O Music Awards Look To Liven Things Up With Unboxed Events

When it comes to the O Music Awards, fun is always at the top of the agenda, and this year things are about to get even crazier with the addition of O Music Awards Unboxed.

O Music Awards Unboxed is a New York-based event series that will pull together all aspects of the O Music Awards, MTV’s awards show honoring achievements in music and technology, into one big night.
The first Unboxed event goes down at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York City on February 23 and will focus on the theme of interaction. Cameo, a new application from the Fast Society team primed to launch at SXSW, will be previewed at the event, which will also feature performances from classical instrument-wielding indie rockers Miracles of Modern Science and O Music Award nominee MNDR. The night will also include visuals from The Rainbow Machine, and the chance to participate in a crowd-sourced music video shoot directed by Eli Stonberg.

In other words – this thing is going to be awesome! Tickets go on sale beginning Thursday (February 9). Get full details on the event over on the O Music Awards blog.

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Metallica Announce First-Ever Orion Music Fest

They've headlined stadiums around the world and made an incredibly polarizing album with punk grandfather Lou Reed. So what's left for Metallica to do to cap off a stellar year? How about launch their own summer festival with a lineup that includes some of their favorite bands?

On Tuesday (February 7), the group announced the debut of the Orion Music + More fest, described as an annual "music, arts and lifestyle" gathering that will feature multiple stages and take place June 23-24 at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In addition to headlining sets from Metallica each day — during which they will play The Black Album one night and Ride the Lightning the other in their only North American performances of those classic releases in 2012 — the festival will also feature sets from: Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, Modest Mouse, the Gaslight Anthem, Cage the Elephant, F---ed Up, Best Coast, Hot Snakes, Titus Andronicus, Gary Clark Jr., Lucero, Roky Erickson, the Black Angels, the Sword and Liturgy. More bands will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We've had the idea of doing our own lifestyle festival with lots of diverse music and fun and games for years," drummer Lars Ulrich said in a press release announcing the event. "Finally this year all the practical ducks lined up in a row, and we are beyond psyched to bring Orion to our fans, friends and the curious. After the most incredible of weeks ever in December 2011 celebrating our 30th anniversary at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, bringing the spirit of that week, the looseness of that week, the possibilities of that week, the fan interactive elements of that week, and the (fill in your own blank here) of that week to a festival setting is so exciting we can hardly contain ourselves."

Pre-sale tickets for the Metallica fan club start Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, with the public on-sale slated to begin Saturday. Tickets are $150 for two-day passes for the public and $125 for fan-club members. Head to OrionMusicAndMore.com for details.

Will you check out the first Orion fest? Let us know in the comments!

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'The River' Is 'Paranormal Activity' Meets 'X-Files,' Eloise Mumford Says

There's magic out there ... you just need to ford "The River" to find it.

"Paranormal Activity" mastermind Oren Peli is back with another found-footage fright-fest, but this time, it's playing out on the small screen in the form of "The River," a new supernatural series debuting on ABC on Tuesday (February 7). "The River" stars "Star Trek" actor Bruce Greenwood as Dr. Emmet Cole, a television personality and famed explorer who vanishes without a trace while seeking magic in the depths of the Amazon. Six months later, new evidence regarding Emmet's whereabouts comes to light, leading his wife, Tess (Leslie Hope), and son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), to the Amazon with a television crew in tow.

What they find there is darker and more inexplicable than anything they expected — and as promised by the missing Dr. Cole, there is indeed magic out there, deadlier than the rabbits-from-hats variety.

Actress Eloise Mumford, who stars on the show as adventurer Lena Landry, dropped by MTV News this week to talk about the premiere of "The River," and why it's a television event that fans of found-footage absolutely can't miss.

"It's 'Paranormal Activity' meets 'X-Files,' " she told MTV about the premise of the show. "The conceit is that it's all shot as a TV show — you're aware that it's not just a TV show on TV, but that the whole thing is being shot as a TV show within a TV show. It's really fun, because it's all shot as a documentary. You see the camera guys; they're characters. Sometimes we had up to 13 cameras rolling at once. It's groundbreaking TV in that sense. It's taking this age of technology right now and taking full advantage of that."

Indeed, though found-footage is a prominent part of pop culture today, it's a device that's rarely explored in scripted genre television. Mumford said that the unique perspective will help set "The River" apart from other shows currently on TV.

"If you're flipping through the channels, you're going to go, 'Whoa!' It's such a different look," she said. "And the storytelling of it is so much faster. There's really unique points of view in all of it."

"It's in line with the youth of today," she added of what makes "The River" relevant. "We're used to shooting our own stuff on our cellphones. We're used to capturing everything. To be able to have that as a TV show is going to be really fun for people to watch."

"The River" flows on ABC tonight (February 7) at at 9 ET/PT (8 Central).

Are you excited for the premiere of "The River"? Leave your comment below.

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Lil Wayne, deadmau5, More To Toast EDM At The Grammys

Get your glow sticks ready for the Grammys: Another fist-pumping performance has been announced for Sunday's show. Previously announced performers Chris Brown and the Foo Fighters will join fellow nominees Lil Wayne and EDM superstars deadmau5 and David Guetta for a genre-busting performance that will highlight dance/electronica music.

This marks the first time the Grammys have shed light on the increasingly popular genre, which has recently seeped into every form of music. The performance will take place in a tent outside Staples Center.

The announcement comes on the same day it was confirmed that Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will head up a tribute to late soul singer Etta James and Nicki Minaj revealed she will perform a spankin'-new track, "Roman Holiday," when she takes the Grammy stage.

MTV News will be on hand at the Grammys for the MTV News Pre-Show, hosted by Sway Calloway and James Montgomery. With so many artists set to appear at the show, including Katy Perry, Drake, Fergie, Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Rihanna, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson and host LL Cool J, stay tuned to our live stream on MTV.com, starting at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, to get all the scoop from all the biggest stars in the music industry.

Kanye West is the night's most-nominated artist, with seven nods for his joint album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, and his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, both of which are up for Rap Album of the Year. West is followed by this year's critical darling, Adele, who is tied with the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nods each. Lil Wayne and dance-music breakout Skrillex each garnered five nods.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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Lana Del Rey To Postpone Tour In Wake Of 'SNL' Performance?

Lana Del Rey hasn't even announced the tour in support of her Born to Die album, but according to reports, she's already scrapped it in the wake of her now infamous "Saturday Night Live" performance.

On Tuesday (February 7), The New York Post reported that Del Rey's management team has pulled the plug on a planned tour (reportedly set to kick off in March), citing a source who claims the decision was made in order to "distance" the singer from that "SNL" stint.

"[Lana] and her manager decided to cancel [the tour] after 'SNL,' " the source said. "She was very upset ... they figure it allows time for her to clear her head, then go back to selling tickets. More importantly, they figure, the extra time gives them more distance from 'SNL.' "

In an email to MTV News, Del Rey's publicist called the Post story "not accurate," adding, "There has never been a spring tour announced or canceled."

The Post reported that Del Rey was slated to play 30 dates at 1,000- to 3,000-capacity venues across the country, though no dates have been revealed. Last month, Del Rey told MTV News that she planned on touring behind Born to Die in October, in small venues — a decision she said was backed by both her team and her label, Interscope.

"I'm capping every venue at 900 [capacity], because I don't want to perform for more [people] than that," she said. "So what I want to do is three nights in New York, like at Irving Plaza, and then three nights at the El Rey in L.A., and then, in between, do 15 cities, and cap it at 900 venues. And everybody is onboard, so that's what we're going to do."

A spokesperson for Interscope did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the Post story, though the newspaper does quote a label rep as saying: "Interscope had nothing to do with booking or postponing a tour. [Chairman] Jimmy [Iovine] is excited and thankful that Lana is performing at a Grammy event in his honor this week."

Iovine will be the subject of a special Grammy-week tribute on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Del Rey's only scheduled performance is a Thursday in-store at Amoeba Records in San Francisco. A spokesperson for the store told MTV News that performance has yet to be canceled.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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'Caged' Stars Bring Their MMA Moves To New York

The stars of MTV's new docu-series "Caged" have been in the ring with some of the fiercest competitors in their league. They've been punched, kicked and even knocked unconscious.

Yet, when two of the stars from the show, Daniel and Matt (a.k.a Danger), visited New York City, we put them up against their toughest competition yet: Me.

That's right, I put Daniel and Danger up to the ultimate challenge of teaching me MMA. After much instruction, I was taught to punch, kick and work my way out of what they call a "schoolyard headlock," which is not as easy as it may look. Even though they assured me I was ready to enter the cage, I think I will leave the fighting up to them.

After our workout, we took Daniel and Danger to the heart of New York: Times Square. Just a few months ago, these two could have never dreamt of leaving their small town of Minden, Louisiana, but as they strolled through Times Square for the first time, these two were both mesmerized as they took in the sights and sounds and their newfound fame.

"It is an adjustment," Daniel said. "I'm dealing with it pretty good, though. It's just trying to get used to people acting like I'm a superstar or something."

Fans might think they know everything about Daniel, but with the fifth episode airing Monday (February 6) at 10 p.m. ET, he is ready for everyone to see a new side.

"I can't wait for the fans to see me being more open," Daniel said. "The honest side of me, because I hate if there's any chance of me being fake. I want to be honest to everybody. I don't like lying to people or being fake, that's one of the biggest things for me."

Danger, who faced his toughest opponent in last week's episode, wants fans to recognize just how much he has developed as a fighter.

"I'm just excited for everybody to see my fights. I worked really hard at this," Danger said. "I love fighting. I take it very seriously. I plan on moving forward with it in the future. I'm really excited for everyone to see my fights and see me grow as a fighter and as a person through the season."

Don't miss "Caged" every Monday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. For continuing "Caged" coverage, be sure to check in with MTV's Remote Control blog.

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Grammys Red Carpet: MTV News Goes Live Sunday!

From the first arrival to the last star running down the red carpet before the show begins, we'll bring you all the glittering action from the Grammys live this Sunday night during the MTV News Pre-Show. With a crew anchored by MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery, we'll be everywhere you want to be in the run-up to the 54th annual ceremony.

You never know what you're going to see or hear on the red carpet, so we are posting up for a full three hours from 5 p.m. ET until the show kicks off at 8.

Nicki Minaj vs. Skrillex: Who will win Best New Artist at the Grammys?

And with the expansive roster of artists expected to perform, present or just hang out, we'll catch up with as many as possible, from Katy Perry, Drake, Fergie, Bruce Springsteen and Adele to Rihanna, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown and host LL Cool J.

The biggest shocks and snubs from this year's Grammy nominations.

Once we have them in our sights, we'll ask the nominees how they're feeling about their chances, what performances they're most looking forward to and see if we can't get a peek at what they're planning for the future. Kanye West is the night's most-nominated artist, with seven nods for his joint album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, and his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, both of which are up for Rap Album of the Year. West is followed by this year's critical darling, Adele, who is tied with the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nods each. Lil Wayne and dance-music breakout Skrillex each garnered five nods.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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Has 'The Voice' Already Re-Signed Christina Aguilera?

We are only two episodes into the second season of "The Voice," and already there is some news about the hit NBC show's third season.

According to TheWrap, Christina Aguilera has signed a contract to continue her stint on the judging panel for a third season of the singing competition. Aguilera is the first of the four judges to ink her deal, a payday for which is supposedly in the $10 million realm.

TheWrap also reports that the third season could premiere in the fall rather than waiting until 2013; this would potentially put "The Voice" in direct competition with Fox's "X Factor."

When MTV News reached out for comment from NBC, a show insider said no decision has been made about season three.

It is expected that Aguilera's fellow judges Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will all renew their contracts in the coming weeks and that the third season will tape from September through December of this year.

"The Voice" has proven to be a major hit for NBC. The season-two premiere following the Super Bowl on Sunday earned NBC's best ratings for an entertainment show in six years. Monday's episode earned the network's best numbers for that particular timeslot in nearly eight years, save for broadcasts of the Olympics.

When MTV News caught up with the show's new social media correspondent Christina Milian recently, the singer/actress gushed about the lovefest on set.

"It's been fabulous. I've had fun working with the cast already," she said. "Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo, Carson Daly — it's an awesome super team they have, and from day one, they treated me like family.

"This show is about music, it's about talent, and it's about this passion and this dream of becoming a star," Milian added. "Still to this day, every day that I wake up, I have that same dream, so to be involved with the show, [it's amazing] to watch what they incorporate and how the coaches act as advisers and mentors to the artists and really truthfully help them and push them and want them to be the best so they can win."

Are you hoping all four "Voice" judges are back for season three? Let us know in the comments!

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Grammys Pit Nicki Minaj Vs. Skrillex For Best New Artist

Whoever ends up staying in their seat when the Best New Artist trophy is handed out at Sunday's Grammys shouldn't feel so bad: They're in pretty good company. Recent years have seen such multiplatinum stars as Justin Bieber, Drake, Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift come out on the short end in the category.

Then again, there's a distinct possibility this year's winner could make history by becoming the first dubstep act (Skrillex) to take the prize, the first true indie rocker (Bon Iver) to snatch it or just the second female MC (Nicki Minaj) bestowed with the honor.

This could also be the year when the music industry fully embraces the fact that just putting a traditional album out is not the surest (or only) path to Grammy glory. Among those in the mix are acts like J. Cole and Minaj, who've slowly built up careers by mining the mixtape path to glory and Skrillex, who went from indie punk rock to the top of the glow-stick-waving heap by perfecting a stomach-rumbling mix of dance music, techno beats and rock energy through a series of EPs and singles in front of ever-expanding, sweaty live crowds.

Bon Iver (the nom de rock of sensitive singer Justin Vernon) brings his own unique path to the mix. On two acclaimed independently released albums of sensitive, wistful forest folk, Vernon has provided an antidote of sorts to Minaj's hyper, in-your-face rhymes with music that washes over you instead of hitting you over the head. But his commercial prospects have not dimmed at all due to his chosen path, as Bon Iver tunes have shown up in Miller Genuine Draft ads and have landed him on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album and, reportedly, in the studio with Alicia Keys.

With just her debut album, Pink Friday, to her credit, Minaj has gone from mixtape queen to pop/rap icon in just four years, culminating with her Super Bowl halftime appearance on Sunday alongside Madonna. Along the way, the Queens native has made spotlight-stealing cameos on songs by Kanye, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, DJ Khaled and Drake.

Like Minaj, Cole slowly bubbled up on the mixtape circuit to a deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation label, dropping a number of impressive guest verses along the way for Jigga, Wale, B.o.B and Young Chris. By the time his major-label debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, dropped in May, he was already being touted as one of the hottest young stars in the business.

Though they've been playing together since 2005, country trio the Band Perry didn't release their first full-length album until October. They've since recorded with Bieber for his Under the Mistletoe album, scored three American Music Awards nominations as well as a trio of hit singles.

Who is your pick to win the Best New Artist Grammy? Let us know in comments below!

MTV News is all over the Grammys! Stick with us from now through Sunday's show as we bring you everything you need to know.

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'Hunger Games' Stars 'Blown Away' By The Capitol

For our fellow "Hunger Games" fans who obsess over Suzanne Collins' brilliant books and their upcoming film adaptations as much as we do, there are so many things to love about the story that it's difficult to pick just one or two (or five) things we're looking forward to seeing when the movie opens March 23. But two of the most intriguing elements involved in the book-to-movie translation are what the Capitol will look like and how star Jennifer Lawrence will sound singing Rue's Lullaby.

MTV News was lucky enough to get a few hints about those specific topics during our recent chat with Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, both of whom can't wait to see the Capitol in the finished film but disagree about their excitement for Lawrence's singing skills.

"[I'm excited to see] everything in the Capitol," Lawrence said. "Every time we showed up at a Capitol scene, I was so blown away. Everything was more than you could have even imagined."

"What was cool about the stuff in the Capitol, so much was practical," Hutcherson added. "The whole apartment scene was all a set they built that was super, incredibly futuristic and amazing, and to see how that is integrated with the whole green-screen world as well is going to be really, really cool."

Lawrence was not quite as enthusiastic about hearing her voice in the film, however. When we brought up the subject, she seemed to immediately get nervous about it.

"Oh God, oh God. Yeah, I did [sing]," she said when asked about recording "Rue's Lullaby." "I'm a terrible singer."

"She's not," Hutcherson said.

"No, Josh! Stop," Lawrence said to Hutcherson with sincerity. "He is messing with everyone."

"She's been called the songbird of her generation," Hutcherson jumped in with a smile, referencing a Will Ferrell line in "Step Brothers."

"My voice is a combination of Fergie and Jesus," Lawrence played along. "No, I am a horrible singer. And I'm an even worse person to be around when I'm singing. I'm a terrible singer. I hated it."

Lawrence said the recording process with famed producer T-Bone Burnett was particularly excruciating.

"T-Bone Burnett, like, the best person to ever happen to music is, like, listening in the other room. I kept getting ready, and then the music would play, and I'd [freak out]," she recalled. "Nothing would come out of my mouth."

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Jay-Z At Carnegie Hall: Five Things We Want To See

Jay-Z has seen it all and done it all — or so we thought. Just when it looked like there was no new ground for Hov to cover, the multiplatinum rap superstar announced he would be performing a pair of shows at New York's famed Carnegie Hall.

For the first time ever, Jay will hit the Carnegie Hall stage on Monday night (February 6), followed by a second show on Tuesday, and it's all for a good cause. Proceeds from the privately sold premium-priced tickets will go to Jigga's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way in an effort to put low-income New York City students in a position to attend college.

When Hov first announced the concert dates back in December, he told MTV News that he wasn't sure what the night would bring, but Jay-Z fans know the rap mogul often has a trick or two up his Maison Martin Margiela sleeves. Here are some things we hope to see:

"Glory" featuring B.I.C.
Two days after wife Beyoncé gave birth to the couple's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, Big Poppa Jay dropped "Glory," a dedication track to daddy's little girl. The Pharrell-produced track featured the "Streets Is Watching" rapper like we've never seen him as he rhymed about the joys of fatherhood. Hopefully, Jay will perform the track ... and maybe even roll out Baby Blue in a stroller for her first public appearance? It would be an incredible, if highly unlikely moment.

Beyoncé
"Crazy in Love," "Déjà Vu," "Upgrade U," Jay and Queen B have no shortage of hit records to perform. Granted, Beyoncé is probably on some type of musical maternity leave (and deservedly so). But it sure would be nice to see B make her first post-birth appearance onstage and hand-in-hand with hubby Hov.

"N---as in Paris" — Multiple Times
People love Paris. While out on the Watch the Throne Tour, Jay-Z and Kanye West would perform their fan-favorite "N---as in Paris" multiple times each night. On the final stop in Vancouver, the duo rocked the song a record-breaking 11 times. So how many times will he rock the song at Carnegie Hall? "We have to do a rendition of 'N---as in Paris' in Carnegie Hall; it just has to go down," Jay laughed back in December. "I ain't think about that. That'll be great."

Rap Guests
Jay has a ton of rap friends. From Big Daddy Kane to Kanye West, Hova's list of hip-hop collaborators is as long as his paper — maybe longer. Will he bring out the LOX for "Reservoir Dogs," Eminem for "Renegade" or Nas for "Black Republican"? You never know with Hov.

New Material
During our December interview with Jay, the God MC hinted that 2012 would bring a new solo album for him and possibly another from the Throne. It's still early in the year, but how cool would it be for Jay to debut some fresh material for the Carnegie audience? It's for charity after all!

What are you expecting when Jay-Z plays Carnegie Hall for the first time? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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M.I.A. Super Bowl Middle Finger Joins Long List Of Celebrity Flip-Offs

The big hype (around these parts, anyway) going into the Super Bowl on Sunday was what Madonna would do during her halftime performance. But, as you surely know by now, one of her guests, rapper/singer M.I.A., stole some of Madge's thunder by unexpectedly flipping the bird at the end of "Give Me All Your Luvin'."

While your granny was probably shocked and your little brother/sister got a naughty giggle out of it, M.I.A. wasn't exactly reinventing the rebel wheel with her one-finger salute. Everyone from punk icon Iggy Pop to Oasis' Noel Gallagher, Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, late Wu-Tang Clan rapper ODB, Kid Rock and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong have made flipping people off a standard part of their eff-the-man personas over the years.

In fact, tossing up the middle-digit salute is a time-honored tradition for musicians that dates back more than 40 years to the original rock rebel.

Johnny Cash: In one of the most iconic pictures in music, the Man in Black famously gave an impassioned finger to the camera in 1969 during his San Quentin prison performance. It was later used in an ad in 1998 Billboard magazine to express his "thank you" to the Nashville country music industry after he won a Grammy for Best Country Album as a response to their abandonment of him in his later years.

Tupac : The late rap icon was fond of laying down both single and double birds in some of the most iconic pictures of him over the years, including one taken of him on a gurney after he'd just been shot at a New York recording studio in 1994.

Eminem: After being called out for some of his gay-bashing lyrics, Slim Shady made a huge statement by appearing with openly gay Elton John at the 2001 Grammys, where he hugged the piano-pounding icon and then gave the audience a view of both his middle digits.

Lady Gaga: Mother Monster can't go anywhere these days without being hounded by the paparazzi. So, when Gaga attended a Mets game in 2010, she let the paps know how she felt when they caught her chilling in a private suite.

Justin Bieber: He may be a (young) man of faith, but even the Biebs has his limits. Last March, while out celebrating his 17th birthday, the "Baby" singer was accosted by photos, so he showed them his tall man ... and then apologized later, saying, "I know better than to react in anger."

Katy Perry: We can't remember where this awesome GIF came from, but last year, the good girl gone (sometimes) bad made flying the finger flag seem almost cute.

Cobra Starship: Hell, CB are so enamored of the eff-you salute that they wrote a whole song about it and invited Mac Miller along to help them spread the word, one digit at a time.

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Black Keys' 'Gold On The Ceiling' Video Keeps It Simple

There are no dancing actors/security guards, precocious street-fighting children or cameos by "Sir" Todd Bridges in the Black Keys' new "Gold on the Ceiling" video. But don't let their absences sway you — in a lot of ways, this was the video the Keys were born to make.

The clip, which premiered Monday night (February 6) on MTV, features only the Black Keys (and various members of their road team) doing what they do best: playing live, in gloriously gritty fashion. It's not only a nod to their roots — for close to a decade, they hammered out gigs (and miles) aboard a rusty van — but it's a powerful reminder to their detractors that they are, first and foremost, a positively killer live act.

Of course, it was also probably a matter of necessity. The Black Keys are rather busy these days, what with their smash album and world tour, so shooting a live video (in part during their MTV Hive-sponsored El Camino release party at New York's Webster Hall) undoubtedly made their management happy, but you get the feeling that Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney probably delighted in making a concert clip. After all, it fits rather nicely with their anachronistic ways. Of all the monster rock acts currently lumbering, the Black Keys seem the most natural fit for a live video. No bells or whistles, no special effects, just a band, a stage and some grainy footage. It's easy.

So while "Gold" may be lacking in all those things (not to mention odd, inbox-baiting cameos), it is by no means a lesser video. If anything, it represents everything that makes the Black Keys the band they are — hard-charging, unpolished and seemingly not-of-this-era, indebted to their past yet still pushing forward and always determined to do things on their own terms. Big-selling album and high-profile second single be damned, the Black Keys just want to do it live and do it loud. It's what got them here, after all.

What did you think of the Keys' latest video? Share your reviews in the comments below!

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'The Voice' Season 2 Continues With Angie Johnson, Jamar Rogers

The blind auditions continued on Monday night's (February 6) two-hour episode of "The Voice," with each judge picking up two more contestants to fill out the 12-person teams they'll take to the battle phase later in the season.

The episode opened with a flashy medley of Prince hits "1999," "Little Red Corvette" and "Kiss" performed by judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, before the crew got right to business with the auditions.

Team Christina
Aguilera picked up two acts, including the evening's first performers: platonic duo the Line. The pair's rendition of Tom Petty's "American Girl" got all four judges' attention, but despite much protest from Shelton, they picked Aguilera. Shelton later told the camera he thought they were "fooled by flash and boobs."

She also scored an interesting choice in chanteuse Lindsay Pavao, who got Shelton and Cee Lo to swivel their chairs too. In one of the more unique performances of the night, Pavao transformed a Trey Songz tune into a ballad that Green compared to Fiona Apple. It was that uniqueness that won Christina over, and Pavao chose to join the "Beautiful" singer's team.

Team Adam
After being denied by two different singers, the Maroon 5 frontman picked up his first team member of the night in 50-year-old Kim Yarbrough — who revealed during an interview segment that one of her many past odd jobs was working security for the Dave Matthews Band. Her soulful rendition of Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good" had all the judges dancing in their seats, but Adam won her over after asking for her name. When she said "Kim," he corrected, "No, your name is Chaka Khan, baby." Which is probably what any aspiring diva wants to hear after an audition.

Levine also added the night's final contestant, 23-year-old Angel Taylor, to his team. The Los Angeles native grew up in an abusive household and turned to music to get through the tough times. Her performance of Adele's "Someone Like You" packed an emotional punch.

Team Cee Lo
The night's two most compelling stories came from Jamar Rogers and Angie Johnson, both of whom opted for team Cee Lo. Rogers is a 29-year-old former drug addict from New York who was also featured on "American Idol" during season eight alongside his best friend and eventual finalist Danny Gokey. During his addiction, he contracted HIV. Now that he is clean and sober, Rogers volunteers for food-delivery services for the disabled in the Bronx. He also idolizes Cee Lo, so it's good that the "Forget You" Grammy winner turned his chair around for Rogers' performance of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."

Cee Lo also picked up Staff Sergeant Angie Johnson, who was discovered and pushed to audition for "The Voice" after her fellow soldiers uploaded a video to YouTube of Johnson singing Adele on a military base while deployed in the Middle East. The video eventually tallied over a million views, which gave Johnson the confidence to hit the stage with a gutsy rendition of Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker." "I love a girl with guts and confidence," Cee Lo told the singer.

Team Blake
Blake's first choice of the night fit firmly in his country wheelhouse: North Dakota native Gwen Sebastian, a musician who agreed with her drummer husband to hold off on having kids so she could take a go at being a performer. After her performance of "Stay," Shelton remarked, "You are a great country vocalist ... and I'm a country guy. I'm your man."

A more surprising choice for the country superstar came late in the show, when he promised he'd do everything he could for Jermaine Paul, a backup singer who has toured the world with Alicia Keys. Keys even sent Paul a video message wishing him good luck. He made a surprising song choice in Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," which also earned props from Cee Lo, who told Paul he could "hear the swag" in his voice. And even though it looked like Paul was favoring Cee Lo, he opted to move out of his R&B comfort zone and into Shelton's country/rock genre.

Four singers got the ax during the show when no judges swiveled around to offer a spot on their team. The judges went back and forth over country crooner Neil Middleton and pop singer Dez Durmon and ultimately regretted their decisions to pass on the singers. Durmon in particular had the judges all worked up, and when they turned around to see a handsome Yale football player standing in front of them, they practically slapped themselves across the head. "And it's a good-looking guy," Shelton sighed.

Such is the point of "The Voice," though. Durmon would have been a sure thing if the judges had gotten a look at him beforehand, but it's all about the pipes — at least for now — on NBC's reality hit, which kicked off its season to some pretty great post-Super Bowl ratings.

Who was your favorite singer on the latest "Voice" episode? Let us know in the comments!

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Jay-Z Brings Brooklyn 'Glory' To Carnegie Hall

NEW YORK — From Marcy to Madison Square and now from Crooklyn to Carnegie. Jay-Z has come a long way since releasing his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt, and the magnitude of his travels wasn't lost on the God MC when he performed at Carnegie Hall on Monday evening (February 6).

The swanky crowd filled the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for the first of two benefit concerts, which joined Jay's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation with the United Way of NYC to raise money for gifted high school students who aren't financially positioned to attend college. The premium-priced charity tickets brought out the likes of Liza Minnelli and New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia.

With a full orchestra that included ?uestlove and Young Guru playing DJ, Hov took the stage at 8:45 p.m. ET after a dramatic string build. Emerging from the stage's side door in a white tux jacket toting a gold bottle of Ace of Spades champagne, Jigga began his evening shouting, "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Hov," the iconic opening line from 2003's "Public Service Announcement."

Those who thought Jigga would conform to the stuffy artistic standard typically associated with the famed concert hall were mistaken. Jay strutted across the stage drinking from his gold bottle promising the crowd, "It's just tea."

On this night, Hov pledged to eradicate the divide that separates musical genres, only differentiating between good and bad music. "All those lines that divide us, we gonna step on 'em," he announced to the electric crowd.

As he's done most of his career, Jay continued to stomp out the misconceptions that rap can't be considered highbrow art as he tore through radio hits and street favorites like "U Don't Know" and "Where I'm From." Jay did balance things out when he invited Alicia Keys onstage for "Empire State of Mind" but got extra-gritty on the very next song, making way for Nas to perform his own "N.Y. State of Mind" from the Queensbridge MC's 1994 classic Illmatic. There was a perfect juxtaposition throughout. The biggest musical clash came when Jay performed the "Annie"-sampling "Hard Knock Life." Jigga rapped the song's verses, while the wealthy crowd song the downtrodden chorus. By the time Hova rolled into the set's next song "Izzo," a marijuana smell filled the air. That must be a first for Carnegie.

Ever the master of ceremonies, the Brooklyn rap juggernaut slowed things down properly easing into "Girls, Girls, Girls," then "Song Cry" and then "Glory," the song he released days after the birth of his and Beyoncé's first daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. "One hand in the air for Blue," he screamed before delivering his heartfelt daddy raps.

"I didn't think I was gonna make it through that one, that was tough," Jay said at the close of the number.

The veteran MC launched into the set-closing "Encore," but fans know by now that despite his exit at the end of the Kanye West-produced track, he would be back for more. During Jay's overtime session, he re-emerged onto the stage with a Yankee snapback, diamond chain and black tee. Ever the showman, Jay climbed into the balcony and performed an array of hits from his early catalog like "So Ghetto," "Ain't No N---a" and "Can't Knock the Hustle."

By the night's close, Jay-Z had kicked in another door. He wasn't the first rapper to play Carnegie Hall, but lord help the MC who has to come after him.

Share your thoughts on Jay-Z's first Carnegie Hall show in the comments!

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Exclusive: Diddy Adds Baltimore MC Los To Bad Boy Roster

The saga continues. Diddy is pretty excited about his new Bad Boy Records roster, but the music mogul isn't done adding new talent to the storied label.

"It's time for a whole new generation; it's time for a whole new movement. So we got [Machine Gun Kelly], French Montana, Red Café; we got Cassie," Diddy told MTV News correspondent Sway while at a French Montana video shoot on January 29. "We also have a new artist named Los that we signed. It's official. We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air and do it the only way that Bad Boy can do it."

Underground rap fans have gotten familiar with Los thanks to his collection of lyrically heavy mixtapes. This isn't his first go-round with Diddy's label, however. He first auditioned for Puff's "Making the Band" but refused to sign any of the paperwork required to appear on the show. The Baltimore MC then signed to Bad Boy, through local label Bloc Incorporated around 2005 after he auditioned for Puff with a 10-minute freestyle. Bloc Incorporated would eventually disband and Los wound up losing his deal with Bad Boy in 2008 before he was able to drop any material.

Since 2008, Los has dropped a number of mixtapes. His latest, The Crown Ain't Safe, was released in December and featured contributions from DMX and Twista. "When I say The Crown Ain't Safe, I just mean whoever is viewed as #1," Los told Mixtape Daily back in August before referencing basketball great Michael Jordan and his onetime sidekick. "I just feel like it's for the taking. Why wouldn't you want to be #1? I'm not Scottie Pippen; I want to be #1."

Whether or not Los will get that #1 spot remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: He is on the right team. "It's definitely reinvention time; it's rebuilding time," Diddy told Sway of his new Bad Boy team. "When you've been doing it for as long as we've been doing it, we the last ones standing from when we were doing it. And that's not taking shots at nobody, that's just a fact."

What do you think of Diddy's new signee Los? Tells us in the comments!

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Sebastian Ingrosso 'Like A Proud Father' To Alesso

When MTV News caught up with Swedish House Mafia's Sebastian Ingrosso at Las Vegas' XS Nightclub recently, the DJ/producer was beaming with pride. That's because his mentee, Alesso, a young talent from Sweden, now stands as a formidable star on the rise.

Having dropped a couple of healthy tracks and remixes in 2010, MTV News first previewed the young Alesso's capabilities when SHM launched into his thunderous "Nillionaire" at their beachfront Masquerade Motel party over Miami Music Week last year. Since then, Ingrosso and the SHM camp have personally cultivated the young star into a hit-making wizard — seemingly cooking up undeniable hits with each release and remix.

"Nillionaire," "Dynamite," "Raise Your Head," and the popular DJ set staple "Calling" with Ingrosso remain Alesso's original bombshells of 2011. His remix game is seemingly unparalleled. With his remixes of David Guetta's "Titanium" and SHM's "Save the World," Alesso struck gold. But with his rework of Alex Kenji, Starkillers and Nadia Ali's "Pressure," he created one of the most far-reaching EDM anthems of the year.

In 2012, his continued trajectory seems almost cemented: "Calling" will have a vocal version, and it looks like Alesso, Seb and SHM's Steve Angello will have a hit on their hands with their "Eclipse (Why am I Doing This)."

"I'm so proud of him, and what we've worked on," Seb told MTV News. "The last couple of years have been just crazy. I told him just before the EDC show in Vegas [Electric Daisy Carnival last year], 'I'm going to change your life tonight. Just so you know that.' And he was like, 'What do you mean?' And I said, 'Watch and see.' "

"And after that, it's just been mayhem," Seb continued. "He's been doing so much great music and so many big shows. I'm just so happy for him. I'm like a proud father, you know. I'm just so happy for him."

It seems like fans of Alesso will have plenty of new music to look forward to, and soon. Alesso tweeted Friday (February 3), "I have so many new tracks coming out 2012! So f---ing excited to play them this year!!! Hope you guys are ready!!"

What are you hoping to see from Alesso this year? Leave your comment below!

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'Chronicle' Makes Fourth Highest Super Bowl Debut

The Super Bowl couldn't stop another found-footage flick from topping the box office. Box-office receipts were up more than 30 percent from last year's Super Bowl weekend as "Chronicle" took the #1 spot with Daniel Radcliffe's first post-"Potter" flick, "The Woman in Black," close behind at #2. "Chronicle" took in $22 million while "Woman in Black" earned $21 million, according to studio estimates.

The feel-good Alaskan whale story "Big Miracle," starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski ("The Office"), debuted at #4 with $8.5 million. Meanwhile, Super Bowl halftime performer Madonna saw her "W.E." open with a ho-hum $45,000 in four theaters. Despite the film's director earning a Golden Globe for her song from the movie, "W.E." has suffered from mostly negative reviews.

While it didn't open as strongly as the "Paranormal Activity" movies, "Cloverfield" or last month's found-footage flick, "The Devil Inside," teen superhero-centered "Chronicle" enjoyed the fourth highest Super Bowl debut ever and took the #1 spot internationally. Considering the movie's estimated production budget of $12 million, the found-footage phenomenon will undoubtedly continue.

The modest success of "The Woman in Black" was good news for Radcliffe, who had yet to top-line a movie in a role as anyone other than "Harry Potter." Its numbers were comparable with the 2006 remake of "When a Stranger Calls," which was also a horror flick directed at teens that opened on Super Bowl weekend. Both Radcliffe's ghost story and "Chronicle" earned mostly positive reviews.

Last weekend's #1 movie, "The Grey," dropped to #3 with $9.5 million. The Liam Neeson vehicle, which, like "Big Miracle," takes places in Alaska, has made $34.7 million thus far. "Underworld: Awakening" rounded out the top five with $5.6 million for a $53.4 million total.

Awards season favorite "The Artist" and "The Iron Lady" (which has earned Meryl Streep another Oscar nomination) both passed the $20 million mark over the weekend. Each movie is playing at roughly 1,000 locations; "Chronicle," by comparison, opened in 2,907.

This weekend's new releases include "The Vow," which sees Rachel McAdams returning to source material from "The Notebook" author Nicholas Sparks, opposite Channing Tatum; Denzel Washington's "Safe House"; "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, which is already doing solid business overseas; and the 3-D re-release of "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace," which is the first in a series of planned "Star Wars" 3-D re-releases over the next few years. Woody Harrelson's corrupt cop drama "Rampart," which reunites the actor with "The Messenger" writer/ director Oren Moverman, will open in limited release.

Check out everything we've got on "Chronicle."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Pussycat Dolls' Post-Super Bowl Plans Include Kim Kardashian

One day after the new Pussycat Dolls lineup debuted during a Go Daddy Super Bowl commercial, the Dolls are already working on their next small-screen project — and this time, it includes reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian.

PCD creator Robin Antin stopped by the MTV Newsroom late last month, and she had some fun teases about what fans should expect from their in-the-works, forthcoming show. "We're developing a reality show with Kim Kardashian as an executive producer and Nigel Lythgoe," Antin said of Kim K. and the "American Idol" producer and "So You Think You Can Dance" judge. "He wanted to get into reality TV and was very interested in doing something with me. Obviously, with the Pussycat Dolls, he's always been a big fan."

Antin appears on "So You Think You Can Dance" from time to time, and as for Kim, she performed as a Doll back in 2008. Also, Antin said, Kardashian "understands reality more than anyone I know."

"Kim is one of my best friends and has been for many, many years and so supportive and said, 'I'd love to be a part of really showing your world, the empire of really what you have built and the world around you ... and all the girls that revolve around that.' "

With a new Doll lineup (which includes Chrystina Sayers from Girlicious, "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Paula Van Oppen, Paradiso Girl and "Party Rock Anthem" collaborator Lauren Bennett, former Laker Girl Vanessa Curry and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Jenkins), Antin thinks now is as good a time as any to put their ups and downs on tape.

"The engine of all Pussycat Dolls [projects] is the recording ground, and now having the new recording group, it made sense to focus on the launch of this new group and how that engine opens up all the doors for all the different things that I'm doing that are a part of the brand," she said. "So it's a really fun, interesting, wacky world inside what I do."

However, Antin noted, the show won't be about catfights or exploiting the lows that come with the highs. "It's not about showing all the drama and all the girls fighting," she said. "I'm not interested in that — although the reality is, there are things that happen and we're OK with showing the reality. We focus so much and want to inspire people to show that girls can work together and act like sisters and get along. And through dancing and singing, I want to inspire everyone. These girls are the next generation."

What do you want to see from a new PCD reality show? Let us know in the comments!

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'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer: Five Key Scenes

"Spider-Man" fans who stayed up late Monday were treated to the second trailer from the superhero's upcoming reboot. The preview for "The Amazing Spider-Man" showed off new action sequences, a transformed reptilian villain and the smart-ass attitude fans of the comics have missed in recent years.

We've watched the trailer more times than we care to mention and took the opportunity to break down our favorite moments. Here are the five key scenes from the "Amazing Spider-Man" trailer:

Mask
You'd have to think back hard, but believe it or not, the first trailer only included a glimpse at Spider-Man's mask. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but it isn't until you see the old red-and-blue for a period longer than half a second that you realized what you were missing. The new suit looks good, if slightly over-stylized, but the mask brings it home and makes it feel like a "Spider-Man" movie.

Attitude
"Spider-Man 3" may have caused you to forget that Spider-Man is actually kind of a smart-ass and not just an emo guy who dances in the street with side bangs and zero self-awareness. In "Amazing," the wisecracking Spidey returns to make a carjacker feel like a complete dumbass, as he should. Andrew Garfield's take on the hero brings back the fun, intentionally.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker
The official plot synopsis released a few weeks ago focused on Dr. Connors' connection to the flighty parents that Mr. and Mrs. Parker were. The trailer plays off that new information and shows Peter hunting down the one-armed doctor to find out what happened to the parents he barely knew. It's an element we haven't seen in the previous films and one "Amazing" wants to put front and center.

Lizard
With the extra emphasis on Curt Connors comes an extended look at his bigger, greener side. After teases with flipped cars, we get to see the Lizard fully transformed, albeit a fleeting peek. They wouldn't want to spoil it all for us, but we saw enough to confirm that the PEZ dispenser was, in fact, accurate.

The Spire
The trailer finishes with a shot from an action sequence that most likely takes place near the end of the film. Peter stands on the spire of a skyscraper, dressed in Spider-Man attire from the neck down, but he won't be standing for long. The spike begins to tumble, and Pete struggles to not fall with it. The shot brings the serious action notes the first trailer lacked and makes us question how much we haven't seen from the film.

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Megan Hilty: From Broadway Sensation To Small-Screen 'Smash'

From Broadway sensation to television newcomer, Megan Hilty might just be the next "Smash" hit. The 30-year-old is taking on her first leading lady role on the small screen in the new series "Smash," where she plays the role of Ivy, a singer who competes for the role of Marilyn Monroe in a new Broadway play.

"She is a person who eats, breathes, sleeps theater and grew up doing theater, and all she ever wanted to do was be a leading lady on Broadway," Hilty told MTV News about her character. "When you meet her she's spent about ten years in the ensemble. She feels stuck and wants to make that next step to become a leading lady, and she's willing to do just about anything to make that happen."

At the age of 25, Hilty was starring on Broadway in the hit musical "Wicked," and in 2008 she joined the musical adaptation of the film, "9 to 5." With such an extensive musical background, stepping into the shoes of Ivy for "Smash" was an easy transition for Hilty.

"When I saw the script I was like, 'This is too good to be true, to do a television show about my world.' " Hilty said. "I am one of those kids that grew up eating, breathing sleeping theater, I still do it. It's literally a dream-come-true job. I do identify with her and I think a lot of people can identify with this character, regardless of what profession you're in. I think everybody knows what it feels like to feel stuck and not feel like people understand your full potential, so I think she is very identifiable."

This isn't the first time Hilty has been in front of the camera. She has made several television appearances, including small roles on "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty" and the Disney series "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." Yet, with all these guest roles, Hilty never would have imagined she would make the leap to leading lady.

"It was something that I never really thought was possible." Hilty admitted. "I always thought Broadway's the goal, and then I moved out to L.A. with "Wicked" and started doing guest-star spots and little recurring things and I was like, 'Well, this is pretty great, I'm kind of digging this.' "

So now that Hilty is on the road to stardom, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of her idols. "I look at the people's careers who I want to emulate, like Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters." Hilty said. "They've all found the key to longevity in this business, and that is diversifying, doing as many things as possible to keep yourself relevant, and so hopefully I'm on the same track as all those amazing women."

What did you think of "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!

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Rick Ross And Pharrell Cooking Up 'A Special Record'

When it comes to MCs, Pharrell has worked with some of the greats. Skateboard P has produced and rhymed with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I. and Snoop Dogg, and for this year's hottest MC in the game, P has a nomination: "Rick Ross is on his way, he's working his way. He's been doing it for a minute, and he's been really consistent," the Neptunes producer told MTV News on Friday in Miami.

The debate rages on, and Sunday, February 19, the "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" will premiere on MTV2. During the half-hour special, MTV's Hottest MCs Hip-Hop Brain Trust will gather at the roundtable and decide the top five rappers in the game. Beginning February 13, MTV will reveal MCs 10 through six online, but only one spitter can snag the #1 spot.

If Pharrell has his way, Rozay will conquer all in this highly contested debate. "That guy is an animal; he's an animal with it. Lyrically, he's crazy, and he's just got a very distinct style, it's his own," P campaigned. "There were a lot of comparisons made at the beginning of his career, but along with the test of time, he's proven that he's his own person and he has his own paintbrush and his own colors."

Skateboard might be just a bit biased as he reveals to MTV News that he and the Bawse have some very exciting things in the works — then again, Pharrell has worked with a number of MCs who could contend for the crown. "He and I have something special too. We have a special record too, but we're still working," the multiplatinum producer said. "I'm happy to be a part of it."

Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT to catch "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," then watch "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT before capping the night off with "Sucker Free Certified" at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

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Andrew Garfield Surprises 'Amazing Spider-Man' Fans

NEW YORK — Spider-Man fans came out in droves around the globe and in the web-slinger's hometown to get "a sneak peek into the untold story" from the upcoming film.

That's all they knew when they lined up hours early outside Manhattan's Regal Union Square. As similar events were taking place in major cities worldwide, no one in the audience knew about the surprises four of the events, in particular, held in store.

MTV News' Josh Horowitz moderated the New York event and welcomed fans as they took their seats. The theater grew quiet, and a live feed from L.A. replaced the Spider-Man insignia on the screen. The L.A. host welcomed the director of "The Amazing Spider-Man," Marc Webb, to join him on-camera. Webb threw it to Rio de Janeiro, where Emma Stone was introduced. A trip across the pond revealed the film's villain, Rhys Ifans, but it wasn't until the special guest in New York that the crowd lost their minds.

Andrew Garfield, the man behind the mask, stepped out from a side door, inciting an out-of-control roar from the theater. A man shouted "Hallelujah" from the crowd, and Garfield couldn't help but agree: "Hallelujah. You said exactly what was on my mind," he said. "It means the world to all of us that you care so much. Thank you for being here."

Back in L.A., Webb instructed the audiences around the world to put on their 3-D glasses for the new trailer for "Amazing Spider-Man," hours before the world premiere.

Each of the four special guests then answered a question about the upcoming film. Webb addressed the new story and villain. Stone described how Gwen Stacy is the polar opposite to Mary Jane Watson. Ifans explained how Dr. Connors' flaws make him more significant and how the connection to Peter's father makes the film more emotional.

Garfield answered a simple question — "Why did you want to be Spider-Man?" — in a simple and honest way: "Because I'm not an idiot," he said. "It's the thing everyone wants." He explained that the role doesn't belong to him, the character belongs to everyone. Garfield even expressed hopes that the next actor to play Peter Parker would be "half Hispanic/half African-American," like the current iteration of Spider-Man in the Ultimate run, Miles Morales.

The event concluded with an extended sizzle reel, lasting about seven minutes in all, of new 2-D footage, much of which was unfinished. Scenes included an awkward and cute scene between Peter and Gwen and a short sequence showing Peter developing his powers.

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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The Wanted Get 'Glee' Love

The Wanted are currently taking their fist-pumping boy band antics across America, and it seems that whatever they are doing is working. The guys just confirmed that their Battleground single, "Glad You Came," will appear on "Glee" this season.

The guys made the announcement on Twitter on Monday (February 6). The song originally appeared on their 2011 album and is now getting some love Stateside. It's already hit back in their native U.K., having topped the charts there for several weeks last year.

And, all the U.S. attention is certainly a coup for the band. "The American fans are so optimistic, very intense," bandmate Max George told MTV News about all the U.S. attention. "They're just really enthusiastic. I get a massive buzz off American people. I think it's really refreshing."

While their fans back home have already scooped up Battleground, fellow Wanted singer Jay McGuiness explained that they hope their music comes before their image — though they may have plenty of tween girls screaming their names.

"I think when we first started we were just trying to create the best pop album we could because we knew that's what everyone wanted to hear," he said of their 2010 album debut. "And then the second time around you find you want to be a lot more creative, you want to put on personal things and the writing on the first album was fun and the writing on the second album was really personal.

"And that means every time we do a live gig and people are singing it back [and] it makes everything electric," he continued. "And I think nowadays boy bands can be part of that, where the music is as key as people find them attractive and we know that boy bands often had shelf lives because the image came before the music. And we're trying to be the other way around. So far it's working because we like singing and people like listening to us."

The band — which also includes Tom Parker, Siva Kaneswaran and Nathan Sykes — is here promoting Battleground. Their U.S. tour will wrap up on Wednesday in Los Angeles before they kick off an arena tour on February 15 in their native England.

Are you excited for the "Glee" cast to perform "Glad You Came"? Leave your comment below!

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Madonna's Super Bowl Show: Halftime Fumbles

During the 13 minutes Madonna took over Super Bowl XLVI for her highly anticipated halftime show, there were plenty of surprise cameos, high-tech stage lights and, of course, some of the biggest classics in pop music.

But even though the Queen of Pop's glitzy show Sunday night (February 5) appeared to run smoothly, the over-the-top theatrics might have shadowed some of the fumbles. Take a look at the list of onstage slip-ups MTV News caught during the pop performer's set.

Madonna's Almost Fall(s)
It was only a few minutes into the show, but Madonna lost her balance and almost fell as she jumped around the flashing bleachers with her dancers during her performance of "Music." She also teetered a few minutes later while getting up after getting down with LMFAO. Fortunately, the singer found her ground and demonstrated how a professional handles a little performance slipup, continuing without missing a beat.

M.I.A.'s Finger Flash
Madonna wouldn't be Madonna without even a little controversy, but this time, it wasn't even her fault. During the performance of the pop titan's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj appeared as sideline cheerleaders to spit their rap contribution to the pop gem. Known for her rebellious attitude, M.I.A. flashed her middle finger for a split second that has already fueled headlines all over the Internet.

Backing Track
While Madge is getting lots of love from celebrities, there are many who are criticizing the Queen of Pop for what appears to be a mostly backing-track performance. However, lip-synching isn't unfamiliar territory for the Super Bowl. Back in 2009, the championship game's producer Ricky Minor told the Associated Press that he requested Jennifer Hudson lip-synch her rendition of the national anthem to limit the chances of possible mistakes.

Did you catch any other fumbles during Madge's performance? Tell us below!

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Master P's Daughter Cymphonique Miller Is Learning 'How to Rock'

Nickelodeon is getting ready to rock. On Saturday, the network will premiere its new show "How to Rock," starring rising teen star Cymphonique Miller. Miller is a familiar face at Nickelodeon, having guest starred on "True Jackson, VP" and "Big Time Rush," but this time she takes on the role as leading lady on the show, which is based on the book "How to Rock Braces and Glasses" by Meg Haston.

Miller plays high school student Kasey Simon (think Rachel McAdams' character in "Mean Girls"), leader of the Perfs, the most popular girls in school. But Miller's character quickly finds herself kicked out of the "cool crowd" after she gets braces and glasses.

But Kasey won't let the "make-under" get her down. She becomes friends with a new group of students and winds up as the lead singer of their new band, Gravity 5.

"[It's] almost kind of like a battle of the bands, and the Perfs are sort of like the mean girls." Miller recently told MTV News. "It's like the Perfs are always planning some certain way to stop Gravity 5. You can see lots of crazy physical comedy and crazy stunts in the show, 'cause every week we do something totally silly and outrageous."

Miller, who sings and co-wrote the show's theme song, "Only You Can Be You," is no stranger to the spotlight; her brother is actor/rapper Romeo, and her dad is hip-hop mogul Master P. Yet, that doesn't mean it was easy for Miller to persuade her dad to let her star in "How to Rock." She said he didn't want her to be involved in "this crazy business" until he realized how passionate she was about it. So he gave her his approval, on the condition that she keeps up her grades.

"We put education first in our family, and Romeo is like my inspiration because he was not only doing film and everything, but he also went to college, he went to USC," Miller said.

"They're always just constantly telling me to not get into this business for the wrong reasons like fame or money or else you will never be happy, so just do it because you love it." It seems like Miller certainly is loving what she is doing on "How to Rock" and hopes fans can relate to the show's positive message.

"I hope that fans and the viewers can just take from the show is to find friends who love you for who you are, because it's all about friendship with this show," Miller said. "What they should learn is that at the end of the day, there's nothing more important than being yourself."

"How to Rock" premieres Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.

Are you excited for "How to Rock"? Let us know in the comments.

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Madonna's 'Luvin' Not Meant To Be A Super Bowl Video

Two days before Madonna took the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show, she dropped a video for her lead MDNA single "Give Me All Your Luvin' " that was chock-full of cheerleaders and football players.

While it may seem awfully suspicious that Madge would tout football in a video released mere days before her halftime spectacle Sunday night, the clip's duo of directors, the Megaforce, insist the similarly themed moments are purely coincidental.

"I think the track has something to do with cheerleading. It's pretty clear that the beginning is a kind of cheering [anthem]," the Megaforce's Clement Gallet told MTV News about the song, which also features Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. "With this one, it felt like there was no point to bring it somewhere else [in terms of visuals] other than where it was. I don't think our cheerleaders are really obvious."

In fact, the cheerleaders in the video look way different than the ones cheering at the Big Game. Led by Minaj and M.I.A., the cheer squad sports anime-like masks and even gets a bit cheekily violent when one bats the head off a football player near the end of the clip. While the Super Bowl plans had been in the air when Madge and the crew hit the New York set back in December, the video's look was influenced more by the Martin Solveig track than anything else, the director say.

"We were aware that this video, this track was supposed to be aired during the Super Bowl, but we never felt or we were never even asked to make something in relation to the Super Bowl," Gallet explained. "And I think it's just — it's not a coincidence, we had the Super Bowl in mind — but we are not doing a video about Super Bowl."

Did Madonna's new video put you in the mood for Sunday's Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments below!

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Madonna's Super Bowl Performance: A Cheat Sheet

From the moment that it was announced back in December that Madonna would be taking the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show, everyone has been buzzing about what the Queen of Pop will do when she performs.

In the two months since the announcement, she has been teasing fans about what they will see for those several minutes when she interrupts the matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Madonna recently told Anderson Cooper on his talk show that "I have to put on the greatest show on earth, in the middle of the greatest show on earth. I have eight minutes to set it up and seven minutes to take it down and 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth. That's a lot of pressure."

Wondering what might happen? Well, MTV News has compiled a little Super Bowl halftime cheat sheet.

The Guests
M.I.A. confirmed that she'll be on the stage alongside Madonna, and Nicki Minaj tweeted on Thursday night about being in Indianapolis with Madonna rehearsing for the show. "Omfg. Madonna's show is about to murdaaaa everything movinggg. Wow. Such a surreal moment."

There are also rumors that Cee Lo Green may appear during her set, as well as party rockers LMFAO. The whole show will also get an assist from Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King.

The Look
If Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video is any indication, the gig will certainly have a cheerleader vibe to it. When MTV News caught up with her at her "W.E." premiere she coyly teased that "pom poms" would play heavily into the theme of the show.

In an interview with ABC News, she shared one idea she had for the performance: "I actually wanted to have 100 drummers come from the ceiling, a drumline from the ceiling."

The Songs
There'll be something old and something new. "I promise I will be singing three old songs and one new one," Madonna said at a press conference. With M.I.A. and Nicki already on the ground, it seems that she'll definitely be performing "Give Me" (the lead single off her March album, MDNA). With rumors flying about what those other songs could be, the word is that she'll also perform "Vogue," "Music" and "Ray of Light."

The Stage
In photos teased online, the halftime stage is full of LED lights in various shades of blue, green, pink, purple and red and includes various designs including the word "Vogue" (yep, like the song), kooky-looking eyes and a heart-shaped design.

Who Will Be Watching?
Besides like seven-bajillion people? Well, the Pussycat Dolls say that despite a heated matchup between the Giants and the Patriots, there's only one team they'll be rooting for.

"I definitely say Madonna," PCD creator Robin Antin told MTV News. "We'll be watching for the [Go Daddy] commercial ... and Madonna. It's exciting. Well, hopefully the Pussycat Dolls will be on the next Super Bowl performing, you know?"

Lady Gaga has already admitted that she'll be tuning in on Sunday night. "Looking forward to seeing the Superbowl! The halftime show will be wonderful, I'm sure," she tweeted on Tuesday. "An excuse to drink beer+watch boys in tights. #yes."

What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comment below.

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'Avengers' New Trailer Blasts Into Super Bowl

Captain America is from Brooklyn, New York, so he's probably a Giants fan, right?

Well, if the new trailer for "The Avengers" is any indication, Cap will have bigger things to think about than the Super Bowl this summer. The game was a big deal and all, but comic book movie fans also assembled in front of televisions and computers on Sunday (February 5) to watch a different group of uniformed supermen (and women) go to battle in ways we've never seen before.

Marvel Studios debuted the second full-length trailer for the summer's "Avengers," and boy, did it deliver, true believers! An extended version appeared on the flick's official Facebook page moments after the commercial aired during the game.

Aliens, aliens, aliens! (Are those Skrulls? Kree? Asgardian something-or-others?) A Hulk-tastic climax, a bunch of alien craft getting smashed and the most action fans have seen yet from the Avengers: Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the man who brought them together in post-credits sequences across several movies, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

The trailer opens with the familiar images of carnage on the city streets: cars overturned, explosions. The voice of Jackson as Fury says, "The world has changed." Evans, as Captain America, looks unimpressed as he untangles his hand wraps in what looks like a midcentury-style boxing gym. "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me," he comments.

"We are hopelessly outgunned," Fury says, as the Marvel logo unspools and quinjets land on an aircraft carrier. As he finishes that sentence, we see that he's standing with Thor (and presumably the rest of the team). There are more explosions brought on by an alien craft, followed by Tony Stark (Iron Man) rising with a look of steadfast determination.

A close-up of Mjolnir flying into Thor's hand, followed by thunder and lightning. Iron Man's feet as they land on a rooftop. "Mr. Stark," Evans says. Downey answers: "Captain." "It's time," Jackson says. A close-up of Captain America's iconic shield. Iron Man in action.

As the montage continues, Thor helps Cap up off the street. Black Widow swings, then kicks, then peers over her shoulder while a car crashes between the shots. Thor lands on top of a quinjet! A large group of bad guys leap toward the city! Cap protects himself and his team from an explosion with his shield, Hawkeye shoots an arrow as he falls toward the street. Cap runs from a laser beam, Iron Man flies directly toward a small armada of alien craft. "I still believe in heroes," Fury says.

The camera then pans around all of the Avengers assembled around one another in the street. Hawkeye draws back his bow, Widow taps a clip into her pistol and Cap raises his shield. "The Avengers: That's what we call ourselves," Stark says casually, making a drink behind a bar as the film's primary villain approaches him ominously. " 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'-type thing."

"I have an Army!" declares Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's half-brother from Asgard.

"We have a Hulk," Stark answers, shortly before the extended trailer's money shot: the Hulk roaring, smashing through glass and leaping high into the air, destroying several alien craft at once. He didn't yell "Hulk smash!" — but he might as well have.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" writer/director Joss Whedon's flick will unite Marvel's Mightiest Heroes onscreen May 4.

Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Madonna Gives High Energy Super Bowl Halftime Show

Madonna promised pom-poms for her Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance but she delivered a whole lot more, a high-energy spectacle packed with Roman warriors, Cirque du Soleil dancers, marching bands, cheerleaders and some very famous guests.

She made quite an entrance, that's for sure, riding onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium on a throne dressed in full-on Cleopatra mode pulled by dancers dressed like Roman warriors. Decked out in a gold cape and massive headpiece with banners flying behind her, Madonna took the stage to "Vogue" as the song's title flashed among the images on the high-tech LED stage and amazing digitized field below her.

Cirque du Soleil's theatrical presentation and acrobatic dancing were apparent throughout, but never more so than during "Vogue," when the lavish staging met with tight choreography and Madonna sounding and looking great for an inspired spectacle and perhaps one of the biggest and boldest live performances of its kind ever attempted.

She displayed none of the nerves she'd uncharacteristically been copping to in the lead-up to the event, tearing through her hits with plenty of superstar swagger and hitting all her dance moves just right. She had a good reason to be nervous though: Sunday night's (February 5) game in Indianapolis was expected to be the most-watched television event of the year. Last year's Super Bowl drew over 162 million viewers in the U.S. alone.

Next up, Madonna and a team of dancers, now a bunch of Adidas-wearing b-boys, met on some light-up bleachers for an athletic take on "Music" that segued straight into dance-heavy remixes of "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It" featuring guests LMFAO, proving that the 53-year-old pop legend can still keep up (and then some) on the dance floor.

The pom-poms Madonna promised surfaced when she lit into her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin," along with a blonde Nicki Minaj and a, ahem, bird-flipping M.I.A.. That's right, the lone bit of controversy around the often provocative Madonna's Super Bowl show will most likely have to do with the Sri Lankan singer briefly flipping off the camera. The otherwise slickly produced show went off without a hitch.

The Queen of Pop gamely picked up some gold pom-poms to cheer alongside Minaj, M.I.A. and a team of cheering dancers during the track, giving off the look and feel of the recently released clip for the song. Minaj and M.I.A. both got a chance to shine too, rapping their parts on the track's breakdown.

As expected, she performed three vintage tunes ("Vogue," "Music" and "Like a Prayer") and one new one, "Give Me All Your Luvin," the lead single from her forthcoming 12th studio album, MDNA. She partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, her longtime choreographer/creative director Jamie King and multimedia artists from Moment Factory to plan the spectacular show.

For the finale, Cee Lo Green marched onstage as the drum major to a large marching band, starting briefly into small bites of "Open Your Heart" and "Express Yourself" before suiting up into sparkling robes for a full-voiced rendition of "Like a Prayer." Madonna and Cee Lo were joined for a choir for the performance, which saw Madonna falling to her knees as she sang her classic track.

She then stepped to the back of the stage and vanished into a cloud of smoke, disappearing beneath the stage and leaving the still-cheering stadium wanting more.

Did you love Madonna's Super Bowl half-time performance? Let us know in the comments below!

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'Ferris Bueller' Producer Talks 'Clever' Super Bowl Ad

Even if you aren't a football fan, there's no way you could've pulled a Cameron Frye after last night's and claimed, as the "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" curmudgeon famously did, that you didn't see anything good all day.

That's because two and a half decades after writer/director John Hughes introduced us to the coolest high school kid who ever lived, Matthew Broderick returned during the big game for a "Ferris"-inspired Honda commercial that had the actor once again pointing out that life moves pretty fast, so you should look around every once in a while or you'll miss it.

Life, then, is all about surprises. Who would've thought that, after Hughes died in 2009, we'd ever see some fresh "Ferris" action? Certainly not the film's producer, Tom Jacobson, who was utterly taken by surprise when a teaser for the ad popped up online ahead of the Bowl.

Shortly before the game kicked off, MTV News called Jacobson to get his take on the spot, what Hughes would make of it and whether we'll ever get an actual "Ferris Bueller" sequel.

MTV: So what's your take on the new ad?

Tom Jacobson: I think it's fantastic. The fact that Ferris is a cultural phenomenon and representative of something is cool. I thought it was very well-done. Todd Phillips [who directed the ad] did a really good job. Matthew was great. When the first thing was released, with him just opening the window, it was the same voice. It was the same reading as Ferris 26 years ago.

MTV: It was eerily similar.

Jacobson: He's a good actor. Clearly it's part of him, and that's why he was so good in the first one. It's interesting, because the movie is 26 years old this June, and everyone still knows who Ferris is. Even kids know who Ferris is. It's not generational. I have a 14-year-old son, and last year, when he was in seventh grade, they had a school sleepover thing and the movie they showed was "Ferris Bueller." All the teachers and all the administration, they were the ones raised on "Ferris Bueller."

MTV: Did you know the commercial was coming?

Jacobson: I didn't know it was coming, and I was surprised. At first, I was like, "What?" Everybody was calling me, and my kids were sending me these links, like, "Dad, did you see this?" I looked it up and loved it.

MTV: That was just the teaser?

Jacobson: Yeah, just the 15-second thing.

MTV: So what were you thinking? Did you think they were making a sequel?

Jacobson: I was just a consumer. There was all this Internet rumor about, "What's this for? Is there a 'Ferris 2'?" So I did my own calling around and found out pretty quickly it was a car commercial. I actually spoke to Matthew on Monday and Tuesday and told him he did a great job. I emailed him and said it's amazing how many emails I've got about this. And he said the same thing and his BlackBerry was blowing up and it's amazing how the movie resonates after all these years.

MTV: When you saw the full commercial, was there one moment or reference that you thought was particularly cool?

Jacobson: It was more the imagery. The way it was framed. And Matthew playing himself. That was very clever and postmodern.

MTV: What do think John Hughes would make of this? Ferris Bueller doing a car commercial for the Super Bowl?

Jacobson: I can't really speak for what he would think. He was very protective of his material. It's unique stuff that he created. I don't know how he would feel. It's always a question about how artists feel about their material promoting something else. I'm proud it's part of the culture. I'll separate it from the product side of it and the fact that someone bought the rights to sell something else.

MTV: Is this ad the closest we're ever going to get to seeing a "Ferris Bueller" sequel?

Jacobson: There are a lot of people involved in that decision. We've never tried it before. John never wanted to do it.

MTV: Why do you think the film still resonates?

Jacobson: I think there's a very simple sentiment in the movie, which he repeats at the end: Life moves pretty fast, and if you don't stop and look around, it'll pass you by. It's one of those Confucius sayings that the whole movie emblemizes. It's even truer now. The world moves so fast. It's true for grownups. And there's the magic on John Hughes' execution — the fairy-tale nature of it. Why do fairy tales last for a thousand years? Why does the myth of Ulysses last for 2,000 years? Because they're mythological journeys, and John made one of those. That's Ferris' journey.

Check out everything we've got on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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OK Go's Super Bowl Commercial Hits Overdrive

At this point, after all the treadmills, Rube Goldberg machines, dogs on Ikea furniture, choreographed dance routines, color-coordinated jumpsuits and, uh, toast, you're probably wondering what OK Go could possibly do for their next music video.

Well, now we know the answer. In their new "Needing/Getting" video — which premiered Sunday (February 5) on MTV.com and will also be seen in a Chevy commercial during tonight's Super Bowl XLVI — OK Go stage a full-blown vehicular spectacular. Part Baja rally, part demolition derby, all ingenious, it features the fearless quartet speeding along a desert track, making hair-pin turns, and very nearly wrecking — all while using the car itself to bash out the tune.

The band and director Brian L. Perkins (who directed an early version of their "This Too Shall Pass" clip) used more than 1,100 homemade instruments — plus 55 pianos and countless guitars — a painstakingly plotted road course and a bevy of appendages bolted onto a Chevy Sonic (they probably don't come standard) to make the whole project fly. It's the kind of "How did they do that?!?" clip that OK Go have come to be known for. The mind boggles at just how many takes it took to get the whole thing right, and the fact that they're using corporate sponsorship to do it (much like they did with the equally eye-catching "Pass," which was subtly sponsored by State Farm) makes it even more brilliant.

In a way, it's OK Go gaming the system, taking full advantage of a benevolent car manufacturer to make their dreams a reality. But, really, that's all high-minded thought for another day. Right now, I'm going to watch "Needing/Getting" again, and marvel how a band can keep pushing the envelope this far. And I will say this: If I were to buy a musical car, it would probably be a Chevy Sonic. So, in that regard too, this clip's a winner.

Share your thoughts on the "Needing/Getting" video in the comments below!

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'Smash' And 'Glee' Are 'Very Different,' Megan Hilty Says

It's safe to assume that if you're watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 5), you will see several promos for NBC's newest musical drama, "Smash," which premieres Monday.

The show centers on two potential Broadway stars — played by former "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and newcomer Megan Hilty — who are competing for the lead role in a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. "Smash" has it all: flashy musical numbers, well-choreographed dance routines and, of course, entertaining drama.

Does that all sound a little similar to Fox's hit show "Glee"? Not so fast, says Hilty, who told MTV News the two shows couldn't be more different.

"Obviously, the glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it that we have in common," Hilty said. "We're very different in tone and theme and pretty much everything. We're kind of like a glam soap opera with some splashy musical elements in between."

But Hilty admits that if it weren't for "Glee," "Smash" might have never gotten off the ground.

"Thank God for 'Glee,' because they really opened doors for our show, specifically, to make it possible for us to do this," Hilty said. "They made it socially acceptable and even cool to love the arts, and hopefully our show will do the same, but they really were the people who started that and busted down those doors, so thank God for that."

Hilty's co-star, McPhee, agrees. "We're just actually really grateful that 'Glee' has opened the door," McPhee told MTV News on the Golden Globes red carpet last month.

Will you be watching "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!

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Mitt Romney Scores Another Win In Nevada Caucus

Just four days after notching his most convincing win of the primary season so far, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney made it two in a row by taking Saturday night's Republican caucus in Nevada with 47.6 percent of the vote. In a season where three different candidates have won the first four contests, that gives Romney the distinction of being the first to grab two consecutive wins.

"This is not the first time you've given me your vote of confidence, and this time I'm going to take it to the White House," a clearly excited Romney said at a victory speech, where he once again turned his attention away from his Republican opponents and on President Obama.

Unlike Florida, where Representative Ron Paul didn't compete in order to focus on Nevada and other upcoming states, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was forced to suspend his campaigning to deal with a sick child, all four remaining candidates worked the road in the first Western contest of the season.

After coming in 14 points behind Romney in Florida, Newt Gingrich was hoping for a solid comeback but could not rely on a strong debate performance, as there was not one in advance of the latest battle. On Saturday night he finished well behind Romney, rolling up just 22.7 percent of the vote (with 71 percent of precincts reporting at press time). While Romney took to the stage in a room full of cheering supporters, the Gingrich headquarters was a stark contrast, an empty room where the former House Speaker spoke to reporters via television. "I am a candidate for president of the United States," Gingrich said. "I will be the candidate of the president of the United States."

Romney won Nevada handily in 2008, taking 51 percent of the vote because his rivals in the last GOP primary race basically let him run unopposed assuming the state's large Mormon population would ensure Romney — who is Mormon — a win. Though Mormons only account for 7 percent of the state's population (around 180,000), they are rabid voters and reliably make up one-quarter of Republican caucus-goers.

But it wasn't it as clear-cut this time. Even Santorum, who has moved to the back of the pack since his recount win in Iowa a month ago, put up a strong battle, though he ended up in fourth place with just 11.1 percent. And Paul, who was counting on the state's vocal Tea Party contingent and independent voters to come out for him, had a decent showing in third place with 18.6 percent.

As he did in Florida, Romney came in with a much bigger ground game than the rest of the field, a record of visiting the state often over the past year-and-a-half and, for what it's worth, the endorsement of real-estate mogul and once-potential candidate Donald Trump.

Regardless of the results, unlike winner-take-all Florida, no actual delegates will be awarded following the Nevada caucus. As in Iowa, delegates will be elected to go to the county convention and then to a state gathering, who will then decide where the state's 34 delegates go to the GOP convention in Tampa. It's possible the delegates who go to Florida in late August may not reflect the final results of Saturday's vote.

Voting also began Saturday in Maine's caucus, whose vote will take place over the next week. More voters go to the polls on Tuesday, when Colorado and Minnesota also caucus.

Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.

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Madonna's Super Bowl Show 'Nailed It,' Celebs Say

Madonna does everything big, and her Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday night (February 5) was no exception. From her elaborate staging, wave of synchronized dancers and surprise onstage guests, the Queen of Pop has all kind of stars, including Kim Kardashian and Ashton Kutcher, abuzz — and probably singing along, too.

Taking to Twitter to dish about Madge's over-the-top medley of songs, Kardashian kept her praise short and sweet: "Madonna is EVERYTHING! She looks soooo good!" she wrote.

Kutcher was another fan of the pop titan's high-energy performance as he confessed, "#fact Madonna is crushing it!"

Not only did Ryan Seacrest find a liking to Madonna's set, but also her surprise performers. "Loved the madonna performance, i think she nailed it. Great job by @LMFAO, @NickiMinaj, @CeeloGreen too," he tweeted.

With the season premiere of "The Voice" scheduled for right after Sunday's big game, Christina Aguilera also showed support for her fellow co-star, tweeting, "@CeeLoGreen you killed it with Madonna at half time!"

Love for Madonna's show was also spread to another Kardashian sister, as Kourtney wrote, "Nobody is better than Madonna. She was perfection. Like a Prayer was my favorite part. Did everyone LOVE it as much as I did?"

Despite his remarks on the singer's backing track, Perez Hilton was extremely impressed by the superstar's "Like a Player" finale, writing, "Wow. That 'Like A Prayer' finale was one of the best things #Madonna has EVER done! Soooo epic!!!"

Paula Abdul was full of compliments, calling the pop performer's halftime show "brilliant." "I was dancing &singing along w/ @CeeLoGreen #Madonna Like A Prayer was AWESOME!" she wrote. "Well played #Superbowl WELL PLAYED-amazing #HalfTime show!"

Age proved nothing but a number to the rest of the Twitter-verse when "Madonna is 53" became a trending topic shortly after she wrapped up her performance.

Share your review of Madonna's halftime performance in the comments below.

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