Hitmaker produced a song dedicated to Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski ahead of tonight's Big Game against Big Blue.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Ricky Louis

Timbaland
Photo: Jason Campbell/MTV

The biggest sporting event of the year is just a few hours away, and in the moments leading up to Super Bowl XLVI, everyone seems to be picking a side. Multiplatinum producer Timbaland, who's looking for the New England Patriots to defeat the New York Giants on Sunday night (February 5), decided to make a song about it.

"I just did it almost to be playing around, just to do it," Timbaland told MTV News on Friday from his home in Miami. "It turned out bigger than what I thought."

The song, which is dedicated to Patriots tight end Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski was uploaded to YouTube last week with the football star's name as its title. The track was produced by Virginia native Tim and Wizz Dumb, but it's newcomer Brasco who rhymes on the energetic tune. "They're yelling, 'Touchdown, touchdown, 87, 87," he raps, referring to Gronk's number.

Gronkowski has 90 catches and 17 touchdowns this season but after suffering a high-ankle sprain, #87 is listed as questionable and may not play in the Super Bowl, though multiple sources tell ESPN that Gronkowski is doing better and is expected to play.

Whether or not Gronk plays, Timbaland is rooting for New England.

"I've always been a Tom Brady fan," he said of the Pats' quarterback and biggest star. "I've always liked the Patriots, how they move, how the coach coaches, how the players — you don't hear too much about their business in the media."

The last time these two teams faced off for the championship was in 2008's Super Bowl XLII, and the Giants came out on top. So for New England and their faithful following, Sunday's big game is a chance at redemption. "It's like a fight. You get one up, the Giants got one up so, of course, the Patriots gotta win," Timbaland said. "If the Patriots win, it'll be a tie. ... Hopefully, they'll win. I think they're ready."

Who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLVI? Tell us on our Facebook page!

• Super Bowl Halftime Performances: A Legacy Of Rock

• Timbaland

AP - When Dorothy Twinney first saw a Race for the Cure walk for breast cancer — "a sea of pink" traveling through her hometown of Plymouth, Mich. — she was so moved she sat in her car and wept.

MTV News has gathered up everything you need to know before Madonna takes the stage on Sunday during the Super Bowl.
By Jocelyn Vena

Madonna
Photo: PictureGroup/ Evan Agostini

From the moment that it was announced back in December that Madonna would be taking the stage during the Super Bowl halftime show, everyone has been buzzing about what the Queen of Pop will do when she performs.

In the two months since the announcement, she has been teasing fans about what they will see for those several minutes when she interrupts the matchup between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

Madonna recently told Anderson Cooper on his talk show that "I have to put on the greatest show on earth, in the middle of the greatest show on earth. I have eight minutes to set it up and seven minutes to take it down and 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth. That's a lot of pressure."

Wondering what might happen? Well, MTV News has compiled a little Super Bowl halftime cheat sheet.

The Guests
M.I.A. confirmed that she'll be on the stage alongside Madonna, and Nicki Minaj tweeted on Thursday night about being in Indianapolis with Madonna rehearsing for the show. "Omfg. Madonna's show is about to murdaaaa everything movinggg. Wow. Such a surreal moment."

There are also rumors that Cee Lo Green may appear during her set, as well as party rockers LMFAO. The whole show will also get an assist from Cirque du Soleil and Madonna's longtime choreographer and creative director Jamie King.

The Look
If Madonna's "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video is any indication, the gig will certainly have a cheerleader vibe to it. When MTV News caught up with her at her "W.E." premiere she coyly teased that "pom poms" would play heavily into the theme of the show.

In an interview with ABC News, she shared one idea she had for the performance: "I actually wanted to have 100 drummers come from the ceiling, a drumline from the ceiling."

The Songs
There'll be something old and something new. "I promise I will be singing three old songs and one new one," Madonna said at a press conference. With M.I.A. and Nicki already on the ground, it seems that she'll definitely be performing "Give Me" (the lead single off her March album, MDNA). With rumors flying about what those other songs could be, the word is that she'll also perform "Vogue," "Music" and "Ray of Light."

The Stage
In photos teased online, the halftime stage is full of LED lights in various shades of blue, green, pink, purple and red and includes various designs including the word "Vogue" (yep, like the song), kooky-looking eyes and a heart-shaped design.

Who Will Be Watching?
Besides like seven-bajillion people? Well, the Pussycat Dolls say that despite a heated matchup between the Giants and the Patriots, there's only one team they'll be rooting for.

"I definitely say Madonna," PCD creator Robin Antin told MTV News. "We'll be watching for the [Go Daddy] commercial ... and Madonna. It's exciting. Well, hopefully the Pussycat Dolls will be on the next Super Bowl performing, you know?"

Lady Gaga has already admitted that she'll be tuning in on Sunday night. "Looking forward to seeing the Superbowl! The halftime show will be wonderful, I'm sure," she tweeted on Tuesday. "An excuse to drink beer+watch boys in tights. #yes."

What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comment below.

• MTV Rough Cut: Madonna

• Super Bowl Halftime Performances: A Legacy Of Rock

• Madonna

AP - For leaders of the nation's pre-eminent breast-cancer charity, it was a firestorm they didn't see coming — and couldn't withstand.

Ron Paul comes in third in latest GOP contest.
By Gil Kaufman

Mitt Romney
Photo: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images

Just four days after notching his most convincing win of the primary season so far, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney made it two in a row by taking Saturday night's Republican caucus in Nevada with 47.6 percent of the vote. In a season where three different candidates have won the first four contests, that gives Romney the distinction of being the first to grab two consecutive votes.

"This is not the first time you've given me your vote of confidence, and this time I'm going to take it to the White House," a clearly excited Romney said at a victory speech, where he once again turned his attention away from his Republican opponents and on President Obama.

Unlike Florida, where Representative Ron Paul didn't compete in order to focus on Nevada and other upcoming states and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum was forced to suspend his campaigning to deal with a sick child, all four remaining candidates worked the road in the first Western contest of the season.

After coming in 14 points behind Romney in Florida, Newt Gingrich was hoping for a solid comeback but could not rely on a strong debate performance, as there was not one in advance of the latest battle. On Saturday night he finished well behind Romney, rolling up just 22.7 percent of the vote (with 71 percent of precincts reporting at press time). While Romney took to the stage in a room full of cheering supporters, the Gingrich headquarters was a stark contrast, an empty room where the former House Speaker spoke to reporters via television. "I am a candidate for president of the United States," Gingrich said. "I will be the candidate of the president of the United States."

Romney won Nevada handily in 2008, taking 51 percent of the vote because his rivals in the last GOP primary race basically let him run unopposed assuming the state's large Mormon population would ensure Romney — who is Mormon — a win. Though Mormons only account for 7 percent of the state's population (around 180,000), they are rabid voters and reliably make up one-quarter of Republican caucus-goers.

But it wasn't it as clear-cut this time. Even Santorum, who has moved to the back of the pack since his recount win in Iowa a month ago, put up a strong battle, though he ended up in fourth place with just 11.1 percent. And Paul, who was counting on the state's vocal Tea Party contingent and independent voters to come out for him, had a decent showing in third place with 18.6 percent.

As he did in Florida, Romney came in with a much bigger ground game than the rest of the field, a record of visiting the state often over the past year-and-a-half and, for what it's worth, the endorsement of real-estate mogul and once-potential candidate Donald Trump.

Regardless of the results, unlike winner-take-all Florida, no actual delegates will be awarded following the Nevada caucus. As in Iowa, delegates will be elected to go to the county convention and then to a state gathering, who will then decide where the state's 34 delegates go to the GOP convention in Tampa. It's possible the delegates who go to Florida in late August may not reflect the final results of Saturday's vote.

Voting also began Saturday in Maine's caucus, whose vote will take place over the next week. More voters go to the polls on Tuesday, when Colorado and Minnesota also caucus.

Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.

AP - To many people, breast cancer screening means a mammogram. But for millions of poor, mostly young women who visit Planned Parenthood, it is usually just a physical exam by the only health professional they may ever see.

From the King of Pop to the Boss, the Super Bowl stage has played host to some memorable performances; MTV News looks back on the best.
By James Montgomery

Madonna
Photo: Martin Fraser/ Getty Images

On Sunday night, Madonna will join an exclusive club that includes the likes of Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Diana Ross and, uh, Up With People when she performs at halftime of Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis.

Yes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger stage than the big game — last year's Super Bowl was watched by some 111 million Americans — which is why the producers of the halftime festivities always recruit the biggest stars to perform (except for 1999, when Big Bad Voodoo Daddy inexplicably found their way into the proceedings). And Madonna most certainly fits that bill, which is why, while we're not quite sure what she'll bring to the Super Bowl stage — aside from her promise that it'll be "the greatest show on earth" — we're reasonably confident that it'll be a performance folks will be talking about on Monday. And probably Tuesday too.

Of course, if Madge wants to secure her spot among the all-time greatest Super Bowl halftime performances, well, she'll definitely have to deliver the goods. Over the years, some of the most prodigious talents have gotten lost in all of the ephemera that comes with a Super Bowl slot (lasers, explosions, confetti, marching bands, will.i.am), but still others have risen to the challenge, delivering performances that have thrilled, chilled and even made us forget about the game itself. Here's a look at our favorite Super Bowl halftime performances.

Check out photos of past Super Bowl halftime shows!

Diana Ross, Super Bowl XXX: The dynamic Diana stole the show in 1996 with a classy, brassy performance that featured nearly as many of her biggest hits as it did costume changes. Her voice was in prime form, powerful enough to outshine a full gospel choir, an army of tuxedo-clad dancers and, of course, end-zone pyrotechnics. But it was her exit — lifted from the stage via helicopter, while blowing kisses as the chorus of "Take Me Higher" blasted through the stadium — that truly put this one over the top.

Prince, Super Bowl XLI: Not even a near-constant downpour could dampen this 2007 performance from the Purple One, who stalked across a custom "symbol" stage (while wearing a kerchief tied around his head), wailed on approximately 46 guitar solos, begged the audience to "take my picture," out-watted the famed FAMU marching band, covered the Foo Fighters and even managed to freak out network censors by casting a lengthy (and quite phallic) shadow from behind a piece of fabric. So, you know, it was just your average Prince show. Oh, and then he did "Purple Rain" in the rain. Meta.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Super Bowl XLIII: They opened with Springsteen leaning on Clarence Clemons (a nod to the cover of 1975's Born to Run), begged the viewing audience to "put down the chicken fingers," and then absolutely, positively destroyed the stage in Tampa with a set that featured classics like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Born to Run" and "Glory Days." And then Springsteen finished things off by shouting, "I'm going to Disneyland!"As several fans have come to say, this wasn't a halftime performance, it was a football game played around a Springsteen concert. As an added bonus, this is also the performance that gave us the now-immortal meme.

Michael Jackson, Super Bowl XXVII: It started with the late, great King of Pop magically leaping from the Rose Bowl scoreboards to his stage on the 50-yard line, featured a staggering 3,000 dancers, some killer choreography (the Moonwalk!) and a career-spanning medley of Jackson's hits (everything from "Billie Jean" to "Black or White"). And as if MJ's performance wasn't testament to his superstardom, how about the 90-second ovation he received before ever singing a word? It was almost enough to make one young writer forget the Bills were on their way to losing a third-straight Super Bowl. Almost.

U2, Super Bowl XXXVI: If there is another band on the planet more capable of seizing the moment than U2, well, we'd like to meet them. In this case, that meant performing at the first Super Bowl since the 9/11 attacks, before an audience of millions still reeling and recovering. And, in typical form, Bono and company didn't shrink from the spotlight. Though there were more than a few highlights, their solemn, spiritual performance of "Where the Streets Have No Name" — which saw the names of all the victims of 9/11 projected behind them — was not only the most memorable of the night, it's without a doubt the most memorable (and chill-inducing) in Super Bowl history. And then, to top it all off, Bono pulled back his jacket to reveal an American flag. Game over.

What songs do you want Madonna to perform during the halftime show? Leave your comments on our Facebook page!

• Madonna

Video directors Megaforce open up about working with Madge, Nicki and M.I.A. — and why the kiss didn't make the cut.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Rob Markman

M.I.A., Madonna and Nicki Minaj in "Give Me All Your Luvin' "
Photo: Interscope

After fans heard that Madonna had enlisted Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for her single and video for "Give Me All Your Luvin'," it really felt like anything could happen with those three equally eccentric and visual artists all joining forces. What they ended up creating was an eye-catching clip full of masked cheerleaders, hot football players and lacy outfits (designed by Norma Kamali) that every fan of Madge's "Like a Virgin" era will go crazy over.

The video feels distinctly Madonna — she is the star, after all — but Nicki's and M.I.A.'s presences are felt between the cheerleader chant and their equally funky verses.

"[It was] quite intense but we had a lot of fun. ... It's like shooting three presidents or something like that," Clement Gallet, from video-directing team the Megaforce, told MTV News about the shoot. "I think everybody's a bit stressed. We had time to speak to discuss the idea, to do the fittings. So you have time to meet the people first. I think we maybe thought it would be harder to have these three famous women on set, and I think everything went quite well."

While the trio's collaboration made headlines, so did a kiss Nicki tweeted about that she shared with Madonna on the New York set back in December.

"That's funny, 'cause that's something we didn't really see," he added. "Basically, it was Nicki Minaj's birthday on the shoot, but we were — as always, as the directors — stressed about the next scene and whatever happens, that when the birthday cake arrived, we were already prepping the next scene and we didn't see what happened. And we learned about it on Twitter. So basically, we cannot tell you about the scene," he joked.

Do you wish Nicki and Madonna's kiss had made it into the video? Let us know in the comments!

• Five Key Moments In Madonna's 'Give Me All Your Luvin' Music Video

• Madonna
• Nicki Minaj
• M.I.A.

Miller took MTV News back to the 'Burgh and introduced us to some of his city's hottest up-and-coming talent.
By Rob Markman

Mac Miller
Photo: MTV News

Yes, the world knows Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller, but Pittsburgh has a wealth of hip-hop talent. With the Steel City's two breakout stars already accounted for, MTV News took a trip to the 'Burgh to see who's got next.

"A lot of people are talented. There are just a million talented people out there," Miller told MTV News when he took us on a tour through his hometown in December.

Acts like Boaz, Chevy Woods, B White and Mayo of the 58's, Jabari X and Varsity Squad have been repping Pittsburgh locally for some time now, and while Mac supports all the city's homegrown talent, if he had to pick one act to break out nationwide, it would be the Come Up, a.k.a. the duo of Vinny Radio and Franchise.

"I brought them on tour and I plan on bringing them out on tour, so if it's up to me, they're gonna be the next people that come out the 'Burgh," Miller said. "But there's definitely a lot more people who could; it's not just Vinny and Fran."

Mac Miller introduces Pittsburgh's hottest producers.

The Come Up exist as a part of a larger hip-hop collective called the 58's, along with rappers B White and Mayo. That union exemplifies the type of unity that exists in Pittsburgh's rap scene.

"It's a small city ... so pretty much we've all been familiar with each other for a long time," Franchise said. "Everybody in this city who's pretty much doing it legit, we've all been trying to get it and put the city on."

Taylor Gang's Chevy Woods echoed a similar sentiment. "Everybody's hardworking, and it's not like a big music scene out there, so when you got somethin', you just go with it," he said. "Everybody sees the light that shines on [Wiz Khalifa] and Mac [Miller] and now it's trickling down to everybody else."

Wiz Khalifa motivates Pittsburgh's up-and-coming artists.

There is a pretty diverse group of rap characters that come out of Pittsburgh. Wiz is a hitmaker who dedicates a lot of his catalog to partying and getting high, while Mac embodies a youthful spirit. Boaz is street, and female MC Kellee Maize spits sociopolitical bars. "To be honest, I do think Boaz is right there on the cusp. I think I'm maybe close to the cusp too," Maize said, laughing.

"I just bring that underground feel," Boaz said, describing his deeply rooted street sound. "I embrace the culture of that poverty line that I'm speaking about."

For years, Time Bomb has been an epicenter for Pittsburgh hip-hop. More than just a clothing store, Time Bomb has become a place for local 'Burgh MCs to congregate and sling their mixtapes to hungry fans. The shop's owner, Brick, has seen many young artists walk through his doors, including Miller and Khalifa. When it comes to the future of Pittsburgh hip-hop, Brick is a wide-eyed optimist.

"I think Mac and Wiz opened the door, but there's gonna be an army of producers, an army of rappers, and they're gonna be all different. People know: Pittsburgh, it is what it is, it's a hardworking town," he said. "I can name 100 people, because I want everyone to make it from here, you understand? This is Pittsburgh."

Who do you believe will be the next rap act to emerge from Pittsburgh? Tell us in the comments!

Take a look back at MTV News' Back to the 'Burgh with Mac Miller and see how we spotlighted the city's vibrant hip-hop scene.

• Back To The 'Burgh With Mac Miller And Wiz Khalifa

• Mac Miller

Star of Nickelodeon's new show tells MTV News her dad was reluctant to let her enter 'this crazy business.'
By Christina Garibaldi

Cymphonique Miller
Photo: MTV News

Nickelodeon is getting ready to rock. On Saturday, the network will premiere its new show "How to Rock," starring rising teen star Cymphonique Miller. Miller is a familiar face at Nickelodeon, having guest starred on "True Jackson, VP" and "Big Time Rush," but this time she takes on the role as leading lady on the show, which is based on the book "How to Rock Braces and Glasses" by Meg Haston.

Miller plays high school student Kasey Simon (think Rachel McAdams' character in "Mean Girls"), leader of the Perfs, the most popular girls in school. But Miller's character quickly finds herself kicked out of the "cool crowd" after she gets braces and glasses.

But Kasey won't let the "make-under" get her down. She becomes friends with a new group of students and winds up as the lead singer of their new band, Gravity 5.

"[It's] almost kind of like a battle of the bands, and the Perfs are sort of like the mean girls." Miller recently told MTV News. "It's like the Perfs are always planning some certain way to stop Gravity 5. You can see lots of crazy physical comedy and crazy stunts in the show, 'cause every week we do something totally silly and outrageous."

Miller, who sings and co-wrote the show's theme song, "Only You Can Be You," is no stranger to the spotlight; her brother is actor/rapper Romeo, and her dad is hip-hop mogul Master P. Yet, that doesn't mean it was easy for Miller to persuade her dad to let her star in "How to Rock." She said he didn't want her to be involved in "this crazy business" until he realized how passionate she was about it. So he gave her his approval, on the condition that she keeps up her grades.

"We put education first in our family, and Romeo is like my inspiration because he was not only doing film and everything, but he also went to college, he went to USC," Miller said.

"They're always just constantly telling me to not get into this business for the wrong reasons like fame or money or else you will never be happy, so just do it because you love it." It seems like Miller certainly is loving what she is doing on "How to Rock" and hopes fans can relate to the show's positive message.

"I hope that fans and the viewers can just take from the show is to find friends who love you for who you are, because it's all about friendship with this show," Miller said. "What they should learn is that at the end of the day, there's nothing more important than being yourself."

"How to Rock" premieres Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.

Are you excited for "How to Rock"? Let us know in the comments.

Drew Barrymore, John Krasinksi and Kristen Bell discuss their new film, which follows the rescue of three gray whales in Alaska.
By Kara Warner

John Krasinksi and Drew Barrymore in "Big Miracle"
Photo: Universal Pictures

If you're looking for a feel-good film to see this weekend, look no further than "Big Miracle," the story of the real-life rescue of three gray whales trapped in ice near Point Barrow, Alaska, in 1988. Incredibly, the effort became an international issue that involved a rare collaboration between the United States and the Soviet Union and garnered worldwide media attention.

MTV News recently caught up with the three stars of the film, Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski and Kristen Bell, who explained the multi-generational appeal and importance of the story and the cause presented in the film.

"The whales have Twitter accounts," Krasinski joked when asked how the film might specifically appeal to MTV viewers. "So, streamlined information, done deal. Don't ask us, ask them. They'll talk all about it," he said with a smile. "It's a big movie that deals with participation, and with the election coming up and all these different things, and everybody is divided over this, that and the other, and everybody is angry about something. It's one of those moments where you get to say, 'I could just step in and lend my voice to something.' And it really helps, it makes you feel important and special that you're doing something. This movie sort of focuses on that completely, about how when you get a bunch of people together you can kind of do anything."

Barrymore added that the film's setting in the late '80s provides for a unique look back at our media and political cultures at the time.

"It's an interesting look back at how if things were a little different maybe we wouldn't exactly be where we are. But, it's not in a patronizing way, it's in a really interesting way," she said. "And it's amazing historically, like, you know, environmentally and politically. But, I think it's very true to what's going on now, that if people work together, whether it's protesting via Twitter for an important movement to change their country or to do something wonderful and important like saving whales. It's working together, so I think actually in 1987 when this takes place and what's going on right now today, they definitely have a connection."

Kristen Bell also focused on the warm, fuzzy aspects of the film, particularly how its positive message compares to the continually multiplying "train wreck" elements involved in other films and TV.

"I think it's a very positive story as opposed to many of the unendingly interesting train wrecks that are put on television or in films these days, which believe me, I'm not poo-pooing, but there's something very inspiring about a story where a bunch of different people come together for a common goal and actually accomplish it," Bell explained. "It's very, very inspiring, I think. And often times, news headlines or things that are written about in blogs, you know, reality television, it's not as inspiring as you want it to be, at least not for me. And it actually happened. It's historical, so you'll get smarter watching it. You'll also be inspired, so you'll be happier. What's the downfall? See the movie!"

Are you planning on seeing "Big Miracle"? Leave your comment below.

'Once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet,' Rick Ross tells MTV News of his former Maybach affiliate.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News

God Forgives, I Don't may be the name of Rick Ross' upcoming LP, but the Bawse isn't as coldhearted as his album title may suggest. When it comes to former Maybach Music affiliate Pill, Rozay wishes the Atlanta MC all the best.

"I'm a real dude and I'm a real boss and once you rep the MMG flag, I'll never step on your feet; I'mma give you a pass anyway," Ross told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway of Pill while at French Montana's "Shot Caller" remix video shoot in Miami on Sunday.

In December, P-I-Double L took to Twitter to vent about his label situation with Warner Music Group, blaming WMG for his lack of radio and television support. Because of his prominent appearance on Maybach Music's Self Made Vol. 1 compilation, many believed that Pill was signed to Ross' label, but in an exclusive interview with MTV News in January, Pill revealed that he was never technically signed to Rozay and that his deal went strictly through MMG's parent company, Warner.

"Pill's situation was a special situation because he was already signed to Warner before I did my label deal at Warner. So when I did do my deal, it was a business opportunity that was presented where Pill could run with the team for a year," Ross confirmed. "I took that opportunity. That year ran its course and it was pretty much up to Warner what decisions they wanted to make with Pill as an artist after that point. I think they made it."

Pill told MTV News in January that he was working on getting a release from Warner and made it clear that he had no problems with anyone in MMG personally — though he did say that he and Ross didn't speak very often. "I ain't got nothing against none of them, nobody. It's just the situation don't work," Pill said matter-of-factly. "It's cool with us, I don't got nothing against Ross either. It's just I don't talk to him."

Some believed that Pill's outspokenness would anger the Boss, but Rozay didn't take any of it to heart. "He made sure he reached out to me and called me and clarified," Ross said. "He expressed that in no way was he disrespecting the team or the brand, because it's a great opportunity and a great look."

As far as why the "Trap Goin' Ham" rapper's situation didn't work out, Ross thought the young MC just needed a hit record and a little luck to build his momentum. He used the success of MMG's Meek Mill and Wale to exemplify his point. "Certain things happen for certain people at certain times and none of us could really predict that," he explained. "I couldn't predict that Meek Mill would bring 'Ima Boss' to me or we couldn't predict that Wale would bring 'That Way.' "

Even though Pill and WMG are now going their separate ways, Ross is looking forward to seeing his former Maybach affiliate rack up a win. "Hopefully, in the future he'll bring him a hit record, and get him some paper and do his thing," he said. "I wish him much success."

What do you hope to see from Pill in the future? Leave your comments below!

• Rick Ross

From 'Dick Tracy' to 'Like a Virgin,' MTV News spots the best winks to Queen of Pop's many reinventions in brand-new video.
By John Mitchell

Madonna in her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " music video
Photo: Interscope

Madonna dropped her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video on Friday morning (February 3), and the eye-popping clip featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. has fans even more excited for the Queen of Pop's halftime performance at Sunday's Super Bowl.

In the video, Madonna hits the streets flanked by Minaj, M.I.A. and a very protective football team for a tongue-in-cheek walk down memory lane. In scene after scene, the pop icon references her musical past. We combed through the cheeky clip for some of the best winks at Her Madgesty's numerous reinventions. Here are our top five:

1. Madonna Passes the Pom-Poms to Nicki, M.I.A.
Some of the most famous images of pre-fame Madonna are of the Michigan native in her high school cheerleading uniform, so it seems fitting that in "Your Luvin', " there's what seems to be a symbolic passing of the pom-poms to Minaj and M.I.A. The video opens with Minaj and M.I.A. flying high at the top of a cheerleading formation on a suburban street, just the way Madonna Louise Ciccone might have as a cheerleader at Rochester Adams High School.

2. Getting a Lift — "Material Girl"-Style
Not only does the uniformed football team guarding Madonna offer up umbrellas to shield her from raining sparks and throw down their letterman jackets to give her a makeshift red carpet to walk on, but the boys give the singer a lift in a move that feels straight out of her "Material Girl" video — but with a twist. As they help her to keep steady, viewers soon realize she's walking down the side of a building!

3. Dodging a "Dick Tracy" Gangster
As the pop queen parades down an alleyway, an old-school car pulls up alongside her, and then someone rolls down a window and opens fire. The mysterious villain employs a weapon that looks just like the vintage Colt M1921 Thompson submachine guns used by the baddies in Madonna's hit flick "Dick Tracy." Luckily, the ever-vigilant team guarding her leaps in front of the fire.

4. Kissing Cheerleaders ... That Seems Familiar
Madonna's never been shy about admitting she's kissed (many) girls — and liked it. But we think this little lingering look at two masked cheerleaders smooching is probably a direct reference to Madonna's infamous lip lock with Britney Spears at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. (For the record, that legendary moment made our list of Madonna's top five best MTV performances ever!)

5. Nicki and Madonna Have Blond Ambition
Madonna climbs over a pile of football players and straight into a dream sequence that's a smorgasbord of references to Madonna's past. When she emerges from the huddle, gone are her long, flowing locks and black leather ensemble, and in their place is a short white lace dress and curly platinum-blond wig that recalls her Blond Ambition/"Vogue" era. The nod to her "Like a Virgin" years is underscored the second the camera cuts to Minaj, who sports a wedding dress that (minus a few ruffles) looks like it came straight from Madonna's 1984 VMA performance. And while Minaj isn't wearing Madonna's famed "boy toy" belt, she does make a reference to it, rapping, "You can be my boy toy."

Are you luvin' Madonna's new video? Share your reviews on our Facebook page!

• Five Key Moments In Madonna's 'Give Me All Your Luvin' Music Video

• Madonna

'I'm kind of living through them all over again,' new social media correspondent tells MTV News of the contestants.
By Kara Warner

Christina Milian
Photo: MTV News

In addition to a brand-new crop of talent and potential future stars, NBC's hit singing competition "The Voice" has added a familiar face to its cast for season two: new social media correspondent Christina Milian.

When MTV News caught up with the singer/actress recently, she explained how she got the gig and how excited she is for the show to premiere on Super Bowl Sunday.

"I'm heavily involved on Twitter, have always been involved with my Internet fanbase and find that that's the best way to connect with the fans," Milian told us during a photo shoot for Hydrogen magazine. "I guess the people at NBC had their eye on me and they paid attention to it. I got a call one day and met up with everyone at NBC and the folks from 'The Voice,' and next thing you know, a week later, I'm signing a contract and the following week I'm working."

Milian had nothing but praise for her "Voice" castmates and the experience working on the show thus far.

"It's been fabulous. I've had fun working with the cast already," she said. "Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Cee Lo, Carson Daly — it's an awesome super team they have, and from day one, they treated me like family."

The "Dip It Low" singer said she loves that the show is about music and chasing your dreams and that she's enjoyed watching the coaches take time to work with and help their contestants.

"This show is about music, it's about talent, and it's about this passion and this dream of becoming a star," Milian said. "Still to this day, every day that I wake up, I have that same dream, so to be involved with the show, [it's amazing] to watch what they incorporate and how the coaches act as advisers and mentors to the artists and really truthfully help them and push them and want them to be the best so they can win.

"There have been so many moments where I've thought, 'That's me on that stage! I remember that time,' " she added of enjoying watching the contestants. "Or you see their family sitting on the side of the stage crying or excited or jumping up and down, just so happy for them to even be there, I've felt that before, so I'm kind of living through them all over again."

Will you check out season two of "The Voice" when it returns Sunday? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "The Voice."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Christina Milian

Will Kelly Clarkson show her midriff? What will Madge wear at halftime? Pop-culture bets give football-phobes plenty to tune in for Sunday.
By James Montgomery

Madonna
Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/ AFP/ Getty Images

Not to get all general here, but when you get down to it, there are really only two types of people in the world: those who care about the Super Bowl and those who don't.

The former will need absolutely zero incentive to tune into this Sunday's retribution-stoked Super Bowl XLVI, which pits the New England Patriots against the New York Giants in a rematch of one of the most epic Supes of all time, XLII, which saw — wait, if you're going to watch, you already know what happened in that first championship tilt (David Tyree, Plax Burress on the slant-and-go, 18-1, etc.), and suffice it to say, you're salivating with anticipation over the next chapter in this rivalry.

For the latter, well, that last paragraph probably makes about as much sense as the fact that the New York Giants actually play their home games in New Jersey, and, as such, there's no way you're going to waste your Sunday watching what amounts to 240 minutes of commercials intermittently broken up by the occasional football play (unless you're anxiously awaiting the premiere of "The Voice," that is). But, really, you should reconsider that stance — mainly because of prop bets.

For the uninitiated, props (short for "propositions") are bets placed on the occurrence — or non-occurrence — of events during a game that have little-to-no actual impact on the outcome of that game. Stuff like "Which color Gatorade will the winning team dump on its head coach" or "Number of times (insert name of famous athlete's girlfriend) will be shown during the TV telecast." They are supremely silly, not to mention incredibly suicidal, wagers, and not surprisingly — given that it's the biggest football game of the year — Las Vegas oddsmakers work overtime churning them out during the Super Bowl.

Shoot, more often than not, most of those Super Bowl props have absolutely nothing to do with the game itself. There are not only odds on the length of Kelly Clarkson's national anthem performance, but what kind of outfit she'll be wearing while singing it. Which means that, whether you know who BenJarvus Green-Ellis is or not, there are still plenty of reasons to tune in to Sunday's big game.

So in the hopes of inspiring you non-fans to watch, we've reached out to the online oddsmakers at to get their lines on some of the most outrageous Super Bowl prop bets. And in case you're wondering: Yes, there's a science to these kinds of things.

"I sat down and watched six to seven videos of Kelly Clarkson singing the anthem at past sporting events, timing all of them," Bovada head oddsmaker Pat Morrow told MTV News. "Once that was done, I took some things into consideration: that she will be indoors, [that] it is the Super Bowl and people have tendency to take a little longer, and came up with 1 minute, 34 seconds. And I think we are bang-on, because we have had it up over a week and have taken a lot on both sides and have not had to move the number."

See! So, without further ado, are some of our favorite music-centric prop bets. Oh, and we realize some of the numbers may confuse you, so just consider this: If you were to place $100 on a 2/1 bet, and win, you'd walk away with $200 (plus your $100 back). Conversely, that $100 on a 1/2 bet would net you just $50. If you were to bet $100 on a +200 line, it means you'd take home $200 in profit (plus your initial $100). A line of -200 means you'd need to bet $200 just to win $100 (the more probable the outcome, the more you have to put up to turn a profit; Vegas wasn't built on winners, after all). Oh, and an over/under bet is simply a wager on whether an event will go over or under the stated time. Confused? Of course you are. After all, prop bets aren't supposed to be about logic, they're supposed to be about insanity. So let's take a look at the lines!

How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?
Over/under: 1 minute, 34 seconds.

What will Kelly Clarkson wear to sing the national anthem?
» Super Bowl XLVI or official NFL shirt: 2/1
» Patriots jersey or shirt: 12/1
» Colts jersey or shirt: 12/1
» Giants jersey or shirt: 15/1
» Anything else: 1/3

Will Kelly Clarkson forget or omit at least one word of the national anthem?
» Yes: 5/2

Will Kelly Clarkson's bare belly be showing when she sings the national anthem?
» Yes: 3/1

What color will Madonna's hair be when she begins the Super Bowl halftime show?
» Blonde: -400
» Any other color: +250

Will Madonna wear an NFL jersey or shirt at any point during the Super Bowl halftime show?
» Yes: +250
» No: -400

Will Madonna wear a hat at any point during the Super Bowl halftime show?
» Yes: +150
» No: -200

What will Madonna be using to start the Super Bowl halftime show?
» Headset: -200
» Handheld microphone: +150

Share your own crazy prop-bet ideas in the comments!

Madge's followers share love for her latest old-school clip, which she dropped Friday.
By Jocelyn Vena

Madonna in her "Give Me All Your Luvin' " music video
Photo: Interscope

On Friday (February 3), Madonna dropped the highly anticipated video for her lead MDNA single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'." Directed by Megaforce, the clip is a feast for the eyes, specifically those who only have eyes for the Queen of Pop.

Featuring Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. in cheerleader uniforms, the clip is full of various references to her past work. It's funky, surreal and a touch tongue-in-cheek. Only a few hours into the premiere, her fans had already formed their opinion about the video. So, what are they thinking?

"Congratulations, Madonna. Thank you for you are always beyond the edge," Fabio Pamplona wrote on Madonna's Facebook page. But, he wasn't the only Madge fan putting his two cents in on her site.

"Great and funny video. The song didn't grow on me yet, but it's a fine pop gem, indeed, like the ones Martin [Solveig] usually does!" Alex Meyer added. "But, can't wait for hearing the tracks with William [Orbit]!"

Jennifer Sargent-Ormston had quite a lengthy response to the video. "LOVE IT!!! It was fun! I also like your hair like that, both ways.. and I thought the old school touches of yourself was a smart idea - or maybe you did it naturally? Even the album cover is your old school ways, and I thought it was smart," she wrote. "I hope you do well with this album. I like that it's dance as well. People respond well to FUN! Good luck with the superbowl, just kick ass and don't be nervous - just do your 'thang'!"

Charlie Richey added, "The vid is super fun and the song super catchy!"

Fans have also been taking to several of Madge's biggest fan sites to praise the Queen's latest video offering. Giannis Mdna Haralabidis noted on Madonnarama, "OK MADONNA IS OFFICIALLY BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER."

"Wow shes back and the fever is running through my veins," Richard Wilson wrote on Madonna Tribe's Facebook page. Meanwhile, another fan noted that visually the video couldn't have been more intriguing.

"Well, she said different than what's going on in music today, and she did," Trace Jenkins said. "Art direction in the video is amazing."

What did you think of the "Give Me All Your Luvin' " video? Leave your comment below!

• MTV Rough Cut: Madonna

• Madonna

'They really set you up to succeed,' Tatum tells MTV News of 'SNL' cast.
By Christina Garibaldi

Channing Tatum
Photo: Getty Images

This year is shaping up to be a huge one for Channing Tatum. With five movies set for release in 2012 — the next being "The Vow" with Rachel McAdams on February 10 — it's makes sense that Tatum is about to reach a pretty big milestone in his career: hosting "Saturday Night Live" for the first time, alongside musical guest Bon Iver.

MTV News caught up with star during rehearsals on the "SNL" set, where he seemed to be a little anxious taking on his newest role as host.

"I'm more nervous then I could probably tell you," Channing admitted. "It happened so sort of constant and fast, you don't really get a chance to think about it all too much. Like, you go home, you think and think and think, then you pass out and your alarm goes off, and then you come and do it again."

The "SNL" cast is trying to put Tatum's nerves at ease. "They take care of you so much, so they really set you up to succeed," he said. "Everyone is so at the top of their game as far as writing and acting, and this is a machine like I've never seen before. I wish movies ran this efficient; we would make them better."

Tatum, who revealed that his favorite past "SNL" castmembers are Dan Aykroyd and Chris Kattan, got some unusual advice on what he should do Saturday night from onetime host Kelly Ripa.

"She said to put Vaseline on my teeth because she said your mouth goes dry when you say your name and your lips are stuck to your teeth," Channing said. "If I can remember it, I'll do it, but maybe I'll Vaseline the lips instead of the teeth."

Are you excited to see Channing Tatum host "Saturday Night Live"? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "The Vow."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

The magic of Madonna's parallel romantic storytelling appears to have been lost on critics.
By Kara Warner

Madonna directing "W.E."
Photo: The Weinstein Co.

In addition to her heavily hyped performance at Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, Madonna has been busy writing and directing her second movie, "W.E.," which follows the real-life love story of American divorcée Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII during the '30s, as well as a parallel story of a fictional American woman set in 1998 who became obsessed with Simpson's story.

The film has received some early awards-season love, including a Golden Globe win for Best Original Song and another Globe nomination for Best Original Score, but judging by its 17 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, the magic of the romance seems to have been lost on critics. Read on as we sift through the "W.E." reviews:

The Parallel Storytelling
"Madonna and co-screenwriter Alek Keshishian try to fuse the threads of two very different tales, set several eras apart, to provide elucidation on the nature of love. But there's not much illumination to be had. There is, however, plenty of pretentious folderol. Clothes, jewelry and expensive trinkets are fraught with superficial symbolism. The more intriguing of the two stories centers on the 1930s romance and marriage of chic American divorcée Wallis Simpson and Great Britain's King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to marry her. (The title stands for Wallis and Edward.) ... Jumping forward to 1998, the second story is about Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) and her fascination with Simpson. Married to a self-absorbed and abusive psychiatrist, Wally roams New York City in a state of gloomy reverie. She forges an unlikely bond with Evgeni (Oscar Isaac), a guard at Sotheby's, where she goes often to look at the royal paraphernalia about to be auctioned. The disparate strands of the two stories never make much sense the way they're braided together. Presumably, the more Wally learns about the sacrifices Wallis made, the more she is emboldened to follow her heart and leave her own unhappy marriage. Yet what she uncovers about the Duke and Duchess is not always pretty." — Claudia Puig, USA Today

Madonna as Writer/Director
"The upshot is that instead of a film about a love that conquered a king and nearly undid a kingdom, Madonna has come up with a female friendship movie, which would be fine if she weren't busy trying to prove her art-film bona fides. At her entertainer best, Madonna distilled ideas and emotions into solid pop gold, transmitting a worldview through songs, music videos and her shape-shifter persona. The movies, by contrast, have largely defeated her both as an actress and as a director. As a mystical female friendship movie, 'W.E.' has its pull, but it never coheres, shredded by its editing and its pretensions, like Mrs. Simpson dancing to the Sex Pistols with a woman in African tribal regalia because, I'm guessing, Madonna likes the way Sofia Coppola used New Order's music in 'Marie Antoinette.' " — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

The Chick-Flick Factor
" 'W.E.' (which interlocks with 'The King's Speech' — Bertie pops up in a couple of scenes here just as David appeared in that one) is very much a woman's picture. The men, except the Sotheby's security guard, mainly serve as obstacles or targets. That viewpoint is daring and kind of refreshing; a recent study noted that some two-thirds of the dialogue in Hollywood movies is spoken by men (in my experience, that is a reversal of reality). In the Wallis portions, Madonna presents a frank, unashamed defense of gold-digging, though she does unconvincing penance for this in the Wally story, in which the bride proves lonely and bored in her Upper East Side castle. After more than 40 years of feminism, the gold-digging subtext remains as central to female fantasy as it is in Jane Austen novels, and it's implicit in most of those rom-coms in which, just by sheer coincidence, true love happens with the owner of a chain of bookstores, or the millionaire a gal meets while working the streets. If the woman virtuously chooses love over money, she gets the lucre anyway." — Kyle Smith, The New York Post

The Final Word, Pro-Con Style
"If anyone, Madonna certainly understands the crazy pull of celebrity obsession, and it's an intriguingly romantic premise she presents, interweaving Wally's story with the Duchess', often triggered by the modern woman's handling of certain artifacts belonging to the late, almost-Queen of England, who even begins to appear to her in hallucinations, to offer world-weary advice and/or disapproval. The director tells the Duchess' story with surprising verve, historical accuracy and style, a huge improvement over the nastily cartoonish way the couple was represented in the overrated 'The King's Speech' last year. There are a few clichéd missteps, as when Edward's mother, Queen Mary (Judy Parfitt), clucks, 'This is a pretty kettle of fish!' over her son's scandal, but, for the most part, the historical sequences have a thrilling élan, aided by the crack photography, art direction and especially Arianne Phillips' superbly accurate costume design for this most chic of fashion eras. Taking a cue, perhaps, from Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette,' Madonna has also effectively interpolated modern pop-rock music along with the usual Deco cocktail standards of the era." — David Noh, FilmJournal.com

"You can't call 'W.E.' a total disaster; it's too pretty, too nonsensical and finally too insignificant for that. Rather, it's a heavily decorated and overly complicated exercise in female narcissism, which in its plotless meandering fashion seeks to draw a mystical connection between an unhappy Manhattan wife and Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the Baltimore socialite who married King Edward VIII. Riseborough gives a richly enjoyable performance as the prickly, strange and not especially beautiful American who pulled a king and emperor from his throne, and some of the 1930s scenes are pretty fun, after the fashion of outtakes from 'The King's Speech' turned into music videos or haute couture shoots. Madonna and co-writer Alek Keshishian (who directed 'Truth or Dare' way back in 1991) go right at the historical reputation of Wallis and Edward as Nazi sympathizers, and to the extent that 'W.E.' is an attempt to rehabilitate them at least it has a clear agenda." — Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Check out everything we've got on "W.E."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• MTV Rough Cut: Madonna

• Madonna

Day after Decemberists withdrew support, breast cancer charity announces it has reinstated funding for PP health centers.
By Gil Kaufman

Much like Congress rethought its decision after the outpouring of public anger over the anti-piracy SOPA and PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act) acts, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation had a change of heart on Friday (February 3) after intense criticism for its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood initiatives.

Komen, the organization behind the popular pink-ribbon campaign, announced on Tuesday that it would stop funding breast cancer prevention, screening and education at Planned Parenthood health centers — a decision Planned Parenthood claimed was in response to pressure from pro-life groups. Over the past five years, PP centers with Komen program funding have provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams out of the more than 4 million exams performed nationwide at PP health centers, as well as more than 6,400 mammogram referrals out of 70,000 total referrals, according to PP.

Following the firestorm of controversy over the decision, the founder and CEO of the nation's largest breast-cancer advocacy group said on Friday that the group would work to change the criteria that sparked the outcry.

"We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants," Nancy G. Brinker said in a statement. "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives."

Brinker went further, acknowledging that the original decision to pull funding was done for "political reasons, or specifically to penalize Planned Parenthood." In the wake of the public furor, Komen's director of community health programs resigned in protest over the decision. In addition, 26 U.S. senators had signed a letter this week asking Komen to reconsider its withdrawal decision.

One of the leading artistic voices of dissent over the initial Komen withdrawal from Planned Parenthood were the Decemberists. The band had worked with Komen since the band's keyboardist, Jenny Conlee, had revealed her breast cancer diagnosis. When news broke on Tuesday that Komen had pulled funding for breast cancer examinations at PP, the Decemberists redirected the funds from their "Team Jenny" T-shirt to PP.

On their website, they explained, "The Decemberists are deeply troubled by Komen for the Cure's recent decision to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, a vital resource in the battle against breast cancer. Providing cancer screenings to low income women is integral to the prevention and defeat of breast cancer and it is unconscionable that Komen should politicize this very important issue by bowing to the fear campaign being waged against PP by the right."

On Friday, the band added an update to their initial posting, writing, "The Decemberists are pleased that Komen for the Cure reversed their decision."

Just-released clip has warring hipsters, a mariachi band ... and Wayne Newton.
By James Montgomery

All-American Rejects' Tyson Ritter in the "Beekeeper's Daughter" music video

It's been a while — like, almost three years — since the All-American Rejects have made a music video, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that, when they got the go-ahead to shoot a clip for "Beekeeper's Daughter" (the first single from their upcoming Kids in the Street album), they decided to go all out.

"This was the first video where, when we got [the treatment], everyone said 'yes' and I said 'yes ... but could we please have some of this?' And I proceeded to sort of expel every fantastic idea I could think of," frontman Tyson Ritter explained. "From, like, a hipster fight — beards versus mustaches, a lot of plaid, had to be like 'West Side Story' — to some she-devils. Everything we could ever sort of think of for a video that was impractical is in this one.

"And the whole thing is floating on a through-line of a man walking through his day, experiencing every random encounter from every random walk of life," he continued. "And at the very end, there's a big parade with Wayne Newton."

And Ritter's not exaggerating either. Because the "Beekeeper's" video — which premiered Friday (February 3) — is most certainly jam-packed with every one of his notions and then some. It's a big, buzzy clip, brimming with dancing she-devils, cheerleaders, cops, ticker tape, a mariachi band and Mr. Newton (to name just a few). And while everything in the video elicits a thrill, it's Newton's cameo that takes the cake.

"Yeah, I think [Tyson's] email ended with, 'Oh, and Wayne Newton.' And I thought that was to sum up that this video needs to have all kinds of outrageousness," guitarist Nick Wheeler laughed. "But two days before, we got this phone call: 'Hey, Wayne Newton's going to be in the video.' I have his business card in my wallet."

Speaking of business, now that the "Beekeeper's Daughter" video has been released, there remains one rather sweet sponsorship deal AAR are very interested in securing — one that's a lot tougher to land than you'd imagine.

"This song was dubbed 'Beekeeper's Daughter' because that was the brand of honey that we had in the cabin in the Sequoia Grove National Forest when we first wrote it," Wheeler said. "It's really just our desperate attempt at a honey sponsorship."

"And those are not easy to get," Ritter laughed. "We still haven't gotten any of that honey."

What do you think of the "Beekeeper's Daughter" video? Share your reviews in the comments!

• The All-American Rejects

'Mr. Spielberg, when you meet him, he is not intimidating at all,' McPhee tells MTV News.
By Christina Garibaldi

Katharine McPhee
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty Images

It's been a while since we've seen Katharine McPhee in the spotlight. Now all eyes are on her as the "American Idol" alum takes on the leading role as Karen Cartwright in the highly anticipated NBC musical drama "Smash."

But the road to "Smash" hasn't been an easy one for McPhee. After coming in as runner-up in the 2006 season of "American Idol" and starring in "The House Bunny," McPhee has had a rough road on her career path. She was dropped from her record label in 2008 and struggled with getting other movie projects off the ground. But her determination paid off, which is something she could relate to when playing her character on "Smash."

"My character, Karen, is the biggest dreamer of them all, she dreams big. Our show is about dreaming big," McPhee told MTV News at the New York premiere of "Smash." "She has a big heart, she has a lot of drive and she's very determined about what she wants in her career and what she wants out of it and how she's gonna go about doing it, and keeping a real strong moral code. I think she is a little green when you first meet her. She's not quite sure how things go and how things are worked in the business, [and] she learns a lot throughout the course of the first season."

The show centers on the making of a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. In the first episode, viewers will see McPhee's struggle with several auditions before getting a callback to compete against newcomer Megan Hilty's character for the part of Marilyn. But according to McPhee, her audition for the role of Karen was nothing like the one you will see during the premiere on Monday.

"I did have to audition for this," McPhee said. "It was actually one of the more simple auditions I've been through. I auditioned, put myself on tape, flew to New York the next week, was testing for it. I waited two days for Mr. Spielberg to watch the tape and I got the part."

Yes, that's right. McPhee had to audition for Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, who is a producer on the series. So we had to ask: Who is more intimidating to audition for, Spielberg or former "Idol" judge Simon Cowell?

"I would say neither," McPhee declared. "Mr. Spielberg, when you meet him, he is not intimidating at all. He's the most lovely, wonderful, gentle man."

Are you excited for Monday's premiere of "Smash"? Let us know in the comments.

• Katharine McPhee

Title of sophomore album stands for 'Only N----a in First Class,' Wiz explains on 'Sway in the Morning.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Wiz Khalifa
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Wiz Khalifa is riding high off of his success, but it isn't all good. On his sophomore album, O.N.I.F.C., Wiz will celebrate his victories, but he promises to give fans the other side, too.

"It's the Only N-Word in First Class," Wiz said, breaking down the much-speculated upon acronym when he appeared on "Sway in the Morning" on Shade 45 on Friday (February 3). "It's inspired by Prodigy's H.N.I.C. When he dropped that, I felt like that sounded so strong."

When broken down, the title of Prodigy's 2000 debut stands for "Head N---a in Charge," so for his Only N---a in First Class, Wiz took cues from the Mobb Deep MC. There is a clean version of the album, too:

One Night in First Class. Still, for Wiz the explicit title has so much more meaning. "I was just talking about me being a young rich dude and being black," Wiz told Shade 45 hosts Sway and Devi Dev about his experience in airports. "It looks crazy to them when I walk up to them and show them my ticket or I'm going in priority seating, They're like 'You're sure?' "

On one hand Khalifa is glad that he's made it; on the other, the racism that he's experienced has left a bad taste in the rapper's mouth. "It's a good feeling and then it's like a bad feeling because it's like, 'Damn, why do you feel like that about me,' " he said.

Wiz Khalifa wants to motivate Pittsburgh artists with his success.

Earlier in the interview, the Pittsburgh spitter told Sway how his next album will differ from his first. "When I did Rolling Papers, I was like, I'm gonna make these big songs, I'm gonna make these big records," he said. "What I did before when I made my music was I just went in there and made music and it was what I really liked and what I felt at the time. I kinda developed a pattern of what I was going towards and that's what I did on this album."

No word on when O.N.I.F.C. will be released, but Wiz says it is pretty much done. He didn't confirm any guests, but he did reveal that he worked with at least one pretty accomplished producer. "I got production from Pharrell on there. I worked with a lot of different people on this one, but I kept the sound really consistent," he said. "I made sure everybody that I worked with and everything that I did, they all came to my world with it."

Catch MTV News' Sway Calloway on "Sway in the Morning," on Sirius XM Radio's Shade 45, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon ET.

• Wiz Khalifa

'Give Me All Your Luvin' ' debuts Friday (February 3) in multimedia event preceding Queen of Pop's Super Bowl halftime performance.
By John Mitchell

Madonna
Photo: Getty Images

Madonna debuted her new single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'," on Friday (February 3) as part of a massive multimedia push ahead of her halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has also revealed the track list for her much-anticipated 12th studio album, MDNA.

The Queen of Pop's single was rolled out across Clear Channel's many platforms, a promotional push that the company estimates will reach 150 million people around the world. In addition to radio, the song hit online venues like iHeartRadio.com, Clear Channel's customized online radio service, and 1,600 digital billboards in the United States, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Belgium, Finland and the United Kingdom, according to NPR.

"This first-of-its-kind multimedia premiere with Madonna demonstrates the unequalled scope and strength of the entire Clear Channel platform," Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman said in a statement.

The full-length Megaforce-directed video for the track also hit the Web Friday and features Her Madgesty and collaborators Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. taking to the streets in cheerleader-chic attire.

"Luvin' " is a bouncy dance-pop track reminiscent of Madonna's Grammy-winning "Beautiful Stranger." Driven by glittery synths, marching band drums and claps, the song features guest raps from Minaj and M.I.A. and a deep nostalgia streak. With its simple, impossibly catchy chorus and "dance our lives away" message, the song, which was written and produced by Madonna and dance music master Martin Solveig, feels like classic Madonna re-imagined by the production dynamic that brought her widespread acclaim beginning with her 1998 electro-dance album Ray of Light.

On her official website, Madonna revealed the track titles that will be featured on the deluxe edition of her new album, MDNA, which hits stores March 26 and features production work from Solveig and Light producer William Orbit.

The deluxe edition will include 15 songs:

» Girls Gone Wild
» Gang Bang
» I'm Addicted
» Some Girls
» I Don't Give A
» Turn Up the Radio
» Give Me All Your Luvin'
» B-day Song
» Superstar
» I'm a Sinner
» Masterpiece
» Falling Free
» Love Spent
» I F---ed Up
» Beautiful Killer

• Five Key Moments In Madonna's 'Give Me All Your Luvin' Music Video

• Madonna