Lindsay Lohan has her own version of the prisoner’s dilemma going on. If she fights the felony grand theft charge against her tooth and nail, she could, at least in theory, pull a legal rabbit out of her hat and beat the rap. But, not only does she risk losing in court, a pissed-off judge could also revoke her probation and remand her into custody for the length of the trial. We can do this the easy way or the hard way … Therefore, a plea bargain could be her best shot at doing a relatively short stint behind bars, as the D.A. could go (relatively) easy if she cooperates. But will she? Lindsay’s lawyer and the prosecutor have been trying to hammer out a plea bargain but have hit a wall, so the judge will try to break the impasse. Shawn Holley and Dannette Meyers both want to end Lindsay’s felony grand theft case with a plea, but Meyers won’t budge on six months in jail. Holley’s plan is to ask the judge what sentence he’d hand down if LiLo pleads guilty or no contest, hoping that he’ll agree to closer to three months. Both Meyers and Holley believe Lindsay will only do 20 percent of the actual sentence because of overcrowding, which is what happens typically. So, if Judge Keith Schwartz gave Lindsay three months, she’d only serve 18 days, which really isn’t that bad for a potential felony necklace heist. Schwartz is known as a settlement judge, so it’s likely a deal can be struck if Lindsay accepts she’s going to do some jail time, no matter what. For a recap of why she’s in this mess, and why she’s unlikely to get out of it scot free, THG broke down the situation last week in The Pulse … The Pulse: Will Lindsay Lohan Go to Jail?
‘They thought I was gonna sit back and let them do what they were doing,’ MC tells ‘RapFix Live’ about Nicki’s crew. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lil’ Kim on “RapFix Live” Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News Lil’ Kim wanted deference from Nicki Minaj . Now, however, it may take much more than that from the upstart who was inspired by the veteran rapper. The two female MCs have been bickering for some time, in interviews and in song, but it seems Kim may want a 50 Cent-to-Ja Rule knockout blow, stopping the Young Money raptress in her tracks. “This is the thing: It’s just, it’s really, like, at the end of the day, I do what I have to do, and I’m gonna keep doing what I have to do,” Kim told MTV News during her appearance Thursday (March 3) on “RapFix Live.” “I’m gonna do me. They’re the ones that brought this about. It could have been that simple. But what they did was underestimate me. They thought I was gonna sit back and let them do what they were doing. I’m gonna let everybody know: I’m on my Hollywood sophisticated, but I’ll bring it back if I have to. And that’s in life. I can’t help it. I’m G’d up from my feet up. If I have to handle my business, I’mma handle my business. And I have to fight for my fans.” Kim claimed her battle against Nicki is a challenge because she “has a powerful building behind her,” referencing her label, Universal Records. But Kim remains resilient, saying her battle is for her fans as much as it’s against Nicki. “What kind of message would that send to my fans if I just sit back and watched?” she said. “Let this girl do what she’s doing. My fans were more fumed than I was. They were looking like, ‘Do you see this? Do you hear this?’ But at the end of the day, I understand what they were feeling. I owe my fans a whole lot.” What do you think of Kim’s crusade against Nicki? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Lil’ Kim Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lil’ Kim Related Artists Lil’ Kim Nicki Minaj
‘It’s an honor to write for one of pop music’s biggest icons,’ she tells MTV News. By Kelley L. Carter, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears “Til The World Ends” cover art Photo: Jive Britney Spears’ new single, “Till the World Ends” is dance-floor ready — just ask Ke$ha. The pop star in her own right wrote the just-released track, which was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin. “I consider myself a songwriter before and above everything else, so it’s an honor to write for one of pop music’s biggest icons. And I hope it gets everyone’s ass on the dance floor cuz y’all know that’s what K-Monay does best!” the singer said in an exclusive statement to MTV News. The single was posted by Perez Hilton on Thursday afternoon (March 3), after speculation earlier in the day that it would hit radio next week. “Till the World Ends” is a swirling, “beat the beat” track, ready for late nights spent “dancing till the world ends” as she sings on the fast-paced party jam. “This kitten got your tongue tied in knots I see/ Spit it out ’cause I’m dying for company,” a confident Spears purrs. Later in the song, she sings: “See the sunlight/ We ain’t stopping/ Keep on dancing till the world ends/ If you feel it/ Let it happen/ Keep on dancing till the world ends.” Last month, Ke$ha talked with Spin.com about the song, saying it’s about the power of an artist performing a great gig. “That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world,” she said. “You know, when you go out, and you’re having an amazing, magical night and you don’t want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends.” This new track is the latest single from Spears’ forthcoming Femme Fatale, which drops March 29. What do you think about the latest Britney song? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Britney Spears Ke$ha
Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10. By Gil Kaufman Stefano Langon performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX After what’s felt like years (OK, just two months), “American Idol” finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists. After copious time-killing segments, Ryan Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher’s “OMG,” Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women’s slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one’s surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone’s guess who would be out when two of this season’s standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls’ bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men’s spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the “Dreamgirls” classic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful’s emotional ballad “I Need You Now,” filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn’t sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada’s “Angel” to the woman he once loved, figuring he’d try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was “you did all you could do,” which didn’t sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn’t seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway’s “For all we Know,” but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima’s tears signaled that she didn’t feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard,” reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren’t ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez’s “On the Floor” to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10. By Gil Kaufman Stefano Langon performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX After what’s felt like years (OK, just two months), “American Idol” finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists. After copious time-killing segments, Ryan Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher’s “OMG,” Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women’s slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one’s surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone’s guess who would be out when two of this season’s standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls’ bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men’s spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the “Dreamgirls” classic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful’s emotional ballad “I Need You Now,” filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn’t sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada’s “Angel” to the woman he once loved, figuring he’d try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was “you did all you could do,” which didn’t sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn’t seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway’s “For all we Know,” but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima’s tears signaled that she didn’t feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard,” reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren’t ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez’s “On the Floor” to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Rob Margolies worked with embattled actor on indie comedy ‘She Wants Me,’ in which Sheen plays an outsize version of himself. By Eric Ditzian Charlie Sheen Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images Last October, after being handed the script for “She Wants Me” by a friend and producer on the indie comedy, Charlie Sheen signed on to play a small role — an outsize version of himself also named Charlie Sheen. He shot his scenes over the course of a few days, and according to writer/director Rob Margolies, was “on time every day and really reliable and always in a good mood.” But speaking to MTV News on Wednesday from Los Angeles, where he’s in post-production on the movie, the filmmaker said that the Sheen he’s seen in countless recent TV interviews — talking about melting faces and armless children on “Good Morning America,” for example — bears little resemblance to the man who was nothing but professional on set. “Charlie wasn’t like that at all,” Margolies said. “He was completely in control and not on the defensive. No one ever felt uncomfortable. My personal opinion of him has not changed. I hope he gets the help he needs. I believe in him and wish him the best.” Back in the fall — shortly before Sheen’s life took a turn for the worse following a drug-and-porn-star-filled incident at the Plaza Hotel in New York — the actor was having so much fun on the set of “She Wants Me” that he asked Margolies to write another scene in which he could appear. But Margolies declined, telling MTV News additional screen time would have felt artificial and detracted from the original appearance. The film focuses on a couple — he an aspiring filmmaker, she a struggling actress — who move to Los Angeles. A friend of theirs, also an actress trying to make it big, lands a starring role in a Charlie Sheen film and claims she’s even dating him. The couple thinks she’s nuts, until the “Two and a Half Men” star actually shows up one day. His three scenes last about five minutes, according to Margolies. Though the extra scene Sheen requested never came to pass, the actor nonetheless agreed to help finance the production and was rewarded with an executive-producer credit. “He came onboard and gave us a last-minute sum of money to finish the movie in post,” said Margolies, adding that the overall budget was “well under half a million dollars.” They wrapped principal photography last year, shot some pickups in January and hope to put the finishing touches on the film by May with an eye toward selling the flick to a studio. Margolies himself hasn’t been in touch with Sheen in recent weeks, but one of his producing partners has reached out to the embattled star. “They’re close friends, and he’s concerned for him,” he said. While Margolies didn’t offer a hypothesis for what might be ailing Sheen at the moment, he did say he understands why he appears to be so erratic in recent interviews. “He seemed like he was on the defensive in the interviews,” the filmmaker said. “I think he’s just caught off-guard and scared. It’s a result of him feeling like he’s being judged. Most people who are being judged act up. It’s a defense mechanism. I don’t think that’s in direct relation to who he is at all.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos The Highs And Lows Of Charlie Sheen
Experts weigh in on the top 12 women and their chances of making it through to the finals. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: Michael Becker / FOX Thursday night is when some “American Idol” dreams will come true, and a dozen or more will be crushed and sprinkled all across the seizure-inducing new IdolDome stage. But before all that carnage and celebration, we once again turned to some of our “Idol” experts to make some predictions about this season’s front-runners after the top 12 women did their thing on Wednesday night. Because he just can’t get enough of all things “Idol,” we turned to MTV News’ resident expert Jim Cantiello for his take on which ladies soared and which ones crashed and burned. Despite a few serious stinkers, JC said he continues to be shocked by the caliber of vocalists on the show this season. “You believe that these were the finest singers they found while on the road,” he said, noting two “atom-bomb-sized surprises” on Wednesday night. His first revelation was former housekeeper Lauren Turner, whose choice of Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” he deemed perfect and full of attitude. “[She] stood out from the pack with her gravelly blues voice and in-your-face performance style,” he said. The other big surprise was show-closer Pia Toscano , the raven-haired beauty who sang the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You,” which he said, “dug deep and showed off her pitch-perfect pipes. Her range was sick, she had confidence, she effortlessly hit some major power notes. America stood up and noticed, as did the judges, who gave her the first official standing ovation of season 10.” If he had to pick a stand-out front-runner, though, at this point, Cantiello is still going with 16-year-old sassafras Lauren Alaina. “[It’s her] race to lose,” he said. “She’s everything ‘Idol’ is looking for. [She] got up onstage and looked like she could have commanded a live audience 10 times bigger without flinching. She has stage presence, a powerful voice, and she has a unique ability to live somewhere in between R&B, pop and country.” And while he thought the Carrie Underwood/Kelly Clarkson comparisons from Randy Jackson were not off the mark, Cantiello wondered if Alaina’s need to always be the center of attention might start grating on voters’ nerves? As for the other 16-year-old, Jim said Thia Megia has great pitch and a large fanbase, but he just can’t “picture her at the Nokia, covered in confetti. Unless she steps up her personality.” A great measure of how polarizing “Idol” contestants can be is the list of hot prospects submitted by Top Idol blog founder Melinda Green. One of her favorite performances was from this year’s obligatory oddball, Rachel Zevita. Though the judges thought Zevita blew it with her jazzy, off key take on Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Green loved it. “I really hope we see more of her. Alas, I think the judges would prefer sending through Ashthon Jones,” Green said of the Nashville native with the giant, blow-out hairdo whose sultry cover of Monica’s “Love All Over Me” earned raves. Green wasn’t sipping the “Idol” juice, though. “Every performance I’ve seen of this girl has been the same tired R&B diva wannabe shtick we’re treated to every season,” she said. She also liked Naima Adedapo, but is looking for more personality from the Erykah Badu-like singer and clothing designer. Lamenting how many of Wednesday night’s singers opted for tunes we’ve heard a dozen times in past seasons, Green said Karen Rodriguez made it interesting by singing half of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in Spanish, but wondered if it was a bit too obvious pandering to judge Jennifer Lopez. Green agreed with Cantiello that Alaina might start to strike some viewers as a “precocious coquette as taught by her stage mother” and said despite her “perfect tone,” Thia Megia may not have the emotional maturity to connect with the songs she’s singing. “With this year’s emphasis on youth and the show’s clear aim of getting a viable female winner, we’ll be forced to see more of both Thia and Lauren Alaina,” she lamented. Bottom line, Green agreed that Toscano can go far and just needs to show more personality and that Turner has the goods that could take her deep into the competition. “She’s got the kind of voice I love,” she said, agreeing with Randy Jackson’s description of Turner as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. “If ‘American Idol’ wants current, they best do everything they can to keep Lauren Turner around. She’s the real deal, no theatrics, just raw talent.” Do you agree with our experts? Who do you think is headed for elimination tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
Music industry urges other stars who played for Libyan dictator’s family to donate their earnings. By Gil Kaufman Beyonce Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage Just days after singer Nelly Furtado announced that she planned to donate to charity money she received for playing a concert for the family of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, a spokesperson for Beyonc
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