like, 'You know what? America will never be conquered for dance music.' And now we finally are here and it's amazing to be part of it."

And so it should make sense that an album of the Miami namesake reflects some of the most impressive EDM efforts assembled on one disc. Tiësto partners with Wolfgang Gartner and Luciana on the banging "We Own the Night" and simply stuns with "Make Some Noise," a collaboration with Swanky Tunes and Ben McInerney of New Navy.

Stellar remixes stand out in Tiësto's take on Gotye's smash hit "Somebody That I Used to Know" and the Naked and Famous' "Young Blood," a collaboration with fellow Bred, Holland native, Hardwell. The widely successful "Maximal Crazy" is among three Tiësto originals served up on CLV2, and it appears he still has plans for "Chasing Summers."

"Very catchy melody," Tiësto relished. "At first I was like, 'It's a great opener track,' but then the reactions from people were so great. So I think I have to put a vocal on it later on."

What do you think of Club Life - Volume Two Miami? Leave your comment below!

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Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch Are 'Savages' In Oliver Stone's Latest

When Oliver Stone releases a film, you'd better sit up and take notice. Whether he's tackling the Vietnam War (as he did in a trilogy of films: "Platoon," "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Heaven & Earth"), presidential scandals (another trilogy: "JFK," "Nixon" and "W.") or pulpy genre violence ("Natural Born Killers," "U-Turn"), you can be sure he'll give an audience member something to chew on. So when Stone signs on to direct some of the hottest young actors in Hollywood (Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson) in a tale of sex, drugs and violence, yeah, we're interested.

MTV News caught up with Stone to talk about his first legitimate summer release, "Savages" (set for a July 6 release), his distaste for most summer popcorn films and his upcoming gargantuan take on nothing less than the history of the United States.

MTV: The release date of "Savages" was shifted quite a bit. It's now being released in the middle of a very competitive summer. Were you happy with that decision?

Oliver Stone: I've never done a summer movie, believe it or not. Except for "Natural Born Killers," but that was August, late summer. This is my first time out there in the big leagues. So I'm excited in a way.

MTV: Do you think "Savages" will play well for that younger summer audience?

Stone: I think it plays well. I don't know that it would play completely to the "Hunger Games" crowd because we have a different kind of sexuality and the take on violence is real for us. It's fun and exciting. It's a wild ride. You don't know what's going to happen. I think the unpredictability is what makes it work.

MTV: Can you give me a sense of the relationship at the heart of the story between the characters played by Blake, Taylor and Aaron.

Stone: They are all friends and they believe in free love, and they happen to be growing some grass. One of them [Johnson] is doing good around the world. The other one [Kitsch] is an Afghanistan and Iraq veteran who's his best buddy from school; they have a partnership. The girl [Lively] is from Laguna. They met on the beach, basically.

MTV: It sounds like just about every hot young actor was in the running for these roles.

Stone: I met with every pot dealer I could. [Laughs] For the girl, I had to meet a few of the younger newcomers because I did not know who they were. I saw [Blake's] work and I was very impressed with "[The Private Live of] Pippa Lee." And she was very strong in "The Town." I think people that know her from "Gossip Girl" will be surprised. She is beautiful and she is sexy. She is hot. That's what a lot of fans would say about her.

MTV: Has "Savages" received a rating yet?

Stone: We got a hard R. It's an intense movie but it's a different style than "Natural Born Killers." It has a lush look. It has some of that sun-drenched romanticism that I like. It's not just action, it is also romantic.

MTV: "Savages" will be surrounded by some big summer blockbusters. You've managed to avoid tentpole movies, though you did almost direct a "Mission: Impossible" at one point.

Stone: Well, we tried to make a "Mission" at that time, which was ahead of its time in terms of the story. I looked at it as a vehicle that was supersmart. [But] they could never pick a script. With "Mission: Impossible," you have to hit these beats all the time.

MTV: It sounds like it's not a regret for you.

Stone: It's all steroids now. I mean "Iron Man 2" is unwatchable, as is "Transformers 2." It's not my kind of moviemaking. "Savages" is a different kind of movie. It's realistic and at the same time it has a bit of that summer pop feel.

MTV: What's the status of your TV series, "The Untold History of the United States"?

Stone: That one's a bitch. It's a bitch in my butt.

MTV: It will begin airing on Showtime in November?

Stone: Yeah, we will make that for sure, but there are so many factors and fact checking. It's a lot of work. It's 21 hours and each hour has to work like a movie. I'm dealing with an important issue to me. That's a legacy for me. Something that matters. It may not matter to most people, but it does matter to me. This is a perception of our time that is completely different from what we're hearing in magazines and in our newspapers. We deal with all types of things, such as the nature of the atomic bomb, why was it used, why it should not have been used. It's all kinds of stuff. Reagan's legacy, our national security state, we go after all of it.

MTV: Do you narrate it?

Stone: Yes, I narrate it as well.

Check out Oliver Stone's "Savages" in theaters July 6, and "The Untold History of the United States" on Showtime in November.

It's Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated summer movies. Get ready to gorge on inside looks at "The Avengers," Robert Pattinson's "Bel Ami," Kristen Stewart's "Snow White," "The Amazing Spider-Man" and more!

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112 Merged Hip-Hop And R&B -- But Are They The Best Boy Band?

Who would've thought our Battle of the Boy Bands could get so ugly? The BB free-for-all is already in full swing, as the respective fanbases vote for their favorites and sling mud at the competition. Not that 112 are the least bit worried. Slim, Q, Daron and Mike got their start on Diddy's Bad Boy Records and have been besting boy bands since their 1996 self-titled debut.

Oh, you aren't convinced 112 have what it takes to beat out the best of all time? Just check the stats! We thought Diddy told y'all that they won't stop — eh, eh, eh, eh!

Highest Chart Achievement
By the time One-One-Deuce dropped Part III in 2001, they'd long proven their dominance in the world of R&B, but it was "Peaches & Cream" that would establish them as a formidable pop act. The naughty dance hit became their most popular track after it peaked at #4 on the Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Standout Video
Before "TRL," it was 112 who were bringing the party to Times Square. The Atlanta quartet rode in an open-top hummer and danced the night away in their 1996 "Only You" remix video. To top things off, Slim and company not only brought the Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy along for the ride, they also introduced the world to Ma$e. Which other boy band can boast that?

Defining Tune
Making crowds dance was damn-near a prerequisite for any artist signed to Diddy's Bad Boy label, and 112 had quite a few party-starters in their catalog. Still, it was the group's 1997 ballad "Cupid" that gave them ultimate staying power. The acoustic love song more than showed off the quartet's vocal chops and, more importantly, made young girls everywhere swoon.

Debut Album
112's self-titled debut came at the perfect time. The band capitalized off Diddy's penchant for producing perfect R&B/hip-hop mash-ups and their double-platinum first LP not only featured the Notorious B.I.G., but Ma$e and Mr. Cheeks as well. Thanks to Puff's vision, 112 were able to capture the street audience that the clean-cut Boyz II Men could not in a post-Jodeci era.

Biggest Competition
If 112 hope to make any strides in the Battle of the Boy Bands, they have to get past 'NSYNC in a possible second-round matchup. Not that Diddy's foursome should be overlooking LFO, but Justin Timberlake and company will be especially tough to overtake.

Now Slim is humble enough to admit that if it isn't 112, his favorite boy band is New Edition, but be clear: He wants your vote.

"First of all, 112 brought a lot to the game," Slim pointed out to MTV News. "When we first came in, we were in the biggest music movement signed to Bad Boy with P. Diddy. With that, we were probably the first group to bring hip-hop and R&B together."

Voting in round one of MTV's Battle of the Boy Bands is now open and runs until noon ET on Thursday, April 26. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates!

Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Battle of the Boy Bands interactive bracket!

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President Obama Slow Jams The News on 'Jimmy Fallon'

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been struggling to connect with the kids, but President Obama seems to be having no problem. In his latest bid to win over the youth vote, the commander-in-chief dropped by "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday night and joined the estimable list of guests who have slow jammed the news on the show.

"I want to slow jam the news, and I'm not the only one," Fallon told his audience as the on-stage curtain parted and a smiling Obama strutted out purposefully to wild applause. "I'm President Barack Obama and I, too, want to slow jam the news," the slow-jammer-in-chief said as house band the Roots broke into a few funky bars of "Hail to the Chief."

Looking into the camera while the Roots laid down a silky groove, Obama said, "On July 1st of this year the interest rates on Stafford student loans, the same loans that many of you use to help pay for college are set to double. And that means some hard-working students will be paying about $1,000 extra just to get their education. So I've called on Congress to prevent this from happening. What we've said is simple: now is not the time to make school more expensive for our young people."

The camera then swung to Fallon, in the foreground, as he rumbled, "Ohhh yeahhh, you should listen to the president!"

"Or as I like to call him, the Preezy of the United Steezy," Fallon said without cracking a smile. "Things are heating up inside Congress' chambers behind all those closed doors, so the president made a few discreet calls across the aisle, he said, 'Hey, let's get together on this one. Without an affordable Stafford loan, where can a student turn? The Pell Grant is a beautiful thing, but with college getting more expensive, is it enough by itself to satisfy all your collegiate needs? Oh Pell no!"

Obama also managed to keep a straight face throughout the bit, even as Roots rapper Black Thought tossed out Kim and Kanye and Tim Tebow jokes and Fallon referred to him as the "Barackness Monster." The president later sat down just hours after giving a speech earlier in the day on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where the show aired from on Tuesday night. He joked about being nervous appearing on the late night talker and lamented that he was "surrounded" by women in his rental property (the White House) and that sometimes they pick on him and First Dog, Bo. "We go to the man cave, turn on Sports Center, have a couple beers," Obama explained of what he and Bo do to get away sometimes. He also gave a shout out to the Comedy Central show "Key and Peele," praising a bit where the actor who plays Obama has an "anger translator."

Asked about the secret service prostitution scandal in Columbia, Obama admitted he was "pretty mad" at the "couple of knuckleheads" that detracted from the great work his security detail does on a daily basis. And, sadly, he told viewer "Bobo" that he would not be legalizing marijuana. Going all in on appealing to the wireless generation, Obama answered a question from one viewer about why his parents should vote for the president over Romney by dictating it as a tweet. He also said he's met Romney and that he seems like a good family man, but, alas, "we are not friends."

After discussing his more embarrassing moment as the leader of the free world (accidentally walking out of a meeting with some human rights activists before any of the speakers had taken the stage and having to turn around and walk back in), he got down to the very serious issue of student loan interest rates that are about to double unless Congress acts. "The single most important investment young people can make remains a college education," he said, noting that he and First Lady Michelle Obama didn't finish paying off their student loans until eight years ago.

With the exception of a tune from the Dave Matthews Band, Fallon spent the entire show speaking to the president. It's unclear, though, if Obama's slow jam will end up on the comedy album Fallon is releasing on June 12, Blow Your Pants Off, which is slated to feature bits from Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake.

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The Wanted: A Whirlwind Day With The Boy Band

NEW YORK — The Wanted happen to be one of the biggest boy bands in the world at the moment. On Tuesday (April 24), the British fivesome released their self-titled U.S. EP with the kind of fanfare only a boy band could pull off as they took over the island of Manhattan for a whirlwind release-day press tour.

MTV News was on hand for every minute of it, from sunrise to sunset, capturing the excitement as the boys made their way across the Big Apple to promote the album. We first met up with the guys at 5 a.m. at their hotel to make our way over to "Today." But, we weren't the only ones who greeted the guys there: Fans had waited all night outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the Wanted.

Despite the early hour, the guys obliged, signing autographs and smiling for photos with their devotees. Then they hopped into their car and made their way across town to "Today."

So, how do they manage to keep their spirits up at the top of a long day like that? "We prepared for this show this morning by having cups of tea and Cheerios, good for the heart," Siva Kaneswaran told me before they took the stage to perform. "Basically, just psych each other, gaze into each other's eyes and get excited, and that's what gets us through the day."

From there, it was all about greeting even more fans, who had followed the guys from the studio back to their hotel, where the guys regrouped for a bit before more press and appearances. It's the fans though who make the grueling press tour worth all the work, even if they find sneaky ways to show the guys their love.

Recalling a mid-day fan encounter during their downtime, Tom Parker said some fans must have sneaked into the hotel, probably through the front door. "They were following us around. Some girl came up and said, 'Is it too early to buy you a drink yet?' " The answer was "yes" — they did have a full day of press ahead of them!

After their very short break, we were back in the car heading to the Empire State Building, where the guys got their photos taken and did several more interviews to hype up their release.

Their final stop today will be their "MTV First," during which they will premiere their video for "Chasing the Sun," sit down with Sway Calloway to chat about their album and the video, and answer fans' questions.

Well, Sway, I warmed them up for you. I just hope I didn't tire them out.

The Wanted are taking over the Big Apple! Stick with MTV News for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos all day. We'll tag along with the guys on stops like the "Today" show and the Empire State Building before "MTV First: The Wanted" kicks off at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of the "Chasing the Sun" video and a 30-minute interview with the band!

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Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar Bring Worlds Together On Tour

Wiz Khalifa is excited to embark on a summer tour with Mac Miller — or is he? MTV News caught up with the Rolling Papers MC on the set of Maroon 5's "Payphone" video shoot in Los Angeles, where he talked about the upcoming Under the Influence of Music Tour.

"Mac's my man," Wiz said, before he jokingly backtracked. "Actually, I really don't like him like that. That's why I usually try to stay away from him. There's no way I could avoid him for too much longer, so they made me go on tour with him."

Khalifa and Miller both hail from Pittsburgh, and are both signed to local independent label Rostrum Records. Despite the duo's close proximity, the two MCs don't have a ton of collaborations under their belts. The pair hooked up on "Keep Floatin'," a track off of Mac's 2011 mixtape Best Day Ever, and on 2009's "Cruise Control." Next up is the Under the Influence of Music Tour, which kicks off July 26 in Cincinnati. "It means everything, Mac's my little homey. It's good for his fans; it's good for everybody who've been wanting to see us do what we do together," Wiz said.

TDE's Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Taylor Gang's Chevy Woods are also on the bill. "Chevy's my guy. I grew up with him so I know he's gonna bring a lot of crazy energy," Khalifa promised. "Kendrick and Schoolboy got a bunch of fans on their own and people that they're gonna entertain as well, so I think it's just gonna bring a lot of different worlds together as well as create some new energy that hasn't been done before."

Kendrick, who spoke with MTV News earlier this week, says he is pumped for the upcoming run. "Man, I'm anticipating a whole bunch of energy. They gonna let me down if I don't get the energy," he said. "I gotta get a whole bunch of wild motherf---ers who just wanna party and hear good music."

Tickets will ceremoniously go on sale on the stoner holiday of April 20 (Friday) at 4:20 p.m. on Ticketmaster and LiveNation.

Will you be attending the Under the Influence of Music Tour? Tell us in the comments!

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'A Voice' In Nicki Minaj's Head Told Her To Quit Twitter

As of Friday afternoon (April 20), Nicki Minaj has been absent from Twitter for five days, keeping the Barbz on a sharp lookout for her return.

Minaj deactivated the account in a fit of frustration on Sunday, but during her current press run in the U.K., she admits that she's still pondering if or when she will get back on the social media site. In an interview with Graham Norton, Nicki explained that one of the many personalities in her head — we're assuming it wasn't Roman this time — told her to quit Twitter.

"A voice in my head told me to delete my Twitter and that's what I did," she said, adding, "I had 11 million followers and I hope they will wait for me."

Norton specifically asked when she planned to get back on her timeline, but she wouldn't confirm anything, telling him, "I don't know yet, I'm thinking about it. I miss my Barbz, please bear with me."

Nicki disappeared from Twitter over the weekend after getting into a spat with one of her fan sites, NickiDaily, which she took issue with for posting leaked music from her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded album. "Like seriously, it's but so much a person can take. Good f---ing bye," she wrote before signing off indefinitely.

The leak was Nicki's breaking point, but it's very possible that she was also getting fed up with some of the feedback she's been receiving since she dropped Roman Reloaded.

For now, Barbz shouldn't be too worried about Nicki being permanently absent from Twitter. She will be able to reactivate her account even after several weeks of inactivity, and thanks to her verified status, no one will be allowed to inherit her @NickiMinaj handle without the permission of Twitter employees.

Do you think Nicki should reactivate her Twitter account? Tell us in the comments!

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Beyonce Named <i>People</i>'s Most Beautiful Woman

Beyoncé truly is the Queen B. She has been voted People's World's Most Beautiful Woman in the magazine's latest issue, which celebrates all things beautiful. And these days she says the thing that makes her feel most beautiful is her baby girl, Blue Ivy.

"I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," Beyoncé told the magazine. "I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth."

Beyoncé continues to gush about her baby girl, saying, "She's just the cutest thing," adding that she makes up songs to sing just to Blue Ivy. When asked which of her parents the baby resembles more, B responded, "She looks like Blue. She's her own person."

While Beyoncé is focused on her "love" of changing diapers these days, she is prepping to get back to work. But she seems to feel her greatest achievement is baby Blue. "The best thing about having a daughter is having a true legacy," she explained. "The word 'love' means something completely different now."

Beyoncé is slated to perform in Atlantic City over Memorial Day weekend and is rumored to be working on new music for a follow-up to 2011's 4.

This is the ninth time the pop singer has made the issue, which hits newsstands Friday. The list also includes Angelina Jolie; Jennifer Lawrence; Adele; newly pregnant Megan Fox; "Snow White and the Huntsman" villain Charlize Theron; the Snow White of "Mirror Mirror," Lily Collins; "Mad Men" vixen Christina Hendricks; Michelle Williams and Kate Middleton.

Guys who made the cut in the Most Beautiful issue include the Sexiest Man Alive himself, Bradley Cooper, David Beckham, Blake Shelton and Ashton Kutcher. In 2011, "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez was crowned People's Most Beautiful Woman.

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Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez 'Not Engaged,' Rep Says

The celebrity relationship rumor mill has churned out another juicy one today (April 20) with reports that teen sweethearts Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are taking their romance to the next level and shopping for engagement rings.

As expected, the rumor is just that. Bieber's manager Scooter Braun told Us Weekly that the reports are "complete bulls---" and that the Biebs' entire management team was very entertained by the fictional report. He said they were all "laughing" at the speculation.

CLICK FOR PHOTOS OF THE HOT, STYLISH COUPLE

So where did the rumor get started? Via a gossip item in the Chicago Sun-Times, which claimed that "several people close to the superstar couple" told the newspaper that they're convinced an engagement announcement is in the very near future.

The story went on to say that Bieber, 18, and Gomez, 19, were spotted at a couple major jewelry stores eyeing pricey diamond rings.

The lovebirds have been dating for nearly a year and, despite the public scrutiny of their relationship, are a normal teenage couple who share a similar "dating philosophy," according to Gomez. For Bieber, that philosophy includes honesty and patience.

"I don't know if I'm even the best boyfriend," Bieber recently admitted to MTV News during an interview on the set of the music video shoot for his latest single, "Boyfriend." "But I can give a few suggestions. I think being honest and patient, because girls can be tough sometimes, so you just got to be patient. That's two. Forgive, and have fun, because it's about having fun. Last one? Be faithful."

Original Source

'That's My Boy' A 'Throwback' To Early Adam Sandler

No matter what you thought about Adam Sandler's last few zany comedies, there are more than a few reasons to be excited about his next release, "That's My Boy."
First, it's Sandler's first-ever R-rated comedy. Second, it features a cast of former and current "SNL" players like Andy Samberg and Will Forte, as well as James Caan and Vanilla Ice. And third, the outrageous plot revolves around a deadbeat father (Sandler) who attempts to reconnect with his long-lost son (Samberg) on the week of his wedding.
MTV News recently caught up with funnyman Forte to find out all about the on-set antics, Sandler's genius abilities in the art of swearing, how awesome Vanilla Ice is in the film and if we'll ever see a "MacGruber" sequel.

MTV News: In looking at the cast and concept of this film, it seems as though you probably had a lot of fun on set.
Will Forte: It was a ton of fun. I've always watched Sandler movies and thought, "Oh my God, that looks like it would be so much fun." They're always in Hawaii or some glamorous setting, and it really is as much fun as you would think it would be. It was like going to summer camp for this. Everyone was so cool. He's such a loyal and good person. He always works with the same people on the crew, so it's a real family-like atmosphere.
MTV: How does your character fit into the mix?
Forte: I play this guy named Bill, and he is Andy's best man. I don't really know Andy that well, so you find out later when Adam comes to find Andy on his wedding weekend, I give up my best-man duties to Adam. It's definitely not a straight man; he's kind of a weirdo. It's a fun character. There's a mix of different types of characters in there. I'm one of the ones who gets to have a lot of fun and be an idiot.
MTV: How does the R rating enhance the fun factor?
Forte: It's a completely different situation. There is so much going on in this movie. It's a really fun movie. Adam Sandler has always been one of my comedy idols, so to get to work with him was really fun, and to add into that the R-rated part of this movie, it was so fun. There are very few people who can swear with the style and enunciation of Adam. He just hits them just right. It was so much fun. This movie feels like a throwback to some of the earlier Sandler movies, with the addition of swearing. I cannot tell you how fun this experience was. I feel like when you watch the movie, you can tell how much fun we had.
MTV: How was it working with Vanilla Ice?
Forte: I got to hang out with Vanilla Ice quite a bit. It was awesome. He is so different than I thought he would be. He's this very sweet and loving person, just kind of normal for Vanilla Ice, if that makes sense. He's this wonderful, warm person, but still the Vanilla Ice you want to see. He doesn't disappoint you in not being Vanilla Ice-y enough. He's an awesome guy.
MTV: You have a lot of things on your plate in addition to this movie, like "Rock of Ages," the comedy pilot "Rebounding." What are the odds we'll ever see a "MacGruber" sequel?
Forte: We would love to do a "MacGruber" sequel! I don't know if anyone with any money would love us to do a "MacGruber" sequel, but we talk about it all the time, and we might even — to just get it out of our heads — we might sit down and write a second one. If we could somehow talk somebody into putting some money up for it [that would be great]. We're so proud of that movie and had so much fun doing it. There is no serious talk about making a "MacGruber" sequel, but there's some non-serious talk about it. A couple of the people who were a part of it sit around and get drunk and talk about it; that's the level of talk.
"That's My Boy" opens everywhere June 15.
It's Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated summer movies. Get ready to gorge on inside looks at "The Avengers," Robert Pattinson's "Bel Ami," Kristen Stewart's "Snow White," "The Amazing Spider-Man" and more!

Original Source

'Bridget Jones 3' Script In The Works, Hugh Grant Confirms

The last time anyone heard about the third film in the "Bridget Jones" franchise, the script was still being reworked to suit lead actors Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. But fans have been getting antsy about the long-rumored sequel, with some wondering if the next chapter in bumbling Bridget's story will ever be told.
When MTV News caught up with Grant in New York City on Friday (April 20), he explained that the British love triangle will return to the big screen ... eventually. However, script problems continue to delay production.
"I've seen some scripts," Grant said. "They haven't quite hit the nail yet, but they will. They're working on it."

Since the script is still in the writing stages, now might be the time to request that Bridget's two leading men, Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy, get into one of their infamous brawls, battling it out for Bridget's heart.
"Yes, our public demands some more fisticuffs!" Grant exclaimed.
"Bridget Jones 3" was first announced in August 2011. At one point, "Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig was attached to direct the film, but he exited last October. In November, Firth explained that "Full Monty" director Peter Cattaneo was in talks to take the helm.
In 2001, "Bridget Jones's Diary" became an international smash, making a whopping $282 million at the box office. Three years later, the 2004 sequel "Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason" saw slightly less success Stateside but raked in a whopping $262 million. Now, eight years after the last flick, the third film would potentially follow Bridget as she attempts to tackle motherhood in her 40s. Fans should probably expect lots of trademark Bridget Jones antics to ensue.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Original Source

Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows': Just How Dark Is It?

The death of actor Jonathan Frid, the original Barnabas Collins, makes this a sad week in the "Dark Shadows"-verse. The 87-year-old, classically trained actor passed away at a hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, on April 13 after a fall at his home. Frid cameos in Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation of the '60s soap opera, which hits theaters on May 11. It will be his final screen appearance.
"Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch 'Dark Shadows,' " the film's star, Johnny Depp, told the LA Times in an e-mail from the Arizona set of "The Lone Ranger." "His elegance and grace was an inspiration then and will continue to remain one forever more. When I had the honor to finally meet him ... [he] generously passed the torch of Barnabas."

We hope Frid, who maintained a long, loving and appreciative relationship with "Shadows" fans, had a chance to see at least a rough cut of the anticipated flick. Some early reviews trickling out indicate it is quite different from what the trailers, TV commercials and print advertisements would have us think.
Two weeks back, after hearing Burton regular Danny Elfman's menacing score and noting that it in no way lined up with the gonzo comedy the trailer seemed to be selling, we wondered if maybe the clip was cut to appeal to the broadest possible audience without much regard for the tone of the film itself. After all, a Gothic horror-comedy with a deep and dramatic back story is a much harder sell than a broad and cartoonish farce about an 18th Century vamp trying to get used to the electronic contraptions, female doctors and cars of the 1970s.
If the early buzz is any indication, we were right.
In a series of tweets (which have since been pulled down; lucky for us others cleverly snapped them up), Entertainment Weekly senior writer Anthony Breznican, who has seen the movie, shared his thoughts and they reveal a more complex and ambitious film that is alternately dark and absurd (in what sounds like a great way).
"I've seen final cut of 'Dark Shadows.' Tone similar to Burton and Depp's 'Sleepy Hollow' — lots of humor, but with menacing, atmospheric edge," Breznican wrote. "In 'Dark Shadows,' there's an absurdist bent to the monster element. The creatures of the night are adrift in the self-obsessed world of 1970s ... In typical Burton fashion, humans are scarier than the fiends. If u want 'Interview w the Vampire,' that movie exists. This is a more wry take."
Most telling though, Breznican wrote, "If you dig screenwriter [Seth Grahame-Smith's] style w Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter then 'Dark Shadows' will be to your liking, too."
Grahame-Smith is a master of mixing comedy and drama with thrills and chills, as his books "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" display. It's a fact seconded by an anonymous source from Hollywood Elsewhere, who's also seen the film. "While it has 'Beetlejuice' elements, this is not a broad comedy. It's a gothic romance with strong farcical elements, but the trailer makes it seem like 'Love at First Bite' and it definitely is not," Hollywood Elsewhere wrote.
"The anachronism-based humor does work quite well. The film is funny, but it also has full-bodied horror elements," the tipster continued. "In short, there's more of the Burton 'Sweeney Todd' than the trailer implies. This is not Burton's 'Addams Family,' but a successful amalgamation of his comedic and gothic horror styles."
The tipster also adds that three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Pfeiffer is a standout, calling her performances as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard "her strongest work in years." So there you have it. Fans of the show can breathe a sigh of relief, because it's sounding more and more like justice has been done to their beloved cult soap opera. Burton maniacs can go back to being excited for his return to the darker, more Gothic terrain where he's done his best and most interesting work. My "The Fabulous Baker Boys,""Dangerous Liaisons," "The Age of Innocence," "One Fine Day," "White Oleander" and "Stardust" all-day Saturday marathon can proceed as scheduled. And, of course, the talented Jonathan Frid's final screen appearance will be a fitting and appropriate return to the story he seemed to love so much.
Fans of the show, does buzz that the film has a darker side than we're seeing in the ads make you feel any better? Let us know in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! 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.

Original Source

'The Voice' Results: Cheesa And Mathai Sent Packing

On Monday's episode of "The Voice," coaches Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine instantly eliminated James Massone and fan favorite Pip after both gave middling performances. On Tuesday night (April 24), after America's vote saved former Mouseketeer Tony Lucca and Jamar Rogers, Katrina Parker and Mathai from Team Adam and Cheesa and Juliet Simms from Team Cee Lo were given one last shot to stay in the competition by performing to earn their respective judge's lone save.
Florence and the Machine opened the show in typically ethereal fashion with their new single "Breath of Life" from the "Snow White and the Huntsmen" soundtrack. Surrounded by ballerinas in flowing dresses and backed by Team Cee Lo, Florence Welch's belting had coach Christina Aguilera nodding along in her chair.
Up first in Tuesday's sing-off was Team Adam's Mathai, who changed up her quirky indie style radically to show off a different side of her voice by going country with Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova." Her teammate Katrina Parker followed and delivered yet another full-voiced performance, this time of Pink's "Perfect.
Blake called Katrina "the best singer on [Adam's] team," and Christina agreed, complimenting her song choice and saying that of anyone on Adam's team, Katrina was the singer Xtina was most interested in hearing original material from.
Adam had a tough time with the decision. A really, really tough time. As in, he went on and on about how both singers had come into their own late in the competition and how they had surprised him throughout. He was effusive with praise and rambled on like he was trying to delay the inevitable. Finally, he went with the same big voice he saved last time around.
Adam's Save: Katrina Parker
Team Cee Lo's last-chance singers took the stage next. Cheesa's faithful take on "Already Gone" earned a pretty tough technical critique from all the judges, with each commenting that she was under pitch for the entire performance until the final note, which she nailed. They went easier on Simms, who sang Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn," but Christina still was vocal about wanting more from the singer.
Cee Lo was as complimentary as Adam but far more decisive.
Cee Lo's Save: Juliet Simms
Moving on to the Semifinals
Team Christina
» Chris Mann
» Lindsay Paveo
Team Blake
» Erin Willett
» Jermaine Paul
Team Cee Lo
» Jamar Rogers
» Juliet Simms
Team Adam
» Tony Lucca
» Katrina Parker
Did you agree with the judges' choices? Let us know in the comments below!

Original Source

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Snuggle Up At Dinner Parties

Although Kim Kardashian has continued to play coy when questioned about her rumored romance with Kanye West, new photos of the two add to the growing evidence that they're in a budding relationship.

Kim and Kanye were spotted strolling through New York City over the weekend while Kardashian enjoyed an ice cream cone and sported earrings bearing West's initials, "KW." The couple attended dinner at Spice Market with other members of the Kardashian clan following that outing, and on Monday night, they were photographed again, holding hands while making the rounds in NYC.

First, they attended a dinner thrown by luxury brand Audemars Piguet at Catch in New York's Meatpacking District, where they hung out with Kardashian's pal La La, her husband Carmelo Anthony and producer Swizz Beatz.

Next, they headed out to the opening of Scott Disick's new Japanese restaurant Ryu, where they met up with Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Lamar Odom and Rob Kardashian. According to New York's Daily News, West kept his arm wrapped around Kim in the back of the restaurant during the festivities, while cameras filmed segments for "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Later, they were spotted holding hands as they exited the party.

Kardashian tweeted about the opening, writing, "So much fun at Scott's restaurant opening of RYU last night! CONGRATS @ScottDisick We love you! Food was delish!" but she mentioned nothing about the rumors that have continued to swirl about her and Kanye West.

During a Sunday appearance on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Khloé addressed her sister's status with Kanye. "I don't think it's serious. I think it's too soon," she said. "Because they're friends for so long, it's so easy. That's something that I love seeing about Kim, the easiness and how happy she is. It's just more of a great friendship and friendships make the best relationships."

Khloé also commented on rumors that Kanye would appear on the upcoming season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," which premieres May 20. "No one has to be on camera. It's not like we're driven to slavery," Khloé said. "Everyone has the option, except for us."

What do you think of Kim and Kanye's relationship? Let us know in the comments!

Original Source

Drake Teases 2 Chainz And Meek Mill Collabos On Tour

There are no lightweights on the bill for Drake's upcoming Club Paradise Tour.

While hitting the road with J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and French Montana seems like a no-brainer for any rapper looking to rule the summer touring season, Drake insists he didn't choose the hottest young talent just because — there are genuine connections there.

"I have very strong alliances with these guys that are on this tour with me," Drake said during a conference call Tuesday (April 24). "I guess it's safe to say now that anybody that I didn't have a song with before, I have a song with now. I made sure of that."

For those keeping score, Drake and J. Cole partnered up on "In the Morning," a warm-up single from the Roc Nation rookie's 2011 debut album. French and Drizzy teamed up with Rick Ross, on Rozay's "Stay Schemin'," and Waka and the Take Care spitter leaked their strip-club ode "Round of Applause" last September.

Drake hasn't yet released music with Meek Mill or 2 Chainz; those collaborations will come in conjunction with the outdoor tour. "Along with this tour, fans are also going to get some exciting musical material that will probably end up dropping a few days before the tour, so that we can perform it on tour," Drizzy said.

For the Toronto MC, summertime is the best time for new music, and he designed this current amphitheater leg of Club Paradise to come at a time when he plans to release some fresh tunes. "I want to go out on tour with the most exciting artists right now, and I want to make sure that I have songs with all of them," he said. "If we start getting into it and we start really vibing, maybe the last few nights, it's a collaboration show, maybe we do all of our songs onstage together."

Whether fans actually get to see all six MCs rocking at once remains to be seen, but Drizzy does believe that each act will bring their own brand of excitement. Don't arrive fashionably late, he warned.

"On this tour, I encourage people to get there early, because it's more [of] a festival vibe, if anything," he said. "It's one of those days that's it's going to start during the sunlight and the sun's going to drop, it's outdoors, it's summertime ... I want people to make it a day."

The amphitheater leg of Drake's Club Paradise Tour kicks off May 7 in Concord, California.

Will you be attending the next leg of Drake's Club Paradise Tour? Tell us in the comments!

Original Source

'Catching Fire': Why Hiring Francis Lawrence Makes Sense

On Thursday night, Lionsgate officially offered "Catching Fire" to director Francis Lawrence. The development was widely considered the next letdown in a series of disappointments for fans, who felt Gary Ross' departure was a premature one. But based on what we know about "Catching Fire" and what Lionsgate was reportedly looking for in a replacement, Lawrence was by far the most likely choice.

Here is why Francis Lawrence makes complete sense as the director for "Catching Fire":

He Can Do Action
One of the major complaints about Ross' direction of "The Hunger Games" was that he lacked experience shooting action sequences and it showed. If Lionsgate had to find a new director for the series' second entry, choosing one who has more experience with higher-intensity scenes does makes sense. Though Lawrence's name does not come with the prestige of the other directors on the shortlist, he has the most experience of any of them with directing a big-budget action film.

He's Relatively Inexpensive
Early rumors of Ross' exit had pegged money as the main stumbling block when trying to recruit the director for the second film. We know that Ross made most of his money from "The Hunger Games" on the back end, taking a much lower fee upfront. Lionsgate was reportedly looking to not spend a ton of money on the director for "Catching Fire," and the up-and-coming directors filling out the shortlist more or less confirms that. What makes Lawrence different is that he has the mainstream success that the other independent film directors do not, but he's probably just as willing to work for Lionsgate's lowered fees.

He Knows the Tone
Lawrence's first two films take place in worlds based largely in a reality not far from our own, but ones that add in fantastical elements. In "I Am Legend," Will Smith's character lives in (near) solitude in a post-zombie-vampire outbreak Manhattan, where he hunts the wild animals that now populate the city. Lawrence has established he can make a film set in a world vaguely resembling our own, so it's not hard to imagine Lawrence being able to make the leap to Panem.

He's Done Romance
Granted, it wasn't great romance, but it counts. "Water for Elephants" was also based on a best-selling novel and could come in handy in dealing with the amped-up love triangle among Katniss, Peeta and Gale.

Bennett Miller Wasn't Available
The Playlist originally reported that the race for the director's position came down to two directors, Lawrence and Bennett Miller. The "Moneyball" director was clearly the more distinguished of the two, but he had spent the last few years developing "Foxcatcher," a true-life story about the heir to the DuPont fortune who murdered an Olympic wrestler. In the past few months, Miller has seen "Foxcatcher" finally come together, adding Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and, just recently, Mark Ruffalo to the cast. If Miller would have signed on to direct "Catching Fire," he would have had to further delay "Foxcatcher" just after getting development off the ground.

Check out everything we've got on "Catching Fire."

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

Original Source

Fun. Bring The Party To 2012 MTV Movie Awards!

With the summer movie season right around the corner, our excitement for multiple trips to the theater is building with each passing day. And with the blockbuster season comes another equally thrilling cinematic event: the 2012 MTV Movie Awards on June 3!

In addition to Tuesday's (April 25) announcement of the 12 nomination categories — including new additions Best Music, Best On-Screen Transformation, Best Gut-Wrenching Performance, Best Cast and Best On-Screen Dirt Bag — we are thrilled to announce that chart-topping indie-pop group fun. will rock the Movie Awards stage with a performance toasting the greatest party films of all time. "We are Young," from their latest album, Some Nights, has been holding strong at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the past six weeks.

"The Movie Awards are all about celebrating the most popular films and performances from the past year that people actually went to see," said Stephen Friedman, president of MTV. "Moreover, we're thrilled to have Fun., whose instant anthem 'We Are Young' has lived at the top of the charts the past six weeks, and their performance showcases one of the biggest changes in this year's broadcast — a true melding of the worlds of movies and music — with a tribute to the greatest party films of all time."

Once again, MTV fans will hold the "Power of the Popcorn" in their hands. This year's brand-new Best Music category will allow fans to vote for a specific movie moment when the perfect song played during the perfect scene.

The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

Original Source

Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows': Just How Dark Is It?

The death of actor Jonathan Frid, the original Barnabas Collins, makes this a sad week in the "Dark Shadows"-verse. The 87-year-old, classically trained actor passed away at a hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, on April 13 after a fall at his home. Frid cameos in Tim Burton's big-screen adaptation of the '60s soap opera, which hits theaters on May 11. It will be his final screen appearance.
"Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch 'Dark Shadows,' " the film's star, Johnny Depp, told the LA Times in an e-mail from the Arizona set of "The Lone Ranger." "His elegance and grace was an inspiration then and will continue to remain one forever more. When I had the honor to finally meet him ... [he] generously passed the torch of Barnabas."

We hope Frid, who maintained a long, loving and appreciative relationship with "Shadows" fans, had a chance to see at least a rough cut of the anticipated flick. Some early reviews trickling out indicate it is quite different from what the trailers, TV commercials and print advertisements would have us think.
Two weeks back, after hearing Burton regular Danny Elfman's menacing score and noting that it in no way lined up with the gonzo comedy the trailer seemed to be selling, we wondered if maybe the clip was cut to appeal to the broadest possible audience without much regard for the tone of the film itself. After all, a Gothic horror-comedy with a deep and dramatic back story is a much harder sell than a broad and cartoonish farce about an 18th Century vamp trying to get used to the electronic contraptions, female doctors and cars of the 1970s.
If the early buzz is any indication, we were right.
In a series of tweets (which have since been pulled down; lucky for us others cleverly snapped them up), Entertainment Weekly senior writer Anthony Breznican, who has seen the movie, shared his thoughts and they reveal a more complex and ambitious film that is alternately dark and absurd (in what sounds like a great way).
"I've seen final cut of 'Dark Shadows.' Tone similar to Burton and Depp's 'Sleepy Hollow' — lots of humor, but with menacing, atmospheric edge," Breznican wrote. "In 'Dark Shadows,' there's an absurdist bent to the monster element. The creatures of the night are adrift in the self-obsessed world of 1970s ... In typical Burton fashion, humans are scarier than the fiends. If u want 'Interview w the Vampire,' that movie exists. This is a more wry take."
Most telling though, Breznican wrote, "If you dig screenwriter [Seth Grahame-Smith's] style w Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter then 'Dark Shadows' will be to your liking, too."
Grahame-Smith is a master of mixing comedy and drama with thrills and chills, as his books "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" display. It's a fact seconded by an anonymous source from Hollywood Elsewhere, who's also seen the film. "While it has 'Beetlejuice' elements, this is not a broad comedy. It's a gothic romance with strong farcical elements, but the trailer makes it seem like 'Love at First Bite' and it definitely is not," Hollywood Elsewhere wrote.
"The anachronism-based humor does work quite well. The film is funny, but it also has full-bodied horror elements," the tipster continued. "In short, there's more of the Burton 'Sweeney Todd' than the trailer implies. This is not Burton's 'Addams Family,' but a successful amalgamation of his comedic and gothic horror styles."
The tipster also adds that three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Pfeiffer is a standout, calling her performances as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard "her strongest work in years." So there you have it. Fans of the show can breathe a sigh of relief, because it's sounding more and more like justice has been done to their beloved cult soap opera. Burton maniacs can go back to being excited for his return to the darker, more Gothic terrain where he's done his best and most interesting work. My "The Fabulous Baker Boys,""Dangerous Liaisons," "The Age of Innocence," "One Fine Day," "White Oleander" and "Stardust" all-day Saturday marathon can proceed as scheduled. And, of course, the talented Jonathan Frid's final screen appearance will be a fitting and appropriate return to the story he seemed to love so much.
Fans of the show, does buzz that the film has a darker side than we're seeing in the ads make you feel any better? Let us know in the comments below and tweet me at @JohnMitchell83 with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! 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.

Original Source

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

These days, Beyoncé 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, started a personal Tumblr account and even Skyped with a contest winner 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 shared her warm, fuzzy feelings for some key figures, including First Lady Michelle Obama, the late New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and R&B star Sade . 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.

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 heading back to school. 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 4. 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 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

Original Source

'Catching Fire': Why Hiring Francis Lawrence Makes Sense

On Thursday night, Lionsgate officially offered "Catching Fire" to director Francis Lawrence. The development was widely considered the next letdown in a series of disappointments for fans, who felt Gary Ross' departure was a premature one. But based on what we know about "Catching Fire" and what Lionsgate was reportedly looking for in a replacement, Lawrence was by far the most likely choice.

Here is why Francis Lawrence makes complete sense as the director for "Catching Fire":
He Can Do Action
One of the major complaints about Ross' direction of "The Hunger Games" was that he lacked experience shooting action sequences and it showed. If Lionsgate had to find a new director for the series' second entry, choosing one who has more experience with higher-intensity scenes does makes sense. Though Lawrence's name does not come with the prestige of the other directors on the shortlist, he has the most experience of any of them with directing a big-budget action film.
He's Relatively Inexpensive
Early rumors of Ross' exit had pegged money as the main stumbling block when trying to recruit the director for the second film. We know that Ross made most of his money from "The Hunger Games" on the back end, taking a much lower fee upfront. Lionsgate was reportedly looking to not spend a ton of money on the director for "Catching Fire," and the up-and-coming directors filling out the shortlist more or less confirms that. What makes Lawrence different is that he has the mainstream success that the other independent film directors do not, but he's probably just as willing to work for Lionsgate's lowered fees.
He Knows the Tone
Lawrence's first two films take place in worlds based largely in a reality not far from our own, but ones that add in fantastical elements. In "I Am Legend," Will Smith's character lives in (near) solitude in a post-zombie-vampire outbreak Manhattan, where he hunts the wild animals that now populate the city. Lawrence has established he can make a film set in a world vaguely resembling our own, so it's not hard to imagine Lawrence being able to make the leap to Panem.
He's Done Romance
Granted, it wasn't great romance, but it counts. "Water for Elephants" was also based on a best-selling novel and could come in handy in dealing with the amped-up love triangle among Katniss, Peeta and Gale.
Bennett Miller Wasn't Available
The Playlist originally reported that the race for the director's position came down to two directors, Lawrence and Bennett Miller. The "Moneyball" director was clearly the more distinguished of the two, but he had spent the last few years developing "Foxcatcher," a true-life story about the heir to the DuPont fortune who murdered an Olympic wrestler. In the past few months, Miller has seen "Foxcatcher" finally come together, adding Channing Tatum, Steve Carell and, just recently, Mark Ruffalo to the cast. If Miller would have signed on to direct "Catching Fire," he would have had to further delay "Foxcatcher" just after getting development off the ground.
Check out everything we've got on "Catching Fire."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar Bring Worlds Together On Tour

Wiz Khalifa is excited to embark on a summer tour with Mac Miller — or is he? MTV News caught up with the Rolling Papers MC on the set of Maroon 5's "Payphone" video shoot in Los Angeles, where he talked about the upcoming Under the Influence of Music Tour.
"Mac's my man," Wiz said, before he jokingly backtracked. "Actually, I really don't like him like that. That's why I usually try to stay away from him. There's no way I could avoid him for too much longer, so they made me go on tour with him."

Khalifa and Miller both hail from Pittsburgh, and are both signed to local independent label Rostrum Records. Despite the duo's close proximity, the two MCs don't have a ton of collaborations under their belts. The pair hooked up on "Keep Floatin'," a track off of Mac's 2011 mixtape Best Day Ever, and on 2009's "Cruise Control." Next up is the Under the Influence of Music Tour, which kicks off July 26 in Cincinnati. "It means everything, Mac's my little homey. It's good for his fans; it's good for everybody who've been wanting to see us do what we do together," Wiz said.
TDE's Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Taylor Gang's Chevy Woods are also on the bill. "Chevy's my guy. I grew up with him so I know he's gonna bring a lot of crazy energy," Khalifa promised. "Kendrick and Schoolboy got a bunch of fans on their own and people that they're gonna entertain as well, so I think it's just gonna bring a lot of different worlds together as well as create some new energy that hasn't been done before."
Kendrick, who spoke with MTV News earlier this week, says he is pumped for the upcoming run. "Man, I'm anticipating a whole bunch of energy. They gonna let me down if I don't get the energy," he said. "I gotta get a whole bunch of wild motherf---ers who just wanna party and hear good music."
Tickets will ceremoniously go on sale on the stoner holiday of April 20 (Friday) at 4:20 p.m. on Ticketmaster and LiveNation.
Will you be attending the Under the Influence of Music Tour? Tell us in the comments!

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Zac Efron Reveals Best Music For Setting The Mood

In a discussion of the finer aspects of the recently released romantic drama "The Lucky One" with stars Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling, one of the most entertaining subjects to come up revolved around prolific romance author Nicholas Sparks, author of the novel upon which the film is based. Specifically, we wondered whether Efron and Schilling had ever experienced any Sparks-like fantasy romance scenarios in real life.
"I'm sure I've said some of those lines," Efron admitted to MTV News. "They're probably worse — not as good as the ones [Sparks has] written, but they were excellent in the moment."
"I'm sure they were great," Schilling offered. "I'm sure they worked in the moment."
"I feel like they were good," Efron said with a smile.

"It's about the right moment," Schilling added, referring to the fact that there's a perfect time and place for romantic gestures. "There have been a few sweeping gestures [in my life] but what means the most to me are the little things from the heart. There have been a few notes and well-timed flowers that mean more than anything else."
"Every once in a while when you look into each other's eyes and that music starts playing, I love that," Efron joked, which prompted us to ask a follow-up question about which song you should play when trying to set the mood.
"That's a good question. What would be your song that you would play?" Schilling asked Efron. "I have no answer."
"Phil Collins," Efron deadpanned, which sent his co-star into a fit of giggles.
"That's great!" she said, laughing. "That's a good blanket artist. It's a great answer."
"I think so," Efron said.
We can just picture it now, Efron and a very lucky lady about to lock lips with Collins' classics "In the Air Tonight" or "Against All Odds" playing in the background.
Check out everything we've got on "The Lucky One."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez 'Not Engaged,' Rep Says

The celebrity relationship rumor mill has churned out another juicy one today (April 20) with reports that teen sweethearts Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez are taking their romance to the next level and shopping for engagement rings.
As expected, the rumor is just that. Bieber's manager Scooter Braun told Us Weekly that the reports are "complete bulls---" and that the Biebs' entire management team was very entertained by the fictional report. He said they were all "laughing" at the speculation.
CLICK FOR PHOTOS OF THE HOT, STYLISH COUPLE
So where did the rumor get started? Via a gossip item in the Chicago Sun-Times, which claimed that "several people close to the superstar couple" told the newspaper that they're convinced an engagement announcement is in the very near future.

The story went on to say that Bieber, 18, and Gomez, 19, were spotted at a couple major jewelry stores eyeing pricey diamond rings.
The lovebirds have been dating for nearly a year and, despite the public scrutiny of their relationship, are a normal teenage couple who share a similar "dating philosophy," according to Gomez. For Bieber, that philosophy includes honesty and patience.
"I don't know if I'm even the best boyfriend," Bieber recently admitted to MTV News during an interview on the set of the music video shoot for his latest single, "Boyfriend." "But I can give a few suggestions. I think being honest and patient, because girls can be tough sometimes, so you just got to be patient. That's two. Forgive, and have fun, because it's about having fun. Last one? Be faithful."
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