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Susan Boyle Should Forget Elaine Paige Duet, Hook Up With Katy Perry Instead

Posted 4/21/09 7:36 pm EST by in Television

Susan Boyle

Before Susan Boyle busted into her version of "I Dreamed a Dream," when the "Britain's Got Talent" crowd was still laughing at her, she confessed that she wanted to be a singer in the mold of Elaine Paige, a famous British theater actress and chanteuse. We all know what happened next: Boyle blew everyone away and became an overnight, worldwide sensation.

But what most Americans didn't know is who the heck this Elaine Paige woman is. Apparently, she's beloved in Britain. And, according to People magazine, Paige wrote in her blog that she'd love to sing a duet with Boyle. That's sweet and all, but if Boyle is going to make it as a recording artist in the States, she's going to have to pick a much more well-known duet partner. We at MTV News really want Boyle to make it, so here's our suggestion of eight artists Boyle would be wise to start crooning with.

Katy Perry: By her own admission, Boyle has never been smooched. Who better to duet with than the woman behind the international hit "I Kissed a Girl"? Hey, maybe she'd even like it.
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Is Eminem's New Name 'Rain Man'?

Posted 3/24/09 4:20 pm EST by in Eminem

Quick: What do Eminem and Dustin Hoffman have in common? What about Dr. Dre and Tom Cruise? Until today, we here at MTV News couldn't have come up with much besides them all being really, really rich. But check out this photo from the set of Em's latest music video and tell us it doesn't look like the rappers are doing their best "Rain Man" impression.

Go with us on this one for a second. First off, there's Slim Shady all clean-cut, with dark hair sculpted into a neat side part. What, you don't immediately see the resemblance to Hoffman's autistic genius Raymond Babbitt? Fine. But now note those matching gray suits and white shirts. Hoffman and Cruise wore almost the exact same outfits in "Rain Man."

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Five Sketches Conan O'Brien Should Bring To His 'Tonight Show'

Posted 2/19/09 8:39 pm EST by in Television

Conan O'Brien

On Friday night, Conan O'Brien will deliver one last "Late Night" monologue, banter with a still-secret roster of celebrity guests, and then permanently shut off the lights in his studio at 30 Rock. After 2,725 shows, the goofball with the orange bouffant is heading west to take over "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno.

There's been much talk about whether Conan's loony comedic style will translate to the more traditional confines of the 11:35 p.m. time slot. Even more worrisome, though, is the notion that the transition to the more family-friendly "Tonight Show" will necessitate an O'Brien overhaul to the point where "Late Night" fans no longer recognize their gleefully sophomoric Conzey.

With this troubling thought in mind, MTV News took a look back at the past 16 years of "Late Night" brilliance and selected the bits and sketches we can't live without. The masturbating bear and sexed-up manatee might have to go, but we hope these picks make the cut for the new "Tonight Show," which debuts June 1.

In the Year 2000
In the best "Late Night" bit of all, Conan and a rotating cast of celebrities take turns making faux-futuristic predictions about what will happen in the oh-so-far-off year 2000. The segment is really just a platform for absurdist jokes ("This holiday season, aliens that look exactly like fresh-baked gingerbread men will pick the worst possible time to invade Earth"). And yet when Conan and company don toy-like space collars and shine flashlights on their faces as if they were kids on a sleepover, the true charm, simplicity and genius of the show comes through: funny people saying funny things — and there's nothing like it on TV. Or maybe we just dig the bit because of how awesome it is to hear house trombonist LaBamba croon a falsetto "In the year two-thousaaaaaaand!" (Watch Alec Baldwin and Seth Rogen taking a look into the future.)
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Super Bowl Commercials We Loved ... And The Ones We Could've Done Without

Posted 2/2/09 1:56 pm EST by in Super Bowl

Super Bowl

We've already weighed in on the best and worst Super Bowl movie ads — now, we tackle the rest.

Best

Hulu: Alec in Hollywood
Baldwin is in full Jack Donaghy mode, popping off flawless line readings, including "Hello, Earth, I'm Alec Baldwin, TV star" and "TV only softens the brain like a ripe banana." He also coins the finest, funniest description of the effects of near-constant 21st-century exposure to entertainment on TVs, computers and portable devices: "cerebral gelatinizing." To top it all off, the tagline is just so amazing — "Hulu: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy."

Pedigree: Crazy Pets
I've had about enough with the chimps shilling for motor oil and the horses and dogs pitching beer. Finally, we get an ad in which the involvement of animals is more than a mere sight gag — not that there weren't plenty of those (Rhino in the living room! Little old lady chasing an ostrich!). But who can't get behind the cause of dog adoption? This spot brought the funny and warmed my heart long after the buffalo wings had gone cold. Read More...

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