Britney Spears Breaks Radio Records, Rumored To Perform At Grammys

'Hold It Against Me' also tops iTunes chart on its release day.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears
Photo: Fame Pictures

It's been a big Tuesday (January 11) for Britney Spears. As her single "Hold It Against Me" became available for purchase on iTunes, it shot to #1 on the site and broke radio records.

According to a press release from Jive Records, the tune, from Brit's March album, broke all previous records for the most spins in the first day of release, according to radio-industry analyst Kevin McCabe. The song had 619 spins at Mediabase on Monday, and at BDS, she had a record-making 595 first- or one-day spins.

"Top 40 outlets across the country immediately put 'Hold It Against Me' in rotation and received instant-reaction airplay at America's most-influential stations, including Z100 and WXRK in New York and KIIS and KAMP in Los Angeles," McCabe said in a statement.

"When I originally heard it in December, it blew me away from the first listen, and the same thing happened when we played it on Elvis Duran's morning show [Monday]; our Facebook and Twitter pages exploded," Sharon Dastur, program director at New York's Z100, told MTV News on Monday. "People are going crazy for it. They heard the leaked version and loved it, and now they're loving the official version too. I can see it being another huge hit for her."

As if that weren't big enough news for the singer, she's also rumored to be performing at the Grammy Awards next month. A rep for the show had not responded to MTV News' request for comment, but a rep for the singer did respond to Perez Hilton, who originally reported the rumor. "We have not confirmed a performance at the Grammys at this time," the rep told Hilton.

If the performance does happen, a source told Perez that the singer "has been rehearsing for weeks and it's gonna be a truly great performance!"

Are you hoping Britney will perform "Hold It Against Me" at the Grammys? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655734/britney-spears-breaks-radio-records-rumored-perform-at-grammys.jhtml

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Dave Franco Talks 'Fright Night,' Working With Big Bro James Franco

As one of MTV News' 11 for '11, up-and-comer also plans to shop around a Web series about college life.
By Kara Warner


Dave Franco
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

If you are not already familiar with the name Dave Franco, chances are you will be soon.

You might recognize the enterprising 25-year-old from his work on "Greek," "Privileged" and "Scrubs." He's also appeared in several videos on FunnyOrDie.com, including a series called "Acting With James Franco" (James Franco is Dave's brother).

But these are all things from the past. Looking ahead to what's in store for Franco in 2011, we'll see him on screens big and small, in front of and behind the camera. When MTV News caught up with the up-and-comer recently, one of our 11 for '11, we chatted about "Fright Night," a TV series he'd like to get off the ground and whether we'll see him at the Oscars in a skit alongside his big bro.

MTV: We've talked about "Fright Night" before, and even though you're sworn to secrecy about plot details, have you seen any of the film yet?

Dave Franco: I have not seen anything, but I've only heard good things so far. I may have mentioned this before, but despite being a vampire movie, it's very grounded and realistic. If I had to compare it to another vampire movie, I would say "Let the Right One In," where everything is treated with realism but the only difference is that "Fright Night" happens to be hilarious too, mainly due to really funny actors like David Tennant and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and Colin Farrell is hilarious also.

MTV: You've also mentioned that you've been working on your own material. What can you tell us about that?

Franco: This past semester, I was working more behind the camera, and I directed, produced and wrote this Web series about college life. The basic idea stems from a conversation I had with my friend about how there are really only a handful of projects at most, whether it be film or TV, that really capture what college is like. For the most part, it's all sensationalized and over-the-top. We decided we wanted to give a very HBO-type look at what really happens in college. We figured, 'It's crazy enough as it is; let's just show what's really going on.' So we followed a handful of kids at USC throughout the semester, and the whole tone is a little strange, because it's part documentary, part reality, part scripted. It's kind of a weird mesh of everything, but it came out really cool. I hope people respond well to it. I'm happy, because we were able to capture what we set out for. ... I went to USC, and watching this footage, I can attest that this is really what it's like. This is what happens on a typical night.

MTV: Sounds intriguing. Where do you want it to end up?

Franco: We still need to figure that out. It's all edited and everything is ready to go. We just have to figure out how we want to present it and where. We've always wanted to get this on TV, ideally an HBO, Showtime or FX. We're almost using this Web series as a pitching tool that will hopefully generate some interest, and then we can go from there.

MTV: What else are you working on?

Franco: We're filming a couple of Funny or Die videos later this month. There's also a feature film that I'm writing for my brother and I to star in, where we play versions of ourselves named Davie and James. Without giving away too much, it all takes place around Thanksgiving and Christmas break around our hometown of Palo Alto [California]. Our real family will be in it, my real friends from home will be in it, and the vibe of it is going to be an extended version of our Funny or Die videos. It's going to be difficult for me, because it's now a 90-minute version of him giving me sh-- and making fun of me.

MTV: Don't let him do that!

Franco: [Laughs.] I'll give it back, trust me, but it takes its toll. It wears on you.

MTV: Any chance we'll see you in something for the Oscars, since you have a pretty good connection to the host?

Franco: There's been talks of us doing a digital short for that. We'll see, though. Potentially another installment in the "Acting With James Franco." We'll see.

Check out MTV News' 11 for '11 — actors, musicians and TV stars who are about to have a huge year — all week long.

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

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655850/dave-franco-talks-fright-night-working-with-big-bro-james-franco.jhtml

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Rob Mariano & Russell Hantz Join The Cast Of ?Survivor: Redemption Island?

On Monday we got our first look at 16 castmembers from the upcoming season of Survivor: Redemption Island. Today we learn that Survivor alums Rob Mariano and Russell Hantz join the cast as the 17th and 18th castmembers … confirming rumors that the two popular Survivor stars would be coming back for redemption. The 16 [...]

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Usher's 'OMG' ' 'Kills It Every Night,' Says Tourmate Miguel

'There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out,' Miguel says of MTV News' Song of the Year.
By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker


Usher
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

MTV News just named Usher's "OMG" the #1 song of 2010, and clearly we're not alone in our admiration. But what is it like to watch it performed night after night? Miguel, who is currently opening for Usher's OMG Tour gave us a little insight.

"There's so much anticipation for this song when he comes out, and he really gives the fans what they want," Miguel laughs. "He kills it every night."

Before his latest string of hits, Usher was out of the spotlight for a period of time in 2009, when he was dealing with personal issues including a divorce. Miguel finds his 2010 comeback inspiring.

"There was a period of time, when a lot of people didn't believe in Usher and thought he was finished ... just kind of going to ride off into the sunset and disappear," the up-and-coming singer noted.

With the release of Raymond vs. Raymond and its extended, companion EP, Versus, in 2010, Usher proved the skeptics wrong with chart-toppers including "OMG" and "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love."

"He's such a tremendous example of perseverance and determination," Miguel beamed. "I was there throughout this album, so I've seen the adversity that he's had to overcome perception-wise."

MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 have all been counted down. But the fun isn't over yet: We still want to see your picks in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654059/ushers-omg-kills-it-every-night-tourmate-miguel.jhtml

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Justin Bieber Guest Editing Vanity Fair's Facebook Page

'I'm proud of my interview and cover,' the pop singer writes online of his cover story in the magazine's latest issue.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber on the February 2011 cover of <i>Vanity Fair</i>
Photo: Art Streiber / Conde Nast

Not only is Justin Bieber the subject of a coveted cover story in Vanity Fair's latest issue, the teenage pop superstar has been tapped to guest edit the magazine's Facebook page.

"This week, the Vanity Fair Facebook page gets its first-ever guest editor: Justin Bieber!" the magazine announced on the website on Monday (January 10). "Check back later today for exclusive content, video, and giveaways ..."

For his first post on the site (the only one the pop star had contributed as of press time), Bieber gave fans a quick synopsis of what he'll be up to this week. "Pretty cool that I get to host the Vanity Fair Facebook page this week. I'm proud of my interview and cover — it was the most intense interview I've ever done," he shared. "Gonna be a fun week — make sure you make some comments because I will send one random fan who writes in the comments section a signed copy of my book. LEGGOOOO!"

Michael Hogan, executive online editor, talked about Bieber's guest-editor gig in a statement to MTV News: "The genius of Facebook is the way it enables people to talk to each other in a whole new way, and Vanity Fair is uniquely positioned to give our fans a whole new way of interacting with the world's most fascinating people. With 18 million Facebook fans, 6 million Twitter followers, and more than 1 billion YouTube views, Justin Bieber is the quintessential modern celebrity phenomenon, and we're thrilled to have him as the first (of many, we hope) guest editor of Vanity Fair's Facebook page."

It's not the first time that the young singer has claimed a website for his own. Last April, as a prank, Bieber took over Funny or Die, renaming the site "Funny or Bieber." During his 24-hour reign over the site, he posted videos mocking his pop star status. "Justin Bieber has decided to buy Bieber or Die," a message on the website read. "And do with it whatever his tiny little heart desires."

Will you be following Vanity Fair's Facebook page while Bieber serves as guest editor? Tell us in the comments.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655606/justin-bieber-guest-editing-vanity-fairs-facebook-page.jhtml

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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray Gets His Day In Court

Jackson's choreographer Kenny Ortega is expected to testify at the preliminary hearing in Los Angeles.
By Gil Kaufman


Dr. Conrad Murray (file)
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

More than a year and a half after the shocking death of Michael Jackson, the only person charged in the singer's death, his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, will finally get his day in court.

Murray, who has been charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, will be in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday (January 4) for the first day of a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to hold a full trial. The hearing, in front of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, is expected to last two weeks and feature testimony from more than two dozen witnesses, most of whom are medical experts.

Prosecutors will attempt to show that Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge, was responsible for the singer's death from an overdose of prescription drugs on June 25, 2009. Murray's lawyers have said the doctor did inject the 50-year-old pop icon with the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol in an attempt to combat Jackson's chronic insomnia, but that the dose "should have" not been enough to kill him.

TMZ reported on Tuesday that one of the star witnesses during the preliminary hearing will be Jackson's "This is It" choreographer Kenny Ortega. Citing an unnamed source, TMZ said that Ortega is expected to testify that the week before Jackson died, the singer complained that he felt cold, had the shakes and could not perform, which resulted in a canceled rehearsal.

On the next day, June 20, 2009, an emergency meeting was reportedly called at Jackson's rented Los Angeles mansion between the pop star, Ortega, several executives from concert promotion giant AEG Live and Murray. The meeting was described as "intense, loud and argumentative" and Ortega is said to have laid into Jackson, imploring the singer to take better care of himself in the lead-up to what was intended to be his live swan song.

According to TMZ, Ortega is expected to testify that Murray said some "terrible things" during the meeting and displayed a lack of concern and respect for his patient, comments that could be "damaging" to Murray.

Last week, one of the prosecutors in the case claimed that Murray's lawyers were planning to claim that Jackson killed himself when he self-administered a lethal dose of propofol after waking up in a panic from a bout of fitful sleep.

Ortega is also reportedly set to testify that in the two days before his death, Jackson was a changed man, impressing his backup dancers with his upbeat singing and dancing. The testimony could be key to the prosecutors' case, since it could paint a portrait of Jackson as being healthy and energetic before Murray administered the cocktail of sedatives and propofol that allegedly resulted in the singer's death.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1655231/michael-jackson-doctor-conrad-murray-gets-his-day-court.jhtml

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?Battle: Los Angeles? Releases A Movie Trailer

Early last month we learned the sad news that Aaron Eckhart will NOT be appearing as Harvey Dent/Two Face in the upcoming sequel film Batman: The Dark Knight Rises but right now we get to see him in a new trailer for the upcoming action film Battle: Los Angeles. As you can guess, Battle is [...]

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