You may recall that last month Rihanna teamed up with Justin Timberlake to shoot a new music video (her 87th) from her latest album Good Girl, Gone Bad. Ri Ri and JT trekked out to the SoCal desert to film sultry scenes for her new single Rehab … here are a few screenshots from the finished product:

I was under the impression that JT would be providing vocals on the track but it turns out that he does not … he merely provides his hot bod for use in the video. After the jump, watch Rihanna’s new music video Rehab in full … (more…)

MTV aired its final episode of its world-famous countdown show Total Request Live last night, very appropriately enough, live from its Times Square studio in NYC. Musicians of many genres (but with a distinct affinity for the pop music market) made appearances or performed on the live program last night as original TRL host Carson Daly (and his subsequent subordinate VJs) counted down the Top 10 TRL Music Video of All Time one last time …

… bestowing the honor of Top TRL Music Video of All Time to Britney Spears’s debut video Baby … One More Time. Here are a few pics of some of the pop stars who made their way into the MTV Studios in Times Square for the TRL Finale event and a run-down of the show overall:

It was like old times in MTV’s Times Square studio. There were superstars everywhere you looked, frantic stagehands darting about, and down below — packed against police barricades — screaming kids … lots of screaming kids. On Sunday night (November 16), after 10 years and more than 2,500 episodes, MTV’s legendary “TRL” bid adieu to the airwaves with “Total Finale Live,” a positively packed three-hour party that was as much about celebrating memories from the past as it was creating ones for the future. It was a livewire, unpredictable and — fittingly — star-studded send-off for a show that prided itself in being all those things. It was a night full of big-time performances, big-name guest stars and nostalgic trips down memory lane. It was the kind of proper, celebratory goodbye that most of MTV’s biggest programs (be it “Jackass” or “Beavis and Butt-head” or even “The Osbournes”) don’t actually get, which sort of makes sense, considering that “TRL” launched the careers of today’s biggest stars, reimagined the concept of live television and, whether you realize it or not, probably defined a generation. A who’s who of “TRL” alumni rocked stages both inside and out of the studio, starting with Beyoncé, who, backed by a cracking live band, poured her heart and soul into “If I Were a Boy” and then flipped the switch and tore through muscled up versions of “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and “Crazy in Love.” Fall Out Boy (sans bassist Pete Wentz, who was with his wife Ashlee Simpson as she reportedly went into labor) followed her, braving the chilly New York night to shred on a flatbed truck parked in the heart of Times Square. Wentz even got some new-dad advice from Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden on the show. Later in the night, a trio of hip-hop heavyweights — Ludacris, Nelly and Snoop Dogg — performed their greatest “TRL” hits, then joined forces on the Doggfather’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Former “TRL” mainstays the Backstreet Boys took a nostalgic run at “I Want It That Way,” and 50 Cent — who, in true Fiddy fashion, kept show producers waiting until the very last minute — pounded his way through “In Da Club” and his current hit, “Get Up.” (Backstage, he had some choice words for Kanye West and Donald Trump.) And though they didn’t perform, tons of other stars stopped by to pay their respects. Justin Timberlake chuckled as clips of his frosted-tipped ‘NSYNC past played on flat-screen TVs in the studio. Taylor Swift clutched a “TRL” yearbook that she got signed by everyone in attendance. Diddy — who appeared on the show more than anyone else — did a bit of hosting, a bit of joking and (of course) a bit of plugging for his new fragrance, I Am King, and the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic “Notorious.” And, in a move that could only happen on live television, Kid Rock wandered around with a stogie and a glass of beer, then greeted a female admirer in the audience with: “Hi, baby, you’re much too young for me.” There were phoned-in congrats from Eminem and Christina Aguilera. Miley Cyrus geeking out in the “TRL” photo booth. More former VJs than you could shake a stick at. And plenty of video packages that recounted the most memorable moments from the show’s 10-year history — everything from Mariah Carey’s wacko striptease to Rudy Guiliani’s appearance on the show’s first broadcast post-9/11 — and goofy glimpses at your favorite stars’ first appearances on the show (a barely legal Xtina, a super-slim Slim Shady, a giggly Britney Spears, to name just a few). There were on-air bleeps and teary pre-teens and even a few “Oh wait, what?!?” moments — you know, the stuff “TRL” was known for. And, appropriately, there was also one last video countdown. Hosts Carson Daly and Damien Fahey guided viewers (and the screaming fans inside the studio) through the 10 most iconic clips in “TRL” history — everything from Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” and ‘NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” to Kid Rock’s “Bawitdaba” — a list topped with Britney Spears’ ” … Baby One More Time” (sadly, Brit Brit was not on hand to accept the accolades). The fact that all of this played out before a packed (and really squealy) studio audience — and on a massive screen outside in Times Square — only seemed right.

Sarah and I watched the TRL Finale event together last night (snug underneath some warm blankets cuz it’s cold as shizz here in Detroit, y’all) and we reminisced about how we hung out in front of a taping of TRL together on our first trip to NYC in the Spring of 2001. We even got a few seconds of screentime when the cameras zoomed in on us in the crowd. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to be inside for tapings of TRL on a few occasions, once with David early in our fledgling relationship (it was the ep where Nelly Furtado debuted her new single Promiscuous, changing her career forever). BUT, I have an all-time fave TRL moment of my own … which is, of course, being able to meet, chat with and take a photo with Madonna (incidentally, the time I met her backstage at TRL in the Fall of 2005 was the last time she was ever on TRL). Even tho I stopped watching the show ages ago (as, I suspect, have many other folks — which is why the show is being retired), it will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a very fun show and I’m going to miss it very much. I have to send out some personal LURVE to Tim Healy, the director of TRL for always being so kind and accommodating to me. It is because of him that I have been able to enjoy some of the coolest TRL moments that I’ve ever had.

After the jump, for old time’s sake, check out the Top TRL Music Video of All Time one more time so that we can say au revior to TRL in style … (more…)

Justin Timberlake was not the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night … nor was he the musical guest … but he did appear on last night’s ep not once but twice in a couple of SNL skits. In one appearance, JT showed up on the Weekend Update segment to explain to the audience how he had planned to host the upcoming Thanksgiving ep of SNL but “unfortunately” has to cancel … and then JT went into a pretty funny 2-minute monologue about what the entire episode would be like if he were there to host. Complete with explanations (and impersonations) of all the skits and musical performances he had planned, Justin performed the “entire ep” in about 2 minutes flat. Here are a few screencaps from this segment:

Justin threw in a bunch of funny SNL references and even gave a tiny shout-out to his girlfriend Jessica Biel. BUT … if these caps aren’t enough to pique your interest … check out this screencap from a skit that JT cameoed in with Beyoncé:

LOL! You know you want to see this. After the jump, check out both video SNL segments in full … (more…)

Last night I asked Jordan to be my guest at Madonna’s LA stop on her Sticky & Sweet World Tour at Dodger Stadium. Overall we had a really fun time, it was the first time that Jordan saw Madonna in concert, but I gotta tell you … last night was not without its travails. Because the traffic sitch was so horrible and because we did not want to miss a single second of the show, we had to park our car about a mile away from the venue in order to make our way into the stadium. Trust me, it was not the best way to start out the evening but … sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Once we arrived, tho, we had a blast. My very good friend and Semtex Girl Denise not only got us amazing floor seats but we also got passes for the Hospitality Tent backstage before the show. We ran into Fergie, Lisa Rinna, Lucy Liu, Hayden Panettiere and Kristin Cavallari all within 10 feet of one another … but because we were more interested in Madonna, we didn’t stick around to chat. Here are a few pics from the show last night:

The show was very cool but I have to admit that I preferred last year’s Confessions on a Dancefloor tour. Even still, there was quite a bit of show to enjoy last night. My least favorite song on the new album Hard Candy is She’s Not Me — I think it’s silly and a bit ridic — but the live performance of it in this show (with the Madonna wannabes) was pretty inspired. I may not like the song but I loved the performance. I was also very taken with the “rock” version of Borderline. There are a lot of fun surprises peppered thruout the show, I can see how diehard Madonna fans really love this show. Clearly the biggest and best surprises were the guest appearances by Britney Spears (which we talked about earlier today) and Justin Timberlake. JT came out to perform all of 4 Minutes with Maddy and did a pretty spectacular job with the choreography (it was the same routine he did with her in NYC earlier this year at her Hard Candy Promo Show at the Roseland Ballroom). The show overall was really very fun. Near the end of the show, Madonna addressed her sadness that Prop 8 was passed in California … she encouraged proponents of equal rights to continue the fight to end discrimination. Then she told the crowd to “come near the stage” and a sea of people overrun the security guards and pressed up against the barriers, filling the empty spaces left by the celebs who were not in their seats. Twas fun. I can’t wait to see the show again in Detroit in a couple of weeks ;)

I got to meet a few Pink readers last night … including Robbie from Australia and Katie who is pictured below. Here are some personal pics from last night’s fun:

Jordan and I met up with Darion and Cameron after the show to hang for a bit before we all made our way home. Jordan and I, of course, had the long mile trek back to our car but since we were walking downhill and were still on a Madonna high, it wasn’t that bad a trek at all. The show got a very late start and we got home later than I anticipated but it was a freakin’ awesome night. Much, much love goes out to Denise for taking such good care of Jordan and me. I love her to bits, thanks again!!

No plans for tonight … I think I’m gonna veg like a mofo. The weekend looks bizzy so I might want to rest up.

Holy shizz, y’all! As some of you may be aware, Madonna brings her Sticky & Sweet World Tour to Dodger Stadium here in LA tonight and there is some very exciting news to report about tonight’s particular performance. Ryan Seacrest broke some amazing news about tonight’s show on KIIS FM here in SoCal yesterday afternoon that is SURE to thrill fans of Madonna … and Britney Spears … and Justin Timberlake. It is being reported that Madge will bring Britney on stage to perform with her during tonight’s performance AND she’ll also bring JT on stage with her to perform as well:

In an unprecedented concert event, music superstars Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears will appear on stage together in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium Thursday night. Ryan Seacrest broke the news on 102.7 KIIS-FM Wednesday as much excitement for Madonna’s Sticky and Sweet concert tour grows in Southern California. “If Justin and Britney end up on that stage with her…I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything quite like that before,” said Ryan as he spoke to afternoon DJ Boy Toy Jesse. This marks the first time Britney Spears has been seen with former beau Justin Timberlake in years. It will also be the first time Britney has appeared on stage with Madonna since their controversial kiss in the opening act of the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.

Word is that Britney will join Maddy on stage for her performance of Human Nature and JT will join her on stage for their performance of 4 Minutes. At this point there is no indication that Britney and Justin will appear on stage together at any time but … I guess you never know. Can I just say OMFG?!?! Only the godlike Madonna can bring the world this close to an actual Britney and Justin reunion … this has to be the coolest pop culture news ever. Thanks to my amazing friend and Semtex Girl Denise, I will be in the hiz tonight at Dodger Stadium to witness this event in person! I’m SO dying. Folks, if you live within the vicinity of the LA venue, I implore you to click HERE and get tickets for the show and come out. History could be made tonight again! Okay, mebbe I’m overstating things a bit but I predict that tonight’s Madonna concert could be hugely monumental … at least pop culturally. Hope to see you there tonight!!!

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Rihanna teamed up with Justin Timberlake this weekend to shoot a new music video for her song Rehab which also features JT on vocals. The pair amped up the sexual energy on the SoCal set of the vid enough to get tongues wagging — should Chris Brown and Jessica Biel be worried? Here are a few pics from the Rehab set:

JESSICA BIEL and CHRIS BROWN, I’d advise you to look away. Your hot other halves sent temperatures soaring with their raunchy moves on the set of the music vid for RIHANNA’s new song featuring JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. No wonder JT is so keen to lend his vocal talents to collaborations when he gets to spend his days bumping and grinding with such sexy pop hotties as Rihanna. Though the pair are very much committed to their respective partners, there’s no doubt they struck up a sizzling chemistry on the Rehab shoot. Dressed in a dress-cum-swimming costume, Rihanna rubbed up against the SexyBack star in the blazing LA sun and bent over without inhibition. Which probably explains why Justin couldn’t resist the occasional peak at her body.

Damn. It looks like they are making a hawt-ass video. Rihanna looks amazing …that girl is all legs. I hope that JT does more than just scowl and glare at her in the vid … I wouldn’t mind seein’ a little bump and grind action betwixt these two. I thought that Rihanna and Adam Lavine from Maroon 5 looked good on screen together but they were both wearing too much clothing. I can’t wait to see how this video will turn out.

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