‘Gone Till November’ will come out two years after Weezy’s release from Rikers Island. By Rob Markman Lil Wayne Photo: MTV News Lil Wayne has a story to tell. Well, Lil Wayne probably has a bunch of stories to tell, but this fall the multiplatinum rap superstar will release “Gone Till November,” his memoir based on the diaries he kept while he was locked up for eight months on Rikers Island in New York. The book, which will come out in November, two years after Weezy’s release from prison, is being described as an internal monologue, according to the Associated Press . It will be released through Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group. Weezy was freed from Rikers Island on November 4, 2010, after he served eight months of a year-long sentence for an attempted gun possession charge. Police had arrested the rapper in 2007 following his headlining performance at New York’s Beacon Theatre. Wayne eventually pleaded guilty to the charge and turned himself in to authorities in March of 2010. MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway caught up with Wayne in Miami at a welcome-home party just days after his prison release. When asked how his transition from prison was going, Weezy simply responded with a grin. “I forgot about yesterday,” he said after thanking his fans and family for their support. He hasn’t completely forgotten, however, now that Wayne, who has since toured the world and released his double-platinum Tha Carter IV, plans to reminisce a little. Will you be picking up Lil Wayne’s “Gone Till November”? Tell us in the comments Related Videos Welcome Home, Weezy! Related Artists Lil Wayne
‘It’s going to blow people’s minds,’ screenwriter tells MTV News about the in-the-works adaptation. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Diablo Cody Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Diablo Cody explored the life of one particular “Young Adult” author in her screenplay for the Charlize Theron film. Next up, she herself is taking on the challenge of adapting a beloved young-adult franchise, “Sweet Valley High,” for the big screen. And while she’s knee-deep in work for the project, when MTV News caught up with the screenwriter at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Thursday night in Los Angeles, she revealed one very juicy detail about the adaptation. “Oh my gosh! OK, so I am so excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ There’s original songs being written for it right now, which is the most exciting development. They’re amazing. They’re being written by these Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriters from Broadway who are the best,” she gushed, confirming that the film will be a musical version of the novels. “Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, who wrote [the Broadway show] ‘Next to Normal’; they’re amazing and I’m sorry, I could go on and on. But I’m very excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ It’s going to blow people’s minds. I haven’t really had the chance to talk about this yet, so it’s exciting.” The Francine Pascal novels (which debuted in 1983) follow the lives of twin teenagers, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, who live in Sweet Valley, California. The series is full of puppy love, teen angst and the kind of drama and comedy that keeps people tuning into the CW and ABC Family week after week. If you’ve never read the books before, Cody assures you that you can still love the movie. “It [has] a lot of familiar ’80s awesomeness for fans of the series, and if you’ve never heard of ‘Sweet Valley High’ you will want to,” she said, noting that casting plans are still to be determined. “Obviously I will be playing the twins. Old-fashioned ’60s-style split screen,” she joked. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sweet Valley High.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
‘It’s going to blow people’s minds,’ screenwriter tells MTV News about the in-the-works adaptation. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Diablo Cody Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Diablo Cody explored the life of one particular “Young Adult” author in her screenplay for the Charlize Theron film. Next up, she herself is taking on the challenge of adapting a beloved young-adult franchise, “Sweet Valley High,” for the big screen. And while she’s knee-deep in work for the project, when MTV News caught up with the screenwriter at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Thursday night in Los Angeles, she revealed one very juicy detail about the adaptation. “Oh my gosh! OK, so I am so excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ There’s original songs being written for it right now, which is the most exciting development. They’re amazing. They’re being written by these Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriters from Broadway who are the best,” she gushed, confirming that the film will be a musical version of the novels. “Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, who wrote [the Broadway show] ‘Next to Normal’; they’re amazing and I’m sorry, I could go on and on. But I’m very excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ It’s going to blow people’s minds. I haven’t really had the chance to talk about this yet, so it’s exciting.” The Francine Pascal novels (which debuted in 1983) follow the lives of twin teenagers, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, who live in Sweet Valley, California. The series is full of puppy love, teen angst and the kind of drama and comedy that keeps people tuning into the CW and ABC Family week after week. If you’ve never read the books before, Cody assures you that you can still love the movie. “It [has] a lot of familiar ’80s awesomeness for fans of the series, and if you’ve never heard of ‘Sweet Valley High’ you will want to,” she said, noting that casting plans are still to be determined. “Obviously I will be playing the twins. Old-fashioned ’60s-style split screen,” she joked. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sweet Valley High.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
‘It’s going to blow people’s minds,’ screenwriter tells MTV News about the in-the-works adaptation. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Diablo Cody Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images Diablo Cody explored the life of one particular “Young Adult” author in her screenplay for the Charlize Theron film. Next up, she herself is taking on the challenge of adapting a beloved young-adult franchise, “Sweet Valley High,” for the big screen. And while she’s knee-deep in work for the project, when MTV News caught up with the screenwriter at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards on Thursday night in Los Angeles, she revealed one very juicy detail about the adaptation. “Oh my gosh! OK, so I am so excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ There’s original songs being written for it right now, which is the most exciting development. They’re amazing. They’re being written by these Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning songwriters from Broadway who are the best,” she gushed, confirming that the film will be a musical version of the novels. “Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, who wrote [the Broadway show] ‘Next to Normal’; they’re amazing and I’m sorry, I could go on and on. But I’m very excited about ‘Sweet Valley High.’ It’s going to blow people’s minds. I haven’t really had the chance to talk about this yet, so it’s exciting.” The Francine Pascal novels (which debuted in 1983) follow the lives of twin teenagers, Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, who live in Sweet Valley, California. The series is full of puppy love, teen angst and the kind of drama and comedy that keeps people tuning into the CW and ABC Family week after week. If you’ve never read the books before, Cody assures you that you can still love the movie. “It [has] a lot of familiar ’80s awesomeness for fans of the series, and if you’ve never heard of ‘Sweet Valley High’ you will want to,” she said, noting that casting plans are still to be determined. “Obviously I will be playing the twins. Old-fashioned ’60s-style split screen,” she joked. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sweet Valley High.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Despite departure of singer Bebe Rexha, Wentz tells MTV News ‘Black Cards isn’t done.’ By James Montgomery Spencer Peterson, Bebe Rexha and Pete Wentz of Black Cards Photo: WireImage Pete Wentz is reshuffling Black Cards , his post-Fall Out Boy project that, to date, has yielded a string of poppy, peppy live shows and a handful of remixes, but not a proper album (despite promises it would be coming in the summer of 2011 ). The changes began earlier this week, when the group deleted the name of frontwoman Bebe Rexha from their Facebook page and announced a new mixtape that had her noticeably absent on the cover. That touched off a wave of speculation that Rexha had been booted from the band, and that perhaps the very future of Black Cards was in doubt. On Friday (January 13), the band officially confirmed Rexha’s departure in a statement on their website that also seemed to hint that perhaps the Black Cards were finished. (Wentz fueled closed the statement with “The Black Cards are dead. Long live the Black Cards.”) But, in a series of emails to MTV News, Wentz let it be known that the band will continue — in one form or another. “Right now, [the band] is just Spencer [Peterson] and me. Who knows what tomorrow brings. There are a bunch of people I’d like to collaborate with and make some noise,” he wrote. “We have a few brand new songs that I can’t wait for people to hear.” Of course, Wentz didn’t clarify whether the Black Cards would be making music as a proper band, or as a remix project, as they’ve been doing in recent months “Albums are so 20th Century,” he wrote when asked about the band’s upcoming plans. “Mixtape out in the next week or so.” But he did want to set the record straight about Rexha’s departure. Simply put, it was anything but acrimonious. “Don’t believe everything you read. Fact checking isn’t really a priority for internet message boards,” he wrote. “[It was] a mutual decision. Bebe will forever be a homie, and we look forward to hearing music from her solo career.” Wentz also said that he hoped the songs the band recorded with Rexha would see the light of day eventually (“I’d hate for them to just gather dust,” he wrote), and closed by basically contradicting everything he had written in that official statement. Namely, the Black Cards aren’t finished … no matter who’s in the band. “Black Cards isn’t done,” he wrote. “More than the mixtape will be released.” Can the Black Cards go one without Bebe Rexha? Let us know what you think!
‘I may not have a record out now, but I have been singing for a very long time,’ Del Rey tells critics who argue she hasn’t earned ‘SNL’ slot. By James Montgomery Lana Del Rey Within the span of six months, Lana Del Rey has risen from a much-discussed blog curio to a major-label recording artist with an anticipated disc ( Born to Die, due at the end of the month) waiting in the wings. It’s the kind of leap few have made, one that’s led many to question whether she deserves so much so quickly. This weekend, she’ll perform on “Saturday Night Live,” the kind of gig usually reserved for the biggest of the big — and, yes, those same critics have already expressed their displeasure over that fact. So when Del Rey stopped by the MTV Newsroom earlier this week to discuss her meteoric climb, we asked about the backlash over her “SNL” performance. Not surprisingly, she had plenty to say on the matter. “I definitely think it’s an honor. … I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone [perform] who didn’t even have a record out, so I do appreciate it,” she said. “[But I got it] because I’m a good musician. And I may not have a record out now, but I have been singing for a very long time, and I think that [‘SNL’ creator] Lorne [Michaels] knows that, and everyone over there knows that. It’s not a fluke decision. “It’s not a traditional choice for ‘Saturday Night Live,’ especially because the content of the record is different; it’s not pop,” she continued. “But they’re also having … Bon Iver, so again, not the most traditional choice.” Though she’s aware there will be plenty of folks watching her Saturday, Del Rey remains rather unfazed by the whole thing. In fact, she doesn’t care what her critics have to say, and she’s not interested in debating whether she’s paid her dues. To be honest, she’s just focused on not screwing up royally. “You just think to yourself, ‘Don’t f— up.’ And that’s it. That’s all you ever think with live television. You hope that it goes well, and I’m just going to put my dress on, there’s going to be a spotlight, I got this amazing band I’ve worked with this year, they’ll be there,” she said. “I don’t even know what I’m singing yet. I’m singing ‘Video Games,’ and I don’t know what the second song is. … A lot of it depends on what’s going on with my family and everyone around me. If I have other things to think about, and I’m not in my own way, it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes it seems more important to me than others.” Will you watch Lana Del Rey on “SNL”? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Lana Del Rey Related Artists Lana Del Rey
Psychiatrist talks to MTV News after the star left the show on Thursday’s episode to address his lifelong struggle with clinical anxiety. By James Montgomery Vinny and Pauly D on “Jersey Shore” Photo: MTV On Thursday night’s “Jersey Shore,” viewers were given a glimpse inside Vinny Guadagnino’s lifelong (though closely guarded) struggle with clinical anxiety — a battle that finally forced him to leave the show and return home to Staten Island. It was a decidedly somber moment on a show that more often than not focuses solely on good times. But Guadagnino’s condition shouldn’t come as all that much of a shock: according to estimates, 15 to 25 percent of the population suffer from some form of anxiety disorder, and most of the time, those conditions remain undiagnosed. Which is why the “Shore” star going public with his personal struggle is such a big deal. Perhaps by doing so, he will inspire others to do the same. “I was really struck by the honesty and the candor. I didn’t expect that to be on national television,” Dr. Sue Varma, a Manhattan psychiatrist and faculty member at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, told MTV News. “As private as it is, if you’re a public figure like he is, and you’re dealing with an issue, you can bring awareness to it. It will help other people suffering from [an anxiety disorder] to come out without fear of being ostracized. It will get people talking and get people help.” Varma said that many of the conditions Guadagnino discussed on the episode are all fairly common to those suffering from an anxiety disorder. And those conditions were only exacerbated by his hard-charging Seaside Heights surroundings. “You hear Vinny talking about not having his family around, not having a regular sleep schedule, going out a lot, drinking … routine is really big, sleep is huge. For every psychiatric disorder, sleep is a symptom, either sleeping too little or sleeping too much,” she said. “Often you’ll hear somebody say they’re having ruminating thoughts, they’re obsessing, they’re thinking about the same things over and over again, and often that keeps them from falling asleep. “People who are anxious tend to stay in their head, because it helps them avoid their emotions. As long as they’re thinking, they feel they’re doing something to prevent something bad from happening. And that disconnects them from their surroundings,” she continued. “And a lot of people who have anxiety also have depression, and depression brings about changes in appetite, loss of concentration, memory problems and, in severe cases, even suicide. You become isolated … you lose your sense of pleasure in life. And anxiety, when it’s untreated, when somebody feels it’s out of control, that can bring on depression.” And the fact that Guadagnino managed to keep his anxiety a secret for so long doesn’t surprise Varma one bit; after all, millions suffer from similar disorders, and more often than not, their friends and family aren’t even aware of it. Or, if they are, they’re not sure how they can help. “All psychiatric conditions are medical conditions, so in the way people have diabetes or high blood pressure, that needs to be taken seriously, they have real biological circumstances, so does anxiety or depression,” she continued. “It’s a medical disorder, and people really think it’s a mood, a phase that you’re in, a funk that you’re in, and you can just snap out of it. You can’t. Anxiety disorders are really an umbrella, and there’s seven or eight major categories that fall under that. People who have it are integrated amongst us … there are plenty of people that you’re working with that you don’t realize have it, because they seem so functional. And having seen previous episodes, I wouldn’t have realized [Guadagnino had a disorder] until he came forward.” Varma added that there are a variety of treatments available to those battling anxiety disorders — everything from psychotherapy to medications like Zoloft or Prozac — but the key is getting those with conditions to admit they need help. That’s always been the biggest battle, though now that Guadagnino has gone public, perhaps those like him will follow suit. “It’s really important to let people know that there’s no stigma in this,” Varma said. “There are millions of people suffering from this, and it’s treatable.” For continuing “Jersey Shore” coverage, be sure to check in with MTV’s Remote Control blog. Related Videos Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up: Vinny One-On-One Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up Jersey Shore High 5 Recaps! Related Photos Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Flipbook
Plus: Pauly gets burned … and robbed. By Jim Cantiello Vinny on the “Jersey Shore” on Thursday night Photo: MTV Thursday night’s “Jersey Shore” brought back season-one hookups and introduced a new kleptomaniac, while Pauly’s “GTL” game is all out of whack thanks to a gnarly tanning-bed sunburn. Plus, Vinny’s anxiety disorder caught up with him and the fan favorite moved out of the house for some R&R. Oh no! Click on the embedded video below to catch my five favorite moments from this week’s “Jersey Shore.” 5. Jionni Gets Wet After the gang got caught in the rain, Snooki’s man Jionni needed some dry threads. What a guy the Situation is! Gives Jionni the clothes off his back and gives America the need for brain bleach yet again when he brings up the rumor that Snooki’s mouth and his “situation” are intimately familiar with each other. Woof. 4. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner At Karma, the girls got a little tipsy. Obvs. And Deena shared an adorable euphemism for getting her sex on. I wonder what Snooki calls it! So in other words, sex with Deena is like winning a trip to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and sex with Snooki is like a flavorless, usually dry overcooked slab of meat. Noted. 3. Face Off DJ Pauly D said, “Screw SPF” and ended up S-O-L. That sound could only mean one thing: A “Jersey Shore” r-r-r-r-r-remix!!! 2. Sticky-Fingered Hookup Later, Pauly got down a DTF girl, but as soon as the smooshing ended, Pauly’s long national nightmare began … To add insult to injury, DTF girl turned out to be Winona Ryder with a touch of that crazy Israeli girl from season one. Because the next day? “Ding dong, here’s your chain that I stole. Yay, I’m back on television! Hi, mom, I’m a star!” God help us if she keeps coming back to find her missing shoes. I’m on to you, shady lady. 1. Vinny Leaves?! Ugh, feelings? Boring! Get drunk, f— a girl … I don’t watch this show for touchy-feely crap. Boooo! But seriously, poor Vinny says he’s having severe anxiety attacks. I know what will make him feel better. Vinny, smack Snooki in the face with your balls. Still depressed? Hmm, that usually works. I don’t know what’s gonna happen! Vinny actually left?!? So now who has the biggest penis in the house? This is important, “Jersey Shore”! Don’t leave us hangin’! Pun intended? For continuing “Jersey Shore” coverage, be sure to check in with MTV’s Remote Control blog. Related Videos Jersey Shore High 5 Recaps! Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up: Vinny One-On-One Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up Related Photos Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Flipbook
Singer will break silence on February 21. By Gil Kaufman Adele Photo: Jon Furniss/ WireImage After nearly four months of silence, Adele will break the whisper spell on February 21 at the Brit Awards. The Grammy-nominated singer has been off the live performance radar since surgery to stop bleeding from a polyp on her vocal cords in November, but organizers of the show confirmed on Thursday that she will sing again at the event where she is nominated for three awards. “F—ing happy, thank you for the nods xx,” she Tweeted on Thursday in response to the nominations. Adele is not, however, the most nominated act at the Brits. She shares three nods with Jessie J, while unknown-in-the U.S. singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran topped an nominees with four nominations. Among the acts tapped in the International Group category are: Foo Fighters, Fleet Foxes, Jay-Z/Kanye West, Lady Antebellum and Maroon 5. In the International Female Solo Artist Rihanna will face off against Beyonc
The actress is taken to a hospital after an emergency phone call is placed from her home. By Jason Kaufman Heather Locklear Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic Heather Locklear was rushed to a California hospital on Thursday with what law officials are labeling “a medical emergency.” TMZ reports that the emergency was a dangerous mix of prescription medication and alcohol. She was taken by ambulance from her home after a call was placed to 911. “Emergency response personnel responded to a medical emergency call at Ms. Locklear’s residence,” Ventura County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Aranda told People later Thursday. “Once they arrived, it was determined that Ms. Locklear needed to be transported to the hospital for further medical attention.” This is the second medical scare for the 50-year-old actress within the past 13 months. In December of 2010, Locklear landed in the hospital for a brief stay for a bacterial infection. 2011 was not without bumps for the actress either after a split with longtime beau Jack Wagner, once her co-star on “Melrose.” The couple had been engaged for only three months. Locklear had appeared in public as recently as Tuesday night at a Lakers game, reports TMZ. Locklear had returned to television in 2009 to revive her role as Amanda Woodward on a reboot of “Melrose Place.” Locklear had proved dependable for weekly watercooler discussion during the series’ original run in the mid-’90s.
