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"He was the Sharkboy, and I played the mother of the other kid who imagined Sharkboy and Lavagirl in Robert Rodriguez's movie, and I met him down in Texas. He was a kid and he didn't have those muscles, and I don't know what happened. I see these pictures [now and] I can't believe it. I feel protective, like what is he doing without his shirt on? And then I hear he's dating people and I'm like, 'Ahh!'"

-"Couples Retreat" and "Sex and the City" star Kristin Davis on Taylor Lautner and his oft-exposed chest. Davis first worked with Lautner (who plays Jacob in the "Twilight" series) on the 2005 movie "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D," which was directed by Robert Rodriguez and featured Taylor as the titular fish-inspired superhero. Davis stopped by the MTV Newsroom to talk about "Couples Retreat" and "Sex and the City 2," but took plenty of time out to heap praise on Lautner. "[He was] nothing of those negative things that you think of with child actors. So for anyone to be succeeding, I'm happy for him," she told MTV News' Josh Horowitz.

Tags Kristin Davis, New Moon, Quote, Taylor Lautner, twilight

This afternoon, the National Press Club got a visit from Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges, who stopped by one of the group's regular luncheons to plug the fundraising dinner for his Ludacris Foundation, advocate for leadership and service and perform "Get Back." (Just kidding on that last part.)

Though most people probably consider him the rapper behind "What's Your Fantasy" and "Money Maker" first and an actor from films like "Hustle & Flow" and "Crash" second, Luda was right at home behind the NPC podium. With his mother Roberta Shields by his side (she's the president of the Ludacris Foundation), the rapper joked about the possibilities of running for office (he's not interested in challenging Barack Obama in 2012) and plugged his work on "Law & Order." "'Gamer' is in theaters, too," he joked.

Once he got down to business, he spoke candidly about his involvement in philanthropy and defended the work of the hip-hop community for the betterment of communities across the country. He mentioned that his organization helped provide $100,000 to people who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina and ended up in his hometown of Atlanta. He also talked about how his music has crossed over into his philanthropic life, specifically citing the song "Runaway Love" (from his 2006 album Release Therapy), a tune about kids who escape their negative home life that lead to a partnership with the National Runaway Switchboard. "Any song I put out, I want to make it a movement, not just a single!" he said of "Runaway Love."

At the end, he took questions from the audience about his other charity work, violence in hip-hop ("Hip-hop doesn't cause violence — ignorance causes violence, and that's what I'm trying to combat," he said), his relationship status (he's taken, ladies) and his many nicknames. The best one that came out of the afternoon at the NPC? "I have many different nicknames, and LudaFEMA is one of them," he joked.

Tags ludacris, Philanthropy

By A.J. Mayers

I first saw Semi Precious Weapons perform in Austin, Texas, at Rachael Ray's party at the South by Southwest festival. I was instantly captivated by singer Justin Tranter's high heels and skin-tight outfits, which coupled with his personality and energy made him a joy to watch.

Last night I got to catch up with my friends in the band at their show at the Wiltern in Los Angeles. They were opening for the Sounds. The band really got the crowd moving and encouraged everyone to sing and dance along. Their half-hour set left me wanting more, but every single minute was jam-packed with great music and crowd interaction. At one point, guitarist Stevy Pyne pulled some "Spider-Man" moves and climbed up one of the speakers on the stage.

After their set, they hung out with fans in the lobby near the merchandise table (Justin shamelessly shouted "Buy our sh--!"). They are really down-to-earth guys, but they make rock and roll look badass and beautiful.

I had a chance to catch up with the band backstage and they had some really exciting news. (I'll let them reveal it down the line.) They are traveling in their van doing shows across the states, so if you get a chance to catch them, tell them A.J. sent you!

Tags Concerts, Los Angeles, Semi Precious Weapons

We've spent this week exploring every last aspect of Tokio Hotel, the German-born band who have taken over the world with their hook-heavy albums and unique sense of style. Just this week, we've learned that the band has crazy fans, had difficulty putting together Humanoid, they've got famous dogs and frontman Bill Kaulitz wouldn't mind acting next to Robert Pattinson.

The group also has a lot of hidden talents (though "Big Buck Safari" isn't one of them — in the first edition of Multiplayer editor Russ Frushtick's celebrity challenge, the band didn't finish). It turns out they're pretty excellent ping-pong players (they spent some time challenging each other while they were backstage before their visit to Monday's episode of "It's On with Alexa Chung"). And as the video from their sit-down with Buzzworthy shows, they are excellent at fighting off robots (which makes sense, considering their latest album appears to address the inevitable cyborg-infested future).

It's reassuring that the band members don't allow any cameras in their bedrooms, as they're certainly famous enough without it.

Be sure to check out the rest of the week's coverage of Tokio Hotel, including the Extended Play video interview that reveals details about their album, their fashion and their aspirations for world domination. Be sure to also check out the evolution of the band in photos and stay tuned to Buzzworthy for the inside scoop on Tokio Hotel and the rest of the breaking bands you need to know about.

Tags Buzzworthy, Robots, Tokio-Hotel, video

"Saw VI" opens today and will no doubt rule the box office this weekend. Since the first film premiered in 2004, the "Saw" series has become an annual Halloween tradition and has gone from a simple forum for Rube Goldberg-esque death devices to a complicated web of mythology and character twists surrounding the killer known as Jigsaw.

The films do a few things correctly, as some of the kills are entertaining and they all have a delightfully filthy tone to them. But let's face it: They're not scary. Sure, "Saw VI" will provide the requisite amount of gore, but will there be any tension or terror? Unlikely.

In fact, rather than plunk down your 10 bucks to shrug your way through another kill-fest, you'd be better off working your way through some of the scariest, creepiest music videos ever created. These clips — from Nine Inch Nails' terrifying "Closer" to Interpol's twitchy, unnerving "Evil" — will really re-arrange your concept of what is scary. Some of them wear the fear on the surface (like Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People"), while some are simply wince-inducing (Green Day's "Geek Stink Breath" isn't necessarily a scary video, but there is something unnerving about watching somebody get dental work done).

There are even a handful of directors who seem to traffic specifically in terrifying video concepts. For example, the work of Chris Cunningham deals with the weakness of the human body and the fear of technology (in that sense, he borrows a lot from David "Scanners" Cronenberg), and he has provided scares for Björk, Madonna and Aphex Twin. Floria Sigismondi has also spent much of her career creating horrifying alternate realities where nature is a great threat (check out the White Stripes' "Blue Orchid" and Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" for proof).

So dim the lights, grab some popcorn and get ready to cover your eyes repeatedly. The playlist below kicks off with a bang: The Horrors' "Sheena is a Parasite," two minutes of utterly unnerving images.

Tags Nine-Inch-Nails, Saw, The Horrors, Tool, video

Every day a multitude of stars wanders through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

A few years ago, it looked like Donald Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" was on the ropes, as ratings were sagging and interest had waned. (Plus, how many people was that guy really going to hire?) But then the focus of the show shifted and became "The Celebrity Apprentice," which now tests the business acumen of various groups of famous people. The formula worked, as the numbers are up and the show is infinitely more entertaining (every season feels like the Miami edition of "The Real World," which forced the housemates to start a business and it was a perpetual stillborn disaster). Past winners have included "Britain's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan and talk show legend Joan Rivers, and this coming season promises to be another incredible batch crazy people all attempting to work together. Though the cast for the coming season hasn't been officially announced, the group has been spotted around New York City working for the show. The list includes Poison frontman/serial dater Bret Michaels, Sharon Osbourne, disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, Cyndi Lauper and former professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. The show is filming now but won't air until next spring, so mark your calendars now.

Bret Michaels wasn't the only star out and about yesterday, as Britney Spears took one of her sons to the movies and Hilary Duff found herself in West Hollywood, California. Click here for these photos plus the entire "Spotted!" archive, which includes over 300 candid shots of Madonna, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, the Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert!

Tags Bret Michaels, donald-trump, photo, The Apprentice

At this stage, a clearer picture is coming together about "Michael Jackson's This Is It." Using a combination of rehearsals, fly-on-the-wall meetings and proper performances, it shows the once-unstoppable pop star gearing up for his big career comeback using some of his most beloved hits (and sending a message about hope and humanity in the process).

A great music doc is made up of a combination of signature moments, incredible performances and an ineffable something that can give the fan sitting on the couch that same twinge of electricity you get standing three feet from a sweaty lead singer in a packed stadium, or that awkward cringe you get seeing your favorite rock star fall apart on film. In his prime, Jackson had that magic (both kinds, unfortunately) when he took the stage, and we'll find out for sure next week if he still had it near the end of his life.

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite music documentaries, all of which have one or more of the qualities that could make "Michael Jackson's This Is It" great if producers decided to pull no punches and present the King of Pop in all his complicated glory.

Three Chords And The Truth
The Ramones, "End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones"
How could I not include this bare bones 2003 movie about my favorite band? From their early days at New York's defunct punk ground zero CBGB to massive crowds in South America, this low-budget flick is like the band themselves: Raw, fast and kind of messy. Mixing concert footage, interviews, home movies and classic TV appearances, members talk about their unlikely rise from the New York underground to legendary status, even as they lament their failure to grab the commercial brass ring and make no secret of long-simmering tensions.

Sold Out, Not Sell Out
Nirvana, "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!"
I will watch anything about Nirvana. Hell, if there was three hours of tape of Kurt Cobain tuning his guitar in a dark room, I'd get two copies on Blu-Ray. In the meantime, this 1994 live DVD will have to do, and considering it has classic takes on some of the band's best and most beloved tunes ("About a Girl," "Come as You Are," "Polly," "Lithium" and, yes, "Smells Like Teen Spirit"). This band had to be experienced live and, unfortunately, this is the closest you can currently get.

Behind The Music
Metallica, "Some Kind of Monster" Read more...

Tags Metallica, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson's This Is It, Nirvana, Ramones, talking-heads, The Band, Wilco

Think about this for a moment: The iPod is only eight years old. In less than a decade, Apple's portable music and media device has become an absolutely necessary part of modern life. The first iPods hit the market on this day back in 2001, with five and 10 gigabyte versions available. The first iPods were hilarious looking, especially compared to current models. They used a clunky mechanical scroll wheel and weighed about ten pounds. They were so solid you could use them for masonry. But like all technology, the iPod evolved quickly. The iPod (and by extension the iPhone) is now not only a music device but also a video player, gaming system, personal organizer, Web browser, messaging system, navigational tool and on and on. Last month, Apple introduced an iPod that has a capacity of 160 gigabytes, enough space to store over 53,000 songs. Consider that in 2000, the best option for carrying around music you liked was to burn a mix CD, which meant that you had 20 or so tunes at your disposal.

Not that it really needed it, but the iPod was also supported by a tremendous marketing campaign, and to this day, getting your song in an Apple TV spot tends to do great things for a band's business. The first batch of iPod commercials featured a track from '90s big beat enthusiasts the Propellerheads, and a number of bands have used iPod commercials as jumping off points to launch new albums (U2, Coldplay) or their entire careers (Chairlift, the Ting Tings). The first group that catapulted to superstardom care of an iPod ad was the Black Eyed Peas, whose song "Hey Mama" propelled their 2003 album Elephunk up the charts. Along the way, iPod commercials have helped give a jolt to the careers of the Caesars, the Fratellis and Chairlift and helped extend the lives of hit songs by Feist and Jack Johnson. Check out the video playlist below that takes a look back at the songs that helped make the iPod into a part of everyday life.

Tags Apple, black-eyed-peas, Coldplay, feist, iPod, Jack-Johnson, U2, video

They don't come sweeter than David Archuleta. I know Paula Abdul got a lot of flack for saying she wanted to decapitate the boy and dangle his head from her rearview mirror (as a compliment), but after spending time with him this week I know exactly where Paula is coming from. By the end of our hour together, I was looking all over MTV for a hacksaw.

David just released a (fantastic) new Christmas album, so I thought it would be fun to don a set of Holiday sweaters, load up a satchel with recycled promo CDs and go caroling around MTV with the "Idol" runner-up.

Who cares that it's only October?!

The mere fact that David and his team agreed to our silly idea shows what a cool guy he is. I can't think of many celebrities who would be willing to throw on an ugly, itchy sweater, walk into strangers' offices and belt out Christmas carols for fun. (Although I will admit that the wardrobe took a fair amount of cajoling on my part. I might have to leak the video of his reaction when I said the words "Christmas sweaters." Priceless.)

I took David around to Archie fans here at MTV. And, as I expected, they all turned to goo as soon as he appeared in their doorway, ready to serenade them with his angelic pipes. But his appeal spread over to innocent bystanders as well. Read more...

Tags Christmas, David-Archuleta, video

Did any genre devolve faster than emo? While the name of a particular style or subculture of music tends to be little more than a shortcut creating by marketing executives, it still seems like emo went from hot new thing that all the kids loved to an overexposed mess in the span of about six months. Like many rock style shifts before it (grunge, nü-metal), it quickly became less about what the music sounded like and more about fashion, sex and excess. As Mark Arm said in 1992, "It's so overblown."

But that doesn't mean there aren't great emo albums. In fact, one of the finest and most overlooked records of the decade came out two years ago today and aimed to put emo up on a pedestal and also kick it in the head. Say Anything's In Defense of the Genre has often been described as the 21st century version of Guns N' Roses epic double album Use Your Illusion, and that's not necessarily inaccurate. Spread across two discs, it takes basic pop-punk songs and puts them through a rigorous morphing process, dropping in bits of electronic dance music, metal, folk and straight pop. The common thread is frontman Max Bemis' delightfully maladjusted vocals and lyrics that plunge the depths of his bi-polar psyche.

Say Anything have a new album coming out on November 3 (which features the awesome single and video "Hate Everyone"), but In Defense of the Genre remains their unique masterpiece. The first single from that album, the pulsating "Baby Girl, I'm a Blur," is a fantastically strange song that was a hit anyway.

Tags Say Anything, video