Pepsi Buys Branding Rights to MTV Award

A prosthetic one, at least

(NEWSER) - You already knew Lady Gaga’s dedication to her drag performance at the VMAs was so intense that she didn’t drop character, even backstage . But apparently it was even more intense than we all presumed: so much so that she wore a prosthetic penis, which Us cutely refers to as a “little monster in her pants,” during the award show. More details: Gaga, AKA Jo Calderone, was sporting Armani men’s undies and fake stubble. Click to find out who she may have copied her routine from . More»

But not everyone loves 'Jo Calderone'

(NEWSER) - Clearly, Beyonce’s little announcement stole the show last night at the MTV Video Music Awards. But coming in as a close second was Lady Gaga, who spent the entire evening in character as her male alter ego, “Jo Calderone.” The drag performance “got off to a rocky start,” but improved dramatically and “was actually quite something” once the music got going, Willa Paskin writes in New York . (Though "not as 'something' as the audience's 'huh?' reaction shots," she quips.) More»

Adam Levine thinks MTV has abandoned its original mission

(NEWSER) - Apparently Adam Levine never got the memo about how if you don't have anything nice to say about MTV having forsaken its original intent, at least don't tweet it for all the world to see: "(T)he VMA's. one day a year when MTV pretends to still care about music. I'm drawing a line in the sand. f*ck you VMA's," Levine tweeted last night. And the Maroon 5 frontman, who moonlights as a judge on The Voice, wasn't about to apologize, either, notes the Huffington Post. "(S)till waiting to have my 'jerry macguire mission statement moment of deep regret...' not happening. phew!" More»

Salon offers up a mid-year list

(NEWSER) - Now that we're more than halfway through 2011, the Salon staff compiled the best books, movies, music, and TV of the year so far. Among its recommendations:

• Film: Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life is quite good—but Lee Chang-dong's Poetry, about a 66-year-old woman who may have Alzheimer's, is a masterpiece. Another surprising inclusion: Matthew McConaughey-vehicle The Lincoln Lawyer, directed by Brad Furman.
• Books: You'd never know The Pale King, David Foster Wallace's third and last novel, was actually unfinished at the time of his death and pieced together by his longtime editor. Also worth checking out: novelist Andre Dubus III's memoir, Townie.

'Late Night' host beats out team of Justin Timberlake and Amdy Samberg

(NEWSER) - Jimmy Fallon will host the Aug. 29 Emmy Awards telecast, which not coincidentally will air on NBC. The announcement is no surprise—predecessor Conan O'Brien did the honors in 2002 and 2006—but the identity of the runners-up for the gig may be, the Los Angeles Times reports. Justin Timberlake and Saturday Night Live star Andy Samberg, who shared an Emmy for "Dick in a Box" in 2008, got a serious look. More»