Police Academy and Three Men and A Baby Sequels in the Works?!

Steve Guttenberg told The Sun over the weekend that a screenplay is being written for an eighth Police Academy movie with all the available original stars set to return.

“So far it is really great, everyone from the original movies who is still around will return,” says” Guttenberg. “I know Kim and Sharon have been asked but they haven’t said yes yet. It would be really great to have them onboard.”

But didn’t Mission to Moscow say everything that needed to be said? Do we really need another Police Academy sequel? And who is the audience for this film? Would people return to the theaters just for a pop culture flashback? I think not. And if that doesn’t scare you, how about a third Three Men and a Baby film?

“Tom Selleck, Ted Danson and I are looking to make another Three Men And A Baby movie,” says Steve. “It’s called Three Men and A Bride. The script is pretty much written and we are really keen to get that made. We’re very hopeful.”

Hopeful isn’t the first word that comes into my mind. But then again, I’m not Steve Guttenberg.

Brand New Music Video: Mercy Mercedes - The Perfect Scene

NBC Announces January 2009 Schedule

NBC has announced its lineup for January 2009. The full press release follows:

NBC announced today the January 2009 schedule that features the series premieres of "Superstars of Dance" (debuting January 4) and "Howie Do It" (January 9), the returns of "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (January 6) and "Friday Night Lights" (January 16).

Likewise, NBC will broadcast the original movie event "The Last Templar" Sunday and Monday, January 25-26, 9-11 p.m. ET both nights).

NBC also showcases the new specials "Saturday Night Live Sports Extra" on Sunday, January 4 (7-9 p.m. ET) and "Saturday Night Live Film Festival" on Sunday, January 18 (9-11 p.m. ET). "Dateline NBC" also will broadcast a Presidential Inauguration Day Special on Tuesday, January 20 (10-11 p.m. ET).

Among the new night-by-night lineup changes are:

The two-hour premiere of "Superstars of Dance" - from the producers of "So You Think You Can Dance?" -- will be broadcast on Sunday, January 4 (9-11 p.m. ET) before the series resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, January 5 through January 19 (8-10 p.m. ET). The new competition series -- showcasing the world's best and most varied dancers -- will be followed on Mondays by "Momma's Boys" (10-11 p.m. ET), the new alternative series from executive producer Ryan Seacrest.

The season finale of "Superstars of Dance" will wrap on Monday, January 26 (8-9 p.m. ET).

On Tuesdays -- from January 6 -- NBC will telecast "The Biggest Loser: Couples" (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10-11 p.m. ET).

Fridays will see the debut of "Howie Do It" -- starring Howie Mandel of NBC's "Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m. ET) -- beginning January 9.

The critically acclaimed "Friday Night Lights" will then return to NBC's Friday-night lineup on January 16 (9-10 p.m. ET).

Will Iron Man’s Realism Clash with The Avengers Universe?

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr addresses his concerns about the announced superhero team-up movie The Avengers in a new interview with MTV:

“If we don’t get it right, it’s really going to suck. It has to be the crowning blow of Marvel’s best and brightest, because it’s the hardest thing to get right. It’s tough to spin all the plates for one of these characters,” Downey tells MTV, later adding: “The danger you run with colliding all these worlds is that Jon was very certain that “Iron Man” should be set in a very realistic way. Nothing that happened in Iron Man is really outside the realm of possibility. Once you start talking about Valhalla and supersized super soldiers and jolly green giants, it warrants much further discussion.”

It’s good to see that Robert has a good grasp on the material. The concerns he has mentioned are the same things that have worried me since the ultimate Marvel team-up movie was first announced. And before comic book fans comment — yes, I am well aware that The Avengers has worked in comic book form for years. I’m currently reading The Ultimates, and it works tremendously. But I think the world that Favreau set-up in the first Iron Man film has very different rules than say the world of The Fantastic Four, or the world that might be introduced in Thor. While the Iron Monger may have been somewhat fantastical, he was still rooted in reality, as is the entire film. It will be interesting to see how Marvel will work this out.

Chris Brown, Kanye West Rule American Music Awards

Chris Brown was the big winner, but it was Kanye West's night at the American Music Awards. Instead of his typical tantrum -- a trend West started four years ago when he lost the favorite new artist prize -- the rapper claimed two trophies last night (Nov. 23) and called on his colleagues to up their game.

"It's our responsibility as musicians to keep pushing each other," West said. "We will be the new Beatles, the new (Jimi) Hendrix. I want to be Elvis."

West was named favorite male rap/hip-hop artist and his latest effort, "Graduation," won favorite rap/hip-hop album.

Brown took the night's top honors -- artist of the year -- as well as favorite male artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. "I was shocked," the 19-year-old crooner said backstage. "I'm so thankful and grateful. I thought Coldplay should have won the award, but I'll take it."

Brown's gal pal, Rihanna -- who wore chains and a leather corset to perform her love ballad, "Rehab" -- was named favorite female artist in both the pop/rock and soul/R&B categories. Alicia Keys was another double winner: Her CD, "As I Am," was both pop/rock and soul/R&B album winner.

The American Music Awards traditionally centers on its performances, and Sunday was no exception. The show featured high-energy sets from Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo and Beyonce, though a pair of lackluster medleys opened the program at the Nokia Theatre. Christina Aguilera channeled Madonna and the New Kids on the Block channeled an earlier version of themselves as each sang their latest singles and greatest hits.

Pink's new track, "Sober," was awkwardly introduced by slurring rocker Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots. Also performing were The Jonas Brothers, the Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay and Annie Lennox, who won the Award of Merit.

"I never thought I would live to see the day that I could be 53 years old standing on a stage," Lennox said as she accepted the trophy from Justin Timberlake. "It's been an incredible journey. Music: my friend, my accompaniment through life."

Other winners included Brad Paisley for favorite country artist, Taylor Swift for favorite female country act, and Rascal Flatts for favorite country favorite band, duo or group.

"I didn't really think that I had a chance at winning," Swift confessed backstage. "I thought, yes, it's good to be nominated, but I honestly didn't think I was going to win this award. I can't believe that I did. I can't believe that the fans did that for me. Everybody on MySpace, they're the reason I am holding this award right now."

Fans chose the winners through online votes.

T-Pain Says It's Time 'For Everybody Else' To Stop Using Auto-Tune

'Diddy actually gave me royalties,' says Pain, who wants similar compensation from other artists using the effect.

At the end of the "Can't Believe It" remix, T-Pain says that Auto-Tune is almost up. What? Why would Pain, whose Thr33 Ringz debuts at #4 on next week's Billboard albums sales chart, extinguish his signature sound now?

"Not for me," Pain clarified, "for everybody else." The singer — who told DJ Skee in a separate interview that artists such as Ron Browz have used the Auto-Tune effect poorly — told MTV News that his biters need to pay up. Hey, if Diddy can collaborate with Pain and pay him for using the Auto-Tune, so can you other guys.

"I gave T-Pain one point on my [upcoming] album for using the Auto-Tune," Diddy revealed on Sunday night during "Total Finale Live."

"Sign the papers," advised Pain, who also worked on his friend Kanye West's 808's & Heartbreak. "Diddy actually gave me royalties on this album just for using Auto-Tune. He signed the contract and everything. If I can do that with Diddy, somebody else better be signing something. It's Diddy. He didn't have to involve me at all. ... I'm writing and producing on his album, and he gave me extra royalties on top of that for using something I just brought back."

Pain said that Diddy's new material is in the lane of his singing-heavy hit "Last Night."

"I gave him eight tracks," Pain said. "Eight songs. I don't how many he's gonna use, but I'll tell you how many I gave him. He's doing a little more singing. He's more like the Euro style. He's keeping it hip-hop but bringing some Euro in it. Very electronica."

Probably the biggest collabo Pain has coming up is more time with Justin Timberlake. JT surprised Pain by sending over vocals for the "Can't Believe It" remix a couple of weeks back.

"He sent it to me, I added what I did to it, and we got a remix now," Pain explained, adding with a gold-toothed grin, "I think that's what he did it for. I think he figured, 'If I do a remix, I can get him on my album.' That's how I got everybody on my album."

"Freeze," with Chris Brown, is the next single from Thr33 Ringz, and while Pain claimed to have beaten C. Breezy a couple of times during in-studio dance battles, he said Ciara — who appears on "Blowing Up" — didn't step into the ring with him.

"She don't dance too much in the studio," the Florida native said, adding that his sessions with CiCi were quick. "We did that song at the same time we did [Ciara's] 'Go Girl,' " Pain said. "She works fast. I work fast. We were working in two separate rooms and met right in the middle. I said, 'I'm done. Here you go.' She said, 'I'm done. Here you go.' "

In December, Pain kicks off the I Am Music Tour with Keyshia Cole, Gym Class Heroes and his pal Lil Wayne.

"It's weird because both of us got that [I Am Music] tattoo without knowing we was gonna get it," Pain said. "He's got it on his forehead; I just got it on my arm. I call it the T-Wayne Tour 'cause it's gonna be a highlight. People been waiting to see that."

Eminem's Relapse: Producer Swizz Beatz Talks About 'Stan, Part 2'; Collaboration With 50 Cent, Dr. Dre

'It's the Eminem that you missed, that you loved, that you need,' producer says of long-awaited album.

Eminem mentioned during the "TRL" finale earlier this month that he's hard at work on his upcoming album Relapse — but he wasn't giving up many details.

However, when we caught up with producer Swizz Beatz, at the Black Ball, Keep a Child Alive's annual fundraiser, in New York earlier this month, he filled in a few blanks for us.

Swizz said he's submitted five songs to Eminem, including one featuring both Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. "I don't know the title yet, but it's classic," he said. "It's sounding big."

Another song Swizz worked on with Em is a track they're referring to as a "Stan Part 2." "You know how 'Stan' ... was the big [song]?" Swizz asked, referring to the obsessed-fan track which sampled Dido's "Thank You." "So I worked on part 2, and I think it was, like, totally genius."

Swizz said that while Eminem has apparently been away from the mic for a long time, he's in good form on Relapse. which, Em said on "TRL," will be out next year, in "probably January, February."

"It's different," Swizz said. "Different sound, different mindframe. He's clear. But it's the Eminem that you missed, that you loved, that you need, especially right now in the industry, going into '09. He's coming back to take the cake."

Swizz said that politically minded songs like "Mosh" are "not really" on the agenda as much as "a lot of personal stuff."

Asked whether that subject matter involved Eminem's rehab stint, the death of his close friend/ D12 member Proof, his second divorce from Kim Scott, or his mom's recent memoir, Swizz laughed and said, "I can't give it away!"

Making a key difference in Em's new mindset, however, is that he has "a lot of people supporting him this time," Swizz said. "I just think you can hear a new energy in him. And, you know, the producers, everyone's bringing forth their best on that level."
On "TRL," Eminem also mentioned that he'd "done probably a hundred songs in the last couple of years," and Swizz said that it's still being decided which tracks will make the final cut.

"How it works: They get a whole bunch of songs," the producer explained, "and it's not over until the budget is closed and the artwork is done. It's just an ongoing thing."

Fountains Of Wayne Get Busy On New Album

It's been a busy year for Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger. After nabbing a nomination for best original score for the songs he co-wrote for the Broadway adaptation of Cry-Baby, he was asked by writing partner David Javerbaum to help pen the lyrics for "A Colbert Christmas Special," which began airing this week on Comedy Central.

Now, things are back in motion for Fountains Of Wayne's next record, which Schlesinger hopes to have out in 2009.

"We still have a ways to go, but we have eight songs that are relatively close to complete now. We're looking to regroup after the New Year and do the second batch," Schlesinger tells Billboard.com. "I think we're trying some different things on this record, but we're still the same band, to me. It's kind of too early to say what direction it's going to as a whole."

Schlesinger's also in the midst of recording with Ivy, originally his main band but overshadowed in recent years by the success of Fountains Of Wayne. "That one's been slow going for many reasons," he reports. "But we have a record that is halfway done as well. Two other members had babies recently."

Fountains Of Wayne will take to the road this winter for a short acoustic tour, which Schlesinger promises will showcase a handful of new tunes.

Steven Seagal's New Show: He's a Shooting Sheriff

Steven Seagal the action-movie star will now be seen as Steven Seagal: Lawman.

A&E has announced production on a new reality series that will focus the mega-action star's 20 years working as a fully-commissioned deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana.

If his under-the-radar law enforcement background was a surprise, know that he's also considered an expert marksman who has worked with Jefferson's SWAT team and has instructed their officers in firearms and hand-to-hand combat. Noted: Reason #1098 not to mess with Steven Seagal.

The show will allow viewers to ride along with Seagal as he and his hand-selected deputies respond to crimes as they happen. We will also be treated to a softer side of Seagal as he goes off-duty. The cameras will continue following him as he pursues his other interests, including musical performances and philanthropic efforts — all within Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.

Senior Vice President of A&E Robert Sharenow says Seagal is a hero both on and off screen and that, "It's such an amazing revelation that this larger-than-life star has been doing real police work for nearly 20 years."

The Under Seige star decided to work with A&E because he wants to shine a positive light on Louisiana. "I believe it's important to show the nation all the positive work being accomplished here in Louisiana — to see the passion and commitment that comes from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in this post-Katrina environment."

No word on when Steven Seagal: Lawman will premiere.

Lionsgate Scores LeBron James Documentary

Variety reports that More Than a Game, a documentary about NBA star LeBron James' high school days in Akron, Ohio, has been sold to Lionsgate in an unusual deal.

The studio, teaming with music notables Harvey Mason Jr. and Interscope Records, plans a fall 2009 release. Lionsgate has world rights.

After a well-received world premiere in Toronto, where James received a five-minute standing ovation and presided over a spirited latenight party and a street dunk contest, the film had been chased by several buyers.

"Game" is being positioned not merely as a record of James' achievements but as a feel-good story of overcoming adversity. It follows the five starters on the varsity team at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, who travel a winding road from a rundown gymnasium to national glory and NBA riches, seeking to remain a tight-knit quintet even as James becomes a megamillionaire.

The film mixes newly unearthed archival footage and family memorabilia with fresh interviews.

Director Kristopher Belman, an Akron native, began the film nine years ago as a thesis project at Loyola Marymount U. He co-wrote (with Brad Hogan) and produced the film along with Mason (producer of the Dreamgirls soundtrack), Matthew Perniciaro and Kevin Mann.