At the taping of the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards on Wednesday night (November 18), there were a handful of memorable moments that captured both the madcap energy of the show and the envelope-pushing nature of the artists involved. There was the near-nudity of Matt and Kim's backup singers, the curse-happy introduction Mary-Louise Parker gave for the Dead Weather and Asher Roth's stage dive. One of the most head-turning moments of the night came when Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte — otherwise known as 3OH!3 — stepped onto the stage to present the Left Field Woodie (which ended up going to fiercely independent rapper Tech N9ne).

The pair were introduced and appeared on the stage at the Roseland Ballroom wearing two outfits that Lady Gaga wore at the Video Music Awards back in September. Foreman donned the strange white bird's nest outfit, while Motte was wrapped in that full-body red lace stocking (which he described as "a soiled pair of panties" on his face). "We're here to present the Left Field Woodie," said Foreman.

"It honors the artists out there with the balls to make the music that they want to make," Motte added. "To write lyrics that others are afraid to write."

"To dress up with a f---ing bird's nest on your face," Foreman concluded.

The band didn't seem particularly comfortable in the Gaga-inspired threads, though the outfits were definitely an improvement over Foreman's cardigan sweater. You can see the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards in their entirety when the show airs on December 4 at 10 p.m. on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU.

A week ago, a group of David Archuleta fans surprised me (and my co-workers) with a stream of goodies, from flowers to gourmet cupcakes to Kenny G Christmas albums.

Kris Allen fans decided to take a page from "Teen Witch" and play "Top That," metaphorically speaking. The result was a delicious early birthday cake that read "Happy Birthday Jim! #KrimForever."

Since Krim (the nickname Kris Allen gave our little tag team) was about to have another playdate in the form of an interview, I figured I should wait for Mr. Allen's arrival before I dug in. This caused a lot of angry sighs from my mooching co-workers (who now act way too entitled when it comes to tasty treats from "Idol" fans, if you ask me).

After Kris spoke about his fantastic new CD (in stores now), it was time to indulge! Now if only we had silverware.

Watch the video below to watch Krim devour the cakey goodness in a particularly animalistic way.

Thanks again Kris Allen fans! Archie fans need to step up their game if they want to be back in the running for the "Sweetest Ever" title! (Just kidding! You all win! Please stop sending gifts! Save your money for "Idol" CDs!)

"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is out in theaters now, and is already breaking records and attracting all sorts of fervor about the ending, whether it's better than the first film and what the possibilities are for "Eclipse" (which is set to release in June of 2010 but is already being buzzed about in the "Twilight" fan community). The "New Moon" soundtrack has also been tearing up the Billboard album chart, selling half a million copies in only five weeks of release on the back of Death Cab for Cutie's excellent, moody new single "Meet Me on the Equinox." The rock-centric soundtrack also features tunes by Muse, Thom Yorke, the Killers, OK Go, Editors, Band of Skulls and Grizzly Bear. It's an excellent batch of songs that compliments the film about as well as a soundtrack can, making it the perfect companion piece.

But here in the MTV Newsroom, we like things to be just a little bit louder, which is why we've put together a "New Moon" video playlist that packs a little extra adrenaline and gives the werewolf and vampire love story an added bit of punch. AC/DC's "If You Want Blood (You Got It)" provides a little bit of blood-sucking thump, while the squall of Mudhoney's "Suck You Dry" will psych you up for your next vampire baseball game. Ozzy Osbourne is there, of course, because he likes to "Bark at the Moon." And what song better describes the eternal Edward Cullen than Bruce Springsteen's "Dead Man Walkin'"?

Check out the complete video playlist below, starting with Lita Ford's "Kiss Me Deadly," which sums up the spirit of "New Moon" about as well as an '80s metal star could.

November 4, 2009. A date that will forever live in infamy — at least for "American Idol" winner Kris Allen's 100,000 Twitter followers. That's the fateful day when Kris' Twitter name changed from the endearingly sassy "@KrisAllen4Real" to the simple, direct "@krisallen."

When Kris Allen (for real) stopped by earlier this week to chat about his major label debut (in stores now), I wanted to get to the bottom of Kris' online switcheroo. Is he fake now? Is it some elaborate "Paul is Dead"-esque hoax that will reveal itself in trippy songs and future album covers? Does his online persona feel like a five character weight has been lifted from his shoulders?

What follows is a funny discussion of why "4Real" existed in the first place, an analysis of the "other" Kris Allen rocking out in cyberspace and a glorious gifting ceremony in which MTV News gives Kris a little token so he'll never forget how "4Real" he is. In your face, J. Lo!

Do you miss Kris Allen's old Twitter name? Would you like to see a Kris Allen supergroup featuring Southern Thunder and a sax player? And yikes, should we have gotten him a size small instead? Leave a comment below.

Attention all Kradison fans! Want your favorite Season 8 "Idol" star's autograph? MTV News and Elle magazine can hook you up!

In honor of the December issue of Elle — which features a three-page spread starring Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta — MTV News is holding a contest to find the #1 fan for each contestant. How can you show your level of fandom?

Easy! Pick up a copy of Elle, read Joey Zee's "A to Zee" column about each contestant's sense of style and do your best to replicate your fave's fashion in your own photo!

Are you gaga for Glambert? Flat-iron your hair, bust out the eyeliner and squeeze into your tightest leather pants. Are you a Krisbert? Rock the plaid and unbutton your shirt to dangerous depths. Or is Allison Iraheta your #1? You'll need a fiery red mane and an aura of general awesomeness.

Keep in mind we're not looking for exact copies of the photos in the Elle spread. Be creative! Whoever captures the essence of their favorite singer will be handsomely rewarded.

With what you ask? Three winners (one for each contestant) will each receive a copy of Elle signed by their favorite "Idol." The Kris fan will get a John Hancock from Kris, the Adam fan will get a signature from the Fierce One and the #1 Allison follower will get a copy signed by Her Royal Rockness.

Here's how you enter: Go to Your.MTV.com, create an account (if you haven't done so already) and then upload your photo! The deadline for submission is November 30, 2009 at Noon EST. I'll be going through the pics and selecting a winner personally, so make them fun, friends!

The contest is officially underway, so Kradison krazies, get your dress-up on now!

Right now, this very second, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is playing at a theater near you. Perhaps you're going to see it tonight. Perhaps you're taking the afternoon off to see it. Perhaps you're a true devotee and you've seen it already. Twice. No matter what your level of enthusiasm is, one thing is for certain: The story of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan has captured the imaginations of millions, and the hunger for the continuation of the films is real. It's telling that one of the most searched-for items on the Internet this morning had to do with the release date of "Eclipse," the already-completed third film in the "Twilight" series (for those curious, it's June 30, 2010, so feel free to get in line now).

The anticipation over "New Moon" has hit a fever pitch this week, with stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner making the rounds on talk shows and late night programs all week. In fact, all three of them will be on tonight's episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Also appearing on tonight's episode? Death Cab for Cutie, who are fresh off their excellent performance at Wednesday night's Woodie Awards taping. Their new single "Meet Me on the Equinox" is the lead track from the soundtrack to "New Moon." Sadly, after all the anticipation over where the song would appear in the film, it only runs over the credits). Still, the video is a delightfully moody piece, full of neo-goth foreboding that perfectly matches the song's dreamy melody.

By Rya Backer

Being an MTV employee has its perks: Access to concerts, meeting famous people you like, spending your day just yards away from Tim Kash. But the greatest gift MTV has given its workers is a large room on the seventh floor with a balcony the length of half a city block. It may look like little more than a cafeteria, but it's called the Lodge, and sometimes it's like a second home.

For those at 1515 Broadway, the Lodge has become the place to eat in midtown Manhattan. The staff is friendly, there's an amazing mac and cheese station, and most importantly, they have a wing bar every Friday which has made me gain approximately 40 pounds solely because of my blue cheese dressing intake.

So when my co-worker Steven and I hit the red carpet for the grand opening of the American Eagle store across the street from our building in Times Square, we had the chance to talk to fellow MTV-er Adrienne Bailon for her thoughts on the corporate canteen.

It turns out that while she enjoys some of its offerings ("I'm actually a fan of the pizza section and the sandwiches. I'm really into that," she told us), she's a bigger fan of Times Square Bagel, a hole-in-the-wall, mom-and-pop store right across the stree. I can order from there every single morning when I'm in hair and makeup," she revealed. "I order a bagel every morning. I try to go pumpernickel. It's less carbs."

Check out the clip below. And seriously Adrienne: I'm on 29, and any time you get bored of wearing that top, I'll happily take it off your hands.

Dear Adam Lambert,

I am so sorry about last night. My co-worker, Larry Carroll, asked if you were ticklish on the Us Weekly "Hot Hollywood" red carpet. And then things got awkward. It's all my fault.

Here's what happened.

Yesterday afternoon, my boss emailed me to say that you and Kris Allen were scheduled to walk the Us Weekly red carpet event, and that I should send Larry some questions. Given that you and I are scheduled for a sit-down interview next week (can't wait, by the way!) I didn't want to give Larry all my questions, so I jokingly emailed, "Ask Adam if he's ticklish. I'm just kidding. Don't really ask that."

Well, Larry apparently took me seriously, because he opened his interview by saying "Jim Cantiello wants to know if you're ticklish."

"That's a little creepy, Jim," you said. "I think it's a private fantasy of his. I'm unaware of it."

If you need me, I'll be crawling into a hole and dying.

Dude, I assure you I'm not a creep. I don't have tickle fantasies.

In any case, I can't wait to talk to you about your excellent new album next week. And I promise that you will realize as soon as you meet me again that I'm not a psycho, and that this whole tickle thing was a big, silly misunderstanding.

Best of luck at the American Music Awards this Sunday. And whatever you do, do not watch this episode of "Tweet Beat."

Professionally,

Jim Cantiello
MTV News "American Idol" Expert

Considering how many chart-topping albums he has had and the number of smash singles he has released, it's amazing to think that Jay-Z has never had a song top the Billboard Hot 100, the definitive pop songs chart. That changed this morning, as his "Empire State of Mind" took the top spot in its tenth week of release. The track, which of course features a memorable hook care of Alicia Keys, picked up a ton of radio airplay in the wake of the New York Yankees' World Series win (the team ended up adopting it as a victory anthem). Meanwhile, "Run This Town," the first single from The Blueprint 3, remains in the top 20.

While it does mark the first time Jigga has had one of his own songs at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, it's not the first time his name has been associated with the top spot. He has been a guest on three other number one tunes: Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker," Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" and Rihanna's "Umbrella." Keys is no stranger to the summit of the pop mountain either, as she has had two of her own songs hit the top spot ("Fallin'" and "No One") as well as another collaboration ("My Boo," with Usher).

Elsewhere on this week's Hot 100, Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" jumped seven spots up the chart to #11, which suggests that it should bust into the top 10 the same week that her The Fame Monster gets its official release. Other big gainers included 50 Cent's "Baby by Me" and the version of "Defying Gravity" as performed by Chris Colfer and Lea Michele from "Glee."

When the 1980s came to a close, there were a handful of artists who had established themselves as definitive contributors to the decade's musical palette. Names like Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Michael Jackson became synonymous with changing the direction of popular music in the decade of decadence. A strong late bloomer (but still a powerful contender), U2 were also mentioned alongside those greats. Their '80s output (especially 1987's The Joshua Tree) cemented them as not only a group who could fill stadiums with their soaring anthems but who were also pushing the envelope musically and socially. Of all the great groups from the '80s, U2 managed to evolve both the fastest and the best, and they proved it on this day in 1991 when they released Achtung Baby. The 12 song collection was recorded at least partially in Berlin, Germany, in the wake of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and blew out U2's sound to include elements of dance music, industrial rock and the glowing, humming ambient tones of co-producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. While it seemed like U2 were on top of the world, Achtung Baby elevated them to new heights, inspired the massive "Zoo TV" stadium tour and helped usher in the era of alternative rock. (U2 don't get enough credit for making arty experimentation seem like pop music.)

Though the rest of the '90s were not nearly as triumphant for U2 (they battled both fans and critics on the even-further-reaching albums Zooropa and Pop), they remain one of the great shape-shifting international rock bands, and despite having 30 years of experience under their collective belt, they still feel vital today. Break out your copy of Achtung Baby and marvel at how well it has aged. Start with "Even Better Than the Real Thing."