Is Britney Spears Still An Underdog?

Is Britney Spears Still An Underdog?

As 'Hold It Against Me' tops charts, is this the year she drops the label?
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Despite selling out stadiums and having her singles, including her newest one, "Hold It Against Me," shoot to the top of the charts, Britney Spears always seems to have an air of underdog about her. After rising to the top of the pop ranks, Spears suffered some personal setbacks that she can't seem to shake even in the wake of professional triumph.

So, is 2011 the year Spears finally loses the stigma? MTV News asked a few experts to weigh in.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton compared the Britney of today to the Britney of her pop heyday in the early part of the millennium.

"I think Britney is still an underdog in comparison to her former self," he said.

The last big sit-down interview Spears did was in 2008 for her documentary "For the Record." And aside from smaller magazine write-ups, Spears has managed to stay out of the usual rounds of doing press, an aspect of her public persona that may contribute to the idea that she is an underdog.

"Britney's been an underdog for, like, four years. There's gonna come a point where we're gonna have to stop considering her an underdog," MTV News' Jim Cantiello said. "I still think people do. She's recluse for all intents and purposes. I mean, she doesn't do any press, so I think as long as that mystery surrounds her, people will think of her as an underdog."

But, Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt notes that being somewhat of a recluse does not make Spears a pop underdog.

"I don't know if she'll ever be an underdog on the pop charts," Greenblatt said. "No matter what goes on with her personally ... if she brings them something and it's good enough, people take it and put it at the top of the Billboard chart."

Do you consider Britney Spears an underdog? Sound off in the comments below!

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Diego Sanchez Fight Update talks upcomming fight vs Martin Kampmann - Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez Fight Update talks upcomming fight vs Martin Kampmann - Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez Fight Update talks upcomming fight vs Martin Kampmann - Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez Fight Update talks upcomming fight vs Martin Kampmann - Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez Fight Update talks upcomming fight vs Martin Kampmann - Diego Sanchez
The Fight Network catches up with UFC two-division fighter Diego Sanchez to discuss his status in the UFC and his upcoming clash with Martin Kampmann.

Anna Kournikova Hayden Panettiere Cameron Diaz

Anna Kournikova Hayden Panettiere Cameron Diaz

Anna Kournikova Hayden Panettiere Cameron Diaz


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‘Let the Bullets Fly’ on course to break box office records

‘Let the Bullets Fly’ on course to break box office records

Trailer for Jiang Wen's "Let the Bullets Fly" (YouTube).

read more

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Is Britney Spears Still An Underdog?

Is Britney Spears Still An Underdog?

As 'Hold It Against Me' tops charts, is this the year she drops the label?
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Britney Spears
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Despite selling out stadiums and having her singles, including her newest one, "Hold It Against Me," shoot to the top of the charts, Britney Spears always seems to have an air of underdog about her. After rising to the top of the pop ranks, Spears suffered some personal setbacks that she can't seem to shake even in the wake of professional triumph.

So, is 2011 the year Spears finally loses the stigma? MTV News asked a few experts to weigh in.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton compared the Britney of today to the Britney of her pop heyday in the early part of the millennium.

"I think Britney is still an underdog in comparison to her former self," he said.

The last big sit-down interview Spears did was in 2008 for her documentary "For the Record." And aside from smaller magazine write-ups, Spears has managed to stay out of the usual rounds of doing press, an aspect of her public persona that may contribute to the idea that she is an underdog.

"Britney's been an underdog for, like, four years. There's gonna come a point where we're gonna have to stop considering her an underdog," MTV News' Jim Cantiello said. "I still think people do. She's recluse for all intents and purposes. I mean, she doesn't do any press, so I think as long as that mystery surrounds her, people will think of her as an underdog."

But, Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt notes that being somewhat of a recluse does not make Spears a pop underdog.

"I don't know if she'll ever be an underdog on the pop charts," Greenblatt said. "No matter what goes on with her personally ... if she brings them something and it's good enough, people take it and put it at the top of the Billboard chart."

Do you consider Britney Spears an underdog? Sound off in the comments below!

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What happens when both the bank and borrower walk away from a foreclosure?

What happens when both the bank and borrower walk away from a foreclosure?

This is a new concept I was not aware of.  I know borrowers default on loans by simply walking away from the property.  After that the bank usually forecloses.  I guess banks are being creative and want to avoid further costs on underwater properties so they also walk away and don’t complete the foreclosure process.

I am not sure who owns the property at that point.  I would think the lien still exists so the bank would still be held liable until it is re-sold but I am not sure.  This is happening and we can only see how it plays out.

Chicago Tribune:

A new type of property is adding to neighborhood blight: the bank walkaway.

Research to be released Thursday, the first of its kind locally, identifies 1,896 “red flag” homes inChicago — most of them are in distressed African-American neighborhoods — that appear to have been abandoned by mortgage servicers during the foreclosure process, the Woodstock Institute found.

Abandoned foreclosures are increasing as mortgage investors determine that, at sale, they can’t recoup the costs of foreclosing, securing, maintaining and marketing a home, and they sometimes aren’t completing foreclosure actions. The property, by then usually vacant, becomes another eyesore in limbo along blocks where faded signs still announce block clubs.

“The steward relationship between the servicer and the property is broken, particularly in these hard-hit communities,” said Geoff Smith, senior vice president of Woodstock, a Chicago-based research and advocacy group. “The role of the servicer is to be the person in charge of that property’s disposition. You’re seeing situations where servicers are not living up to that standard.”

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Ron Paul video I’ll Vote Against Raising the Debt Limit

Ron Paul video I’ll Vote Against Raising the Debt Limit

Congressman Ron Paul is probably more popular than ever before. I am not a Republican, but as a registered Independent I respect his opinion on the economy. I had a friend of mine (we will call pothead Joe) think that I liked Ron Paul because I was a Republican Tea Party guy. The truth is I don’t really like that group. I agree with the main ideas but that group is just repeating rhetoric like the Obama-bots who use to troll here.

I was against the bailouts  because it increased our federal deficit.  On top of that the taxpayer money went to big banks and foreign countries, instead of the American people.  Basically, the politicians stole the money from the American people by not representing us our our best interests.  The majority of the people were against the bailouts and congress still approved it.  That is why we threw most of them out of office the last election.  Let’s see if they keep their promises this time and stop the bankrupting of our country.

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Danny Glover Defends Mel Gibson: 'That's My Friend'

Danny Glover Defends Mel Gibson: 'That's My Friend'

'He's had tough times,' actor tells MTV News at Sundance.
By Aly Semigran

Danny Glover
Photo: MTV News

Mel Gibson has alienated much of Hollywood and his fanbase in recent years. First came his infamous DUI arrest in 2006 and then, over the summer, the Oscar winner was accused of abusing ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva and their young daughter Lucia, and the public heard the shocking audiotapes in which he allegedly hurled epithets at Grigorieva. But there's someone who is sticking by his side: his "Lethal Weapon" co-star Danny Glover.

Glover chatted with MTV News on Friday at the Sundance Film Festival about the news of their franchise's remake, saying, "I'd like to think that the four we did were still magical and people will still reference the four 'Lethal Weapon' [films]." The actor also spoke about his on- and offscreen friend, who has since fallen from grace in the public eye.

"I love Mel. That's my friend," Glover said of Gibson, adding, "He's had tough times. We've all had tough times."

In fact, the actor, who was attending Sundance to screen his latest film, "Black Power Mixtape," said he has been in touch with Gibson, who has been keeping a very low profile in the wake of all the controversy. Glover said that they saw one another most recently at a memorial in Los Angeles, where they happily greeted each other. "We ran up and hugged each other, man," he recalled.

When asked whether the revelations about Gibson over the past year resemble the friend he knows, Glover opted to keep mum. "I can't comment on that," he said, adding, "I only know what I know."

The actor went on to say that the Gibson he knows is "a very generous man, a man that ... whatever he goes through ... is always searching for something and searching for meaning in his life.' "

Glover isn't the only friend and former co-star of Gibson's to come to his defense. In the October issue of More, Jodie Foster, who worked with the troubled star on the 1994 comedy Western "Maverick," told the magazine Gibson was the "easiest, nicest person I've ever worked with." She went on to say, "The second I met him, I said, 'I will love this man for the rest of my life."

Like Glover, Foster opted to stay by her friend's side in spite of the abuse accusations and those controversial violent, racial and anti-Semitic slurs. "When you love a friend, you don't abandon them when they are struggling," she said, adding, "but more importantly, he is and has been a true and loyal friend. I hope I can help him get through this dark moment."

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

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Ideeli

Ideeli

Oh my...

Seeing this top on Ideeli...

...made me laugh because of this post.

Six months later and, still, no one wants it.

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Spike TV to Broadcast 12 “UFC Prelims” in 2011 Starting with UFC 126

Spike TV to Broadcast 12 “UFC Prelims” in 2011 Starting with UFC 126
Spike TV has announced that it will broadcast 12 "UFC Prelims" specials in 2011 featuring live undercard bouts from UFC pay-per-view events, with the first broadcast set for UFC 126 on Feb. 5 including Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly and Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa.

Spike TV has announced that it will broadcast 12 “UFC Prelims” specials in 2011 featuring live undercard bouts from UFC pay-per-view events, with the first broadcast set for UFC 126 on Feb. 5.

As reported last week, the UFC 126 prelims will include lightweights Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly and featherweight contenders Chad Mendes vs. Michihiro Omigawa.

Spike has aired 13 “UFC Prelims” to date, starting with UFC 103 in Sept. 2009, with an average audience of 1.5 million.

For complete UFC 126 coverage and the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Pictured: Donald Cerrone

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Rich Franklin talks Football "You Shouldn't Call Tom Brady Pretty" - Rich Franklin

Rich Franklin talks Football "You Shouldn't Call Tom Brady Pretty" - Rich Franklin
While hanging out with former UFC middleweight champ Rich Franklin, MMA H.E.A.T.'s Karyn Bryant turns the conversation to football. A former player himself, Rich has a lot of opinions on the best way to watch the Sunday games, the appeal of the Cincinnati Bengals' helmets and whether or not Karyn should call the New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady "pretty."For more with Rich, look for Episode 2.8 of MMA HEAT entitled "R You Ready," available across the USA on MAVTV.



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See? See?

See? See?

It's Sunday.

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Rediscovering Ikebukuro, Tokyo's forgotten district

Rediscovering Ikebukuro, Tokyo's forgotten district

Ikebukuro may be the oft-overlooked, slightly gritty cousin of Shinjuku, Ginza, Shibuya, Roppongi, and Akihabara, but that hasn't stopped it from developing a funky groove of its own.

The area -- which literally means “lake bag” in Japanese -- has everything from anime arcades, maid cafes and mega malls to an aquarium and planetarium, not to mention a gyoza theme park, a flourishing ramen scene, and an ongoing sizzling hot electronic store war.

One could say Ikebukuro has got everything in the bag -- except that lake.

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Royce Gracie News Update - Royce Gracie

Royce Gracie News Update - Royce Gracie
The Fight Network catches up with UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie at a strength and conditioning workshop at Toronto BJJ to discuss his current status and to hear his criticisms of wrestling in MMA.


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UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Results Recap: Melvin Guillard Knocks Out Evan Dunham

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Results Recap: Melvin Guillard Knocks Out Evan Dunham
Melvin Guillard continued his climb up the lightweight rankings with a first-round knockout of Evan Dunham in the main event of UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Saturday in Fort Hood, Texas. The card also featured wins by Matt Mitrione, Pat Barry, Matt Wiman, and Mark Hominck, who earned a shot at featherweight champ Jose Aldo.

Melvin Guillard continued his climb up the lightweight rankings with a first-round knockout of Evan Dunham in the main event of UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Saturday in Fort Hood, Texas, which aired on Spike TV to benefit the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Dunham scored an early takedown, but Guillard quickly returned to his feet and put his striking on display, knocking Dunham down once before finishing him off with a barrage of punches and knees, including one that replays showed to be illegal but had little influence on the finish.

Guillard (27-8-2) has now won four-straight since joining trainer Greg Jackson to get into the title hunt, while Dunham (11-2) has suffered back-to-back losses after a 4-0 start in the UFC.

In other featured action, Matt Mitrione remained unbeaten with a first-round TKO of Tim Hague, Mark Hominick stopped George Roop in the opening round to earn a shot at featherweight champ Jose Aldo, and Pat Barry and Matt Wiman kicked off the main card with decision wins.

MORE: Hominick Earns Shot at Aldo, Prelim Recap: Edwards, Johnson Win

The complete UFC Fight for the Troops 2 results were:

MAIN CARD

• Melvin Guillard def. Evan Dunham via TKO (punches and knees) – Round 1, 2:58
• Matt Mitrione def. Tim Hague via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:59
• Mark Hominick def. George Roop via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:28
• Pat Barry def. Joey Beltran via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Matt Wiman def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Yves Edwards def. Cody McKenzie via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 4:33
• DaMarques Johnson def. Mike Guymon via verbal submission (body triangle) – Round 1, 3:22
• Rani Yahya def. Mike Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Waylon Lowe def. Willamy Freire via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Charlie Brenneman def. Amilcar Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chris Cariaso def. Will Campuzano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Pictured: Melvin Guillard

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Channing Tatum And Tracy Morgan Square Off On 'Son Of No One' Set

Channing Tatum And Tracy Morgan Square Off On 'Son Of No One' Set

'Tracy Morgan is going to shock the world,' Tatum tells MTV News of funnyman's dramatic turn in Sundance movie.
By Kara Warner

Channing Tatum in "The Son of No One"
Photo: Millennium Films

The 2011 Sundance Film Festival is just getting under way, and MTV News will have you covered with all the latest and greatest news from Park City, Utah. Kicking off our coverage is a sneak peek at one of the fest's big premieres and this year's closing-night film, "The Son of No One."

Written and directed by Dito Montiel ("A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," "Fighting"), the film revolves around two men forced to relive two murders they committed as young boys. The film stars Channing Tatum, Al Pacino, Katie Holmes, Tracy Morgan, Ray Liotta and Juliette Binoche. MTV News was lucky enough to drop by the New York set of the film awhile back, on a night when Montiel and crew were filming a heated scene between Tatum and Morgan.

"It's about two kids in 1986 that get away with murder," Montiel explained. "And how it can catch up with you in 2002 [the year in which the film is set], so we're never in reality."

"There's a real bond between these guys," Morgan said of the lead characters. "One's life went in one direction, which is very successful, and the other friend, which is my character, went in a really messed-up direction."

"Son of No One" marks Montiel and Tatum's third pairing together, which made us wonder if Montiel wrote the part with the "G.I. Joe" star in mind. "No, I never do. I keep ending up with him. I don't know why," he admitted. "That sounds like I'm being nice for MTV for whatever, but he's great and I love him and he's killing it."

Tatum plays Jonathan White, nicknamed "Milk." "It's an intense movie," Tatum said. "I think Tracy Morgan is going to shock the world. Nobody has ever seen him do drama or anything like that."

Speaking of which, Morgan said a large part of the draw for wanting to sign on to the film was to flex his dramatic acting muscles. "I feel it's an opportunity that I want to really take advantage of. I want to grow as an artist, as a person, and I understand my limitations," he said. "Comedy is a comfort zone for me and I don't mind coming out of my comfort zone."

Check out everything we've got on "Son of No One."

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

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Lady Gaga Or Britney Spears? RuPaul's Drag Queens Weigh In

Lady Gaga Or Britney Spears? RuPaul's Drag Queens Weigh In

'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 3 premieres Monday (January 24) on Logo.
By Damian Vaca

Lady Gaga and Britney Spears
Photo: Getty Images

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Reluctantly crouched behind the red carpet line, drag queens primping and taking their time, the flashbulbs go off and the cameras go up, all of them yearning for their chance at the cup!

On Tuesday night, we caught up with the stars of "RuPaul's Drag Race" as they head into battle to see who will be the top drag queen of season three. Amid the glam and sequins in the air, competition was definitely on everyone's mind, so what better time to find out who RuPaul's drag queens predict will rule 2011: Lady Gaga or Britney Spears?

"With Britney and Gaga coming out with new [albums] this year — it's going to be Gaga," Shangela, of season two, predicted. "Gaga runs the world, so Britney better take a seat and enjoy."

Tough words about a woman who has reached the #1 iTunes spot in 19 countries since her new single, "Hold it Against Me," was released a little over a week ago.

season three's Venus D Lite, who could give Madonna a run for her money, stated, "I would probably say Britney — only because Gaga has had her spotlight moment."

However, Raja, also from season three, disagreed: "I'm going to say Gaga. ... She challenges everyone and really puts out new ideas, and I certainly appreciate that."

With both artists set to premiere highly anticipated videos in the next couple of months, fans are waiting to see what new creative visions the stars will bring to the world of pop culture.

"I would love to see [Gaga] just be an artist and not just a character," said Sonique of season two. "With Lady Gaga, you can't really expect anything other than something that is going to be controversial."

season three castmember Mimi Imfurst, who arrived on the red carpet in an epic "worldly" outfit, is definitely on Team Gaga: "Lady Gaga has all the creativity that Britney doesn't have, plus all the talent she doesn't have, so Lady Gaga all the way."

When all is said and done, one thing's for sure: RuPaul's drag queens definitely aren't shy about expressing their opinions. season three of "RuPaul's Drag Race" premieres Monday (January 24) at 10 p.m. ET/PT, 9 p.m. Central on Logo.

Who do you think will conquer 2011: Britney or Gaga? Sound off below!

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UFC Cribs on Anderson Silva - Anderson Silva

UFC Cribs on Anderson Silva - Anderson Silva
Get an inside look into Anderson Silva's home life. Silva will be defending his middleweight belt versus Vitor Belfort on Saturday Feb. 5th at UFC 126. Watch the event Live on Pay-Per-View at 7pm PT/ 10pm ET.


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Vitor Belfort Falling Further Behind Anderson Silva

Vitor Belfort Falling Further Behind Anderson Silva

Now that we know the Green Bay Packers are an early 2.5 point favorite against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Super Bowl XLV, let’s take a look at the betting odds for the game’s opening act. “UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort” takes place February 5th and features a middleweight title scrap between champion Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort.

The Gambling Gods initially pegged Silva a -240 favorite to retain his title when the line first opened a couple months back. With game time steadily approaching, it appears the chips are starting to stack behind “The Spider’s” side of the sand.

Silva is now listed at -270, while his challenger comes in at +210.

However, as sure as the Pack won’t remain 2.5 point favorites, it will be interesting to see how the money moves in the battle of Brazil.

The star-studded card takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Here are the available wagering odds for UFC 126′s (Courtesy of Bodog.com):

Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto -155
Demetrious Johnson +125

Miguel Torres -500
Antonio Banuelos +300

Ryan Bader +250
Jon Jones -325

Jake Ellenberger -325
Carlos Eduardo Rocha +250

Forrest Griffin +140
Rich Franklin -170

Vitor Belfort +210
Anderson Silva -270

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Jack's Haircut

Jack's Haircut

I gave my nephew Jack a haircut.

I couldn't get it right so I just kept cutting and cutting and cutting and well...

I gave him the Dumb & Dumber do.

Whoops.

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'Fight For Your Right Revisited': Inside Scoop From Sundance

'Fight For Your Right Revisited': Inside Scoop From Sundance

We got a first look as the Beastie Boys short starring Elijah Wood, Seth Rogen and more premieres with a comic take on the 1987 classic.
By Eric Ditzian

Danny McBride
Photo: MTV News

PARK CITY, Utah — The description seemed deliberately vague: "After the boys leave the party ..."

That was how Adam Yauch described his Sundance entry "Fight for Your Right Revisited," a short film that tells the story of what happened to the Beastie Boys following the events of their 1987 music video of the same name.

We knew Elijah Wood would play Ad-Rock, Seth Rogen would portray Mike D and Danny McBride would slip on a leather jacket to become Yauch's MCA. But would the short be a music video? A more traditional comedic exploration? No one seemed to have a clue.

Even McBride and Wood didn't know what the heck the short was all about when we caught up with them before the Sundance premiere on Thursday night. "I'm just as curious as you are what this is going to be!" McBride laughed.

Not long after we chatted with the cast, MTV News sat down to take in "Fight for Your Right Revisited," and now we can finally answer those lingering questions (beware of spoilers below).

The short film, which runs about 20 to 25 minutes, is part music video, part improv-heavy comedy. It begins directly after the conclusion of the '87 video, with the Beasties crawling out of the party-mad apartment in a cloud of smoke, the original tune playing in the background. They head down the stairs and immediately run into the parents of the kids whose party they crashed. Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci play the parents.

From there, Rogen, Wood and McBride head out onto the New York City streets — the film was apparently shot in three days on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles — looking to keep the party going. They bust into a bodega, steal a couple six-packs of beer and head back out. At that point, the short transforms into a music video, with the Beasties rapping into the camera and guzzling beer as they walk.

"It felt super cool," McBride told us earlier. "The moment you start rapping into a fisheye lens, you realize you've been training for it your whole life."

The film continues to alternate between music video rampages and dialogue-heavy comedic scenes. It's also overflowing with a staggering number of celebrity cameos. One of the short's biggest takeaways — beside the fact that the Beasties can still deliver top-notch tunes — is that Yauch can call up pretty much anyone and get him or her to do the favor of appearing in his film. Celebs making appearances include Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Ted Danson, Alicia Silverstone, Will Ferrell, Rainn Wilson, Jack Black and John C. Reilly.

The short takes surreal turns at times, as when the Beasties end up in a limo with two metal music fans played by Dunst and Maya Rudolph. They all drop acid, Wood gets stabbed in the belly and it turns out that Ferrell is driving the car. Such delightful weirdness peppers all of "Fight for Your Right Revisted."

"There was just an air of fun to it," Wood explained.

The short's chief pleasure is simply that it exists, that Yauch is revisiting a song the band largely swore off back in the '80s. Some scenes crackle with comedic verve, thanks to the talents of some of Hollywood's most reliable improv talents. Other scenes could have benefited from a trim or two in the edit room. The music is vintage Beastie stuff; fans won't be disappointed on that front. As the Beastie Boys themselves, Wood, McBride and Rogen don't so much channel their real-life counterparts as simply seem to be having an utter blast. The audience at the premiere was right along with them.

The short reaches a bizarre climax when the Beasties encounter a "Back to the Future"-esque DeLorean. Parked inside are older versions of the group: Black as MCA, Ferrell as Mike D and Reilly as Ad-Rock. Turns out, they're from the future and claim to be the true Beastie Boys. The only way to settle the dispute, apparently, is with an old-school hip-hop dance-off. Their LOL-inducing dance moves lead, not entirely strangely at this point, to the six men in a contest, each one, literally, spraying their cohorts with steady streams.

The short wraps up with the appearance of the actual Beastie Boys, dressed up like cops. They shove the two competing sets of Beastie Boys in a paddy wagon and drive off. A title card reads, "To be continued. Check back in 25 years."

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

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Ron Paul video I’ll Vote Against Raising the Debt Limit

Ron Paul video I’ll Vote Against Raising the Debt Limit

Congressman Ron Paul is probably more popular than ever before. I am not a Republican, but as a registered Independent I respect his opinion on the economy. I had a friend of mine (we will call pothead Joe) think that I liked Ron Paul because I was a Republican Tea Party guy. The truth is I don’t really like that group. I agree with the main ideas but that group is just repeating rhetoric like the Obama-bots who use to troll here.

I was against the bailouts  because it increased our federal deficit.  On top of that the taxpayer money went to big banks and foreign countries, instead of the American people.  Basically, the politicians stole the money from the American people by not representing us our our best interests.  The majority of the people were against the bailouts and congress still approved it.  That is why we threw most of them out of office the last election.  Let’s see if they keep their promises this time and stop the bankrupting of our country.

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Hong Kong's best international fast food

Hong Kong's best international fast food

If anything unites the world’s population, it’s the shared love for a good greasy snack. McDonald’s might have globalized the hamburger, but it doesn’t have a monopoly on all fast food. Most countries have been cranking out their own heart attack specials for years.

Here’s how you can eat your way through the world’s best fast food ... without leaving Hong Kong.

Poutine

Where it’s from: Quebec.
What it is: Fries covered in gravy and cheese curds.

Poutine was invented in the late 1950s in the Canadian province of Quebec. (“Une poutine” means “a mess” in French.) It quickly became a fast food staple prized for its ability to soak up late-night alcohol.

read more

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10 Thonglor and Ekamai hits, according to a resident expert

10 Thonglor and Ekamai hits, according to a resident expert

Bangkok’s Soi Thonglor and Soi Ekamai, two long thoroughfares accessible from Sukhumvit and Petchburi Roads, are both loved and loathed.

The traffic is shockingly brutal, even by Bangkok standards. But they also feature some of the city’s top higher-end dining and nightlife options, making them a magnet for Bangkok’s young moneyed and the see-and-be-seen crowd. 

In a trend-conscious neighborhood like this venues come and go weekly though, which is why new website Thonglor-Ekamai.com is gaining fans fast. 

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Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima

American Express to Cut 550 Jobs

American Express to Cut 550 Jobs

American Express to Cut 550 Jobs

NY Times:

American Express said on Wednesday that it would close customer service centers and cut 550 jobs as it helps more people on the Internet, a move that will cost the company $74 million after taxes.

The company, a credit card lender and payment processing network, will move another 3,000 jobs to different locations as part of its reorganization, it said.

The restructuring charge will reduce fourth-quarter profit by 6 cents a share. American Express, which was scheduled to report its quarterly earnings Monday, said it earned $1.1 billion, or 88 cents a share, in the quarter.

Excluding the charge, the company’s 94-cent profit missed analysts’ average expectations by a penny, according to Thomson Reuters. American Express shares fell 2.44 percent to close at $45.24.

The earnings miss was an unpleasant surprise to some investors, considering positive trends on spending volume and credit, an analyst at Sandler O’Neill, Michael Taiano, said...


Anna Kournikova
Hayden Panettiere
Cameron Diaz

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Bonuses Go To Guillard, Edwards, and McKenzie

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Bonuses Go To Guillard, Edwards, and McKenzie
Melvin Guillard scored the "Knockout of the Night," Yves Edwards claimed the "Submission of the Night," and Edwards and Cody McKenzie earned "Fight of the Night" honors at Satuday's UFC Fight for the Troops 2 event at Fort Hood, Texas.

Yves Edwards earned an extra $60,000 for his second-round submission of Cody McKenzie that garnered “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” honors at Saturday’s UFC Fight for the Troops 2 event, UFC President Dana White announced at the post-fight press conference.

McKenzie also scored $30,000 for delivering the “Fight of the Night” in his first career loss, while headliner Melvin Guillard nabbed $30K for his first-round knockout of Evan Dunham in the night’s main event.

MORE: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Results: Guillard KOs Dunham, Hominick Earns Shot at Aldo, Prelim Recap: Edwards, Johnson Win

Pictured: Cody McKenzie

Ciara
Blake Lively
Scarlett Johansson

Ke$ha - Take It Off

Ke$ha - Take It Off

Take It Off

• Artist: Ke$ha
• Label: RCA
• Director: Paul Hunter, Dori Oskowitz

Marisa Miller
Cat Power
Moon Bloodgood

Kennedy vs. Miller Likely At Strikeforce Event

Kennedy vs. Miller Likely At Strikeforce Event

A third – and presumably final – bout between Tim Kennedy and Jason Miller appears to be in the cards for Strikeforce’s event in Columbus, OH.

Strikeforce: Columbus is scheduled to take place on March 5 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and will feature Dan Henderson taking on Rafael Cavalvcante, presumably in the main event bout.

At the time of this posting, verbal agreements have taken place, with bout agreements soon to be issued and the fight being OK’d by both Strikeforce and Showtime officials.

For those who haven’t followed the Kennedy vs. Miller series, Kennedy defeated Miller as part of an eight-man tournament at Extreme Challenge 50 in early 2003.

Miller then proceeded to win an unanimous decision over Kennedy in their second bout as part of HDNet’s second – and final – effort s a fight promotion back in 2007.

Kennedy is coming off a loss to current Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronlado Souza last August; meanwhile, Miller has won consecutive bouts against Tim Stout and Kazushi Sakuraba, but failed to win the middleweight title when he and Jake Shields fought for the vacant title back in 2009.

The winner of this fight will probably be the #1 contender and get a crack at the belt.

With the Kennedy vs. Miller bout likely to take place, Strikeforce: Columbus looks something like this:

• Jorge Gurgel vs. TBA
• Tim Kennedy vs. Jason Miller
• Gilbert Melendez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
• Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante

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Anna Kournikova
Hayden Panettiere
Cameron Diaz

Keyshia Cole Wants To Record With Nickelback

Keyshia Cole Wants To Record With Nickelback

'I love them as a group,' songbird says of dream collaboration.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Keyshia Cole
Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

If everything were up to Keyshia Cole, she would rock out on her next collaboration.

The R&B songbird recently said in an interview for music-video website Vevo's "Ask: Reply" series that her dream team-up would be with Canadian rock crew Nickelback.

"I think that I would say for my dream collaboration, it would have to be Nickelback," the Calling All Hearts crooner said. Cole also added that if she were to hit the studio with the rockers, she would try to craft a collabo that seamlessly combines their musical sensibilities."I love them as a group. I truly do, and I would love, love, love, absolutely love to do a song that is very heartfelt and alternative and R&B somehow in the same light."

For Cole, who has landed in the booth with stars like Diddy and called her Kanye West-helmed debut, "I Changed My Mind," one of her favorite musical hook-ups, Nickelback is just the latest ideal feature for the California songstress. Cole told MTV News last year that she would also love to join forces with one of Detroit's finest.

"Me and Eminem doing a collaboration?" Cole wondered aloud on the set of the visual for her Nicki Minaj collabo "I Ain't Thru." "I just think he made the hardest comeback for 2010, and I support him all the way, and he's just dope, he's just dope,"

Even if a Shady or Nickelback-assisted track doesn't pan out, Cole already as some "dope" match-ups in her arsenal. The A Different Me singer broke down how her Minaj collabo went down, and lavished props on the Young Money diva.

"It was dope [in the studio]. She's very, very professional. She sat in the corner and wrote her part and then actually she wrote two raps to the song," Cole confided. "She actually did one verse and was like, 'Keyshia, I think I can do so much better.' And I was like, 'Absolutely not — it's dope and leave it the way it is.' And then I saw her again and she was like, 'Please, just let me do my thing,' and I was like, 'absolutely,' 'cause I understand where she comes from."

What do you think a Keyshia Cole/Nickelback track would sound like? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

• Keyshia Cole

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Photos | Britney Spears' "3" Video Shoot

Photos | Britney Spears' "3" Video Shoot

Britney Spears' "3" Video Shoot

Related Artists

• Britney Spears

Eliza Dushku
Adriana Lima

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Prelims Recap: Edwards, Johnson Earn Submission Wins

UFC Fight for the Troops 2 Prelims Recap: Edwards, Johnson Earn Submission Wins
Yves Edwards handed Cody McKenzie the first loss of his career in the top prelim at Saturday's The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in Fort Hood, Texas. Also earning wins were DaMarques Johnson, Rani Yahya, Waylon Lowe, Charlie Benneman, and Chris Cariaso.

Yves Edwards handed Cody McKenzie the first loss of his career in the top prelim at Saturday’s The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale in Fort Hood, Texas, as the lightweight veteran choked The Ultimate Fighter 12 castmember out with a rear naked choke in the second round.

In other featured prelims, TUF 9 runner-up DaMarques Johnson forced Mike Guymon to submit to a body triangle, Rani Yahya topped former WEC champ Mike Brown, and Waylon Lowe edged newcomer Willamy Freire.

Rounding out the preliminary card, Charlie Brenneman topped Amilcar Alves and Chris Cariaso outpointed Will Campuzano.

The official UFC Fight for the Troops 2 preliminary card results were:

• Yves Edwards def. Cody McKenzie via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 4:33
• DaMarques Johnson def. Mike Guymon via verbal submission (body triangle) – Round 1, 3:22
• Rani Yahya def. Mike Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Waylon Lowe def. Willamy Freire via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Charlie Brenneman def. Amilcar Alves via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chris Cariaso def. Will Campuzano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Pictured: Yves Edwards

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Hayden Panettiere
Cameron Diaz