Posted 1/12/09 5:37 pm EST by Tim Kash in inauguration
After five years of working with MTV, I'm still constantly surprised and grateful for my job. It's times like these when I almost can't believe how lucky I am.
This morning, executive producer Sean, director of photography Stephen, camera ninja Jordan, director of public affairs Pete and I all left New York. Destination: Kenya, where we'll shoot a segment for our "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" special, which airs January 20 at 10 p.m. ET.
But the trip wasn't that simple. Read More...
My producer Sean said, "Smile!" when he took that picture of me, but it's a little difficult to smile when a nurse is jabbing six needles, one after another, into your arm.
On Sunday night, I'm leaving on a 22-hour journey to Kenya in Africa to shoot part of our upcoming "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" show, which I'm extremely excited to be a part of. This, unfortunately, means I have to get a bunch of vaccination shots ... and I bloody hate needles.
The last time I had to go get shots was back in 2004, before my very first assignment for MTV U.S. It was two days after the tragedy of the South Asian tsunami, when myself and a team from MTV News flew right into the worst-affected region of Sri Lanka to help with aid work and shoot a documentary called "MTV News: After the Tsunami." Unfortunately, those vaccinations I got four years ago don't last forever, so today I had to go get it done all over again. Read More...
Posted 1/1/09 10:45 am EST by Tim Kash in Miley Cyrus, New Year's Eve
LOS ANGELES — The "Miley-Sized Surprise" New Year's eve show is officially wrapped — and it was spectacular! Right now, it's Wednesday night and I’m in a car on my way to LAX to catch the red-eye flight back to NYC in time to host the "Engaged and Underaged: The Bridal Bowl Special" special for MTV. I had a lot of fun today with Miley Cyrus, the kids of Beckman High School in Irvine, California, and of course the real star of the show: Alison Kaprielian. The entire show was centered around Alison, whose mother was sadly diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. As well as juggling her school work, her social life and supporting her mother through her treatment, Alison volunteered for the Pink Ribbon Club, an organization targeted at teens that raises money for and spreads awareness of the fight against breast cancer. Alison also happens to be one of the biggest Miley fans ever, so when Miley turned up at her house unexpectedly this morning for an intimate and impromptu performance in her kitchen — Alison was overwhelmed, to say the least!
It didn't stop there. Miley surprised Alison throughout the day with makeovers for her and her mother, and recorded one of those famous YouTube videos with her and Miley's best friend Mandy Jiroux. We also flew in Alison's best friend from Georgia, threw a monster surprise party in Alison's honor and invited the entire high school for the huge Miley performance that closed out the night. And Pepsi made a big donation to the Pink Ribbon Club. It was really an amazing night — Alison and her family were so grateful.
Posted 12/31/08 12:36 pm EST by Tim Kash in Miley Cyrus, New Year's Eve, The Hills
Two time zones, two different coasts, 1,000 screaming kids, two live shows, one plane ride, four weddings and one Miley Cyrus — that pretty much sums up my New Year's '09 celebrations and the next 24 hours of my life!
I arrived at LAX yesterday for one of our biggest shows of the year: "FNMTV Presents: A Miley-Sized Surprise ... New Year's Eve 2009" (long title, huh?). As always, MTV's annual New Year's show will be broadcast live from New York's Times Square — but this year we're spicing things up in a very big way. And that's what brings me to the Los Angeles area.
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After four seasons of makeups and breakups, crying and gossip, "The Hills" had its big season finale Monday night in New York. A strange choice of location for such a Los Angeles-centric show, you might think. Not really. With Whitney's spin-off show "The City" — the new hot show to watch (until season 5 of "The Hills," of course) — set in New York, the landmark Tavern on the Green, all decked out in Christmas lights and ice sculptures, was the perfect holiday-themed location for the big bash.
The one major downside: It was bloody freezing!
But still, that didn't stop all of the cast from turning up to hit the red carpet — and it certainly didn't stop the girls from putting fashion first and hitting the carpet with short skirts on.
First came new sisters-in-law Stephanie and Holly. Maybe someone should have pointed out that they weren't actually filming an episode of "The Hills" that evening. Within seconds of my live interview with them (and the question "Do you think the marriage will last?"), both girls squared up to each other and had a full-blown argument on live TV. Read More...
Posted 12/18/08 7:55 pm EST by Tim Kash in Kurt-Loder, Movies
I think it's safe to say that Mickey Rourke just doesn't give a f--- about things like health code violations.
Kurt Loder's here today dressed head-to-toe in black, ready for business. Or ready to interview Mickey Rourke and director Darren Aronofsky to promote their latest film, "The Wrestler," which critics are already calling his greatest performance ever and a definite Oscar front-runner. That's why Mickey's got more of a spring in his step than usual. Sure, he's got blond hair extensions, a tiny handbag dog, and glasses that might have been borrowed from Elton John might, but don't get it twisted: Mickey Rourke is not a dude to be messed with.
Check out Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky in the newsroom, after the jump!
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One of the biggest events of the year is happening next week right here in NYC.
It's not the Oscars, the Golden Globes or even the presidential inauguration: It is in fact "The Hills Finale Live From NYC," airing Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT!
It seems that not a lot has changed in season four. Onetime best friends Lauren and Heidi are still not speaking to each other ... the lovely Audrina is still as entertaining as ever ... and Spencer is still, well ...
Next week is the big season finale, and to celebrate we're throwing a monster "Hills" finale aftershow right here in New York in front of a live studio audience, with the entire "Hills" cast live in the studio and me as your host. The one and only Pussycat Dolls will be performing at the aftershow, which begins at 10:30 right after the season finale.
Now, no names have been confirmed yet, but just imagine: It would be pretty interesting to have Heidi, Spencer and LC on the same couch, sitting next to each other, right? Awkward moments = great TV! Read More...
Posted 12/10/08 8:23 pm EST by Tim Kash in Golden Globes
FROM THE MTV MOVIES BLOG: Tomorrow, the hotly anticipated Golden Globe nominations will be announced, and with that comes the same question that is asked every single year: Who the hell is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that decides who wins and who loses at the Golden Globes?
One of the big differences that separate the Golden Globes from the Oscars is the simple fact that the nominees and the winners are not decided by fellow actors and directors, but instead by a group that calls itself the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
For more on Tim's Golden Globes vs. Oscars debate, head to the MTV Movies Blog.
Posted 12/8/08 12:54 pm EST by Tim Kash in Britney Spears
The new Britney Spears documentary "For the Record" aired last week on MTV, and millions tuned in to get a read on the pop star's condicition these days.
After all, for the last few years, it's been impossible not to see the pictures and videos of Britney's well documented downward spiral — the shaving of her head, the constant harassment by the paparazzi, her somewhat questionable associates, and of course the tragic night Britney was wheeled out of her house by paramedics in front of the world — so the film was really the first real inside look into the life of the world's most famous pop star.
It was a really good documentary, but then again, how could it not be? The subject matter is, after all, the ever-controversial Britney Spears. The film started off with a brief written explanation that Britney had invited a camera crew to follow her for 60 days in which no question would be off-limits.
Personally. I wonder just how many hard-hitting questions were asked, but that's a different conversation ... which brings me to the point of this post. Read More...
I can't believe that we just saw the last episode of "TRL." You might think that me being British, I wouldn't know "TRL," but I do. It's an international show that we've all been watching.
It was amazing to see so many people — from 50 Cent to Diddy to Beyoncé to Justin Timberlake to Ludacris — come out to pay their respects to a show that obviously means more to them than just a one-hour block on television.
Everyone's telling me that the studio was the place to be, but the whole night, we were backstage, and every single artist came through to say hello. I was talking to Diddy about his upcoming, very eclectic album, and who interrupts our interview? 50 Cent. Having two of the biggest music-business tycoons standing on either side of me, I couldn't help but wonder who had more money in his pocket.
Backstage, the artists weren't just staying in their dressing rooms or hanging out in VIP areas. Everybody was having fun and acting like regular people. It was a beautiful thing to see them interact with each other.
Read about the rest of Tim's night "Total Finale Live", plus photos with Good Charlotte, Diddy, Hilary Duff and more...after the jump!
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