‘Lonely Boy’ follow-up is light on bells and whistles, heavy on what made them the sensation they are today: killer live sets. By James Montgomery The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach in “Gold on the Ceiling” Photo: Warner Bros. There are no dancing actors/security guards , precocious street-fighting children or cameos by “Sir” Todd Bridges in the Black Keys’ new “Gold on the Ceiling” video . But don’t let their absences sway you — in a lot of ways, this was the video the Keys were born to make. The clip, which premiered Monday night (February 6) on MTV, features only the Black Keys (and various members of their road team) doing what they do best: playing live, in gloriously gritty fashion. It’s not only a nod to their roots — for close to a decade, they hammered out gigs (and miles) aboard a rusty van — but it’s a powerful reminder to their detractors that they are, first and foremost, a positively killer live act. Of course, it was also probably a matter of necessity. The Black Keys are rather busy these days, what with their smash album and world tour, so shooting a live video (in part during their MTV Hive-sponsored El Camino release party at New York’s Webster Hall) undoubtedly made their management happy, but you get the feeling that Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney probably delighted in making a concert clip. After all, it fits rather nicely with their anachronistic ways. Of all the monster rock acts currently lumbering, the Black Keys seem the most natural fit for a live video. No bells or whistles, no special effects, just a band, a stage and some grainy footage. It’s easy. So while “Gold” may be lacking in all those things (not to mention odd, inbox-baiting cameos), it is by no means a lesser video. If anything, it represents everything that makes the Black Keys the band they are — hard-charging, unpolished and seemingly not-of-this-era, indebted to their past yet still pushing forward and always determined to do things on their own terms. Big-selling album and high-profile second single be damned, the Black Keys just want to do it live and do it loud. It’s what got them here, after all. What did you think of the Keys’ latest video? Share your reviews in the comments below! Related Videos MTV First: The Black Keys’ ‘Gold On The Ceiling’
‘It’s halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin,’ actor/director says in emotional Chrysler spot. By Rob Markman Clint Eastwood Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images With the New York Giants down 10-9 to the New England Patriots at halftime of the big game on Sunday, we’re pretty sure coach Tom Coughlin gave the eventual Super Bowl champions a hell of a speech. Still, last night’s most memorable pep talk came from an unlikely hero, Clint Eastwood. “It’s halftime,” Dirty Harry grunted in the opening moments of a dramatic Chrysler spot that aired while both teams were in the locker room and Madonna was preparing to excite the world at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana. The emotional ad juxtaposed the Giants and Patriots’ mid-game huddle-up and contextualized it against the country’s current economic woes. “It’s halftime in America, too,” the Oscar-winning actor/director continued. “People are out of work and they’re hurting and they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback.” During a night when Hollywood rolled out blockbuster trailers for big-budget films like “The Avengers” and “Battleship” and companies like Go Daddy and H&M used sex to sell their products, Chrysler took an inspirational approach, one even more poignant than last year’s Eminem “Imported From Detroit” spot. Clint goes on to describe the people in Detroit and their resilience in the midst of a collapsed auto industry. He then turns the focus back to America as a whole, which is still trying to gain footing in a time of economic turmoil. “I’ve seen a lot of tough eras, a lot of downturns in my life. Time when we didn’t understand each other,” the 81-year old Eastwood says. “But after those trials we all rallied around what was right and acted as one, because that’s what we do.” With the drama building, Clint adds some fight to his voice in a passionate call to arms. “This country can’t be knocked down with one punch. We get right back up again, and when we do the world will hear the roar of our engines,” he says in closing. “Yeah, it’s halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin.” Game on! Related Videos Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots Related Photos Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson
‘Friday Night Lights’ actor, set to break out in ‘John Carter,’ ‘Battleship,’ should have been featured more prominently. By Kevin P. Sullivan Taylor Kitsch in “John Carter” Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Millions of people around the world were introduced to Taylor Kitsch Sunday night. The Canadian actor found himself at the center of two of the Super Bowl’s biggest movie ads for his first two starring roles, in “John Carter” and “Battleship,” but the trailers may not have been the first impression Kitsch was hoping for. Kitsch made a name for himself starring as the misunderstood bad boy Tim Riggins on the beloved but criminally under-watched NBC series “Friday Night Lights.” Riggins grew dear to the show’s viewers because of the charm and likability Kitsch brought to the character, despite a tough exterior. Throughout the show’s run, it was never a stretch to imagine the actor making the crossover to big-budget action movies with his charisma as hard evidence of his bankability. But for his Super Bowl debuts, the studios behind “John Carter” and “Battleship” took the focus off of their star and instead cut special-effects shots together, leaving Kitsch as little more than background noise. The “John Carter” trailer that aired during the game handled its time the most curiously. Beginning with a shot of Kitsch from the film, the footage grew smaller, eventually becoming part of a large collection of footage that formed letters spelling out the title of the film. By the time most of the video appeared on the screen, it was too small to make any sense of it. What many people may not have known was that an extended version of the commercial, one with full-sized footage from the film, appeared online shortly after. That trailer showed off Kitsch during action sequences instead of zooming away from him. The ad for “Battleship” approached promoting a big-budget sci-fi movie in a more traditional way, albeit one that also put Kitsch in the background. The spot played more like a commercial for the other series of movies based on Hasbro toys, “Transformers,” and the scattered nature of it might have left people wondering whether the film stars Kitsch, Liam Neeson or Rihanna . Sure, these are just commercials, but if 2012 is going to be the year that Taylor Kitsch makes the crossover from TV heartthrob to viable action star, studios ought to realize who they’re working with and put the man front and center. Check out everything we’ve got on “John Carter” and “Battleship.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots
‘Hey Tim, my parents say hi,’ Perry announced at an NFL awards ceremony. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Getty Images Katy Perry got her Super Bowl on over the weekend in Indianapolis. The Grammy-nominated singer donned some colorful gear when she headlined the DIRECTV Super Saturday Night party, but it’s the folks she shouted out during the bash’s performance that drew attention. When Perry took the stage the night before the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, she wore a football-themed outfit (jersey-style top and short shorts) and busted through a banner with her name on it, People.com reported. The singer asked the crowd, “Who else is excited for Madonna? That’s the only reason that I came!” Madge, of course, took the stage on Sunday for the Super Bowl halftime show , which featured gladiator fashions by Givenchy and appearances from M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and Cee Lo Green. Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes, was in attendance at Perry’s show, as were Shaquille O’Neal, Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka, Chris Meloni, and Scott Wolf. Before Perry launched into her cheerleader anthem-sounding Teenage Dream track “Peacock,” she shouted out one football player who wasn’t even playing in Sunday’s big game: “This one goes out to Tim Tebow,” she said. According to E! News , earlier on Saturday at the NFL Honors ceremony, Perry presented an award to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and had another message for Tebow. “Hey Tim, my parents say hi,” she said. Perry’s parents are reportedly trying to matchmake the pair. While Perry spent her weekend teasing Tebow at various events, a source who attended the ESPN Next party on Friday night tell MTV News that Tebow spent the night flirting with TV host Maria Menounos. The two chatted it up while Drake handed out shots to the women in attendance before performing at the party. Kellan Lutz, Matthew Morrison, Jermaine Dupri, Cam Newton, Plaxico Burress, Michael Strahan, Vivica Fox, Sherri Shepherd, Spike Lee, Connor Cruise and Blake Shelton were also spotted at the bash. Related Photos Katy Perry’s Super Bowl Appearance Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson Related Artists Katy Perry Madonna
Kim Kardashian, Ashton Kutcher and Christina Aguilera praise Queen of Pop’s halftime performance. By James Dinh Madonna performs at Super Bowl XLVI Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Madonna does everything big, and her Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday night (February 5) was no exception. From her elaborate staging, wave of synchronized dancers and surprise onstage guests, the Queen of Pop has all kind of stars, including Kim Kardashian and Ashton Kutcher, abuzz — and probably singing along, too. Taking to Twitter to dish about Madge’s over-the-top medley of songs, Kardashian kept her praise short and sweet: “Madonna is EVERYTHING! She looks soooo good!” she wrote. Kutcher was another fan of the pop titan’s high-energy performance as he confessed, “#fact Madonna is crushing it!” Not only did Ryan Seacrest find a liking to Madonna’s set, but also her surprise performers. “Loved the madonna performance, i think she nailed it. Great job by @LMFAO, @NickiMinaj, @CeeloGreen too,” he tweeted. With the season premiere of “The Voice” scheduled for right after Sunday’s big game, Christina Aguilera also showed support for her fellow co-star, tweeting, “@CeeLoGreen you killed it with Madonna at half time!” Love for Madonna’s show was also spread to another Kardashian sister, as Kourtney wrote, “Nobody is better than Madonna. She was perfection. Like a Prayer was my favorite part. Did everyone LOVE it as much as I did?” Despite his remarks on the singer’s backing track, Perez Hilton was extremely impressed by the superstar’s “Like a Player” finale, writing, “Wow. That ‘Like A Prayer’ finale was one of the best things #Madonna has EVER done! Soooo epic!!!” Paula Abdul was full of compliments, calling the pop performer’s halftime show “brilliant.” “I was dancing &singing along w/ @CeeLoGreen #Madonna Like A Prayer was AWESOME!” she wrote. “Well played #Superbowl WELL PLAYED-amazing #HalfTime show!” Age proved nothing but a number to the rest of the Twitter-verse when “Madonna is 53” became a trending topic shortly after she wrapped up her performance. Share your review of Madonna’s halftime performance in the comments below. Related Photos Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson Related Artists Madonna
‘The glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that’s about it,’ ‘Smash’ star tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Megan Hilty in “Smash” Photo: NBC It’s safe to assume that if you’re watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 5), you will see several promos for NBC’s newest musical drama, “Smash,” which premieres Monday. The show centers on two potential Broadway stars — played by former “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee and newcomer Megan Hilty — who are competing for the lead role in a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. “Smash” has it all: flashy musical numbers, well-choreographed dance routines and, of course, entertaining drama. Does that all sound a little similar to Fox’s hit show “Glee”? Not so fast, says Hilty, who told MTV News the two shows couldn’t be more different. “Obviously, the glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that’s about it that we have in common,” Hilty said. “We’re very different in tone and theme and pretty much everything. We’re kind of like a glam soap opera with some splashy musical elements in between.” But Hilty admits that if it weren’t for “Glee,” “Smash” might have never gotten off the ground. “Thank God for ‘Glee,’ because they really opened doors for our show, specifically, to make it possible for us to do this,” Hilty said. “They made it socially acceptable and even cool to love the arts, and hopefully our show will do the same, but they really were the people who started that and busted down those doors, so thank God for that.” Hilty’s co-star, McPhee, agrees. “We’re just actually really grateful that ‘Glee’ has opened the door,” McPhee told MTV News on the Golden Globes red carpet last month. Will you be watching “Smash”? Let us know in the comments!
‘Star Spangled Banner’ was preceded by Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton performing ‘America the Beautiful.’ By James Dinh Kelly Clarkson performs at Super Bowl 46 Photo: Ezra Shaw/ Getty Images Kelly Clarkson rose to fame singing on national television, so it’s no surprise that the original “American Idol” champ soared high with her rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday night (February 5). Wearing a sleek black dress, Miss Independent stood confidently on a small blue-and-white stage at the showdown between the New England Patriots and New York Giants at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. As Clarkson belted out “The Star Spangled Banner” alongside a full marching band and a crowd of children, cameras panned to several members of the teams as they looked toward the sky. Proving herself as a true big-voiced diva, the singer hit all the right notes, adding in some signature riffing at the end of the song. Even though her performance went smooth, KC admitted having some early jitters about singing the patriotic tune. On Friday, she took to her Who Say account to share her two cents about rehearsal time: “Just finished rehearsing the anthem in Indy … wow, I’m actually really nervous about singing at the Super Bowl ha!” she wrote. “Here’s hoping I nail it and don’t screw it up!” Clarkson’s performance was preceded by country music couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who delivered a duet of “America the Beautiful” during pre-game festivities. Share your review of Kelly Clarkson’s performance in the comments below! Related Photos Super Bowl XLVI: Kelly Clarkson Sings National Anthem Related Artists Kelly Clarkson
‘Needing/Getting’ video features a heavily tricked-out Chevy Sonic. By James Montgomery At this point, after all the treadmills, Rube Goldberg machines, dogs on Ikea furniture, choreographed dance routines, color-coordinated jumpsuits and, uh, toast, you’re probably wondering what OK Go could possibly do for their next music video. Well, now we know the answer. In their new “Needing/Getting” video — which premiered Sunday (February 5) on MTV.com and will also be seen in a Chevy commercial during tonight’s Super Bowl XLVI — OK Go stage a full-blown vehicular spectacular. Part Baja rally, part demolition derby, all ingenious, it features the fearless quartet speeding along a desert track, making hair-pin turns, and very nearly wrecking — all while using the car itself to bash out the tune. The band and director Brian L. Perkins (who directed an early version of their “This Too Shall Pass” clip) used more than 1,100 homemade instruments — plus 55 pianos and countless guitars — a painstakingly plotted road course and a bevy of appendages bolted onto a Chevy Sonic (they probably don’t come standard) to make the whole project fly. It’s the kind of “How did they do that?!?” clip that OK Go have come to be known for. The mind boggles at just how many takes it took to get the whole thing right, and the fact that they’re using corporate sponsorship to do it (much like they did with the equally eye-catching “Pass,” which was subtly sponsored by State Farm) makes it even more brilliant. In a way, it’s OK Go gaming the system, taking full advantage of a benevolent car manufacturer to make their dreams a reality. But, really, that’s all high-minded thought for another day. Right now, I’m going to watch “Needing/Getting” again, and marvel how a band can keep pushing the envelope this far. And I will say this: If I were to buy a musical car, it would probably be a Chevy Sonic. So, in that regard too, this clip’s a winner. Share your thoughts on the “Needing/Getting” video in the comments below!
‘It’s personal, sweet and really sad at the same time,’ actress Jasika Nicole tells MTV News of her upcoming ‘Fringe’ episode. By Josh Wigler Jasika Nicole on “Fringe” Photo: FOX There’s a running gag on ” Fringe ” about good-natured FBI agent Astrid Farnsworth: Even though she spends almost all her screen time assisting and taking care of the delightfully delirious Walter Bishop, the kooky scientist can never quite remember her name. “Aspirin,” he’s called her, or “Asteroid” or any other number of “A” names. Sadly, fans can relate to Walter’s repeated mistake. Sweet and mysterious though she may be, the alluring Astrid is relegated to supporting status so often that it’s far too easy to forget her name. But that all changes with “Making Angels,” the new episode of “Fringe” airing Friday (February 3). Forget Olivia, Walter and Peter — this one is all about Astrid. Actress Jasika Nicole, who plays Astrid on “Fringe,” spoke with MTV News about both versions of her character taking center stage in “Making Angels,” the challenges of merging two versions of the same person for the first time and much more. MTV : We’ve been waiting forever for the Astrid episode of “Fringe.” What took so long? Jasika Nicole : I’ve been waiting so hard and long, just like the fans have! [ Laughs. ] I don’t know why it took so long. It would be one thing if it seemed like Astrid didn’t have a lot of fan support and people aren’t interested, but I feel like fans have been begging to learn and see more of this character. I don’t know for the life of me why it took so long. At the beginning of the season, I called [“Fringe” show-runners Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman] and said, “I want you guys to know that I’m so happy on this show, but I would really, really love to know if there’s an Astrid episode coming up. It would really give me something to look forward to.” They were super vague about it. And I assumed that whenever she did get her episode, it would be a situation where Astrid figures out [the episode’s mystery] at the last minute, or everyone’s on LSD and she has to go out and save the day. That would be an easy way out. But I’ll tell you, I was really surprised with the episode. It’s so beautiful. It’s personal, it’s sweet, and it’s really sad at the same time. I don’t know why it took so long. But I think all the support the episode has been getting is going to make them feel really crappy that they didn’t do this sooner. [ Laughs. ] MTV : You’ve always been vocal about who Astrid is and what she’s about. For the audience, though, we’ve had to piece things together: You get a bit of Astrid here and there, but she’s not at the forefront the way Olivia and Peter are. When you got your episode, did Astrid measure up to your vision of her? How did the episode change your perspective on the character? Nicole : I think [the writers and I] were on the same page. But before with Astrid, we just got the CliffsNotes version of her. She’s kind, thoughtful and a great caretaker. The other Astrid is very smart and she’s a little bit vacant in terms of emotional relationships and isn’t the best communicator. That was kind of it. You didn’t know anything about her family, what it’s like when she got home … it was just overviews of these two characters. But this episode delves into them much more. You see to what extent this Astrid is a caretaker. She does something that’s just really beautiful. She’s such a sweet, caring, sincere woman. It made Astrid seem like a real person. Before, you see her taking care of Walter. She laugh at his jokes and there’s this weird husband-wife, father-daughter thing going on. [ Laughs. ] But now we get to see her in relation to someone who is not Walter. It’s the first time in the four seasons we’ve really seen her interact with another person and putting herself out there so much. The alternate Astrid has been a little one-note because you’ve only seen her at work, very focused on her job. She delivers her information and that’s pretty much it. But the truth is, she has a life and she has a family. Something traumatic happens where she comes from in that universe, and she’s so distraught and incapable of handling what’s going on by herself, that she comes to this universe to seek out our Astrid. That’s definitely a side of her you’ve never seen before. I always wanted to know what she’s like in personal situations instead of professional ones. You get to see that. This episode is really about alt-Astrid. MTV : One of the beauties of “Fringe” is that we get multiple versions of the same character — even though they’re literally the same person, they’re very different in many ways. With the two Astrids coming face to face in this episode, how do those differences and similarities come into play? Nicole : What’s interesting about having an alternate universe is trying to figure out where your paths went differently. What went on here that didn’t go on there? Why aren’t we the exact same person? With the Astrids, it’s a little different because they’re fundamentally different to the core — possibly at a genetic level, if you’re of the theory [that alt-Astrid is on the autism spectrum]. That changes your relationships with your family members, which is something that’s essential to the story of this episode. Not only are the two Astrids different, they’re so different that they have different relationships with the people in their lives. They’re the only constant. Everybody around them is different, but this connection that they have is the only solid thing that they have between them. That’s going to help the alternate Astrid to figure out what’s going on in her life in this crazy, tumultuous time. MTV : “Making Angels” isn’t just the first Astrid-centric episode of “Fringe,” it’s also your first chance to get in on some of the fun your co-stars have been having: acting opposite yourself for pretty much the entire episode. On one hand, that’s got to be pretty cool. On the other, it has to be pretty tricky, right? Nicole : You’re right, it was a double-whammy. It’s like you’re sticking two days into one. You have to know exactly what you’re going to do, you have to know so well how you’re going to play those characters in the beginning of those scenes. It takes a lot of foresight. The emotional part is really tough, but then there’s the technical stuff. You have to stand and make sure your outline is the same every time. There’s a point where [the two Astrids] shake hands, and I could not for the life of me figure out how they were going to make it work. It’s too big of a concept for me to grasp. But what was really cool is that they were able to merge the split screens on the monitors in video village, so they were watching it in real time. I’m doing it with my stand-in, but they’re watching both Jasikas on the screen. At one point, we’d been doing this one scene for like eight hours or something. We were tired. It was a big scene with two Olivias in it, two Astrids, Walter and Peter. There’s all this stuff going on. We ended up not being able to finish the green screen that night. We had to come back and finish the next day. But they only needed to stick me in the scene. There are four or five other characters in the scene, but they’re just filming me in front of the green screen playing off of dialogue that we had recorded the day before. Because we had done it for eight hours, I knew it like the back of my hand. I smiled at imaginary jokes being pulled, I watched imaginary people walking in — it was just so surreal. It’s like you’re playing a pretend game while you’re drunk by yourself, but there are people watching you do it! [ Laughs. ] Nothing about it makes sense, but the end result is phenomenal. The new episode of “Fringe,” “Making Angels,” airs Friday (February 3) at 9 p.m. ET. Check out everything we’ve got on “Fringe.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
The magic of Madonna’s parallel romantic storytelling appears to have been lost on critics. By Kara Warner Madonna directing “W.E.” Photo: The Weinstein Co. In addition to her heavily hyped performance at Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, Madonna has been busy writing and directing her second movie, “W.E.,” which follows the real-life love story of American divorc
