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By Michael Lopez

Movies have the Academy Awards, television has the Emmys, and for gamers, the biggest event of the year is undoubtedly E3. Since 1995 the L.A. expo attracts thousands of press outlets and the eyeballs of millions of fans (via the world wide web). Why? Because in the past two decades it has debuted the hottest technology in the world of electronic entertainment. And this year promises even more innovation.

Many think it will be hard to top the fanfare that accompanied the last E3. In 2010, the expo marked the first appearance of the Xbox Kinect, now a huge seller in the video game world. And it's important to note that systems like the PS3, the Nintendo DS, and the original Xbox all made their first appearance within E3's hallowed halls.

This year’s event is set to go down at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 7-9, and though much of the console companies' big reveals are shrouded in secrecy, the web is overloaded with rumors and press leaks.

For one thing, many expect Nintendo to show off the first playable demo of the highly-anticipated Wii 2. Up until now, the media has been very unclear about what capabilities the console will have. Officially labeled Project Café, the new system will reportedly feature a state-of-the-art virtual controller which is expected to put the original Wii technology to shame.

There is also a good chance that Nintendo’s favorite mascot will be making an appearance at the event too. Fans have been waiting for a new Super Mario game for quite some time and now it appears like he’ll be battling Koopa Troopas on the 3DS.

Describing Mario’s newest portable adventure, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto said, the 3DS platformer will be “completely original” and “a combination of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario on N64.”

Though quite a bit of eyes are focused on Nintendo at the moment, let’s not count Sony out. At the last E3, they debuted their enormously successful Playstation Move motion detector and for 2011, rumors are flying that they will unleash a PS mobile companion. Dubbed the Playstation Suite, it will supposedly give Android users the opportunity to play their favorite PS3 titles from their phone!

And let’s not forget about all of the upcoming game announcements that are expected to shake things up. Rock Band creators Harmonix have hinted that they will be revealing something “significant” at this year’s expo. And the creators of the God Of War series may reveal a trailer of the newest installment in their demon-slaying saga. Add to that, first looks at sequels to the popular Uncharted and Legend of Zelda franchises and you’ve got quite a history-making event on your hands.

Are you looking forward to the big video game revelations at E3? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags E3, Hot Stuff, Nintendo, Playstation, Playstation Suite, Project Cafe, Super Mario, video games, Wii

By Michael Lopez

Sure we all love browsing tidbits on the web or from those iPad e-reader applications, but every now and then nothing beats picking up a good old-fashioned libro. This weekend, L.A. will be celebrating the world of books with two conventions highlighting printed stories and the people who write them.

Held at two massive southern California venues, the events will feature celebrity scribes and some of the Latino world’s most celebrated authors.

If you prefer your reading material in español, we highly recommend checking out the LeaLA webpage. Highlighting all of the authors, events, and workshops at the three-day event, it’s a great place to get educated on which Spanish books are making an impact right now (plus it’s got some really cool colorful graphics).

Latino authors like Paco Ignacio Taibo II (who wrote a phenomenal biography on "Che" Guevara), Francisco Martín Moreno, and Eduardo Antonio Parra will all be participating in LeaLA panels at the L.A. Convention Center. Even celebrated Mexican crooner Jose Jose will be on-hand promoting his hit autobiography Ésta Es Mi Vida.

And interestingly, the very same weekend USC will be hosting a high-profile libro convention of its own. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is now in its 15th year and attracting more high-profile authors than ever before.

Over 200 professional writers will be on hand to sign autographs, answer questions, and dole out advice for future scribes hoping to get published. Plus, famous faces like Jada Pinkett Smith and The Office’s Rainn Wilson will be appearing and promoting their latest works.

And if you’re looking for a little Latino flavor, the Festival of Books has plenty of that too. Pam Muñoz Ryan, famous for her young adult novels like Esperanza Rising, will be there and so will famed news writer Steve Lopez. Additionally, fans will be able to sit one-on-one with authors Daniel Hernandez (who wrote Down and Delirious in Mexico City) and Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, whose Lupe Solano mystery books have become a hot commodity!

Both LeaLA and the Festival Of Books events will take place April 30 – May 1.

Who are your favorite Latino authors? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Books, Cultura, Festival Of Books, Hot Stuff, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jose Jose, LeaLA, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, Reading

By Simone Hilliard

Rio star and Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am recently dropped some interesting knowledge on Elle readers when the always futuristic front man shared a few dos and don'ts for potential women in his life. Here's a 'How To to Will's heart':

DO: Wipe the sink when you're done using it.

"[A] pet peeve is wet sinks. You don’t wipe the sink after you use it? Dry it off!"

DON'T: Have your own condom stash.

"If she had condoms in her house, that would just f****** throw me off. That’s just tacky. I just think, like, if you’re into someone and you guys get to that level, then that’s something you should converse about together and say, “Hey, maybe we should get some.”'

DO: Have baby wipes, in addition to toilet paper.

"And if she’s got only dry toilet paper and no baby wipes next to the toilet. [I'd ask] You ain’t got no baby wipes?  Here’s proof on why people should have baby wipes. Get some chocolate, wipe it on a wooden floor, and then try to get it up with some dry towels. You’re going to get chocolate in the cracks. That’s why you gotta get them baby wipes."

That's one visual we didn't need. What do you think of Will.i.am's dating deal breakers?

Let us know in the comments, or @MTV3.

Tags Black Eyed Peas, Will.I.am

By Simone Hilliard

Salma Hayek Pinault is always praised for her curvaceous physique, and with summer right around the corner, we thought we'd investigate what keeps one of our favorite Latinas so svelte and chic.  Turns out, this Mexican mami is a lover of juice cleanses, and has even jumped on the diet drink bandstand, co-creating  her very own cleanse with juice guru Eric Helms.

Cooler Cleanse is Salma's response to a calorie fest.

“If I’ve been indulging in a lot of rich foods or not taking caring of myself like I should, a cleanse is a wonderful way to hit the reset button.”

Salma openly admitted that, like most women, she often turns to food for comfort, but when she's back on her red carpet regimen, Cooler Cleanse -packed with nutrients from organic fruits and veggies- allows her to diet without feeling deprived.

Hayek Pinault's home delivery juice service costs $58 per day and includes six drinks,  along with almond milk and watermelon lime, which add up to less than 1,200 calories a day. The cleanse typically lasts three days, although you can extend it to five.

In addition to juicing, Salma rounds out her fitness regime with light yoga.

What do you think of Salma's fix for figure busters? Would you try a juice cleanse? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Cooler Cleanse, Salma Hayek Pinault

By Michael Lopez

Upbeat singing competition or American Idol rip off? That’s the question tweeters were bouncing back and forth after the debut of Christina Aguilera’s reality series The Voice. While critics seemed to pan the new NBC show, fans showed their support in a major way. In fact, over 11 million of them tuned in for its big Tuesday premiere.

The Voice pulled in some pretty impressive ratings for NBC. It ranked as the night’s top performer in among 18-49 year-old viewers and trumped popular Tuesday night shows like Glee and Dancing With The Stars.

But how did the critics like it? Entertainment Weekly’s TV guru called The Voice a “garish bore.” And The Stir wasn’t very kind to Christina's crew either, saying the show was a “snooze” and “tries too hard.”

But that’s hardly the response The Voice got in the twitterverse. Fans couldn’t stop posting shout outs, making it one of Tuesday night’s most popular trending topics.

"#thevoice is MY NEW FAVE COMPETITION SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they are all AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" one tweeter wrote.

Another posted,

"ohmygosh. I'm loving #TheVoice! Good job @NBC! #fb"

When it all comes down to it though, it’s the ratings that matter most. And seeing how The Voice has proven itself to be a major hit, we think Xtina and company could have a very lucrative franchise on their hands.

What did you think of The Voice? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Christina Aguilera, Hot Stuff, NBC, Reality TV, Television, The Voice

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe that the Tribeca Film Festival is nearly 10 years old. Created by actor Robert De Niro and several partners to help revitalize New York after the 9/11 attacks, it has now become a Mecca for aspiring filmmakers (and a major moneymaker for the city). This year, several Latin American directors are getting some well-deserved attention for their eye-opening works.

Paco Cabezas (pictured here) is showing that Spain’s cinema offerings are still top notch, with his feature Neon Flesh. A straight-ahead crime flick, it’s got big guns, fistfights, and a cast of colorful prostitutes! But, as the trailer illustrates, it’s all in good fun and definitely a great throwback to the fast-paced stylings of Quentin Tarantino.

Julio Jorquera’s My Last Round has been building a ton of buzz in the blog world for its bold tones and gritty realism. Described as a cross between The Wrestler and Brokeback Mountain, the Chilean drama follows the life of a burnt out boxer and his struggles to come to terms with his inner feelings.

Yulene Olaizola’s Artificial Paradises also touches on some dark subject matter, but does so beautifully. Following the life a young female heroin addict, this Mexican character study soon introduces her to a colorful local who will change her life forever.

On the American side, the Like Water documentary is getting rave reviews for its no-holds-barred expose of mixed martial arts. Helmed by Venezuelan-born commercial director Pablo Croce, it follows the life of fighter Anderson Silva as he trains and struggles to take the UFC crown.

Who is your favorite Latino director? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Cultura, Film Festivals, Hot Stuff, Julio Jorquera, Movies & CineMás, pablo croce, paco cabezas, Robert De Niro, Tribeca Film Festival, Yulene Olaizola

By Sugey Palomares

When you are Salma Hayek, the sky is the limit! The Mexican actress may have conquered Hollywood, but her real dream is to record an album with help from her millionaire husband, François-Henri Pinault.

Word is that Salma Hayek wants to record an album in the fandango genre, a typical musical style from Veracruz, Mexico. The actress has also been spotted flying to Miami and meeting with top list producer Emilio Estefan on several occasions. Even though she confesses to wanting to hit the mic, Hayek says that she doesn't claim to be a 'professional' singer in the least:

"I don't want to put out a commercial album. It's only a dream I've had for quite some time now."

The actress is familiar with the recording music industry. In 2002 she recorded two songs for the soundtrack of her movie "Frida" with jarocho band Los Vega. She also sang "Quedate aquí" for the movie Desperado.

Even if she's not interested in becoming the next J.Lo, we would love to snag a copy of her album!

Do you think Salma Hayek has what it takes to become a singer?

Source: [TV y Novelas]

Tags Chisme, Emilio Estefan, Francois-Henri Pinault, Jennifer Lopez, Latina Actresses, Salma Hayek

By Michael Lopez

School is almost out for the summer, but before that happens teens across America are suiting up for the senior prom. And this weekend audiences can experience it on the big screen as well, with the new movie Prom. What went into the heavily-hyped Disney production? Star Janelle Ortiz spoke exclusively to Tr3s about all of the details!

“Prom is a timeless film. It’s really for everybody,” Ortiz explained. “It is the ultimate celebration of high school and it was a total blast to make!”

Janelle is actually making her  debut in a movie. And that is part of Prom’s big appeal. Nearly the entire ensemble cast is made up of fresh faces, which helps to give the film a bit more realism. It also helped to create a lot of close friendships on the set.

“There was so much bonding going on,” Janelle said. “We all became incredibly close. It was my first film ever and it became an incredible experience.”

Another touch of realism that sets Prom apart is the diversity among its 14 leads. There are Asian characters, African-Americans, and quite a few Latinos mixed in as well (including Raini Rodriguez, whose famous brother happens to be on Modern Family).

“We have a lot of different ethnicities in the cast,” Ortiz told us. “And we all represent our ethnicities very very well I think.”

Speaking with Janelle, it was clear that she is a proud Cuban-American.

“All my family is from Cuba. I love being a Latina, I think it’s awesome!”

Ortiz’ character Ali Gomez shares her Latina heritage, but differs from Janelle in one major way.

“Ali is very gossipy. She’s not a bad person whatsoever, she’s just a typical teenage girl. When I was in high school, I was the softball jock. But I was also in the A.P. classes so I was kind of like a jock nerd.”

One of the great things about Prom is that there are characters to represent every type of high school personality. Whether it’s Aimee Teegarden’s preppy overachiever or Jesse Richter’s tough-guy rebel, nothing is left out.

And seeing how Disney has had quite a bit of success with its other high school franchise, you’ve got to wonder if Prom may have an upcoming trilogy in store. So far, Janelle is hopeful that Ali Gomez will return to the big screen again.

“I hope there is a sequel. But we’ll have to see how it does on opening weekend and go from there.”

You can check out Prom when it hits theaters this Friday.

Do you have fond memories of prom? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Aimee Teegarden, Disney, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Janelle Ortiz, Movies & CineMás, Prom

By Michael Lopez

We all know Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan has a soft spot for canines. But now he’s taking his love for man’s best friend one step further, by using his Millan Foundation to help put a stop against deadly puppy mills.

For those who are unfamiliar, a puppy mill is a breeding facility that is in the business of selling dogs for profit. To help keep their margins high, owners cut every corner possible, often at the expense of the animals. Typical puppy mills feature canines housed in tiny wire cages, inadequate food supplies, and constant overcrowding.

Speaking with Fox News Latino, Cesar laid out a few tips ordinary dog lovers can follow to help reduce  puppy mills. He recommended that pet owners always do their research before meeting with a breeder and make sure to see the facility where the animals are being kept.

Millan also emphasized the benefits of adopting dogs and cats from shelters (vs. going to a traditional pet store). He went on to say that rescue facilities are very humane and almost always have the animal’s best interest at heart.

When summarizing the entire situation, Cesar explained,

“The puppy mill situation saddens me deeply, as it’s been my lifelong dream to see humans and dogs living together in harmonious relationships. It is my hope that we can one day eliminate all puppy mills and find good homes for the millions of homeless pets that live in shelters right now.”

Have you ever adopted a pet from a shelter? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Animal Shelters, Cesar Millan, Dog Whisperer, Dogs, Millan Foundation, Pets

By Michael Lopez

Within his 30-year career, it’s clear Draco Rosa’s music has touched millions. And now several famous fans are tweeting messages of love for the Puerto Rican rocker as he prepares to battle the cancerous tumor discovered near his abdomen.

Celebs like Roselyn Sanchez, Daddy Yankee, Carlos Ponce, and more have started a massive chain of online well wishes. And even though Draco is currently confined to a bed in a Houston hospital, we’re sure he’s aware of the ongoing support.

Ricky Martin, a former Menudo bandmate and Draco collaborator for over 25 years, posted,

"Usted es un guerrero hermano!

Adamari López, who herself is a cancer survivor, sent out blessings as well,

“Ten fe, mucha fortaleza, luz, bendiciones... Estás en mis oraciones".

"Mis mejores energías para mi amigo Draco. Sé que te vas a mejorar hermano," came from Calle 13’s Twitter account.

And El Big Boss made sure all of his fans were aware of his love for Draco,

“Fortaleza mental, espiritual y el corazón optimista. Adelante varón que para Dios no hay nada imposible!!!".

Other celebrities who posted shout outs include Tego Calderón and Tommy Torres. And that’s not even including the everyday tweeters who have been sending an onslaught of virtual “get wells”. We’re certain that this massive outpouring of love will help keep Draco upbeat during this very difficult time.

Have you sent out get well tweets to Draco? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Adamari Lopez, Calle 13, Cancer, Carlos Ponce, Celebrities, Daddy Yankee, Draco, Ricky Martin, Robi Rosa, Roselyn Sanchez, Tego Calderon, twitter, Well Wishes