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Lindsay Lohan Completes Probation

Judge tells troubled actress, ‘stop nightclubbing and focus on your work.’ By Gil Kaufman Lindsay Lohan Photo: FilmMagic Lindsay Lohan got some good news on Thursday when she appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court and a judge formally ended her lengthy supervised probation from two 2007 DUI arrests. Wearing a powder blue pants suit, the troubled actress earned praise for completing her court-mandated counseling sessions and 480 hours of community service. According to the Los Angeles Times , at the final probation status check in for Lohan in connection with a shoplifting conviction and probation violations from the 2007 arrests, Judge Stephanie Sautner said Lohan had finished her obligations for counseling and community service in “short of a year and she has done everything this court asked her to do.” The actress completed the final counseling sessions and community service work at the Los Angeles County morgue earlier this week. Sautner then announced that the five years of probation for the DUI case were officially over and that she was putting Lohan on unsupervised probation for the shoplifting incident until May 2014. “The only terms for you are for you to obey all laws,” Sautner said. “You don’t need to come to court anymore.” In addition to countless court appearances, Lohan has been jailed several times 
 for violations stemming from drug use to failing to do her required community service. Clearly pleased, Lohan, 25, told the judge, “I just wanted to thank you for being fair. What you’ve done has really opened a lot of doors for me.” Lohan has been working on getting her career back on track, recently appearing in an episode of “Saturday Night Live” ,
 booking a “Glee” gig 
 and signing up to play Elizabeth Taylor 
 in a TV movie. But, before the hearing ended, Sautner had one more piece of advice for Lohan. “Stop nightclubbing and focus on your work,” she counseled. Related Artists Lindsay Lohan

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Lindsay Lohan Completes Probation

Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian Model Swimwear, Pose for Your Vote

Kim Kardashian has shaken off the flour and put on the bikini. Earlier today, Bruno Schiavi – the co-creator of the Kardashian Kollection Swimwear line; i.e. the man who actually did all the work while Kim, Khloe and Kourtney stood on various red carpets around the country – posted a photo to Facebook of these stars in designers bathing suits, adding the caption: ”First look at our new Kardashian Kollection Swimwear campaign! The girls look incredible!!!!!” The beach and pool attire will be available at Sears for anyone who, for reasons that defy comprehension, wish to resemble one of the Kardashians. And, of course, the image got us thinking: Which of these sisters would you prefer to get your Ray J on with? Vote now:

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Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian Model Swimwear, Pose for Your Vote

Game Calls Trayvon Martin Death Proof ‘Stupidity Still Exists’

‘We as a people have always been targeted,’ Compton MC tells MTV News of teen’s racially charged shooting death. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia Morris The Game Photo: MTV News The tragic killing of Trayvon Martin has had Americans across the country rallying for justice. But rapper Game believes, as others do, that the 17-year-old’s death is part of a deeply rooted racial issue. “I think that from the beginning of mankind, we as a people have always been targeted,” the Compton MC told MTV News on March 22. On February 26, Martin was shot dead by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman as he walked back to the home of a family friend in a gated Sanford, Florida, community. Zimmerman told police that he believed Martin — who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt — looked suspicious. After a call to 911, the dispatcher advised him not to pursue Martin. But Zimmerman reportedly ignored those instructions and pursued Martin anyway. When police arrived on the scene, the teen was dead. Although Zimmerman admitted to the shooting, police declined to arrest him citing the state’s Stand Your Ground law, which allows a person to kill in cases of self-defense. Trayvon’s parents, community leaders and protestors were outraged and have been crying for justice ever since. “For some, reason people don’t think that they need any excuse to kill us, beat us, hit us, run us over, disrespect us or anything like that,” Game said of the country’s history of racial tension and violence. “I’m far from racist,” he continued. “I’m very educated and intellectual and I understand how life works and how people of all colors exist under the sun, but it just seems like more than not black people are, I don’t know, there’s always some negative occurrence that goes on in our existence. This is just another reminder that stupidity still exists.” On Monday, the Orlando Sentinel reported that unidentified investigators in the case told them that Zimmerman had a different take on the events of February 26. The 28-year-old told law enforcement that Martin struck him and bashed his head on the ground before he shot the teenager in the chest, killing him. Share your thoughts on the Trayvon Martin case in the comments below. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Game Related Artists The Game

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Game Calls Trayvon Martin Death Proof ‘Stupidity Still Exists’

‘American Idol’ Castoff Erika Van Pelt ‘Went Crazy’ With New Look

‘It helped me come out of my shell a little bit more,’ singer tells MTV News of Tommy Hilfiger-assisted makeover. By Christina Garibaldi Erika Van Pelt Photo: MTV News “American Idol” contestant Erika Van Pelt may have disagreed with the judges’ critiques of her rendition of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” but with the help of famed designer Tommy Hilfiger, she may have stolen the show when she drastically changed up her hairstyle from mid-length blond to a short black cut. But unfortunately for Van Pelt, it wasn’t enough to save her from elimination from the show. Even though Van Pelt won’t be rocking out on the “Idol” stage anymore, she has no regrets about her makeover. “I love it, and it’s funny ’cause everyone was so shocked,” Van Pelt told MTV News on Monday. “I’ve gotten good responses, but they’re like, ‘Wow you really did that? You’d be bold enough and audacious enough to do that?’ But the funny thing is people don’t know I do this at home. I’ve been doing this my entire life.” And it seems that she’s not the only one who is enjoying her new look, which she said she was planning for quite some time. “My friends, my family, my fanbase were really digging it,” she said. “It helped me come out of my shell a little bit more. When Tommy Hilfiger came on as an image consultant, we started to talk about it. I had already had it in my mind that I wanted to do something drastic with it. I didn’t know what, so when I got the green light, I went crazy.” Van Pelt, who will stay with the shorter hairstyle but might change the color, is now looking forward to hitting the road for the “Idol” tour. But after that, she is ready to branch out on her own. “After the tour is done, I honestly want to get right to work,” she said. “I want to work on my first album, I want to do a ton of writing, I even want to get involved in acting and musical theater. I would love to be involved maybe on Broadway. I’m just a hard worker and I don’t care, 12-, 16-hour days, I’ll put the work in this. It’s what I want to do.” During her time on “Idol,” Van Pelt drew comparisons to Pink, Kelly Clarkson and Janis Joplin, but it’s British songstress Jessie J who the singer truly admires. “I’ve been listening to a lot of Jessie J. She’s totally amazing,” the singer revealed. “She’s got millions of fans and I still think she’s underrated — amazing vocals and she’s fearless. She doesn’t make any excuses for who she is … she’s just totally 100 percent herself.” The two singers have more in common than you might think. “Actually, for a while I had the shoulder-length dark hair with the straight-across bangs,” Van Pelt said. “That was before I started listening to Jessie J, and then I saw her and I was like, ‘Whoa!’ ” What do you think of Erika’s new look? 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.

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‘American Idol’ Castoff Erika Van Pelt ‘Went Crazy’ With New Look

‘The Voice’ Unveils 24 Finalists Before Going Live

Cee Lo appears most moved by his teams’ performances as he breaks into tears during rehearsals. By James Dinh Tony Vincent in “The Voice” Photo: NBC It’s the final round of face-offs for the contestants of “The Voice.” On Monday night (March 26) the remainder of the aspiring singing superstars dueled it out in the last stage in front of judges Christina Aguilera , Adam Levine , Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green . Fans of “The Voice” will begin to have their say in the performance outcomes when the NBC series goes live next Monday. Team Christina As one of the night’s most interesting duels, Xtina paired up THE LiNE and Moses Stone to tackle the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Worried about how they’ll sound, the country twosome tried to take advice from their pop-star judge. “If you’re going to be a career artist, I think you’re going to need to know how to morph into kind of someone else’s energy,” she proclaimed. Alongside mentor Lionel Richie, Xtina urged Moses to explore his voice and utilize his gift to its full potential. Problems arose over at THE LiNE’s prep time, with Jewel criticizing their “wedding band” similarities. But everyone caught heat during rehearsal time when Xtina called her team out for not using the stage entirely. Moses sounded like the champion mid-performance when he broke off for an original verse during the performance, but ultimately Adam and Blake favored THE LiNE. Xtina ended up going her own way and choosing Moses. “Just to know that I made my couch happy and she was really proud of me means the world to me,” Moses said backstage. Team Blake With only one pair of contestants left in the game, Blake told Naia Kete and Jordan Rager they would take on Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours.” Even though the country superstar admitted that the tune would probably fit more to Naia, he said Jordan had a more of an opportunity “to blow people away.” Later on, Blake’s decision to take Jordan out of his element appeared problematic as he revealed that he doesn’t harmonize very often. And mentor Miranda Lambert wasn’t completely impressed with Jordan’s take, admitting that he had a lot of work to do. “A lot of the work is not about singing. It’s about inside his heart and his mind,” she said. Kelly Clarkson served as Naia’s mentor and suggested that the singer take some vocal risks toward the end of the number. Both contestants took a friendly approach to their battle as they spent much of the number circling each other with smiles. Even though Jordan lost some of his nerves, Naia shined the brightest with her vocal acrobats and styling, and because of that, all the judges, including Blake, sided with the neo-soul songstress. Team Cee Lo Cee Lo’s first pairing of the night exemplified how unpredictable some battles can get as he brought together James Massone and WADE. Upon telling the couple that they’d be battling it out to Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” James showed some major hesitation and lack of confidence, saying the song is simply “not his style.” Putting in some rehearsal time, the duo ended up bringing the judge to tears as they make their way through the 1986 classic. “Oh my God. It’s something about that song that makes me cry. I’m proud of y’all, man,” Cee Lo said. Even though the odds appeared in WADE’s corner, he struggled to stay on pitch and lacked the confidence displayed during rehearsal time. After some words from the judges, the vote was unanimous: James was sent to the next stage in the competition. For the first time in the night, Justin Hopkins and Tony Vincent appeared content to battle it out over one of Cee Lo’s all-time favorite songs, Journey’s “Faithfully.” In pairing up two very different singers, Justin admitted his fear over Tony’s range and Broadway background. Emotions got the best of Cee Lo once again during prep time, as he removed his sunglasses and wiped away some tears. During mentoring time, Babyface came in to advise Tony and suggested the vocalist step up his strengths. “Tony’s a pro!” the R&B veteran admitted. Justin appeared to take more away from his one-on-one mentoring time with Cee Lo and Ne-Yo, as he attempted to mirror some of their notes. Once the duo began their performance, it became clear that both contestants put a very different spin on the Journey classic. However, Cee Lo found Tony’s vocal styling more suitable in comparison to Justin’s rough twist and advanced him to the next round. Team Adam Mr. Maroon 5 wasted no time in announcing that Nicolle Galyon and Mathai would go head-to-head, covering Sara Bareilles’ “Love Song.” Surprised that the judge would pair such a contrast of vocalists together, Mathai appeared worried about how she would fare against Nicolle. And, as expected, Nicolle talked to Adam about beginning the song on the piano — only to be warned that her vocals shouldn’t be compromised because of the instrument. “I’m really excited to rock out on the piano,” she said, adding, “It’s really an advantage. It makes me … me.” With the guidance of Adam and mentor Robin Thicke, Nicolle feared Mathai’s abundance of attitude. Mentor Alanis Morissette was on hand to help out Mathai in techniques the young singer wasn’t familiar with. Rehearsal time shook things up for the duel, as Adam decided to eliminate Nicolle’s piano. Ultimately, it is Mathai who prevailed over Nicolle for stage presence and the skill that was emphasized during rehearsal time. Up next for Adam’s team was a duel between Karla Davis and Orlando Napier. Despite his initial song pick (Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl”), Karla and Orlando were relieved when Adam switched up his choice in favor of the Commodores’ “Easy.” Leaving her nerves behind, Karla let go and used her 20-minute prep time to shake off reservations with Alanis Morissette as her mentor. Orlando benefited from his time with Robin Thicke by learning about note enunciation. Orlando kicked off the performance with some strong notes and confidence, but Adam picked Karla as his winner, citing how much she’s blossomed throughout the competition. Moving On

‘American Idol’ Castoff Erika Van Pelt ‘Confused’ By Judges’ Advice

‘I’ll be honest, I felt there was a lot of contradiction,’ Van Pelt tells MTV News after her elimination. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino Erika Van Pelt Photo: MTV News To just about anyone who tuned in to this week’s “American Idol,” Erika Van Pelt’s exit was a shocker, to say the very least, especially since her performance of “New York State of Mind” was one of the highlights. But also because, you know, Heejun Han is still on the show . Rather than using her three minutes to goof off, Van Pelt genuinely seemed determine to put her best foot forward on Wednesday night, whether it was listening to “Idol” judges’ previous advice to minimize her onstage movements or taking designer Tommy Hilfiger’s hairstyling tips to heart. Oh, and then she delivered a sultry, soulful version of the Joel classic, all of which seemed to guarantee she’d be safe … for at least another week. But, as it turns out, that wasn’t the case, and on Thursday night’s results show , it was Van Pelt who was sent packing. And immediately after her ouster, let’s just say Van Pelt was still trying to figure out what went wrong — though she’s got a pretty good idea of where to start. “I felt confused every week, I’ll be honest,” she told MTV News. “I felt there was a lot of contradiction, and as an artist and someone who takes their singing very seriously, it’s hard for me to take critique of my work, period, and then when you feel like you sorta have people telling you one thing and then telling you something completely different the week after, it’s hard. “Because constructive criticism to me is something I can go home, work on, fix and come back and say, ‘Here, I fixed it.’ I feel what happened to me in this competition was I would take all the advice, I’d work on things, I’d bring something different to the table, and they’d tell me the complete opposite. It’s been really hard for me, I can admit that.” And to that end, when asked which judge or mentor actually provided her with the best guidance, Van Pelt took a diplomatic pause and then answered rather truthfully: none of them. “This might sound really weird, but I feel like my fellow contestants taught me the most,” she said. “We have this inner-working where we all help each other, we all offer up our advice … it’s all about throwing these ideas out and never telling someone what they should do; it’s about giving them suggestions.” Of course, she did add that, ultimately, her “Idol” exit was of her own doing. “I will never blame anyone for misleading me in any way, shape or form; I’m a grown woman,” she said. And she’s grateful for all the opportunities the show has provided for her, chief among them being that, for a while at least, she doesn’t have to go back to her day job as a wedding DJ. “I don’t think I’ll be doing any DJ’ing for a while,” she laughed. “To be totally honest, I need to sleep!” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Castoff Erika Van Pelt ‘Confused’ By Judges’ Advice

Nas Makes ‘History’ With Heavy D-Produced ‘The Don’

‘When Salaam played me the beat for it, I said, ‘That’s the single,’ ‘ Nas tells MTV News of Life Is Good track. By Nadeska Alexis Nas Photo: MTV News Nas is gearing up to release his 10th studio album, Life Is Good, this summer, and the Queens MC gave fans a first taste of the anticipated LP last week with the premiere of his new single, “The Don.” The track features production from Salaam Remi, Da Internz and the late Heavy D, who died suddenly in November. Before taking the stage at South by Southwest this past weekend, Nas acknowledged the significance of having Heav’s touch on his new single. “When Salaam played me the beat for it, I said, ‘That’s the single — do this and do that and we’re golden.’ So he started flipping it around,” Nas said of the first time he heard the instrumentals. “When we heard that Heavy D died, of course we were messed up, and Salaam called me and told me, ‘You know your record “The Don”? You know who gave me that, right?’ “He’s like, ‘Heavy D gave me that. He liked what we did with the other single, “Nasty,” and he sent me this record.’ And the rest is history,” Nas continued. “So rest in peace, Heavy D.” Life Is Good will be Nas’ first solo album since 2008’s Untitled, and the LP is slated to arrive by late May or early June. “It’s a summer album,” Nas told MTV News. “We’re gonna shoot the video for ‘The Don’ and get ready for the next song that’s in the chamber. It ain’t gon’ stop. It’s a whole story. ‘[The] Don’ just dropped, so we’re just letting that bubble and setting up the next one.” Before Nas rolls out Life Is Good, fans can catch him on the song “Champion,” which appears on Nicki Minaj’s upcoming sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. “Nicki hit us up, I got love, so it was nothin’ — I did the record,” he said of his work on the track. Related Photos Heavy D: Life, Music And Friends Related Artists Nas Heavy D & The Boyz

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Nas Makes ‘History’ With Heavy D-Produced ‘The Don’

‘Walking Dead’ Cast Reflects On ‘Shakespearean’ Death

‘Once you get to this level of expansion, you have to pop,’ Norman Reedus tells MTV News about Jon Bernthal’s villain, Shane Walsh. By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Kara Warner ‘Walking Dead’ Stars Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus Photo: MTV News The death of Shane Walsh on “The Walking Dead” wasn’t exactly shocking to comic-book readers, though the manner of the divisive character’s exit was certainly a surprise: In the source material, Shane is shot and killed by Carl, whereas on the TV show, the disgruntled ex-cop was stabbed in the heart by his old friend Rick — a change the “Walking Dead” cast has described as nothing short of Shakespearean. “There was so much of the love triangle [between Shane, Rick and Lori] that happened, and that had to go somewhere,” actor Norman Reedus told MTV News. “It’s almost sort of Shakespearean in a way. “[Actor Jon Bernthal] did such a good job with that character and taking it some place,” Reedus continued. “And I think once you get to this level of expansion, you have to pop. … That’s what it felt like to me.” Reedus’ co-stars Steven Yeun and Melissa McBride agreed with his assessment. For them, it was the actual night of shooting Shane’s death that sticks with them the most. “Seeing the work that Jon and [Andrew Lincoln] and everybody put towards that story line, it’s awesome,” Yeun shared. “I remember we gathered to watch that final scene, and it was like, they did it like 50 times, and each time you were just like, ‘Holy F…’ You know? It’s so good.” McBride agreed: “It was so unsettling to see them when we were watching the scene being filmed. It was unsettling to see the two of them in that arrangement there. After all they’d been through, and as close as they’d been, it was very strange.” Strange, but monumental. To date, “Walking Dead” has been largely about Rick and Shane’s story. To lose one of those characters as early as season two definitely marks a major shift for the series. “They started the show together, like best buddies right off the bat,” Reedus said. “And to see that pop at the end was, yeah, it was a big deal.” Were you surprised by Shane’s death? Tell us in the comments below! Related Photos Zombies Take Over New Jersey In Annual ‘Zombie Walk’

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‘Walking Dead’ Cast Reflects On ‘Shakespearean’ Death

Whitney Houston’s “The Bodyguard” Back On The Big Screen

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Fans of Whitney Houston can relive one of the highest points of her career on March 28th when “The Bodyguard” hits movie theaters for one night only! Before you start thinking that the re-release of the film is to capitalize off of Whitney Houston’s death, its not…really. 2012 happens to be the year that will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the movie. Although the event will not be branded as a “tribute” to Whitney Houston, it will surely be an opportunity for fans to reflect on Whitney’s amazing acting and singing talents. Warner Bros will screen “The Bodyguard” in more than 400 theaters across the country.  If you’re in Atlanta, check out the AJC to see where the movie will be playing locally.

Whitney Houston’s “The Bodyguard” Back On The Big Screen

Gunfire Erupts At Derek J’s Buckhead Hair Salon! [VIDEO]

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The “J Spot” salon in Buckhead, owned by celebrity stylist Derek J , was the scene of a shooting yesterday after a cross-town stylist got mad one of his customers was unhappy with his work and went to Derek J to fix her hair. The gun-toting stylist’s customer was Keyshia Cole’s sister, Neffe . According to Channel 2 News , Neffe had gotten her hair done by another salon and was unhappy with the results, so she went to Derek J’s salon to get her hair fixed. Derek J called Neffe’ stylist to figure out what he did to her hair, and Derek said the conversation turned into an argument. A few hours later the stylist showed up to the J Spot with a gun and fired a shot. Fortunately no one was hurt. Derek J appears frequently on the Real Housewives of Atlanta and also starred in Chis Rock’s documentary, Good Hair . RELATED: Derek J’s Top 3 Tips To Maintaining Healthy Hair [VIDEO] “Hair Battle Spectacular” Host Derek J Reveals Top 3 Celeb Hair Trends [VIDEO] Celebs Attend The Bronner Bros Hair Show [PHOTOS]

Gunfire Erupts At Derek J’s Buckhead Hair Salon! [VIDEO]