They also talked about someone who will likely have everyone buzzing when they leave the theater: Aniston's co-star and real-life leading man, Justin Theroux.
Aniston said Theroux is a "far cry" from his hippie-dippie character in the film, which revolves around an uptight New York couple who decide to shake up their lives and end up at a commune. Rudd and Aniston play that couple just looking for a change of pace.
"I didn't recognize him actually, when were at the camera test," she continued. "We were at the camera test and I did not recognize him because he's usually in leather and tight black jeans and black boots and he has this very specific look that, since I've known him, he's always had. But that's sort of what's so great [about him]."
The actress continued that it's his ability to change so much from his real-life look (which veers more toward New York hipster chic than Boho-chic) and personality that makes him stand out in the film. "He has a beard; it's a healthy beard [in the film]. But what I think is so awesome about Justin is that he really just disappears," she said. " 'Your Highness' was so great, and even like in 'Zoolander,' I didn't know he was that crazy DJ. He sort of morphs into things, into characters and also has a leading-man quality, which I think is beautiful. He's just great."
It seems that love for Theroux doesn't begin and end with Aniston. Rudd, who has worked with him in the past in "The Baxter," is equally charmed by his ability to portray guys who are not as smart as they think they are. "He's such a smart guy and he's so talented and good at playing [those] guys. What I love about him is his subtlety. He's kind of a master of subtlety," he said. "I've been a fan of his for years."
But as the initial shock of the pair's reunion subsides, and both remixes begin to diffuse into the collective conscience, we're left with one rather important question: Beyond all the (very public) handwringing the songs have created, are they actually any good? Early opinions from critics have been lukewarm at best (and downright hostile at worst), mostly because it seems they have a difficult time separating their feelings about Brown — and his 2009 assault of Rihanna — from their feelings about the songs themselves. And really, you can't blame them. In a lot of ways, it's impossible not to view the "Cake" and "Music" remixes through the prism of the past three years.
Still, with opinions still being formed (and feelings still fresh), we reached out to some of our favorite music journos to get their take on the songs and Rihanna and Brown's unlikely collaboration. Here's what they had to say:
" 'Birthday Cake' was pretty much destined to be a smash when Talk That Talk was released with only a snippet of it. ... The 78-second bit of The-Dream-produced track inspired hosannas from members of the Rihanna Navy who couldn't wait for the full thing to be released. ... Putting Chris Brown on the [remix] (and having him sing 'I wanna f--- you right now,' which Rihanna sang on the fade-out of the TTT version, as his opening gambit) seems almost like overplaying her hand. Like, this song was going to be a big deal to her fans no matter what, so why add the controversy to it? Then again, the past three years of her career have, it seems, been about her taking control of her public image in a big way — from enacting revenge fantasies in 'Man Down' to singing about sex a lot — and adding Brown to a song about fetishistic sex is a way for her to do just that, to implicitly flip off people who she sees as paternalistic or overbearing while engaging in what she calls 'chiefin'.' Every gossip item about the two of them getting back together or hanging out, every angry/sad/exulting blog post, every public tweet they direct to one another when presumably they could just DM back and forth, keeps them — and the songs — in the news. Meanwhile, Brown's song and Rihanna's contribution to it are both pretty bland, a 'Party Rock Anthem' with no shuffling and even less whimsy. At one point, Rihanna does the phrase 'I love you,' which will no doubt get tongues wagging. I am pretty much grossed out by the whole thing, to be honest." — Maura Johnston, Village Voice
"The remixes aren't terrible, and that's as much as I'll say at risk of saying something positive about Chris Brown. ... The most important thing to remember is that if you have a problem with these two teaming up: Don't blame Rihanna. Blame the ravenous, unscrupulous, money-starved record industry for being complacent through this entire event. The whole machine is falling apart, so everyone — artists like Ludacris and Justin Bieber, their labels and managers, magazines like Vibe who put Chris Brown on the cover, awards shows like the Grammys, TV networks who play Chris Brown videos — they're all too afraid to potentially put forth an opinion that would prevent them from being where money is. The fact that everyone except Jay-Z and Miranda Lambert is too chickensh-- to speak out against woman-beating is pathetic beyond pathetic. Everyone is too scared to compromise their chance to catch the last remaining dollars during the music industry's death rattle." — Christopher R. Weingarten, SPIN
"Rihanna's 'Birthday Cake' was a standout track from Talk That Talk, even in its original form (as an interlude) — and more importantly, without Chris Brown. On the remix, all Brown's aggressive, salacious verses do ... is add fuel to rumors circling of their reunion behind closed doors. [And] Rihanna comes back on the song, calling checkmate on Breezy with her suggestive lyrics — "Remember how you did it?/ Remember how you fit it?/ If you still want to kiss it, come, come and get it" — making it hard to not be teased into again reading between the lines. 'Turn Up the Music' feels like a collaboration that would have fit both artists' discography during their days coupled up. Although RiRi's airy vocals blend well with the Underdogs' dance soundscapes, adding Rihanna to the track doesn't leave a lasting impression nor elevate the song to higher grounds. Ultimately, it's not the content of the songs that matter; it's the statement both singers are trying to make by simply releasing them. The collaborations appear to be a step toward reconciliation between both — seeing the tracks climb the chart is a bonus. Rihanna wants us to know that she no longer wears the shoes of the victim and Breezy wants to prove that he's become a better man. This isn't a personal or professional move; it's both. Both singers have woven their personal life, a haunting moment in their lives, into a professional move. Though it's stirred much controversy, I believe it was bound to happen." — Erika Ramirez, Billboard.com's "The Juice"
What do you think of the collaborations? Let us know in the comments.
Movie's stars Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd stop by for a chat about the movie, which premieres Friday. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Paul Rudd in "Wanderlust" Photo: Universal
As part of "MTV First," Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston premiered a never-before-seen clip from their upcoming comedy "Wanderlust" ... but that was only the beginning.
In the clip, their characters embrace their new lives on the Elysium commune with some new, let's say ... experiences. Now we have an extended NSFW version of the same scene that takes a raunchier look at life at Elysium.
The extended version contains some drug references, so some viewer discretion is advised.
In "Wanderlust," Rudd's character, George, loses his job and leaves New York with his wife, Linda, in search of a new beginning. After a failed attempt to shack up with George's brother, they head off again in search of a new home. But they accidentally wind up stuck in the hippie commune inhabited by a wide range of characters.
One of those characters introduced in the clip is Seth, the spiritual leader of the commune, played by Aniston's real-life boyfriend Justin Theroux. The couple met while making the film, and in the clip, we see their onscreen introduction. We're also introduced to the characters played by Lauren Ambrose and Jordan Peele, Almond and Rodney.
The clip was just the beginning of the fun. If you haven't seen it already, be sure to check out MTV News' Josh Horowitz's entire interview with Rudd and Aniston, which followed the premiere of the new clip from "Wanderlust." During the interview, they addressed things like onscreen nudity and took questions from the fans via Twitter.
Songwriter The-Dream tells 'RapFix Live' of Rihanna, 'She's my friend, so whatever she wants to do is whatever she wants to do.' By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
The-Dream on "RapFix Live" Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News
Fans were shocked and some outraged when they heard Rihanna's "Birthday Cake" remix with ex-beau Chris Brown. The-Dream, who wrote the song, admits that he was a bit surprised when Rihanna told him that she'd like to include the man who once assaulted her on the track, but the "Shawty is a 10" singer was far more understanding than Rih Rih's detractors.
"At the end of the day, she's my friend, so whatever she wants to do is whatever she wants to do," The-Dream told Sway when he appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (February 22), just two days after Rihanna released the controversial remix.
The-Dream remembers first getting the call from Rihanna while driving in Miami. "I think I'm gonna put Chris on it," he remembers the Talk That Talk singer saying to him over the phone nonchalantly. "I don't know which Chris you talkin' about, [but] OK, cool, whatever you say," The-Dream remembers responding.
Of course there is really only one Chris, and The-Dream came to grips with the reality that the two would be coming together in song after the damaging 2009 assault that left Rihanna battered and bruised and Brown public enemy #1. "She's pretty smart too. The same questions that went through my mind, and I'm an artist also, had to have gone through hers," The-Dream told "RapFix Live." "When she raised the question to me, I know she's not crazy. So my thought was you've been thinking about this, you've already thought it out, so evidently you know what reaction you gonna get."
The singer/songwriter said that he was just happy that she gave him enough forewarning that he too could prepare for any type of backlash. Still, despite the rumblings of whether or not Rihanna is sending the right message collaborating with Chris on "Birthday Cake" as well as Brown's "Turn Up the Music" remix, The-Dream says that it all boils down to forgiveness. "Don't say you know how to forgive when you don't," he warned. "Everybody knows what took place, cool. Have the power to really forgive if that's what it is, if not stay on that side of the fence from the beginning."
In no way did The-Dream condone Brown's behavior on that February night in 2009, but he does suggest that it is time for people to move on. "It's easy to kinda throw Chris under the bus all the time, but c'mon, man. OK, we get it," he said.
Do you support Rihanna's decision to work with Chris Brown again? Leave your comment below!
'Everything just kind of happened at once,' 14-year-old tells MTV News about new TV and recording deals. By Kara Warner
Rachel Crow Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Her elimination from "X Factor" made for one of the most shocking (and tear-filled) moments of the show, and now breakout star Rachel Crow will be crying tears of joy thanks to a newly inked recording contract with music-industry powerhouse Columbia Records and a TV deal with Nickelodeon.
MTV News caught up with the spunky 14-year-old on Wednesday (February 22) to get the inside scoop on her new endeavors.
"Everything just kind of happened at once. It was really cool for me. I've never had so many things happen — it's just amazing," Crow said of her recent career developments, the first of which we'll see via Nickelodeon's new comedy "Fred: The Show."
" 'Fred: The Show' is so much fun to work on. The whole crew, the whole cast, everyone is amazing. What's really cool is on that show, you get to show both sides — singing and acting — which is right up my alley," Crow said of her five- to six-episode stint. "I'm loving the acting so much. It's really fun for me. I have a fun character. She's spunky and crazy, and she wants to be a star and her name is — drum roll — her name is Starr."
With regard to the pilot the network is developing around the bubbly singer/actress, Crow said the details are still being worked out but promised it will be something we've never seen before.
"The goal with the pilot is to reach boy and girl audiences, because that's hard to do. We're still deciding if it's going to be one topic or any topic. Hopefully my [character's] name is Rachel, I hope," she said. "It's going to be edgy and really funny. I want to land the moms and the dads too, so hopefully it will be a family show."
In between her work on "Fred: The Show" and her new pilot, Crow is getting ready to record her first studio album at Columbia.
"I want my first album to have a lot of high notes in songs," Crow said. "I want there to be upbeat songs and slow songs, I want it to be retro and very soulful and I want at least one of my songs to have a guy rapping in it, because that is just so cool. Maybe Eminem can rap on it?"
What are you expecting from Rachel's post-"X Factor" career? Let us know in the comments below!
Join Josh Horowitz and Christina Garibaldi with your favorite celebs, starting 5 p.m. Sunday on MTV.com. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
MTV News has been your go-to source for everything Oscars leading up to the big night, and when it comes time to hand out the Academy Awards, we'll be right in the center of the action to bring you what you need.
MTV News' Josh Horowitz and Christina Garibaldi will come to you live from the red carpet outside the Kodak Theatre this Sunday, February 26, talking to the stars, bringing you the fashion and celebrating all things Oscars.
The live stream from the red carpet will begin on MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT and run right up until the beginning of the ceremony at 7:30 p.m. ET. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars to share your thoughts and ask questions of your favorite celebs.
During the two and a half hours of coverage, you'll be sure to hear from not only the nominees, but the rest of Hollywood's biggest stars. MTV News will be your one-stop shop for the biggest stars on Hollywood's biggest night.
In the weeks leading up to the Academy Awards, MTV News has had everything you need to know heading into Oscar night. Every day, we will be bringing you new predictions and analysis of the awards show and giving you all the inside info to take home the pot in your Oscar pool.
It all starts live on MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT.
The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners. To join the live conversation,tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars.
Fans weigh in on 'Birthday Cake' and 'Turn Up the Music' remixes and what working together again says about their relationship. By Jocelyn Vena
Rihanna and Chris Brown in 2008 Photo: WireImage
When Chris Brown and Rihanna dropped their remixes of "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up the Music," fans immediately began to weigh in on the collaborations and what they mean about the status of Ri and Brown's highly publicized tumultuous relationship.
While the songs may serve as a distraction from their personal past (which includes Brown's assault of Rihanna in 2009), many of the music fans we caught up with in Times Square stood on two sides of the line. Some were willing to forget the past and enjoy the music for what it is, while others were not yet ready to forgive.
"They're both really good artists. I like Chris Brown a lot. He was down at the bottom during that time and then he came back up," James Hauser told MTV News. "So he's starting to do better."
Cassy Cnegt pointed out the negative attention it could bring to both artists, rehashing a personal story line that doesn't seem to end. "I think there's going to be a lot of bad publicity about why she's doing it," she said.
Another fan, Billy Titus, added, "His music's all right, but I think that she can do a lot better by herself than be with him."
Jean-Yves thinks their collaborations show how far their relationship has come. "The fact that they're able to work together is a good sign for Chris Brown, as opposed to the animosity that was there before."
However, Aliyyah notes that it's difficult to separate the music from the events. "Personally, I think it's a little bit awkward for them in terms of their relationship, because he did hit her and the world knows that, so it kind of sends a weird message to her fans — especially her women fans — to still support him in that way, but I guess it's not our life," she said, adding that Brown has built up a "bad boy" reputation and that he may be trying to get Rihanna to take him back.
While music fans stand on both sides of the complex issue, one domestic violence expert tells MTV News that seeing these two artists work together again is "not surprising."
"I don't know what the message [of the songs] is. I would like the message to be: 'People can change, and I will never be treated that way again and I will never treat anyone that way again.' If they had released a song saying, 'This is what this represents for us,' that would be such a much more fabulous, powerful story than not saying a word," Rita Smith, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said. "The content of the songs seems to be more in-your-face than something about, 'We're collaborating on something because we care about the way people treat each other.' That would have been the message that would have been nice to come out of this very public and tragic incident."
What do you think of Chris Brown and Rihanna's recent collaborations? Leave your comment below.
'We just wanted to make sure that they had ... resources to tell that story properly,' Trevor Project interim CEO tells MTV News. By John Mitchell
Daniel Roebuck and Max Adler in the "On My Way" episode of "Glee" Photo: FOX
Tuesday night's winter finale of "Glee" tackled the difficult topic of teen bullying and suicide. David Karofsky (Max Adler) — who bullied Kurt (Chris Colfer) because of his sexuality only to be revealed later as gay himself — tried to kill himself after teammates at his new school discovered the football player was gay and viciously harassed him verbally and online.
Karofsky's attempt was unsuccessful but it brought the subject to the forefront for all of the characters. And while the show's decision to take on the topic was bold, the portrayal has inspired a mixed reaction.
Among the viewers who felt the topic was handled deftly and with great care is David McFarland, the interim executive director and CEO of the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. The group aired a much-discussed PSA featuring "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe during the episode.
"It's clear after last night's episode that Ryan Murphy and his team did an excellent job of doing their research to tell a tough story and we were very proud to be involved and have the opportunity to air Trevor's PSA with Daniel Radcliffe," McFarland told MTV News on Wednesday (February 22).
Others, however, complained that the episode had too many additional story lines — a teen wedding, the Regionals' singing competition and a major incident for one of the principal characters that we won't spoil here — which ultimately served to oversimplify and trivialize an important topic.
MTV News' own "Glee" re-capper, Kevin Sullivan, took particular offense to a comment made by Mr. Schuester, who revealed that his own suicide attempt was prompted by being caught cheating on a math test.
"Suicide has so many aspects to consider that it cannot be glossed over in the same hour that features a regional show choir competition and a fictional wedding," Sullivan said.
McFarland disagreed, however, saying he thought the episode was an example of responsible storytelling. "[The Trevor Project wasn't] told in advance ... what the episode was going to be, we weren't on-set advisors to the episode," McFarland added. "We've been involved to the extent that if they were going to tell the story about suicide, we just wanted to make sure that they had access to resources to tell that story properly."
What seemed to be sloppy product placement also raised some eyebrows given the subject matter. After a member of McKinley's Christian student club (a.k.a. the "God Squad") mentions that they're sending Karofsky an Edible Arrangement, we later spot the fruit bouquet when Kurt visits the hospital. And when Warbler Sebastian announces that his team will be taking donations for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation at Regionals, some couldn't help but cringe.
While the Born This Way Foundation's anti-bullying mission aligns well with the episode's message, some fans questioned the wisdom of plugging the yet-to-launch organization of a major pop star when other, less-visible organizations have demonstrated their work on the matter. Still, McFarland thinks the show did a great service by putting the topic of LGBT teen suicide on a large national platform; he's happy the subject is getting the national attention it deserves.
"It's being discussed on many platforms and levels throughout this country, including on the radar screen of the president and first lady of the United States," McFarland said. "And a story like this reinforces the important attention that this country needs to give to what is truly a health crisis in America.
"We really need to provide safe spaces and environments for our youth and that episode told that story beautifully," he continued. "More of these stories need to be told, more work needs to be done. Overall, we need to do a much better job for our young people in providing safe environments and they need to feel socially, emotionally and physically safe and supported at home, in their communities and their schools."
Share your thoughts on Tuesday's episode of "Glee" in the comments below.
'American Idol' judges aren't looking to hop on the 'Moves Like Jagger' bandwagon with their own collabo, Lopez tells MTV News. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Jim Cantiello
Jennifer Lopez Photo: Michael Caulfield/ Getty Images
The usual rule in Hollywood is that if something works once, it's probably worth doing it again, and again, and again, and then maybe once more just to make sure the concept hasn't run out of legs.
But even though "The Voice" mentors Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera smashed digital sales records with their collaboration "Moves Like Jagger," don't expect "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez to follow in their fancy footsteps.
"None of us are kind of followers in that way," Lopez told MTV News when asked if she and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler might consider putting their very different pipes together to see if they could capture their own lightning in a bottle. "We kind of do what feels right, and anybody that's been in the business a long time knows that you don't chase."
You could see why they might consider it, though. Since joining the revamped "Idol" panel last year, Lopez and Tyler have helped set a standard for how career artists can reboot their fortunes by making a move to prime time. Aerosmith's back catalog sales blew up, while Lopez scored her biggest hit in years with the "Idol"-promoted single "On the Floor."
Despite that visibility, the singer said she's not into leading from behind. "You set the trail. You go out front, and anything that we do is something that feels good to us," she said, leaving the door open just a crack. "If that happened, it would happen. If a performance happened, it would happen. But it would have to feel real. ... Last year, we talked about performing together on the show for the finale, and we just couldn't agree on the same thing that felt good for all of us, so we just didn't do it."
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
'If you like a movie, heck, you can call it 'Dirt,' ' Andrew Stanton says of dropping 'of Mars' from the title. By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Taylor Kitsch in "John Carter" Photo: Disney
After decades in development limbo, the hero of Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel, "John Carter of Mars," will finally find his way onto the big screen with the guidance of director Andrew Stanton. But when he gets there, he'll have dropped the "of Mars."
After a rather controversial title change, the classic title "John Carter of Mars" became the shortened and genre-neutral "John Carter."
For fans of the original Burroughs novels, this came as a move away from the beloved source materials, and Stanton admitted to MTV News' Josh Horowitz that the change concerned him initially as well. "At first, I bristled, to be really honest. You can't control people's first impressions as much as you'd like," he said. "There are just a lot of people that assume that it's this weird astronaut/ space thing when you have 'Mars' in the title."
The change took time to accept, but with it, Stanton found a new angle of the story to explore. "Even then, I wasn't going to be swayed, but then I realized, 'Wow, the movie's really about a guy that becomes John Carter of Mars,'" Stanton said. "I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but then I sort of thought, 'All right, so now that actually makes sense. Maybe I can pull something that I haven't seen people do in a movie before.' "
But what's in a name? Stanton said that if he made a movie people can love, then not much. "My feeling is, if you like a movie, heck, you can call it 'Dirt,' and they'll call it whatever for the rest of the time it exists," Stanton said.
The title change was among Disney's several marketing choices that took heat from fans. But Stanton said he understands the challenge of marketing one of his unorthodox films, like his last movie, "WALL-E."
"Disney's been changing hands, so it's been a little bit of all hands on deck, but I feel we're finally in good hands and we're settling in," Stanton said. "It's not like anything else exactly. I'm used to giving Disney movies that they're not used to selling, so I knew it would be a bumpy road, to be fair to them."
What do you think of Disney's decision to drop "of Mars" from the title? Leave your comment below!
Five officers filed a defamation suit against Game in 2006 following the MC's arrest at a North Carolina mall. By Rob Markman
Game Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images
Game's pockets are about to become significantly lighter. On Tuesday, a North Carolina appeals court judge ruled that the Documentary MC pay $5 million in damages to five Greensboro police officers upholding a 2006 ruling, according to a report for local North Carolina affiliate My Fox 8.
The suit stems from an October 2005 incident, when Game was arrested at the Four Seasons Town Centre mall in North Carolina. Originally, Game was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct when he went into the mall to sign autographs wearing a mask. Mall security said that the rapper was wearing a full-face Halloween mask and cursing loudly. When Game was asked to leave, he refused and was arrested soon after.
The rapper's crew filmed the arrest and included an edited portion of it in a DVD titled "Stop Snitchin', Stop Lyin'," a documentary-style film Game co-produced. The five officers filed a defamation suit against the rapper in 2006. The suit accused Game and Bungalo Records Inc. (a second producer of the film) of libel and slander, claiming their identities were wrongfully used.
Now, the five arresting officers (Hien Nguyen, Matthew Brown, Ryan Childrey, Romaine Watkins and David Gregory) will receive $1 million each for compensatory damages. The officers are also seeking an additional $10 million in punitive damages, but the appeals court decided a new trial would be set for that particular ruling.
21 sets a new high mark for post-Grammy sales. By Gil Kaufman
Adele at the 2012 Grammys Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Adele is starting to make this look a little too easy. And also, who out there doesn't own 21 already? After all, they've had a full year to get their act together.
In the same week that she celebrates 52 weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart, all of them spent in the top 10, the singer set yet another high-water mark when she notched the biggest sales week yet following her Grammy Awards comeback. In the wake of her six-for-six night at the awards show, Adele rolled up her biggest sales week to date, moving 730,000 copies, more than doubling her previous high mark of 399,000 for the week ending December 25, 2011, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan.
The last album to sell more copies in a single week before Adele's big jump was Lil Wayne, whose Tha Carter IV moved 964,000 in August 2011. To put her giant leap into perspective, in her 52nd week on the charts, Adele moved the third-highest amount of product of any artist in the past year, surpassed only by Lady Gaga's Born This Way (1.1 million) and Weezy, and coming in ahead of highly anticipated chart bows by Drake (631,000), Coldplay (447,000), Jay-Z and Kanye West (436,000), Lady Antebellum (347,000), Beyoncé (310,000), Britney Spears (276,000) and Chris Brown (270,000).
Among the other records Adele set with her massive week:
» The biggest weekly sales increase following a Grammy win in the, um, 21-year history of SoundScan. With her 207 percent bump, Adele beat the previous record holder, Norah Jones, who sold 621,000 (a 331 percent increase) following her five Grammy wins in 2003 for Come Away With Me.
» With her massive sales hike, Adele became the first artist to go double-platinum on iTunes.
» With 21 non-consecutive weeks at #1, Adele now holds the record for the longest #1 album by a woman in Billboard history, beating the record formerly held by the late Whitney Houston's soundtrack to "The Bodyguard."
And it wasn't just 21 that got the Grammy love. Adele's debut, 19, zoomed up five spots to #4 thanks to a 144 percent sales increase, with 87,000 copies sold, setting another one-week sales best by eclipsing its previous high of 71,000 units shifted for the week ending December 25, 2011.
In the first full chart week after her death, Houston's only greatest-hits collection, Whitney: The Greatest Hits, saw a sales increase of 174 percent, shifting 175,000 copies to move up four spots to #2.
The rest of the top 10: Now 41 (#3, 94,000), 2012 Grammy Nominees (#5, 85,000), Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth (#6, down 69 percent in its second week on sales of 58,000) and Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom (#7, 58,000).
A number of acts also got a significant Grammy boost, including performer Bruno Mars, whose Doo-Wops & Hooligans rose 133 percent on sales of 38,000, bumping it up 22 spots to #8; Lady Antebellum, whose Own the Night was up eight to #9 (37,000, up 47 percent); and the Civil Wars, who rocketed up 31 spots to #10 with Barton Hollow (36,000, up 178 percent).
Coldplay got a more modest boost from their performance, as Mylo Xyloto inched up three spots to #11 on a 26 percent sales increase to 35,000, while Grammy winners Foo Fighters were up 134 percent and 28 spots to #21 with Wasting Light (23,000).
Further down the line, two other Houston albums, her self-titled debut and the soundtrack to "The Bodyguard," both sold more than 17,000 copies, seeing respective sales increases of 113 and 123 percent.
Over on the iTunes charts, Grammy performer Katy Perry topped the singles tally with her new single, "Part of Me," followed by Houston's iconic cover of "I Will Always Love You," Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and "Set Fire to the Rain" and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)."
Coming in at #6 were buzz band fun. with "We Are Young," Nicki Minaj with "Starships," Brown's "Turn up the Music," Adele's "Someone Like You" and One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful."
21 was at #1 on the iTunes albums chart, followed by Houston's greatest-hits comp, the Civil Wars' Barton Hollow, Adele's 19, Coldplay, the Grammy compilation, Mars, Clarkson's Stronger, the Fray's Scars & Stories and Grammy winner Bon Iver's self-titled album.
With Houston's chart record in the rearview, next up for Adele is the 24-week #1 reigns of the "Saturday Night Fever" and "Purple Rain" soundtracks. She should be safe for another week, as the only competition coming up in the next chart frame is from Sleigh Bells, Tyga and fun.
'A lot of people kinda taking our swag too; I just wanted to bring that back and take that back from them,' Bangz tells Mixtape Daily. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Maurice Bobb
Kirko Bangz Photo: Warner Bros.
Mixtape Daily Main Pick Headliner: Kirko Bangz
Representing: Houston
Mixtape: Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa
Real Spit: Kirko Bangz has been progressing quite nicely. Even before his breakout single "Drank in My Cup" began charting on the Billboard Hot 100, the Houston upstart was laying groundwork in H-Town's mixtape scene. In 2009, he dropped the aptly titled Progression, and now, three years later, he has followed up with its sequel Progression 2: A Young Texas Playa on mixtape site Datpiff.
In this new digital era, where most rap artists occupy the same space on the Internet, it seems that where a rapper hails from has become less important. Still, Bangz clearly is looking to put on for his city.
"People were like, 'Where you from?' They thought I was from Cali, Atlanta, stuff like that. So really, with the mixtape and my last single 'Drank in My Cup,' I wanted people to know I was from H-Town," Kirko told Mixtape Daily. "It's real H-Town: We have stuff for the girls, of course, we got hip-hop stuff, we got storytelling stuff."
Progression 2 starts off with "Say Hello," an introductory freestyle over DJ Khaled and Drake's "I'm On One." It's not surprising that Kirko would jump on a track Drizzy has made famous, considering he has drawn more than a few comparisons to the Toronto rapper, thanks to his penchant for both rapping and singing. While Drake is openly inspired by Houston's screw culture, Kirko truly embodies his city's sonic characteristics on "Drank in My Cup." The slow-rolling, lean-inspired cut repurposes Houston's signature underground sound for radio; it debuted at #96 on Billboard's Hot 100 this week.
"A lot of people kinda taking our swag too. I just wanted to bring that back and take that back from them," Bangz said, never naming who the swagger jackers actually are.
On "Play Me," KB takes on Drake's "Trust Issues" and furthers the comparisons. Paul Wall reps for H-Town and shows up on "Knowmtalmbout," and on "Trill Young N---a," Kirk stakes his claim in the streets of his hometown.
For the most part Progression 2 keeps a consistent vibe with a number of soul-dripped, screw-inspired anthems. He does switch things up, however, particularly toward the end on the hilarious story-telling joint "Ugly Bitches," where he recalls all of his less than glamorous sexual conquests.
It's not flawless, but over the course of 13 tracks, Kirko Bangz shows a pretty solid progression.
Joints to Check For » "Touch the Sky." "It was really brought to me, like, it was already on a plate; I just had to put the food on the plate. I wanted a real hip-hop type beat. A lot of people don't know that I actually can spit a little bit, so I wanted to spit and touch on a lot of things that I thought about. Like a lot of people say a lot of stuff about me, so I touched on those things on that song and kept it real hip-hop.
» "Play Me." "I feel like a lot of people and girls be trying to play me. I'mma playa, so I had to address that situation, like, 'Don't try and play me.' "
First-ever festival is set for March 15 at South by Southwest and will lead up to the awards themselves. By James Montgomery
Chiddy Bang Photo: Patrick Ford/Redferns
The 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards will return to Austin, Texas, on March 15, during South by Southwest, and they're definitely getting in the spirit of the annual festival.
First, they announced this year's nominees, an epically diverse field that includes everyone from Jay-Z and Kanye West, the Black Keys and Skrillex to up-and-comers like Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino and Cloud Nothings. Then they announced the first round of performers for the first-ever Woodies Fest, a (grammatically adventurous) list topped by Fun., Wallpaper. and A$AP Rocky.
The 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Festival will take place March 15 down at SXSW and is open to both badge-holders and uncredited music fans alike. The entire fest will also stream live on Woodies.mtvU.com and leads up to the awards themselves. On Sunday, March 18, the best moments from the Woodies will be broadcast in a 30-minute special airing on MTV and mtvU at 8 p.m. ET.
Voting is also under way in all Woodies categories — including Woodie of the Year and the coveted Best Video Woodie — and will remain open until March 9. Voting in the Breaking Woodie category will continue during the live show March 15. Fans can cast ballots in all categories through the Woodies' website, on their mobile phones at M.MTV.com or by texting VOTE to 66333. Standard message and data rates may apply.
The 2012 mtvU Woodies invade SXSW on March 15 with the Woodies Festival. The best of the 2012 mtvU Woodies will air on MTV and mtvU on March 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
Renée Zellweger, Adrien Brody and others have faded since their night of Oscar glory. By Kevin P. Sullivan
Adrien Brody Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Oscar night is supposed to be the night where dreams come true and careers are made, but for many actors over the years, it has marked the beginning of a downward trend. Among the list of past winners, you'll find some of Hollywood's most timeless faces. But you'll also find some names that have faded since their night of Oscar glory.
Through no fault of their own, some actors have struggled to escape from under the weight of an Academy Award win — especially if it came early in their career. Despite their best efforts, they have yet to repeat their previous levels of success and live up to the title "Academy Award winner."
Here are some of the steepest falls for Oscar winners in recent years:
Hilary Swank
Despite two wins for Best Actress, Hilary Swank's career maps out with two peaks and large valleys in between. Not counting her winning roles in "Boys Don't Cry" and "Million Dollar Baby," none of Swank's leading roles have caught much traction either financially or critically. Her more commercial choices like "P.S. I Love You" and "The Reaping" failed to capture their respective target audiences, and Oscar bait like "Conviction" and "Amelia" saw only mild critical response.
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
His iconic role in "Jerry Maguire" and the catchphrase that followed ("Show me the money!") marked the beginning of a steep and fast drop in Gooding's career. Embarrassing roles in films like "Snow Dogs" and "Boat Trip" became examples of how far an Academy Award winner could fall. Gooding has made some notable appearances in films like "Red Tails" and "Pearl Harbor," but his turn in "Radio" earned ridicule from Robert Downey Jr.'s character in "Tropic Thunder."
Renee Zellweger
After two previous nominations, Zellweger won her golden statue for "Cold Mountain" but has yet to earn similar praise since. She earned three nominations in as many years, but since then, the accolades have dried up. Her major starring roles in "Miss Potter" and "New in Town" did not live up to the critical or financial standards set by "Chicago" or "Bridget Jones's Diary."
Adrien Brody
Though he had a notable cameo in this year's critical darling "Midnight in Paris," Brody has picked his movie roles selectively, appearing only once or twice a year and not always as the star. He found moderate box-office success as the second leading man behind a giant ape in Peter Jackson's "King Kong" remake, but starring vehicles like "The Jacket" fell flat.
Kim Basinger
Though Basinger's decreasing presence in Hollywood after a decade as a blond big-screen bombshell may have coincided with her Oscar win, the signs of a dropoff after are there. Her role in "L.A. Confidential" became iconic and one of the film's key images, but Basinger's career began to lose steam soon after. She starred in minor dramas like "I Dreamed of Africa" and "The Door in the Floor." She even made a memorable turn as Eminem's mother in "8 Mile," but smaller roles kept her from the former spotlight.
The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5:30 p.m. ET for our three-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night's big winners.
Fans are excited for cult comedy's return, but reshuffling 'Parks and Recreation' could mean trouble for the network's lineup. By John Mitchell
Amy Poehler in "Parks and Recreation" Photo: NBC
Fans of cult comedy "Community" are rejoicing at the news that the show is set to return to NBC's schedule after a three-month hiatus. It will rejoin the Thursday night lineup at 8 p.m. on March 15 to complete its third season, though no decision has been announced as to whether the low-rated, critically acclaimed comedy will get a fourth season.
The show's return will bump "30 Rock," which has been pulling down series-low numbers in the 8 p.m. time slot since retuning on January 12, to 8:30 and "Parks and Recreation" will go on a five-week hiatus until "Up All Night" completes its season in April. "The Office" will hold on to its 9 p.m. slot.
NBC has had a difficult time attracting viewers to what is easily the best comedy block on network TV, but it's certainly not the first net to have that problem (Fox couldn't keep "Arrested Development" on the air). This latest decision, however, seems unlikely to help for a few reasons. It was a mistake to pull "Community" in the first place; the show is so full of callbacks and self-referential asides that removing it for any length of time was bound to hemorrhage casual fans who are not as familiar with the storyline as die-hards. And sacrificing the much more welcoming "Parks," which itself has struggled in the ratings despite widespread acclaim, to bring "Community" back is not going to pull in more eyes. Instead, it's only going to weaken the already low-rated lineup. Here's why.
"Community" is not a welcoming show for new viewers. I am an avid TV watcher and a big fan of NBC's smart Thursday comedies, but I've never been able to get into "Community" because I missed the boat early on. I'm not questioning its quality — by all accounts it's a witty and wonderfully weird show — but it is loaded with callbacks and winks to a now three-season-long narrative arc, and if you haven't been onboard since the beginning, you're shut out. I've tried and failed to get into the show, even though it should be on my must-see list.
Consequently, I suspect it is going to perform even worse in its old 8 p.m. time slot than when it left it in December. If it flops at 8, the results will be disastrous for "30 Rock," which, without a strong lead-in, seems likely to lose even more viewers at 8:30. "Parks and Rec" currently outperforms its "Rock" lead-in; it has its own devout fanbase, many of whom seem to skip "Rock" and tune in specifically for "Parks."
"30 Rock" is arguably past its prime (though last week's episode was admittedly the best in recent memory) and it is an expensive show to produce. Some expect that NBC may even announce that next season will be its last and that it will be a truncated 13-episode run at that. Matching "Community" with "30 Rock" from 8 to 9 is going to create an hour-long ratings void for NBC that is likely to negatively impact "The Office," which already has been losing viewers since Steve Carell's departure, though it remains NBC's top Thursday comedy.
As for "Up All Night," it's been managing numbers comparable to "Parks" at 9:30. Though, that means the well-reviewed family comedy is losing 30 percent of it's lead-in.
It's a foolhardy move to temporarily shelve the only show that is really building on its lead-in (that'd be "Parks") — I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that "The Office" ratings function pretty independently of "Parks'" — especially when it's being done for a show that seems unlikely to rope in new viewers.
The reason for the shake-up, I suspect, is rooted in the network's knowledge that the ends of "30 Rock" and "The Office" are near. They really want "Community" to work, and they trust enough that the brief absence of "Parks" from the schedule is unlikely to alienate viewers enough that they'll abandon the show. (And they're right. As upset as I am that "Parks" will be gone for five weeks, there's no way I won't be there when Leslie, Anne, Tom and Ron Swanson return on April 19.)
A smarter choice would have been to move "Up All Night" to 8 p.m., where its star power (Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph) and subject matter — a onetime party couple adjusting to parenthood — might attract viewers who normally may look to CBS for Thursday night entertainment. Keep the often-heartwarming "Parks and Rec" at 8:30. "Parks" is, like "Rock" and "Community," a little weird, but it's the most accessible of the three and thus the most likely to keep the "Up All Night" audience and maybe build on it.
"Community" is simply going to be an awkward fit anywhere on the schedule and is unlikely to ever be strong enough in the ratings to be a top-of-the-hour lead-in. If the net insists on keeping it — though it might want to consider a deal similar to the one reached to keep "Friday Night Lights," another little-watched but much-loved show with a fervent fanbase, alive — it should consider moving it to 9:30, where it would benefit at first from "The Office." NBC would be wise to greenlight a 13-episode season for "The Office" to let it wrap up story lines and depart the airwaves on its own terms before it is forced off by flagging ratings. It's already had a great eight-season run; let it go out with grace. Conclude "The Office" big at Christmastime (the show has always shined with its holiday specials) and bring "30 Rock" back to conclude its own run with a 13-episode season in the spring of 2013.
And for goodness' sake, stop shifting everything around so often. Shuffling your best shows like this makes it difficult for current fans — and especially people who do not follow the ins and outs of entertainment industry news — to find the shows they already like.
Do you agree with NBC's decision to put "Parks and Rec" on a five-week hiatus for "Community"? Leave your comment below.
Kardashian and longtime boyfriend Scott Disick are expecting a girl in the spring. By Christina Garibaldi
Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian and their son, Mason Photo: Getty Images
The Kardashians are getting ready to add another girl to the clan! On Wednesday (February 22), Kourtney Kardashian revealed to OK! magazine that she and longtime partner Scott Disick — who have a son together — are expecting a baby girl in late spring.
"We feel so blessed to be having a little girl and to be able to share this new experience with Mason," Kourtney told E! News.
The couple's first child, Mason, celebrated his second birthday in December. And back in November, the reality TV couple announced the happy news, saying that although it was unexpected, they were more prepared this time around.
"It wasn't like we weren't trying," Disick told US Weekly at the time. "We kind of just said, 'If it's meant to be, it'll be.' "
MTV News caught up with Kourtney's sister Khloé in December, and she told us that her big sister had been feeling some of the symptoms typical of early pregnancy.
"She's good. She's a little more nauseous this time around, which I feel bad about, but she's great and it's so exciting," Khloé said.
When Kourt's pregnancy was first announced, proud sis Khloé took to her blog to express her excitement over the new addition to the Kardashian family. "I am BEYOND thrilled to fiiiiinally be able to share with all of you the fabulous news that my beautiful big sister Kourtney is expecting yet again!" she wrote. "Can you believe it?! Masey is going to be a big brother! We are all so overjoyed by this wonderful news and are counting down the minutes until we get to meet the newest member of our family."
Of course, sister Kim also shared her glee, writing on her blog that she couldn't wait to become an aunt again: "This is such a blessing and the whole family is beyond thrilled! I just know Mason will make the best big brother and I can't wait to meet my new little niece or nephew! Congratulations Kourtney and Scott."
Tom Parker tells MTV News that having 'Glad You Came' on Fox show 'was absolutely great.' By Jocelyn Vena
A scene in "Glee" from the episode, "On My Way" Photo: FOX
When artists hear that they're getting the "Glee" treatment, the news is met with excitement or disdain (you know, if you're the Foo Fighters or Kings of Leon). So when British boy band the Wanted got the call that their single "Glad You Came" was getting covered on the show this week, bandmate Tom Parker explains that they fell stoutly into category #1.
"I thought it was absolutely great, and it was the first time I had seen a dance routine put to the song," he laughed to MTV News on Wednesday morning (February 22). "So it was really strange actually, 'cause obviously we don't dance. I rang up the boys, like, 'Boys, maybe we should start dancing because actually it looks really good.'
"[Our manager] Scooter [Braun] rang us up, and he was like, 'So your song's going to be covered by 'Glee,' ' and if you could have measured the level of noise in the car at that very time, some might call it deafening, we were screaming so loud," he continued. "I couldn't even believe it. It's an honor really to do something like that. I think it represents [that] the song's a really good song. To be honest, it's all a bit surreal."
The episode itself touched on some very serious topics, including teen suicide and bullying. The song was performed by the Warblers during Regionals, one of the more joyous moments this week.
And while Parker has yet to see it, from what he heard of the show, he can assume it was "quite action-packed." Parker missed the episode because he and the guys are busy on an arena tour in their native U.K.
and Europe.
"You know, I have not seen it yet because we were coming back from France doing some promo," he said. "But I saw the Fox tweet [with] the link to the episode, so I saw the routine."
The song's inclusion on the show proves that the Wanted, who just wrapped up their first-ever U.S. tour, are certainly making an impact Stateside. And that works for Parker and his bandmates. "We always [had] that aim to go and do it in America," he said.
"Glad You Came" is the band's current U.S. single. It appears on their album Battleground.
Brown reacts to Rihanna-related criticism from the singer and the wrestler on Twitter. By Jocelyn Vena
Chris Brown Photo: Mindy Small/ FilmMagic
It's an interesting time for Chris Brown. With several career highs, which include a Grammy win and performance at the show earlier this month, come several personal lows, including feuds with two other celebrities.
On Tuesday, Brown took to Twitter to address some comments made by WWE wrestler CM Punk in a video he released on TMZ, which itself came in response to an ongoing Twitter feud the guys have been having.
"I'm a lifelong proud, drug-free, straight-edge individual, so Chris and I come from two completely different worlds," Punk said in the video, referring to a previous tweet Brown had posted accusing Punk of taking steroids. "I don't have a manager, I don't have a bodyguard, I don't have an assistant, I have no need for a PR team what to tweet or when to delete tweets, and I don't hit women. Period. In my world women are to be revered and respected and I firmly believe that in this life there are consequences and repercussions for people's actions, and I don't think Chris has paid for what he's done. Picking up trash on the side of a highway does not make amends for repeatedly striking a woman in her face and sending her to hospital.
"So if Chris wants to throw stones my way now, I say that's fine. Let's put some gloves out and get in the ring and I will choke you out and I will make you feel as weak and as powerless and scared and alone as any woman who has had the misfortune of knowing a sad, cowardly, little boy such as yourself. And all proceeds can go to a women's shelter of my choosing ... Chris Brown isn't a man and that's fine. I just know that someday, somewhere, somehow, somebody will put Chris Brown exactly where he belongs and that obviously doesn't have to be me, I would just really like it to be."
After the video was released, Brown responded, "@cmpunk the video u just posted was cute! It's so funny how defensive u are. And the fact that I really don't know who you are and could give a sh-- is the funny part! I miss the real wrestlers! (Hacksaw Jim duggan, Brett the hitman heart, coco beware, rowdy roddy piper) #Notnopunks."
Several tweets later, he brought it back to Punk, but noted that he would no longer be addressing the issue. "Note: today will be the last day I bring @cmpunk existence up! The confrontations that people continuously bring my way are very amusing," he wrote. "Cuz honestly, that sh-- is too time consuming to argue wit every person who has their own issues to deal with!"
It all started on February 20, when Punk tweeted about Brown's 2009 assault of his then-girlfriend Rihanna. From there, the two became involved in a Twitter back-and-forth. Since Brown's last tweet about the video, as of press time, Punk has not tweeted about it again.
This is hardly the first bit of criticism that Brown has received since his Grammy win on February 12. While a number of celebrities tweeted their criticisms of Brown's win and performance that night, country star Miranda Lambert has been the most vocal about it.
Brown responded to her post-Grammy tweets, writing, "Using my name to get publicity? I love it! Perform your heart out! Go buy Miranda Lambert album! So motivational and 'PERFECT'!"
Not only did she tweet about it, but in concert last week Usmagazine.com reported Lambert addressed the issue further, saying, "I just have to speak my mind, because where I come from, beating up on a woman is never OK. So that's why my daddy taught me early on in life how to use a shotgun."
March mall tour including Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson announced as advance tickets for flick go on sale. By Jocelyn Vena
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence Photo: MTV News
With "The Hunger Games" just four weeks away from hitting theaters, the cast will embark on a mall tour starting next month.
Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson all will make the rounds during the trek, kicking off March 3. The tour will hit eight cities over the course of a week with stops in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles.
In addition to meet and greets with the big three and other castmembers from the highly anticipated flick, the mall stops will include Q&A sessions and giveaways. The first stop, March 3 at the City of Angels' Westfield Century City, will feature director Gary Ross as well as Lawrence, Hutcherson and Hemsworth.
March 6 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead in Atlanta, Hemsworth will be joined by Leven Rambin, Dayo Okeniyi, Amandla Stenberg and Jack Quaid. There will be two stops March 7: Hemsworth, Rambin, Okeniyi and Quaid will appear at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona, while the Westfield Fox Valley in Aurora, Illinois, will host Hutcherson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jacqueline Emerson.
The following day, March 8, Lawrence, Alexander Ludwig and Stenberg are scheduled for the Westfield Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida, and Hutcherson, Fuhrman and Emerson will be on hand at Galleria Dallas.
Lawrence, Ludwig, Stenberg, Hutcherson, Fuhrman and Emerson will greet fans March 9 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The final stop, March 10 at Seattle's University Village, will feature all three of the film's top stars: Lawrence, Hemsworth and Hutcherson.
In addition to the announcement of the mall tour, Wednesday (February 22) marks the first day fans can buy advance tickets to the flick, which opens March 23.
Carter Haynes
