MTV Newsroom › Behind The Scenes

Jay-Z, LeBron James, Jerry Jones Highlight Memorable NBA All-Star Weekend In Dallas

Posted 2/16/10 5:15 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Sports

By Rahman Dukes

The 2009-10 NBA All-Star Weekend was another one for the record books. At the various NBA-related functions, loads of young folks came out for the nightly parties that were hosted from everyone from Drake to TNT commentator and former player Kenny "The Jet" Smith. In just two days, we found ourselves in the company of LeBron James, Diddy, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the king of rap, Jay-Z. Not bad, eh?

I'm not a plane guy, so our horrific travel getting into Dallas will damn near forbid me from ever getting on a runway again. But it was all worth it.

I got a clear direction from our boss prior to our trip outta town: Deliver!

We attended the annual "Two Kings" dinner, where my crew pretty much owned the red carpet. It was amazing to see Jerry Jones' reaction to our knowledge of sports. Even New Edition's Mike Bivins, who was commentating for NBA TV, had nothing on my colleague Shaheem Reid.

Jay-Z came right in and acknowledged us. "I gotta talk to this boy right here, look at his Scooby Doos" Jay said in regards to Sha's stellar suit. "What up, boy?" Hov said to me with a nod. I couldn't keep a smile off my face that evening, which included a wave from NBA great Earvin "Magic" Johnson (with Cookie in tow) and a nice talk with New Jersey Nets General Manager Rod Thorn (who was probably in town to convince some of NBA brass to salvage his career in Jersey, where they own a wonderful 4-47 record this year). Later that night, we ran into Ray J at the Play N Skillz party where the fun continued.

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to watch the NBA All-Star Game at what is potentially the dopest stadium in the world: Jerry Jones' new toy, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. I didn't know what was better to watch: The biggest Jumbotron in the world (it's a staggering 11,520 square feet) or the All-Stars themselves.

That evening we wrapped up our All-Star experience with Texas rap legend Bun B. Bun's a good friend who came out to party with Play N Skillz who had other guests at their affair including Amber Rose. Before the end of the night Bun handed me a bottle of Rosé and said "That's how you do it in Texas." For sho, big homey. I couldn't agree more.

Shouts out to to the NBA, the city of Dallas and Jerry Jones for an amazing All-Star Weekend. I think my boss will be pleased with what we got.

Photo: Cynithia Allen

Tags , , ,

Sarah Silverman Talks Cleavage, Serenades An Elevator In MTV News' Outtakes

Posted 2/11/10 11:00 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Television

Last year, MTV News' Josh Horowitz chatted with "Get Him to the Greek" star and Video Music Awards host Russell Brand in one of the elevators here at MTV News headquarters in Times Square. It went so well that Horowitz decided to give the idea another spin, this time with actress and comedian Sarah Silverman. The pair talked about a multitude of topics, from Silverman's thoughts on "American Idol" to her approach on the third season of her show "The Sarah Silverman Program."

Of course, there are certain pitfalls to hanging out and talking to an acerbic television star in an elevator. For one thing, there are other people. For another, there's the constant shift in elevation (which caused Silverman's ears to pop). Those same elevation shifts also apparently had quite an effect on Silverman's cleavage, which seemed to frustrate her. "Sorry about my heaving breasts," she told Horowitz.

But that wasn't all. There were also discussions about Jesus, an encounter with a gentleman named "Squeeze" and a prolonged lullaby that Silverman sang. Take a look at all the outtakes culled from one of the more interesting conversations in recent MTV News history. Enjoy the video below, where you can not only discover the inside of the elevators here at 1515 Broadway (so glamorous!) but also catch a cameo by our very own Sway at the end.

Tags ,

James Van Der Beek: No Longer Dawson, Yet Always Dawson

Posted 2/8/10 6:10 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

I did not get my picture taken with James Van Der Beek.

That probably needs some context, so let me back up. Last week, word came down that James Van Der Beek would be stopping into the MTV Newsroom for an interview. He has a new film coming out called "Formosa Betrayed" and was just introduced as a character on the NBC medical drama "Mercy," and MTV News pop writer Jocelyn Vena would be sitting down with him for a few minutes on Monday morning.

I immediately got excited, because I'm a gigantic fan of "Dawson's Creek," and have always thought of Van Der Beek as the most underrated of all the '90s teen heartthrobs (mostly for his many TV guest spots, as well as his performance in "The Rules of Attraction"). Even though I wasn't conducting the interview, I wanted to sit in on it and snap a few photos.

My relationship to "Dawson's Creek" is multi-layered. I was in the target demographic when the show premiered in 1998. I was about to turn 16 and had read a ton of articles about the buzz surrounding the debut of the show. I was excited: Here was a program that was going to be pitched at teenagers that talked frankly about issues (but mostly about sex) without dumbing down the dialogue.

Naturally, I got hooked. I still have VHS tapes stored at my parents house that contain original broadcast episodes of the first and second seasons of "Creek" (for some reason, I was never home on the night it aired). I followed the escapades of Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen as they navigated the murky waters of high school. It seems utterly sterile now when you compare it to something like "Gossip Girl," but "Dawson's Creek" was really edgy at the time, opening up conversations about sexuality and social morays. What was even better? Those conversations were being conducted in the show's trademark elevated dialogue.

But despite the relationship dramas and soapy plots, the best thing about "Dawson's Creek" was that, generally, nothing ever happened. Read More...

Tags , ,

'My Life As Liz' Star Liz Lee Finds Her Fame 'Insane'

Posted 2/8/10 5:15 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Television

There are very few of us in this world that know what it's like to be a trend on Google. But "My Life as Liz" star Liz Lee knows exactly what that is like. When her show premiered on MTV last month, the following day she ended up being a top trend on Google. She was even a trending topic on Twitter.

So, what has that been like for Liz, who is otherwise an anonymous art student in New York City? To be blunt, her fame has been kind of insane.

"It's the most amazing feeling, it really is, to know that you have people on your side now," she said about finding out that being TV's newest underdog has made her quite popular with fans. "It's a complete flip-flop in the best way."

As for being a Google trend, she added, "It was crazy! On Monday [last month] 'My Life as Liz' was the number one Google search for like hours. That was insane. That was the most amazing feeling I think I've ever felt to have my producers call me and be like guess what? It just blew me away. It's so surreal. It still kind of feels like it isn’t happening and we were a trending topic on twitter that was insane. It was so amazing. That's awesome. I'm really stoked."

"My Life as Liz" airs Monday nights at 10:30 on MTV. Stay tuned to MTV Newsroom and MTV News for more on Lee and her show!

Tags , ,

The Super Bowl Experience: Music, Stars And Also A Football Game

Posted 2/8/10 10:30 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

By Deanna Caligiuri

When my best friend asked me to be her plus-one to this year's Super Bowl in Miami, I quickly agreed. When I told her I would fly down the day before, she quickly opposed that idea. "Honey, you need to get here sooner," she told me. "It's not just the Super Bowl, it's all about the Super Bowl experience."

I quickly found out exactly what those "experiences" were. They included ESPN parties with performances by Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo and attended by everyone from Black Eyed Peas to Nick Lachey and Vanessa Manillo. Jermaine Dupri and Will.I.Am got on the mic for some impromptu performances at the after parties while Rihanna looked on from VIP.

"The Hills" stars Brody Jenner, Audrina Patridge and Kristen Cavallari traipsed all over in skimpy bathing suits and oversized shades. There were photo ops with athletes I knew (like Hines Ward; go Steelers!) and ones I didn't (Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow).

Has it always been this way? A whole weekend full of events overrun with more reality stars and celebrities than athletes? People pushing athletes out of the way to snag a photo of Drew Lachey? The mayhem of the weekend made me forget that on Sunday there was an actual football game to attend. In the end, Weezy got to witness the Saints take home their first championship and I got to take home a hoarse voice, ton of pics and an incredible "experience."

(Click here for more photos from ESPN the Magazine's NEXT event, featuring the Black Eyed Peas, Jermaine Dupri, Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo!)

Tags , , , , , ,

Joel David Moore Of 'Avatar' Says There Is No Santa Claus

Posted 1/29/10 12:21 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Movies

By Dana Kasser

He was obviously joking, right? Joel David Moore compared the "Avatar blues" to the likes of Old Saint Nick, being that the two worlds of Pandora and the North Pole are in fact fantasies (sorry kiddies). Needless to say, it stirred up some laughs in the studio when Moore stopped by to chat with MTV News to talk about what is now the most successful movie of all time. I'm not going to lie: I was a little depressed not the seven-feet-tall Na'vi version of Moore walk in.

In the world of Pandora, I will be the first to say that archeologist Norm Spellman (Moore) was not my favorite character. But back in the real world Moore just may be my favorite person of the week.

You would think that being one of the stars in the biggest movie of all time right now might go to a person's head, but Moore was totally down to earth (no pun intended). He cracked jokes with everyone in the room, and when talking about "Avatar," Moore stated he felt "blessed to be apart of it."

While watching him, I couldn't help but think about some of his older hits such as "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" and "Grandma's Boy." He isn't given much opportunity to be funny in "Avatar," but he has carved out a career being quite the character, and he livened up the room with his unique energy and humor.

Want to know more about "Avatar," including some news about the sequel? Stay tuned to MTV News.

Tags ,

Matt Morris Unplugs For Intimate MTV News Performances

Posted 1/28/10 1:41 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Music

By Akshay Bhansali

It's been almost a week since the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon, and it may be fair to say that viewers have resoundingly picked their favorite song. Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris have held the top spot on the iTunes singles chart with their powerful rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" since the Hope for Haiti Now compilation album dropped earlier this week.

Not a bad way to introduce an artist, JT (Matt is signed to Justin's Tennman labell). Morris' debut record When Everything Breaks Open dropped a few weeks ago, and MTV News' Steven Roberts and I had a chance to catch up with the Denver, Colorado-based recording artist to talk about the album and his plans for the future.

Matt hasn't gotten around to picking a lead single from his album yet — in fact, he has found fans are responding equally well to a few of his songs (namely "Love," "The Un-American" and "Money," which features a guest spot from Timberlake), he has kept his options open. But he was kind enough to grace us with a performance of two songs when he stopped by Newsroom a few weeks back. Enjoy "The Un-American" and "Love," and be sure to stay tuned to MTV News for more on Morris' budding career.

Tags , , ,

'Hope For Haiti Now' Turns Superstars Into Fans, MTV's Tim Kash Reveals

Posted 1/23/10 1:10 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Haiti

You know you're in for a special night when you spot a former president speaking with the Boss and the Material Girl.

Just before President Clinton joined MTV News backstage to talk about Haiti's rebuilding process, he ducked into Bruce Springsteen's rehearsal of "We Shall Overcome."

Afterward, Clinton and Springsteen stood center stage catching up. Seconds later, Madonna joined into the conversation. I was off in the wings. Still, can you imagine being a fly on the wall for that one?


From what I could see, President Clinton did most of the talking, but both stars listened intently. (I imagine those roles pretty much reverse in their regular lives.)
Read More...

Tags , , , , ,

The MTV News Team In Haiti: Help Can't Come Fast Enough

Posted 1/22/10 4:32 pm EST by in Behind The Scenes, Haiti

MTV News has a team of reporters in Haiti to chronicle the recovery effort in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake. We are following their journey via e-mails, tweets, BBMs and video in the lead-up to Friday night's "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" telethon, which will air on MTV and dozens of other networks at 8 p.m. ET

Suchin Pak, 2:06 p.m., Thursday (January 21): "Today we got away from the safety and order of the military and saw what the city looks like. On one end of the runway are the U.S. Joint Forces and as you walk down the long tarmac you eventually reach the UN compound. Neither could get us out to an aid distribution center. So, with a tip from a reporter, we headed out of the airport in the hope of reaching a large tent city he had just come from. I didn't even have my passport, but we took the chance and found a driver.

"Pierre, a 30-year-old Haitian who spoke English, drove us into town. You've probably seen on TV what the buildings look like here, but the overwhelming question is what to do with the people who are wandering around, looking for work, food, water and missing relatives. As we neared a hospital, Pierre handed me his facemask and warned me about the risk of tuberculosis [and other airborne diseases]. He wrapped his shirt around his head and we got out to see what the scene was like.
Read More...

Tags , ,

MTV News Team In Haiti: Boots On The Ground

Posted 1/22/10 9:15 am EST by in Behind The Scenes, Haiti

MTV News has a team of reporters in Haiti to chronicle the recovery effort in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake. We are following their journey via e-mails, tweets, BBMs and video in the lead-up to Friday night's "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" telethon, which will air on MTV and dozens of other networks at 8 p.m.

Suchin Pak, 6:35 p.m. Thursday (January 21): "We have finally landed in Haiti. We arrived on a helicopter filled with MREs (meals ready to eat), but with barely any seats. It's controlled chaos here. I've talked to soldiers who have been moving medical supplies all through the night: gauze, medicine and tools.

"While the operation to distribute water and MREs halts when the sun goes down because of security concerns, the medical units work through the night. We were allowed into the surgical tent and saw first hand what an injury looks like when it has gone untreated for days. Thousands have undergone amputations like this one, and as the surgeon says, 'It's a loss of limb, but not a life.' A large helicopter filled with nurses arrived moments ago and they were told to grab water and find a patch of grass for the night.

"It looks like we'll be sleeping under the stars tonight — or more specifically, on a tarmac at a busy airport. Even water is scarce at this point, so we're conserving as much as we can. I spoke to a young captain in charge of distributing aid via airlifts who arrived last Saturday and he stressed the need for donations of money, not supplies, as it takes more effort to distribute those materials. We go out on our first mission in Haiti tomorrow at first light."

Akshay Bhansali, 7:35 p.m. Thursday: "After a chopper ride to the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Bataan to pick up more MRE's for the troops to hand out, we were on our way to Port-au-Prince. As soon as we hit the Haitian capital's airspace, I found myself harnessed and holding onto my camera for dear life, shooting out of an open bay of the chopper overlooking the city.

"The first thing that struck me was the smell of burning and oxidized structures and ... life. It brought me right back to September 11, 2001, as I made my way out of Tribeca, New York after the towers fell. But this scene surpasses 9/11 in scale by far. Entire sections of residential neighborhoods are leveled. Plumes of smoke are visible from the air and dump trucks and debris-clearing machinery are moving along the roadways. Landing at the airport made me realize just how much energy is being put into the relief efforts here. Three and four helicopters with relief goods and supplies take off at a time. One chopper pilot said they are flying close to 290 flights a day now."

Head here to learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see Think MTV. Join George Clooney and Wyclef Jean for MTV's "Hope for Haiti" telethon, airing commercial-free Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. ET.

Tags , ,

12345678910
SPONSORS
AD:
©2013 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.