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By Michael Lopez

It looks like Ugly Betty is an aunt for the second time! Ana Ortiz, who famously played the elder Suarez sister on the hit ABC show, has given birth to baby #2. Over the weekend, she and hubby Noah Lebenzon announced the arrival of their son Rafael.

Coming in at seven pounds, seven ounces, little Rafael popped out healthy and happy on Saturday morning. And not wasting any time, Ortiz tweeted "thank you's" and joyous messages to all of her fans.

Rafael will be joining big sister Paloma and should be coming home to a house full of presents. Ana threw a star-studded baby shower last month that included plenty of gifts and appearances from Ugly costars like Rebecca Romijn and Eric Mabius.

And don't think that Ortiz' new bundle of joy will take time away from her busy career. Ana fans will get to see her as a semi-regular this season on the hit HBO show, Hung.

Are you excited about Ana's new baby? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Ana Ortiz, Baby Chisme, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Chisme, Noah Lebenzon, Rafael Lebenzon

By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Ryan Seacrest's IHeartRadio Music Festival exceeded expectations. The massive two-day event brought 12,000 fans to the MGM Grand Garden Arena and featured over-the-top performances from Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, and Lady Gaga!

Sporting massive jumbotron screens, extravagant costumes, and a bevy of choreographed backup dancers, the IHeartRadio setup definitely showed off the best that Vegas has to offer. Tr3s faves The Black Eyed Peas kicked off the event on Friday, blasting through their all-time greatest hits. Tracks like "I Gotta Feeling,"  "Don’t Stop the Party," and "Boom Boom Pow" got the crowd on their feet quick (and so did Fergie's glittery ensemble).

From there, IHeart switched over to another Seacrest fave, original American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. She was followed by the always-reliable Bruno Mars who belted out modern classics like "The Lazy Song," "Grenades," and "Just the Way You Are." Bruno even threw out another tribute to Amy Winehouse with an energetic performance of "Valerie."

Carrie Underwood, Jane's Addiction, and Coldplay (who are also working the Rock In Rio festival later this week) kept the music flowing Friday night, but none of them could compare to the evening's closer. Daddy-to-be Jay-Z brought down the house, first with a live Alicia Keys duet, then with a nonstop barrage of his most famous songs (like "99 Problems," "Big Pimpin'" and more!).

Day two was just as exciting, with continued contributions from Seacrest's A.I. cohorts. Steven Tyler kicked off Saturday night with Aerosmith hits and his new solo single, "Feels So Good." Interestingly, fellow judge Randy Jackson backed Tyler up with some heavy guitar work on the stage.

Nicki Minaj appeared next and was literally wheeled on by a group of dancing doctors. Then came some country twang courtesy of Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney. But after that, it was pure diva! Jennifer Lopez appeared in a dazzling flapper dress and treated the crowd to a video montage of her most famous fashion choices. She then took the mic for songs like "I'm Real," "On The Floor," and her newest single, "Papi."

Obviously J. Lo is hard to top, but Saturday night's closer may just have done it. Lady Gaga was IHeart's final performer and gave the concert one hell of a sendoff. Appearing in leather, chains, and see-through tights, the Little Monster blew threw her Born This Way hits and even got Sting to perform a duet of "King Of Pain" with her.

Truly an event to remember, Ryan Seacrest should be very happy with IHeart's final tally. The event sold a massive amount of tickets and will most certainly be on the Vegas roster for a return show next year!

Did you get a chance to check out the IHeartRadio music festival? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Black Eyed Peas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bruno Mars, Celebrities, Hot Stuff, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Jay Z, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Las Vegas, Música, Nicki Minaj, popnews, Ryan Seacrest, Steven Tyler

By Michael Lopez

A generation ago, Warner Brothers produced a major success with the feel-good flick Free Willy. And now 18 years later, they're at it again with another heartwarming "boy and his fish story", aptly named Dolphin Tale. And though it's got plenty of corny dialogue and over-the-top child actors, it's hard to hate this movie and its message.

Dolphin Tale may actually have the edge over Willy, particularly because it's based on a true story. And not only that, the message it delivers is an important one and rather timely with the current state of world affairs. You see, this Tale has a special connection to Iraq war veterans and amputees.

The movie focuses on the plight of Winter, a female bottlenose dolphin who nearly died after getting entangled in a crab trap. Thankfully, a local boy named Sawyer (played by Nathan Gamble) discovers her on the shore and gets a local marine team to nurse her back to health. Though she lives through the ordeal, the trap's damage to her tail requires a swift amputation.

And that's where things get interesting. In order for Winter to survive, she will need a new faux fin. Enter Dr. McCarthy (played by Morgan Freeman), a skilled engineer who has built a career developing prosthetic limbs for soldiers injured in the battlefield. After encountering Sawyer and his adorable aquatic mammal, the good Dr. decides to try the impossible – creating an artificial dolphin tail.

But before you can "happy ending," there are plenty of obstacles that get in Winter's way. For one thing, she needs to accept the tail (which won't necessarily be easy). And beyond that, the facility she's being housed in is on the brink of bankruptcy and there's a tropical storm on the horizon!

Oh yeah, Dolphin Tale makes sure to use plenty of movie clichés to get its point across. But it has a lot of very poignant moments too (particularly involving disabled kids looking to Winter for inspiration). And did we mention it’s in 3D? Wrap it all together and you've got a slightly choppy movie that, in the end, may actually steal your heart.

Bottom line: Dolphin Tale would make a great family night DVD. Is it worth the $10 movie tickets for all the little ones in your family? Maybe not so much. Though there are some great 3D effects, they don't necessarily sell the movie. What does, is the dynamic presence of Winter (who steals every scene she's in). So we say see it, but on your own time and at your own convenience.

Do you like “feel-good” movies? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 3D, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dolphin Tale, Free Willy, Morgan Freeman, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Nathan Gamble, Winter

By Michael Lopez

If you wondering why Katy Perry and Rihanna were chosen to open Brazil's massive Rock In Rio festival, here's your answer. Latina or not, they can put on a dynamite show and literally get a crowd of over 100,000 chanting their names. Both ladies did not disappoint on kickoff night, blasting into some very provocative performances.

After Rock In Rio's traditional fireworks commencement, Katy made her big entrance against fairy pink lighting. She had previously tweeted plenty of hyped-up messages to her fans and bootlegged versions of her performance have already leaked on YouTube.

'I'M READY TO ROCK RIO!” she posted before taking the stage. "100,000 people tonight! I LOVE YOU BRAZIL... You've waited so long for me so tonight I'm gonna give it to you!!"

Her first song, "Teenage Dream," has proven to be a huge hit in Brazil. And she sang it in a Carnival-inspired costume, complete with peacock feathers in the backside. From there, it was on to "California Gurls," "I Kissed A Girl," and all of the famous Perry hits you know and love.

Rihanna took the stage shortly thereafter and didn’t seem intimidated one bit by Katy’s massive applause. Of course, these two ladies happen to be best friends, which Ri Ri emphasized in a tweet to her fellow headliner.

"@katyperry I love you! Had a blast 2nt," she posted.

Rihanna made sure her fashion choice got a lot of attention too. In between hits like "What’s My Name?" and "Umbrella," the 23-year-old singer showed off quite a bit of skin in a very revealing striped mini dress!

But unfortunately Rio wasn't all fun and games over the weekend. Reports came in Sunday morning about a gang of masked gunmen who robbed nearly 20 concertgoers. The men are still at large and officials are advising all Rock In Rio attendees to keep a close eye on their valuables throughout the remainder of the festival.

Have you ever seen Katy or Rihanna perform live? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Brazil, Hot Stuff, Katy Perry, Música, popnews, Rihanna, Rio, Rock in Río

By Michael Lopez

Forget La Llorona, if you want a real Latin American scare this Halloween, look no further than the Mexican Vampire Woman! Maria Jose Cristerna has garnered attention across the globe for her drastic transformation from Monterrey housewife to fang-faced demon!

Sporting dozens of tattoos, sharpened teeth, and horn-shaped implants in her head, Maria is truly a sight to be seen! In fact, her look is so unique that Ripley’s Believe It or Not is creating a wax replica of her for their oddities museum.

And the 35-year-old divorcee doesn't seem to mind one bit. She said that surviving a marriage plagued with violence inspired her to create the "empowered" new look.

"Tattooing is my way of being immortal, of really being a vampire and not dying," Cristerna explained. "I had the fangs done because I loved vampires as a little girl and I changed the color of my eyes so they were how I really wanted them to be."

Obviously Maria will make one heck of a wax figure. Who knows? Maybe in time she'll wind up next to Fergie at Madame Tussauds!

What do you think of Maria Jose's “Vampire Woman” look? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Halloween, Maria Jose Cristerna, Mexican Vampire Woman, Ripley's Believe It Or Not

By Horacio Garcia

Mix of psychological spy movie and action thriller, Killer Elite makes a curious combination of a movie in which the action part is great and the spy part not so much but still satisfies. Despite some complicated editing that counts for some very silly scenes, the alpha male performances of all three main characters, played by Jason Stratham, Clive Owen and Robert de Niro keep the pace brisk and the plot believable.

Killer Elite marks the directorial debut of Gary McKendry; a Northen Irish director of commercials whose only previous experience was an Oscar-nominated short movie. The influence of commercial video clips is noticeable in the film.

The plot: Danny Bryce (Stratham), a former member of the  British special forces who's become a professional hit man, calls it quits after a little boy gets in his line of fire during a job and retires to Australia where he's living quietly with his girlfriend Anne, played by Yvonne Strahovski.

There he receives news that his old friend and mentor Hunter (de Niro) has being kidnapped and the price for his release is a last mission: finding and killing three soldiers of the British Special Forces that killed the son of an Oman sheik.

Things get complicated when a secret organization of former British commandos called The Feather Men sends its best man to track the assassin. A complicated game of cat and mouse between Danny and Spike (more gritty than the usual Clive Owen) develops in and around Europe, Australia and the Middle East until the final confrontation.

Now, this is a good satisfying action movie, full of testosterone and violent Stratham action scenes with people flying through furniture and the kind of acrobatics you usually find in Hong Kong flicks or action movies form the 80's. The film is very much in line with that series of B movies adorned with a couple of superstars we've being getting lately in the style of The A Team or The Expendables but with a more complicated plot and some hints of geopolitical thriller.

There were only two things I didn't like: every time the movie tries to get itself into the complicated political conundrums of the early 80'vs it loses focus. That, combined with some pretty awful dialogue are the two main defects of the film. Luckily these are minor defects, and that no matter how obviously silly the script becomes some times, our three tough guys can handle it without a flinch.

Stratham is his usual concentrated and tense self in a character almost exactly the same as in The Mechanic and de Niro and Owen are simply too good actors to let a few funny lines derailed them out of character. There are no winks to the audience here, no Stallone and Gobernator moments and the film is better for it. This one is destined to become a basic cable Saturday night favorite for years to come, that's for sure.

Tags blogger: Horacio Garcia, Clive Owen, Jason Stratham, Killer Elite, Robert De Niro, Yvonne Strahovski

By Michael Lopez

Sara Bareilles' newest single "Gonna Get Over You" deals with young love and overcoming a difficult breakup. So what better way to interpret it than with a dancing music video shot inside a Mexican market? Apparently that's the theme that Sara went for and it's garnered her a lot of attention.

So far, there have been many mixed emotions about the "Get Over You" video. Seeing Bareilles flirt with rancheros and stereotyped "cholas" has been described as entertaining by some and downright racist by others.

Obviously the racist comments may be taking things too far, but some in the middle say that the video does mock Latino stereotypes. The entire concept involves Sara dancing through a Mexican district of Los Angeles and recruiting tons of locals to join her in the routine.

The video was actually directed by Moneyball’s Jonah Hill and has great choreography. Plus, it certainly gave a lot of Latino actors the chance to strut their stuff. We just can't figure out why they're all dressed up like Lady Gaga’s alter-ego, Jo Calderone!

Do you think Sara's new video is mocking Latinos? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Gonna Get Over You, Jonah Hill, Música, Sara Bareilles, Videos

By Michael Lopez

Gone on to Ricky Martin's Twitter page recently? If so, you'll notice that the profile pic staring at you is not Mr. La Vida Loca. It’s actually an image of James Rodemeyer, a bullied gay teen who recently committed suicide.

Ricky made the switch to honor Rodemeyer’s memory and to take a stand against homosexual discrimination. Posting links to James' obituary and the hashtag #MakeALawForJamey, Martin encouraged his fans to spread the word about ending gay harassment.

"THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW," he posted. "HOW MANY LIVES LOST BEFORE SOMEONE LISTENS #MakeALawForJamey".

Sadly the 14-year-old Rodemeyer took his own life on Sunday after a difficult week of taunts, both online and in the classroom. James had previously recorded a video for the "It Gets Better" campaign and many are now using it as an example of how serious the bullying epidemic has become.

Do you think there is still a lot of prejudice against the gay community? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cyberbullying, It Gets Better, James Rodemeyer, Ricky Martin, twitter

By Michael Lopez

Noticed some adjustments when logging on to Facebook recently? The massively popular social network site is undergoing a massive revamp, which founder Mark Zuckerberg feels very excited about. But are his 750 million users fully on board with the upgrade? It sure doesn’t look that way.

Good or bad, many people have a tough time adjusting to change (especially when it comes to those Facebook News Feeds). Zuckerberg and company recently revamped the way you see your updates on the site. Now instead of the most recent News postings, users will get to see the most "important" ones. Or, more specifically, the most important ones to them.

Leave it to the FB tech wizards to create an algorithm that actually personalizes News Feeds based on your Likes, interests, and friends. They've even gone so far as to create a new "Timeline" feature which will document each Facebook user's existence on the site.

"Millions and millions of people have spent years curating the stories of their lives, and today there's just no good way to share them," Zuckerberg said when discussing Facebook’s Timeline. "We think this is a real problem, and we think that we have the solution."

Though it sounds good in theory, many social networkers aren't buying it. There are rumblings about privacy issues, technical difficulties, and advertiser access that may be a little too personal. And that could potentially backfire on the company, causing millions to cancel their accounts.

"Frankly, after this last round of messing around with Facebook, there are a whole lot of us thinking seriously about dumping it," CNET commenter, OneAmazedHuman wrote. "Facebook is getting too intrusive and sneaky."

Other Tweeters have joked that the site may be asking to publish bank statements and medical records soon. Of course, no one will know for sure how intrusive the new Timeline is until it debuts in three weeks.

And even if Facebook "jumps the shark," there are still plenty of social networks to choose from, particularly if you like soccer!

What do you think about the Facebook changes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Social Networks, Technology

By Michael Lopez

Forget Grammys and Hall of Fame inductions, you know you've truly arrived once you get your own wax figure at Madame Tussauds! Stacy Ann Ferguson (aka "Fergie" from The Black Eyed Peas) has now entered the exclusive club as she unveiled her polished doppelganger this past week.

Playfully posing with her stone-faced statue, Fergie was all smiles at the Venetian press room in Las Vegas. Her waxed clone was decked out in the famous BEP "TRON suit" and cost an astonishing $300,000 to create.

Some are already arguing that the figure doesn't quite resemble its real-life counterpart and they may have a point. Upon closer inspection, Tussuads Fergie seems to have lot more in common with Carmen Electra than "The Duchess."

Nevertheless, we're sure it will fit nicely alongside waxed up Eva Longoria and Lady Gaga. As for the real Fergie, she's got a big Vegas weekend ahead. Stacy and the Peas will be headlining Sin City's massive IHeartRadio concert this weekend.

Who would you most like to see "waxified?" Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Black Eyed Peas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Fergie, Las Vegas, Madame Tussauds, Wax Figures