As Kenny Powers (presumably) rides off into the sunset this Sunday night, we pay homage to HBO’s best-kept secret. By James Montgomery Danny McBride in “Eastbound and Down” Photo: HBO “Stevie, you weak mother—-er, you listen to me right now. You have made an ass-ton of stupid choices in Myrtle Beach; this is the moment of truth. Now is not the time to lay on the ground like a bald f—ing baby. Now is the time to be a f—ing man.” That was Kenny Powers on last Sunday’s penultimate episode of “
Queen of Pop tells MTV News that scent is for those ‘daring enough to tell the truth.’ By John Mitchell, with reporting by Rob Imbriani Madonna Photo: MTV News Have you ever wanted to smell like royalty? Well, now’s your chance. We may not have kings and queens here in democratic America, but we’ve made our celebrities — pop stars in particular — our own sort of royalty, and none is more regal than Queen of Pop Madonna . On the heels of her acclaimed album MDNA and with a massive, largely sold-out world tour looming, Her Madgesty launched her first-ever fragrance, Truth or Dare, Thursday night in New York, and she tells MTV News that the fresh, gardenia-based scent has been a long time coming. “This is finally the time that I developed a fragrance that I liked the smell of,” Madonna said when asked why she was entering the celebrity scent game now. “I’ve been trying to develop a fragrance for the last 15 or 16 years.” “Madonna’s Manager Confirms That ‘Turn Up The Radio’ Will Be Next MDNA Single” So who is the scent perfect for? Madonna has a few thoughts. “Someone who is daring, daring enough to tell the truth,” she said before adding, “and someone who likes gardenias.” Some Madonna watchers have found it curious that the always forward-thinking pop diva would draw on something so well known from her past — her historic Blond Ambition Tour documentary “Madonna: Truth or Dare,” which recently dropped on BluRay — for the name of her new fragrance. M explained that there’s a very simple reason for the name choice. “My manager [Guy Oseary], he just held a gun to my head and said, ‘Call it this or you’re not going to have a manager anymore,’ and I said OK,” Madonna deadpanned. After clarifying that she was joking (we figured as much: No one tells Madonna what to do!), the singer elaborated that “truth or dare” is “a phrase that is related to me and my work and what I stand for. I think I’ve had a fairly daring career and I’m pretty honest about my work, so I think that goes with my perfume.” Related Artists Madonna
Will the superhero all-star flick live up to the hype? Fans who got an early peek seem to think so. By Eric Ditzian Chris Hemsworth in “Avengers” Photo: Marvel “The Avengers,” apparently, rules. After a string of Los Angeles screenings, nerdy tastemakers have been squealing all over Twitter about what director Joss Whedon has delivered for this loooooong-in-development superhero all-star flick. “Like, double plus awesome,” declared Seth Green. “Lost” guru Damon Lindelof came up with a Twitter hashtag that’s a little too colorful to reprint here without a tweaking: . To Lindelof, I say right back: F—yeah! Because, honestly, what a relief! For a while now on “Talk Nerdy,” Brian Phares and I have been expressing worries like:
‘I think they thought she was safe,’ Randy Jackson adds, speaking to MTV News. By Kelly Marino “American Idol” Judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler Photo: MTV News Thursday night’s “American Idol” turned out to be the most shocking episode of the season thus far, proving one sure thing: America got it all wrong this week. The judges were quick to point that out when they unanimously decided to save 16-year-old singing prodigy Jessica Sanchez before she could even finish her last-chance performance song after receiving the lowest votes. Sanchez, who has impressed the judges week after week with renditions of songs well beyond her years, “slayed the biggest fish of the night,” according to Randy Jackson, with her performance of “Stuttering” by Jazmine Sullivan on Wednesday night. She even had guest mentor Akon predicting legend status one day, only fueling the fire that the singer, a.k.a. Bebe Chez, was well on her way to becoming a title hopeful. So what went wrong? “Well, I think [America] thought she was safe,” explained Jackson, who stopped by backstage to speak on Sanchez’s behalf. “I think they thought she was safe, I’m sure, and I think they thought Joshua was safe because those two alone, with Colton and some of the others, have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot.” Probably the most inconsistent of the final seven who was a sure bet to be the one sent packing last night was Hollie Cavanagh. Despite her strong vocals, her nerves and stiff stage presence have led the little English southern belle to the bottom three for weeks now. But after her less than perfect performance of “Perfect” Wednesday night, she dodged the bullet completely this time around thanks to her devoted fans. “She’s got a lot of fans out there. A lot of people love her. I mean, look, all of these kids are very talented, and you just said it a minute ago,” Jackson said, turning to judge Steven Tyler. “They’re all individual, they’re all different.” “I mean, the proof is that one sings great, the other one’s style is crazy great,” added Tyler, comparing Cavanagh and Sanchez. “And then you got Elise, who just laughs all the time and just takes it just so effortlessly free. And there’s just so many different singers out there. That’s why it’s hard for me now. I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong.” So with the panel deciding to rescue San Diego’s savvy young diva, all seven contestants will return to the stage Wednesday night to continue to fight for the crown. But there’s one catch: Next week two finalists will be given the boot. Will Sanchez be one of the two to go, or will she take Jennifer Lopez’s advice and take the audience on a ride like they’ve never seen before? Who knows? Let’s see if America gets it right this time. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances Related Artists Aerosmith
MTV News takes a look at Swift’s hip-hop history, leading up to her track with the Strange Clouds rapper. By Jocelyn Vena Taylor Swift Photo: Getty Images Taylor Swift — or T-Swizzle, as she’s known in rap circles — has been working her way toward a legitimate appearance on a hip-hop track for some time now. After welcoming many an MC onstage during her Speak Now Tour, the singer now guests on B.o.B’s Strange Clouds track “Both of Us.” The Dr. Luke-produced song blends the unlikely duo’s musical genres, with jangly guitars that pay homage to Swift’s country roots and synthy beats that have Bobby Ray’s hip-hop flavor. Surprisingly, the duet came about at the insistence of the singer. B.o.B recently explained that “she came to Atlanta and she hit up Grand Hustle. I wasn’t there. Tip was there and I eventually linked with her in Dallas and the rest is history.” This is not the first time the twosome have appeared on a song together. Last year, during Swift’s tour, B.o.B took the stage to perform “Airplanes” with the star. Swift took over chorus duties from her pal (and Paramore leading lady) Hayley Williams. But we have to go back even further than that to really dive into T-Swizzle’s hip-hop history. In a 2008 MTV News interview, the singer opened up about one day wanting to work with rappers . “I’d like to do a completely off-the-wall collaboration,” she said. “I would like one of my songs to be the hook to a rap song. That would be so much fun! You know, I love Kanye West and I love T.I. — he’s amazing.” The following year, at the 2009 CMT Awards , she hooked up with T-Pain to parody her good-girl image in the song “Thug Life.” She showed not only her gangster side, but also her funny bone, rapping lyrics like, “You can find me making cookies at night/ You out clubbing? I just made caramel delights.” Taking some time off from her rap game for a minute, in 2011 she enlisted the likes of Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida , and, yes, T.I. to put her stamp on some of their biggest hits during the Speak Now Tour . Initially, it surprised Tip that the country cutie would want to have him appear onstage with her last October. T.I. explained, “I was confused, because I know it’s a phenomenal opportunity, but being T.I. — the Rubberband Man — and Taylor Swift being America’s Sweetheart, I had just gotten out of prison like two days [earlier] and all of a sudden my phone rings.” Eventually, though, she was welcomed with open arms into his crew. “Taylor’s extended Hustle gang. She a part of the crew,” T.I. said in March. “She just ain’t got her dog tags yet, but she’s a part of the crew, though.” In the midst of the tour, Swift talked about asking rappers to perform with her. “I’m a huge hip-hop fan,” she shared. “And it’s been so amazing to have so many incredible artists come out and to get to sing the hooks on their songs that I’ve been blasting in my car for the last couple years.” Now, with so much practice singing other people’s hooks behind her, it seems like the right time for her to get her own. On the B.o.B track, she sings, “I wish I was strong enough to lift not one, but both of us/ Someday, I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us.” The lines mirror the song’s theme of battling hardships and strife. “Both of Us” will be featured on B.o.B’s May album release. Are you ready for more T-Swizzle? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV First: Taylor Swift Related Artists Taylor Swift B.o.B T.I. Flo Rida
On a wild results show, front-runners Sanchez and Joshua Ledet face elimination, with the judges using their save to spare the diva. By James Montgomery Jessica Sanchez, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest on “American Idol” Photo: Fox A shocking Thursday night on “American Idol” began with an onscreen pledge to “Expect the Unexpected,” and boy, did the show live up to that promise. Because, for the first time in the unusually staid 11th season, there really is no clear-cut front-runner, as perceived favorites were relegated to the bottom three and one potential champion was left to sing for her life — almost. After the final seven sang the songs of this decade on Wednesday night’s telecast, most assumed it would be permanent bottom-dweller Hollie Cavanagh sent packing, especially after the judges were left grasping for compliments following her performance of Pink’s “Perfect.” Instead, Cavanagh was spared elimination (and even a spot in the bottom three), and, after a few tense moments, in which front-runners like Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine were left twisting, it was revealed that, this week, the three on the chopping block were Elise Testone — no real surprise, given that she’s been in this position before — and, amazingly, a pair of championship hopefuls: Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. The judges were understandably shocked by the reveal — Randy Jackson even called the bottom three “ridiculous” — but the surprises didn’t end there. Host Ryan Seacrest would first announce that Ledet was safe, leaving only Testone and Sanchez clinging for their lives. After ratcheting up the tension to the nth degree, Seacrest announced that Testone was also safe, meaning Sanchez, the prodigiously talented, supremely cocky diva, was the week’s lowest vote-getter. In a way, it was fitting that former “Idol” castoff Jennifer Hudson performed earlier in the telecast, because a potential Sanchez exit would have been the most shocking moment on the show since Hudson was given the boot all the way back in 2004. And as the crowd whistled in disapproval, Sanchez grabbed the microphone to sing for the judges’ save — only to be interrupted by Jennifer Lopez, who shouted “Gimme that mic” and announced, along with Jackson and Steven Tyler, that Sanchez would remain in the competition. “We are saving Jessica without any doubt,” Jackson emphatically said. “This girl is one of the best singers in America ever!” The obviously shell-shocked Sanchez was then allowed to finish her song, and as the show came to a close, the judges urged “Idol” viewers to vote for the best contestant going forward. But after the night’s startling results — and without a judges’ save going forward — the deck has certainly been reshuffled, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 13 Contestants
American Idol treated us to seven great performances last night. But the remaining finalists were forced to look ahead on this evening’s results show, as America voted and revealed an inevitable, but sad result for one aspirant: He or she is going home. Who’s on to the top six and who’s out? It looked briefly like fan favorite Phillip Phillips might be in danger, but it came down to a surprising bottom three: Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Elise Testone. That’s right, arguably the three best singers remaining on the show were in danger of getting booted, making for the most gut-wrenching elimination this year. The contestant getting the boot this week was an even bigger stunner, too. Who was it? You’re not going to believe it, but the lowest vote-getter was … Jessica Sanchez . The studio erupted in chaos at this news, but as she began to sing for her life, she was interrupted by Jennifer Lopez, who informed her that she had been … SAVED by the judges!! There it is, the one and only judges’ save of the season, used on a powerhouse performer who definitely didn’t deserve to be in danger, let alone go home. “We are saving Jessica, without a doubt!” Randy said as the judges engulfed her. “This girl is one of the best singers in America! Ever! Are you kidding me!” “Everybody, please vote for the best! Come on!” It remains to be seen if America will heed his words a week from now, but for now, all seven singers survive heading into next Wednesday’s Top 7: Reloaded. What do you think? Did the judges make the right call?
I dont’ understand how someone like pudgy, uninteresing, but marketed as hot as fuck, even though she looks more like someone swelling up from a food allergy, like Scarlett Johansson can go from producing nude pics for her “husband” and not the media….you know that she took so seriously that the mother fucking who “stole” them is going to be getting 30 years in prison for…according to the fake court system they set up on a sound stage to make her look like she’s not an attention seeking slut promoting some shit to keep her getting work and making money as her body that was wrongfully a lottery winner in terms of careeer, fame and fortune….goes south……..to this boring as fuck photoshoot in Vogue that I am posting for the die hard fans who have obsessive compulsive order that blinds that fact that they’vee all been lied to.
Maggie Q is some old as far as I’m concerned….at 32….bitch from Hawaii……Who is half asian…but more interestingly…half Vietnamese, cuz her white daddy worked for the government and fell in love with a local bitch during the Vietnam war…and saved her by bringing her to Hawaii where they produced this bitch a few years later…a fate far more exciting that living in communism as a hooker….or getting blown the fuck up by left over land mines and angry north vietnamese who hate you can you allied with America and killed their family and villages before they took everyong out……. She’s been in one or two American movies, the rest of her career has been the Asian American in Asian movies….where she probably has a huge fan base…cuz she’s got white in her and that makes her exotic to them…. Now she’s in Inked magazine showing a lot of ass…..but not as much skin as I’d expect from someone with her level of fame….you can’t please everyone….not even me…unless you get naked…no matter who you are.e…cuz I have low standards
‘You can dance amongst the trees,’ Farrell says of Lolla 2012, set for August 3-5 in Chicago. By James Montgomery Avicii Photo: Getty Images For years, Perry Farrell has championed electronic music at Lollapalooza, whether it was booking Nine Inch Nails at the very first Lolla, Orbital and Prodigy on the ill-fated ’97 trek, or any number of DJs he’s nabbed to appear on his Perry’s Stage when the fest returned to Chicago (to say nothing of his short-lived ENIT fest, which basically was one giant electro party … 15 years too early). But this year, in a move that reflects the burgeoning appeal of EDM here in the states, electronic acts finally make the leap to the main stage, as both Justice and Avicii have been booked alongside headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, Black Sabbath and the Black Keys. And, of course, Perry’s Stage will be back, too … only this year, it’s understandably bigger than ever before. “Well, dance music is a passion of Lollapalooza,” Farrell told MTV News. “We have a stage called Perry’s that became a tent, and I told them ‘Don’t put a tent on that thing, it’s going to burst at the seams’ … and sure enough it has. We don’t have a Perry’s tent anymore; Perry’s area, however, is in the wide open, under the stars and the moon and you can dance amongst the trees.” And in a lot of ways, that seems to reflect Farrell’s purest desire for Lollapalooza. Ever since it began, he’s envisioned it as a sort of free-flowing, communal Utopia, with minds being expanded and consciences lifted to the strains of electronic music. And it’s just one of the things he’s most proud of with Lolla ’12, which reflects the fest’s expansion to South America and its growing presence on the international stage. Of course, none of that would mean anything if he didn’t succeed in putting together a world-class festival, and this year, he feels he’s definitely accomplished that. “When I go to speak to [festival] producers around the world, I say to them ‘Our ambition is to bring international lifestyle and music to your country; are you in, or are you out?’ And no one has said no, so far,” he explained. “But I end up finding out that, as we go in there, thinking that we know everything, we find these beautiful discoveries. For example, in Brazil, we find O Rappa, which is a group that are as badass as NWA. We find in Chile, a group like Los Jaivas, who are as deep and soulful as Black Sabbath [both bands are on the Lolla ’12 bill]. So we all are teaching each other and learning from each other … and I feel like the world is becoming one big musical family.”
