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12 Things That Give Me Hope For 2012! (Nos. 5-1)

Posted 1/4/12 3:55 pm EST by in listicle, Music, Television

A new year, a new crop of pop culture to consume. Sure, "The Hunger Games" is gonna be huge, and yep, Madonna will definitely make a splash with her follow-up to “Hard Candy.” But here’s the second part of my list of 12 releases that I’m personally shaking and crying over in 2012. Welcome to my brain, internet!

5. “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Broadway
No disrespect to my Sunday school teachers, but everything I retained from the Bible I learned from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera. What’s the buzz? Well, the creator himself (as in Mr. Webber, not … uh … the big guy upstairs) said that this particular production, which originated in Ontario, is “the best acted version of the show [he’s] seen in 40 years.” In other words, everything’s alright, yes. Everything’s fine. (Previews begin March 1, opening March 22; Jim plans on rocking “Heaven On Their Minds” at his karaoke birthday party January 20)

4. New music from Season 8 “American Idol” finalists!
Kris Allen and Adam Lambert – the top two from what I consider to be the most entertaining “Idol” season ever – both have new albums out this year. So far, we’ve only heard runner-up Lambert’s lead single, "Better Than I Know Myself." It has an infectious chorus and a radio friendly OneRepublic vibe. It’s a good start, but I’m even more excited for the full-length, Trespassing, which Lambert promises will be a darker, more electronic affair with co-writes and production assists from Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers and Bruno Mars, amongst others. You know you already have March 20 on your glittery calendar.

Meanwhile, Kris Allen is ready to follow-up the platinum success of "Live Like We’re Dying" with a new batch of tunes. Details are scarce thus far. All we know is that since his first album, he’s honed his skills on the road, from covering Radiohead and Chris Gaines (!) to debuting a new, impossibly cool rockabilly toss-off, he’s tweeted about listening to indie darlings Deerhunter, and his new stuff has the bigwigs at RCA Records publicly declaring their love for him. Bonus: Allen promised me he’d release this new collection on vinyl, making him the first “Idol” champ to have a full-length on wax. [edit: Sorry, Kris. David Cook totally beat you to the vinyl game. You can buy a record of his 2011 opus "This Loud Morning" exclusively at his website store. Still, make a record for the vinyl nerds and get it in real record stores!] (Tresspassing out March 20; Kris Allen’s release date and title TBA)

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12 Things That Give Me Hope For 2012! (Nos. 12-6)

Posted 1/4/12 2:59 pm EST by in listicle, Music, Television

A new year, a new crop of pop culture to consume. Sure, "The Hunger Games" is gonna be huge, and yep, Madonna will definitely make a splash with her follow-up to “Hard Candy.” But here’s the first part of my list of 12 releases that I’m personally shaking and crying over in 2012. Welcome to my brain, Internet!

12. Rob Lowe as Drew Peterson
You just know "I’m untouchable, bitch" will become THE catchphrase in 2012. Enjoy it now, until we get sick of it once “Drew Peterson: Untouchable” debuts on Lifetime January 21.

11. “Downton Abbey” Season Two!
At first, this British miniseries may look like every other stuffy “Masterpiece Theater” entry. But with lightning-fast pacing, relatable characters and enough “oh no she didn’t” barbs and juicy melodramatic twists to last a lifetime of Tyler Perry movies, “Downton Abbey” skirts the typical costume drama clichés. When’s the last time “PBS” and “buzz” appeared in the same sentence? (Season two premieres January 8; season one now streaming on Netflix)

10. Van Halen Reunion
Admittedly, I’m more excited for all the David Lee Roth/Eddie Van Halen drama backstage than the music they’re going to be performing on stage. Is it too late to request a reality show? [Grabs popcorn.] (Tickets go on sale January 10)

9. “Robot and Frank”
I went to film school with the dudes who made this flick, which is making its debut at Sundance, starring Frank Langella as an elderly man who gets saddled with a strange new caretaker, a robot voiced by Liev Schrieber. Ten years after I read the script for the short film version in class, I still think about it regularly. If the feature treatment is half as good as what I remember, movie fans are in for an unforgettable offbeat tale. (Sundance schedule TBA)

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Check Out A Sneak Peek Of Rob Dyrdek's Risky Chevy Sonic Kick-Flip Stunt (Video)

Posted 12/20/11 6:29 pm EST by in Television, Video

This past weekend, MTV daredevil/owner of a fantasy factory/Internet video aficionado Rob Dyrdek suited up for a one-of-a-kind car stunt outside Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.

The idea: Rob would drive a Chevy Sonic up a special ramp designed to simulate a kick-flip, the way he might kick-flip a skateboard. But there's a big difference between trying an intense trick on a skateboard and strapping yourself into a moving vehicle and flipping the crap out of it.

A stunt team took months to perfect the trick, which is set to be featured on the next season premiere of "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory." And even still, the morning of the event, they had yet to land the jump smoothly. Rob's team destroyed several Chevy Sonics during test runs. Wheels broke off, oil spilled all over the track. There was some talk about delaying the event by a day due to increased winds, which might affect his ability to complete the stunt. It's no wonder Dyrdek looked like he was going to puke as he got into the car!

What did you think of the sneak peek of Rob's stunt? Let us know in the comments below!

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MTV News' Jim Cantiello Joins 'The X Factor' Team

Posted 10/25/11 9:39 am EST by in reality tv, the x factor

X Factor

Big announcement alert!

Big announcement alert!

Big announcement alert!

I’ve been asked to join “The X Factor” team as a backstage reporter for their official weekly pre-show. Starting Tuesday, October 25 at 7pm EDT on "X Factor's" official site – and continuing weekly on Wednesdays – the live pre-show will feature interviews with the judges, the fans and all of the industry heavy-hitters roaming around backstage, capturing all the craziness that ensues in the moments leading up to the live "X Factor" broadcast on Fox.

So how the hell did I, as a lowly TV fan and MTV News personality, become heavily involved with a big major network reality competition? It’s a long, insane story, but the short of it is this interview (check it out after the jump): Read More...

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What Are Simon Cowell And L.A. Reid Up To When 'X Factor' Is On?

Posted 10/13/11 1:00 pm EST by in reality tv, Television, Video

When you get to be as famous as “The X Factor” judges (except for Nicole Scherzinger, who is about as A-list as the cast of Logo’s “The A-List”), your schedule gets fills up quickly with high-profile social engagements like movie premieres and business dinners. You rarely have time to carve out much TV time, and even if you did, you’d never in a million years admit to watching your own show when it airs.

Or do you?

I recently caught up with “X Factor” stars Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid and asked them what they did on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 8 PM. I was shocked to hear their answer!

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Is Simon Cowell Jealous Of All The Attention L.A. Reid Is Getting?

Posted 10/12/11 3:00 pm EST by in reality tv, Television, Video

Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul may have been heavily featured in all the promos leading up to “The X Factor’s” premiere, but once the show debuted, a new TV star emerged: L.A. Reid.

From his steely stare to the way he grooves to his use of the word “ensemble” over the less-classy word “group,” TV viewers instantly fell in love. (As soon as host Steve Jones mentioned L.A.’s A-list resume, which includes Pink, Rihanna and Justin Bieber, he trended worldwide on Twitter.)

But how does Simon – whose ego is bigger than some continents – feel about being upstaged by a co-star during his triumphant return to American TV? And to be outshined by a TV television newbie?! That’s gotta sting.

Judging from Simon’s reaction when I asked him to ‘fess up to some jealousy, it did.

Check out the hilarious video below, in which I tell L.A. Reid to put on ear-muffs and get a delightfully honest answer from Mr. Cowell.

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'X Factor' Judges Simon Cowell And L.A. Reid Answer Our Burning Questions

Posted 10/7/11 11:50 am EST by in reality tv, Television, Video

Were you dying to find out why “X Factor” host Steve Jones appears in a truck more than on a stage? Did you know that “The X Factor” judge L.A. Reid used to be a drummer in a Cincinatti R&B group called The Deele? (Think of them as The Whispers but with less awesome facial hair.) Wondering if Justin Bieber – who gets name-dropped approximately 53 times an episode – will ever make an appearance on the show? Well, then this video is for you!

I sat down with “X Factor” guru Simon Cowell and his judging cohort L.A. Reid and forced them to answer all my random, burning questions. Sure, we talked newsy stuff, too, but once I got the business out of the way, the fellas really loosened up and indulged my inner obsessive stan. Watch Cowell and L.A. giggle as we discuss the finer points of walking in slo-mo (a topic I seem to be obsessed with), exactly which part of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” L.A. Reid wrote and whether we can expect the original line-up of Deele to reunite on the “X Factor” stage.

This might be my favorite four minutes of my entire career.

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Poll: Did 'X Factor' Contestant Drew Ryniewicz Sing 'Baby' Better Than Justin Bieber

Posted 9/29/11 1:15 pm EST by in Justin Bieber

Bieber Girl

During last night’s “X Factor” audition episode, 14-year-old Justin Bieber superfan Drew Ryniewicz stole the show with a haunting new take on her idol’s biggest hit, “Baby.”

If Justin’s original “Baby” is fluffy, flavorful bubblegum, Drew’s “Baby” is a three-course meal of teenage angst, yearning and obsession. The words “I thought you’d always be mine” are a lot heavier when the arrangement features minor chords on a mournful piano. The cleverest bit is Drew’s take on the chorus, where she flips the melody to include a devastating half-yodel, her voice cracking with each “Baby.”

In other words, the star of Bieber’s “Baby” is singing to a girl at recess. The protagonist in Drew’s version is in her room, anguished and maybe Facebook-stalking her ex. This is dark. And awesome.

All four “X Factor” judges – including LA Ried who signed Bieber to Island/Def Jam – were blown away. L.A. called it “soulful” and “believable.” Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell went further, saying they preferred Drew’s dark spin to Bieber’s recording. “This is exactly what I wanted a 14-year-old to do in this competition,” Cowell gushed. “Most importantly, people your age would buy your version of that song.”

(A-hem, Simon. People twice her age would buy it, too. Race that girl to a studio and release it on iTunes ASAP!)

So now that the professional industry execs have given it two (or eight?) thumbs up, we want to know which version you prefer: Bieber’s upbeat original or Drew’s heartbreaking lament? Vote, after the jump! Read More...

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'X Factor' Judge Paula Abdul On How To Perfectly Walk In Slow Motion!

Posted 9/26/11 2:58 pm EST by in reality tv, Television

One of my favorite things about “The X Factor” is just how damn slick it is. Contestants’ auditions get treated like full-blown “Idol” performances with swooping shots and a lighting rig. Confessionals are held in a giant light box that’s part pearly gates, part Gap commercial. Pop hits underscore the entire episode top to bottom. This is one expensive party.

But my favorite fancy touch is the way the show introduces the judging panel. In the two-night premiere, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and breakout star L.A. Reid strolled down the street in slow-motion, like “Reservoir Dogs” without the matching suits. (And, you know, the severed ear.) Beside being so damn pretty to look at, the over-the-top presentation is completely warranted. Cowell and Paula are rock stars in the reality TV genre. They’ve earned their glamour shots. (Nicole Scherzinger, on the other hand? Don’t get me started.)

Logistically, I wondered how difficult it would be to walk so fabulously, knowing the footage would eventually be slowed down to a snail's pace. Would you exaggerate your strut? Would you flip your hair more instinctively? Or, when you’re filthy rich like Paula and Simon, do you just always walk as if there’s a fan blowing in your face?

Last week, I had a quick chat with Ms. Abdul so obviously that was my first question. Why not go straight to the source, right?

Check out Paula’s adorable response below.

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With 'The X Factor' Looming, Here's A Breakdown Of All The Reality Singing Competitions

Posted 9/16/11 2:15 pm EST by in American Idol, Television

After months of hype and headlines, Simon Cowell’s "X Factor" is finally debuting in America next week. The question is: Will anyone care?

In the past year, our DVRs have been filled to the max with reality singing competitions, from the revamped (J. Lo on a kinder, gentler "American Idol") to the remixed ("The Voice" has swivel chairs, you guys) to the reviled (ugh, "Karaoke Battle USA"). These days, the casual TV viewer needs a doctorate in “Reality TV” to keep track of all the various karaoke contests.

So, as a public service to fellow confused and overwhelmed TV addicts, I’ve broken down all the shows that are sure to feature overwrought renditions of Alicia Keys' songs and judges sipping from sponsored soda cups. (Example: "Idol" is Coke, "X Factor" is Pepsi. "The Sing Off" is…Coke 2?)

Practice your scales, warm up your pipes and dig in!

American Idol

"American Idol"
Season 11 premieres on Fox in January
Premise: Small town folks with big voices get plucked from obscurity
Weepy Judge: J Lo, although we’re not buying it
Hard Ass Judge: Randy, although we’re not buying it
Token Genre Judge: Rock legend Steven Tyler, although we’re not sure he knows that he’s on television half the time
Host’s Greatest Asset: Seacrest’s bank account.
Guest mentors: Ranging from the A-list (OH MY GAGA!) to the A-list…from the '90s (Babyface!)
Prize: $1 million contract with Universal; destined to play state fairs for years to come
Do the Judges Mentor: Nope. Nor do they judge. Everyone’s brilliant and amazing!
Ratings: #1 show on TV, performance shows averaged almost 26 million viewers a week!
Age Range: 15-29
Recent Backstage Drama: Producers bickering in the press with Simon Cowell, J.Lo contract negotiations, PIA TOSCANO AND MARK BALLAS SPLIT OMG.
Biggest Star(s): The Holy Idol Trinity of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

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