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Barack Obama's Kalamazoo Commencement Speech: A Busy Day With The Leader Of The Free World

Posted 6/8/10 1:00 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes

Nicole Allen's Monday started out like pretty much any other graduating high school senior's: With an interview with Kalamazoo's local CBS affiliate.

Allen was one of several Kalamazoo Central High School students responsible for creating the winning entry in the White House's "Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge," a video called "We Are The Giants," which showcased Central's achievements in education and college preparedness, and as a result, she was partially responsible for the prize that came along with winning: President Barack Obama, who came to town to deliver the commencement speech at Central's graduation ceremony.

And that made her a bit of a local celebrity — which in turn made her day really, really hectic.

"My day started at 6:30 with the interview with CBS, and then I came home and tried to take a nap, but that didn't work out to well," Allen laughed. "Then, I had [graduation] rehearsal from about 8:30 to 10, and after that I went home and finally managed to take that nap."

Of course, after that nap was when her day got really interesting. Excited for Obama's appearance, she started getting ready for graduation around 2 p.m., and was all set to head over to the campus of Western Michigan University for the ceremony when disaster struck in the form of a very leaky car tire.

"We tried to patch it, but couldn't figure it out! Luckily, my uncle from Georgia was in town, so he drove us," Allen said. "But I was so nervous I was going to miss the ceremony!"

It's a good thing she got there when she did, because Allen — like all the Central seniors — was treated to a surprise pre-graduation visit from President Obama himself. No one expected it, and yes, there were tears.

"We were sitting in the room, and then all of a sudden, out walks the president!" Allen enthused. "It was completely a surprise! When he came in I cried, but then, I cried when I found out we won. People say I'm emotional, but it was so unexpected. I burst out crying. I was shaking. My whole body was. I mean, the president is standing right in front of us! That doesn’t happen every day, and to be in high school and have the president give your commence speech — I won't ever forget that."

In the fall, Allen will attend Western Michigan University ("and law school after that"), but when MTV News spoke to her late Monday night, she had more pressing matters on her mind: How was she going to celebrate her graduation night.

"They never fixed the leak in our tire, and my uncle's not here, so I'll probably be laying my head down any second now," she said. "It's been a long day."

Don't miss Simon Boehme's and Xavier Bolden's videos about President Obama's visit to Kalamazoo!

Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Barack Obama's Kalamazoo Commencement Speech: Sharing A Stage With The President

Posted 6/8/10 12:30 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes

Simon Boehme is the salutatorian of Kalamazoo Central High School's class of 2010, and as such, he knew he'd be giving a speech during graduation ceremonies. What he didn't know until about a week ago is that he'd be giving that speech in front of President Barack Obama.

See, Boehme — along with his fellow Central classmates — helped create the winning entry in the White House's "Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge," a video called "We Are The Giants" that trumpeted the school's achievements in education and college readiness. As a result, Boehme knew that Obama would be giving the commencement speech at Central's graduation, which meant that he'd be sharing the stage with the leader of the free world. But unlike pretty much anyone we know, Boehme didn't cower from the spotlight. Instead, he used the opportunity to address the president directly, asking him to establish a youth leadership council.

"It took me a while to write down my speech, but I always knew I wanted to ask him about it," Boehme told MTV News. "It's something I'm passionate about. I formed an organization called the Youth Leadership Network that gives the youth a voice, and no president has made an all-youth council before, so it's a challenge to him."

And while Boehme may have been prepped for his speech (Obama would later joke that he was "glad" the Constitution forbids Boehme from running until he turns 35, since he wouldn't have to face off against him), there was one thing that the Central senior wasn't aware of: Obama's surprise visit with the graduating class, which took place before the actual ceremony.

"I had no idea it would happen. It was absolutely shocking and amazing and just something special that added to the day," Boehme said. "People were crying, it was so exhilarating and thrilling."

In the fall, Boehme will attend the University of Michigan, and not surprisingly, he already has his first internship lined up after doing some grad-night hobnobbing with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

"He told me he was going to help me out," Boehme said. "I'm looking for an internship."

Don't miss Nicole Allen's and Xavier Bolden's videos about President Obama's visit to Kalamazoo!

Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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'Letters To Juliet' Star Gael Garcia Bernal Plans Our Dinner Together

Posted 5/14/10 3:35 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Movies

We have a history. Gael Garcia Bernal and I once shared a kiss at a junket. (An event in my life I'm sure I've shared with you numerous times before. But, can you blame me?) So when I was offered the chance to go to Verona (Italy, not New Jersey) to attend the junket for "Letters To Juliet" (which stars Gael and opens today), I couldn't say no. Aside from the fact that it is an incredibly beautiful city, Gael happens to be the nicest guy in the world.

Aside from the chatter about romance, when we sat down to dish about the flick, I decided I had to know how well he cooks. Why? Well, he plays a very overzealous chef named Victor in the movie. As it turns out, he happens to be a really good actor, as the dude can't cook in real life at all! "I like cooking, but I'm not good at it," he said, adding just what his specialty is: "All types of rice."

After he told me that he's best at making rice, I wondered if that's what he would make me if he were to cook me anything in the world. Because come on, rice? "No I'm not trying to tell you that," he said. "I'm saying the only thing I'm good at is maybe rice. I would, maybe if you come and I cook for you, maybe I'll try something else. But I don't know what. I'll have to think about it where we are. Not so much pressure! I already told you I'm not a good cook."

To be fair, I would eat anything Gael makes for me, good or bad. So when are you free?

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Times Square Bomb Scare: Not Your Average Day At MTV News

Posted 5/7/10 6:39 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, MTV News

It's strange: I didn't know I was sitting 29 floors above a bomb scare until my wife IM'ed me about it. At first, I didn't believe her, but then I looked out my window, down to the empty streets of Times Square, the clusters of cop cars, the police tape fluttering in the breeze, and suddenly, the whole situation became very real — and scary.

Sadly, that's the way things have been in New York for nearly a week now, ever since the NYPD thwarted a potential car bombing right around the corner from where today's bomb scare — actually a cooler — sat. Everyone's nervous, a little on edge, even if they won't admit it. Every stray box on the subway is eyed suspiciously, every police siren gives you pause, if only for a second. There's a weird tension in the air — one that began with 9/11 and is revived every time there's a blackout (2003), a water-main explosion (2007) or even just an unusually loud boom. Working right in the middle of Times Square, you just try to ignore it, which, truth be told, is sort of easy ... it just comes with being a New Yorker.

But then, someone leaves an unattended cooler on a picnic table, and all of a sudden, you can't ignore the fact that bad things happen all the time, everywhere in the world, to people just like yourself. It was doubly weird for me because I was actually in Times Square on Saturday when the (thankfully) failed car bomb was discovered. I had just returned from a shoot for MTV News and was dropping equipment off in our building when police cleared the area. I'm not going to lie: It was slightly terrifying. The crowds, the sirens, the shouting, the feeling of panic in the air ... for a few brief moments, it brought back memories of 9/11, and that sort of shook me to the core. Still, come Monday, I was back at work.

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The Stanley Cup Visits The MTV Newsroom

Posted 4/14/10 5:00 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Sports

We get a lot of special guests in the MTV Newsroom, from all-star rappers to big name film directors to chart-topping pop stars to hot young actresses. But today's special guest is over 100 years old and has been known to make grown men collapse and weep. One of the most beloved icons in all of professional sports, this special guest is about to go on a whirlwind tour of North America, and no matter what, it will still be standing once the final buzzer sounds in the last game of the championship series.

Who was our special guest? The Stanley Cup, the top prize in the National Hockey League and the most coveted and recognizable trophy in the history of organized athletics. To commemorate the beginning of the NHL playoffs (which start tonight on Versus), Mike Bolt — the official "Keeper of the Cup" — brought Lord Stanley's trophy to the Newsroom for a bit of history, a few great stories and the opportunity for plenty of Newsroom denizens (and hockey fans) to get their picture taken with the trophy.

It looks impressive on television, but up close, it's pretty remarkable. Forged out of silver and nickel alloy, the Cup stands about three feet tall and weighs a hefty 35 pounds (way larger than, say, the MTV Musical March Madness trophy). It wears the mark of its 117 years on its sleeve, as there are numerous dents and dings all along the upper bowl (the oldest portion of the trophy). Bolt is one of four "Keepers" who stays with the Cup and ushers it around the world (the prize is on the road roughly 320 days a year, according to Bolt). The modern NHL tradition dictates that every player on the championship team gets to spend a day with the cup, and Bolt told us about a number of his favorite cup sightings (though it's still not allowed to go to a strip club).

Stay tuned tomorrow for video of the conversation with Mike Bolt and more of the Stanley Cup, and be sure to check out all the NHL playoff action starting tonight.

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My Complicated Life With Sean Connery (And His Kilt)

Posted 4/6/10 4:30 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes

Last night I got to meet up with Sean Connery for a second year in a row. We have a standing date that goes down every time his Dressed to Kilt event occurs. So there I was on Monday night (April 5) at the M2 Lounge where I was prepared to go head to head with Connery and prove to him that I really am a "big deal."

Here's the back story: Last year, we met up and in the confusion of the moment I somehow convinced Sir Connery that I am a big deal (which I guess in some circles is true). He found that amusing, and when he saw me this year, I swear to you that in the sea of dozens of reporters who gathered to talk to Connery, he recognized me. There was one moment when I asked him his advice on how to wear a kilt, and he kind of smirked as though he was thinkin, "Hey, there's that big deal I met last year."

Although much to my colleague Josh Horowitz's dismay I didn't get any great dragon updates from Connery (or any movie reviews, for that matter), I did get a smirk and "Me?" when I asked if he ever planned to come out of retirement from acting. As soon as he does, he knows I'll be at that carpet to hang with him again.

Want to see the magic go down? Check out the video that left me both shaken and stirred! Until next year, Connery!

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'American Idol' Live And Behind The Scenes: T-Shirts, Bodyguards And Chris Rock

Posted 3/31/10 10:55 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music, Television

By A.J. Mayers

Ever been curious to know what happens at an "American Idol" taping and what you don't see on your television screen? I had a great opportunity to attend the Top 10 live performance taping of "American Idol" on Tuesday night (March 30). It only took a year of being on the waiting list to get tickets.

The show is taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood, right next to the popular tourist spot the Grove. According to our ticket e-mail, my party and I had to arrive before 3:30 p.m. Pacific. But when we arrived with half an hour to spare, the line was already very long. We waited in the sun for maybe an hour or so before finally being admitted into the lot and headed to the stage where "Idol" is taped. By some crazy chance, we got great seats even though hundreds of people were in line before us (perhaps that's the trick). We ended up sitting a few rows behind the judges near the center. Not too shabby!

I got chills from the excitement of walking into this famous stage. It looked and felt so much smaller than it appears on TV. I noticed a few of the family members of contestants sitting in certain areas. There were celebrities there too, including Jane Lynch from "Glee" and Chris Rock. Usher, this week's special mentor on an R&B-themed show, eventually sat in front of us in the very first row.

There was a pre-show announcer guy who got the crowd excited and invited a few folks dance up on stage. Some audience members were lucky enough to win some prizes such as official "American Idol" shirts and bags. Finally, the the lights dimmed and the audience was quiet as Ryan Seacrest began the show from backstage. Out came our judges and the contestants as the "American Idol" theme music played in the background. Needless to say, I did a lot of cheering.

There were a handful of things that happened during the show that the cameras couldn't have caught. Siobhan Magnus was the first performance, and hearing her live was not the most pleasant experience. She truly was screechy, and the funniest thing about it was Chris Rock's facial expressions during her screams. Of course the cameras would not have caught that, but it was hilarious to see him cringe.

During the commercials, all the judges got up and left the set to go outside. I'm not sure what they were doing, but they never stayed around and each one of them was followed by their very own bodyguard. During one exit, Ellen stopped to give a hug to a young cancer patient in the audience, which was really touching and seemed to make the boy very happy. The pre-show announcer guy would also come out during the commercial breaks to give out more shirts and bags that were actually tied to the contestants who just performed, which means that there are Crystal Bowersox tote bags and "Cougars for Casey" T-shirts floating around.

What I found most surprising is that the judges seemed to all get along pretty well. They were always friendly and hugging each other during the breaks. Even Simon and Ryan shared several laughs and smiles, which contradicted their on-camera bickering.

Even if the singing was mediocre, it was still a good time being in the audience of one of the biggest television shows of all time.

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I Saw Justin Bieber On 'The View' And All I Got Was An Awesome Mug!

Posted 3/23/10 2:25 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music, Television

I spent much of the last two days at ABC studios to get the first person experience of seeing Justin Bieber on "The View." On Monday (March 22), Bieber sat down with the ladies to chat and perform an acoustic rendition of his song "Never Let You Go." He seemed to really hit it off with Barbara Walters — in fact, he kind of asked her out on date.

It's a long couple of hours before you actually get into ABC's studios for "The View," and then you stand around in the hallway. Inside the studio, both moms and their daughters were pretty excited to be at the taping. There was a surprising amount of dancing that goes on in the audience, and the "View" hosts even chat it up with the crowd between segments during commercial breaks (though I was not lucky enough to talk to Joy Behar).

I not only got the chance to catch Bieber fever (I'm currently simmering at a robust 101 degrees), but I also got the chance to see a very tall Miley Cyrus talk about her new flick "The Last Song" and her love for her boyfriend (and co-star) Liam Hemsworth.

But on Tuesday (March 23), Bieber came back for more. And while the moms in the audience got a chance to check out Greg Kinnear (also there to promote "The Last Song"), it was their daughters who were freaking out about Bieber. Justin ditched the acoustic guitar for a full band, back-up dancers and a DJ (but no Ludacris) for a run through his hit "Baby." He didn't need Luda — he did the rapping himself, and it was actually quite good. I also got to see the ladies of "The View" catch the fever themselves when they posed for pictures with the teen star.

Bieber mostly waved to fans from afar during the interview segments and performance on Monday. But on Tuesday, he got right up close and serenaded several of his fans in the front row while he was singing.

Now I love myself some Bieber performances, but I have to say the highlight of the two days was snagging myself an official "View" mug featuring the likenesses of the show's hosts. My mom certainly will be excited — she really wanted one of those mugs!

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T-Pain Talks 'Reverse Cowgirl' In The MTV Newsroom

Posted 3/2/10 2:00 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

Few stars know how to make an entrance like T-Pain. Remember his incredible approach via elephant at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards? When T-Pain shows up, you know the dude is in the room.

Even though his walk into the MTV Newsroom was far more understated than it was at the VMAs, he still made his presence known. Pain walked in complaining a bit about New York (probably longing for the more temperate climate and laid back atmosphere of his native Florida). But once he hit the couch to chat with MTV News hip-hop editor Shaheem Reid, it was all business. Pain discussed his new album Revolver, the new single "Reverse Cowgirl" and the fantastically odd-sounding musical involving himself and fellow Sunshine State native Rick Ross.

He also weighed in on Lil Wayne's impending jail sentence, noting that the planned "T-Wayne" collaboration project will have to wait until Weezy wraps up his time in the clink. He was down, but in typical Pain fashion, he was able to find the silver lining. "At least he's not gone for 10 years!"

There was one thing that Pain didn't talk about, though. He rolled into the Newsroom with a giant chain (though a smaller one than usual) and his signature sunglasses, but he was not wearing a top hat. Pain has certainly been seen sans chapeau before, but I always thought it was great that he didn't just wear it as a dress-up gimmick — he actually wore those things around. When I worked at music magazine, I thought it was amazing that Pain showed up to a listening session fully hatted. The dude owned it!

At the same time, he's got killer dreads, so it's hard to argue with him showing off his hair. Whatever his choice of headgear, you can bet that we'll be banging Revolver at top volume for most of the summer.

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LMFAO Start A Party, Stage Romney Incident Reenactment In MTV Newsroom

Posted 2/26/10 11:35 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

By Joel Hanek

Electro-funksters LMFAO are slowly taking over everything you know. You can’t escape the dynamic duo of Redfoo and Sky Blu. Not only are these guys are currently supporting the Black Eyed Peas and Ludacris on a nationwide arena tour, but they also have a massive hit with their single with the alcoholic's anthem "Shots" and currently have their songs featured as the main themes for two of the most popular shows on television right now: MTV's hit "Jersey Shore" ("Get Crazy") and the Kardashian-centric spinoff "Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami" ("I'm in Miami Trick").

LMFAO have even begun invading the world of MTV News. When we last left the duo, our very own Sway caught up with the guys in Vancouver at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where they were performing. Shortly after, Sky Blu was involved in a truly bizarre airplane scuffle with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. To get the inside scoop on that incident and further continue their growing rad bromance, Redfoo and Sky Blu stopped by the NYC MTV offices to chat up Sway once again.

Decked out in their self-designed "Party Rock" attire, LMFAO entertained the Sway and the crew with their antics and dramatic reenactments of the Mitt Romney incident (or as they like to call it: "The Vulcan Death Grip Incident"). In the video, you can see the guys perform a slow-motion retelling of the now infamous airplane conflict between Sky Blu and Mitt Romney (with the part of Mitt Romney being played by Redfoo). Although what depicted is not an accurate portrayal of the events that occurred, it certainly is entertaining.

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