Plus: Pauly gets burned … and robbed. By Jim Cantiello Vinny on the “Jersey Shore” on Thursday night Photo: MTV Thursday night’s “Jersey Shore” brought back season-one hookups and introduced a new kleptomaniac, while Pauly’s “GTL” game is all out of whack thanks to a gnarly tanning-bed sunburn. Plus, Vinny’s anxiety disorder caught up with him and the fan favorite moved out of the house for some R&R. Oh no! Click on the embedded video below to catch my five favorite moments from this week’s “Jersey Shore.” 5. Jionni Gets Wet After the gang got caught in the rain, Snooki’s man Jionni needed some dry threads. What a guy the Situation is! Gives Jionni the clothes off his back and gives America the need for brain bleach yet again when he brings up the rumor that Snooki’s mouth and his “situation” are intimately familiar with each other. Woof. 4. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner At Karma, the girls got a little tipsy. Obvs. And Deena shared an adorable euphemism for getting her sex on. I wonder what Snooki calls it! So in other words, sex with Deena is like winning a trip to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and sex with Snooki is like a flavorless, usually dry overcooked slab of meat. Noted. 3. Face Off DJ Pauly D said, “Screw SPF” and ended up S-O-L. That sound could only mean one thing: A “Jersey Shore” r-r-r-r-r-remix!!! 2. Sticky-Fingered Hookup Later, Pauly got down a DTF girl, but as soon as the smooshing ended, Pauly’s long national nightmare began … To add insult to injury, DTF girl turned out to be Winona Ryder with a touch of that crazy Israeli girl from season one. Because the next day? “Ding dong, here’s your chain that I stole. Yay, I’m back on television! Hi, mom, I’m a star!” God help us if she keeps coming back to find her missing shoes. I’m on to you, shady lady. 1. Vinny Leaves?! Ugh, feelings? Boring! Get drunk, f— a girl … I don’t watch this show for touchy-feely crap. Boooo! But seriously, poor Vinny says he’s having severe anxiety attacks. I know what will make him feel better. Vinny, smack Snooki in the face with your balls. Still depressed? Hmm, that usually works. I don’t know what’s gonna happen! Vinny actually left?!? So now who has the biggest penis in the house? This is important, “Jersey Shore”! Don’t leave us hangin’! Pun intended? For continuing “Jersey Shore” coverage, be sure to check in with MTV’s Remote Control blog. Related Videos Jersey Shore High 5 Recaps! Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up: Vinny One-On-One Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up Related Photos Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Flipbook
Plus: Pauly gets burned … and robbed. By Jim Cantiello Vinny on the “Jersey Shore” on Thursday night Photo: MTV Thursday night’s “Jersey Shore” brought back season-one hookups and introduced a new kleptomaniac, while Pauly’s “GTL” game is all out of whack thanks to a gnarly tanning-bed sunburn. Plus, Vinny’s anxiety disorder caught up with him and the fan favorite moved out of the house for some R&R. Oh no! Click on the embedded video below to catch my five favorite moments from this week’s “Jersey Shore.” 5. Jionni Gets Wet After the gang got caught in the rain, Snooki’s man Jionni needed some dry threads. What a guy the Situation is! Gives Jionni the clothes off his back and gives America the need for brain bleach yet again when he brings up the rumor that Snooki’s mouth and his “situation” are intimately familiar with each other. Woof. 4. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner At Karma, the girls got a little tipsy. Obvs. And Deena shared an adorable euphemism for getting her sex on. I wonder what Snooki calls it! So in other words, sex with Deena is like winning a trip to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and sex with Snooki is like a flavorless, usually dry overcooked slab of meat. Noted. 3. Face Off DJ Pauly D said, “Screw SPF” and ended up S-O-L. That sound could only mean one thing: A “Jersey Shore” r-r-r-r-r-remix!!! 2. Sticky-Fingered Hookup Later, Pauly got down a DTF girl, but as soon as the smooshing ended, Pauly’s long national nightmare began … To add insult to injury, DTF girl turned out to be Winona Ryder with a touch of that crazy Israeli girl from season one. Because the next day? “Ding dong, here’s your chain that I stole. Yay, I’m back on television! Hi, mom, I’m a star!” God help us if she keeps coming back to find her missing shoes. I’m on to you, shady lady. 1. Vinny Leaves?! Ugh, feelings? Boring! Get drunk, f— a girl … I don’t watch this show for touchy-feely crap. Boooo! But seriously, poor Vinny says he’s having severe anxiety attacks. I know what will make him feel better. Vinny, smack Snooki in the face with your balls. Still depressed? Hmm, that usually works. I don’t know what’s gonna happen! Vinny actually left?!? So now who has the biggest penis in the house? This is important, “Jersey Shore”! Don’t leave us hangin’! Pun intended? For continuing “Jersey Shore” coverage, be sure to check in with MTV’s Remote Control blog. Related Videos Jersey Shore High 5 Recaps! Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up: Vinny One-On-One Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Hook-Up Related Photos Jersey Shore (Season 5) | Ep. 2 | Flipbook
‘My most greatest creation was you,’ Jay tells his newborn daughter on ‘Glory’ By Rob Markman Jay-Z Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/ FilmMagic Only two days old and young Blue Ivy Carter has already clocked in a duet with her big poppa. On Monday (January 9), Jay-Z dropped “Glory” featuring B.I.C. on his Life and Times blog. Over a simple but soulful loop, Jay dedicates his bars to he and Beyonc
With a new series from Steven Spielberg plus the return of ‘Mad Men’ and many others, TV addicts have a lot to get hyped about. By Jim Cantiello The cast of “Jersey Shore” Photo: MTV “Revenge,” “American Horror Story,” “New Girl,” 2 Broke Girls,” “Girl Girl” (OK, we made that last one up). Coming off one of the most satisfying fall seasons in recent memory, 2012 has a lot to live up to in order to keep TV addicts hyped up in the new year. Admit it, couch potatoes: We’ve been spoiled. Can the upcoming midseason keep the momentum going? Perhaps the biggest hope for viewers is Steven Spielberg ‘s “Smash,” a new musical series starring “American Idol” alum Katharine McPhee and “Will & Grace” star Debra Messing. Although “Glee” comparisons are unavoidable (OMG, people are singing songs and dancing on prime-time TV!), the extended previews suggest a more mature affair. “Smash” is a warts-and-all depiction of what it’s like to create a new Broadway show. Competing actresses, sparring producers, Anjelica Friggin’ Huston in your living room chewing scenery every week … What’s not to love? Spielberg isn’t the only movie maverick headed to the television world this year. “Paranormal Activity” mastermind Oren Peli is partially responsible for ABC’s “The River,” in which a travelogue host goes missing in the Amazon, sparking a rescue mission led by his wife, son and former TV crew. Will Peli’s patented “found footage” device work on the boob tube? Small-screen suspense is hot thanks to Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” whose addictive first season wrapped up before Christmas. However, Murphy’s Achilles heel is sustaining quality and buzz over multiple seasons (see “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee”), so fans are cautiously optimistic for its return in the fall. Murphy also has his hand in a new sitcom pilot about a gay couple and a surrogate that caused a bidding war between all the major networks, not to mention several feature films in development and the third season of “Glee,” which continues to roll along. Fingers crossed Murphy can stay focused enough on F/X’s breakout gothic hit to keep season two just as juicy and batsh– as its debut. Speaking of shows that derailed after one season, “Heroes” creator Tim Kring is back on the network horse, bringing the touchy-feely father-son drama “Touch” to Fox this spring. The premise? Kiefer Sutherland plays a widowed dad struggling to take care of his mute, autistic son. Can’t wait to watch Ryan Seacrest awkwardly interview Kiefer in the “Idol” audience about that one. There’s a mini-“Lost” reunion happening on Fox thanks to “Alcatraz,” J.J. Abrams’ latest. It’s a (what else?) convoluted mystery that takes place on an island! Instead of plane crash survivors, this one’s about long-deceased guards and inmates reappearing decades later. Hurley (a.k.a. Jorge Garcia) co-stars. No word yet on whether the smoke monster will make a cameo. In 2011, MTV had a breakout year with scripted television thanks to action-packed “Teen Wolf” and sharply hilarious “Awkward.” Both of your faves will be back this summer, with “Teen Wolf” expanding to 24 episodes and “Awkward.” boasting new love woes for Jenna. Brooklyn-based comedy “I Just Want My Pants Back” will get the full-season treatment in February. And millions of fist-pumpers will be happy when America’s most popular partiers get belligerent in Seaside Heights when the fifth season of “Jersey Shore” spreads like an STD on January 5. On the opposite end of the TV spectrum, AMC’s “Mad Men” will finally be back in March. We’ve waited longer than usual for new Don Draper exploits thanks to a behind-the-scenes kerfuffle between show creator Matthew Weiner and the cable network. Now that the contracts have been signed, we can all jump back into the adventures of the 1960s advertising world. For those of you who forgot where we left off (spoilers on the way), Don’s engaged to secretary Megan, his (crazy!) ex-wife is shacking up with a politician, Joan’s preggers and their preteen daughter is a chronic masturbator. And you wonder why this show wins a million Emmys. The other Emmy favorite, “30 Rock,” has found itself stuck between a very odd rock and hilarious hard place now that Kim Jong-il has passed away. Remember, last season ended with Jack Donaghy’s wife, Avery Jessup, kidnapped in North Korea and forcibly married to Jong-il’s son Kim Jong-un. Given the breaking news, the show’s sixth season may need to re-vamp its planned plotline with Margaret Cho as the recently deceased dictator. Showrunner Robert Carlock recently told the press that “30 Rock” plans on airing the episodes they’ve already banked with Cho and aren’t even sure they’ll kill off her character at all. Sounds twisted! Reality junkies are stoked for the second season of Lifetime’s “Dance Moms,” launching January 10. Pittsburgh’s leading instructor for aspiring Broadway starlets Abby Lee Miller is looking to add a new dancer to her competitive troupe. Grab-the-popcorn alert: A new dancer means a new mom with whom she will clash. Loudly. Plus, producers have smartly signed on rival Candy Apples dance instructor Cathy Nesbitt-Stein for another batch of episodes. 2012 will also bring us explosive new seasons of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (long in the can and still making headlines thanks to public feuds between castmembers), Oxygen’s late-bloomer “The Glee Project” and a bigger, badder, bolder “X Factor” this fall. “X”-man Simon Cowell recently promised a “blood bath” behind the scenes. RIP awkward host Steve Jones? Aspiring fashionistas have a lot to add to their DVRs. ABC Family’s latest is called “Jane by Design,” sort of a weekly “Devil Wears Prada” for the teenage set. NBC is premiering Elle Macpherson and Jessica Simpson’s reality competition “Fashion Star” in March. Lifetime is airing a full “Project Runway All Stars” season (featuring MTV News fave Sweet P!) as well as a new show called “24 Hour Catwalk,” hosted by Alexa Chung. The CW has a “Kitchen Nighmares”-type series about modeling agencies called “Running Out of TV Ideas,” I mean, “Remodeled.” Lastly, Rachel Zoe’s former assistant Brad Goreski gets top billing in Bravo’s “It’s a Brad, Brad World,” beginning January 2. That’s a lot of look. And finally, as if you need any reminding, “American Idol” is back for its 11th season on January 18. Last year boasted beefy ratings despite star Simon Cowell jumping ship, a winner who shattered Billboard country records and more frilly scarves than HSN’s stockroom courtesy of new judge Steven Tyler . However, last year’s “AI” premiered in a pre-“Voice,” pre-“X Factor” landscape. With NBC’s blind-auditions-and-Xtina-in-a-swivel-chair gimmick returning in a cushy post-Super Bowl spot (where, coincidentally, “Idol’s” sophomore season kicked off in 2003), and with “The X Factor” shattering pre-conceived notions of what reality production value can be, will the aging Fox staple now seem quaint? Or perhaps it will feel like a familiar hug from a grandmother. Regardless, even if the reality juggernaut loses half its audience, it will still make the network oodles of money. In other words, “American Idol” may outlive us all. What shows are you most excited to see return? Any new series already set on your DVR? Let us know in the comments! 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The problem with Taylor Swift ’s Hunger Games single “Safe & Sound” is – sorry, Swifties – Taylor Swift. Taken on its own it’s a perfectly lovely slice of discordant Americana pop that wisps beautifully with Swift’s reedy warbling as she sings about protecting loved ones as a war rages outside. But as a Hunger Games song… as what promises to be the Hunger Games song associated with the movie (besides Rue’s iconic ditty within the film), it leaves something to be desired precisely because Swift is singing in the spirit and voice of Katniss Everdeen . And you, my adorable little Taylor, are no Katniss Everdeen. Here’s the thing: I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the oeuvre of Taylor Swift. Do I sing along every time “Love Story” comes on the radio? Fine, yes. Will I ever forget the ear-bleedingly bad live performance she gave at the 2010 Grammys, as horrified duet partner Stevie Nicks gamely powered through? Never. It haunts my waking dreams. And yet Swift is just too bubbly and cute to loathe, dammit. Remember her in Valentine’s Day , all track shorts and legs and smiles? She’s like a crinkle-haired bubblegum-singing bunny rabbit. There is no hating her. So it’s not that I hate Swift as I listen to the twangy strains of “Safe & Sound,” as backed by the band The Civil Wars. But as the first song released from the Hunger Games soundtrack it’s the film’s leading pop single, the one that will be associated with the beloved book’s adaptation from the get go in mainstream media. And it’s kind of disappointing that Swift’s voice is so overpoweringly front and center whilst crooning about life from Katniss’s perspective. Consider another recent pop single from a beloved YA film franchise: Bruno Mars’s Breaking Dawn ditty. Now that’s a catchy, hook-filled number that dances the line between Mars’s signature sound (okay, so it sounds exactly like a Bruno Mars song) while being vaguely related to the themes of the film. Something about if you go away it will rain and your father not approving of your “troublesome” boyfriend. Sure. Why not? Bruno Mars isn’t singing as if he’s Bella Swan. We are not meant to identify him with our heroine, hence Mars seems as if he was simply influenced to write a love song after Netflixing Twilight or something. In Swift’s case, she’s singing as if she is Katniss. And therein lies the problem. Give this song to a singer with a less confrontational voice (Gillian Welch, if she was 17?) and it’d be instantly more palatable. The showy breathiness of Swift’s voice never lets you forget that it’s Taylor Swift singing. I imagine this playing over the end credits of The Hunger Games , a seemingly contemplative coda to the senseless carnage Katniss lives through in the series’ first installment, and Swift’s voice needling its way into my head from the first verse, breaking through my Hunger Games afterglow. TAYLOR SWIFT TAYLOR SWIFT TAYLOR SWIFT is all I fear I’ll be able to think as I exit the theater come March. Worse: The idea of Taylor Swift channeling Katniss Everdeen – singing her life with her words! Killing me softly, and not in a good way! — is an unfathomable vision that does not compute. Put Swift in the Cornucopia and she’d be the first to go down, no question. I’d almost rather Jennifer Lawrence sung the theme song herself. I know it makes total sense for Lionsgate given the tween/teen/YA demographic of The Hunger Games movies, which aim to fill the Twilight gap, and the universal truth that all 13-year-olds love and worship Taylor Swift. But not all of us Hunger Games fans are members of the Taylor Swift fan club. Can we at least graduate to less wimpy pop stars (How about Demi Lovato ? She’s been to rehab !) for the Catching Fire soundtrack? Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
‘Twilight’ Tuesday takes a look at the big years ahead for the duo — aside from ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2.’ By Kara Warner Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” Photo: Summit What better way to kick off the new year than with a detailed analysis of what 2012 has in store for our favorite “Twilight” lovebirds, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart? In addition to the highly anticipated franchise finale, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2,” Pattinson and Stewart both have other projects on the horizon. For this week’s “Twilight” Tuesday, we examine the superstars’ next must-see movies. On Pattinson’s slate, there are two films of note: the saucy period piece “Bel Ami” and the David Cronenberg-directed drama “Cosmopolis.” Neither film has an official release date yet, but because “Bel Ami” opens in the U.K. on March 2, we hope that means a U.S. release will soon follow. Pattinson and co-star Uma Thurman have not underplayed the fact that there is a lot of sex in the movie, which is evident in the trailer , and there’s also plenty of Pattinson’s “crack” — his words, not ours. For the one or two Pattinson fans not interested in seeing their favorite actor’s bare bum in “Ami,” perhaps “Cosmopolis” will suit your needs. The story is based on Don DeLillo’s novel of the same name and revolves around young multimillionaire Eric Packer (Pattinson) through a single day as he attempts to cross Manhattan in order to get his hair cut. According to Cronenberg, it’s a role that really showcases Pattinson’s acting chops. “Really, he’s fantastic. He’s sensational,” Cronenberg told MTV News . “Really, I’m telling you. He’s a great actor. It’s obvious in the movie. It’s not like maybe yes, maybe no. It’s obvious.” Switching gears toward Stewart’s 2012 film forecast, the 21-year-old has a very busy year ahead of her, with the release of “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “On the Road.” Fans first get to see Stewart’s sword-wielding skills as Snow White in Rupert Sanders’ new telling of the classic fairy tale. “Snow White and the Huntsman” — or “SWATH,” as it’s been commonly referred to on the Internet — opens June 1 and shows us a side of Stewart we haven’t yet seen. Stewart has been gushing about the project since filming began and might even be hoping for sequels. “I’ve got stars in my eyes. I’m literally over the moon about what I’m doing right now,” she told MTV News of her work on “Huntsman.” After that, we’ll have a look at the long-awaited “On the Road,” which doesn’t officially have a release date but has been rumored to debut at some point during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The film — based on Jack Kerouac’s beloved semiautobiographical treatise on the Beat Generation and his road trips with a collection of colorful characters — features an eclectic cast, including Garrett Hedlund, Tom Sturridge, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Riley, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortenson and Steve Buscemi. Who has the edge here? We have lots of naked Pattinson vs. a sword-wielding Stewart — it’s very tough to call. Not to mention the fact that they’ll be back onscreen together in “Breaking Dawn – Part 2” on November 16. Perhaps the 2012 winners will be fans of the “Twilight” twosome! Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @karawarner with your thoughts and suggestions for future “Twilight” Tuesday columns! Related Videos MTV First: ‘Breaking Dawn’
Surging presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is under fire for a remark at a campaign event Sunday in Sioux City, Iowa, where he apparently brought up the plight of black people completely out of the blue. Or did he? According to reports, Santorum said “I don’t want to make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Mediaite Discovery Date : 02/01/2012 18:27 Number of articles : 3
The latest ad from the RNC uses the words of high ranking Democrats to points out the failed promises of the Obama presidency. Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Red Dog Report Discovery Date : 02/01/2012 22:35 Number of articles : 2
Nicki Minaj performed her biggest songs of 2011 on Dick Clark’s annual New Years Eve special! The Barb rocked out in a blonde wig and Jetson-like ensemble. Nicki Minaj & Her Boyfriend Get Matching Bentleys The Young Money leading lady even performed “Roman In Moscow” which had to be edited to the point that you almost couldn’t hear any of the words. Nicki Minaj Lands #1 Spot On Entertainment Weekly’s “Best Singles Of 2011″ We love how daring Nicki’s fashion can be! “Superbass” “Turn Me On” Roscoe In Moscow
The filmmaking in Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation is so spare and unfussy that, save for the occasional camera jiggle, you’re barely aware of the filmmaking at all. This is a drama about two families — one deeply religious, one not — who clash over an escalating series of misunderstandings, and the emotion Farhadi teases out of this increasingly complex situation are unvarnished but restrained. Nothing earth-shattering happens in A Separation , but the straightforwardness of this view of a disintegrating marriage, set in the context of complicated cultural and religious morés, is dramatic by itself. The movie opens with a couple, Simin (Leila Hatami) and Nader (Peyman Maadi), appearing before a judge to hear Simin’s petition for divorce. The couple have been planning to leave Iran with their 11-year-old daughter, Termeh (Sarina Farhadi). But Nader calls off the move at the last minute, realizing he can’t leave his ailing father behind. Simin wants to, and is willing to, leave without him, to build a better life for her daughter. The judge — whom we can hear but not see — stops her to ask archly if she thinks her daughter won’t be able to have a good life in Iran. He also suggests that he can’t grant her a divorce unless she can prove Nader is a genuinely bad husband — if, for example, he’s an addict, or he beats her, or he fails to give her an allowance. Simin is quick to assert that Nader is a good person, and you can guess the verdict the judge is about to come out with: If Simin really wants what’s best for her daughter, she must stay in Iran with her husband. But if that sounds like a personal — or even a social — victory for Nader, the male head of his household, it isn’t. Farhadi has made a somewhat old-fashioned melodrama. Simin does leave Nader and Termeh, but she doesn’t leave the country: She packs her things and goes to live with her mother. The complication pile-up begins when Nader hires a 30-ish woman, Razieh (Sareh Bayat), who happens to be pregnant, to care for his father; in other words, Razieh will assume the duties that Simin, clearly a devoted daughter-in-law, used to perform. Razieh arrives the next day to care for the old man, with her young daughter (Kimia Hosseini) in tow, but the job appears to be too much for her. We also see that she’s deeply, conservatively religious, and it’s suggested, for reasons that become clear later, that she has reason to fear the wrath of her husband, Hodjat (Shahab Hosseini). This is Farhadi’s fifth picture — his previous movie, About Elly , won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2009 — and he doesn’t always have full control over his wayward, tangled storyline. Significant unseen events are explained, after the fact, by mere lines of dialogue; there’s perhaps too much telling here and not enough showing. But without making an overt statement about the political, social and religious climate in Iran, Farhadi — who also wrote the script — packs a lot of quiet anger and frustration into the picture. Like his compatriot Jafar Panahi, Farhadi is attuned to the plight of women in Iran, the way their needs and desires are subjugated to those of their husbands. But he shows how this system fails men, too: Nader becomes charged with a crime that, it seems, he didn’t knowingly commit — in any event, his “knowing” is difficult to prove. And even though his wife has been instructed to stay with him, it’s impossible to legislate a human being’s love. As far as his marriage goes, the law may rule in Nader’s favor, but it can’t bring him happiness, and his misery — even as it’s veiled by his more obvious machismo — is clear every minute. The performances here, particularly those of Hatami and Maadi, are subtle and quietly heartfelt. These characters intend to do the right thing despite their own deep, personal pain, but they’re highly imperfect beings struggling to live in an even more imperfect world. A Separation doesn’t try to make easy sense of that world, or of this family’s suffering. It’s simply a quiet cry of anguish. Follow Stephanie Zacharek on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
