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Kanye West's Twitter, 'Jersey Shore' And Snoop Dogg's New Friend: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 7/30/10 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


Wiz Khalifa just left to head back to the bakery (that dude must love muffins), and it turns out the clock on the wall says it's time to wrap things up for the week. We spent the bulk of the last few days in front of the television, as there were a number of shows that kept us attached to the warming glow. But didn't it feel good to welcome Snooki, Don Draper and Tim Gunn back into our lives? Come on, you know it did. And in case you didn't see any of your favorite shows and had to record them on your DVR instead, you should really get to work catching up with them. But before you do that, scroll down to check out any of the fantastically enthralling stories you might have missed this week on the MTV Newsroom Blog. We'll be back on Monday for more news, analysis, opinions and insights, and get excited as we prepare for next weekend's Lollapalooza.

» Kanye West found a new thing to conquer this week: The board rooms of social networking companies.

» "Jersey Shore" made its big comeback this week, starting with an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange.

» In case you forgot about what happened last season (and needed some rapid-fire video to tide you over until "American Idol" comes back), Jim Cantiello happily provided "Jersey Shore In 60 Seconds.

» The premiere was, of course, staggeringly awesome, as this handy bar graph proves. Science!

» Kings of Leon had an unfortunate run-in with some pigeons last weekend, leading to an early exit and a place on the list of most absurd concert exits.

» Not all the run-ins with animals were negative this week, as Snoop Dogg partied with a blinged-out sea lion.
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Kanye West's Best Tweets Of All Time (Or The Last 72 Hours)

Posted 7/30/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


July 28, 2010 is a date that will undoubtedly live forever in Internet lore. Because on that date — at precisely 11:17 am ET — Kanye West joined Twitter.

At first glance, it doesn't seem like that significant of an event. I mean, millions of people join Twitter each day. But rarely do they achieve this level of artistry. In the 70-odd hours since West first entered the world of 140 characters (or less), he has not only raised the bar against which all tweets shall be measured, he's set it so impossibly high that no one will ever beat him. West doesn't so much tweet as expound, doling out priceless dollops of lifestyle advice, deep thoughts and photos of gilded dinnerware. With each successive post (and there are a lot of them), he teaches us to be better, to strive for greatness, to live beyond our wildest dreams.

Clearly, we are witnessing greatness here.

And so, in celebration of West's achievements, I've compiled a list of his 10 greatest tweets. Surely, this list will change (unless, like 98 percent of us, he gets bored with Twitter and stops updating next week), but for the time being, consider it a snapshot of the moment when Yeezy changed the world. Here's our humble homage to a man who not only reaches for the stars, but stoops down to bring the rest of us along with him. Pay close attention. You might just learn something.

10. "I hate stickers on laptops"

9. "Keep fresh flowers in the crib"

8. "Classical music is tight yo"
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With Ellen DeGeneres Gone, It's Time For Jessica Simpson To Be The New Paula Abdul

Posted 7/30/10 4:00 pm EST by in Music


The future of "American Idol" was already up in the air with Simon Cowell's exit from the show before Ellen DeGeneres announced she wasn't coming back and rumors started circulating that Kara DioGuardi was also leaving the confines of the judges' table. In the past few months, we've spent a number of posts trying to figure out who would be the new version of Simon Cowell. But we realized that the search the producers of the show should be conducting is one for the new Paula Abdul.

Since her exit, the efforts of DeGeneres and DioGuardi have driven home the fact that the show really missed Abdul's approach to the show, which was equal parts poetic, positive, wacky, insightful and completely unhinged. And not only did Abdul give something to "Idol," but "Idol" also gave a lot to Abdul, resurrecting the former chart-topper's career and making her a player in both the worlds of television and music.

That's why there are a handful of artists who should be clamoring to grab a chair behind the judges' table on "American Idol." The rumored deal with Jennifer Lopez is interesting, but here are the 10 we think would do even better.

Click here for photos of the former pop stars who would make excellent "American Idol" judges!

Jessica Simpson
Though she has had a few moments on reality television (most recently on the VH1 show "Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty"), her music career has sputtered a bit since her initial string of hits at the turn of the century. A high-profile spot on "Idol" would definitely elevate her status and give her all sorts of options moving forward. Plus, she knows plenty about music and has a winning personality.

Mandy Moore
Though she has completely reinvented herself since the "Candy" era, Mandy Moore deserves to be a much bigger star. Her experience at various levels of the record industry and her interest in a number of different genres (pop, rock, country and the like) would make her a stellar choice.

Nick Lachey
Lachey hasn't been around very much since the "Newlyweds" era, but the guy knows music, has a great television presence and, most importantly, says what he thinks, which would not only make him a great Paula replacement but also a great fill-in for Simon.

JC Chasez
Sure, the former *NSYNC member (who put out one of the most underrated solo albums of the boy band era) spends a lot of his time as a judge on "America's Best Dance Crew" (which also happens to be produced by none other than Randy Jackson), but there's no reason why he couldn't pull double time, as he is a key reason why "ABDC" is such a hit. He's cutting, insightful and gets to the point in ways that most people can't.
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Eminem Says Recovery Album Art Is A Tribute To Detroit: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 7/30/10 3:30 pm EST by in Music


"It symbolizes, like, what my life is like right now because of the fame, but also kind of how I've had to remove myself from society a little bit, pull back to conquer my demons, my addiction and that whole thing. It also symbolizes me never leaving Detroit, you know? I'm kinda just sitting in the middle of Detroit, watching TV. And it's kind of my living room, where people are just walking by."

-Chart-topping rapper Eminem, explaining the symbolism behind the album cover of his already-platinum full-length Recovery. In a video posted on his official website, Slim Shady takes fans behind the scenes of the photo shoot that lead to the album cover, and he talks about the different layers of imagery at play in the now-iconic shot of Mr. Mathers sitting in a glass cube watching television.

Like any piece of art worth doing, it didn't come without a little bit of suffering. Though they were outside in Detroit in April (where it was painfully cold), photographer Nigel Parry still encouraged Em to take his coat off for the shoot. "Oh man, listen, take your time, listen, I am enjoying the weather so f---ing much!" Eminem shouted, half-jokingly, at Parry while the photographer kept snapping shots.

In addition to those scenes, there are also shots of Eminem spouting self-help clichés and hanging out with his crew in a van. At the end, he promises that there is more behind-the-scenes footage coming soon, allowing fans further insight into the creation of one of the biggest and most important albums of 2010.

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Why Kara DioGuardi Should Stay On 'American Idol'

Posted 7/30/10 2:30 pm EST by in Television


By Eric Ditzian

Last March, as it became increasingly clear Simon Cowell didn't give a hoot and Ellen DeGeneres' nice-gal charm didn't translate well to reality competition judging, I wrote a story headlined, "Is Kara DioGuardi The Best 'American Idol' Judge?"

"She's consistently given out the most insightful criticism, displayed the most informed ear and dolled out the advice contestants would be most wise to follow," I argued, staking out an opinion that was surely not popular but which was difficult to dispute if you looked at the show honestly.

Now comes word that, following Ellen DeGeneres' exit, DioGuardi might well be getting the heave-ho from "Idol" producers. All I can say is, "Noooo!"

It feels weird to be in a position of defending Kara. There really is something a bit prickly about her presence on the "Idol" panel, a hyper-sensitivity mixed with an over-seriousness. Alas, she's just not that likeable. Of course, why she comes off as unlikeable, whereas the far more acerbic Simon Cowell is a fan favorite, is the topic for a different blog post.

But you know what? Forget likeability. As with my politicians, I prefer my "Idol" judges to be competent rather than someone with whom I'd like to share a beer. And Kara was undoubtedly the most competent season nine judge, both understanding and communicating the key ingredients of a successful recording artist.

Listen, being an "Idol" judge is incredibly hard. It takes practice to pop off a TV-friendly sound bite. If you doubt that, just remember how much Ellen, with years of experience in front of the camera, struggled during the live shows. With Kara, Ellen and Simon gone, we'd be stuck with Randy Jackson's shrug-heavy commentary and two new judges attempting to learn on the job.

For a show already dipping in the ratings, the last thing producers should do is boot the one person with the potential to replace Simon as the must-hear "Idol" judge. No knock against rumored replacements Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, but can either of these reality novices offer more enlightening words than Kara, herself a vet of both the judges table and the recording studio?

While I don't imagine Kara will get the same support that Conan O'Brien did during his struggles with NBC ("I'm with KaKa" doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?), we'd like to see the "Idol" faithful raise their voices and say in unison, "Don't let Kara go!"

Do you want to keep Kara DioGuardi on "American Idol"? Let us know in the comments!

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Spotted: Carrie Underwood Dresses Up, Shows Off Wedding Ring On 'Today'

Posted 7/30/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander 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.

Earlier this month, Carrie Underwood grabbed a load of headlines when she got married to Ottawa Senators player Mike Fisher at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Greensboro, Georgia. It was a star-studded affair attended by other members of the Senators hockey team, a handful of country music luminaries (Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw among them) and the judges who helped Underwood get her start back when she was a contestant on "American Idol" (Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson). But Underwood got back to the business of being a country music icon this morning, as she graced the stage at Rockefeller Center for a performance on NBC's "Today." The singer, whose 2009 album Play On has sold nearly two million copies, was dressed in a fantastic combination of schoolgirl chic (dig the white collar and the tie) and modern country glam (she was wearing sparkly high heels that would make David Bowie blush). She even took the time to show off her wedding ring, a gorgeously understated piece of bling that perfectly matches Underwood's presence and personality.

She wasn't the only star out in the sun, as the Black Eyed Peas also performed an early morning set in New York (they were across town in Central Park for ABC's "Good Morning America") and some indie luminaries (including Grizzly Bear and LCD Soundsystem) helped kick off the annual Splendour in the Grass Festival in Woodford, Australia. Click here for these photos and the rest of the "Spotted" archive, which features over 400 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry, the Jonas Brothers, Adam Lambert and Madonna!

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Wiz Khalifa Answers Your Twitter Questions On This Week's 'RapFix Live'

Posted 7/30/10 12:45 pm EST by in Music


Wiz Khalifa is already building himself an amazing career for himself as an underground superstar. His most recent studio album Deal or No Deal became an instant classic, and his most recent mixtape Kush and Orange Juice — which he gave up for free earlier this year — set the hip-hop world on fire. Wiz's unique lyrical flow, playful use of slang and killer sense of humor have made him a favorite among hip-hop fans and other rappers alike. To top it all off, he was recently named "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" by the readers of MTV News. The rising star will take his Twitter-friendly charm to today's edition of "RapFix Live," which you can check out below beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Sway will be talking to the Pittsburgh-based MC live from the MTV Newsroom. He'll bring his Twitter-friendly demeanor to the show to answer your questions about Kush and Orange Juice, his upcoming projects, his possible collaborations and whatever else you fans might ask. If you want to ask Wiz a question, all you have to do is tweet your inquiry @mtvnews (be sure to include the hash tag #rapfixlive so that we can track your questions). If you'd rather have your face on the Internet, record your question via video and upload it to Your.MTV.com (just be sure to include "Wiz Khalifa" in the title of the clip).

Remember: Your questions can range from the serious to the silly. Want to know about Wiz's tattoos? Curious about his favorite hang-outs in Pittsburgh? Interested to know what he thinks about the current state of hip-hop? Want to know who he might want to collaborate with in the future? All those questions — and whatever else you might want to know — can be answered this afternoon. So tune in below, fire up your Twitter account and enjoy this week's edition of "RapFix Live"!

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The 'Jersey Shore' Season Two Premiere: By The Numbers

Posted 7/30/10 12:15 pm EST by in Television


By Eric Ditzian

All morning here in the MTV Newsroom, we've been trying to get a handle on the pants-pooping awesomeness of Thursday night's (July 29) "Jersey Shore" season two premiere, which brought Snooki, the Situation, JWoww and the rest back into our lives for another round of shows. We've been studying recaps, analyzing the impact of Miami heat on Jersey-born G.T.L. magic and debating the merits of "Single Ronnie" versus "Relationship Ronnie."

Yet we still can't quite figure out how to comprehend the sight, as Snooki might put it, of seven kids storming like a tanned-and-gelled tornado through Miami Beach. Which is why we tried another approach: Turning to the language of the "Shore" crew in an attempt to get inside their heads. (If you recall, we previously tried to parse out the wisdom of the cast through dramatic readings by teen actors, professional wrestlers and hand puppets.) With the help of a little bit of statistical analysis and a lot of free time to figure out just how PowerPoint is supposed to work, we present to you "Jersey Shore" by the numbers, a mathematical assessment of the crew's favorite words, phrases, trends and wholly inaccurate historical references that made last night's episode so astonishingly transcendent.

What was your favorite moment from the season two premiere of MTV's "Jersey Shore"? What was your favorite quote? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @mtvnews!

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Steven Tyler Brushes Off 'American Idol' Question

Posted 7/30/10 11:30 am EST by in Music


The entertainment world is still reeling over the news that Ellen DeGeneres will not be returning to "American Idol" next season after only a single year on the show. Her exit compounds the issues the show is already facing, as figurehead Simon Cowell has also checked out of the show. With only Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi left behind the judges' table, what would the show do?

But it seems as though the problems are compounding further for the show. Earlier this morning, rumors started circulating that DioGuardi would also not be returning to the show after two problematic years behind the judges' table. According to TMZ, DioGuardi's exit would open the door for two new judges, rumored to be Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. That would certainly be an interesting combination, as Tyler would finally give the show a permanent rock-based voice, while giving the outspoken Lopez a forum for her own career comeback. Whether or not it would make for good television, it would certainly be beneficial to both Lopez and Tyler.

However, if Tyler is close to signing on for the gig, he is remaining silent about it. When X17 Online caught up with Tyler late last night as he entered the Sunset Marquis hotel in Los Angeles, a reporter asked him who would be a good replacement for the departed judges. Tyler played it cool, casually shrugging off the question before signing some autographs for fans stationed outside the hotel. Was that knowing, winking silence or just apathy over the question? You be the judge.

Who do you think should be the next "American Idol" judge? Let us know in the comments!

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'Cats And Dogs 2' Needs A Little Help From Beyoncé, Fall Out Boy

Posted 7/30/10 10:30 am EST by in Music


There are a lot of options at the cinema this weekend. There is no doubt about that. If you're looking for high-powered laughs, there's "Dinner for Schmucks," which stars Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Zach Galifianakis in a knockdown, drag-out blast of physical yuks. For something a little more sensitive, there's the Zac Efron vehicle "Charlie St. Cloud," which reminds us all that life is for living (and not hallucinating your deceased little brother).

But we're going to be super-honest: The movie we're most excited about this weekend is "Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore." The sequel to the 2001 digitally-animated animal showdown (the dogs won that particular battle, by the way). The new film sees the animals banding together to take on the titular Kitty Galore (voiced by Bette Midler and described as a "hardcore felinist") in a match of wits, stunts and lots of jokes about fur. In one of the weirdest casts in recent memory, "Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" also stars the voice talents of Nick Nolte and James Marsden, along with Neil Patrick Harris and Jack McBrayer appearing in the flesh.

In order to get your head wrapped around "Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," we present the following video playlist. The theme? Cats and dogs. So there are plenty of tributes to the canine world (Belly's "Slow Dog," Fall Out Boy's "Alpha Dog") and the feline perspective (Paul Oakenfold's "Faster Kill Pussycat"), as well as tremendous tunes by Kittie ("Into the Darkness") and Dr. Dog ("Fool's Life"). But let's start with Beyoncé, who sides with the cat world with "Kitty Kat."

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