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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 Astrid Rivera

After a whirlwind romance that resulted in a beautiful and extremely lavish Indian wedding, Katy Perry and Russell Brand have sadly parted ways. This divorce comes as a shock to many who, like me, believed the vibrant couple was destined for a happy Hollywood ending. After 14 months of what appeared to be marriage bliss, the couple calls it quits but the question remains -now what?

Starting off a year like 2012 -which the Mayans have notoriously doomed- as a single girl is hard enough but unfortunately it seems Katy is in for rougher times ahead. Apparently the Fireworks singer really fell in love with Russell because she committed the classic celebrity mistake of not signing a prenup (when will celebrities learn?!).

According to sources like E Online, the year that they were married Katy made an estimated $45 million from touring and endorsements while Russell only made $6-8 million. Although they tied the knot in India, their marriage license was filed in California and according to California state law Mr. Brand is entitled to half of what Katy made.

That doesn't seem to have sunk in for Katy who was spotted partying the New Years weekend away with a mysterious Russell Brand look alike. Although the star has been keeping a low profile the ever-present paparazzi have captured Katy looking rather cheerful lately. Meanwhile her famed ex was holed up in a hotel room in his native London, not in any mood to ring in the New Year.

However, don't feel too bad for the comedic actor just yet. 2012 is sure to be a very active year for Brand, who is the star of the upcoming and much anticipated musical Rock of Ages, set to premiere June 1st. He is also lined up for a number of projects including Diablo Cody's directorial debut and even a Motley Crue biopic in which he will portray Tommy Lee!

Katy has yet to say anything about the divorce and is scheduled for tour dates in Indonesia and the Philippines later this month. Brand released a statement after news broke,

"Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I will always adore her and I know we'll always remain friends."

I still believe in these two and I hope they patch things up soon because I cannot take another celebrity divorce!

What do you think is next for Katy Perry and Russell Brand? Do you think they will ever get back together?

Tags Astrid Rivera, Diablo Cody, E Online, Katy Perry, Pop News Motley, Rock Of Ages, Russell Brand, Tommy Lee

By Karli from the Blog

Russell Brand just introduced Tony Bennet to the stage to honor Amy Winehouse. The feeling at Nokia is really amazing right now.  Bruno Mars hit the stage to bring the energy to another level with his performance of her songs! Incredible !  Amy, you are dearly missed!  What an awesome tribute!

By the way I went to the restroom and as soon I came back Tyler the Creators' mom thanked me for bringing her water and holding her down during Tylers aceptance speech. Oh and Kevin Hart missed me because some drunk seat filler sat in my seat while I went to charge my phone.

Yes yes and yes! My girl Katy Perry takes home the Video of the Year award!!!!! Awwww Russell Brand looked extra emotional as he thanked him for his support and love!!!   Sorry for all the "!!!" but this girl deserves it! Party!

Then Lil' Wayne hits the stage and the entire Nokia Theater smells like illegal substance!

No one stood up for the performance, it was horrible! lol

Tags Amy Winehouse tribute, Bruno Mars, Karli from the Blog, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne, Russell Brand, Tony Bennet, Video of the year, VMAs

By Maria Corina Marrero

Sir Paul McCartney has said that if slaughter houses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. The iconic musician from The Beatles even appears in an eye-opening, heart wrenching video on the PETA site  that allows anyone to take a peek at what happens inside a slaughter house, and trust me, you ought to have a good stomach to watch the video from start to finish! These are the images meat producers don't want any of us to see, taken by undercover PETA members infiltrated as employees.

Hundreds of animal-loving celebrities have dedicated themselves to use their image to promote animal rights and stop animal cruelty in slaughter houses, laboratories and in the entertainment industry.

PETA itself (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) created in 2001 a yearly nomination for the sexiest Vegetarian celebrity, and this year Russell Brand and Kristen Wiig were given the tittle of "2011 Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities".

Katy Perry's hubby has been vegetarian since he's 14 and has blatantly declared,

"You shouldn't eat animals, it's mean to them"

Meanwhile the 37 year old "Bridesmaids" star has said she is a huge fan of tofu and soy and that ever since she's been vegetarian, she has more energy, looks younger, and feels healthier!

So just in case you still haven't decided to change that hamburger for a sexier and yummier veggie tofu wrap,  maybe a glance of a list of stars who have got the sexiest celebrity nomination in earlier years might serve as great motivation:

Shania Twain, Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Lauren Bush, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone, Carrie Underwood, Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kristen Bell, Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis, Leona Lewis, Olivia Wilde and NBC's The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper.

Would you follow their lead and consider going vegetarian?

Tags Blogger: Maria Corina Marrero, Katie Perry, Kristen Wiig, Peta, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

Who knew Russell Brand could be such a softie? Sure he’s known for his wild stage antics and adult humor, but beneath it all he may very well be a hopeless romantic. At least that’s what he conveys as the star and executive producer of the new film Arthur.

Based on a 1981 film of the same name, Arthur’s story does appear to be quite timeless. There’s the eccentric 30-something billionaire (though that may be a little harder to identify with in these tough economic times), the greedy fiancée, and the whimsical down-to-earth love interest who teaches him that money doesn’t buy happiness.

Yes, at its core, it’s definitely a story we’ve heard before. But with a talented cast and plenty of fresh elements, Arthur actually works quite well. Brand cited original star Dudley Moore as an inspiration and he definitely mixes in the same kind of bawdy British humor that the first Arthur was famous for.

Interestingly Helen Mirren’s nanny character was actually a male butler in the original film. Still called Hobson, she gives the sharp-tongued babysitter role a lot of heart. And it’s actually a difficult part to play. As Arthur’s nanny for over 30 years, she’s required to show both love and dismay towards his endless debaucheries.

Luis Guzmán has assumed the role of Arthur’s driver Bitterman, who was African-American in the first movie, and newcomer Greta Gerwig has now taken over the lead once made famous by Liza Minnelli. All of them do great work, but as the title implies, it’s the Arthur performance that the movie relies on.

Does Brand pull it off? Indeed he does. Throughout the two-hour film, he’s able to make the audience laugh, cry, and sympathize with the problems of a reckless billionaire (which is not an easy thing to do). Yes the commercials portray Arthur as a fun spring comedy, but underneath the laughter, it actually has quite a bit of heart.

Bottom line: It will be hard not to like Russell Brand after watching this film. If Arthur is any indicator of his potential, Russell’s star status may soon eclipse that of his famous wife.

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

Tags Arthur, Greta Gerwig, Helen Mirren, luis guzman, Movie Reviews, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

Within the past two weeks, Tr3s has had the opportunity to talk to castmember Luis Guzmán and director Jason Winer about their new movie Arthur. But, of course, no discussion of the film would be complete without some words from stars Russell Brand and Helen Mirren.

Speaking from a press conference, both Russell and Helen praised their new movie and, not surprisingly, each other.

“We had a wonderful relationship. I’m in love with Helen,” Brand enthusiastically stated.

Mirren was quick to second the notion, saying, “It was such a loving environment. It was very fun.”

Onscreen, both Russell and Helen share a majority of the film’s best moments. The poster describes Brand’s character as “the world’s only lovable billionaire” and, in essence, that’s true. But it’s up to Hobson the nanny (played by Mirren) to make sure he stays in line and doesn’t let his life of excess go too far.

“[Hobson] is a strong character,” Helen explained. “She doesn’t so much stand up to [Arthur], because technically he’s her employer, but she’s perfectly capable and unafraid of telling him he’s behaving like an idiot. It’s a rich, intense, and complicated relationship.”

Though portrayed as lovable, the Arthur character does struggle with alcohol addiction throughout the film. And that was something Russell claimed to identify with quite well.

“I’m such a thorough actor that I’ve done two decades of research just make sure [the alcoholism] was 100% right,” Brand joked. “It was important that we establish the context that the alcoholism was humorous and fun, but not irresponsibly portrayed.”

Though it may be marketed as a comedy, Arthur definitely blends in a fair share of drama too. There are some very emotional scenes between Brand and Mirren, along with romantic ups and downs as Arthur struggles to find love.

When asked to summarize the film, Helen said, “It’s a fantasy we can all carry within us. Arthur is a dreamer and we’re all dreamers.”

Russell, who is also an executive producer of the film, described it as a mix of “irreverent comedy, romance, and drama.”

You can judge for yourself when Arthur hits screens this Friday.

Do you think Russell Brand and Helen Mirren make a good onscreen pair? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arthur, Exclusive Entrevistas, Helen Mirren, Hot Stuff, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

Just the fact that Warner Bros. picked Jason Winer to helm Russell Brand’s new Arthur movie scores them some major bonus points. As a director and producer on the series Modern Family, it’s clear that he knows how to deliver great comedic performances. For Arthur, he’s right on track to continue that trend, as he explained to Tr3s at a press conference for the film.

“Arthur’s world is an escapist one,” Winer explained. “And in tough times, we wanted to present a world that was fun to get away to.”

Escapist is putting it lightly. As one of New York’s wealthiest playboys, Arthur’s daily regimen includes rides in the Batmobile, posh penthouse parties, and an endless amount of expensive toys. Keeping the out-of-control billionaire in line falls to the duties of Hobson, the nanny (played by Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren).

“The idea of 35 year-old man, let alone Russell Brand, with a nanny was delicious,” Jason explained. “It felt original.”

Of course, Arthur’s world is actually not an original concept. Based on a 1981 film of the same name, this updated Arthur has several new creative twists, which set it apart from the earlier version. Jason admitted that at first, he was nervous about taking on a reboot.

“I was skeptical about remaking Arthur. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid. When they came to me with the idea of remaking it, I was like why? Then they told me they were getting Russell and I thought if there was one actor to give it a fresh slant, it was him.”

And judging by the trailer alone, Russell is certainly taking ownership of the role. If you ask this writer, the idea of mixing a wild billionaire, Modern Family, and Luis Guzmán in an extra tight Robin suit, sounds very fresh and very funny.

Are you a fan of the original Arthur? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arthur, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hellen Mirren, Jason Winer, luis guzman, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe that the Kid’s Choice Awards are now 24 years old. Not that you could tell by the shenanigans going down at this weekend’s show. Throughout the night, fans got treated to monster truck demolitions, unpredictable celebrity speeches, and plenty of green slime.

Jack Black returned as host for the third year in a row and definitely “brought it” from the moment the show kicked off. Arriving in an oversized monster truck, he literally drove over two posh limousines, smashing them to bits.

Black then went on to declare Fergie, will.i.am., Taboo, and apple.de.ap the Jack Black Eyed Peas. Riling up the crowd, he joined the group onstage for a hilarious performance of “The Time (Dirty Brit),” but not before shaking things up with his own unique version of “I Gotta Feelin.”

Things only got wilder from there. Russell Brand made a very memorable appearance with Modern Family’s Rico Rodriguez for the announcement of Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie. But before any words hit the mic, kids from the audience pummeled both of them with gobs of Nickelodeon’s trademark green goo. Rico seemed to be enjoying the moment, while Brand shouted out a hilarious off-the-cuff rant.

"I am English! I am your leader! You must not do this, I am royalty!” Russell jokingly said. “You are all going to juvenile hall. You children are going to prison. You are bad children!"

Other memorable celebrity moments included Johnny Depp sliming cheering kids at the front of the stage, Miley Cyrus’ odd fashion choice, and Justin Bieber taking down his mentor Usher for Favorite Male Singer.

“The Biebs” squeeze Selena Gomez got some KCA love as well, winning Favorite TV Actress for her role in Wizards of Waverly Place. Though fans hoping to hear a Justin mention in her speech were utterly disappointed.

Several other Tr3s faves took home Nick’s famous orange blimps throughout the night, including Katy Perry for Favorite Female Singer, Jackie Chan for Favorite Butt Kicker, and Justin Timberlake, who got The Big Help Award for his work with the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Inspiring viewers of all ages, Timberlake went on to say, "I want to dedicate this to all of you very cool, very loud kids. Your heart is the most beautiful part, so don’t forget to use it."

What did you think of this year’s Kid’s Choice Awards? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Black Eyed Peas, Hot Stuff, Jack Black, johnny depp, Justin Bieber, KCAs, Kids Choice Awards, Nickelodeon, Rico Rodriguez, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

We know what you’re thinking. There’s no way I’d drag myself to a family-friendly Easter movie unless I had screaming tykes dangling from my arms. Well, believe it or not, Hop’s making very good use of that PG rating, by blending colorful cartoon characters for the kiddies with lots of witty adult humor.

The Hop creators deserve credit on multiple levels. First off, the technical wizardry is amazing. Though it doesn’t have any of that 3D pizzazz you saw in Toy Story 3, the film’s ability to simulate rabbits on Sunset Blvd, peeping chick sleighs, and a wondrous Easter Island candy factory more than makes up for it.

Another reason to give the Hop team kudos is for the very original storyline. Sure we see tons of Christmas and Halloween movies every year, but when was the last time you had 90 minutes devoted to the Easter bunny? The magic, the candy, the colored eggs – this genre is truly untapped and Hop does a great job of highlighting the holiday’s best moments.

Each of the actors, both the live ones and the cartoon voice-overs, do great work with their roles. James Marsden deserves twice as much credit, since most of his scenes were filmed with a rabbit puppet (which was replaced in post-production by animated hero E.B.) and Kaley Cuoco probably gets one of the biggest laughs in the movie for a scene the trailer may have unfortunately spoiled.

On the animation side, Russell Brand comes off surprisingly sweet as good-natured bunny E.B. Though known for his adult brand of humor, he’s able to convey a naïve innocence with the character. Hank Azaria is also a standout as the voice of bad guy Carlos. And though some Latinos may be upset that a Chilean chicken was played by a Greco-American actor, he does nail the accent perfectly.

Hop’s actual plot conveys plenty of uplifting messages about following your dreams and standing up for what you believe in. Though E.B. has his rebellious moments and turns his back on his Easter bunny duties, he’s definitely a rabbit you can root for.

Bottom line: We dare you not to have fun at Hop. But those with a sweet tooth beware - the Hershey’s Kisses, Peeps, and Gummi Bears from the Easter factory may make you want to leave your seat and rush to the concession stand.

Are you excited to see Hop? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Easter, Holidays, Hop, Hot Stuff, James Marsden, Movie Reviews, Movies, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand

By Michael Lopez

Tim Hill's upcoming Easter film Hop blends live action and animation with a sharp sense of humor. The film's stars — Enchanted’s James Marsden, The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco and the wildly funny Russell Brand — talked with Tr3s about the film, the characters and the on-set laughter.

“It was very funny,” Cuoco said. “James is absolutely hilarious, we had a great time!”

As director Tim Hill had previously noted, Hop required some technical magic to blend animated bunny E.B. (voiced by Brand) into the real world. That meant long takes between shots and plenty of time for goofing around. And even though Russell recorded his lines in a studio, James was present for the sessions and found them to be quite inspiring.

“It was really great for Russell and I to be in the same room together," Marsden said. "We would constantly be riffing off of each other.”

Of course, the three principle actors hardly encapsulate all of the LOL elements of Hop. The film also includes comic cameo performances from Office Space’s Gary Cole, comedienne Chelsea Handler, David Hasselhoff and Hank Azaria as the voice of one bad chicky.

It’s no surprise that the majority of the movie’s laughs come from Brand’s E.B.

“With E.B., I succumbed to the fantasy of being a rock and roll star," Brand said. "Rabbits always represent the trickster. They’re playful little devils.”

That, and the film's sense of wonder, are some of Hop's most appealing attributes.

“In the world of children, there are very different rules," he added. "There’s a kind of naivety and innocence that has been beautifully captured by this film.”

But the film's lessons are what drew Marsden to the script.

“[My kids] are the reason I did this movie," he said. "Hop is ultimately about following your dreams and finding your passion in life.”

Though sweetness plays a strong role in Hop, Cuoco added another great reason to catch it in theaters this weekend.

“In Hop, E.B. wants to be the ultimate rock star and not do what his dad says,” she said.

Certainly that’s a point kids of all ages can identify with.

What’s your favorite Easter film? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Exclusive Entrevistas, Hop, Hot Stuff, James Marsden, Kaley Cuoco, Movies & CineMás, Russell Brand