Band set to release title track from Some Nights as the follow-up to chart-topping hit. By James Montgomery Andrew Dost and Nate Ruess of Fun. Photo: MTV News There probably is no real downside to having the #1 song in the country. Though, as the guys in Fun. are quickly finding out , there is one particularly unique challenge: Namely, following up that chart-topping song. Sure, this is definitely a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless. As Fun. told us backstage at the mtvU Woodie Awards during South by Southwest, they’re already making plans to keep the momentum of “We Are Young” going with the title track from their Some Nights album. And by all accounts, it’s going to be pretty epic. “The song’s going to be ‘Some Nights,’ which, for us, is the song we always dreamed would be a single and never thought it would happen,” frontman Nate Ruess said. “We’re talking about videos right now. The video’s going to be amazing, and we haven’t even decided on anything yet. … But just from the early stuff we’ve discussed, it’s going to be phenomenal.” And it’ll have to be pretty phenomenal to match the eye-popping video for “Young,” though, to be honest, Fun. aren’t necessarily worried about all that. They’re more excited to be able to make a video for the track they feel best represents not only their entire album, but where they’re at as a band. “I think that the song ‘Some Nights’ just kind of sums up who we are as a band, and while it’s
Lawrence’s conditioning coach talks about the demanding training schedule that whipped the actress into survival-of-the-fittest shape. By Kara Warner Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Lionsgate In case you’re not already aware, Jennifer Lawrence put in a lot of extra work in her preparation to play Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games.” Lawrence told us herself about all the time she spent training, but she made it seem like it was no big deal. Don’t let her fool you, though; she worked her butt off in preparation. MTV News recently caught up with strength and conditioning coach Joe Horrigan, who worked specifically with Lawrence on the film and gave us the inside scoop on what the hardworking actress did to get all Katniss-like. “I’ve worked on a number of films before to help actors lose weight or prepare for a particular role or even gain weight, so I was asked to help Jennifer on this,” Horrigan said. “Jennifer and [director]Gary Ross had discussed how they felt that she should look, they thought that she should be a little bit leaner — it is, after all, entitled ‘The Hunger Games’ — but she shouldn’t be gaunt.” During pre-production, Horrigan helped Lawrence perfect her running technique during daily workouts, along with strength and endurance training. “She worked with me usually twice a day, and that could be a combination of work at the track, which included agility drills, sprint work and running work, and she also had to work with an archery coach three or four days a week, and in the evening we would do stationary bike work, a mix of anaerobic and aerobic work,” he explained. “At a certain point she had to start working with the stunt crew. They had their own obstacle course and wanted her to be able to hop over trees and climb trees and that type of thing, so she was very familiar with it.” Through it all, Horrigan said he was most impressed with Lawrence’s dedication to the training, along with her positive attitude and work ethic. “She had a genuine excitement about the character and the role, and her opportunity to do this,” he said. “I don’t think she ever saw this as stressful or hard work, she did everything she was asked to do, and never complained.” Horrigan, who has worked with actors in preparation for a variety of films like “The Matrix,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Savages,” said Lawrence also developed a new perspective on archery. “I think she developed a whole new respect for what elite archers do. I think she started with [shooting] 80 arrows a day. Elite archers shoot about 450 arrows a day,” he said. “That gave her a whole new respect.” And then somewhere along the long road, Lawrence made the transition into her character. “Everything just came together and we all felt that over a period of time she became Katniss.” Do you think you’re in Hunger Games shape? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Jennifer Lawrence MTV Rough Cut: ‘Hunger Games’ Related Photos The Hunger Games ‘Hunger Games’ World Premiere Red Carpet
Kutcher could buy three trips to space for less than his per-episode fee on ‘Two and a Half Men.’ By Gil Kaufman Ashton Kutcher Photo: Getty Images When you’re a single guy in your 30s making more than $700,000 per episode on a sitcom, there isn’t much that’s out of your financial reach. Wanna go out and buy a car today with cash? Go for it. Hell, buy two! That and the actor’s “whatever, dude” attitude might explain why British adventure billionaire Richard Branson announced on his blog this week that Ashton Kutcher, 34, has signed up to be the 500th space tourist on Branson’s Virgin Galactic airlines. The suborbital spacecraft will give passengers a few minutes of weightlessness at a cost of $200,000 per ride. “I gave Ashton a quick call to congratulate and welcome him,” Branson wrote. “He is as thrilled as we are at the prospect of being among the first to cross the final frontier (and back!) with us and to experience the magic of space for himself.” Branson expects to launch a test flight beyond the Earth’s atmosphere this year and possibly start sending commercial passengers into space in 2013 or 2014 on its six-passenger jets. Of course, that’s if things progress on track. In the meantime, we were wondering: What other kinds of outer-limits adventures or experiences Ashton could have while he’s awaiting a shot at the great beyond?
Ten-second clip left fans wanting to see more of Bella in her new vampire body. By Kara Warner Robert Pattinson in “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” Photo: Summit Entertainment Who else set their alarms for an early wake-up in order to see the brand-new “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” teaser trailer this morning? We got a full 10 seconds of teaser and are very pleased to have seen a brief glimpse of Bella in action as a super speedy vampire, as well as quick cuts to our favorite leading men, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, looking all happy and handsome. We’re hoping for a lot more of that in the full-length trailer , among other things. But enough about us, what did our trusted “Twilight” experts have to say about the early-morning sneak peek? “All of the Team Edward and Team Jacob fans should be happy, but ‘Breaking Dawn’ is really all about Team Bella,” said Kallie Mathews of TwilightSeriesTheories.com. “Consider me ‘teased’!” Twilight Lexicon’s Laura Byrne-Cristiano also appreciated the very short seconds of tease but, like most of us, was left wanting more. “Ten seconds wasn’t really enough to capture anything. We did see Bella running through the trees, but we couldn’t see her face in that brief snippet,” she said. “So, we got only a little of the Bella with vampire powers that I was hoping for. It was nice to see a reaction of Jacob and Edward to Bella, but I really would have been more satisfied if Bella herself (in particular her facial expressions) was more in the shot. I’m hoping we actually get to see her and not just her point of view in the full teaser.” Seeing vampire Bella has all us fans excited, but of course there are those who will never get enough of Edward Cullen. When we asked fans to tweet us their reactions to the teaser, we received a lot of love for Pattinson’s beloved character as well as requests for more vampire Bella. @bellalorenza_ and @sherriatl want more of RPattz, whereas @catprodd requested the trailer “bring on the new vamps” that make their debut in part 2. @theLynsJ is all about the new vampy Mrs. Cullen. “Bella running through the woods,” she tweeted about her favorite part of the teaser. “I can’t wait to see her do vampire-y things!” What are you hoping to see in the full-length trailer for “Breaking Dawn – Part 2”? Leave your comment below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Breaking Dawn – Part 2.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com .
Tyler, the Creator and company will probably run amok on ‘RapFix Live’ Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. By Rob Markman Odd Future Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Call security and alert the censors, because Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All will invade “RapFix Live” on Wednesday. Tyler, the Creator , Hodgy Beats, Left Brain, Domo Genesis, Mike G., Syd tha Kid, Matt Martians, Jasper Dolphin, Taco and Earl Sweatshirt will all camp out on the “RapFix” couch for a rare interview. The group broke through in February 2011, when Tyler and Hodgy famously performed their single “Sandwitches” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and have been on a meteoric rise ever since. Sadly, Earl Sweatshirt , who helped lay the groundwork for the group, wasn’t around to experience it. The then-exiled teen was sent to an all-boys military school in Samoa, but now Earl is back home and will be on “RapFix Live.” On Tuesday (March 20), the squad is releasing The OF Tape, Vol. 2 on their own Odd Future Records. The video for the LP’s first single, “Rella,” already has already amassed more than 9 million views in a month on YouTube and features Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis and Tyler running amok and terrorizing residents in a suburban community. The Tape ‘s second video, for “NY (Ned Flander),” is just as zany, with Tyler appearing as a rapping baby. While Tyler is without a doubt the most popular of the crew, each member has either a solo project or off-shoot group projects in the works. Hodgy Beats and Left Brain for MellowHype and are prepping their upcoming album Numbers, while Syd Tha Kid and Matt Martians released their Purple Naked Ladies album in December under the moniker the Internet. Domo Genesis, Mike G and OF singer/songwriter Frank Ocean all have upcoming projects in the works. If we’re lucky, the crew will also talk about their upcoming sketch comedy television series “Loiter Squad,” which premieres on Cartoon Network on March 25, but when it comes to Odd Future, there is really no telling. Catch odd Future on “RapFix Live” Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtags #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists to @MTVRapFiX! Related Videos Tyga Rises To ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists Odd Future
Depp and Manson’s song will appear on the shock rocker’s upcoming album, Born Villain . By Gil Kaufman Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson Photo: Getty Images One is considered to be one of the most handsome Hollywood icons on Earth and the other is … well, half-named after a big star. It might not seem like Johnny Depp and aging shock rocker
Jaleel White and Katherine Jenkins tie for first place, with telenovela star William Levy not far behind. By Kelley L. Carter Kym Johnson and Jaleel White on “Dancing with the Stars” Photo: ABC A reformed nerd. A music legend. A TV host. A Super Bowl champion. All in one room together. That could only mean one thing: ABC’s hit competition series “Dancing With the Stars” is back. The reality show that puts a cornucopia of past and present celebrities on a ballroom dance floor to test their dance moves is back for another season, and during Monday night’s (March 19) premiere, we got to see famous tailfeathers a-shaking. The celebrities will come back and dance one more time next week before the cutting begins. Overall, the judges thought this was the best opener of any of their seasons. Here’s how the season 14 celebs fared: Maria Menounos and Derek Hough In their first rehearsal, the TV journalist set the stage for how we might see her grow this season, telling her partner, three-time champ Hough: “I’m like a dude, but I have boobs. I’m not dainty-like. I want to wrestle. Let’s fight!” They danced the cha-cha their first time out, and the judges thought her timing was good but that she needed to work on overall execution. “Nothing can prepare you for the first dance. But until you come onto this floor for the first time, you’re never sure how you’ll cope. Overall, I thought you coped very, very well. Great start to the show. Well done,” said head judge Len Goodman. 21/30 Jack Wagner and Anna Trebunskaya He might be a soap-0opera bad boy, but on the dance floor, he was more animated than brooding. The judges thought he could dance and that his foxtrot had a lightness about it. What he needs to work on? His footwork. “Beautifully acted, beautifully danced. I loved the way you extend your moves. Week one! What are you going to do week two?” said Bruno Tonioli. 23/30 Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd Football players — and athletes in general — typically have a good run during this competition. Driver’s athleticism (and gridiron moves) look to serve him well. The judges thought his cha-cha was a crowd-pleaser. “You are nothing but charisma and charm for days! You kicked that cha-cha’s booty!” said Carrie Ann Inaba. 21/30 Gavin DeGraw and Karina Smirnoff The pop singer said he agreed to do the show because he wanted to get out from behind the piano during his shows. He’s certainly paired up with the right partner; Smirnoff is the defending champ from last season. The judges thought his foxtrot wasn’t the best first showing, even though they found it to have a gentle quality to it. “You coped well with a difficult dance. I liked the routine. I thought it flowed. The foxtrot is a romantic sort of dance, and you were a little bit stiff,” Goodman said. 20/30 Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower There’s always a Disney star in the mix, and the young guns tend to go far. For their first dance, they did the cha-cha, something Fegan’s professional partner thought might pair well with his natural style, considering he’s a freestyle hip-hop dancer. The judges thought Fegan and Hightower had the coolest spin they’ve seen in all 14 seasons. “You, Roshon, can go on and on and on, I’m telling you! Laser-sharp. Never too early. You split it in the middle. It was unbelievable!” Tonioli said. 23/30 Sherri Shepherd and Val Chmerkovskiy For their first dance, they did the fox trot, and the “View” co-host was concerned because she said she doesn’t do elegance very well. Should she last, it’ll be something she’ll spend much of the season working on, she said. The judges said she brought the joy of dance into her routine. They also said she moved very well. “You are the happiest contestant we’ve had ever in all of the 14 seasons of ‘Dancing With the Stars’! You had so much joy. Nice job,” Inaba said. 23/30 Melissa Gilbert and Maksim Chmerkovskiy She’s on the prairie no more! This former child actress — we loved her as Laura on “Little House on the Prairie” — danced the cha-cha for her first dance, and the judges thought she coped very well with a difficult dance and found her performance inspiring. “I would like to have seen a little more shape in your free arm and a little more hip action. But I thought it was a very ambitious routine,” Goodman said. 20/30 William Levy and Cheryl Burke They call this telenovela star the Mexican Brad Pitt, but after being in front of a North American audience, the easy-money guess is that Levy, who’s actually Cuban, will be able to stand on his own name. The judges thought his first dance, the cha-cha, was incredible. They thought he captured the spirit of the dance and praised his hotness. “The hottest package of the season! The nation is wild about Levy!” Tonioli screamed. 24/30 Martina Navratilova and Tony Dovoloni The tennis legend is a breast cancer survivor and she’s paired up with Dovoloni, one of the show’s favorite professional dancers. Their first dance was the fox trot, and the judges said the most decorated tennis player was beautiful, elegant and refined on the court. “I love strong women, but it’s so beautiful to see this transformation. I want you to work on your turns for future weeks,” Inaba said. 20/30 Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas The Welsh opera singer hopes that just because she’s a new face to North America, that won’t count her out. She sang on “DWTS” last year, and now she’s back to test her dancing skills. Her first dance was the foxtrot, and the judges said her performance was exquisite and the style was impeccable. They also said she set the bar very high. “I thought you had wonderful musicality. I liked the detail that went on throughout the dance,” Goodman said. 26/30 Gladys Knight and Tristan MacManus The Grammy winner joked that the Pips never let her dance. She’s hoping to make like a Pip this season and get her groove on. For her first dance, she took on the cha-cha, and the judges (not to mention the crowd) thought she was outstanding. The judges said there was a naturalness about her dances and that she oozed rhythm. “The legend has got the moves! You’ve got class, you’ve got sass and you are a star. A real one! Absolutely!” Tonioli said. 23/30 Jaleel White and Kym Johnson White will always be our favorite, awkward nerd — he played Steve Urkel on the hit show “Family Matters” — but he’s hoping to discover how coordinated he is in real life. His first dance was the foxtrot, and the judges didn’t think he was a goofball at all. Tonioli said he thought he was watching Gregory Hines dance. “Jaleel, you are the icing on the cake. Smooth, smooth, super smooth,” Inaba said. 26/30 Who was your favorite celeb on the first episode of “Dancing With the Stars”? Let us know in the comments!
Nicki announces 15 European dates for her Pink Friday Tour beginning June 8 in Stockholm, Sweden. By Jocelyn Vena Nicki Minaj Photo: Ronald Martinez/ Getty Images Nicki, Roman, Martha and the rest of the one-woman gang are headed across the pond. On Monday morning (March 19), Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to announce 15 European dates for her Pink Friday Tour. So far it looks like the Young Money MC will start her trek on June 8 at the Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden. After that, she will touch Norway, Denmark, France, Italy and London for 15 dates. The presale for Nicki’s Oslo, Norway, date began Monday, and tickets to the Stockholm show will be pre-sold Tuesday. Tickets for subsequent shows will go on sale in the coming weeks. The Harajuku Barbie’s sophomore LP Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is scheduled to be released on April 3. On Friday, Nicki released the track list for the album and revealed collaborations with Chris Brown, Nas, Cam’ron, Rick Ross and of course her Young Money cohorts Lil Wayne and Drake. “April 3 is gonna be a doozy. It’s gonna be crazy,” Nicki told MTV News after her NBA All-Star Game performance in Orlando, Florida, last month. “It’s gonna be important for just hip-hop culture and pop culture. It’s gonna be very big.” Nicki Minaj’s 2012 European Tour dates:
Mommy-to-be was joined by sister Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Alba at L.A.-area party. By Jocelyn Vena Jessica Simpson With Jessica Simpson not far from her due date, the singer’s friends and family gathered over the weekend to celebrate her impending motherhood. Simpson celebrated on Sunday with other famous mamas like “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba and little sister Ashlee, People reported. The party was held in Los Angeles and organized by celebrity party planner Mindy Weiss. “Jessica looked pretty and very happy,” an insider told the magazine. Another source added, “She’s so excited to be a mom. She can’t wait to meet her little girl.” Simpson recently revealed she and her fianc
‘We’ll get together almost every night, all the coaches, believe it or not,’ country singer tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Blake Shelton Photo: MTV News While there seems to be a friendly rivalry between the four judges on “The Voice,” off camera, that rivalry is nonexistent. The sole country star among the foursome, Blake Shelton, revealed to MTV News just what those crazy kids do when the cameras stop rolling and they are left to their own devices. “We hang out a little bit,” he told us. “It’s different out there in Los Angeles, and I don’t really fit in on the scene, but there’s been a time or two [we’ll hang out], normally during the live episodes, especially last year. We’ll get together almost every night, all the coaches, believe it or not.” Shelton remembered one get-together where the only lady judge showed up to party with bells on. “I had a party last year at my house,” he recalled. “And I’ll be damned if the first person at my door wasn’t Christina Aguilera. We love our house parties on ‘The Voice.’ ” The singer’s love for all his judge pals extends beyond a good party; he wants them on his team too! One judge in particular would be Shelton’s first pick for Team Blake : “Cee Lo, because he can do anything. He can do rock. I’ve never heard him rap, but I’m sure he can rap. I know he does whatever it is he does [musically, and] he’s really good at it. That’s who I want: Cee Lo.” But what if he could cast his dream bromance? Well, that honor goes to someone else. “All I have to say is, it’s true: I have a man crush on Adam,” Shelton admitted . “It blows me away people can pick up on that just by watching that on television. I want to kiss him. I want to kiss him so bad. I don’t care if it’s mutual or not. Can you honestly tell me that you don’t have a little bit of a crush on Adam? He’s sexy, is the word I’m using.” Would you like to attend a “Voice” judge party? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Blake Shelton
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