'Sweetest Sex Ever Shown in Movies' Boosts Michelle Williams' Oscar Hopes

 

Harvey Weinstein turned Blue Valentine's NC-17 to an R rating, and now moved its release from New Year's Eve to Dec. 29. 

"We moved the date up due to overwhelming response," says Weinstein COO David Glasser. And I put star Michelle Williams on my Gold Derby Oscar Predictions list.

Blue Valentine is surfing a rising tide. Williams' and Ryan Gosling's Globe noms, goodwill from the victory over an especially antifeminist instance of censorship (it's a woman-receiving-pleasure scene), critical kudos, and smart, coy marketing of the stars' do-they-or-don't-they-do-it-offscreen question boost the film's profile. Poor Anne Hathaway's conspicuous nakedness in Love and Other Drugs couldn't compete with Blue Valentine's once-censored wooing scenes, which the Huffington Post calls "some of the sweetest sex ever shown in movies."

But Harvey Weinstein's crucial move to fight the NC-17 was a bold and risky one. "After four or five years of being focused on other ventures," says Glasser, "Harvey has come back to what he does best: movies, TV and marketing. Harvey [stands] behind his filmmakers. They came to him and said, 'Please don't change my movie.' " (Actually, it's not necessarily bad when Harvey does change a movie. An inside source says the effective montages in Jersey Girl were originally ineffective desultory nonmontages, for instance. When people call him "Harvey Scissorhands," they forget that Edward Scissorhands was an artful sculptor, not a butcher.)

But challenging MPAA so late was perilous. "It was a very tough decision," says Glasser. "At 1:42 in the morning Dec. 8, Harvey went off to L.A. [from the New York screening] to fight this." But while MPAA was deciding, the film's whole campaign was on hold -- ads, billboards, publicity-generating screenings, articles. "The Academy said, 'If this version [the original] changes, you're gonna have a real problem on your hands,' " says an informed source, " 'Because you'll have to collect all the screeners.' Studios are not allowed to send Academy members two versions, because in the old days they would blanket people with screeners." After a cliffhanger period, MPAA relented in the nick of time. "All the screeners went out on Dec. 1."

Blue Valentine, which had sagged when SAG and AFI spurned it, is now on the upswing. Instead of being perceived as a cause and a giant hovering marketing question mark, Blue Valentine is a movie again, not a censorship statement. "Michelle's and Ryan's performances speak for themselves," says Glasser. And they get to do so two days early in New York and L.A., with a wider release the first week of January.

And here is my new Oscar prediction list on GoldDerby.com:

Best Actress Oscar:

Annette Bening

Natalie Portman

Nicole Kidman

Jennifer Lawrence

Michelle Williams

Follow THR's The Race Awards blog @timappelo
Feedback, brickbats, shameless lobbying to: Tim.Appelo@thr.com

Amanda Seyfried Returning To 'Big Love' for Finale

 The actress shoots a special appearance for the HBO hit's last episode.

Amanda Seyfried has established herself as a movie leading lady but  she will be making her small screen return for the final episode of the Big Love's five-season run.

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For four seasons, Seyfried played Sarah, the eldest daughter of polygamist Bill (Bill Paxton) and Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn). At the end of season four, her character ran off with her husband Scott Quittman.
Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul will also return for the finale to reprise his role as Quittman.
"Both Amanda and Paul really wanted to be a part of the last episode, even though they were both shooting movies," co-creator Will Scheffer told TV Guide.
The episode was shot in mid-December and will air in March.
His partner Mark Olsen added, "It was special. Literally and figuratively it was a family getting back together."
Season five is set to premiere January 16.

Steven Tyler Called Out for Hitting on Teen 'Idol' Contestants

The Aerosmith frontman told one 16-year-old who auditioned that she had "just the right amount" of leg showing. 

Blogs were ablaze Thursday morning of Steven Tyler's comments to young female American Idol contestants on Wednesday's premiere.
"Apparently, the theme of Season 10 of American Idol is pedophilia," wrote one on The Faster Times. "I’m a little disturbed."
Tyler, 62, noted that 16-year-old Victoria Huggins was wearing a skirt with "just the right amount [of leg] showing… that's nice." (Causing laughs from Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson.) 'American Idol' Season 10 Premiere Review: A Star Is Re-Born in Steven Tyler
Reality Blurred noted that Tyler was "leering at contestants."
A montage of Tyler flirting with female contestants was even shown. Wrote the New York Times: "The show overplayed the aging rock star’s bad boy reputation with a montage of Mr. Tyler leering and flirting with some very young and sexy female contestants — he looked too much like a long-haired version of Italy’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi." Watch 2011's worst American Idol auditions.
But it wasn't only Idol wannabes that caught Tyler's attention. At one point, when Lopez left her seat to hug a contestant, showing off her short skirt and legs, Tyler joked to Jackson, "You looking down,

Golden Globes Lawsuit Puts 2012 Show at Risk

Lawyers for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association say that litigation with show producer Dick Clark Productions may not be decided in time to ensure next year’s TV broadcast.

NEW YORK – The controversy surrounding Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais may not be the biggest headache for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
A legal dispute between the organizer of the awards and its longtime production firm, Dick Clark Productions, is threatening next year’s Golden Globes ceremony as it may not be concluded in time to pick a new producer, find a network and bring in advertisers, the New York Times reported.
In court filings last week, lawyers for Dick Clark Productions and the HFPA said the likely trial date is Dec. 1 and March 5, 2012, respectively.
Neither date would allow “sufficient time to take reasonable commercial steps for the production and distribution of the television broadcast of the 69th annual Golden Globes Awards Show,” the association’s lawyers said. Next year’s show is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 8 or 15.
The HFPA’s legal team said it may have to ask the court for a preliminary or expedited ruling.
Late last year, the press association sued the Globes producer, arguing it unilaterally reached a new eight-year broadcast deal with NBC. Dick Clark Productions responded by asking a judge to dismiss the complaint.

Producers Guild Awards Host Judd Apatow Rips Into Ricky Gervais

Apatow joins in the criticism of Gervais' controversial Golden Globes jokes.

Producers Guild Awards host Judd Apatow built his opening monologue around a profanity-laced attack on the way Ricky Gervais handled his Golden Globe Awards hosting chores a week earlier in the same room at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

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“What did you think of Ricky Gervais?” he asked the black-tie industry crowd Saturday night. “I didn’t like him. I thought he was mean.”
Apatow, whose movies include The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, knocked Gervais for his controversial jokes.
“He had that joke about the guy on Lost,” said Apatow. “He said he ate everybody else. Let’s be honest -- Ricky Gervais just lost weight. Even now he’s four pounds away from not being allowed to do a joke like that. Did he lose weight just to make fat jokes? You think that’s how mean he is?"
Apatow had no problem with a Gervais joke about Charlie Sheen.
But Apatow added, “(Jay) Leno did it the week before."
“I think he’s an OK target," Apatow said of Sheen. "The people at CBS have said as long as he shows up on time, knows his lines, he can do whatever he wants.”
However, Apatow took exception to Gervais making a joke about The Tourist.
“(Gervais) says the characters were two-dimensional,” said Apatow. “Then he says he hasn’t seen The Tourist. So as a comedian, that’s not fair, is it? To make jokes about a movie you haven’t seen.
"I can’t do a joke about (Gervais’s movie) The Invention of Lying because I haven’t seen it. You haven’t seen it. None of us have seen it. So the joke would not work.”
Apatow also came to the defense of Cher, Hugh Hefner, Tim Allen, Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr. - others who were Gervais targets.
"(Gervais) made a joke about Tim Allen who was standing next to Tom Hanks," said Apatow. "Who looks good standing next to Tom Hanks? We all look like a piece of shit standing next to Tom Hanks. Warren Buffet would look like a piece of shit next to Tom Hanks.
"Tim Allen did 200 episodes of Home Improvement. He was in three of the highest grossing movies of all time. And his latest just crossed the one billion mark. Whereas The Invention Of Lying made $18 million dollars worldwide...Leave Tim Allen alone.”

The Bottom Line

A potent cinematic hand grenade tossed to bigots everywhere.

Venue
Sundance Film Festival, Premieres
Director-Screenwriter
Kevin Smith

PARK CITY -- A subversive little comic horror film that represents a shot across the bow at extreme fundamentalist bigots but hits a few other targets along with them, Red State is cleverly contrarian enough to get a rise out of almost any audience.

Clearly driven by outrage over the anti-gay fulminations of some American Christian pastors, Kevin Smith’s aggressively profane script works startling twists on scare film conventions while also taking the U.S. government to task for its simplistic use of terrorist threats as an excuse to do anything it wants. Bypassing conventional distribution, Smith plans to take the innately controversial $4 million picture on the road for a series of one-night stands beginning March 5 at Radio City Music Hall, to be followed by Oct. 19 release on Smith’s SModcast. Based on the sense of showmanship Smith displayed at the protest-marked Sundance premiere, he will have no trouble luring an audience on either of these circuits.

Against the backdrop of radical religious protests at the funeral of a murdered gay student, three horny teenage boys (Michael Angarano, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner) make an online date with an older woman willing to take on the trio simultaneously. After much crudely funny sex talk, the threesome sets out at night just like any boys in a hundred other teen hi-jinks comedies. Arriving at the woman’s remote rural trailer home after sideswiping the parked car of the local police chief (who’s getting serviced by another man at the time), the boys are first offered beer, from which they promptly pass out.

When the boys awaken, they realize they’ve gotten screwed, all right, but not in the way they intended. They’re now prisoners of the area’s notorious Pastor Abin Cooper (Michael Parks), a man who so rabidly professes his belief that the homosexual is Satan’s agent on Earth that even the neo-Nazis disown him. He is also convinced that the End Times are nigh, that humanity has degenerated so much that “God’s done with it.” Whatever he has in store for the boys will assuredly not be pretty.

Cooper preaches to an adoring congregation of about two dozen comprising only family members and their mates. Daringly, Smith has written a sermon, if that’s indeed what it is, that goes on for something close to 15 minutes. It’s a speech that’s both hateful and hyper-articulate, a rambling but laser-sharp monologue that exhibits love for his clan, well-informed contempt for his enemies and an interpretation of the Bible that allows him to justify the murders he has already committed and those meant to serve as the climax of the program.

Making the talk all the more convincing and scary is the brilliant delivery of it by Michael Parks. Affecting a folksy down home accent and knowing just how to modulate his remarks for maximum effect, the veteran actor is mesmerizing as he spews Cooper’s hate in a way that brooks no argument. The man sings well, too. Tarantino and Rodriguez have used Parks effectively in recent years, but this is a comeback everyone will notice. As Cooper’s committed daughter, Melissa Leo goes down in a raging blaze of glory that the James Cagney of White Heat would have appreciated.

As promised, the horror finally arrives, first for Cooper’s captives and shortly thereafter for everyone, as the compound becomes the site of a Branch Davidian-type battle between the cultists, who are convinced the time has come, and government agents led by Joseph Keenan (John Goodman, in an entirely wonderful performance). Keenan is a truly decent man who fulminates against the official position that their opponents are no longer to be considered religious wackos but terrorists who, once so designated, can be eliminated without hesitation. Wrap-up is satisfying dramatically and disturbing in every other conceivable way.

It goes without saying that religious conservatives will hate Red State, although those of a more libertarian stripe might appreciate Smith’s irrepressible irreverence, freewheeling subversion and tweaking of movie genre expectations. Young audiences will eat it up for the above reasons as well as for its unmistakable rebel attitude toward everything except human decency.

Nimbly directed and nicely shot on the RED camera system, the film went before the cameras on Sept. 21, a mere four months before its premiere.

 

Venue: Sundance Film Festival, Premieres
Production: Harvey Boys
Cast: Michael Parks, Michael Angarano, Kerry Bishe, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner, John Goodman, Melissa Leo, Kevin Pollak, Stephen Root, Cooper Thornton
Director-Screenwriter: Kevin Smith
Producer: Jonathan Gordon
Executive Producers: Elyse Seiden, Nhaelan McMillan, Victor Choy, Jason Clark, Harvey Cohen, Shea Kammer
Director Of Photography: David Klein
Production Designer: Cabot McMullen
Costume Designer: Beth Pasternak
Editor: Kevin Smith
No rating, 97 minutes

Britney Spears Breaks Taylor Swift's Digital Single Sales Record

Britney Spears has broken Taylor Swift's record for the top-selling digital single debut by a female solo artist. Spears' "Hold It Against Me" sold 411,000 downloads this week, besting Swift's previous record for "Today Was a Fairytale," which sold 325,000 in its first week last year.
Spears also improved upon her own record, notes Yahoo Music, as her last big digital seller, 2008's "Womanizer," sold 303,000 copies at the end of 2008.
"Hold It Against Me" sales were strong enough to rank it as the fourth-biggest first-week seller in digital history.

Jake Gyllenhaal: Natalie Portman Is the 'Audrey Hepburn of Our Generation'

Gyllenhaal presented the pregnant actress with the Desert Palm Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Jake Gyllenhaal is a fan of Black Swan star Natalie Portman.
Presenting the actress with the Desert Palm Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival over the weekend, Gyllenhaal, 30, said, "Natalie is the Audrey Hepburn of our generation."
"She is elegant, graceful, has amazing eyebrows ... is talented, really short, funny, smart, dedicated, incredibly kind," continued Gyllenhaal, who briefly dated Portman -- who is currently pregnant with her first child and engaged to Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied -- in 2006.
Gyllenhaal also joked about Portman's "flaws."
"She's a vegan, which makes it really frustrating when you're picking a place to eat," Gyllenhaal laughed. "She's also recently announced that she's going to be a mom, and her child will probably need therapy after seeing Black Swan."

Emmy Rossum on 'Shameless' Sex Scenes: 'Okay, Time to Take My Top Off'

Emmy Rossum on 'Shameless' Sex Scenes: 'Okay, Time to Take My Top Off'

Actress Emmy Rossum's role in the new Showtime series Shameless is literally revealing. She's frequently disrobing on the set because her character Fiona, the de facto mother of a dysfunctional Chicago family, is hot and heavy with new love interest Steve, played by Justin Chatwin.

But Rossum takes her many sex scenes with Chatwin -- who told The Hollywood Reporter that their sex scenes are the closest he's come to doing softcore pornography -- in stride. She tells Vegas magazine "It's like, okay, time to take my top off."

Rossum and Chatwin's previous work together on 2009's Dragonball: Evolution makes filming intimate scenes less awkward, says Rossum, "The whole thing is so silly that if we weren't so comfortable with each other, it would be really uncomfortable. It's definitely an acquired experience."

Rossum also says there's realism in the way Fiona acts in bed, "It doesn't make sense that the character would wear a bra and care at all about what she looks like when she's having sex." She continues, "Sex is meant to feel good, and she wants to feel good. Her life is so sh--y in so many ways. Some people use alcohol, some people use gambling -- and some people use sex.”

Shameless airs Sundays on Showtime.

The movies tie with nine nominations each for the awards honoring 'worst achievement in film.'

M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender and the vampire cast of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse own the dubious distinction of garnering the most Razzie Award nominations for 2010.
Each film received nine nominations Monday morning for the award program that proudly "dishonors Worst Achievements in Film."
Razzie repeat offender Shyamalan was nominated as worst director for Airbender. The film is also up for worst picture, worst remake, worst screenplay, worst screen couple/ensemble (the entire cast).
The movie is also up for a brand new award, Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3-D.
That critically-dissed film is up against Twight Saga: Eclipse for top dishonors. That latest saga in the vampire-love story took nominations for all three of its main actors -- Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart -- all nominated for their acting portrayals. The entire cast is up for worst screen ensemble. The movie itself is up for worst picture.
Rounding out the worst picture list is the Twilight parody Vampires Suck,  Sex & The City 2 and Jennifer Aniston's The Bounty Hunter.
Three Oscar-winning divas are among nominees for worst supporting actress — Cher for Burlesque, Liza Minnelli for Sex and the City 2 and Barbra Streisand for Little Fockers.
The "winners" of the 31st Annual Razzie Awards will be announced at Hollywood’s Barnsdall Gallery Theatre on February 26 – the night before the Oscars.
The complete list of nominations:
WORST PICTURE
THE BOUNTY HUNTER (Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media)
THE LAST AIRBENDER (Paramount/Nickelodeon Movies)
SEX & THE CITY #2 (Warner Bros/New Line/HBO Pictures)
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE (Summit Entertainment)
VAMPIRES SUCK (20th Century-Fox/Regency Enterprises)
WORST ACTOR
Jack Black / GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
Gerard Butler / THE BOUNTY HUNTER
Ashton Kutcher / KILLERS and VALENTINE’S DAY
Taylor Lautner / TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE and VALENTINE’S DAY
Robert Pattinson / REMEMBER ME and TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
WORST ACTRESS
Jennifer Aniston / THE BOUNTY HUNTER and THE SWITCH
Mylie Cyrus / THE LAST SONG
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis & Cynthia Nixon / SEX & THE CITY 2
Megan Fox / JONAH HEX
Kristen Stewart / TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Alba / THE KILLER INSIDE ME, LITTLE FOCKERS, MACHETE and VALENTINE’S DAY
Cher / BURLESQUE
Liza Minnelli / SEX & THE CITY 2
Nicola Peltz / THE LAST AIRBENDER
Barbra Streisand / LITTLE FOCKERS
WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Billy Ray Cyrus / THE SPY NEXT DOOR
George Lopez / MARMADUKE, THE SPY NEXT DOOR and VALENTINE’S DAY
Dev Patel / THE LAST AIRBENDER
Jackson Rathbone / THE LAST AIRBENDER and TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
Rob Schneider / GROWN UPS
WORST EYE-GOUGING MIS-USE Of 3-D
CATS & DOGS 2: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE
CLASH OF THE TITANS
THE LAST AIRBENDER
NUTCRACKER 3-D
SAW 3-D (aka SAW VII)
WORST SCREEN COUPLE / WORST SCREEN ENSEMBLE
Jennifer Aniston & Gerard Butler / THE BOUNTY HUNTER
Josh Brolin’s Face & Megan Fox’s Accent / JONAH HEX
The Entire Cast of THE LAST AIRBENDER
The Entire Cast of SEX & THE CITY 2
The Entire Cast of TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
WORST DIRECTOR
Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer / VAMPIRES SUCK
Michael Patrick King / SEX & THE CITY 2
M. Night Shyamalan / THE LAST AIRBENDER
David Slade / TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
Sylvester Stallone / THE EXPENDABLES
WORST SCREENPLAY
LAST AIRBENDER Written by M. Night Shyamalan, based on the TV series created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko
LITTLE FOCKERS, Written by John Hamburg and Larry Stuckey, based on Characters Created by Greg Glenna & Mary Roth Clarke
SEX & THE CITY #2, Written by Michael Patrick King, Based on the TV Series Created by Darren Star
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, Based on the Novel by Stephenie Meyer
VAMPIRES SUCK, Written by Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer
WORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL
CLASH OF THE TITANS
THE LAST AIRBENDER
SEX & THE CITY #2
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE
VAMPIRES SUCK!

Justin Bieber Biography/History

Justin Drew Bieber[7] (pronounced /ˈbiːbər/, BEE-bər; born March 1, 1994)[1][8] is a Canadian pop/R&B[2][3][4] singer. His performances on YouTube were seen by Scooter Braun, who later became his manager. Braun arranged for him to meet with Usher in Atlanta, Georgia, and Bieber was soon signed to Raymond Braun Media Group (RBMG), a joint venture between Braun and Usher,[9] and then to a recording contract with Island Records offered by L.A. Reid.[5][10]

  
His debut single, "One Time", was released worldwide during 2009, and charted within the top 30 in over ten countries. It was followed by his debut release, My World on November 17, 2009, which was certified platinum in the United States, which at the time gave Bieber the highest debut by a new artist in the year, and made Bieber the first artist to have seven songs from a debut album chart on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.[11] His first full studio release, My World 2.0 was released on March 23, 2010 and has since received similar success; debuting at number one and within the top ten of several countries and was certified platinum in less than two months of release in the United States. It was preceded by the international hit song, "Baby"

****

Background information

Birth name Justin Drew Bieber

Born March 1, 1994 (1994-03-01) (age 16)[1]

Origin Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Genres Pop, R&B[2][3][4]

Occupations Singer, songwriter

Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, percussion,[5] trumpet[6]

Years active 2007–present

Labels Island, RBMG

Associated acts Usher

Website justinbiebermusic.com

Early life

Bieber was born on March 1, 1994, in Stratford, Ontario. Bieber's mother, Pattie Mallette, was 18 years old when she became pregnant with her son. Bieber was raised as an only child by Mallette, who worked low-paying office jobs, though Bieber maintains contact with his father.[12] As he grew, Bieber taught himself to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet.[13] In late 2007, when he was twelve, Bieber sang Ne-Yo's "So Sick" for a local singing competition in Stratford and placed second.[5] Mallette posted a video of the performance on YouTube for their family and friends to see. She continued to upload videos of Bieber singing covers of various R&B songs, and Bieber's popularity on the site grew.[10]

While searching for videos of a different singer, Scooter Braun, a former marketing executive of So So Def, clicked on one of Bieber's videos by accident.[12] Impressed, Braun tracked down the theater Bieber was performing in, located Bieber's school, and finally contacted Mallette. Mallette was reluctant; she remembered praying, "God, I gave him to you. You could send me a Christian man, a Christian label!"[12] However, after praying with her church elders and receiving their encouragement, she permitted Braun to fly Bieber, then 13,[10] to Atlanta, Georgia to record demo tapes.[12] A week after arriving, Bieber sang for R&B singer/songwriter Usher,[14] who arranged an audition with Antonio L.A. Reid at Island Def Jam Music Group, who in turn signed him to Island Records in October 2008.[10] Justin Timberlake was reportedly in the running to sign Bieber, but he eventually signed with Usher.[15] Bieber and his mother then moved to Atlanta, also the home of Usher and Braun, to base his career.

Career

Bieber's first single, "One Time", was released to radio while Bieber was still recording his debut album.[16] The song reached number 12 on the Canadian Hot 100 during its first week of release in July 2009,[10] and later peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. During fall 2009 it had success in international markets.[17] The song was certified Platinum in Canada and the U.S. and Gold in Australia and New Zealand.[18][19][20] Bieber's first album My World, was released on November 17, 2009. Three consecutive singles, "One Less Lonely Girl", "Love Me", and "Favorite Girl", were released exclusively on the iTunes store and charted within the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100.[17] "One Less Lonely Girl" was later also released to radio and peaked within the top fifteen in Canada and the U.S., being certified Gold in the latter.[17] My World was eventually certified Platinum in the U.S. and Canada and Silver in the UK.[20][21] To promote the album, Bieber performed in several live shows such as mtvU's VMA 09 Tour, European program The Dome, YTV's The Next Star and The Today Show,[13][22] The Wendy Williams Show, Lopez Tonight, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, It's On with Alexa Chung, Good Morning America, Chelsea Lately, and BET's 106 & Park with Rihanna. Bieber also guest starred in an episode of True Jackson, VP in late 2009.[23]

Bieber performed Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" for U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the White House for Christmas in Washington, which was broadcast on December 20, 2009, on USA television broadcaster TNT.[24] Bieber was also one of the performers at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on December 31, 2009.[25] Bieber was a presenter at the 52nd Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010. He was invited to be a vocalist for the remake of We Are The World for its 25th anniversary to benefit Haiti after the earthquake. Bieber sings the opening line, which was sung by Lionel Richie in the original version.[26] On March 12, 2010, a version of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" recorded by a collective of Canadian musicians known as Young Artists for Haiti was released. Bieber is featured in the song, performing the closing lines.

"Baby", the lead single from the second half of his debut album, which features Ludacris, was released in January 2010 and became his biggest hit thus far, charting at number five in the U.S. and reaching the top ten in seven other countries.[17] Two digital singles, "Never Let You Go", and "U Smile" were top thirty hits on the U.S. Hot 100, and top twenty hits in Canada.[17] According to review aggregator Metacritic, the album has received "generally favorable reviews".[27] It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, making Bieber the youngest solo male act to top the chart since Stevie Wonder in 1963.[28] My World 2.0 also debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, Irish Albums Chart, and Australian Albums Chart, and the New Zealand Albums Chart [17] and reached the top ten of fifteen other countries.[29][30] To promote the album, Bieber appeared on several live programs including The View, the 2010 Kids Choice Awards, Nightline, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Dome and 106 and Park.[31][32] On April 10, 2010, Bieber was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.[33]

Bieber will begin recording his next album in the summer of 2010 in New York City.[34] British singer and songwriter Taio Cruz has confirmed he is writing on Bieber's next project.[35]

Bieber's voice is now deeper than it was when he recorded his albums because of puberty. The singer discussing his vocals remarked, "It cracks. Like every teenage boy, I'm dealing with it and I have the best vocal coach in the world. [...] Some of the notes I hit on "Baby" I can't hit anymore. We have to lower the key when I sing live."[36]

Image

According to Jan Hoffman of The New York Times, part of Bieber's appeal stems from his YouTube channel. Long before he released his EP, “My World,” in mid-November, the YouTube videos attracted millions of views."[12] Braun recognized the appeal. Prior to flying him to Atlanta, Braun wanted to "build him up more on YouTube first" and had Bieber record more home videos for the channel. "I said: ‘Justin, sing like there’s no one in the room. But let’s not use expensive cameras.’ We’ll give it to kids, let them do the work, so that they feel like it’s theirs," recalled Braun.[12] Bieber continues to upload videos to the same channel and has opened a Twitter account, from which he interacts with fans regularly.[10] The accounts also serve marketing purposes; for example, Bieber's music video for "One Time" only began selling quickly after it was uploaded to YouTube.[37]

Usher comments that while he and Bieber were both signed at the same age, "I had the chance to ramp up my success, where this has happened to Bieber abruptly." As a result, Usher, Braun, Bieber's bodyguard Kenny, and other adults surrounding Bieber constantly coach him on handling fame and his public image.[12] After signing Bieber, Usher appointed one of his former assistants, Ryan Good, to be Bieber's road manager and stylist. Good, once nicknamed Bieber's "swagger coach", created a "streetwise look" for the singer which consisted of baseball caps, hoodies, dog chains and flashy sneakers. Amy Kaufman of The Los Angeles Times comments, "Though a product of a middle-class suburban upbringing in Stratford, Ontario, Bieber's manner of dress and speech ("Wassup man, how you doin'?" or "It's like, you know, whateva' ") suggest he's mimicking his favorite rappers."[38]

Bieber is often featured in teen magazines such as Tiger Beat,[12] and has been labeled a "teen hearthrob".[39]

Crowd control problems

Bieber's popularity has caused safety concerns. While promoting My World, Bieber was scheduled to appear at Long Island's Roosevelt Field Mall, but the performance had to be cancelled.[40] The event got out of control, and over 35 units from the Nassau County and Garden City police departments had to be called in. Several fans received minor injuries. The police arrested an Island Records senior vice-president, James A. Roppo, reportedly for hindering the police's crowd control efforts by not sending a timely message on Twitter as instructed by the police.[40] James Roppo pleaded not guilty to all charges.[41][42] On March 24, 2010, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, was arrested on one count of second-degree reckless endangerment and one count of second-degree criminal nuisance related to the incident. Braun pleaded not guilty to both charges and was later released.[43]

On April 26, 2010, a scheduled promotional performance was cancelled by Australian police after several girls were injured in a crowd crush. Bieber was scheduled to sing three songs for the Channel Seven program, Sunrise. In a Twitter message after the incident, Bieber said: "I want to make this clear... I don't cancel.” Bieber's tweet continued, stating: “I woke up this morning to the police canceling the show for safety reasons. I’m very happy about the welcome and the love from around the world, but I want everyone to still remember my fans safety comes first. At the end of the day I want you all to enjoy the music."[44]

Discography

Main article: Justin Bieber discography

My World (2009)

My World 2.0 (2010)

Tours

2009: Urban Behavior Tour

2010: My World Tour

Opening act

2009: Fearless Tour (United Kingdom)

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes

2009 True Jackson, VP Himself Guest star

My Date With...

2010 Silent Library

School Gyrls Cameo

Saturday Night Live Guest star/performer Ep 35.18

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards[45]

2010, Album of the Year, My World – Nominated

2010, Pop Album of the Year, My World – Nominated

2010, New Artist of the Year – Nominated

BET Awards[46]

2010, Best New Artist - Nominated

MuchMusic Video Awards[47]

2010, International Video of the Year, by a Canadian, "One Time" - Nominated

2010, International Video of the Year, by a Canadian, "Baby" - Nominated

2010, Ur Fave Video, "Baby" - Nominated

2010, Ur Fave New Artist, "Baby" - Nominated

Myx Music Awards (Philippines)

Favorite International Video – "One Time" - Nominated

TRL Awards (Italy)[48]

2010, Best International Act – Won

References

1.      ^ a b Anderson, Kyle (February 22, 2010). "Justin Bieber Joins The Ranks Of Youngest 'SNL' Performers". MTV Newsroom (MTV Networks). http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/02/22/justin-bieber-saturday-night-live/. Retrieved February 24, 2010. 

2.      ^ a b "Justin Bieber Biography & Awards". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. http://www.billboard.com/artist/justin-bieber/bio/1099520. Retrieved 2010-06-15. 

3.      ^ a b Farber, Jim. "Justin Bieber, 'My World 2.0'". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/03/23/2010-03-23_rbpop_mix_on_my_world_20_cant_beef_up_justin_biebers_young_tone.html. Retrieved 2010-06-14. 

4.      ^ a b Collar, Matt; Leahey, Andrew. "allmusic ((( Justin Bieber > Overview )))". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fcfexzqgld6e. Retrieved October 21, 2009. 

5.      ^ a b c Mitchell, Gail (April 28, 2009). "Usher Introduces Teen Singer Justin Bieber". Billboard. e5 Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/usher-introduces-teen-singer-justin-bieber-1003966989.story#/bbcom/news/usher-introduces-teen-singer-justin-bieber-1003966989.story. Retrieved July 23, 2009.  

6.      ^ "MTV- Justin Bieber artist profile". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml. Retrieved December 22, 2009. 

7.      ^ Greenblatt, Leah (March 10, 2010). "My World 2.0 (2010)". Entertainment Weekly (Time). http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20350064,00.html?xid=rss-music-reviews-My+World+2.0. Retrieved June 11, 2010. 

8.      ^ inogolo:how to pronounce Justin Bieber.

9.      ^ Herrera, Monica (March 19, 2010). "Justin Bieber - The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. e5 Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/news/justin-bieber-the-billboard-cover-story-1004074692.story#/news/justin-bieber-the-billboard-cover-story-1004074692.story. Retrieved May 7, 2010. 

10.  ^ a b c d e f Herrera, Monica (July 13, 2009). ""Time" is right for teen singer Justin Bieber". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2BM20090719. Retrieved July 22, 2009. 

11.  ^ "Justin Bieber Fever Hits Miami". CBS News. CBS Interactive. February 5, 2010. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/05/earlyshow/leisure/music/main6177327.shtml. Retrieved March 27, 2010. 

12.  ^ a b c d e f g h Hoffman, Jan (December 31, 2009). "Justin Bieber is Living the Tween Idol Dream". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/fashion/03bieber.html. 

13.  ^ a b "The Today Show + Justin Bieber = Awesome". Island Def Jam (Universal Music Group). September 11, 2009. http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=5118&artistID=7342. Retrieved September 22, 2009. 

14.  ^ TJ (August 11, 2009). "Neon Limelight Interviews: Usher Protegé Justin Bieber: Accidental Star". Neon Limelight. http://neonlimelight.com/2009/08/11/neon-limelight-interviews-usher-protege-justin-bieber-accidental-star/. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 

15.  ^ Vena, Jocleyn; Kos, Saimon (September 13, 2009). "Justin Bieber's Debut Album Isn't Just About Teen Love". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621344/20090912/story.jhtml. Retrieved September 13, 2009. 

16.  ^ Mitchell, Gail (April 28, 2009). "Usher Introduces Teen Singer Justin Bieber". Billboard (e5 Global Media). http://www.billboard.com/#/news/usher-introduces-teen-singer-justin-bieber-1003966989.story. 

17.  ^ a b c d e f "Justin Bieber Chart History- Billboard.com". Billboard. e5 Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/justin-bieber/chart-history/1099520. Retrieved March 11, 2010. 

18.  ^ "Justin Bieber AIRA Singles Certification". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_singles.asp?chart=1U50. Retrieved March 30, 2010. 

19.  ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp. Retrieved March 31, 2010. "Note: Week commence on Monday, March 29, 2010" 

20.  ^ a b "RIAA - Gold and Platinum - June 15, 2010". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Justin%20Bieber&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved January 10, 2010. 

21.  ^ "Certified Awards Search". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx. Retrieved February 14, 2010. "Note: Search for Justin Beiber." 

22.  ^ "MTVU VMA TOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/434200/one-time-live.jhtml. Retrieved September 28, 2009. 

23.  ^ Cheung, Nadine (October 2, 2009). "Justin Bieber to Guest Star on True Jackson VP!". JSYK (AOL Inc). http://www.jsyk.com/2009/10/02/justin-bieber-to-guest-star-on-true-jackson-vp/. 

24.  ^ Ram, Archana (December 2, 2009). "Justin Bieber joins Mary J Blige and others for 'Christmas In Washington'". Entertainment Weekly. Time. http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/12/02/justin-bieber-joins-mary-j-blige-and-others-for-christmas-in-washington/. 

25.  ^ "Fergie to host New Year's celebration with Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest". 2009-12-07. http://www.nbcmiami.com/entertainment/television/Fergie_Joins_Dick_Clark__Ryan_Seacrest_As_West_Coast_Host_Of_Annual__New_Year_s_Rockin__Eve_-78714997.html. 

26.  ^ "'We Are The World' Remake Brings Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Pink, Usher, More Together For Haiti". MTV News. 2010-02-02. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1631018/20100202/lil_wayne.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-02-02. 

27.  ^ "Justin Bieber – My World 2.0 - Metacritic". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/bieberjustin/myworld20?part=rss. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 

28.  ^ [1]

29.  ^ "Justin Bieber - My World - Music Charts". http://acharts.us/album/52011. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 

30.  ^ "Justin Bieber - My World 2.0 - Music Charts". http://acharts.us/album/54188. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 

31.  ^ Sneed, Elizabeth. "Singer Justin Bieber would date a fan". Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/22/1329919/justin-bieber-would-date-a-fan.html. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 

32.  ^ "Justin Bieber Makes Millions Happy With the Release of 'My World 2.0'". AOL JSYK. 2010-03-23. http://www.jsyk.com/2010/03/23/justin-bieber-makes-millions-happy-with-the-release-of-my-world/. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 

33.  ^ "Justin Bieber Coming Back To NY For Saturday Night Live". Long Island Press. February 21, 2010. http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/02/21/justin-bieber-coming-back-to-ny-for-saturday-night-live/. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 

34.  ^ http://www.newsopi.com/showbiz/justin-bieber-new-album-to-be-recorded-in-new-york/1598/

35.  ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1634365/20100319/_kesha_.jhtml

36.  ^ Justin Bieber's Voice Breaking contactmusic April 27, 2010

37.  ^ Justin Bieber: A phenom on the verge of superstardom

38.  ^ Adults work hard to manage Justin Bieber's image

39.  ^ http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20346575,00.html

40.  ^ a b "Aggressive Roosevelt Field crowd cancels Bieber visit". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/aggressive-roosevelt-field-crowd-cancels-bieber-visit-1.1613741. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 

41.  ^ Police: Mall security lacking for big teen crowd Newsday November 21, 2009

42.  ^ Record exec pleads not guilty in mall fiasco Newsday November 21, 2009

43.  ^ Justin Bieber's manager arrested in LI 'near-riot' Newsday March 24, 2010

44.  ^ Another Justin Bieber show cancelled by chaos Allentown morning call April 27, 2010

45.  ^ "'Michael Bublé, Drake, Justin Bieber, AND 'premier rock legends' as Junos announce 2010 nominees, performers". National Post. 2010-03-03. http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/theampersand/archive/2010/03/03/michael-bubl-233-drake-justin-bieber-and-premier-rock-legends-as-junos-announce-2010-nominees-performers.aspx. Retrieved 2010-03-21. 

46.  ^ "Jay-Z Leads BET Awards 2010 Nominations". Rap-Up. 2010-05-18. http://www.rap-up.com/2010/05/18/jay-z-leads-bet-awards-2010-nominations/. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 

47.  ^ http://mmva.muchmusic.com/awards

48.  ^ "Justin Bieber Nominated for TRL Italy Award". http://www.bsckids.com/2010/04/justin-bieber-nominated-for-trl-italy-awar/. 

Thug Vows

When you enter into the thug life and become part of the rap game, you become married to the streets. This marriage can only end in one way; till death do you f@#%n part. Take your marriage vows serious because the streets gon be watch’in you, ya feel me? Try and walk away from this life long union, you betta watch yo back cause the hood boyz hit squad gon lay yo azz on 187 street.

Your thug vows were taken from the “Stand Up” CD by T.I. featuring Lil Jon, Lil' Wayne and Trick Daddy. Be a man bout yo s#!t.

Thugs Vows  Dearly beloved, we gathered here today to marry this young nigga In his own special thug way Do you promise to love and respect, all of the real niggas And when the problem come, learn to deal with'em Do you swear to turn the chopper on any motherfucker in ya path Or any bitch, that's tryin to stop ya And do you promise to keep'em handy, and don't hand'em To nobody, nobody except family and keep'em cocked and loaded And don't expose'em to nobody unless somebody want'em in his body To love and cherish'em from his trigger to his barrel From the bottom of ya heart, to death do you fuckin part Do you understand to live the life by him, is to sell ya soul And Lord knows you gonna die by him

Stand Up (Featuring Lil Jon, Lil' Wayne, Trick Daddy)

[Lil Jon]

Check this out my nigga (what's up) theirs a lot of niggas out here

That got a lot of shit to motherfuckin say (yeah)

But when a nigga bring it to them niggas (what's up)

They can't stand up for what they motherfuckin said

(Naw I aint say that, he said that) Stand Up

If you got something to say my nigga, stand up for what you said..my nigga

Tell them niggas bring it to the square nigga

(chorus)

Stand up..If you don't like what I'm saying then buck

Swing when you see me, we can throw them hands sucker

Stand up..If you aint notice nigga, I don't give a fuck

If I said it, then I meant it, and what fuck nigga

Stand up..You don't wanna see the triggerman man buss

Hit you and your man's up, make it hard for a nigga to..stand up

Tell your crew they don't want it with us dudes

And if the motherfucker do, bust a motherfuckin move..stand up

[T.I]

You got a alligator mouth and a hummingbird ass

Your mouth writin' checks that ya ass can't cash

One forty-five and I'm outta ya weight class

Wanna survive..better scramble like eggs and break fast

Cause I know how to handle ya fake ass

I'm ride on ya, and hide ya in yesterday's trash

Pull up in the chevy spraying rounds through the glass

See you laying face down in the grass and I laugh

Ha...that's the end of the saga

The end of my problems, nigga mash the impala

Go lay up with a model and watch the news tomorrow

And that's the end, checkmate, game over, I'll holla

Now I'm telling ya potna, you don't know whatcha doing

Don't recognize the trouble ya getting into, and ya ruined

Dig this man..I spent my childhod in a wild hood

And all that gangsta shit ya talking, yeah it sound good

But make it understood, you gonna have to show me

I'm a OG, you wanna overthrow me

(chorus)

[Trick Daddy]

Dearly beloved, we gathered here today to marry this young nigga

In his own special thug way

Do you promise to love and respect, all of the real niggas

And when the problem come, learn to deal with'em

Do you swear to turn the chopper on any motherfucker in ya path

Or any bitch, that's tryin to stop ya

And do you promise to keep'em handy, and don't hand'em

To nobody, nobody except family and keep'em cocked and loaded

And don't expose'em to nobody unless somebody want'em in his body

To love and cherish'em from his trigger to his barrel

From the bottom of ya heart, to death do you fuckin part

Do you understand to live the life by him, is to sell ya soul

And Lord knows you gonna die by him

I know you heard gun stories about John Wayne and Billy the Kid

Sheed...all them motherfuckers dead

And did you know that every other bitch from the wild wild west

End up dying from hollow points to they fuckin chest

Cause they ain't never seen or cocked beamed a milli fourteen

Or tommy gun, with a hundred round fucking gun

(chorus)

[Lil Wayne]

Sheed..I'm talking about riding out tonight

Only way I die first, gotta kill me in this verse

Weezy F, middle finger to life

So nothing seem critical, in the hood I'm typical

Yeah I'm feeling good and spiritual

Healing hoods with shit up outta my kitchen

I'm pitching it, it's really good

Smoking, drinking I'm like a fish and I'll probably

Shit on ya bitch, probably piss on her lips

And she'll probably give you a kiss, nasty

Holly grove classic, parley with a nigga, prolly rob the same bastard

Ask him, we don't give a fuck about a casket

Nigga this the murder cappy, niggas just murder happy

Twelve years old, I jumped off the pot

I started selling rocks, right after I got shot

I had to hold my weight down

Pussy nigga stand up or lay down

(chorus)