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By Michael Lopez

Throughout 11 wild seasons, Randy Jackson has remained an American Idol constant. And beyond that, he's a music legend, having played on albums by Journey, George Michael, and Mariah Carey. So clearly he knows his stuff and he's got some very interesting things to say about this latest version of Idol.

"I think we're in a great groove now," Jackson told us during an exclusive conference call. "Everyone makes such a fuss about the judges, but it really is the talent. If you don't have the talent…people might want to watch about five minutes then be like 'Okay.' So, I think it's really about that talent and what we get back from these kids."

Randy may have a point, but clearly the fans are entranced by the antics of his cohorts Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. Though they got a little bit of flack last year for being a bit wet behind the ears, Jackson assured us that there are big changes in store.

"[Jennfer, Steven, and I] talk about everything," he explained. "But this season you may see them be a bit more stern. They may surprise you. This Hollywood week was the toughest we've ever had on the kids."

And according to Randy, tough love is a necessity if you want to succeed in the music business. He went on to offer his philosophies on why criticism is important when prepping singers for a life behind the mic.

"This is a process that gets you ready for the future," he said. "You think Idol’s hard? Wait until you become an artist and you're trying to put a record out. After our show, you jump into the ring and duke it out with Madonna, with Rihanna, with Katie Perry. After this, you're setting yourself up for the competition of life and the competition never ends."

Speaking of competition, Jackson also made sure to speak out about Idol’s big rival in the ratings race, NBC's The Voice. Even though TV's other vocal talent show scored huge post-Super Bowl ratings, Randy isn't worried one bit.

"Listen, Idol is in its eleventh season," he proudly stated. "The Voice [had] huge numbers. I think any show after the Super Bowl will have huge numbers. They've got an original show and I think there's room for everyone out there."

Let's hope Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Cee-Lo Green feel the same way.

What's your favorite reality singing show? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Randy Jackson, Reality shows, Steven Tyler, Television, The Voice, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Welcome to a whole new year of "El Headliners." The fans have spoken once again and their latest OurStage fave is none other than Joey, an experienced reggaeton vet formerly of Marcy Place. Now working on his solo career, Joey opened up to us about his new sounds and his new plans for 2012.

"It was very exciting when I got the news that I was the new 'El Headliner' ",  he told us. "I'm looking forward to a very bright year ahead."

Unlike a lot of our "El Headliners," Joey's already had a taste of musical success. His old group Marcy Place worked closely with Don Omar and members of Aventura and had a previous presence on Tr3s.

"We started recording our Marcy Place stuff in Aventura's studio," Joey went on to say. "They really believed in our voices and gave us some great input. Our videos got on MTV Tr3s too and our music was definitely out there for the people, which was a good thing."

But, like a lot of talented groups, friction soon tore them apart. Joey explained how management issues and rapid success led to internal struggles among the members.

"It got to a point where I didn't feel comfortable around the group anymore," he said. "So I took matters into my own hands and went independent."

And with the freedom to record the way he chooses, Joey decided to blend several musical genres together. Still keeping true to his reggaeton roots, Joey has added flavors of R&B and pop into his latest sound, which you can hear in his OurStage single, "Mi Vida."

"I'm doing R&B and bachata and even some a cappella stuff," he added. "There are a ton of styles I’m hoping to incorporate. Right now I’m influenced heavily by artists like Chris Brown, Usher, and Daddy Yankee. I’m even listening to a little country at the moment."

Still in the midst of putting together his first full-length album, Joey told us he's got about five tracks completed with many more on the way. And he seemed very confident about taking his musical ambitions to new heights in the years ahead.

"In the next few years, I hope I'll have a few Grammy nominations," he went on to say. "I'd love to be at that level."

You can check out more of Joey's music by visiting his Facebook and Twitter pages.

Who's been your favorite "El Headliner" so far? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, El Headliner, Exclusive Entrevistas, Joey, Joey Pabon, Marcy place, Música, Mi Vida, Ourstage, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Feeling the need for more John Leguizamo? Not to worry, the talented actor/comedian/theater god has got a ton of stuff lined up for the new year, including a role in Friday's release One For The Money. This past week, we got to speak to him exclusively about his multitude of upcoming projects.

"I think One For The Money is a very clever film," he told us. "[Director] Julie Ann Robinson got a very good vibe going with it. It’s a little edgy, but it’s also a bit of a rom com."

Money happens to be based on a popular book series written by Janet Evanovich. Mixing in elements of romance, action, and good old fashioned gunplay, it's got Katherine Heigl as its headliner and, as John explained, she fit her role perfectly.

"It was really fun working with Katherine," he said. "I play her boxing manager in the movie, so we definitely share a lot of screen time. She's a very sharp lady."

Heigl actually has a lot more than screen time invested in the project. She also serves as one of the producers on the film. But if bounty hunter chick flicks aren't your cup of tea, you can still catch Leguizamo in two other potential blockbusters later this year.

"I've got Ice Age 4 coming out in July," he told us. "This one's going to be cool because you’ll get to meet my whole sloth family. And I've also got a fun character I'm playing in Men In Black III. You can see me in the trailer as Graffiti Man."

And John assured us that he's staying true to his theater roots too with a new all-Spanish version of his hit play Ghetto Klown. As he explained to us, this latest revamp will be sending him all the way to South America.

"I'm going to Colombia to do a Spanish version of Ghetto Klown," he explained. "It's really wild. I've been working three or four months to translate it. It’s like I'm re-conquering my heritage."

Clearly there will be no Leguizamo shortages in 2012. But if you want to get the jump on what he's up to now, check out his role as Jimmy Alpha in One For The Money, which hits theaters tomorrow.

Are you planning on watching One For The Money? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Ghetto Klown, Ice Age, Janet Evanovich, John Leguizamo, Julie Ann Robinson, Katherine Heigl, Men in Black III, Movies & CineMás, One For The Money, Theatre, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

It's got to be tough committing several months of your life to freezing cold blizzard conditions. And that's exactly what Liam Neeson and his fellow actors did while shooting this week's release, The Grey. But, as he told us at an exclusive press junket, the hardships were well worth it.

"The first day of filming was freezing! It was like 40 below!" he explained. "And I was sitting there in the snow thinking to myself, 'we're never going to finish this movie."

But they did and, as director Joe Carnahan told us, they put together an incredible film. Part survival epic, part wolf horror story, The Grey is a unique and moving cinematic experience. At least, that's what Liam believes.

"There's a bit of a joyride with this film," he told us. "It's a thrilling movie. And there are some definite elements of horror too."

Neeson went on to explain how the script was inspired by an old short story called Ghost Walker. Carnahan went on to adapt the screenplay, which had Liam's full approval.

"The script read like a 19th century epic poem," he said. "And the little boy in me thought it would be great to be out there in the snow with a bunch of guys. Joe crafted an incredible script. The Grey’s like his little love child."

Neeson stars as Ottway, the de facto leader of a group of men stranded after a horrific plane crash. And though he's known for playing larger-than-life tough guys, Liam told us it's a far cry from his actual personality.

"It's great playing a leader, but I'm kind of the opposite," he said. "Plus, I'm 59-years-old now and according to my knees, I may only have a few years left with these heavy action films."

Though he steals nearly every scene he's in, Neeson confessed that there are some other Grey characters that will leave the biggest impression on the audience.

"The wolves in this movie, they're really kind of mythical," he said. "Like the shark in Jaws. It was a great white, but it was much bigger than a great white."

You can see Liam, the wolves, and a whole lot of action when The Grey his theaters this Friday!

What's your favorite Liam Neeson movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Ghost Walker, Joe Carnahan, Liam Neeson, Movies & CineMás, The Grey, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Face it, it's only a matter of time before Eugenio Derbez becomes a household name. The famed Mexican comic has already made waves in Adam Sandler's Jack & Jill and is now a regular on the CBS sitcom ¡Rob! Still humbled by it all, Eugenio took some time to talk to us about his big crossover.

"I'm really excited and happy to be doing this crossover," he said. "I've been working with a dialogue coach on my English and I'm giving these opportunities my 100 percent!"

Clearly America is starting to take notice. ¡Rob! (which also stars Rob Schneider and Cheech Marin) has scored incredible ratings since its debut, which is something Derbez seems very excited about.

"¡Rob!'s doing great numbers for CBS," he told us. "This week we'll find out if we get a second season. I think it's a really good show and it's getting better every week."

And though Eugenio's only been in a few scenes so far, he assured us that there are plenty of big plotlines in store for his character, Hector.

"The next episode is going be a really good one for Hector," he went on to say. "He'll be getting into some funny stuff and causing all sorts of trouble for Rob."

Despite the fact that Hector and Rob don't always see eye-to-eye on the show, Derbez assured us that everyone gets along great off the set.

"I've struck up a great friendship with Rob Schneider," he said. "We go out to dinners together. Cheech too! He's an awesome guy and he's been giving me some great advice."

But ¡Rob! seems to only be the beginning for Eugenio. He'll next be seen in the Eva Mendes movie Girl In Progress and, as he told us, he's still getting tons of recognition for his "abuelita" role in Jack & Jill.

"I LOVED it when they let me play the grandma in that movie," he said. "I actually paid tribute to one of my Mexican characters, Armando Hoyos, with the glasses I wore. That was a subtle tribute to all of my Latin fans out there."

Well we're sure Eugenio will have plenty of new fans on the horizon as 2012 kicks into gear.

Are you looking forward to seeing more of Eugenio Derbez? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags ¡Rob!, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cheech Marin, Eugenio Derbez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Girl In Progress, Jack & Jill, Movies & CineMás, Rob Schneider, Television, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Sure he's helmed action classics like Smokin’ Aces and The A-Team, but if you ask Joe Carnahan which of his films he's most proud of, he'll quickly respond with The Grey. The blockbuster director recently spoke to us at a Grey press conference about what makes his latest outing so special.

"I think The Grey is the most complete film I've ever done," Carnahan told us. "It has the most of 'me' in it. I feel really grateful and really fortunate that I was able to make this film."

Opening wide this Friday, The Grey follows the exploits of six men stranded in the arctic. Liam Neeson leads the pack and, as Joe explained, he fills those shoes perfectly.

"It's funny, I originally envisioned younger actors in Liam's role," he explained. "But now, after seeing his performance, I can't envision anybody else playing it. He's so brilliant and he's so spot-on."

But the six main actors aren't the only ones taking up screen time in The Grey. Anyone who's seen the commercials can attest that it’s the man-hungry wolves who are creating the most buzz.

"The wolves kick a lot of ass," Carnahan said. "They really bring our guys down to a primal level."

Saying the wolves kick ass is an understatement. Their vicious attack scenes almost play out like something you’d see in a horror movie. But, according to Joe, it's all part of the natural world.

"The wolves are just a facet of nature," he explained. "They're no different than the blizzards or the wild rivers. For all of nature's beauty, there are also equal parts of hostility."

Speaking of hostility, Carnahan also shed some light on his next possible project, the violent biopic Killing Pablo. Based around the final days of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, it has the potential to be an epic action movie.

"In a perfect world, Killing Pablo would be the movie that I would want make next," Joe told us. "I actually think it's the best script that I've ever written."

That all sounds very exciting to us. But for the time being, you can enjoy plenty of Carnahan's handiwork in this weekend's The Grey .

Are you planning on watching The Grey this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Joe Carnahan, Killing Pablo, Liam Neeson, Movies & CineMás, Pablo Escobar, The Grey, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

It seems like for the past several weeks, the name Gina Carano has been popping up a lot. A superstar in the world of mixed martial arts, Gina is now ready to break into the movie world with her new film Haywire. And though many doubted her acting abilities, the bare-knuckled beauty has been wowing critics with her performance. Carano spoke to us at a recent press conference about her exciting new career.

"Working on Haywire was one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had," she confessed. "I got to see places I’ve never seen and travel to places I’ve never been."

The daughter of former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Glenn Carano, Gina grew up in a very loving (and very competitive) household. She described herself as a "tomboy," with a soft spot for Jane Austen.

"I actually grew up on Pride & Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables," Carano jokingly told us. "There were no real female action stars on the TV at our house."

But she did grow up loving martial arts and eventually channeled that into a career fighting for the Strikeforce organization. As she told us, her years in the ring helped bring her to the attention of Haywire’s casting agents.

"My martial arts background is how I got the Haywire job. My agent called me after a fight and told me [director] Steven Soderbergh wanted to meet me. We had lunch and after that he offered me the movie."

A few months later, Gina was going toe-to-toe with some of the acting world's biggest heavyweights. Throughout the film, she shares screen time with Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, and Antonio Banderas.

But Carano assured us that it was a very comfortable set and she seemed eager to return to the big screen again.

"I would love to do more acting," she said. "We have a lot of ideas for a Haywire Part 2, but I think we're going to wait and see how this film does before we talk about any sequels."

You can see just how well Gina "acts" when Haywire arrives in theaters this Friday.

Are looking forward to Gina's big screen debut? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Ewan McGregor, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gina Carano, Haywire, Michael Douglas, MMA, Movies & CineMás, Steven Soderbergh, Strikeforce, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

It's hard to believe that we're about to launch another year of American Idol. It seems like just yesterday when Scotty McCreery charmed the nation with his country crooning, but now the hunt is on to find another superstar. And all of this season's key talent are extremely excited to kick it all off.

"I think that Idol still is the best TV show of its kind anywhere," Judge Randy Jackson told us at an exclusive press conference. "We're the original, we kind of invented this whole game that everybody's now copying."

Indeed, at the A.I. press event, The Voice happened to come up several times. Not that the cast let that "other" singing show phase them. In fact, Ryan Seacrest threw out a few fun jabs at their NBC rivals.

"We never sit down before we do our show and think, 'what are the other guys doing?" Seacrest confidently said.

Jackson added,

"It's like second-chance theater over there."

And as much as NBC would like to hype Xtina and company's big February return, their season one champ seemed to fade away far quicker than anyone A.I. has produced.

And at Idol, the eyes will be focused much more on the shot callers than the contestants. Especially with A-listers like Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler in the judges' seats.

Discussing her approach to critiquing this season, J.Lo said,

"We're going to try to give them advice as we would want advice given to us. At the end of the day, you never know what's going to happen."

Steven seemed to relish his new role too, though he admitted that his Aerosmith bandmates had a hard time accepting it at first.

"[The Idol thing] wasn't really accepted at first by my bandmates," he said. "But now things are good and Aerosmith sales jumped up significantly since I joined."

All three judges assured the media that the same loose style will remain intact when they step in front of the camera Wednesday night.

"I love how our personalities are so different," Lopez explained. "We each have a different sense of style, but we all have fun with it! Hopefully the audience has been able to get to know us better now. To know us for who we really are."

You can get to know Jennifer, Ryan, Randy, and Steven all over again when American Idol cranks out season 11, tonight on Fox.

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

Tags American Idol, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Steven Tyler, Television, The Voice, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Usually we expect introspective dramas from acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh. Not this week. Friday, he'll be delivering the hardcore action flick Haywire and several of the movie' s biggest stars shared their thoughts on this butt-kicking bonanza.

"First and foremost, Haywire has a very strong script," lead Ewan McGregor told us at an exclusive press conference. "It's a solid piece of writing. But it also has some great undercover James Bond spy elements."

Ewan plays the role of Kenneth in the film. Falling somewhere between the lines of secret agent shot caller and soldier of fortune, he's definitely at the center of Haywire’s biggest mystery. Lead actress Gina Carano makes her feature debut in the movie after coming from a very successful career in mixed martial arts.

"Gina is beautiful as an actress," costar Antonio Banderas said. "Her performance is very smooth and very strong."

Fellow star Channing Tatum seconded that motion and told us how Carano is probably one of the toughest leading ladies he's ever acted against.

"I was telling my wife, find me a girl who can kick my butt and I’ll go to her movie," he said. "With Gina, they really found her! She's one of the best athletes I’ve ever gotten to work with."

"We were in really safe hands with Gina," McGregor added. "She's so precise and I think she did a great job in the film."

Of course, the praise wasn't all just directed at Gina. Each of the three male leads seemed to have a fantastic time working with Soderbergh (and interestingly, Tatum will be working with him again in this spring's Magic Mike).

"Steven is a very smooth and confident filmmaker," Channing went on to say. "He really expects you to bring something to the table."

Banderas heartily agreed, saying,

"Soderbergh is one of those guys you say yes to before reading the script. I first met him about 20 years ago, but because of scheduling conflicts we didn’t actually get to work together until now."

And those of you who were a little thrown off by Steven's last film, don't worry. There will be no depressing virus epidemics floating around Haywire, just good old fashioned fun, much in the vein of Soderbergh's Oceans Eleven movies.

"This film has a very fun quality to it," Antonio went on to say. "It feels kind of like an action movie that was made in the 1970's."

You can see for yourself, when Haywire goes wide this Friday.

Are you planning on watching Haywire this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Antonio Banderas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Exclusive Entrevistas, Gina Carano, Haywire, Magic Mike, Movies & CineMás, Steven Soderbergh, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

This week, all eyes will be on American Idol. The reality phenom is coming back for its 11th season this Wednesday and we know one famous alum who'll most certainly be tuning in. Stefano Langone proved to be a 2011 fave and since placing seventh last year, his career has been on fire. The 22-year-old crooner recently spoke to us about his experiences on the show and what fans can expect on his upcoming debut album.

"It's been a lot of work since Idol," Stefano told us. "I'm really proud about what I'm doing in the studio right now."

Interestingly, last week news broke that Langone had been signed to Hollywood Records. One of the hottest labels for young talent, Hollywood’s clientele includes Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and more. Though Stefano was tight-lipped on whether he'd be collaborating with any of his famous label-mates, he did divulge some secrets from the studio.

"We've already found a very cool first single," Langone said. "It's called 'I'm On A Roll.' I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to putting out music that's original and different from what I sang on the show."

Stefano went on to say that he was extremely proud of his particular Idol season and still keeps in touch with several of last year's contestants. He also heaped praise on that famous judge who saved him from an early elimination with her "wild card."

"J.Lo always had my back," Langone explained. "I felt a bit like an underdog on the show. In a way, I still feel like an underdog, but it's what gives me my edge."

And as far as the new season is concerned, Stefano did confirm that he will be watching (whenever he's not too tied up in the studio). He also told us how he's hoping to record something in "Spanglish" to honor his half-Mexican heritage.

"I've received a lot of love from the Latin community," he went on to say. "I'd love to reach out to those fans with a song that's half English and half Spanish. Something really original."

Hopefully we won't have too long to hear that happen. Langone's debut album should be out later this year and, as he told us, there’s a good chance he'll be popping back up on Idol for a surprise appearance.

"Idol has been a great opportunity and I’m definitely going to continue to capitalize on it. I'm pretty sure I'll be performing on the show later this season."

You can catch the return of American Idol this Wednesday on Fox.

Are you looking forward to the new season of American Idol? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hollywood Records, I'm On A Roll, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Stefano Langone, Television, Tr3s Exclusives