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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Britney, Demi, Miley, Avril? We Rate Potential 'X Factor' Judges!

With Simon Cowell rumored to be courting a raft of pop princesses for season two, we grade the judges-to-be.
By James Montgomery

By now, we're all aware that Simon Cowell is reloading. After largely firing blanks on the first season of "The X Factor," he cleared the chamber — casting off <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger</a> (not to mention host Steve Jones) — and is now in the process of lining up a collection of high-profile, hollow-point replacements with which to take down the competition.Of course, just who Cowell ends up nabbing seems to be a matter of some speculation: His <a href="/news/articles/1682881/britney-spears-x-factor-deal.jhtml">$15 million deal with Britney Spears</a> appeared to be a near certainty, but in the weeks since it was first reported, there's been no movement. And now come rumors that he's courting the likes of <a href="/news/articles/1684289/demi-lovato-x-factor-judge-miley-cyrus.jhtml">Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne</a> to join the "X Factor" team. Are those names just part of a shrewd ploy from Cowell to get Spears to relent on her reported contract demands and insistences on "various perks"? Or is he truly determined to assemble an all-star lineup for the "Factor"? Really, your guess is as good as ours.<center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:632232/cp~vid%3D632232%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A632232" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center>Needless to say, we're not sure who will be joining the "X Factor" panel when the show returns later this year (though we suspect Fox may shed some light on the matter at an upfront event for ad buyers on May 14). So, in the meantime, we're just going to take a look at all of the potential judges, comparing their strengths and weaknesses in an attempt to help Cowell put together a potential Murderer's Row. Because we want the "X Factor" to succeed ... lord knows we don't have enough singing competitions on TV at the moment.Here's our no-holds-barred scouting report for each of the "X Factor" hopefuls:<big>Britney Spears</big> Strengths: Spears would instantly become the most famous judge on any U.S. singing competition (sorry Xtina!), therefore automatically raising the profile of a show in desperate need of a good boost. It's the rare combination of both a "career" and a "contemporary" artist, giving the show an answer to "Idol" 's Steven Tyler/ J. Lo combination and the four-headed monster of Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo and Blake Shelton on "The Voice." As a bonus, she would also fill the "rambling" slot vacated by Abdul, not to mention the "thousand-mile stare" void left when Scherzinger got the boot.Weaknesses: <link type="content" id="1579025">It's Britney: Live TV may not exactly suit her.<big>Demi Lovato</big> Strengths: At just 19 years old, Lovato would give Cowell an in-road to the younger, Disney-fied demographic he so desperately craves. Can definitely sing (check her terrific tear-jerker <link type="content" id="1667271">"Skyscraper"</link> for proof), which automatically puts her ahead of something like 90 percent of her singing-competition contemporaries. Has the kind of <a href="/news/articles/1651297/demi-lovato-enters-treatment-center-leaves-tour.jhtml">harrowing backstory</a> that would automatically shut down any hard-luck contestants looking for a few pity points.Weaknesses: Older viewers might confuse her with Selena Gomez. Could also forget where she is, accidentally reenact that one episode of "Sonny with a Chance" when she's framed for stealing a necklace and subsequently fires a cheese cannon.<big>Miley Cyrus</big> Strengths: An established star (with a <a href="/news/articles/1653979/miley-cyrus-caught-smoking-from-bong-on-video.jhtml">slightly checkered past</a>), which would give "X Factor" the kind of constant tabloid attention it failed to generate in season one. Has proven on songs like "The Climb" and her recent cover of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" that she's actually got a great voice, which, like Lovato, puts her in rarefied air. Could also use the show as a way of launching the next phase of her career, which would be mutually beneficial and might just spawn something like the certified "Voice" smash "Moves Like Jagger."Weaknesses: May currently be better known for her paparazzi coverage than her actual music. Might take another hit of salvia and confuse every male contestant with Liam.<big>Avril Lavigne</big> Strengths: Has been at it for a while now, has more genuine hits than anyone except Spears. She's also got <a href="/news/articles/1620572/avril-lavigne-guest-judge-idol-la.jhtml">previous judging experience</a> and seems to be genuinely concerned with her artistic integrity. And although her Goodbye Lullaby album didn't match the commercial heights of her previous efforts, you can't fault her for aiming high.Weaknesses: Preternaturally appears to be 14 years old. May always wear a hoodie during shows. Is constantly making the "sucking a lemon" face. Doesn't exactly strike us as a people person.Sound off with your picks for "X Factor" judges in the comments below!<a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1617615"><img src="http://www.mtv.com/news/photos/s/spotted/banner/spotted.jpg"></a>

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Signs of slowing economy drive S&P down in April

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 posted its first monthly decline since November on Monday, as stocks slipped on signs the U.S. economy may be slowing and as a recession in Spain highlighted risks in the euro zone.

Despite Monday's decline, the picture was not overwhelmingly negative. The S&P closed out April with a decline of 0.8 percent, after four straight days of gains last week helped the index pare much steeper losses for the month.

Still, a recent string of economic data suggests the economy may slow in the summer months and has caused the market to stall just shy of the four-year highs reached earlier in the month. A much sharper-than-expected decline in Midwestern business activity in April reported on Monday by an industry group was the latest evidence of a slowdown.

"We had such a strong first quarter, and we've lost that momentum in the last two weeks," said Jake Dollarhide, chief executive at Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The data "reinforces the ominous tone on Wall Street, along with the fears we have about Europe."

Composite trading volume was among the lightest of the year at 6.1 billion on Monday compared with a daily average of this year of around 6.8 billion. The CBOE volatility index, or VIX, climbed 5.1 percent, after earlier hitting its highest level in more than a week.

Spain on Monday reported its economy contracted in the first quarter, dragging the country into recession as deep government spending cuts to reduce a massive deficit and troubles in the banking sector likely delayed any return to growth. Though expected, the news highlighted the serious headwinds the world economy faces.

Banks were among the top decliners on Wall Street after Standard & Poor's cut the credit ratings of 11 Spanish banks on Monday, following its downgrade of Spain last week.

The S&P 500 financial sector index fell 0.6 percent while Bank of America Corp dropped 1.7 percent to $8.11. Shares of Spanish bank Santander traded in New York fell 2.2 percent to $6.33 and are down 16 percent this year.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 14.68 points, or 0.11 percent, to 13,213.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 5.45 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,397.91. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 22.84 points, or 0.74 percent, to 3,046.36.

The S&P 500's 0.8 percent decline for April was a comeback from earlier in the month when worries over Europe and the U.S. economy sent it down more than 4 percent for the month.

Many investors are still worried about the potential for a pullback heading into the seasonally weak period for stocks that starts in May, especially if it is accompanied by a slowing economy and more problems in Europe.

"In equities, we stepped back to neutral several weeks ago," said Goldman Sachs in a research note. "Our general view is that the U.S. seems to be slowing - though how much and for how long is an open question - while equity market domestic growth views remain elevated."

Defensive sectors were the best performers in April. The telecom sector rose 3.6 percent for the month, while financials fell 1.9 percent.

Shares of Monster Beverage Corp jumped as much as 28 percent on Monday after The Wall Street Journal reported Coca-Cola Co is in talks to buy the energy drink maker, but the shares closed 0.8 percent lower after a denial from Coca-Cola.

In earnings news, Humana Inc declined 8.1 percent to $80.68 after the company, one of the largest providers of Medicare insurance for the elderly, posted a 21 percent drop in profit. The Morgan Stanley healthcare payor index declined 1.9 percent.

Exchange operator NYSE Euronext reported its quarterly profit fell by almost one-third due to a difficult trading environment and costs from its failed merger with Deutsche Boerse. Its shares fell 4.9 percent to

$25.75.

According to Thomson Reuters data through Monday morning, of the 297 S&P 500 companies that have reported quarterly results so far, 72 percent topped estimates. A strong earnings season helped lift the benchmark S&P index to its best week since mid-March last week.

Shares in Apple gave back some of their post-earnings pop, falling 3.2 percent to $583.98. Last week the shares jumped 9 percent after the company blew away Wall Street earnings estimates.

On the positive side of Monday's earnings, shares of Sunoco Inc jumped 20.5 percent to $49.29 after pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners LP said it would buy the company for $5.35 billion in stock and cash.

Barnes & Noble Inc surged 52 percent to $20.75 after Microsoft Corp agreed to invest $300 million in the bookseller's digital and college operations. The deal values the Nook and textbook businesses at $1.7 billion.

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Zoe Saldana Might "Buy Herself" Boobs One Day

Zoe Saldana has a lithe dancer's body, but the actress can imagine a day she might covet a more buxom figure.

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New Dark Knight Rises Trailer: A Bleak Vision For Batman

Step aside, Avengers. A new trailer for The Dark Knight Rises has been released, painting a bleak portrait of a crumbling Gotham City consumed by utter anarchy.

The new trailer offers an extended glimpse of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, as well as a new Batwing contraption that comes in the form a flying pod of sorts.

Christian Bale is back as Bruce Wayne/Batman, with Tom Hardy as the villain Bane, in what will mark the final chapter in Christopher Nolan's epic Batman trilogy.

Take a look at the stark trailer for the follow-up to The Dark Knight below:

The Dark Knight Rises Movie Trailer

The Dark Knight Rises also stars A-listers Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon.

Arriving in theaters July 20, the film will receive a major marketing boost as the new trailer above will be attached to The Avengers premiere this weekend.

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