Beyoncé - Party
- Artist: Beyoncé
- Label: Columbia Records
- Director:
Gunnar Johansson Peter Johansson Rick Johnson Gary Jones Mark Jones
05/30/2012
'Catching Fire' Finnick Fever: Casting Rumors Heat Up!
'Catching Fire' Finnick Fever: Casting Rumors Heat Up!
'Hunger Games' sequel reportedly eyeing Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch and Garrett Hedlund for the role; let's take a closer look.
By Fallon Prinzivalli
Armie Hammer
Photo: Getty Images
Fans have been rallying behind their favorite actors to star in "The Hunger Games" since the books were released. The most popular character to speculate about is Finnick Odair, who makes his debut in the franchise's second novel, "Catching Fire."
With the movie set to begin filming in the fall, rumors have been flying surrounding who will land the role of the dreamy District 4 victor. Most recently, Robert Pattinson was linked to the part, and even though fans supported him, he quickly denied those rumors.
With countless actors' names tossed into the casting hat, there's speculation that the film may be down to its final three choices for Finnick. E! Online reports a source who revealed the top guys in the running are "Battleship" star Taylor Kitsch, "The Social Network" actor Armie Hammer and "TRON: Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund. When MTV News reached out to Lionsgate for confirmation, we received this statement: "Like the first film, Lionsgate won't be commenting on any of the rumors until we officially announce."
Alongside "Bridesmaids," "The Hunger Games" is the most-nominated film at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards landing eight nods including Best Kiss, Best Cast and the coveted Movie of the Year. Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for Best Actress, Josh Hutcherson is up for Best Actor and Liam Hemsworth has a shot at Breakthrough Performance. There's still time to vote for your favorite stars before the awards air this Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET by heading over to MovieAwards.MTV.com. So while we wait to see which film is your favorite and which leading man is joining this incredible cast of stars, we thought we'd take a look at the good and bad of each actor landing the role of Finnick.
Taylor Kitsch
The Good: If you've seen "Friday Night Lights," you know Kitsch's ability to play a self-assured character. As womanizer Tim Riggins, he certainly knows how to gaze at a lady until she swoons. Finnick exudes the same arrogant charm — though he's more of a one-woman man. At one point in "Catching Fire," he reads a poem to the citizens of the Capitol dedicated to his one true love, and many of the audience members faint, believing it's about them. Kitsch certainly has that same charisma to capture viewers' attention.
The Bad: Kitsch's huge roles aren't gaining him any box-office success. After Disney shelled out $250 million on the epic "John Carter," it raked in only $30.6 million domestically its first weekend in theaters. Similarly, he headed up Peter Berg's "Battleship," which was released in theaters May 18 and currently has a 34 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While he'd be a supporting character to Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss, he may need the success of the franchise more than the franchise needs him.
Armie Hammer
The Good: Like Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, Hammer played a vital role in a film nominated for Best Picture at the 83rd annual Academy Awards. With "The Social Network" under his belt, he'd fit right in with Lawrence, who was nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Winter's Bone," and Hutcherson, whose film "The Kids Are All Right" was also nominated for Original Screenplay. He can hold his own in the spotlight and already understands the fame that comes with a wildly popular film. If the casting directors continue on their award-winning path, choosing Hammer is a no-brainer.
The Bad: His tight schedule may conflict with "The Hunger Games" when it begins filming. He's currently working on "The Lone Ranger" with Johnny Depp and is already linked to three other films with tentative 2013-14 release dates: "By Virtue Fall," "Cut Bank" and "2:22." Since this role is so important to fans, they won't want an actor who may not be able to devote 100 percent to the project.
Garrett Hedlund
The Good: Hedlund recently made his way to the Cannes Film Festival, where he debuted his film "On the Road" alongside "Twilight" star Kristen Stewart. While the film itself received mixed reviews, Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly singled out Hedlund's acting, writing, "The best thing in the movie is Garrett Hedlund's performance as Dean Moriarty. ... [He] is as hunky as the young Brad Pitt, and like Pitt, he's a wily, change-up actor. He gives Dean eyes that glitter with a seductive enthusiasm that borders on being a little cracked." Did that last sentence also instantly remind you of Finnick, "Hunger Games" fans?
The Bad: While he's been fairly successful in films like "Country Strong" and "Four Brothers," he hasn't had enough roles allowing him to prove his abilities to take on such a large project. The role of Finnick may shock him a bit, especially considering the fame that's sure to come along with it. But then again, he could always ask Stewart for advice.
While we wait to hear who will officially be taking on the role of Finnick, catch your favorite "Hunger Games" actors at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.
Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live this Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.
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Spotted: Jamie Lynn Spears and Maddie Pose Poolside
Spotted: Jamie Lynn Spears and Maddie Pose Poolside
Spears, 21, Tweeted a series of pictures of herself and her 3½-year-old daughter, Maddie Briann, spending Memorial Day weekend poolside.
 Courtesy Jamie Lynn Spears |
Jamie Lynn Spears and her daughter are beating the summer heat — or at least sunbathing in it.
Spears, 21, Tweeted a series of pictures of herself and her 3½-year-old daughter, Maddie Briann, spending Memorial Day weekend poolside.
One of the photos, which showed the mother-daughter pair smiling in bikinis with their arms around each other, was captioned “#littlegirls #littlemoments.”
Spears has recently begun following in the footsteps of her elder sister Britney and pursuing her own music career, but says Maddie is always her number one priority.
RELATED: Jamie Lynn Spears: I’m Afraid of Not Being a Good Mom
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Christopher Nolan Was 'Nervous' About Including Catwoman In 'Dark Knight Rises'
Christopher Nolan Was 'Nervous' About Including Catwoman In 'Dark Knight Rises'
Director tells Empire magazine that his brother Jonathan convinced him 'there would be a great way to do it.'
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in "Dark Knight Rises"
Photo: Warner Bros
Christopher Nolan's first two Batman films firmly established the tone and terms of his version of Gotham City. The character would feel more real. Bruce Wayne's gadgets would have basis in actual military technology. Overall, Nolan's Caped Crusader would feel truer to today's world, allowing for parallels to exist more organically.
So it almost seemed out of character when Nolan announced Catwoman and Bane as the two newest additions to the universe in "The Dark Knight Rises." A cat-themed burglar and a luchador-mask-wearing, Venom-dependent super-genius doesn't naturally fall under the categories of "realistic" and "organic."
In the latest issue of Empire Magazine, Nolan opens up about his decision to include Catwoman in his take on the Batman mythos; not surprisingly, it took some convincing on the part of his brother Jonathan.
The brothers Nolan collaborated on the screenplays for "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Dark Knight" with David S. Goyer, and when it came time to decide whether Selina Kyle would make an appearance in the series before it came to a close, Jonathan strongly supported the notion, eventually convincing his older brother of the same.
Why did Jonathan Nolan feel so strongly about including Catwoman? He tells Empire that for their vision of Batman to be complete, they simply couldn't leave her out. "What we're endeavoring to do here is tell a complete take on the Batman mythos. And a complete take of the Batman mythos without the character for me was sacrilegious," Nolan said. "You've gotta have her, because she has a delicious greyness to her that helps define who Batman is. She keeps wavering on this line of, 'Is she a good guy or a bad guy?' Well, she's kind of neither. And that's why, to me, that relationship and that character only enhances the universe — and the Batman character."
But fitting her into the world provides a challenge unto itself. Part of that transformation manifests itself simply in the character's name. According to the article, Selina Kyle is never once referred to as Catwoman in the script. Most of the translation, however, comes with the basic conception of the character.
"Catwoman is a very iconic figure in the Batman pantheon," Christopher Nolan conceded. "I was nervous about how she would fit into our world. But [Jonathan] was very much convinced that there would be a great way to do it and eventually turned me around. Once I got my head around the idea of looking at that character through the prism of our films, saying, 'Who could that person be in real life?' we figured it out. She's a bit of a con-woman, something of a grifter. A hard-edged kind of criminal."
Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live this Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.
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UFC Headed to Nottingham, Dan Hardy Likely to Appear on the Card
UFC Headed to Nottingham, Dan Hardy Likely to Appear on the Card
After alluding to a UFC event slated to take place in Nottingham, England on last week's episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live, UFC president Dana White has confirmed the promotion's plans to hold an event in Dan Hardy's hometown. The Nottingham event is expected to take place on September 29 at the Capital FM Arena.
With his first-round knockout victory of Duane “Bang” Ludwig over the weekend, Dan Hardy saved his job with the UFC – he may also have secured an opportunity to perform in front of his countrymen.
After alluding to a UFC event slated to take place in Nottingham, England on last week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live, UFC president Dana White has confirmed the promotion’s plans to hold an event in The Outlaw’s hometown.
“That [fight card] is happening and Dan will probably be on that card,” White said at the UFC 146 post-fight press conference.
Hardy rebounded from a four-fight losing streak on Saturday night when he floored Ludwig with a left hook and finished him with elbows. The victory salvaged his UFC career and also earned the Brit a cool $70,000 Knockout of the Night bonus.
The Nottingham event is expected to take place on September 29 at the Capital FM Arena. Paul Sass, another Brit who earned a first-round finish on Saturday’s fight card, has also been named as a likely participant in the event.
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05/29/2012
Madonna Performs A Reductive Version Of ‘Born This Way’ During Tour Rehearsals
Madonna Performs A Reductive Version Of ‘Born This Way’ During Tour Rehearsals
Remember back in January when Madonna sat down for an interview with ABC News and she expressed her belief that Lady Gaga not only “refrences” her a lot in her music but does so in a “reductive” way? Yeah, well, Maddy is these days having a little fun with that belief. Madonna famously commented that [...]
Remember back in January when Madonna sat down for an interview with ABC News and she expressed her belief that Lady Gaga not only “refrences” her a lot in her music but does so in a “reductive” way? Yeah, well, Maddy is these days having a little fun with that belief. Madonna famously commented that Gaga‘s song Born this Way is a reductive version of her 1989 song Express Yourself. During tour rehearsals in Tel Aviv this weekend, Madonna soundchecked a performance of Express Yourself and segued into a short rendition of Born this Way. It’s unknown if the Born this Way segue will be featured during Madonna‘s concert performance but at least know that during rehearsals, she is having a bit of fun with the fact that Gaga‘s song sounds exactly like her own song. Click below to watch video and hear Maddy‘s Express Yourself/Born this Way mash-up.
In a leaked video from Madonna’s May 27 tour rehearsal in Tel Aviv, Israel, the “Express Yourself” singer mashed up her classic hit with a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” Madge has previously commented on Gaga’s song, which is often compared to the 1989 smash “Express Yourself,” in several interviews. After telling Newsweek that it was a “wonderful way to redo” her own song and that she “recognized the chord changes,” she told ABC’s “20/20″ that “Born This Way” “felt reductive.” “I certainly think [Gaga] references me a lot in her work,” Madonna said in the ABC interview. “And sometimes I think it’s amusing and flattering and well-done. When I heard ['Born This Way'] on the radio … I said, ‘that sounds very familiar.” About a minute into the shaky video above, Madonna’s performance of “Express Yourself” becomes a cover of “Born This Way,” as she rehearses for her MDNA world tour, which kicks off May 31 in Tel Aviv and wraps at the end of December.
LMAOOO! Normally, I’m really annoyed when celebs continue to drag out public “feuds” but this is pretty hilarious. I find it highly unlikely that Madonna decided to sing a few bars of Born this Way as a compliment … tho, I’m sure some Gaga fans will take it as such (but many others will take it as an insult, undoubtedly). This kind of behavior is totally Madonna. She can throw shade better than almost anyone but in the most entertaining way possible. We’ll have to wait and see if this Born this Way homage will surface again when the MDNA World Tour kicks off this week but even if not, this video from rehearsals is humorous enough. I love this so much, even tho I prolly shouldn’t.
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05/28/2012
Next international edition of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ will pit the United Kingdom against Australia
Next international edition of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ will pit the United Kingdom against Australia
After success in Brazil with an international spinoff of "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC will head Down Under, with fighting prospects from the United Kingdom taking on UFC hopefuls from Australia. The new show, called "Smashes," will cast in London on June 12 and Sydney June 15.
According to UFC officials, it's playing off the natural rivalry between Aussies and Brits. To the press release:
"Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC's Octagon," said Marshall Zelaznik, UFC's Managing Director of International Development. "The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn't had the chance to show the world what he can do — The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We're going to discover the UFC's future stars, you can bet on it."
TUF, American style has already produced plenty of British and Australian UFC veterans. Michael Bisping won season three and then went on to coach a host of Brits on season nine. Ausses George Sotiropoulos and Kyle Noke also made their name on TUF.
There is no word on coaches yet, but American fans can look forward to plenty of subtitles on English-speakers. Most of Team UK from season nine had that honor. By sheer history alone, my money is on Australia. Remember, they are descended from the British convicts of yore.
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'Dark Knight Rises' Footage To Debut During MTV Movie Awards!
'Dark Knight Rises' Footage To Debut During MTV Movie Awards!
Director Christopher Nolan and stars Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman will present the footage on Sunday, June 3.
By Kara Warner
Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises"
Photo: Warner Bros.
Not to toot our own horn, but since their inception in 1991 the MTV Movie Awards have proven to be one of the hippest parties in town. Not only is the annual event a major draw for the who's who in Hollywood, via the A-list nominees, presenters and performers, but there are always a few unexpected surprises and special sneak peeks from Hollywood's most anticipated upcoming releases.
We are proud to announce that this year's live broadcast will feature the debut of exclusive new footage from one of the summer's most highly anticipated movies, "The Dark Knight Rises." And if that's not exciting enough, the film's writer/director Christopher Nolan and stars Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman will be on hand to introduce the never-before-seen footage. If you've been following the news surrounding Nolan's third and very likely final Batman film, you know that plot details have been kept under lock and key, so any chance to see anything new from the film ahead of its July 20 release is definitely cause for celebration.
MTV also announced Thursday (May 24) that "Magic Mike" stars Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey have been added to the impressive lineup of presenters, which also includes: Adam Sandler, Emma Watson, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Mila Kunis and Mark Wahlberg. In addition, chart-topping indie-pop group fun. and rapper Wiz Khalifa are set to perform.
MTV fans hold the "Power of the Popcorn" in their hands, with voting available online via MovieAwards.MTV.com through Saturday, June 2. As always, voting for Movie of the Year will remain open throughout the live show Sunday, June 3.
Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.
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Stranger Danger
Stranger Danger
My sister recently had a talk with my four-year-old nephew Jack about strangers. Here's how it went:
SISTER: Now, Jack, if a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you something," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to give you some candy," what do you do?
JACK: I turn around and run!
SISTER: If a stranger says, "Come here, I want to show you my puppy," what do you do?
JACK: Oh, I love puppies...
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05/27/2012
MMA in New York bill fails again
MMA in New York bill fails again
Though MMA earned a victory when Vermont decided to legalize the sport last week, it suffered a defeat when a bill to legalize the sport was stopped before it could reach the floor. Assembly leader Sheldon Silver decided the bill didn't have enough votes to pass.
After years of lobbying and hoping to have an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the UFC is disappointed that they will have to fight on another year. Zuffa vice president of government and regulatory affairs Marc Ratner was unhappy that the bill didn't even come to a vote.
"I feel 150% if we had a vote on the floor of the Assembly, we would win," Ratner said. "Not to get a vote is un-American."
Earlier this year, UFC president Dana White "guaranteed" that MMA would be in New York this year. He said the UFC wanted to bring fights not just to NYC, but to Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, too.
Losing the chance to get MMA in the third largest state is particularly hard to swallow considering the UFC just brought an event to the NYC-area over the weekend. Though the UFC on Fox 3 fights and weigh-ins were in East Rutherford, N.J., other pre-fight events were in Manhattan. They showed how an event can bring money to the area, but still were spurned by the legislature.
Will MMA make it to the Empire State? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
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Jessica Simpson And Beyonce: From One Mommy Mogul To Another
Jessica Simpson And Beyonce: From One Mommy Mogul To Another
Maxwell's mom can learn a lot from another superstar mama, Queen B.
By John Mitchell
Jessica Simpson is basking in the glow of new motherhood after giving birth to her daughter, Maxwell Drew Johnson, on Tuesday, but if we know anything about celebrity moms, she'll be back to work in no time flat.
While she hasn't released an album of new material since 2008's country crossover record Do You Know, Simpson remains a true mogul. Her fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection, is the most successful ever for a celebrity. What began as a vanity line of bags and shoes has transformed into a billion-dollar brand that now also includes clothing, jewelry, fragrances and sunglasses.
The dueling pulls of motherhood and celebrity create a tough balancing act for a new mom, but being a mogul already is evidence enough that Simpson can wear a lot of hats. Just look at Beyoncé, another multi-hyphenate superstar with a newborn who is already plotting her return to form.
Indeed, Queen B is a perfect example of exactly how to balance early motherhood with the rigors of being a mogul. She's done things her way and is readying her musical comeback with several planned dates in Atlantic City, currently appears on the cover ofPeople's Most Beautiful issue (a covert and classy post-baby body reveal, in true Beyoncé style) and has even suggested she may at some point create a line of maternity clothes for her House of Dereon fashion line, telling Harper's Bazaar late last year, "I love figuring out designs that still make me feel edgy and sexy while pregnant."
Here are the three ways Jessica should look to Beyonce for post-baby mommy mogul inspiration:
Bouncing Back Professionally
Simpson's focus has switched from music to television in recent years, though she has never ruled out returning to the studio. Motherhood is a subject that has proven to be ace songwriting material for several pop divas, most notably Madonna. Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light was inspired by the changes having a child had on her life, from her pursuit of spirituality post-baby to the change in her priorities once Lourdes entered the picture. The album went on to become one of her best-selling and most acclaimed, scoring five Grammy nominations, including Album and Record of the Year, and winning three awards. Its success reinvigorated the star, who returned to touring a few years later with a bang and has been on the road multiple times since, setting records along the way.
Beyoncé is reportedly already working on not one, but two records, and it goes without saying that baby Blue Ivy and the experience of motherhood will be a chief topic of her songwriting. She's also set to make her return to the stage for three concerts at the re-launch of Atlantic City's Revel Entertainment Center over Memorial Day weekend.
Simpson would be smart to put all the emotions she's feeling now to good use and start penning tracks for her return to music. The very emotions she's feeling now are the things that make for the best songs, something Beyoncé is seemingly well-aware of.
Working on Your Fitness
Jessica seems intent to make her post-baby weight loss a public affair (Get it? That song is her most underrated jam!) with a reported multimillion-dollar endorsement deal with Weight Watchers, clearly taking a cue from B by keeping it healthy.
Unlike so many other celebrities, who rush hard in ways that cannot be good for them to get their figures ready for "How I Got My Body Back" tabloid photo shoots as if it were some sort of competition, Beyoncé didn't appear to feel any sort of rush to get her pre-baby figure back. According to her People interview, she has relied on a healthy, protein-heavy diet and three 90-minute workout sessions per week, mixing things up by combining running, dancing and exercise ball crunches. And the results speak for themselves: Four months later she looks fantastic, if not yet back to her perfect pre-baby figure. (Which is just fine; regardless of what the tabloids tell you, it is unnatural for the mother of a newborn to look as if she never had a baby in the first place just a few months after giving birth.)
"I feel my body bouncing back," B told People. "Whatever was tight and muscular, like my legs, I'm seeing it come back. You just have to work at it."
And work at it is exactly what Jessica will do — just in a more public setting than B. In the scheme of diets, Weight Watchers is among the healthiest and most effective. The program helps participants lose weight by forming helpful habits, eating smarter, getting more exercise and providing support, and has proven successful for such celebs as Jennifer Hudson.
Having negotiated her contract with the company in December, she may not be taking her cues from Beyoncé here, but they clearly share the same mind-set when it comes to post-baby weight loss. Slow, steady, healthy and long-term is the goal.
Creating Products
While Beyoncé doesn't have a line of baby clothes just yet, she has mentioned being interested in creating a maternity line for her House of Dereon label. Jessica may have a leg up on Beyoncé in this department, given the breadth of products that have popped up under her Jessica Simpson Collection label.
As both moms search for ways into the elusive baby market, Christopher Gavigan, who works with Jessica Alba on her Honest brand, told MTV News that he urges celebrity moms like B and Jessica to stick to what they love when it comes to branding.
"Find what you're passionate about and go do that," he advised. "You articulate that in a brand or in a way you feel from a business perspective that you feel you get your focus articulated in some meaningful or special way. A lot of it is partnerships and leveraging the greatest assets of each other."
What else can Jessica learn from Beyoncé — or vice versa? Let us know in the comments below!
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Rapper Eminem Is Working On His Next Album
Rapper Eminem Is Working On His Next Album
Rolling Stones magazine today reported that Detroit rapper Eminem has started work on his next solo record. The album will be his first solo venture for a few years, since 2010′s Recovery, and will be the followup to Hell The Sequel, the debut from his collaborative project with Royce da 5’9″ in the form of [...]
Rolling Stones magazine today reported that Detroit rapper Eminem has started work on his next solo record. The album will be his first solo venture for a few years, since 2010′s Recovery, and will be the followup to Hell The Sequel, the debut from his collaborative project with Royce da 5’9″ in the form of Bad Meets Evil. In the mean time Eminem is also completing work on a new album from the hip-hop group Slaughterhouse, which is due out June 12th. Are you an Eminem fan?
“I’m kinda getting into my next record a little bit,” the rapper said in an interview with Hot 97′s Peter Rosenberg this morning. The man who revealed that he was seriously bullied as a child and teen, and whose real name is Marshall, has been very busy making music of late, but he hasn’t done his own solo work for a while. He has been acting as the executive producer for the band Slaughterhouse’s new record, Welcome To: Our House, and collaborated with the rapper Royce da 5’9″ but for the past 2 years, Eminem hasn’t released, or spoken about, his own solo work. We don’t yet know what he is working on or what sort of time frame he is planning, but we do know that there will be some new sounds from the Detroit rapper in the near future. Are you an Eminem fan?
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Lil Wayne Releases Pusha T Dis 'Goulish'
Lil Wayne Releases Pusha T Dis 'Goulish'
Days following the release of a new Pusha T record, Tunchi responds to the Virgina native.
Photo: Daniel Boczarski/ Getty Images
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05/26/2012
The Weighty Issues of Anthony Johnson
The Weighty Issues of Anthony Johnson
MMAFrenzy's Jesse Denis takes a look at the weight issues of Anthony "Rumble" Johnson from his UFC days to his current trouble before his Titan Fighting bout against David Branch. While Johnson technically made weight for the bout, the bout was changed from a middleweight to catchweight bout only a week ago.
Anthony Johnson
It’s really just become another MMA meme at this point. Former UFC fighter Anthony has once again missed weight for an upcoming bout, this time against David Branch at Titan FC 22. Johnson tipped the scales 194.2 lb.
If it were anyone else, one would have to assume that something went wrong in camp, but it’s Anthony Johnson. The very reason “Rumble” is no longer under the Zuffa banner is his constant propensity to flake out on the scales. Looking back on his career, one will find that Anthony Johnson has failed to make weight on four separate occasions, across two weight classes, no less.
The majority of the Blackzillian fighter’s career was spent at welterweight, which seems almost unfathomable for reasons we’ll delve into later. Johnson, a massive individual who is known to balloon up to around 220 lb in between fights, first failed to hit the mark against Rich Clementi at UFC 76, his fifth professional bout. Johnson tipped the scales at 177, citing an undisclosed injury, he would eventually fall to a rear-naked choke at 3:05 of the second stanza.
A little over two years later at UFC 104, now owning a 7-2 record, the Georgia native would again miss weight. Johnson came in at 176 lb. Fortunately for “Rumble”, he blitzed Yoshiyuki Yoshida in a mere 41 seconds. Johnson revealed that a knee injury which kept him out of a previous bout was at fault.
After amassing a 10-3 record at welterweight, he’d had enough of the hard weight cuts; he would move up to middleweight to challenge Vitor Belfort at UFC 142. In what proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, Johnson, now given 15 extra pounds of leeway, missed the mark by an egregious 12 lb. UFC president Dana White had enough, “He moved to middleweight so we wouldn’t have to deal with this problem,” stated the outspoken president, going on to say he was “beyond pissed”. Johnson had such a hard time making the 185 lb limit, that his kidneys ostensibly shut down. He immediately needed to stop the weight cutting process and be given IVs. Belfort finished “Rumble” at 4:59 of the opening period of their meeting.
With that, Zuffa brass and MMA fans alike were fed up with the heavy-hitter. He was handed his walking papers almost immediately after the bout. “I decided I was going to fire him on Friday when he missed weight again,” said White, still disgusted. Losing his place in the world’s premier MMA promotion ostensibly didn’t do much for Johnson. As previously mentioned, he has missed weight again by 9 lb in his post-UFC debut, again at middleweight.
Either Johnson is one of the fighters with the absolute worst luck in the history of the sport or there is another problem. Given his recent move to the Blazkzillian team, joining consummate professionals the likes of Rashad Evans, we know the issue doesn’t lie within the walls of his camp. The inability to make middleweight after years of fighting at a weight that is 15 lb lower shows that the problem is with “Rumble” himself.
Johnson has shown in his various outings that he is very athletic, yet he somehow can’t do the one thing he is required to do before fights. The man needs to seek some sort of help. I’m not sure what his issues are, they may be mental, possibly even his lifestyle choices. If he wants to continue to compete at the highest levels of the sport, he needs to change something.
MMA fans are amongst the harshest, unforgiving critics in the world. A trip to Johnson’s wikipedia page as of this writing has the striker listed as “Fighting out of Burger King” and has seen his nickname changed to “Uncle Phil”, a snide reference to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‘s obese uncle.
The sport has evolved to a point where the freak show aspect has been turned down, as evident from the recent controversy over Bob Sapp’s interview with Ariel Helwani, which has shown that sideshow attractions in the sport are persona non grata. With national coverage, a network TV deal, and a continually-growing fan base, Johnson can’t afford to be “that guy”. As it stands, he has become a running joke amongst MMA fandom, which is unfortunate because the man has actual skills and could have a promising career once again, if only he can sort these issues out.
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UFC 146 fighters make weight, all bouts official
UFC 146 fighters make weight, all bouts official
The "biggest" main card in UFC history is official as every fighter for UFC 146 weighed in. The 10 main card fighters weighed in at 2,485 lbs., the same weight as a 1986 Pontiac Fiero.
The packed weigh-ins also took on a bit of a party atmosphere. Kyle Kingsbury wore a tiny pink shirt that read "Hug Me", a fanny pack, and very tight, very small underwear, followed by a wrestling singlet as he faced off with Glover Teixera. Jason "Mayhem" Miller wore a pink boa and brought a pink boombox (that's right I said boombox) to the scale.
Complete weigh-in results, courtesy of the good people at MMA Junkie.
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
• Champ Junior Dos Santos (239) vs. Frank Mir (261)
• Antonio Silva (264) vs. Cain Velasquez (240)
• Dave Herman (233) vs. Roy Nelson (254)
• Shane Del Rosario (246) vs. Stipe Miocic (245)
• Lavar Johnson (248) vs. Stefan Struve (255)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
• Diego Brandao (145) vs. Darren Elkins (145)
• Edson Barboza (155) vs. Jamie Varner (156)
• C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller (185)
• Dan Hardy (170) vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig (171)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
• Paul Sass (156) vs. Jacob Volkmann (155)
• Kyle Kingsbury (205) vs. Glover Teixeira (204)
• Mike Brown (145) vs. Daniel Pineda (146)
Reese Witherspoon
Giveaway: Mountain Buggy Duet & Joey (Value: $640)
Giveaway: Mountain Buggy Duet & Joey (Value: $640)
May 23 2012 8:41am – May 30 2012 7:00pm
The world’s best side-by-side just got even better with joey! Mountain Buggy has introduced joey - the brilliant easy clip-on tote bag for the duet, allowing you to turn your compact side-by-side into a single with loads of storage!
With the duet being the same width as a single, joey simply replaces the right hand seat of the stroller so you can take your child around with you for more shopping time with the added storage component! This new and clever accessory also highlights how the duet and joey combination is the perfect solution for first time parents, as it’s truly a stroller that grows when the family grows!
- Two bags in one! The joey includes an easy to remove, lightweight, recyclable internal tote bag that sits snug inside a tough and durable external bag.
- Attaching the joey is fuss-free! There is absolutely no fiddling with the chassis to lengthen or shorten as a single or a double, and unclipping the seat from the frame is so intuitive. And what’s best is that you can fold the buggy with the joey attached!
- Ready to take two! When the second child comes along, simply take off the joey and attach the right and seat back onto the duet.
- New chilli color option! A chilli / black option for the duet, is available exclusively at Amazon.com.
- Also compatible with the Mountain Buggy duo!
We are giving away a Mountain Buggy duet ($599.99) and joey ($39.99) to 1 lucky reader (total value: $640)!
One Easy Way to Enter:
Leave a comment here with a valid email address (will not be published). Please state your favorite feature of the Mountain Buggy duet in the comments below. One winner will be chosen at random at the end of the contest. One entry per person, per day.
This contest ends Wednesday, May 30th at 7:00 pm EST. This contest is open to Canada and US residents only! Good luck!
*contest rules*
Uploaded Picture:
Thandie Newton Piper Perabo Rachael Leigh Cook Virginie Ledoyen
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson Looks to Still be Battling Weight Issues
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson Looks to Still be Battling Weight Issues
It appears as though Anthony "Rumble" Johnson is still having trouble making weight, as what was a scheduled middleweight tilt against Dave Branch has been mysteriously changed to a catchweight bout at 195lbs. Regardless, Johnson and Branch will fight tonight at Titan FC 22, which will take place at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson has become notorious for missing weight, as he was released from his longtime promotional home, the UFC, earlier this year after showing up to fight Vitor Belfort eleven pounds heavy. Johnson was making his middleweight debut against Belfort, with the aim to correct the weight-cutting issues which had caused him to show up overweight for two prior welterweight contests.
Apparently, Rumble has not overcome his weight issues.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to face Dave Branch today at Titan FC 22 in what has been billed as a middleweight fight since it was announced this past March. However, Johnson apparently came in almost ten pounds heavy for the bout, weighing in at 194.2lbs, and now the bout has been quietly changed to a 195lbs catchweight – even though Branch weighed in at 189.2lbs.
The promoter, Joe Kelly, appeared on Bloody Elbow Radio recently and maintains that there was no issue with the weight and that the bout is being contested at the weight it was contracted to be. Branch’s camp also told MMAFighting that there was no issue with the weight, though there appears to be significant evidence that the weight for the fight was changed very recently.
Regardless, Johnson and Branch will fight tonight at Titan FC 22, which will take place at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
Amanda Peet
Les News, 052512
Les News, 052512
New photos of Mars are amazing. [Buzzfeed] DEAR GOD NO! Robert Pattinson rumored to appear in Catching Fire!!! :( [ONTD!] Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes. [PopSugar] Pitbull is alive and well. [GossipCop] French swimmers are pretty. [Oh La La] Beth Ditto and Adam Lambert visit Bravo TV. [Towleroad] NY teachers are not allowed to “friend” students [...]
- New photos of Mars are amazing. [Buzzfeed]
- DEAR GOD NO! Robert Pattinson rumored to appear in Catching Fire!!! :( [ONTD!]
- Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes. [PopSugar]
- Pitbull is alive and well. [GossipCop]
- French swimmers are pretty. [Oh La La]
- Beth Ditto and Adam Lambert visit Bravo TV. [Towleroad]
- NY teachers are not allowed to “friend” students on Facebook. [Newser]
- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter gets a red band trailer. [Heavy]
- Duets premieres but do you care? [Idolator]
- Eric Prydz releases a new album. [arjanwrites]
- Will Brad Pitt finally get his first Oscar? [Starpulse]
- Angelina Jolie is releasing a line of jewelry. [Global Grind]
- Jennifer Lawrence is chillin’ in London. [LaineyGossip]
- Lauryn Hill is 37, Octavia Spencer is 42, Mike Myers is 49, Frank Oz is 68 and Ian McKellen is 73 years old. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
Padma Lakshmi Olivia Munn Marisa Tomei
Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson at SFC 2 (May 5th, 2012) - Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson at SFC 2 (May 5th, 2012) - Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson at SFC 2 (May 5th, 2012) Chelsea Handler Joanna Krupa Michelle Obama Yvonne Strzechowski
Cortney and Robert Novogratz Get Creative with LEGO
Cortney and Robert Novogratz Get Creative with LEGO
Michael Weschler for The LEGO® Group With seven kids from toddler to teen, design duo Cortney and Robert Novogratz are experts at keeping creative spaces organized and clutter-free. To share the secret of their success, the stars of HGTV’s Home By Novogratz recently teamed up with LEGO to champion homes that unleash tots’ imaginations — [...]
 Michael Weschler for The LEGO® Group |
With seven kids from toddler to teen, design duo Cortney and Robert Novogratz are experts at keeping creative spaces organized and clutter-free. To share the secret of their success, the stars of HGTV’s Home By Novogratz recently teamed up with LEGO to champion homes that unleash tots’ imaginations — according to a LEGO Friends survey, 71 percent of parents think the design of a child’s room impacts creativity.
At an event at their cutting-edge, kid-friendly NYC pad on May 17 (filled with cool, custom LEGO installations like a turquoise chair), the design-driven parents talked about the importance of giving each small fry a space of her own.
“It’s important to give each child their own workspace and play space filled with materials designed to help express their ideas in a productive and inspirational way, like art and craft supplies and construction toys,” Cortney says.
The number one bedroom request by kids: More space to play and hang out. Get little ones as young as 5 involved in the process (which will make them more inclined to look after their stuff) and follow a few Novogratz-approved tips: Leave plenty of floor space open for playing and hanging out, make sure storage is accessible to kids, have fun decorating with bold colors, and show off creations and collections with shelves or pin boards.
Looking for a little design inspiration? Check out the Novogratz’s mood board (below) and pick up some great ideas to use in your babe’s bedroom.
 Courtesy of Cortney and Robert Novogratz |
– Brooke Showell
Summer Glau Diane Kruger Jamie Chung Roselyn Sanchez
05/25/2012
05/24/2012
Britney Spears Joins 'X Factor' As A Judge
Britney Spears Joins 'X Factor' As A Judge
Pop star will earn a reported $15 million for one season.
By Katie Byrne
Move over, Christina! Now that "The Voice" has wrapped, it's time for another Mouseketeer-turned-diva to judge future music stars: Britney Spears has reportedly signed a deal to be a judge on "The X Factor," according to E! News.
News first broke in early March that the pop star was in negotiations to join the panel of Fox's reality singing competition, and last month, it was reported that Spears was being offered $15 million for one season of the show — $3 million more than Jennifer Lopez earns as a judge on "American Idol."
"The contract is signed," a source told E! "There's been a lot of back and forth over the past few weeks as they negotiated the small details, but she's on. It's all completed and Britney is beyond excited."
In an April interview with TMZ, Cowell remained mum about the Spears negotiation rumors but admitted that he would "love" to have her on "X Factor."
"I think it would be a coup," he said. "I think she would be a fascinating person to sit next to, so we'll have to wait and see."
Spears will join returning mentors Cowell and record executive L.A. Reid on the panel.
Several stars — from Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato to Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey — were reportedly discussed as possible replacements for Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul before Spears became the front-runner. There's no word yet on whether one of those rumored contenders (or anyone, for that matter) will join the show as a fourth judge.
"The X Factor" returns to Fox in September, with auditions already under way.
Are you excited for Britney to join "The X Factor"? Let us know in the comments!
Amanda Bynes Tricia Helfer Cameron Richardson
Lorne Michaels Calls Kristen Wiig's Final 'SNL' Show 'Hard'
Lorne Michaels Calls Kristen Wiig's Final 'SNL' Show 'Hard'
'It was difficult for all of us,' Michaels says of Wiig's tearful goodbye dance.
By Gil Kaufman
Mick Jagger and Kristen Wiig on "Saturday Night Live"
Photo: NBC
Lorne Michaels has seen some of the greatest comedy minds of all time come and go on "Saturday Night Live" over the past 37 years. And while it's always hard to bid farewell to someone who has blossomed into a star on your stage week-after-week while creating indelible characters, Michaels said the tear-stained last waltz with Kristen Wiig on Saturday's season finale was one of the rougher ones.
Though NBC hasn't confirmed it yet, Wiig made what is believed to be her final appearance on the show after seven years of making America laugh along with the Target Lady, Gilly and boozy Kathy Lee Gifford. The waterworks were flowing as she slow-danced with her cast mates to the strains of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday," and Michaels told reporters on Monday that emotions were running high that night.
"It was difficult for all of us," Michaels said on the red carpet for the 71st Annual Peabody Awards on Monday night. "And I think most difficult for her ... I don't think it will be the last time she will be on that stage," he added.
Current cast member Fred Armisen told the New York Post that he'll miss his friend, but isn't worried that she'll become a stranger. ""It was both sad and happy because no one ever leaves 'SNL,'" he said. "Did you see the good nights? Kristen, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Chris Parnell, everyone. No one goes very far." While "Bridesmaids" star and co-writer Wiig appears headed off to pursue her movie career , it's still unclear if two other "SNL" veterans who were rumored to be leaving, Andy Samberg and Jason Sudeikis, are packing up as well. Michaels appeared to tamp down those whispers Monday night, answering "not so far, yeah," when asked by TheWrap, if anything had been decided about the pair's future.
"You never know," Michaels said about the lack of a similar goodbye to the two. "I think everyone gets through the season and just the level of fatigue by the end is just overwhelming, and it's a very emotional time. I've had a rule since the second season, which is to not make any decisions in June. We'll see in July."
Though Wiig's send-off was emotional, it was all fun at the cast after-party, according to Us Magazine. Donning leather shorts and an American flag t-shirt, the 38-year-old actress joined the Foo Fighters on the stage at the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink to sing lead vocals on a cover of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll." The night also featured Wiig's pal and fellow "SNL" alum, Amy Poehler, jamming on Jett's "Bad Reputation."
Fergie Nicole Scherzinger Katie Cassidy Arielle Kebbel Freida Pinto
05/23/2012
Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Recorded Live Video Chat July 8th 2011 - Andrei Arlovski
Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Recorded Live Video Chat July 8th 2011 - Andrei Arlovski
Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Recorded Live Video Chat July 8th 2011 Video by Andrei Arlovski Nadine Velazquez Nikki Reed Elisha Cuthbert Avril Lavigne
UFC 148 Update: Chael Sonnen Granted Conditional Therapeutic Use Exemption
UFC 148 Update: Chael Sonnen Granted Conditional Therapeutic Use Exemption
The Nevada State Athletic Commission met today to rule on whether Chael Sonnen would be granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for testosterone. The commission ruled that Sonnen would be granted a conditional TUE ahead of UFC 148.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission met today to rule on whether Chael Sonnen would be granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for testosterone. The commission ruled that Sonnen would be granted a conditional TUE ahead of UFC 148.
The commission ruled that Sonnen will have to have additional testing the night after the fight. Sonnen will also be required to stop taking injections within a to be determined time period prior to the fight.
Chael Sonnen will face off against Anderson Silva in a rematch of their UFC 117 bout. Sonnen lost the first bout via triangle after dominating the entire fight. UFC 148 takes place July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Anna Faris Lily Allen
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