Tag Archives: judges

‘X Factor’ Boot Camp Sends Chris Rene, Rachel Crow Through

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Simon Cowell ends up a mentor to the girls, with Nicole Scherzinger in charge of the over-30 group. By Gil Kaufman Simon Cowell Photo: FOX After a relatively sane four audition episodes, “X Factor” got down to business on Thursday night (October 6), when the second evening of boot camp helped cull the herd down to the semifinal contender class. While some early favorites such as Siameze Floyd and adorable not-yet couple McKenna and Brock cracked under the pressure, others, including Chris Rene, Josh Krajcik and cutie brother act the Brewer Boys, survived the group competition and punched their ticket to the next round. The two-night boot camp episode reduced the 162 contenders to 32, with eight in each of the four categories: boys, girls, over-30s and groups. After 62 acts were lopped at the top of Wednesday night’s show, half of the remaining singers were put into groups that got help from vocal coaches, stylists and choreographers. Their challenge was to work with their peers while shining on their own on songs by U2, Radiohead, Jay-Z, Marvin Gaye, Rascal Flatts, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, the Eagles, Five for Fighting and Snow Patrol. Simon Cowell says “X Factor” boot camp gets real. One of the show’s early standout stars, hard-luck story and recovering addict Chris Rene, singing alongside his soulful sister Gina, shone again on Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” which also put R&B crooner Marcus Canty back in the spotlight. Twangy country singer Tim Cifers delivered again on the Flatts tune, and Bieber-esque teen sibling duo the Brewer Boys were in the pocket again on Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.” By midshow, the cuts began, with one group going home in tears, and another, which included the Renes, perpetually on-the-bubble Tiah Tolliver, the Brewers, adorable 14-year-old soul singer Crow and Prince-like wildman Floyd making it for one more day. The bad news was that the 64 remaining acts had to turn around, pick another song and do it all over again to make the final cut … in front of an audience of 3,000. Crow went somber with a piano-assisted cover of Beyonc

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‘X Factor’: J. Mark Inman And More Oddballs Shine

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Country cuties Makenna and Brock take a more traditional route to Boot Camp. By Adam Graham Paula Abdul Photo: Fox “The X Factor” threw viewers a few curveballs on Wednesday night’s (September 28) episode. Having been weaned on years of gag auditions from “American Idol,” we’ve been trained to pick out the phony contestants from the contenders. Or so we thought. But J. Mark Inman — a 31-year-old philosophy student who compared his life to “the algorithm for pi” — threw a wrench into that system with his bizarro take on Radiohead’s “Creep.” What does our expert think of “X Factor” so far? Find out! Backed by a stuttering electronic track he made himself, Inman — who looks exactly like the kind of person who would compare his life to the algorithm for pi — seemed as out of place as Mark Zuckerberg at a karaoke bar but had a magnetic, inexplicable confidence about him. As he took on “Creep,” he shuffled across the stage with his mock Usher moves and somehow, his subdued, off-kilter take on the alt-rock classic simply worked. Said L.A. Reid: “It sounded so bad, but felt so good.” Inman was sent through to the next round, and he seemed as shocked as anyone. Josh Krajcik, a self-described “burrito slinger” from Columbus, Ohio, also looked far from your typical pop singer, with his scruffy beard, laundry-day attire and long, greasy hair. But when he sang a deeply soulful version of Etta James’ “At Last,” the 30-year-old took the judges by surprise and was passed through to the next round. “You need to give the slinging-burritos job to somebody else,” Reid informed him. Meanwhile, producers initially presented 14-year-old Drew Ryniewicz as a bubbly Justin Bieber obsessive (she gazes at pictures of him in her bedroom and knows that his favorite colors are purple and red) and nothing more. But when she sang a down-tempo, piano-driven version of Bieber’s “Baby” that brought out an undercurrent of sadness and longing in the song, she won over even Reid, who has helped mold Bieber’s career. “You are special,” Reid told her, while Paula Abdul called Ryniewicz “commendable, original, daring and bold.” We’ll see her again in Boot Camp. And sure, Skyelor Anderson seemed odd enough; as he said himself, “You don’t find a lot of young black teenagers that sing country music.” But the 16-year-old Mississippi native showed real tenacity, singing a cappella when his backing track unexpectedly dropped out on him. The judges loved his resourcefulness and his Southern manners and sent him through. As Anderson himself said, Git-R-Done! Among the more traditional contestants introduced on Wednesday’s show were Makenna and Brock, a 22- and 18-year-old singing duo with a secret (he has a crush on her, she doesn’t know it — well, until she watched him admit it on national television, that is); Arin Ray, a 15-year-old whose “Ain’t No Sunshine” earned him four “yes” votes from the judges; 4Shore, a quartet whose version of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” had even songwriter Reid on his feet; Elaine Gibbs, a 53-year-old grandmother who took the judges to church with her gospelized “You’ve Got a Friend”; Tiger Budbill, a 42-year-old wedding DJ who might have the best name in the competition so far; Phillip Lomax, a 21-year-old self-described “hipster” with a 1,000-watt smile; and 17-year-old Francesca Duncan, whose version of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” earned her unanimous passing grades from the judges. The night’s biggest drama came from 19-year-old Tiah Tolliver, a deli clerk who auditioned with Shontelle’s “Impossible.” Simon Cowell and Reid let her through, but when Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger both passed, citing problems with her key, Cowell reacted by throwing a minor hissy fit and tossing his pen from his hands. Before she was dismissed, Reid convinced her to sing one more song, and Tolliver’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” was good enough that Scherzinger gave her a pass, allowing her through to the next round and making Cowell happy. And on this show, that may be the most important thing of all. What did you think of Wednesday’s “X Factor”? Let us know in the comments!

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‘X Factor’: J. Mark Inman And More Oddballs Shine

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‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ Trailer: The Five Key Scenes

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The trailer gives out a lot of plot details, but fans of the book will be thrilled to see Mikhail and Lisbeth in action. By Eric Ditzian Rooney Mara in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” Photo: Columbia Pictures The teaser trailer for “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” didn’t divulge much about the murder mystery at the center of the flick, trading story details for darkly cool imagery and a badass Led Zeppelin cover courtesy of Trent Reznor , Atticus Ross and Karen O. The latest “Dragon Tattoo” trailer takes a wildly different approach, running four minutes and diving deeply into the lives of Mikhail Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the two Swedes at the center of this tale about a 40-year-old cold case of a missing girl and a rich, dysfunctional family. It’s hard to argue the new footage is too spoiler heavy, considering the ubiquity of the international best-selling Stieg Larsson novel on which the film is based. Let’s just say that there is a ton to unpack in the new trailer. Here are our picks for the five key scenes: The Family Dinner While Larsson’s book is set in contemporary times, its story is inextricably tied to the past, to events surrounding the disappearance and suspected murder of Harriet Vanger, a teenange girl and scion of a wealthy family with dark secrets. Blomkvist and Salander are charged with cracking the decades-old case and largely rely on vintage photographs to assist their investigation. This scene, a glimpse of the Vanger family in the 1960s, shows that director David Fincher is using these weathered photos as the visual inspiration for flashbacks. The almost sepia-toned aesthetic differentiates the gritty present from the vintage-y past, and makes the connection that past events, captured in photos, will be the mechanism allowing Blomkvist and Salander to undercover the truth. The Flowers For those unfamiliar with the novel, this scene — in which Blomkvist and Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), who hires the journalist to investigate his niece’s disappearance — unveils the first creepy clue of the story. Henrik has been receiving pressed flowers, in frames, for years. He’s certain they’re taunts from Harriet’s killer, as the young girl used to present such gifts to her uncle. It turns out that Blomkvist himself has a connection to the Vanger clan, as he spent time as a young child on the family’s remote estate. Taken together, these representations of the past — both in the form of memories and in physical frames — spur the reluctant journalist to take on the assignment. Well, that and the fact that he’s recently suffered a profound professional humiliation and Henrik is offering him a lucrative payout. The Genius To assist him in the investigation, Blomkvist hires Salander, a young woman with a history of being institutionalized and underestimated. The truth is, she’s a brilliant hacker with a photographic memory, as this scene makes clear. Blomkvist shows her a key piece of evidence — a set of names and phone numbers from Harriet’s diary — but she needn’t take another look. Salander has already memorized the information. Blomkvist realizes he’s picked the perfect partner. And he also doesn’t complain that she’s strikingly beautiful; the journalist is something of a ladies’ man, and this duo ends up having success both on the case and in the bedroom. The Photo As we said above, photos are the key clues in this case. Here we see evidence of Blomkvist and Salander’s big break, tthe photo that unlocks everything. In the book, it’s an enormously satisfying moment. After hitting roadblock after roadblock, the case finally picks up momentum, and the rest of the story proceeds at a breakneck pace. So head’s up: Once this scene plays out in the film, hold onto your seat — it’s going to get crazy and violent and freaky from here on out. The Rape That’s not to say there’s not plenty of crazy and freaky violence before that photo pops up. This quick shot shows Salander exacting some well-deserved revenge on Nils Bjurman, the sadistic lawyer who oversees her casework. Earlier in the trailer, we see Bjurman explaining to Salander that his assistance comes hand-in-hand with his unwanted sexual advances. Eventually Salander pays him back for his perversions: Bjurman, meet ball gag. It’s gruesome stuff. And it shows how Salander may look meek and helpless, but when she’s backed into a corner she can come up with some of the most creative and brutal acts of vengeance imaginable. Check out everything we’ve got on “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo:’ A Closer Look Related Photos ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ Five Key Scenes From The Trailer

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‘X Factor’: Simon Cowell X’s Out Xander Alexander

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

But Melanie Amaro wins the judges over with a powerful Beyonc

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: Rocky Mountain Lows & Other Hoopla

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

This week, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills finished up their trip to Beaver Creek and we take a look at who reached new high or low points in our +/- recap! Taylor was on a downward spiral. This girl was just a mess. Her moods have shifted from miserable to distraught to kind of scary. But the ladies earned a Plus 7 for trying to help, even though they weren’t all that successful at it. Kim took on the mothering role when she woke up to find a half naked, crying Taylor in her bed. I doubt she was expecting that. Having been divorced, Kim tries her best to console Taylor on her troubled marriage. Plus 8 for making the effort to point out that everyone has problems and Taylor’s not as alone as she feels. Camille, however seemed content to hide in her room and let the drama play out without her. Honestly, I couldn’t say I blamed her. I might hide too but she was the host. Minus 5 because she really should have checked on her guest. Taylor’s breakdown continued as she ended up crying in a closet and then became completely paranoid over a missing makeup bag. Heaven forbid dinner with the ladies not be in full makeup. The tears didn’t stop for dinner and at that point I began to wonder if there was more than alcohol fueling her meltdown. But Taylor is so thin and so emotionally fragile I don’t think it would take very much to drive her over the edge. Besides, all of the ladies bickering at once over what Taylor should do about her marriage would have been enough to send me screaming from the room. Minus 8 for not realizing when a little calm and quiet might be in order. I couldn’t believe Kyle was hesitant to tell Mauricio about the drama of their trip. It’s not like he hasn’t seen the ladies in action or that he wouldn’t hear about it elsewhere. Why not share the insanity?

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Dancing With the Stars Season Premiere Recap: Go Chaz!

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Dancing With the Stars kicked off its 13th season last night with all eyes on Chaz Bono. While the producers (sagely) saved his performance for last, we won’t make you wait for the verdict on his parquet debut: Not altogether terrible! The show’s first-ever transgender contestant is not exactly a natural dancer – his mom Cher made that clear – and it showed. However, with the guidance of Lacey Schwimmer, Chaz more than held his own out there.

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2011 Miss Universe Leila Lopes summary

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Here are five facts about the pageant winner Leila Lopes: 1. She#39;s an Ex-Pat. Though born in Angola#39;s Benguela Province, Lopes is studying business management in Great Britain. She also nabbed a crown in her adopted home, being named Miss Angola U.K. on Oct. 8, 2010. 2. She Keeps Things Simple. Her three beauty tips are sleep, sunblock and water. Lopes told the judges she has never had cosmetic surgery of any kind to enhance her appearance. She recommends getting a lot of sleep, using su

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2011 Miss Universe Leila Lopes summary

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The Voice Recap: Duet To It!

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

http://www.youtube.com/v/v1vO8wP8rl8

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With only one week of battle rounds to go, The Voice was … well, it was totally overshadowed by both American Idol and Dancing With the Stars last night. Sorry, NBC. Still, each contestant got his or her due, the judges pared down the field efficiently, and we moved one step closer to the 16-person finals. Let’s break down Tuesday’s battles and survivors on The Voice … Team Adam Levine – Rebecca… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Hollywood Gossip Discovery Date : 25/05/2011 17:41 Number of articles : 2

The Voice Recap: Duet To It!

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‘American Idol’ Preview: Scotty McCreery, Casey Abrams Get Current

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

For 21st Century Night, some of the contestants will be dragged into modern music. By Eric Ditzian Scotty McCreery performs on “American Idol” Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Fox “American Idol” has been mired in the past for weeks, trudging from Motown tunes to Elton John cuts to rock and roll classics. Wednesday night’s (April 20) theme, however, will drag the reality show kicking and screaming into the present. Welcome to 21st Century Night on “Idol.” Yet as we enter this new century and hope to learn something of what the contestants might sound like outside the forced theatrics of the “Idol” bubble, we must pause briefly to remember Paul McDonald . He may not have been comfortable belting out covers week after week. He perhaps has been as invested in his new gal pal, “Twilight” star Nikki Reed , as in actually being crowned “Idol” champ. But let’s give credit where it’s due: The guy’s no hipster doofus, but a genuine artist with one of the most unique vocal tones we’ve ever seen on the show. His rendition of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” remains one of the most memorable of the season. Alas, Paul’s now gone, and surely none of the remaining seven singers wants to follow him out the door. Here’s what we’ll be looking for them to deliver when the show goes live. And like last week, we’ve asked Jim Cantiello — whose “Idol Party Live” hits MTV.com on Thursday at noon ET — to add in his own song picks. Casey Abrams While we remain unconvinced Casey is some pop-jazz guru on the level of Adele and Michael Bubl

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‘Dancing With The Stars’: Kirstie Alley Gets Assist From John Travolta

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Despite the cameo, it was Hines Ward who won over the judges with his rumba. By Kelley L. Carter John Travolta, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Kirstie Alley on “Dancing With the Stars” Photo: ABC Even the help of swift-footed John Travolta couldn’t get Kirstie Alley more points from the judges on Monday night’s “Dancing With the Stars.” Alley’s “Look Who’s Talking” co-star appeared in a pre-taped segment as her “Dance Doctor.” The actress and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, have been grabbing headlines the last few weeks with their dancing mishaps, and Travolta, who has swiveled his hips in films like “Pulp Fiction,” “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever,” gave his friend a few pointers, joking in the segment that Alley should wear gym shoes instead of high heels. Still, the comedic bit wasn’t enough to bolster a higher score. The two earned 23 points out of 30 (only one point better than the week before), putting them ahead of three couples, who each earned 22 points. Here’s how the others fared: Hines Ward and Kym Johnson: The football star soared to the top of the leaderboard with his rumba to “God Bless the U.S.A.” “You make it look so easy,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. “You have the best hip action I have seen in a long time.” Score: 27/30. Chelsea Kane and Mark Ballas: Last week’s critical darlings maintained a high position with a samba done to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” Score: 26/30. Chris Jericho and Cheryl Burke: The judges loved the wrestler’s interpretation of the Viennese waltz to “America the Beautiful.” “I feel like we’ve underestimated you,” Inaba told him. Head judge Len Goodman gave him 8 points. Score: 26/30. Romeo and Chelsie Hightower: The two performed a foxtrot to “New York, New York,” and impressed the judges with the improvement in Romeo’s posture and arm movements. Score: 26/30. Kendra Wilkinson and Louis Van Amstel : The former playmate and reality star danced a foxtrot to “Yankee Doodle,” and the judges said she’s improving. “It’s much better than last week,” Goodman told her. “It was fun and it was entertaining.” Still, it wasn’t enough to keep them out of the bottom three. Score: 22/30. Petra Nemcova and Dmitry Chaplin: The supermodel and her partner quick-stepped to Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas,” but judges were none too impressed. They liked that she handled the fast pace of the performance but said that this was far from her best dance. Score: 22/30. Ralph Macchio and Karina Smirnoff: Once the early darlings of this season, they’ve dropped to a three-way tie for the lowest score this week. Their samba to “Sweet Home Alabama” did little to convince the judges that they should be contenders for the title this season. Goodman said the main problem is that Macchio isn’t consistent enough and needs more rhythm. Score: 22/30. Who was your favorite couple this week? Who should go home? Sound off in the comments! Related Photos ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 12 Cast Revealed The 2011 ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Cast’s Movie Past

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