Monday, January 31, 2011

'How I Met Your Mother' Episode 6.15 Photos: Katy Perry Guests in 'Oh Honey'

Photos from How I Met Your Mother episode 6.15, "Oh Honey," airing Monday, February 7 at 8pm on CBS.

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Sundance: Oprah's OWN Acquires Docu 'Crime After Crime'

EXCLUSIVE: Oprah Winfrey's upstart cable network OWN continued its aggressive buying at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival by acquiring North American rights to Crime After Crime, the Yoav Potash-directed documentary. I'm told the deal was six figures, and that OWN will afford the film a qualifying Oscar run before it airs on Oprah's new network. OWN chief creative officer Lisa Erspamer made the deal with Submarine's Josh Braun and David Koh. The doc is about Deborah Peagler, an abused woman who struck back at the boyfriend who beat her. She was sentenced to 25 years to life for his murder. Some 20 years into her sentence, California passed a law permitting domestic violence survivors to have their case reopened. A pair of real estate lawyers took on Peagler's case, and what seemed an easy effort turned into a politically-driven nightmare to free her. The film debuted January 23 at the Temple Theatre, and I'd heard this was an emotionally wrenching tear-jerker. Several distributors including Goldwyn and IFC were interested. The film will have its DVD distribution through Oprah's Documentary Club, and comes on the heels of OWN's announcement that Rosie O'Donnell will be a collaborator in the OWN Docu Club. Remake rights were not part of the deal, and I've heard there is interest on ... Read More »

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Cory Gunz Documentary 'Son Of A Gun' To Premiere On MTV

Exec producer Nick Cannon teaming up with Young Money MC to chart his rise in six-part show debuting on April 28.By Jayson Rodriguez





Cory Gunz

Photo: MTV News




Nick Cannon and Cory Gunz announced on Monday (January 31) that they'll premiere their new docu-series, "Son of a Gun," this April on MTV.
The long-in-the-works production will follow the latest Lil Wayne protégé's rise to fame with cameras tracking the young Bronx rapper's career; Gunz is managed by his father, veteran Bronx MC Peter Gunz. "Son of a Gun," a six-part series, debuts on Thursday, April 28, at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
"Cory's story is inspiring, one that boldly paints the many trials and tribulations he's had to endure in pursuit of his dreams," executive producer Cannon said in a statement. "I'm grateful for the access that Cory and Peter allowed us to have in order to create a series that we feel will really resonate with MTV viewers."
Before the younger Gunz inked a deal with Weezy's Young Money, the upstart rapper was signed to iconic music industry veteran Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records. When that union proved to be fruitless, Gunz joined Def Jam Records at Jay-Z's urging.
Back in 2009, Gunz partnered with Cannon and told Mixtape Daily that he and the Nickelodeon exec had plans in place to showcase the young mixtape circuit star's skills.
"Me and Nick got a couple things under wraps," Gunz explained. "We're trying to make a couple big things happen. We're trying to do things real elegant for '09, '10 and beyond. We [got] a couple projects in the works. Nick has been real instrumental behind the scenes on the project. And he's opened a couple of doors for me. Nick is my big brother now, for real. He's opening doors for me, giving me opportunities in and out of the studio. It's about to be ugly."
Are you looking forward to Cory's MTV docu-series? Tell us in the comments!



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Alison Krauss Recalls Jaw-Dropping Grammy Moment

Filed under: Bluegrass, Exclusive, Grammy Awards

Valerie Macon, AFP/Getty Images

Since her first Grammy award in 1990 for Best Bluegrass Recording ('I've Got That Old Feeling'), Alison Krauss has won more Grammy trophies than any other female artist in history.

Claiming a total of 26 Grammys, including five in 2009 for 'Raising Sand,' the duet album with rocker Robert Plant, is an impressive achievement but it's not something the fiddle-playing singer/producer thinks about with any regularity.

"I don't go there much," Alison tells The Boot. "You're thrilled that people would recognize what you're doing in such a grand kind of way. But, just like you don't know if anybody's really going to like what you're doing when you put a record out or if anybody's going to pay attention to it, you can't really go there."

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Chris Young Is 'Jazz'-ed About Returning to the Grammys

Filed under: Country News

Donn Jones, AP

Chris Young is undoubtedly excited to be attending the upcoming Grammy Awards as a nominee, but the 25-year-old reveals he's actually taken part in a past ceremony -- as a performer.

"They do a Grammy jazz choir every year, and I was one of six people that were in high school that they picked to do it," Chris writes on his website. "So I went up and played the 'CBS Morning Show.' It's something I don't get to talk about a lot, because obviously doing country, it doesn't necessarily relate directly to jazz, but I got to go and just be there and perform at the pre-party for the nominees. This year I'll be at the pre-party for the nominees. So, it's exciting."

Chris is in the running this year for the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his hit, 'Gettin' You Home,' which he co-wrote. It's the song that the former 'Nashville Star' contestant credits with getting his entire career off the ground.

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SAG Awards TV: AFTRA Shows Pull Even With SAG; 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Modern Family', And Betty White Get First Wins

For the first time in a long time, both top TV series categories, best drama and comedy ensemble, featured first-time winners, HBO's Boardwalk Empire and ABC's Modern Family. And for the first time, a winner in one the top categories, Modern Family, was an AFTRA-affiliated show.
Last year, Julianna Margulies' win for best actress in a drama series marked the first time in recent history that a SAG award had gone to an actor on an AFTRA-represented series, CBS' The Good Wife. The other 5 series categories were won by SAG shows. Fast-forward to tonight when 3 out of the 6 SAG Awards for series, or 50%, went to AFTRA-designated shows. That included best actress in a drama series, in which Margulies repeated for a second consecutive year, best comedy series ensemble (Modern Family) and best actress in a comedy series (Hot in Cleveland's Betty White) Backstage, Margulies supported the ongoing movement to merge the two actors unions, SAG and AFTRA. "I would like us all to be one," she said. "We're in an industry where power comes in numbers." Onstage, Melissa Leo, winner in the best supporting actress in a movie category for The Fighter made an emotional plea for unity. "Let's join together," she said in her acceptance speech. "Let's make it a real voice. Unions made this country great because they give the voice to the ... Read More »

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Best and Worst Infomercials on TV Right Now

Filed under: Reality-Free, FeaturesWhat exactly makes for a "good" infomercial? Aren't most infomercials "bad," even if the product is good? And bad products are sometimes showcased in highly entertaining infomercials. In fact, an entertaining infomercial is better than a really unfunny sitcom.

All that makes choosing the best and worst infomercials a little tricky. So this is a list of infomercials that are running right now, with their good points and bad points. There isn't a "best" list and a "worst" list, they're all a "best and worst." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

'The Office' Stars 'Excited' For Will Ferrell's Guest Spot

'I think I gotta take some improv classes or something,' Rainn Wilson tells MTV News of funnyman's four-episode arc.By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Kara Warner





Rainn Wilson

Photo: Jeff Vespa/ Getty Images




Steve Carell will be ditching his role as clueless branch manager Michael Scott on "The Office" soon, but not without a laugh-fest assisted by funnyman Will Ferrell. And the actors who play Scott's Dunder Mifflin underlings are amped for the "Anchorman" star's appearance.

Last week, producers announced that Ferrell would appear in four episodes of the NBC comedy as a fellow branch manager who is just as nutty as Scott. When MTV News caught up with Angela Kinsey, who plays tightly wound accountant Angela Martin, and Rainn Wilson, who portrays paper salesman/ beet farmer Dwight Schrute, on the SAG Awards red carpet Sunday night (January 30), the duo said they were looking forward to some Ferrell/Carell comedic mayhem.
"I am so excited about Will Ferrell," Kinsey exclaimed. "What if I was like, 'Nah, boo.' No, I'm totally excited. Him and Steve are friends in real life, and I think we're just about to have a lot of fun. I can't wait."
Wilson said he needed to sharpen his comedic skills if he is going to spar onscreen with the "Megamind" star.
"I think I gotta take some improv classes or something like that. I gotta hone up. He's a master, so I can't wait. I can't wait," Wilson said.
As far as how Ferrell and Wilson's characters would interact in Scranton, Wilson said the eccentric Dwight probably wouldn't extend his hero worship of Michael Scott to his newly arrived counterpart.
"I think Dwight will probably butt heads and not like him at all, which will make it a lot of fun," he said.
Executive producer Paul Lieberstein, who also appears on the show as Scott's HR-rep rival Toby Flenderson, quipped that the show would provide a boost to Ferrell's already high profile.
"We found Steve Carell when he was nothing but a movie star and we turned him into a television star," he said. "We are proud to continue 'The Office's' tradition of discovering famous talent, and we hope that once America gets a good look at Will, they'll see what we see: Tremendous raw sexuality."
Are you looking forward to catching Will Ferrell on "The Office"? Let us know in the comments!



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BlackBerry service reportedly down across North America [Updated - Fixed]

If you’ve been trying to check your BlackBerry messages today and aren’t getting anything, you’re apparently not alone. According to widespread reports, it seems that RIM’s BlackBerry network is having some problems today and there does not seem to be a fix in sight just yet. We’re seeing reports from literally hundreds of Twitter users, [...]

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The Name Game: TV Characters with the Same Name

Television can be awfully creative when it comes to naming its characters. But not always. Sometimes, TV shows can be a little repetitive when it comes to naming their characters. Occasionally, names are even duplicated. We present 10 names so good that characters have shared them.

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Sundance: HBO Acquires Docu 'Hot Coffee'

EXCLUSIVE: HBO has closed a deal for Hot Coffee, the Susan Saladoff-directed competition documentary which focuses on� how corporations have used the memory of outlandish legal verdicts as a way to press for tort reforms and avoid jury trials through arbitration on cases that actually have merit.
HBO's Sheila Nevins viewed the documentary after it premiered last Monday. I'm told the deal was mid to high six-figures. HBO licensed the film for broadcast and VOD for 2 years, and will afford the film a qualifying Oscar theatrical run before it airs on the pay channel. Preferred Content's Kevin Iwashina brokered the sale. Carly Hugo and Alan Oxman produced with Saladoff.
The film's title refers to the famous case of a woman"s million dollar judgment from McDonald's over a spilled cup of coffee. Saladin, a lawyer, focuses on other outrageous cases that illustrated where corporations were negligent or unresponsive. They include a case involving Halliburton, which housed a 19-year old worker overseas in a barracks with men and ignored her concerns. She was gang-raped.
HBO had a busy Sundance, acquiring remake rights to turn the documentary Knuckle into a potential TV series with Rough House Productions, and making a preemptive acquisition of the docu Project Nim and then setting up theatrical distribution through Roadside Attractions.

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Craig Morgan Embarks on His Ninth USO Tour

Filed under: Country News

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Craig Morgan spent more than ten years as a soldier with the United States Army before he traded the military life for a recording career. But the Tennessee native is still a staunch supporter of the service men and women stationed overseas, which is why he left this week for his ninth USO tour, this time heading to Iraq and Kuwait as part of his Not Alone tour.

"In addition to showing our support for the service men and women deployed, I find a growing sense of pride in the good our country does while on these visits," Craig writes on his website. "We are not just fighting a war and helping people gain democracy and human rights in their own country, but our military is over there building hospitals and schools ... structures and plumbing that didn't exist before 9/11."

Craig's tour, which kicked off yesterday (January 27) will include five concerts at five camps with his full band, plus several acoustic shows for personnel at Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) which are located in remote areas and rarely receive live entertainment.

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Taylor Swift Celebrates Her Career With Some 'Heavy Metal'

Filed under: Country News

Jamey Walls

Taylor Swift was the guest of honor at a party at Nashville's Hard Rock Café on Friday (January 28). Family, friends, bandmembers and music industry executives gathered to celebrate her many career successes under the banner of "Heavy Metal at the Hard Rock."

When the 21-year-old superstar entered the party in a polka-dot dress and red pumps, she hugged and chatted with many of the party's attendees before the head of her record label, Scott Borchetta, climbed on stage to begin the numerous presentations that would last more than 30 minutes.

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Rep. Dennis Kucinich gets a bad bite of sandwich, sues House cafeteria

Rep. Dennis Kucinich is taking a congressional cafeteria to court over an olive pit. (AP/Harry Hamburg) Updated Jan. 28 Who knew the hidden dangers of the Longworth cafeteria? Rep. Dennis Kucinich is suing the contractor that runs the House office building eatery and a couple of its suppliers -- because of injuries received when he chomped down on a stray olive pit lurking inside his sandwich wrap.According to documents filed in D.C. Superior Court (first reported by Courthouse News), the Ohio Democrat and former presidential hopeful says he suffered "serious and permanent dental and oral injuries" requiring several surgeries and, well, really hurting a lot. Alleging negligence and breach of implied warranty, Kucinich is seeking $150,000. Updated, Jan. 28: Dennis Kucinich settles lawsuit over olive pit chomp-down


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Lil Wayne 'Like Kobe Bryant' On Carter IV, David Banner Says

'He's highly focused and very sharp right now,' MC tells XXL of Weezy.By Mawuse Ziegbe





Lil Wayne

Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images




Lil Wayne is working on the highly anticipated Tha Carter IV, and according to his pals, he's going for greatness.
David Banner, who put his production touch on Weezy's Carter III cut "La La," recently gave an update to XXL about Wayne's progress on his ninth studio album, and compared the MC's drive to that of one of the NBA's most successful players.
"Wayne is like Kobe Bryant right now," said Banner, who Young Money authority Mack Maine said will contribute to Carter IV. "You know, as Kobe gets older all he cares about is championships. Wayne is in that zone."
Wayne is certainly making up for lost time since his eight-month prison bid. The New Orleans hitmaker has lent his crackly flow to the remix to protégée Nicki Minaj's "Roman's Revenge," appeared in Cash Money boss Birdman's "Fire Flame" remix video and popped up on DJ Khaled's star-packed cut "Welcome to My Hood." Wayne's lead single from the project, "6 Foot 7 Foot," has already been heating up airwaves, and producer Bangladesh — who also crafted his 2008 smash "A Milli" — said the Cory Gunz-assisted record showcases Wayne's lyrical acuity.
"The overall wittiness is everything I was saying about 'A Milli' when it came to be," Bang explained to MTV News in December. "He freestyled 'A Milli,' and before it was big and before we knew what it was gonna do, we all had our opinions of it. A lot of people loved it, but me being the creator of the art, I didn't see the vision that he had. I think he attacked it as a mixtape. And that was the genius of what he did and it became the biggest thing. The way he approached this one, was everything that I wanted him to do on 'A Milli.' I think he's really focusing on every, every line. It's like he's writing. It's different. It's a whole 'nother level of cleverness to it."
What do you think Carter IV will sound like? Sound off in the comments!



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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Anthony Hopkins On 'The Rite': 'I Know How To Scare People'

In new film, Oscar-winner plays unorthodox exorcist Father Lucas.By Kara Warner





Anthony Hopkins

Photo: MTV News




If Anthony Hopkins fans know anything, it's the fact that the Oscar-winner knows how to scare the pants off of moviegoers. The obvious, most-famous example is his award-winning turn as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs" and the subsequent sequels. It's been awhile since we've seen Sir Hopkins play dark and devious, but with the release of exorcism thriller "The Rite" on Friday (January 28), fans can reacquaint themselves with a bit of Hopkins' tricks and treats.

In the film, which is based on real-life events, Hopkins plays unorthodox exorcist Father Lucas. Without delving into spoiler territory — no more than what the creepy promotional posters give away — when MTV News caught up with the actor recently, we asked him to take us through his process of playing possessed.
Hopkins explained that most of his performances come from extensive preparation. For "The Rite," he learned Latin and Italian for certain scenes, and spent a lot of time alone in his hotel room going over the script.
"I would be there in my den, my man's cave, going over and over [the] script," Hopkins said. "Gradually, as you go through it over and over, all these voices and interpretations come to you," he explained, adding that by the time he was ready to film the key possession sequences, he knew the material so well he was open to improvisation.
"I put all kinds of very suggestive sexual stuff into it which they cut out, but stuff that would provoke people. I knew that the response was good because [director] Mikael Håfström's said, 'You're crazy.' "
Hopkins went on to say, with a smile, that he just knows how to "get people."
"I know how to do those parts," he said. "Not because I'm scary, but because I know how to scare people. ... It's a question of being quiet and not overplaying it," he explained. "You let the script and the audiences do the work for you. You don't have to play evil."
Check out everything we've got on "The Rite."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.


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Anthony Hopkins On 'The Rite': 'I Know How To Scare People'

In new film, Oscar-winner plays unorthodox exorcist Father Lucas.By Kara Warner





Anthony Hopkins

Photo: MTV News




If Anthony Hopkins fans know anything, it's the fact that the Oscar-winner knows how to scare the pants off of moviegoers. The obvious, most-famous example is his award-winning turn as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs" and the subsequent sequels. It's been awhile since we've seen Sir Hopkins play dark and devious, but with the release of exorcism thriller "The Rite" on Friday (January 28), fans can reacquaint themselves with a bit of Hopkins' tricks and treats.

In the film, which is based on real-life events, Hopkins plays unorthodox exorcist Father Lucas. Without delving into spoiler territory — no more than what the creepy promotional posters give away — when MTV News caught up with the actor recently, we asked him to take us through his process of playing possessed.
Hopkins explained that most of his performances come from extensive preparation. For "The Rite," he learned Latin and Italian for certain scenes, and spent a lot of time alone in his hotel room going over the script.
"I would be there in my den, my man's cave, going over and over [the] script," Hopkins said. "Gradually, as you go through it over and over, all these voices and interpretations come to you," he explained, adding that by the time he was ready to film the key possession sequences, he knew the material so well he was open to improvisation.
"I put all kinds of very suggestive sexual stuff into it which they cut out, but stuff that would provoke people. I knew that the response was good because [director] Mikael Håfström's said, 'You're crazy.' "
Hopkins went on to say, with a smile, that he just knows how to "get people."
"I know how to do those parts," he said. "Not because I'm scary, but because I know how to scare people. ... It's a question of being quiet and not overplaying it," he explained. "You let the script and the audiences do the work for you. You don't have to play evil."
Check out everything we've got on "The Rite."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.


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SwiftKey analyses your Facebook and Twitter to help you type faster [video]

This video was bought to you by SitePen and Viadeo. If you have chubby fingers like mine, you will have experienced the annoyance of typing on smartphone keyboards and the pressing the wrong keys turning ‘song’ into ‘dog’, making your texts�incoherent�(Damn You Auto Correct) and �leaving the recipient wondering if you had one too many [...]

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SwiftKey analyses your Facebook and Twitter to help you type faster [video]

This video was bought to you by SitePen and Viadeo. If you have chubby fingers like mine, you will have experienced the annoyance of typing on smartphone keyboards and the pressing the wrong keys turning ‘song’ into ‘dog’, making your texts�incoherent�(Damn You Auto Correct) and �leaving the recipient wondering if you had one too many [...]

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Terminator?s hand? It?s back, in the form of a German robot.

Ich bringe! Is German for “I’ll be back!” Researchers at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, part of the German Aerospace Center (DLR),��have built a scary looking anthropomorphic robot hand that can endure collisions with hard objects, such as getting hit with a baseball bat?a 66 G impact. Robustness, or Robustheit was the key word [...]

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'Law & Order' Co-Star Alana De La Garza Joins Spinoff 'Law & Order: Los Angeles'

Law & Order: Los Angeles is adding a touch of Law & Order. Alana De La Garza, who co-starred on the mothership series, will join the spinoff, reprising her character as A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa. On the show, from Wolf Films and UMS, Rubirosa will work with D.D.A. Jonah Dekker (Terrence Howard).
This completes the creative and casting overhaul of LOLA, which included the shift of Alfred Molina's Ricardo Morales from a prosecutor to a detective partnered with TJ Jaruszalski (Corey Stoll) and the departure of Skeet Ulrich, Regina Hall and Megan Boone. There is no return date set for the show yet as NBC brass is giving the producers more time to work on the revamp.
SDB Partners-repped De La Garza was the most recent ADA on Law & Order. She joined at the beginning of Season 17 and was on the show for� 4 seasons, until the veteran procedural's end in May. Her addition creates a stronger tie between Law & Order: Los Angeles and Law & Order and makes the new series a more traditional spinoff, which features character(s) from the original series. ?I hope fans of the ?mothership? will be happy to see the return of Alana?s character, Connie Rubirosa, one of the longest-running assistant prosecutors on Law & Order," L&O creator Dick Wolf said. "Alana has a huge following and it will be interesting ... Read More »

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'Bones' News: The Locator Has Been Located

The potential Bones spin-off series finally has its star. And that star is... Geoff Stults.

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Our Blog Network: 01.28.11

AgencySpy: Taco Bell Defends its Beef With Full-Page Newspaper Ad
10,000 Words: Tools of the Day: definr & Thsrs
SportsNewser: Documenting the Recovery of Charlie Davies
WebNewser: Twitter, NFL Team Up on Dynamic Super Bowl XLV Page
eBookNewser: HarperCollins Acquires Book From Community Writing Site
TVNewser: Diane Sawyer Interrupted By Surprised Skier
PRNewser: Dow Jones Analyzes Which Firms Got the Most Press
FishbowlNY: Times Says Lower Manhattan a New York Media Hotspot
FishbowlDC: Chubby Chaser Wants Advice, Blames Media
FishbowlLA: BillCosby Bukowski On Funny or Die
GalleyCat: 5 Tools Writers Used to Dodge the Egypt Internet Crackdown
TVSpy: Overcoming Court Injunction, WDAM Airs Controversial Video of Inmate Abuse
MediaJobsDaily: Mediabistro's Nadine Cheung Presents: How To Interview For A Job
UnBeige: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: The Newcomers
ThinkMobile: Starbucks Card eGift Can Be Used with Starbucks Mobile iPhone App
SocialTimes: Five Reasons Your Competitors Aren't Blogging
AllFacebook: Does Facebook Make Us Depressed?
AllTwitter: Twitter Techniques: Scheduling, Monitoring, and Managing with HootSuite
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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Is McCain strategist Mark Salter the "Anonymous" behind "O"? Do you even care?

Mark Salter on the McCain campaign trail, 2008. (Melina Mara/TWP) All of Washington has been abuzz over who might be "Anonymous," author of the new White House novel "O." Well, no, scratch that. Let's be honest: The buzz has been scant. After a wave of hype, "O" was released Tuesday to tepid reviews and early Amazon rankings (it trails a four-month-old Vince Flynn thriller in the "political novels" niche) that suggest we're not looking at a "Primary Colors"-level hit.So does anyone care who Anonymous is? Halperin (William B. Plowman/NBC/AP) On Thursday, Time's Mark Halperin fingered John McCain strategist Mark Salter, citing "sources" who he said confirmed it and some circumstantial evidence: Salter's longtime editor is Simon & Schuster's "O" shepherd Jonathan Karp; Salter's been lying low in Maine since leaving McCain's staff.True? Salter gave a standard non-denial to our colleague Rachel Weiner ("I've been asked not to comment, and


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Adriana Lima: Victoria?s Secret Super Sexy

Showing off the new Victoria?s Secret collection, Adriana Lima looks ravishing in a brand new photo shoot.
Ms. Lima dons a variety of different getups in a spread that?s sure to sell plenty of bras and panties this spring.
In related news, Adriana is also making an appearance on the cover of the March issue of Vogue Brazil magazine.
Lima is drawing mixed reviews for the cover shot, given that she?s styled a bit differently than usual.

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Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore: Dinner in Sao Paulo

Enjoying their time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were spotted out to dinner last night (January 27).
The ?Ghost? gal and her ?No Strings Attached? hubby ducked into the restaurant and joined soccer player Ronaldo Nazario and his girlfriend Bia Anthony for a delectable meal.
In other news, during her time at the annual Sundance Film Festival, Demi told press that she would love to direct Ashton in a movie.
?I actually think I could direct him really well,? she said.
?You know when you know someone so well you can see through their bulls***? That?s what it would be like if I directed Ashton.?

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TNW Daily Dose ? 24 hours of tech news in 5 minutes [Audio]

We’ve finally gotten our iTunes feed! Find you all of the information about how to subscribe to The Daily Dose in our introduction post. For now, here’s today’s rundown of the top news headlines for the past 24 hours. We’ll be back on Monday with a weekend wrap-up and a a kick off of things [...]

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Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor Join 'Charlie's Angels' Reboot

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV NewsMinka Kelly and Rachael Taylor have landed the last two Angel roles in ABC's 'Charlie's Angels' reboot.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the two join previously cast soap opera star Annie Ilonzeh.

'Friday Night Lights' star Kelly will play the character previously known as Marisa (the name will be changed), a former Marine weapons expert who is versed in all forms of hand-to-head combat. The character also happens to be a neat freak. Taylor has been tapped to play Abby, described as the youngest and sassiest of the Angels. The character has a notoriously crooked Wall Street father and is a quite the con artist herself. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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'Friday Night Lights' Series Finale Photos

Official photos from the series finale.

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'Friday Night Lights' Series Finale Photos

Official photos from the series finale.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

'The Vampire Diaries' Recap: Damon Reveals His Dark Secret

The Vampire Diaries is back, and something bad is coming. Well, a lot of
bad things are coming. Klaus, a posse of werewolves, Elena's dad and
Damon's dark side all continue their march to Mystic Falls in this
episode. There's a major death and Damon finally reveals his true
feelings.

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White House intern Molly DeWolf Swenson took time off to try out for "American Idol"

Former White House intern Molly DeWolf Swenson belts out "Dock of the Bay" on "American Idol." (Courtesy of Fox) Amid the blur of hopefuls auditioning on "American Idol" Wednesday night, one stood out. Three words: "White House intern." It's true! Molly DeWolf Swenson, the leggy Harvard grad who wowed the judges with her husky "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" recently finished an internship with the Obama administration. ("I'm in love with this president," she told the cameras, but "not in a Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton kind of way!"). The name-drop made for good TV but doesn't seem to be what scored her a ticket to the show's vaunted "Hollywood auditions": The Seattle native didn't yet know she'd get the fall internship when she first showed up for a Idol cattle-call in Milwaukee last July. Swenson was brought back to sing for the celebrity judges in October -- that's


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ACM to Honor Reba , Carrie + More Special Ladies of Country

Filed under: ACMs, Awards, Concert News, Country News

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

The Academy of Country Music has announced Reba, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles as the honorees for their upcoming Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country televised concert special, which will be taped on Monday, April 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

With 13 ACM wins to her name, Reba will be honored for winning Female Vocalist of the Year more times than any artist in ACM history. Reba first earned the award in 1984 and has since won the trophy an impressive seven times. Reba was also named Entertainer of the Year in 1994.

Carrie will be honored as being the only female artist in history to win the coveted ACM trophy for Entertainer of the Year twice. She first snagged the award in 2009 and again in 2010, bringing her total ACM wins to 10 since 2006.

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Sofia Vergara For Kmart Revealed, Betty White's Pin-Up Girl Past

Filed under: Fashion, Celebrity, News, Celebrity Beauty, Designers & Brands



Get the latest in fashion and beauty news with our morning roundupPermalink | Comments

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'Friday Night Lights' Season 5, Episode 11 Recap

Filed under: Reality-Free, Recaps['Friday Night Lights' - 'The March']

Watching tonight's episode of 'Friday Night Lights' brought to mind the expression, 'Be careful what you wish for.' Just as so many good things are happening for characters like Tami and Vince and Jess, there's also trouble bubbling right below the surface.

Nothing is black or white, nothing is crystal clear, and as the last two episodes of the show loom, it's still uncertain how 'Friday Night Lights' will conclude. ... And that's a good thing because this show is consistently one of the best dramas on the air. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Charlie Louvin Dies at 83

Filed under: Legends, Country News, R.I.P.

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Charlie Louvin, who, along with his brother Ira, influenced numerous country and rock performers from Dwight Yoakam and Emmylou Harris to Gram Parsons and the Byrds, has died from complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 83.

Charlie's wife Betty, to whom he had been married for 61 years, confirmed to Nashville's WSM radio that Charlie passed away at around 1:30 AM on Wednesday (January 26).

In July, Charlie announced he was battling stage 2 pancreatic cancer for which he underwent surgery at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center. On Charlie's official website, his son, Sonny Louvin, reported that while his father had returned home from the hospital on July 30, "the surgery did not go as planned and he [would] begin using alternative methods of treatment going forward."

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

How to go from lone blogger to news organization: VentureBeat?s Matt Marshall [Interview]

An ex-correspondent for the Wall Street Journal Matt Marshall is now the founder of VentureBeat -A digital publication�to provide news about innovation for forward-thinking executives. He has been in Silicon Valley for ten years and has some interesting perspective on the technology industry’s evolution from first dot com crash to the fast growing ecosystem it [...]

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Juelz Santana Opens Up About Studio Raid

Dipset MC blames raid on his studio, arrest of Skull Gang's Hynief.By Jayson Rodriguez





Juelz Santana

Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage




Diplomats rapper Juelz Santana missed a few appointments last week, among them an appearance on MTV News' "RapFix Live" and a concert in Chicago.

Cam'ron said Santana had a "skin issue" that kept him from the Dipset-themed "RapFix Live," however, it was later revealed Santana was dealing with a legal ordeal: An affiliate of his was arrested at the rapper's New Jersey studio.
In an interview with Chicago's Power 92, the MC apologized for his absence and briefly spoke about the incident.
"It's been some legal issue, I know it's been all over the Internet," Santana told the Hot Boyz radio hosts. "Police ran up in my studio. I had to deal with that and a couple things.
"They always picking on me — that's the best way I can put it," he continued. "But by the graces of God, everything should be OK. I wasn't caught with anything in my possession."
Skull Gang MC Hynief (born Toby M. Raynor) was arrested, with police saying he was in possession of firearms and marijuana.
"Two fully loaded 9mm caliber handguns were found in the recording studio along with several boxes of ammunition. Additionally, seventeen (17) small clear zip-lock bags each containing a greenish brown vegetation, consistent with the appearance of Marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were seized," a spokesperson for the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.
Santana will join Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey for a Diplomats reunion LP due later this year.



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Diddy To Guest-Star On 'Hawaii Five-0'

Music from Diddy-Dirty Money's Last Train to Paris will also be featured on the CBS show.By Jayson Rodriguez





Diddy

Photo: Victor Boyko/ Getty Images




Book 'em, Diddy?
The hip-hop mogul is scheduled to appear on CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" this spring in an episode where he'll play a detective looking to avenge a crime committed against his family. Music from Diddy-Dirty Money's Last Train to Paris will also be featured in the episode, according to The Associated Press.
Diddy's latest effort debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard albums chart last month. "Anybody that knows me, it's rare when I'm extra happy, but today ... this last two weeks, I've just been blown away by all the support that I've gotten from you guys," the rapper said in a YouTube clip at the time of Paris' release. "You already know I deal with a lot of hate, and I talk about that. But it's also important to talk about when I'm dealing with a lot of love, and the love that y'all have shown me and the girls on this project ... y'all made this project a success, and I want to say thank you."
Recently, Diddy has been making the awards-season rounds, appearing at the Golden Globes despite not earning a nomination for his role in Judd Apatow's "Get Him to the Greek." He told MTV News at the Globes that he hopes to land more comedic roles in the future.
"I've done a lot of drama mostly my whole career, with Broadway and 'Monster's Ball' and stuff like that — my short little career," he said. "But when I did 'Get Him to the Greek,' I really fell in love with making people laugh. I have a knack for improvisation, and hopefully I'll be able to make people laugh more."
Are you looking forward to Diddy's "Hawaii Five-0" cameo? Let us know in the comments!



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Will.I.Am Named Intel's 'Director Of Creative Innovation'

Black Eyed Peas mastermind says he'll 'co-develop new ways to communicate, create, inform and entertain.'By James Montgomery





Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am

Photo: Ian Gavan/ Getty Images




You might think that with his busy schedule of winning Grammys and wearing things made out of Legos, will.i.am wouldn't exactly be looking for a day job. And yet, he's just landed
one: "Director of creative innovation" for Intel.
On Tuesday, Intel — the world's largest semiconductor chip manufacturer — announced they are partnering with the Black Eyed Peas mastermind on a "multi-year, hands-on creative and technology collaboration," which, much like Lady Gaga's deal with Polaroid, will lead to the development and creation of new products.
"Nearly everything I do involves processors and computers, and when I see an Intel chip I think of all the creative minds involved that help to amplify my own creativity," Will said in a statement. "Teaming up with the scientists, researchers and computer programmers at Intel to collaborate and co-develop new ways to communicate, create, inform and entertain is going to be amazing."
Intel added that, in his new role with the company, Will is set to "collaborate on many creative and technology endeavors ... that may include such devices as laptops, smart phones and tablets." He also will create new music expressly for the company.
"We're thrilled to tap into the limitless creativity will.i.am brings to the table. He's not only a brilliant artist and producer, but also an innovator pushing the bounds of technology professionally and personally," said Deborah Conrad, Intel's vice president and chief marketing officer. "Our partnership ... is a prime example of how we want to convey and deliver the Intel experience. It's imperative that Intel and our innovations are kept in front of the global youth culture that embraces new devices and new forms of communication and entertainment."



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mbTweets: 01.25.11

• Study: Sexy Female Anchors Distract Male Viewers: http://mbist.ro/eQGIb6 — @TVSpyNews • 'We are a channel that has to follow rules of NBC News' @WeGotEd http://mbist.ro/eSHgnv — @TVNewser • NYT: Private Funerals Now Streamed Online - http://nyti.ms/eqzKk0 — @WebNewser • Apple reaches 10 billion downloads. http://mbist.ro/dSCzru — @PRNewser • Do you think it's right to ban Twitter from politics? http://ow.ly/3JZXs — @alltwtr

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Samsung aims for 30% mobile phone market share in Taiwan

According to a report from Digitimes,�Samsung Electronics will focus on its line of smartphones in 2011 to increase its overall market share for handsets to 30%. Samsung is currently holding a 20% market share in terms of volume and 15% in terms of value, which is still behind HTC and Nokia. They are leading, however, [...]

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Quoted: Rep. Tim Walberg on living in his Capitol Hill office

"I've probably got it about as good as a man cave can be." -- Rep. Tim Walberg, one of the 21 House freshmen who work, eat and sleep every night in their Capitol offices (and shower in the House gym). But as CBS News reports, it couldn't find a single female member willing to join the Slumber Party: "I can't see myself walking through the halls of Congress needing to go shower," said Rep. Karen Bass.


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Our 'Puppy Bowl VII' Fantasy Team Picks

In case you've been living under a sad, puppy-free rock for the past six years, I'll go ahead and clue you into the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers facing off against the Green Bay Packers is not the real matchup to be stoked about on Super Bowl Sunday. Nope, it's the faceoff between the undefeated Patch and the often-underestimated Thelma. So long as they don't get too distracted by their squeaky toys, that is.Yep, we're talking Puppy Bowl VII, returning to Animal Planet on Feb. 6 at 3pm, complete with instant replays, puppy penalties, the Water Bowl Cam (ahh! puppies drinking water!), the new puppy-perspective Puppy Cam, chicken cheerleaders (chicks, man) and the Bissell Kitten Half-Time Show. You're essentially just watching puppies play. And it. Is. Awesome. Way more awesome than football. And Animal Planet just released its starting lineup for the big game, so we thought we'd take a shot at picking the best players for a fantasy Puppy Bowl team. Check out our top contenders (with all their pertinent stats thanks to Animal Planet):

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Bill O'Reilly Addresses Keith Olbermann's Departure, But Doesn't Mention Him by Name (VIDEO)

Filed under: TV ReplayNot long after going to work for MSNBC a second time in 2003, Keith Olbermann began calling Bill O'Reilly out on the air, which led to an often-vicious eight-year feud between the two cable news hosts.

On 'The O'Reilly Factor' (weekdays, 8 PM ET on Fox News) Bill O'Reilly addressed Keith Olbermann's abrupt departure from MSNBC during a discussion with Bernie Goldberg. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Animating Chanel: Makeup Mastermind Peter Philips Creates Robot-Inspired Short Film

Filed under: Beauty, News, Makeup, Designers & Brands



Makeup mastermind Peter Philips let his imagination run wild in this fun and cheeky short published on the Nowness site today.Permalink | Comments

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Jennifer Love Hewitt Breaks Bottle Over Head for Charity on 'Ellen' (VIDEO)

Filed under: TV ReplayEllen DeGeneres challenges Jennifer Love Hewitt to a range of silly tasks on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' (weekdays, syndicated). For each task Hewitt completes, DeGeneres promises that $1,000 will be donated to a charity of her choice. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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'Gossip Girl' Season 4, Episode 12 Recap (VIDEO)

Filed under: Reality-Free, Recaps['Gossip Girl' - 'The Kids Are Not All Right']

It's been a long, hard winter, Upper East Siders, but 'Gossip Girl' is back with a vengeance, ready to administer our weekly fix of scandalous socialites and razor-sharp snark once more. I don't know about you, but I've been in serious withdrawal -- if I hop into one more limo in the hopes of finding my very own Chuck Bass, I'm liable to be arrested.

And if, like me, an hour-long televisual treat just isn't enough to scratch that itch, read on to find out how you can score yourself some super CW swag, including a reusable 'Gossip Girl' cup, 'Vampire Diaries' travel mug, 'One Tree Hill' shirt and double-sided 'Supernatural' and 'Smallville' canvas bag. Even Blair Waldorf would covet a prize like this. (Maybe.) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Enchant This Agency With Racy Romance Novels

Writers can steal the hearts of these agents with page-turning love stories geared towards women.
Pitching an Agent: FinePrint Literary Management
RELATED:Pitching An Agent: Women's Fiction With A Twist

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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Chuck Wicks Leaves RCA Records

Filed under: Country News

Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic.com

Chuck Wicks, who stole fans' hearts with his 2007 debut single, 'Stealing Cinderella,' has exited RCA Records Nashville, according to CMT.

The singer grabbed headlines when he began dating fellow country artist Julianne Hough, and gained more fans when he danced alongside Julianne on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2009, before the couple officially called it quits. He released one album for RCA, 'Starting Now,' in 2008.

While his second single, 'All I Ever Wanted,' peaked at No. 14, and 'Man of the House' reached No. 27, Chuck's two most recent singles, 'Hold That Thought' and the recently-released 'Old School,' which were slated to appear on a new album this spring, both failed to crack country's Top 40.

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How to Beat the Winter Blues by Adding Color to Your Clothes

Filed under: Accessories, Fashion, How to Wear, Shopping



Sometimes you need to face the winter blues head-on and add some brightness to your wardrobe. Here's how.Permalink | Comments

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Doing Good: 20 Examples of Giving Back on TV

With the recent death of Sargent Shriver, the first director of the United States Peace Corps, it?s good to consider the important impact of volunteerism and giving back to our community. Television is no exception. The characters and shows of TV don?t always get their charity right, but you can?t deny the good effort exhibited by some.

We highlight 20 examples of ?giving back? from our favorite TV shows.

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Will James Franco Get In Bed With Kate Hudson For Linda Lovelace Pic?

EXCLUSIVE: 127 Hours star James Franco is in discussions to play pornographer Chuck Traynor in a Linda Lovelace film that will be directed by his Howl helmers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Kate Hudson has the offer to play the title role in Lovelace, the W. Merritt Johnson-scripted adaptation of Eric Danville's book The Complete Linda Lovelace.
Traynor was Lovelace's husband and a pornographer when she starred in the notorious 1972 porn blockbuster Deep Throat. Later, when she quit the business, divorced Traynor and reclaimed her name Linda Boreman, she accused her ex of coercing her into prostitution and pornography through bullying, beatings and even hypnotism.
Epstein and Friedman unveiled the Franco-starrer Howl at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and the filmmakers have been trying to mount this film as their next project ever since. Franco is not a certainty because his schedule is so busy. Franco, who finds out tomorrow morning if he'll be a Best Actor nominee, is hosting the Oscarcast with Anne Hathaway. He's unveiled plans to direct two movies, and he's joining Nicole Kidman on Broadway this fall in the David Cromer-directed Sweet Bird. All this makes the Traynor role uncertain, but Franco is certainly in discussions. The CAA-repped Franco next stars in the Fox summer tent pole Rise of the Apes.

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'Smallville' Episode 10.13 Photos: 'Beacon'

Official photos from this episode.

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Read this: Virginia professor explores slave-mistress life in new book

Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Mark Gail/The Washington Post) When Dolen Perkins-Valdez read a passing reference in a history book to an Ohio resort ("Tawawa House") where slaveholders would take their slave mistresses for vacations, she was blown away. "I didn't know what to do with that," she tells our colleague Lonnae O'Neal Parker. Well, actually, she did: The University of Mary Washington professor has written a novel, "Wench," that explores the complexities and utter weirdness of that scenario. Read more: Literary Life: A tender spot in master-slave relations


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Our Blog Network: 01.21.11

SocialTimes: Viral Sensation: Woman Who Fell In Fountain Has A Criminal Record
SportsNewser: FOX 11 Reporter Crashes During Motocross Demo
WebNewser: Syfy Picks Up Original Web Series The Mercury Men
eBookNewser: iPad 2 Could Ship In April
TVNewser: How Roger Ailes Got Fox News A Democratic Primary Debate in 2004
PRNewser: How Will the Management Move Impact Google's Future?
FishbowlDC: Ernest Borgnine Hates Politicians
FishbowlLA: Tribune Co. Gives $2,500 Bonuses to 'Outstanding Employees'
FishbowlNY: Sheila McClear, New York Post Features Writer: Gawker is 20-Something Version of CNN
GalleyCat: Privacy & eCommerce Tips for Booksellers
MediaJobsDaily: Venus Ends Its Print Edition
UnBeige: Leading Draft Pick Forgoes NFL to Stay in Architecture School
AgencySpy: Verizon Knows You Just Can't Wait for the iPhone
ThinkMobile: Return Of The T-Mobile Sidekick
AllFacebook: Facebook Officially Announces Funding
AllTwitter: 3 Things Most People Don't Understand About Twitter
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UAE Classifieds Network Expands to 14 MENA Countries

Dubai based ads network Dubizzle.com expands to 14 countries in the Middle East in a rapid expansion they’ve been pursuing for the past 4 months, which took them from covering the Arab gulf states to 14 countries throughout the region in 3 languages. The very popular classified network added French to their list of languages [...]

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Beauty Trends: Gorgeous Greetings From Eugene, Oregon

Filed under: Beauty, Hair, News, Makeup



Eugene is one of the healthiest places to live on Earth, and it shows in our women's sun-kissed, natural beauty. Here's how we get our beautiful looks, with individual flair.Permalink | Comments

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Alan Jackson Leaves Arista Nashville Label After 22 Years

Filed under: Country News

Jeff Gentner, AP

Alan Jackson announced on Thursday (January 20) he has left his longtime record label, Arista Nashville. The partnership between the quiet, laid-back boy from Georgia and the label began in 1989, and for the last 22 years, has brought both of them major success, including more than 50 million albums sold, a dozen platinum and multi-platinum albums, 35 chart-topping hits and more than 100 awards and honors. In fact, the country superstar was the very first artist signed to the label.

"I've had a great run with Arista, going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois," Alan says. "I've gotten to work with some real great people along the way and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next."

The parent company of his label, Sony Music Nashville, said in a statement that they wish "to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association" and that they wish him well in his future endeavors.

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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Breaking: Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC

Breaking: Tonight was Keith Olbermann's last night on MSNBC. The Countdown host and the network say that the two parties "have ended their contract." MSNBC says that starting Monday, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell will move to 8 PM, with Ed Schultz moving to 10 PM. TVNewser has the full statement from the network and video of Olbermann's farewell show.

Breaking: Keith Olbermann Out At MSNBC (TVNewser)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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'Portlandia' Series Premiere Recap

Filed under: Reality-Free, Recaps['Portlandia' - 'Farm']

I once drove over a few inches of crosswalk space in Austin, Texas. In protest of this heinous act, a snooty pedestrian shook his fist at me and gave me a nasty look -- the kind of look someone might give you if you had just slayed a beautiful, defenseless unicorn in front of them -- and yelled, "Hell-O! CROSSWALK!"

I'm sure something similar happened to Fred Armisen, probably more than once, in the great city of Portland, Ore. But Armisen's "crime" probably involved driving too close to an angry urban cyclist's precious bike lane ("One f***ing speed!") or snacking on a Quarter Pounder with cheese in view of a vocal vegan café patron. That could explain why the 'SNL' vet is devoting most of his free time these days to skewering the Pacific Northwest city's counterculture in IFC's 'Portlandia.' Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Larry Gordon Said WHAT Last Night?

At the Producers Guild Of America Awards�Saturday night,�Larry Gordon intro'ed The Social Network's Scott Rudin who was receiving the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures. Larry got a big�laugh from the crowd when�he praised Rudin for that Golden Globes speech�"thanking his parents, Nikki Finke and Barry Diller".

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Christian Lacroix Designs Capsule Collection For Spanish Brand Desigual

Filed under: Fashion, News, Designers & Brands



Christian Lacroix -- the man, not the licensing operation -- is back with a capsule collection for Spanish brand DesigualPermalink | Comments

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Kennedy White House staffers remember the good times at a 50th anniversary luncheon

Chief Justice Earl Warren administers oath of office to President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1961. (AP/File) On the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inauguration, Letitia Baldrige cast her mind back not to the soaring speeches and glamorous balls -- but rather to "how hard it was to move everything in!"It seems that the legendary social secretary spent much of Jan. 20, 1961, working like a pack mule. "We were trying to get as much of Jackie Kennedy's things into the White House before the inauguration" -- without, of course, being gauche enough to do so under the gaze of Mamie Eisenhower -- "and when you're carrying a long ball gown over your arm, everyone knows what that is, and they're trying to get a look." Former social secretary Letitia Baldrige, at head of table, with a gathering of Kennedy White House staff -- and


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From Silicon Valley to Cairo: Plug and Play Egypt Becomes a Reality

Plug and Play venture is a business that gathers entrepreneurs from around the world, and has decided that since not everyone can go to Silicon Valley to start the next big thing, that it’s going to go to them. Well, to those in Cairo, Egypt for now. ‘Plug and Play Egypt’ a Silicon Valley startup [...]

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Beauty News: Heidi Klum's Upcoming Fragrance, Behind The Scenes Peek At Jimmy Choo Fragrance Ad, Rihanna's Disco-Style 'Fro

Filed under: Fragrance, Beauty, Celebrity Beauty



Breaking beauty news from around the web...Permalink | Comments

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Taylor Swift's 'Back to December' Video Dissected

Filed under: Country News

Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift's new music video for 'Back to December' could be subtitled 'Chilly Scenes of Winter.' And that's exactly what the clip's director, Yoann Lemoine, envisioned for the moody and melancholy video accompanying the tune.

"I wanted to work on the coldness of feelings in a very visual way, playing with the snow, the distance and sadness," Lemoine tells MTV News. "[Taylor] really liked it," adds the director, whose previous work includes the clip for Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream.' "The winter theme was very interesting to me -- the snow, the ice. I even wanted the guy to go swim in frozen lakes at some point."

The "guy" to whom he's referring is actor Guntars Asmanis, who plays Taylor's former love interest in the icy clip. Interestingly, Taylor's scenes were shot in Nashville while Guntars' part was filmed in upstate New York. And while Guntars may bear some resemblance to a number of Taylor's exes, pop-culture theorists who live for this sort of thing are fairly convinced the song is actually about that other Taylor, actor Taylor Lautner, with whom the singing superstar reportedly split in December 2009.

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Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban on 'Cloud Nine' With Baby Faith

Filed under: Country News

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

The holidays were pretty high-strung at the Kidman-Urban house, as two-and-a-half-year-old Sunday Rose anticipated the arrival of her baby sister, Faith Margaret. For Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's second child together, the couple opted to use a gestational carrier.

"As you can imagine, we spent Christmas on tenterhooks," Nicole told Australian Women's Weekly magazine. "And after Faith Margaret was born on December 28, a healthy 8 pounds 9 ounces, we spent New Year on cloud nine."

Keith and Nicole decided to wait until January 17 to announce the baby's birth. "Our family is truly blessed, and just so thankful, to have been given the gift of baby Faith Margaret," they said in a statement. "No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier."

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Barbra Streisand among guests at State Department lunch for Hu Jintao

Chinese President Hu Jintao with Henry Kissinger and Barbra Streisand at the State Department, captured on tape during C-SPAN's coverage of the event. (Courtesy of C-SPAN) Before there's a state dinner, there's always a state lunch. Among the guests at Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's luncheon for Hu Jintao on Wednesday afternoon: Barbra Streisand, of whom the Chinese president is said to be a big fan. The superstar chanteuse, in a business-like black jacket and skirt, clinked glasses during a toast with Hu. (Updated, 6 p.m.: And yes, if you were wondering: Streisand made the state dinner guest list as well.) Other guests at the State Department gathering: Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, Robert Gates, Valerie Jarrett, Colin Powell, Sens. John Kerry and Dick Lugar, and Gen. James E. Cartwright of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also: Music mogul Quincy Jones. On the menu: Butternut squash soup, Alaskan cod with


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White House state dinner: For Hu Jintao's state visit, a day of pomp and ceremony

UPDATED Wednesday 11:55 p.m. By Nia-Malika Henderson and Roxanne Roberts It's the mantra of Washington these days: Can't we treat each other with civility and respect? Wednesday night's state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao was international diplomacy's version of playing nice: gracious words, bipartisan patriotism and hardly any mentions of those uncomfortable issues that put a damper on a good party (although a hardy crowd of protesters outside the White House greeted arriving guests). The evening's theme was all-American, with elegant nods to Chinese culture; the guest list of 225 mixed politicians, business leaders, celebrities and a number of prominent Chinese Americans including Olympic skater Michelle Kwan, movie star Jackie Chan, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and designer Vera Wang, wearing -- you guessed it -- Vera Wang. And Barbra Streisand, who oddly quipped that she was invited because, once upon a time, "I worked in a Chinese restaurant." ...


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Love, etc.: Jesse James and Kat Von D are engaged; D.C. United coach welcome baby boy

Jesse James and Kat Von D will tie the knot. (AP/Jennifer Graylock) Born: A son, Oscar Benjamin Olsen, to Ben Olsen and his wife, Megan, on Tuesday. The D.C. United coach and the schoolteacher also have a 2-year-old daughter, Ruby. Oscar's birth was well-timed -- three days before the start of training camp, reports our colleague Steven Goff. Engaged: Jesse James, who closed the loop on his year of infamy by proposing to tattoo artist Kat Von D, reports People. His divorce from Sandra Bullock, after infidelity admissions, became final in June.


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Meaghan Martin from 'Mean Girls 2': 'Everybody Has Been Bullied in Their Own Way'

Ready for the return of the plastics to North Shore High School? Meaghan Martin certainly is. The actress, known for her roles in ABC Family's 10 Things I Hate About You and Disney's Camp Rock movies, stars in Mean Girls 2 -- premiering Sunday, Jan. 23 on ABC Family -- alongside Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place), Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives), Nicole Gale Anderson (Make It or Break It), Claire Holt (H20: Just Add Water), Diego Boneta (Pretty Little Liars) and Tim Meadows (Glory Daze).BuddyTV's Carey Proctor and other members of the press had a chance to chat with Meaghan Martin about what it was like to work on the sequel to 2004's hit Mean Girls, how her role differs from that of Lindsay Lohan's in the first film, and how to deal with real-life high school bullies, among other things. See what Meaghan had to say.

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mbTweets #feedbackfriday: 01.21.11

• #feedbackfriday: How did @piersmorgan do this week? Did he live up to the Larry King timeslot? http://mbist.ro/gQG5El — @mediabistro • A little too much hot air. Do we really need @Oprah on a talk show? Doesn't she have her own? — @Danadug • Piers did just fine. He actually knows the background of his guests and lets them talk. Intelligence triumphs! — @Anne_Themmick • Piers also lobs softball questions, especially at Oprah. Definitely not an improvement over Larry King — @digitaljournal • I'm a little bored with only 1 guest per show. Liked LKL's roundtables more. PMT isn't terrible but could use some tweaks — @phebe_az

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Amanda Seyfried: Hard at Work on the "Now" Set

Taking a break from filming her latest flick, ?Now,? Amanda Seyfried was spotted walking back to her trailer on Friday (January 21).
The ?Mean Girls? babe looked adorable in a long-sleeved blue dress and boots complete with the red bobbed wig she sports for the film.
In related news, Ms Seyfried is rumored to be dating Ryan Phillipe and fuel was added to the fire when the ?Cruel Intentions? actor popped by to see his new lady on set earlier this week.
Word has it, the two met at Kate Hudson?s Halloween party last year and according to a friend of Amanda?s ?are smittened with each other.?

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Jay-Z, Kanye West's 'H.A.M.' Beatsmith Lex Luger Looks Ahead

'I feel like I can go where I want to go,' producer tells Mixtape Daily.By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Cristopher Schafer and Samuel Rogers





Lex Luger

Photo: MTV News




Behind the Beats: Lex Luger Last year, Virginia native Lex Luger emerged on the scene as a producer on the rise with a pair of breakout numbers: Waka Flocka Flame's rumbling "Hard in da Paint" and Rick Ross' industrial-strength banger "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)."

This year, however, he's already showed a more diverse approach to projects, a full-length effort with Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J and the first single from Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne joint LP.
The young beatsmith — who, like Big K.R.I.T., learned how to produce using the PlayStation video game "Beat Generator" — expects to showcase his range in 2011.
"My sound is hard, but I want people to hear another side," Luger said. "I got R&B, pop, everything, and I want people to see that and hear that. I feel like I could do that now because of this Kanye West and Jay-Z record. I feel like I can go where I want to go."
Bow down.
Five-Star Stellar Hits Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)": "To take something that a lot of people thought was nothing and to turn it into another dimension of sound was crazy to me," Luger said. "The reaction from people that I saw was crazy to me. That's when I really knew this is what i wanted to do."
Waka Flocka Flame's "Hard in da Paint": Luger said he was in Atlanta the first time he heard it. "I don't listen to the radio or go out that much; I just work," he explained. "When I got to Atlanta, I think I was on the way back from the airport and my boy turned on the radio. My boy was like, 'Yeah, this is it.' I said, 'Turn it up,' and it felt crazy."
Jay-Z and Kanye West's "H.A.M.": " 'H.A.M.' really came about in New York City. Me and Kanye, we had did 'See Me Now.' I played him a lot of beats, but he liked the ones that I didn't expect him to like. I left, like, eight beats with him; he called me, like, two weeks later and he said he wanted, for sure, two. That was one of the ones. ... I sent him the track out. He did what he did to it, still I didn't hear the song. I couldn't hear it until everyone else heard it. Working with Kanye was crazy. I can't really explain it. He's a perfectionist. He has to have everything perfect and out the ordinary, 10 times greater than everything. He's a crazy guy, but he's fire."
Hottest Streak Thus Far From 2010 up to now: He produced smashes from Ross, Waka, Slim Thug and his recently completed Juicy J mixtape, Rubba Band Business. Currently, he's hoping to get in the studio with Curren$y, Drake, Nipsey Hussle and Wiz Khalifa.
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out .



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Kennedy White House staffers remember the good times at a 50th anniversary luncheon

Chief Justice Earl Warren administers oath of office to President John F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1961. (AP/File) On the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's inauguration, Letitia Baldrige cast her mind back not to the soaring speeches and glamorous balls -- but rather to "how hard it was to move everything in!"It seems that the legendary social secretary spent much of Jan. 20, 1961, working like a pack mule. "We were trying to get as much of Jackie Kennedy's things into the White House before the inauguration" -- without, of course, being gauche enough to do so under the gaze of Mamie Eisenhower -- "and when you're carrying a long ball gown over your arm, everyone knows what that is, and they're trying to get a look." Former social secretary Letitia Baldrige, at head of table, with a gathering of Kennedy White House staff -- and


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'Episodes' Stars Debate U.S. vs. England & Matt LeBlanc vs. Matt LeBlanc (VIDEO)

Filed under: Reality-Free, Celebrity Interviews, The Show GirlMaybe it's the accents, or maybe it's the abundance of quality comedies across the pond, but British people are just funnier than us. Deal with it.

Case in point: Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, both fabulously clever in their own right, and also both completely hysterical on Showtime's 'Episodes' (Sundays, 9:30PM ET). Yes, the show has gotten buzz for 'Friends' alum Matt LeBlanc playing a sensationalized version of himself, but these two have their fair share of standout scenes.

I caught up with Mangan and Greig to talk about the Hollywood punchlines of the show, the perks of the U.S. (grits!) and the difference between the "How you doin'" Matt LeBlanc we see on 'Episodes' and the real Matt LeBlanc ... thankfully there are quite a few. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Apple?s Product Sales Put Into Perspective

Asymco has helped give further insight into how Apple accumulated $26.74 billion in revenue last quarter, creating a chart that shows the sales of each Apple product whilst grouping by the operating system that powers them. The iPhone and iPad generated $15 billion of revenue between them last quarter, with the iPod Touch accounting for [...]

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Cameron & A-Rod Party in South Beach with Bill Clinton

South Beach, Miami has been hopping with all kinds of celebrity sightings as of late, and last night (January 20) Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez were spotted chatting with former President Bill Clinton.
The ?Sweetest Thing? babe and her Yankee stud grabbed some grub with Mr. Clinton at the uber-popular eatery Prime 112 Steakhouse.
Of course, the trio attracted plenty of attention and ended up signing autographs and posing for pictures with some lucky fans.
Following the dinner engagement, Mr. Clinton reportedly headed over to Chat Ochocinco?s place for a swanky soiree.

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They Can Do Better: Good Actors Stuck on Bad Shows

Ten TV stars with a lot of talent who are tragically misused on subpar shows.

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Pink Gets Gritty In 'F****** Perfect' Video: Watch Now

The clip, which premiered Thursday on MTV.com, unflinchingly tackles the issues of teen suicide and cutting.By James Montgomery





Pink in the "F****** Perfect" music video

Photo: Sony Music Entertainment




Much like Katy Perry's "Firework" or even (to some extent) Ke$ha's "We R Who We R," Pink's brand-new "F****** Perfect" video is an outreach to the outcasts, an extended hand to those on the fringes of society, one that comes with an empowering — and all-too-often unheard — message of hope. But unlike either Perry or Ke$ha's glossy clips, Pink isn't afraid to get gritty. Or graphic. And therein lies its power.

In "Perfect," we follow the cycle of abuse that envelops a young girl (played by Tina Majorino) starting at an early age (she is bullied on a playground and acts out), then continues on through adolescence (her mother forces her to conform) and, of course, into high school, where the taunts get crueler and the emotions more palpable. This story is, sadly, nothing new, but it's where Pink and director David Meyers (who also did Perry's "Firework" vid) take it next that elevates the video to the next level.
Overcome by feelings that are beyond her control (sadness, anger, loneliness), we see Majorino's character grab a razor blade and savagely — and gruesomely — begin cutting herself. As the blood begins to flow, it becomes apparent that she's carving the word "Perfect" into her flesh, and then, with the song hushing to a near whisper, it appears she has died. It's a tough scene to watch, one that Pink herself addressed on her website, writing that she hoped its inclusion would shine a light on the issues of cutting and teen suicide and let anyone who may be considering either know that "I'm aware. I have been there."
Thankfully, Majorino's character doesn't die, but her experience does inspire her to re-evaluate things and realize that, no matter what anyone might say, she is special, unique and, most of all, deserving of love. And that's when her life begins to change. She becomes a painter, she finds a supportive boyfriend, and she has a daughter of her own, and by doing all that, she has effectively broken the cycle of abuse. She is free, for the first time, to live her life.
It may be a simplistic message, but it's an incredibly important one too. No matter how dark things get, they can — and will — get better. It may not happen all at once, but it will happen. And Pink is living proof of that. Kudos to her for not only making a video like "F****** Perfect," but for having the guts to take it to places her contemporaries don't dare tread.
What did you think of Pink's new video? Let us know in the comments.



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Alan Jackson Leaves Arista Nashville Label After 22 Years

Filed under: Country News

Jeff Gentner, AP

Alan Jackson announced on Thursday (January 20) he has left his longtime record label, Arista Nashville. The partnership between the quiet, laid-back boy from Georgia and the label began in 1989, and for the last 22 years, has brought both of them major success, including more than 50 million albums sold, a dozen platinum and multi-platinum albums, 35 chart-topping hits and more than 100 awards and honors. In fact, the country superstar was the very first artist signed to the label.

"I've had a great run with Arista, going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois," Alan says. "I've gotten to work with some real great people along the way and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next."

The parent company of his label, Sony Music Nashville, said in a statement that they wish "to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association" and that they wish him well in his future endeavors.

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Elaine Irwin Steps Out With Sun-Kissed Makeup

Filed under: Beauty, Celebrity, News, Makeup, Celebrity Beauty, Red Carpet



The Almay brand ambassador looked radiant at her first public appearance since splitting with her rocker husband. Here?s how to get her glow.Permalink | Comments

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Carrie Underwood's 'American Idol' Finale Dress Hits the Road

Filed under: Country News

Steve Granitz, WireImage

It's been almost six years since Carrie Underwood sang her way into the finale of the fourth season of 'American Idol,' and beat out fellow country artist Bo Bice to take home the top prize. Now, one part of that memorable evening will travel across the country for the next month, to be shared with millions of fans.

The hit show has launched a mobile experience called 'Idol Across America,' which will visit 16 cities in a four-week period, allowing visitors 15 years of age and older to participate in aspects of the 'AI' experience. Housed in a biodiesel-fueled tour bus, guests will have the opportunity to view several pieces of 'Idol' memorabilia, including the dress Carrie wore for the season finale, as well as David Cook's guitar and host Ryan Seacrest's suit. In addition, the bus boasts several hands-on experiences, including the opportunity to sit at life-size replica of the judges' table and to record their own version of Ryan's famous intro, "This is 'American Idol.'"

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'Parks & Recreation' Viewing Party Menu

Filed under: Reality-Free, FeaturesWhen 'Parks & Recreation' finally returns (Thu., 9:30PM on NBC), we'll be celebrating in style. How? By eating 'Parks & Rec.' sanctioned food!

Belgian waffles with whipped cream! Bacon!

To help plan your 'Parks & Rec.' viewing party -- which you should be having -- we've assembled a quick little menu to start you off. Feel free to add your own favorites ... like a giant platter of deviled eggs.

Check it out below, in the meantime we'll be checking our whipped cream stock. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Charley Pride to Release First New Album Since 2006

Filed under: Albums, Legends, Country News

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

On March 18 -- his 73rd birthday -- country music legend Charley Pride will release his first new studio album since 2006's 'Pride & Joy: A Gospel Music Collection.' The Grand Ole Opry member's latest project is titled 'Choices' and will feature 13 original tracks penned by some familiar country music names, including Eddy Raven and former Lonestar frontman, Richie McDonald. Also reverantly covered are a couple of classic spiritual songs, including the living legend's interpretation of 'Resting Place,' which topped the Gospel music charts in the late 1990s.

One of the most beloved and respected artists around the world, and country music's first African-American superstar, Charley's golden baritone has sold over 70 million records worldwide since he was signed to RCA in 1966 by then record producer, Chet Atkins. In 1971, he released what would become his signature song, 'Kiss An Angel Good Mornin' ... a million-selling crossover hit.

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Lionel Richie Preps Country Duets Album

Filed under: Country News

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He's written some massive country hits for other artists; now Lionel Richie is going country himself.

In the 1980s, Richie established himself as one of pop music's most successful balladeers with the debut of his 1982, self-titled album that sold over 4 million copies. Since then, he's sold more than 100 million records, solo or as a group member of The Commodores. Come this summer, CMT reports that the composer of Kenny Roger's 1980 No. 1 hit, 'Lady' will establish himself on country turf, with the release of his album of country duets with an illustrious bevy of country stars.

According to producer Tony Brown, the velvet-voiced singer has so far completed duets with Darius Rucker ('Stuck on You'), Tim McGraw ('Sail On'), Kenny Rogers ('Lady'), Willie Nelson ('Easy'), Little Big Town ('Deep River Woman'), Blake Shelton ('You Are'), and Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band ('All Night Long'). Yet to be recorded are duets with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and the Zac Brown Band.

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Robotic ghost knifefish could help scientists study movement

Researchers at Northwestern University are developing robot fish to help them better understand movement systems and how they work with sensory systems. By experimenting with robots that move like fish, they?re able to record how the robot fish moves and apply the findings to technology. The electric fish swim in natural environments such as The [...]

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Exclusive 'Law & Order: SVU' Preview: Shohreh Aghdashloo on Her Guest Starring Stint

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV PreviewsGood guys aren't always that good, as we've discovered many times over on 'Law & Order: SVU.' And on tonight's new episode, 'Dirty' (10PM ET, NBC), Shohreh Aghdashloo plays a detective who might not be what she seems.

When Saliyah "Sunny" Qadri (Aghdashloo) goes looking for Brooklyn District Attorney Page Ferguson, who might be in danger, the detective arrives just in time to see Ferguson fall from a roof. But during the investigation, Benson (Mariska Hargitay) uncovers Ferguson had a suspicious past -- and that Qadri might be involved, as well.

In this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip, Aghdashloo talks about preparing for the role. Plus, guest actor Doug Drucker shows off his body tattoos, which producers must get cleared before filming. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Two New Characters Coming to 'Supernatural'

Supernatural is still more than a week away from returning, but there's
some good news about two important figures in upcoming episodes.

According to TVLIne, the show is adding a female angel sidekick for Castiel as well as an appearance by the one and only Samuel Colt.

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