Roland Thatcher Feeling the Magic, Grabs Lead at Disney

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- When a guy named Roland Churchill Thatcher IV is counting every penny and worrying about his rank on a money list, you know things have gotten tough.

Golf, however, audits with a different numbers system.

Besides, Thatcher has a confession to make.

"We come from a long line of auto workers and Navy families," he said. "There's no family business. My father was a retired airline pilot. I might have an in as a baggage handler at Southwest if I had to.

"But no, the name, as pretentious as it is ... my wife and I decided to stop it. We didn't pass it on to my son."

Instead, Thatcher is in this week's PGA Tour Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World hoping to create another identity.



 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/12/roland-thatcher-feeling-the-magic-grabs-lead-at-disney/

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2010 MTV EMAs By The Numbers: 1 Lady Gaga Designer, 600 Chickens

Lady Gaga's designer crafts rotating cube in Madrid's Caja Magica for 2010 Europe Music Awards performers.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

MADRID — Metrically speaking, the 2010 Europe Music Awards might not be the biggest production in the 16-year history of the show, but it's certainly the "boxiest."

That's because this year's EMAs will be broadcast live from Madrid's Caja Magica, a new clay-court tennis facility (and home to the city's legendary Real Madrid basketball team) which, literally translated, means "The Magic Box." Opened just last year, the Caja features multiple retractable roofs, wandering water features and seating for more than 12,000. And Sunday, when it'll play host to the EMAs, the stage also will be a box — a four-sided, rotating, multidimensional cube courtesy of British theater designer Es Devlin, who's worked with Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Muse.

The stage is entirely constructed of steel shipped from London, and rotates 360 degrees to reveal four distinct settings for the EMA performances, which will include B.o.B and Hayley Williams, Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha, to name a few. And, in the city itself, Linkin Park, Katy Perry and 30 Seconds to Mars will perform live from the Puerta de Alcala, a monument commemorated in 1778.

The show itself will feature eight costume changes by host Eva Longoria (including an outfit designed by Victoria Beckham), and more than 600 sets of eyelashes, 300 wigs, 300 shades of eye shadow and blush, and 100 sets of pre-painted nails, modeled by 97 dancers from 12 different countries.

And while all that is plenty big, the behind-the-scenes stats are equally eye-popping: Stars can luxuriate in 34 different dressing rooms, dine on special macrobiotic meals crafted by a team of international chefs or be waited on by a staff of first-class Lufthansa airline attendants.

Meanwhile, the crew — some 1,300 workers, technicians, talent wranglers and caterers — will communicate on more than 800 walkie talkies, backed by 1,200 batteries and 450 headsets. And they'll eat meals cooked by 30 chefs (who will go through some 600 chickens and a half-ton of beef every day) and pastries created by three Madrid bakeries and chug their way through 10,000 bottles of water (all of which will be recycled).

Oh, and in the days leading up to the show, more than 110 limousines and vans will move artists around the city of Madrid, and more than 100 buses will transport VIP guests and the media to and from the Caja.

Looking at all those numbers, maybe the 2010 EMAs is the biggest production in the show's history. We can't imagine anything bigger.

The 2010 EMAs will air on MTV2 on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET, and an edited, performance-heavy version will be broadcast Friday, November 12, at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.

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'Unstoppable': The Reviews Are In!

Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott's latest collaboration gets critical kudos.
By Eric Ditzian


Chris Pine in "Unstoppable"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

Together Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott can reliably be expected to deliver hyperkinetic action sequences and box-office openings in the low $20 million range. Except for the $18 million "Crimson Tide" debuted to in 1995, this pair's flicks haven't plunged beneath the $20 million mark, nor have they floated past $24 million.

"Unstoppable," the duo's fifth collaboration, is likely to open within that familiar range, though its stellar reviews might lift the action flick's opening. Here's what critics are saying:

The Story

"Cinematic narrative doesn't get any simpler than that, and Scott wisely keeps the premise pure, ratcheting up the tension and raising the emotional stakes without cluttering up the story's sleek lines. A young, inexperienced railroad conductor named Will (Chris Pine) is on his first shift with veteran train operator Frank (Denzel Washington) on the same day that a train carrying tons of hazardous materials has been sent hurtling down its tracks without a conductor or functioning brakes. With the help of a coolheaded train executive named Connie (Rosario Dawson), who keeps in near constant contact with the men, Will and Frank narrowly escape colliding with what she calls 'a missile the size of the Chrysler Building.' Out of harm's way, their next priority is to chase the errant locomotive down and stop it before it hits a dangerous S-curve and crashes in the middle of a busy Pennsylvania city." — Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

The Performances

"Mr. Washington has never been more likable, or convincingly heroic. Sometimes he's simultaneously intense and self-effacing, proof of his own expertise in the tricky profession of being a star. 'Unstoppable' will be a turning point in Mr. Pine's career; he gives a star performance that is notable for its subtlety, simplicity and unforced strength. Thanks to the bond between them, the movie more than gets away with conversational interludes in which Will and Frank discuss life and love." — Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal

The Look

"Mr. Scott is partial to blunt, rapid cuts; whipping pans; and saturated colors. He likes twirling the camera around characters, like a sugared-up tot running 360s on a playground, a hyperactive visual style that can turn the screen into a blur of pulsating color. Here, working with the cinematographer Ben Seresin and some ace sound technicians, he creates an unexpectedly rich world of chugging, rushing trains slicing across equally beautiful industrial and natural landscapes. There is something mesmerizing about these trains and the men who run them, something nostalgic too, because they seem like history machines, summoning up a past lived and also imagined, as in, for starters, 'The Great Train Robbery' (1903), 'North by Northwest' (1959) and 'Speed' (1994)." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

The Dissenters

"An action thriller seriously devoid of action or thrills, the curiously sluggish 'Unstoppable' is the slowest, talkiest movie you'll ever see about a runaway freight train loaded with toxic chemicals. The actors get a lot more to do in the admittedly brisk second half of 'Unstoppable,' but the filmmakers come up with a surprisingly small number of cliffhanger scenarios involving the speeding locomotive: 1985's 'Runaway Train,' although a dramatically different picture, did infinitely more exciting things with its premise. 'Unstoppable' picks up some speed as it hurtles toward its predictable conclusion, but the acceleration comes too late. No matter how many times Scott has his cameras circle his actors to lend the film a sense of barreling motion, you rarely feel as if this train has even left the station." — Rene Rodriguez, The Miami Herald

The Final Word

"Director Tony Scott may have missed his mark by a bit on his last cinematic train ride with 'The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,' but he hits his target dead-on in 'Unstoppable.' The best blue collar action movie in who knows how long, this tense, narrowly focused thriller about a runaway freight train has a lean and pure simplicity to it that is satisfying in and of itself. But in its incidental portrait of discontented and discounted working stiffs who live marginal lives on society's sidings and are angry to varying degrees, the film carries an unexpected weight and could connect with Middle American audiences in a big way." — Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter

Check out everything we've got on "Unstoppable."

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

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652149/20101112/story.jhtml

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Dwyane Wade, LeBron James in Search of Perfect Symmetry

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Dwyane Wade, LeBron JamesMIAMI -- Only so much can be taken from a box score, but one thing that stood out from the Miami Heat's 109-100 win over the Toronto Raptors Friday was that the Heat only attempted 10 three-pointers collectively and Dwyane Wade and LeBron James only attempted one each. That was a season low for Wade, aside from his 26-point effort (on 12-17 FG shooting) against the Minnesota Timberwolves in which he didn't need to take any three-pointers.

The team collectively has had success from beyond the arc despite the loss of injured sharpshooter Mike Miller, but the Heat haven't necessarily won when their best players have launched them when they should be taking advantage of their strengths inside.

Wade is averaging 3.2 attempts beyond the arc and has attempted five or more in four games already this season with the Heat losing all but one of those games, a win over the Orlando Magic. James is also averaging three attempts from three-point land and the Heat have lost both games in which he has attempted more than five three-pointers. Bottom line, regardless of how many actually go in, too many three-point attempts from their two best players doesn't seem to be a successful strategy.

Was this sudden aversion to the three-point line something coach Erik Spoelstra had brought up, or simply just a conscious decision to get better shots?

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/15/dwyane-wade-lebron-james-in-search-of-perfect-symmetry/

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'Harry Potter' Actor Tom Felton Gets 'Tips' From Celebrated Co-Stars

'The last thing I wanted was to be the pesky young guy who's asking them a thousand questions,' he says of high-profile castmates.
By Kara Warner


Tom Felton
Photo: MTV News

Never mind the success, fame and fortune the decade of filming eight "Harry Potter" films has brought the cast. One of the major perks the young actors received over the years was exposure to some of the most celebrated actors working today.

A common joke among the supporting cast — including Kenneth Branagh, Jason Isaacs, Emma Thompson, Maggie Clark, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, etc. — is that the "Potter" films have employed all the British actors in equity at some point or another. The high caliber of acting royalty, as it were, was not lost on the young castmembers, who took advantage of any opportunity to learn from such seasoned professionals.

When MTV News caught up with Tom Felton recently, we asked him how it felt to be surrounded by such esteemed thespians — particularly in the scene at Malfoy Manor, where the Death Eaters gather with Voldemort.

"It was a three-day, maybe four-day scene, and needless to say, the first day, I was pretty quiet," Felton said of filming. "The last thing I wanted was to be the pesky young guy who's asking them a thousand questions about old projects.

"But realistically, they're the nicest people in the world," Felton said of his co-stars. "As soon as you ask them a question, they usually have a dozen answers to throw at you, especially Jason [Isaacs]," he added of the actor who plays Lucius Malfoy, the father of his character Draco. "He's been incredibly good with telling me stories. Also onscreen as well as offscreen tips, they're not necessarily telling you what to do, but you can just watch them and learn from their mannerisms, which is always exciting. You learn after a couple of days that these people are exceptionally normal and very kind people."

It's Harry Potter Week at MTV News! Join us Monday night at 6 p.m. ET on MTV.com as we live-stream from the red-carpet premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" and talk with all the "Potter" stars. And stick with us for interviews, photos, videos and much more about your favorite boy wizard before "Deathly Hallows - Part 1" hits theaters November 19.

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1."

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

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652197/20101112/story.jhtml

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'Green Lantern' Trailer Teaser Surfaces

'Entertainment Tonight' premiered 30-second clip ahead of full trailer premiere on Tuesday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Ryan Reynolds plays the Green Lantern
Photo: Warner Bros./DC Entertainment

The countdown to the "Green Lantern" is closing in on a notable milestone: the premiere of the film's trailer.

The trailer for the 2011 release is slated to drop next week, but "Entertainment Tonight" recently previewed the clip, which gives fans a glimpse of a muscle-bound Ryan Reynolds all suited up in the emerald uniform.

The show's teaser shows Reynolds whipping out of his Hal Jordan street clothes and into his superhero garb in a flash, dashing about in his underwear, wielding his super-powerful ring, dropping in on foes and interacting with his co-star "Gossip Girl" Blake Lively.

The preview also shows Reynolds' "Green Lantern" costume in action, a sartorial choice that divided fans who wondered if the look was too much of a departure from the superhero's classic crime-fighting apparel. However, the film's star welcomed the dialogue kicked up by the suit's revamp.

"There has to be a little healthy debate about it," Reynolds told MTV News at Comic-Con in July. "I mean, that's important. If it were just slanted one way or the other, I don't think it would be that satisfying."

The trailer isn't the first time fans have gotten a chance to check out advance footage of the flick. Comic-Con attendees also previewed some of the Lantern's aerial swoops, checked out a glimpse of Peter Sarsgaard's turn as villain Hector Hammond and got a taste of Tomar-Re.

"The tone is light," director Martin Campbell explained of the film. "It has a lot of humor, but I think the relationships between all the characters are very real. We try to keep the action very real. ... It's my first superhero movie — unless you count James Bond."

Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Lady Gaga Cameo Rumored For 'Muppets' Movie

Plot of reboot is said to involve Miss Piggy ending up as Gaga-esque character.
By James Montgomery


Lady Gaga gives Kermit the Frog a kiss at the 2009 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images

She's already worn them and been escorted by them, so it makes sense that Lady Gaga now may be joining the Muppets, in a reboot of their long-running film series due in theaters next year.

This is according to Production Weekly, an industry publication that chronicles film and television projects in pre-production and development, which on Thursday tweeted that they were "hearing that [actors] Eric Stonestreet, John Krasinski and Ed Helms may be in Lady Gaga's entourage for 'The Muppets.' "

By logical extension, that would mean that Gaga herself could be filming a cameo for the movie. And it lends credence to earlier reports that "How I Met Your Mother" star Jason Segel — who is writing the script for the new "Muppets" movie — was basing the story line around the idea that "Miss Piggy ends up becoming like a Lady Gaga-esque character living in Europe."

A spokesperson for Lady Gaga did not respond to MTV News' request for comment on the matter, but if LG does show up in the new "Muppets" film, we expect a few scenes with Kermit the Frog, her date to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Their appearance on the red carpet — not to mention the smooch they shared — had gossipmongers whispering that the two were an item. But Kermit would later deny those rumors, telling People that he "just gave Lady Gaga a ride to the VMAs, and when [she] left her credentials in the limo, I had to bring them to her."

Of course, that angered Kermit's longtime beau Miss Piggy, which had some rather disastrous results. "After Lady Gaga and I were seen on the red carpet together, well ... Miss Piggy got a little jealous," Kermit said. "But I definitely did get a ride home — in the trunk!"

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652130/20101112/lady_gaga.jhtml

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