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Friday, July 1, 2011

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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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661097/jackson-family-james-durbin-american-idol.jhtml

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Photos | Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

Drake, Nicki Minaj, Usher And More At Hot 97 2010 Summer Jam

mick jager

Michael Rapaport Eyes Roots, De La Soul For Next Docs

A Tribe Called Quest doc director says he'd do another hip-hop film 'if things lined up.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kara Warner

Michael Rapaport
Photo: MTV News

The controversy surrounding the documentary "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" has not killed director Michael Rapaport's hip-hop jones. The film has received rave reviews, and if given the chance, Rapaport told MTV News that he has his eye on a few other rap acts that he'd like to turn his lens on.

"I would love to document De La Soul," he said looking directly in the camera making his best pitch.

Another group which Rapaport has interest in is Philadelphia hip-hop band the Roots. While the group has had a rotating cast since their 1993 debut, Organix, band leader and drummer ?uestlove, along with MC Black Thought and keyboardist Kamal have been mainstays. Multi-platinum producer Scott Storch was a one-time member, as was rapper Malik B. The Roots have released 10 studio LPs since the early 1990s, and of course, the Grammy-winning group are enjoying success as the in-house band for "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."

"I would love to document the Roots; I think they have an interesting story," Rapaport said. "I have a curiosity about them. Their musicality and their live performances I think would be great, and I have a feeling that there are stories behind each one of them."

After filming A Tribe Called Quest for his current work, Rapaport has went back and forth with group member Q-Tip. In light of the experience, when he visited "RapFix Live" in March, Q-Tip urged other rappers to tell their "own stories," a concept that confused Rapaport. "I don't know if he meant, 'We're from hip-hop, it should be a hip-hop director,' " the actor-director admitted to MTV News. "I don't know who would go under the auspices of being a hip-hop director. Or if it was a racial thing like, 'We're black and shouldn't have a white director.' It was confusing to me."

As of now, Rapaport isn't looking to do another rap film in the near future, but he wouldn't turn it down if the opportunity presented itself.

"Right now I'm taking a break from hip-hop documentaries," he said. "But I would do it if things lined up."

Would you support a Michael Rapaport-directed Roots documentary? Tell us in the comments!

rolling stones

Links for 2007-11-23 [del.icio.us]

Hayden Panettiere is GQ’s Obsession of the Year
Heroes star Hayden Panettiere has been named Obsession of the Year in a recent issue of GQ. The teen celebrity is photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth. She is adorable in the photos and actually now that she?s eighteen, it?s okay to look at her ?in tha

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Christina Aguilera Will Return To 'The Voice'

Rest of the panel is also signed on to return.
By Gil Kaufman

Christina Aguilera On "The Voice"
Photo: NBC.com

Unlike the typical judges'-panel drama unfolding over at "American Idol," it looks like NBC newcomer "The Voice" has locked down its diva for a second season: Christina Aguilera will be back on the small screen in the spring.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, despite rumors to the contrary, an unnamed source said Aguilera actually agreed to give it another go on the reality singing competition "weeks ago."

The good news for fans of the upstart show is that Aguilera will be seated in the tall-backed chairs next to all her homeboys, as Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, country star Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green have also officially re-inked.

Citing an unnamed source, Us Weekly reported Thursday (June 30) that the entire quartet have signed on for a second season.

Shelton recently told a Knoxville, Tennessee, radio station that he'd love to come back for another run. "The reality of it is, you've got four different artists who are doing completely different things and a network that has a time schedule that they want things to happen in," he said. "Who knows what'll happen, but I'd hate to miss it."

Levine — who mentored Javier Colon to a win on Wednesday night — also seemed eager to make a return engagement. "Yeah, that's the question that everyone's asking me," he told the Reporter earlier this week about the constant questions about whether he'll be back. "I'd hate to say for sure, but I think so. If they'll have me, I'd be delighted to be back."

The show has been renewed for another season and is expected to make its second bow after the Super Bowl in the spring.

The Reporter also revealed that the pay scale on the show has Aguilera far out-earning her fellow coaches, raking in a reported $225,000 per episode to the men's $75,000 each.

The quick re-sign of Aguilera is in contrast to the drama at the granddaddy of hit TV reality singing shows, "Idol." While veteran judge Randy Jackson and newbie Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler are onboard for the upcoming 11th season, it remains unclear if the other new face of the series, Jennifer Lopez, will be back.

With her music career revived, thanks to the exposure of "Idol," Lopez has been coy about whether she's willing to give it another shot.

"You know, this is the question of the hour," she said earlier this month in an interview with BBC's Radio 1. "I don't know. I haven't been forced to make a decision, and I'm glad about that because, honestly, I'm very on the fence about it. I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it, but I have a lot of other things happening, and it's going to come down to me making a choice of what I want to do for the next year, and we're not really at the breaking point of, 'You have to make a decision right now!' I'm just really enjoying the time of just waiting and seeing."

Are you happy the panel will be back on "The Voice"? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666697/christina-aguilera-the-voice.jhtml

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Watch: Jake Gyllenhaal Guest Stars On The Season Premiere Of ?Man Vs. Wild?

Last week we got our first look at a set of promo photos from the upcoming season premiere of Man Vs. Wild which guest stars actor Jake Gyllenhaal alongside star Bear Grylls. Today we get to check out the just-released video trailer for that episode. In the clip, Bear tells Jake that “it takes balls” [...]

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