Joan Cusack Gets 'Shameless' on Showtime

Filed under: TV NewsShowtime's new drama 'Shameless' just added another star.

Oscar-nominated actress Joan Cusack has joined the cast for all 12 episodes of the series, which is based on the long-running British show of the same name, the network announced today.

Cusack will play a Chicago housewife named Sheila who befriends William H. Macy's Frank Gallagher. 'Shameless' follows Macy's Gallagher and his dysfunctional working-class family of six children, who are being raised by his oldest daughter (Emmy Rossum) while he causes trouble and drinks. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | CommentsKatie Holmes Tyler Perry Eminem Mariah Carey

World Testicle Cooking Championships Determine Which Cooked Testicles Are The Best Cooked Testicles

Tired of never knowing which cooked testicles are the best cooked testicles? I know I am, and that most of you agree with my testicle-related opinions. Good news! The Testicle Cooking World Championships exist, and here is video of them happening. “I’ll bet John Bobbit would steer clear of this thing!” – 90s Comedian I haven’t seen that many cooked balls since the trailer for Vince Vaughn’s Crotch-Electrocuting Christmas last December.Cee-Lo Nelly Timbaland Lindsay Lohan

Tupac Biopic Gains Oscar-Winning Screenwriters

Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson have signed on to write script about Death Row superstar's final years.By Jayson Rodriguez





Tupac Shakur

Photo: Steve Granitz/ Wireimage




Antoine Fuqua's forthcoming Tupac Shakur biopic will soon have a script: Two Oscar-nominated writers, Stephen J. Rivele and Chris Wilkinson, have been tapped to write the screenplay.
The scribes, whose writing credits include "Nixon" and "Ali," told New York magazine that the film will focus on the late rapper's final day, with flashbacks of the preceding four years of his life interspersed throughout. Rivele added that the script centers on their perception that Shakur was miscast in the hip-hop world in which he found himself.
"It became clear that he was essentially a 19th-century Romantic poet who found himself in the 21st century," he explained. "He was a really sensitive, very romantic, talented young poet who also could sing, dance, and act. But the realities [of the hip-hop music business] were that he had to create this persona of the gangster."
The film is tentatively slated to begin production later this year, according to the magazine. Fuqua has previously said he hopes to find a newcomer to play Tupac. "I want to go to the streets and find him anywhere he might be in the world," the director said.
In addition to a fresh face, filmmakers intend to offer a new take on the life of the fallen rap star, who was murdered in 1996. Rivele explained that the movie won't aim to resolve who murdered Shakur, but rather focus on who he was and the person he attempted to be. The movie will push a thesis slanted more toward asking why anyone would have wanted to kill the talented superstar.
"He was obviously very angry, and had been subjected to a great deal of violence at home, in the streets and in prison," Rivele said. "But he was just beginning to shed that anger and look for a purer voice. ... He was in the process of changing himself and entering a new phase of his life — essentially a Romantic vision — and had set up a new label and a new production company to create it. He saw the contradiction between the musical persona of 'Thug Life,' and his essential nature as a gentle, sensitive person. And that was partly responsible for his murder: He was not a gangster, but the people around him were. They saw he was going to leave, that they were going to lose him, and so I think they decided to kill him."
Who would you cast to play Tupac in a biopic? Share your choices with us in the comments section.
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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Julia Roberts Flaunts Her Bikini Body and Love For Danny in Hawaii!

Julia Roberts wore a multicolored bikini Sunday to hit the beach in Hawaii. She was in the midst of a vacation with her husband, Danny Moder, and their kids, as they enjoyed time away together following Julia's busy Summer promoting Eat Pray Love around the world. The Roberts-Moder clan spent a few days relaxing on the sand and swimming in the ocean, with Julia showering Danny in plenty of kisses. While Julia kicked back and relaxed in the tropics, her Summer blockbuster slipped to number four at the box office in its third weekend out.

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If Other Shows Used The ?On The Next Episode Of Mad Men?? Sequence

Mad Men’s “On The Next Episode Of Mad Men…” sequences aren’t exactly the show’s weekly highlight, but they certainly are unique in their stylish failure to convey information. But what if other shows adopted Mad Men’s signature “Random Quotes / Fade” approach to their “on the next episode” segments? Awesomeness, is the answer (language NSFW): After the jump, two more amazing parodies: It’s Always Mad Men In Mad Men: And my new favorite thing: You can watch the rest here.Marley Shelton Ozzy Osbourne Tiger Woods Aimee Osbourne

Happy Birthday, Ryan Ross: Wake-Up Video

A delicious cupcake and a glass of champagne to former Panic! at the Disco songwriter and current the Young Veins frontman Ryan Ross, who turns 24 years old today. Ross first made an impression on the music world as the chief songwriting brain behind Panic! at the Disco, and his theatrical, genre-bending take on pop-punk [...]Cee-Lo Nelly Timbaland Lindsay Lohan

Conan Unveils New TeamCoco.com Site

Filed under: TV NewsWondering what Team Coco has been up to this summer? Wonder no longer. You can now get a running account of Conan O'Brien's behind-the-scenes goings on with the new TeamCoco.com site, which officially launched Saturday.

The site features a blog written by official Team Coco blogger Aaron Bleyaert (who also played the Masturbating Bear on tour), a link to a Team Coco YouTube site with a few TBS promos, a Fan Wall with fans' Twitter posts, and an online store. For those counting the seconds until the new TBS show's Nov. 8 premiere, there is a countdown clock in the upper right corner. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | CommentsOzzy Osbourne Tiger Woods Aimee Osbourne Michael Douglas

Jessica Alba 'Inspired' Robert Rodriguez's 'Spy Kids 4'

Writer/director recalls seeing the 'Machete' star change diapers on set.By Kara Warner





Jessica Alba at the "Machete" premiere

Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images




Let's face it, Jessica Alba is known for her sexy factor. No matter what role she's in, be it a superhero ("Fantastic Four"), a pharmaceutical sales rep (in the upcoming "Little Fockers") or an immigration officer (this week's "Machete"), Alba's addition to any cast turns up its heat.

Such is even the case with Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World." When MTV News caught up with the actress and her director at the L.A. premiere of "Machete" earlier this week, we asked them how her casting came to be.
"I was so inspired, seeing her on [the 'Machete'] set trying to be beautiful for the camera and yet having to [run off] to change her baby's diaper," Rodriguez explained. "I thought, 'You know what, that would be great as a spy mom, I've got to write that in.' "
And since Rodriguez is the writer/director/creator of the "Spy Kids" franchise, he did just that. "I wrote that into the script, based on her," he said of what will be his third film with Alba.
The 28-year-old actress/mom said she's most looking forward to working with Rodriguez again — and to eating more of the director's specialty: homemade margherita pizza with jalapeños.
Moving forward, Rodriguez has yet to cast his new titular spy kids, the husband to Alba's spy wife/mom or the villain Time Keeper. Original "Spy Kids" Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara, as well as their onscreen dad, Antonio Banderas, are expected to play supporting roles. Production is set to begin next month.
Check out everything we've got on "Machete."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.



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'Machete' Premieres In Los Angeles

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Would You Like To Purchase Some Nazis?

The following is a thing that my friend, Joe Mande, and I made together. And by “made together,” I mean he made it while I kept saying, “that’s funny, Joe!” and playing with his dog. Allow me to explain really quickly what this is. There is a commercial for a Time/Life DVD collection about the Nazis. But in the commercial, it sort of sounds like they’re just trying to sell you Nazis.� So what we (mostly Joe) did was take the audio from the commercial and re-edit it to make it sound exactly like they’re just trying to sell you Nazis. Now as you can see, there is no video for this audio yet. So if you would like to try to create some sort of animation or film-type-thing for it, please feel free to do so and if it’s super great, I will add it. If you’d like to submit some visuals, you can tweet me or something.Elin Nordegren Kristi Gibson Angelina Jolie Kate Spade

Gay Power Ranger Shocks All of South America

Big news in the world of people we don’t really care about today: David Yost, the original Blue Power Ranger, has come out of the closet as a gay man. p.s. Obvs. We are happy for David, even though we certainly have never watched the Power Rangers or heard of his name. But it was when we logged into Twitter (What’s that? You want to follow me? Fine.) that I noticed a strange phenomenon… The #2 trending topic on ALL of Twitter is “Power Ranger Azul.” Right there after “Macauley Culkin” (Is he dead? Probs.) Look: Which is how we discovered that Spanish speakers really, really care that the “Power Ranger Azul” is gay. (Dear Portuguese people: See below update!) Even with our broken Spanish, we can understand this: “Quee!? Power Ranger Azul es gay!?” If someone would like to offer an explanation as to why Spanish people care so much about this, soy todo o�dos. UPDATE: I have been notified that it is actually trending in Portuguese. Lucky for you I am not actually “smart.”Ozzy Osbourne Tiger Woods Aimee Osbourne Michael Douglas

Jimmy Fallon Dominates This Week's 'Late Night Lineup'

Shouldn't logic dictate that the late night shows were off this week as well? With Labor Day coming up and considering most everybody has been off for the better part of August, you would assume that they'd squeeze one last week out of summer vacation and return ready to go next Tuesday. But the streets [...]Kate Spade Jeremy Jackson Rachel Miner Bristol Palin

Jimmy Fallon Bids Farewell To 'Lost,' '24,' 'Law & Order' At Emmys

Host channels Elton John, Boyz II Men and Green Day for musical montage.By Jocelyn Vena





Jimmy Fallon performs onstage at the 2010 Emmy Awards

Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images




"In memoriam" segments at awards shows tend to be serious montages featuring some of the fallen stars of the year prior. But at this year's Emmy Awards, the night's MC, Jimmy Fallon, decided to have a little fun with the yearly tradition by saying farewell to several of the beloved television shows that went off the air this past year.

Dressed as Elton John, Fallon sat down at a pink grand piano and sang his own version of "Candle in the Wind" in honor of the now-defunct "24." During the song, he changed the lyrics to: "Goodbye '24'/ Though I never watched you on TV/ I missed one episode/ Had to buy the DVDs/ ... [Jack Bauer] never going to the men's room, how did he hold it in?/ I would like to thank you for the torturing/ And the first black president."
Transitioning into a member of Boyz II Men, Fallon said goodbye to onetime television mainstay "Law & Order" with his take on "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday." "How do I say goodbye, 'Law & Order'?/ The good crimes, that changing cast/ I thought we'd get to season 21, but now that sound has gone away/ But at least there's still that one with Mariska Hargitay," he crooned to the laughing crowd.
Fallon then became Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and, strumming his guitar, changed up the band's hit "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" as a ballad to fan favorite "Lost." "The island it was mythical, but in the end they died/ I didn't understand it, but I tried," he concluded the song.
What did you think of Fallon's show-farewell musical montage? Let us know in the comments!



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2010 Primetime Emmy Awards


2010 Emmys Red Carpet Fashions

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Alicia and Beyonce Have a Double Date With Swizz and Jay

Alicia Keys showed off her growing baby bump as she joined her husband, Swizz Beatz, as well as Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z at the Rock the Bells concert in NYC yesterday. The power couples checked out a show by Lauryn Hill with other famous friends like Chris Rock and Mary J. Blige. Alicia and Swizz are home again in the Big Apple after getting married last month in Corsica and later enjoying a bikini-filled honeymoon. Beyonce recently had some two-piece time of her own, as she and Jay-Z are fresh off a European boating adventure too. Alicia and Jay-Z will have another reason to meet up in the next few weeks - their song "Empire State of Mind" is nominated for an MTV VMA.


Lots more images so read more.
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'The Last Exorcism': The Reviews Are In!

Critics praise the film's story and actors, but not everyone is impressed.By Eric Ditzian





Ashley Bell in "The Last Exorcism"

Photo: Lionsgate




Not all of us on the MTV Movies team are horror fans. Some have admitted in public that knife-wielding maniacs and rivers of blood freak us out.
What a delight, then, to find "The Last Exorcism." Though, honestly, there is nothing delightful about this low-budget flick, which delivers plenty of tense jolts and sweaty-palmed anticipation, forcing us scaredy-cats to hide our eyes. It's just that "Last Exorcism" is such a delightful surprise.
The film is a character-driven drama tethered to everyday reality by its faux-documentary style. The disillusioned preacher, the frightened small-town teen — these are people to whom we can relate, for whom we can come to care. We'll take this sort of horror flick any day over the torture porn of something like "Hostel" or the paint-by-numbers scares of so many ongoing franchises.
Not everyone agrees. The film has received largely positive reviews, but many dissenters remain. Still, "Last Exorcism" is expected to compete with the crime thriller "Takers" for the #1 spot at this weekend's box office. Here is what the critics are saying about "Last Exorcism":
The Story
"[The film is a] portrait of preacher Cotton Marcus (smoothly played by Patrick Fabian). Having performed fake exorcisms since he was a child, the clean-cut family man, undergoing an apparent crisis of conscience, is planning to cop to the 25-year charade by letting a documentary crew in on all the tricks of his trade. But soon after they show up at the rural Louisiana home of a strict fundamentalist farmer (Louis Herthum), it becomes readily apparent that his tormented, wide-eyed teen daughter (an impressive Ashley Bell) is going to require much more than just sideshow sleight of hand." — Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter
The Performances
"Both Fabian and Bell are outstanding. Yes, Marcus is kind of a creep, preying on the beliefs of others for his own gain. But Fabian makes him likable anyway, someone who's willing to take us inside the game, even if it's at his own expense. His character loves the camera, and it returns the feeling. Fabian makes him a show-off but not a boor. Bell is even better. How could a girl this sweet do the things for which she's supposedly responsible? Is she really possessed? Is she disturbed? Sometimes a simple smile can more thoroughly creep you out than all the head-spinning and pea-soup puking in the world." — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic
The Scares
"The suspense is finely crafted. 'The Last Exorcism' doesn't rely on cheap shock effects but locates scares in weird images — many of which cut deep because the camera is caught out of position, or isn't in focus, or is far from the action. Director Daniel Stamm stimulates the imagination rather than shunt it aside: The horror genre is all about exercising restraint in the presence of the unrestrained." — Kyle Smith, New York Post
The Dissenters
"The pieces are all there: Marcus' desire to atone for decades of bamboozling, the utterly screwed-up Sweetzers, weighty questions about the costs of spiritual solace delivered cheaply or disingenuously. But despite mostly solid performances (particularly by Fabian, who quickly gets you rooting for the slick Marcus) and a satisfying, slow-building tension, things fly apart rather than come together. It's like director Daniel Stamm and his crew realized they were treading awfully close to making a film with real depth and edge that horror audiences might hate, and they just couldn't pull the trigger. This explains a final sequence that spectacularly squanders all the potentially stimulating material from the previous 86 minutes. There may once have been a good and a bad film fighting for the soul of 'The Last Exorcism,' but in its final moments, cinema's dark forces triumph emphatically." — Jesse Singal, The Boston Globe
The Final Word
"Possessed by suspense, talent, brains and a gothic sense of humor, 'The Last Exorcism' makes first-rate use of religious doubt and religious extremism to concoct a novel horror-thriller clever enough to seduce unbelievers while satisfying the bloodlust of its congregation/fanbase. While spasmodic handheld camerawork has become increasingly tiresome as a shock device-cum-convention, it's deployed here with enormous restraint and skill by d.p. Zoltan Honti, and helmer Daniel Stamm knows when to trim the visual frills and stick to the demonic vs. the divine. Expect collection plates to fill up for the August 27 release, and to hear hosannas from Lionsgate." — John Anderson, Variety
Share your "Last Exorcism" reviews in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "The Last Exorcism."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.


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Miranda Kerr Covers Her Baby Bump in Malibu With Orlando Bloom

Miranda Kerr covered up any hints of her pregnant stomach with a maxi dress and scarf at a Malibu supermarket with Orlando Bloom yesterday. Orlando hopped on his bike and drove away solo after the shopping trip, while she headed out in the couple's car. Miranda confirmed they're expecting after the couple tied the knot in a private wedding ceremony in July. They've both been back to work since making it official, with Miranda sticking to her modeling commitments and Orlando taking care of press for The Three Musketeers. He's also signed on to be a spokesmodel for Uniqlo alongside Charlize Theron, but for now it looks like the dad-to-be is taking advantage of some downtime with his glowing wife.

View 5 Photos ?Aimee Osbourne Michael Douglas Mariah Carey Demi Moore

Ready For The Scares Of 'The Last Exorcism' With Avenged Sevenfold, Beck And Kyuss

If you are in the mood for a trip to the cinema this weekend, you have a handful of options. If you're looking for an excuse to return to Pandora in all its 3-D glory, the expanded edition of "Avatar" is back for your viewing pleasure. Want to indulge in a sexy-looking crime fantasy starring [...]Tyler Perry Eminem Mariah Carey Soulja Boy

Buzz Bites (8/27/10): 50 Cent Goes On Twitter Rampage

(Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
+ 50 Cent finally decided to start tweeting and, man, did he go off, taking shots at Fat Joe, his own grandmother and flirting with Michelle Obama. (@50Cent)
+ John Mayer was so enraged by a critical Huffington Post article about his ex, Jennifer Aniston, that he... blogged about it! (Idolator)
+ After Courtney [...]Lil Jon Cee-Lo Nelly Timbaland

Kanye West Drops 'Monster' Single With Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj

Rick Ross and Bon Iver also appear on the song from West's joint album with Jay, Watch the Throne.By Mawuse Ziegbe





Jay-Z and Kanye West

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage




Kanye West is making good on his word.
The outspoken MC announced Sunday that he'll be dropping a new track every Friday until Christmas with his "G.O.O.D. Friday" campaign. On Friday (August 27), West posted "Monster" on his KanyeUniversecity.com blog, an eclectic all-star collaboration featuring contributions from Jay-Z, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj.
West collaborator Bon Iver also lends his folky vibe to the track. The Chi-Town lyricist tweeted that the track was the second offering from Watch the Throne, his newly-announced joint album with Jay-Z.
An ominous chorus of distorted vocals opens the track just before Ricky Rozay kicks off his verse over the beat, which is a meaty slice of choppy, drum-driven boom-bap. "Bitch, I'm a monster/ No good bloodsucker/ Fat mother----er/ Now look who's in trouble," Ross spits.
Then Kanye enters the fray: "Gossip, gossip/ N---a, just stop it/ Everybody know/ I'm a mother----in' monster." Yeezy rides the beat with several more hard-hitting, bravado-laden bars, unapologetically feeling himself as he wraps up with "My presence is a present/ Kiss my ass."
Hov abandons his typical crisp, cool lyricism and attacks his verse with a hungry, almost sinister flow. "Sasquatch, Godzilla, King Kong, Loch Ness/ Goblin, ghoul, a zombie with no conscience/ Question: What do these things all have in common?/ Everybody knows I'm a mother----in' monster," Jay rhymes.
Although the track surfaced the same day Minaj tweeted about supposedly marrying Drake, the Young Money Barbie shows no signs of possibly being mellowed by a relationship, delivering a collection of punch lines buoyed by her trademark energy. "Pull up in a monster/ Automobile gangsta/ With a bad bitch that came from Sri Lanka/ Yeah, I'm in that Tonka/ Color of Willie Wonka/ You can be the king but watch the queen conquer," Minaj rhymes.
What do you think of "Monster"? Let us know in the comments below!



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Turkish Version Of The Social Network Trailer

Just kidding. I mean, it could be. This is a music video from Turkey by a musician named ?smail YK called, I think, “Facebook.” It incorporates some of my favorite themes: Facebook, wind blowing through hair, completely white rooms and kicking water whilst dancing. With men in masks. Waaaait, I think my Facebook time is far less sexy than it should be. Where’s my flirtation with a long haired cut off jean vested man who wags his finger at my saucy message? Why is my Facebook not hooked up to my giant television in my immaculate white apartment? Why, I say?? Excuse me, I’m going to Turkey. Via NY MagKelly Preston Macaulay Culkin Emma Watson Miley Cyrus

VIDEO: Paul Feig Describes How To Dress Like A Grown-Up

Fans of The Sound Of Young America, Freaks and Geeks, or having clothing on their bodies should watch the following video, a really funny and legitimately informative interview with F&G creator Paul Feig as part of Jesse Thorn’s new site Put This On, “A web series about dressing like a grownup.” It’s nine minutes long, which in internet terms might as well be a Ken Burns documentary about Length, but I stuck through the whole thing, and I say this as a dude sitting in an office wearing a maroon GUESS t-shirt, jeans, brown New Balances, and 9 days of unshavenness. If you were planning to give me the nickname “Doctor Fashion” you should cancel those plans! (via Alex Blagg)Jeremy Jackson Rachel Miner Briston Palin Lisa Ling

Summer's Cable Winners ('Rizzoli & Isles') and Losers (Kathy Griffin)

Filed under: TV News, Summer TVIt seemed everyone was talking about 'Jersey Shore,' 'True Blood' and 'Mad Men' this summer. Well,guess what? Everyone was watching those cable shows, too.

The audience for MTV's 'Jersey Shore' jumped to 5.3 million average viewers, an increase of 194 percent from its previous season, HBO's 'True Blood' saw an 20 percent increase to 4.8 million viewers and AMC's 'Mad Men' jumped 26 percent to 2.4 million viewers, according the Nielsen cable summer TV ratings data as released by the Hollywood Reporter.

But not everyone scored so well. We've reviewed the data and broken down the numbers. See which shows were summer's winners and losers ... Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | CommentsKatie Holmes Tyler Perry Eminem Mariah Carey

Cee-Lo Gets Sanitized!

We think his song, Fuck You, is one of THE singles of the year!
The radio version, however, leaves a lot to be desired!
Check out Forget You (below).


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If Other Shows Used The ?On The Next Episode Of Mad Men?? Sequence

Mad Men’s “On The Next Episode Of Mad Men…” sequences aren’t exactly the show’s weekly highlight, but they certainly are unique in their stylish failure to convey information. But what if other shows adopted Mad Men’s signature “Random Quotes / Fade” approach to their “on the next episode” segments? Awesomeness, is the answer (language NSFW): After the jump, two more amazing parodies: It’s Always Mad Men In Mad Men: And my new favorite thing: You can watch the rest here.Katie Holmes Tyler Perry Eminem Mariah Carey

Flashback Friday: Emmy Honoree George Clooney and Brad Pitt's Witty Banter

George Clooney is set to hit the red carpet at this Sunday's Emmys, where he'll be honored with this year's Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. George's charitable heart is one of the reasons we love him, but he always brings his trademark sense of humor to his acceptance speeches. To celebrate George's big night, we're taking a look back at one of our favorite interviews from when he and Brad Pitt were promoting Ocean's 12 in 2004. The two have amazing banter back and forth, testing out their Italian skills, teasing each other, and making a few jokes at the expense of costar Matt Damon. Check it out on today's Flashback Friday!

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