Cool story bro…SMFH Michael Jackson’s Ex-Bodyguard Claims He Was Ordered To Shoot Randy Jackson According to the uber-reliable (*rolls eyes*) folks at The Sun His former Brit bodyguard told last night how the tragic superstar ordered the hit in a drug-fuelled paranoid rage. Martial arts master Matt Fiddes said: “Michael was caught in a war with his brothers for years. “They were desperate to sign him up to a $500million deal for a Jackson Five reunion tour. “By 2005 Michael had surrounded himself with Nation of Islam bodyguards and became paranoid to the point that he would bar family from coming into his home. “Things reached a head when Randy was trying to force his way past the bodyguards to speak to him in one of his rented homes. Michael ordered him to be shot. Here is the shady-a$$ story that ol’ boy is trying to kick. “He was out of mind on drugs and luckily Randy was OK. “Michael shouted at the bodyguards that he wanted Randy shot, and Randy really feared he’d be killed. “I don’t think Michael ever intended to kill him and told the guards to shoot him in the leg. “But Randy was so scared he got on the phone and threatened to call the Press. “He told the bodyguards, ‘If you shoot me the whole world will know about it’. “He then backed off and got out.” This Michael Jackson, not Michael Corleone, dirty son-of-a-beyotch…
In the wake of Jessica Sanchez’s near-exit, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler say season 11 is anyone’s to win. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler Photo: MTV News After “American Idol” voters tried their hardest to send presumptive front-runner Jessica Sanchez packing on Thursday night’s shocking results show — only to have their plan foiled by the judges, who promptly used their save to keep her in the competition — the deck has been re-shuffled, and it appears that this season really is anyone’s to win. Following Sanchez’s near-exit, two of those “Idol” judges spoke to MTV News, and they weren’t shy about letting their opinions be known. Simply put, they were as surprised as everyone to hear Sanchez’s name called. “I think [America] thought she was safe,” Randy Jackson said of Sanchez. “I think they thought she was safe … and I think they thought [fellow bottom-three dweller] Joshua [Ledet] was safe, because those two alone … have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot.” “There’s just so many different singers out there. That’s why it’s hard for me now,” Steven Tyler added. “I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong.” More than likely, they were. But the inclusion of Sanchez in the bottom three raises a larger question about the show: Is it possible for anyone other than a guy to actually win anymore? The previous four champions — David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery — have all been proud possessors of the Y chromosome, and a male contestant has won in five of the previous six seasons. (Jordin Sparks was the last female to be crowned champion, way back in 2007.) And now, with Thursday night’s shake-up — and the rise of Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips — it appears that history may repeat itself once again. Not surprisingly, though, neither Jackson nor Tyler seems to see it that way. “I don’t know, it’s a toss-up right now,” Jackson said. “I think it’ll be a person. ” “You gotta wait and see,” Tyler added. Of course, Jackson was also quick to admit that both Dixon and Phillips are strong contenders for the season 11 crown (which is probably why “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine spent so much time this week trying to pit them against each other ), and he saved a particular bit of praise for Phillips and his, uh, unique approach to the competition. “He’s his own guy, that’s what I love about him. He’s an individual, Steven’s an individual; that’s what a real artist is made of,” Jackson said. “An artist is not usually a follower; you want to be your own person. So I love that about him. I don’t know if it’s going to hurt him, but somebody’s gotta go every week now. It’s gonna be rough.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances
‘I think they thought she was safe,’ Randy Jackson adds, speaking to MTV News. By Kelly Marino “American Idol” Judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler Photo: MTV News Thursday night’s “American Idol” turned out to be the most shocking episode of the season thus far, proving one sure thing: America got it all wrong this week. The judges were quick to point that out when they unanimously decided to save 16-year-old singing prodigy Jessica Sanchez before she could even finish her last-chance performance song after receiving the lowest votes. Sanchez, who has impressed the judges week after week with renditions of songs well beyond her years, “slayed the biggest fish of the night,” according to Randy Jackson, with her performance of “Stuttering” by Jazmine Sullivan on Wednesday night. She even had guest mentor Akon predicting legend status one day, only fueling the fire that the singer, a.k.a. Bebe Chez, was well on her way to becoming a title hopeful. So what went wrong? “Well, I think [America] thought she was safe,” explained Jackson, who stopped by backstage to speak on Sanchez’s behalf. “I think they thought she was safe, I’m sure, and I think they thought Joshua was safe because those two alone, with Colton and some of the others, have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot.” Probably the most inconsistent of the final seven who was a sure bet to be the one sent packing last night was Hollie Cavanagh. Despite her strong vocals, her nerves and stiff stage presence have led the little English southern belle to the bottom three for weeks now. But after her less than perfect performance of “Perfect” Wednesday night, she dodged the bullet completely this time around thanks to her devoted fans. “She’s got a lot of fans out there. A lot of people love her. I mean, look, all of these kids are very talented, and you just said it a minute ago,” Jackson said, turning to judge Steven Tyler. “They’re all individual, they’re all different.” “I mean, the proof is that one sings great, the other one’s style is crazy great,” added Tyler, comparing Cavanagh and Sanchez. “And then you got Elise, who just laughs all the time and just takes it just so effortlessly free. And there’s just so many different singers out there. That’s why it’s hard for me now. I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong.” So with the panel deciding to rescue San Diego’s savvy young diva, all seven contestants will return to the stage Wednesday night to continue to fight for the crown. But there’s one catch: Next week two finalists will be given the boot. Will Sanchez be one of the two to go, or will she take Jennifer Lopez’s advice and take the audience on a ride like they’ve never seen before? Who knows? Let’s see if America gets it right this time. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances Related Artists Aerosmith
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stares down his older self (Bruce Willis) in sneak peek of the time-traveling thriller. By Kara Warner Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Looper” Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment We’ve been dying to see the “Looper” trailer for the past few days, and now it’s finally here, in all its time-traveling, gun-fighting, trained assassin-vs.-himself glory. Here are five key scenes from the sneak peek: Loopers Explained Thanks to the expository voice-over from star Joseph Gordon-Levitt , we learn that Loopers are time-traveling assassins hired by Mafioso types to kill other criminals in the past, so they don’t become problems in the future. We see Gordon-Levitt’s character “at work” in several different ways in the teaser — including one in which his assignment turns out to be his older self. A Realistic Futuristic Setting At the beginning of the trailer, it appears as if the film is set in present day. The characters’ style of dress, cars and guns are not exactly current, but they look familiar. All that changes when we see Gordon-Levitt’s character flying through a modern-looking city on a not-of-this-world motorcycle. The brief glimpses at advanced technology are paired with quick shots of what Gordon-Levitt’s character experiences when he travels through time, a sort of mind-bending distorted reality that tells us we’re in a not-too-distant future. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Bruce Willis From the moment it was announced that Gordon-Levitt would be playing a younger version of Bruce Willis , we’ve been very curious to see how that might look onscreen. Thanks to this new teaser, we finally get a glimpse of Gordon-Levitt-as-Willis, via a close-up shot of their bright green eyes and a few hints at their similar body movements — before they start trying to kill each other, that is. Gordon-Levitt admitted that he spent three hours in a makeup chair every morning in order to step into Willis, as it were. Emily Blunt in Action Emily Blunt’s appearance in the trailer is almost of the blink-and-you-miss-it variety. We see Blunt wielding a shotgun, possibly in an attempt to off the young version of Gordon-Levitt and in several states of strife. Her scenes are almost a combination of action from the film’s present settings and its flashbacks. Why is she upset? Is she related to Gordon-Levitt and Willis’ character or romantically linked to them? Maybe she is also a Looper? So many questions that need answering! Gunfights Galore This movie is very much a science-fiction thriller and yet, contrary to what a lot of people believe to be true about gun battles in sci-fi movies, there are no laser beams or space guns in sight. The weapons we see in the trailer look like new versions of handguns and shotguns that are powered by regular bullets. And because this is a movie about time-traveling hitmen who off their assignments with guns, we see a lot of gunfight action in this spot, along with some hand-to-hand combat, that only adds to the gritty, futuristic-yet-realistic feel. Check out everything we’ve got on “Looper.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Looper Trailer: Five Key Scenes
On a wild results show, front-runners Sanchez and Joshua Ledet face elimination, with the judges using their save to spare the diva. By James Montgomery Jessica Sanchez, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest on “American Idol” Photo: Fox A shocking Thursday night on “American Idol” began with an onscreen pledge to “Expect the Unexpected,” and boy, did the show live up to that promise. Because, for the first time in the unusually staid 11th season, there really is no clear-cut front-runner, as perceived favorites were relegated to the bottom three and one potential champion was left to sing for her life — almost. After the final seven sang the songs of this decade on Wednesday night’s telecast, most assumed it would be permanent bottom-dweller Hollie Cavanagh sent packing, especially after the judges were left grasping for compliments following her performance of Pink’s “Perfect.” Instead, Cavanagh was spared elimination (and even a spot in the bottom three), and, after a few tense moments, in which front-runners like Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine were left twisting, it was revealed that, this week, the three on the chopping block were Elise Testone — no real surprise, given that she’s been in this position before — and, amazingly, a pair of championship hopefuls: Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. The judges were understandably shocked by the reveal — Randy Jackson even called the bottom three “ridiculous” — but the surprises didn’t end there. Host Ryan Seacrest would first announce that Ledet was safe, leaving only Testone and Sanchez clinging for their lives. After ratcheting up the tension to the nth degree, Seacrest announced that Testone was also safe, meaning Sanchez, the prodigiously talented, supremely cocky diva, was the week’s lowest vote-getter. In a way, it was fitting that former “Idol” castoff Jennifer Hudson performed earlier in the telecast, because a potential Sanchez exit would have been the most shocking moment on the show since Hudson was given the boot all the way back in 2004. And as the crowd whistled in disapproval, Sanchez grabbed the microphone to sing for the judges’ save — only to be interrupted by Jennifer Lopez, who shouted “Gimme that mic” and announced, along with Jackson and Steven Tyler, that Sanchez would remain in the competition. “We are saving Jessica without any doubt,” Jackson emphatically said. “This girl is one of the best singers in America ever!” The obviously shell-shocked Sanchez was then allowed to finish her song, and as the show came to a close, the judges urged “Idol” viewers to vote for the best contestant going forward. But after the night’s startling results — and without a judges’ save going forward — the deck has certainly been reshuffled, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 13 Contestants
‘I’m embracing the things that are different now and the things that have changed for me,’ Monica tells MTV News of New Life album. By Rob Markman Monica Photo: MTV News Monica may have titled her latest album New Life, but there are some things the velvety-voiced singer wanted to keep the same — including her working relationship with Missy Elliott . ” New Life was just me saying, ‘This is the place that I’m at and I’m embracing the things that are different now and the things that have changed for me,’ ” she told MTV News on Tuesday (April 10). The duo have worked together for years, and in 2003, they came up with one of Monica’s most memorable songs to date: “So Gone.” It’s a chemistry that neither wants to abandon anytime soon. “Missy is one of my dearest friends, and I think her humility and her compassion for other people is what makes her music so great,” Monica said. The bond that both women share is the reason they yield such memorable results. “Knock Knock,” “A Dozen Roses (Remind Me of You)” and the Grammy-nominated “Everything to Me” are just a few of the records on which they’ve collaborated. Monica counts “So Gone” as her favorite to date. “She wrote that record after eavesdropping on my phone conversation,” Monica recalled, laughing. “So when you think about things like that, that can only be done by somebody that’s very close to you.” Elliott didn’t write Monica’s lyrics — Jazmine Sullivan gets credit for that — but Missy did produce the breakup ode. The two worked out of Missy’s house in Atlanta and came up with songs that were vocally challenging for the veteran singer. This time, though, there was no eavesdropping. “When it came to ‘Until It’s Gone,’ I probably was just sharing,” Monica laughed. “I was already in a sharing mood.” What’s your favorite song from Monica’s New Life ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Monica Missy Elliott
Season seven will be ‘incredible,’ ABDC judge JC Chasez tells MTV News; It all starts Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! By Kara Warner with reporting by James Lacsina Dancers on “America’s Best Dance Crew” Photo: MTV Do you feel that extra energy in the air? Are your toes tappin’ for no reason? Those feelings can only mean one thing: There’s just one day left until the season seven premiere of “Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew.” Every season has been one for the record books, simply because the talent among the diverse dance crews just keeps getting better. Season seven is shaping up to be the best season yet, but don’t take our word for it, check out what ABDC judges JC Chasez and Lil Mama said when MTV News caught up with them recently. “The only thing that’s going to be able to top last season is an incredible performance,” Chasez told MTV News recently. “That’s what we’re all waiting for, the next great performance. What is this next star going to do to raise the bar? That’s what we’re hoping to get out of this next season.” “The show is so innovative it’s always new,” added Lil Mama. “There’s always new chemistry. When the crews come onto the show, of course they build a fanbase, but what is more important is that they build a family base,” she explained. “They build a family and they become family with one another and when they come out on that stage everything that they go through they go through together as a crew, together as a unit of ABDC and as individuals.” This season, dubbed “Return of the Superstars,” will feature nine all-new hip-hop dance crews and one returning past crew, a fan favorite from season two, Fanny Pak. This is the first time in the series’ history a crew from a prior season will return to compete for the title. In addition, each episode will have a different theme, built around a popular celebrity artist. Dance crews will be challenged to push themselves to create astonishing performances inspired by the music and persona of the artist of the week. Those artists include Madonna, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Pitbull, David Guetta, Flo Rida and LMFAO, among others. Don’t miss the season seven premiere of airing Wednesday, April 11, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! For continuing “Crew” coverage, be sure to check in with MTV’s blog. Related Artists JC Chasez Lil Mama
American Idol traveled back to the 1980s last night. But the remaining eight finalists were forced to look ahead on Thursdays results show, as America voted and revealed an unfortunate future for one contestant: He or she is going home. Who received the bad news? It appeared briefly that fan favorite Phillip Phillips might be in danger, but it came down to Elise Testone and DeAndre Brackensick in the bottom two. The contestant getting the boot this week was … DeAndre. The audience, predictably, began chanting “Save! Save! Save! Save!” Unfortunately for the falsetto-singing teen, only one of the judges would’ve done so. Jennifer broke the bad news: “This boy right here, we’ve been watching him for two years. You’re an amazing performer. I stand by that,” she told him. However, “I only get one vote. I’m sorry … we’re not saving you tonight.” Ryan puts her on the spot, asking if J. Lo voted to save him while Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson didn’t. “Yes,” she replies, “that’s what I’m saying.” Think she was serious? It’s a good cover story if not. Every week could be a 2-1 decision against the eliminated singer. Anyway, best of luck, DeAndre. What do you think? Did America (and the judges) get it right?
Jaleel White wants to set the record straight about the allegedly loud and heated fight with Kym Johnson , his Dancing With the Stars partner, in rehearsal. Asked in a radio interview about it, White downplayed the incident, but first said that he couldn’t believe how much celebrity gossip publications care. “Let me tell you something about this show,” he told MYfm’s Valentine in the Morning. “I had no concept what a tabloid feeding frenzy this show is.” Jaleel White & Kym Johnson – Rumba (DWTS Week 3) It is wild how much tabloid attention it gets for such family friendly entertainment, but it is among TV’s biggest shows. In any case, White is uneasy about it. “We get to rehearsal and theres like 20 idiots in the back…with cameras and videos,” the 35-year-old actor said. “It sucks because this is our real lives.” As for the Us Weekly report that he shouted at Johnson to the point where producers had to break up a fight before it escalated, White says that’s BS. “We definitely had a disagreement last week,” he explained. “But there was no fight broken up. Our disagreement was over some of the choreography.” “She didn’t understand who Stefan Urquelle was.” Stefan, of course, being the nerdy Steve Urkel’s more suave alter ego, who recurred several times throughout Family Matters’ nine-year run. The contestants had to dance routines inspired by the most memorable year of their lives; White picked the year that Steve first turned into Stefan. The routine (above) earned the pair high marks and moved Jaleel to tears (below) afterward. Hey, Dancing With the Stars brings out the emotions! Jaleel White Cries on Dancing With the Stars
Following Elise Testone singing a version of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is” on American Idol last night, Jennifer Lopez told the finalist that she really likes her outfit. In other words: Uh-oh. Elise could be in trouble. No panelist exactly swooned over the performance, with Steven Tyler wondering if it was the proper song choice and Randy Jackson saying there were pitch problems. Is the bottom three in Testone’s future? Critique for yourself now: Elise Testone – “I Wanna Know What Love Is” Which women did stand out on Idol this week? Our ranking of performers from this gender would be: Skylar Laine on “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Jessica Sanchez on ” How Will I Know? ” Hollie Cavanagh on “What A Feeling.” Testone’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is.”
