invisioner | Trance producer

With the Oscars in the rearview mirror and the Grammys a distant memory, it's time to get back into the habit of watching what we really love on television: Competition-based reality shows that feature some of our favorite celebrities. The new season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" premieres this Sunday (March 6), and Monday night's (February 28th) episode of "The Bachelor" will feature the unveiling of the cast the next season of "Dancing With the Stars" (which will kick off on Monday, March 21). The cast of "The Celebrity Apprentice" is particularly crazy this year, as it includes the likes of Gary Busey, Meat Loaf, Lil Jon, Mark McGrath, a handful of attractive women and at least one "Real Housewife." It promises to be an incredible series that features some of the most awesome celebrity meltdowns this side of Charlie Sheen.

But the "Dancing With the Stars" cast is always a tougher nut to crack. Nobody can be too crazy, and everybody involved has to be at least halfway convincing as a hoofer. That's why the dozen stars involved in the show always seem to fall into archetypes. There's always an athlete or two, a music star on the off-cycle, an old person, a few reality stars looking to branch out and a handful of wild cards. There are already rumors about who will be on the show, including actress Kirstie Alley (probable), talk show host Wendy Williams (seems like a match), professional wrestler Chris Jericho (possible), former "Full House" star Jodie Sweetin (sure, why not?) and shamed former NFL quarterback Brett Favre (highly unlikely). Assuming one or two of those are actually true, here are the other stars that should strap on the shoes and shake a tailfeather or two.

Diddy
Since "Dancing With the Stars" launched, it seemed like Diddy would be a lock for the show. Not only is he charismatic and game for television adventure, but has also gained a reputation as quite a trendsetter when it comes to dancing. Unfortunately, he is still working to promote the grossly underrated album Last Train to Paris, so it's unlikely he would take time out to do such a show. But then again, what would be better publicity than being on a top-rated TV show twice a week?

Ralph Macchio
We know that the star of "The Karate Kid" can paint fences, wash cars and pull off that killer crane kick, but can he knock out a convincing cha-cha? Macchio has made it clear he wants to stay out of the public eye, but it's been way too long since Daniel-San has been part of our lives.

Ray Lewis
With labor trouble brewing among the NFL team owners and the players' union, it could be an awfully long time before the men of the gridiron get back to the business of hitting each other. What better way to stay in shape than on a show that requires so much intense physical activity? The show usually errs on the side of friendly goofballs (Emmitt Smith, Chad Ochocinco), but drafting the meanest dude in professional football would make for some quality television.

Amber Portwood
The breakout star of MTV's "Teen Mom" really needs another outlet, and "Dancing With the Stars" seems to be a great place for MTV phenoms to flex their new-found fame (such was the case with Audrina Patridge and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino last season). Plus, she seems like she could be a sleeper pick who could make a bit of noise in the competition.

Eliza Dushku
Boyfriend and retired basketball great Rick Fox already competed on the show (and was robbed last season), so why shouldn't Dushku — a beautiful, physical star currently without an outlet — get in on the act? She showed that she has some dancing skills on a notorious episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," so who's to say that she couldn't take the whole thing?

Emilio Estevez
Because now that "Two and a Half Men" is shut down, television needs a Sheen (or in this case an Estevez).

Who would you like to see on this season (or a future season) of "Dancing With the Stars"? Let us know in the comments!

I probably took more than anybody could survive. ... I was bangin' seven-gram rocks and finishing them because that's how I roll, because I have one speed, one gear. [I survived] because I'm me. I'm different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man. Dying's for fools, dying's for amateurs."

-Veteran television actor and tabloid fodder Charlie Sheen, explaining not only his drug use but also how he managed to come out of such drug use alive. In a pair of interviews (one granted to NBC's "Today," the other to ABC's "20/20," part of which aired on Monday morning (February 28th) on "Good Morning America"), Sheen tried to set the record straight about his health, hit current feud with "Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre and the statements he made in the press last week that lead to CBS shutting down the remainder of the season of the top-rated comedy show on television.

In the midst of all of his explanations, he also unleashed some incredible philosophy. "I'm tired of pretending like I'm not special," Sheen said of his position of power on television. "I'm tired of pretending like I'm not bitching, a total fricking rock star from Mars, and people can't figure me out; they can't process me. I don't expect them to. You can't process me with a normal brain." Sheen said that even though he is the most-paid actor on television (earning nearly two million dollars per episode of "Two and a Half Men"), he'll still need more to come back to the program.

Regardless of his current state, Sheen declared that he is not done partying — nor will he ever be. "What's not to love?" he said. "Especially when you see how I party. It was epic. The run I was on made Sinatra, Flynn, Jagger, Richards all of them look like droopy-eyed armless children. ... I am on a drug, it's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available because if you try it once you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body."

At this point, it shouldn't be at all surprising that Lady Gaga has produced yet another visually arresting, jaw-droppingly vivid music video. The clip for "Born This Way" (the first single from the album of the same name) premiered on Monday morning (February 28th), and it's just as incredible as her previous work.

The clip opens with an extended narrative introduction (voiced by Gaga herself) that explains the story of a cosmic birth, a new race and the creation of good and evil. It's perhaps the most vital part of the video, as there are psychedelic colors, the suggestion of space fetuses, lots of severed heads and at least one machine gun.

Once the song starts, things become slightly more conventional (though because it's Gaga, that's a very relative term). Clad in little more than a black bikini, Gaga shuffles and gyrates through the song, moving and writhing among her back-up dancers until they eventually consume her in a sea of bodies. There is also a scene of her dressed in elaborate zombie makeup (think Michael Jackson's "Thriller," but infinitely more complicated — and scary) as well as some images of a unicorn (just for good measure). It's a trippy, colorful, typically Gaga experience, and it will easily stand next to her excellent collection of music videos.

But which of those images will be the one you remember best? Is it the extended introduction, featuring the elaborate "space birth"? Maybe it's the scene of "Evil Gaga" shooting off a machine gun? Is it the "Zombie Gaga" sequence? The severed heads? Or maybe you just really like the unicorn? Whatever you think, vote in the poll below and leave your thoughts about "Born This Way" in the comments!

'I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age,' Portman says as part of her acceptance speech.
By Shawn Adler

Natalie Portman onstage at the 2011 Academy Awards
Photo: AMPAS/ ABC

A visibly nervous and very pregnant Natalie Portman was near tears after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Oscars Sunday night (February 27) for her performance as a ballerina on the verge of a mental breakdown in Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan."

Check out backstage photos of the big Oscar winners.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. This is insane!" the 29-year-old first-time Oscar winner enthused after taking the stage. "I truly and sincerely wish that the prize tonight was to get to work with my fellow nominees."

Although just the second-youngest of her co-nominees, Portman was previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Closer" and has been working with some of the best directors in the business since childhood — and in a rambling speech she nearly managed to thank all of them.

"Luc Besson, who gave me my first job [in 'The Professional']," Portman began. "['Closer' director] Mike Nichols, who has been my hero. And to everyone who's ever hired me!"

"Darren Aronofsky, you are a visionary," she added of her "Black Swan" director. "I am so blessed to have gotten to work for you."

Portman saved her most effusive gratitude, however, for her parents, who were in the audience, and especially for her fiancé Benjamin Millepied, with whom she is having a child.

"I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunity to work from such an early age. My beautiful love, Benjamin, who has now given me my most important role of my life," she gushed. "Most importantly, my family, my friends, and my love, thank you so much."

Check out everything we've got on "Black Swan."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!

• Highlights From The 2011 Oscars

The track, titled 'Miss That Pu---,' will appear on the Chicago R&B singer's upcoming album, King of Hearts.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Lloyd
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

Five years ago, Lloyd scored a hit with "You," a swooning, midtempo track from his sophomore effort, Street Love, that featured Lil Wayne.

For the remix of that tune, the then-Murder Inc. Records artist (Ja Rule, Ashanti) recruited Nas and Outkast's Andre 3000, the latter of whom delivered a poetic verse reminding fans of his MC pedigree.

Now, it looks like Lloyd has locked down both Wayne and Andre again for a track called "Miss That Pu---" that will be featured on his forthcoming album, King of Hearts.

"I liked the way it used to be," the R&B singer told Vibe magazine about the theme of the racy tongue-in-cheek number, for which his guest rappers have yet to deliver their verses.

King of Hearts, which is due out April 19, will be Lloyd's first album since he signed a deal with Interscope Records.

Lloyd, who is working closely with producer Polow Da Don (Fergie, Usher, Keri Hilson) on the project, has gone on record saying that they are making music that's comparable to some of the greatest producer/singer combinations of all time.

"In my opinion, and this is a bold statement, but it's like Michael [Jackson] and Quincy [Jones], it's like Justin [Timberlake] and Timbaland, Usher and Jermaine [Dupri]," Lloyd told MTV News last year. "It's that consistency that you can only find from really finding the right chemistry with the right person. As an artist, I can speak for everyone when I say chemistry is a big, big part of success."

• Lloyd
• Lil Wayne
• OutKast
• Andre 3000