The 14th season of Dancing With the Stars kicks off tonight. The cast has been criticized by some for its lack of star wattage, but it’s going to be an interesting group in which so many memorable performances are given and various storylines / controversies will emerge – like the previous 13 seasons. That said, who do you think will hoist the Mirror Ball? With this group of athletes, actors, musicians and relative unknowns waiting to break out, it looks like anyone’s game. The madness begins tonight on ABC. Who will win Dancing With the Stars?
This Is The New Maserati Kubang! the automaker unveiled a concept called the Kubang at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Now, some 9 years later, thanks to synergies available in the Fiat/Chrysler group, that concept is now a reality; the production version having been unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show . Based on the current Jeep Grand Cherokee , the production Kubang delivers its own unique flavor. The styling, penned at the Maserati Style Center, headed up by Lorenzo, Ramaciotti, is quite unlike the Jeep; being fluid instead of blocky and very much in tune with the company’s current design language, as seen on the Gran Cabrio, Gran Turismo coupe and Quattroporte, with a wide mouthed grille, expressive headlights and an almost coke bottle contour to the flanks. Maserati says, that while the basic structures of the Kubang and Grand Cherokee might be common, the former will boast a Maserati engine, designed and developed in Modena; a specially calibrated eight-speed automatic transmission and Maserati engineered suspension and braking systems. A V8 version is definitely on the cards, though it will be interesting to see if a V6 version and possibly even a diesel becomes available, in attempt to further broaden market appeal. Stay tuned for more details on the Kubang as they become available. Source AutoGuide
Game is back to acting like his erratic old self. He was filmed spitting on a group of female fans, while partying at a club in Australia’s Gold Coast last month and the video is now making its rounds. In the video, which was taken on February 16, Game is seen standing with his entourage in the VIP section of the Bourbon Bar nightclub, where a group tried to get his attention. He then leans forward, fuming, and spits at the group of girls, one of whom shouts “how dare you?” Brydie McCreadie , 19, who released a video of the incident, said that she was “disgusted” when she realized she had just been spit on.
Jones died Wednesday from a heart attack. By Gil Kaufman Davy Jones in 1967 Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image Davy Jones, lead singer of 1960s made-for-TV pop group the Monkees , died Wednesday (February 29) at age 66. According to TMZ , Jones died of a heart attack at his home in Florida. The baby-faced singer born David Thomas Jones in Manchester, England, on December 30, 1945, began his career as a child actor, appearing in a British daytime soap opera and radio plays and taking a brief detour into being a horse jockey before landing a Tony nomination at age 16 for his role as the Artful Dodger in a Broadway production of “Oliver!” (In a rock and roll footnote, glam-rock icon David Bowie adopted his stage name after worrying that his birth name, David Jones, would cause confusion with the then emerging stage star and future Monkees singer.) In an ironic twist of fate given his future stardom, he appeared alongside his “Oliver!” castmates on the December 1964 episode of “The Ed Sullivan Show” that featured the legendary American TV debut of the Beatles. He launched a solo recording career in 1965, the same year he was chosen to fill out the cast of the TV musical sitcom that would launch him to global fame. The group was put together by producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, who were inspired by “A Hard Day’s Night” to assemble a Beatles-like band to provide the face for their slapstick series. He appeared alongside American musicians Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork, providing lead vocals for many of the band’s most iconic tunes, including “Daydream Believer,” “Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.” The group’s run on TV lasted from 1966 to 1968, and though the bandmembers initially were barred by producers from writing and performing their own music, as time went on, they took over more of the musical reins and the songs took on an increasingly psychedelic tone. Along the way, they scored hits such as “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” with each bandmember contributing vocals but Jones emerging as the “cute one” and de facto maracas-shaking frontman alongside drummer Dolenz. With wacky premises that presaged the music-video boom of the 1980s, the show was a hit and the band went on tour, eventually breaking from the show’s musical producer, Don Kirshner, to explore increasingly esoteric sounds. The show was canceled in 1968, and Jones appeared alongside his bandmates in the trippy feature-film flop “Head,” which was co-written by then-unknown actor Jack Nicholson. The “Pre-Fab Four” limped along for several more years, but after the loss of Tork and Nesmith, Dolenz and Jones were left to tour as a duo for much of the 1970s. The bandmates would continue to reunite in spurts — with the exception of Nesmith — and in 1986, MTV helped revive interest in the group with Monkees marathons that rebooted interest and once again sent Jones back on the road. Jones continued to tour and perform on TV and in films throughout the 1980s and ’90s, appearing on “My Two Dads,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” releasing his final album, the cover LP She, in 2009. Jones was slated to mount a U.K. tour in honor of the group’s 45th anniversary in May along with Tork and Dolenz. Share your memories of Jones and the Monkees in the comments below. Related Artists The Monkees
Strap, a member of the ATL rap trio, was caught with a firearm at Hartsfield-Jackson, an airport official confirms to MTV News. By Rob Markman Strap Photo: Dave Kotinsky/ Getty Images Travis Porter aren’t known for making gangsta music, but that reputation just might change. MTV News has confirmed that group member Strap was arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday morning (February 15) for trying to clear security with a firearm. A Hartsfield-Jackson official indentified the arrested individual as Harold Duncan (Strap’s birth name) and confirmed that he was arrested at the airport and has since been transferred to Clayton County jail in Jonesboro, Georgia. The trio — Ali, Quez and Strap — have been a staple on the Atlanta rap scene for a number of years. They first gained notoriety after appearing on Roscoe Dash’s 2008 hit “All the Way Turnt Up,” and in 2010, the guys broke through off the strength of their strip-club anthem “Make It Rain.” The song peaked at #9 on the Billboard Rap charts and piqued interest for the group’s oft-delayed debut album on RCA Records. The group finished in the top five on MTV News’ 2010 “Hottest Breakthrough MC” fan poll. (The award eventually went to Wiz Khalifa .) Battling album delays, Travis Porter continue to release singles. Their 2011 track “Bring it Back” features Oakland rap legend Too $hort and appears on the group’s mixtape Music, Money, Magnums. TP’s latest single, “Ayy Ladies,” features Young Money’s Tyga. Earlier today, Travis Porter dropped a preview clip for the video on YouTube, and the behind-the-scenes video features Chris Brown and Meek Mill. Stick with MTV News for more details as they become available. Are you surprised by Strap’s arrest? Tells us in the comments. Related Artists Travis Porter
Finding Sophia “kicks things off in a big way,” writer Robert Kirkman tells MTV News. By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Kara Warner Jon Bernthal as Shane Walsh in “The Walking Dead” Photo: AMC Killing zombies is no walk in the park. But harder still is killing your fellow man. Former sheriff Rick Grimes knows this all too well: In the most recent episode of “The Walking Dead,” titled “Nebraska,” our gun-slinging hero put down two hot-blooded humans with two well-placed pistol shots, all because they posed a potential threat to his family and friends. For Rick, killing these two travelers was just another step forward on the bloody path he’s been walking since the series first began — and he’s not the only one embracing his inner darkness. Indeed, the death of poor Sophia in the “Walking Dead” midseason finale was just the start of a shift in momentum toward a deadlier, faster-paced string of episodes, where each and every one of the show’s characters will find themselves tested. “I think the loss of Sophia and looking for Sophia was a big thing that anchored the entire story of the first half of our second season,” executive producer Robert Kirkman told MTV News about what to look forward to in the rest of season two. “For them to find her in that last episode in such a way, it puts a button on that group of episodes and opens the world up for the next half of the season. It kicks things off in a big way. Finding Sophia is the beginning of an escalation that brings us all the way to the very end of the second season. People are going to begin to see that escalation over the next several episodes.” Shown runner Glen Mazzara agrees with Kirkman, adding that Rick and Hershel are taking the death of Sophia especially hard. “When Hershel sees his family coming out of that barn, he realizes he’s been mistaken about everything he believed,” he told MTV News. “Rick also loses hope. Those two men have to figure out how to lead the group.” But there’s another outlier in the mix: Shane Walsh, the disgruntled ex-cop who’s losing more respect for Rick and becoming increasingly dangerous with each passing day. “Shane doesn’t agree with either one of them, and he wants to take control of the group,” Mazzara said. “It really puts pressure on all of the characters in an interpersonal way that really makes the show incredibly exciting, to find out what’s going to happen and who’s going to lead that group.” What did you think of the latest “Walking Dead” episode? Tell us in the comments!
Will.i.am claims party rockers LMFAO will perform with Madonna at Super Bowl. By Gil Kaufman LMFAO Photo: Steven Lawton/ FilmMagic It’s a good thing the Super Bowl provides its halftime performer with the biggest platform in television, because according to the latest rumors Madonna is going to need a seriously massive stage to hold all her guests at the February 5 game. Following reports that Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. as well as “The Voice” coach Cee Lo Green may make appearances comes news that LMFAO could be called off the bench also. A year after his group, the on-hiatus Black Eyed Peas, played the big game, will.i.am told English radio station Capital FM that his party rocking homies will be in the mix. “I’m going to the Super Bowl this year to see my group LMFAO perform with Madonna,” he said. “Check that out, Will.i.am Music Group is pretty freaking two for two! One year the Super Bowl, the next year another group part of the Super Bowl in collaboration with Madonna. That’s still happening.” According to sources, the Madonna asked Green to perform with her at the showdown in Indianapolis between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, which is traditionally the most-watched TV event of the year. “The Insider” reports that he’s been flying to New York to rehearse with the pop icon. The sources add that he will contribute his signature flair to some of her classic tunes. The pairing would make sense given that the new season of “The Voice” premieres right after the Super Bowl next month. MTV News caught up with the Queen of Pop at her “W.E.” premiere earlier this week in New York, and the singer only had one tease about the Super Bowl gig. “I am not saying ‘Yes,’ and I am not saying ‘No,’ ” she replied when asked whether Minaj and M.I.A. would take the stage with her. She added, “Pom poms. That’s all I can tell you.” As if the pom poms and all the alleged guests aren’t enough, the halftime show will be “imagined” by trippy Canadian circus troupe Cirque du Soleil and Madonna’s longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King. According to reports, the set list could include Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin,” as well as such classics as “Ray of Light,” “Vogue” and “Music.” In addition to her Super Bowl performance, Madonna’s fans are awaiting the release of her next studio album, M.D.N.A., out later this year. Related Artists Lmfao Madonna
When do 21.6 million viewers equate to a disappointing episode of television? When you’ve been the country’s top-rated series for years. Indeed, American Idol earned the highest ratings on TV last night and will undoubtedly do so every evening it airs through the May finale – but its numbers were down 27% from the season 10 opener. There are many reasons for this decline – all programs suffer viewer fatigue at some point, and the competition ( The Voice , The Sing-Off , The X Factor ) from similar shows has never been higher – but talent is not be among them. There were actually a few strong acts last night, three of which we’ve posted again here: Phillip Phillips American Idol Audition Shannon Magrane American Idol Audition Amy Brumfield American Idol Audition
Celebrity chef Paula Deen is, quite predictably, being called a hypocrite both for hiding her diabetes while promoting unhealthy foods and for turning around and partnering with a pharmaceutical drug company that provides relief for diabetics. Deen, a popular Food Network host, confirmed Tuesday that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, three years ago. In the same breath, she announced a partnership with drug maker Novo Nordisk. Fellow celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is perhaps her best known and most vocal critic, but diabetics across the United States are up in arms at Deen’s disclosure. “It is hypocritical [for Paula] to have continued to very publicly promote entirely unhealthy food choices so vital to the management of diabetes,” one told Fox411. “We of course don’t know the terms of her contract with the company, but it seems either stupid or hypocritical of them to be endorsing her lifestyle,” says another. Deen gave no comment when it was requested, but a source close to the network tells Fox411 that they found out about Deen’s condition only a week ago. Some of Deen’s fans expressed outrage that the 65-year-old chef had found what they believe is a way to capitalize on a diagnosis she kept secret for so long. “I understand she has an empire and a huge following to protect, but working with Novo Nordisk is just adding another revenue stream, and that is tweaking people like me who are in the diabetes education community,” said Carl Moore. Moore, a type 2 diabetic and an educator on diabetic issues, said the news didn’t exactly come as a surprise to him and others with the disease. “Many of us have watched the Buttuh Queen for years cooking with no thought for the consequences and waiting to hear she was diabetic,” he said. Betsy Lampe, who has struggled with type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, said Deen has already missed her first opportunity to educate victims. “She didn’t tell us anything on the ‘Today Show’; she got really defensive,” Lampe said. “She didn’t even tell us what her blood sugars were.” “You know, diabetics want to entertain and cook too. If I were her I would have announced a whole new show for entertaining as a diabetic. It was just offensive to me. “She kept talking about moderation, but moderation in what? She didn’t explain.” “She is overweight and that makes her, in my opinion, not credible or valid to promote diabetes drugs,” adds Richard Deems, a type 2 diabetic like Deen . The American Diabetes Association, however, was supportive of the Southern chef. “People may benefit from seeing how others successfully manage type 2 diabetes,” the group said in a statement. “Paula Deen, through her work with Diabetes in a New Light, is likely to inspire many people living with type 2 diabetes.” Hopefully, the group says, people will “take a more positive approach to their diabetes care. We commend her for speaking out on behalf of people with type 2 diabetes and welcome her to the Association’s Stop Diabetes movement.”
Travie McCoy says the clip, featuring Neon Hitch, shows the ‘struggle’ of a long-distance relationship. By Christina Garibaldi Travie McCoy in the Gym Class Heroes’ “Ass Back Home” video Photo: Fueled By Ramen Life on the road can be tough for a musician — just ask Gym Class Heroes . On Monday, the group premiered their video for “Ass Back Home,” the third single from their latest album, The Paper Chronicles II. The clip was shot while the group was on tour and shows frontman Travie McCoy struggling with a long-distance relationship while spending his life on the road. MTV News recently caught up with Gym Class Heroes at Z100’s annual Jingle Ball concert , and they told us how they came up with the concept for their latest video. “It’s us on the road and it’s shot really gritty,” McCoy said. “So it kind of gives people a behind-the-scenes at what it’s like to be on the road, traveling nonstop and also that tension, that struggle of trying to keep a relationship afloat.” Bassist Eric Roberts added:” I remember when I was watching some cuts of the video, I totally just lost thought of the song, and I was just paying attention. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s kind of like a movie.’ ” Playing McCoy’s love interest in the video is British newcomer Neon Hitch, who also sings the chorus. The electro-pop singer, who describes herself as a “free spirit,” was the perfect choice not only for the song, but for the video as well. “They just thought I would fit the song perfectly,” Hitch told MTV News. “So it just happened magically.” It seems like Gym Class Heroes couldn’t agree more. “The song was actually produced by Benny Blanco, and Benny’s worked with Neon in the past,” McCoy said. “I think if anybody gets the song and as far as the message of the song and what the song’s about, it’d be her, because she’s kind of in the midst of all this. Not only did she go above and beyond the call of duty as far as singing it, but it’s something that she can totally relate to, so it’s perfect.” Last month, Gym Class Heroes were forced to cancel the remaining dates of their North American tour due to illness, but fear not, GCH fans: They are planning to get back on the road in the new year. “We wrapped this year up with all the Christmas shows and top of the year, next year, we head overseas,” McCoy said. “And then we come back here to destroy the U.S.” What do you think of Gym Class Heroes’ latest video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Gym Class Heroes
