
Courtesy of ABCEPrep
Madonna has announced the dates for her 2012 MDNA World Tour. The tour kicks off May 29 in Tel Aviv, Israel and plays some 24 dates in Europe, plus Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, before returning to the U.S. for more North American more dates, beginning August 28 in Philadelphia, and including a September 6 show in New York's Yankee Stadium.
The tour is in support of Madonna's upcoming album MDNA, which is due out March 26. If her last tour, the 2008-2009 Sticky & Sweet outing, is any indication, Madonna stands to make some serious money: Sticky & Sweet grossed over $408 million worldwide.
For more info and to see the tour dates, head to Madonna.com or LiveNation.com.
All this week I'll have your chance to win tickets to see Million Dollar Quartet on Broadway AND Harlem Globetrotter tickets - Prudential Center on February 18th!!!! Listen between 10 and 2 and congratulations to my first two winners ... Barbara from Franklin and Josh, also from Franklin. Get ready to win :)
Courtesy of ABCEPrep:
The Super Bowl halftime show normally features the biggest names in music, and this year, it'll feature one of the biggest: Madonna will take the stage, and she represents a new paradigm for a halftime performer: she's both a contemporary pop act and classic artist.
In the years following Janet Jackson's notorious "wardrobe malfunction" scandal of 2004, Super Bowl organizers turned to classic rock acts like Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, the Who and Tom Petty, since they were considered to be "safe" and less-controversial. Contemporary pop returned to the scene last year, when the Black Eyed Peas took the stage; no Fergie-related wardrobe malfunctions ensued. To be sure, Madonna has a history of sexual provocation, but she's promised the NFL that there will be "no nipples" in her performance.
Believe it or not, the trend of having major pop, rock and country music stars appear at the Super Bowl halftime show really only dates back to 1991, when New Kids on the Block performed. Before that, the halftime show usually consisted of marching bands, older stars like Chubby Checker and Ella Fitzgerald, or the vocal troupe Up with People. But after '91, it was all stars, all the time. Here's a reminder of who's played at past Super Bowl halftime shows since then:
1991 -- New Kids On The Block
1992 -- Gloria Estefan
1993 -- Michael Jackson, performing with 3,500 children
1994 -- Country stars Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna and Naomi Judd
1995 -- Patti Labelle, Miami Sound Machine & Tony Bennett
1996 -- Diana Ross
1997 -- ZZ Top, James Brown, the Blues Brothers featuring Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and James Belushi
1998 -- Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, the Temptations, Queen Latifah
1999 -- Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
2000 -- Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton
2001 -- Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Nelly, Mary J. Blige
2002 -- U2
2003 -- Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting
2004 -- Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Kid Rock, P. Diddy
2005 -- Paul McCartney
2006 -- The Rolling Stones
2007 -- Prince
2008 -- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
2009 -- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
2010 -- The Who
2011 -- Black Eyed Peas
2012 -- Madonna
If if you don't watch American Idol on a regular basis you should check it tonight if you like Madonna! Madonna's brand new video for her single "Give Me All Your Luvin" will debut! Madonna's movie W.E. hits theaters tomorrow .... then don't forget .... Madonna at the Big Game for the half time show Sunday. The song itself will be available tomorrow - the 3rd - and is the first single from her new album MDNA which is out Monday March 26th.
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Tonight marks a major milestone in David Letterman's career. He will reach his 30th anniversary as a late-night host.
Letterman began his run on February 1, 1982, when he launched Late Night with David Letterman on NBC. On that program, he introduced popular segments such as "Stupid Pet Tricks" and his "Top Ten" lists. After Johnny Carson announced in 1991 that he would retire the following year, Letterman was passed over for The Tonight Show job in favor of Jay Leno. The decision eventually resulted in Letterman leaving NBC for CBS, on which he started the Late Show in 1993.
The Indianapolis native began his entertainment career in the 1970s when he moved to Los Angeles and became a stand-up comic, comedy writer and bit actor. Letterman actually began his career as a late-night host in the late 1970s when he filled in for Carson on The Tonight Show. NBC gave Letterman his own daytime talk show in June 1980, but it was canceled four months later due to poor ratings. The network kept Letterman under contract and gave him a shot at late night two years later.
The New York Times reported last month that Letterman was closing in on a deal to extend his stint on the CBS Late Show until 2014.
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The Help was the leading winner at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, held Sunday at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. Perhaps surprisingly, it received the award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, defeating awards-season favorite The Artist. In addition, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer earned acting awards for their performances in the film.
The Artist did win one award: Jean Dujardin took the trophy for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role. Beginners star Christopher Plummer triumphed in the supporting male actor category.
On the TV side, HBO's Boardwalk Empire received two awards, including an individual trophy for Steve Buscemi as well as the prize for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. ABC's Modern Family received the award in the comedy ensemble category.
Here are the winners:
Motion Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Viola Davis, The Help
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Help
Stunt Ensemble
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Primetime TV
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Modern Family
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Stunt Ensemble
Game of Shadows
Life Achievement
Mary Tyler Moore
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The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be presented this Sunday at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. The Help is the leading film nominee, with four nods, including for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. ABC's Modern Family is the top TV nominee, with five nods.
Mary Tyler Moore is this year's recipient of SAG's Life Achievement Award. It will be presented to her by her former Dick Van Dyke Show co-star, Dick Van Dyke.
Scheduled presenters for the ceremony include George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. The SAG Awards will be simulcast on TNT and TBS, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday.
The SAG ceremony is the only awards show that focuses solely on achievements in acting.
Here are the nominees:
Motion Pictures
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melisa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
Midnight in Paris
Primetime TV
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick J. Adams, Suits
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Julianna Marguiles, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Game of Thrones
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Boardwalk Empire
The Good Wife
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys
James Woods, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Betty White, The Lost Valentine
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce