'Twilight' Vs. 'Hunger Games': How Do They Compare?

Disclaimer: This is not a story about warring fanbases, nor is it intended to instigate a fan war. This is about how the smashing success of "The Twilight Saga" has led to Hollywood's search for another young-adult mega-franchise and the media's tendency to compare every teen-targeted film to it.

"Twilight" is its own magical, mysterious beast, the overwhelming success of which we will very likely not see replicated anytime soon. While there are indeed similarities between the Stephenie Meyer-created behemoth and other successful franchises like "Harry Potter," they are very, very different.

The latest "Twilight"-vs.-X conversation features the highly anticipated "Hunger Games" movie. In my opinion, there are only two comparable elements: They are both based on very popular young-adult novels and feature two romantic interests for the female protagonist.

MTV News recently posed the comparison question to "Hunger Games" stars Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence, who both said they understand the link.

"I get why people make the connections, because it's a very popular book, especially amongst young people," Hutcherson said. "However, I think it's an entirely different world, and the challenges the characters face are very different."

Those of us who have read both series — and "Potter," for that matter — likely agree with Hutcherson and know they are completely different stories. As long as the greater population at large can accept and understand these differences, I am completely OK with the many comparisons. Just don't lump the two together for the sake of convenience.

The best thing I've seen so far in the "Twilight" and "Hunger Games" comparisons is the fact that Edward Cullen himself, Robert Pattinson, has read "Games" and is just as excited as we are to see the film — in addition to "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," of course.

"I sort of came across it last year, and I didn't realize it was the most enormous thing in the world," Pattinson told Entertainment Weekly last year. "It's good! It will be a good movie."

Now if I can just get a slightly out-of-touch colleague to stop harassing me with "But where are the sparkly vampires?" questions every time a new "Hunger Games" trailer or teaser premieres, I'll feel as though we've made some headway on the subject.

What do you think of the "Twilight" and "Hunger Games" comparisons? Tweet me @karawarner with your thoughts and ideas for future "Twilight" Tuesday columns!

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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'The River': The Reviews Are In!

"The River" carries a sense of pop culture inevitably in its shaky, grainy found-footage escapades. After "Paranormal Activity" resuscitated the horror subgenre with its wide release in 2009 — grossing $193 million worldwide and spawning two sequels and a slew of variously successful imitators — it was only a matter of time until found-footage scares arrived on network TV.

Thankfully, that arrival comes courtesy of "Paranormal" mastermind Oren Peli. "The River," premiering on ABC on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, borrows liberally from Peli's hit film franchise (as well as from past network hits like "Lost") in a midseason replacement that sees a crew venture into the Amazon to locate a missing explorer named Emmet Cole. The question, of course, is whether "The River" can replicate the successes of its wildly popular forbearers (or, perhaps, the been-there-found-that disappointments of other genre copycats).

Critics, at this point, are split. Some have found the series satisfyingly scary. Others have faulted the show's weak character development. For those critiques and more, read on for a deep dive into reviews of "The River."

The Storyline
"['The River'] is a nifty supernatural adventure tale set in mysterious river-riven regions of the uncharted Amazon. Topographically speaking, it is 'Lost' inside-out. The story is this: Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood), a world-beloved, globe-trotting 'Crocodile Hunter' sort, has gone missing. Six months after his disappearance, an emergency beacon begins suddenly transmitting and his former crew and co-stars, including his wife and son and the daughter of his also-missing cameraman, head into the jungle to find him, with TV cameras rolling. Emmet's television catch phrase, 'There's magic out there,' will prove to be presciently literal." — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times

The Comparisons
"There are so many moments in ABC's 'The River' when you want to congratulate its creators for trying a little more blatantly to be 'Lost' than others will admit, and there are other times when you think, 'Wow, 'Paranormal Activity' on a weekly basis, with a touch of 'Heart of Darkness,' might be interesting, too.' Quick camera cuts, people in peril, freaky and scary happenings — what's not to like? Put them together, and you have a series that cobbles together a pretty strong rooting interest. We all need a show like this on the small screen again. But is there really a weekly series here?" — Tom Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter

The Writing
"[W]hen the characters start to talk to each other? 'The River' just feels like one poorly written TV show. 'The River' is swimming in bad dialogue and cliché characters and crammed full of conventional TV incident and fuzzy logic. Too much of it is maddeningly unconvincing." — Hercules, Ain't It Cool News

The Scares
"Many of the best moments of 'The River' are glimpses that flash by quickly; what's more scary than the thing you think you see out of the corner of your eye? Those kinds of atmospheric moments are generally more effective than the bigger set pieces the show attempts with more easily identifiable villains or ghouls. But if you like creepy scares and unsettling happenings, this show keeps them coming with clockwork regularity." — Maureen Ryan, The Huffington Post

The Final Word
"[T]he series' embrace of its narrative style, its creation of such an ominous world and its skill for generating suspense practically out of thin air are all very impressive. And if [Joe] Anderson is annoying, he's surrounded by a good mix of actors, including [Leslie] Hope, [Eloise] Mumford, Greenwood (seen frequently in archival footage of Emmet in happier times) and (as a shady mercenary protecting the Coles) Thomas Kretschmann. And in fairness, sometimes characters in horror stories have to be annoying and/or walking plot devices in order to make the story make any sense at all." — Alan Sepinwall, HitFix

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Fat Joe Debates Drake, Ross And Lil Wayne For 'Hottest MC'

When it comes to MTV's "Hottest MCs in the Game" debate there are no shortage of opinions. Whether through social media or in more intimate social circles like the barbershop , seemingly everyone wants to weigh in and pick rap's #1 MC. Fat Joe, though a successful rapper himself is a fan first, and when it comes to picking the hottest, he has trouble narrowing down his decision to just one.

"I heard a rumor someone told me Lil Wayne ain't on the list," Joe told MTV News during a January interview. "I said, 'They sniff heron over there.' I'm like, 'That's Lil Wayne, man.' "

Well Joe Crack will have to wait until the February 19 airing of "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" on MTV2 to find out whether or not Weezy made the cut, but that didn't stop him from adding his two cents to the debate.

After rattling off Jay-Z, Kanye West, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" as deserving spot holders on the top 10 list, the Terror Squad leader got visibly torn when debating with himself about Drake. "The reason why I wouldn't say Drake [is] #1 — because Drake really is #1 to be honest with you, but the singing and all that," Joe said about the Young Money star.

Since he broke out with 2009's So Far Gone, Drizzy has proven to be equally adept at spitting rap bars and singing harmonies. His skills have made him a complete artist and on his latest album, Take Care, Drake masters the balancing act with tracks that seamlessly blend hip-hop and R&B. Joe compares Drizzy's range with Kanye West's 2008 auto-tuned album 808s & Heartbreak. However, when Yeezy is in strict rap mode, Fat Joe admits to being 'Ye's #1 fan.

"Same thing with Drake, I love his music, I listen to it all the time, but if you would get his music and get someone else who's just as talented as him who use them beats and is goin' crazy like that, then I would pick them," he said.

"I love the singing, but when it's 50 percent singing and 50 percent rap, then I'll take a rap album over any," he continued before finally deciding on his pick for "Hottest MC" — sort of. "For instance, I'll probably just say Rick Ross and I probably bump Drake even more, but I want that ... yeah I need that boom bap."

Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET to catch "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," then watch "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET before capping the night off with "Sucker Free Certified" at 11 p.m. ET.

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Lil Wayne, deadmau5, More To Toast EDM At The Grammys

Get your glow sticks ready for the Grammys: Another fist-pumping performance has been announced for Sunday's show. Previously announced performers Chris Brown and the Foo Fighters will join fellow nominees Lil Wayne and EDM superstars deadmau5 and David Guetta for a genre-busting performance that will highlight dance/electronica music.

This marks the first time the Grammys have shed light on the increasingly popular genre, which has recently seeped into every form of music. The performance will take place in a tent outside Staples Center.

The announcement comes on the same day it was confirmed that Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will head up a tribute to late soul singer Etta James and Nicki Minaj revealed she will perform a spankin'-new track, "Roman Holiday," when she takes the Grammy stage.

MTV News will be on hand at the Grammys for the MTV News Pre-Show, hosted by Sway Calloway and James Montgomery. With so many artists set to appear at the show, including Katy Perry, Drake, Fergie, Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Rihanna, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson and host LL Cool J, stay tuned to our live stream on MTV.com, starting at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, to get all the scoop from all the biggest stars in the music industry.

Kanye West is the night's most-nominated artist, with seven nods for his joint album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, and his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, both of which are up for Rap Album of the Year. West is followed by this year's critical darling, Adele, who is tied with the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nods each. Lil Wayne and dance-music breakout Skrillex each garnered five nods.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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'Amazing Spider-Man' Trailer Delivers Action, Laughs

Now that's the Spider-Man we've been waiting for!

The friendly neighborhood wall-crawler swung into action early Tuesday (February 7) with a brand-new trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man," director Marc Webb's reboot of the flagship Marvel superhero. Although we were afforded the opportunity to see the world from Spidey's own perspective in the last preview — quite literally, in fact — we honestly get an even better sense of what Webb is going for with his take on the "Spider-Man" franchise in this latest spot.

From web-shooters to reptilian rampages, there's a lot to cover in the newest look at "Spider-Man," so MTV Movies Managing Editor Josh Horowitz and MTV Splash Page Editor Josh Wigler used their combined spider-senses to dive into the "Amazing" new trailer.

Swing Away
We've known about the return of Spider-Man's web-shooters for a while now. But knowing and seeing are very different things — and yes, we like what we see, very much! The red-light visual cue of the shooters paired with mechanical sound effects is magic for the eyes and music to our ears. And actually seeing Spidey webbing around New York City — perhaps it's early, but "Amazing" looks to have the best web-slinging of any Spider-Man movie to date.

Lighten Up
Andrew Garfield is funny. Peter Parker is hilarious. But based on the first teaser, we weren't sure that Garfield's Parker would be in on the joke. Well, we were wrong! The "Social Network" actor shows his Spidey knowhow in this new trailer, cracking wise against criminals and spinning them up all the same. "Amazing" looks like a darker Spider-Man than the films we've seen before, sure, but there's room for levity. Garfield seems to fully understand that, and we're tremendously relieved.

The Untold Story
The new secret origin of Peter Parker remains mystifying. It seems that the disappearance of Peter's parents early in his childhood isn't just a peripheral plot point, but perhaps even at the core of how and why Peter becomes Spider-Man. It's a curious move likely to leave both casual and die-hard fans scratching their heads, at least for now. The new trailer doesn't clear things up much, so we'll have to wait until July to see how this mysterious web unravels.

Nolan-esque
Marc Webb gets characters. He gets emotion. Anyone who saw "(500) Days of Summer" knows this. Now we know he gets action as well. Web-slinging aside, the scene of maskless Spidey going toe-to-toe against a pack of cops is a brilliantly executed piece of action and gives us lots of confidence that Webb knows what he's doing in the fisticuffs department. Dare we say it, we even got a "Dark Knight" vibe from that scene.

King Koopa
The Lizard remains a divisive issue, even after this trailer. He's only seen in bits and pieces, but the few glimpses leave something to be desired. Hopefully the final FX work will make a difference. That said, looks aside, the sheer size and scale of the Lizard is something to admire. It holds great potential for some spectacular skyscraping scraps between Spidey and his reptilian nemesis, and we're holding out hope that the epic battles compensate for lackluster creature design.

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Black Keys Tell Story Behind The <i>Other</i> 'Gold On The Ceiling' Video

By now, you've probably seen the Black Keys' new video for "Gold on the Ceiling," which premiered Monday on MTV and is a marked departure from the band's previous efforts, which were heavy on stuff like dancing security guards and Todd Bridges cameos. Mostly because it's a live clip, of course.

Still, that doesn't mean the 'Keys didn't want their latest video to follow in the WTF-worthy tradition of their previous. In fact, they actually shot a second video for the song, one directed by oddball auteur Harmony Korine. And, as they told MTV News immediately following the "Gold on the Ceiling" premiere, that never-before-seen clip is most certainly a Harmony Korine production.

"We did a video with Harmony, but it's not really for 'Gold on the Ceiling,'" frontman Dan Auerbach said.

"Well, it is, sort of," drummer Patrick Carney added.

"It's for whatever music we want to put to it. Pretty much we just let Harmony get self-indulgent, do his thing," Auerbach continued. "Pat and I are dressed up like babies, in onesies, and we're in Baby Björns being carried by giants who have our faces. And he also had the ATL Twins in it. They're these twins who are all Fubu'ed out, but they only have sex with the same girl. They're really strange. They sleep in the same bed together."

So when can fans expect to see the fruits of that Harmony Korine collaboration? Even the 'Keys don't seem to be sure ... Instead, they'd rather talk about their co-stars.

"The ATL Twins, they're 'mirror twins,' they're identical, and one's right-handed and one's left-handed," Carney explained. "And therefore they can only date the same woman and sleep in the same bed."

Interesting. And though the video does sound plenty weird, the 'Keys assured us it is very real ... at least most of it, anyway.

"OK, to be honest, the baby thing is fake," Auerbach laughed."But the ATL Twins part is actually real." Was the Black Keys' "Gold on the Ceiling" video weird enough? Leave your comment below.

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Jay-Z, Nas At Carnegie Hall: A History Of Their Performances

(Jay-Z and Nas perform at Carnegie Hall)

Just hours after Super Bowl XLVI MVP Eli Manning and his gridiron champs touched down on their home turf with the Vince Lombardi trophy in tow, across the water two of New York's rap Giants united for their own night of musical history. Jay-Z successfully pulled off another memorable New York show, this time at the prestigious Carnegie Hall with assistance of his Queensbridge connect, Nas. Keeping the guest appearances to a minimum for the evening, Hov brought out the lil homey for an electrifying performance of his famed anthem, "New York State Of Mind." Jay-Z and Nas' most recent pairing at Carnegie is the latest in a long line of dates the duo have etched in concert halls throughout the Empire State.

1) Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert
Originally percieved as Jay's night to air out his rap associates, the Brooklyn MC actually turned the evening of a supposed bloodbath into a lovefest, ending his long battle with then-nemesis Nas in front of thousands of shocked fans, hinting that a partnership was on the horizon. "All that beef sh--is done, we had our fun," he said. "Let's get this money."

2) The Apollo Theater
Nas hit the West Side Highway exiting at 125th Street for a gig with Jay at one of New York City's landmarks, the Apollo Theater. Celebrating his American Gangster album release, for the first time Jay-Z and Nas performed their collaboration, "Black Republican" together in front of the Harlem audience.

Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

(Jay-Z and Nas at Carnegie Hall)

3) Rock The Bells
The annual summer tour billed with God's Son as the shows headliner was at full throttle in Jones Beach off Long Island when Esco invited out the God MC to join him on the watercraft stage. Backed by a live band, the lyrical tandem performed their song "Success" off Jay's American Gangster album followed by "Black Republican. "Nas, let that bitch breathe," Jay yelled before going into his grumpy verse about being bored with all the spoils that go to the victor. "I used to give a f---, now I give a f--- less/ What do I think of success? It sucks."

4) Nas' Hip-Hop Is Dead Album Release Party
For his first project released under the Def Jam umbrella, Nas ushered in the next era of his career with an album release party at the glitzy Capitale theater joined by then Def Jam CEO, Hov, Fabolous and more.

Tags american gangster, apollo theater, black republican, carnegie hall, hip-hop is dead, Jay-Z, Nas

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'Caged' Stars Bring Their MMA Moves To New York

The stars of MTV's new docu-series "Caged" have been in the ring with some of the fiercest competitors in their league. They've been punched, kicked and even knocked unconscious.

Yet, when two of the stars from the show, Daniel and Matt (a.k.a Danger), visited New York City, we put them up against their toughest competition yet: Me.

That's right, I put Daniel and Danger up to the ultimate challenge of teaching me MMA. After much instruction, I was taught to punch, kick and work my way out of what they call a "schoolyard headlock," which is not as easy as it may look. Even though they assured me I was ready to enter the cage, I think I will leave the fighting up to them.

After our workout, we took Daniel and Danger to the heart of New York: Times Square. Just a few months ago, these two could have never dreamt of leaving their small town of Minden, Louisiana, but as they strolled through Times Square for the first time, these two were both mesmerized as they took in the sights and sounds and their newfound fame.

"It is an adjustment," Daniel said. "I'm dealing with it pretty good, though. It's just trying to get used to people acting like I'm a superstar or something."

Fans might think they know everything about Daniel, but with the fifth episode airing Monday (February 6) at 10 p.m. ET, he is ready for everyone to see a new side.

"I can't wait for the fans to see me being more open," Daniel said. "The honest side of me, because I hate if there's any chance of me being fake. I want to be honest to everybody. I don't like lying to people or being fake, that's one of the biggest things for me."

Danger, who faced his toughest opponent in last week's episode, wants fans to recognize just how much he has developed as a fighter.

"I'm just excited for everybody to see my fights. I worked really hard at this," Danger said. "I love fighting. I take it very seriously. I plan on moving forward with it in the future. I'm really excited for everyone to see my fights and see me grow as a fighter and as a person through the season."

Don't miss "Caged" every Monday at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. For continuing "Caged" coverage, be sure to check in with MTV's Remote Control blog.

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Sebastian Ingrosso 'Like A Proud Father' To Alesso

When MTV News caught up with Swedish House Mafia's Sebastian Ingrosso at Las Vegas' XS Nightclub recently, the DJ/producer was beaming with pride. That's because his mentee, Alesso, a young talent from Sweden, now stands as a formidable star on the rise.

Having dropped a couple of healthy tracks and remixes in 2010, MTV News first previewed the young Alesso's capabilities when SHM launched into his thunderous "Nillionaire" at their beachfront Masquerade Motel party over Miami Music Week last year. Since then, Ingrosso and the SHM camp have personally cultivated the young star into a hit-making wizard — seemingly cooking up undeniable hits with each release and remix.

"Nillionaire," "Dynamite," "Raise Your Head," and the popular DJ set staple "Calling" with Ingrosso remain Alesso's original bombshells of 2011. His remix game is seemingly unparalleled. With his remixes of David Guetta's "Titanium" and SHM's "Save the World," Alesso struck gold. But with his rework of Alex Kenji, Starkillers and Nadia Ali's "Pressure," he created one of the most far-reaching EDM anthems of the year.

In 2012, his continued trajectory seems almost cemented: "Calling" will have a vocal version, and it looks like Alesso, Seb and SHM's Steve Angello will have a hit on their hands with their "Eclipse (Why am I Doing This)."

"I'm so proud of him, and what we've worked on," Seb told MTV News. "The last couple of years have been just crazy. I told him just before the EDC show in Vegas [Electric Daisy Carnival last year], 'I'm going to change your life tonight. Just so you know that.' And he was like, 'What do you mean?' And I said, 'Watch and see.' "

"And after that, it's just been mayhem," Seb continued. "He's been doing so much great music and so many big shows. I'm just so happy for him. I'm like a proud father, you know. I'm just so happy for him."

It seems like fans of Alesso will have plenty of new music to look forward to, and soon. Alesso tweeted Friday (February 3), "I have so many new tracks coming out 2012! So f---ing excited to play them this year!!! Hope you guys are ready!!"

What are you hoping to see from Alesso this year? Leave your comment below!

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Has 'The Voice' Already Re-Signed Christina Aguilera?

We are only two episodes into the second season of "The Voice," and already there is some news about the hit NBC show's third season.

According to TheWrap, Christina Aguilera has signed a contract to continue her stint on the judging panel for a third season of the singing competition. Aguilera is the first of the four judges to ink her deal, a payday for which is supposedly in the $10 million realm.

TheWrap also reports that the third season could premiere in the fall rather than waiting until 2013; this would potentially put "The Voice" in direct competition with Fox's "X Factor."

When MTV News reached out for comment from NBC, a show insider said no decision has been made about season three.

It is expected that Aguilera's fellow judges Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will all renew their contracts in the coming weeks and that the third season will tape from September through December of this year.

"The Voice" has proven to be a major hit for NBC. The season-two premiere following the Super Bowl on Sunday earned NBC's best ratings for an entertainment show in six years. Monday's episode earned the network's best numbers for that particular timeslot in nearly eight years, save for broadcasts of the Olympics.

When MTV News caught up with the show's new social media correspondent Christina Milian recently, the singer/actress gushed about the lovefest on set.

"It's been fabulous. I've had fun working with the cast already," she said. "Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo, Carson Daly — it's an awesome super team they have, and from day one, they treated me like family.

"This show is about music, it's about talent, and it's about this passion and this dream of becoming a star," Milian added. "Still to this day, every day that I wake up, I have that same dream, so to be involved with the show, [it's amazing] to watch what they incorporate and how the coaches act as advisers and mentors to the artists and really truthfully help them and push them and want them to be the best so they can win."

Are you hoping all four "Voice" judges are back for season three? Let us know in the comments!

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Kim Kardashian Marriage Was 'Real' For Kris Humphries

It's been just over three months since Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from NBA star Kris Humphries. The much-publicized demise of their 72-day marriage played out in the last season of "Kourtney & Kim Take New York" and last month while co-hosting "Live!" with Kelly Ripa, Kim opened up about her whirlwind romance.

"It's so sad," she said. "I would never wish anyone to go through a divorce, but then again after what I went through, you don't really know until you're in this person's shoes ... When I see other people when I might not understand their situation, now I really just step back because you don't really know what they're going through."

Now it's his turn to speak out. In his first in-depth interview since the NBA lockout, Humphries tells "Access Hollywood" that his love and marriage with Kardashian was genuinely real.

"To me it was real," Humphries explained. "I would never go through something and do something that wasn't real or I didn't believe in, so I can really only speak for myself in terms of that."

Humphries, who is now seeking an annulment to erase his brief marriage to the reality star on the grounds of fraud, revealed that his faith, family and, of course, basketball helped him get through his breakup.

"I'm in a great place," Humphries said in the interview, which begins airing Tuesday (February 7). "Above all, my faith in God and just how close my family is and then the fact that luckily we didn't get locked out all season and we're playing basketball. Basketball is where you can go and just not think about anything and just let loose. I always tell people basketball is like my therapy. Some people talk to psychologists, I just need to go play basketball; that's it."

Since the breakup, Kim has remained single, but hopeful in still finding love. "I definitely tried everything I felt like I could ... I want babies," Kardashian told Ripa. "I want forever love."

So is Kris ready to get back into the dating game? "I'm not dating anyone right now. What do they say, my girlfriend is Spalding?" Humphries said, referring to being committed to basketball.

Do you think Kris and Kim's marriage was real? Let us know in the comments.

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'Hunger Games' Stars Talk Most-Anticipated Sequel Scenes

Another day, another juicy segment of our interview with the cast of "The Hunger Games" to roll out and examine. Tuesday's (February 7) installment has a slight caveat, however. For those who have yet to read Suzanne Collins' book "Catching Fire" — the follow-up to "The Hunger Games" — please take this as a friendly warning that the proceeding comments from stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson veer heavily into spoiler territory for the tentatively planned big-screen sequel.

When MTV News caught up with Lawrence and Hutcherson recently, we asked them what they hope to see in a sequel. Lawrence quickly brought up a very big step in the relationship between Katniss and Peeta.

"We get married!" the actress exclaimed, looking at Hutcherson and pointing to her ring finger with girlish enthusiasm.

"[It's] very exciting," Hutcherson said, though we detected a bit of hesitation in his voice.

Lawrence revealed that she did the "ring finger move" to Hutcherson whenever she wanted to annoy him on set. "God, I sound really annoying whenever I talk about myself in the past," she admitted. The Oscar nominee then apologized to Hutcherson, who seemed genuinely entertained by her commentary.

Looking even further ahead, past "Catching Fire," we asked about talk that the third book might be split into two films. "It's always hard, every time you convert a novel into movies, because you have to cut so much out," Lawrence said. "[So], in a weird way it's kind of a relief because you get to keep everything in there. It is a lot more work [to shoot four films] and we'll probably do them back-to-back."

Finally, we asked the two stars if they had to play another "Hunger Games" character besides their own which they would choose.

"I would probably say President Snow," Hutcherson said. "If I were President Snow, I could make some changes and give some power back to the people."

"Well, now I'm left with a goat," Jennifer joked of the dwindling character options. "Umm."

"Effie has great style," Hutcherson offered.

"Effie! That's it," Lawrence agreed about the pink-haired District 12 escort played by Elizabeth Banks. "God, yeah Effie. Thanks!"

Who would you have cast Jennifer and Josh as in "The Hunger Games," besides Katniss and Peeta? Tell us in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Pussycat Dolls' Post-Super Bowl Plans Include Kim Kardashian

One day after the new Pussycat Dolls lineup debuted during a Go Daddy Super Bowl commercial, the Dolls are already working on their next small-screen project — and this time, it includes reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian.

PCD creator Robin Antin stopped by the MTV Newsroom late last month, and she had some fun teases about what fans should expect from their in-the-works, forthcoming show. "We're developing a reality show with Kim Kardashian as an executive producer and Nigel Lythgoe," Antin said of Kim K. and the "American Idol" producer and "So You Think You Can Dance" judge. "He wanted to get into reality TV and was very interested in doing something with me. Obviously, with the Pussycat Dolls, he's always been a big fan."

Antin appears on "So You Think You Can Dance" from time to time, and as for Kim, she performed as a Doll back in 2008. Also, Antin said, Kardashian "understands reality more than anyone I know."

"Kim is one of my best friends and has been for many, many years and so supportive and said, 'I'd love to be a part of really showing your world, the empire of really what you have built and the world around you ... and all the girls that revolve around that.' "

With a new Doll lineup (which includes Chrystina Sayers from Girlicious, "So You Think You Can Dance" contestant Paula Van Oppen, Paradiso Girl and "Party Rock Anthem" collaborator Lauren Bennett, former Laker Girl Vanessa Curry and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Jenkins), Antin thinks now is as good a time as any to put their ups and downs on tape.

"The engine of all Pussycat Dolls [projects] is the recording ground, and now having the new recording group, it made sense to focus on the launch of this new group and how that engine opens up all the doors for all the different things that I'm doing that are a part of the brand," she said. "So it's a really fun, interesting, wacky world inside what I do."

However, Antin noted, the show won't be about catfights or exploiting the lows that come with the highs. "It's not about showing all the drama and all the girls fighting," she said. "I'm not interested in that — although the reality is, there are things that happen and we're OK with showing the reality. We focus so much and want to inspire people to show that girls can work together and act like sisters and get along. And through dancing and singing, I want to inspire everyone. These girls are the next generation."

What do you want to see from a new PCD reality show? Let us know in the comments!

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Black Keys Talk Lana Del Rey's Overnight Success

On January 8, 2011 — nearly a decade after they first started kicking around in Akron, Ohio — the Black Keys made their first appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Needless to say, it was a pretty big moment for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, who had spent no small portion of the past 10 years grinding out miles (and shows) in their van.

On January 14, 2012 — nearly six months after she first became a much-debated blog curio — Lana Del Rey performed on the same "SNL" stage. It was a pretty big moment, too, though mostly for her critics and those who enjoy deriding the current state of popular music. After all, they argue, it's debatable whether Del Rey has ever seen the inside of a van, let alone toured in one.

So when MTV News sat down with the Black Keys in Berlin — for an exclusive interview you can watch tonight (February 6) on MTV.com, following the MTV premiere of the duo's new "Gold on the Ceiling" video at 7:54 p.m. ET — we had to ask them for their thoughts on Del Rey's overnight success, and what it meant for bands trying to make a living in 2012.

"On some level, we've seen that Lana Del Rey thing since we first started, like, all of a sudden this new band would be headlining festivals, and we're like, 'Wait, how did they get that? We've been here for two, three, four, five years and we're still working our way up,' " Auerbach said. "But then they're gone. Just as quickly as they get up there, they disappear."

"It's different for everybody. It took us a really long time to get on 'Saturday Night Live,' and it took her a shorter amount of time," Carney added. "But I honestly feel bad for a lot of bands that are starting out with the way things are. ... The trends kind of flip over so fast — something's cool and not cool and it all happens within two to three months."

Of course, it bears mention that the same outlets that have criticized Del Rey for her perceived lack of authenticity and quick rise to a major-label deal are the very same outlets that have largely ignored (or largely ripped) the Black Keys, a band that has spent a decade making the slow climb to the top. And when it came to that point, well, the Keys didn't exactly hide their displeasure.

"Yeah, [it's] 'cause they're pricks," Carney snorted. "It's like, 'What the f--- are you talking about, motherf---er?' "

And though you'll hear more of their thoughts on the media during our full interview, you can reasonably assume that the Black Keys don't take criticisms kindly. In fact, they've been taking mental notes, and someday they'll even the score.

Don't miss the premiere of the Black Keys' "Gold on the Ceiling" video tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an in-depth chat with the band on MTV.com.

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'The Voice' Season 2 Continues With Angie Johnson, Jamar Rogers

The blind auditions continued on Monday night's (February 6) two-hour episode of "The Voice," with each judge picking up two more contestants to fill out the 12-person teams they'll take to the battle phase later in the season.

The episode opened with a flashy medley of Prince hits "1999," "Little Red Corvette" and "Kiss" performed by judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, before the crew got right to business with the auditions.

Team Christina
Aguilera picked up two acts, including the evening's first performers: platonic duo the Line. The pair's rendition of Tom Petty's "American Girl" got all four judges' attention, but despite much protest from Shelton, they picked Aguilera. Shelton later told the camera he thought they were "fooled by flash and boobs."

She also scored an interesting choice in chanteuse Lindsay Pavao, who got Shelton and Cee Lo to swivel their chairs too. In one of the more unique performances of the night, Pavao transformed a Trey Songz tune into a ballad that Green compared to Fiona Apple. It was that uniqueness that won Christina over, and Pavao chose to join the "Beautiful" singer's team.

Team Adam
After being denied by two different singers, the Maroon 5 frontman picked up his first team member of the night in 50-year-old Kim Yarbrough — who revealed during an interview segment that one of her many past odd jobs was working security for the Dave Matthews Band. Her soulful rendition of Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Tell Me Something Good" had all the judges dancing in their seats, but Adam won her over after asking for her name. When she said "Kim," he corrected, "No, your name is Chaka Khan, baby." Which is probably what any aspiring diva wants to hear after an audition.

Levine also added the night's final contestant, 23-year-old Angel Taylor, to his team. The Los Angeles native grew up in an abusive household and turned to music to get through the tough times. Her performance of Adele's "Someone Like You" packed an emotional punch.

Team Cee Lo
The night's two most compelling stories came from Jamar Rogers and Angie Johnson, both of whom opted for team Cee Lo. Rogers is a 29-year-old former drug addict from New York who was also featured on "American Idol" during season eight alongside his best friend and eventual finalist Danny Gokey. During his addiction, he contracted HIV. Now that he is clean and sober, Rogers volunteers for food-delivery services for the disabled in the Bronx. He also idolizes Cee Lo, so it's good that the "Forget You" Grammy winner turned his chair around for Rogers' performance of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."

Cee Lo also picked up Staff Sergeant Angie Johnson, who was discovered and pushed to audition for "The Voice" after her fellow soldiers uploaded a video to YouTube of Johnson singing Adele on a military base while deployed in the Middle East. The video eventually tallied over a million views, which gave Johnson the confidence to hit the stage with a gutsy rendition of Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker." "I love a girl with guts and confidence," Cee Lo told the singer.

Team Blake
Blake's first choice of the night fit firmly in his country wheelhouse: North Dakota native Gwen Sebastian, a musician who agreed with her drummer husband to hold off on having kids so she could take a go at being a performer. After her performance of "Stay," Shelton remarked, "You are a great country vocalist ... and I'm a country guy. I'm your man."

A more surprising choice for the country superstar came late in the show, when he promised he'd do everything he could for Jermaine Paul, a backup singer who has toured the world with Alicia Keys. Keys even sent Paul a video message wishing him good luck. He made a surprising song choice in Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," which also earned props from Cee Lo, who told Paul he could "hear the swag" in his voice. And even though it looked like Paul was favoring Cee Lo, he opted to move out of his R&B comfort zone and into Shelton's country/rock genre.

Four singers got the ax during the show when no judges swiveled around to offer a spot on their team. The judges went back and forth over country crooner Neil Middleton and pop singer Dez Durmon and ultimately regretted their decisions to pass on the singers. Durmon in particular had the judges all worked up, and when they turned around to see a handsome Yale football player standing in front of them, they practically slapped themselves across the head. "And it's a good-looking guy," Shelton sighed.

Such is the point of "The Voice," though. Durmon would have been a sure thing if the judges had gotten a look at him beforehand, but it's all about the pipes — at least for now — on NBC's reality hit, which kicked off its season to some pretty great post-Super Bowl ratings.

Who was your favorite singer on the latest "Voice" episode? Let us know in the comments!

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Megan Hilty: From Broadway Sensation To Small-Screen 'Smash'

From Broadway sensation to television newcomer, Megan Hilty might just be the next "Smash" hit. The 30-year-old is taking on her first leading lady role on the small screen in the new series "Smash," where she plays the role of Ivy, a singer who competes for the role of Marilyn Monroe in a new Broadway play.

"She is a person who eats, breathes, sleeps theater and grew up doing theater, and all she ever wanted to do was be a leading lady on Broadway," Hilty told MTV News about her character. "When you meet her she's spent about ten years in the ensemble. She feels stuck and wants to make that next step to become a leading lady, and she's willing to do just about anything to make that happen."

At the age of 25, Hilty was starring on Broadway in the hit musical "Wicked," and in 2008 she joined the musical adaptation of the film, "9 to 5." With such an extensive musical background, stepping into the shoes of Ivy for "Smash" was an easy transition for Hilty.

"When I saw the script I was like, 'This is too good to be true, to do a television show about my world.' " Hilty said. "I am one of those kids that grew up eating, breathing sleeping theater, I still do it. It's literally a dream-come-true job. I do identify with her and I think a lot of people can identify with this character, regardless of what profession you're in. I think everybody knows what it feels like to feel stuck and not feel like people understand your full potential, so I think she is very identifiable."

This isn't the first time Hilty has been in front of the camera. She has made several television appearances, including small roles on "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty" and the Disney series "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." Yet, with all these guest roles, Hilty never would have imagined she would make the leap to leading lady.

"It was something that I never really thought was possible." Hilty admitted. "I always thought Broadway's the goal, and then I moved out to L.A. with "Wicked" and started doing guest-star spots and little recurring things and I was like, 'Well, this is pretty great, I'm kind of digging this.' "

So now that Hilty is on the road to stardom, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of her idols. "I look at the people's careers who I want to emulate, like Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters." Hilty said. "They've all found the key to longevity in this business, and that is diversifying, doing as many things as possible to keep yourself relevant, and so hopefully I'm on the same track as all those amazing women."

What did you think of "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!

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Black Keys' 'Gold On The Ceiling' Video Keeps It Simple

There are no dancing actors/security guards, precocious street-fighting children or cameos by "Sir" Todd Bridges in the Black Keys' new "Gold on the Ceiling" video. But don't let their absences sway you — in a lot of ways, this was the video the Keys were born to make.

The clip, which premiered Monday night (February 6) on MTV, features only the Black Keys (and various members of their road team) doing what they do best: playing live, in gloriously gritty fashion. It's not only a nod to their roots — for close to a decade, they hammered out gigs (and miles) aboard a rusty van — but it's a powerful reminder to their detractors that they are, first and foremost, a positively killer live act.

Of course, it was also probably a matter of necessity. The Black Keys are rather busy these days, what with their smash album and world tour, so shooting a live video (in part during their MTV Hive-sponsored El Camino release party at New York's Webster Hall) undoubtedly made their management happy, but you get the feeling that Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney probably delighted in making a concert clip. After all, it fits rather nicely with their anachronistic ways. Of all the monster rock acts currently lumbering, the Black Keys seem the most natural fit for a live video. No bells or whistles, no special effects, just a band, a stage and some grainy footage. It's easy.

So while "Gold" may be lacking in all those things (not to mention odd, inbox-baiting cameos), it is by no means a lesser video. If anything, it represents everything that makes the Black Keys the band they are — hard-charging, unpolished and seemingly not-of-this-era, indebted to their past yet still pushing forward and always determined to do things on their own terms. Big-selling album and high-profile second single be damned, the Black Keys just want to do it live and do it loud. It's what got them here, after all.

What did you think of the Keys' latest video? Share your reviews in the comments below!

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Kelly Clarkson Calls Super Bowl Gig 'A Huge Honor'

Kelly Clarkson kicked off the Super Bowl on Sunday night with an emotional, stirring rendition of the national anthem. Donning a black dress and heels, Clarkson gave a performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" that had everyone buzzing on Monday morning (February 6).

"I have probably sang the National Anthem a thousand times and have never been nervous, but I definitely was last night at the Super Bowl!" she told MTV News in a statement on Monday afternoon. "That was the longest minute and a half of my life ha!"

The performance wasn't just about Clarkson's big voice (though it mostly was), but also about the marching band and choir of children who were center-stage with the onetime "American Idol," who performed just moments before the New England Patriots and the New York Giants faced off in Indianapolis.

"I was very excited as well because of the drum line and the Indianapolis kids choir that were performing with me," she continued. "They made the performance stand out a lot more and those kids sounded so ethereal and beautiful! It was a huge honor to get to sing the anthem and I'd be proud to do it again!"

Clarkson wasn't the only A-lister to take the stage during the big game. Madonna performed during halftime, and much like Clarkson, she brought her own drum line to the stage, as well as LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo Green and M.I.A. But, unlike Madonna, Clarkson's performance included a lot less pomp and circumstance, and one less middle finger (which came courtesy of M.I.A.).

What did you think of Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the national anthem? Leave your comments on our Facebook page!

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The Wanted Get 'Glee' Love

The Wanted are currently taking their fist-pumping boy band antics across America, and it seems that whatever they are doing is working. The guys just confirmed that their Battleground single, "Glad You Came," will appear on "Glee" this season.

The guys made the announcement on Twitter on Monday (February 6). The song originally appeared on their 2011 album and is now getting some love Stateside. It's already hit back in their native U.K., having topped the charts there for several weeks last year.

And, all the U.S. attention is certainly a coup for the band. "The American fans are so optimistic, very intense," bandmate Max George told MTV News about all the U.S. attention. "They're just really enthusiastic. I get a massive buzz off American people. I think it's really refreshing."

While their fans back home have already scooped up Battleground, fellow Wanted singer Jay McGuiness explained that they hope their music comes before their image — though they may have plenty of tween girls screaming their names.

"I think when we first started we were just trying to create the best pop album we could because we knew that's what everyone wanted to hear," he said of their 2010 album debut. "And then the second time around you find you want to be a lot more creative, you want to put on personal things and the writing on the first album was fun and the writing on the second album was really personal.

"And that means every time we do a live gig and people are singing it back [and] it makes everything electric," he continued. "And I think nowadays boy bands can be part of that, where the music is as key as people find them attractive and we know that boy bands often had shelf lives because the image came before the music. And we're trying to be the other way around. So far it's working because we like singing and people like listening to us."

The band — which also includes Tom Parker, Siva Kaneswaran and Nathan Sykes — is here promoting Battleground. Their U.S. tour will wrap up on Wednesday in Los Angeles before they kick off an arena tour on February 15 in their native England.

Are you excited for the "Glee" cast to perform "Glad You Came"? Leave your comment below!

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Exclusive: Diddy Adds Baltimore MC Los To Bad Boy Roster

The saga continues. Diddy is pretty excited about his new Bad Boy Records roster, but the music mogul isn't done adding new talent to the storied label.

"It's time for a whole new generation; it's time for a whole new movement. So we got [Machine Gun Kelly], French Montana, Red Café; we got Cassie," Diddy told MTV News correspondent Sway while at a French Montana video shoot on January 29. "We also have a new artist named Los that we signed. It's official. We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air and do it the only way that Bad Boy can do it."

Underground rap fans have gotten familiar with Los thanks to his collection of lyrically heavy mixtapes. This isn't his first go-round with Diddy's label, however. He first auditioned for Puff's "Making the Band" but refused to sign any of the paperwork required to appear on the show. The Baltimore MC then signed to Bad Boy, through local label Bloc Incorporated around 2005 after he auditioned for Puff with a 10-minute freestyle. Bloc Incorporated would eventually disband and Los wound up losing his deal with Bad Boy in 2008 before he was able to drop any material.

Since 2008, Los has dropped a number of mixtapes. His latest, The Crown Ain't Safe, was released in December and featured contributions from DMX and Twista. "When I say The Crown Ain't Safe, I just mean whoever is viewed as #1," Los told Mixtape Daily back in August before referencing basketball great Michael Jordan and his onetime sidekick. "I just feel like it's for the taking. Why wouldn't you want to be #1? I'm not Scottie Pippen; I want to be #1."

Whether or not Los will get that #1 spot remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: He is on the right team. "It's definitely reinvention time; it's rebuilding time," Diddy told Sway of his new Bad Boy team. "When you've been doing it for as long as we've been doing it, we the last ones standing from when we were doing it. And that's not taking shots at nobody, that's just a fact."

What do you think of Diddy's new signee Los? Tells us in the comments!

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'Chronicle' Makes Fourth Highest Super Bowl Debut

The Super Bowl couldn't stop another found-footage flick from topping the box office. Box-office receipts were up more than 30 percent from last year's Super Bowl weekend as "Chronicle" took the #1 spot with Daniel Radcliffe's first post-"Potter" flick, "The Woman in Black," close behind at #2. "Chronicle" took in $22 million while "Woman in Black" earned $21 million, according to studio estimates.

The feel-good Alaskan whale story "Big Miracle," starring Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski ("The Office"), debuted at #4 with $8.5 million. Meanwhile, Super Bowl halftime performer Madonna saw her "W.E." open with a ho-hum $45,000 in four theaters. Despite the film's director earning a Golden Globe for her song from the movie, "W.E." has suffered from mostly negative reviews.

While it didn't open as strongly as the "Paranormal Activity" movies, "Cloverfield" or last month's found-footage flick, "The Devil Inside," teen superhero-centered "Chronicle" enjoyed the fourth highest Super Bowl debut ever and took the #1 spot internationally. Considering the movie's estimated production budget of $12 million, the found-footage phenomenon will undoubtedly continue.

The modest success of "The Woman in Black" was good news for Radcliffe, who had yet to top-line a movie in a role as anyone other than "Harry Potter." Its numbers were comparable with the 2006 remake of "When a Stranger Calls," which was also a horror flick directed at teens that opened on Super Bowl weekend. Both Radcliffe's ghost story and "Chronicle" earned mostly positive reviews.

Last weekend's #1 movie, "The Grey," dropped to #3 with $9.5 million. The Liam Neeson vehicle, which, like "Big Miracle," takes places in Alaska, has made $34.7 million thus far. "Underworld: Awakening" rounded out the top five with $5.6 million for a $53.4 million total.

Awards season favorite "The Artist" and "The Iron Lady" (which has earned Meryl Streep another Oscar nomination) both passed the $20 million mark over the weekend. Each movie is playing at roughly 1,000 locations; "Chronicle," by comparison, opened in 2,907.

This weekend's new releases include "The Vow," which sees Rachel McAdams returning to source material from "The Notebook" author Nicholas Sparks, opposite Channing Tatum; Denzel Washington's "Safe House"; "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, which is already doing solid business overseas; and the 3-D re-release of "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace," which is the first in a series of planned "Star Wars" 3-D re-releases over the next few years. Woody Harrelson's corrupt cop drama "Rampart," which reunites the actor with "The Messenger" writer/ director Oren Moverman, will open in limited release.

Check out everything we've got on "Chronicle."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Grammys Pit Nicki Minaj Vs. Skrillex For Best New Artist

Whoever ends up staying in their seat when the Best New Artist trophy is handed out at Sunday's Grammys shouldn't feel so bad: They're in pretty good company. Recent years have seen such multiplatinum stars as Justin Bieber, Drake, Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift come out on the short end in the category.

Then again, there's a distinct possibility this year's winner could make history by becoming the first dubstep act (Skrillex) to take the prize, the first true indie rocker (Bon Iver) to snatch it or just the second female MC (Nicki Minaj) bestowed with the honor.

This could also be the year when the music industry fully embraces the fact that just putting a traditional album out is not the surest (or only) path to Grammy glory. Among those in the mix are acts like J. Cole and Minaj, who've slowly built up careers by mining the mixtape path to glory and Skrillex, who went from indie punk rock to the top of the glow-stick-waving heap by perfecting a stomach-rumbling mix of dance music, techno beats and rock energy through a series of EPs and singles in front of ever-expanding, sweaty live crowds.

Bon Iver (the nom de rock of sensitive singer Justin Vernon) brings his own unique path to the mix. On two acclaimed independently released albums of sensitive, wistful forest folk, Vernon has provided an antidote of sorts to Minaj's hyper, in-your-face rhymes with music that washes over you instead of hitting you over the head. But his commercial prospects have not dimmed at all due to his chosen path, as Bon Iver tunes have shown up in Miller Genuine Draft ads and have landed him on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album and, reportedly, in the studio with Alicia Keys.

With just her debut album, Pink Friday, to her credit, Minaj has gone from mixtape queen to pop/rap icon in just four years, culminating with her Super Bowl halftime appearance on Sunday alongside Madonna. Along the way, the Queens native has made spotlight-stealing cameos on songs by Kanye, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, DJ Khaled and Drake.

Like Minaj, Cole slowly bubbled up on the mixtape circuit to a deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation label, dropping a number of impressive guest verses along the way for Jigga, Wale, B.o.B and Young Chris. By the time his major-label debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, dropped in May, he was already being touted as one of the hottest young stars in the business.

Though they've been playing together since 2005, country trio the Band Perry didn't release their first full-length album until October. They've since recorded with Bieber for his Under the Mistletoe album, scored three American Music Awards nominations as well as a trio of hit singles.

Who is your pick to win the Best New Artist Grammy? Let us know in comments below!

MTV News is all over the Grammys! Stick with us from now through Sunday's show as we bring you everything you need to know.

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Rick Ross And Pharrell Cooking Up 'A Special Record'

When it comes to MCs, Pharrell has worked with some of the greats. Skateboard P has produced and rhymed with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I. and Snoop Dogg, and for this year's hottest MC in the game, P has a nomination: "Rick Ross is on his way, he's working his way. He's been doing it for a minute, and he's been really consistent," the Neptunes producer told MTV News on Friday in Miami.

The debate rages on, and Sunday, February 19, the "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" will premiere on MTV2. During the half-hour special, MTV's Hottest MCs Hip-Hop Brain Trust will gather at the roundtable and decide the top five rappers in the game. Beginning February 13, MTV will reveal MCs 10 through six online, but only one spitter can snag the #1 spot.

If Pharrell has his way, Rozay will conquer all in this highly contested debate. "That guy is an animal; he's an animal with it. Lyrically, he's crazy, and he's just got a very distinct style, it's his own," P campaigned. "There were a lot of comparisons made at the beginning of his career, but along with the test of time, he's proven that he's his own person and he has his own paintbrush and his own colors."

Skateboard might be just a bit biased as he reveals to MTV News that he and the Bawse have some very exciting things in the works — then again, Pharrell has worked with a number of MCs who could contend for the crown. "He and I have something special too. We have a special record too, but we're still working," the multiplatinum producer said. "I'm happy to be a part of it."

Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT to catch "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," then watch "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT before capping the night off with "Sucker Free Certified" at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

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M.I.A. Super Bowl Middle Finger Prompts NBC, NFL Apology

Madonna has built a nearly 30-year career on her ability to shock and surprise, especially during awards show and live TV appearances. And though her glittery, high-energy halftime extravaganza at Sunday's Super Bowl ? from the likes of Ashton Kutcher, Christina Aguilera and Perez Hilton, it was a slip of the finger, and the tongue, by one of her guests that grabbed headlines.

During a performance of Madonna's new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin",? singer M.I.A. topped her guest rap with a defiant flip of the middle finger and a not-safe-for-prime time s-bomb lyric.?

NBC's censors were not fast enough to obscure the gesture, or completely blot out the expletive, and following the game the network issued an apology for the incident. "We apologize for the inappropriate gesture that aired during halftime," a spokesperson said. "It was a spontaneous gesture that our delay system caught late."

The NFL -- which hires the performers and produces the halftime show -- pointed the finger directly at NBC. "There was a failure in NBC's delay system," the league said in a statement. "The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing, and we apologize to our fans."

According to Deadline Hollywood, M.I.A. was kept things clean during rehearsals, but clearly got excited during the performance.

M.I.A. is no stranger to controversy. After the New York Times magazine wrote a lengthy feature on the singer (born Mathangi Arulpragasam) in 2010, she lashed out? at the writer over some unflattering descriptions via music. In addition to posting the writer's phone number on Twitter, M.I.A. lambasted journalist Lynn Hirschberg in public, threatened to release the unedited tapes of the interview and, finally, issued a dis track, "I'm a Singer",? in retaliation.

She was also denied a travel visa in 2005 by the U.S. government and appeared on a U.S. Homeland security risk list in 2006 as a result of her controversial political lyrics.

What did you think of M.I.A.'s halftime gesture? Were you offended? Let us know in comments below.

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Madonna's Super Bowl Performance: A Cheat Sheet

From the moment that it was announced back in December that Madonna would be taking the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show, everyone has been buzzing about what the Queen of Pop will do when she performs.

In the two months since the announcement, she has been teasing fans about what they will see for those several minutes when she interrupts the matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Madonna recently told Anderson Cooper on his talk show that "I have to put on the greatest show on earth, in the middle of the greatest show on earth. I have eight minutes to set it up and seven minutes to take it down and 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth. That's a lot of pressure."

Wondering what might happen? Well, MTV News has compiled a little Super Bowl halftime cheat sheet.

The Guests
M.I.A. confirmed that she'll be on the stage alongside Madonna, and Nicki Minaj tweeted on Thursday night about being in Indianapolis with Madonna rehearsing for the show. "Omfg. Madonna's show is about to murdaaaa everything movinggg. Wow. Such a surreal moment."

There are also rumors that Cee Lo Green may appear during her set, as well as party rockers LMFAO. The whole show will also get an assist from Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King.

The Look
If Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video is any indication, the gig will certainly have a cheerleader vibe to it. When MTV News caught up with her at her "W.E." premiere she coyly teased that "pom poms" would play heavily into the theme of the show.

In an interview with ABC News, she shared one idea she had for the performance: "I actually wanted to have 100 drummers come from the ceiling, a drumline from the ceiling."

The Songs
There'll be something old and something new. "I promise I will be singing three old songs and one new one," Madonna said at a press conference. With M.I.A. and Nicki already on the ground, it seems that she'll definitely be performing "Give Me" (the lead single off her March album, MDNA). With rumors flying about what those other songs could be, the word is that she'll also perform "Vogue," "Music" and "Ray of Light."

The Stage
In photos teased online, the halftime stage is full of LED lights in various shades of blue, green, pink, purple and red and includes various designs including the word "Vogue" (yep, like the song), kooky-looking eyes and a heart-shaped design.

Who Will Be Watching?
Besides like seven-bajillion people? Well, the Pussycat Dolls say that despite a heated matchup between the Giants and the Patriots, there's only one team they'll be rooting for.

"I definitely say Madonna," PCD creator Robin Antin told MTV News. "We'll be watching for the [Go Daddy] commercial ... and Madonna. It's exciting. Well, hopefully the Pussycat Dolls will be on the next Super Bowl performing, you know?"

Lady Gaga has already admitted that she'll be tuning in on Sunday night. "Looking forward to seeing the Superbowl! The halftime show will be wonderful, I'm sure," she tweeted on Tuesday. "An excuse to drink beer+watch boys in tights. #yes."

What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comment below.

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'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Trailer Explodes Into Super Bowl

Super Bowl Sunday: A time for an intense football matchup, million-dollar commercials and for movie studios to show off what blockbuster flicks they have in store for the rest of the year. Paramount Pictures was banking on fans being ready for the next installment of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" when it presented the trailer to the more than 111 million people expected to tune into the game Sunday night (February 5).

The thirty-second Super Bowl spot for "Retaliation" hit the web Wednesday, featuring intense ninja swordfights, a revamped Cobra Commander, Snake Eyes' exploding motorcycle and, of course, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a machine-gun shooting Bruce Willis.

Yet, there was one thing noticeably missing: Channing Tatum. Tatum, who plays Duke, only appeared in the first trailer a handful of times, and with no appearances in the short Super Bowl clip, speculation is growing that he might be making an early exit from the Jon Chu-directed flick.

MTV News caught up with Tatum at the set of "Saturday Night Live" as he geared up to host the show for the very first time, and he revealed he has yet to see the new "Retaliation" trailer, but hopes fans are ready for an action-packed sequel.

"I hope they like it better than the first one. I think it's wildly different," Tatum said. "Jon Chu: I really do think he's got his finger on the pulse of the hip younger generation. He did the 'Step Up's and what not, so I've got to work with him before. I think he's got a really hip vibe to him."

So now that Tatum has probably recovered from his stint as host on "SNL," we imagine he tuned in Sunday to catch the "Retaliation" trailer. Which team will he be rooting for during the game: the New York Giants or the New England Patriots?

"I just really want it to be a good game. Neither one of them are my teams, but I don't really have a pro team," he admitted. "It's always a bummer when the last game of the season is a landslide, so I want it to go into overtime and be the craziest game ever, but I don't know how you can compete with the last three games; I don't know how you keep going. The law of averages will probably say it's not going to be as good of a game."

What did you think of the "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" trailer? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "G.I. Joe: Retaliation."

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Mac Miller Makes His Picks For Next Big Pittsburgh MCs

Yes, the world knows Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller, but Pittsburgh has a wealth of hip-hop talent. With the Steel City's two breakout stars already accounted for, MTV News took a trip to the 'Burgh to see who's got next.

"A lot of people are talented. There are just a million talented people out there," Miller told MTV News when he took us on a tour through his hometown in December.

Acts like Boaz, Chevy Woods, B White and Mayo of the 58's, Jabari X and Varsity Squad have been repping Pittsburgh locally for some time now, and while Mac supports all the city's homegrown talent, if he had to pick one act to break out nationwide, it would be the Come Up, a.k.a. the duo of Vinny Radio and Franchise.

"I brought them on tour and I plan on bringing them out on tour, so if it's up to me, they're gonna be the next people that come out the 'Burgh," Miller said. "But there's definitely a lot more people who could; it's not just Vinny and Fran."

Mac Miller introduces Pittsburgh's hottest producers.

The Come Up exist as a part of a larger hip-hop collective called the 58's, along with rappers B White and Mayo. That union exemplifies the type of unity that exists in Pittsburgh's rap scene.

"It's a small city ... so pretty much we've all been familiar with each other for a long time," Franchise said. "Everybody in this city who's pretty much doing it legit, we've all been trying to get it and put the city on."

Taylor Gang's Chevy Woods echoed a similar sentiment. "Everybody's hardworking, and it's not like a big music scene out there, so when you got somethin', you just go with it," he said. "Everybody sees the light that shines on [Wiz Khalifa] and Mac [Miller] and now it's trickling down to everybody else."

Wiz Khalifa motivates Pittsburgh's up-and-coming artists.

There is a pretty diverse group of rap characters that come out of Pittsburgh. Wiz is a hitmaker who dedicates a lot of his catalog to partying and getting high, while Mac embodies a youthful spirit. Boaz is street, and female MC Kellee Maize spits sociopolitical bars. "To be honest, I do think Boaz is right there on the cusp. I think I'm maybe close to the cusp too," Maize said, laughing.

"I just bring that underground feel," Boaz said, describing his deeply rooted street sound. "I embrace the culture of that poverty line that I'm speaking about."

For years, Time Bomb has been an epicenter for Pittsburgh hip-hop. More than just a clothing store, Time Bomb has become a place for local 'Burgh MCs to congregate and sling their mixtapes to hungry fans. The shop's owner, Brick, has seen many young artists walk through his doors, including Miller and Khalifa. When it comes to the future of Pittsburgh hip-hop, Brick is a wide-eyed optimist.

"I think Mac and Wiz opened the door, but there's gonna be an army of producers, an army of rappers, and they're gonna be all different. People know: Pittsburgh, it is what it is, it's a hardworking town," he said. "I can name 100 people, because I want everyone to make it from here, you understand? This is Pittsburgh."

Who do you believe will be the next rap act to emerge from Pittsburgh? Tell us in the comments!

Take a look back at MTV News' Back to the 'Burgh with Mac Miller and see how we spotlighted the city's vibrant hip-hop scene.

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Madonna's 'Luvin' Not Meant To Be A Super Bowl Video

Two days before Madonna took the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show, she dropped a video for her lead MDNA single "Give Me All Your Luvin' " that was chock-full of cheerleaders and football players.

While it may seem awfully suspicious that Madge would tout football in a video released mere days before her halftime spectacle Sunday night, the clip's duo of directors, the Megaforce, insist the similarly themed moments are purely coincidental.

"I think the track has something to do with cheerleading. It's pretty clear that the beginning is a kind of cheering [anthem]," the Megaforce's Clement Gallet told MTV News about the song, which also features Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. "With this one, it felt like there was no point to bring it somewhere else [in terms of visuals] other than where it was. I don't think our cheerleaders are really obvious."

In fact, the cheerleaders in the video look way different than the ones cheering at the Big Game. Led by Minaj and M.I.A., the cheer squad sports anime-like masks and even gets a bit cheekily violent when one bats the head off a football player near the end of the clip. While the Super Bowl plans had been in the air when Madge and the crew hit the New York set back in December, the video's look was influenced more by the Martin Solveig track than anything else, the director say.

"We were aware that this video, this track was supposed to be aired during the Super Bowl, but we never felt or we were never even asked to make something in relation to the Super Bowl," Gallet explained. "And I think it's just — it's not a coincidence, we had the Super Bowl in mind — but we are not doing a video about Super Bowl."

Did Madonna's new video put you in the mood for Sunday's Super Bowl performance? Let us know in the comments below!

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Master P's Daughter Cymphonique Miller Is Learning 'How to Rock'

Nickelodeon is getting ready to rock. On Saturday, the network will premiere its new show "How to Rock," starring rising teen star Cymphonique Miller. Miller is a familiar face at Nickelodeon, having guest starred on "True Jackson, VP" and "Big Time Rush," but this time she takes on the role as leading lady on the show, which is based on the book "How to Rock Braces and Glasses" by Meg Haston.

Miller plays high school student Kasey Simon (think Rachel McAdams' character in "Mean Girls"), leader of the Perfs, the most popular girls in school. But Miller's character quickly finds herself kicked out of the "cool crowd" after she gets braces and glasses.

But Kasey won't let the "make-under" get her down. She becomes friends with a new group of students and winds up as the lead singer of their new band, Gravity 5.

"[It's] almost kind of like a battle of the bands, and the Perfs are sort of like the mean girls." Miller recently told MTV News. "It's like the Perfs are always planning some certain way to stop Gravity 5. You can see lots of crazy physical comedy and crazy stunts in the show, 'cause every week we do something totally silly and outrageous."

Miller, who sings and co-wrote the show's theme song, "Only You Can Be You," is no stranger to the spotlight; her brother is actor/rapper Romeo, and her dad is hip-hop mogul Master P. Yet, that doesn't mean it was easy for Miller to persuade her dad to let her star in "How to Rock." She said he didn't want her to be involved in "this crazy business" until he realized how passionate she was about it. So he gave her his approval, on the condition that she keeps up her grades.

"We put education first in our family, and Romeo is like my inspiration because he was not only doing film and everything, but he also went to college, he went to USC," Miller said.

"They're always just constantly telling me to not get into this business for the wrong reasons like fame or money or else you will never be happy, so just do it because you love it." It seems like Miller certainly is loving what she is doing on "How to Rock" and hopes fans can relate to the show's positive message.

"I hope that fans and the viewers can just take from the show is to find friends who love you for who you are, because it's all about friendship with this show," Miller said. "What they should learn is that at the end of the day, there's nothing more important than being yourself."

"How to Rock" premieres Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.

Are you excited for "How to Rock"? Let us know in the comments.

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'Ferris Bueller' Super Bowl Ad: Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet

Did you catch everything there was to see in the "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"-inspired Super Bowl ad? Perhaps there were some references you didn't pick up, some callbacks that went unnoticed. Maybe you just want to go back and watch, again and again, what is sure to be one of the night's most talked-about Super Bowl commercials.

So go right ahead with the help of MTV News' pop-culture cheat sheet:

Sick phone call: In the movie, it was Ferris' buddy, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), who picked up Ferris' call to plead that he was too sick to leave his bed. In the ad, Ferris receives the call.

Walter Linder: His agent's name in the commercial is the name written right above the name of Abe Froman — the sausage king of Chicago — at the restaurant Ferris and his pals crash.

Pencils and Wite-Out: Bored secretary Grace (Edie McClurg) spent much of the film sniffing Wite-Out and picking pencils out of her hair, so note the pencils and Wite-Out prominently displayed on Linder's desk.

Baseball: The ball Broderick's agent tosses in the air calls to mind both the ball Ferris caught at the Chicago Cubs game and the one he flung at his stereo to kill the fake snores at the film's end as his parents approached his room.

Roeman, Peterson & Frye: The name of Linder's agency, etched in glass on his door, is a reference not only to Froman, but to Cameron Frye and Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara).

"He bought it": After Ferris successfully fools his parents, the first line he utters to camera, much like in the ad, is, "They bought it." Later, he pops off another classic line referenced in the ad: "Incredible. One of the worst performances of my career, and they never doubted it for a second."

Opening curtains: After Ferris successfully fools his parents, he thrusts open the curtains in his bedroom and wonders how he can be expected to go to school on such a gorgeous day.

Yello's "Oh Yeah": Though the song plays in the commercial as Ferris opens the curtains, it doesn't play in the film until the first time we see the Frye family Ferrari.

Twisty towel: Both Ferris and Matthew's preferred post-shower getup includes a robe and a twisty towel on the head.

"Broderick, Broderick": A callback to one of the film's most famous lines, in which Ferris' dry-as-toast teacher (Ben Stein) takes attendance and, in a ridiculous monotone, says, "Bueller? Bueller?"

Rottweiler: The dog sitting by another Honda outside the hotel is a Rottweiler, the same breed of dog the Buellers own and which terrorized Principal Edward R. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) as he attempts to bust Ferris.

Detroit Red Wings jersey: On the roller coaster, the man behind Ferris is wearing a Red Wings jersey, the same one worn by Cameron in the movie.

Grace: The woman who calls Broderick while in the Honda is named Grace, another reference to Ferris' school secretary.

Exaggerated coughing: When Broderick coughs loudly while on the car phone, we thought back to the call Ferris made to some high school freshmen, during which he used a keyboard sound effect to make it seem like he was literally coughing up a lung.

Who's in the driver's seat?: As Broderick pulls up to a stop in his car, he discovers he is right next to Linder. He quickly hides behind a stuffed panda. In the film, Ferris finds himself stuck in traffic right next to his dad and switches places with Sloane.

Trench coat and clarinet: Look closely during this scene and you'll see a man playing the instrument, a nifty callback to Ferris' activities early in the movie.

SOCHOIC: Broderick's license plate refers to the way Ferris describes the Ferrari: "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

Natural History Museum: Instead of attending the Art Institute of Chicago as in the movie, Broderick checks out the history museum. Instead of walking hand in hand with kids, he chases them.

The walrus: Two references in one. First off, Ferris shouts out John Lennon early in the film, saying, "He was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I'd still have to bum rides off people." Secondly, the staring contest with the animal riffs on Cameron's deep gaze into "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte," Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece.

Horse race: In the film, Ferris checked out a Cubs game. In the ad, Broderick opts for a horse race.

Chinese parade: Whereas Ferris rocked a parade in downtown Chicago, belting out "Twist and Shout" and "Danke Schoen," this time around, he crashes a Chinese parade.

The valet: Call us crazy, but the way that valet shadily looked at Broderick, we were thinking back to the garage attendant who told Ferris to relax, because he was a professional, yet took the Ferrari on a joy ride. In the ad, the valet soon peels away from the curb and is seen racing the car off a jump.

"Life moves pretty fast": Indeed, Broderick will say it again, as he did twice during the film itself: "If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

What "Ferris Bueller" references did we miss? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

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'Smash' And 'Glee' Are 'Very Different,' Megan Hilty Says

It's safe to assume that if you're watching the Super Bowl on Sunday night (February 5), you will see several promos for NBC's newest musical drama, "Smash," which premieres Monday.

The show centers on two potential Broadway stars — played by former "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and newcomer Megan Hilty — who are competing for the lead role in a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. "Smash" has it all: flashy musical numbers, well-choreographed dance routines and, of course, entertaining drama.

Does that all sound a little similar to Fox's hit show "Glee"? Not so fast, says Hilty, who told MTV News the two shows couldn't be more different.

"Obviously, the glaring similarity is that we both have musical numbers in the show, but that's about it that we have in common," Hilty said. "We're very different in tone and theme and pretty much everything. We're kind of like a glam soap opera with some splashy musical elements in between."

But Hilty admits that if it weren't for "Glee," "Smash" might have never gotten off the ground.

"Thank God for 'Glee,' because they really opened doors for our show, specifically, to make it possible for us to do this," Hilty said. "They made it socially acceptable and even cool to love the arts, and hopefully our show will do the same, but they really were the people who started that and busted down those doors, so thank God for that."

Hilty's co-star, McPhee, agrees. "We're just actually really grateful that 'Glee' has opened the door," McPhee told MTV News on the Golden Globes red carpet last month.

Will you be watching "Smash"? Let us know in the comments!

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Super Bowl 46: Timbaland Picks Patriots For Win

The biggest sporting event of the year is just a few hours away, and in the moments leading up to Super Bowl XLVI, everyone seems to be picking a side. Multiplatinum producer Timbaland, who's looking for the New England Patriots to defeat the New York Giants on Sunday night (February 5), decided to make a song about it.

"I just did it almost to be playing around, just to do it," Timbaland told MTV News on Friday from his home in Miami. "It turned out bigger than what I thought."

The song, which is dedicated to Patriots tight end Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski was uploaded to YouTube last week with the football star's name as its title. The track was produced by Virginia native Tim and Wizz Dumb, but it's newcomer Brasco who rhymes on the energetic tune. "They're yelling, 'Touchdown, touchdown, 87, 87," he raps, referring to Gronk's number.

Gronkowski has 90 catches and 17 touchdowns this season but after suffering a high-ankle sprain, #87 is listed as questionable and may not play in the Super Bowl, though multiple sources tell ESPN that Gronkowski is doing better and is expected to play.

Whether or not Gronk plays, Timbaland is rooting for New England.

"I've always been a Tom Brady fan," he said of the Pats' quarterback and biggest star. "I've always liked the Patriots, how they move, how the coach coaches, how the players — you don't hear too much about their business in the media."

The last time these two teams faced off for the championship was in 2008's Super Bowl XLII, and the Giants came out on top. So for New England and their faithful following, Sunday's big game is a chance at redemption. "It's like a fight. You get one up, the Giants got one up so, of course, the Patriots gotta win," Timbaland said. "If the Patriots win, it'll be a tie. ... Hopefully, they'll win. I think they're ready."

Who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLVI? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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'Ferris Bueller' Producer Talks 'Clever' Super Bowl Ad

Even if you aren't a football fan, there's no way you could've pulled a Cameron Frye after last night's and claimed, as the "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" curmudgeon famously did, that you didn't see anything good all day.

That's because two and a half decades after writer/director John Hughes introduced us to the coolest high school kid who ever lived, Matthew Broderick returned during the big game for a "Ferris"-inspired Honda commercial that had the actor once again pointing out that life moves pretty fast, so you should look around every once in a while or you'll miss it.

Life, then, is all about surprises. Who would've thought that, after Hughes died in 2009, we'd ever see some fresh "Ferris" action? Certainly not the film's producer, Tom Jacobson, who was utterly taken by surprise when a teaser for the ad popped up online ahead of the Bowl.

Shortly before the game kicked off, MTV News called Jacobson to get his take on the spot, what Hughes would make of it and whether we'll ever get an actual "Ferris Bueller" sequel.

MTV: So what's your take on the new ad?

Tom Jacobson: I think it's fantastic. The fact that Ferris is a cultural phenomenon and representative of something is cool. I thought it was very well-done. Todd Phillips [who directed the ad] did a really good job. Matthew was great. When the first thing was released, with him just opening the window, it was the same voice. It was the same reading as Ferris 26 years ago.

MTV: It was eerily similar.

Jacobson: He's a good actor. Clearly it's part of him, and that's why he was so good in the first one. It's interesting, because the movie is 26 years old this June, and everyone still knows who Ferris is. Even kids know who Ferris is. It's not generational. I have a 14-year-old son, and last year, when he was in seventh grade, they had a school sleepover thing and the movie they showed was "Ferris Bueller." All the teachers and all the administration, they were the ones raised on "Ferris Bueller."

MTV: Did you know the commercial was coming?

Jacobson: I didn't know it was coming, and I was surprised. At first, I was like, "What?" Everybody was calling me, and my kids were sending me these links, like, "Dad, did you see this?" I looked it up and loved it.

MTV: That was just the teaser?

Jacobson: Yeah, just the 15-second thing.

MTV: So what were you thinking? Did you think they were making a sequel?

Jacobson: I was just a consumer. There was all this Internet rumor about, "What's this for? Is there a 'Ferris 2'?" So I did my own calling around and found out pretty quickly it was a car commercial. I actually spoke to Matthew on Monday and Tuesday and told him he did a great job. I emailed him and said it's amazing how many emails I've got about this. And he said the same thing and his BlackBerry was blowing up and it's amazing how the movie resonates after all these years.

MTV: When you saw the full commercial, was there one moment or reference that you thought was particularly cool?

Jacobson: It was more the imagery. The way it was framed. And Matthew playing himself. That was very clever and postmodern.

MTV: What do think John Hughes would make of this? Ferris Bueller doing a car commercial for the Super Bowl?

Jacobson: I can't really speak for what he would think. He was very protective of his material. It's unique stuff that he created. I don't know how he would feel. It's always a question about how artists feel about their material promoting something else. I'm proud it's part of the culture. I'll separate it from the product side of it and the fact that someone bought the rights to sell something else.

MTV: Is this ad the closest we're ever going to get to seeing a "Ferris Bueller" sequel?

Jacobson: There are a lot of people involved in that decision. We've never tried it before. John never wanted to do it.

MTV: Why do you think the film still resonates?

Jacobson: I think there's a very simple sentiment in the movie, which he repeats at the end: Life moves pretty fast, and if you don't stop and look around, it'll pass you by. It's one of those Confucius sayings that the whole movie emblemizes. It's even truer now. The world moves so fast. It's true for grownups. And there's the magic on John Hughes' execution — the fairy-tale nature of it. Why do fairy tales last for a thousand years? Why does the myth of Ulysses last for 2,000 years? Because they're mythological journeys, and John made one of those. That's Ferris' journey.

Check out everything we've got on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

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'Avengers' New Trailer Blasts Into Super Bowl

Captain America is from Brooklyn, New York, so he's probably a Giants fan, right?

Well, if the new trailer for "The Avengers" is any indication, Cap will have bigger things to think about than the Super Bowl this summer. The game was a big deal and all, but comic book movie fans also assembled in front of televisions and computers on Sunday (February 5) to watch a different group of uniformed supermen (and women) go to battle in ways we've never seen before.

Marvel Studios debuted the second full-length trailer for the summer's "Avengers," and boy, did it deliver, true believers! An extended version appeared on the flick's official Facebook page moments after the commercial aired during the game.

Aliens, aliens, aliens! (Are those Skrulls? Kree? Asgardian something-or-others?) A Hulk-tastic climax, a bunch of alien craft getting smashed and the most action fans have seen yet from the Avengers: Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the man who brought them together in post-credits sequences across several movies, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).

The trailer opens with the familiar images of carnage on the city streets: cars overturned, explosions. The voice of Jackson as Fury says, "The world has changed." Evans, as Captain America, looks unimpressed as he untangles his hand wraps in what looks like a midcentury-style boxing gym. "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me," he comments.

"We are hopelessly outgunned," Fury says, as the Marvel logo unspools and quinjets land on an aircraft carrier. As he finishes that sentence, we see that he's standing with Thor (and presumably the rest of the team). There are more explosions brought on by an alien craft, followed by Tony Stark (Iron Man) rising with a look of steadfast determination.

A close-up of Mjolnir flying into Thor's hand, followed by thunder and lightning. Iron Man's feet as they land on a rooftop. "Mr. Stark," Evans says. Downey answers: "Captain." "It's time," Jackson says. A close-up of Captain America's iconic shield. Iron Man in action.

As the montage continues, Thor helps Cap up off the street. Black Widow swings, then kicks, then peers over her shoulder while a car crashes between the shots. Thor lands on top of a quinjet! A large group of bad guys leap toward the city! Cap protects himself and his team from an explosion with his shield, Hawkeye shoots an arrow as he falls toward the street. Cap runs from a laser beam, Iron Man flies directly toward a small armada of alien craft. "I still believe in heroes," Fury says.

The camera then pans around all of the Avengers assembled around one another in the street. Hawkeye draws back his bow, Widow taps a clip into her pistol and Cap raises his shield. "The Avengers: That's what we call ourselves," Stark says casually, making a drink behind a bar as the film's primary villain approaches him ominously. " 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'-type thing."

"I have an Army!" declares Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thor's half-brother from Asgard.

"We have a Hulk," Stark answers, shortly before the extended trailer's money shot: the Hulk roaring, smashing through glass and leaping high into the air, destroying several alien craft at once. He didn't yell "Hulk smash!" — but he might as well have.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" writer/director Joss Whedon's flick will unite Marvel's Mightiest Heroes onscreen May 4.

Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers."

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