In 1973, the band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song that many listeners have incorrectly attributed to Bob Dylan. Dylan had nothing to do with the song, but it’s unsurprising that people think it was his. The lyrics sound like Dylan could have written them, and the nasally vocals sound like his. In reality, “Stuck in the Middle With You” was a surprise hit that singer Gerry Rafferty wrote to parody Dylan.
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns The song ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ is meant to sound like Bob Dylan
In 1973, Scottish band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song about their experience in the music industry.
“We signed a contract with a big American company and they threw a launch party in a chic restaurant in Chelsea,” Rafferty told Record Collector. “There was a huge table with about 50 people there,...
Bob Dylan | Val Wilmer/Redferns The song ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ is meant to sound like Bob Dylan
In 1973, Scottish band Stealers Wheel released “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song about their experience in the music industry.
“We signed a contract with a big American company and they threw a launch party in a chic restaurant in Chelsea,” Rafferty told Record Collector. “There was a huge table with about 50 people there,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
"Reservoir Dogs," Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut, was indicative of his career to come. It has his trademark snappy dialogue, hyperviolence, and questionable utterance of racial slurs. All it needs is extensive shots of a woman's bare feet, and you'd have a good predictor of Tarantino's entire oeuvre.
Now, despite my snarky dressing-down of Tarantino's artistic stylings, I do thoroughly enjoy his movies, and "Reservoir Dogs" is one of his strongest films, despite being his earliest and cheapest to produce. It's perhaps the shoestring budget and simplicity of the film that gives it its charm, allowing the writing and directing to shine above all else.
Another of Tarantino's great strengths as a filmmaker is his casting. "Reservoir Dogs" is no different, with the film featuring incredible work from fantastic actors such as Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel. For Michael Madsen, who portrayed Mr. Blonde in the film, the role was his big breakout performance.
Now, despite my snarky dressing-down of Tarantino's artistic stylings, I do thoroughly enjoy his movies, and "Reservoir Dogs" is one of his strongest films, despite being his earliest and cheapest to produce. It's perhaps the shoestring budget and simplicity of the film that gives it its charm, allowing the writing and directing to shine above all else.
Another of Tarantino's great strengths as a filmmaker is his casting. "Reservoir Dogs" is no different, with the film featuring incredible work from fantastic actors such as Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel. For Michael Madsen, who portrayed Mr. Blonde in the film, the role was his big breakout performance.
- 9/8/2022
- by Matt Rainis
- Slash Film
Would “The Sopranos” finale have been as impactful if it hadn’t included Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”? And what would “Grey’s Anatomy” be without its frequent use of the Snow Patrol song “Chasing Cars”? These and many more unforgettable musical TV moments all occurred before the establishment of the Best Music Supervision Emmy category. Since 2017, the award has served the purpose of honoring the people who enhance TV shows by incorporating existing songs into episodes and thus stirring up viewers’ emotions.
This year, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” could pull off its fourth win in this category after taking the prize every year from 2018 to 2020. It is being challenged for the third time each by “Better Call Saul” (AMC) and “Stranger Things” (Netflix) and for the second time by “Euphoria” (HBO). The 2022 lineup’s remaining two slots are filled by “Ozark” (Netflix) and “The White Lotus...
This year, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” could pull off its fourth win in this category after taking the prize every year from 2018 to 2020. It is being challenged for the third time each by “Better Call Saul” (AMC) and “Stranger Things” (Netflix) and for the second time by “Euphoria” (HBO). The 2022 lineup’s remaining two slots are filled by “Ozark” (Netflix) and “The White Lotus...
- 8/28/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The perfect needle-drop can elevate a scene from merely effective to totally unforgettable. Think of The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" in the opening of Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets," Michael Madsen dancing to Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle with You" as he tortures a police officer, or Max and Rosemary dancing to The Faces' "Ooh La La" as the curtain closes on "Rushmore." These moments and songs felt fated to find each other.
One of the most hauntingly memorable pairings of all time is Jonathan Demme's use of Q Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses" in "The Silence of the Lambs." Ted Levine, as serial killer Jame Gumb (aka "Buffalo Bill"), dances in front of a mirror, admiring himself to a rather extreme degree ("I'd f**k me") as the kidnapped Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith) plots to take a hostage of her own (poor Precious). Lazzarus, who died July 19 at...
One of the most hauntingly memorable pairings of all time is Jonathan Demme's use of Q Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses" in "The Silence of the Lambs." Ted Levine, as serial killer Jame Gumb (aka "Buffalo Bill"), dances in front of a mirror, admiring himself to a rather extreme degree ("I'd f**k me") as the kidnapped Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith) plots to take a hostage of her own (poor Precious). Lazzarus, who died July 19 at...
- 8/19/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Comedian, actor, artist, writer, musician and presenter, Billy Connolly (“Mrs. Brown”), will be honored with the BAFTA Fellowship at this year’s Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards.
The fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA in recognition of an individual’s contribution to film, television or games across their career. Previous TV honorees include Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Jon Snow, Bruce Forsyth, Joanna Lumley, Melvyn Bragg, Michael Palin, Trevor MacDonald, David Attenborough, Julie Walters, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Katie Adie and Joan Bakewell.
In 1995, Connolly won the BAFTA Scotland entertainment category for “Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Scotland.” He has since received five BAFTA nominations, and has been presented with a BAFTA special award in 2002 and the BAFTA Scotland outstanding contribution to television and film in 2012.
Connolly left school at 15 and began a career as a musician and also started a folk duo with Gerry Rafferty called The Humblebums.
The fellowship is the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA in recognition of an individual’s contribution to film, television or games across their career. Previous TV honorees include Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Jon Snow, Bruce Forsyth, Joanna Lumley, Melvyn Bragg, Michael Palin, Trevor MacDonald, David Attenborough, Julie Walters, Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Katie Adie and Joan Bakewell.
In 1995, Connolly won the BAFTA Scotland entertainment category for “Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Scotland.” He has since received five BAFTA nominations, and has been presented with a BAFTA special award in 2002 and the BAFTA Scotland outstanding contribution to television and film in 2012.
Connolly left school at 15 and began a career as a musician and also started a folk duo with Gerry Rafferty called The Humblebums.
- 5/3/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read if you have not watched the first seven episodes of “Euphoria” Season 2.
Despite the immense popularity of HBO’s “Euphoria,” clearing a song for use in the show isn’t as easy as it may appear — especially when it comes to legacy artists and estates.
As music supervisor Jen Malone puts it, the teenage drama series has “sex, nudity, violence, drugs, guns. There’s not one thing that was missing as far as red flags for approval parties.”
And yet the first episode of Season 2 kicks off with Billy Swan’s cover of “Don’t Be Cruel,” made famous by Elvis Presley. The song plays as the grandmother of Fezco (Angus Cloud) struts into a strip club, walks in on a man receiving oral sex and shoots him in both legs. So how did Malone convince Presley’s estate to let the show use the song?...
Despite the immense popularity of HBO’s “Euphoria,” clearing a song for use in the show isn’t as easy as it may appear — especially when it comes to legacy artists and estates.
As music supervisor Jen Malone puts it, the teenage drama series has “sex, nudity, violence, drugs, guns. There’s not one thing that was missing as far as red flags for approval parties.”
And yet the first episode of Season 2 kicks off with Billy Swan’s cover of “Don’t Be Cruel,” made famous by Elvis Presley. The song plays as the grandmother of Fezco (Angus Cloud) struts into a strip club, walks in on a man receiving oral sex and shoots him in both legs. So how did Malone convince Presley’s estate to let the show use the song?...
- 2/24/2022
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Before Euphoria‘s Season 2 premiere Sunday, I would’ve said I didn’t care much about Fezco’s origin story. I would’ve been so, so wrong.
The season opener kicks off with a deep dive into Fezco’s upbringing (Spoiler Alert: It’s sad) and ends with the soft-spoken drug dealer cracking Nate over the head with a vodka bottle at a New Year’s Eve party. Normally I don’t condone violence… unless it’s against a fictional character I truly despise, and so in this case, carry on, Fez!
More from TVLineEuphoria Season 1 Quickcap Video: Catch Up...
The season opener kicks off with a deep dive into Fezco’s upbringing (Spoiler Alert: It’s sad) and ends with the soft-spoken drug dealer cracking Nate over the head with a vodka bottle at a New Year’s Eve party. Normally I don’t condone violence… unless it’s against a fictional character I truly despise, and so in this case, carry on, Fez!
More from TVLineEuphoria Season 1 Quickcap Video: Catch Up...
- 1/10/2022
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Local Natives have released a new cover EP after making a guest appearance on Apple TV Plus’ “The Shrink Next Door.”
The LA-based indie rock band appeared on the show, which stars Paul Rudd as Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf, a psychiatrist with a sinister past. The series is inspired by real-life events.
In the episode, Will Ferrell’s Marty meets Hannah (Christina Vidal Mitchell) at a local frame store and is smitten. He invites her as his date to the “Pen Gala.” But Hannah is quick to notice Ike’s not the character he seems and is taking advantage of Marty. It’s during the gala Local Natives make their mark.
The band appears as themselves, performing covers of soft-rock songs by Roxy Music, Gerry Rafferty, Michael McDonald, and 10cc.
“Music From The Pen Gala 1983” was recorded for the eight-part series and released after the episode aired.
Their last album “Violet...
The LA-based indie rock band appeared on the show, which stars Paul Rudd as Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf, a psychiatrist with a sinister past. The series is inspired by real-life events.
In the episode, Will Ferrell’s Marty meets Hannah (Christina Vidal Mitchell) at a local frame store and is smitten. He invites her as his date to the “Pen Gala.” But Hannah is quick to notice Ike’s not the character he seems and is taking advantage of Marty. It’s during the gala Local Natives make their mark.
The band appears as themselves, performing covers of soft-rock songs by Roxy Music, Gerry Rafferty, Michael McDonald, and 10cc.
“Music From The Pen Gala 1983” was recorded for the eight-part series and released after the episode aired.
Their last album “Violet...
- 11/22/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Pat Lucas, the former Emi Music executive who was a longtime friend to filmmakers she licensed songs to for their films, has died after a long battle with cancer. She passed away last Monday.
While I wait to get more details from her distraught family, Quentin Tarantino asked to memorialize Lucas and express his forever gratitude to her taking a chance on an unproven filmmaker and granting rights to the Stealers Wheel song “Stuck in the Middle with You“ for use in his directorial debut Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino suggests you cannot hear that song even now and not think of Michael Madsen dancing around a kidnapped police officer trussed to a chair, as Madsen dances around him in menacing fashion, cutting off his ear and planning to set him aflame. It was a shocking, career-launching moment for the filmmaker, who still sounds a bit surprised that fortune smiled on him when Lucas said yes.
While I wait to get more details from her distraught family, Quentin Tarantino asked to memorialize Lucas and express his forever gratitude to her taking a chance on an unproven filmmaker and granting rights to the Stealers Wheel song “Stuck in the Middle with You“ for use in his directorial debut Reservoir Dogs. Tarantino suggests you cannot hear that song even now and not think of Michael Madsen dancing around a kidnapped police officer trussed to a chair, as Madsen dances around him in menacing fashion, cutting off his ear and planning to set him aflame. It was a shocking, career-launching moment for the filmmaker, who still sounds a bit surprised that fortune smiled on him when Lucas said yes.
- 8/12/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Kirsten Howard Nov 15, 2018
A movie can assimilate a song quite easily, and our brains are trained to keep them married...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
“Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today.” “It's coooold out there every day…”
What comes to mind when you see that picture up there? Bill Murray, time loops and themes of growth or redemption? Maybe, but in all likelihood "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher kicks off, too. Part of that very song might be automatically playing in your brain right now, as clear as if it was floating along the airwaves and through a speaker next to you, wherever you are. When Harold Ramis’ timeless romantic comedy Groundhog Day was released in 1993, "I Got You Babe" joined a very select group of songs that are quite difficult to separate from the...
A movie can assimilate a song quite easily, and our brains are trained to keep them married...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
“Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today.” “It's coooold out there every day…”
What comes to mind when you see that picture up there? Bill Murray, time loops and themes of growth or redemption? Maybe, but in all likelihood "I Got You Babe" by Sonny & Cher kicks off, too. Part of that very song might be automatically playing in your brain right now, as clear as if it was floating along the airwaves and through a speaker next to you, wherever you are. When Harold Ramis’ timeless romantic comedy Groundhog Day was released in 1993, "I Got You Babe" joined a very select group of songs that are quite difficult to separate from the...
- 11/15/2018
- Den of Geek
Music and storytelling are perfect bedfellows. Storytelling appeals to our sense of adventure, while music appeals to our emotions.
Way before the movies, music, and storytelling had forged into a marriage of symbiosis – opera, ballet, theatre; they all used music to help drive the narrative. Throughout the history of narrative storytelling, music has been the protagonist, the antagonist and the elephant in the room. Through leitmotif; variations in pulse; and appropriate tonality, tempo, and texture; music manipulates the audience’s emotional response through the spectrum from fear to despair, and from desperation to triumph.
A great soundtrack should be there, and not there. If you notice the music, it’s usually for a good reason.
From humble beginnings
The advent of the moving image brought grand possibilities for a more intimate, visual method of storytelling, monopolizing upon the wider possibilities of location, the speed of the edit and the intimacy of the eyes.
Way before the movies, music, and storytelling had forged into a marriage of symbiosis – opera, ballet, theatre; they all used music to help drive the narrative. Throughout the history of narrative storytelling, music has been the protagonist, the antagonist and the elephant in the room. Through leitmotif; variations in pulse; and appropriate tonality, tempo, and texture; music manipulates the audience’s emotional response through the spectrum from fear to despair, and from desperation to triumph.
A great soundtrack should be there, and not there. If you notice the music, it’s usually for a good reason.
From humble beginnings
The advent of the moving image brought grand possibilities for a more intimate, visual method of storytelling, monopolizing upon the wider possibilities of location, the speed of the edit and the intimacy of the eyes.
- 1/27/2018
- by Katie Porter
- The Cultural Post
Author: Andy Furlong
When Guardians of the Galaxy was first released in 2014 for all its quirk and swagger the thing that really separated it from the rest of the Marvel pack was its use of music. Director James Gunn revealed that the film’s composer, Tyler Bates, had written large chunks of the score first so that they could film to the actual music. In many ways the film’s personality is its score, and with the release of the sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in cinemas this week audiences can expect more of the same.
Music is probably the most important thing in cinema for instantly establishing mood, tone and visual cues. From the menacing piano keys of John Williams’ memorable score in Jaws to the sheer elation of Alan Silvestri’s triumphant overture in Back to the Future, a film’s accompanying score is often as unforgettable as the movie itself.
When Guardians of the Galaxy was first released in 2014 for all its quirk and swagger the thing that really separated it from the rest of the Marvel pack was its use of music. Director James Gunn revealed that the film’s composer, Tyler Bates, had written large chunks of the score first so that they could film to the actual music. In many ways the film’s personality is its score, and with the release of the sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in cinemas this week audiences can expect more of the same.
Music is probably the most important thing in cinema for instantly establishing mood, tone and visual cues. From the menacing piano keys of John Williams’ memorable score in Jaws to the sheer elation of Alan Silvestri’s triumphant overture in Back to the Future, a film’s accompanying score is often as unforgettable as the movie itself.
- 4/28/2017
- by Andy Furlong
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The premiere of Andrea Arnold’s American Honey at Cannes on Sunday saw the director and cast show off a few dance moves during their red carpet photo-op, in what Vanity Fair, perhaps channeling a Downton Abbey character, called a “charmingly youthful moment.” Red carpet attire excepted, the spontaneous performance apparently fit right in with the film, which includes a pop soundtrack and a dance scene of its own, per The Telegraph’s Tim Robey:Twice, during Andrea Arnold’s rapturously scuzzy road movie American Honey, Rihanna and Calvin Harris grace the soundtrack with “We Found Love”, their euphoric 2011 dance-floor smash that invites you to drop everything, get high and lose yourself. It’s first heard over the tannoy in an Oklahoma Walmart, where main characters Star (Sasha Lane) and Jake (Shia Labeouf) clap eyes on each other, while the latter’s crew of wasters, waifs and strays grab provisions up and down the aisles.
- 5/17/2016
- MUBI
With The Hateful Eight coming out in limited release tomorrow, now’s an appropriate time to take stock of the eight theatrical feature films from writer/director Quentin Tarantino. So sit back and read on; I suspect a lot of you will disagree about this list, but I look forward to seeing the conversation that takes place in the comments.
8. Death Proof
This certainly isn’t a controversial choice for Qt’s worst movie. Too long, too self-indulgent, and too niche, this is basically the cinematic embodiment of hubris. At this point, he and Robert Rodriguez seemingly thought they could get away with anything, and the failure of Grindhouse was a bit of a wake-up call for both of them. Death Proof is a movie I’d be Ok with never watching again.
7. Kill Bill
Love the first part, was bored out of my mind with the second. To be fair,...
8. Death Proof
This certainly isn’t a controversial choice for Qt’s worst movie. Too long, too self-indulgent, and too niche, this is basically the cinematic embodiment of hubris. At this point, he and Robert Rodriguez seemingly thought they could get away with anything, and the failure of Grindhouse was a bit of a wake-up call for both of them. Death Proof is a movie I’d be Ok with never watching again.
7. Kill Bill
Love the first part, was bored out of my mind with the second. To be fair,...
- 12/24/2015
- by Ben Pearson
- GeekTyrant
Six episodes were provided for reviewing purposes prior to broadcast.
What’s the perfect place for a comedy centered around a quartet of septuagenarians who, upon discovering the husbands of each couple are in love and plan on getting married, must navigate the murky waters of a dysfunctional family and learn to cope with a completely new life late in their own? I don’t blame you if “Netflix,” wasn’t your first answer. The surprising thing is, though, that the company has backed a sincere and sweet little comedy in Grace and Frankie. While far from edgy or fast-paced, the series journeys to some relatively uncharted territories in regards to sexual, marital, and familial politics that are usually avoided by other, more toothless sitcoms.
Delving a bit more into the premise, the show follows Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) and their husbands Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol...
What’s the perfect place for a comedy centered around a quartet of septuagenarians who, upon discovering the husbands of each couple are in love and plan on getting married, must navigate the murky waters of a dysfunctional family and learn to cope with a completely new life late in their own? I don’t blame you if “Netflix,” wasn’t your first answer. The surprising thing is, though, that the company has backed a sincere and sweet little comedy in Grace and Frankie. While far from edgy or fast-paced, the series journeys to some relatively uncharted territories in regards to sexual, marital, and familial politics that are usually avoided by other, more toothless sitcoms.
Delving a bit more into the premise, the show follows Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) and their husbands Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol...
- 5/7/2015
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
If you have a particular aversion to Stealers Wheel's 70's classic "Stuck In The Middle With You," chances are it's because of Michael Madsen's deliciously psychotic performance as Mr. Blonde in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. In fact, throughout the 1990's, Madsen made a name for himself as a prolific hard case in the Hollywood scene, and his resume will attest to this fact, whether he likes it or not. Though funny enough, it looks like he really doesn't like it, or at the very least he doesn't like how it's handled on the popular movie database, IMDb. That's because he believes the site makes him look bad by listing him as being a part of multiple random projects that he in actuality has nothing to do with. In the latest installment of The Av Club's Random Roles series, Madsen was interviewed about a random sample of performances from his career,...
- 4/17/2015
- cinemablend.com
The gifts of music and song-writing are explored in the BBC Four special “Singer-Songwriters at the BBC.” The special, which airs on the television channel Jan. 2, 2015, kicks the new year off with a fond look back at some of the songs (and songwriters) that have changed music forever. The special features a compilation of some of the best singer-songwriter performances from the BBC archives. Such musicians include Sandy Denny, Don McLean, Gerry Rafferty, Elton John, Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) and more. “Don McLean performs his huge hit American Pie from 1972 and Tim Buckley provides some sublime sounds with a rendition of his song Happy [ Read More ]
The post Watch Singer-Songwriters at the BBC for Free on FilmOn appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Watch Singer-Songwriters at the BBC for Free on FilmOn appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 1/20/2015
- by monique
- ShockYa
Rumors of a folk legend’s death may get completely exaggerated in the wake of tonight’s installment of The Voice.
I mean, if I hadn’t known better, I might’ve been Googling “Joni Mitchell — still alive?” after No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani started her critique of DaNica Shirey’s “Help Me” cover with by paying lavish tribute to the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer, then somberly declaring, “Joni would’ve liked that”… as if Joni isn’t alive and well and most likely still able to switch on her television set to the NBC affiliate in whatever American city she’s currently residing.
I mean, if I hadn’t known better, I might’ve been Googling “Joni Mitchell — still alive?” after No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani started her critique of DaNica Shirey’s “Help Me” cover with by paying lavish tribute to the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer, then somberly declaring, “Joni would’ve liked that”… as if Joni isn’t alive and well and most likely still able to switch on her television set to the NBC affiliate in whatever American city she’s currently residing.
- 11/12/2014
- TVLine.com
Clowns to the left of me… More Clowns to the right… here I am, stuck in the Freak Show with you…
Related Ahs: Freak Show Reveals Two More Additions in Sizable New Teaser
We co-opt (and alter) your favorite Stealers Wheel jam to avoid discussing the feelings of collapse conjured up by American Horror Story: Freak Show‘s opening credits, which creator Ryan Murphy shared via Twitter today.
Related American Horror Story Pumps Up the Freak Factor in New Poster
Granted, the title sequence is not as overtly terrifying as the cackling voodoo lady and dancing hooded figures of Coven,...
Related Ahs: Freak Show Reveals Two More Additions in Sizable New Teaser
We co-opt (and alter) your favorite Stealers Wheel jam to avoid discussing the feelings of collapse conjured up by American Horror Story: Freak Show‘s opening credits, which creator Ryan Murphy shared via Twitter today.
Related American Horror Story Pumps Up the Freak Factor in New Poster
Granted, the title sequence is not as overtly terrifying as the cackling voodoo lady and dancing hooded figures of Coven,...
- 10/1/2014
- TVLine.com
Billy Connolly presents the final part of his moving, yet still hilarious, ITV documentary series Big Send Off tonight (May 14).
The Big Yin is best known for his prolific stand-up comedy career over the past six decades, but he has often shown off many different strings to his bow, taking in the world of TV, film, music and charity work.
To mark Connolly's latest excellent project, Digital Spy takes a look at just some of his best moments outside his stand-up work.
1. The Humblebums
Before Billy started his stand-up career, he sang with the late Gerry Rafferty of 'Baker Street' fame in the folk group The Humblebums, along with Tam Harvey. Largely forgotten outside the folk world, they did produce some genuinely brilliant tracks, both moving and funny. Their gigs often featured Connolly chatting to the audience between songs, eventually leading to him giving the comedy thing a go full-time.
The Big Yin is best known for his prolific stand-up comedy career over the past six decades, but he has often shown off many different strings to his bow, taking in the world of TV, film, music and charity work.
To mark Connolly's latest excellent project, Digital Spy takes a look at just some of his best moments outside his stand-up work.
1. The Humblebums
Before Billy started his stand-up career, he sang with the late Gerry Rafferty of 'Baker Street' fame in the folk group The Humblebums, along with Tam Harvey. Largely forgotten outside the folk world, they did produce some genuinely brilliant tracks, both moving and funny. Their gigs often featured Connolly chatting to the audience between songs, eventually leading to him giving the comedy thing a go full-time.
- 5/14/2014
- Digital Spy
It's Week 3 of the Battle Rounds for "The Voice" Season 6, who's going to rise to the top? Let's find out. And if you've always wanted to go through "The Voice's" bootcamp, "Extra" is holding a talent search for just such an opportunity. Go to www.ExtraTV.com/thevoice for more information.
Battle 1: Austin Ellis vs. Josh Kaufman (Team Levine)
Song: "Happy" by Pharrell
Both men sound nice on this song, but it seems to suit Austin's voice just a little more, at least at the beginning. He just sounds richer than Josh, though Josh does loosen up as the song goes on, plus his falsetto is nice and he handles the high harmony with aplomb. It's a tough one and a great battle to kick off the episode. We were Team Austin at first, but by the end, we were Team Josh, so it's a hard choice. But...
Battle 1: Austin Ellis vs. Josh Kaufman (Team Levine)
Song: "Happy" by Pharrell
Both men sound nice on this song, but it seems to suit Austin's voice just a little more, at least at the beginning. He just sounds richer than Josh, though Josh does loosen up as the song goes on, plus his falsetto is nice and he handles the high harmony with aplomb. It's a tough one and a great battle to kick off the episode. We were Team Austin at first, but by the end, we were Team Josh, so it's a hard choice. But...
- 3/25/2014
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Tweet Of The Day | The Gatsby Factor | NPR's American Icons | Counterpoint | The First Time
All 256 two-minute episodes of new birdsong programme Tweet Of The Day (weekdays, 5.58am, Radio 4) will be kept online forever. This is the way all broadcasting is going, whether the programme-makers like it or not. You wonder how the above title will play 10 years from now, when the word tweet will be approximately as resonant as the word Betamax.
All access forever means you can compare The Gatsby Factor (Thursday, 11.30am, Radio 4), Sarah Churchwell's exploration of the enduring allure of Fitzgerald's novel, which appears in anticipation of Baz Luhrmann's hip-hop-inflamed movie version, with the programme Kurt Anderson made for NPR's American Icons series in 2010 and lives online (studio360.org). Neither has seen the new film. Consequently, Churchwell leads you to believe that The Great Gatsby is essentially unfilmable, because the elements of the story that...
All 256 two-minute episodes of new birdsong programme Tweet Of The Day (weekdays, 5.58am, Radio 4) will be kept online forever. This is the way all broadcasting is going, whether the programme-makers like it or not. You wonder how the above title will play 10 years from now, when the word tweet will be approximately as resonant as the word Betamax.
All access forever means you can compare The Gatsby Factor (Thursday, 11.30am, Radio 4), Sarah Churchwell's exploration of the enduring allure of Fitzgerald's novel, which appears in anticipation of Baz Luhrmann's hip-hop-inflamed movie version, with the programme Kurt Anderson made for NPR's American Icons series in 2010 and lives online (studio360.org). Neither has seen the new film. Consequently, Churchwell leads you to believe that The Great Gatsby is essentially unfilmable, because the elements of the story that...
- 5/4/2013
- by David Hepworth
- The Guardian - Film News
1963
Johnny Cash: Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia)
Some of Cash's '60s concept albums were burdened with much too talking between tracks; here the tribute to the American working man gets to mostly stand alone on its musical merits, and shines. Notably, it incluces the top version of the traditional "John Henry"” about the most legendarily heroic working man ever, and the version of "Casey Jones" here is classic as well. Politically and psychologically, Cash was the perfect man for this job.
1968
Byrds: Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia)
Sometimes transitional albums, confusing listeners expecting a group's earlier style, are underrated. Not so with this classic. It's true that it didn't sell as well as earlier Byrds LPs, nor did the single from the album chart very high, but for decades Notorious Byrd Brothers has been widely revered, and not just by fans; some critics have even anointed it as the band's best album.
Johnny Cash: Blood, Sweat and Tears (Columbia)
Some of Cash's '60s concept albums were burdened with much too talking between tracks; here the tribute to the American working man gets to mostly stand alone on its musical merits, and shines. Notably, it incluces the top version of the traditional "John Henry"” about the most legendarily heroic working man ever, and the version of "Casey Jones" here is classic as well. Politically and psychologically, Cash was the perfect man for this job.
1968
Byrds: Notorious Byrd Brothers (Columbia)
Sometimes transitional albums, confusing listeners expecting a group's earlier style, are underrated. Not so with this classic. It's true that it didn't sell as well as earlier Byrds LPs, nor did the single from the album chart very high, but for decades Notorious Byrd Brothers has been widely revered, and not just by fans; some critics have even anointed it as the band's best album.
- 1/30/2013
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
Fan of Quentin Tarantino of not, his films provoke interest and opinion, so producing a top 10 list relating to Tarantino films, some might say, is an act of ill consideration.
Like his films, his relationship with music, and how he choses to score his pictures varies from film to film, be it the more jukebox-style, retro surf-pop overload of Pulp Fiction or homage-heavy, hip-hop/spaghetti western fusion of the Kill Bill movies.
Speaking at Cannes back in 2009, Tarantino famously said that he didn’t trust a composer to score his films. Whether these are the sentiments of a genius control freak or overgrown geek who could do with accepting a bit of help now and then is something you can decide for yourself, but what this does mean is Tarantino’s music choices have personality, and, as we all know personality goes a long way.
The comment taken from Cannes...
Like his films, his relationship with music, and how he choses to score his pictures varies from film to film, be it the more jukebox-style, retro surf-pop overload of Pulp Fiction or homage-heavy, hip-hop/spaghetti western fusion of the Kill Bill movies.
Speaking at Cannes back in 2009, Tarantino famously said that he didn’t trust a composer to score his films. Whether these are the sentiments of a genius control freak or overgrown geek who could do with accepting a bit of help now and then is something you can decide for yourself, but what this does mean is Tarantino’s music choices have personality, and, as we all know personality goes a long way.
The comment taken from Cannes...
- 1/15/2013
- by David Howland
- Obsessed with Film
Quentin Tarantino has done a great deal for cinema in his twenty year career. He's helped rejuvenate and reinvent the crime genre and created an amazing bridge between art house and mainstream, but there's another big thing he's had an incredible influence on: movie soundtracks. With each new project the writer/director does, fans anticipate his selection of songs just as much as what he puts on the screen. Without Tarantino we would look at songs like "Miserlou" by Dick Dale & The Del-Tones and "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel completely differently. And so with Django Unchained due out at the end of the month we are excited to see the soundtrack that the director has assembled - and now the track listing has been revealed. Just like every other record that Tarantino has made - from Reservoir Dogs onward - there will be tracks of dialogue...
- 11/29/2012
- cinemablend.com
Quentin Tarantino’s movies are often defined by their soundtracks.
The moments stick with you. From Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You” in the brutal cop mutilation scene of Reservoir Dogs, and the surfer rock of Pulp Fiction embodied by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones’ ”Miserlou” to the anachronistic but ethereal and effective version of David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” in Inglourious Basterds as Shosanna puts on her war makeup, the man knows how to use a song.
Now we know the soundtrack to his latest, Django Unchained, a western about a slave-turned bounty hunter...
The moments stick with you. From Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You” in the brutal cop mutilation scene of Reservoir Dogs, and the surfer rock of Pulp Fiction embodied by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones’ ”Miserlou” to the anachronistic but ethereal and effective version of David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” in Inglourious Basterds as Shosanna puts on her war makeup, the man knows how to use a song.
Now we know the soundtrack to his latest, Django Unchained, a western about a slave-turned bounty hunter...
- 11/29/2012
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
Famed for his inspired nonsense, Ross Noble is now switching to 'real things'. The comic tells Brian Logan why
I've no sooner turned on my tape recorder than Geordie comic Ross Noble unleashes a routine about Jimmy Savile. "Funnily enough," it begins, "I told a joke about him at an awards ceremony years ago ..." On the story goes – it features necrophilia and an appearance by Paul Gambaccini – while Noble's publicist shifts uneasily in her seat. But what else should we expect? Noble's current tour marks 21 years in standup for the 36-year-old, during which he has rarely stuck to the script.
Noble is comedy's great free-associator. Give him a line and he'll show you a tangent. Give him a stage and he'll digress for hours. Yes, there are strands of scripted material – but they're launchpads for his loopy flights of fancy involving snooker-playing pirates, ballerinas blasted by giant fans, and Gerry Rafferty...
I've no sooner turned on my tape recorder than Geordie comic Ross Noble unleashes a routine about Jimmy Savile. "Funnily enough," it begins, "I told a joke about him at an awards ceremony years ago ..." On the story goes – it features necrophilia and an appearance by Paul Gambaccini – while Noble's publicist shifts uneasily in her seat. But what else should we expect? Noble's current tour marks 21 years in standup for the 36-year-old, during which he has rarely stuck to the script.
Noble is comedy's great free-associator. Give him a line and he'll show you a tangent. Give him a stage and he'll digress for hours. Yes, there are strands of scripted material – but they're launchpads for his loopy flights of fancy involving snooker-playing pirates, ballerinas blasted by giant fans, and Gerry Rafferty...
- 11/13/2012
- by Brian Logan
- The Guardian - Film News
[Ed. note: The following playlists -- and introduction -- were curated by our friends at Songza -- a great site that lets you select music based on either your activity or mood. Clicking on a playlist below will open an single window or tab and immediately start the selected music -- no log-in or personal information is required. Enjoy, and happy Fourth!]
Because summer is our favorite season, it only follows that the Fourth of July is our favorite holiday. When you take all the classic summer activities and add parades, fireworks, and a nationwide birthday celebration for America, you have the recipe for a great time. With carefully curated soundtracks for every summertime activity and mood, we promise to make your Fourth, and every day for the rest of your summer, even better.
Patriotic Music
These All-American playlists are the best way to celebrate Independence Day.
Stars and Stripes Forever!
Celebrate America in music, from marching bands to great pops orchestras. Play this sparkling homage to the land we love before, during, and after you watch the fireworks this Fourth of July.
Heartland America
Celebrate the things that make America great -- including cars, young love and rock & roll -- with these classic heartland rockers.
Patriotic Country
Celebrate the spirit of America,...
Because summer is our favorite season, it only follows that the Fourth of July is our favorite holiday. When you take all the classic summer activities and add parades, fireworks, and a nationwide birthday celebration for America, you have the recipe for a great time. With carefully curated soundtracks for every summertime activity and mood, we promise to make your Fourth, and every day for the rest of your summer, even better.
Patriotic Music
These All-American playlists are the best way to celebrate Independence Day.
Stars and Stripes Forever!
Celebrate America in music, from marching bands to great pops orchestras. Play this sparkling homage to the land we love before, during, and after you watch the fireworks this Fourth of July.
Heartland America
Celebrate the things that make America great -- including cars, young love and rock & roll -- with these classic heartland rockers.
Patriotic Country
Celebrate the spirit of America,...
- 7/4/2012
- by Kia Makarechi
- Huffington Post
Sometimes, all it takes is one song to make a film memorable: Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle with You" playing during Michael Madsen's ear-carving scene in "Reservoir Dogs," Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper cruising along to the tune of "Born to Be Wild" in "Easy Rider," Angela Lansbury telling us to "Be Our Guest" in "Beauty and the Beast" -- just three of the hundreds of thousands of memorable musical moments witnessed by movie audiences over the years. To celebrate the history of music in cinema, Moviefone has put together a highly entertaining -- albeit, completely random -- Spotify playlist for you to enjoy at your leisure. There's everything from the "Ghostbusters" theme to "Hakuna Matata" on this big-screen music mix. (And don't worry, there's some current stuff on there, too.) You can check out the playlist below. Enjoy!
- 4/11/2012
- by Alex Suskind
- Moviefone
It's been 14 years since Bonnie Raitt released a new music video, but the country songstress is back with a new album -- "Slipstream," released April 10 -- and a new clip for the disc's first single, "Right Down the Line."
The video features shots of Raitt and her touring band -- they hit the road May 1, says the La Times -- with shots of diverse couples expressing their love for one another. It's quite sweet, actually. The song is a cover of a tune by Gerry Rafferty.
Raitt's been making the publicity rounds to promote her new material, and recently stopped by "Ellen" to play the tune. Check out both the video and the "Ellen" performance below.
The singer appeared with Alicia Keys at the 2012 Grammys in a tribute to the late singer Etta James. They dueted on a lovely stripped-down version of "Sunday Kind of Love."
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo...
The video features shots of Raitt and her touring band -- they hit the road May 1, says the La Times -- with shots of diverse couples expressing their love for one another. It's quite sweet, actually. The song is a cover of a tune by Gerry Rafferty.
Raitt's been making the publicity rounds to promote her new material, and recently stopped by "Ellen" to play the tune. Check out both the video and the "Ellen" performance below.
The singer appeared with Alicia Keys at the 2012 Grammys in a tribute to the late singer Etta James. They dueted on a lovely stripped-down version of "Sunday Kind of Love."
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo...
- 4/11/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Bonnie Raitt's first music video in fourteen years has a decidedly retro feel. That's because the clip is for a cover of Gerry Rafferty's "Right Down the Line."
The video is simple in nature, not that you'd expect anything less from the no-frills Raitt. Shots of happy couples and families are interspersed with Raitt and her bandmates performing the song on at San Francisco's abandoned Mission Theatre.
Released in 1978 as part of Rafferty's City to City album, "Right Down the Line" reached the No. 12 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was the number one single on the easy-listening chart for four non-consecutive weeks. Best known for that hit, as well as "Baker Street" and the Steeler's Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You," Rafferty passed away in January of 2011.
Raitt's cover of "Right Down the Line" is off her new album, Slipstream, which arrives in stores on Tuesday.
The video is simple in nature, not that you'd expect anything less from the no-frills Raitt. Shots of happy couples and families are interspersed with Raitt and her bandmates performing the song on at San Francisco's abandoned Mission Theatre.
Released in 1978 as part of Rafferty's City to City album, "Right Down the Line" reached the No. 12 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was the number one single on the easy-listening chart for four non-consecutive weeks. Best known for that hit, as well as "Baker Street" and the Steeler's Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle with You," Rafferty passed away in January of 2011.
Raitt's cover of "Right Down the Line" is off her new album, Slipstream, which arrives in stores on Tuesday.
- 4/9/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Bonnie Raitt has been faboo for decades, and she's still rocking into her sixties. Her latest album Slipstream comes out April 10th, and the just-released first single and video is a cover of Gerry Rafferty's Am Gold classic "Right Down The Line."
Bonnie strips down the production, replaces the word "Woman" with the gender neutral "Baby," and presents happy and affectionate straight and gay couples. It's heartwarming and wonderfully inclusive.
But I'd rather she had covered "Baker Street."
Video Tags: watch videovideoMore Tags: MusicTags: Bonnie RaittIMDbTeaser Photo: ...
Bonnie strips down the production, replaces the word "Woman" with the gender neutral "Baby," and presents happy and affectionate straight and gay couples. It's heartwarming and wonderfully inclusive.
But I'd rather she had covered "Baker Street."
Video Tags: watch videovideoMore Tags: MusicTags: Bonnie RaittIMDbTeaser Photo: ...
- 4/7/2012
- by snicks
- The Backlot
I’m making a pledge here and now, fellow Happy Endings fans. No, not to participate in a cleanse, because that looks awful and I’d probably wind up on a ledge like Penny. Rather, I pledge not to declare that an episode of Happy Endings is the funniest one of this season until said season is over. I so badly want to declare last night’s episode, titled “Cocktails & Dreams” the funniest (everyone had a storyline that clicked) but I fear I’ll have spoken too soon as the episodes only seem to get better each week. That said,...
- 3/1/2012
- by Aly Semigran
- EW.com - PopWatch
Film Independent curator Elvis Mitchell greeted a sold out crowd at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last night with an earnest, "Happy Black History Month, everybody!" Film Independent - an organization that has hosted a bunch of awesome events over the past few months we've featured on the site, including a Live Read of The Princess Bride and events for Gary Oldman and Brad Pitt - again hosted director Jason Reitman's Live Read series, a unique event that recasts current actors in roles from much-loved scripts and, for one night only, has them read it aloud on stage for those in attendance. Mitchell's greeting held a special significance for this particular event - a reading of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs with a 99% black cast. (Live Read stalwart Patton Oswalt was the only white member of the cast, playing the voice of the radio DJ announcing the...
- 2/18/2012
- by benp
- GeekTyrant
Veteran British TV presenter Bob Holness has died at the age of 83.
The broadcaster, best known as host of hit quiz show Blockbusters, had been in ill health in recent years after suffering a major stroke in 2002, and he died in his sleep at a nursing home in the early hours of Friday morning.
He spent almost 60 years presenting radio and TV shows in the U.K. but is best remembered for hosting highbrow student quiz series Blockbusters from 1983 to 1994.
He was also the subject of a famous urban myth when he was falsely rumoured to have played the saxophone solo on Gerry Rafferty's hit Baker Street.
Holness leaves a wife, Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.
The broadcaster, best known as host of hit quiz show Blockbusters, had been in ill health in recent years after suffering a major stroke in 2002, and he died in his sleep at a nursing home in the early hours of Friday morning.
He spent almost 60 years presenting radio and TV shows in the U.K. but is best remembered for hosting highbrow student quiz series Blockbusters from 1983 to 1994.
He was also the subject of a famous urban myth when he was falsely rumoured to have played the saxophone solo on Gerry Rafferty's hit Baker Street.
Holness leaves a wife, Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.
- 1/6/2012
- WENN
It's been an incredible year in the world of showbiz, with the usual headline-grabbing antics, scandal, sleaze, celebrity births, star weddings, and bitter break-ups. Here, WENN takes a look back at the first six months of 2011...
January
The new year began with wedding bells for many couples including singer Shania Twain, who married her fiance Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, while country star Kellie Pickler and actress Valerie Bertinelli also walked down the aisle on 1 January.
The new year brought baby news for a number of celebrity couples - Orlando Bloom and his wife Miranda Kerr became first-time parents with the birth of their son Flynn. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem also welcomed a son, and Owen Wilson became a father just days after he announced his girlfriend's pregnancy. Nicole Kidman also hit headlines when she and her husband Keith Urban revealed they welcomed a daughter called Faith via a surrogate mother over the holidays.
There was also pregnancy news for actress Kate Hudson, who announced she was expecting a baby with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy, as well as Marion Cotillard, Jewel, Selma Blair and Victoria Beckham, who confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child.
However, the first few weeks of 2011 also brought a slew of celebrity splits - Keira Knightley ended her longtime romance with actor Rupert Friend, Shakira parted ways with Antonio de la Rua, her boyfriend of more than 10 years, and Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin separated after eight years together.
Many stars saw in the new year by addressing their personal problems, and a number of famous faces went in and out of rehab in the first few weeks of 2011. Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato both ended long treatment stints in January, while David Arquette, Backstreet Boys star A.J. McLean and his bandmate Nick Carter's younger brother Aaron all enrolled in programs. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen also admitted himself to a clinic just weeks after he was hospitalised to treat a hernia, and he later admitted he turned to booze to blot out the pain of the medical condition. Sheen’s rehab stint forced TV bosses to shut down production on his show Two and a Half Men.
Another colourful character to hit the headlines in January was British funnyman Ricky Gervais, who managed to cause controversy during his stint as Golden Globes host. The comedian was condemned by organisers for poking fun at celebrity guests including Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks during the glitzy prizegiving.
The month held good news for veteran actor Michael Douglas as he was given the all-clear after a gruelling battle with throat cancer. His wife Catherine Zeta-Jones subsequently admitted she cried tears of joy when doctors told the couple the actor had beaten the disease. Poison rocker Bret Michaels also overcame a health crisis after undergoing successful surgery to close a hole in his heart.
January also saw the loss of a number of great stars including Oscar-winning James Bond theme composer John Barry, and Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty, who passed away after suffering liver failure. The world of Hollywood was again plunged into mourning following the death of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died at the age of 64.
February
As awards season got into full swing, The King's Speech was the toast of Hollywood after scooping four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for the movie's star, Colin Firth, and Best Director for Tom Hooper, while Natalie Portman fought back tears as she walked away with the Best Actress honour for her role as a tormented ballet dancer in Black Swan. It was a different story at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Black Swan trounced its rivals, picking up four honours including Best Director for Darren Aronofsky.
In the world of music, Lady Gaga's incredible rise continued as she picked up three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, but her achievements were overshadowed by country trio Lady Antebellum, who scored five accolades, and the shock win for Canadian rockers Arcade Fire in the prestigious Album of the Year category for their disc The Suburbs. Across the pond at the Brit Awards in London, Arcade Fire were again bathed in glory when they were handed the International Group and International Album honours, while newcomer Tinie Tempah crowned a triumphant 12 months by taking home the British Breakthrough Act and British Single titles. Rihanna was named Best International Female solo star, and Justin Bieber was named the International Breakthrough Act of the year.
Away from the red carpet, it was a bleak month for My Name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly, who was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who was underwent an operation to remove a growth from her foot, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was hospitalised with a flesh-eating bug, and Dame Judi Dench, who broke two of her toes on the set of her new movie J. Edgar.
There were also woes for Rihanna, whose raunchy promo film for single S&M provoked outrage around the world and was banned in 11 countries, actress Eliza Dushku, who broke a finger on holiday, and fashion king John Galliano, who was suspended and later sacked by Christian Dior after he was filmed launching an anti-Semitic rant at stunned drinkers in a bar in Paris, France.
Rock duo the White Stripes stunned the music world when they announced they were splitting up after 14 years, and Lady Gaga's much-hyped new single Born This Way was unveiled to a barrage of accusations she had ripped off Madonna's classic Express Yourself. But there was good news for older music fans, as '60s icons The Monkees announced they were reuniting for a U.K. tour.
Loved up celebrity couples Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, and Anna Friel and Rhys Ifans, both confirmed their engagements, and there were wedding bells for Kelsey Grammer - who married for the fourth time - and Mark Ronson and Katherine Jenkins, who both announced their respective engagements.
Among the stars hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month were Christina Applegate, who gave birth to a daughter, magician David Blaine, who became a first-time father to a baby girl, reggae star Zac Marley, rocker Rod Stewart, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, and No Doubt star Tom Dumont.
Jude Law continued his unlucky-in-love streak when he split - yet again - from Sienna Miller, Iron Man star Terrence Howard was hit with divorce papers, Olivia Wilde split from her husband after eight years, and celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their marriage was over.
The world of showbiz bid farewell to guitar legend Gary Moore, who died aged 58, blues legend Eddie Kirkland died in a car crash at the age of 88, Seinfeld star Len Lesser succumbed to pneumonia aged 88, and The Dukes of Hazzard actress Peggy Rea, who passed away at the age of 89.
March
Tinseltown lost one of its brightest lights in March after movie icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Tributes from the world of showbiz poured in for the Cleopatra legend, with Sir Elton John, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli leading the heartfelt remembrances. The acting great was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where her dear friend Michael Jackson was also laid to rest in 2009.
March was also marked by controversy as a host of famous faces found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Pop star Christina Aguilera was arrested for drunkenness in West Hollywood, while Boardwalk Empire beauty Pas de la Huerta was also apprehended after a bar fight in New York City. Jackass daredevil Steve-o was taken into custody in Canada on an outstanding warrant, and rapper Rick Ross got caught smoking marijuana in a Louisiana hotel room.
But it was Charlie Sheen who really gave fans something to talk about after he was fired from Two and a Half Men following months of public feuding with writer/creator Chuck Lorre. Days later, cops raided Sheen's Los Angeles home to investigate a tip that the troubled star was in violation of a court order by keeping a gun in the house.
March also brought one of the year's most devastating tragedies as Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which then created an enormous tidal wave. More than 15,000 people perished in the disaster and Slash, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters were among the big-name acts who staged gigs to raise money for victims, while actresses Sandra Bullock and Demi Lovato also donated $1 million (£625,000) each to boost relief efforts.
Back in Hollywood, there was plenty of heartache as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel ended their romance, Renee Zellweger called it quits with Bradley Cooper and Twilight beauty Ashley Greene split from Joe Jonas.
But love was most definitely in the air for Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who married showbiz agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony at her California home. Canadian crooner Michael Buble also wed stunning supermodel Luisana Lopilato in a civil ceremony in her native Argentina.
Celebrations were in order for former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who announced she and husband Stephen Belafonte were expecting their first child together. Actors Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson became proud grandfathers in March, while Elizabeth Banks also became a first-time mother to a baby boy, born via surrogate.
Emily Deschanel confirmed she was expecting her first child with actor husband David Hornsby, while Cruel Intentions star Ryan Phillippe also had baby news after the tabloids reported that his ex-girlfriend, actress Alexis Knapp, was pregnant.
There was a health scare on the cards for tennis ace Serena Williams after she was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs, while fears for Zsa Zsa Gabor's wellbeing mounted when she began coughing up blood and suffered circulation problems in her left leg.
There was a close call for actor David Arquette after he was in a head-on car crash in Los Angeles, and Glee star Lea Michele was also involved in a smash when her car was struck by a drunk driver.
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had a lucky escape after he was shot in the hand during a visit to his native Haiti, while James Taylor suffered a broken leg in a skiing accident in Utah.
Courtroom battles loomed for Britney Spears, who was hit with a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit over a perfume deal, and Jay-z was accused of trademark infringement over the logo for Roc Nation.
Even clean-cut teen pop sensation Justin Bieber found himself named in court papers after a songwriting duo sued over claims they hadn't received royalties for his hit song One Less Lonely Girl.
April
There were births, marriages and bust-ups galore as Spring sprung in April, but only one subject was on everyone's lips - the royal wedding. Celebs and commoners alike got carried away in the buzz of the big day on 29 April, when brunette beauty Kate Middleton walked down the aisle with her very own Prince Charming, William. Who would design the dress? Who would be invited? Would best man Harry fall for bridesmaid Pippa? But all questions fell by the wayside on the morning of the magical day, as Britain and two billion viewers across the world came to a standstill to watch the future Queen of England step out of her Rolls-Royce wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen lace gown to huge cheers from the crowd. The pair wed in front of 1,900 quests, including Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family, and even showbiz royalty Victoria and David Beckham, and left London's Westminster Abbey to great fanfare as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But Kate didn't hog all the limelight - who can forget the backing support of her sister Pippa, hailed Her Royal Hotness thanks to that figure-hugging dress and her much-discussed derriere?
The wedding was of fairytale proportions, one even our favourite celebs couldn't compete with - but that didn’t stop them from trying! Canadian crooner Michael Buble was one of the biggest stars to walk down the aisle in April - his second set of nuptials to stunning fiancee Luisana Lopilato following their original wedding day in March. Controversial couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian also wed in a private ceremony in Malibu, which was a surprise for guests - they thought they were there for the pair's engagement party! Funnyman Rob Schneider also joined the marriage club, exchanging vows with fiancee Patricia Azarcoya Arce over the Easter Weekend. The marriage mood of the month gave many stars ideas; the likes of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, and Tom Fletcher and his longtime girlfriend became engaged.
Despite love being in the air, some unions were destined to end - Elizabeth Hurley started divorce proceedings against her millionaire husband Arun Nayar, while Christina Aguilera's five-year marriage to Jordan Bratman was declared officially over. After marriage must come babies, and April was awash with stars welcoming newborns. Superstar Mariah Carey welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe, and in true diva style, gave birth to them on her fourth wedding anniversary to Nick Cannon. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and Black Eyed Peas rapper Taboo both welcomed their third sons, while Jane Krakowski, Kevin James, Toni Collette and Drea De Matteo all also became parents to baby boys. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was an exception to the rule - he became the proud father of a baby girl.
But with ups, there must be downs - and nobody does scandal like the stars. Teen sensation Demi Lovato stunned her legions of loyal fans by opening up about the emotional issues which landed her in rehab earlier in the year, revealing she was battling an eating disorder and cut herself at her lowest moments. Charlie Sheen continued his madcap ways by embarking on a comedy tour following his sacking from Two and a Half Men - only to get booed offstage on his first night, with critics calling his stand-up debut an "epic failure". Bond fans mourned April as the month Sir Sean Connery announced he was retiring from public appearances after he failed to show up to a charity event in New York. Lindsay Lohan was back in trouble - and in court - when a judge decided she'd had enough of the actress' antics and sentenced her to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation. Nicolas Cage hit the headlines when he was arrested on domestic violence charges following a street bust-up with his wife in New Orleans, and Vince Neil was also in hot water for domestic violence - his ex-girlfriend accused him of jabbing a finger at her during an argument. However, the biggest shock came when Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into a mental health facility to overcome her bipolar disorder. The stint in the clinic came after a tough year for the Oscar-winner following husband Michael Douglas' cancer battle.
April was a sad month for actor Tim Robbins, who tragically lost his father, Gil, and his mother, Mary, within days of each other. The punk world was left in mourning when X-Ray Spex legend Poly Styrene lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, while British actress Elisabeth Sladen, Dr Who's longest running sidekick, also passed away after a fight with the disease.
May
May was a shocking month as Hollywood tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger split from his wife of 25 years Maria Shriver, only to reveal later on in the month he had fathered a lovechild with their housekeeper 13 years earlier. Although the scandal rocked Hollywood, he wasn't the only one heading for splitsville - Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller became officially divorced, as did actress Neve Campbell and James Bond star George Lazenby. Lady Gaga also split from boyfriend Luc Carl, while Hayden Panettiere ended her romance with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. Girls Aloud beauty Nadine Coyle also became single after calling off her engagement to American footballer Jason Bell.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Beatles legend Sir Paul Mccartney announced he was engaged to marry for the third time, to American Nancy Shevell, while director Sophia Coppolla and reality star Kim Kardashian also announced plans to walk down the aisle.
As for marriages, Marie Osmond remarried her first husband Stephen Craig, 29 years after they first exchanged vows and in the same wedding dress. Wedding bells also rang for Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria's Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge, while country king and queen Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also became man and wife in Texas.
New romances between Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, as well as Nick Jonas and Australian pop star Delta Goodrem also came to light.
It was a baby boom month, with many stars becoming parents for the first time. Rockers Bryan Adams and Matthew Followill, actors David Schwimmer and Mike Myers, and actresses Alicia Silverstone, Marion Cotillard and Lost's Evangeline Lilly all became first-time parents. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton welcomed her second son. French first lady Carla Bruni and actress Bryce Dallas Howard were also celebrating pregnancies. But it was a sad month for British actress Kelly Brook, who suffered a miscarriage.
Other sad news in May came when Grease actor Jeff Conaway passed away at the age of 60, sending Hollywood into mourning. Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died two days before his 77th birthday and Superman star Jackie Cooper also died, aged 88. The month started with the shock news that al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan. Other stars facing struggles included Sean Kingston, who was involved in a horrific jet-ski crash, while veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was also hospitalised with pneumonia-type symptoms and fell into a coma.
It was also a controversial month for Lindsay Lohan, who started a 120-day jail term in the comfort of her own home for parole violation. British rocker Pete Doherty was also jailed for six months for cocaine possession. Other stars facing woes included Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Friends star Matthew Perry and boxer/singer Oscar De La Hoya, who were all submitted in to rehab programs. It was an embarrassing month for British singer Cheryl Cole, who was hired, then fired to sit on the judging panel of America's The X Factor. In music news for the month, Silverchair announced they were to split, Rod Stewart announced a Las Vegas residency, while it was a big movie month as the Cannes Film Festival in France also kicked off. While Brad Pitt was hailed at the glitzy event, with his film Tree Of Life winning the coveted Palme d'Or prize for Best Film, it was a bad experience for director Lars Von Trier, who was banned from the festival for controversial statements he made about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the festivities.
June
As summer blossomed, June marked a baby boom in Hollywood. Pop star Pink became a first-time mum at the beginning of the month when she welcomed little Willow, while drummer Adrian Young added to the No Doubt family with daughter Magnolia. Natalie Portman became a yummy mummy to son Aleph, actress Tia Mowry also welcomed a little boy, and model/actress Devon Aoki was another addition to the first-time mum club with the arrival of Hunter. Denise Richards made headlines when she announced she'd adopted a baby, Eloise, into her brood, while Meat Loaf became a grandfather when his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to a baby boy. Lindsay Price and Nia Long also announced their pregnancies in June, as did Lily Allen - whose baby news went public on the same day she married partner Sam Cooper.
Lily's wedding wasn't the only one at the start of summer - Rachel Weisz married actor Daniel Craig following a whirlwind romance and Noel Gallagher put his wild ways behind him after exchanging vows with longterm partner Sara MacDonald.
However, the month was marred by a string of high-profile splits - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated just two years after reconciling following the actor's sex addiction admission, Jack White parted ways with model/singer wife Karen Elson after six years of marriage, and Hugh Hefner was dumped by fiancee Crystal Harris - just days before their planned wedding. Elizabeth Hurley's divorce from Arun Nayar was granted, and George Clooney split from Elisabetta Canalis.
There were health dramas aplenty - pop princesses Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson were hospitalised within days of each other. Both stars were forced to pull performances, and getwellselena even became a top trending topic on Twitter.com as fans rallied to support the Disney idol. Gomez later revealed she was malnourished and feeling exhausted, while Hudson was diagnosed with a severe bout of food poisoning.
The music world was left reeling when legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had worked with Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, died from complications stemming from a major stroke. The rocker led the tributes to his pal, declaring, "His loss is immeasurable and we are honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years." TV fans were also left in mourning following the passing of Columbo star Peter Falk at the age of 83, while legendary TV cowboy James Arness also died.
In other June news, the vampires from Twilight overpowered the magical Harry Potter kids at the MTV Movie Awards, taking home five golden popcorn prizes to their film franchise rival cast's one. The Cmt Awards took place in Nashville, Tennessee just days later and newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominated the ceremony - picking up three of the nine top honours between them. But it was a bad month for their country music rival Trace Adkins when his Tennessee home was destroyed by fire.
The month was special for U2 when they headlined Britain's iconic Glastonbury festival after a year-long wait - they were forced to pull out of the event in 2010 after frontman Bono underwent surgery on his back. In a spooky echo of U2's concert drama, pop star Jessie J was forced to axe several summer shows after undergoing emergency surgery on her broken foot – but still fulfilled her duties at Glastonbury, performing while perched on a red and gold throne.
January
The new year began with wedding bells for many couples including singer Shania Twain, who married her fiance Frederic Thiebaud in Puerto Rico on New Year's Day, while country star Kellie Pickler and actress Valerie Bertinelli also walked down the aisle on 1 January.
The new year brought baby news for a number of celebrity couples - Orlando Bloom and his wife Miranda Kerr became first-time parents with the birth of their son Flynn. Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem also welcomed a son, and Owen Wilson became a father just days after he announced his girlfriend's pregnancy. Nicole Kidman also hit headlines when she and her husband Keith Urban revealed they welcomed a daughter called Faith via a surrogate mother over the holidays.
There was also pregnancy news for actress Kate Hudson, who announced she was expecting a baby with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy, as well as Marion Cotillard, Jewel, Selma Blair and Victoria Beckham, who confirmed she was pregnant with her fourth child.
However, the first few weeks of 2011 also brought a slew of celebrity splits - Keira Knightley ended her longtime romance with actor Rupert Friend, Shakira parted ways with Antonio de la Rua, her boyfriend of more than 10 years, and Mila Kunis and Macaulay Culkin separated after eight years together.
Many stars saw in the new year by addressing their personal problems, and a number of famous faces went in and out of rehab in the first few weeks of 2011. Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato both ended long treatment stints in January, while David Arquette, Backstreet Boys star A.J. McLean and his bandmate Nick Carter's younger brother Aaron all enrolled in programs. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen also admitted himself to a clinic just weeks after he was hospitalised to treat a hernia, and he later admitted he turned to booze to blot out the pain of the medical condition. Sheen’s rehab stint forced TV bosses to shut down production on his show Two and a Half Men.
Another colourful character to hit the headlines in January was British funnyman Ricky Gervais, who managed to cause controversy during his stint as Golden Globes host. The comedian was condemned by organisers for poking fun at celebrity guests including Robert Downey, Jr., Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks during the glitzy prizegiving.
The month held good news for veteran actor Michael Douglas as he was given the all-clear after a gruelling battle with throat cancer. His wife Catherine Zeta-Jones subsequently admitted she cried tears of joy when doctors told the couple the actor had beaten the disease. Poison rocker Bret Michaels also overcame a health crisis after undergoing successful surgery to close a hole in his heart.
January also saw the loss of a number of great stars including Oscar-winning James Bond theme composer John Barry, and Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty, who passed away after suffering liver failure. The world of Hollywood was again plunged into mourning following the death of British actor Pete Postlethwaite, who died at the age of 64.
February
As awards season got into full swing, The King's Speech was the toast of Hollywood after scooping four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor for the movie's star, Colin Firth, and Best Director for Tom Hooper, while Natalie Portman fought back tears as she walked away with the Best Actress honour for her role as a tormented ballet dancer in Black Swan. It was a different story at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Black Swan trounced its rivals, picking up four honours including Best Director for Darren Aronofsky.
In the world of music, Lady Gaga's incredible rise continued as she picked up three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, but her achievements were overshadowed by country trio Lady Antebellum, who scored five accolades, and the shock win for Canadian rockers Arcade Fire in the prestigious Album of the Year category for their disc The Suburbs. Across the pond at the Brit Awards in London, Arcade Fire were again bathed in glory when they were handed the International Group and International Album honours, while newcomer Tinie Tempah crowned a triumphant 12 months by taking home the British Breakthrough Act and British Single titles. Rihanna was named Best International Female solo star, and Justin Bieber was named the International Breakthrough Act of the year.
Away from the red carpet, it was a bleak month for My Name Is Earl actress Jaime Pressly, who was charged with driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, who was underwent an operation to remove a growth from her foot, Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who was hospitalised with a flesh-eating bug, and Dame Judi Dench, who broke two of her toes on the set of her new movie J. Edgar.
There were also woes for Rihanna, whose raunchy promo film for single S&M provoked outrage around the world and was banned in 11 countries, actress Eliza Dushku, who broke a finger on holiday, and fashion king John Galliano, who was suspended and later sacked by Christian Dior after he was filmed launching an anti-Semitic rant at stunned drinkers in a bar in Paris, France.
Rock duo the White Stripes stunned the music world when they announced they were splitting up after 14 years, and Lady Gaga's much-hyped new single Born This Way was unveiled to a barrage of accusations she had ripped off Madonna's classic Express Yourself. But there was good news for older music fans, as '60s icons The Monkees announced they were reuniting for a U.K. tour.
Loved up celebrity couples Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, and Anna Friel and Rhys Ifans, both confirmed their engagements, and there were wedding bells for Kelsey Grammer - who married for the fourth time - and Mark Ronson and Katherine Jenkins, who both announced their respective engagements.
Among the stars hearing the pitter-patter of tiny feet this month were Christina Applegate, who gave birth to a daughter, magician David Blaine, who became a first-time father to a baby girl, reggae star Zac Marley, rocker Rod Stewart, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, and No Doubt star Tom Dumont.
Jude Law continued his unlucky-in-love streak when he split - yet again - from Sienna Miller, Iron Man star Terrence Howard was hit with divorce papers, Olivia Wilde split from her husband after eight years, and celebrity couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz announced their marriage was over.
The world of showbiz bid farewell to guitar legend Gary Moore, who died aged 58, blues legend Eddie Kirkland died in a car crash at the age of 88, Seinfeld star Len Lesser succumbed to pneumonia aged 88, and The Dukes of Hazzard actress Peggy Rea, who passed away at the age of 89.
March
Tinseltown lost one of its brightest lights in March after movie icon Dame Elizabeth Taylor died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79. Tributes from the world of showbiz poured in for the Cleopatra legend, with Sir Elton John, Jane Fonda, Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli leading the heartfelt remembrances. The acting great was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where her dear friend Michael Jackson was also laid to rest in 2009.
March was also marked by controversy as a host of famous faces found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Pop star Christina Aguilera was arrested for drunkenness in West Hollywood, while Boardwalk Empire beauty Pas de la Huerta was also apprehended after a bar fight in New York City. Jackass daredevil Steve-o was taken into custody in Canada on an outstanding warrant, and rapper Rick Ross got caught smoking marijuana in a Louisiana hotel room.
But it was Charlie Sheen who really gave fans something to talk about after he was fired from Two and a Half Men following months of public feuding with writer/creator Chuck Lorre. Days later, cops raided Sheen's Los Angeles home to investigate a tip that the troubled star was in violation of a court order by keeping a gun in the house.
March also brought one of the year's most devastating tragedies as Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which then created an enormous tidal wave. More than 15,000 people perished in the disaster and Slash, Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and the Foo Fighters were among the big-name acts who staged gigs to raise money for victims, while actresses Sandra Bullock and Demi Lovato also donated $1 million (£625,000) each to boost relief efforts.
Back in Hollywood, there was plenty of heartache as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel ended their romance, Renee Zellweger called it quits with Bradley Cooper and Twilight beauty Ashley Greene split from Joe Jonas.
But love was most definitely in the air for Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, who married showbiz agent Jim Toth in a romantic ceremony at her California home. Canadian crooner Michael Buble also wed stunning supermodel Luisana Lopilato in a civil ceremony in her native Argentina.
Celebrations were in order for former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, who announced she and husband Stephen Belafonte were expecting their first child together. Actors Robert De Niro and Mel Gibson became proud grandfathers in March, while Elizabeth Banks also became a first-time mother to a baby boy, born via surrogate.
Emily Deschanel confirmed she was expecting her first child with actor husband David Hornsby, while Cruel Intentions star Ryan Phillippe also had baby news after the tabloids reported that his ex-girlfriend, actress Alexis Knapp, was pregnant.
There was a health scare on the cards for tennis ace Serena Williams after she was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs, while fears for Zsa Zsa Gabor's wellbeing mounted when she began coughing up blood and suffered circulation problems in her left leg.
There was a close call for actor David Arquette after he was in a head-on car crash in Los Angeles, and Glee star Lea Michele was also involved in a smash when her car was struck by a drunk driver.
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had a lucky escape after he was shot in the hand during a visit to his native Haiti, while James Taylor suffered a broken leg in a skiing accident in Utah.
Courtroom battles loomed for Britney Spears, who was hit with a $10 million (£6.25 million) lawsuit over a perfume deal, and Jay-z was accused of trademark infringement over the logo for Roc Nation.
Even clean-cut teen pop sensation Justin Bieber found himself named in court papers after a songwriting duo sued over claims they hadn't received royalties for his hit song One Less Lonely Girl.
April
There were births, marriages and bust-ups galore as Spring sprung in April, but only one subject was on everyone's lips - the royal wedding. Celebs and commoners alike got carried away in the buzz of the big day on 29 April, when brunette beauty Kate Middleton walked down the aisle with her very own Prince Charming, William. Who would design the dress? Who would be invited? Would best man Harry fall for bridesmaid Pippa? But all questions fell by the wayside on the morning of the magical day, as Britain and two billion viewers across the world came to a standstill to watch the future Queen of England step out of her Rolls-Royce wearing a stunning Alexander McQueen lace gown to huge cheers from the crowd. The pair wed in front of 1,900 quests, including Queen Elizabeth II, the entire royal family, and even showbiz royalty Victoria and David Beckham, and left London's Westminster Abbey to great fanfare as the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But Kate didn't hog all the limelight - who can forget the backing support of her sister Pippa, hailed Her Royal Hotness thanks to that figure-hugging dress and her much-discussed derriere?
The wedding was of fairytale proportions, one even our favourite celebs couldn't compete with - but that didn’t stop them from trying! Canadian crooner Michael Buble was one of the biggest stars to walk down the aisle in April - his second set of nuptials to stunning fiancee Luisana Lopilato following their original wedding day in March. Controversial couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian also wed in a private ceremony in Malibu, which was a surprise for guests - they thought they were there for the pair's engagement party! Funnyman Rob Schneider also joined the marriage club, exchanging vows with fiancee Patricia Azarcoya Arce over the Easter Weekend. The marriage mood of the month gave many stars ideas; the likes of Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy, and Tom Fletcher and his longtime girlfriend became engaged.
Despite love being in the air, some unions were destined to end - Elizabeth Hurley started divorce proceedings against her millionaire husband Arun Nayar, while Christina Aguilera's five-year marriage to Jordan Bratman was declared officially over. After marriage must come babies, and April was awash with stars welcoming newborns. Superstar Mariah Carey welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe, and in true diva style, gave birth to them on her fourth wedding anniversary to Nick Cannon. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and Black Eyed Peas rapper Taboo both welcomed their third sons, while Jane Krakowski, Kevin James, Toni Collette and Drea De Matteo all also became parents to baby boys. Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was an exception to the rule - he became the proud father of a baby girl.
But with ups, there must be downs - and nobody does scandal like the stars. Teen sensation Demi Lovato stunned her legions of loyal fans by opening up about the emotional issues which landed her in rehab earlier in the year, revealing she was battling an eating disorder and cut herself at her lowest moments. Charlie Sheen continued his madcap ways by embarking on a comedy tour following his sacking from Two and a Half Men - only to get booed offstage on his first night, with critics calling his stand-up debut an "epic failure". Bond fans mourned April as the month Sir Sean Connery announced he was retiring from public appearances after he failed to show up to a charity event in New York. Lindsay Lohan was back in trouble - and in court - when a judge decided she'd had enough of the actress' antics and sentenced her to 120 days behind bars for violating her probation. Nicolas Cage hit the headlines when he was arrested on domestic violence charges following a street bust-up with his wife in New Orleans, and Vince Neil was also in hot water for domestic violence - his ex-girlfriend accused him of jabbing a finger at her during an argument. However, the biggest shock came when Welsh beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones checked into a mental health facility to overcome her bipolar disorder. The stint in the clinic came after a tough year for the Oscar-winner following husband Michael Douglas' cancer battle.
April was a sad month for actor Tim Robbins, who tragically lost his father, Gil, and his mother, Mary, within days of each other. The punk world was left in mourning when X-Ray Spex legend Poly Styrene lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53, while British actress Elisabeth Sladen, Dr Who's longest running sidekick, also passed away after a fight with the disease.
May
May was a shocking month as Hollywood tough guy Arnold Schwarzenegger split from his wife of 25 years Maria Shriver, only to reveal later on in the month he had fathered a lovechild with their housekeeper 13 years earlier. Although the scandal rocked Hollywood, he wasn't the only one heading for splitsville - Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller became officially divorced, as did actress Neve Campbell and James Bond star George Lazenby. Lady Gaga also split from boyfriend Luc Carl, while Hayden Panettiere ended her romance with her boxer boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko. Girls Aloud beauty Nadine Coyle also became single after calling off her engagement to American footballer Jason Bell.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom - Beatles legend Sir Paul Mccartney announced he was engaged to marry for the third time, to American Nancy Shevell, while director Sophia Coppolla and reality star Kim Kardashian also announced plans to walk down the aisle.
As for marriages, Marie Osmond remarried her first husband Stephen Craig, 29 years after they first exchanged vows and in the same wedding dress. Wedding bells also rang for Kings Of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and Victoria's Secret supermodel Lily Aldridge, while country king and queen Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert also became man and wife in Texas.
New romances between Sienna Miller and Tom Sturridge, as well as Nick Jonas and Australian pop star Delta Goodrem also came to light.
It was a baby boom month, with many stars becoming parents for the first time. Rockers Bryan Adams and Matthew Followill, actors David Schwimmer and Mike Myers, and actresses Alicia Silverstone, Marion Cotillard and Lost's Evangeline Lilly all became first-time parents. Former Spice Girl Emma Bunton welcomed her second son. French first lady Carla Bruni and actress Bryce Dallas Howard were also celebrating pregnancies. But it was a sad month for British actress Kelly Brook, who suffered a miscarriage.
Other sad news in May came when Grease actor Jeff Conaway passed away at the age of 60, sending Hollywood into mourning. Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died two days before his 77th birthday and Superman star Jackie Cooper also died, aged 88. The month started with the shock news that al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been shot dead in Pakistan. Other stars facing struggles included Sean Kingston, who was involved in a horrific jet-ski crash, while veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was also hospitalised with pneumonia-type symptoms and fell into a coma.
It was also a controversial month for Lindsay Lohan, who started a 120-day jail term in the comfort of her own home for parole violation. British rocker Pete Doherty was also jailed for six months for cocaine possession. Other stars facing woes included Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Friends star Matthew Perry and boxer/singer Oscar De La Hoya, who were all submitted in to rehab programs. It was an embarrassing month for British singer Cheryl Cole, who was hired, then fired to sit on the judging panel of America's The X Factor. In music news for the month, Silverchair announced they were to split, Rod Stewart announced a Las Vegas residency, while it was a big movie month as the Cannes Film Festival in France also kicked off. While Brad Pitt was hailed at the glitzy event, with his film Tree Of Life winning the coveted Palme d'Or prize for Best Film, it was a bad experience for director Lars Von Trier, who was banned from the festival for controversial statements he made about Nazi leader Adolf Hitler during the festivities.
June
As summer blossomed, June marked a baby boom in Hollywood. Pop star Pink became a first-time mum at the beginning of the month when she welcomed little Willow, while drummer Adrian Young added to the No Doubt family with daughter Magnolia. Natalie Portman became a yummy mummy to son Aleph, actress Tia Mowry also welcomed a little boy, and model/actress Devon Aoki was another addition to the first-time mum club with the arrival of Hunter. Denise Richards made headlines when she announced she'd adopted a baby, Eloise, into her brood, while Meat Loaf became a grandfather when his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to a baby boy. Lindsay Price and Nia Long also announced their pregnancies in June, as did Lily Allen - whose baby news went public on the same day she married partner Sam Cooper.
Lily's wedding wasn't the only one at the start of summer - Rachel Weisz married actor Daniel Craig following a whirlwind romance and Noel Gallagher put his wild ways behind him after exchanging vows with longterm partner Sara MacDonald.
However, the month was marred by a string of high-profile splits - David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated just two years after reconciling following the actor's sex addiction admission, Jack White parted ways with model/singer wife Karen Elson after six years of marriage, and Hugh Hefner was dumped by fiancee Crystal Harris - just days before their planned wedding. Elizabeth Hurley's divorce from Arun Nayar was granted, and George Clooney split from Elisabetta Canalis.
There were health dramas aplenty - pop princesses Selena Gomez and Jennifer Hudson were hospitalised within days of each other. Both stars were forced to pull performances, and getwellselena even became a top trending topic on Twitter.com as fans rallied to support the Disney idol. Gomez later revealed she was malnourished and feeling exhausted, while Hudson was diagnosed with a severe bout of food poisoning.
The music world was left reeling when legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who had worked with Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga, died from complications stemming from a major stroke. The rocker led the tributes to his pal, declaring, "His loss is immeasurable and we are honoured and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years." TV fans were also left in mourning following the passing of Columbo star Peter Falk at the age of 83, while legendary TV cowboy James Arness also died.
In other June news, the vampires from Twilight overpowered the magical Harry Potter kids at the MTV Movie Awards, taking home five golden popcorn prizes to their film franchise rival cast's one. The Cmt Awards took place in Nashville, Tennessee just days later and newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert dominated the ceremony - picking up three of the nine top honours between them. But it was a bad month for their country music rival Trace Adkins when his Tennessee home was destroyed by fire.
The month was special for U2 when they headlined Britain's iconic Glastonbury festival after a year-long wait - they were forced to pull out of the event in 2010 after frontman Bono underwent surgery on his back. In a spooky echo of U2's concert drama, pop star Jessie J was forced to axe several summer shows after undergoing emergency surgery on her broken foot – but still fulfilled her duties at Glastonbury, performing while perched on a red and gold throne.
- 12/31/2011
- WENN
As the 2011 year comes to a close, I’d like to take a look back at the actors, actresses. musicians and others who have passed on this year. There is no doubt that these celebrities have left their mark on our society and in their respective fields and I’d like to say thank you to them for their contributions. Pete Postlethwaite- Actor (The Town, Clash of the Titans, Inception) Gerry Rafferty- Singer/Songwriter ('Stuck in the Middle With You,' 'Baker Street') Peter Yates- Director (Bullitt, Breaking Away) John Dye- Actor (Best of the Best, Touched by an Angel) Jack Lalanne- Fitness Guru (Juice Tiger) Dwaye McDuffie- Comic Book Writer/Co-Founder Milestone Media (Damage Control) Mike Starr- Musician (Alice in Chains) Nate Dogg- Musician (Collaborated with Warren G, Eminem, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre, among others) Michael Gough- Actor (Alfred in Batman,...
- 12/8/2011
- ComicBookMovie.com
'Pretty Little Liars,' Charlie Sheen were also hot on social networking site this year.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé on the 2011 Vma black carpet
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
It was a busy year on Twitter. People tweeted about everything from tragedy to triumph in 2011. The social networking site has released some of the year's biggest trending topics and hashtags as 2011 comes to a close.
Beyoncé's pregnancy reveal at the VMAs back in August tops the site's list for most tweets per second (Tps). The headline-making news received 9,000 tweets per second. ABC Family's mystery-drenched teen drama "Pretty Little Liars," viral-video sensation Rebecca Black, the Super Bowl and Charlie Sheen, with his penchant for #tigerblood, all made Twitter's list of hot topics and hashtags for the year.
Beyoncé surprised everyone on August 28 when she revealed at the MTV VMAs that she and her hubby, Jay-z, were expecting their first child.
By Jocelyn Vena
Beyoncé on the 2011 Vma black carpet
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
It was a busy year on Twitter. People tweeted about everything from tragedy to triumph in 2011. The social networking site has released some of the year's biggest trending topics and hashtags as 2011 comes to a close.
Beyoncé's pregnancy reveal at the VMAs back in August tops the site's list for most tweets per second (Tps). The headline-making news received 9,000 tweets per second. ABC Family's mystery-drenched teen drama "Pretty Little Liars," viral-video sensation Rebecca Black, the Super Bowl and Charlie Sheen, with his penchant for #tigerblood, all made Twitter's list of hot topics and hashtags for the year.
Beyoncé surprised everyone on August 28 when she revealed at the MTV VMAs that she and her hubby, Jay-z, were expecting their first child.
- 12/7/2011
- MTV Music News
Ryan Lambie Jul 28, 2016
What do Bambi, The Dark Knight and Seven all have in common? Some powerful moments of off-screen violence...
Nb: The following contains spoilers for Seven (1995) and The Witch (2015)
The seminal moment in the history of cinema came at the turn of the 20th century, when the medium began to move away from the storytelling language of the theatre. Filmmakers like Edwin S Porter began to realise that the camera could do so much more than simply record what was in front of it; such techniques as close-ups and edits to different angles or locations could be used to create drama.
It’s these filmmaking techniques that the masters of cinema use to create suspense and feelings of dread. And while there’s nothing wrong with jabs of violence of gore in movies, it remains the case that anticipation or suggestion of a violent act is more effective than seeing the moment itself.
What do Bambi, The Dark Knight and Seven all have in common? Some powerful moments of off-screen violence...
Nb: The following contains spoilers for Seven (1995) and The Witch (2015)
The seminal moment in the history of cinema came at the turn of the 20th century, when the medium began to move away from the storytelling language of the theatre. Filmmakers like Edwin S Porter began to realise that the camera could do so much more than simply record what was in front of it; such techniques as close-ups and edits to different angles or locations could be used to create drama.
It’s these filmmaking techniques that the masters of cinema use to create suspense and feelings of dread. And while there’s nothing wrong with jabs of violence of gore in movies, it remains the case that anticipation or suggestion of a violent act is more effective than seeing the moment itself.
- 11/17/2011
- Den of Geek
What do Bambi, The Dark Knight and Seven all have in common? Spectacular moments of off-screen violence, obviously. Here’s a list of a few other favourites…
Exploding heads are great, obviously. And there are some action and horror films that simply wouldn’t be the same without copious bloodletting, broken limbs and flying eyeballs. So while we’ve nothing against cinematic excess, it’s also the case that truly horrific violence can be implied rather than explicitly shown.
To this end, here’s a list of a few particularly noteworthy moments of implied nastiness in cinema. Needless to say, there are dozens upon dozens that we’ve failed to remember, so feel free to chip in with your own favourite moments of off-screen menace in the comments section.
M (1931)
“Just you wait, the nasty man in black will come,” is the first line uttered in Fritz Lang’s unforgettably disturbing 1931 thriller,...
Exploding heads are great, obviously. And there are some action and horror films that simply wouldn’t be the same without copious bloodletting, broken limbs and flying eyeballs. So while we’ve nothing against cinematic excess, it’s also the case that truly horrific violence can be implied rather than explicitly shown.
To this end, here’s a list of a few particularly noteworthy moments of implied nastiness in cinema. Needless to say, there are dozens upon dozens that we’ve failed to remember, so feel free to chip in with your own favourite moments of off-screen menace in the comments section.
M (1931)
“Just you wait, the nasty man in black will come,” is the first line uttered in Fritz Lang’s unforgettably disturbing 1931 thriller,...
- 11/17/2011
- Den of Geek
"Dancing with the Stars" week 8 continued with five remaining contestants doing two dances: one in the normal fashion and one choreographed "instantly" to music they learn during the broadcast. Ralph Macchio, who gave a scare prior to the performance due to his knee injury, held back his pain and got through the show on Monday night, May 9.
Chelsea Kane (aka Chelsea Staub) was the first who came out for the normal individual dance. She danced the waltz which was deemed "dancing of the highest quality" and "fabulous" by Bruno Toli. Carrie Ann Inaba said she "earned perfection tonight," but Len Goodman thought "occasionally you put too much emphasis on the story, not on the dance." Chelsea got 29 out of 30.
Current frontrunner Hines Ward danced the foxtrot which "was beaming with a blissful look of happiness," Bruno gushed. Carrie Ann and Len loved his cheesy performance with the former saying, "A little bit of cheesy Hines.
Chelsea Kane (aka Chelsea Staub) was the first who came out for the normal individual dance. She danced the waltz which was deemed "dancing of the highest quality" and "fabulous" by Bruno Toli. Carrie Ann Inaba said she "earned perfection tonight," but Len Goodman thought "occasionally you put too much emphasis on the story, not on the dance." Chelsea got 29 out of 30.
Current frontrunner Hines Ward danced the foxtrot which "was beaming with a blissful look of happiness," Bruno gushed. Carrie Ann and Len loved his cheesy performance with the former saying, "A little bit of cheesy Hines.
- 5/10/2011
- by celebrity-mania.com
- Celebrity Mania
"Dancing with the Stars" week 8 continued with five remaining contestants doing two dances: one in the normal fashion and one choreographed "instantly" to music they learn during the broadcast. Ralph Macchio, who gave a scare prior to the performance due to his knee injury, held back his pain and got through the show on Monday night, May 9.
Chelsea Kane (aka Chelsea Staub) was the first who came out for the normal individual dance. She danced the waltz which was deemed "dancing of the highest quality" and "fabulous" by Bruno Toli. Carrie Ann Inaba said she "earned perfection tonight," but Len Goodman thought "occasionally you put too much emphasis on the story, not on the dance." Chelsea got 29 out of 30.
Current frontrunner Hines Ward danced the foxtrot which "was beaming with a blissful look of happiness," Bruno gushed. Carrie Ann and Len loved his cheesy performance with the former saying, "A little bit of cheesy Hines.
Chelsea Kane (aka Chelsea Staub) was the first who came out for the normal individual dance. She danced the waltz which was deemed "dancing of the highest quality" and "fabulous" by Bruno Toli. Carrie Ann Inaba said she "earned perfection tonight," but Len Goodman thought "occasionally you put too much emphasis on the story, not on the dance." Chelsea got 29 out of 30.
Current frontrunner Hines Ward danced the foxtrot which "was beaming with a blissful look of happiness," Bruno gushed. Carrie Ann and Len loved his cheesy performance with the former saying, "A little bit of cheesy Hines.
- 5/10/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Whether or not you’ve recovered from Pia Toscano’s shocking elimination from American Idol, the Season 10 show will trudge on Wednesday night with the Top 8 performing a “Songs From the Movies” theme. On paper, it could be a terrific 90 minutes of music — as long as the contestants aren’t limited to a list of 20 treacly ballads from Disney soundtracks, Celine Dion, and Bryan Adams. In my spirit of undying/naive optimisim, I’ve cooked up song suggestions for the remaining finalists. Ch-ch-check ‘em out, then brainstorm some ideas of your own in the comments. And for all my Idol news and commentary,...
- 4/10/2011
- by Michael Slezak
- TVLine.com
Jennifer Aniston has teamed up with a gang of adorable puppies, a cocky parrot and dancing babies for a new Internet video promoting SmartWater.
In the ad the actress explains bosses at the drink firm have told her it's not enough to just talk about SmartWater, insisting she also has to go viral, so she attempts to frolic with the out-of-control pups and teach a parrot to say "I love SmartWater" after researching what's popular online.
Instead the dogs run wild and the only thing the bird can say is, "Rachel, I love your hair," referring to the trend she sparked as Rachel Green on Friends.
So she turns to Internet footage of dancing babies, but acts appalled when they become dirty dancing babies.
Aniston then kicks a bespectacled, ginger-haired fan in the genitals, explaining, "Sorry, apparently that's worth about 100,000 hits (online)."
She ends the ad by drinking from a bottle of SmartWater in slow motion as Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street is played and then asks, "What are we gonna call this video?" When a researcher offers, "Jennifer Aniston's Sex Tape?" she says, "I love it!"...
In the ad the actress explains bosses at the drink firm have told her it's not enough to just talk about SmartWater, insisting she also has to go viral, so she attempts to frolic with the out-of-control pups and teach a parrot to say "I love SmartWater" after researching what's popular online.
Instead the dogs run wild and the only thing the bird can say is, "Rachel, I love your hair," referring to the trend she sparked as Rachel Green on Friends.
So she turns to Internet footage of dancing babies, but acts appalled when they become dirty dancing babies.
Aniston then kicks a bespectacled, ginger-haired fan in the genitals, explaining, "Sorry, apparently that's worth about 100,000 hits (online)."
She ends the ad by drinking from a bottle of SmartWater in slow motion as Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street is played and then asks, "What are we gonna call this video?" When a researcher offers, "Jennifer Aniston's Sex Tape?" she says, "I love it!"...
- 3/8/2011
- WENN
A couple of nights ago I was watching Sarah McLachlan perform at the Nokia Theater here in downtown Los Angeles. Midway through the set she introduced a song she wrote "a few years back for a little indie film called The Brothers McMullen." That song was "I Will Remember You", one of Sarah's first big hits and one I'd almost forgotten she wrote for the film and not for an album. But she did. It's probably the most memorable thing about Ed Burns's early '90s indie darling.
Back in the 1990s there were a lot of great tunes written for films. Songs that instantly remind the listener of a specific film as soon as they hear it on the radio or in the produce aisle. How can one not hear Celine Dion sing "My Heart Will Go On" and not think of Titanic, or Whitney Houston's re-imagining...
Back in the 1990s there were a lot of great tunes written for films. Songs that instantly remind the listener of a specific film as soon as they hear it on the radio or in the produce aisle. How can one not hear Celine Dion sing "My Heart Will Go On" and not think of Titanic, or Whitney Houston's re-imagining...
- 2/17/2011
- by Bill Cody
- Rope of Silicon
Welcome to the 53rd Grammy Awards, which will be featuring appearances and performances from some of the biggest names in music. Those names include Eminem (who leads all nominees and who could make history this evening), Lady Gaga (fresh off the premiere of her new single "Born This Way"), Rihanna, Drake, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green, Justin Bieber (who is currently in a knock-down, drag-out box office battle with Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" for the coveted first place spot), Muse, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Bob Dylan (just for good measure). It promises to be an eventful, historic night, and the MTV Newsroom Blog is going to be right on top of all the most outstanding performances, biggest awards upsets and most incredible Grammy moments. The show always features a number of surprises (both scheduled and not), so it should be a fantastically entertaining three-and-a-half hours.
(Click...
(Click...
- 2/14/2011
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
Singing duo The Proclaimers were among hundreds of fans who turned out to pay their last respects to singer Gerry Rafferty as he was laid to rest in Scotland on Friday morning, January 21. The "Baker Street" icon passed away earlier this month, on January 4 after suffering liver failure, resulting from a long battle with alcoholism.
Hundreds of devotees turned up to honor the songwriter at St Mirin's Cathedral in his hometown of Paisley. Funnyman Billy Connolly, who formed folk group the Humblebums with Rafferty, was unable to attend the ceremony due to touring commitments in Australia and was said to have been "devastated" to have missed the funeral.
Scottish singing siblings The Proclaimers and the country's First Minister Alex Salmond turned out for the service and playwright/artist John Byrne gave the eulogy, remembering Rafferty as "very single-minded, which he used wonderfully well". Byrne added, "He had hundreds and hundreds of wonderful,...
Hundreds of devotees turned up to honor the songwriter at St Mirin's Cathedral in his hometown of Paisley. Funnyman Billy Connolly, who formed folk group the Humblebums with Rafferty, was unable to attend the ceremony due to touring commitments in Australia and was said to have been "devastated" to have missed the funeral.
Scottish singing siblings The Proclaimers and the country's First Minister Alex Salmond turned out for the service and playwright/artist John Byrne gave the eulogy, remembering Rafferty as "very single-minded, which he used wonderfully well". Byrne added, "He had hundreds and hundreds of wonderful,...
- 1/22/2011
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Natalie Portman shouts out her 'Black Swan' director for bringing her and her fiancé together, while Christian Bale gets emotional.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
- 1/15/2011
- MTV Movie News
Natalie Portman shouts out her 'Black Swan' director for bringing her and her fiancé together, while Christian Bale gets emotional.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
- 1/15/2011
- MTV Music News
Critics' Choice |Movie Awards |Critics' Choice Video |Celebrity News If you’ve ever been struck with paralyzing unease while listening to an easy listening station, you probably have a Quentin Tarantino film to thank for that. Tonight Tarantino received the Music + Film Award at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, a new award that fits perfectly with the director’s creepy, fun, always ingenious melding of film and song. Prior to Quentin receiving the award, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine serenaded the crowd with The Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck In The Middle With You,” forever linked in our mind with Reservoir Dogs, and Keri Hilson brought it home with Dusty Springfield’s “Son Of A Preacher Man,” featured in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Reservoir Dogs’ Tim Roth presented his former boss with the award and his skill with a soundtrack. “It’s the rhythm of the film, and tonight we celebrate...
- 1/15/2011
- by Halle Kiefer
- VH1.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.