So close Britney, so close.

Most people mess up Ke$ha’s name with the old K-dollar-sign-Ha, but Britney Spears completely butchered it in her own unique way on The X-Factor last night. It was in response to CeCe Frey’s performance of Irene Cara’s “Out Here On My Own.” Burn to Ke$ha, but we respect Britney Spears’ ability to distance herself for so long.

Watch it here

CeCe’s performance Read more…

The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report’s Stephen Colbert revealed the origins of their long-standing relationship on Jimmy Kimmel. Little did I know, they met on JDate where Colbert was “trolling for Jews.” Now they live together and commute to work everyday on a tandem bicycle.

If only this was true. The story of how they actually met is no less fascinating. Colbert trolled Stewart’s press conference, when he first got selected to host The Daily Show. Colbert decided to cover The Daily Show’s event (even though he already worked there) and asked Stewart if his chance to host one day was now completely squashed.

The two late night hosts also talked about voting in the upcoming presidential elections and Hurricane Sandy. Watch the rest of the segments below. The entire first segment (after the jump) is devoted to their epic entrance.

Colbert and Stewart talk about their first meeting

Watch the whole segment below: 

Part One

Part Three

Part Four

By Jessica Galang and Brittany Mahaney

Khloe Kardashian made her prime time hosting debut last night along with Mario Lopez and the Twitter community was pretty impressed. Every performer put their own personal spin on popular songs which made for a lively Halloween show.

Jessica’s choices

“Hey Soul Sister” Diamond White 

Diamond put a fun and playful hip-hop spin on a song that’s fairly mellow and simple. Her performance was upbeat, and despite the high-energy of the dancers and stage, her voice didn’t waver and she was solid the whole way through. You could tell Britney Spears was her judge considering the high production value.

“Won’t Give Up On Us” — Beatrice Miller

Her stage setup, which included a dark background lit by comets and stars, contributed to the haunting ambience of the song. She used the “fragility in her voice,” as her mentor Britney called it, to her advantage and allowed the audience to feel the pain in the song. LA said the key to stardom is “believability, and I believe in you, I love you!”

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” — 1432 Read more…

When a dungeon master (Keegan-Michael Key) invites his money-obsessed cousin Tyrell (Jordan Peele) to play Dungeons & Dragons, he has no idea how his two friends will react to the unpredictable influence. Turns out Tyrell is attracted to the wilder side of Isildur.

Tyrell decides to be a giant named Kanye whose single mission is to find bitches and party rather than go on a quest to the land of Kandahar. ”Where da club at at Isildur yo?” Kanye Tyrell asks his frustrated cousin. Tyrell’s philosophy is that the only gods are “money and bitches yo.” He forsakes his mission to pimp out in Isildur’s one and only SUV.

The hilarious Peter Atencio-directed clip is part of the Comedy Central series “Key & Peele.”

Watch it here

Midtown was a ghost town last night during Hurricane Sandy but Jimmy Fallon decided to tape Late Night, anyway. He even promised all the audience members a free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream if they showed up in the rain. Unfortunately they had to send audience members home before the show because of safety concerns, but Fallon still managed to find a sweet lineup of guests, including Padma Lakshmi, Flight director Robert Zemeckis and the band Imagine Dragons.

His opening monologue was pretty awkward because there was no laughter to fill the gaps of silence, but that kind of made the whole thing more hilarious. It’s pretty impressive that his crew continued despite the shoddy circumstances. I’m sure there was tons of laughter at home!

Watch it here

Paige Thomas always wanted to be a singer. When she was eight years old she performed a Spice Girls song at a beauty pageant, and ever since then, she knew singing was what she wanted to do. Although she began pursuing a nursing degree to provide for her three-year old daughter Jade, she never gave up on her dream.

After a teary audition where she sang Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down,” Paige has continued to impress the audience and judges, including her mentor Demi Lovato. Now, she’s ready to show everyone that she is not “Ri Ri 2.0.” She is Paige Thomas and she is going up.

Where are you right now? I’m in California.

Where would you be right now if you weren’t on X-Factor?  I would probably be back home in San Antonio in school, or with my daughter.

On being compared to Rihanna: It’s nice. She is beautiful and she is one of the biggest stars right now. It’s nice to be compared to someone so big. But I’m ready to break out from that: my name is Paige Thomas and I have something different from her. I have a few surprises in store for everyone.

Song you can perform 100 times? “Paradise” by Coldplay. It has a lot of meaning — it’s still got a pop vibe in it, but you can hear the emotional attachment.

Most nerve-racking moment? Honestly, it was if I made it to the live shows. The anticipation and everything I’d gone through on my journey had built up inside me.

I don’t know what’s more surprising, that Taylor Swift “found out” about earwigs (didn’t she spend time outdoors as a kid?) or that she was convinced the little critters crawl in your ears and eat your brain with their pinchers.

Everyone knows the most effective way to rid themselves of their fears is to get the bejeezus scared out of them. So Ellen had one of her crew members dress up as a giant earwig to scare the Red singer.

Taylor shrieked after the earwig snuck up behind her, but quickly tried to change the subject. Poor Taylor can’t catch a break on the Ellen show! Every time she bucks up the courage to go in for an interview, Ellen does something to scare her and it seems like she gets angrier each time. Check out the compilation (second video) of her getting scared four times.

Earwig scare

Taylor scare compilation  Read more…

In preparation for his show in Brooklyn next week (his hometown), Jimmy Kimmel decided to visit his old elementary school with his Truth Fairy Guillermo and terrorize little kids, as he’s apt to do.

Kimmel and the Truth Fairy chose a seven-year-old boy named Marcus, who agreed to participate in their very scientific lie detector test (don’t do it Marcus!). The test involved putting an upside down pasta strainer on Marcus’ head and every time the kid “lied” the buzzer would go off.

What dirt did we learn about Marcus? He doesn’t like homework. He doesn’t mind showering with guys. And his password is FIRE. Poor kid is never going to live this one down…

This isn’t the first lie detector test Kimmel has given to kids. A while back he hooked a different seven-year-old named Blake up to the same test.

Watch it here

Ellen Degeneres showcased the type of ingenius children’s Halloween costumes that parents make their kids wear, despite their six-year-olds adamancy to be a Powerpuff Girl again. Even though the kids don’t usually understand the costume their parents made them wear, in the end, it’s all about the candy.

Ellen showcased some adorable costumes that were both timely and relevant to both politics and pop culture. Check out some of my faves and the video below.

Clint Eastwood and the invisible chair

50 Shades of Grey

Watch it here:

Tom Hanks performed the most badass slam poem about the 90s television show Full House on Jimmy Fallon. His smooth talking spoken word monologue about the Tanner residence is probably the most insightful thing you’ll hear all morning and will fill you with welcome nostalgia.

While Hanks’ black turtleneck and pants make the whole thing legit, his moustache adds a certain dignity to his retelling of DJ Tanner calling a radio station for free concert tickets. He goes on to the climax of the poem: “This house full of men. This full house of men.” That’s deep man, real deep [snaps fingers].

Watch it here: 

You wouldn’t tell from looking at Fergie now, but in 2001 she was broke and addicted to crystal meth.  “I got into a scene,” she says in a clip from Oprah’s Next Chapter. “I started going out and taking ecstasy. From ecstasy it went to crystal meth. With any drugs, everything is great at the beginning, and then slowly your life starts to spiral down.”

She hit rock bottom after her girl group Wild Orchid was dropped from their record label and was living in an alternate reality. One day, she hid in a church because she was convinced the FBI was following her. There, she made a deal with herself: if she went outside and there was no major conspiracy afoot, she knew it was the effect of the drugs. When she bucked up the courage to go outside and realized it was all paranoia, she followed through on her promise. She started therapy, did a lot of soul searching and quit after a year of drug abuse.

Her journey makes her rise to multiplatinum recording artist with the Black Eyed Peas even more inspiring. We haven’t seen her for a little while because she’s been taking a break to have kids with hubby Josh Duhamel, but you’ll be able to see her on Oct. 28, at 10 pm on OWN’s Oprah Next Chapter. 

While Halloween can be a joy for some, it’s a stressful time of year for others. As if the slasher films depicting gruesome murders and monsters wasn’t enough to keep you up at night, there’s also the stress of finding a unique Halloween costume in a sea of sexy kittens and pin up girls.

If you need some inspiration, watch this mashup of popular television characters decked out in costumes ranging from sexy Mother Teresa to the Doppler effect. While some of them are just lame (Ross as sputnik?) you gotta love the Wilson Phillips costume. Anyone?

Watch it here:

The other day, Jimmy Kimmel pranked streeters on Hollywood Boulevard by asking them who won last night’s presidential debate? The thing was, there was no presidential debate the night before they were asked the question. It’s amazing what people will come up with in the name of loyalty! Everyone wants to weigh in on things, even if they have no idea what they’re talking about.

To make it even more ridiculous, Kimmel’s team asked random streeters who won the non-existant “First Lady Debate?” Hilarity ensues. And, it turns out one of the guys who made up a load of BS was sitting right in the audience!

Watch it here:

Emblem3 already has a solid group of fangirls obsessing over them and it’s not hard to understand why. They’re pretty charming over the phone, asking me where I’m from (Canada), if I’ve ever been to Banff (No), and joking about when we should all meet up (next time you’re in Toronto gents, *wink).

It’s hardly worth mentioning that the Huntington Beach band has been compared to X-Factor  veterans One Direction, since their sounds are completely different. While One Direction is a boy band, Emblem 3 is a trio who play their own instruments. A common description of Emblem3: ”Its like Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz had a baby and Lil Wayne was baby sitting.”

The guys, consisting of Wesley Stromberg, Keaton Stromberg and Drew Chadwick, performed an original song called “Sunset Boulevard” during their audition. They’re currently being mentored by Simon Cowell, and waiting to see if they made it to the finals.

Where are you right now?
Wesley: Huntington Beach at a kitchen table. The crib!

What sets you apart?
Wesley: We were established as a group before and were literally  playing shows in clubs at ages 9, 11 and 13. It’s a little bit of a leg up. [They recorded an album in their basement called Bite Your Lip and Take It.]
Keaton: A lot of the other people don’t have that same experience of performing before this so when they go on that stage it makes them more nervous.

You’re already getting fangirls. How do you deal?
Drew: Some of these girls are like teeny boppers and they say the most adorable, cute sh*t all the time on Twitter and I literally want to hang out with them and watch movies and stuff!

Biggest musical influences:
All: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, Mac Miller, Jack Johnson, Young the Giant. An eclectic mix.

Two of you are brothers. Do you get in sibling rivalries?
Drew: We get along but we butt heads over little things because we’re together every single day. But it’s cool for improving each other because we can be a bit competitive.

Toughest Judge
All: Britney Spears.

Last song performed: ”Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by Police

It’s charming to chat with a young singer like Diamond White, who’s insanely talented but still has all the quirks and refreshing positivity of a 13-year-old. Although she’s young, she can still devour mature songs like “It’s a Man’s World,” which she sang at her San Francisco audition. It helps that Diamond starred in a production of “The Color Purple” when she was eight and appeared on an episode of Maury Povich celebrating talented children.

Luckily, she can still hold up a solid conversation about Justin Bieber and Glee, two of her current obsessions (not to mention, mine too). Diamond just performed for her mentor Britney Spears, who’s deciding if she’ll make it to the finals.

Where are you right now? I’m in LA, just sitting down and talking to you!

If you didn’t audition for The X-Factor, what would you be doing today? I’m home schooled so I’d just be crafting a lot, making jewelry and living the regular life. I wouldn’t be busy but X Factor fills your days up with rehearsing.

What do you want your album to sound like? I would like to make hip hop with a twist — to make my own unique sound in pop and mix it with my Detroit background.

If we went in your room, who would we see posters of? I make my own posters of celebrities! But if I bought them then probably Justin Bieber or Glee.

The Wanted or One Direction? One Direction!!

Song you can perform 100 times “And I’m telling you” by Jennifer Holiday.

Toughest judge Britney Spears

Guilty Pleasure Ice cream and Lays chips.

Last song performed, “I’m With You” by Avril Lavigne

Over the next two days ANDPOP will be rolling out Q&As with some of our fave contestants on The X-Factor. The other day, we talked with Willie Jones, a small town country musician who is talented, unique and constantly surprising. Do you think he has what it takes?  

I hear people in the background as I’m talking to 18-year-old country singer Willie Jones and he tells them to hush. “I’m doing an interview!” he says. Then he apologizes profusely in that polite way that’s characteristic of  Southern gentlemen, explaining that he’s hanging out with relatives (of course it’s okay!).

It’s clear Willie has a tight relationship with his fam — they drove 14 hours to get him to his first audition in Greensboro. There, he threw the judges off with his unique Fresh Prince of Bel-Air style and impressed them with his rendition of Josh Turner’s “Your Man. He’s currently fighting for a spot in the finals with mentor Demi Lovato.

Where are you right now? Leaving my cousin’s college at Northwestern State.

What would you be doing if you didn’t audition? Studying musical theatre in Louisiana. I was really into community theatre and performed in a couple school plays.

What would your album sound like? I would love to do country but with my own little R&B spin on it. So far, I think I’m doing a good job!

Who would you love to do a duet with? Beyonce and Josh Turner of course! I can perform Josh Turner’s “Your Man,” 100 times. I’m a big Taylor Swift fan and I also love Kanye.

What was the most nerve-racking experience so far? During Boot camp we did a round with duets and that was really nerve-racking because it was the last time the judges would see us before eliminations.

Pre-stage ritual I always pray before I perform and talk to my family because they keep me encouraged

Toughest judge Demi and Britney.

Guilty pleasure Sour Gummy Worms.

Last song performed “Nobody Knows It But Me” by Tony Rich

Fandemonium  Read more…

Over the next two days ANDPOP will be rolling out Q&As with some of our fave contestants on The X-Factor. Yesterday, we talked with CeCe Frey, a small town mail clerk who says she wants to sing as badly as she wants to breathe. CeCe is currently in the judges’ homes stage with mentor Demi Lovato, do you think she has what it takes? 

Twenty-year-old CeCe Frey already has a trademark look to inspire her fans. The leopard print she wears on her face and legs is akin to warrior paint, inspiring an alter ego on stage.

Her confident attitude rubbed some viewers the wrong way during her audition in Kansas City, but after talking with mentor Demi Lovato during the judges’ homes phase, she had a change of heart. “When Demi told me I was coming across unlikeable it broke my heart” she said. “I tried to come off as a strong unbreakable person and while that is me in a sense, it was also pushing people away from me.”

CeCe sang Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man” during her first audition and the judges were impressed with her star attitude — Demi even admitted she had a girl crush. Whether or not you’re a fan, CeCe has a strong drive and deep connection with her fans, who admire her survivor attitude.

Last song performed LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It”

Where are you right now? I’m driving my old beat up pickup through my hometown. It’s nice to see my family and the leaves are changing colour here. It’s beautiful!

Describe a normal day before The X-Factor I got up really early and I’d do CrossFit before work. I’d work all day, then I’d go to class at night, at a local college. It was a busy day, but not very exciting.

Where did the leopard print idea come from? I can’t even remember the day I started doing it. I went through different things in my life that really affected my emotional strength — things that really tried to take the dream away from me. I was doing these shows and just said: “You know what? I’m going to paint my face.” When I paint my face or legs it’s like an alter ego that comes out. It’s an empowering thing and I feel like nobody can mess with me.

Do you think you’ve been represented fairly?  Read more…

Australia’s Beauty and the Geek is back for its fourth season but there’s only 39 seconds you really need to see to get the gist of the entire show. It goes like this: A cute geek makes an obscure reference to chemistry and the girl smiles and nods, only to look at a fellow “beauty” and ask “WTF is he talking about?” later.

In one challenge, the guys were asked to unleash their inner James Bond. Instead, one of the geeks decided to unleash his inner COVALENT BOND. If you didn’t know (which I sure as hell didn’t) a covalent bond is a chemical bond that involves the sharing of pairs of electrons between atoms. The stable balance of attractive and repulsive forces between atoms… blah blah blah.

The whole point is, geeks are obnoxiously adorable, especially when they manage to take the sexiest thing on earth (James Bond) and turn it into SCIENCE.

Watch it here:

I can’t stand watching TLC’s Here Comes Honey Boo Boo but I promise, it’s actually bearable when Christopher Walken reads it. In one of his best performances in recent history, he and fellow Seven Psychopaths actor Sam Rockwell interpret one of the scenes where Honey Boo Boo and her mom serve spaghetti and ketchup for dinner — otherwise known as sketti. Yum.

Colin Farrell looks on as the director, originally skeptical, though you can tell he becomes a true believer by the end. In fact, he’s eventually cast in the next scene and shows off a questionable Southern accent.

Watch it here:

Jimmy Kimmel pranks his fair share of kids — which is totally cruel and all — but at least he balances it out by prying into their psyche and letting them speak their mind about a traditionally more mature topic: politics. He sat down with four kids and asked them all about the presidential debate and whether Barack Obama could take Mitt Romney in a physical confrontation.

A few interesting things came out of their conversation, including the role of cotton candy and chocolate in the White House (which might have to be painted over because girls don’t like that colour) and the president’s steep salary ($350-ish a week).

Their naivete is really endearing and some of them actually make some really interesting points. However, I think the guys were a little harsh on women as presidents — we do win most of the marital household fights anyway.

Watch it here: