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Anne Hathaway, Gary Oldman Rally Around Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Passion Project

Posted 10/11/11 8:56 pm EST by in art, Concerts, Miscellaneous, Photos, reviews, Video


For those who only know Joseph Gordon-Levitt from his excellent work in television and film over the past 20 years or so, do yourself a favor and expand your fandom by heading over to hitRECord.org, Gordon-Levitt's collaborative production company/community and passion project. On Monday night, the roughly seven-year-old operation celebrated its creative success with the 2011 Fall Formal, a live performance event at which Gordon-Levitt served as emcee and performer, along with guest appearances by supporters and friends Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Oldman and Sia, along with an audience full of hitRECord members and enthusiasts.

The spirit of the evening was lighthearted and welcoming, with a vaudeville-esque lineup of readings, short films and musical numbers. Also, everyone in attendance was encouraged to record however much of the show they wanted. The video below, which features Gordon-Levitt, hitRECord artist the Metafictionis and Hathaway, will give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Admittedly, I expected to be further charmed by Gordon-Levitt. He is just so darn talented and passionate and genuine, it's irresistible and inspiring watching him move smoothly from narrating to dancing, to singing, to drumming to improv'ing. He's an artist in every sense of the word, and while his name is attached to hitRECord and he emceed the program, it is obvious that Gordon-Levitt truly enjoys creating art that comes from a collaboration and collection of other equally talented individuals.

Also, when you get Oldman, Hathaway, Harris and Sia to come in and play with you during their time off, you know you are loved.

It was hard to pick a favorite moment, but when Oldman got up onstage to read a "Tiny Story" called "The Man With a Turnip for a Head," written by hitRECord artist Metaphorest, he brought down the house.

"It's going to be hard to top that," Gordon-Levitt told the crowd as Oldman left the stage. Yet somehow, I'm sure he will figure out a way to do just that for next year's event.

What do you think of Gordon-Levitt's passion project, hitRECord? Tell us in the comments!

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Trend: Dancing In Apple Stores

Posted 6/21/11 5:00 pm EST by in Miscellaneous, youtube


Inspired by the success of 12-year-old Trevor Moran, who has racked up 5 million views on his YouTube channel, making videos of yourself dancing in an Apple store is now officially a thing. Consider yourself warned.

“I walk into the store. I act totally like a regular person and then I bust out and start dancing,” Trevor says. “That’s just like the best part because I walk in the store totally mellow.”

Trevor is a big pop music fan and has so far recorded himself dancing to Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Britney Spears. He records himself dancing freestyle on the store’s computers and uploads directly to YouTube. According to CNN, this is happening all over the country, so no one is safe.


Have you witnessed this in your friendly neighborhood Apple store? What did you think? Funny or did Trevor (or one of his friends in dancing) step on your toes? Tell us in the comments.

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Kurt Cobain Park Still Draws Nirvana Fans 17 Years After Rocker's Death

Posted 6/21/11 12:00 pm EST by in Miscellaneous


Kurt Cobain

To fans of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain is a god. So it’s no surprise that some 10,000 fans flock annually to “Kurt Cobain Park,” officially known as Viretta Park, though even Google Maps identifies it by its unofficial name.

Cobain took his own life in a greenhouse behind the house that sits beside the park on April 8, 1994. While the home is a private residence, sold to its current owners by Courtney Love in 1997, the park has since become a shrine to Cobain, and fans come from across the world to write messages on the benches there.

The A.V. Club’s Pop Pilgrims series visited the park and spoke with Charles Cross, author of the Cobain biography Heavier Than Heaven, about Cobain and what continues to draw Nirvana fans to Kurt Cobain Park over 17 years after the singer-songwriter’s death.

Watch the video below and tell us why you think the park still lures fans to Seattle. Read More...

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Noted Comic Shaq: A Man Of Many (Large) Hats

Posted 6/17/11 3:00 pm EST by in comedy, Miscellaneous


Shaq

By Zachary Swickey

Looks like Shaquille O’Neal is taking a post-retirement cue from Larry King by embarking on his first ever comedy tour. While O’Neal – along with Cedric the Entertainer – has spearheaded a few Shaq’s All-Star Comedy Jam television specials since 2009, this will find the retiree taking hand-picked comedians – Aries Spears, Corey Holcomb, Tommy Davidson, Capone, Gary Own, and Tony Roberts – out on the road for the first time.

The tour kicks off September 9 in Memphis, Tenn., and runs through mid-November. There are also plans to film the gigs for the upcoming reality show All-Star Comedy Jam Backstage Pass. Think he’s bitten off more than he can chew? You might be surprised to read about all of the “hats” he has donned over the years.

Rapper

Younger fans of O’Neal may be unaware of his musical past, but the dude has five albums under his belt. His first two went platinum, while the third went gold. It seems his rapping aspirations are behind him, as it’s been over ten years since he’s released new music. In hindsight, his music holds up about as well as a Limp Bizkit record (that is, not very well), but just check out the absolutely insane A-list talent he worked with over the years: Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Notorious B.I.G., Michael Jackson, Method Man, Redman, RZA, Ludacris, Mobb Deep and Warren G.

Video Game Star

Forget O’Neal’s appearances in multiple different basketball games for nearly every gaming system, nothing compares to his starring role in his own video game. In October 1994, Shaq Fu was released for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo consoles and features the baller stumbling into another dimension, where he must battle an evil mummy (yes, seriously). He was also a special unlockable character in several different games: Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down and UFC 2010 Undisputed.

Read on for more. Read More...

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Shania Twain Mounts Massive Comeback

Posted 6/16/11 10:00 am EST by in Miscellaneous


Shania Twain

By Zachary Swickey

It’s been nearly a decade since country’s biggest female songstress, Shania Twain, brought us her last hot-selling album, 2002’s Up! Regardless, the 45-year-old Canadian crooner is now celebrating a series of major achievements: Her worldwide album sales just surpassed 75 million, and she is currently mounting one heck of a comeback with a Las Vegas concert residency, a book, television show on OWN and, oh yeah, new music.

She just dropped her first new single in six years, “Today is Your Day” (quite the appropriate title, and already No. 2 on the iTunes country chart) following the finale of her reality show, Why Not with Shania Twain. This summer the singer finally plans to reconvene in the studio and hopes to release a full new album later this fall – if all goes according to plan. She certainly needs to get the record out before the third quarter of next year, when she begins her lavish residency in Sin City.

Beginning Dec. 1, 2012, the superstar will be gracing the stage at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The special two year engagement, entitled Shania Twain: You’re the One, will have the singer performing 60 shows annually, and if country singer Garth Brook’s recent success in the desert is any indication, the tickets will be rather hard to come by.

Read More...

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We Shoot Pool With Kreayshawn On Our 'First Date'

Posted 6/15/11 6:00 pm EST by in Miscellaneous


A year ago, MTV News production assistants Rya Backer and Steven Roberts realized that their devotion to chasing stories was seriously getting in the way of their love lives. That's why they dreamed up "First Date," a regular feature that allows them to get up close and personal to some of our favorite hot new artists.

By Steven Roberts

I first caught wind of Kreayshawn nearly a month ago when most of the blogosphere caught wind of her, but I had actually come across the Bay Area rapper a few times before. I first saw her "dancing" in a video with former First Dater Lil B the Based God. But I thought nothing of it other than “those two are crazy high. I wish I was that high.”

I would see her again opening for Andre Nickatina this past April. If you don't know who Andre Nickatina is, don't worry, just Google "AYO for Yayo" and enjoy. Again, I thought nothing other than she's pretty dope, and people from the Bay Area are both weird and awesome.

It wasn't until her video for "Gucci Gucci" dropped that I put two and two together. I loved the song and video and instantly thought she'd be perfect for First Date.

Apparently half the music business thought she'd be perfect fit on their label too. Once the bidding war for her services was done, we were able to set up a shoot. We decided to shoot with Kreayshawn at SoHo Billiards downtown.

If you watch closely you'll see that neither of us could actually play billiards (fellas, never let ladies pick the first date location). She claimed her mom was a pool shark, and I used to actually own a pool table, but yeah we would've been better served getting drunk at the bar. All in all, it was a good time, so be sure to check it out below.

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Justin Bieber's Post-'Fantasy Factory' MTV Cameos: A Wish List

Posted 4/5/11 12:06 pm EST by in Miscellaneous


Justin Bieber literally risked life and limb when he pulled off some insanely dangerous stunts during a cameo on "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory," this week. Bieber proved that he's willing to put himself in the face of danger (and laugh at it) as he rode a go-cart into a foam pit and got dragged around the Fantasy Factory on a skateboard.

Bieber seemed to fit in perfectly in the testosterone-fueled world of the Factory, and he got us wondering what other MTV shows the Canadian superstar might want to visit next.
Read More...

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In-N-Out Burger Fuels Tom Hanks -- And The MTV Movie Awards

Posted 6/3/09 12:28 pm EST by in Miscellaneous, Movie Awards


By Vanessa White Wolf

Tom Hanks dropped by Conan O'Brien's reinvented "Tonight Show" last night and, maybe as a welcome-to-L.A. tip, he talked up the virtues of In-N-Out Burger. Tom's apparently a huge fan of the fast-food burger chain located mainly on the West Coast.

"It solves every problem ... sometimes you work on a movie and you're there until 3 in the morning — good news is, at midnight, know what's showing up? The In-N-Out Burger mobile," Hanks explained. "So, everyone's happy. You can't get the shake, but you know what? You don't need that much dairy."

So true. Being a New Yorker, I've never actually seen the In-N-Out van, but it's something I dream of. I'm a huge fan of the In-N-Out burger — I'd even say I'm the resident MTV News expert on the cuisine, and I have to get it every time I'm in L.A. Which means that after spending the last out there for the MTV Movie Awards, I needed it to refuel me constantly. (I won't give the exact number of how many times I visited the one right by Universal Studios, for fear of judgment.) Since the chain's been around for over 60 years, I'm a latecomer to the bandwagon, having first heard of the burgers in 1998's "The Big Lebowski." Read More...

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Susan Boyle's Makeover: What Does It Mean?

Posted 4/24/09 11:29 am EST by in Miscellaneous


Susan Boyle

The inevitable has happened: "Britain's Got Talent" sensation Susan Boyle got a makeover. She's ditched the drab dresses for a shiny black jacket, dyed her tangled gray locks a rich brown, donned a trendy plaid scarf.

Should we be concerned that the woman who rocketed to fame because of the unlikely juxtaposition of average-gal frumpiness and chill-inducing vocal chops has been forced to conform to conventional standards of beauty? Or should we instead applaud Ms. Boyle for her larvae-into-butterfly transformation now that she's on the world stage? No doubt half the Boyle-ites will be wringing their hands, while the other half sings (mostly off-key) her praises. Read More...

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Chanel Is The Receptionist At Every Dude's 'Fantasy Factory'

Posted 4/21/09 5:46 pm EST by in Miscellaneous


ChanelBy Joel Hanek

Chanel, everyone's favorite rapping receptionist, steals the show on "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory." She's always present when the wackiness ensues at the Fantasy Factory, but it seems like she can never get enough screen time. (For those unfamiliar with the show, she's just like the smoke monster on "Lost" but much cuter and she doesn't murder people. OK, bad analogy.)

So to get our Chanel fix, MTV News correspondent Tim Kash caught up with Rob Dyrdek on the red carpet for the premiere of the new Justin Timberlake-produced "The Phone" and asked Rob about the Internet sensation that is Chanel. Rob describes Chanel as a "young, beautiful, talented, sweet girl" who is sometimes just misunderstood. Read More...

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