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By Michael Lopez

Following a string of successful autobiographical one-man shows, John Leguizamo returns to the stage this week for the debut of his new play Ghetto Klown.

Taking aim at John’s most famous costars, Ghetto Klown lovingly skewers everyone from Kurt Russell to Steven Seagal to the legendary Al Pacino, using original photographs and videos from his films as a backdrop to his over-the-top storytelling.

“Take off your makeup and be yourself, John," Leguizamo says, doling out his best Pacino impersonation. "You’re a clown, you’re a clown, Huah! Huah!”

Delving into his experiences on the cult classic Carlito’s Way, John explains the highs and lows of acting alongside Hollywood legends. He also discusses the personal side of the 1993 film, since he met his second wife on the set.

“I opened up to her because she was so vulnerable,” John says on stage. “I’d never felt I could really be my whole self with anyone. And she told me she felt she’s been waiting to exist her whole life.”

John also weaves in interesting stories about his first acting gig on Miami Vice and donning a dress alongside Patrick Swayze for To Wong Foo. Currently playing at Manhattan’s Lyceum Theater, Ghetto Klown is already getting rave reviews and will entertain New York audiences through July.

What was your favorite John Leguizamo movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Al Pacino, Carlito's Way, Ghetto Klown, Hot Stuff, John Leguizamo, Theatre

By Michael Lopez

One can only imagine what it would be like to work for PETA’s advertising department. In the past few years, the group's photographers have gotten stars like Alicia Silverstone and Khloe Kardashian to go naked for their anti-fur campaigns. Now it can add Cuban-born model Vida Guerra to the list, as she recently stripped down to promote veganism.

Speaking about on her anti-meat stance, Vida acknowledged she didn’t always adhere to the fruit and veggies diet.

"I was born in Cuba, where there are only pigs and chickens to eat,” Guerra told Celestrellas. “It's what so many Latin families grow up eating, because we're so used to it. Our parents instill it in us and we continue the tradition, which turns into a vicious cycle."

She’s hoping her new sexy photo shoot may convince others to change their carnivorous ways. The former FHM cover girl was photographed completely nude and immersed in dozens of red chili peppers. She added that the vegan lifestyle was a major contributor to her being in such incredible shape.

“We're so used to eating meat, and being vegan offers so many more benefits, including the reduction of cholesterol and heart disease, if we eliminate red meat and dairy from our diets. I challenge people to try it for 30 days, and afterward evaluate their lives and see if they don't feel a little healthier, more energetic and able to sleep better."

Do you adhere to the vegan lifestyle? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Food, Health, Hot Stuff, Peta, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vida Guerra

By Michael Lopez

You would think hearing the name Gasol before a hoops game at Madison Square Garden would stir up plenty of jeers. After all, Spanish-born Pau happens to play for Los Angeles, one of New York’s biggest NBA rivals. But if you happen to be talking about Grizzlies forward Marc Gasol, expect a totally different kind of reception. Last Thursday, Pau’s little brother got a roaring ovation, primarily due to the fact that the Knicks may be courting him next year.

Five years younger than Pau (above left), Marc (above right) has already built quite a reputation on the court. When he started in the NBA in 2008, Gasol broke a franchise record by scoring the highest rookie field goal percentage. The previous record was held by his older bro.

Since Marc will be a free agent next year, rumors are swirling that he’s got his eyes on the Knicks, though he hasn't admitted it publicly.

"My objective right now is only on the playoffs," Marc recently said. "We'll see what comes up this summer. It's going to be a long summer. We'll see what happens. My heart is obviously in Memphis. But like every one says, this is a business. Sometimes your heart doesn't figure in the way it really should."

His heart may be in Memphis, but New Yorkers' hearts seem to be set on Marc. Despite the warm reception from Madison Square Garden, Gasol played his heart out for the Grizzlies on Thursday night, ultimately losing to the Knicks 99-120.

When all was said and done, Marc admitted he enjoyed his starry New York reception.

“It felt good,” he admitted. “[But] I was just concentrating on my routines. Sometimes they do cheer you.”

Would you like to see Marc Gasol join the Knicks? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags basketball, Chisme, Knicks, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, New York Knicks, Pau Gasol, Sports

By Michael Lopez

Domonique Ramirez has a right to be upset with officials from the Miss San Antonio beauty pageant. After all, they stripped her of her crown after telling her to lose weight. Now, the Mexican-American beauty queen is taking the pageant board to court.

During a recent bikini photo shoot, officials told her “I needed to lose 13 pounds and that I needed to lay off the tacos,” Ramirez told reporters. Pageant officials later said the photos were unusable.

The 17-year-old, size 2 Domonique is anything but overweight. Testifying in court, pageant spokeswoman Linda Woods offered an entirely different excuse.

“Domonique is not fat by any stretch of the imagination,” Woods said. “She’s a beautiful girl, but she wasn’t ready for Miss Texas.”

Woods said Ramirez’s dismissal stemmed from improper behavior, such as being late to appointments and refusing to send thank-you notes. But Domonique is sticking to her guns and continuing her battle in the courtroom, even though she admitted she doen't even want the crown back.

"It's not about the crown," she said. "I don't absolutely need this crown to survive. It has nothing to do with that. It's the principle of the fact. The fact that I was wronged and it can happen to anybody."

Do you think Domonique was treated unfairly? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Beauty Pageants, Chisme, Cultura, Domonique Ramirez, Miss San Antonio

By: Vanessa Beatriz Soto

Elizabeth Taylor posted her final Tweets on February 9 of this year, sending a digital shout-out to Kim Kardashian about their interview in Bazaar Magazine. But it is a Tweet that she posted a few months earlier will forever be in the hearts of her more than 312,000 followers:

"Every breath you take today should be with someone else in mind. I love you."

Looking back at Liz’s fabulous life, love might be the key word. Famously married eight times to seven lucky loves (twice to Richard Burton, often called the love of her life), she was known the world over for her grace, beauty, eccentricity, generosity, activism and talent.  This morning, the world woke to the news that the grand Dame of Hollywood had passed away in the night of congestive heart failure.

Her son, Michael Wilding made the following statement to the media:

"My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."

Soon after, iconic celebs and regular fans began to post their own elegies to the star, often in 140 characters or less. They tell a lot about how the Hollywood legend affected both her peers and her fans:

Magic Johnson:

"Elizabeth, thank you for all your help in the battle for HIV and AIDS. You will be missed by the world."

Joan Rivers:

"Sad to hear of Elizabeth Taylor’s death. She was the 1st major celebrity to join me in the fight against AIDS when it wasn't a popular cause."

Larry King:

"Elizabeth Taylor was a great friend, a great star and one gutsy woman. She was so special. You won’t see the likes of her again."

Michael Caine:

"So sad to hear about my beautiful friend Elizabeth Taylor. She was a great human being."

Steve Martin:

"I met Elizabeth Taylor several times. She was witty and self-deprecating, which I found surprising and delightful. She loved to laugh."

Marlee Matlin:

"So VERY shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Elizabeth Taylor. A true Hollywood legend and humanitarian and friend. RIP"

Piers Morgan:

"Advice we should all follow: 'I’ve always admitted that I’m ruled by my passions.' Elizabeth Taylor"

Fans around the world have been sending tribute messages of their own into the virtual ether, often referring to another much-beloved and recently-deceased star, Michael Jackson, Taylor’s close friend in the later years of both their lives.

Kim:

"Give MJ a very big hug from all of us! Finally reunited for ever! RIP Elisabeth"

Carol:

"MICHEAL WILL BE WAITING AT THE GATE FOR YOU LIZ..... R. I. P. YOUR ARE A BEAUTIFUL LADY IN EVERY WAY I LOVED TO SEE YOU ON TMZ OR ANY OTHER ENTERTAINING NEWS LOVE YOU ALWAYS ............ YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!"

Elizabeth:

"you will be missed but now you're free. Rest in Peace Elizabeth. ♥ Found Michael ♥
Louise: R.I.P,Elizabeth.. Michael couldnt be without you.. so he had to take you.. Into his Angel wings to keep you safe, A True Friendship - Together Again - never to end ♥ Michael Jackson & Elizabeth Taylor ♥"

If you want to check them out, head to Twitter http://search.twitter.com/search?q=RIP+Elizabeth+Taylor
or check out her Elizabeth Arden Family Facebook Tribute Page.
As for me, I had this to say to Liz:

"Shine on, perfect diamond. We all loved you."

Do you have a message for Elizabeth Taylor that you'd like to share with the world? Sound off in the comments section below or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrity Deaths, Elizabeth Taylor, twitter

By Michael Lopez

RBD's popularity has surged since the group broke up two years ago. Although there isn't exactly a “reunion” in the works, two of the Mexican pop group's most popular members, Christian Chávez and Anahi, are teaming up for a new single. Set to be released on Tuesday, “Libertad” is real passion project for Christian, as he explained to Tr3s this week.

“I’m really happy about the song,” Chávez said. “I wrote it a year ago with Samo. We wanted it to be a new anthem for freedom of speech.”

Yes, he's talking about THAT Samo. Camila’s smooth vocalist has been friends with Christian for years and actually contributed several songs to his 2010 Almas Transparentes album.

“Samo is one of my best friends,” Chávez said.

Christian also included Anahi on the track. The novela star added some high-profile harmonies to “Libertad.”

“With Anahi, it was meant to be. Her voice with mine, it just worked great!" Chávez said. "When I showed the song to her, she was so excited. She was like ‘Let’s Do It!’”

Of course, “Libertad” isn’t just about having great voices behind the mic. According to Christian, the song's lyrics are about freedom and the importance of speaking out about who you are.

“[‘Libertad’] stands for freedom of speech and it stands for gay rights," he said. "I wrote it with a strong message of being yourself.”

Christian plans to continue that theme on his next album.

“This is definitely a bridge song," he said. "It is like a little preview about what will be on my next album.”

You can hear “Libertad” for yourself when it arrives on iTunes Tuesday, March 22. And Christian promised plenty of other news and tidbits for his dedicated Twitter followers within the next few weeks.

Are you excited about Christian and Anahi’s new duet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Anahi, Christian Chavez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Libertad, Música, RBD

By Michael Lopez

Juanes had better watch his back. Reggaeton stars Jowell y Randy are gunning for his Facebook fans. Now claiming more than 2.2 million “likes,” J y R are rising stars in the social media game.

“Facebook es súper fuerte y tener dos millones en esa red es incredible,” Jowell recently said.

And he does have a point. Not many Latin artists can claim that many fans on The Social Network. Paulina Rubio’s fan page is only at 225,000 and Anahi’s holding at 581,000. So what’s J y R’s strategy? According to Jowell, they don’t have one.

"Es algo que nos tomó por sorpresa, nosotros casi nunca estamos pendientes al Facebook, nos pasamos más en Twitter.”

In the Twitterverse, rather than sharing one group page, J y Y each have their own separate accounts and are in a heated competition for the most followers. Right now, Randy has the edge with 152,000 to Jowell’s 123,000.

Now the guys are hitting the road to make sure their two millions devotees get to see them in person. Currently touring in Colombia and the Dominican Republic, J y R are scheduled to go as far as Europe in early May. Randy thanked all of their fans for their ongoing support.

"¡Gracias a todos a ustedes, nuestros queridos fanáticos! ¡Sin ustedes nada de esto hubiera sido posible!"

Are you a Fan of Jowell y Randy? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Facebook, Hot Stuff, Jowell y Randy, Música, twitter

By Michael Lopez

Who can resist the infectious pop tune “I Want Candy?” First recorded back in 1965, the song has charted multiple times with covers from Aaron Carter, The Spice Girls’ Melanie C, and Bow Wow Wow. Now, Cuban-America vocalist Jencarlos Canela is giving Spanish-speaking listeners a new version called “Caramelo.” Canela spoke exclusively to Blogamole about the track.

“‘I Want Candy’ is a classic,” Jencarlos said. “The song is so upbeat. It makes you want to dance. In makes you want to get crazy…in a good way of course.”

Recorded for international versions of the new movie Hop, “Caramelo” offers a unique blend of the new and the old. Though the lyrics and production styles are very different from the original song, “I Want Candy” fans will instantly recognize the most memorable parts.

“What they did was they kept the melody, but they changed the lyrics,” Canela said. “We definitely did this song with a lot of love.”

The live action and animated film centers on the wild adventures of an Easter bunny in training. Candy is such a big part of the film that its official website is iwantcandy.com.

“As a kid, you always dream about being a part of an animated fim,” Jencarlos said. “Plus, I grew up with the tradition [of Easter]. I think it’s going to be an incredible movie.”

But the family-friendly soundtrack isn't the only project Canela has in the works.

“I just wrote a song in Spanish for Pitbull’s upcoming Planet Pit album," he said. "We just did ‘Tu Cuerpo’ on his Armando album too. Pitbull’s like a brother to me. We’re doing lots of great work together.”

Hop hits theaters April 1.

Which version of “I Want Candy” do you like best? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Caramelo, Easter, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hop, I Want Candy, Jencarlos Caneda, Música, Movies, Pitbull, Soundtracks

By Michael Lopez

If you want to know what it's like to live a life in exile, check out Cuban-American music producer Emilio Estefan's latest project. The Exile Experience: Journey to Freedom — a bilingual coffee-table book created in collaboration with The Miami Herald Co. and its subsidiary, HCP Aboard Publishing — features photos of and stories about Cuban immigrants living in exile.

“This [book] is not about me, it’s about the whole Cuban community,” Emilio told AOL Latino. “And how proud I am to be born in Cuba, to be a Cuban-American, and to tell the world how lucky we are to live in a free country.”

Emilio knows the struggle firsthand. As a teen, he fled the country with his family shortly after Fidel Castro’s rise to power. The Exile Experience documents the journey of Estefan and countless other Cuban entertainers and politicians.

“It has been an exile [community] that has fought a lot,'' Estefan told the Miami Herald. "They have had to work hard, to defend themselves against everything, to separate from their families, their properties, even their own personalities, because they have had to start all over again in a totally new country.''

The Exile Experience is available in three editions, each tailored to immigrants who left Cuba via Operation Pedro Pan, the Freedom Flights and the Mariel boatlift. More than 400,000 exiles are mentioned in the books.

Are you or any of your family members living in exile? Tell us about it in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Books, Cuba, Cultura, Emilio Estefan, Politics, The Exile Experience

By Michael Lopez

Being famous and making bucket loads of cash would probably make any teenager want to indulge in the excesses of Hollywood (just ask Lindsay Lohan). But for Nickelodeon’s Victoria Justice, it’s a totally different story. Though she admits to doing her share of “partying,” the 18-year-old Victorious star emphasized it is always done in a responsible way.

"I'm not going to lie to you, I've tried things," Justice recently said. "Even if I've had a drink, it's always in a responsible way. I did go through a phase when I wanted to try smoking, and for a minute I did. But shortly after, I just kind of realized it was gross, and I didn't like anything about it."

Justice’s responsible attitude has worked in her favor since she burst onto the scene in 2005. When she makes the gossip blogs, it’s for positive stories about her work or her lighthearted Bieber tweets.

What keeps her so grounded? According to Justice, it’s the positive support of her family and her fans.

"I feel that smoking, drinking and doing drugs are kind of selfish because you end up isolating yourself from everyone else," she said. "And I've had to make certain choices and be a lot more responsible with my life. I've been given a huge opportunity, and I don't want to let my fans and family down."

Do you think Hollywood’s young stars party too hard? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Hot Stuff, victoria justice, Victorious