Singer gets positive report from court, but ordered to remain on probation. By Gil Kaufman Chris Brown Photo: Getty Images In a status hearing on Thursday in Los Angeles, a judge said that Chris Brown is doing a good job complying with the terms of his sentence for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, but that he must remain under the supervision of a probation officer for the time being. According to the Associated Press , Brown was not in court for the hearing where his attorney asked that the singer’s supervised probation end thanks to his good behavior. Superior Court judge George Lomeli, however, agreed with prosecutors, who argued that even with Brown’s good marks to date, he should keep reporting to a probation officer in his home state, Virginia. Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, attempted to end the probation, which is part of the sentence Brown received in June 2009 when he agreed to a plea deal in which he plead guilty to one count of felony assault and was sentenced to 180 days of community labor and five years of probation. Geragos pointed to a probation report that said that Brown had been truthful with officers, passed all required drug tests and “has made great strides” while under probation. To date, Brown has completed half of the six months of roadside cleanup, graffiti removal and other manual labor he was ordered to do under the terms of the deal. But the AP reported that Lomeli didn’t think it was unreasonable for Brown to say under supervision while he finishes the rest of his community service hours. The singer has already completed anger management and domestic violence counseling and a different judge in the case agreed last year to relax a restraining order that barred Brown and Rihanna from contacting each other or getting too close to one another at music industry events. The hearing came just days before Brown and Rihanna are slated to return to the Grammy stage for the first time since the February 2009 assault. In advance, tongues have already begun wagging, with rumors flying last month that the exes have reunited recently and have been spending time together again. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don’t miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn’t end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Rihanna A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Artists Chris Brown
Singer gets positive report from court, but ordered to remain on probation. By Gil Kaufman Chris Brown Photo: Getty Images In a status hearing on Thursday in Los Angeles, a judge said that Chris Brown is doing a good job complying with the terms of his sentence for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009, but that he must remain under the supervision of a probation officer for the time being. According to the Associated Press , Brown was not in court for the hearing where his attorney asked that the singer’s supervised probation end thanks to his good behavior. Superior Court judge George Lomeli, however, agreed with prosecutors, who argued that even with Brown’s good marks to date, he should keep reporting to a probation officer in his home state, Virginia. Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, attempted to end the probation, which is part of the sentence Brown received in June 2009 when he agreed to a plea deal in which he plead guilty to one count of felony assault and was sentenced to 180 days of community labor and five years of probation. Geragos pointed to a probation report that said that Brown had been truthful with officers, passed all required drug tests and “has made great strides” while under probation. To date, Brown has completed half of the six months of roadside cleanup, graffiti removal and other manual labor he was ordered to do under the terms of the deal. But the AP reported that Lomeli didn’t think it was unreasonable for Brown to say under supervision while he finishes the rest of his community service hours. The singer has already completed anger management and domestic violence counseling and a different judge in the case agreed last year to relax a restraining order that barred Brown and Rihanna from contacting each other or getting too close to one another at music industry events. The hearing came just days before Brown and Rihanna are slated to return to the Grammy stage for the first time since the February 2009 assault. In advance, tongues have already begun wagging, with rumors flying last month that the exes have reunited recently and have been spending time together again. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don’t miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn’t end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Rihanna A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Artists Chris Brown
An avalanche of new trailers dominates the geek-tastic discussion in this week’s episode of Talk Nerdy! By Josh Wigler Jeremy Renner in “Bourne Legacy” Photo: Universal Studios Second to glorious football, the big reason to tune into the Super Bowl every year is the commercials. For movie fans, this year was a giant one: We got great new looks at Taylor Kitsch’s doubleheader in “Battleship” and “John Carter,” but the main event was Joss Whedon’s superhero-studded “Avengers.” But not to be outdone, another Marvel hero swung into action after the big game. “The Amazing Spider-Man” released its full theatrical trailer on Tuesday, spinning web-worthy chatter all week long. But even Spidey has to face some serious competition in the form of a new super spy who isn’t named Jason Bourne. We got into these trailers and more in this week’s Talk Nerdy, featuring special guest and closet nerd Rob Markman from MTV News’ hip-hop team! “Bourne” To Die There was never just one. Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne is as iconic as they come in the superspy scene, no doubt, but he has new company in the form of Jeremy Renner’s Aaron Cross. Cross steps into the forefront with this week’s release of the first “Bourne Legacy” teaser… but does it live up to its name? Is this a teaser worthy of the storied “Bourne” franchise? See what the Nerdy crew thinks in this week’s episode. Spider-Can Bourne doesn’t get the spotlight all to himself, of course. There’s also the new “Spider-Man” trailer to weigh in on this week! Andrew Garfield cracks wise and swings high in the Marvel icon’s classic red-and-blues, and overall, fans are very pleased with this latest “Amazing” look. That said, even with an awesome new trailer at his disposal, did Spider-Man win the superhero of the week award? Or did another of Earth’s mightiest comic book movies steal some of Spidey’s thunder? The “Phantom” Looms There’s lots to choose from at the box office this weekend, including the re-release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” this time in 3-D. Is it worth going back to the world of a long time ago in a galaxy far away just for some new visual tricks, or are the weekend’s all-new releases more deserving of your hard-earned theatergoing cash? One nerd played it “Safe” on the issue, while another “Vow”-ed to see something special ahead of Valentine’s Day next week. Get their picks in the latest episode of Talk Nerdy. What did you think of this week’s Talk Nerdy? Tell us in the comments section and on Twitter ! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Talk Nerdy Related Photos The Amazing Spider-Man Key Scenes From The ‘Bourne Legacy’ Trailer
U.K. boy band wrapped their first-ever U.S. tour Wednesday night in L.A. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Getty Images The Wanted landed on U.S. shores last month for their first-ever tour here in America, and what ensued was Beatlemania-like fandom. On Wednesday night, the U.K. boy band wrapped up the trek in L.A., and fans (including the Beckham family) came out in full force when they took the stage at the El Rey. The five Brits couldn’t believe the enthusiasm felt by the crowd, tweeting that the excitement for them was “unbelievable.” Even though the tour is over, the interest in the guys has hardly waned. Their song “Glad You Came” (from their 2011 album Battleground ) will be featured on “Glee” this season and continues to climb the charts and gain radio play. The guys are prepared for all the attention: Touring with Justin Bieber has shown them what it’s like to become an international pop sensation. So what kind of advice has the Biebs given them? “I think he’s too humble for that, in that way. … He’s not someone that really gives advice, because I think he just appreciates what happens to him rather than thinks he’s God,” Max George told MTV News. “And so, I mean, we don’t really talk music. When we speak to him, it’s more we talk about football or basketball.” Bandmate Jay McGuiness added: “I think he knows that we know how to do what we want to do in the same way that we could never tell him how to do what he does, ’cause he does it a lot better than we ever could.” The Wanted will head back home to their native U.K. to kick off an arena tour that will run through March. They are also up for Best British Single at the Brit Awards this month for “Glad.” Have you been following the Wanted’s burgeoning career? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The Wanted Justin Bieber
U.K. boy band wrapped their first-ever U.S. tour Wednesday night in L.A. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Getty Images The Wanted landed on U.S. shores last month for their first-ever tour here in America, and what ensued was Beatlemania-like fandom. On Wednesday night, the U.K. boy band wrapped up the trek in L.A., and fans (including the Beckham family) came out in full force when they took the stage at the El Rey. The five Brits couldn’t believe the enthusiasm felt by the crowd, tweeting that the excitement for them was “unbelievable.” Even though the tour is over, the interest in the guys has hardly waned. Their song “Glad You Came” (from their 2011 album Battleground ) will be featured on “Glee” this season and continues to climb the charts and gain radio play. The guys are prepared for all the attention: Touring with Justin Bieber has shown them what it’s like to become an international pop sensation. So what kind of advice has the Biebs given them? “I think he’s too humble for that, in that way. … He’s not someone that really gives advice, because I think he just appreciates what happens to him rather than thinks he’s God,” Max George told MTV News. “And so, I mean, we don’t really talk music. When we speak to him, it’s more we talk about football or basketball.” Bandmate Jay McGuiness added: “I think he knows that we know how to do what we want to do in the same way that we could never tell him how to do what he does, ’cause he does it a lot better than we ever could.” The Wanted will head back home to their native U.K. to kick off an arena tour that will run through March. They are also up for Best British Single at the Brit Awards this month for “Glad.” Have you been following the Wanted’s burgeoning career? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The Wanted Justin Bieber
With the once-troubled exes poised to return to Sunday’s show, we look back on the assault that changed everything. By Rebecca Thomas Rihanna performs at the 2011 Grammys Photo: Getty Images They were R&B’s answer to Britney and Justin. Young, gifted and famous, Rihanna and Chris Brown had become a favorite of the blogs and mags in 2008; pictures of them coupled up on the beach or just making a fast food run cropped up everywhere. Rihanna once remarked that Brown helped her to feel her age in a very grown-up industry. But everything changed on the night of February 7, 2009. Brown’s assault on girlfriend Rihanna would change the career trajectories of both, catapulting one to superstardom and launching the other on an unlikely comeback trail. Three years later, with the two stars are poised to return to the Grammy stage, MTV News looks back. February 7, 2009 : Rihanna hits the stage at a pre-Grammy party hosted by producer Timbaland in Los Angeles. The Bajan stunner performs her smash “Umbrella,” among other tunes. Earlier that night, she’s snapped looking cheerful with boyfriend Chris Brown at music honcho Clive Davis’ annual Grammy bash. February 8, 2009 : Reports surface that Brown and a female passenger was involved in a car accident. E! News confirms that neither Rihanna nor Brown will appear at the Grammy Awards ceremony that night; both were scheduled to perform. The Los Angeles Police Department begin investigating a felony battery report against the Virginia crooner. February 19, 2009 : TMZ posts a gruesome photo of Rihanna taken by LAPD just after the February assault. The image of the singer — bruised, eyes swollen and mouth split — confirms what had been rumor up until then. Then-19-year-old Brown becomes the subject of public outrage. The backlash is only beginning, though, as radio stations across the country announce bans on Brown’s music. June 22, 2009 : Brown has been mostly quiet, on the advice, he says, of his representatives. In May, Vibe publishes a cover story, “Tainted Love,” delving into how the young couple unraveled. It’s a more nuanced portrait that describes both Brown’s and Rihanna’s upbringings in households rife with domestic violence. It’s also announced that Brown will strike a plea deal giving him 180 days of community service. The same month, the “Forever” singer uploads a video apology to the Web: “I’ve told Rihanna countless times and I’m telling you today, I’m truly, truly sorry that I wasn’t able to handle the situation both differently and better,” he pleads. September 2, 2009 : Brown tapes an interview with CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Accompanied by his attorney, the singer — seldom off-pitch onstage — struggles to strike the right chord. But even his unfortunate choice of neckwear comes under scrutiny. November 6, 2009 : Rihanna sits down for a “20/20” special, detailing for anchor Diane Sawyer her assault at the hands of Brown. November 9, 2009 : Rihanna tells MTV’s Sway she doesn’t want to be the “domestic-violence spokesperson.” November 20, 2009 : Rihanna drops the dark and introspective Rated R, sporting a razor-cut, tough-girl ‘do on the album cover that sparks a frenzy of its own in Stateside hair salons. The LP is widely received as a rumination on her tragic relationship with Brown. May 17, 2010 : Unofficially on ice with his label, Jive, Brown joins with homey and YMCMB rapper Tyga for the Fan of a Fan mixtape. The project yields slow-burning smash singles like “Deuces” and “No Bullsh–.” February 10, 2011 : Two years after the incident, the “Russian Roulette” singer agrees to loosen a restraining order against Brown. Breezy also earns high marks for progress from the judge in his ongoing probation case. November 12, 2011 : Red-tressed Rihanna drops Loud, and the Grammy-nominated album is a sunny departure from the brooding R. That month she and Brown also take to their respective Twitter accounts and signal in a series of posts that they’re ready to move on from the assault narrative. March 22, 2011 : Livid over questions about his relationship with ex Rihanna, Brown smashes a chair in an ABC green room after a “Good Morning America” interview. The outburst threatens to overshadow what will be a highly successful release, the F.A.M.E album. 2011 : It’s a year of triumphs for the former duo: From awards to VMA performances, Grammy nods and critical acclaim, the Rihanna Navy and Team Breezy rally behind their idols. January 19, 2012 : After the blogosphere lights up with rumors that Rih and Brown are hooking up again, a rep for Brown denies the two have reunited, insisting the superstar exes are “just friends.” Brown’s representative also confirms he won’t be doing any press this year. February 8, 2012 : Recording Academy announces that Brown will perform at Sunday’s show; Rihanna has been confirmed for a collabo with rockers Coldplay. The revelation sets up the potential for a public reunion. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don’t miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn’t end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Rihanna A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Photos 2012 Grammy Nominees Related Artists Rihanna Chris Brown
‘I trust Christopher Nolan implicitly,’ Hardy tells MTV News of his ‘Dark Knight Rises’ director. By Kara Warner Tom Hardy as Bane in “Dark Knight Rises” Photo: Warner Bros. Those of you following the seemingly never-ending Internet musings about “The Dark Knight Rises” are likely very well of the fact that the biggest story surrounding the film at this point in time is whether or not audiences will be able to understand the words Tom Hardy as villainous Bane is saying through his frightening mask. Ever since fans got an early glimpse at Hardy in the role via a sneak peek of the film’s six-minute opening sequence in December, there has been growing concern and a lot of pre-emptive freaking out over the fact that we’re not going to be able to understand anything Bane says. When MTV News caught up with Hardy at the U.S. premiere of his upcoming action/romantic comedy “This Means War,” we asked him how concerned he is about audiences understanding his dialogue. “Not at all. I trust [director] Christopher Nolan implicitly. I’m not worried at all about people understanding him mumbling away,” Hardy said. “But I have seen some brilliant stuff online about [my mumbling] ‘Mmmm … Batman doesn’t beat up retards!,’ which I thought was very funny. I enjoyed that,” he said with a smile, referencing the veritable commotion his voice has made online via various analytical blog posts and the parody Twitter account @MuffledBane. So there you have it. Trust in Christopher Nolan, people: The Oscar nominated writer/director has said as much himself. “I think when people see the film, things will come into focus,” Nolan told Entertainment Weekly recently. “Bane is very complex and very interesting,” he said. “And when people see the finished film, people will be very entertained by him.” For his part, Hardy did admit that Bane’s mask is pretty tight, but seems to have enjoyed the villainous aspects of the character, without getting carried away by it. “I didn’t get into a dark place at all,” Hardy told Latino Review of his “brutal” and “heavy-handed” character. “A lot of dark characters are easy to have distance from. It’s something I feel comfortable with, I suppose.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Photos On The Set Of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’
‘That record is a process of what was happening in Paris at that time,’ Watch the Throne A&R Bu Thiam tells MTV News. By Rob Markman Kanye West in the video for “Paris” Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records The best rap records are usually rooted in reality, but fans have come to expect their favorite MCs to use a bit of poetic license when delivering their rhymes. That’s not the case with Kanye West and Jay-Z , though: According to Def Jam VP of A&R Bu Thiam, the lyrics on the Throne’s “N—as in Paris” — the video for which was released Thursday (February 9) — are as real as they come. “What I realized in this process is that them dudes really rap about what they go through,” Thiam told MTV News back in August after Watch the Throne was released. “I’ve A&R’d other albums, and people, sometimes they rap about somebody else’s story or what they think is a story. But those guys, everything they rap about is what they’re actually going through.” Take “N—as in Paris,” for instance, which has music fans across the world shouting, “That sh– cray.” On the song’s hook Hov raps, “Ball so hard mother—-ers wanna fine me,” and while it sounds like an empty MC boast, the popular lyric is rooted in truth. Hov, who is a minority owner of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, was caught taking pictures with the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball team during their NCAA tournament run last year. It all seemed like a harmless gesture, but contact between NBA personnel and potential NBA college prospects is prohibited. In April, the Nets were fined $50,000 for Hov’s actions. “When you hear it, you’re thinking it’s bragging, but no, it’s really true,” Thiam said of the Throne’s lyrics. “It’s crazy how they take the words and they make the songs and make it reality, and you’re thinking it’s just verses, but nah, it’s really reality for them dudes.” Beyond b-ball drama, the accomplished A&R who also helped string together Rihanna’s Talk That Talk said the entire “N—as in Paris” record is just a reflection of Jay and Kanye’s wild outing to France. “Going out, kicking it and just having fun. That record is a process of what was happening in Paris at that time,” he said. “It’s real life, I promise you, it is.” What’s your favorite lyric from the Throne’s “N—as in Paris”? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos The Throne’s ‘Paris’: A Closer Look Related Artists Jay-Z Kanye West
Lady Gaga and Adele also up for two major pop trophies at Sunday’s show. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry in her video for “Firework” Photo: EMI The pop stars nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards couldn’t be more different from one another, both visually and sonically. In the two biggest pop categories, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance, every spectrum of pop is represented: from soulful to candy-colored and everything in between. As the Grammy Awards approach, MTV News will break down the contenders in both categories. So, here we go. Best Pop Vocal Album Adele’s 21 has six nominations under its belt at this year’s show, including the biggie, Album of the Year. Since its release nearly a year ago, Adele’s heartbreak opus reigned on radio, the charts and the collective hearts of the lovelorn everywhere. It boasts production from Ryan Tedder, Paul Epworth and Rick Rubin, and tracks the singer’s heartbreak after a split from a former beau. Cee Lo Green gave the world a big “F— You” with his The Lady Killer , which dropped in November 2010, and the album has sustained its momentum thanks to that one track (and Cee Lo’s “The Voice” gig). The album got some songwriting and production help from fellow nominee, Bruno Mars, and in addition to this nod, its track “Fool for You” is also up for some gold. Lady Gaga’s love-yourself album, Born This Way, is a metal-disco composition about romance, New York City and couture. With production from RedOne, Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow, the album was released last May, and while the sound looked to the future, it also paid homage to her past when she enlisted the late Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and Brian May of Queen. Bruno Mars crooned his way to the top of the charts with his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Displaying his love for melodies and lyrics about love and loss, Mars’ experiment in mixing doo-wop and new millennium production value managed to make him a household name and a big-time nominee. Album of the Year-nominated Loud was Rihanna’s return to form. After a dark turn on Rated R, Ri was feeling sunnier, saucier and sassier on the 2010 album that featured production from Stargate and Tricky Stewart and tracks like the fist-pumping “Only Girl (In The World)” and the reggae-influenced “Man Down.” Best Pop Solo Performance On “Someone Like You,” Adele’s big voice and knack for heartache was on full display. The second 21 single got a songwriting and production assist from Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson (the guy who gave us “Closing Time” in the ’90s) and follows Adele as she comes to terms with the loss of her former flame. Like Adele, Bruno Mars put his heart and soul on the line on the Doo-Wops & Hooligans uber-ballad, “Grenade.” The song, produced by the Mars-fronted the Smeezingtons, tracks a distraught man as he realizes the woman he loves doesn’t feel the same way about him. Lady Gaga had been teasing “You and I” for some time, but before the finished version appeared on Born This Way, no one could have guessed what May, Gaga and super producer Mutt Lange could have cooked up. What they released was a funky, smashing ode to reclaiming lost love. Katy Perry hadn’t touched on deeper issues on earlier singles, but when it came to her Teenage Dream feel-good anthem, “Firework,” she went there and it took on a life of its own. With Ester Dean and Stargate working with Perry on the song, it topped the charts and became the fourth in a record-breaking string of #1 hits off that album. Like Perry, Pink gave a voice to the disenfranchised on “F—in’ Perfect” (off her greatest hits collection that dropped in 2010). Working with Max Martin and Shellback on the track, she hit the top of the charts and empowered her fans thanks lyrics like, “You’re f—ing perfect to me.” Who do you think will “pop” at the Grammys this year? Leave your predictions below! Related Videos A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Photos 2012 Grammy Awards Pre-Parties 2012 Grammy Performers Related Artists Katy Perry Rihanna
Part live clip, part kaleidoscopic freakout, the ‘Paris’ video more than matches the song’s massive impact. By James Montgomery Kanye West and Jay-Z in the music video for “N—as in Paris” Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records After the premiere of Kanye West and Jay-Z ‘s new “N—as in Paris” video — which bowed Thursday (February 9) on MTV.com — someone joked that I needed to watch it 13 times in a row to best approximate the experience of the dynamic duo’s Watch the Throne tour. And it’s true, Kanye and Jay did play “Paris” a whole lot during their trek … mostly because the song elicited such a thunderous response from sold-out crowds nationwide . So it’s somewhat fitting that the video (which was directed by West) is equally live … and just as thunderous. Filmed in part during the run of Throne shows at the Staples Center in Los Angeles — additional footage, one can assume, was shot during a casted performance, unless the Staples crowd was 85 percent female models — the clip captures both the loose jocularity of ‘Ye and Jay and the electric energy that coursed through the venue when “Paris” leapt from the speakers (many, many times). West fills the video with eye-catching kaleidoscopic effects, creating dizzying visuals that fold the audience, the stage and everything else in upon themselves, making fractals upon fractals. No wonder the clip is preceded by an epilepsy warning. Check out epic scenes from the “N—as in Paris” video! Given the size and scope of both the song and the artists performing it, the “Paris” video is also loaded with lasers, prowling panthers, pop-up-book cityscapes and the aforementioned models. Shoot, even producer Hit-Boy makes a one-second cameo. It’s a head-spinning, pulse-quickening mixture of imagery and movement, of sight and sound — an experience unlike any other live clip. Oh, and yes, Will Ferrell makes an appearance too, though it’s in the form of a scene from “Blades of Glory” (guess Ferrell wasn’t lying when he told MTV News that plans to feature him in the clip never quite materialized). So truly, there’s something for everyone. If you caught the Throne tour, the “Paris” video is sure to inspire heady flashbacks. If you didn’t, well, here’s what it was like, only pushed to the absolute max. And to further replicate the live feeling, I recommend watching it for roughly the next hour. It’s the way the thing was supposed to be viewed, after all. Did the “Paris” video capture the live Watch the Throne experience? Leave your comment below! Related Photos Epic Scenes From Jay-Z And Kanye West’s ‘Paris’ Video Related Artists Jay-Z Kanye West
