By MTV News interns
Hey everyone, we're back with our update on what we've been up to this week! Like last week, it was filled with excitement and the opportunity to meet several celebrities.
On Tuesday, we were invited to attend a CD release party for Bow Wow, so a couple of us went to check it out and had a blast. We also got to go along to a shoot at the London Hotel for The City star Whitney Port. And, one of us was lucky enough to tag along to an interview with rapper Rick Ross at New York's Philippe restaurant — we'll have more on that next week!
When we weren't involved with the more glamorous side of the job, we were busy writing blogs, brainstorming story ideas and helping the staff in any way we can. Next week we have a whole lot to look forward to (sorry, it's confidential information!), so be sure to check out next week's edition!
Meet the Interns
» Talia Manzo - Seton Hall University (South Orange, New Jersey)
» Kathleen Newman-Bremang - Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario)
» Angelique Smith - Marymount Manhattan College (New York)
» Nicole Tahan - Kean University (Union, New Jersey)
» Jenna Talavera - St. John's University (Queens, New York)
» Lindsay Wallace - Pace University (New York)
» Matt Wenzel - Queens College (Flushing, New York)
» Melanie Wolfson - Rutgers University (New Brunswick, New Jersey)
By Angelique Smith
Last night at Santos Party House, I was expecting to cover Bow Wow's album release party for New Jack City II. That's it — nothing else. I expected the press line, celebs, screaming girls and an excited Bow Weezy celebrating the release of his seventh album. Little did I know that this would bring me back to my first concert: the Scream Tour.
Yes, I am admitting it — I am a Bow Wow fan! And last night took me back to being a giddy fan, singing his hits word for word, blending in with the 12- to 16-year-olds screaming at the top of their lungs. "Hair nappy but I'm happy/ Pocket full of dough/ From the C.O., representing So-So!" I will admit that it was worth the wait, after freezing for hours before his arrival.
I just might have to go dust off my Bow Wow posters and bring out my Beware of Dog album and sing along like I did last night, taking part in the New Jack City II fan phenomenon. When he releases his eighth album, I might just have to be one of the many standing in line screaming, "I love Bow Wow!" We will see. But for now, I have been exposed!
By Angelique Smith
Bow Wow has never been a stranger to MTV. With more than six albums under his belt and now progressing into what he surprisingly loves the most — acting — Bow Wow has certainly grown up right before our eyes.
I was able to tag along on a shoot for the 21-year-old heartthrob to discuss his latest projects, learned lessons through past endeavors and future goals as an artist. And while one may think that this guy is still rather young and hardly matured, I was surprised by his eloquent and well-thought-out responses. (I like how being an MTV News intern offers you the chance to see that these celebrity figures are actually real people. As Bow Wow would say, "We put on our pants the same way you do.")
All in all, I was taken aback by his respectful and mature response to the Chris Brown and Rihanna domestic situation. He said that he, too, had been in a highly publicized relationship and knows how hard that can be, even without the situation CB and Rih Rih face. He wants both to recover from this downfall and get back on top of doing what he, Chris and Rihanna love to do and do best — and that's make music. He sees both of them as friends and good people, and he respects them enough to give them the proper space that is needed for this comeback to happen.
Wow, Bow-Weezy has in fact come into his own and shows it well.
On the new Web show "MTV Detox," our pop-culture superfan Jim Cantiello recaps the wildest happenings from the network's prime-time programming. Stream the show on your mobile phone and on MTV.com. New episodes air Sunday-Thursday at 11 p.m. ET.
On Wednesday night's "Detox," Jim tries to make friends with Real Worlder Sarah by making her a lighthouse, but once again Sarah refuses his advances. It might be best for Jim that they don't become friends, because that "Real World: Brooklyn" house is a total pigsty! Plus, with friends like Bow Wow stopping by, who needs Sarah? To see which "Real World" castmember does a killer Madea impersonation, check out "Detox."
By Conor Bezane
It was complete and utter chaos as Bow Wow brought his Walk Across America tour to New York City on Friday. MTV News hung out with the rapper for seven hours (most of it on foot) to cover the event, designed to encourage young people to vote.
Our day with Bow Wow started at Long Island University in downtown Brooklyn, where he spoke to students about why it's more important than ever to vote. In a short interview on campus, he told us that the economy is the number-one issue because the recession is affecting young peoples' daily lives. "I want [students] to feel comfortable when they go to class and not have to worry about no student loans, no credit, no high gas prices," he said.
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Wow, Bow. Of all the artists whose careers I've had the pleasure of watching blossom over the years, I think Bow Wow definitely trips me out the most. I met him back in 1999 or 2000, way before I even started working at MTV. I was an editor at Vibe magazine, and Jermaine Dupri was pitching him to be featured in a section I handled called "Next," devoted to up-and-coming acts.
I had a couple of miscues while trying to tell the world whom to look out for (Kobe Bryant as a rap star? Ehhhhck!). But I had successful calls, too (Jessica Simpson, 50 Cent, Pink, who introduced me to my favorite restaurant). Some, like then-Lil' Bow Wow, were easier to predict than others. At 12 or 13, homie had so much swagger (his iced-out Mickey Mouse pendant was sick) and was so charming, you knew he was going to be big.
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· Tommy Lee is getting animated as the star of "The Life and Times of Jimmy Jaxx," where he voices a rocker who is constantly distracted when his tattoos come to life and try to lead him down the wrong path. That's right, Tommy, blame the ink.
· Bow Wow is going to chill on the rapping for a while to focus on acting. He's joined the cast of "Entourage" and will play a New Orleans high school baller in "Patriots."
· We love the Flaming Lips, but lending your song about fighting repressive government authority and fearing nuclear annihilation to a salad dressing commercial? Hmm.
· Former "American Idol" contestant Luke Menard, 29, has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Doctors found a mass behind his heart and removed a node from under his collarbone, but they say his odds for survival are good.
· What's it take to get a private two-song concert from Madonna? Try $500,000, which is how much she raised on Thursday during a charity auction for the AIDS charity amfAR.
