Gym, tan, lawsuit? It’s another ugly legal situation for Mike Sorrentino. This time, the Jersey Shore star wants to make sure his GTL trademark is intact, which means suing a random ass guido-themed lifestyle company for ripping off The Situation’s brand. The lawsuit has been filed … but does it have merit? Don’t cry, Mike … it’s gonna be alright dawg . Sitch’s cease and desist letter to a website called MyGTLFuel (dot) com claims they’d better quit exploiting his trademark or legal action will be a-comin’. The site, which sells everything from energy shots to tanning lotion, hasn’t gone anywhere yet, as its owner, Dana Valentino, says there’s no trademark. According to Valentino, Sitch applied for the “GTL” trademark, but doesn’t legally own it … yet. He wants to settle this amicably but NOT close up shop. Mike is also involved in a legal dispute with Abercrombie .
This fall brings us great reads from first time author, rap extraordinaire Tip.’T.I.” Harris, Terrance Dean and Scott Paulson Bryant. Each one of their books tells stories that are suspenseful, page turning reads in “Power & Beauty, The V.I.P.’s” and “Mogul. Power & Beauty- Tip T.I. Harris Summary: Tip Harris, better known as Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling hip-hop artist and actor T.I., is at the top of his game. Now he displays yet another side of his remarkable talents with Power & Beauty, a love story of life on the streets. Set in the dangerous shadows of Atlanta, Georgia, Power & Beauty is a dark, gritty story of sex, violence, hustling, and redemption centered around Paul “Power” Clay and Tanya “Beauty” Long—two kids facing long odds and lethal temptations, yet whose miraculous, unbreakable bond ultimately becomes their salvation. A love story, a crime story, a survival story, Power & Beauty bristles with an electrifying authenticity born of Tip “T.I.” Harris’s hard life on the streets. This is exhilarating, brutally honest, page-turning urban African-American fiction at its very best. Review : The book is just good. It is fast read that is not the typical urban read, but a book that is clearly more on par with the Jackie Collin’s and Ricahrd Wright of the world. It is spiritual, yet grounded. It is heart wrenching, yet inspiring. The young travails of Power & beauty in the book are ones that are closely synonymous with the life discoveries of the two main characters. No fellas, there is no why mushy tales of romance here, but heart stopping deals, swindles, murders and life plans. Ladies, you will find the book races ahead a speed that will keep you gripped to the last page. The end is so shocking you will be talking about it for a long time after. Mogul- Terrance Dean Summary: After the sudden death of his father, a renowned jazz musician, Aaron “Big A.T.” Tremble clings to music as an escape. Making hip hop beats becomes his life. His love for music lands him at the estate of Larry “Pop” Singleton, a retired and respected Hip Hop music mogul who sees something special in Big A.T., and he also knows the truth about his sexuality. With Pop’s blessings and nurturing, Big A.T. is on the path to becoming the next great Hip Hop producer in New York. With the help of Pop and “the family,” a network of secretly gay men in the Hip Hop world, Big A.T. finds success and starts his own music label. He’s signed and worked with some of the biggest Hip Hop artists in the country. One of them is Brooklyn native lyricist, “Tickman.” Together they are making sweet music together. Tickman and Big A.T.’s relationship goes beyond producer and rapper – they become secret lovers. Nothing can stop Big A.T. All of the radio stations play his music. He has money, fame, and Jasmine, his girlfriend who doesn’t know about his secret love for men. However, at the pinnacle of his career, compromising photos of Big A.T. land on the desk of a national news program—and in the hands of his girlfriend. Big A.T., for the first time is at a crossroad in his career: come out publicly with his secret or watch his music empire crumble. Review : Mogul, breathes new life into the dreams of success and hip hop game. Terrance gives you a taste of the forbidden, expected and the unexpected. When the story opens up you are in the midst at the very pinnacle of “Big A.T”’s career. He can’t get much higher than what and where he is. The question arises when he must figure out what his truth is. Great read, that moves along at a quick pace. It harkened back to the Michael Baisden books of old. Watch the video below and see Terrance discuss the book. The VIPS- Scott Paulson Bryant Summary: On a steamy June day in New York City, mega-star rapper TNT gathers a group of four successful men together, childhood friends who called themselves “the VIPs,” signaling the big dreams they all once had. Leo Bradford is a gay publishing magnate who is learning to love again after a devastating tragedy. Barry Chambers is a playboy attorney with a working-class background who is starting to realize that the chip he’s carried on his shoulders all these years doesn’t go too well with the bespoke suits that have become his trademark. Joey Ramirez is a high-flying fashion designer who has managed to triumph over a life of abuse and neglect to become one of the most successful clothiers in the world. And Duke Maynard is a recently-retired NFL star facing the challenges of successfully transferring his competitive energies from his gridiron past to his entertainment world future. Having gone on to live their lives they are faced with a secret from a long time ago. These four men have a history and bond that could be torn apart by a night of passion one of them had long ago. The VIPs, who haven’t seen one another in years, are greeted at the Hotel Gansevoort by openly hostile TNT, who asks them the bombshell question: “Which one of you is my father?” Review : The story reminds you of a time when the “hot it books “came from Judith Krantz. The major themes of friendship, trust and betrayal are key throughout the novel. You will find yourself cheering and leering. I found myself recalling a scene from Scruples that is referenced early in the book that many 1980’s readers talked about for months when the book became a mini-series. It is a must read for commuters. Watch the commercial below for this page turner. Harrold Robbin’s finally has company with these three men.
Paul Rudd, in the title role, walks away with much of the critics’ praise in this ensemble comedy. By Terri Schwartz Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks in “Our Idiot Brother” Photo: Big Beach Films Even with strong performances from the ensemble cast in “Our Idiot Brother,” the Sundance darling is being heralded as Paul Rudd’s movie. Reviews for the comedy, which opened on Friday (August 25), are heralding Rudd’s turn as one of the best of his career. And although the response has been generally positive, critics did take issue with some of the other idiotic parts of the movie. Some found the script’s approach to the characters too formulaic: Rudd’s character might be an idiot, but he is actually a commendable guy when compared to his three jaded sisters, his hippie ex-girlfriend and his wine-drinking mother. Others thought the movie was a bit unconvincing despite its well-meaning message. Still, the jump from “My Idiot Brother” at Sundance to “Our Idiot Brother” in wide-release seems to imply a more inclusive element to the film that resounded with critics. So will “Our Idiot Brother” charm you? Here’s what the critics had to say: The Idiot Brother “Though the ensemble cast is uniformly strong, this is Rudd’s film. His inherent likability and genial manner are ideal for the character. He plays laid-back especially well. (His aging surfer dude in ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ was a variation on Ned.) Watching Rudd bring dimension to what could have been a clownish caricature is the best reason to see this good-natured family comedy. ‘Our Idiot Brother’ is as irresistible and easy to love as a golden retriever.” — Claudia Puig, USA Today The Characters “Peeking out from a curtain of shaggy hair and a beard, Rudd invests Ned with every ounce of the effusive, natural warmth that has become his trademark. And like so many movies in his career, he makes Our Idiot Brother much more tolerable than it deserves to be. Screenwriters Evgenia Peretz and David Schisgall play up Ned’s innocence by making his sisters thoroughly unappealing: Emily Mortimer plays a dowdy, sad-sack hausfrau married to a pompous documentarian (played with withering contempt by Steve Coogan); Elizabeth Banks flails in a misguided brunet pageboy as a ruthless Vanity Fair reporter; and Zooey Deschanel lends spaced-out self-absorption to a lesbian tempted by a similarly navel-gazing male artist.” — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post The Script “You want to laugh at this, except the movie is forcing you to do so. Adultery and dysfunction are cute problems. Deschanel’s character shares a loft with her girlfriend (Rashida Jones, underutilized again and still the best thing here) and a gang of bohemians who don’t get up to anything interesting. Though Deschanel’s compulsion to play another Quirky Performance Artist is satisfied. Banks (shrill careerist) and Mortimer (neurotic wimp) conform to type, too. Ned makes their relationships harder than they already appear to be. He’s a gimmick, and yet without him the movie is just Hanna-Barbera and Her Sisters. Either way, it’s all emotionally counterfeit, and that bogusness infects the comedy.” — Wesley Morris, The Boston Globe The Direction “Efficiently directed by Jesse Peretz, (Ms. Peretz’s brother, evidently quite capable), Our Idiot Brother is a thin, unconvincing movie made likable by the charm and skill of its cast and by a script (by Ms. Peretz and her husband, David Schisgall) peppered with wit and insight. … A handful of scenes — a visit to a cultish self-help seminar, a family game of charades with Mom (Shirley Knight), a profile interview gone off the rails — are sharp, funny and surprising. But the filmmakers mostly look for humor in obvious, picked-over places. Can we please have a moratorium on private-school interviews? Like yoga classes (which this movie blessedly leaves alone), they are hard in real life and suspiciously easy in movies.” — A.O. Scott, The New York Times The Final Word ” My Idiot Brother might have made Ned more of a symbol and less of a person. Where the filmmakers, and Mr. Rudd, go right is making him such a round and sympathetic figure, rather than the desperate, pathetic and/or slapstick character he might have been in different hands. Our Idiot Brother — not My or Your or Their idiot brother — is goofily funny, and silly, and in many ways follows the currents of contemporary comedy into the gulf stream of inanity. And yet Ned turns out to be a strangely moving figure, a comic foil worthy of affection, perhaps even respect.” — John Anderson, The Wall Street Journal Check out everything we’ve got on “Our Idiot Brother.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Jenna Jameson . Her name is synonymous with sex. Embodying everything that we loved about porn in the 1990s, this big-boobied blonde-haired babe is sheer X-rated perfection. From her debut in 1994’s Up and Cummers 10, where she had a sextacular three-way with Kylie Ireland and Randy West , to her fully frontal mam-eo appearance in the Howard Stern biopic Private Parts , Jenna was taking over the world of skintertainment. She even won herself a place in the Mr. Skin Hall of Fame. Jenna spent most of her porn career indulging her penchant for muff-diving and taking dildos in her holes in her trademark girl-girl scenes, but Mr. Skin is now proud to offer at no extra charge some rare uncensored footage of Jenna getting freaky and having sex with guys on camera in Jenna Loves Justin ! And if you’re into leather, you’ll want to check out her kinky lesbian BDSM show in Jenna Loves Pain . With some things a little goes a long way. But naked Jenna Jameson in hardcore action is definitely not one of those things. So if you’re in the mood to see Ms. Jameson get nude, lewd, and screwed, hop on over to JennaJameson.com , where you can check out tons more content, including some smoking hot scenes of Jenna getting Sapphic and graphic in no-hole-barred girl-girl action with Belladonna , Janine Lindemulder, and Nikita Denise . And as always, MrSkin.com members get 40% off the monthly rate. Jenna Jameson. Accept no imitations.
Will Smith was spotted shooting a “Men In Black III” scene in New York yesterday (April 7). He suited up again in his trademark black-and-white tux and walked the streets of Queens, New York as fans and extras watched on. Director Of Willow Smith’s “Annie” Remake Quits! Will Smith’s Wax Figure Unveiled To Honor Black History Month [PHOTOS]
Singer even cleans up his look during Elton John week — though the trademark beard stays put. By Adam Graham Casey Abrams performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX Following last week’s dramatic judges’ save, Casey Abrams was reborn on Wednesday’s (March 30) “American Idol.” Abrams initially came into the competition one of the favorites to win it all, though a series of health problems and a couple of bum performances — including last week’s train-wreck take on Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” — stalled his momentum to the point where America sent him packing. But the judges threw their weight behind the shaggy-haired soul man, and this week it was up to him to prove they made the right decision. But first, he had to deal with the fallout from last week’s performance. When mentor Jimmy Iovine rolled tape of Abrams’ Motown week effort, the singer found it difficult to even watch. “You know what was wrong with that performance?” Iovine asked. Abrams sheepishly replied “some … things?” while Iovine corrected him: “Everything!” Iovine went on to say Abrams “killed himself” with the Gaye cover, saying he’d lost his way in the competition and needed to refocus. Producer Rodney Jerkins was just as critical, but had a far more concrete solution to Abrams’ problems: “Get rid of the beard.” Abrams took Jerkins’ advice to heart and took his mug to Baxter Finley, a Los Angeles barber shop, where a team of skilled professionals trimmed his bushy facial fuzz and hacked away at his unkempt hair. The results weren’t unveiled until Abrams hit the “Idol” stage, though it wasn’t as dramatic as the segment led viewers to believe. Instead, Abrams’ look was simply a fresher, cleaner version of the wild man he’d come to be known as — Abrams 2.0, if you will. His performance was where he really showed his rededication to the competition. Taking on Elton John’s “Your Song,” Abrams stayed seated and didn’t do laps around the studio as he did during Motown week or thrash in place as he did during his risky take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” two weeks prior. He dialed himself way back, delivering the song in a comfortable, heartfelt manner and letting the lyrics take over. (Some tabloid reports have tied Abrams to fellow contestant Haley Reinhart, though there was no word whether he was singing the song to his alleged new squeeze.) Eventually, he let out his inner Casey, grunting a few notes near the song’s close, but overall it was the most reserved he’d been onstage yet. He delivered a high closing note that noted music scholar Randy Jackson would later identify as a Major 9. Jackson called the performance “brilliant,” “nice” and “tender,” while Steven Tyler praised Abrams’ range of styles, saying that makes him a “true artist.” Jennifer Lopez called the performance “very Casey” and reiterated that the judges made the correct decision by keeping him around. “Along the way, we’ve had to make some hard decisions and send some really, really great people home, and I’ve lost sleep over that. But one decision I didn’t lose one ounce of sleep over was saving you,” she said. “I slept like a baby!” What did you think of Casey Abrams’ performance? Let us know in the comments! 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 10 Performances
Singer even cleans up his look during Elton John week — though the trademark beard stays put. By Adam Graham Casey Abrams performs on “American Idol” Wednesday Photo: FOX Following last week’s dramatic judges’ save, Casey Abrams was reborn on Wednesday’s (March 30) “American Idol.” Abrams initially came into the competition one of the favorites to win it all, though a series of health problems and a couple of bum performances — including last week’s train-wreck take on Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” — stalled his momentum to the point where America sent him packing. But the judges threw their weight behind the shaggy-haired soul man, and this week it was up to him to prove they made the right decision. But first, he had to deal with the fallout from last week’s performance. When mentor Jimmy Iovine rolled tape of Abrams’ Motown week effort, the singer found it difficult to even watch. “You know what was wrong with that performance?” Iovine asked. Abrams sheepishly replied “some … things?” while Iovine corrected him: “Everything!” Iovine went on to say Abrams “killed himself” with the Gaye cover, saying he’d lost his way in the competition and needed to refocus. Producer Rodney Jerkins was just as critical, but had a far more concrete solution to Abrams’ problems: “Get rid of the beard.” Abrams took Jerkins’ advice to heart and took his mug to Baxter Finley, a Los Angeles barber shop, where a team of skilled professionals trimmed his bushy facial fuzz and hacked away at his unkempt hair. The results weren’t unveiled until Abrams hit the “Idol” stage, though it wasn’t as dramatic as the segment led viewers to believe. Instead, Abrams’ look was simply a fresher, cleaner version of the wild man he’d come to be known as — Abrams 2.0, if you will. His performance was where he really showed his rededication to the competition. Taking on Elton John’s “Your Song,” Abrams stayed seated and didn’t do laps around the studio as he did during Motown week or thrash in place as he did during his risky take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” two weeks prior. He dialed himself way back, delivering the song in a comfortable, heartfelt manner and letting the lyrics take over. (Some tabloid reports have tied Abrams to fellow contestant Haley Reinhart, though there was no word whether he was singing the song to his alleged new squeeze.) Eventually, he let out his inner Casey, grunting a few notes near the song’s close, but overall it was the most reserved he’d been onstage yet. He delivered a high closing note that noted music scholar Randy Jackson would later identify as a Major 9. Jackson called the performance “brilliant,” “nice” and “tender,” while Steven Tyler praised Abrams’ range of styles, saying that makes him a “true artist.” Jennifer Lopez called the performance “very Casey” and reiterated that the judges made the correct decision by keeping him around. “Along the way, we’ve had to make some hard decisions and send some really, really great people home, and I’ve lost sleep over that. But one decision I didn’t lose one ounce of sleep over was saving you,” she said. “I slept like a baby!” What did you think of Casey Abrams’ performance? Let us know in the comments! 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 10 Performances
Good for BronBron and ‘em: Nothing personal, Heat fans, but LeBron James loves playing away from Miami. Greeted by scattered boos from a sellout crowd following his trademark chalk clap at the scorer’s table before the game, James just smiled. It was a reminder he was playing on the road, where he says he has his best games. James scored 43 points, including 23 in a dominant third quarter, and the Heat beat the slumping Atlanta Hawks 106-85 on Friday night. When asked what led to his big game, James said: “Just the road.” “That’s the similarity,” he said. “All on the road. I enjoy being on the road, I enjoy playing against not only the opposing players but the opposing fans. It’s fun.” James’ season high was 51 points at Orlando on Feb. 3. He began the night averaging 27.2 points on the road and 25.0 in Miami. Marvin Williams scored 15 points and Damien Wilkins had 14 for the Hawks, who have lost seven of 10. Atlanta’s top scorer among its starting five was Horford, with only 11 points. “We’re struggling right now,” Horford said. “We’re really trying to find ourselves. … We’ve had some good times, but we’re going through a real rough patch right now.” James said he “absolutely” could see his big third quarter break the Hawks’ will. “You make backbreaking 3s and pull-up jumpers and things like that, you continue to get stops, you can see that you start to wear them down,” James said. James had half of Miami’s points in leading the Heat to an 86-57 lead through three periods. James then put on his warmup suit and watched the final period from the bench. James was 8 for 8 from the field in the first half, when he had 20 points. He was just getting started. He made eight of 13 shots from the field in his 23-point third quarter. Incredibly, it wasn’t his most productive 12 minutes of the season. James had 24 points in the third quarter at Cleveland on Dec. 2. The Hawks went about 5½ minutes without a field goal in the third period as Miami turned the game into a rout with a procession of 3-pointers and three-point plays. James and Wade each had two 3-pointers in a 12-0 Miami run. James then added a dynamic three-point play, scoring on a scoop over Jamal Crawford, who was called for the foul. James then took a long walk past the Atlanta bench, staring at the crowd of 20,024, before adding the free throw for a 73-42 lead. The Hawks’ frustrations grew with their deficit. James hit two free throws with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter to give him 40 of Miami’s 80 points. He complained after he was fouled by Zaza Pachulia late in the period. The officials then huddled and called a flagrant foul on Pachulia. James made both free throws as Hawks coach Larry Drew complained to the officials that they were giving James superstar treatment. SMH. Well at least these fools have a reason to smile now. We were sick of all that crying bullsh*t!! Source
