Archive for October, 2009
‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Tops The Saturday Box Office Report
by on Oct.31, 2009, under MTV Movies Blog
1. “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” ($7.9 million)
2. “Paranormal Activity” ($6.1 million)
3. “Law Abiding Citizen” ($2.42 million)
4. “Couples Retreat” ($2.38 million)
5. “Where The Wild Things Are” ($1.9 million)
There are ghosts and serial killers aplenty in movie theaters this Halloween weekend, but it appears that moviegoers are looking to celebrate the haunted festivities with none other than Michael Jackson.
The deceased pop sensation is the subject of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” the Sony distributed documentary chronicling Jackson’s rehearsals for a massive concert series that never came to pass due to his death. “This Is It” unsurprisingly wound up in first place on Friday evening with $7.9 million, which brings the film’s cumulative total to $19.1 million since its opening last Wednesday — but the Jackson documentary hasn’t moonwalked all the way to the bank, certainly not in the way that Sony and concert promoter AEG had expected.
Deadline Hollywood Daily has an extensive report on the relatively disappointing financial performance of “This Is It,” stating that AEG predicted that the film would rake in “$250 million in its first 5 days.” That outcome is extremely unlikely now with “This Is It” slated for a cumulative $32.5 million by Sunday’s end, despite overall positive reviews. Still, as the film is currently labeled as a two-week limited engagement, this level of success might be it for “This Is It.”
Looking towards the horrifying corner of the box office, it is once again “Paranormal Activity” that stands atop its competitors. The Oren Peli-directed ghost thriller finished in second place on Friday night with $6.1 million, a result of Paramount plugging the film into 400 more theaters this weekend.
The film isn’t likely to surpass the similar success of “The Blair Witch Project,” as Paramount Vice Chairman Rob Moore told Deadline Hollywood that “[it] will still take a pretty good run from here to get there.” Nonetheless, “Paranormal Activity” has had an extraordinary amount of success thus far with a cumulative of $74.4 million based on a shoestring budget of $15,000.
The remainder of Friday’s top five consisted of a close race for third between “Law Abiding Citizen” and “Couples Retreat” at $2.42 million and $2.38 million respectively, while “Where The Wild Things Are” finished in fifth place at $1.9 million.
Are you celebrating Halloween at the movie theaters or elsewhere this year? Let us know your plans in the comments section or on Twitter!
U2, Metallica Bring History-Making Collaborations To Rock Hall Concert
by on Oct.31, 2009, under Black Eyed Peas
Fellow headliners Aretha Franklin and Jeff Beck, along with guests like Mick Jagger and Ozzy Ozbourne, celebrate night two of Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary.
By Saimon Kos
U2’s Bono and Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — For the second night in a row, Tom Hanks walked onstage at Madison Square Garden to do the introduction for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert, and for the second night in a row some of the greatest rock acts of all time shared the stage. Performances varied from classics hits to once-in-a-lifetime collaborations as Aretha Franklin, Jeff Beck, Metallica and U2 all brought out big-name guests.
Jerry Lee Lewis got things started again, this time performing “Great Balls Fire” and literally kicking down his seat before exiting to make way for the rest of the acts.
Franklin took the stage in a red dress that was outshined only by the sound of her voice as she opened the night with “A Natural Woman.” Her set included a collaboration with Annie Lennox and one with Lenny Kravitz, who added his voice to her classic hit “Think.” When asked afterwards how her duo with Lenny came about, she said it was due to his friendship with her son, who also happened to play lead guitar for her band that night.
Next, one of the all-time great guitar players performed as a replacement for a reportedly ailing Eric Clapton. This seemed fitting, since in the 1960s, Jeff Beck was Eric’s bandmate in the Yardbirds with Jimmy Page. Jeff was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame this year, and on Friday night he reminded everyone why it was an honor that was well deserved. Sting, Buddy Guy and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top each took a shot at matching their voice to Jeff’s guitar, and each felt like a an experiment in music that went terribly right, especially when Beck and Gibbons recreated Jimmy Hendrix’s masterpiece “Foxy Lady.” No voice was needed for Jeff’s final performance of the night, as he paid tribute to the Beatles with an instrumental version of “A Day in the Life.” It was one worthy of the highest allowable score on “Beatles Rock Band.”
Metallica brought more than just metal when they hit the stage. Starting off with “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” the boys were then joined by Lou Reed, before succumbing to the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. Together they paid tribute to Black Sabbath by performing “Iron Man” and “Paranoid.” Then things took an unexpected turn when
Metallica teamed up with the Kinks frontman Ray Davies, giving a metal edge to the punk classic “You Really Got Me.” Before calling it a night, the boys ended the show with one of their biggest hits of all time, “Enter Sandman.” This had its own unexpected twist, as Yankee footage began to play on the monitors above them for no apparent reason. Then again, this is New York during the World Series.
The final and maybe biggest act of the second night at MSG was U2. First, they shared the stage with Brice Springsteen and Patty Smith, performing “Because the Night,” a song Bono said his band only wishes they could have written. His passion for the track became even more apparent when he decided to do it a second time because it was clean on the first take. Bruce stayed on for one more song, lending his voice to the classic U2 song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The next collaboration was one that included a much younger act, by Hall of Fame standards, when the Black Eyed Peas came out to sing “Where is the Love.” Fergie stuck around when Mick Jagger came out to perform “Gimme Shelter.” Mick and Bono kept the energy high, turning “Stuck in a Moment” into a duet. And finally, U2 performed “Beautiful Day,” bringing the night to a beautiful end.
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‘New Moon’ EXCLUSIVE Clip Gets A Little Bloody!
by on Oct.30, 2009, under MTV Movies Blog
I hope you enjoyed this evening’s “Ulalume: Howling at New Moon” Halloween special on MTV. I hope you also enjoyed our exclusive clip from “New Moon.” The one that “Twilight” stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner introduced during the show. For those of you who may have missed it — and for those who just want to watch it again… and again and again and again and again — we’ve got it here for you now. Right below this text, in fact. I somehow doubt you’ve even read this far. Enjoy, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL OF YOU! HAVE A FUN, SAFE WEEKEND!
Robin Thicke Calls Working With Jay-Z ‘A Dream Come True’
by on Oct.30, 2009, under Jay-Z
‘It was one of the best days of my life,’ crooner says about recording ‘Me I Play’ with Jay.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Grace Jackson
Robin Thicke
Photo: MTV News
In December, Robin Thicke will be giving fans Sex Therapy on his new album, and he’ll have a few guests sitting in on those sessions.
In addition to Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg and British chanteuse Estelle, Thicke will be joined by Jay-Z. Thicke said he still can’t believe he got our Hottest MC in the Game to join him on a track.
“Working with Jay-Z [came about because] he came by the studio, and he heard the album. He was very excited,” Thicke explained to MTV News on the set of his “Sex Therapy” music video. “He jumped on a track called ‘Me I Play.’ ”
Thicke said the track hearkens back to the soulful hip-hop from the early ’90s. “[It's] kind of like a De La Soul kind of song, but he was really excited about it,” Thicke said, adding that the collaboration was incredible. “To work with him was a dream come true. It was one of the best days of my life.”
The singer has already been getting rave reviews for the album — he’s just hoping no one is lying to him. “The album, as a whole, is actually the first time I didn’t write and produce everything myself,” he revealed. “I tried to create a new sound that I had never had before. A lot of people are telling me it’s the best album yet, so I’m really excited. I hope that they’re right!”
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Exclusive ‘New Moon’ Scene: Bella’s Birthday Comes To Life
by on Oct.30, 2009, under MTV Movies Headlines
Clip from ‘Twilight’ sequel premiered on MTV’s ‘Ulalume: Howling at New Moon.’
By Larry Carroll
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in “New Moon”
Photo: Summit Entertainment
Reunited, and it feels so good. A new exclusive clip from November 20’s “New Moon” is sure to rock the socks of Twilighters worldwide. After a year of feverish anticipation, the Cullen clan is finally reunited for Bella’s birthday — and for Stephenie Meyer fans, that feels very good.
As seen on our movie special “Ulalume: Howling at New Moon,” the scene occurs near the beginning of the “Twilight” sequel and sets many of the film’s major plot developments into motion. It also reveals several new lines of dialogue that seem destined to become instant classics for Twilighters.
“Dating an older woman, huh?” Emmett Cullen (Kellan Lutz) teases, leaning over toward Edward (Robert Pattinson) as the vampire family gets together with their human friend to celebrate her birthday.
The architect of the beautiful Bella bash, Alice (Ashley Greene), excitedly runs around and organizes the gifts, handing one to Nikki Reed and saying, “You first, Rosalie.” The beautiful vamp, who is less-than-thrilled about the blossoming Edward/Bella romance, halfheartedly thrusts the package toward Bella (Kristen Stewart).
“It’s a necklace,” Bella says, extending an olive branch. “Alice picked it out,” Rosalie responds icily.
Pushing the star-crossed lovers together, Alice then grabs a camera and says, “Show me the love!,” but you can tell Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella have a lot on their minds. Then she hands over the next gift, saying, “This one’s from Emmett.”
Rattling the empty box, Bella gives Edward’s teddy-bear brother a look. “I already installed it in your truck,” he explains. “Finally, a decent sound system for that piece of … ”
“Hey!” Bella grins. “Don’t hate the truck.”
Next up is something from her soon-to-be parents-in-law. “Just a little something to brighten your day,” Dr. Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli) explains, standing next to Esme (Elizabeth Reaser).
As Twilighters know, however, the rest of the party is a long way from perfect. Opening up the gift, Bella cuts her finger on the paper, releasing a gush of blood as tempting to vampires as fresh chocolate-chip cookies coming out of the oven.
We’ve seen what happens next in the “New Moon” trailers, but this extended glimpse builds more tension and further clarifies the physical altercation about to occur. Edward looks up immediately at Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) — the member of their clan who is having the hardest time abiding by their “vegetarian” lifestyle — and his eyes reveal the blood thirst boiling within.
Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
For young Hollywood news, fashion, “Twilight” updates and more — updated around the clock — visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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50 Cent And Polow Da Don Create A ‘Hit Record’ With ‘Baby By Me’
by on Oct.30, 2009, under 50 Cent
‘That was the first joint I played him,’ Polow says of Fif instantly loving the beat.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Shaheem Reid
50 Cent
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try (and try and try and try) again.
It took five attempts before 50 Cent and producer Polow Da Don could finally lock into a studio session together for the G-Unit superstar’s “Baby by Me” track, but once they connected, their chemistry was instant. Polow said Fif knew right away they had a hot one on their hands.
“He came in the studio, we had some time set up — we had, like, five sessions; the other four fell through,” Polow told MTV News. “The fifth one, we got together, he came in and that was the first joint I played him. He said, ‘That’s a hit record.’ ”
The Atlanta-based beatsmith said Fif only needed 20 minutes to craft the track. The song is the lead single for 50’s forthcoming album, Before I Self Destruct, and features Ne-Yo on the hook. Polow said he and 50 settled on a hook for the song but after sending the track over to Ne-Yo, the songwriter reworked it into its current incarnation.
“We had the record done,” Polow said. “What’s so crazy [is] we had a different hook on it. We went back and forth with the hook, but then we sent it to Ne-Yo and he wrote his own hook and that was that.”
“When [50] first sent me the joint, I was like, ‘You don’t need me for this,’ ” Ne-Yo told MTV News recently during the video shoot for the song. “I thought the beat was hot, what he was talking about was hot — I just tried to add to the hotness.”
There are two versions of “Baby by Me,” one featuring Ne-Yo and another with newcomer JoVan Dais. But despite the syrupy single, 50 has said his next album will be his most aggressive yet, even more so than his debut.
“Before I Self Destruct is absolutely harder than Get Rich or Die Tryin’ or other projects in between,” 50 said.
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‘New Moon’ Stars Answer Your Questions — Except ‘Boxers Or Briefs’
by on Oct.30, 2009, under MTV Movies Headlines
Kellan Lutz has gotten that uncomfortable interview question one too many times; plus Nikki Reed and Edi Gathegi.
By Larry Carroll
Kellan Lutz
Photo: MTV News
A year ago at this time, Twilighters all over the world were counting down the days until they could finally see Edward and Bella on the big screen. And one of their favorite time-passers was a series we ran called “Twilight Stars Answer Fans’ Burning Questions.” Now, with “New Moon” just around the corner, it’s time to reignite the flame.
Once again, we’ve taken the questions that fans posted on MTV.com, the MTV Movies Blog and Hollywood Crush straight to the “Twilight Saga” stars. Some are serious, some are funny, and more than a few are, well, perhaps a bit too personal. But, once again, Stephenie Meyer’s brave thespians have risen to the challenge with honesty and openness and reminded us why the fanbase loves them so much.
So read on — and then feel free to post more of your “burning questions” in the comments section below as we’ll have plenty more “New Moon” interviews in the coming weeks!
Nikki Reed
Q: In “New Moon,” Rosalie is the one who tells Edward that Bella has died. Do you think that Edward had a right to know, or do you personally think it was none of her business to tell him?
Reed: I am always going to come to Rosalie’s defense and say that she wasn’t just trying to hurt him. I mean, he is her brother and she does love him. She felt bad for how she has treated their entire relationship, and maybe it was her way of taking the initiative and wanting to be the one to break the news to him. She wasn’t lying to him; this is what Alice thought and what she told Rosalie. So Rosalie felt the need to break the news to Edward.
Kellan Lutz
Q: What is the one question that you hope you never get asked again in an interview?
Lutz: Do I wear boxers or briefs? I think it’s such a funny one, and there’s always someone — and they’re usually older than 50 — who asks that question.
Q: What is the one question you wish were asked more often?
Lutz: Well, I’m really into charity work and telling people about that. It’s always hard to get to that answer [during an interview]. Talking about the charities that I’m involved in, helping families and kids, is really something that I’m involved in and really near to my heart. Just showing love to molested kids and giving them a birthday and telling them that God loves you and it’s OK to have fun and smile, to give them a stuffed animal and watch them be happy. I wish I could talk more about the charities that I’m involved in and that we have so much opportunity in the end to make a difference out there.
Edi Gathegi
Q: Have you bought anything exciting with your “Twilight” earnings?
Gathegi: I bought a plane ticket home to see Mom. That’s exciting!
Q: What does Mom think of “Twilight”?
Gathegi: Oh, she loves it! But Mom is not the perfect gauge, because she’s Mom. My mom is very deeply religious, but she loves “Gone Baby Gone.” I’m throwing F-bombs everywhere [in that movie]; I’m killing people. And she’s like, “That’s brilliant!” But I live beneath my means, because that’s important. As an actor, you never know what is going to happen. You don’t know when your next job is going to come. I mean, I’m doing all right now, but after “New Moon,” I don’t know. So you have got to prepare. It’s an unsteady lifestyle, and you have to be smart about the money that you make. You might need it later on down the line.
Q: So we won’t see you rolling around with an entourage of 20 people, à la MC Hammer in his prime?
Gathegi: No, no, no. [Laughs.] None of that. Hopefully, I’ll have those sort of problems soon. But right now, I’m just trying to build a career, and I don’t necessarily feel like I have one.
Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
For young Hollywood news, fashion, “Twilight” updates and more — updated around the clock — visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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‘Twilight’ Tour Details: Which Stars Will Be Where?
by on Oct.30, 2009, under MTV Movies Headlines
Castmembers and ‘New Moon’ soundtrack artists are making their way to a Hot Topic near you.
By Larry Carroll
Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images
Last week, Summit Entertainment made big news when they announced a countrywide tour that would bring “Twilight” stars — as well as many of the bands on the “New Moon” soundtrack — to a mall near you. Now the details are emerging like a vampire stepping into the bright afternoon sun — and the results are just as sparkly.
The “New Moon” Hot Topic tour kicks off November 6 in Los Angeles’ Hollywood & Highland complex. It will feature musical performances by Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Skulls, Sea Wolf and Anya Marina. The day’s festivities will also feature a Q&A session with castmembers Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Jamie Campbell Bower, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Chaske Spencer and Bronson Pelletier. You can find out more details on how to get in at the Hot Topic Web site or the sister site ShockHound.
After the big L.A. kickoff, the cast will head in separate directions. Ashley and Kellan will head to Chicago’s Fox Valley Mall for November 10th, where their Q & A with fans will be accompanied by an Anya Marina performance. Meanwhile, Charlie Bewley and Daniel Cudmore will spend the same day in Philadelphia at the Cherry Hill Mall, alongside Hurricane Bells.
A good time will definitely be had in Minneapolis on November 12, as two of the more fun-loving members of the “Twilight” clan — Edi Gathegi and Jamie Campbell Bower — will be holding court at the Mall of America. They’ll be accompanied by the hardworking Anya Marina. If anybody can send us footage of Edi and Jamie on the SpongeBob ride, you’ll be my new hero.
On the same day, Ashley and Kellan will bring their party to Boston’s Natick Collection Mall, where they’ll appear with Hurricane Bells. Charlie Bewley and Daniel Cudmore will be blanketing the other side of the country on that day as well, at Seattle’s Westfield Southcenter, with musical guest Anya Marina.
The Hot Topic events wind down in Salt Lake City, where something tells me a Twilight Mom or two might be able to make it to the Fashion Place Mall to see Edi and Jamie tell some fun stories. They’ll be accompanied on that final date of the tour by Anya Marina.
For those wondering, a similar event has been rumored to be in the works at New York’s Times Square Hot Topic on November 19. Details for that date, if it is to occur, should be announced shortly.
Check out everything we’ve got on “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
For young Hollywood news, fashion, “Twilight” updates and more — updated around the clock — visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.
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Lil Wayne Calls Rock-Heavy Rebirth A ‘Freedom Album’
by on Oct.30, 2009, under Lil Wayne
‘I say what I want, how I want,’ he tells Billboard of removing the rules of hip-hop.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Lil Wayne
Photo: Kristian Dowling/ Getty Images
The more Lil Wayne’s rock-leaning LP Rebirth is delayed, the more fans wonder if the superstar rapper can really pull off the genre-switching feat he’s attempting.
The project has been pushed back several times already, and producer Dre of Cool & Dre told MTV News back in April that the project wouldn’t necessarily be all rock. But in the November 7 edition of Billboard magazine, the Cash Money lyricist emphatically states he’ll be rocking out on Rebirth.
In the interview, which appears to have taken place before Weezy pleaded guilty to felony gun possession last week, the MC also assured fans that he knows exactly what he’s doing with this foray into rock.
“Yes, the album is still rock,” he explained. “I play guitar on 80 percent of the songs, and there’s a lot of rock influences and rock beats. I also have Travis Barker on the album. But I don’t want people to think I’m trying to do something I can’t do. Don’t think you’re going to put on the album and hear me screaming and singing. … Don’t worry about that. [Laughs.] When people hear me say rock, they may get a little scared like, ‘Oh, God. What is he going to do?’ When I said I was doing a rock album, it was about doing a freedom thing. This album isn’t hip-hop. When I do my Carter albums, I know I’ve got to rap, I know I’ve got to spit. I know the words I’ve got to say and the subjects I’ve got to talk about. I also know the things I shouldn’t say, the things I shouldn’t talk about. There’s none of those limits on this album. I say what I want, how I want. That’s what this album is: a freedom album.”
Wayne repeated that Rebirth and Young Money’s crew album will be released together. The projects are tentatively slated for a December 15 release.
A number of tracks from Rebirth have appeared online prematurely, to Wayne’s chagrin. But he said he’s retooled the album in an effort to keep fans off balance.
“I had to add new cuts, because a lot of things leaked, making people think they had an idea of what I was doing with Rebirth and what it would sound like,” he said. “And I hated that, because I never want anybody to think they know what I’m doing until I present it. So what I did was make it totally different. I flipped it.”
In addition to those projects, Wayne is also overseeing his protégé Drake’s debut, Thank Me Later, expected to drop at the top of 2010. He said the upstart star is hands on with his project, and so far, Wayne hasn’t chimed in. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Toronto MC were already finished.
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An ‘Eclipse’ First Look And Last-Minute Halloween Costumes In Today’s Twitter-Wood
by on Oct.30, 2009, under MTV Movies Blog
“Kick-Ass” actress Chloe Moretz was among those tweeting good thoughts to Nicolas Cage and his family following the death of his father August Coppola this week. A literature professor and the brother of director Francis Ford Coppola, he reportedly died following a heart attack on Tuesday.
In other tweets, David Slade slipped a fresh image into his Twitter feed of actor Xavier Samuel from “Eclipse,” which he says is the first look at Samuel’s character Riley in the film. A couple of “Twilight” actors tweeted last minute contemplations over their Halloween costumes, while Edgar Wright may be giving up altogether and Russell Brand decried jack-o-lanterns as symbols for the season. Check out what they all had to say after the jump. It’s in the Twitter-Wood report for October 30, 2009.
Twitter Pic of the Day:
@DAVID_A_SLADE http://twitpic.com/nhqyd – In celebration of wrap first Eclipse cast photo Xavier Samuels between set ups as Riley Biers.
-David Slade, Director (”30 Days of Night,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”)
@cserratos Halloween is my favorite holiday. So I have a couple costumes. Wild thing. Velma Kelly. Hindu Goddess. Sailor Moon…and the classic Witch.
-Christian Serratos, Actress (”Twilight,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”)
@Jamiebower Okay kids. Need you to help me decied. Its a toss up between. Edward Scissorhands, a mouse or skeleton jump suit? Help. We don’t have long x
-Jamie Campbell Bower, Actor (”RocknRolla,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”)
@edgarwright I am too busy with work to get a Halloween outfit together. I may have to resurrect an old standby and go as Eddie Yorque.
-Edgar Wright, Director (”Shaun of the Dead,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”)
@tinypinkpoodle God bless Nicholas Cages father and all the Copolas rest in piece god bless
-Chloe Moretz, Actress (”Kick-Ass,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”)
@freddurst Just accidentally walked out of my bfast spot and forgot to pay the check. Oops!! I.O.U ??
-Fred Durst, Actor/Director/Musician (”The Education of Charlie Banks,” “The Longshots”)
@ParisHilton http://twitpic.com/ngwcp – Found the Perfect Pumpkin! 
Yay!
-Paris Hilton, Actress (”The Hottie and the Nottie,” “House of Wax”)
@paul_mcguigan Writer Grant Morrison and I are working on a very interesting project based in Scotland. This man is genius.
-Paul McGuigan, Director (”Lucky Number Slevin,” “Push”)
@rustyrockets Halloween?Skeletons and pumpkins aren’t actually scary,just bone scaffold and a vegetable.You might as well be scared of potatoes and hair.
-Russell Brand, Actor (”Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to the Greek”)
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