Barack Obama’s And John McCain’s Independence Day Messages Supporting Our Troops
by Rya Backer
Independence Day offers Americans a long weekend, fireworks and summer fun — but it’s important to remember what the holiday actually stands for: the freedom provided to us by generations of men and women who have fought for our rights.
Almost 70 percent of young Americans know someone fighting in either Iraq or Afghanistan, and the wars have become a huge factor in what shapes the story of this generation. More importantly, they’ve become a defining moment in the history of our nation. Unfortunately, media attention on the wars has waned in recent months — and we’ve decided to do our part in changing that.
It’s in this spirit that MTV’s Street Team ‘08 — 51 citizen journalists from every state and the District of Columbia — have compiled “Soldier Stories.” These works introduce us to some of the nearly 1 million men and women who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. These stories can be found at www.chooseorlose.com.
We’ve also published stories about the GI Bill and Ashwin Madia, an Iraq war vet who’s running for Congress.
But don’t just take our word for it. Two guys you might’ve heard of — named John McCain and Barack Obama, a.k.a. the Republican and Democrat presumptive presidential nominees, respectively — have filmed messages urging support for the troops and our efforts to give them the attention they deserve. Take a look at what they have to say, and be sure to let us know what you think.
Britney Houston Stars In MTV’s ‘Newsical’ Pilot — Check It Out Here!
Months ago, before Britney Houston had us all in stitches with her Pussycat Dolls parody, she was giving me dancing lessons … sort of!
You see, back in February, (while I was pulling “American Idol” and “Project Runway” double duty,) my buddy Christopher Smith and I had the opportunity to develop and pilot a bunch of ideas for MTV News. One idea that we were super-excited about was called “The Newsical,” where the MTV Newsroom would explode into an over-the-top musical number. I wrote a song, my co-worker Rich Sancho produced the track, and we began storyboarding. But we knew nothing about choreography or dancing (or, as some might argue, singing). So we put Britney Houston and her amazing, hard-working cohorts to work. Their job? Fill the frame with Broadway-style choreography, and help make us MTV Newsies look like triple-threats.
While the pilot ultimately never got picked up, and while the lyrics now refer to stories that are months old (and long forgotten … Yoko Ono dropped a lawsuit? Huh?), we still hold a special place in our hearts for the Newsical and thought we’d share it with you all anyway. Keep your eyes peeled for a Britney Houston cameo (or three)!
Check out the lyrics after the jump. And bragging rights go to the first commenter who correctly guesses which week I’m singing about.
“The MTV Newsical”
Words and music by Jim Cantiello
Arranged and produced by Rich Sancho
Britney Spears is still crazy
Papa Jamie remains her keeper
But you can’t call her lazy
On Mondays, she’s a dancing teacher
The Grammys were dull, felt like time had stopped
(tick tock!)
But then Kanye got Herbie Hancock blocked
What a shock!
Tony Yayo got slapped with a plea
Boston said “no!” to Mike Huckabee
Aretha’s hungry for beef with B
Alicia won big with the NAACP
Mimi’s new album title
Is classic crazy Mariah
On “American Idol”
The top 24 meant no more Josiah
Bai Ling’s arrested, shoplifting’s a crime
And then The Game had a gun, serving 60 days time
Plus a fine
Jack Johnson’s #1 debut
Aerosmith will be Guitar Heroes, too
Usher’s leaked songs streaming on YouTube
Wino’s hubby OD’s, well that’s nothing new
Jay-Z says there’s no LA Reid feud
Yoko Ono says she will not sue
Madonna’s new movie was met with boos
You hear it first, only at MTV News!
Shannen Doherty Returns To Her Old Zip As ‘90210′ Nostalgia Reaches New Heights
By Danielle Beavers
A little piece of all of us disappeared in 2000, when the amazing drama that was “Beverly Hills, 90210″ left the air after 10 sideburned seasons.
But soon, we’ll get a bit of the magic back in a new “90210″ series set for the CW. Of course, we’ve known for a while that Jennie Garth would return as Kelly Taylor, now a guidance counselor. But this week we found out that Shannen Doherty is moving back to our fav zip code as Brenda Walsh.
For fans who followed every twist, turn and unfortunate hairstyle when Doherty and the gang originally reigned on Fox (and for the many more who soaked up every rerun in syndication), this is a bigger headline than Andrea ever dug up. Kelly and Brenda did not get along on- or offscreen (long rumored to be a big reason why Doherty left the show in the first place). Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer for Donna Martin to join this happy catfight: Though Tori Spelling originally agreed to return in a recurring role, her appearance has now been pushed back after the birth of her new daughter.
Even the Peach Pit is coming back, but no word yet if Nat and his pearls of wisdom will return as well. Now, we’re just waiting for the other original cast members to give up their Lifetime movie roles and move back to the old neighborhood, so that we may all be complete again. (Luke Perry has publicly said he “doesn’t see it happening,” but we can!) But are we just overly nostalgic here? Will the new “90210″ have the same feel as before? Or is the whole thing a ridiculous idea?
One more thing: DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES!
For The Record: Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Ryan Adams & More
· Sadly, there will be no Emmy night out for Britney Spears. Though she got good notices for her two-episode arc on “How I Met Your Mother,” the singer didn’t make it onto the semifinal list in the Guest Actress on a Comedy Series category.
· Jessica Simpson is taking this whole goin’ country thing seriously. The pop singer will showcase material from her upcoming roots album at fairs and festivals this summer.
· Classic rock roundup: ZZ Top are hoping Rick Rubin has some of that same magic left in his bag that helped revive the careers of Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. … Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers are auctioning premium seats to the rest of their summer tour dates to help raise money for people affected by Midwest flooding. … New Jersey fortune-teller Marie Castello, immortalized in the Bruce Springsteen song “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” died on Friday at age 93. … The three original living members of Bad Company will reunite for a one-off show in Hollywood, Florida, on August 8, mostly to block knockoff bands from touring under that name.
· Singer Natasha Shneider, a member of the band Eleven who collaborated with Chris Cornell and Queens of the Stone Age, died on Tuesday of cancer.
· Apparently the romance has ended between actress Mandy Moore and rocker Ryan Adams. We know this because Adams issued a statement to a tabloid explaining, “I am grateful for our friendship and how it allowed us both to grow and learn more. … Unfortunately I am allergic to paparazzi and have found the best antidote to that sort of nonsense is staying behind the guitar and typewriter, staying close to my support group of friends and bandmates and not engaging in activities that prevent me from taking care of myself or others.”
· Someone has stolen the grave marker for Joy Division singer Ian Curtis. At some point earlier this week the marker — which reads “Ian Curtis 18-5-80″ and “Love Will Tear Us Apart” — was removed from the Macclesfield Cemetery in Curtis’ hometown of Macclesfield, England, and authorities currently have no leads.
Pussycat Dolls Vs. Britney Cat Dolls: Who Does It Better?
by Ryan Kroft
Who “grows up” better: PCD or BCD?
When we got a call from our favorite YouTube sensation Britney Houston, letting us know that she was going to be shooting her own video for the Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up” right here in NYC, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see her in action. Check out the “making of” the new “When I Grow Up” parody right here. Then watch the finished product and let us know who does it better, PCD or BCD?
