It didn’t take long to get a first single from X Factor’s first US champion Melanie Amaro. The choice of song and arrangement is inspired. Melanie Amaro takes Aretha Franklin’s legendary classic “Respect” to the dance floor for a fierce workout. She proves she really does have the pipes that sound great on record. Her version of “Respect” will also be showcased on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at the Super Bowl in Pepsi’s commercial that also features Elton John. Aretha Franklin’s legendary 1967 version of the song is in the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library Of Congress’ National Recording Registry. There is nothing wildly original here, but the whole record is simply pleasing to hear and will sound great booming from speakers in a club. Expect a full-length album from Melanie Amaro later this year.

_{Single cover courtesy Epic}

About.com Top 40 / Pop

Much like approx. 75% of the world’s population, Gwyneth Paltrow, along with a vast and growing number of English-speaking celebrities, are (becoming) multilingual. In this short video-clip, see and hear Gwyneth Paltrow speak Spanish fluently! Also see a short preview of other celebrities who speak more than just English. Visit: www.celebratelanguages.com/celebs to see even more of these “celebrity linguists,” and share this site with colleagues, friends & family. You too, start becoming multilingual today, and join the 21st Century!

Mark Dice interviews the high priest of the Church of Satan. Buy The Illuminati: Facts & Fiction from Amazon.com Mark Dice is a media analyst, social critic, political activist, and author who, in an entertaining and educational way, gets people to question our celebrity obsessed culture, and the role the mainstream media plays in shaping our lives. Mark frequently stirs up controversy from his commentaries, protests, and boycotts, and has repeatedly been featured in major media outlets around the world. Several of Mark’s YouTube videos have went viral, earning him a mention on ABC’s The View, Fox News’ O’Reilly Factor, TMZ.com, and other mainstream media outlets. Mark has also been featured in (or attacked in) the New York Post’s Page Six, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today, The New York Daily News, and in major papers in Pakistan and Iran. Mark Dice appears in several documentary films including Invisible Empire, and The 9/11 Chronicles, and was featured on the History Channel’s Decoded. He enjoys enlightening zombies, as he calls them, (ignorant people) about the mass media’s effect on our culture, pointing out Big Brother’s prying eyes, and exposing elite secret societies along with scumbag politicians and their corrupt political agendas. He also habitually calls into several top-rated talk shows, including the Sean Hannity Show, Glenn Beck, and Michael Savage, and verbally battles with the hosts on various issues since he has never been asked to be a guest on them as …
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Sarah Dempster says bye bye Becky, hello Beef Encounter in Coronation Street and – doof-doof – was that Wicksy in EastEnders?

“Goodbye Roy’s Rolls,” announced Milton Fanshaw III, cravat oscillating with visionary zeal. “Hello … BEEF ENCOUNTER.”

Roy Cropper gulped and tightened his apron. Milton had barely unpacked his embossed handkerchiefs but already the entrepreneurial Coronation Street newcomer was turning Sylvia’s knees to soup and Roy’s transfat snack shack into a chain of railway-themed steakhouses.

Roy gazed at the building plans and saw a faultline appear in his tiny, carefully ordered life. “Oh dear,” he said. “Oh dear, oh dear.” But it was too late. Milton has a wide-fitting loafer in the door of the future and a rheumy eye on Sylvia’s support hose. Milton doesn’t do doubt. “Beef Encounter could be bigger than McDonald’s! TOOT TOOT!” he barked as Roy looked on helplessly. Neither Roy nor his rolls stand a chance.

But it was for Becky McDonald that the bell tolled loudest, her departure – a public debagging of inveterate liar Tracy Barlow (“‘Er medical records show that when she fell down my stairs … SHE WAS NOT PREGNANT”) followed by a climactic airport dash in a leopard-print padded jacket – proving a fitting send-off for the reigning holder of soap’s Golden Scrunchie for Indomitability In The Face Of Relentless Leisurewear. After six years of miscarriages, velour jogging bottoms, theft, alcoholism, cigarettes and Steve McDonald, Becky had earned herself a first-class ticket to the Costa del Schadenfreude, a new life tucked under her arm like a raffle ham.

“Regrets are for people what stop on the ground. We’re heading for the stars,” she told new boyfriend Danny over a bottle of high-altitude fizz, fully aware that, 30,000 feet beneath her, on a drizzly patch of Weatherfield cobble, Steve McDonald was standing contemplating the prospect of 40 years manacled to Tracy Barlow with a face like an abandoned clay pit.

Fly away, Becky. Never look back. TOOT TOOT.

The aftershocks of Pat Evans’s death have left EastEnders‘ storylines in shreds. Ben got Phil charged with murder and Tamwar did his best to interest us in his post-traumatic stress disorder but a listlessness has descended on Albert Square, with events taking on the air of an extended wake; new characters and subplots lie around ignored, like wilting egg sandwiches on a widower’s sideboard. Only Pat’s funeral exhibited any signs of life, an irony lost on the assembled mourners, who marked the occasion by bitching about the vicar’s mixtape (Mo), vomiting behind a bench (Lauren), and trading pleasantries with scrunch-faced flibbertigibbet Mandy Salter (Bianca: “YOU SCRUBBA!”). The emotion proved too much for David, who dumped Carol and fled weeping into the night (“Oh, mum!”).

Armchair Freudians were forced to reach for another box of Kleenex upon the shock – albeit fleeting – return of Simon Wicks, who drifted out of the narrative gloaming like an afterthought in a Crombie. As the closing credits rolled, the feckless 80s womaniser fingered some graveside carnations, mumbled his Pat-oriented goodbyes and then, because every loser wins, promptly buggered off again. There was then a single, solemn doof-doof, followed by … silence. The effect was nothing if not disconcerting. For one horrifying moment we feared we may be trapped in some neverending doof-doof matrix, the theme tune starting up again during MasterChef, perhaps, and a storyline involving Fatboy and a consignment of discount rave horns breaking out during Panorama. It’s what Pat would’ve wanted, after all.

Dark days at Holby City, where the hospital’s new-found Foundation Trust status has seen proceedings beset by managerial efficiency. “We must double our intake. Entice foreign fees. Strengthen the affiliation to the university,” monotoned inscrutable director of surgery Henrik Hanssen, resulting in an 87.4% increase of shots of Ric Griffin sighing at graphs. Amid the management-speak, the romantic subplots presented a paradigm shift in actionable surprisability.

While Sahira continued to play push-me-pull-you with carefully unshaven Irishman Greg, Chrissie canoodled with galumphing babydaddy Sacha in full view of rectangle-headed ex Dan. “But you used to laugh at him,” bugled Dan, fists balled and forehead concertinaed in rectangular outrage. “He’s not good enough for you. I mean, LOOK AT HIM!” We looked at him. And we nodded. Sacha is the crumpled embodiment of dufferdom. His jowls alone merit a lighthearted daytime DIY series on UKTV Bright Ideas. But these are straitened times. The financial squeeze has extended its reach to Holby’s heart, forcing serial boffer Chrissie to lower her already catastrophically low standards. Should the relationship with Sacha go tits-up, her only remaining romantic prospects are the dying pygmy date palm outside the ground floor cafeteria and cardiothoracic consultant Elliot Hope. May God have mercy on their souls.

Lament the decline of soapy small businesses below

Television, radio and TV coverage | guardian.co.uk

We never thought we’d approve of a denim jumpsuit, dark burgundy lipstick and bleached blonde hair on anyone, but this is Rihanna! As far as we’re concerned, the R&B starlet can get away with almost anything and look hot, and last night was no exception.

RiRi was spotted arriving at her fav LA eatery, Giorgio Baldi, and she struck several fierce poses before heading in to the restaurant.

P.S. In case you didn’t know, her dramatic new locks were for a recent magazine shoot — the other day she tweeted, “#Back2Work 1st Cover of the year!!! #ELLE,” adding, “Bleach + weave #WERQ.” Work, indeed!

X17 Online

The American Idol season 11 auditions closed on a high note last night. The show pointed out that Carrie Underwood was first discovered in St. Louis and teased that perhaps one of these contestants would reach her level of success. From the quality of the performances shown, it is quite possible. Check out more details in the recap of American Idol St. Louis auditions.

_{Photo courtesy Fox Television}

About.com Top 40 / Pop

18 hours ago | WENN | See recent WENN news »

Ryan O’Neal’s troubled son Griffin has been sentenced to 16 months behind bars following his arrest for driving under the influence of drugs (DUI) last year.

The actor’s eldest son has been locked up after he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of DUI and gun possession charges stemming from a car crash in August, according to EOnline.com.

O’Neal was facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison after he veered into oncoming traffic while high on drugs and hit a van, leaving the driver injured.

He missed his initial sentencing hearing last month because he checked himself into rehab to seek help for drinking issues.

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The twisted genius behind The Day Today on his latest film. Chris Morris brilliant, controversy-baiting comedy Four Lions which follows the adventures of a group of hapless wannabe suicide bombers – opens this week, and we strongly recommend it, for its bold, brave and gut-bustingly funny. We sent Chris Hewitt along to the films UK premiere at the Bradford Film Festival recently, where he spoke to Morris, producer Mark Herbert, writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, and most of the Four Lions themselves.

Scrubs alumna Sarah Chalke has landed the lead in How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life, a keyboard-exhausting comedy pilot being developed for ABC, our sister site Deadline reports.

Check Out TVLine’s Pilot Season Lingo Guide and Our Latest List of Pilots

A multi-camera project executive-produced by Claudia Lonow (Accidentally on Purpose), HTLWYPFTROYL (yeah, that ain’t gonna stick) centers on Polly, a recently divorced single mom who moves back in with her eccentric parents, Elaine and Max, a couple who’s full of life but knows no boundaries. (You can all but hear Kurtwood Smith’s phone ringing now, to play the dad.)

Chalke’s booking comes just as Cougar Town wraps filming on its upcoming third season, where she recurs (starting a few episodes in) as a romantic interest for Bobby. Her other recent TV credits include the short-lived CBS comedy Mad Love and How I Met Your Mother.

ABC’s other comedy pilots in the mix this development season include The Smart One (starring Portia de Rossi), American Judy (headlined by Judy Greer), Reba McEntire’s Malibu Country and the Untitled Dan Fogelman Comedy starring Jami Gertz (Still Standing).

TVLine

M.I.A. is bringing bling to the Middle East. The polarizing musician’s “Bad Girls” video heads to the desert, where she ghost-rides the whip while doing her nails. E-40 would be proud. A posse of keffiyeh’d rough riders backs her up on the road, while another scene finds her body-suited backing dancers going full lamé. (Just like “Sex And The City 2,” sorta!) Taking aim at patriarchal, equal rights-obstructing governments never felt so fabulous. The video comes courtesy of Romain Gavras, the director (not a type of lettuce) who also helmed M.I.A.’s controversial (and way less fun!) “Born Free” video.

+ Watch M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls” video after the jump.

When you’re done jamming to this, there’s more M.I.A. on the way. As anyone with a radio and a Ryan Seacrest obsession knows, Maya’s going global right now: Alongside Nicki Minaj (!), she’s all over Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” which dropped this morning. She’ll be joining the duo at the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday, which might actually make us watch football. Or at least look up from our chips and guac.

“Bad Girls” was born on 2011′s “Vicki Leekxs” mixtape, with this new version polished up by producer Danja. Set your paper planes for a summer landing for her next album.

+ Watch M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls” video.

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The new clip, which must have been shot on a shoestring (G-string?) budget, features video vixen Kyra Chaos, who, as MTV RapFix noted, is known for her extraordinarily plump derriere; her rear assets were even painted with the face of a tiger in the artwork for 50 Cent’s single “Girls Go Wild.” It’s highlighted in the single long shot of Kyra gyrating, thrusting and popping for the benefit of a webcam. Clad in a knit cap, high-waisted gray jeggings, and a cutout black crop-top exposing her copious décolleté (but that’s totally what we wore to Starbucks this morning, so it’s like, NBD), Kyra dances provocatively to the sultry beats of Drake’s track, which samples Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up,” to great effect. “I can tell that you’ve been practicing,” Drizzy purrs over the stripped-down, minimalist beat.

+ Watch Drake’s “Practice” video after the jump.

But lest you think poor Kyra was getting lonely there with her lovely lady lumps, near the end of the video she receives a surprise gentleman visitor. OMG, it’s Drake, you guys! The two collapse into a passionate embrace, and indeed, it’s a good thing that she was practicing — since, as our piano teacher always told us, practice makes perfect! Admittedly, when we stopped practicing, all of our nimble-fingered skills disappeared, whereas Kyra’s talents (gluteus maximus, pillowy pout, swiveling hips) probably aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

+ Watch Drake’s video for “Practice.” (NSFW-ish)

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