Talk about your friendship with James Durbin. We were roommates and we#39;ve been together in Hollywood from the beginning. We are brothers and I#39;m going to be best man at his wedding and we got so close and we helped each other with everything. I#39;d hear his song and I#39;d say, “I don#39;t like that part,” or “Sing this differently.” We helped each other musically and in our personal lives … We have really special bond, like brothers. Did you have a crush on Pia? No, me and Pia took a
The ‘Harry Potter’ star faced ‘a lot of challenges’ preparing for the Broadway musical ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.’ By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Daniel Radcliffe Photo: MTV News Daniel Radcliffe has had an impressive debut on Broadway with his lead role in the musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” but the transition from film to stage did not come easy for the “Harry Potter” star. When Radcliffe sat down for an interview with MTV News on Thursday, he said that even after the play’s glowing reviews and the praise heaped on his performance, he still didn’t feel completely at ease with his abilities in the role. “No, not at all. Not in the slightest. I kind of still don’t,” Radcliffe said in response to whether he felt comfortable as a Broadway star. “But I am doing it and it was just a matter of, a lot of other people had faith in me.” There were two people in particular — the production’s choreographer and its director, Rob Ashford — whose faith in Radcliffe inspired the actor to suffer through the difficult training process. Radcliffe, who has never had to sing or dance for a role in his life, noted that “there were a lot of challenges” he faced during his transition period onto the stage, but he did admit that everything he achieved for the musical he did with hard work. “With the dance, particularly, there were some days when I was just so tired halfway through,” Radcliffe explained. “There was one time when I was in my dance class and we were like two-and-a-quarter hours in and I just have 45 minutes left, and I was like, ‘How am I going to get through the last 45 minutes of this lesson?’ And I actually went to the toilet, sat down on the toilet with the lid down, [set] my phone alarm for five minutes and just went to sleep for like five minutes and I just woke up thinking, ‘Jesus, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to hack it if I can’t even get through a lesson.’ ” But Radcliffe has been able to “hack it,” and has surpassed many expectations to deliver a solid Broadway performance. It’s why he started training for the role a year in advance, and why he made sure he had ample time off from the “Harry Potter” set to be ready for the part. “You do have to get your levels of ability up to standard, but also your levels of fitness and stamina,” said Radcliffe of his training process. “It’s been kind of beneficial to me in every area of my personal health and life, as well as just kind of being able to keep in step with Broadway.” Are you interested in seeing Daniel Radcliffe perform on Broadway? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Daniel Radcliffe
Paul McDonald will be okay. Yes, the funky singer got eliminated from American Idol this week. But the aspiring artist has confirmed that he has a famous, beautiful woman to go home to each night. Yes, he really is dating Nikki Reed . “[She’s] supercool,” McDonald told Us Weekly of the Twilight star. “She’s been real supportive of this whole thing. She’s actually pumped up now because she likes my original material way better than all the stuff I do on the show.” Paul says he and Nikki are “officially dating,” but “don’t get to see each other too much because [we’re] both working so hard.” Is there another Idol / Twilight love connection? Is Lauren Alaina getting it on with Taylor Lautner, as some sources have reported? McDonald has no clue. “I don’t know. I think he’s just a fan of Idol in general. He seems like a really cool dude. I don’t know too much about that.”
Contrary to what the following magazine cover states, Kim Kardashian is not marrying Kris Humphries this year. But the reality star is doing what she does best in an interview with Life & Style : talking about her personal life in hypothetical, vague terms in order to make headlines for no valid reason whatsoever. The latest case in point: her eventual wedding to… somebody. “I’ve envisioned the whole thing,” Kim says. “I already know what my gown is going to look like. I’ve thought about it all for so long… What woman hasn’t thought about her wedding since she was a little girl?” Very few. But not many would land a tabloid cover story just for fantasizing about such an event. A friend tells the publication that Kardashian wants to talk down the aisle in “a white strapless floor-length gown” designed by Chanel. She also wants a “big diamond ring.” Shocking, we know. Meanwhile, aside from nuptials, Kim is dreaming of a family. She says: “I think I’ll name my kids with K’s to keep the tradition going… I want.. three to five kids!” God help each and every one of them.
‘Blow’ singer is psyched for the summer leg of her Get $leazy Tour with Spank Rock, LMFAO. By Gil Kaufman Ke$ha Photo: MTV News There’s certainly something to be said for girl power. Ke$ha felt it when she hit the road with Rihanna last year, when the two apparently engaged in a variety of high jinks, including some alleged backstage pillow fights. But when MTV News caught up with the glitter-soaked party girl on Wednesday just hours before her show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom and asked her who she might bring along if she were able to put together a Britney Spears-style all-girl tour, Ke$ha didn’t hesitate to name her posse. Sitting cross-legged on a couch in black tights, black cowboy boots, black leather gloves and sleeveless black rocker T-shirt, Ke$ha told us that her all-girl lineup would actually be, well, all guys. “All-girl fantasy tour?” she said, staring up at the ceiling for a moment and contemplating the idea. “I mean, I play nice with chicks. I actually put together my personal fantasy tour and I just announced the second leg of my Get $leazy Tour and that’s gonna be: me and LMFAO and Spank Rock.” And while the upcoming outing will be light on the estrogen — much like the first leg of her $leazy tour, on which she is sharing the stage with party-rap dude Beardo — Ke$ha insisted that it still will offer what her fans have come to expect from her shows. “It’s not an all-girls tour, but it’s gonna be f—ing sleazy,” she maintained. That macho vibe has been on display during to the winding-down first leg of the $leazy fest, which Ke$ha has nicknamed the “I Can Do Whatever We Want Tour.” So, what kind of perks come with being a first-time headliner? “Blasting glitter violently at people, even if they don’t want it,” said Ke$ha. “It’s like they don’t even have a choice. It is a little volatile, but I do it anyways. I feel like people know me for my glitter and I don’t want to disappoint.” Are you planning to see Ke$ha on the next leg of her Get Sleazy tour? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Ke$ha Related Artists Ke$ha Britney Spears
Last night Toni Braxton and her beautiful sisters held a meet and greet at the lovely Pranna restaurant and nightclub to promote their new reality show, “The Braxtons Family Values.” The series follows the family as they each navigate the rigors of parenthood, marriage and careers in the music business. A special screening of the first episode was held as Toni was flanked by her siblings Traci , Towanda , Trina , Tamar and their mom Evelyn. Afterward they fielded questions about the series and the details of their personal lives revealed on the show. “My parents divorced after 35 years and 30 days later my dad remarried some one else,” Braxton told the crowd. “My mom and dad don’t get along but are cordial because of us and at Tamar’s wedding dinner on Thanksgiving I said ‘we can’t be the only family going through this. We should tell our story.” One of the more eye-popping plot lines is that Towanda is living an open marriage with her husband. The couple live under the same roof but have no relationship outside of their two children. “We have a don’t ask don’t tell policy,” she said in regards to their romantic lives. “I am not in love with him.” Mix that in with Tamar’s solo career aspirations and there is the making of a pretty drama filled series here! BRAXTON FAMILY VALUES premieres TONIGHT April 12 at 9pm ET/PT on WE tv. Check out the photos below! RELATED POSTS: Toni Braxton Says Her First Royalty Check Was $2000 Toni Braxton Thinking About Posing For Playboy Toni Braxton Reveals Battle With Life-Threatening Illness
Pair posts Q&As with one another on their respective websites. By Alvin Blanco Jay-Z and Gwyneth Paltrow Photo: Dave M. Benett/ Getty Images Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Grammy-winning rapper Jay-Z come from different worlds, but that didn’t stop them from the becoming BFFs. The pair have performed together — as have Jay-Z and Gwyneth’s husband, Chris Martin — in the past. And on Tuesday (April 12), the two buddies traded questions with one another on their respective websites. Hova interviewed Paltrow on his recently debuted lifestyle site Life + Times ( LifeandTimes.com ), and Paltrow interviewed Hova for the GOOP.com online newsletter she launched in 2008. The Q&A on Jay-Z’s site is titled “Straight Outta Compton?” It turns out the actress with the singing chops got turned on to N.W.A. in Los Angeles while she was still in high school. “I first was exposed to hip-hop when I was about 16 (1988) by some boys who went to college,” Paltrow said. “The Beastie Boys were sort of the way in for us preppie kids. We were into Public Enemy, Run-DMC and LL Cool J. But then I went to L.A. the summer between my junior and senior years of high school and I discovered N.W.A., which became my obsession. I was fascinated by lyrics as rhythm and how Dre had a such different cadence and perspective from say, Eazy-E, who I thought was one of the most ironic and brilliant voices hip-hop has ever had.” While Jay-Z’s line of questions aimed to discover the root of Paltrow’s musical tastes and affection for hip-hop music (she prefers the Notorious B.I.G. over Tupac Shakur), the actress’ inquiries for the rapper focused on his new website and his personal inspirations (Jean-Michel Basquiat, Muhammad Ali and Mario Batali among them). But any sense of journalistic impartiality went out the window with her last question: “You are the coolest man on Earth, how the f did you get like that?” To this Hov answered, “I’m around great women, starting with my mom. Women keep men cool. The hotter the chick, the cooler the guy … that sounds like a really bad rap line!” Related Artists Jay-Z
Lady Gaga’s creative director says her E! series shows ‘the evolution of a dream.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa WhiteWolf Laurieann Gibson Photo: MTV News Laurieann Gibson is a creative director and choreographer whose client list includes names like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Natalia Kills, Nicki Minaj, Diddy (and Dirty Money), Alicia Keys and Keri Hilson, to name only a few. She’s already had a movie based on her life (Jessica Alba played a Laurieann-like character in “Honey”) and appeared on various TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Making the Band,” “Skating With the Stars.” And, of course, she was a Fly Girl alongside J.Lo on “In Living Color.” What’s left on her to-do list? Well, next she’ll be providing a peek into the world of dancing on her new E! show, “The Dance Scene,” which premieres Sunday at 10:30 p.m. ET. ” ‘The Dance Scene’ is basically the most amazing dance show in the world,” she humbly told MTV News. “And it follows me as a creative director. You see how I maintain that creativity.” The show follows Laurieann and her team of dancers and choreographers at Boom Kack studios as they audition, rehearse, choreograph and perform visuals for major events, such as “VH1 Divas Salute the Troops” and music videos. It also gives an inside look at the personal lives of the dancers and their ever-present struggle to balance work and life while living up to Gibson’s very high expectations. With her high-profile clients and a truly competitive spirit, Gibson said she really wasn’t nervous about having the cameras following her around for the show. “I wasn’t hesitant because I’m built out of a truthful place,” she said. “The only thing that I have is the truth, so the only thing I fear is a lie. I wasn’t afraid of being truthful, and I just want them to know how great they can be, and I wanted to lift the veil.” So, what should we expect from the show’s first episode? “Sunday’s premiere is quite exciting,” Gibson teased. “I saw the premiere, and I cried. I cried ’cause I was so grateful that [executive producer] Ryan [Seacrest] was not afraid to show me in all of a positive … all of the power that my gift has, and no one’s ever been brave enough to be like, ‘Yes, you are capable.’ And he just let it be, so I just cried. “And we’re at the opening of ‘Divas Live’ with four divas [including Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Keri Hilson],” she continued. “It’s just everything that’s going to happen on this season: It’s power packed; it’s an incredible show. It’s not just another corny dance show. It isn’t. It’s not even really a dance show. It’s the life of a dancer and the transition and the evolution of a dream.”
As the personal chef to legendary musical icon Michael Jackson and his children, Chef Kai revels in the memorable dining occasions he and his children shared together. With June 25th 2011 marking the 2nd anniversary of Michael Jackson’s passing, Chef Kai celebrates his legacy and supports his views on “Making Time For The Family Table,” with an interactive-cooking course of her New American cuisine and the health-comforting meals she prepared for the King and his children. Plan to attend Kai’s interactive cooking course as part of a weekend retreat (June 25 -26th) in Los Angeles, Summer Spiritual and Sensual Sizzle By The Sea (Yoga / Spa Beach House) Celebrity Chef Kai Chase is the dynamic young female chef to many African-American superstars and their families preparing and pairing fresh and seasonal ingredients with some comforting, some exotic, but always naturally inspiring recipes of New American cuisine. Her approach to New American cuisine has graced the family table with farm to table fare, cooking with the best flavors, incorporating health-conscious techniques and all without sacrificing taste or time. Her appreciation of family dinners and making quality time around the table reflect in these “family style” recipes, her “ready-made” snacks and offers tips for eating together and exploring the art of the family table conversation. In case you are not familiar with Chef Kai Chase’s association with the Jackson family check out this video clip: Chef Kai Chase is moving forward with her focus on creating healthy family meals and sharing her talent with the Elev8 community. Recipe Courtesy Of: Kai Chase “Rock-A-Mole” and Chile-Lime Tortilla Chips “The star of any authentic Mexican menu has got to be the guacamole! No matter how you slice it, it’s chunky and creamy smooth texture gives an outstanding performance all by itself. Before I studied at any culinary school, this recipe came all-too natural to me thanks to my father’s fiery Latin influence and my upbringing. My signature recipe is one of X-treme rock star quality. It’s one of my celebrity clientele’s favorite “skinny dips.” Add some house made tortilla chips to the bill and you have definitely got yourself a #1 hit. Rock-On!” Ingredients: 2 Large Haas Avocados, Cut and Seeded ½ Poblano Chile, Seeded, Stemmed and Finely Chopped 1 Serrano Chile, Seeded, Stemmed and Finely Chopped ½ Medium Red Onion, Finely Chopped 1 c Cilantro, Chopped ½ Lime, Fresh Squeezed 2 2 oz. Jars Pimento, Sliced (juice removed) ½ tsp. Granulated Garlic Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper to taste Method: On a wooden cutting board slice the avocado length wise and open, remove the seed with a chef’s knife and scoop the green, creamy flesh into a large mixing bowl. Using a fork mash the avocado until it becomes a semi-chunky and creamy consistency. Add the poblano chile, serrano, onion and pimento, mix together with fork. Add the cilantro and lime juice. Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly, cover with plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes. To Make The Chips: Ingredients: Mini Corn Tortillas (approx. 1-2 dozen) 2 Tbl. Chile Powder 2 Tbl. Sea Salt ½ Lime, Fresh Corn Oil Method: Pre-heat the corn oil in a large cast iron kettle pot 3-5 inches deep. Bring the oil to about 380 degrees over medium-high heat. When the oil reaches the desired temperature begin adding the tortillas one by one, as to not over crowd the pot. Fry the tortilla wedges and toss frequently to brown evenly on both sides with a slotted spoon about 5 minutes. Remove the chips and drain on paper towels. Season the hot chips as soon as they come from the oil with the chile-sea salt combination and drizzle with lime. http://www.kaichase.com/ http://www.facebook.com/celebritychefkaichase http://www.Twitter.com/chefkaichase http://chefkaichase.blogspot.com Join Celebrity Chef Kai Chase and Robin Downes’ Yoga Flava for Summer Spiritual and Sensual Sizzle By Th Sea Weekend Retreat Get Away (June 25-28) in Marina Del Rey, California Related articles: Nine Healthy Snacks For Kids How does Micheal Jackson’s Spirit Live On For You? 5 Super Fruits To Enhance Your Sex Drive
Murphy tells The Hollywood Reporter that he respects it ‘when artists don’t want a show … to interpret their songs.’ By Gil Kaufman Kings of Leon Photo: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty Images On second thought, “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy didn’t exactly mean it when he said “f— you” to Kings of Leon back in January. Yes, he was a bit miffed that the sibling rockers (whom he also called “self-centered a–holes”) had mouthed off about not wanting their song “Use Somebody” to appear on the high school musical sensation, but given some time to reflect, Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter this week that perhaps he could have expressed himself differently. “I didn’t speak with as much clarity as I would have liked,” Murphy explained to the magazine. “Who am I to say, ‘F–k you?’ That’s not what I meant. I completely understand when artists don’t want a show or another artist to interpret their songs. In fact, I respect it. It’s their personal work and I’d feel the same way. We get turned down all the time and [I] don’t fight it or even go back after a rejection.” Murphy even revealed that he got turned down by another artist recently, Icelandic enigma Bjork, who passed up the opportunity to have one of her songs used in the show. “She read the scene and didn’t think it was the right fit for her song,” he said. “I told her, ‘That’s completely cool,’ and she said to come back to her down the road. We deal with that every day.” Murphy came under fire again recently when Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl said he didn’t think the show runner should complain when bands don’t want their tunes used on the hit Fox series. “It’s every band’s right, you shouldn’t have to do f—ing ‘Glee,’ ” Grohl told the Reporter . “And then the guy who created ‘Glee’ is so offended that we’re not, like, begging to be on his f—ing show. … F— that guy for thinking anybody and everybody should want to do ‘Glee.’ … I watched 10 minutes. It’s not my thing.” Though the comments hit home with Murphy, a Foos fan, he said he understood where Grohl was coming from and politely disagreed with his comments. “I’ve never felt that if you don’t give ‘Glee’ your music, there’s something diabolical about you,” Murphy responded. “To the contrary: I support artists and what they choose to do … I think Kings of Leon are cool as sh–. The Foo Fighters are brilliant. We’d love to do one of their songs, if they were ever interested. But if it’s not their thing, then OK. I personally wish them luck [and] will still listen to their music.” Chastened by the incident, Murphy said he’s learned not to drop f-bombs on other artists in the press — and has, in fact, starting exchanging texts with Kings of Leon — but added that he won’t stop pushing to have cool and interesting music on his program. “I’m really proud of the fact that we can introduce songs to younger kids or their parents because I’m the biggest music fan,” he said. “The show is about the love of performing and arts education — things I think are very special.” What do you think about Murphy’s latest remarks regarding the Kings of Leon flap? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists Kings Of Leon
