Monday, 20 August 2012

Nicki Minaj is Board Stiff By Joe Jonas


“I’ve got an early birthday present,” boasts Joe Jonas on his Instagram account. Folks, you have a week left to track down the real thing for him – Hop to!


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R.I.P. Marvin Hamlisch, Influential Composer and EGOT Winner, 1944-2012


Marvin Hamlisch, noted composer for film, television and theater, has died in Los Angeles. Details of his death are not being released at the moment, though the family spokesperson has confirmed that it came after a “brief illness.” He was 68 years old.


Hamlisch was one of the most esteemed American composers of late-20th century. So expansive was his influence over the country’s pop culture that to date he is one of just 11 performers to earn the prestigious EGOT distinction, for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony—and multiple of each for Hamlisch, except for having just the one Tony.


Though he had some success in the ’60s writing for artists like Lesley Gore, who scored one of her definitive smashes with his “Sunshine, Lollipop and Rainbows,” it was in the ’70s that Marvin Hamlisch had his greatest run of success. He won three Oscars in 1973, just the second person to ever do so in the same ceremonies, for his iconic scoring work in The Sting (including “The Entertainer,” probably being played out there on piano right now by some 11-year-old student just learning the instrument) and The Way We Were (including the titular song, Barbara Streisand’s first chart-topper and one of her signature numbers).


In addition to his work in pop and film, Hamlisch also played a key role in ’70s theater by composing the music for A Chorus Line, one of the most popular musicals of the last half-century, and for a time was the longest-running show in Broadway history. He continued his theatrical composing into the ’80s, though never had another hit on the level of Chorus Line. His film-scoring work remained popular for the remainder of the century, though, and he racked up Oscar nominations for his work on movies like Ice Castles, Sophie’s Choice and The Mirror Has Two Faces.


Hamlisch only did the score for one movie in the 21st century, Steven Soderbergh’s The Informant, which harkened back to his ragtime work on The Sting. He was, however, immortalized for the next generation of film with a tossed-off reference by Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s character in Role Models, complaining about people kept telling him he looked like a young Marvin Hamlisch. (“WHO THE FUCK IS MARVIN HAMLISCH??“)








Take a listen to some of Hamlisch’s best and best-known works, across pretty much every popular artistic medium, with our Spotify playlist below:



[USA Today]


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Hayden Panettiere's BF Scotty McKnight -- CUT From the NY Jets

Hayden Panettiere's short stint as a NY Jets fan is over ... Gang Green has officially dumped her boyfriend Scotty McKnight ... weeks before the NFL season is set to begin. McKnight was a longshot to make the team as a wide receiver ... but we all…


'Dark Knight Rises' -- Man Arrested with Gun, Ammo, Knives in Ohio Theater

Police in Ohio have arrested a man who allegedly tried to smuggle guns, ammunition and knives into a late-night showing of "Dark Knight Rises."Authorities say ... the manager of the Cleveland-area movie theater became suspicious of the man, who…


Liberty Ross -- KStew's Lover's Wife ... NOT Wearing Wedding Ring

While her cheating husband has been seen still wearing his wedding ring after being caught having an affair with his "Snow White and the Huntsman" actress Kristen Stewart, director Rupert Sanders' wife Liberty Ross surfaced without her wedding ring…


Johnny Depp -- Single, Ready to Mingle ... at Pink Taco

A freshly single Johnny Depp threw on some eyeliner and his finest pashmina last night ... and partied his face off with his boys from Aerosmith ... the first time we've seen the actor in public since announcing his split from Vanessa Paradis. Depp…


Disgraced Olympic Ref Boris Margeta -- I'm Sorry I Screwed Spain

The Olympic water polo referee who was fired from the London Games for blowing a game-deciding call is taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY ... telling TMZ he wants to apologize to Spain. In case you didn't know ... Boris Margeta was banned from officiating…


Zac Brown -- 'MIDGET BOWLING' in South Dakota

Country superstar Zac Brown felt like doing a little bowling this weekend ... so he greased up a little person and BOWLED him at some pins ... and it was all caught on tape!!!It all went down at the the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota ...…


Olympic Equestrian – Cruel and Unusual … for the Fans

Do you suffer from insomnia? Have a hard time falling asleep? Enjoy watching humans get rewarded for accomplishments of hard working animals? The you're going to love Olympic equestrian ... the most boring "sport" ever created by man.Seriously. We'd…


'CSI' Star Marg Helgenberger -- I'd STILL Work with Bieber ... Despite His Bratty Cameo

"CSI" star Marg Helgenberger would be HONORED to work with Justin Bieber again -- despite what she said last year ... that the singer was an intolerable "brat" behind the scenes of her TV show.In case you didn't know, Bieber acted in one of the…


Gwen Stefani's Ass -- HELLA GOOD

Gwen Stefani is a 42-year-old mother of two -- but that didn't stop her from looking 20 years younger on the beach in Miami this weekend ... in a sexy tiger print bikini.Don't speak. We know just what you're thinking.


Monday, 6 August 2012

Warren Sapp -- Forced to Sell His Soles

If NFL legend Warren Sapp didn't blow his fortune on 240 pairs of Air Jordans, he wouldn't be forced to auction them all off.Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!


TMZ's Team USA Olympic Fever Contest -- FINAL 5!

The patriotic pictures came racing in for our Team USA Olympic Fever Photo contest ... and we've picked our favorite five! Now, it's up to you to choose who will win the metaphoric, not at all real, gold medal!Which of these photos should score 250…


'America's Got Talent' Contestant Sues Hotel -- You Took Death Pics of My Murdered Wife

A former "America's Got Talent" contestant is suing the L.A. hotel where his wife was murdered back in 2010 ... claiming the hotel's head of security snapped photos of his wife's half-naked lifeless body and then showed them off at the hotel bar ...…


So Here’s A Fashion-Related TV Show You’ll Only Watch Because Of Rihanna


A reality TV show about fashion called Styled to Rock on the British network Sky Living isn’t exactly a failsafe idea. The idea’s practically all potential failures; it’s Project Runway with a dozen drawbacks. There’s one more major detail, though, that might entice a few more people: Rihanna’s involved. For ten weeks, contestants will compete for the chance to dress her at London’s Wireless Festival, and presumably some other presence in the fashion world besides one Rihanna costume at one show. (That costume, in case you’re curious, is here; the show’s pre-recorded, and the winner’s already been chosen.)


Still not enticing enough, (even) after that photo? Perhaps the lineup of musicians will get you to watch. A rundown, with what we imagine their role in the show will be:


Katy Perry: Will teach contestants how to wear a spinning peppermint bra without massacring their scalps or breaking their insurance policies.


Cheryl Cole: Will teach contestants how to “rock” a “distinctive” “look” with scare quotes.


The Saturdays: Will teach contestants how to accessorize with their packs of friends.


Little Mix: Will draw in X Factor fans, though slightly fewer than if they’d gotten One Direction instead. (They’re a living menswear blog! It could have happened!)


Pixie Lott: Will mention her upcoming single at least once per appearance.


Katy B: Will be awesome.


Little Boots: Will hopefully provide a runway walk to “Shake.”


Tinchy Stryder: Will have a presence that completely baffles people outside the UK and probably several inside.


Nicola Roberts: Will also be awesome. (And hey, she’s getting work!)


[CMU]



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Free Harry


We wish we had more of an explanation for you, folks. One Direction’s Harry Styles gives us the simple caption “Swim sir” on his Instagram.


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Azealia Banks Apologizes to Kreayshawn After Calling Her a Dumb Bitch Who Can’t Rap


Today marks a positive turning point in the tumultuous relationship of Kreayshawn and Azealia Banks.


These two female rappers had an odd exchange on Twitter in January of this year. The Oakland native complimented Banks’ single “212″ with a link to popular pornsite “PornHub” due to the graphic nature of the song. Banks quickly took Kreay’s playfulness the wrong way. She responded with this tweet:



It was characterized as an over-reaction on her part at the time, and eight months later Banks admits she was a bit on the abrasive side. Idolator reports that Ms.Banks sent this on Sunday via Twitter: “@KREAYSHAWN I apologize for coming down on you so hard earlier this year…I missunderstood that pornhub rt. I can be really defensive sometimes. I’m just naturally rude. LMFAOO it’s a NY thing… I can’t help it.” Kreayshawn responded that it was “All G[ood].” With the air cleared, Banks even suggested a collaboration in the future. What a change of tone from eight months ago!


So this tells us a couple of things. First, that Twitter can start beef just as easily as it can end it. Second, that Azealia Banks can be a hot head on the Inter Webs but is mature enough to admit when she’s off base about something. Third, that West and East Coast rappers can get along with a little luck. If you’re thinking this could be the start of an “Azealia Banks apology spree,” we recommend you don’t hold your breath.



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Eminem To Guest On Lady Gaga Record He Would Once Have Completely Trashed


A decade ago, the prospect of Eminem guesting on the record of the most popular dance-pop singer on the charts, whose upcoming album has the lofty and ALL CAPS titel ARTPOP , would seem–well, it’d seem as ridiculous as anything Em’s done lately. This is Eminem 4.0, the guy who put Rihanna on a purposefully plodding emo-rap song and whose Bad Meets Evil project had a weighty single with a Bruno Mars hook.


No, the surprising part about this story is that Lady Gaga let Eminem on the record. You can split her collaborations into two parts: the part before she became Lady Gaga and basically had to do tracks with the likes of Colby O’Donis, Wale and NKOTB, and the part afterward, where her collaborators were few and noticeably higher-profile: Beyonce, Tony Bennett, The Lonely Island. Eminem’s got stature, sure, but this isn’t exactly his career peak. It makes a little more sense when you consider that Aftermath (and Interscope, with Gaga) rapper Kendrick Lamar’s also on the track, after weeks of rumors. It’s like Mariah Carey getting Meek Mill on her single: the mentor comes with the mentee.


Still, though. Still:



“Yeah, I got this crazy record with Gaga and Kendrick for the upcoming LP”, Eminem told MTV Rapfix early Saturday morning. “Its called “Street Lights”, and its just a real upbeat record.”


When asked if the collaboration would be be released as a single, Em said, “Definitely. We don’t have a release date yet, but it’ll be after Slaughterhouse’s album.”



Right. Going by Em’s singles, he’s not doing anything specifically verboten, like bolstering Britney or Christina’s careers or doing a guest rap for The Wanted or making a foray into K-pop (“All you little boy and girl groups…”) or jumping on the dance bandwagon (“It’s over! Nobody listens to techno!” Ignore the fact that “Without Me” basically was techno.) But going off-record, he did make some not exactly conciliatory comments toward Gaga last year on a Bad Meets Evil track.


…Actually, no. It’s pointless trying to analyze this any more. Collaborations are how the music industry works. They’re how Eminem’s career works, they’re apparently how ARTPOP (ZOMG) works, and the best thing to do is just hope it’s actually good.



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