Entertainment
Tinsley Mortimer Not Too High Society for Jersey Shore Girls - Wed, 10 Mar 2010
Just because Tinsley Mortimer is a Park Avenue princess doesn't mean she's won't hang with the Jersey Shore cast.
The New York City socialite, whose...
Samantha's Sex and the City 2 Beau Smashed Up in Motorcycle Crash - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
Max Ryan has gone from the bright lights of NYC to the fluorescent lights of the ER.
The 42-year-old Brit, who plays a love interest of Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones in Sex and the...
Link Party: Howard Stern Calls Gabourey Sidibe Enormous - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
• Howard Stern's saying something shocking! (Shocker, right?) Today his target is Precious' Gabourey Sidibe. "There's the most enormous, fat black chick I've ever seen....
Alleged Letterman Extortionist Cops Plea - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
David Letterman's would-be blackmailer is headed to the Big House.
Robert "Joe" Halderman, the CBS News producer accused of plotting to extort $2 million from the Late Show...
Style Showdown: Michelle Obama vs. Charlize Theron - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
How exciting: Michelle Obama is featured in our couture battle for the very first time!
Yesterday, Mrs. O donned an awesome gray, gathered Lanvin dress to celebrate International...
Letterman: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
Filed under: David Letterman
David Letterman went on his show tonight, gushing with gratitude and thanking members of the team that prosecuted extortionist Robert Halderman."The Late Show" host said he'd "never been involved in anything like this" and was "concerned and full of ...
Permalink
Hopper Divorce -- Here Comes Peter Cottontail ... - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Dennis Hopper's divorce is epic nasty ... and now we've learned Dennis' lawyer has pulled out his most potent weapon -- a chocolate bunny rabbit.We've learned Victoria Hopper's lawyer, Sorrell Trope, fired off a letter to Dennis' hired gun, Joe ...
Permalink
Rozlyn Papa -- Sex Tape Free - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
A website claiming to feature a sex tape with "Bachelor' reject Rozlyn Papa has a problem ... because the star of the flick may not be Roz at all.Roz's lawyer directed us to a 2004 porn video featuring a woman using the name of Lucy Anne. It appears ...
Permalink
Dennis Hopper's Wife: I'm Taking My Toothbrush! - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
Filed under: Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Dennis Hopper's wife swiped a whole junkyard worth of crap out of the actor's home since their epic divorce saga began -- this according to hilarious divorce docs filed today in L.A. Superior Court.Victoria Hopper's lawyer fired off a letter to ...
Permalink
The Oscars Produce BS Farrah Fawcett Excuse - Tue, 09 Mar 2010
Filed under: TV, Awards/Awards Shows, Farrah Fawcett
The people behind the Academy Awards claim they left Farrah Fawcett out of the Oscars In Memoriam montage this year because she was better known as a TV star -- which begs the question, how the hell did Michael Jackson make the cut?!?! Bruce Davis -- ...
Permalink
Lil Wayne: A Closer Look At His First Day Behind Bars - Tue, 9 Mar 2010
'The best thing to do in the first 24 hours is to keep your mouth shut as much as possible,' one expert says.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Lil Wayne
Photo: Andy Kropa/ Getty Images
Lil Wayne has been booked and processed into the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island to begin his one-year jail sentence.
According to most experts, the first 24 hours are the most crucial to ensuring a successful incarceration. Dr. Jefferey Ian Ross, a faculty member at the University of Baltimore's Criminology Division, advises that the superstar MC keep to himself as he gets adjusted to his new surroundings.
"Most of the time, the best thing to do in the first 24 hours is to keep your mouth shut as much as possible," Ross told MTV News. "Keep your eyes open and basically do as you're told by the correction officers. Essentially, you shouldn't look at other inmates in the eye, 'cause to a lot of people, that may be considered an aggressive type of action. Also, don't look at their property, because they may feel like that's aggressive as well and that you want their property."
Ross, who wrote the book "Behind Bars: Surviving Prison" along with Stephen C. Richards, explained that most inmates are housed with similar offenders, but there are instances were prisoners get bored and lash out. For these reasons, it's important for someone like Lil Wayne, a celebrity, to maintain as normal of a disposition as he can.
"Say 'yes sir,' 'no sir,' no cutting in line," Ross said. "Don't act like you have special privileges."
Unlike NFL star-turned-inmate Plaxico Burress, Lil Wayne shunned a jail coach or a sentencing specialist. Ross said that decision put Wayne at a disadvantage, because some benefits include assistance in building a network within the prison facilities. Sentencing coaches, in some cases, are previously jailed people who can connect incoming inmates with those they can trust inside.
According to Ross, Lil Wayne will eventually have to venture out from his own connections. But in the interim, Ross suggested the old adage that prisoners need to just "do their time."
"Keep your mouth shut, keep your eyes open, be respectful — not only to correction officers, but to inmates," he said. "And don't be a snitch and don't complain about the housing accommodations, follow those rules and they call that 'do your own time.'
"It's not easy," Ross added. "Criminals don't face a cakewalk, [regardless of the length of their sentence]. Their liberties and choices are taken away from them, and they're basically at the will of prison."
Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists'American Idol' Top Eight Women: What They Need To Do - Tue, 9 Mar 2010
Paige Miles and Didi Benami need to step it up, while Crystal Bowersox and Lilly Scott should keep doing their thing.
By Gil Kaufman
Crystal Bowersox on "American Idol" last week
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
This is the week we've all been waiting for. Following Tuesday and Wednesday night's performances, we will be down to season nine's top 12, and the competition on "American Idol" will start to get serious.
After last week's surprise switcheroo due to Crystal Bowersox's illness, the remaining 12 ladies served up a mixed bag of good, bad and eh on Wednesday night. Lilly Scott and Siobhan Magnus proved to be suddenly strong competition for Bowersox, who stormed back from her undisclosed ailment to regain her spot as the woman to beat this year.
So what do the rest of the ladies need to do to win the hearts — and ears — of the nation? How can they get enough votes to avoid landing in the bottom two? Here's what we do (and don't) want to see from these "Idol" hopefuls, starting with those who need the most work.
Didi Benami
It feels like this once-promising singer has seriously lost her way. After ditching the thing that got her to the big show (i.e., sensitive singer/songwriter material with a jazzy twist), Benami was undone by a hard-to-watch warble through the Bill Withers soul classic "Lean on Me." Didi would be wise to dig into the Lily Allen or Corinne Bailey Rae songbook to get back into the game.
Paige Miles
The judges have told Miles she has the strongest voice in the competition this year, but so far, she's failed to make much of an impression personality-wise. Last week, Kara DioGuardi faulted her for smiling through a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away," dissing Miles for not getting the angry mood of the song right. And she should know — she co-wrote it! She needs to put the coloring books away and bite off a meaty Alicia Keys song that will allow her to open up and show some serious emotion.
Katie Stevens
This teenager needs to find her inner child. After weeks of going too old, Stevens is in danger of losing her spot if she doesn't show the panel that she could be a youthful, contemporary artist. She tried to display her younger side by singing Bailey Rae's signature "Put Your Records On," but even that didn't work because the judges said it felt too unfocused and bland, with Simon Cowell suggesting she needed a bit more time to figure out what kind of artist she wants to be. Unless Stevens can smash it with a convincing tumble through a Katy Perry or Rihanna song, she might be back in her old classroom next week.
Lacey Brown
Proving you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, Brown followed the judges' advice and performed Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me" — and they didn't like it. In order to stick around, she needs the kind of signature moment Magnus provided with her Aretha Franklin power note, so this week's selection should focus on displaying her range and originality.
Siobhan Magnus
Has one note ever meant so much? Magnus, this year's token quirky girl, could very well have stamped her ticket to the top 12 last week thanks to that massive wail at the end of her version of Franklin's "Think." Now, Magnus just has to keep surprising the judges and audience to stay in the running. Luckily, she hasn't painted herself into a genre corner so far and has displayed an indie-leaning sensibility, so she's free to try out anything on the charts, from Lady Gaga to Owl City.
Katelyn Epperly
The judges weren't crazy about Epperly's slow take on Coldplay's "The Scientist," but America gave it a thumbs-up and she made it to sing another day. She should strap the guitar back on this week and give us a new twist on a contemporary singer/songwriter, perhaps even putting some jazz into a Taylor Swift tune.
Lilly Scott
Scott is on a roll. She nailed her Beatles cover two weeks ago, gave another solid performance with Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" last week, again proving that while she may not have the best voice, she's got a unique stage presence and memorable delivery. It would be great to see her sit at a piano this week and rework a contemporary ballad, say something from Muse or Carrie Underwood.
Crystal Bowersox
At this point, it's Crystal's game to lose. She's proven she can kill it with classic-rock tunes, thanks to a very strong gospel-tinged rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long as I Can See the Light," but this week might be her chance to tackle a newer artist and prove that she can be relevant now. A Jack Johnson song might do the trick.
What do you want to see from the girls on Tuesday night? Who do you hope steps up their game this week? Let us know below!
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Videos Related PhotosThe Notorious B.I.G.'s MTV Interviews: A Look Back - Tue, 9 Mar 2010
Thirteen years after B.I.G.'s death, we look back on his life as hip-hop's brightest star.
Notorious B.I.G.
Photo: MTV News
Tuesday (March 9) is a day not to mourn, but to celebrate the life and legacy of one of music's most gifted artists: the Notorious B.I.G.
His voice, his flow, his rhymes, his swag — whatever you wanted, B.I.G. had it to offer. He could tell stories, battle it out, ignite the party or kick game to the ladies. Christopher Wallace was made for rap.
We didn't get much time with Biggie. He put out his first album in 1994, and he died in early 1997 before the release of his second LP (Life After Death). Due to his work ethic, however, we have a catalog of timeless music that is often imitated, never duplicated. As mesmerizing as a Biggie song was, part of his allure as an artist was his charming personality. He's a rare breed that could capture the wit and magnetism in his offstage persona and bring it to his music.
Here, we are taking you back into our vaults to relive Biggie's best MTV interviews. He was candid and thoughtful as he spoke about the inspiration for his music, his stage performance and much more.
On Tuesday night, Diddy is going to celebrate the life of his friend and marquee artist at Brooklyn club the Lab.
"We're trying to make March 9th a national hip-hop holiday," Diddy told MTV News last week. "It already is, on the low. MTV is going to have a big special. We're doing a party. I'm going to Brooklyn. It's gonna be the first time I'm throwing a party in Brooklyn. I'm from Harlem. Everybody in Harlem knows you don't usually go over the bridge to Brooklyn. It's a big, big deal. Me being such a Harlemite, I'm going over there to pay respect to my man. It's gonna be a big party in Brooklyn with Mister Cee. It's a big day. It's a day to celebrate his life. It's a day to celebrate the life of the man. We done did the movie, the records. It's something that, I guess, as a label we're obsessed with: making sure people don't forget about this man in a positive way. March 9 is Biggie Day. ... Bump Biggie all day, feel good and positive."
On Tuesday, MTV Jams will be playing videos by B.I.G. and a slew of other fallen musical soldiers, such as Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Aaliyah, Big Pun, the Lost Boyz and their deceased member Freaky Tah and Camoflauge. This week's "Sucker Free Sunday" on MTV2 is running a special tribute to Biggie, hosted by Diddy.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsLil Wayne Fans Say They Already Miss Jailed MC - Tue, 9 Mar 2010
'I hope he gets out early!' one MTV News reader says as Wayne begins prison term.
By MTV News staff
Lil Wayne
Photo: Louis Lanzano/AP
Shortly after Lil Wayne turned himself in to serve his yearlong prison sentence, the superstar MC's absence could be felt, both online — where Weezy had been busy tweeting and posting videos in recent weeks — and on the street.
"It's messed up looking at his situation, being a role model," Wince Aubrey, 32, told MTV News. "But he got caught red-handed, so he's being a man and owning up to his responsibility. He's gonna be missed."
Lil Wayne's sentencing had been delayed a number of times, first for dental surgery he required and then once again after a fire occurred at the courthouse last week. But on Monday, the rapper was formally sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to attempted gun possession. The New Orleans native will now call Rikers Island his home at least until November, when he could be released after eight months for serving his jail stint with good behavior.
"Wow, that really sucks," MTV.com reader Courtney wrote. "I think that this is so stupid. ... He is a good artist and donates a lot of money to charities. I hope he gets out early!!!"
"DAMN! So, finally he's gone," Superman commented online. "Stay strong, Weezy. Best rapper alive."
But not all fans were saddened by the departure of the nearly ubiquitous hip-hop star.
George Asatrian, 21, argued that Lil Wayne won't be missed too much. "Hip-hop won't be affected too much by him going to jail," he told MTV News. "Because he probably has so much music to last, and I think he has enough people under him who will hold him down until he comes back."
Brooklynite Angel Velasquez said that even though the rapper's sentence is short, it will still be challenging. But he cautioned about too much hype surrounding Lil Wayne's imprisonment. "It's not all about Weezy," he said. "There's a lot more entertainers out there."
What do you think about Lil Wayne's jail time? Will you miss the rapper while he's out of the public eye? Let us know below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsNotorious B.I.G. And Tupac's Famous Freestyle Remembered By Mister Cee - Tue, 9 Mar 2010
DJ looks back on 'one of the illest live hip-hop performances of all time.'
By Shaheem Reid
Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac
Photo: MTV News
One of the greatest freestyles in hip-hop history took place at, of all places, a Patti LaBelle concert.
The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur came onstage together in New York for a legendary performance. DJ Mister Cee tells the story as if it were yesterday.
"That was live at Madison Square Garden," Cee said in Brooklyn, minutes from where Biggie grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant. "It was a concert me and [Big Daddy] Kane did for the Budweiser Superfest back in 1993 at Madison Square Garden. We were the only rap group on the show. I think Patti LaBelle was on the show, Tony! Toni! Toné!. We only had 10 minutes. Being it's New York, we wanted to do something extra crazy for our show. So we asked Big to come out. Kane told me to reach out to Big.
"Big had the record 'Party and Bullsh--' out from the 'Who's the Man?' soundtrack," Cee added. "He was starting to bubble. When we got to the Garden, Tupac was there anyway. The movie 'Poetic Justice' just came out the week before. Everybody was already hype off 'Pac, because the 'Poetic Justice' movie came out. [The freestyle] just came about backstage. 'Pac, Big, the Rugged Child Shyheim. We just brought all of them onstage, and the magic happened. I recorded that on a cassette inside Madison Square Garden. So the whole 'Where Brooklyn at?' To this day, when they hear that, they know [that Madison Square Garden show] is where that comes from. I recorded that on cassette, then it eventually got transferred to vinyl and became probably one of the illest live hip-hop performances of all time."
Big Daddy Kane took the mic himself during that cipher, as did Kane's dancer Scoob Lover.
Tuesday (March 9) marked the 13th anniversary of the death of the Notorious B.I.G. It is a day for his fans to celebrate his life and legacy.
Related Artists
