Creator Ryan Murphy reveals the new season will take place at an East Coast mental institution. By Jocelyn Vena Dylan McDermott in “American Horror Story” Photo: FX New place, new time, new characters. That’s what fans already know about the second season of “American Horror Story,” but now creator Ryan Murphy is dishing even more details. Speaking at a TV Academy panel Wednesday (April 19), Murphy confirmed that the second season in the series will, in fact, take place at a mental institution on the East Coast, as had been rumored. That institution will be run by season-one fan favorite Jessica Lange, who will return as a spankin’-new character. According to Murphy, that locale was teased by Sarah Paulson’s medium character in the first season. “Something that Sarah Paulson’s character, Billie Dean, says to Jessica and Taisa as she’s sage-ing the house [during the ‘Birth’ episode] and talking about places where evil collects: We talk about institutions and prisons and things like that,” Murphy said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “That was the clue.” Paulson is also set to return to the show, playing someone new, as well as Zachary Quinto, Evan Peters and Lily Rabe. While season one was set in the present, Murphy hinted that season two will take place in another time. “It’s a completely different world and has nothing to do with season one; there’s not a mention of season one,” he noted at the event, where he was joined by past castmates Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Alexandra Breckenridge and Denis O’Hare, most of whom met tragic fates in season one. But he added that some of those actors may also return in some form. In addition to some old faces, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine has been added to the cast, playing one-half of “The Lovers.” French actress Lizzie Brochere has also joined the cast, potentially playing a nemesis to Lange’s character. The new season will kick off later this year on FX. What are you expecting from season two of “American Horror Story”? Share your theories in the comments!
Actor’s cameo in Tim Burton’s big-screen adaption of soap opera will be his last onscreen appearance. By John Mitchell Jonathan Frid in 1988 Photo: Getty Images Actor Jonathan Frid, best known as the man who brought vivid life to one of the most iconic undead characters in TV history, vampire Barnabas Collins in the soap opera “Dark Shadows,” died on Friday at the age of 87. He died of natural causes after a fall at his home in Ancaster, Ontario, though his family chose not to release the news until now. Frid was a classically trained stage actor, who began his stage career after a tour with the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London before going to receive a Master of Fine Arts degree in directing from Yale in 1957. His talents were a strange match for “Shadows,” but Frid’s training brought an unexpected subtly to his performance, capturing the imaginations of viewers, including Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, both of whom were rabid fans of “Shadows” when they were young and labored for years to turn the soap into a feature film . Playing a 200-year-old vampire who is unearthed in the late-1960s, Frid’s Barnabas was not a villain but a complex and often sympathetic antihero, who through the soap’s 1966-71 run continued to mourn the loss of his true love while trying to crave his bloodlust and protect his descendents from the evil witches and monsters that plagued their beloved family mansion, Collinwood. The big-screen version of “Shadows” is set to open on May 11 and is easily one of the most anticipated films of the summer. Frid shot a cameo for the film, marking his first film role since 1974’s “Seizure” (Olive Stone’s feature-directing debut). While on set in London, he got to spend time with Depp, who plays Barnabas, and as Frid’s “Shadows” co-star Kathryn Leigh Scott told The Wrap , both Depp and Burton were effusive with their praise for the actor and his most famous character. “Both Johnny Depp and Tim Burton looked at Jonathan and said, ‘We wouldn’t be here without you,’ ” Scott said. After being based in New York City for more than 40 years and working to great acclaim both on and off Broadway, Frid retired to Canada in 1994, though he continued to act, performing one-man shows for charities in both Canada and the U.S., and appearing at “Dark Shadows” conventions, which have only grown in popularity over the years. He reportedly always felt a close connection to “Shadows” fans and maintained a website so they could follow what he was up to. Frid’s cameo in Burton’s “Shadows” will be his last onscreen performance.
‘He reached out while I was doing my thing and was like, ‘Yo let me help you,’ ‘ 360 tells Mixtape Daily of his Cole collabo. By Rob Markman 360 Photo: MTV News Fire Starter: 360 There was a time when 360 was running around in circles, simultaneously chasing his rap dreams while being pulled by the streets’ centrifugal force. Those days are over, however, and now the full-time MC is on a linear path. “Everything that I’ve done it’s all just come back to music at the end of the day,” the Queens, New York, newcomer told Mixtape Daily. “So this time I was like, ‘I’m staying. I’m not doing nothing else but music now.’ ” 6-0’s debut EP, Everywhere and Back, which was released as a free download on his website at the top of April, is a collection of 10 original tracks. The promising rap rookie displays a consistently fluid flow, clever wordplay and a refreshing sense of humor. Throughout, 360 holds his own collaborating with little-known producers, but he does get one major assist on the boards from Roc Nation’s J. Cole . When 60 released YouTube footage of him and Cole in the studio back in February, many wondered how the newcomer hooked up with the platinum producer. It’s a Queens thing, 360 explained. “Cole, I knew him from way back. I knew him from when he was in St. Johns,” he said, recalling Jermaine’s college days in New York. “Basically, when it was my time to come up, he reached out while I was doing my thing and was like, ‘Yo let me help you.’ ” It was a crucial assist. The result is “What Goes Up,” one of Everywhere and Back ‘s standout tracks. Another is “Woulda Kid,” a track that pokes fun at those who exaggerate their street bravado to impress others. “It’s basically somebody that talks and never comes through, ever,” 360 explained while laughing. Now that he is no longer chasing his tail in the streets, 360 is focused on a productive career in rap. It’s an age-old story, but one that never gets stale. “I really sat down and planned this. This wasn’t like I was just putting songs together,” he said. “The ultimate goal at the end of the day is to make a real change.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists J. Cole 360
Famed drummer passed away ‘surrounded by family, friends and band mates’ on Thursday. By John Mitchell The Band’s Levon Helm Photo: Getty Images After fighting a long battle with cancer, Levon Helm, former drummer for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group The Band died Thursday (April 19). He was 71. “Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon,” a statement on his website reads. “He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.” Born in Elaine, Arkansas, on May 26, 1940, Helm’s signature Southern drawl is featured on some of the Band’s most iconic songs, from “The Weight” and “Up on Cripple Creek” to “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Helm was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and has struggled with his voice since. He initially lost his ability to sing entirely, but continued to play drums, mandolin and harmonica. Radiation left him with little more than a raspy whisper, but Helm continued to try to sing, and by the time he recorded 2007’s Dirt Farmer he’d recovered 80 percent of his voice. With his daughter Amy, he started a series of weekly concerts at his Woodstock, New York, studios called the “Midnight Ramble,” which grew from an idea Helm explained to Martin Scorsese while making “The Last Waltz,” the legendary documentary directed by Scorsese about the Band’s epic, all-star Thanksgiving farewell concert in 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The Midnight Ramble shows became very popular and attracted many of music’s most renowned stars, from Elvis Costello and Norah Jones to My Morning Jacket and Emmylou Harris. The shows’ success reignited Helm’s recording career in the early 2000s, leading him toward Grammy wins for his albums Dirt Farmer (2007), Electric Dirt (2009) and Ramble at the Ryman (2011). Helm’s music career began when he joined the band of rocker Ronnie Hawkins in 1957. During his stint in Hawkins’ band, he met Richard Manuel, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson and together they formed the core of the Band. After their split from Hawkins, the group became the backing band for Bob Dylan as the folk icon transitioned to an electric sound. Helm, Manuel, Danko, Robertson and Hudson eventually earned a recording contract of their own, and as the Band released 10 studio albums, beginning with 1968’s Music From Big Pink. Though the Band broke up in 1976, they regrouped without Robertson in 1983 and continued recording through 1998. Helm was also an actor, appearing in 12 films, most notably the 1980s Oscar-winning “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” in which he played Loretta Lynn’s (Sissy Spacek) father, and most recently the Mark Wahlberg-starring “Shooter.” Related Artists The Band
Seeming front-runner shockingly voted off the show, joined in the bottom three by Elise Testone and Hollie Cavanagh. By Adam Graham Colton Dixon on “American Idol” Photo: Fox “Bad Romance” turned out just plain bad for Colton Dixon on Thursday (April 19), as the 20-year-old Tennessean — who had never before landed in the bottom three — was voted off “American Idol.” Dixon found himself at the bottom of the 53 million votes cast following Wednesday’s performance episode . Dixon, the Mohawk-mullet-wearing emo-rocker who entered “Idol” initially only as a show of moral support for his sister, performed a goth-lite version of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” on Wednesday’s show, as well as an emo reading of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” When given the news he had been voted off — and would indeed be going home, since the judges used their one-and-only save for the season last week to rescue Jessica Sanchez from oblivion — Dixon said sorry to his fans. “I need to apologize. I wasn’t myself last night, and I get it,” he said, turning to the judges. “I appreciate what you told me last night. I’ll take that when I’m making a record, and I’ll choose songs … ” He was cut off by Jennifer Lopez, who told him, “You’ll make many records,” and Randy Jackson, who offered, “You have a huge career ahead of you, man.” Dixon had received generally favorable remarks from the judges throughout the season but was dinged for his performances Wednesday, in particular for the Earth, Wind & Fire tune. In a video that aired Thursday (April 19) that caught him backstage, Dixon reacted to the criticism. “Ouch, that kind of stung a little bit,” he said. “But honestly, I’m not trying to sound cocky, but I don’t care.” Dixon was in the bottom three along with Hollie Cavanagh and perpetual bottom-dweller Elise Testone. Testone was sent back to safety first, leaving Dixon and Cavanagh to sweat it out. Host Ryan Seacrest was up to even more tricks than usual when handing contestants their fate Thursday; at one point he told Joshua Ledet, “I’m afraid … you didn’t get the right number of votes … to put you in the bottom three. You are safe!” (C’mon, Seacrest, that barely even makes sense.) Regarding Ledet, “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine remarked, “He could end up in the finale.” In a video package, Seacrest paid tribute to his mentor Dick Clark, who died Wednesday at age 82. The evening also saw performances from Kris Allen, who sang his new song “The Vision of Love,” and party rockers LMFAO, who apologized for their party-rocking ways with a typically raucous rendition of “Sorry for Party Rocking.” What did you think of “Idol” on Thursday? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Most Shocking ‘American Idol’ Exits ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances
The teen twosome talks to MTV News about their viral video and how it all happened… sort of. By Jocelyn Vena Double Take in their “Hot Problems” music video Photo: Old Bailey Productions Three days and more than 1 million streams later, Double Take are certifiable Internet sensations. The teen twosome’s track, the hotly debated “Hot Problems,” is a song about all the troubles attractive people face, if you couldn’t guess from the title. The video features little more than the high school seniors hanging out in a limo mugging for the camera. The two high schoolers have risen to the ranks of Rebecca Black heights, but very little is actually known about them. And, when MTV News chatted with them on Thursday afternoon, it seemed they still wanted to keep the details about who they are and who is helping them become so popular as vague as possible. “We’re working with a production company, but it’s more of a behind-the-scenes thing,” Lauren explained. “We don’t like to talk about it that much.” The girls wouldn’t give their last names, and only added this information about how “Hot Problems” ended up an Internet hot commodity: “We are getting some help, but in the end we have friends helping us out, a bunch of different people. We don’t want to drag them into this,” she added, not confirming what the role of Old Bailey Productions has. “It’s been crazy for us too to get so much attention and we don’t want this to affect their lives too much.” On their video’s
On this week’s ‘Talk Nerdy,’ are the new ‘Prometheus’ viral video and Tupac’s Coachella hologram proof that the future has arrived? By Josh Wigler Michael Fassbender as David 8 in “Prometheus” Photo: Twentieth Century Fox The future is now — just ask Tupac or Michael Fassbender. Earlier in the week, nerd culture scored two big victories: one, the arrival of Hologram Tupac , who performed from beyond the grave at the Coachella music festival. Shortly thereafter came the announcement of David 8 , a new line of androids from Weyland Industries set to launch on the upcoming “Prometheus” voyage. Frankly, both sound like ridiculous sci-fi concepts that could only occur in the far-off future. But one of those things actually happened. Even if you’re not a hip-hop fan, the fact that a walking, talking, swear-slinging Tupac Shakur appeared before Coachella attendees for nearly five full minutes 16 years after his death should illicit an avalanche of geek-gasms. It certainly did for “Talk Nerdy” co-host Eric Ditzian. “Holo-pac is the beginning of something very new,” Ditzian said in Splash Page’s latest Hero of the Week column . “It’s a sci-fi nerd’s dream come true, in a sense — a game-changing technology no longer part of a fictional realm but in our own.” He’s right, of course. For years, we’ve watched men, women and aliens alike appear via holographic image on the bridge of the USS Enterprise, as an urgent message issued through the eternally adorable R2-D2 and so on. Messages from fully formed individuals based in another place, perhaps even in another time, coming our heroes’ way through the inexplicable powers of science fiction. None of that was real, of course, because let’s be serious: Did we ever expect to see these kinds of things happen anywhere other than in Space, the Final Frontier or in the land of a Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Away? I certainly didn’t. Tupac — with a little help from Dr. Dre and friends — proved me wrong. But it says a lot that even with the newfound discovery of Holo-Pac, I remain equally obsessed, if not more so, with “Prometheus.” Ridley Scott’s first science-fiction film since 1982’s “Blade Runner” is easily my most anticipated film of 2012. That says a lot, considering this is the same year that sees Earth’s mightiest heroes together onscreen for the first time, the same year that Bane might break the Bat on behalf of Christopher Nolan. The first two “Alien” films are permanent fixtures in my otherwise evolving list of all-time favorite movies, but it wasn’t until I saw the David 8 advertisement — a viral video that sees Michael Fassbender’s cybernetic character explain his own capabilities and uses as a robot, eerie and fascinating and beautiful in every sense of those words — coupled with Tupac’s digital return, that I realized why I’m so excited for “Prometheus.” Maybe it’s the power of a good Guy Pearce speech . Or maybe I’ve just binged on one too many geek movies in my day. But I look at the list of achievements accomplished by Pearce’s “Prometheus” character — Sir Peter Weyland, a pioneer in many fields including terraforming and robotics — and I can’t stop thinking that maybe, just maybe, we’re not so far off from having a Broca Dialectical Implant (the first language tool that requires absolutely no learning on the user’s part) or developing faster-than-light space exploration vehicles. No, at the moment, there are no functional hoverboards as promised by the movies, and the Nike Air McFlys do not yet lace themselves up without assistance. And maybe we’ll have to wait a bit longer than 70 years to meet an android with the same emotional depth as David. But right now, we do have a long-deceased music legend performing from beyond the grave via hologram. If we brought Tupac back in 2012, then what can’t we accomplish by 2073? It’s not a robot … but we’re getting pretty damn close. Related Videos Talk Nerdy
We take a closer look at the teaser for Channing Tatum’s upcoming flick. By Amy Wilkinson Channing Tatum in “Magic Mike” Photo: Warner Bros Hide your kids, hide your husband, and stuff your purse full of $1 bills, because the trailer for Channing Tatum’s stripper movie ” Magic Mike ” has shimmied onto the Web! The film stars Tatum as an exotic dancer named — what else? — Magic Mike, who takes an up-and-coming young performer named the Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his tutelage. But, as strippers are wont to do, Mike is hoping for more from life than body oil and G-strings. He hopes to build furniture! And date the Kid’s sister! You’ll have to pony up $10 come June 29 to find out if his dreams come true, but in the meantime, check out what else your eagle-eyed experts at MTV found noteworthy in the tawdry trailer : Channing Tatum’s Acrobatics Co-star Matt Bomer already warned us about Tatum’s “sick” moves , and of course we’ve seen “Step Up” about 20 times, but it’s easy to forget how adept the Chan-man is on the dance floor, seeing as he’s most frequently cast as an action hero (“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” “Haywire”) or a romantic lead (“Dear John,” “The Vow”). All we have to say is, get this guy into toe shoes more often, Hollywood! Cody Horn Hits the Scene Tatum’s love interest is likely a new face to many a moviegoer. Her name is Cody Horn, and this could be her big, ballsy breakout role. The actress’ r
‘I’ma just stay strong and hopefully I’ll see y’all in the near future,’ the former Bad Boy MC tells MTV News in a jailhouse interview. By Jesse Gissen G Dep Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage Two days after being convicted of second-degree murder, G. Dep spoke exclusively to MTV News on Thursday (April 19), where he reacted to the verdict from behind bars. “However it went down, it was just one of them things where I knew I was facing some type of charge, so whatever the verdict was, I knew it was God’s will,” Dep told us by phone as he awaits sentencing in lockup. The former Bad Boy rapper, born Trevell Coleman, was found guilty on Tuesday of killing John Henkel in a botched robbery attempt nearly two decades ago in his hometown of Harlem. Coleman made headlines in 2010 after he confessed — unprovoked — that he had committed the crime in a surprising confession to police at Manhattan’s 25th precinct. At the time, Coleman said that he longed to clear his conscience. Although he took blame for the shooting, Coleman’s lawyer, Anthony Ricco, argued in court last week that the victim was not the same man that police had pinned to the crime. Despite the outcome, the 37-year-old seemed at peace with the judgment call. “You know, someone was taken from [the Henkel] family, so I can’t feel like I was robbed in any kind of way,” he said. “I just want to thank everyone that was involved in the case. I don’t have no ill thoughts towards anybody.” That is if you don’t count a few reporters who covered the case for New York’s Daily News. “I just wanna let people know there’s a couple of reporters out there that’s just talking that talk,” he snarled. “I just had to make sure everything was everything,” he explained about his decision to fight the charge in court. “I was already putting myself out there. I had to make sure everything was what it was. That’s why the trial even was on.” G. Dep signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records in 1998, and went on to release his debut LP, Child of the Ghetto, in 2001. The record spawned two well-received singles, “Let’s Get It” and “Special Delivery,” but Dep’s rap career failed to take off. By 2003, he had parted ways with Bad Boy. Coleman took another stab at the indusry, dropping a mixtape the following year, but his various arrests and battles with drug abuse thwarted those efforts. Dep is scheduled for sentencing on May 8, when he’ll face up to 15 years in jail. “I’ma just stay strong and hopefully I’ll see y’all in the near future or the far future,” Dep said when asked how he feels about the impending jail time. “I know life goes on, praise God. And one day maybe I could say hello to y’all again.” Related Artists G Dep
‘You sort of go with it and wait until somebody calls cut,’ actress tells MTV News of the ‘general chaos’ on set of the Sacha Baron Cohen flick. By Fallon Prinzivalli Sacha Baron Cohen and Anna Faris in “The Dictator” Photo: Paramount When MTV News spoke with Anna Faris about her role in the upcoming film, it was everything you’d expect from an interview with the comic actress. Her humorous disposition led to quite a few laughs while we got the scoop on her latest flick. In the movie, Faris plays Zoey, a liberal idealist with a good heart who runs an organic, vegan grocery store in Brooklyn. When she meets General Aladeen (Baron Cohen) at a protest, she thinks he’s a refugee and jumps at the opportunity to help him. When we spoke to the “Scary Movie” actress, she opened up about the challenges of her role (in particular having to grow out her underarm hair), Baron Cohen’s stunt at the 2012 Academy Awards and his crazy antics on set. MTV : Zoey is a physical departure from your usual leading-lady roles in films like “The House Bunny” and “What’s Your Number?” What was it that led you to choose this script? Anna Faris : I’ve been such a big fan of Sacha’s for years and I just jumped at the opportunity to get to work with him. I was just thrilled. That was really exciting for me. I love, in general, just getting to transform myself for characters. That’s really an exciting process for me. When they presented me with a more androgynous look, I thought that was just perfect. You know, this is the kind of girl that the dictator has never met before. He’s used to sleeping with models and actresses, these really stunning women, so for a while he thinks that I’m a boy. MTV : Was there anything challenging for you about the role? Faris : Not so much the role, but the project was really challenging because Sacha and his whole crew, all the writers and our director, they’ve worked together for so long and they do so much improv. It’s like 90 percent improv, and so the challenge was just keeping up with that as an actor, just being on your toes. I found it really hard, but also really exciting. MTV : Of course, we have to ask: What was it like working with Baron Cohen? Faris : It was amazing. He’s just this sort of crazy genius. You just have to be prepared for anything. The scene [can go] in a gazillion different directions and you just have to sort of roll with the punches. But it was great, I loved it. I just adore him. He was in character a lot of the time, but when he wasn’t, he’s a really kind gentleman — really intellectual and very funny. I just adored him. MTV/b> : You said he was in character most of the time. Would you approach him in character as well? Faris : [ Laughs ] Yeah, I kind of would! Like, “OK, wait, is this the…? Oh, wait, he’s the supreme leader.” It was a little tricky for me because my character isn’t supposed to know that he’s a dictator. So I was like, “Well, do I then? Maybe? I don’t know? I’ll just go to craft services.” MTV : With all the improvisation, did you have a hard time keeping a straight face on set? Faris : Yeah, a lot of times! I mean, I feel really fortunate that I had the “Scary Movie” experience because I feel like that sort of prepared me for a lot of the general chaos of the set of “The Dictator,” so I just felt like you sort of go with it and wait until somebody calls cut. Until then, you just keep acting. MTV : He’s known to make people uncomfortable, like his stunt at the Oscars where he poured fake ashes on Ryan Seacrest. Did he ever do anything that made you think, “OK, where is the nearest exit? How can I escape this?” Faris : [ Laughs ] No! He was actually so sweet to me. I sort of escaped all that. But he was always, you know, such a gentleman. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I did know that something was sort of afoot for the Oscars. And my husband [Chris Pratt] and I went and I saw Sacha, and I was like, “Honey, we just need to steer clear. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but let’s just sort of avoid Sacha.” MTV : Do you have a favorite memory from shooting? Faris : There’s a scene where Sacha and I are sort of forming our friendship in an intimate way, [ laughs ] and that’s really fun. I had to grow my armpit hair for the movie. MTV News : How was that? Faris : It was awful! I was so naive about it too. I was like, “Yeah, I’ll grow it out. No big deal.” MTV News : Did your husband say anything about it? Faris : He was such a good sport about it. He was like, “Yeah, honey! You do it. Just go.” But he also didn’t have to be around me too much that summer. I thought it would be, you know, fluffy and light, I guess. But it was so dark and thick and coarse. It was crazy. I felt very self-conscious about it. Maybe I was a little bit of a baby about it. MTV News : Before we sign off, can you tell us your favorite joke? Faris : Oh, my favorite joke! OK, let’s see. A little boy and his grampa … wait, oh no, I won’t tell you that one. It’s a little raunchy. But I will tell you this one: There’s two blondes and there’s a river in between them and one blonde says to the other blonde, “Hey, how do I get to the other side?” And the other blonde says, “You’re already there!” Yep. Pretty dumb. Are you excited to see “The Dictator”? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we’ve got on For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Summer Movie Preview 2012 Related Photos Get Psyched For 2012’s Summer Movies!
