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‘Dark Knight Rises’ Vs. ‘The Avengers’: Trailer Face-Off

Marvel’s heroes may have rocked the Super Bowl, but we pit them against Batman in The Weekly Rising . By Kevin P. Sullivan “The Dark Knight Rises” movie poster Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures The Super Bowl didn’t just mean victory for Giants fans. It represented a victory for comic book fans everywhere, because after years of waiting, we got to see the Avengers assembled. We can finally grasp what the event we’ve been waiting for will look like, and it rocked. What does this have to do with Batman and the upcoming “Dark Knight Rises,” you may ask? Well, a few weeks ago, we held a little tournament call MTV Movie Brawl , and the two biggest superhero movies of the summer faced off in the first round. Batman won by a narrow but significant margin, leaving little doubt about which movie fans want more. The win for “The Dark Knight Rises” could have been predicted, considering that Warner Bros. had already released two trailers and a prologue and that the previous film in the series was literally the biggest superhero movie of all time. But now that “The Avengers” has the benefit of a second and arguably better trailer, how do the two previews stack up? The Atmosphere The Marvel Universe movies have never been deathly serious. Sarcasm and humor underline most of the action. The trailer for “The Avengers” takes the same approach, avoiding the grave tone of Christopher Nolan ‘s Gotham and the “Dark Knight Rises” trailer. Nolan established a concrete look and feel for his Batman movies, and the trailer does its job to get that across. Both feel true to what fans expect from the respective franchises, so neither can really get the edge here. The Voice-Over Both short but equally sweet, the trailers start off with voice-over narrations from supporting characters in the series, Michael Caine ‘s Alfred and Samuel L. Jackson ‘s Nick Fury. They set the stage for the rest of the action in the trailer and solidly ground the new footage in the tradition of the previous films. Our vote goes to Michael Caine for a few reasons. He gets the benefit of a young boy creepily singing the national anthem, yes, but it’s more than that. Alfred has done so much more to be a beloved character. Fury just shows up at the end to tease awesome stuff you’ll have to wait years for. Alfred wins. The Villain “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises” take two very different approaches to handling their villains. Bane stands front and center, blowing up a stadium without any notion of subtlety. The alien invaders from “The Avengers” remain hidden, their true identities one of the film’s greatest mysteries. The benefit of not hiding who you are is that you get to do a lot more intimidating stuff in the trailer. Bane throws down while the aliens can’t stay onscreen long enough to get any action in. Victory goes to Bane. The Action We’ve dissected each aspect of the “Dark Knight Rises” trailer more times than we care to recalled, but a lot of it depends on how you feel about stadium demolition. “The Avengers” combines the best action bits from the previous movies and says, “Here, remember all this cool stuff? Now you get it in one movie.” But who will ever admit to not thinking that Iron Man always looks so freaking cool when he’s flying? It’s awesome every time. The Big Shot As much as we love Batman, you cannot compete with that circle shot of the entire “Avengers” assembling. You cannot. Yes, the Bat looks great and will make for great eye candy when “The Dark Knight Rises” hits, but that single shot from the “Avengers” trailer justified that movie’s existence in a matter of seconds. It was fanboy fantasies projected directly onto a screen. By our scientific calculations, that puts “The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises” in a dead heat. You know why? Because they both look incredible, and everyone in the world will see both. Check out everything we’ve got on “Marvel’s The Avengers” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Marvel’s The Avengers Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots Related Photos ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Trailer: 5 Key Scenes Analyzing Catwoman’s Costume In ‘Dark Knight Rises’

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‘Dark Knight Rises’ Vs. ‘The Avengers’: Trailer Face-Off

‘Twilight’ Star Jackson Rathbone To Become A Dad

Rathbone tells Us Weekly he is ‘thrilled and excited’ to have a child with girlfriend Sheila Hafsadi. By Kara Warner Jackson Rathbone Photo: Mark Sullivan/ WireImage/ Getty Images “Twilight” star Jackson Rathbone has been a very busy man over the last few years, juggling his rising career as an actor, as well as working to establish himself as a musician with his band 100 Monkeys. It turns out that the 27-year-old is going to be even busier in the coming months when he and burlesque dancer girlfriend Sheila Hafsadi welcome a child into the world. That’s right, Jackson Rathbone is going to be a dad. According to Us Weekly , the couple will become first-time parents later this year. Rathbone’s rep told the magazine that he and Hafsadi are “thrilled and excited to be expecting their first child.” Rathbone and Hafsadi, 24, who is said to be five months pregnant, reportedly met at one of his band’s performances and have already been busy preparing for the baby. A source told the magazine that the actor/musician recently traded in not one, but two of his vehicles for a hybrid SUV in order to have more room for a growing family. In addition to the anticipation and excitement that surrounds the arrival of a new baby, Rathbone will have a jam-packed 2012 with the release of “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” in November, along with the potential release of several diverse film projects: “Cowgirls ‘N Angels,” “Zombie Hamlet,” the dramedy musical “DaZe: Vol. Too – NonSeNse” and “Live At The Foxes Den.” Speaking of what fans still have to look forward to from his character Jasper Cullen in “Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” Rathbone told MTV News there is a particularly poignant moment in the final film that he can’t wait to see on the big screen. “There’s a very fulfilling moment for myself as an actor and as a fan of the books and of the film series that you get to see, in the end, really how much these characters love one another and how much they function as a family,” Rathbone said of the franchise’s final film. “Even though they are kind of an odd family of vampires. Vegetarian vampires, at that. They’re an odd bunch.” Send your well-wishes for Rathbone in the comments below! Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1’

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‘Twilight’ Star Jackson Rathbone To Become A Dad

‘Chronicle’ Makes Fourth Highest Super Bowl Debut

Found-footage film earns $22 million, beating out Daniel Radcliffe’s ‘Woman in Black.’ By Ryan J. Downey Dane DeHaan in “Chronicle” Photo: Alan Markfield/ 20th Century Fox The Super Bowl couldn’t stop another found-footage flick from topping the box office. Box-office receipts were up more than 30 percent from last year’s Super Bowl weekend as “Chronicle” took the #1 spot with Daniel Radcliffe’s first post-“Potter” flick, “The Woman in Black,” close behind at #2. “Chronicle” took in $22 million while “Woman in Black” earned $21 million, according to studio estimates. The feel-good Alaskan whale story “Big Miracle,” starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski (“The Office”), debuted at #4 with $8.5 million. Meanwhile, Super Bowl halftime performer Madonna saw her “W.E.” open with a ho-hum $45,000 in four theaters. Despite the film’s director earning a Golden Globe for her song from the movie, “W.E.” has suffered from mostly negative reviews. While it didn’t open as strongly as the “Paranormal Activity” movies, “Cloverfield” or last month’s found-footage flick, “The Devil Inside,” teen superhero-centered “Chronicle” enjoyed the fourth highest Super Bowl debut ever and took the #1 spot internationally. Considering the movie’s estimated production budget of $12 million, the found-footage phenomenon will undoubtedly continue. The modest success of “The Woman in Black” was good news for Radcliffe, who had yet to top-line a movie in a role as anyone other than “Harry Potter.” Its numbers were comparable with the 2006 remake of “When a Stranger Calls,” which was also a horror flick directed at teens that opened on Super Bowl weekend. Both Radcliffe’s ghost story and “Chronicle” earned mostly positive reviews. Last weekend’s #1 movie, “The Grey,” dropped to #3 with $9.5 million. The Liam Neeson vehicle, which, like “Big Miracle,” takes places in Alaska, has made $34.7 million thus far. “Underworld: Awakening” rounded out the top five with $5.6 million for a $53.4 million total. Awards season favorite “The Artist” and “The Iron Lady” (which has earned Meryl Streep another Oscar nomination) both passed the $20 million mark over the weekend. Each movie is playing at roughly 1,000 locations; “Chronicle,” by comparison, opened in 2,907. This weekend’s new releases include “The Vow,” which sees Rachel McAdams returning to source material from “The Notebook” author Nicholas Sparks, opposite Channing Tatum; Denzel Washington’s “Safe House”; “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, which is already doing solid business overseas; and the 3-D re-release of “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” which is the first in a series of planned “Star Wars” 3-D re-releases over the next few years. Woody Harrelson’s corrupt cop drama “Rampart,” which reunites the actor with “The Messenger” writer/ director Oren Moverman, will open in limited release. Check out everything we’ve got on “Chronicle.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Talk Nerdy MTV Rough Cut: Daniel Radcliffe

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‘Chronicle’ Makes Fourth Highest Super Bowl Debut

Clint Eastwood Scores With Patriotic Super Bowl Ad

‘It’s halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin,’ actor/director says in emotional Chrysler spot. By Rob Markman Clint Eastwood Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images With the New York Giants down 10-9 to the New England Patriots at halftime of the big game on Sunday, we’re pretty sure coach Tom Coughlin gave the eventual Super Bowl champions a hell of a speech. Still, last night’s most memorable pep talk came from an unlikely hero, Clint Eastwood. “It’s halftime,” Dirty Harry grunted in the opening moments of a dramatic Chrysler spot that aired while both teams were in the locker room and Madonna was preparing to excite the world at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana. The emotional ad juxtaposed the Giants and Patriots’ mid-game huddle-up and contextualized it against the country’s current economic woes. “It’s halftime in America, too,” the Oscar-winning actor/director continued. “People are out of work and they’re hurting and they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback.” During a night when Hollywood rolled out blockbuster trailers for big-budget films like “The Avengers” and “Battleship” and companies like Go Daddy and H&M used sex to sell their products, Chrysler took an inspirational approach, one even more poignant than last year’s Eminem “Imported From Detroit” spot. Clint goes on to describe the people in Detroit and their resilience in the midst of a collapsed auto industry. He then turns the focus back to America as a whole, which is still trying to gain footing in a time of economic turmoil. “I’ve seen a lot of tough eras, a lot of downturns in my life. Time when we didn’t understand each other,” the 81-year old Eastwood says. “But after those trials we all rallied around what was right and acted as one, because that’s what we do.” With the drama building, Clint adds some fight to his voice in a passionate call to arms. “This country can’t be knocked down with one punch. We get right back up again, and when we do the world will hear the roar of our engines,” he says in closing. “Yeah, it’s halftime, America, and our second half is about to begin.” Game on! Related Videos Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots Related Photos Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson

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M.I.A. Super Bowl Middle Finger Joins Long List Of Celebrity Flip-Offs

Lady Gaga, Eminem, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry have also given the one-finger salute. By Gil Kaufman M.I.A. performs during the Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show on Sunday Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic The big hype (around these parts, anyway) going into the Super Bowl on Sunday was what Madonna would do during her halftime performance . But, as you surely know by now, one of her guests, rapper/singer M.I.A., stole some of Madge’s thunder by unexpectedly flipping the bird at the end of “Give Me All Your Luvin’.” While your granny was probably shocked and your little brother/sister got a naughty giggle out of it, M.I.A. wasn’t exactly reinventing the rebel wheel with her one-finger salute. Everyone from punk icon Iggy Pop to Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, late Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB, Kid Rock and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong have made flipping people off a standard part of their eff-the-man personas over the years. In fact, tossing up the middle-digit salute is a time-honored tradition for musicians that dates back more than 40 years to the original rock rebel. Johnny Cash : In one of the most iconic pictures in music, the Man in Black famously gave an impassioned finger to the camera in 1969 during his San Quentin prison performance. It was later used in an ad in 1998 Billboard magazine to express his “thank you” to the Nashville country music industry after he won a Grammy for Best Country Album as a response to their abandonment of him in his later years. Tupac : The late rap icon was fond of laying down both single and double birds in some of the most iconic pictures of him over the years, including one taken of him on a gurney after he’d just been shot at a New York recording studio in 1994. Eminem : After being called out for some of his gay-bashing lyrics, Slim Shady made a huge statement by appearing with openly gay Elton John at the 2001 Grammys , where he hugged the piano-pounding icon and then gave the audience a view of both his middle digits. Lady Gaga : Mother Monster can’t go anywhere these days without being hounded by the paparazzi. So, when Gaga attended a Mets game in 2010, she let the paps know how she felt when they caught her chilling in a private suite. Justin Bieber : He may be a (young) man of faith, but even the Biebs has his limits. Last March, while out celebrating his 17th birthday , the “Baby” singer was accosted by photos, so he showed them his tall man … and then apologized later, saying, “I know better than to react in anger.” Katy Perry : We can’t remember where this awesome GIF came from, but last year, the good girl gone (sometimes) bad made flying the finger flag seem almost cute. Cobra Starship : Hell, CB are so enamored of the eff-you salute that they wrote a whole song about it and invited Mac Miller along to help them spread the word, one digit at a time. Related Videos Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots Related Photos Super Bowl XLVI Performances: Madonna And Kelly Clarkson Infamous Middle Fingers Related Artists M.I.A.

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M.I.A. Super Bowl Middle Finger Joins Long List Of Celebrity Flip-Offs

Taylor Kitsch’s Super Bowl Ads Needed More Taylor Kitsch

‘Friday Night Lights’ actor, set to break out in ‘John Carter,’ ‘Battleship,’ should have been featured more prominently. By Kevin P. Sullivan Taylor Kitsch in “John Carter” Photo: Walt Disney Pictures Millions of people around the world were introduced to Taylor Kitsch Sunday night. The Canadian actor found himself at the center of two of the Super Bowl’s biggest movie ads for his first two starring roles, in “John Carter” and “Battleship,” but the trailers may not have been the first impression Kitsch was hoping for. Kitsch made a name for himself starring as the misunderstood bad boy Tim Riggins on the beloved but criminally under-watched NBC series “Friday Night Lights.” Riggins grew dear to the show’s viewers because of the charm and likability Kitsch brought to the character, despite a tough exterior. Throughout the show’s run, it was never a stretch to imagine the actor making the crossover to big-budget action movies with his charisma as hard evidence of his bankability. But for his Super Bowl debuts, the studios behind “John Carter” and “Battleship” took the focus off of their star and instead cut special-effects shots together, leaving Kitsch as little more than background noise. The “John Carter” trailer that aired during the game handled its time the most curiously. Beginning with a shot of Kitsch from the film, the footage grew smaller, eventually becoming part of a large collection of footage that formed letters spelling out the title of the film. By the time most of the video appeared on the screen, it was too small to make any sense of it. What many people may not have known was that an extended version of the commercial, one with full-sized footage from the film, appeared online shortly after. That trailer showed off Kitsch during action sequences instead of zooming away from him. The ad for “Battleship” approached promoting a big-budget sci-fi movie in a more traditional way, albeit one that also put Kitsch in the background. The spot played more like a commercial for the other series of movies based on Hasbro toys, “Transformers,” and the scattered nature of it might have left people wondering whether the film stars Kitsch, Liam Neeson or Rihanna . Sure, these are just commercials, but if 2012 is going to be the year that Taylor Kitsch makes the crossover from TV heartthrob to viable action star, studios ought to realize who they’re working with and put the man front and center. Check out everything we’ve got on “John Carter” and “Battleship.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Super Bowl 46: Movie Spots

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Taylor Kitsch’s Super Bowl Ads Needed More Taylor Kitsch

‘Ferris Bueller’ Super Bowl Ad: Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet

We take a closer look at the many references to ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ in Honda’s commercial. By Eric Ditzian Matthew Broderick in his Honda CR-V commercial Photo: Honda Did you catch everything there was to see in the “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”-inspired Super Bowl ad ? Perhaps there were some references you didn’t pick up, some callbacks that went unnoticed. Maybe you just want to go back and watch, again and again, what is sure to be one of the night’s most talked-about Super Bowl commercials . So go right ahead with the help of MTV News’ pop-culture cheat sheet: Sick phone call : In the movie, it was Ferris’ buddy, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), who picked up Ferris’ call to plead that he was too sick to leave his bed. In the ad, Ferris receives the call. Walter Linder : His agent’s name in the commercial is the name written right above the name of Abe Froman — the sausage king of Chicago — at the restaurant Ferris and his pals crash. Pencils and Wite-Out : Bored secretary Grace (Edie McClurg) spent much of the film sniffing Wite-Out and picking pencils out of her hair, so note the pencils and Wite-Out prominently displayed on Linder’s desk. Baseball : The ball Broderick’s agent tosses in the air calls to mind both the ball Ferris caught at the Chicago Cubs game and the one he flung at his stereo to kill the fake snores at the film’s end as his parents approached his room. Roeman, Peterson & Frye : The name of Linder’s agency, etched in glass on his door, is a reference not only to Froman, but to Cameron Frye and Ferris’ girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara). “He bought it” : After Ferris successfully fools his parents, the first line he utters to camera, much like in the ad, is, “They bought it.” Later, he pops off another classic line referenced in the ad: “Incredible. One of the worst performances of my career, and they never doubted it for a second.” Opening curtains : After Ferris successfully fools his parents, he thrusts open the curtains in his bedroom and wonders how he can be expected to go to school on such a gorgeous day. Yello’s “Oh Yeah” : Though the song plays in the commercial as Ferris opens the curtains, it doesn’t play in the film until the first time we see the Frye family Ferrari. Twisty towel : Both Ferris and Matthew’s preferred post-shower getup includes a robe and a twisty towel on the head. “Broderick, Broderick” : A callback to one of the film’s most famous lines, in which Ferris’ dry-as-toast teacher (Ben Stein) takes attendance and, in a ridiculous monotone, says, “Bueller? Bueller?” Rottweiler : The dog sitting by another Honda outside the hotel is a Rottweiler, the same breed of dog the Buellers own and which terrorized Principal Edward R. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) as he attempts to bust Ferris. Detroit Red Wings jersey : On the roller coaster, the man behind Ferris is wearing a Red Wings jersey, the same one worn by Cameron in the movie. Grace : The woman who calls Broderick while in the Honda is named Grace, another reference to Ferris’ school secretary. Exaggerated coughing : When Broderick coughs loudly while on the car phone, we thought back to the call Ferris made to some high school freshmen, during which he used a keyboard sound effect to make it seem like he was literally coughing up a lung. Who’s in the driver’s seat? : As Broderick pulls up to a stop in his car, he discovers he is right next to Linder. He quickly hides behind a stuffed panda. In the film, Ferris finds himself stuck in traffic right next to his dad and switches places with Sloane. Trench coat and clarinet : Look closely during this scene and you’ll see a man playing the instrument, a nifty callback to Ferris’ activities early in the movie. SOCHOIC : Broderick’s license plate refers to the way Ferris describes the Ferrari: “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.” Natural History Museum : Instead of attending the Art Institute of Chicago as in the movie, Broderick checks out the history museum. Instead of walking hand in hand with kids, he chases them. The walrus : Two references in one. First off, Ferris shouts out John Lennon early in the film, saying, “He was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I’d still have to bum rides off people.” Secondly, the staring contest with the animal riffs on Cameron’s deep gaze into “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” Georges Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece. Horse race : In the film, Ferris checked out a Cubs game. In the ad, Broderick opts for a horse race. Chinese parade : Whereas Ferris rocked a parade in downtown Chicago, belting out “Twist and Shout” and “Danke Schoen,” this time around, he crashes a Chinese parade. The valet : Call us crazy, but the way that valet shadily looked at Broderick, we were thinking back to the garage attendant who told Ferris to relax, because he was a professional, yet took the Ferrari on a joy ride. In the ad, the valet soon peels away from the curb and is seen racing the car off a jump. “Life moves pretty fast” : Indeed, Broderick will say it again, as he did twice during the film itself: “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” What “Ferris Bueller” references did we miss? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we’ve got on “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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‘Ferris Bueller’ Super Bowl Ad: Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet

Ben Gazzara Passes Away at 81

Ben Gazzara, a popular character actor, passed away Friday at the age of 81. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his lawyer told The New York Times . His powerful dramatic performances brought an intensity to a variety of roles and made him a memorable presence in iconic productions over the years. From the original Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway to the movie The Big Lebowski and countless others, he made an impact on stage, screen and film. Accomplished as an actor, and known as dapper and irresistible to women, Gazzara (also known for Roadhouse ) came by his many streetwise roles naturally. He began his career on Broadway productions, later moving to California to appear in movies, including Anatomy of a Murder and The Young Doctors . He also played his most famous role on TV, as a doomed attorney on NBC’s answer to ABC’s The Fugitive . Called Run for Your Life , it ran from 1965-68.

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Ben Gazzara Passes Away at 81

The Artist’s Jean Dujardin: Too Sexy for French Censors (But What About Oscar?)

Banned in France! Well, kinda: Movie posters featuring Oscar -nominated Jean Dujardin , up for Best Actor for his turn as a silent film star in the sweet and wholesome The Artist , have been deemed too racy by French censors who recommended that certain billboards for Dujardin’s French language film Les Infidels ( The Players ) be taken down. Judging from the film’s redband trailer, Les Infidels is a comedy that features lots and lots of sex. Dirty sex. Upside down sex, suggest the naughty, naughty posters! According to The Hollywood Reporter , who picked up the trail after French media went to town on the racy materials, Les Infidels is “a series of sketches from directors including Dujardin, Lellouche, Fred Cavaye, Eric Lartigau, Emmanuelle Bercot, Alexandre Courtes and Michel Hazanavicius all centering around the theme of male infidelity.” Dujardin and co-star Gilles Lellouche appear in the posters in pseudo-in flagrante poses, boasting douchey looks of self-satisfaction accessorized by faceless women and female body parts. Of course, pointing out the ridiculousness of these fellas’ wanton use of women for sex is probably the entire point of the film (I’m guessing/hoping), but y’know… Above tagline translation, per THR: “It’s going to cut out. I’m entering a tunnel.” Tres classy! But you tell me: Are these posters (courtesy of the film’s Facebook page) so bad? And, more relevant to this season: Can these raunchy images damage Dujardin’s hold on the Best Actor race? For more of a sense of the film, and to see Oscar’s leading man get down and dirty, watch the French language redband trailer (via EW ): [ THR , EW , Facebook ] Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .

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The Artist’s Jean Dujardin: Too Sexy for French Censors (But What About Oscar?)

‘Smash’ Star Katharine McPhee Talks Auditioning For Steven Spielberg

‘Mr. Spielberg, when you meet him, he is not intimidating at all,’ McPhee tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Katharine McPhee Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images It’s been a while since we’ve seen Katharine McPhee in the spotlight. Now all eyes are on her as the “American Idol” alum takes on the leading role as Karen Cartwright in the highly anticipated NBC musical drama “Smash.” But the road to “Smash” hasn’t been an easy one for McPhee. After coming in as runner-up in the 2006 season of “American Idol” and starring in “The House Bunny,” McPhee has had a rough road on her career path. She was dropped from her record label in 2008 and struggled with getting other movie projects off the ground. But her determination paid off, which is something she could relate to when playing her character on “Smash.” “My character, Karen, is the biggest dreamer of them all, she dreams big. Our show is about dreaming big,” McPhee told MTV News at the New York premiere of “Smash.” “She has a big heart, she has a lot of drive and she’s very determined about what she wants in her career and what she wants out of it and how she’s gonna go about doing it, and keeping a real strong moral code. I think she is a little green when you first meet her. She’s not quite sure how things go and how things are worked in the business, [and] she learns a lot throughout the course of the first season.” The show centers on the making of a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. In the first episode, viewers will see McPhee’s struggle with several auditions before getting a callback to compete against newcomer Megan Hilty’s character for the part of Marilyn. But according to McPhee, her audition for the role of Karen was nothing like the one you will see during the premiere on Monday. “I did have to audition for this,” McPhee said. “It was actually one of the more simple auditions I’ve been through. I auditioned, put myself on tape, flew to New York the next week, was testing for it. I waited two days for Mr. Spielberg to watch the tape and I got the part.” Yes, that’s right. McPhee had to audition for Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, who is a producer on the series. So we had to ask: Who is more intimidating to audition for, Spielberg or former “Idol” judge Simon Cowell? “I would say neither,” McPhee declared. “Mr. Spielberg, when you meet him, he is not intimidating at all. He’s the most lovely, wonderful, gentle man.” Are you excited for Monday’s premiere of “Smash”? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Katharine McPhee

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‘Smash’ Star Katharine McPhee Talks Auditioning For Steven Spielberg