Sugababe boyfriend machete attack

Sugababes star Amelle Berrabah "couldn't stop screaming" while boyfriend Freddie Fuller was attacked with a machete on Christmas Eve (24.12.07).


The singer was on a festive pub crawl with 25-year-old Freddie and her sisters, Zakiya and Nora, when Freddie was attacked at around 11.30pm outside the Queen Victoria pub in Aldershot, Hampshire.

She told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He was left for dead. It was horrific - like a nightmare but worse because it was real. How one person can do that to another I don't know. I couldn't stop myself screaming."

Amelle, 23, who has been keeping a vigil by Freddie's bedside in Surrey's Frimley Park Hospital said she is praying her tree surgeon boyfriend will recover quickly.

Speaking outside the hospital yesterday (26.12.07), she said: "It's awful to see him lying there so still with his face so pale and his limbs all bound up. He keeps slipping in and out of consciousness, so we have barely been able to speak.

"I brushed his teeth this morning and washed his face because he can't do anything for himself at the moment. I watch every flicker of his eyes to see how he is doing and he seems to be getting stronger.

"But the doctors say he's going to need constant care for at least eight weeks so I've decided to book him into a private hospital."

A source from Hampshire police said the incident may have been a reprisal attack following on from an incident a year ago when Freddie was arrested after he got into a fight with a man in a Camberley nightclub after the man allegedly groped Amelle.

A source said: "There is believed to be some history between the two men involved. But at this stage we do not want to go into that publicly."

A police spokesman said they were looking for a 28-year-old local man in connection with the attack.

Amelle is expected to perform with the Sugababes at their New Year's Eve performance at London's O2 arena before rushing back to be with injured Freddie.

Robbie plots huge comeback

Robbie Williams is reportedly planning a huge musical comeback in 2008.


The singer - who recently came to the end of his four-year recording deal with EMI - is said to be so jealous of his former Take That bandmates success he is plotting his revenge by planning a comeback of his own.

A source close to the singer said: "Things haven't been going that well for Robbie recently and he's been having a bit of a break from recording.

"His last album, 'Rudebox', was panned by critics, which was made worse by the fact Take That are doing so well, without him.

"Robbie has now decided enough is enough and it's time to reclaim his crown.

He is working on new material and he reckons this is the best stuff he has ever come up with. There could even be another hit like 'Angels'."

Robbie's comeback plans come as Take That are reaching new heights with their reunion.

Their track 'Rule The World', written for the film 'Stardust', is hotly tipped to be nominated for Best Song at the Oscars, while their album 'Beautiful World' is still in eighth position in the UK album charts - despite being released over a year ago.

Frontman Gary Barlow recently rubbished rumours Robbie - who quit the group in 1995 - would be rejoining the band for a one-off performance, saying: "There is no place for Robbie in Take That anymore."

Geldof praises German Chancellor

German Chancellor Angela Merkel may have saved millions of lives in Africa during her country's presidency of the Group of Eight, Irish rock singer and activist Bob Geldof told a newspaper.


"There is not a shadow of a doubt that Germany under the government of Angela Merkel has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, maybe even millions," Geldof said in an interview with Germany's Bild daily to appear Thursday.

Geldof was referring to aid pledges made at two meetings in Germany earlier this year, the G8 summit in June and an international donors' meeting in September.

The G8 club of industrial powers ended its summit by pledging 60 billion dollars (44.8 billion euros) to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa.

Of that 30 billion dollars had already been pledged by the United States.

In September, Germany hosted a conference of donor countries which pledged 9.7 billion dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over the next three years.

The figure was just over half the sum the fund hopes to spend combating the diseases from 2008 to 2010.

UNAIDS has said global funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment must quadruple over the next three years to 42.2 billion dollars.

Germany, which held the presidency of the G8 this year, has pledged 600 million euros to the fund over the next three years.

Geldof, who was knighted in Britain for organising the 1985 Live Aid concerts to highlight the plight of African countries, said in the interview that Merkel had raised the "understanding of Africa" among Europe's "political class."

Geldof and Bono, another Irish rock singer-turned-activist, were sharply critical of the G8 pledges to Africa after the club's June summit.

Bono accused the G8 powers of using "bureau-babble" to hide their failed promises to Africa, while Geldof said the meeting was "bollocks."

"Get serious, guys. This wasn't serious, this was a farce, a total farce," Geldof said at the time.

The G8 includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Kylie to remain childless

Kylie Minogue has accepted she may never be a mother.


The '2 Hearts' singer - whose chances of naturally conceiving a baby were significantly reduced after she underwent treatment for breast cancer - has dismissed claims she is considering adoption and insists she has no plans to start a family.

The 39-year-old star said: "I am not at that stage and I might never have a 2.4 nuclear family - but I don't know that that makes me any less fulfilled or happy than anybody else. This is the only life I have. This is the one I know. I can't be in someone else's shoes."

The self-confessed workaholic - who has just released her new album 'X' - recently revealed she is planning to take time off to travel around the world.

She said: "I am getting good at trimming things down and good at saying 'no'.

"Doing this album was an affirmation, a reaffirming that I actually like doing this. But after this is done, maybe I would like to grab a backpack and go."

Jamie Lynn Spears father mystery

Casey Aldridge is reportedly not the father of Jamie Lynn Spears' baby.


It has been alleged the 16-year-old actress - who announced she is expecting her first child with long-term boyfriend Casey earlier this month - was having an affair with an older man on the set of her Nickelodeon TV show 'Zoey 101'.

The Spears family are allegedly desperate to keep the man's identity a secret, and have paid Casey to pretend to be the father instead.

A source told America's Star magazine: "Casey is being paid off to be the family's fall guy while the real father remains unidentified.

"The man many suspect is the father, however, would face rape charges and probably prison time if he were to come forward and admit he had sex with Jamie Lynn."

A family insider added: "Some of us have doubts as to the legitimacy of the claim that Casey is the father. Before the news of the pregnancy, how often did you see them together?

"Jamie Lynn has dated Casey on-and-off over the past two years. But it was not steady. Jamie Lynn went through a time of partying, and Casey was just a part of that."

While Jamie Lynn - the sister of troubled pop star Britney Spears - has admitted being "shocked and scared" about becoming a mother at such a young age, she hasn't commented on rumours Nickelodeon will be dropping her from 'Zoey 101.'

PR expert Michael Levine said: "I cant think of any way that Nickelodeon could keep Jamie Lynn's show on the air.

"If they do, advertisers will drop it like crazy. No advertiser wants to be associated with a minor getting pregnant."

At the time of the pregnancy announcement, Nickelodeon released a statement saying: "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation.

"We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

Fergie engaged

Fergie has got engaged to her actor boyfriend Josh Duhamel.


The couple, who have been dating for three years, announced their happy news yesterday (26.12.07) but refused to reveal if 'Las Vegas' star Josh popped the question on Christmas Day.

A representative for the actor has confirmed the pair got engaged "recently", but as yet no other details are available.

Since getting betrothed, Fergie, 32, has been calling all her friends and family to tell them about the engagement.

A source said: "She has called a lot of her girlfriends to tell them about the engagement. Fergie said she and Josh don't know what kind of wedding they want yet, but insists she is the happiest girl on earth."

Earlier this month, Fergie claimed she was in no rush to get engaged because she already felt married to Josh.

The Black Eyed Peas singer, who has been dating the 35-year-old actor since 2004, said: "We're practically married. I'm madly in love with him. He understands how to treat a woman and gives me respect."

Jay-Z quits at Def Jam

Rap mogul Jay-Z has stunned the music world by announcing his decision to step down as Def Jam Records president in 2008.


The hitmaker, real name Shawn Carter, retired from making music when he took the executive job in 2005.

He has since returned to the charts, and now plans to release more material once his three-year contract expires in 2008.

In a statement released on Christmas Eve, Jay-Z said, "It's time for me to take on new challenges. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success."

Jay-Z will remain one of Def Jam's top artists.

Kylie takes Dr Who by storm

Kylie Minogue's guest appearance on the Doctor Who Christmas special got the series its highest ratings since it was revived.


It was watched by 12.2 million people - half the available audience. Last year 8.7 million viewers, a 37% share, tuned in for the doctor's Christmas special.

The BBC said EastEnders was Christmas Day's most popular programme, getting its best Christmas Day viewing figures for three years.

The second instalment at 8pm was seen by 13.9 million.

Last year's Christmas favourite was The Vicar of Dibley with 11.4 million viewers.

Six million people watched the Queen's annual broadcast at 3pm - an audience share of 41.7%.

BBC1 acting controller Roly Keating said: "It's heartening to see that the great tradition of Christmas family viewing seems to be alive and well. We were delighted that audiences found so much to enjoy in our line-up of programmes on BBC1.

"From the compelling drama of EastEnders to a spectacular Doctor Who and the welcome return of To The Manor Born, this was a Christmas when some of the nation's favourite performers and writers did us all proud."

The combined peak share of audience for BBC1 and BBC2 was 51.7% this year, up from 44.4% last year.

Later, the BBC apologised for a cut in transmission to parts of Sussex and Kent on Christmas night. It said a fault in a transmitter serving almost 500,000 homes between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne caused the problem.

Jay-Z Stepping Down As Def Jam President/CEO

'It's time for me to take on new challenges,' he reportedly said in a statement.

Looks like Jay-Z can loosen up his tie a little more. The iconic-rapper-turned-record-exec announced Monday (December 24) that he will step down from his post as president and CEO of Def Jam Records.

According to The Associated Press, Hov said now was the right time for his exit.

"It's time for me to take on new challenges," he reportedly said in a statement.

As part of a separate, long-term recording contract, Jay will still remain with Def Jam as an artist, and owes the label one or two more albums, according to The New York Times. In early November, he released his 10th studio album, American Gangster, which was distributed through his own Roc-A-Fella Records via Def Jam.

Three years ago, Jay-Z signed an incentive-based contract to take over the storied hip-hop label, and in 2006, he returned from "retirement" to put out a new album, Kingdom Come. The project was met with mixed reviews but was best known for the controversies that surrounded it. Several artists who were signed to Def Jam voiced their displeasure that the president of the company was busy promoting and supporting his own album rather than helping to market works by other acts on the label.

During his tenure, however, Jay enjoyed a number of highs.

Under his watch, the Def Jam roster was bolstered, once again making the legendary label the most formidable house in rap. Young Jeezy became an instant hip-hop superstar, while Rick Ross finally broke through the streets' glass ceiling to become one of the most respected MCs in the game right now. Nas came over from Sony with Jay's help, and Jadakiss recently brought his standard-bearing bars of death to Def Jam from Interscope. Meanwhile, Fabolous fared respectably with his recent Def Jam debut, From Nothin' to Somethin'. The album went gold and spawned the 2007 monster single "Make Me Better." Jay also had two big successes in Kanye West's Graduation, which dropped earlier this year, and Late Registration, which was released in 2005.

But as it turns out, El Presidente's legacy might actually wind up being weighted more heavily toward the R&B stars whose careers he helped jump-start while in office. Jay-Z signee Rihanna is an international superstar, while Ne-Yo — who Hov also ushered through the door — is one of the most bankable stars in the genre right now.

Jay-Z's presidential term did have its fair share of misses. Ghostface Killah, Method Man and even his own Roc-A-Fella artists Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and the Young Gunz all had difficulties getting their latest projects off the ground.

A lot of the problems Def Jam releases have experienced could be attributed to meager marketing and promotion. LL Cool J, Jay's most vocal detractor the past couple of years, has said the Jigga Man was only focused on himself as an artist and wasn't handling business in the rap Oval Office.

Representatives for Jay and Def Jam could not be reached at press time, but just two weeks ago, Hov shot down a newspaper report suggesting that his demands were too steep for Def Jam to keep him. Jay told Entertainment Weekly the issue wasn't the money, and he stuck to what he's said often lately in interviews, that he wants to find a new business model for selling records.

But according to the Times, a source who requested anonymity said Universal, the company that owns Def Jam, declined to renew his employment contract under the more lucrative terms Jay-Z was reportedly seeking. The deal that is expiring required Universal to pay roughly $10 million over the course of his contract, so long as he met certain financial goals.

The Times also reports that it's unclear at this point if Jay-Z's position will be filled.

Jamie Lynn Spears' Hometown Reacts: Residents Respond To Pregnancy News

'Nobody's surprised because it's not uncommon with her family,' says one resident.

The town of Kentwood, Louisiana, proudly — and loudly — trumpets the fact that it is the birthplace of Britney Spears, whether it's on the city's official Web site ("Kentwood, Louisiana — Wonderful Water, Woodlands and Wildlife ... Britney Spears' Hometown") or in the Britney Spears exhibit at the Kentwood Museum ("Full of Britney memorabilia and much more!").

Naturally, over the years, citizens of the tiny town on the Louisiana/Mississippi border have become increasingly protective of their most famous export ... a level of protection that apparently extends to that export's 16-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn.

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 72 hours, you're no doubt aware that Jamie Lynn recently announced that she was 12-weeks pregnant, info that was met with equal parts shock and support from her fans and fellow celebs.

So on Thursday, MTV News decided to head up Interstate 55 to Kentwood (we were already in New Orleans for an interview with Brad Pitt) to get some local reactions. And let's just say we weren't exactly welcomed with open arms. Our camera was shooed away from the Kentwood First Baptist Church (where Jamie Lynn and her boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, reportedly first met), the museum and local hot spots like Sonic and Pizza Inn. Townspeople greeted us with glares or "no comments," and at every stop, pickup trucks whizzed by, horns blaring.

But we did manage to talk to a few locals, who, quite honestly, weren't too shocked to learn that Britney's little sister was pregnant, either because teen pregnancies aren't all that uncommon in Kentwood, or because, after all, she is Britney's little sister.

"They tried to keep it secret, I don't know why. In Kentwood, everything gets out. You got kids who are 13 or 14 and pregnant in Kentwood, we're about used to it around here," Donald Church said. "But it seems like a big deal around here. ... A lot of people can't believe it. I used to work with her dad, and I couldn't believe it. You know, little Jamie ... it's kind of freaky."

"I heard about it on the radio, they were talking about it. It's real popular down there. Everybody knows about them," Raynard Norman laughed. "It's embarrassing, kind of. If it's not her, it's Britney, so at least it's not Britney this time. But I'm not surprised, not really. ... Nobody's surprised because it's not uncommon with her family. Next time, use a condom."

Those who agreed to speak with us also seemed mixed on just what to make of Jamie Lynn's situation. Some viewed her as just another teenage girl, while others noted that she has plenty of young fans who view her as a role model, and as such, she should've put more thought into her actions.

"I heard not too long ago. I think it's fine, you know? I congratulate her and her baby, wish them the best of luck. I wasn't surprised. That's life," said Shainberly Young, an employee at the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits that Spears frequents when she's back home in Kentwood. "Me, personally, I have a little sister, she's that age, and she's pregnant, so I'm gonna support my sister from here on out. Everybody's got to live. People here are saying, 'Britney Spears' sister is pregnant, OK, she's pregnant. Let her handle her own business.' "

"I've been seeing it in the papers and all that. It's not that big of a town, so it gets out pretty quick. It's kind of a surprise, but not really, if you look at her sister and the crap with her," Barry Church added. "[But] it's not something to look up to. You've got all these little girls looking up to you and you're 16 and pregnant. That's not setting a good example at all. If some little 16-year-old girl would've gotten pregnant, it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but since it's Britney Spears' little sister, it's a different story."

Remy Ma Hit With $10 Million Civil Suit Over July Shooting

Makeda Barnes-Joseph, who was allegedly shot by the rapper, also claims record companies encouraged Remy Ma to engage in violent behavior.

In yet another setback for Remy Ma, the rapper's friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against her, according to Reuters. Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) is accused of shooting Barnes-Joseph in July after a dispute that took place on a street in New York.

In the suit, reportedly filed in a New York court on Friday, Barnes-Joseph accuses Remy Ma of "willfully, wantonly and maliciously" shooting her. The suit also names the rapper's record companies, including Universal Music Group and Sure Shot Recordings, as defendants, alleging they encouraged Remy Ma to engage in violent behavior as part of her image.

Ivan Fisher, her lawyer, said Barnes-Joseph's lawsuit was "looking for the deepest pocket it could find" and called it "irresponsible," according to Reuters.

Barnes-Joseph reportedly claims in the suit that she suffered severe physical harm and mental anguish after the July shooting, which took place on a New York street after a dispute over money missing from the rapper's belongings. Remy Ma fled the scene but later turned herself in and was charged on counts of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession.

Remy Ma is due to stand trail next year on charges of gang assault and witness tampering stemming from an August incident in which prosecutors say the rapper ordered a group of men to attack Barnes-Joseph's boyfriend. The man suffered a shattered jaw in the attack, according to The Associated Press. Remy Ma has pleaded not guilty to the charges, vehemently denying that she shot Barnes-Joseph. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Jamie Lynn Spears Made 'The Right Decision,' Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee Says

'Apparently, she's going to have the child, and I respect that,' anti-abortion presidential contender recently told CBS News.

Everyone seems to have something to say about Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy: people like you, celebrities, residents in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana. Now even a presidential candidate is voicing his opinion on the news.

Republican contender Mike Huckabee recently weighed in on the 16-year-old "Zoey 101" star's pregnancy, which was revealed on Tuesday via an interview she gave to OK! magazine.

"Apparently, she's going to have the child, and I think that is the right decision, a good decision, and I respect that and appreciate it," he told CBS News.

"I hope it is not an encouragement to other 16-year-olds who think that is the best course of action. But at the same time I'm not going to condemn her," continued Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister who has been soaring in the polls lately due to increased support from Christian conservatives. "There'll be plenty of people in line to do that and I always look for the shortest lines. I just hope that she will make another right decision, and that's to give that child all the love and kindness and care that she can."

Huckabee, who is anti-abortion, also said, "It's a tragedy when a 16-year-old who is not really prepared for all the responsibilities of adult life is going to be now faced with all the responsibilities of honest-to-goodness adult life."

This isn't the first time Huckabee has shown his pop-culture savvy. The former Arkansas governor has also made headlines with a tongue-in-cheek ad featuring Chuck Norris.

Marilyn Manson Countersues Bandmate; Plus Chingy, DMX, Yung Berg, Jordin Sparks, Mario, Kid Rock & More, In For The Record

Chingy shoots second Hate It or Love It video; DMX inks new record deal; Yung Berg arrested on set of Ray J video shoot.

Marilyn Manson has fired back at Stephen Gregory Bier Jr. — known to fans by his stage name, "Madonna Wayne Gacy" — by countersuing his former keyboardist for breach of contract, according to The Associated Press. In court papers reportedly filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Manson claimed Bier did not fulfill his obligations to take part in master recordings, concerts and the selling of his band's merchandise. The suit came in response to a breach-of-contract suit Bier filed against Manson back in August that sought more than $20 million in damages. Bier charged Manson shorted him on salary and medical support, and instead used the band's profits to fund his lavish lifestyle. The suit claimed Manson used the money to pay for his lavish lifestyle, drug habit and the production of his upcoming film, "Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll," among other things. According to Manson's countersuit, the pair's business partnership was dissolved in 1996, once Manson became the clear leader of the band. While Bier has been paid income for CD sales, live gigs and merchandise sales, the suit alleges he had "failed to render services to the best of his ability and in a practical and cooperative manner." The suit further claims Bier was often tardy for band recordings, performances and promotional appearances, and that he had provided confidential band information to the media and other people without Manson's consent. Manson's suit seeks unspecified general and special damages, and he's also seeking a court order to prevent Bier from releasing more confidential band information. ...

Chingy recently shot the video for his second Hate It or Love It single, "Gimme That," in Los Angeles. The track feature fellow Disturbing Tha Peace members Ludacris and Bobby Valentino. "Gimme That" follows the Amerie-assisted "Fly Like Me," the lead track on his recently released album. "It's a club song, about partying, having fun and just kicking it," the St. Louis rapper told MTV News. "Just one of them type of songs." ... DMX, who once considered changing his name to Dog, will release his next two albums through Bodog Entertainment, according to Billboard.com. The rapper recently inked a deal with the Canadian online gaming company's music division and plans to put out both discs, Walk With Me Now and You'll Fly With Me Later, next year. Bodog recently nabbed the international distribution rights for the new Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams. ...

Yung Berg was arrested Friday in Miami Beach, Florida, on the set of Ray J's video shoot for "Sexy Can I." The upstart rapper is featured on the track and, according to his rep, he was taken into police custody after authorities discovered him smoking marijuana. A publicist for Berg confirmed to MTV News that he is still in custody and is waiting to be released on bail. ...

Jordin Sparks, Mario, Backstreet Boys, Teddy Geiger and others have teamed with mobile-media company Mozes for "Voices of America," a campaign that allows people to send well-wishes to soldiers overseas via voice messages. People can call the toll-free number 888-312-2612 to send messages to troops, who will have access to them through Armed Forces Entertainment. Hinder, Five for Fighting, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman and others are also participating in the campaign. ... Kid Rock busted out a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," a song that appeared on his recent Rock'n'Roll Jesus LP, for 500 U.S. troops as part of a United Service Organizations tour stop staged Thursday in Kabul, Afghanistan. Robin Williams, Lance Armstrong and Lewis Black also participated in the all-star event, which was part of a six-day, 14-show tour. ...

Amy Winehouse is finally getting some good news — Back to Black is likely to become the year's best-selling album in the U.K., according to BBC News. The effort, which was issued in the U.S. in March, actually dropped across the pond late last year. Back to Black also recently helped the troubled singer earn six Grammy Award nominations. Leona Lewis' Spirit and Mika's Life in Cartoon Motion currently follow behind Winehouse's album in terms of 2007 sales, BBC News says. ... Rap rules ringtones, according to AT&T. The cell phone provider released its best-selling list for the year-end and hip-hop artists accounted for eight of the top 10 numbers. Shop Boyz's "Party Like a Rockstar," Mims' "This Is Why I'm Hot," and Soulja Boy's "Crank That" topped the list. Nickelback's "Rockstar" and Akon's "Don't Matter" rounded out the top five. Also making the cut were T-Pain, Hurricane Chris, Sean Kingston, Huey and Fergie. ...

Feist, Eddie Vedder, the Arcade Fire, Björk and M.I.A. are on the long list of nominees for the seventh annual Shortlist Prize, with the announcements of the finalists and winner to be made early next year. Wilco, Animal Collective, Against Me!, Klaxons, Puscifer, PJ Harvey, Spoon, the Hives, Of Montreal, LCD Soundsystem and Serj Tankian are also among the 54 artists who are in the running. Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody and the Killers' Ronnie Vannucci are on the panel that picked the nominees. ... Dwight Schrute is taking over the Spirit Awards — Rainn Wilson, who plays the power-hungry character on "The Office," will host the indie-film-hailing ceremony on February 23. The ceremony will be held the day before the Oscars and feature writing contributions from Wilson, even though he is a member of the Writers Guild of America. The WGA, which is on strike, granted a waiver to the Spirit Awards organizer to hire writers for the event. ...

In some crumbelievable news for Stephen Colbert, newspaper editors and broadcast producers have voted him as AP's Celebrity of the Year, the news service announced Friday. He beat out J.K. Rowling, Al Gore, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Judd Apatow and Kanye West. "In receiving this award, I am pleased that I was chosen over two great spinners of fantasy — J.K. Rowling and Al Gore," Colbert, who launched a presidential bid earlier this year, told AP. "Best of all, this makes me the official front-runner for next year's Drug-Fueled Downward Spiral of the year. P.S. Look for my baby bump this spring." "The Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" will start up production again on January 7, albeit without their writers, it was announced Thursday. ...

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco is getting pressure from members of the Congressional Black Caucus to pardon the Jena Six, according to AP. In a letter that was reportedly mailed to the governor this week, Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee said Mychal Bell, the other teens and their families "have suffered enough, as has the State of Louisiana and the town of Jena." According to AP, Blanco's press secretary said Friday that she cannot grant a pardon or commutation without the state Pardon Board, which has its next meeting on January 17, recommending to do so. Blanco leaves office three days before that. Lee is joined by 14 other members of the caucus who are asking Blanco to support releasing Bell, who was sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile facility after a plea deal was struck earlier this month. ...

Score one for Nick Lachey — the choir he put together from his Cincinnati hometown won NBC's "Clash of the Choirs" contest Thursday night. "I've been blown away by my choir's poise," Jessica Simpson's ex said on the show. "It's made up of amateur singers. They've never done this before." The 20 singers are taking home a quarter-million dollars for the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. ... Megadeth have heart — the metal band's frontman, Dave Mustaine, and his wife recently organized a Toys for Tots donation drive for families affected by the wildfires in his native Southern California. The toys were delivered to Camp Pendleton, the North Coast Church — which the Mustaines go to — and the town of Fallbrook. "We live in a little town, and this is nothing any neighbor wouldn't do for another neighbor," he said in a statement. ... Eddie Van Halen's divorce with Valerie Bertinelli, his wife of 25 years, has been finalized. The ex-spouses have one son, Wolfgang, who is touring with the reunited Van Halen.

12.20.2007

Remy Ma's European tour plans appear to have fizzled — a New York judge has denied her request to travel overseas for a trek that was supposed to begin December 31 in Paris, The Associated Press reports. A lawyer for the rapper (real name: Remy Smith) argued Thursday (December 20) that his client needed to tour to earn money because she hasn't been getting enough bookings in the U.S. since she was arrested in July for allegedly shooting a friend over missing money, but the judge said she couldn't leave the country due to the seriousness of the charges. Remy Ma was ordered earlier this month to stand trail on charges of gang assault and witness tampering. She is due in court on January 3 for adjournment where prosecutors will decide whether to admit DNA evidence in the case. ...

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert fans can breathe a sigh of relief — "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" will start up production again on January 7, albeit without their writers, AP reports. In a joint statement, the pair reportedly said, "We would like to return to work with our writers. If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence." Stewart and Colbert are the most recent late-night hosts to announce their return to the airwaves amid the ongoing writers' strike, joining the likes of Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, who will return January 2. ...

So what's really going on between Rihanna and Josh Hartnett? The singer addresses the rumors in the January issue of Allure, saying there isn't much truth to them. "I went to [New York club] Pink Elephant, and he came by," she said. "All of a sudden, the next day I'm seeing that we were kissing and hugging up each other. You can't even go out with a friend who's a celebrity and have a good time without people making sh-- up ... well, at least he's good-looking, right?" Rih Rih also talked with the mag, which calls itself "The Beauty Expert," about — what else? — beauty. "While in America beautiful is skinny, in Barbados it's thick — girls with huge butts and nice curves," she said, contrasting the U.S. with her homeland. In other Rihanna news, she — as well as My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte, Timbaland, Rufus Wainwright and many others — have partnered with Designers Against AIDS to create men's and women's lines called "Fashion Against AIDS." The lines will be available exclusively at H&M stores beginning in February, with one-fourth of the proceeds from the sales going to YouthAIDS, an HIV/AIDS prevention initiative that serves 60 countries worldwide. ...

Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah will star in the silver-screen adaptation of the best-selling book "The Secret Life of Bees," and Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning are also in negotiations to star in the flick, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Keys and Latifah are due to play beekeeping sisters who take in Hudson's and Fanning's characters after they run away from home. Production will reportedly begin in January for the movie, which is targeting a 2008 theatrical release. ... Rick Ross is blaming clearance issues for the delay of his second album, Trilla, according to Billboard.com. He said a DJ Toomp-produced song called "This Me" was one of the tracks in question. Ross is reportedly considering "Boss" (featuring T-Pain) as his second single. ...

Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet for My Valentine, Bless the Fall and Atreyu lead the lineup for next year's Taste of Chaos trek, which will launch February 29 in Denver and continue through April 6 in El Paso, Texas. An Internet presale begins January 5 on the tour's Web site, with tickets going on sale nationally January 12. ... Death Cab for Cutie have posted on their Web site a new video teasing their next album. The clip features a portion of a song that will presumably appear on the group's yet-untitled LP and announces that the effort will be out in May. According to the video, the album was recorded in 44 days at three studios, in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco. ...

"Into the Wild" got some critical love Thursday as Sean Penn's flick scooped up four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, including best lead actor for Emile Hirsch. Ryan Gosling, Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Viggo Mortensen and George Clooney all got nods, although "Atonement" — which dominates the list of Golden Globe contenders with seven noms — was shut out altogether. ... South by Southwest is taking a walk on the wild side — Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at the music conference and film festival, which will take place March 12-16 in Austin, Texas. The Velvet Underground-er will speak March 13 at the Austin Convention Center in conjunction with a screening of Julian Schnabel's new documentary, "Lou Reed's Berlin," which revolves around the rock legend's 1973 album. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates and composer Steve Reich will also give talks at SXSW. ...

Pennywise have cooked up an interesting album-release scheme with MySpace Records: The punks will make their yet-untitled new album available for free DRM-free download on MySpace for two weeks, starting March 25. That day will also see the release of an enhanced CD/DVD version of the effort for sale at retail outlets. To download the album for free, users have to add promotional partner "Textango" as their MySpace friend. "We know that this will piss off a lot of people in the music industry," guitarist Fletcher Dragge said in a statement. "And what do we say to that? 'Who cares?' " Cameron Webb (Social Distortion, Sum 41) will produce and mix the effort. ... Are the Eagles too good for the Super Bowl? Apparently so — according to AP, the group turned down an offer to perform at the annual football extravaganza. As for a potential opportunity to play at the Grand Ole Opry, however, bandmember Don Henley said, "That would be an honor." ...

Live Nation has sewn up a deal with a German company that will allow the concert promoter to create its own ticketing service, according to Variety. The new service will reportedly allow Live Nation, which ended talks with Ticketmaster in August, to have more control over customer data, increasing sponsorship opportunities. There's another plus for Live Nation in the deal: It will reportedly allow the company to get the fees charged to customers over the listed ticket prices. ... A report issued Thursday determined that there were no violations in Paris Hilton's jailing in June but did find that three Los Angeles County sheriff's employees violated policy when Mel Gibson was arrested last year for misdemeanor drunk driving in Malibu, California, according to AP. The sheriff's employees have reportedly since been disciplined. The news service also said the report found that a sheriff's supervisor considered holding back details about the actor's anti-Semitic rant from an arrest report, but a captain eventually overruled him. ...

As he awaits a retrial, disgraced record producer Phil Spector has filed suit again in an attempt to get a refund of the $1 million fee he paid to former attorney Robert Shapiro, according to AP. Five years after his arrest in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson, Spector filed a second lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that Shapiro cheated him and used their personal relationship to enrich himself unjustly. In December 2005, Spector dropped an earlier suit against Shapiro, the first lawyer to represent Spector after his arrest, with the provision that he could refile at a later time. The new suit makes similar allegations that Shapiro "took unfair and unscrupulous advantage of his friendship and position of trust with Mr. Spector, and decided to use Mr. Spector's arrest as an opportunity to make a financial windfall and garner publicity for himself." It also named Shapiro's law firm as a defendant, claiming it "stood behind and vouched for Shapiro's work." The suit alleges that Spector was under tremendous stress following his arrest and had not taken his medication for mental problems at the time he agreed to Shapiro's $1 million retainer fee. ...

Being an "American Idol" finalist ain't what it used to be. For proof, look at the depressed mug on curly haired season-six wonder Chris Sligh, 29, who is the main attraction for the alcohol-free First Night Westerly New Year's Eve celebration in the tiny Rhode Island town. After a day of face-painting, extreme sports video-gaming, karate demos, magicians, mimes, hayrides and swing-dance lessons, Sligh is slated to take the stage at the YMCA gym just before midnight. ... Chuck D, Lil Boosie and, oddly enough, Buckethead will salute James Brown by performing at a tribute show on Saturday in Covington, Kentucky, Billboard reports. Bootsy Collins, who was mentored by the late legend, is putting on the concert, and proceeds will go to the future launch of a museum and the rebuilding of Brown's early recording home. Brown's most recent band, the Soul Generals; members of his original backing group, the JB's; and MC Danny Ray will also play at the event. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions will take place in Cleveland in March 2009 — which is fitting, since the Rock Hall is located in the city. For the past decade, the event has been held in New York.

Panic! At The Disco Solve 'You Don't Have To Worry' Puzzle, Talk New Album

The mysterious phrase on the band's site is from the LP's first single, but there are more surprises to come.

Despite what you might presume, the members of Panic! at the Disco have no idea what's happening on their Web site. Really.

"We don't really know anything about it," bassist Jon Walker laughed. "It went blank one day, and ever since, someone's been updating it." "The short story is that our site got hacked, and we don't know what's happened to it," frontman Brendon Urie added. "Now our songs are getting leaked, and all hell is breaking loose."

S-u-u-r-e, guys. The mystery surrounding Panic's site started last week, when strange, "Wheel-of-Fortune"-inspired word puzzles and invisible clocks began to appear. And it continues to grow, first with the revelation of a single phrase, "You don't have to worry," and then with the appearance of a jigsaw puzzle, featuring the date "01.01.08" and a muffled, five-second snippet of a song, presumably from the band's upcoming album.

So, really. What's the deal?

"['You don't have to worry'] is a lyric in the first track of our new record," explained drummer Spencer Smith. "We chose it to open the record, [because] it was written for that purpose."

"It's like a disclaimer almost," Urie chimed in.

It bears mention here that this interview took place on the back lot of a studio in Los Angeles, where Panic were filming the video for "Nine in the Afternoon," the first single from their new, yet-untitled album. And while the bandmembers were decidedly less-than-forthcoming with details about the song, they did say that it was the first one they wrote for the album — but it's not clear if that's counting all the songs they reportedly scrapped earlier this year.

"This is the first song we wrote. It's a song we all wrote together. It's basically about our situation for the past few years, just kind of looking at it all in a good way, and as a positive thing," guitarist Ryan Ross said. "It's one of the most straightforward songs we've ever had, lyrically. We wanted to have a song people could just get on the first listen. ... It was one of those spur-of-the-moment songs that came together in a couple of hours. It's just a fun song; it's not really meant to be taken seriously."

And as for the video itself, well, there's not much we can give away, except to say that there are gratuitous fake moustaches involved. And a rather bizarre parade being led by the guys in Panic, who are dressed in what could only be described as "Sgt. Pepper's-meets-ice-fishing" attire (lots of epaulets and thermal underwear). Each of them also wears a sash printed with the phrase "Pretty Odd." Perhaps that's another clue in the ongoing Web site mystery? Or, even something simpler, like maybe the title of the record?

"You can't know yet. It's a secret," Ross teased. "There's a lot of surprises ahead, [but] it has a meaning."

"If you do this interview again in a couple months, we'll tell you," Smith added. "It's not that we don't want to tell you; it's that we're not allowed. It goes along with the theme of the whole record."

Borat No More?: Sacha Baron Cohen Reportedly Hanging Up The Mustache

'Every new person who sees the Borat movie is one less person I 'get' with Borat again,' the prank-pulling comedian said in recent interview, according to U.K. paper.

Hold the high fives: In a rare interview out of character, British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen told U.K. newspaper The Telegraph that he has retired Borat, the clueless Kazakh journalist and star of last year's smash hit "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," owing to the fact that the character has become too popular to fool people.

"When I was being Ali G and Borat, I was in character sometimes 14 hours a day and I came to love them, so admitting I am never going to play them again is quite a sad thing," he told the newspaper. "It is like saying goodbye to a loved one. The problem with success, although it's fantastic, is that every new person who sees the Borat movie is one less person I 'get' with Borat again, so it's a kind of self-defeating form, really."

Rumored to be made for less than $20 million, "Borat" became a cultural phenomenon when it was released in November 2006, earning rave reviews and over $260 million worldwide. For his part, Baron Cohen nabbed the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.

Given the overwhelming success of the character and of the film, it came as little surprise when, last February, News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch told a New York audience that his company had already signed Baron Cohen for a "Borat" sequel.

That may have been nothing more than wishful thinking, a representative for Twentieth Century Fox — which is owned by News Corp. — told MTV News, insisting that a movie was never officially announced, green-lit or put into development.

Baron Cohen is currently starring as Signor Adolfo Pirelli in Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and hard at work on "Brüno," in which he will play a flamboyant, homosexual, Austrian fashion expert. The film is being shot in a similar style to "Borat."

Baron Cohen's personal representatives had no comment at press time.

R. Kelly Child-Pornography Trial To Begin May 9

Also on Friday, R&B star avoided having bond revoked.

After years of incessant delays, R. Kelly's child-pornography case will finally commence May 9. The trial had previously been scheduled for September 17 but was postponed early that month because the lead prosecutor had recently given birth.

Kelly also avoided having his bond revoked Friday morning. Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan had threatened to do so after chiding the singer for missing a hearing on Wednesday after his tour bus was stopped in Utah for a speeding infraction. An arrest warrant had been issued for the R&B singer, who avoided going to jail when he showed for a 9 a.m. court date on Thursday, but Gaughan threatened to revoke the bond anyway.

Also on Friday, Gaughan considered forcing Kelly to call off his U.S. tour but didn't follow through with the punishment. Gaughan said he decided on leniency because of the "unintended consequences" of canceling such an event, including disappointing fans and a loss of income for venue workers.

The judge did, however, order him to cancel a January 13 concert in Hampton, Virginia, to ensure Kelly doesn't miss his next court appearance on January 14, the paper reports. He performed Friday night in Chicago.

In addition, Gaughan mandated that any vehicles transporting Kelly were not to break any speeding laws, and that if the singer couldn't return to Chicago in time for his next court appearance, that he must return by aircraft. The Chicago Tribune quoted Kelly as saying, "I'm sorry for this whole incident, and the next time I would be on a plane if it came down to it."

The Kelly case has dragged on for five years without a trial and originated with 14 counts of child pornography filed against him in 2002 for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with an allegedly underage girl. Kelly, 40, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Pitbull Arrested For Drunk Driving In Miami; Will Plead Not Guilty To Charge

Rapper was arrested Friday morning and is out of jail after posting a $1,000 bond.

According to an arrest report obtained by MTV News, Pitbull was arrested in Miami early Friday morning and booked on a driving while under the influence charge. The 26-year-old rapper was released from county jail after posting a $1,000 bond, according to The Miami-Herald. He plans to plead not guilty to the charges, according to a statement from his lawyer.

The Miami-Dade Police Department claims Pitbull (born: Armando C. Perez) was driving a silver Mercedes-Benz at 93 mph when he passed a marked police cruiser at around 3 a.m. The car was stopped, and Pitbull was instructed to exit the vehicle and step away from it. He failed to respond, the report reads, and officers "became concerned for [their] safety." The commands were repeated three times before Pitbull allegedly asked, "Come on, papo — what's up?" ("Papo" is slang for "junior.")

According to the arrest report, officers tried to explain to Pitbull why his car was stopped, at which point the rapper informed them that "this ain't nothing," and they "were wasting their time." Police detected a strong odor of alcohol over the gum Pitbull was chewing, the report claims, and noticed his eyes were bloodshot and watery. His speech was also slurred, police said. The rapper was asked if he'd been drinking and submitted to field sobriety tests. He reportedly failed them, and, as he was being arrested, again told police, "This is a big waste of your time, papo."

Pitbull was taken into custody and later refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test, police said.

"Mr. Perez will be pleading not guilty to [the charge]," Angela N. Martinez, a legal representative for the rapper, said in a statement issued Friday. "This is all the unfortunate result of a misunderstanding. Mr. Perez and his legal team are confident that [the charge] will not be upheld. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we would like to ask everyone to respect his and his family's privacy. Mr. Perez asked me to remind everyone to drink responsibly during this holiday season."

The Cuban-American rapper's latest LP, The Boatlift, was released late last month, and the record currently sits in the #24 spot on Billboard's most recent independent albums sales chart.

Jamie Lynn Spears' Pregnancy: Is It Legal?

Statutory-rape laws vary widely from state to state.

The announced pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears, the 16-year-old sister of Britney Spears and the star of Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101," opens up a wide range of complicated legal questions. Given Spears' status as a minor, what does that mean for longtime boyfriend Casey Aldridge, whom Spears reportedly met while attending church services? Depending on a number of factors, it could mean jail time for Aldridge — who, depending on the source, is either 17, 18, or 19 — but only if Spears' family decides to press charges, which, judging by the public statements made by press time, appears unlikely.

(At press time, MTV News was unable to confirm Aldridge's age definitively: Many reports — including that of OK! magazine, which broke the story — say he's 18, some say 19, his MySpace page says 17.)

Ultimately, the first question for investigators would be the "venue," or the state in which the baby was conceived. Without that information, no criminal proceedings can be initiated. According to the penal codes of the three states where Aldridge and Spears, who turned 16 in April, were most likely to have conceived the child — California, where "Zoey 101" is taped; Louisiana, where Spears lives when the show is between seasons, and where she has said she intends to raise her child; and Mississippi, where Aldridge resides — Aldridge's paternity could potentially give rise to criminal charges.

According to the FBI's definition, statutory rape is characterized as non-forcible sexual intercourse with a person who is younger than the statutory age of consent in each respective state. The actual ages for these laws vary greatly from state-to-state, as do the punishments for the alleged offenders. Many states do not use the term "statutory rape," simply calling it "rape" or "unlawful sexual penetration," among a variety of other titles. One such state is Mississippi, where the crime is called "having carnal knowledge of a child."

MTV News consulted three legal experts — Father Lawrence Moore, associate dean of academic affairs for Loyola University's College of Law in New Orleans; University of Mississippi School of Law professor Philip Broadhead; and Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office — who noted that these laws apply to any type of sexual contact. Dating someone without sexual contact cannot be considered a form of statutory rape, and is almost never illegal in any state. All states have an "age of consent," or the age at which a person can legally consent to sexual activity and can then no longer be a victim of statutory rape.

Some states will make exceptions when the older person is also young or of a similar age, or if they marry the minor before the act of sexual intercourse or before being charged with the offense. These laws presume coercion, because a minor is legally incapable of giving consent to a sexual act.

In some states, criminal proceedings against an offender cannot be initiated unless the offended person's family presses charges. Assuming the couple are in good standing, Aldridge is probably in the clear. However, several online reports have crept up in the wake of Spears' announcement Tuesday night, claiming the couple's relationship was over; they cite Aldridge's alleged MySpace page, the headline of which reads "Me and Jamie Are Over :(." If the couple have indeed split up and the parting was less than amicable, Spears and her parents could file a formal complaint, which would set the legal wheels in motion.

In Louisiana, the age of consensual sexual intercourse is 17. The state's statutory-rape law goes into effect if the offender is 19 or older and has had sexual relations with a minor between ages 12 and 17; such offenses are considered felony crimes.

There's also a misdemeanor version of the law, which states that if the offender is between ages 17 and 19, and has sexual relations with a person who is between ages 15 and 17 with the difference in both participants' ages being at least two years, the offender could be charged with misdemeanor carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Those convicted face up to 10 years behind bars, with or without hard labor.

The New York Post quoted Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Travis of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, where the Spears family lives as saying that the couple broke no state laws if the child was conceived in Louisiana.

"From my preliminary investigation, she is 16 and he is 18," he said. "If, in fact, it happened in the state of Louisiana, that does not violate any criminal statutes." However, if Aldridge was 19 at the time of conception, there could be a case.

In Mississippi, the age of consent is 16 and the sentence for carnal knowledge of a minor is up to five years in jail, in addition to a $5,000 fine. This offense is committed when a person who is 17 or older engages in sexual intercourse with a minor who is at least 14 but under age 16; however, if the victim is less than 36 months younger than the offender, then no crime has been committed.

According to University of Mississippi School of Law professor Philip Broadhead, the state amended the sexual battery and rape statutes six years ago, raising the age of consent from 14 to 16.

"There are exceptions to the law," he said. "For instance, a 17-year-old has sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend — they put age ranges into the statute to lessen the penalties and in some cases do away with the penalties altogether. The bottom line is, the Mississippi legislature raised the age of consent to 16. [However,] if a 16-year-old girl has a 19-year-old partner, that's statutory rape — absolutely.

"The venue would be important as to what specific law applies, of course, but proving that would be difficult, because [Spears may not] cooperate and he has a right to remain silent," he continued. "Jurisdiction and venue are the first things you need to answer. If you can't, there's no going forward."

California's penal code is comparatively simple. It puts the age of consent at 18, and defines unlawful sexual intercourse as "an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a person who is not the spouse of the perpetrator, if the person is a minor." The crime is a misdemeanor if the offender is less than three years older or three years older than the victim; someone more than three years older could be charged with a felony.

Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, said a person is considered an adult in California when they turn 18. She wouldn't speculate as to Aldridge's criminal culpability, reiterating what Broadhead said about the site of the alleged offense.

"It doesn't make any difference if [Spears] works [in California], it's where the sex occurred," she said. "I don't know where the child was conceived and I'm not sure what the circumstances are. The law is clear."

'Hobbit' Casting Call: We Want Ryan Gosling, Orlando Bloom For Tolkien Tale

We cast the story's biggest roles, and wonder if Gerard Butler and David Bowie can also be lured to the set.

With the recent news that Peter Jackson is finally returning to Middle-earth, it's not just fans of "The Hobbit" who are rejoicing. Just ask Ian McKellen or Andy Serkis. As Gandalf the Grey and Gollum, respectively, these two Tolkien titans are all but certain to return.

But what of the other characters up for grabs in "The Hobbit"? We took a look at some of the bigger roles available and picked our favorites. Following Jackson's casting decisions for "Lord of the Rings," we considered names that were known, but not necessarily big stars. Check out our choices below and then head over to the MTV movies blog where we tackle the big one.

Spoiler alert! Major plot points of the novel are revealed below.

Smaug

Book Says: The greatest dragon of his time, Smaug the Magnificent guarded over the stolen treasure of the Lonely Mountain. He is nearly invincible due to a belly covered in gems, and his numerous strengths include his immense size and barbed tail. He also possesses a penetrating gaze with the power to mesmerize. Haughty and hateful, he has but two weaknesses: his arrogance and a small, bare spot on his underbelly.

We Say: Smaug will clearly be a CG creation, either through motion capture or pure animation. But while his appearance will no doubt be spectacular, it's his voice that should impress the most — conveying his intelligence, his greed, his great disdain for Bilbo, his love of possessing wealth purely for the purpose of possessing wealth. He thinks himself better and more worthy than any other creature, making his conversations with Bilbo a terrifying game of cat and mouse. He should be played by Jeremy Irons.

Alternates: Nobody does the sort of haughty disdain we're looking for better than Irons ... but as Lucius Malfoy in "Harry Potter," Jason Isaacs comes pretty close. We'd like to see him out of the blond wig and into the red belly of the beast.

Thorin Oakenshield

Book Says: It is dwarf leader Thorin's great desire for his birthright that sets the action of "The Hobbit" in motion. Although old by the time the novel begins (even for a dwarf), Thorin is nevertheless a capable and cunning leader. Quick to anger, his great weakness is a fierce and legendary stubbornness. He refuses until the very last moment before his death to see the error of his ways.

We Say: Anybody willing to go through the makeup to become a dwarf is already a hero in our book. But while Jackson ultimately has to cast 13 of them, they all flow naturally from the decision he makes with Thorin, on whose moral authority rests, not just the honor of his fellows, but the integrity of the story itself. The role will not suffer the indignity of anything less than strength personified. The actor cast, then, should be someone who doesn't suffer indignities at all. Period. That actor should be Brian Cox. He's of the right age, physical proportion and temperament.

Alternates: If physical qualities weren't an issue (which is a kind way of saying, "If we weren't looking for a stocky actor"), Ben Kingsley would make an ideal Thorin for all the same reasons as Cox.

Bard the Bowman

Book Says: A skilled archer from the town of Dale, Bard fires the arrow that fells the mighty Smaug. Described as somewhat grim of face, Bard is nevertheless a fair and wise man, who takes leadership of the town after the departure of the Master, ultimately becoming the king of Dale. He is the closest we get in the story to "LOTR" characters like Aragorn or Faramir, an Anglo-Saxon hero in the mold of Beowulf.

We Say: The role of Bard is the easiest and most tempting way to shoehorn a huge star — a man's man like Russell Crowe or Christian Bale — into the production. Although he's more of a straightforward good guy, lacking the nuance of representative men from "LOTR," we'd nevertheless like to see Jackson cast an actor who could invest the character with the same type of soul that Viggo Mortensen and Sean Bean did with Aragorn and Boromir. We'd like to see Jackson mend fences with Ryan Gosling, who left the director's adaptation of "The Lovely Bones."

Alternates: We said we wanted to resist the temptation to cast a big star. Is it too late for Gerard Butler?

Thranduil

Book Says: King of the Silvans, Thranduil leads the Elves of Mirkwood. He imprisons the dwarves when they trespass through his forest, and then demands a share of Smaug's bounty once the dragon is defeated. He is described as having blond hair ... just like his son Legolas.

We Say: If Orlando Bloom doesn't come back for at least a background cameo, we give up. Naturally distrustful of dwarves, Thranduil can be spiteful and terse — but he still possesses the wisdom of his kin. Ideally, the actor cast would be somewhat regal, someone we believe capable of great power but also great benevolence. Ideally, that actor would be somewhat similar in speech and appearance to Orlando Bloom. Ideally, that actor would be David Bowie.

Alternates: Orlando Bloom's old man? Yeah, Stellan Skarsgård has done that pretty well before.

Beorn

Book Says: Of immense size and strength, Beorn is a shapeshifter, able to take on the form of a large bear. He has a thick black beard, large shoulders and brown hair. A skilled and dedicated woodsman, he is most highly regarded for his animal husbandry. He keeps many intelligent creatures, of which he is fiercely protective. Fearsome and fearless.

We Say: If he wasn't already known for similar work as Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" series, Robbie Coltrane would be a boffo choice. And yet, Beorn is so much more explosive, so much more kinetic than Hagrid, that he demands someone much more menacing. He demands someone possibly a little unhinged, who can go from gentle to ferocious at the drop of a hat. He demands Alfred Molina.

Alternates: The predominant rumor is that "Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi will helm "The Hobbit" franchise. If he directs — and right now it looks like he might — well, you know what that means. Given the circumstances, he has to appear somewhere on our list. Let's stick Bruce Campbell here.

Ike Turner Funeral And Memorial Service Held In Southern California

Phil Spector and Little Richard were among those who reportedly eulogized the rock legend at the Friday remembrance.

A three-hour funeral and memorial service for Ike Turner was held Friday at the Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena, California, south of Los Angeles.

Phil Spector and Little Richard were among those who eulogized the late rock and roll pioneer, according to The Associated Press. Little Richard reportedly called Turner "one of the greatest musicians I have ever met in my life."

Turner's eight-piece band, the Kings of Rhythm, reportedly performed "Nutbush City Limits," "Proud Mary" and more of the rock legend's greatest hits.

The Ikettes, a female trio who backed the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, were also in attendance, according to TMZ.com.

Turner was a musician, bandleader, talent scout and record producer best known for his work with former wife Tina Turner. He died December 12 at his home in San Marcos, California, at age 76.

According to TMZ.com, Turner will be cremated. The disposition of the ashes has not been announced, the site says.

Ike and Tina Turner were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and he was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2001. Ike released his last solo album, Risin' With the Blues, in 2006, and it earned him a Grammy Award.

While his contributions to the world of music were largely overshadowed by his personal turmoil (documented in the 1993 Tina Turner biopic, "What's Love Got to Do With It"), Turner was a true rock legend, having released what many consider to be the first rock and roll song, "Rocket 88" (albeit under the name of his band's singer, Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats), in 1951.

Little Richard alluded to Turner's personal troubles in his eulogy, as did others, although no one addressed his domestic- or drug-abuse problems.

"Stop holding this mess — whatever it is — against this man. Even Jesus forgives," Richard said.

Spector, on the other hand, made direct accusations at Tina Turner — as well as Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg — in his eulogy. He reportedly said, "Ike made Tina the jewel she was," and that he was "demonized and vilified" by her. Spector — was tried for murder earlier this year — also said Winfrey and Goldberg "demonized" Ike Turner on their talk shows, and that the "What's Love Got to Do With It" biopic was a "piece of trash movie," according to AP.

"He was sent to prison for no other reason than he was a black man in America."

Fabolous Insists He Wasn't At New York Club The Night His Friend Was Killed There

'I was not there. One-hundred percent with a cherry on top,' he says.

NEW YORK — For Fabolous, this holiday season hasn't exactly been filled with much joy.

The Brooklyn rapper has been tangled in a police investigation since Thanksgiving regarding his whereabouts on the night of November 23, when a childhood friend and associate of his was fatally stabbed outside Manhattan nightspot Duvet after an altercation with another club attendee.

According to New York's Daily News, a club promoter spotted the rapper at Duvet that night. In a statement released through his lawyer, however, Fabolous (real name: John Jackson) denied the charge and explained he was with his family the night his friend, Shamel McKinney, was killed.

In reports, Fabolous and his crew, Street Family, have been characterized as an organized robbery ring that uses the rapper's fame to attract celebrities while his circle later holds them up for their belongings.

According to the Daily News report, police believe McKinney was targeted after attempting to rob a man for his chain.

On Monday night, while at the Soho Grand Hotel for Mary J. Blige's album-release party, Fabolous emphatically denied being present at Duvet on the night in question and denied accusations surrounding Street Family.

"I was not there. One-hundred percent with a cherry on top, fingers crossed, however you want, [whatever] makes your day of trust, I was completely not at Duvet club that night," Fab told MTV News. "I was at home with my family on Thanksgiving night," he continued, although he was actually referring to the previous evening.

Despite his rather awkard phrasing (he may have intended "fingers crossed" to mean he's hoping for a positive outcome; perhaps he meant to say "cross my heart"), Fab asserted that he was not in the club on that night.

"It's a terrible tragedy. He's a friend of mine, of course. And even if I went to the club, there's no crime with going to the club and celebrating. So, if I was there, I would have no problem saying I was there. But I wasn't there. I never took a stand and said anything [about McKinney's murder] at first, because it was a grieving point for people's families, and he was a son and a father and somebody's brother. So I'm not gonna take defense in that, I'm gonna make sure the family is straight first.

"But I seen there was a lot of slandering getting kind of thrown on my name and tainting my name as far as making me seem like I'm some kind of organized-crime guy who goes to these clubs and [sets] people up," he added. "And that's totally so far from what I'm about — and even what Street Family is about. So I just wanted to clarify that. And the ... thing about me being in the club is ridiculous. I'm sure if I went to a club there would be pictures ... there would be [photographers] making sure you would see I was in the club."

The Daily News reported in early December that a suspect in the case had been arrested. According to the report, police believe McKinney was targeted by Anthony Taylor after an altercation inside the club between the two men. After both men were kicked out of the club, the fight continued outside, where Taylor allegedly stabbed McKinney to death. As of press time, Taylor has not been charged with any crime.