Michael Jackson's Family Upset With James Durbin Over 'American Idol' Pepsi Quip
'We were shocked to see this,' read the Jacksons' message; Durbin tweeted an apology on Thursday.
By Gil Kaufman
James Durbin performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Some people might argue that it's patently unfair to take rank amateurs, put them on the biggest show on TV and then expose them to potential worldwide ridicule every week. Because it's one thing to tune in to "American Idol" from your living room or play shows at the local wings joint, it's another thing entirely when you get up on that stage and open your mouth with tens of millions watching and listening.
James Durbin learned this lesson the hard way this week when he made what he thought was an innocent crack about not setting himself on fire during his pyro-tastic cover of Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" on Wednesday night.
Asked by host Ryan Seacrest if he was worried about dancing around among the flames shooting up from the piano onstage, Durbin joked, "I have a lot of hairspray in my hair to keep it from jumping around — so much so, the one thing I was worried about was having a 'Pepsi moment.' "
The seemingly innocent crack was a reference to the 1984 on-set accident in which late pop icon Michael Jackson was badly burned during the shooting of a Pepsi commercial by some wayward pyro effects. The serious burns he suffered in the incident allegedly led to his longtime addiction to pain medication and prescription drugs.
The Jackson family was not amused by the quip and sent a statement to TMZ on Thursday.
"We were shocked to see this. It's nothing to make light of and everybody should be focusing on who was responsible for Michael's death," read the statement. Family patriarch Joseph Jackson also was reportedly miffed that "Idol" producers did not cut the comment from the West Coast feed of the show.
Durbin defended his slip-up in a tweet, which has since been scrubbed from the singer's official "Idol" Twitter feed, that explained, "For anyone talkin ... I said pepsi NOT MJ! I have no disrespect for Michael. I grew up singing his art. I guess youll take it how you want it." He later added, "Talkin about MJs passing is too soon. Making a reference to an incident 25 years ago..not too soon. The stab was at pepsi people."
It's worth noting that Pepsi's bitter rival, Coca-Cola, is the main "Idol" sponsor, a fact that Seacrest reminded Durbin of in an awkward moment after the comment on the show.
What did you think of James Durbin's "Pepsi" quip? Tell us in the comments.
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'Green Lantern' Tops Weekend Box Office
But Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan failed to gather as much green as observers may have hoped.
By Ryan J. Downey
Ryan Reynolds in "Green Lantern"
Photo: Warner Bros.
The big-screen debut of DC Comics' "emerald knight" may have been #1 at the box office over the weekend but it failed to gather as much green as most observers had hoped. "Green Lantern" generated an estimated $52.6 million in its debut weekend, less than the opening numbers for superhero flicks "Thor" and "X-Men: First Class" earlier this year.
The heavily marketed potential franchise starter, which stars Ryan Reynolds, cost an estimated $200 million to produce. To put the numbers in perspective, fewer people saw "Green Lantern" on opening weekend than the film adaptations of lesser known superheroes like "Daredevil" and "Ghost Rider."
And critics were not kind to the film. "Green Lantern is a new primer on how not to make a comic book movie ... flat FX, smirky acting, clunky writing and clueless direction," Rolling Stone wrote.
"Mr. Popper's Penguins" was also something of a disappointment relative to previous Jim Carrey comedies. The film, based on the classic book of the same name, opened with $18.2 million, which wasn't enough to beat last week's #1 movie, "Super 8." J.J. Abrams' throwback homage to '80s movies like "E.T." earned another $21.2 million in its second weekend for a $72.7 million total.
"X-Men: First Class" was #4 over the weekend with $11.5 million, for a $199.9 million total. While the comic-book flick's numbers are lower than most of the movies in the mutant-hero franchise, the reboot/prequel hybrid has enjoyed the best critical response for an "X-Men" movie since "X2."
"The Hangover 2" rounded out the top five with $9.6 million, for a $232.7 million total. And this weekend's new releases include Disney/Pixar's "Cars 2" and the Cameron Diaz comedy "Bad Teacher." Michael Bay's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" follows on Wednesday, June 29.
Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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Monday Blues
Bristol Palin Sharing too Much of Herself–Girls Talkin Smack Channing Tatum Starring in Blood Brothers–Tonic Gossip Amy Winehouse Cancels Show After Being Booed–Bitten & Bound Marie Osmond to Appear on The Bold and the Beautiful–The Celebrity Cafe JK Rowling to Make a Big Announcement–Right Celebrity Emma Roberts Addresses Nepotism–Holly Wire Reasons Women Cheat–The Frisky Justin [...]
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Justin Bieber, Eminem Dominate Billboard Music Awards
Teen superstar and rapper each won six trophies at Sunday night's show.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images
Justin Bieber tied with Eminem as the top winner at Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards with six trophies. But it was his embrace of reported sweetie Selena Gomez that set the Internet on fire after a night that saw splashy performances from Rihanna, an upside-down Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Mary J. Blige with Lil Wayne, Taio Cruz, the Black Eyed Peas and Pitbull.
Bieber's awards included trophies for Top New Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Streaming Artist, Top Digital Media Artist, Top Pop Album and Top Streaming Song at his first-ever trip to the show. Meanwhile, veteran Eminem (who was not in Las Vegas for the show) nabbed Top Artist, Top Male Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Song and Top Rap Album for his smash comeback, Recovery.
Six artists were just behind with three wins each, including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Usher, Mumford & Sons and Cruz. Though Bieber and Gomez have kept their relationship under wraps for months, the "Baby" singer kissed and hugged Gomez before taking the stage to accept an award.
The show featured a number of performances, two of which included surprise appearances from a lip-synching Britney Spears. The pop diva literally popped up out of the floor to join Rihanna for "S&M," writhing on a stripper pole while brandishing a pair of diamond handcuffs. The two finished things off with a pillow fight and a kiss. She also topped off a performance of Minaj's "Super Bass" with a bit of her own "Till the World Ends."
Weezy teamed up with Blige for the remix of "Someone to Love Me (Naked)." Green wore a sparkly outer-space outfit while playing piano and singing a medley of his hits ("Crazy," "Bright Lights Bigger City" and "Forget You"); he levitated over the stage and pounded the keys of his silver piano while hanging upside down at one point.
But perhaps the biggest moment of the night was when Beyoncé was presented with the prestigious Billboard Millennium Award, which was preceded by a video honoring her with testimonials from First Lady Michelle Obama, Bono, Lady Gaga, Bey's parents and sister Solange, Stevie Wonder, The-Dream and Barbra Streisand.
She accepted the award after an eye-popping performance of her new single, "Run the World (Girls)," which was highlighted by a breathtaking digital background featuring a shifting array of effects that produced a legion of virtual backup dancers and CGI-like movie effects.
Out of breath from her performance, Beyoncé thanked her mother and father for teaching her about hard work, as well as former Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, past DC members and, in a break with their usual low-key nature, husband Jay-Z.
"I'd also like to thank my best friend, and I don't want to put you on the spot because I know they're probably putting a camera in your face right now, but I love me some Jay-Z," she said with a smile.
A number of artists also took home two awards apiece, including Katy Perry, Shakira and Train.
Complete List of Winners:
Top Artist: Eminem
Top New Artist: Justin Bieber
Top Male Artist: Eminem
Top Female Artist: Rihanna
Top Duo/Group: The Black Eyed Peas
Top Billboard 200 Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist: Katy Perry
Top Digital Songs Artist: Katy Perry
Top Radio Songs Artist: Rihanna
Top Touring Artist: U2
Top Social Artist: Justin Bieber
Top Streaming Artist: Justin Bieber
Top Digital Media Artist: Justin Bieber
Top Pop Artist: Lady Gaga
Top R&B Artist: Usher
Top Rap Artist: Eminem
Top Country Artist: Taylor Swift
Top Rock Artist: Train
Top Alternative Artist: Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist: Shakira
Top Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
Millennium Award: Beyoncé
Touring Award: U2
Icon Award: Neil Diamond
Top Billboard 200 Album: Eminem, Recovery
Top Pop Album: Justin Bieber, My World 2.0,, Katy Perry, Teenage Dream
Top R&B Album: Usher, Raymond v. Raymond
Top Rap Album: Eminem, Recovery Top Country Album: Taylor Swift, Speak Now
Top Rock Album: Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
Top Alternative Album: Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
Top Latin Album: Enrique Iglesias, Euphoria
Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lady Gaga, The Fame
Top Christian Album: Skillet, Awake
Top Hot 100 Song: Taio Cruz, "Dynamite"
Top Digital Song: Taio Cruz, "Dynamite"
Top Radio Song: Bruno Mars, "Just the Way You Are"
Top Streaming Song (Audio): Nelly, "Just a Dream"
Top Streaming Song (Video): Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris, "Baby"
Top Pop Song: Taio Cruz, "Dynamite"
Top R&B Song: Usher featuring will.i.am, "OMG"
Top Rap Song: Eminem featuring Rihanna, "Love the Way You Lie"
Top Country Song: Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Top Rock Song: Train, "Hey, Soul Sister"
Top Alternative Song: Neon Trees, "Animal"
Top Latin Song: Shakira featuring Freshlyground, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)"
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664389/billboard-music-awards-winners-justin-bieber.jhtml
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'Super 8': Box-Office Sleeper Of The Summer?
After earning $37 million and debuting at #1, J.J. Abrams' movie is looking like a success story so far.
By Eric Ditzian
Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney in "Super 8"
Photo: Paramount
As well as anyone, J.J. Abrams knew the challenges facing "Super 8" this summer. It's not a sequel or based on an existing property; it doesn't feature any major stars; its central conceit had to remain largely mysterious, and its release date plopped the flick in a crowded field of superheroes, robots and wizards.
"We're a complete anomaly in a summer of huge films," the director told the Los Angeles Times, "and we don't want to be so silent or coy that people don't care or don't hear about it."
As the film's June 10 release date neared, it seemed people might not have heard about "Super 8," nor cared to check it out if they had: Box-office tracking was said to be weak, with a possible opening weekend as low as $25 million. But as reviews continued to be strong, and Paramount staged over 300 Twitter-sponsored screenings at midnight on the Thursday before release, the tide seemed to be turning.
And it did. "Super 8" grossed $35.5 million domestically. That put the alien-invasion film roughly in line with one alien invasion film based on an original idea and starring lesser-known talent (2009's "District 9") but slightly below another (2008's "Cloverfield"). Yet what separates "Super 8" from these other movies is the talent behind the camera: Abrams in the director's chair and Steven Spielberg taking on a producer role for a film that is an undeniable homage to films like "E.T." With those names leading the charge, expectations were high as soon as the project was announced in May 2010. And now opinions among industry experts seem to be split. Is $37 million for "Super 8" a success or a disappointment — or somewhere in between?
" 'Super 8' arrived with neither a whimper nor a bang," explained Brandon Gray of Box Office Mojo. "[E]ven if 'Super 8' beat last-minute expectations, that doesn't necessarily make it a success. The most important expectations for any movie are the ones that are set when a movie is green-lighted as well as the ones that guide a marketing campaign."
Others, however, emphasize that making any sort of box-office declaration would be premature at this point. "For some films, the opening weekend is just the beginning of the story," said Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com. "This is one of them. It should hold up well in the weeks to come, and that will make up for the fact that its opening wasn't exactly earth shattering."
The fact is, even with marquee talent running the show, films often need A-list talent in front of the camera — and plopping down on Leno's couch — to goose box-office numbers. Contrino suspects that just one big name could have resulted in a $60 million opening for "Super 8." Yet it should be noted the film reportedly cost only $50 million — about one third the budget of a typical summer tentpole.
" 'Super 8' will turn a profit before most of the other films released this summer, and isn't that the epitome of success?" said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "Yet still it was the #1 film in a crowded marketplace. There is no other way to spin this: Every studio in town would love to have a 'Super 8' on their release calendar."
The question now is how the film will do heading into this weekend, when a new superhero flick, "Green Lantern," arrives. "Cloverfield," for instance, dropped a staggering 68 percent in its second weekend, despite opening in January. "District 9" held on for a more typical 51 percent drop in August. How will "Super 8" fair? Can it become the sleeper hit of the summer?
"It may have a difficult time going up against what looks like it will be the next 'Iron Man' in 'Green Lantern,'" Bock said. "But word of mouth should sustain 'Super 8' in the weeks to come, because in a world full of exploitation and in-your-face pop-up ads, audiences will no doubt be charmed by the fact that they're sitting in a darkened theater without knowing exactly what to expect."
Check out everything we've got on "Super 8."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'Harry Potter' World Cup: Help Decide The Best Character!
Voting opens Monday on the MTV Movies Blog to finally put this debate to rest.
By Eric Ditzian
Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
Photo: Warner Bros.
Are you a Dumbledore guy or gal? Perhaps you're keen on Hermione and Harry? Or maybe you shun the high-profile faces and hold a special place in your heart for Moaning Myrtle or Nearly Headless Nick? Who truly is the greatest "Harry Potter" character of all time?
That's a debate fans have been having since J.K. Rowling published her first novel about a boy wizard in 1997 and one that continues to rage as the final film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," nears its July 15 debut. And you know what? It's time to finally put this fantastical argument to rest!
Get ready for MTV News' "Harry Potter" World Cup, a monthlong tournament pitting 64 "Potter" characters against one another to see which will be decided solely by online fan voting. Check out the full bracket with all the supernatural matchups, then study up and get ready to vote when the first round kicks off Monday, June 20, at MoviesBlog.MTV.com.
Check out photos of all 60 of the "Harry Potter" World Cup players.
The single-elimination tournament will proceed from round to round with the intensity of the fiercest of Quidditch matches, with some characters falling by the wayside and others continuing to fight the good fight. It's all leading up to the epic championship round. The two finalists will be announced Monday, July 11. Voting will continue through MTV News' live-stream coverage of the "Deathly Hallows, Part 2" red-carpet premiere in New York City, with the winner crowned at the end of the event.
The full Harry Potter World Cup is as follows:
» Round 1: Monday, June 20, through Sunday, June 26
» Round 2: Monday, June 27, through Thursday, June 30
» Sweet 16: Friday, July 1, through Tuesday, July 5
» Elite Eight: Wednesday, July 6, through Thursday, July 7
» Final Four: Friday, July 8, through Sunday, July 10
» Championship Round: Top two announced Monday, July 11, with voting continuing through the New York premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2"
So get ready to vote at MoviesBlog.MTV.com on June 20, and be sure to utilize the Twitter hashtag #mtvpottercup to spread the word. Don't let your favorite character lose out on being named the greatest "Harry Potter" character ever. Sixty-four will compete, but only one will emerge as the Wizarding World's Champion — and it's up to you!
Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'Green Lantern': Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Play The Yes/No Show
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/06/17/green-lantern-ryan-reynolds-blake-lively/
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