Friday, March 11, 2011
Megan Fox in revealing red dress !!!!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lindsay Lohan heads back to court -- the 9th time in 10 months
March 10, 2011 12:28 p.m. EST
Lohan is also facing possible jail time for violating her probation for a drunk driving arrest because of the theft charge.
If a plea deal is not reached in Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz's courtroom, the case will go to another judge for a preliminary hearing and a possible trial, he said.
At her last appearance in February, the judge warned Lohan that any plea deal would involve jail time.
"If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail, period!" Schwartz told Lohan during the February 23 hearing.
Dr. Drew: Jail won't help Lindsay Lohan 
Michael Lohan blames himself 
Lindsay walks judicial red carpet Lohan's lawyer Shawn Holley previously said her client would welcome a plea deal, but only if it did not involve going to jail.
Thursday's hearing will mark Lohan's ninth court appearance in 10 months.
The actress is accused of walking out with a necklace from Kamofie and Company, a jewelry store in Venice, California, on January 22.
The case against Lohan took another twist this week when the jewelry store sold the rights to the security video of Lohan -- which is key to the prosecution -- to the Associated Press for an undisclosed price.
"We hope that everyone understands that this is beyond our control, the flood of the requests to see this video were simply too overwhelming," a representative for the store said Tuesday. "It was truly necessary to put it out."
The store owners said Wednesday they will auction off the necklace and donate the proceeds to charity.
"Sofia Kaman would rather the money go to help an appropriate charity, since at least that way some good can result from this incident," the store said.
The auction will have to wait until the case is resolved, since the necklace is being held as evidence by prosecutors, the store said.
The felony grand theft charge triggered a charge that Lohan violated her probation for a 2007 drunk driving conviction.
The actress is free on bond on the probation violation and the grand theft charge while her lawyer and the prosecutor discuss a plea deal, or until a full hearing.
The penalty for a felony grand theft conviction ranges from 16 months to three years in a California state prison. The exact term would be based on the value of the property stolen and the criminal record of the defendant.
Lohan heads back to court
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- If a deal is not reached, the case will go to another judge
- At last hearing, the judge told Lindsay Lohan that any plea deal will include jail time
- She is accused of stealing a necklace from a jewelry store
- The store says it will sell the necklace at auction
Check out CNN affiliate KTLA-TV in Los Angeles for updates on the hearing.
Los Angeles (CNN) -- Actress Lindsay Lohan heads back to court Thursday to say if she will accept a plea deal on a felony charge of stealing a $2,500 necklace. Lohan is also facing possible jail time for violating her probation for a drunk driving arrest because of the theft charge.
If a plea deal is not reached in Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz's courtroom, the case will go to another judge for a preliminary hearing and a possible trial, he said.
At her last appearance in February, the judge warned Lohan that any plea deal would involve jail time.
"If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail, period!" Schwartz told Lohan during the February 23 hearing.
Dr. Drew: Jail won't help Lindsay Lohan Michael Lohan blames himself Lindsay walks judicial red carpet RELATED TOPICS
Thursday's hearing will mark Lohan's ninth court appearance in 10 months.
The actress is accused of walking out with a necklace from Kamofie and Company, a jewelry store in Venice, California, on January 22.
The case against Lohan took another twist this week when the jewelry store sold the rights to the security video of Lohan -- which is key to the prosecution -- to the Associated Press for an undisclosed price.
"We hope that everyone understands that this is beyond our control, the flood of the requests to see this video were simply too overwhelming," a representative for the store said Tuesday. "It was truly necessary to put it out."
The store owners said Wednesday they will auction off the necklace and donate the proceeds to charity.
"Sofia Kaman would rather the money go to help an appropriate charity, since at least that way some good can result from this incident," the store said.
The auction will have to wait until the case is resolved, since the necklace is being held as evidence by prosecutors, the store said.
The felony grand theft charge triggered a charge that Lohan violated her probation for a 2007 drunk driving conviction.
The actress is free on bond on the probation violation and the grand theft charge while her lawyer and the prosecutor discuss a plea deal, or until a full hearing.
The penalty for a felony grand theft conviction ranges from 16 months to three years in a California state prison. The exact term would be based on the value of the property stolen and the criminal record of the defendant.
Shoplifting offenses are charged as petty theft if the property taken is valued at less than $950. The store owner claims the "one of a kind" necklace is worth $2,500, police said.
CNN's Douglas Hyde contributed to this report
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Rare Breeds Are Glimpse of History
As Baxter the otterhound bounded around the show ring at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday, his owner, Cathy Glenn, felt sure he would win best in breed — and not just because he had won the prize three years running.
The crowd was equally certain of his chances for victory: although five dogs had been entered in the show, Baxter was the only one who showed up.
The dogs’ scarcity at Westminster is an apt metaphor for the breed itself. The otterhound — a big, goofy mess of a dog with a slobbery beard, unruly coat and happy-go-lucky grin — was once sought after in England because it kept the country’s river otter population in check. Today, an estimated 350 of the dogs are living in the United States, and fewer than 1,000 are said to exist worldwide.
The otterhound is one of several English breeds on display at Westminster that have dwindled to near obscurity despite a proud history. Much like an heirloom rose or tomato, the dogs are living artifacts of a bygone era kept alive by a group of passionate breeders.
Other examples of classic but rare breeds include the Dandie Dinmont terrier, a dog with a Kim Jong-il hairstyle whose roots date to the 1700s; the field spaniel, a once-popular hunting companion that has been overshadowed by its smaller cousin, the cocker spaniel; and the harrier, a noble hunting dog that looks like a beagle on steroids.
For many owners, the dogs’ heritage forms part of their appeal. “I think it’s very cool that you look at a painting of dogs from 200 years ago, and they look like dogs that we have today,” said Joellen Gregory, the owner of three otterhounds, including Baxter’s brother.
If these heirloom breeds have a hero, it is Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel who won Best in Show at Westminster in 2009. The Sussex spaniel was one of nine breeds originally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1884, but they are an unusual sight today, ranking 155th in annual registrations out of the kennel club’s 167 ranked breeds.
The issue has not gone unnoticed in the United Kingdom, where the Kennel Club, the British counterpart of the A.K.C., has mounted a campaign to protect 24 breeds that it has labeled “vulnerable.”
To encourage its countrymen to buy British, the Kennel Club holds annual breed showcases, called “Discover Dogs,” where the endangered breeds get special billing. The club has organized parades featuring the dogs and their handlers, who dress as historical characters with links to the breeds.
Last fall, the British clothing designer Jeremy Hackett warned in a newspaper article that his beloved Sussex spaniels — which are featured in many of his clothing advertisements — have a popularity that is “on a par with whalebone corsets and powdered eggs.”
“The whole idea is simply to re-educate the public about the benefits of some of the old British and Irish breeds,” said Caroline Kisko, a spokeswoman for the Kennel Club. “I think the main concern is that we have — as in the United States — we have a public that has become more and more accustomed to thinking that the Labrador retriever is the No. 1 possible pet, and the other breeds are just being forgotten.”
Rare-breed enthusiasts say they have devoted themselves to the dogs in part for the novelty. Nichole Dooley, a field spaniel breeder from Boston, said people often stop her on the street when she is with her dogs, which are often confused for cocker or springer spaniels. “They say, ‘I had one of those when I was little,’ ” Dooley said. “I’m like, no, you didn’t.”
But the main attraction, dog owners say, is the idiosyncrasies of each individual breed. Glenn, Baxter’s owner, said otterhounds are clowns. They tend to sleep with all four feet in the air, and Baxter is so obsessed with having his hind scratched that he introduces himself to strangers by backing into them.
Dooley said field spaniels tend to be calmer than other spaniels. “They’re a well-kept secret,” she said.
The field spaniel fell out of favor in the middle of the 20th century, losing out to the rising stars of the springer and cocker spaniels. They virtually disappeared from the United States in the 1940s and ’50s, before being revived in the 1960s after a breeder imported a handful of dogs from England. Every field spaniel in the United States today can trace its lineage to four dogs from the 1950s and ’60s, said Jane Chopson, president of the Field Spaniel Society of America.
“We joke in our breed that we don’t have a gene pool, we have a gene puddle,” Dooley said.
Extinction is a rarity in recent years, but canine history is full of cautionary tales. Many times, the dogs disappeared after they lost their jobs. In the Middle Ages, many households employed a turnspit dog, a breed developed to turn roasting meat by running inside a small cage that resembled a hamster wheel. Modern cooking technologies eliminated the need for turnspit dogs, and they faded away.
Aficionados of otterhounds and harriers say their breeds are also victims of changing times. Owners of both breeds worry that the dogs may become extinct, possibly as soon as 10 to 15 years from now.
Otter hunting was outlawed in England decades ago, and after that, demand for otterhounds dropped. “You’re talking about an ancient breed that no longer has a job,” said Betsy Conway, an otterhound owner and advocate.
Because of their small gene pool, otterhounds suffer from physical ailments, although Conway said breeders were working to address the issue. Of particular concern is late-onset epilepsy, which can surface after an otterhound has already produced offspring, as well as decreasing litter size and female dogs who have difficulty conceiving.
The harriers’ métier — chasing hares — was also outlawed several years ago, leading to concerns that they will eventually disappear in England, where the dogs are kept exclusively in hunting packs. Harriers in the United States are third-to-last in the A.K.C.’s popularity list and are mostly kept as pets. Less than 100 are believed to be living in the United States.
Breeders of harriers import dogs from England every few years to infuse fresh genes into the United States stock. “If we’re cut off from that, or if there’s some reason that there’s a difficulty with that, then it’s questionable if there is enough genetic diversity for this breed to exist,” said Kevin Shupenia, a Georgia breeder who owns about 20 harriers.
Still, Conway said owning an otterhound was worth it. “The negatives to me certainly are so minor in comparison to the wonderful things about life with an otterhound,” she said.
“Why have otterhounds? Because they are a piece of history,” she said. To those who question whether the dogs have outlived their usefulness, she answers: “What difference does it make if we have polar bears or mountain gorillas? What do you need them for?”
Barton Silverman/The New York Times
Rare breeds have a standard bearer in Stump, a Sussex spaniel who won Best in Show in 2009. Sussex spaniels rank 155th in annual registrations out of the kennel club’s 167 breeds. More Photos »
Multimedia
Marcus Yam for The New York Times
One rare breed at the show was represented by Dale the harrier, with his owner, Katelyn Locklear. More Photos »
Marcus Yam for The New York Times
Danielle Brewer, owner and handler, with Laney, a 5-year-old field spaniel. More Photos »
The dogs’ scarcity at Westminster is an apt metaphor for the breed itself. The otterhound — a big, goofy mess of a dog with a slobbery beard, unruly coat and happy-go-lucky grin — was once sought after in England because it kept the country’s river otter population in check. Today, an estimated 350 of the dogs are living in the United States, and fewer than 1,000 are said to exist worldwide.
The otterhound is one of several English breeds on display at Westminster that have dwindled to near obscurity despite a proud history. Much like an heirloom rose or tomato, the dogs are living artifacts of a bygone era kept alive by a group of passionate breeders.
Other examples of classic but rare breeds include the Dandie Dinmont terrier, a dog with a Kim Jong-il hairstyle whose roots date to the 1700s; the field spaniel, a once-popular hunting companion that has been overshadowed by its smaller cousin, the cocker spaniel; and the harrier, a noble hunting dog that looks like a beagle on steroids.
For many owners, the dogs’ heritage forms part of their appeal. “I think it’s very cool that you look at a painting of dogs from 200 years ago, and they look like dogs that we have today,” said Joellen Gregory, the owner of three otterhounds, including Baxter’s brother.
If these heirloom breeds have a hero, it is Stump, the 10-year-old Sussex spaniel who won Best in Show at Westminster in 2009. The Sussex spaniel was one of nine breeds originally recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1884, but they are an unusual sight today, ranking 155th in annual registrations out of the kennel club’s 167 ranked breeds.
The issue has not gone unnoticed in the United Kingdom, where the Kennel Club, the British counterpart of the A.K.C., has mounted a campaign to protect 24 breeds that it has labeled “vulnerable.”
To encourage its countrymen to buy British, the Kennel Club holds annual breed showcases, called “Discover Dogs,” where the endangered breeds get special billing. The club has organized parades featuring the dogs and their handlers, who dress as historical characters with links to the breeds.
Last fall, the British clothing designer Jeremy Hackett warned in a newspaper article that his beloved Sussex spaniels — which are featured in many of his clothing advertisements — have a popularity that is “on a par with whalebone corsets and powdered eggs.”
“The whole idea is simply to re-educate the public about the benefits of some of the old British and Irish breeds,” said Caroline Kisko, a spokeswoman for the Kennel Club. “I think the main concern is that we have — as in the United States — we have a public that has become more and more accustomed to thinking that the Labrador retriever is the No. 1 possible pet, and the other breeds are just being forgotten.”
Rare-breed enthusiasts say they have devoted themselves to the dogs in part for the novelty. Nichole Dooley, a field spaniel breeder from Boston, said people often stop her on the street when she is with her dogs, which are often confused for cocker or springer spaniels. “They say, ‘I had one of those when I was little,’ ” Dooley said. “I’m like, no, you didn’t.”
But the main attraction, dog owners say, is the idiosyncrasies of each individual breed. Glenn, Baxter’s owner, said otterhounds are clowns. They tend to sleep with all four feet in the air, and Baxter is so obsessed with having his hind scratched that he introduces himself to strangers by backing into them.
Dooley said field spaniels tend to be calmer than other spaniels. “They’re a well-kept secret,” she said.
The field spaniel fell out of favor in the middle of the 20th century, losing out to the rising stars of the springer and cocker spaniels. They virtually disappeared from the United States in the 1940s and ’50s, before being revived in the 1960s after a breeder imported a handful of dogs from England. Every field spaniel in the United States today can trace its lineage to four dogs from the 1950s and ’60s, said Jane Chopson, president of the Field Spaniel Society of America.
“We joke in our breed that we don’t have a gene pool, we have a gene puddle,” Dooley said.
Extinction is a rarity in recent years, but canine history is full of cautionary tales. Many times, the dogs disappeared after they lost their jobs. In the Middle Ages, many households employed a turnspit dog, a breed developed to turn roasting meat by running inside a small cage that resembled a hamster wheel. Modern cooking technologies eliminated the need for turnspit dogs, and they faded away.
Aficionados of otterhounds and harriers say their breeds are also victims of changing times. Owners of both breeds worry that the dogs may become extinct, possibly as soon as 10 to 15 years from now.
Otter hunting was outlawed in England decades ago, and after that, demand for otterhounds dropped. “You’re talking about an ancient breed that no longer has a job,” said Betsy Conway, an otterhound owner and advocate.
Because of their small gene pool, otterhounds suffer from physical ailments, although Conway said breeders were working to address the issue. Of particular concern is late-onset epilepsy, which can surface after an otterhound has already produced offspring, as well as decreasing litter size and female dogs who have difficulty conceiving.
The harriers’ métier — chasing hares — was also outlawed several years ago, leading to concerns that they will eventually disappear in England, where the dogs are kept exclusively in hunting packs. Harriers in the United States are third-to-last in the A.K.C.’s popularity list and are mostly kept as pets. Less than 100 are believed to be living in the United States.
Breeders of harriers import dogs from England every few years to infuse fresh genes into the United States stock. “If we’re cut off from that, or if there’s some reason that there’s a difficulty with that, then it’s questionable if there is enough genetic diversity for this breed to exist,” said Kevin Shupenia, a Georgia breeder who owns about 20 harriers.
Still, Conway said owning an otterhound was worth it. “The negatives to me certainly are so minor in comparison to the wonderful things about life with an otterhound,” she said.
“Why have otterhounds? Because they are a piece of history,” she said. To those who question whether the dogs have outlived their usefulness, she answers: “What difference does it make if we have polar bears or mountain gorillas? What do you need them for?”
Necklace Lindsay Lohan Accused of Stealing Not Worth $2,500
"We intend to challenge the prosecution's case because the truth is, Ms. Lohan didn't steal anything," her lawyer Shawn Holley tells PEOPLE. "But even if she had, it seems to me that the appropriate charge, based on the fair market value of the goods, should have been petty theft and not grand theft."
She added, "A $5 lump of coal with a $2,500 price tag is still a $5 lump of coal."
Lohan was charged with grand theft on Feb. 9, which by definition means the prosecution believes the item in question is worth over $950. Anything less would amount to petty theft, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of six months in county jail.
The actress, 24, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, faces another hearing on Feb. 23. If convicted, the maximum penalty would be three years in state prison, although legal experts doubt Lohan would receive prison time if convicted.
In a separate case, the actress remains under investigation by Riverside County, Calif., prosecutors for alleged battery of a Betty Ford Center employee.
It remains to be seen whether her new judge, Keith L. Schwartz, will eventually find Lohan in violation of her DUI probation, which could potentially send her back to jail even without a conviction in either the theft case or battery investigation.
Victoria Beckham May Dress Kate Middleton
Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham knows a thing or two about life as a (pop) princess.
Now she's hoping to provide an actual princess-to-be, Kate Middleton, with some wares fit for the royal life.
Beckham, who's expecting her fourth child, has been asked to send pieces from her collection to Kate, 29, for her upcoming public role as a member of the royal family once she weds Prince William.
"Apparently, she likes my clothes and has asked to see a selection," the designer said at her New York Fashion Week show, Daily Telegraph style writer Hilary Alexander reports.
The designer, 36, was unveiling her Fall/Winter 2011 collection when she spoke of the "honor" of dressing Middleton. "It's tremendously exciting," she said.
Beckham also said she believes the prince's fiancée will make a perfectly stylish princess.
Kate is "a beautiful young girl," said Beckham. "She has a wonderful figure and I think she wears clothes beautifully."
Esperanza Spalding beats Justin Bieber for best new artist; Eminem, Miranda Lambert, Lady Gaga, Muse and Train also take home trophies.
The band got a bit more vocal about their win in the press room after their final performance. "Were we more surprised than Barbra Streisand or less surprised?" the band joked.
"It was shocking," said frontman Win Butler. "The idea never even entered my mid, even the the slightest bit, until when they said the name of the album. "This award is for our record," he continued. "We really believe in records. When we make a record, we really put all of our soul into it. To be recognized for that [by] this group of people, in the age of the iPod or in the age of the single or whatever it is, we still really care about records so it means a lot to us."
RELATED: Jay-Z wins three awards in pre-telecast ceremony
The other big surprise of the night was a best new artist win by jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding, who beat out both Justin Bieber and Drake to win the title. She becomes the first jazz artist to be named best new artist. "I take this honor to heart so sincerely, and I will do my damndest to make a whole lot of great music for all of you."
Despite not winning the album of the year title, Lady Antebellum still walked away with the most trophies overall, winning record of the year, song of the year, best country song and best country performance by duo/group for the song "Need You Now." Additionally, the chart-topping country trio took home the award for best country album, winning five awards total.
"We really wanted to make Nashville and the country music community proud tonight," said singer Hillary Scott. "I hope that they feel that way and i think it just shows that country music is relevant and it's relatable. I just hope they think we're flying the flag right."
PHOTOS: Grammy red carpet's wildest looks
Other big winners included Eminem, who performed alongside Dr. Dre and Rihanna during the show and walked away with a best rap album trophy for Recovery, and Lady Gaga, who took home the best pop vocal album statuette fpr The Fame Monster. In addition to thanking her fans and family during her acceptance speech, Gaga gave Whitney Houston an unexpected shout-out. "I want to thank Whitney Houston because when I wrote 'Born This Way,' I imagined [she was] singing it," Gaga told the Grammy crowd.
Shortly after her tender performance of "The House That Built Me," country songstress Miranda Lambert was awarded her first-ever Grammy, for best female country vocal performance. British rockers Muse followed suit, winning best rock album for The Resistance after their raucous performance of "Uprising." In the band's acceptance speech, frontman Matt Bellamy thanked his nameless "pregnant girlfriend," otherwise known as actress Kate Hudson.
Train took home the first televised award of the night for best pop performance by a duo or group for its ubiquitous song "Hey Soul Sister." The band humorously thanked Bieber in its speech, specifically for "not being a duo or a group."
On Screen, the Frenzied Yet Friendly World of Justin Bieber
Paramount Pictures
A scene from “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.At the beginning of “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” the speedily assembled but not frantic biopic and concert extravaganza that was released last week, the first clips you see aren’t of Mr. Bieber but of popular YouTube videos: the surprised kitty, the sneezing panda. Multimedia
Trailer and Clips: 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never'Related
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Movie Review | 'Justin Bieber: Never Say Never': That Hair! Those Eyes! His Fans! (February 11, 2011)
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‘My World’ and Welcome to It (February 8, 2011)
Even in 3-D “Never Say Never” doesn’t get much closer to the heart and flesh of Mr. Bieber than this, though there are plenty of flashes of shirtlessness deployed as a tease. (This look will be familiar to readers of Us Weekly, who’ve seen images from Mr. Bieber’s recent Caribbean vacation with his maybe-girlfriend, Selena Gomez.)
Mr. Bieber, who will turn 17 next month, is emerging as a teenage star who doesn’t condescend to his audience. There’s little mystery in this film because there’s little mystery in Mr. Bieber. Unlike the Disney kids and boy bands who’ve preceded him in recent years, he’s mostly transparent. As childhood videos in “Never Say Never” make clear, Mr. Bieber had plenty of personality before the machine got a hold of him.
What impresses about “Never Say Never” is speed. Mr. Bieber’s debut single was released 21 months ago, and the film’s central unsuspenseful suspense is, simply, can he sell out Madison Square Garden after only about a year of fame? As if you ever doubted.
Had he come up through the Disney system of cross-promoted TV series, movies and albums, or in a more traditional era for teenage pop, Mr. Bieber would have had a far longer incubation period of dues paying, a more programmed rise to the top. But his bottom-up success has been less predictable, and more thrilling to watch. (In its opening weekend “Never Say Never” made nearly $30 million, rivaling the concert movie record of $31 million that “Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” took in three years ago.
Still, the concert footage, from his Madison Square Garden show last August, is rote and unimaginative; Mr. Bieber still doesn’t know how to fill the huge rooms that he’s been allowed to take over. I attended the concert and watched the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, and Mr. Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, attempt to orchestrate some coordinated arena-wide shots, mostly involving vibrating girls and hand gestures. Much of it didn’t appear to make it into the film, which aims for a softer sell.
The movie is propaganda designed for children as well as their parents; no kid is interested in what Randy Phillips, the chief executive of the touring giant AEG Live, has to say about Mr. Bieber’s success, but there he is pontificating, reassuring parents that their children are supporting a potent phenomenon.
For parents too there are moments of candor, like when Mr. Braun recalls watching Madonna eulogize Michael Jackson, lamenting his lost childhood. “Justin looks right at me,” Mr. Braun said, “and says, ‘Don’t let that happen to me.’ ”
To that end there’s footage of Mr. Bieber visiting his hometown, Stratford, Ontario, and having fun with old friends. He signs a stack of programs and flicks them away petulantly, as a kid might. And there’s the awkwardness of his duet with Miley Cyrus: Mr. Bieber has not yet learned how to lie with his body.
And there’s plenty that’s not in this film. Mr. Bieber doesn’t sit for a proper interview to contextualize his success in his own words; the closest he comes to explaining himself is in a silent slow-motion shot of him shaking his trademark tousle, the softest of soft porn. Who needs vocal cords when you’ve got hair this good?
Except there’s this: Very much in spite of itself “Never Say Never” ends up being the best argument to date for Mr. Bieber as a singer, far more convincing than his albums. There’s clear audio of him at the Madison Square Garden concert, which sounds strong. There are happenstance clips of him singing, sometimes well, as he passes the time. And there are the old videos of him singing covers at around the age of 12, including an impressive one of him performing the Christian song “Refine Me” on the steps of a theater in Stratford.
But while Mr. Bieber does a lot of singing, there’s barely any discussion of music. If a Christian music impresario had found him on YouTube instead of Mr. Braun, a hip-hop and R&B-minded one, would Mr. Bieber be touring megachurches, not arenas?
There’s no reason to think Mr. Bieber couldn’t be a different kind of savior, if only because he’s improved virtually every world he’s infiltrated lately. Super Bowl watchers saw him mock himself in a Best Buy ad with Ozzy Osbourne. Left-wingers and stay-at-home comedians enjoyed him in spite of themselves on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.” Tina Fey melted for him on “Saturday Night Live.” I’m wearing my Bieber Silly Bandz as I type this. (Actually, I’m not. My order hasn’t shown up yet.)
And the best part of the Bieber movie: You don’t even have to go to the movie theater to see it. His old pre-fame clips are still readily available on YouTube, including some that oddly didn’t make the film. (No “Justin Bieber plays the djembe”?) On Sunday night at the Grammys a widely trafficked video of a young Mr. Bieber singing for Usher, his future mentor, got prime play before the two performed live.
You can be part of the movie too if you want. Or need. In an upset Mr. Bieber lost the best new artist award at the Grammys to the jazz musician Esperanza Spalding. Some of Mr. Bieber’s fans, a hungry and vicious lot, responded the only way they knew how: by defacing Ms. Spalding’s Wikipedia entry. When it comes to Mr. Bieber, they are used to having their way.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Lindsay Lohan Tweets Her Support for Egypt, Prays for Peace
Lindsay Lohan might have a lot going on in her own uproarious personal life, but the 24-year-old starlet is still keeping up with current affairs!
The 'Mean Girls' star added, "And I pray Egypt maintains it's treaty with Israel and sets the trend for its neighbors to create peace with Israel and the entire region."
Many in the Twitterverse were quick to jump on the starlet, who was charged with felony grand theft Wednesday in court. "Are we sure that Lindsay Lohan knows where Egypt is?" @itookawalk wrote. @Brankalicious added that "Lindsay Lohan (or her PR people) just posted an insightful tweet re: Egypt. I'm stunned. Bartender!!"
Countless others speculated that Lindsay's PR team was tweeting for her, and the actress was mocked her ability to grasp anything involving the state of foreign affairs.
But I give the girl credit for acknowledging that bigger things are going on in the world than her courtroom drama! She's not pretending to be an expert or making any grand, polarizing statements. Who are we to criticize someone for expressing concern and positive thoughts for a troubled nation?
Like Egypt, Lindsay is free... for now. She better keep up that positive energy. She'll surely need it at her next court appearance Feb. 23.
Does Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Owe Debt To Madonna?
" earlier than planned (she tweeted on Monday, "Can't wait any longer, single coming Friday"), the hotly anticipated single has been all the talk among her Little Monsters. 
While the single has already landed at #1 on the iTunes charts, some listeners have remarked that the track sounds reminiscent of another rule-breaking pop diva: Madonna. "Born This Way" made the Internet rounds on Friday (February 11), and reactions were coming quickly on Twitter, as well on Top 40 radio. MTV News caught up with a few Gaga experts who weighed in on Gaga's new song and talk of comparisons to Madonna classics.
DJ Riddler of Houston's Hot 95.7 and Sirius/XM's BPM told us, "I got the email at 3:45 a.m. from Z100 to play it during my 5 p.m. show today. When I first heard 'Born This Way,' the melody had similarities to Madonna's 'Vogue.' Then as I continued listening, the chorus sounded like 'Express Yourself.' Finally, the end with the choir chant reminded me of 'Like a Prayer.' "
Riddler went on to compare "Born This Way" to "an updated Madonna Megamix," adding, "Just as those early Madonna singles were #1 hits, this one is destined to do the same."
DJ Uch of Long Island's Party 101.5, however, only found it to be a slight nod to early Madonna, not an overt copy.
"Before I got a chance to listen to the new Lady Gaga single 'Born This Way,' my Twitter was flooded with comparisons to Madonna's 'Express Yourself' and 'Vogue.' When I took a listen, initially, I thought that was a stretch, but the hook is definitely a tinge of vintage Madonna," Uch told MTV News.
"Still, those songs came out when Gaga was in diapers, and I'm sure Gaga's core audience don't have the nostalgia because they, too, were babies or not even alive. Truth is that all artists borrow from the work of early pioneers and the only ones who notice the similarities are those old enough to remember 'way back when,' " Uch argued. " 'Born This Way' is super catchy and will be an international hit I'm sure. I have the melody stuck in my head and I only heard it once, 15 minutes ago. Congrats to Gaga!" he added.
John Polly of the Logo network told MTV News, "She seems to borrow pretty heavily, clearly visually, and sonically, from Madonna. Which is probably super smart, I mean, why wouldn't you?" Polly asked. "As far as we know, she seems to have Madonna's blessing."
Elsewhere, comedian Gabe Liebman, who joked that "Born This Way" "will be the gay anthem for as long as it takes until her next song comes out," was clearly on Team Gaga. While he admitted it "sounds exactly like a Madonna song," he found it to be "more fun, less annoying" and that Gaga is "younger and a lot more in touch" with today's listeners.
But, not everyone was as ready to give credit to Gaga on her latest venture. Record producer Junior Sanchez not only found similarities to Madonna, but also '90s supergroup TLC. "At first listen, the verses remind me of TLC's 'Waterfalls,' " he said.
Sanchez believes that Gaga's dance tracks "are definitely current and right on spot," but he's still waiting to hear more diversity from the star. "I'm still waiting for her 'Rain' or 'Live to Tell' or 'Take a Bow,' " he said checking off Madonna hits. "Gaga is genius but to compare her to Madonna so early on in her career is a little premature. Madonna has been with us for three decades now."
Sanchez told MTV that he finds "Gaga's take on how to deal with the gay issues in our culture interesting," but unlike Madonna, "the songs are not as strong." "Let's see what happens" he said of Gaga's future. "She could definitely change things and we could have a new pop icon for the next decades to come."
Playboy Mansion visitors hit with mystery illness
Mansion was ground zero for a rash of mysterious respiratory ailments that afflicted people who attended a fundraiser there earlier this month.The inquiry by the Department of Public Health follows dozens of complaints of illness after the annual DOMAINfest Global conference in Santa Monica.
The department sent an e-mail Friday to all participants warning them that the agency had received reports of a possible respiratory infection outbreak among attendees at the conference, which held events at several locations, including the Playboy Mansion.
On Saturday, a number of those who had become ill told a reporter or posted on social networking sites that they believed they had contracted the illness at the mansion fundraiser
"An investigation into the cause and extent of illness and into potential sources of exposure is ongoing," said Sarah Kissell, a department spokeswoman. Those who reported illness complained of respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms and pneumonia, officials said.
The conference was based at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, but a Feb. 3 fundraiser was held at Hefner's Holmby Hills mansion.
David Castello, 54, who co-founded Castello Cities Internet Network Inc. with his brother Michael, said they attended the conference and fundraiser. Castello said he became ill a day after the event.
"It knocked me off my feet for five days," he said. "I'm over it now, but I'm still feeling fatigue, which is not a good thing."
For the last few days, Castello said, he lay in bed recovering from fever, a dry cough, headaches and back spasms. He said his brother, who was mostly outside on the night of the event, did not get sick.
Another attendee, Nico Zeifang, has started a sick list on Facebook. Castello added his name to the list, which he said has 77 names.
Many who have reported falling ill after the event suspect that their symptoms are related to legionellosis, or Pontiac fever. A milder form of Legionnaires' disease, legionellosis is caused by a bacterium that grows in warm water and can take root in hot tubs or parts of air-conditioning systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria are not spread from person to person, according to the CDC, but are instead inhaled in water vapor.
Some of those who became ill said they suspected a fog machine that was used at the party.
DN Journal, a website that reports on Internet domain commerce, broke the story when it wrote that a Swedish attendee returned home and tested positive for the Legionella bacterium.
Roughly 700 people from 30 countries attended the four-day conference. The event's organizer warned people not to jump to conclusions about the illness or its origin.
"Only medical authorities are qualified to identify this illness and investigate its ultimate source.... It's important not to speculate or make unfounded assumptions," said Mason Cole, organizer of the conference.
Playboy spokeswoman Teri Thomerson said the Playboy Mansion was cooperating fully with the Department of Public Health's investigation.
.
Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler Talk Sex On The First Date.
" Adam Sandler and Brooklyn Decker's characters meet at a house party, fall hard for each other, and — in an instance of what the "Jersey Shore" cast would call being "DTF" — spend a sandy night of passion on the beach. Which begs the question: How does the cast feel about getting down and dirty on the first date? Good idea? Great idea? Or you-gotta-be-crazy bad idea? That's what MTV News wanted to know when we hit the film's red-carpet premiere earlier this week.
"Terrible idea. Don't do it!" Sandler declared. "You got to hold it back."
In fact, Sandler said that if viewers take away one thing from the new comedy, it should be, "Block it! Block it and lock it!"
Aniston agreed. "I don't think it's a good idea," she told us.
Decker, too, approved of that keep-it-in-your-pants counsel, even if her big-screen counterpart did not. "Total no-no. A complete no-no," the model-turned-actress said. "My character, Palmer, did it. Shame on Palmer! Make him wait. That should be something kind of special."
Lest you think everyone involved with "Just Go With It" is advising randy Americans to wait until, say, the second date to bump and grind, one co-star told us that, hey, if it feels good, go for it.
"I think it probably depends. Seems like a good idea at the time, doesn't it?" said Dave Matthews, who has a small but memorable role as an egocentric resort-goer. "If you're both into sleeping together on the first date, I can't think of a reason not to. Good idea!"
Great Grammy Moments: Eminem And Elton John Bury The Hatchet
As far as the hard data is concerned, the big winners at the 43rd Grammy Awards — held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 21, 2001 — were Steely Dan, who collected three trophies that night (including Album of the Year for their comeback album Two Against Nature). But the biggest moment of that evening belonged to Em
inemRecovery, whose performance of "Stan" (featuring an assist from Elton John - Greatest Hits 1970-2002
) turned into the greatest moment in the history of the Grammy Awards. Eminem had been a lightning rod ever since his debut album The Slim Shady LP dropped in 1999, but the storm surrounding him because especially intense following 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP. Though it contained some of the rapper's biggest pop hits (including the massive "The Real Slim Shady"), it also contained plenty of lyrics that alluded to violence, sexism, drug use and homophobia. It was the latter that got Em into the most trouble, and in fact the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation actually protested the Grammy Awards in 2001 because of Eminem's participation.
Though he continuously stated that not all of his lyrics were to be taken seriously, Eminem knew that actions spoke louder than words. So when the time came for the chorus to kick in on his hit "Stan," the curtain revealed that Elton John had been tapped to provide those vocals for the evening (on the album, they were done by Dido). After a powerful, moving performance of the song (about an obsessed fan whose psyche falls apart), the two music icons embraced in a symbolic burying of the hatchet. It was a meaningful, memorable moment that brought people together via the power of music — something that every Grammy Awards hopes to accomplish.
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Lady Gaga talks sex, music and more in her frankest interview yet
TO her legions of devoted fans she’s the outrageous, over-the-top, coke-snorting pop star with an equally flamboyant stage name.
But in the more intimate confines of her bedroom, Lady Gaga’s just plain old Stefani.
Asked which name she prefers in a tell-all documentary for American television, the 24-year-old – real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – says: “Call me Gaga. Some people do call me Stefani. Especially in bed.”
And quizzed whether being called Gaga in bed would put her off, she replied: “Especially then. That would freak me out. It’s banned.”
The singer, who admitted to “occasional” cocaine use last year, is currently on the promotional trail ahead of her eagerly-awaited new album Born This Way – the follow-up to her debut The Fame which sold 13 million copies worldwide.
The first single, Born This Way, premieres today. It has been likened to Madonna meets Bronski Beat and Gaga superfan Elton John called it the “gayest song” he has ever heard, according to the clearly-chuffed girl herself.
Still in the mood for confession, Gaga stayed with the raunchy subject matter in another revealing chat with fashion bible Vogue, for whom she is March’s covergirl photographed by legendary snapper Mario Testino.
“Sometimes, being onstage is like having sex with my fans,” she says.
“They’re the only people on the planet who in an instant can make me just lose it.”
Gaga’s fans – who she affectionately dubs her Little Monsters – are known to be among the most fanatical in showbusiness.
The devotion goes both ways. She’s so dedicated to giving them the best show possible, she regularly goes overbudget – and ends up losing money on tour.
And last month, she personally leaked her new single’s lyrics and credits on Twitter as a thank you to her fans.
Talking about why she goes to such lengths to please them, she says: “I see myself in them. I was this really bad, rebellious misfit of a person — I still am — sneaking out, going to clubs, drugs, alcohol, older men, younger men.
“You imagine it, I did it. I was a really bad kid.
“And I look at them, and every show there’s a little more eyeliner, a little more freedom, and a little more, ‘I don’t give a f*** about the bullies at my school’.”
Performing to millions of fans on her recent world tour was like “open heart surgery” she says.
“I am quite literally chest open, exposed… bleeding for my fans and my music.”
And, in a none-too-veiled dig at stars such as Britney Spears who’ve been accused of miming, she adds: “I am not going to saunter around the stage doing pelvic thrusts and lip-synching. That’s not at all why I am in this. I am just a different breed.”
The singer hopes her own escape from the backstreets of Brooklyn, New York, to international superstardom and a £20million fortune will inspire others to follow their dreams.
She says she wants her fans to “essentially use me as an escape”, adding: “I am the jester to the kingdom. I am the route out.” Gaga adds that no one was “laughing” more than her at being deemed worthy of a Vogue cover.
“I was the girl in school who was most likely to walk down the hallway and get called a slut or a bitch or ugly or nerd or dyke,” she says.
Gaga also raises two fingers to critics who deride her as an attention-seeking wannabe who relies on stunts such as wearing a dress made of meat to the MTV Awards, last September.
She adds: “People are like, ‘She dresses this way for attention’. Or like, ‘Ugh, the meat dress’. People just want to figure it out or explain it. That truth is, the mystery and the magic is my art. That is what I am good at.”
The second single due to be taken off the new album is Judas, described by Vogue as: “Set to a sledgehammering beat and about falling in love with backstabbing men of the biblical variety.” Smiling, Gaga describes herself simply as “one of the greatest voices in the industry” although she admits rather more humbly: “I wouldn’t say that I am one of the greatest dancers.”
No interview with pop’s First Lady would be complete without a little strangeness and she provides it by likening her job to a “cheese sandwich”. “It’s not like, either good or bad. It’s much more complicated than that,” she says.
As well as strange pronouncements, the Vogue interview also offers an intriguing insight into her on/off relationship with bar manager boyfriend Luc Carl, 32.
Gaga and Luc, who met five years ago at a Manhattan bar where he worked, dated for two years but split over her then drug habit. However, they were reconciled last year – and he follows her round the world on tour.
After being introduced to Vogue journalist Jonathan Van Meter as “my boyfriend”, Luc inexplicably calls Gaga “Bette Midler” after the outrageous 65-year-old entertainer.
She also reveals how her Monster Ball tour has left her physically and emotionally shattered.
The admission comes after she cancelled a series of concerts in the US after suffering exhaustion and even collapsed on stage in New Zealand. “Let’s call a spade a spade here,” she says. “I am really f****** tired. I am at that last mile of the marathon when your fingers and toes are numb and you can’t feel your body, and I am just going on adrenaline.”
The physical, emotional and creative strain of the 18-month tour was intensified because the singer wrote most of the new album travelling between shows.
Her manager Troy Carter, said: “We would talk backstage about something, and the next day she’d play me a song relating to the conversation we had.”
At heart a devoted daughter, the interview has a rather touching moment when she talks about her parents Joe and Cynthia Germanotta who are both in their 50s.
Gaga says they’ve “wrestled” with her fame but are now coming to terms with it.
“I obsess about his (Joe’s) health,” she says. “I’m very Italian. I call him every day. I ask my mother if he’s been smoking… Nothing has changed since I have become a star. I am a real family girl. When it comes to love and loyalty, I am very old-fashioned. And I am quite down-to-earth for such an eccentric person.”
But in the more intimate confines of her bedroom, Lady Gaga’s just plain old Stefani.
Asked which name she prefers in a tell-all documentary for American television, the 24-year-old – real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – says: “Call me Gaga. Some people do call me Stefani. Especially in bed.”
The singer, who admitted to “occasional” cocaine use last year, is currently on the promotional trail ahead of her eagerly-awaited new album Born This Way – the follow-up to her debut The Fame which sold 13 million copies worldwide.
The first single, Born This Way, premieres today. It has been likened to Madonna meets Bronski Beat and Gaga superfan Elton John called it the “gayest song” he has ever heard, according to the clearly-chuffed girl herself.
Still in the mood for confession, Gaga stayed with the raunchy subject matter in another revealing chat with fashion bible Vogue, for whom she is March’s covergirl photographed by legendary snapper Mario Testino.
“Sometimes, being onstage is like having sex with my fans,” she says.
“They’re the only people on the planet who in an instant can make me just lose it.”
Gaga’s fans – who she affectionately dubs her Little Monsters – are known to be among the most fanatical in showbusiness.
The devotion goes both ways. She’s so dedicated to giving them the best show possible, she regularly goes overbudget – and ends up losing money on tour.
And last month, she personally leaked her new single’s lyrics and credits on Twitter as a thank you to her fans.
Talking about why she goes to such lengths to please them, she says: “I see myself in them. I was this really bad, rebellious misfit of a person — I still am — sneaking out, going to clubs, drugs, alcohol, older men, younger men.
“You imagine it, I did it. I was a really bad kid.
“And I look at them, and every show there’s a little more eyeliner, a little more freedom, and a little more, ‘I don’t give a f*** about the bullies at my school’.”
Performing to millions of fans on her recent world tour was like “open heart surgery” she says.
“I am quite literally chest open, exposed… bleeding for my fans and my music.”
Advertisement - article continues below »
The singer hopes her own escape from the backstreets of Brooklyn, New York, to international superstardom and a £20million fortune will inspire others to follow their dreams.
She says she wants her fans to “essentially use me as an escape”, adding: “I am the jester to the kingdom. I am the route out.” Gaga adds that no one was “laughing” more than her at being deemed worthy of a Vogue cover.
“I was the girl in school who was most likely to walk down the hallway and get called a slut or a bitch or ugly or nerd or dyke,” she says.
Gaga also raises two fingers to critics who deride her as an attention-seeking wannabe who relies on stunts such as wearing a dress made of meat to the MTV Awards, last September.
She adds: “People are like, ‘She dresses this way for attention’. Or like, ‘Ugh, the meat dress’. People just want to figure it out or explain it. That truth is, the mystery and the magic is my art. That is what I am good at.”
The second single due to be taken off the new album is Judas, described by Vogue as: “Set to a sledgehammering beat and about falling in love with backstabbing men of the biblical variety.” Smiling, Gaga describes herself simply as “one of the greatest voices in the industry” although she admits rather more humbly: “I wouldn’t say that I am one of the greatest dancers.”
No interview with pop’s First Lady would be complete without a little strangeness and she provides it by likening her job to a “cheese sandwich”. “It’s not like, either good or bad. It’s much more complicated than that,” she says.
As well as strange pronouncements, the Vogue interview also offers an intriguing insight into her on/off relationship with bar manager boyfriend Luc Carl, 32.
Gaga and Luc, who met five years ago at a Manhattan bar where he worked, dated for two years but split over her then drug habit. However, they were reconciled last year – and he follows her round the world on tour.
After being introduced to Vogue journalist Jonathan Van Meter as “my boyfriend”, Luc inexplicably calls Gaga “Bette Midler” after the outrageous 65-year-old entertainer.
She also reveals how her Monster Ball tour has left her physically and emotionally shattered.
The admission comes after she cancelled a series of concerts in the US after suffering exhaustion and even collapsed on stage in New Zealand. “Let’s call a spade a spade here,” she says. “I am really f****** tired. I am at that last mile of the marathon when your fingers and toes are numb and you can’t feel your body, and I am just going on adrenaline.”
The physical, emotional and creative strain of the 18-month tour was intensified because the singer wrote most of the new album travelling between shows.
Her manager Troy Carter, said: “We would talk backstage about something, and the next day she’d play me a song relating to the conversation we had.”
At heart a devoted daughter, the interview has a rather touching moment when she talks about her parents Joe and Cynthia Germanotta who are both in their 50s.
Gaga says they’ve “wrestled” with her fame but are now coming to terms with it.
“I obsess about his (Joe’s) health,” she says. “I’m very Italian. I call him every day. I ask my mother if he’s been smoking… Nothing has changed since I have become a star. I am a real family girl. When it comes to love and loyalty, I am very old-fashioned. And I am quite down-to-earth for such an eccentric person.”
Britney Spears Wants To Work With ‘Hangover’ Or ‘Knocked Up’ Director
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --
It’s been a decade since Britney Spears starred in her own feature film (remember “Crossroads”?), but the pop princess said Thursday that she’s hoping to take on more acting roles – especially ones with a comedic twist.
“I love to act and would love to be in a Todd Philips [sic] or Judd Apatow movie,” Britney Tweeted in response to a fan’s question.
While Britney is hoping for a bigger big screen presence, she has made several notable television appearances thus far in her career, appearing on “How I Met Your Mother,” “Will and Grace,” and, most recently, “Glee.” She gushed over the recent Supporting Actor Golden Globe win of Chris Colfer.
“I love the show and I think he is hilarious. Love his outfits,” she Tweeted.
For more than an hour, Britney answered questions from fans, and shared new details about her highly anticipated new album, “Femme Fatale,” which is due out March 29.
“I would describe it as moody, edgy pop with A LOT of energy,” she Tweeted. “I co-wrote a couple of songs. I think its [sic] some of the best work I have ever done.”
Beyond discussions about her new album, Britney confirmed she is thinking about touring in support of the record, but she shot down rumors she’ll appear at this weekend’s Grammys.
“I won’t be there and was never planning on going,” she wrote.
The singer also offered praise for one of her contemporaries in her Twitter flurry.
“I love Lady Gaga. I think she’s a really interesting artist,” Brit Tweeted.
Often spotted with a Starbucks in her hand, Britney finally revealed in Thursday’s Twitter interview what her cup usually contains.
“I love their Strawberry Frapuchino [sic],” she noted.
Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
Jennifer Hudson Speaks Out on “Shocking” Family Tragedy
Jennifer sat down with Oprah today to discuss her dramatic weight loss, reveal her new single from her upcoming album, I Remember Me, and also speak out on the tragedy that struck her family in 2008.
“It’s like, okay, is this real? Did this really happen?” Jennifer tells Oprah of her reaction to the deaths. “It’s hard to put it in sync with reality.”
Jennifer mother, Darnell Donerson, and her brother, Jason Hudson, were found dead on Oct. 24, 2008, inside their home they shared with Jennifer sister, Julia Hudson, in Chicago, ABC News reports.
Three days later, Julia’s 7-year-old son, Julian King, was found dead in the back of Jason’s SUV. All three victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Since then, the estranged husband of Julia, William Balfour, has been arrested and charged with the killings.
OK!’S RED CARPET CONFIDENTIAL: JENNIFER HUDSON’S SWEPT UP IN WEDDING FEVER
Jennifer and her fiancè welcomed their son, David, in August 2009 and his birth has helped Jennifer cope.
“It’s a very emotional subject,” she explained. “[I got through it because] of my family, my baby and God.”
“I keep holding on to things that they taught us,” Jennifer said of her family. “My mother and even my brother — I can hear him saying to me, ‘Just knock it off.’”
OK! NEWS: JENNIFER HUDSON SINGS TO OPRAH AT KENNEDY CENTER HONORS
And it’s her mother’s words that she’s really trying to listen.
“My mother right now would say to me, ‘Why are you always crying? Stop crying,’” Jennifer told Oprah. “You’ve got to keep going.
“The only thing I can do to honor their memory is to make them proud,” she added. “I keep thinking, ‘Would my mother like this or that, would she want this?’”
Justin Bieber Says He's Not Just Some Industry 'Packaged Thing'
'I've been playing music ever since I was born and it's always been in me
Justin Bieber will have his loyal fans and even his harshest critics saying "Never Say Never" when his 3-D flick opens on Friday. The movie offers an inside look at Bieber's rise to stardom and the hard work and determination the teen star put in before hitting it big.
For those who may not realize that Bieber is more than just a record label puppet created to pander to throngs of teenage girls, the film also shows that the 16-year-old is a skilled musician.
"People didn't really know," he explained to MTV News. "They didn't understand that I've been playing music ever since I was born and it's always been in me. And this movie is really going to show that I'm not just some packaged thing that some A&R put together. It was actually just me living my dream and just making music."
He later joked that he also wasn't molded in manager Scooter Braun's basement. "Yeah, [he] just cut my hair like this [and made me what I am]!"
At the New York screening for the film last week, Bieber spoke to us about what he hopes his fans will take away from the film. It is part concert film, part documentary, complete with interviews from some of the people closest to the teen phenom. It also features cameos by Miley Cyrus, Usher and Ludacris, to name a few, during concert performances filmed at Madison Square Garden last September, and interviews. In the film, Bieber is seen skillfully playing piano, drums and guitar.
"Fans will be really excited to see that I'm just a regular 16-year-old having fun, just living my dream," he said. "And it's possible for anyone to live theirs."
Hot on the heels of his movie's premiere, Bieber will be performing at Sunday's Grammy Awards, where he promises "some surprises." He's been nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Don't miss "Snooki & Sway: Live From the Grammys," a red-carpet live stream kicking off Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And stick with us all Grammy night for coverage of the red carpet, the show, the afterparties and beyond!
Lindsay Lohan Open to No-Jail Plea Deal in Necklace Theft Case: Lawyer
But attorney Shawn Chapman Holley stressed that the grand theft charge is "entirely defensible."
Lohan pleaded not guilty to the charge Wednesday (if convicted, she could face up to three years in prison). Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz immediately revoked the actress' probation related to a 2007 drunk driving conviction.
"Ms. Lohan maintains her innocence, and now that I've seen the police reports, I believe the case is entirely defensible," Holley told CNN. "Having said that, we will entertain a discussion concerning a plea if it means no jail so that she can move forward with her recovery and her career."
Lohan is due in court Feb. 23; it will be decided then if the theft charge warrants sending her back to the slammer immediately on a probation violation.
At her arraignment Wednesday, Schwartz warned the actress, 24: "Please don't push your luck, I am telling you. Things will be different."
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