Has 'The Voice' Already Re-Signed Christina Aguilera?
TheWrap reports that Xtina is onboard for season three, which could debut in the fall opposite 'X Factor.'
By Kara Warner
Christina Aguilera on "The Voice"
Photo: NBC
We are only two episodes into the second season of "The Voice," and already there is some news about the hit NBC show's third season.
According to TheWrap, Christina Aguilera has signed a contract to continue her stint on the judging panel for a third season of the singing competition. Aguilera is the first of the four judges to ink her deal, a payday for which is supposedly in the $10 million realm.
TheWrap also reports that the third season could premiere in the fall rather than waiting until 2013; this would potentially put "The Voice" in direct competition with Fox's "X Factor."
When MTV News reached out for comment from NBC, a show insider said no decision has been made about season three.
It is expected that Aguilera's fellow judges Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will all renew their contracts in the coming weeks and that the third season will tape from September through December of this year.
"The Voice" has proven to be a major hit for NBC. The season-two premiere following the Super Bowl on Sunday earned NBC's best ratings for an entertainment show in six years. Monday's episode earned the network's best numbers for that particular timeslot in nearly eight years, save for broadcasts of the Olympics.
When MTV News caught up with the show's new social media correspondent Christina Milian recently, the singer/actress gushed about the lovefest on set.
"It's been fabulous. I've had fun working with the cast already," she said. "Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo, Carson Daly — it's an awesome super team they have, and from day one, they treated me like family.
"This show is about music, it's about talent, and it's about this passion and this dream of becoming a star," Milian added. "Still to this day, every day that I wake up, I have that same dream, so to be involved with the show, [it's amazing] to watch what they incorporate and how the coaches act as advisers and mentors to the artists and really truthfully help them and push them and want them to be the best so they can win."
Are you hoping all four "Voice" judges are back for season three? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsFat Joe Debates Drake, Ross And Lil Wayne For 'Hottest MC'
'I'll probably just say Rick Ross and I probably bump Drake even more,' fat Joe tells MTV News of his own internal 'Hottest MCs in the Game' debate.
By Rob Markman
Fat Joe
Photo: MTV News
When it comes to MTV's "Hottest MCs in the Game" debate there are no shortage of opinions. Whether through social media or in more intimate social circles like the barbershop , seemingly everyone wants to weigh in and pick rap's #1 MC. Fat Joe, though a successful rapper himself is a fan first, and when it comes to picking the hottest, he has trouble narrowing down his decision to just one.
"I heard a rumor someone told me Lil Wayne ain't on the list," Joe told MTV News during a January interview. "I said, 'They sniff heron over there.' I'm like, 'That's Lil Wayne, man.' "
Well Joe Crack will have to wait until the February 19 airing of "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" on MTV2 to find out whether or not Weezy made the cut, but that didn't stop him from adding his two cents to the debate.
After rattling off Jay-Z, Kanye West, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" as deserving spot holders on the top 10 list, the Terror Squad leader got visibly torn when debating with himself about Drake. "The reason why I wouldn't say Drake [is] #1 — because Drake really is #1 to be honest with you, but the singing and all that," Joe said about the Young Money star.
Since he broke out with 2009's So Far Gone, Drizzy has proven to be equally adept at spitting rap bars and singing harmonies. His skills have made him a complete artist and on his latest album, Take Care, Drake masters the balancing act with tracks that seamlessly blend hip-hop and R&B. Joe compares Drizzy's range with Kanye West's 2008 auto-tuned album 808s & Heartbreak. However, when Yeezy is in strict rap mode, Fat Joe admits to being 'Ye's #1 fan.
"Same thing with Drake, I love his music, I listen to it all the time, but if you would get his music and get someone else who's just as talented as him who use them beats and is goin' crazy like that, then I would pick them," he said.
"I love the singing, but when it's 50 percent singing and 50 percent rap, then I'll take a rap album over any," he continued before finally deciding on his pick for "Hottest MC" — sort of. "For instance, I'll probably just say Rick Ross and I probably bump Drake even more, but I want that ... yeah I need that boom bap."
Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET to catch "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," then watch "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET before capping the night off with "Sucker Free Certified" at 11 p.m. ET.
Related Videos Related ArtistsM.I.A.'s Super Bowl Middle Finger: Fans Weigh In
'She should be looking for more positive publicity,' one fan tells MTV News.
By Uptin Saiidi
M.I.A. performs at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
NEW YORK — M.I.A. made headlines during Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show Sunday when she flipped off the cameras ... and the 100 million-plus viewers tuning in at home. It was reported Tuesday that the controversial MC might be responsible for any FCC fines incurred because of her middle finger.
But who should be held responsible? And why did she do it in the first place? MTV News ventured to Times Square — where the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory was celebrated earlier in the day with a parade — to see what people thought of M.I.A.'s flip decision.
"It was not good for her, because she's still a young and up-and-coming artist, so she should be looking for more positive publicity," Valon Jaloshey, 22, told MTV News. "That's not the way to get it when you're giving the middle finger at the biggest performance of your life."
Maureen Kelley, 26, wasn't surprised by the artist's action but thinks her timing was inappropriate. "It's definitely very M.I.A. to have done that," Kelley said. "She probably shouldn't have done it at the Super Bowl." Kelley does have some advice for dealing with a potential fine: "Maybe she could just pretend that she was wiggling her fingers, I don't know."
M.I.A.'s fellow halftime performer Cee Lo Green, meanwhile, exclusively told MTV News late Monday that he knew nothing about the flip-off until the game was long over. "Honestly, I did not hear anything about it," he said. "There was no talk about it in the dressing room afterwards and we didn't stay long after the performance, because it was honestly a relief we had had it done. So I didn't hear anything until I got up to do the morning show, 'Today.' And television is a very sensitive [thing]."
What did you think of M.I.A.'s halftime flip-off? Let us know in the comments!
Related Photos Related Artists'Hunger Games' Stars Talk Most-Anticipated Sequel Scenes
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson also reveal to MTV News who they would have liked to play if not Katniss and Peeta.
By Kara Warner with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence
Photo: MTV News
Another day, another juicy segment of our interview with the cast of "The Hunger Games" to roll out and examine. Tuesday's (February 7) installment has a slight caveat, however. For those who have yet to read Suzanne Collins' book "Catching Fire" — the follow-up to "The Hunger Games" — please take this as a friendly warning that the proceeding comments from stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson veer heavily into spoiler territory for the tentatively planned big-screen sequel.
When MTV News caught up with Lawrence and Hutcherson recently, we asked them what they hope to see in a sequel. Lawrence quickly brought up a very big step in the relationship between Katniss and Peeta.
"We get married!" the actress exclaimed, looking at Hutcherson and pointing to her ring finger with girlish enthusiasm.
"[It's] very exciting," Hutcherson said, though we detected a bit of hesitation in his voice.
Lawrence revealed that she did the "ring finger move" to Hutcherson whenever she wanted to annoy him on set. "God, I sound really annoying whenever I talk about myself in the past," she admitted. The Oscar nominee then apologized to Hutcherson, who seemed genuinely entertained by her commentary.
Looking even further ahead, past "Catching Fire," we asked about talk that the third book might be split into two films. "It's always hard, every time you convert a novel into movies, because you have to cut so much out," Lawrence said. "[So], in a weird way it's kind of a relief because you get to keep everything in there. It is a lot more work [to shoot four films] and we'll probably do them back-to-back."
Finally, we asked the two stars if they had to play another "Hunger Games" character besides their own which they would choose.
"I would probably say President Snow," Hutcherson said. "If I were President Snow, I could make some changes and give some power back to the people."
"Well, now I'm left with a goat," Jennifer joked of the dwindling character options. "Umm."
"Effie has great style," Hutcherson offered.
"Effie! That's it," Lawrence agreed about the pink-haired District 12 escort played by Elizabeth Banks. "God, yeah Effie. Thanks!"
Who would you have cast Jennifer and Josh as in "The Hunger Games," besides Katniss and Peeta? Tell us in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "The Hunger Games."
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