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Andrew Garcia Profile: Can He Break Out Of The ‘Straight Up’ Straitjacket?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘American Idol’ Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia’s strengths and weaknesses. By Jim Cantiello Andrew Garcia at the “American Idol” top 12 party Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate’s journey thus far. He also got the “Idol” hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night’s Top 12 Party in Hollywood. ANDREW GARCIA If the “American Idol” judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the “Idol” trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic. Best Performance : Garcia’s Hollywood Week spin on Abdul’s “Straight Up” was a rare highlight for this year’s unimpressive cast of boys. He’s never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, “Straight Up” is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season. Weakest Performance : In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something.” The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd. Sad Backstory : Garcia’s mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they’re adorable, supportive (and weepy) “Idol” parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” on live television. Why He Will Win : His “Straight Up” turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-“Idol” fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man. Why He Will Lose : It’s always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his “indulgent” song choices and worry that his “Straight Up” set the bar too high too early. There’s only so far Andrew can ride the “acoustic cover” train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre “Genie in a Bottle” showed that he can’t even do that trick that well anymore. What He Should Sing : Four words: Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” On The Theme Week He’s Most Stoked For : “Country week! I’m kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Meet The ‘American Idol’ Top 12

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Crystal Bowersox Profile: ‘I’m Not Letting Anything Go To My Head’

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘American Idol’ Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Bowersox’s strengths and weaknesses. By Jim Cantiello Crystal Bowersox Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate’s journey thus far. He also got the “Idol” hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night’s Top 12 Party in Hollywood. CRYSTAL BOWERSOX Crystal Bowersox is as obvious a choice for “American Idol” as Ellen DeGeneres. The Ohio native seems like she’d be more at home on AM Radio circa 1976 than a highly-rated reality competition. But somehow, the dreadlocked singer/songwriter has captured the imagination of “Idol” viewers and judges alike with her so-retro-it’s-cool-again vibe and fish-out-of-water attitude. Best Performance : Bowersox wowed with a passionate gospel-tinged “Long As I Can See The Light” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, made all the more poignant and emotional thanks to a headline-grabbing health scare that almost resulted in the show’s first-ever medical disqualification . But her recent Tracy Chapman cover gave us even more reasons to chant “BOWERSOX! BOWERSOX!” Weakest Performance : Alanis Morissette’s “Hand In My Pocket” seemed like a good idea at the time. The song fit her troubadour aesthetic and she got to flaunt her harmonica skills. (Take that, Taylor Hicks!) But it ended up feeling too predictable and safe, leaving Simon to gripe that there are thousands of street performers doing the same thing all over America. Ouch. Sad Backstory : After last week’s dramatic hospital visit , Crystal’s struggle with diabetes made its way into her narrative on the show. And like fellow frontrunner Andrew Garcia, Bowersox is the parent of an adorable toddler. Why She Will Win : Bowersox recalls past “Idol” fan favorites like Jason Castro and Bo Bice, yet she’s been able to carve out an identity all her own. She’s also showing more personality the longer she’s on TV, and it sparkles. (Her swipe at Simon for having a two-story trailer was hilarious without being disrespectful.) On a superficial level, her name is a memorable one, particularly when uttered by Simon Cowell on various talk shows (he’s a fan). Why She Will Lose : Bowersox had never watched “Idol” before, so she may be thrown for a loop when she’s expected to sing a disco tune or a Broadway number. If she’s smart, she’ll watch every single Adam Lambert and Kris Allen “Idol” performance. Those two had a knack for picking songs and arrangements that fit their specific identities. (Well, perhaps Crystal should avoid Kris’ Don Henley number. We’re still not sure what happened that week.) What She Should Sing : To help Crystal avoid turning into a ’70s jukebox clich

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American Political Interviewing Sucks [Political Interviews]

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Howell Raines hit out at Fox News for ruining political debate . But it’s not just Fox . By softballing and coddling interviewees, all of television news has helped politicians get away with appalling lies, distortions and… being Sarah Palin . Put simply: almost without exception, American political interviewers fawn and simper over their subjects, refuse to ask a question more than once and never call bullshit on blatant bullshit. If anchors, interviewers and White House correspondents did their job — to hold elected officials accountable, by their lapels if necessary — politicians of all stripes could not get away with distorting and outright lying, as they do now. Rove-ian veneers would simply be scraped away by the eight words ‘that is not true, please answer my question’. If they were repeated enough on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and MSNBC it would mean no birthers. No myths about healthcare or rumors of death panels. No paranoid lies about creeping socialism. No George W. Bush. No Sarah Palin. Take, for example, Palin’s 2008 claim to ABC ‘s Charlie Gibson that because she could “actually see Russia from land here in Alaska,” she had foreign policy experience. Imagine if he’d thrown it directly back to her with follow-up questions. What bearing does this have on your ability to make policy? Are you seriously telling us that your qualifications are based on proximity? I put it to you, Governor Palin, that if you have to rely on such a shabby justification, you are woefully lacking. The resulting stammering and incoherence would have sent her limping back to Wasilla. Instead she was, and is, coddled. There is a quote passed around in British journalism, which has a more robust tradition. Every interviewer is instructed to ask themselves, when facing a politician, “why is this bastard lying to me?” Jeremy Paxman, a BBC interrogator, once asked a very senior member of the government a question 14 times ( video here , skip to about 3.30) simply because he evaded it. Next time Republican Congressman Eric Cantor is on your TV lying glibly about his party’s “no cost jobs plan,” or a government takeover of healthcare, picture an interviewer like Paxman, with the facts at his or her fingertips, making him eat his falsehoods live on air. Then consider how that might affect the level of honesty in his next appearance. It is not easy to be confrontational. These are wealthy, powerful, intimidating people who can choose who they talk to. So reporters make an excuse for practicing Hollywood-style access journalism: they claim their job is to ask the questions, air the responses and let the people judge. They are mere conduits. This, to be frank, is pathetic. Take a look at the dysfunction in DC for evidence. All the stations, from Fox to MSNBC , are doing is validating absurd lies by airing them as news. Politicians should fear, to their very cores, being interviewed by people other than Jon Stewart. We need to stop blaming Fox , and start asking questions. Repeatedly.

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American Political Interviewing Sucks [Political Interviews]

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311 Fans Get Hyped ‘311 Day’ Fan Party In Las Vegas

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

One fan threatened to quit his job in order to come. By Matt Elias 311’s Nick Hexum (file) Photo: Dana Nalbandian/ WireImage LAS VEGAS — It might have been the day before 311 Day , but the festivities were already in full swing Wednesday night at the Jet nightclub at the Mirage Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The official 311 Fan Party at Jet served as the epicenter for die-hard fans from all over the country to converge — and converge they did. Fans packed the line in droves even before the doors opened at 9 p.m. Jet let its usual formal dress code slide for the night, allowing fans to show their true colors in 311 T-shirts, hats, and plenty of tattoos. By 11 p.m., the line of fans stretched all the way to the entrance of the Mirage. But you didn’t have to see them to feel their presence — their chants of “311!” could be heard all the way to the blackjack tables. Inside the club, 311 music was blasting on the speakers — and that’s where MTV News’ guest correspondents Dave Kosin and Lauren Black, winners of the 311 Day contest) were hard at work. The pair were meeting old friends and new ones from all over the country: ecstatic fans from Lauren’s home state of Texas to a local Las Vegas couple who booked a hotel room to take part in the activities. But it was a fan from across the pond that proved just how die-hard 311 fans are. He told Dave, “I had to threaten to resign from my job to be allowed to come.” For him, a week without pay ended up being a small penalty for his first-ever 311 Day. He could hardly contain his excitement. “In England they never play a 311 song, so even tonight, it’s just wow! It’s amazing — tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life,” he said with a smile. MTV News will have much more from 311 Day for the rest of this week! Related Videos 311 Day Contest Winners Party With 311! Related Artists 311

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Christina Ricci Gets Held Up in Paris

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Filed under: Paparazzi Photo , Beauty , Hot Bodies After a night out at an after party for a fashion show in Paris on Wednesday, Christina Ricci got carried away … literally.Being the life of the party takes help. See Also Christina Ricci — Bad Breaker Upper … Permalink

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Maria Menounos

Posted on March 11, 2010 by

Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party March Continue reading →

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Fashion Face-Off: Courteney Cox Arquette vs. Mezhgan Hussainy

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

How do you know when you’ve made it big? It’s not when you appear on The Tonight Show or get quasi engaged to the most famous face on America’s most popular TV show. Instead, it’s when you’re included on a THG Fashion Face-Off. With that in mind, congratulations are in order for Mezhgan Hussainy . Simon Cowell’s girlfriend is a true A-lister now! The make-up artist donned the gown below at Elton John’s Oscar Viewing Party this past weekend. Meanwhile, Cougar Town star Courteney Cox Arquette wore it back in January. Compare and contrast: Who looks better in this dress?

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Fashion Face-Off: Courteney Cox Arquette vs. Mezhgan Hussainy

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Meet Sarah Palin, Professional Celebrity

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Since August 2008, Sarah Palin has been one of the most famous political figures in the country. Since August 2009, she’s been one of our most famous figures, period. By August 2010, she may be unrivaled in the fame department. Last week, we reported how the former Alaska governor was working on a TV series about her home state, pitched by none other than famed producer Mark Burnett. A day before that, her publishers at HarperCollins announced she was embarking on a second book , a follow-up to her blockbuster best-selling memoir, Going Rogue . The day before that , she was the marquee guest on The Tonight Show , upstaging the likes of Olympic champion Shaun White and American Idol star Adam Lambert . No small feat there. Sarah Palin speaking at some event recently . At least on the surface, she remains engaged in politics, praising the Tea Party movement, and somewhat involved in journalism … or whatever Fox News is. A joke she told on The Tonight Show said it all: “The truth is, though, I’m glad that I’m not vice president. I would not know what to do with all that free time.” Bam! Seriously, though. No one works harder at being a celebrity than Sarah Palin, whether she’s hitting an Oscar gift suite or trying to cash in on teen mom Bristol Palin . But toward what end? A 2012 presidential run? Tens of millions? A daily talk show? Oprah-like, single-name dominance of pop culture and soon the entire universe? Everyone wondering exactly that simply enhances her star power, as does the blurring of the worlds of politics, celebrity and the media, which extends beyond her. Continue reading this article here …

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Meet Sarah Palin, Professional Celebrity

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Fresh Productions – 411 in the 514 – RIP BIG POPPA

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Here are some tracks to get you in the mood, until then, RIP Biggie. Biggie Smalls – Party & Bullshit. Biggie Smalls – Juicy. Biggie Smalls – Hypnotize. Biggie Smalls – Going Back To Cali. Biggie Smalls – Mo Money, Mo Problems …

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Fresh Productions – 411 in the 514 – RIP BIG POPPA

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Relive The Notorious B.I.G.’s MTV Interviews

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Thirteen years after his death, we look back on his life as hip-hop’s brightest star. Notorious B.I.G. Photo: MTV News Tuesday (March 9) is a day not to mourn, but to celebrate the life and legacy of one of music’s most gifted artists: the Notorious B.I.G. His voice, his flow, his rhymes, his swag — whatever you wanted, B.I.G. had it to offer. He could tell stories, battle it out, ignite the party or kick game to the ladies. Christopher Wallace was made for rap. We didn’t get much time with Biggie. He put out his first album in 1994, and he died in early 1997 before the release of his second LP ( Life After Death ). Due to his work ethic, however, we have a catalog of timeless music that is often imitated, never duplicated. As mesmerizing as a Biggie song was, part of his allure as an artist was his charming personality. He’s a rare breed that could capture the wit and magnetism in his offstage persona and bring it to his music. Here, we are taking you back into our vaults to relive Biggie’s best MTV interviews. He was candid and thoughtful as he spoke about the inspiration for his music, his stage performance and much more. On Tuesday night, Diddy is going to celebrate the life of his friend and marquee artist at Brooklyn club the Lab. “We’re trying to make March 9th a national hip-hop holiday,” Diddy told MTV News last week. “It already is, on the low. MTV is going to have a big special. We’re doing a party. I’m going to Brooklyn. It’s gonna be the first time I’m throwing a party in Brooklyn. I’m from Harlem. Everybody in Harlem knows you don’t usually go over the bridge to Brooklyn. It’s a big, big deal. Me being such a Harlemite, I’m going over there to pay respect to my man. It’s gonna be a big party in Brooklyn with Mister Cee. It’s a big day. It’s a day to celebrate his life. It’s a day to celebrate the life of the man. We done did the movie, the records. It’s something that, I guess, as a label we’re obsessed with: making sure people don’t forget about this man in a positive way. March 9 is Biggie Day. … Bump Biggie all day, feel good and positive.” On Tuesday, MTV Jams will be playing videos by B.I.G. and a slew of other fallen musical soldiers, such as Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Aaliyah, Big Pun, the Lost Boyz and their deceased member Freaky Tah and Camoflauge. This week’s “Sucker Free Sunday” on MTV2 is running a special tribute to Biggie, hosted by Diddy. Related Videos Notorious B.I.G.: In Memoriam Related Photos Remembering The Notorious B.I.G. Related Artists Notorious B.I.G.

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