Lady Gaga Opens Up About Born This Way In Concert

During Oslo show, Gaga talks about recording her still-in-the-works next album.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga (file)
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

Lady Gaga's forthcoming album Born This Way is apparently her "bold and beautiful" "freedom album." During a Monster Ball concert stop in Oslo, the singer opened up a bit more about the record, which she's still working on.

"I am this week in the studio in Norway. ... The guys that ran the studio, they were all from Oslo and they were so nice to me," she told the crowd while sitting at her piano before "Speechless."

Describing the record as "really a very special thing," the singer talked a bit more about why she was working on it while on tour. She said, "People say to me, 'Why don't you wait until the tour is over to finish your album?' and I'll say, 'First off, all my fans are not going to wait that long. I have to keep my fans happy. But secondly, I get so much inspiration every night when I get to be here with you.' And then after the show I drink a bottle of Jameson."

She's been active on Twitter as well, posting a photo of her at a piano that is captioned: "Miss you so little monsters. Been working so hard for you. I can't wait for u to hear the new music." Another tweet included a photo of the singer wearing boots, pants and a skimpy top while sitting on a mixing board, a notebook and a pen in hand. The caption: "I'm on a heater, but this record ain't about poker."

Gaga announced the title of Born This Way during the Video Music Awards in September.

What are you expecting from Born This Way? Let us know in the comments!

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A Teaser Poster For ?Transformers: The Dark Of The Moon? Has Surfaced

On Friday we not only got to see a few photos of high-flying Shia LaBeouf on the SoCal set of the next Transformers film but we also learned that said film has finally been subtitled as Transformers: The Dark of the Moon. Today we get our first look at a new teaser poster purported to [...]

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Stupid Celebrities Friday Links

Christina Hendricks Mistaken for a Prostitute?�–Girls Talkin Smack Celine Dion Reveals the Names of Her Twins�–Tonic Gossip David Beckham and Ellen Prank a Massage Therapist�–Bitten and Bound Charlie Sheen Not Worried Over Recent Drunken Meltdown�–The Celebrity Cafe Halloween Costume Ideas for Adults�–Right Celebrity Kelly Osbourne Goes Topless for a Campaign�–Holly Wire Latest Tron: Legacy Trailer�–Cina [...]

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David Arquette Says He, Courteney & Coco Will Go Trick-Or-Treating Together

Aw, this warms our little hearts!
Even though the couple still haven't said whether or not they plan on getting back together, David Arquette says that he and Courteney Cox still plan on taking their cute little 6-year-old daughter, Coco, trick-or-treating together tonight for Halloween.
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'Saw 3D': The Reviews Are In!

Newest installment in the horror series is expected to gross $20 million in its opening weekend.
By Eric Ditzian

"Saw 3-D"
Photo: Lionsgate Films

"Saw 3D" has nowhere to go but up. Last October, "Saw VI" managed to trap just $14 million over its opening weekend, fewer dollars than the original flick's debut weekend and about half as much as each of the previous four films in the series managed to gross.

"Saw 3D," by contrast, is expected to open somewhere in the low-to-mid $20 million range and top "Paranormal Activity 2" for the #1 spot at the box office. Mind you, that'll be in large part to its inflated ticket price, not an outpouring of critical praise — reviews are decidedly mixed.

The Story
"This time the game revolves around slimy self-help guru Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery), a Jigsaw survivor who has grown rich off his story and parading around fellow victims. Naturally, he's abducted and thrown into another series of morality tests in order to save his wife and fellow cohorts. Meanwhile, the sadistic Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) also plots revenge against Jigsaw's widow (Betsy Russell), who has been locked away in protective custody ever since trying to kill him at the end of 'Saw VI.' And yes, the fate of Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes, in a brief role) is finally revealed in the film's worst-kept secret.

But even though it's no longer a surprise, it's still great to have everyone's favorite Dread Pirate Roberts thrown back into the bloody fray." — Andrew Kasch, Dread Central

The Comparison to The Others "There is tension in the movie (and good thing), and it is grueling (not a good thing). While the script is tight, the direction is not. And it pains me to say so, because Kevin Greutert, who edited the first five chapters of the 'Saw' story and directed the sixth, is such a nice person ... But I can't candy-coat it: Greutert's two 'Saw's, along with (another nice person) David Hackl's, are by far the weakest in the franchise. Talking scenes go on for far too long (allowing one to see how poor some of the acting is), and there isn't much art to the set pieces. Visually-gifted storytellers James Wan ('Saw 1') and Darren Lynn Bousman ('Saws 2', '3', and '4') really set the bar." — Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com

The Traps
"How are the traps this time out? Decent, but again, a step down from 'Saw VI.' One, involving having to physically pull a key from a very difficult place, is pretty effective. Another, involving crossing an area where the floor is almost completely gone, adds a nice bit of adventure to the vibe (and gave me flashbacks to Flanery's days as Indiana Jones). But at the same time, there's nothing truly memorable in the way 'Saw III''s rack or 'Saw VI''s carousal were. One exception: The best trap here is probably the one involving a car and a neat/twisted domino effect caused when it falls from a jack. By the way, I know this is nothing new in this series, but watching 'Saw 3D,' I kept thinking how Jigsaw must have both the brilliance and bank account of Tony Stark, considering how elaborate, specific and complicated these traps are.' — Eric Goldman, IGN

The 3-D
"I'm sort of on the fence. It's technically great — this movie opens things up a bit (an outside trap, several exterior shots) and even the traps themselves are larger, so if any of the movies HAD to be in 3-D, it would be this one. And it was SHOT in 3-D (not a convert) so it automatically looks better than most of what we're seeing. But I'm not sure it's the right fit for this particular franchise — it felt sort of weird to have characters throwing things at you, as if they were sort of having fun too. Not that I always want a grim-fest, but it feels a bit campy at times. You may disagree, but I've always felt the series is much more intelligent than its given credit for, however this stuff gives it a slightly goofy tone, like a 'Final Destination' movie more than 'Saw' one." — BC, Bloody Disgusting

The Final Word
"Jigsaw's signature fiendish traps became the focus of the franchise at some point — you can rewatch the first 'Saw' and see how NOT the focus they were — and that means the films get less titillating as the traps get less inventive ... If we ever thought there was any profundity to Jigsaw's philosophy, surely we long ago realized it was B.S. It seems like we're watching now just because, well, we've watched this much, so we might as well finish. What reward is there for us? We can say we watched all seven of them. Jigsaw would be proud." — Eric D. Snider, Cinematical

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'Paranormal Activity' Creator Answers More Burning Sequel Questions

'PA 2' producer Oren Peli addresses our lingering queries about the horror film.
By Eric Ditzian

Oren Peli
Photo: MTV News

On Monday, just hours after "Paranormal Activity 2" finished up its $40.7 million opening weekend, MTV News stepped in to answer some burning questions about the horror film with the help of director Tod Williams.

But you know what? We had even more questions we wanted answered, so we brought in "PA" creator Oren Peli — who stepped into a producer role for the sequel — to respond to some other lingering queries we had about the film (major spoilers below).

What Happened to the Dog?
As the demon presence ramps up its activity in Kristi and Dan's home, their dog essentially freaks the hell out and has to be rushed to the vet. Perhaps he had a seizure, one of them speculates. But the dog is never seen again. So is the German Shepherd OK?

"Many are concerned," Peli laughed. "As far as I know, the dog is OK. There's a line in there that they're going to pick her up from the vet. So I think she's OK."

What Did the Scratches on the Door Say?
The demon seems to have taken up residence in their basement, and after Kristi is dragged kicking and screaming down there, the camera focuses in on the door. It appears as though a word is scratched into the wood. Does it actually say anything?

"I will say that it does say something, but I'm not sure when is the right time to reveal that," Peli confirmed. "We might want to save that for later. I'm going to keep quiet on that."

Aren't They Glad They Didn't Kill Off Katie in the First Movie?
As fans of the first movie know, Peli filmed a few different endings. In the ending that made it into the theatrical release, Katie survives. But in an alternate ending, she's shot by police. But "PA 2" begins its story prior to the events of the original and ends after those original events take place, with Katie showing up at Kristi's house to commit a few murders. Given that storytelling technique, how happy is Peli that he didn't kill off Katie in the first movie?

Turns out, Peli is confident that even if the alternate "PA" ending stuck, Katie could still have showed up to wreak bloody havoc at the end of "PA 2." "When I did the first one, I wasn't thinking about a sequel or anything like that," he explained. "But there are a lot of smart writers out there. There's probably ways to get around anything."

How Did They Avoid the 'Blair Witch 2' Curse?
"PA" is often compared to "The Blair Witch Project," insofar as they are both breakout horror hits that utilize the found-footage narrative technique. While "Blair Witch" grossed almost $250 million worldwide, the sequel abandoned its found-footage roots and ultimately made just 19 percent as much as the original.

For "PA 2," Peli and his fellow filmmakers learned the lessons of "Blair Witch 2" well and were sure to preserve the elements of "PA" that made it so popular. " 'Blair Witch' was an example of a movie that really worked and they really changed the format. The audience that loved the first one came to see the second one, and they got something very different," he said. "We wanted to make sure that the fans that had been waiting will not be disappointed. The things that they liked about the first one, we tried to stay true to that but also give them a different story and a grander scope of things, so it'll be both new and consistent with what worked the first time."

What Did Peli Actually Do on 'PA 2'?
While Peli wrote and directed "PA," he stepped into the role of producer for "PA 2." So, um, what the heck did Peli actually do for the sequel?

"I was there during the entire shoot," he said. "It was much more of a collaborative effort. [Tod] was the main guy running the show, but he was very collaborative. Everyone got to chip in their ideas, and I had a lot of ideas. There was a lot of teamwork involved, but it was so tricky to pull off the right tone. Everyone checked their egos.

"We all really love Tod. He got what made the first one work," Peli added. "Tod is also a writer, so he brought a lot of good ideas in. Also, I've already lived with 'Paranormal Activity' for four years, so I was ready to move and transition and let someone else take over."

Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Jon Stewart Rally Joined By Sheryl Crow, Ozzy Osbourne

The Roots, Sam Waterston, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more attend 'Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart at the "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear" on Saturday
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

In between performances from music titans such as Ozzy Osbourne and the O' Jays during Saturday's (October 30) "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear," "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, Conservative caricature Stephen Colbert and a cast of funnypeople quipped about everything from Chilean miners to the "Real Housewives of New Jersey." Despite the deluge of laughs, the event's overall message could possibly be summed up by the groovy mantra of the O' Jays feel-good classic "Love Train": People all over the world, join hands.

Philadelphia collective the Roots kicked off the three-hour live event with a 40-minute set packed with a bunch of the band's notable jams. Bundled up in a camel coat, Black Thought led the outfit through their jocular Phrenology joint "Thought at Work" and the How I Got Over album's eponymous cut, in the shadow of The White House. John Legend joined the Roots crew for "Dear God 2.0" and the musicians' covers of soul classics "Hard Times" and "Little Ghetto Boy" from the collaborative album Wake Up! Legend recounted the story behind Bill Withers' "I Can't Write Left Handed" before launching into a bluesy, soulful rendition powered by a fiery solo from guitarist Kirk Douglas, who also doubled up on vocal duties when the band played "The Seed 2.0." The stars closed the set with Curtis Mayfield's uplifting hit "Move On Up."

"MythBusters" hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman engaged the thousands of rally attendees in a few geeky pastimes, including a large-scale version of the Wave and an attempt to create a literal "groundswell" by commanding everyone to jump simultaneously.

But the crowd really went nuts when the event's figurehead, Jon Stewart, strolled onstage in khakis and a dark blazer, greeted by a sea of waving hands nearly an hour after the event began. Stewart introduced a patriotic rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung by four U.S. troops, before screaming to the audience, "Are you ready to restore sanity?" After bantering about the racial makeup of rallies — quipping that an event with too many white people is "racist" while an occasion marked by too many people of color means they're "asking for something" such as equal rights — Stewart, with the help of some "Daily Show" correspondents jokingly asked the crowd to count off to ensure the racial composition of the rally matched that of the country.

Stephen Colbert, pulled off a dramatic entrance that referenced the odyssey of the trapped Chilean miners, initially speaking to the crowd via camera from his "fear bunker" and ascending from below the stage in a capsule-like contraption.

Other highlights of the day included a speech from Father Guido Sarducci, who attempted to pin down the "right" religion, and a poem recited by actor Sam Waterston. Former Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater and "Real Housewives of New Jersey" starlet Teresa Giudice sent video apologies for their famed freak-outs. Comedian Tim Meadows appeared as PK Winsome during a taped skit, urging attendees to splurge on souvenirs, and basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made an appearance.

Ozzy Osbourne and Yusuf Islam — formerly known as Cat Stevens — surprised fans with performances of their respective hits "Crazy Train" and "Peace Train," with Colbert supporting the former and Stewart championing the latter. R&B legends the O' Jays followed-up with their well-worn jam "Love Train."

Soul great Mavis Staples teamed up with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy for a tender, acoustic version of their collaboration "You Are Not Alone" from the R&B legend's latest album. Rocker Sheryl Crow was accompanied by Kid Rock on the piano for a song that implores listeners to help out, crooning, "I can't stop the war, shelter homeless, feed the poor ... The least that I can do is care." The performance featured a video-taped verse from embattled MC T.I., who wasn't able to attend.

Stewart and Colbert also dished out awards, such as the Medal of Reasonableness to citizen Velma Hart for her levelheaded questioning of President Obama and a Medal of Fear to the news organizations who barred their employees for attending the rally.

However, when Stewart signed off at the close of the three-hour event, he maintained that the rally wasn't just about poking fun. Instead, he urged the thousands of attendees to remember that the hyperbolic images of political extremists and religious nut jobs that clutter the media are not true representations of the American people. The speech was followed by a brief performance from legendary crooner Tony Bennett, who dished out an a cappella version of "America the Beautiful." The crowd's chants of "USA" rang in the air before all of the show's performers hit the stage one final time to join Mavis for the Staples Singers' 1972 single "I'll Take You There.

Did you attend Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Peace"? Let us know in the comments!

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Did Jessica Simpson Diss Nick Lachey's Girlfriend?

Meow! It sounds like Jessica Simpson may have been sharpening her claws just in time for her unplanned run-in with ex-husband Nick Lachey and his girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo. After Simpson and Lachey both showed up at the same restaurant on Oct. 21, witnesses say that Simpson had some not-so-nice words about the new woman in her ex's life.

"'I hope Vanessa likes her clothes because I bought them for her, since Nick took all my money," Simpson reportedly told her server.

Though Simpson was dining with her beau of the moment, Eric Johnson, and a bunch of others, sources say The Price of Beauty star was extremely irked about the meeting. Another witness said she "got really loud and started drinking margaritas and doing shots of tequila" to deal with her former spouse's presence.

"It was very weird and awkward," the source said.

But of course, the claims are all hearsay, and Simpson herself brushed off the incident. "He was at the same restaurant," she told USA Today after the incident. "I didn't speak to him." 

Do you believe that Jessica Simpson acted that way? Chime in below!

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Easy Halloween Costumes For Adults

Looking for easy Halloween costumes for adults. Check out my top DIY last minute Halloween costumes!





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Watch a Sneak Peek of 'Conan' Before the Show Premieres

Conan O'Brien has been pulling out all the promotional stops for his new TBS talk show, Conan. First he made a wacky video to announce the name of the show. Then there was the 24-hour live stream from the show's offices (which is sadly now over) that featured everything from dancing tacos to intern Twister. Next he created the giant orange Conan Blimp, which flies from coast to coast through Nov. 30.

And now that we're getting super close to the actual premiere of his show (Nov. 8, 11 p.m., TBS), O'Brien has one more trick up his sleeve: On Nov. 1 at 11 p.m. he'll debut Show Zero -- the online warm-up premiere episode of his show, which will lead up to the official launch one week later.

Though the Conan staff is giving little away about Show Zero ("What is Show Zero!? (Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?)" reads a post on the TeamCoco website), we do know this much: Andy Richter, who has rejoined the show, will make an appearance, the Basic Cable Band will perform and unnamed celebrities will be guests.

The web-only show will be triple-simulcast, so you can watch it at any of these three places: TeamCoco.com, YouTube.com/TeamCoco or Facebook.com/teamcoco. So, if you can't wait until Nov. 8 for O'Brien's return to the small screen, Show Zero should hold you over. And as the Team Coco staff points out, "You guys are in for a treat!! You might want to have an extra pair of pants handy on Monday night." Challenge accepted!

Are you excited for Conan O'Brien's return to late night?

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Justin Bieber's 'Never Say Never' Director Explains Movie's Plot

'It's not just the concert ... this is a musical movie,' Jon Chu says.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber in the trailer for "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount

With the trailer out, fans can now begin counting down to Valentine's Day weekend 2011 when Justin Bieber's 3-D flick, "Never Say Never," hits theaters. And the movie's director, Jon Chu, explained just how he plans to integrate the concert footage, shot earlier this year at Bieber's show at Madison Square Garden, with the behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that he will also be using in the film.

"We had this sort of hyperlink idea through the film, which is what makes it really an interesting movie," Chu said. "It's not like the other concert films where you are onstage and then go backstage and then onstage and go backstage. It's not just the concert ... this is a musical movie, when words aren't enough in telling the stories of his life, [we use music]."

For example, Chu continued, "You know, if he's talking about his youth and talking about his magnetic smile, you start to hear 'U Smile' start to creep in the background and the underscore ... you see images from his life, and at the end of that song, the spotlight from the number connects with the spotlight of his tour bus and he goes back into his bed," Chu explained. "And there [are] hyperlinked ideas. It's kind of like 'Chicago,' when we're weaving in and out."

And for the haters, Chu says that this film will prove that Bieber is the real deal. "The number-one thing we wanted was the honesty in this," he explained. "People have a very preconceived notion of Justin Bieber and people can think whatever they want, but we wanted to show the honest other side of Justin."

So, who is the Bieber that Chu believes the film will show? "It's a crazy thing to see a kid from Canada, in a town like Stratford that's obsessed with Shakespeare, that this kid can know and be obsessed with R&B and be anointed by sort of the hip-hop, R&B world, that he is sort of blessed by them," he explained. "That's very, very special and interesting."

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Justin Bieber Fans Rave Over 'Classic' 3-D Trailer

'It feels like it's more of a documentary,' one fan says after preview of 'Never Say Never' clip at concert in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never"
Photo: Paramount

Some lucky Justin Bieber fans got the first glimpse of what to expect from his 3-D movie when he premiered the trailer for "Never Say Never" during his My World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Monday night. And the verdict from the fans MTV News spoke with can be summed up in one word: amazing.

"He said, 'Hey L.A., we have a special surprise for you. Something no one else has seen yet and you're only seeing it here tonight,' " Nicole Reddin recalled after the Staples Center concert. "And everyone was super excited. It feels like it's more of a documentary. It's a little bit more real than the things you see. It's a lot more [that] you get to know him and that's what we want to see."

Priestly Cleveland gave the trailer a glowing review. "It's the trailer for his movie, which is actually coming out Valentine's Day weekend. ... I loved it," she said. "My favorite part of the trailer was definitely when he was younger and singing and playing the guitar. I loved it ... it was cute, classic."

Added Juliana En, "It shows a bunch of baby pictures of him while he's growing up and pictures of him backstage just, like, doing random stuff."

The preview had special meaning for another longtime Belieber. "I remember when I used to watch Justin Bieber on YouTube before he got famous and I was totally a fan," Rachel Kelly said. "So this is really exciting."

"Never Say Never" won't hit theaters until February, but the singer's fans plan to keep busy until the flick's release date.

"I can't wait to see it," Cleveland told us. "In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep going on YouTube."

What do you think of the "Never Say Never" trailer? Tell us in the comments!

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Usher Promises An 'Incredible Tour'

'Incredible records go with incredible tours,' he tells MTV News of his string of hits.
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Usher
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Don't call it a comeback, but following a tumultuous 2009 that included a messy divorce, Usher could describe the past 12 months as his climb back to the top. Now, he's celebrating with a national tour.

"Been hard at work getting ready for this tour ... Man, ya'll are really in for a treat," the singer tweeted Monday. "I'm on. Twits back up."

Recently, MTV News caught up with Ursh about his upcoming national run.

"The tour starts November 13 in Seattle," Usher said. "[Producer] Max Martin made an incredible record with 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love,' but what would I expect: less? He's one of the best."

Racking up several hits on the Billboard chart this year, including "OMG" featuring will.i.am, his current single checks in at #5 on the Hot 100, and Usher couldn't be happier.

"[I'm] loving it. Just in time for an incredible tour," Usher said during a recent visit to New York. "I took a step away from L.A. tonight. My dancers and crew are real hot with me right now."

Earlier this week, the singer was nominated for four Soul Train Awards, along with Alicia Keys. Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance.

The singer was confident that his upcoming run will be memorable. "The tour's gonna be incredible," Usher said. "Incredible records go with incredible tours."

Will you check out Usher's tour? Let us know in the comments!

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'Jersey Shore' Star Ronnie Promises 'More Drama' On Season Three

Vinny and Ron dress as 'Shore' roommates and dish about next season on MTV's 'The Seven.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

"Jersey Shore" stars Vinny dresses like Snooki and Ronnie like Pauly D on MTV's "The Seven"
Photo: MTV

When "Jersey Shore" residents Ronnie and Vinny paid a visit to "The Seven," on a Halloween-themed episode of the show, they didn't have to look far for costume ideas. The fellas sauntered onto the set as trick-or-treat-ready versions of their roommates DJ Pauly D and Snooki.

Ron rocked a shellacked 'do, black tank top and headphones like record-spinning housemate Pauly, while Vinny squeezed himself into a snug gold halter and donned a high-volume wig like Snooks. When "The Seven" hosts pointed out that Vinny has smushed the real-life version of his Halloween alter ego, the Staten Island native shrugged it off, saying, "I'm pretty hot."

Both guys did admit that it's weird seeing people dressing up as the "Shore" cast for Halloween revelry, and Ronnie told fans they may have more material to draw from when season three hits screens. Ron Ron promised that the next outing will be packed with more madness then ever.

"[It's] everything you got in season one and season two, just more," he said. "More action, more drama. Makeups, breakups, hookups, smush room — everything."

Viewers will have another option for Halloween costumes next year when the newest housemate, Deena, debuts on season three. Vinny and Ron seemed confident that fans will connect with the latest addition to the "Shore" collective.

"She's fun," Vinny said. Ron was more straightforward in his assessment, adding, "[She's] better than Angelina."

Vinny also described how the "Jersey Shore" kids get down on Halloween. "We go trick-or-treating and stuff; Halloween parties." He also revealed one of his favorite parts of the holiday. "I like when the girls wear all these sexy costumes — like this," he quipped, referencing his Snooki-inspired halter dress.

What are you looking forward to from season three of "Jersey Shore"? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.

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Nelly Recalls His First Gold Tooth, On 'When I Was 17'

Rapper reveals how he spent his cash from crap games in episode premiering Saturday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

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Photo: MTV News

Nelly has a few gold records tucked under his belt, but the MC's obsession with the shiny stuff goes back to when he was a teen with a penchant for a quick gamble.

On the latest episode of "When I Was 17," the St. Louis spitter recalls his dice-throwing skills and reveals what he bought with some of his big winnings.

"I was the best dice shooter I knew," Nelly grins in the episode, which also features Karina Smirnoff and Joanna Garcia. The rapper's homeboy Lashondo agrees: "He had more good luck than he had bad luck."

And the soon-to-be-superstar tried to milk that luck as much as possible, taking every opportunity to get in on a game.

"We used to shoot dice in the band room, in the bathroom. If there was a crap game, I was getting out of class to attend that crap game," he says. "This is how I got money for the new J's [Jordans] that was coming out; this is how I got my lunch money. This is how I ate."

Flinging the dice proved to be a lucrative hobby for Nelly, and the "Grillz" rapper knew exactly what he wanted to do with his newfound green.

"I remember the first time I won a large amount — I won, like, 120 bucks," he says. "I took a buddy of mine with me and I said, 'Yo, we gonna go down here, and I'm about to get this gold tooth.' "

The dental bling was far from mom-approved, so Nelly tried to ease his mother, Rhonda, into the idea of gold caps with some practice jewelry.

"I had been putting these fake gold tooth caps up in my mouth, just trying to see how my mom would react," he says. "I came in the first time, and she was like, 'Boy, what you got in your mouth?' I said, 'No, look, it's fake.' "

Mom didn't really care if the caps were fake and ordered Nelly to let the look go.

"I really couldn't tell if it was real or not," she says. "I told him, 'Do not put any more of that mess in your mouth.' "

Despite the parental warning, Nelly stuck to his original plans to trick out his grill.

"I won that 120 bucks and I was like, 'I'm gonna get a real one now,' " he says. "So I went and I got a real one."

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Joanna Garcia, Karina Smirnoff and Nelly — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV

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Willow Smith, Kings Of Leon, More Reveal Halloween Costume Plans

Kings' Caleb and Jared Followill say they're going as Taylor Swift and Kanye West.
By MTV News staff

Willow Smith
Photo: Getty Images

Halloween is right around the corner, and since you're probably spending the last precious hours before Candy O'Clock furiously stitching flank steaks together for your Lady Gaga costume (or getting your Snooki poof just right), we figured you'd like to know that you are not alone. Some of the biggest names in music and pop culture are also working overtime to get their costumes just right ... because there truly is no night more important than Halloween.

In order to inspire you to go for greatness on Sunday night, we asked some of your favorite artists (and one mega-rich multimedia conglomerate) to tell us what they'll be dressing as for Halloween. It turns out there's not going to be a Gaga among them, but we can't help but wonder: What will Gaga be going as?

Willow Smith "I'm going to be myself, and I'm going to go around the neighborhood saying, 'Do you like Willow Smith?' And then I'm going to be like, 'Ta-daa, it's me!' "

The Kings of Leon "I'm going as Taylor Swift this year," frontman Caleb Followill laughed. "And he's going to be crying, and I'm going as Kanye West, like, running behind him yelling at him," his brother (and Kings bassist) Jared Followill added.

Jesse McCartney "[We're going as] the BBM emoticons ... the BlackBerry faces, we're all going to wear white shirts with yellow faces. It seemed like a fun idea."

Matt and Kim "This Halloween we're playing a show, we're in Albany, and we're trying to think of what we're going to be ... like, duos throughout time," Matt Johnson explained. "Last Halloween, we were opening for Weezer at [New York's] Hammerstein Ballroom, and I was Andy Warhol and she was Edie Sedgwick and, Kim, basically, her outfit consisted of her not wearing pants ... and just three songs into it, I had, like, the white wig on, and it was so hot that I took it off, and then I saw pictures afterwards, and I was just some jerk wearing a black turtleneck onstage. So we need to come up with something to top that."

Stephanie Pratt "The easiest is just to put on fake blood. And put on some fangs and be something dead. You can be a dead schoolgirl, a dead cop, anything."

Martha Stewart "Well, I have several costumes. ... I like to just do my makeup myself, I like to put in cracked-ice contact lenses, so your eyes have cracks in them. So you have white eyes with black cracks, and a little red, and then I like to draw scars on my face. We went out last year on Halloween with a friend, and a man sitting at the bar said, 'You're all dressed up for Halloween!' And I said, 'What are you talking about? I was in a terrible car accident!' "

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'Grey's Anatomy' Recap: The Show Within a Show

It's been nearly six months since the shooting, so a documentary film crew comes to make a special on how the hospital and the doctors who were working that fateful day are doing. The entire episode is seen as if we're watching the creatively-named Seattle Medical documentary special. They of course just happened to be there filming at the same time that there was a groundbreaking surgery happening: Derek, Mark, Owen and Callie are doing a double arm transplant.

As Callie and Lexie are tending to the donor, they realize that there's potential disaster in the form of a small tattoo on one of the guy's forearms. But the recipient and his wife have no problem with it -- they want to do everything they can to help make this work -- and so the surgery goes on.

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Ryan Kwanten Will Tap Into His 'Dark Sides' To Play Charles Manson

'True Blood' actor will star in 'The Family' movie.
By Amy Wilkinson

Ryan Kwanten
Photo: MTV News

A charismatic cold-blooded killer is a far cry from the dim-witted yet endearing country bumpkin Ryan Kwanten portrays on the sexy HBO series "True Blood" — but the Australian actor is taking on the challenge.

Kwanten has signed on to play Charles Manson, one of America's most notorious criminals, in the movie "The Family." Kwanten announced the news during a press conference for his Western, "Red Hill," TheWrap.com first reported.

Written and directed by "The Machinist" scribe Scott Kosar, "The Family" follows Manson during the late 1960s, when he instructed his acolytes to commit several murders, including, most famously, the slaying of actress Sharon Tate in 1969. Manson has spent nearly four decades in prison.

When MTV News spoke with Kwanten this week, he admitted the role will be a massive undertaking. "It's going to be quite a challenge," he said. "[Manson] is undoubtedly a huge iconic figure and not necessarily for the best of deeds."

Though Kwanten is no stranger to bloodstained killing sprees — he is on "True Blood," after all — the actor said this latest role will require a bit of soul searching.

"It's going to be tapping into sort of dark sides of myself and obviously trying to find out as much as you can and then using what's going to be beneficial in making the film," he explained.

The movie will begin production in 2011 during Kwanten's next "True Blood" hiatus.

"The Family" won't be the first movie to immortalize — or demonize — Manson and his followers. In 1976, CBS aired a two-part television movie called "Helter Skelter," based on a book of the same name by prosecuting attorney Vincent Buliosi and Curt Gentry. A second TV movie based on the book was made in 2004, and the 2003 film "The Manson Family" also details the group's horrible misdeeds.

Can Ryan Kwanten pull off the role of Charles Manson? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Nicki Minaj Calls Kanye West 'A Genius'

'Kanye West is everything that I didn't think he was,' Queens lyricist says on 'RapFix Live.'
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

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Photo: Rachel Goldner/MTV News

Nicki Minaj might have read Kanye West wrong at first.

Years ago, the Lil Wayne protégé thought the megastar would "hate" her because of his cushy relationships with conscious-leaning rappers Common and Talib Kweli.

In 2010, though, 'Ye would praise her, saying she had the potential to be the world's second-biggest rapper — with only Eminem ahead of her.

"I had this conversation, 'Kanye West is gonna hate me,' " Minaj told MTV News. "[But] I met him and it was, 'Oh, come here, I want you to look at these naked girls.' Kanye West is everything that I didn't think he was, and a genius."

Minaj and West collaborated on two tracks for West's forthcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and the Queens lyricist supplies the opening narration for 'Ye's short film "Runaway."

After having worked with West, the Queens lyricist said she learned to appreciate his passion for music.

"He doesn't limit himself," she explained. "I heard him say the other day, not in these words, 'I'm not doing this for the masses, I'm not doing this for mainstream, you have to come to me, come get this art if you want it.' I think that's important for all artists to feel that way — we make so many changes because we want to please everybody. But at the end of the day, you can't please everybody."

Are you excited to hear Nicki Minaj collaborate with Kanye West? Let us know in the comments!

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Justin Bieber Fans Rave Over 'Classic' 3-D Trailer

'It feels like it's more of a documentary,' one fan says after preview of 'Never Say Never' clip at concert in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

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Photo: Paramount

Some lucky Justin Bieber fans got the first glimpse of what to expect from his 3-D movie when he premiered the trailer for "Never Say Never" during his My World Tour stop in Los Angeles on Monday night. And the verdict from the fans MTV News spoke with can be summed up in one word: amazing.

"He said, 'Hey L.A., we have a special surprise for you. Something no one else has seen yet and you're only seeing it here tonight,' " Nicole Reddin recalled after the Staples Center concert. "And everyone was super excited. It feels like it's more of a documentary. It's a little bit more real than the things you see. It's a lot more [that] you get to know him and that's what we want to see."

Priestly Cleveland gave the trailer a glowing review. "It's the trailer for his movie, which is actually coming out Valentine's Day weekend. ... I loved it," she said. "My favorite part of the trailer was definitely when he was younger and singing and playing the guitar. I loved it ... it was cute, classic."

Added Juliana En, "It shows a bunch of baby pictures of him while he's growing up and pictures of him backstage just, like, doing random stuff."

The preview had special meaning for another longtime Belieber. "I remember when I used to watch Justin Bieber on YouTube before he got famous and I was totally a fan," Rachel Kelly said. "So this is really exciting."

"Never Say Never" won't hit theaters until February, but the singer's fans plan to keep busy until the flick's release date.

"I can't wait to see it," Cleveland told us. "In the meantime, I'm just gonna keep going on YouTube."

What do you think of the "Never Say Never" trailer? Tell us in the comments!

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Lady Gaga Challenged To $1 Million Sing-Off By L.A. Performer

'This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer: plastic or real,' singer Alisa Apps says.
By James Montgomery

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Alisa Apps is a Los Angeles-based singer who really, truly believes she is better than Lady Gaga ... and she's willing to go head-to-head with her to prove it.

On Tuesday, Apps challenged Gaga to a televised sing-off — which she proposed would take place at either New York's Madison Square Garden or London's O2 Arena — with the winner taking home a cash prize of $1 million. Each artist would perform a series of songs, with a panel of judges determining just who is the superior singer.

Challenging the reigning queen of pop music is a pretty ingenious way to garner headlines, but according to Apps, she's not stepping to Gaga to make a name for herself. She's doing it out of pity — and to prove a point.

"I feel sorry for Lady Gaga — she's just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine," Apps said in an alliteration-heavy press release. "I stand for the voice of your heart. Be real with me. Come to my world and feel. I want to hear you and for you to hear me. This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer: plastic or real."

Oh snap. Apps — who, according to her MySpace page, is signed to a "major" label (but has, to the best of our knowledge, yet to release a major-label album) — does command a rather robust YouTube fanbase, with a video of her performing an original song called "How Do I Make Right?" racking up more than 1 million views. It also bears mention that, back in 2008, on her official YouTube channel, she took aim at diva Mariah Carey with a stunt she called "The Pop Star Challenge".

Apps did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the Gaga challenge by press time; nor did a rep for Gaga, though, really, that didn't surprise us all that much.

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Celine Dion and Her Babies Head Home from the Hospital

Celine Dion's household just got a little bit more crowded. The Grammy-winning singer and her husband Rene Angelil had the joy of bringing home their twin sons, who were born via C-section on Saturday.

"Céline and the twins went home last night," the star's rep told People. "Everyone's doing great. They are happy to be home." Luckily Dion, 42, and Angelil, 62, have their 9-year-old son Rene-Charles and "three of her sisters and her mom are there helping out." 

Dion, who entered the hospital a week earlier than originally scheduled, was crying tears of joy alongside her husband when her sons were born. Angelil opened up about the moment to Canadian entertainment show etalk. "It was a very emotional moment, and even though we didn't speak to each other, we were both thinking about the time it took," he said. "We are very lucky, very privileged and very fortunate to have these boys."

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Justin Bieber's Unofficial Hip-Hop Coach, Tory Lanez, Speaks

MC enjoying attention after Bieber's 'Speaking in Tungs' remix.
By Hillary Crosley

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Photo: Robyn Beck/ AFP/ Getty Images

Recently, Justin Bieber introduced Shawty Mane, his rap alias, to the world, and MTV News has found his hip-hop coach.

Following Bieber's freestyle over Vado and Cam'ron's "Speaking in Tungs," many on the web accused the singer of sampling lines from another Canadian, a rapper named Tory Lanez.

"I heard [the song] on Worldstar, and I have such a fanbase in Canada that people were hitting me and asking 'Did you know that Justin Bieber took your line?' " Lanez recalled. "I kinda laughed and smirked at it. It's funny to hear someone else using my lyrics, but I didn't think it was crooked or anything."

Lanez rhymes over Lloyd Banks' "Beamer, Benz or Bentley," which was uploaded to YouTube in March 2010, and spits "Getting hella dome, put Lady Gaga on my telephone/ Hella gone and your girl beat no metronome/ My new b----, she a yellowbone/ I buy her yellow stones because I like it when she got that yellow on."

On the "Speaking in Tungs" remix, which hit the Web earlier this month, Bieber rhymes: "Call up Lady Gaga ... on my ... on my telephone/ Hella dome ... yeah ... my girl beats, no metronome/ My new chick, she a yellowbone/ I buy her yellow stones, 'cause I like it when she got that yellow on."

Lanez says he shot the video for his "Beamer, Benz or Bentley" freestyle the same day he wrote the song: "I was like, 'I have to shoot the video right now' after I recorded it, and we shot it on the same day, March 16."

Born Daystar Peterson, the 18-year-old was the son of a traveling preacher who shuttled his family to Florida, Georgia and Montreal, Canada. The rapper says he met Bieber, who he calls "a big fan of mine," in Canada when he performed for him and garnered a favorable response from the teen pop star. Now the MC, who began rapping after writing a diss rant against his cousin for beating him in a video game, calls Los Angeles home and is enjoying the attention from Bieber's borrowing.

"There's a lot of things going on in Los Angeles," Lanez said. "I don't want to say too much, but there are a lot of things in the works."

So will Bieber and Lanez ever work together officially?

"Hopefully in the future," Lanez said. "He's probably a fan of me as much as I'm a fan of his music. He's still my friend. And anyone that wants to bash on him for the song should stop. For me, personally, I'm happy."

Lanez has released two mixtapes, including 2009's "T.L. to T.O." and this month's "One Verse One Hearse," and he has a new project called "Playing for Keeps" on the way.

Did you like Justin Bieber's "Speaking in Tungs" remix? Tell us in the comments!

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Mariah Carey Recalls 'Difficult' Miscarriage Before Pregnancy

'Honestly, I feel we learned a lot as people,' singer says of 'dark' experience with husband Nick Cannon.
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Photo: NBC

Mariah Carey confirmed that she's pregnant in an interview with "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush that aired on the "Today" show Thursday morning (October 28). During the sit-down, Carey and husband Nick Cannon also opened up about a miscarriage the singer had two years ago and how it affected them.

"We really had to absorb this and take it in," Carey explained in the interview, which also aired on "Access Hollywood Live" later Thursday morning. But she added that the couple never let the constant baby rumors drummed up by the press, nor the devastating miscarriage, affect their plans to push forward and start a family. "Honestly, I feel we learned a lot as people. It prepared us to do it," she added.

Cannon revealed that barely two years ago, right around the Christmas holiday, they learned they were pregnant and prepared to share the good news with friends and family. That plan was derailed by a call from Carey's doctor.

"Unfortunately, that was the time where he said, 'I'm sorry, but the pregnancy is not successful,' " Cannon recalled. "It was emotional for both of us and that's when I saw the strength. She handled it so well and then to get on the plane and have to spend Christmas with friends and family, it definitely brought us closer together. It strengthened our relationship so much ... she handled it so well."

Carey went on to say the experience, though challenging, has made them more ready for parenthood.

"The way it happened, so quickly at first, I didn't know what to expect. That was not easy," she admitted. "I've never really been a very forthcoming person about my personal stuff. It kind of shook us both and took us into a place that was really dark and difficult. When that happened ... I wasn't able to even talk to anybody about it. That was not easy."

On his radio show on Thursday, Cannon talked a bit more about the pregnancy and cleared up some rumors, People.com reported.

"We don't know the sex of our child. But it's strange how that stuff comes out at almost the same time," he said. "It's weird how the media can get involved with your personal life because even when you want to share something, it's hard to share the truth — because people already spoiled it. It kinda makes the truth cloudy."

In spite of the media madness, Cannon said, "It's a happy moment. I'm usually not at a loss of words, but it's been a good morning with all the congratulations and all that stuff, and speaking to my wife."

Share your well-wishes for Mariah and Nick in the comments!

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Usher's VMA-Nominated 'OMG' Inspired By '80s Sci-Fi Character

Director Anthony Mandler wanted to let R&B superstar take viewers 'on a journey, not a ride.'
By Jayson Rodriguez

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For a video as forward-thinking as Usher's "OMG" -- with its laser beams and light flashes -- director Anthony Mandler actually looked back for inspiration.

"The original idea was kind of Max Headroom," Mandler told MTV News, citing the animated science-fiction character from '80s British TV. "That's where it came from — the TV flickering on and there's this character. We just wanted to bring it up to date."

"Max Headroom was always in his room," he continued, "this unidentifiable room, '80s shapes. I used that for inspiration."

The formula worked: "OMG" is among the Best Male Video nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The clip is up against Drake's "Find Your Love," Jason Derülo's "In My Head," Eminem's "Not Afraid" and B.o.B's "Airplanes." Mandler is a multiple nominee, having also helmed Drake's video.

"OMG" is the first time Usher and Mandler — who has worked with Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna — collaborated on a project.

Usher said he knew the video would be a challenge and wanted to make sure the director was up to the task.

"When I first shot the song to him, I was like, 'Are you sure you're gonna be able to catch this one?' And he said, 'I got it,' " Usher explained.

"We wanted to bring Will.I.Am (the song's producer) into my world," he continued. "Obviously, the international sound and look and feel has already been set, but we wanted to do something theatrical, fun and energetic to show us working off of each other and playing off of each other as artists, but the cinematography would be artistic and incredible."

Mandler described the visuals as "Hitchcock-ian." Though the style of the shot was important to the director, he had a simpler goal in mind: to capture Usher in his element. He said the key to the clip was simply letting Usher's talent take over.

"The concept was to create a world where we put Usher in a space where he does what I think he does better than anyone else in the world, which is perform at a level and magnitude of a superstar and take us, the viewer, whether audible or visually, on a journey, not a ride," the director said. "And, in that, I wanted to create an unpredictability, so one set leads to another and another, and you never know what's gonna happen. Along the way, Usher becomes our guide. We're so focused on him, we don't notice the change. The thing is unfolding little by little, and you can't quite see far enough ahead to know what's gonna come next."

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

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Usher Dazzles On The VMA Stage With 'DJ' And 'OMG'

Ush combined his legendary dance skills with spectacular special effects.
By Rochell D. Thomas

Usher performs at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Call it what you will: talent, swag, skills. But one thing's true about Usher Terry Raymond IV: When he steps on the dance floor, some mysterious thing comes out of him and puts the G in groove. After he was tapped to perform at the 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards, executive producer Dave Sirulnick challenged Usher to "show why you're king," and the 31-year-old Grammy winner didn't disappoint.

As predicted by the lucky few who got a peek at Thursday's practice performance for his hit "OMG," Ush pulled off moves that would make the late great Michael Jackson jealous in a mammoth stage production that included more special-effects bells and whistles than a summer blockbuster.

Usher opened the performance with "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," perched two flights above the stage on a ledge surrounded by blinding green laser lights. Then he slid, with the help of barely visible wires and mounts, down a flight, all the while popping and locking. When the father of two finally ticked his way down to stage level, he was surrounded by an army of dancers also clad in black suits with white stripes designed to toss and catch special effect lights.

Directed by Anthony Mandler, Usher's "OMG" clip earned Best Male Video, Best Dance Music Video and Best Choreography Moonman nominations. During the pre-show, Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" beat it in the Best Dance category, where Raymond was, for many, the lead contender.

If Usher was disappointed, he didn't let it show. When he launched the "OMG" portion of his performance, the stage seemed to disappear, as red laser lights moved forward in blinding configurations spelling out O.M.G. and Usher's name. More dancers lowered from the ceiling on Cirque du Soleil-esque contraptions, dipping in and out of the red beams. Such a 3-D light display could probably have been seen from the moon, if it weren't for the roof of the Nokia Theatre.

Usher ended his set standing, head back, with his arms outstretched in the Jesus pose. He didn't say a word. Didn't need to.

The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.

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