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News broke today that Ryan Seacrest is the top choice to replace Matt Lauer on the "Today" show. This is a terrible idea for a variety of reasons.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Seacrest met with NBC executives, including "Today" show executive producer Jim Bell, NBC News President Steve Capus and Lauren Kapp, NBC's senior vice president for marketing and communications, Tuesday evening to discuss replacing Lauer on the top-rated morning news program if the veteran anchor decides to retire from his morning post when his contract is up next year. Lauer first appeared on "Today" in 1992, filling in for former newsreader Margaret Larson when needed. He joined the program full-time as a news anchor/reporter in 1994, while also still anchoring "Today in New York" and "Live at Five," and officially assumed the co-anchor chair opposite Katie Couric in January 1997, replacing Bryant Gumble.

While Lauer said earlier this year that he has no plans to leave NBC, more recent reports have suggested he may be interested in reuniting with Couric when her ABC talk show launches in the fall of 2012. Insiders report that he has been indicating to NBC execs privately that he may leave the show.

We mean no offense to Seacrest when we say he would be a misguided replacement for Lauer. He is a charming interviewer and a dynamic host. But he is not a hard-news journalist. To successfully anchor the "Today" show you have to be all three of these things. Read more...

Tags Matt Lauer, Ryan-Seacrest, Today Show

Here's how this one usually goes:

1) Clueless Republican politician (and they're almost always Republicans, for some reason) decides to adopt a rousing pop/rock song as their campaign anthem.

2) Singer/band gets wind of said appropriation and demands that politician cease and desist from using the song because a) they don't agree with that person's politics, or b) the pol has completely misinterpreted the song and is using it for jingoistic inspiration when the true meaning of the song is the total opposite of what they think. (Call it the "I don’t think that means what you think it means" corollary.)

3) Said politician quietly agrees to stop using the song, or defiantly vows to keep playing it at rallies without the artist's consent.

Then there's GOP presidential kind-of frontrunner Mitt Romney, a Detroit native who grew up in southeast Michigan as the son of the state's former governor, George Romney. According to the Detroit News, Romney has finally picked a campaign theme song: Kid Rock's amber waves of grain fist-pumping, flag-waving anthem "Born Free."

I know what you're thinking here: "oh man, Kid is gonna go all in on that guy for using his music!" Except he's probably not going to. Unlike Katy Perry, who demanded that momentary GOP frontrunner and gay rights foe Rep. Michele Bachmann cease and desist from using her song "Firework" earlier this year … after Tom Petty sent an actual cease and desist order to get her to stop using "American Girl" at campaign stops. Rock's probably okay with this one. Read more...

Tags Kid-Rock, Politics

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2012 inductees, a list that includes the usual spate of HOF-y names (the Small Faces, ‘60s singer Donovan, blues guitarist Freddie King, etc) plus a handful of artists that made their mark in the MTV era: the Beastie Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses.

And while none of those latter three are exactly surprising (though, we gotta admit, the Cure, who were also in the running this year but didn’t make the cut, were robbed), what may transpire when they’re enshrined at the Hall’s annual induction ceremony — set for April 14 in beautiful Cleveland — could shock the rock world to its very core. Because, as is tradition, the honored acts will take the stage to perform a medley of their biggest hits, and while we’re reasonably sure what will happen when the Beasties and the Peppers do their thing, when it comes to GN’R … well, let’s just say all bets are off.

Unless you’ve been off the grid for most of the past two decades, you are probably aware that things aren’t exactly rosy in the Guns camp … and haven’t been for quite some time. The majority of the acrimony has been evenly split between frontman/mastermind Axl Rose and iconic top-hatted guitarist Slash (though, given how many folks have come and gone from GN’R’s lineup in the time since, there’s plenty of bad blood to go around). The two have traded barbs ever since Slash left the band in 1996, and though Guns continues to tour, many of their diehard fans believe that they’re just not the same without his masterful axe work and mercurial stage presence (no disrespect to the dude who plays the guitar shaped like a foot, of course). It’s been nearly 20 years since Slash has performed with the band, though, at April’s HOF induction ceremony, that could change. And yes, the Rock Gods will be smiling if it does.

Then again, it’s no sure bet that Slash and Axl will be able to bury the hatchet … after all, in the grand history of the Rock Hall ceremony, there’ve been plenty of examples of bands that just couldn’t get past the hatred — or the past, for that matter — when it came time to take the stage. And though we’re hoping the same doesn’t happen with GN’R, here’s a look back at some of the most acrimonious, disharmonious and downright uncomfortable moments in Rock Hall history. Read more...

Tags guns-n-roses, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By Shakira Atitebi

A flight attendant was the latest subject of a Twitter outburst episode from Alec Baldwin after the actor was booted from a plane at Los Angeles International Airport for playing Word with Friends on his cell phone as his plane was about to take off for New York.

Baldwin took to Twitter and said, "Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving. #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt."

Baldwin's rep told People magazine, "Alec was asked to leave the flight for playing Words with Friends while parked the gate. He loves WWF so much that he was willing to leave a plane for it." Baldwin caught a different flight to New York after the incident and was sure to tweet that the flight attendants on his next flight looked "smarter."

He later added, "Last flight w American. Where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants."

American Airlines commented on too, taking appropriately to Twitter to issue a statement: "Our flight attendants were following federal safety procedures on electronic devices when aircraft door is closed."

The American Airlines fiasco is only the latest brouhaha the actor has initiated on Twitter, read on to see who else the Emmy-winning "30 Rock" actor has tussled with on the Interweb. (Update: Baldwin has reportedly deactivated his Twitter account!) Read more...

Tags Alec Baldwin, Twitter

By Jonathan Mussman

"Michael Jackson Immortal," the latest Cirque du Soleil collaboration, had its US premiere Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas. On hand to celebrate were a host of major celebs as well as Katherine, Tito and Jackie Jackson and Michael's kids, who got a full backstage tour prior to the performance. Katherine and the kids entered the arena to a standing ovation from the crowd. "Michael would definitely be proud," Jackie Jackson mentioned backstage following the performance. "He always loved Cirque performances, this show made the most sense for his fans," added Tito Jackson.

In questioning how much of the "This Is It" concert segments were included in "Immortal," Travis Payne, Michael's long time choreographer, added, "All of the iconic 'chunks' as we know them including 'Thriller,' 'Smooth Criminal' and some things from Dangerous were not changed and we took those moments and brought them to this show and surrounded them with new ideas." A few of the original "This Is It" videos and dance segments were included, helping make this arena-based show feel more like an actual MJ concert.

Unlike most highly innovative and creative Cirque shows, "Immortal" relies heavily on dancing and music elements in addition to the jaw-dropping aerial, trampoline and acrobatic acts we expect. Everything was set to an absolutely amazing MJ mash-up soundtrack mastered by musical designer Kevin Antunes, who felt like a kid in a candy shop when producing the score (album now available). "I was given full access to the MJ library with no restrictions," he told MTV News. Working with family members, the estate and Sony archivists, Antunes was able to include legendary songs such as "Thriller" and "Billie Jean" as well as rarely (if ever) heard tracks from ABC and a Spanish-sung version of "I Just Can’t Stop Loving You." All of Michael’s leads are from recordings while the back-up and instrumentals are performed live. Read more...

Tags cirque du soleil, Michael Jackson

This year we've hit upon rock bands from across the spectrum in our weekly feature Bands We Like. As some of these somewhat under the radar groups begin to take off – Other Lives will soon be the opening act for Radiohead, El Bronx fulfilled their own fantasy by appearing on Conan’s late night show and The New Regime’s Ilan Rubin is the new drummer for Tom DeLonge’s side-project, Angels & Airwaves – we're looking to you indie music fiends to see which Band We Liked is destined to will be the breakout act of 2012.

We've narrowed down five of our favorites (Fitz & the Tantrums, Other Lives, Dredg, The New Regime and Mariachi El Bronx). Now, it's your turn. To find out more about the bands we've selected, go HERE, and vote in our "Which Band We Liked Will Blow Up In 2012?" poll after the jump. Read more...

Tags Bands We Like, best of 2011, Newsroom Poll, Year End 2011

By Christina Garibaldi

Big Time Rush already have some "big time" plans heading into the New Year. In February, the boys from the hit Nickelodeon TV show will hit road for their "Better With You Tour." The 16-stop trek will be the band's first U.S. headlining tour, and they'll be promoting their recently released second album, Elevate. The boys spent over a year creating their new album and after looking over the track list, we decided to play a little word association with some of their song titles.

Check out the video below:

Read on for more. Read more...

Tags big time rush, video

By Lauren Kearney, with reporting by Kara Warner

In a "ballsy" attempt to promote her cause for animal rights, more specifically the neutering and spading of dogs, "New Year’s Eve" star Katherine Heigl teamed up with Funny or Die and came up with a ridiculously hilarious viral PSA about her hate of balls. No, not tennis balls or yoga balls … yep, you guessed it – Man Balls.

"It was really the Funny or Die guys that came up with the sketch idea and I have sort of an off-center sense of humor, I guess, and I thought it was really funny," she explained to MTV News at the "NYE" junket. Check it out below:

"I thought it was a great way to make our point and talk about a cause that a lot of people sort of already know about or aren’t that aware of that are probably kind of tired of the same old approach to it so we trying to shake it up a little and catch people’s attention," she added.

In the video, which you can check out after the jump, Heigl spends roughly three minutes discussing how much "terrible, terrible testicles" disgust her. "Unfortunately, I can’t cut the nuts off human men … yet. So I’ve dedicated my time to the neutering of dogs. Cause that's legal!" Read more...

Tags funny-or-die, Katherine Heigl, video

By Zachary Swickey

Cheap-but-trendy fashion store for the ladies Forever 21 has come under the ire of Nirvana fans and fashion critics for blatantly ripping off a tee designed by the late Kurt Cobain way back in 1992. The singer notably wore his version of the shirt – a shark-like fish that he drew on a white T-shirt with a Sharpie – when Nirvana was the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live” that year. Cobain was known for crafting his own crudely made shirts, famously wearing one with the phrase “Corporate magazines still suck” for Nirvana’s appearance on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Forever 21 did not even credit the design origin to Cobain or Nirvana in any way on its site. Rather, it was described simply as a tee with a “sketched ‘Flipper’ graphic on front.” The clothing store has (smartly) pulled the shirt, which was originally available for the low price of just $16.90.

Unsurprisingly, Forever 21 is loathed in fashion circles for its frequent design infringements. Their list of infractions is lengthy: Diane von Furstenberg settled with the chain for duplicating her dress designs, Gwen Stefani sued them for ripping off her Harajuku Lovers line, and designer Anna Sui took them to court for selling numerous items that bared a striking resemblance to products she debuted at New York Fashion Week. The store was even accused of ripping off an interactive billboard installation in New York’s Times Square from an '09 piece that was displayed in London by artist Chris O’Shea.

Read more...

Tags forever 21, kurt-cobain, Nirvana

By Rya Backer

NEW YORK – It's hard to know what to make of Lana Del Rey at first glance. Is she as Jools Holland once dubbed her an "Internet phenomenon" worth no more than a few salacious blog posts? Or is she a legitimate chanteuse wrapped in the hyper feminine, yet innately American (and admittedly well-curated) image she's projected in videos for such tracks as "Video Games" and "Blue Jeans"?

Regardless of where one stands on the issue, last night at her sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom, Del Rey offered skeptics and fans alike a recital in the most literal sense: she played all the songs she'd practiced, hoping to show both the crowd how much she's improved since she first appeared – seemingly out of nowhere – less than six months ago.

Arriving on stage shortly after 9:15, looking like a Real Housewife (perfect makeup and blow-out? Check) dressed up for a night downtown, pairing her low-top Chuck Taylors with a tailored, white pleated dress, Del Rey sauntered onto a stage aglow with white balloons projecting the stock footage and vintage-treated videos that would look familiar to those privy to her YouTube account. Read more...

Tags Concerts, lana del rey