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By Michael Lopez

It seems like Victoria's Secret beauty Adriana Lima is a very ambitious woman. The Brazilian model recently listed off her 2012 "Bucket List" and clearly she has some impressive resolutions.

For starters, Lima is hoping to master the piano this year. She also wants to work with a speech coach to help lessen her accent. If you ask us, it sounds like Adriana may have a music career on her mind.

Lima also wants to step into the boxing ring and become a better fighter. And despite the fact that she's 30-years-old, Adriana feels like now is the time to finally get her driver's license.

Perhaps her loftiest goal is to visit Tibet and meet the Dalai Lama. Obviously to most of us, that seems like a difficult task. But keep in mind that Lima travels the world on a monthly basis and could easily accomplish that mission.

Way to shoot for the stars Adriana, we hope you make all of those dreams come true!

What are your 2012 new year's resolutions? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Adriana Lima, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dalai Lama, New Year's, New Year's Resolutions, Victoria's Secret

By Michael Lopez

It looks like romance is alive and well in 2012. This past week, tons of celebrity proposal stories leaked to the press, all centered around the joy and excitement of New Year's Eve.

Matthew McConaughey and his now-fiancee Camila Alves seemed to spark the trend with the announcement of their engagement on Christmas Day. Though they already have two kids together, Matt felt like the 2011 holiday season was the time to make things official. Camila excitedly accepted the glowing diamond ring and even tweeted an instagram of the moment she said "Yes."

John Legend was another celeb eager to take his relationship to the next level this December. The R&B crooner turned 33 last week and decided the time was right to propose to his longtime girlfriend Christine Teigen. The stunning Sports Illustrated model seemed thrilled about becoming Mrs. Legend (especially since he popped the question while they were vacationing in Maldives).

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler generated quite a bit of buzz with his surprise engagement last week. The current American Idol judge is getting set to walk down the aisle for the third time (with a fiancée who's 25 years younger). Interestingly, his bride-to-be Erin Brady was once Aerosmith’s accountant.

LeBron James had two big reasons to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year. For starters, he turned 27 the night earlier. But even better than that, the Miami Heat star is now an engaged man! James' high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, is about to become his Basketball Wife. The pair already have two kids and happen to make a very cute couple.

Sadly, New Year's didn’t bring love and romance to everyone. After just 14 months of marriage, Russell Brand and Katy Perry filed for divorce on December 30. Using the traditional "irreconcilable differences" excuse, the pair had experienced some public blowouts in the past few weeks and spent the Christmas season on separate coasts.

Did you enjoy a romantic New Year’s Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Camila Alves, Celebrities, Celebrity Couples, Celebrity Divorce, Chisme, Christine Teigen, Engagements, Erin Brady, Holidays, John Legend, Katy Perry, Lebron James, Matthew McConaughey, New Year's, popnews, Russell Brand, Savannah Brinson, Steven Tyler

By Michael Lopez

Ok, so it looks like Cameron Diaz was NOT at Diddy's exclusive New Year's Eve party. But nearly every other famous face in Miami was. Exclusive images made their way down the wire this week revealing Rihanna, Vivica A. Fox, and Gayle King posing alongside colorful bottles of Ciroc!

Interestingly, it seems the Diddy partygoers celebrated New Year's twice that night. Once when the clock struck midnight in New York, and again for the west coast celebration. The hip-host even provided a breakfast for the 3am crowd, which included pancakes, bacon, and egg whites.

But one of the true stars of the night was clearly the Ciroc liquor bar. The vodka company helped sponsor Diddy's event and displayed giant ice sculptures of their brand, along with the tag line, "Ciroc The New Year."

Rihanna seemed to be enjoying the Ciroc theme too, happily posing by the bar in her tight black New Year's dress. And the 23-year-old songstress had an even bigger reason to celebrate that night. The Official Charts just revealed that she was the UK’s biggest selling singles artist in 2011.

What was your favorite cocktail this past New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Ciroc, Ciroc The New Year, Diddy, Holidays, Hot Stuff, New Year's, Rihanna

By Michael Lopez

Maybe the Mayan end-of-the-world prediction got to people because this past new year's the parties were raging like never before! Several famous faces were spotted all over the country Saturday night, ringing in 2012 with plenty of style.

Over in Florida, Diddy hosted a huge party at his Miami estate. Known for throwing extravagant NYE bashes, the music mogul maintained his rep by launching a massive fireworks show and welcoming famous guests like Rihanna, Fat Joe, and Busta Rhymes. No official word on whether his rumored galpal, Cameron Diaz, was in attendance, but it certainly wouldn't surprise us if she was.

Interestingly, another Miami local made major headlines that night too. Heat superstar LeBron James rung in the new year as an engaged man! He popped the question to longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson during a romantic dinner at a South Beach restaurant.

Over on the east coast, Tr3s faves Pitbull and Diego Torres made the rounds at New York's historic Times Square.

Pit's energetic performance of "Give Me Everything" was seen by over 13 million viewers on ABC's New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Mr. 305 was also on hand to watch the famous ball drop for the Dick Clark countdown.

Elsewhere in the city, new couple Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling shared a romantic evening at the Bowery Hotel. Selena Gomez hit the East Coast too, partying with boyfriend Justin Bieber until 3 am! And for the record, "The Biebs" earned quite a bit of musical credibility that night for his impassioned "Let It Be" duet with Carlos Santana.

As expected, Las Vegas proved to be a big NYE hotspot too. Kim Kardashian earned a cool $60,000 for hosting an Eve party at Tao in the Venetian Hotel. Stevie Wonder also nabbed a nice chunk of change on Saturday, performing to a sold-out crowd at Sin City's Cosmopolitan Resort.

On the west coast, Katy Perry seemed to be all smiles at L.A.'s trendy Soho House. The newly single star was seen dancing and partying alongside some of her closest friends. Mario Lopez hosted a sizable bash at Hollywood's Kodak Theater which included guests like Cobra Starship and a DJ performance by Tom Cruise's son, Connor.

And as far as the celebrity tweets go, many stars took time to reflect on 2011 and the exciting things in store for next year.

"I wanna wish you all a happy and safe new year," Bruno Mars wrote. "I thought 2010 was great but thanks to you guys 2011 has been the greatest year of my life!"

"Happy New Year! Health - happiness and love to you all!" Jessica Alba posted.

And Sofia Vergara sent out one of her signature Twitpix along with the quote, "Feliz anoooo!"

How did you spend New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Bruno Mars, Carlos Santana, Celebrities, Diddy, Eva Mendes, Holidays, Hot Stuff, Jessica Alba, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Lebron James, Mario Lopez, New Year's, New Year's Eve, Pitbull, Rihanna, Ryan Gosling, Savannah Brinson, Selena Gomez, sofia vergara, stevie wonder

By Michael Lopez

2012 is coming early this year, at least at the local Cineplex. The ensemble rom com New Year’s Eve is hitting theaters and, at a recent press conference, director Garry Marshall and writer Katherine Fugate explained their inspirations for the film.

"We all connected so well on the set," Marshall said when talking about his massive cast. "I've actually worked with a lot of these people before."

Stars Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, and Hector Elizondo were all in New Year’s unofficial prequel Valentine’s Day, albeit in very different roles. Here, they're joined by a host of A-listers, including Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sofia Vergara, and Zac Efron.

And, as Garry explained, wrangling such a massive amount of talent for the shoot wasn't easy.

"Everyone in this cast had other jobs going on, so they weren't all available. We had to make the whole shooting schedule around when they were available and when they weren't. There was one scene where Sofia Vergara had to leave for another job, so we had to cut her part down."

The premise of New Year’s Eve is definitely one that can be appreciated by everyone. On the night of December 31, we get to see a wide range of characters, all hoping to experience the most memorable night of their lives. And, by the time the credits roll, most of them accomplish that goal.

Katherine went on to explain how, despite the many story lines, there is still one underlying message she hopes to convey.

"Anytime I write anything, I try to look at the whole," she said. "What's the message? Here, it's about taking risks and new beginnings. Then I look at the characters and think how can this pie of people bring us to the same message? These are all people that I know in my own life."

Marshall praised Fugate's writing style and her ability to unite such a wide range of characters. He even offered a bit of film-making trivia on the styles of New Year’s Eve and his previous hit, Valentine’s Day.

"The term I like to use for these movies is portmanteau," he explained. "It’s actually a French term and it's used often by European filmmakers. It refers to a series of stories that come together and have one universal conclusion. Love Actually is a modern example of a movie that’s used the technique."

And something tells us if New Year’s Eve is a hit, you can expect to see it a lot more. We're still keeping our fingers crossed for a Cinco de Mayo sequel.

Are you planning on watching New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Garry Marshall, Holidays, Katherine Fugate, Movies & CineMás, New Year's, New Year's Eve, Tr3s Exclusives, Valentines Day

By Michael Lopez

If you think about it, a film title like New Year’s Eve has tons of potential. It could be a wild party flick, a timeless romance, or a coming of age drama. And to its credit, this week's New Year’s Eve movie attempts to tackle all of that. But with so many characters and so many plotlines, things wind up feeling a little jumbled and uninspired.

Similar to last year's Valentine’s Day (which was helmed by the same production team), NYE attempts to shove over a dozen stories down your throat, all linked to the same popular holiday. It also throws a bit of mystery into the mix; connecting characters via plot twists and chance encounters.

The problem is, the formula is starting to feel a little stale. Though it's fun to watch certain famous faces interact (Sofia Vergara and Jon Bon Jovi make an interesting pair), the chemistry doesn't always click and the "surprises" begin to feel way too predictable.

Leading the pack of performers for this celeb fest are Halle Berry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ludacris, Katherine Heigl, and Zac Efron (just to name a few). New Year’s Eve also does an admirable job of squeezing in even more famous faces in cameo roles, like Matthew Broderick, Ryan Seacrest, and Wizards of Waverly Place’s Jake T. Austin.

It's all quite a lot to digest, but the purpose is to show varying perspectives on New York's biggest night. To the film’s credit, it covers all of the bases of what encompasses New Year's Eve. There's the famous ball drop, a Glee-inspired rendition of "Auld Sang Lyne," and thousands of drunken rebel rousers in Times Square.

But if you're looking for substance, this is probably not the movie for you. The romance scenes seem forced, the jokes are far from memorable, and several stars seem to be "phoning in" their performances. But, at 77-years-old, we do have to give some credit to director Garry Marshall. He clearly created a fun environment for his actors and we have a strong feeling he'll be giving us at least one more holiday movie before he calls it a career.

Bottom line: One cheesy rom com is bad enough, but imagine 12 of them rolled into one?! That's kind of what you can expect with New Year’s Eve. Rather than trying too hard, this movie seems like it's not trying enough. The performances are flat, the story lines feel tired, and final payoff fails to deliver. Let's hope the cast behind this flick adds "make better movies" to their new year's resolutions.

Are planning to watch New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Auld Sang Lyne, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Garry Marshall, halle Berry, Holidays, Jake T. Austin, Jon bon jovi, Ludacris, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, New Year's, New Year's Eve, Rom Coms, Sarah Jessica Parker, sofia vergara, Valentine’s Day, Zac Efron

By Michael Lopez

Wanna spend the January 2 with J.R. Martinez? Then start booking your tickets for California because the Dancing With The Stars fave has just been named grand marshal of Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade.

A tradition of over 120 years, the Tournament of Roses features beautifully crafted floats and a procession of beloved celebrities. And J.R. is in some pretty elite company with his new status. Legendary stars like Shirley Temple, Frank Sinatra, and Walt Disney have all served as grand marshals throughout the parade’s history.

And that's only the beginning of the Martinez media blitz. In the past few weeks, the Latino Iraq vet has graced the cover of People magazine and been chosen to do the coin toss at the upcoming Rose Bowl.

Plus there's J.R.'s ongoing success on Dancing With The Stars. His recent Ghostbusters performance wowed the crowd, maintaining his status as this season's front runner. If all goes well, you may even see a mirror ball trophy by his side when takes the Roses reigns.

Are you rooting for J.R. on Dancing With the Stars? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Dancing With The Stars, Hot Stuff, J.R. Martinez, New Year's, People Magazine, Rose Bowl, Television, Tournament of Roses Parade

By Michael Lopez

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Alfredo Simon isn't having such a great new year. Simon surrendered to Dominican Republic police this week after a deadly New Year's Eve shooting that left his 25-year-old cousin dead.

Simon, who celebrated New Year's Eve with family and friends in his hometown of Luperon, fired two bullets into the air when the clock struck midnight, according to his attorney. Those bullets may have struck his cousin, Michael Esteban Castillo, who died from the injuries, and Castillo’s 17-year-old brother Starlin, who is in stable condition. But with reports that 15 different people fired shots into the air at the same party, the deadly bullets may not have come from Simon’s gun.

"It wasn't a thing like we began arguing and I started shooting," Alfredo told police when he turned himself in Monday. "It was some accident; it happened by accident. That's why I came here — to open my soul."

Simon's lawyer, Carlos Olivares, said Tuesday that preliminary forensics tests clear his client of any wrongdoing.

"The ballistics tests have been favorable," Carlos Olivares told CNN. "We are waiting for the formal report."

Did you have any drama at your New Year’s Eve party? Comment below or @MTV3.

Tags Alfredo Simon, Baltimore Orioles, Dominican Republic, MLB, New Year's, Sports

As 2009 comes to a close, todos estamos pensando el lo que ha sucedido este año: Barack Obama becoming the first African-American President of the U.S., Michael Jackson's untimely death, Justice Sonia Sotomayor becoming la primera latina in the Supreme Court, swine flu, y mucho más.

Pero el fin del 2009 also marks el fin de la decada.  Can you believe los '00s are over?  In come the teens!  So to commemorate this occasion, cuentanos: who or what defines los '00s to you?

Teen Culture

Once upon a time in 2000, the airwaves were invaded by the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, 'NSync and The Backstreet Boys.  While Britney's all grown up and stealing the spotlight in other ways these days, the idolization of teen stars carried on throughout la decada.

Los 00s are also responsible for American Idol with such new young stars arising like Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, David Archuleta and most recently Adam Lambert.  And other teen music phenoms like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez y Demi Lovato, and let's not forget Rihanna and Chris Brown, no se quedan atrás.  And really, would the whole Twilight phenomenon really exist without teen fever for RPatz, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart?  Who's your favorite teen icon from los 00s?

Latin Explosion!

Even more relevant para todos nosotros, was the "Latin Explosion" of los 00s.  Starting with the successful crossover careers of the likes of Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias y Shakira, los 00s brought Latinos to the forefront when it comes to la música popular americana.  Whether hearing Daddy Yankee in a soda commercial or Wisin y Yandel in a video game (and seeing both nominated for MTV Video Music Awards), there is no doubt that Latinos seriously broke through into mainstream pop culture during the 2000s.

With such collabos hitting the video and radio airwaves como Beyoncé y Shakira,  Wisin y Yandel con 50 Cent, Pitbull and Lloyd, Akon and Dulce María, y muchos más.  On the silver screen, actors like Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Eva Mendez, John Leguizamo and even Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba made waves para los Latinos.  Similarly on la tele, entertainers like George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Eva Longoria Parker, Wilmer Valderrama, America Ferrera and Ana Ortiz made us all un poquito más orgullosos de ser Latinos!

Cuéntanos, what defines los 00s for you?  Stay tuned to MTV Tr3s in January to catch nuestros especiales on Lo Mejor De Los 00's, y mientras tanto...

We wish you all un feliz y prospero año nuevo!  Que disfruten!

Photos via Getty Images & Google Images

Tags 2009, 2010, Año Nuevo, America Ferrera, Barack Obama, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Daddy Yankee, Enrique Iglesias, Eva Longoria Parker, Javier Bardem, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Lo Mejor de los 00s, Mario Lopez, michael jackson, New Year’s, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Salma Hayek, Selena Gomez, Shakira, Twilight, Ugly Betty, Wisin y Yandel