Welcome to the weekly Newsroom Poll, where we will give you a sneak peek into the lives and minds of some of the correspondents, writers, editors and producers here at MTV News. Every week, they'll answer a poll question that will reveal some of what we talk about behind the scenes here in the newsroom. Enjoy!
There's been a lot of talk about Taylor Momsen and her band the Pretty Reckless in the Newsroom this week. Who does the band most remind us of? Are they any good? And will Momsen have to fight off Courtney Love? But mostly it made us think about other actors who have tried their hand at music. So this week's question is: What is the best — or worst — actor-turned-musician transition? Read the Newsroom's answers below, then leave your own thoughts in the comments.
Kyle Anderson
This is one of those debates that gets me into trouble and forces people to question my rock critic membership card, because I tend to think that these projects are never as bad as people think. I thought Scarlett Johansson's collection of Tom Waits tunes was actually pretty good, and I've always had a little weak spot for Bruce Willis' blues album. But the one person who stands out for me is Zooey Deschanel, who teamed up with M. Ward for one of my favorite albums of last year as She & Him. I don't care for Deschanel as an actress (she sort of reminds me of Katie Holmes on "Dawson's Creek," where her entire acting range consists of looking vaguely spacey and adjusting her hair), but the things that bother me about her in movies totally hit home on record. Sure, the album blatantly borrows from Dusty Springfield and any number of country balladeers, but her voice is simple and the songs are unfussy and sweet. (I don't even mind her in that cotton ad that plays before videos on this site). The thought of seeing "500 Days of Summer" makes me want to stab my cuticles repeatedly with knitting needles, but "This Is Not a Test" and "Sentimental Heart" are in constant rotation on my iPod.
Read more...
By Rya Backer
Hey, ladieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! (And the rest of you.) We've got a bunch of stories today, and just a few happen to be about some of our favorite females.
Did you see Lady Gaga and her piano made of bubbles last night on "American Idol"? Well, the 23-year-old pop princess made news yesterday when her first two singles, "Just Dance" and newer hit "Poker Face," both reached #1. The last artist to do the same was Christina Aguilera (who's copying whom now?). Our very own Jocelyn Vena gave us the rundown on Gaga's best looks.
Speaking of looks, Zooey Deschanel and Katy Perry share a certain retro aesthetic, and the actress has had about enough of the comparisons.
Watch the video, have a great day and keep checking back in!
It's no secret that many citizens of indie-dom quietly wept on December 29, when it was revealed that quirky-cute actress/singer Zooey Deschanel was officially off the market, getting engaged to Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard.
In the wake of the announcement, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth ... riots broke out in cities across the country (especially in Portland). It was bad. In fact, it's gotten so ugly that it appears Zooey and Ben have finally been forced to take action. In order to escape the indie world's wrath, they're moving their wedding to the most remote spot possible: the Moon. Read more...
For about eight hours on Monday, AFI bassist Hunter Burgan was engaged to actress Zooey Deschanel.
At least, that's the way In Touch Weekly reported things yesterday morning, erroneously writing that the couple had gotten engaged during the holidays and that they were "so excited" to spend the rest of their lives together. It all sounded very lovely — if not a little bit odd — but it wasn't true.
As we know by now, Deschanel did get engaged over the holidays, but it wasn't to Burgan — rather, Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard (a source close to the couple confirmed the news to MTV Monday afternoon. Needless to say, it was fairly awkward, and not just because Burgan had reportedly dated Deschanel in the past. In Touch would soon correct the mistake, but that did little to stem the tide of reports that Burgan was betrothed. Read more...
by Matt Elias
While we were on the set of Zooey Deschanel's upcoming flick "500 Days of Summer," in which she co-stars with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, we couldn't resist asking Zooey some questions about our favorite guy-girl group, She & Him. The group, if you're not aware, pairs singer-actress Deschanel with indie folk darling M. Ward, and the duo's disc, Volume One, was released this spring.
When we last spoke with Zooey, she told us a video for "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" was in its early stages of planning — only sketches really. Well, Wednesday she confirmed that the video, directed by Ace Norton, is in the can and will be available soon. The live-action video is in post-production and being buttoned up with some visual effects.
In between her hectic schedule, she said she's been "writing a lot of material" for the next She & Him album, Volume Two. Zooey hopes to get in the studio with M. Ward later this fall to record it for release sometime next year. While the tracks haven't been laid down yet, she tells us that the album might be a sonic departure from Volume One.
"It's going to be different, but I'm not sure yet," she said. "We haven't recorded it, but I think it always comes out of the moment organically. That's the way we both like to work. I'm assuming that something different will come out, but maybe it'll be similar."
If you can't wait that long for the next She & Him effort, you can catch the band as they embark on their first proper tour next month, starting July 23 in Toronto, Ontario.
