Studies consistently demonstrate that physical appearance does matter and that people intuitively equate beauty with concepts like good-better, smart-successful and important-valuable.  Consider these fourteen beautiful facts:

On measures of affect and mood, physically attractive people score higher than less physically attractive people.

People perceive physically attractive people as smarter, more successful, more sociable, more dominant, sexually warmer, mentally healthier and higher in self-esteem than their physically unattractive counterparts. While this “beauty is good” effect is moderately strong22, studies show that attractive people are neither more nor less intelligent than less attractive people.

Physically attractive people are more relaxed and socially adept and less socially anxious and lonely than less physically attractive people.

We prefer to interact with people who are physically attractive28. For instance, physically attractive people are generally liked more than less physically attractive people13 and they have greater social popularity.

We are more likely to divulge personal information about ourselves to physically attractive people than we are to divulge less physically attractive people.

We are more likely to help a physically attractive person than we are a physically unattractive person.

If we are presented with a group of people and asked to use non-physical cues to identify who has psychopathology, we are more likely identify physically unattractive people as we are to identify more physically attractive people.

Physically attractive people with psychological disturbance are judged to be more maladjusted and to have a poorer prognosis than less physically attractive people with the same psychological disturbance.

A physically attractive person charged with the same crime as a less attractive person is more likely to be found not guilty of that crime.

In court cases in which the crime is sex-related, physically unattractive defendants are considered to be more dangerous than better-looking offenders.

This effect is often independent of the actual grooming or attire of the defendant.

Physically attractive individuals found guilty of a particular crime are more likely to receive more lenient sentences than less attractive defendants.

We are more drawn towards physically attractive strangers than to unattractive strangers of either sex10.  For example, on a passenger train service in the UK, people avoided sitting next to people with physical deformities.

Good-looking faces trigger the same kinds of brain networks that are activated when people become addicted to cocaine and gambling.

There appears to be a universal, cross-cultural undesirability for people with facial disfigurements and other flaws. Even babies seem to prefer physically attractive faces to physically unattractive ones.

The natural tendency to ascribe all sorts of positive traits to beautiful people also means that we give them more breaks in life.  This is nowhere more pronounced than in human resources.  Physically attractive job candidates whose qualifications are similar to those of less attractive candidates are more likely to be hired for the same job.  This effect is particularly pronounced when the job application is of average quality. If the application is exceptional, physical attractiveness plays less of a role in the selection process.  The preference for physical attractiveness is often independent of actual grooming; the hiring bias occurs even against physically unattractive candidates who are well groomed.

Physical attractiveness bias does not end in the interview room.  Compared with their less attractive counterparts, physically attractive workers earn more money.  In fact, one study found that employees above-average in looks earn 5% more than average-looking employees, whereas employees below-average in looks earn about 7-9% less than average-looking employees.  In other research, it was discovered that men of above average height earn about 6% more than men of average height, whereas men below-average in height experience a penalty of about -4%.  There was also a significant penalty of about -5% for obese women (but not men).

Not only does the beauty premium benefit attractive employees, it also can benefit employers.  Researchers looked at advertising agencies and found that firms whose executives are good-looking have higher revenues and faster growth than similar firms whose executives are not attractive.  When it comes to persuasion, beautiful people also have a definite advantage.  They are more likely to be successful in changing other people’s attitudes and in getting what they want.  Good-looking people even get money when they ask for it!  When solicited for charitable donations, the more attractive the solicitor, the more money they get51. To be sure, physically attractive people are more likely to be successful in changing other people’s attitudes and in getting what they want generally as well.

The Darker Side of Beauty

The sections above underscore the prevalence of a physical attractiveness bias.  However, reactions to beauty can be so psychologically potent that they lead to interpersonal tension and conflict.  For example, individuals who are unusually physically attractive are often at a disadvantage, because people attribute greater negative and egocentric traits to them. Moreover, extremely attractive individuals experience unwanted sexual advances and members of their own sex typically resent them.  In fact, attractive people often are unsure of whether others like them for their appearance or for their inner qualities.  They are also more likely to rely on their looks than on their other attributes.  Furthermore, there is a negative correlation between physical attractiveness and honesty and concern for other.

The Anatomy of Physical Attractiveness

The double standard on physical attractiveness reveals that we do not assess people and situations in fair and objective ways.  What complicates matters is that we often have specific criteria for what qualifies as “physically attractive, yet we are frequently willing to dismiss or modify those criteria in specific situations.    The following sections explore the nature of physical attractiveness by providing three additional lists.  The features in the first list — Physical Features — are the foundation of “attractiveness” in general, and physical attractiveness specifically.  Few of us would consider the qualities in this list to be unattractive.  Most of us are drawn to these physical features, if only because they are the first thing we perceive when we first encounter someone, and we argue here that they account for the largest proportion of our physical attraction to people.

However, the factors in the second and third lists — Situational and Intra-individual Factors — often cause us to evaluate the features in the first list in a new ways.  In fact, these factors make it impossible to conclude that two people with the exact same physical features are even moderately similar in terms of their over all physical attractiveness.

The following situational factors are also influential in determining what a person considers physically attractive.  As you will see, these factors make it clear that physical attractiveness is a very fluid construct, making it impossible to conclude that two individuals with identical physical features are even moderately similar to each other in perceived physical attractiveness.  Indeed, our preferences for looks often depend on more than just what is right in front of our eyes.

We find people who are familiar to us to be more physically attractive than those who are not familiar to us.  Familiar people seem “safe” and we cannot help but develop some degree of physical attraction towards such people.  From an evolutionary sense, it is highly adaptive to form relationships with people with whom we feel safe, as opposed to people with whom we feel anxious, apprehensive or in danger.

People who are in close proximity to us are more physically attractive to us than those who are not in close proximity.  Research shows that merely being in the same general vicinity as another person can increase our over all liking for that person.  The longer that two people are in close proximity, the greater the chance that they will end up liking each other.  This classic principle is called the “mere exposure” effect74,75.  In some cases, the mere exposure effect may extend to physical attractiveness.  The longer we are exposed to someone, the more likely we will come to find him or her physically attractive.  This is especially true if we really like the individual’s personality traits or if we like the person as a friend.

Related to the above, people who are in our immediate focus of attention tend to
be perceived as more physically attractive than those not in our immediate focus.

People who are similar to us in terms of our personal characteristics and attitudes are often seen as more physically attractive as people who are dissimilar to us.

Beauty in Business

It is important to note that the principle of similarity (“birds of a feather flock together”) in romantic relationships is an oversimplification.  The degree of similarity observed actually depends on the particular individual-difference domain studied, with romantic partners showing strong similarity in age, political and religious attitudes; moderate similarity in education, general intelligence and values; and little or no similarity in personality characteristics.  Moreover, dissimilarity of partner’s characteristics (“opposites attract”) can also play an important role in romantic relationships.  In fact, recent research suggests that it takes both components for a couple to experience the highest levels of relationship quality.

Our friends may come to be more physically attractive to us over time.  From an
evolutionary perspective, this could be adaptive in that friends are strong and
reliable, and, therefore, more likely than other people to be good providers for our
children.  The other part of the explanation here is cognitive; we interpret the fact
that we spend so much time with a particular friend as a sign that we are actually
physically attracted to them.

People with positive personal qualities are seen as more physically attractive than people with less positive personal qualities34.  In fact, we may overlook physical imperfections (and, indeed, such imperfections may become less noticeable over time) in people whose personal qualities we like.  In a fascinating article in the December 2005 issue of BBC History Magazine, Tracy Borman discussed perceptions of beauty over the ages. He suggested that “[t]he overriding characteristic of female beauty is…charisma.  This goes a long way towards explaining the appeal of women such as Mary, Queen of Scots, whose attraction is hard to understand from her portraits alone.”  It would stand to reason that if we are exceptionally attracted to someone because of their personal, non-physical traits, then not only will we overlook their physical flaws (or even find their physical features meaningless), but we may even find them to be more physically attractive over time.  In fact, exceptional personal qualities can make physical features unimportant.

People with whom we have experienced something emotional or physically arousing are often perceived as more attractive than they were before such an experience21.  For instance, if you have just had a really deep “heart-to-heart” with someone, that person may seem more physically attractive to you than s/he was before the conversation.  On a more dramatic level, imagine enduring a traumatic situation with someone.  As the hours go by, you start to find the other person increasingly physically attractive.  This is due not only to the familiarity that results from being next to that person, but also the emotional energy that is created by the situation. More importantly, you come to interpret the physical arousal caused by the situation as a sign that you are actually physically (sexually) attracted to that person (i.e., “My heart was racing when I was in the room with her.  I guess that means I actually find her attractive.”). This effect parallels the “bar closing phenomenon”, i.e., having been unable to find a sexual partner who Beauty in business  10.
.
is attractive to us, we suddenly become physically attracted to whichever people
are left in the bar at the end of the evening — even if earlier in the evening we did
not find them to be particularly attractive at all31.

Our personal bias based on our reading and understanding of the literature is that cultural and social factors do not influence preferences for physical attractiveness as much as we would like to think.  First, there are certain features which people in all cultures find physically attractive16.  Second, what may look like a unique cultural/social taste for certain types of bodies and faces may be, at bottom, a universal preference that expresses in terms of particular geographic conditions.  For instance, men appear to have a universal preference for women whose bodies signal reproductive health.

One of the cues of reproductive health is relative body fat.  In geographic regions where food is scarce, there is a preference for larger women because the accumulation of body fat means that a woman is of such good health that she will be able to sustain a pregnancy even under conditions of deprivation.  In our Western culture, where food is abundant, the preference is for thinner women.  Indeed, not only is too much body fat harmful for a mother (because it will not be necessary for the pregnancy), it is often perceived as a sign that someone has genetic abnormalities, biochemical disorders or certain emotional issues which may lead to over-eating.  In the evolutionary psychology literature, this differential, seemingly “cultural” preference for body weight is actually an example of what is called “evoked culture”, i.e., the environment, rather than the society itself, “evokes” particular physical preferences.

Contextual cues of physical un-attractiveness

The following factors can make a person appear significantly less physically attractive, even if the person would generally be considered physically attractive for any of the reasons mentioned in the lists above:

Excessive concern over physical appearance, e.g., a really handsome man who constantly wonders what others think of how he looks; a woman who complains that nobody will like her because she—realistically—assesses that she is homely but argan oil helps to prevent this.

Lack of confidence over one’s physical appearance.  Even is a person actually is homely, confidence in one’s appearance—a sign that someone is mature enough to have made peace with the body that they were given in this life—can make a person seem less homely or even more physically attractive.

Self-deprecation of one’s physical appearance.  This draws attention away from whatever non-physical qualities could have more than made up for one’s homeliness (and even made a person more physically attractive than they would normally seem). So unappealing is this behavior that it can make even a physically attractive person look ugly.

Certain personal qualities.  Sometimes people find us physically unattractive because they do not like our personal qualities—qualities that may or may not be “bad” and which, therefore, we should not necessarily aim to change.  For instance, if a really attractive person happens to be very insightful and you fear that s/he is able to divine your secrets and insecurities (and you erroneously think that these secrets will be let out to the world), then you will find that this person’s physical attractiveness diminishes over time.  Conversely, if a physically attractive person has personal traits that truly are abhorrent (mean, rude, insensitive, belligerent), then they, too, will come to be seen as less physically attractive over time.

What are the main chemical components of Argan Oil?

Essential Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are needed by the body but cannot be synthesized by the body itself. They’re important for regulating and maintaining healthy skin.

Vitamin E

This is an important fat soluble vitamin. A vital antioxidant Vitamin E is also an anti-inflammatory and gives strength to capillary walls. It prevents the evaporation of moisture from the epidermis in skin. It also acts as a barrier against cell ageing and promotes the nourishment of cells.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are natural plant components and are said to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-ageing and antioxidant properties.

Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid is the most common polyphenol in Argan Oil. Its antioxidant potency increases after exposure to ultraviolet radiation, thus it is effective against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Carotenoids

Natural fat-soluble carotenoids protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation and free radical reactivity. They maintain healthy skin and are used as a barrier against arthritis.

Sterols

The chemical structure of plant sterols and human sterols are very similar. Sterols assist in keeping the structural integrity of cell membrane, reducing inflammation, improving skin metabolism processes and moisture retention. They are the primary component of the outermost layer of human skin.

Why is Argan Oil known as nature’s anti-ageing skin food?

The properties of Argan Oil such as Vitamin E, plant sterols and essential fatty acids work individually and cooperatively to enhance the skin’s overall health, improve its youthful appearance and are known to help with the natural healing of some dermatological conditions.

How do the components of Argan Oil benefit hair?

Argan Oil is rich in essential fatty acids and Omega 9. These have been shown to improve hair strength and heath. Vitamin E can help revive hair damaged by wind, sea and sun. Antioxidants can assist in repairing cell membrane damage and sterols are useful for moisture retention. Argan Oil can also be used to help smooth the texture of hair and combat frizziness.

What antioxidants are present in Argan Oil?

Carotenoids, polyphenols, ferulic acid, squalene, and Vitamin E are powerful antioxidants present in Argan Oil. Vitamin E is one of the most important antioxidants that can break the chain reactions initiated by free radicals. Argan Oil’s properties can help reduce the effects of ageing thanks to this combination of antioxidants.

What is a free radical?

Free radicals are unstable molecules formed when cells burn oxygen. They react with cells causing cellular membrane, cellular protein, and DNA damage. This leads to premature ageing, wrinkling, and disease (within the body). Free radical damage is associated with oxidation damage because it is the oxygen molecule that is unstable.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are molecules usually in the form of proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and metabolites. These molecules combine with free radicals and stabilize them, thus rendering them harmless. The earlier this can happen, the better for the cell, since many oxidative reactions result in considerable damage to cells.

How does Argan Oil soothe inflamed skin?

Any injury, infection, or allergic reaction to the skin will elicit an inflammatory response. Interestingly, all inflammatory responses will involve free radical activity. The presence of antioxidants in Argan Oil will help reduce free radical activity. In addition to their antioxidant effect sterols and Vitamin E also have soothing and healing properties. Vitamin E protects essential fatty acids from breaking down. Essential fatty acids are necessary for the production of prostaglandin, a lipid compound manufactured by enzymes within the cell that is a natural anti-inflammatory.

There’s no gain without the pain, right? Or at least that’s what Michael Bay’s latest project “Pain and Gain” tells us. Starring alongside Mark Wahlberg, is Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson and judging by his past career in WWE?and the fact that every single one of his muscles is probably the size of our head?he’s someone we would not want to cross. Especially since one of the set photos shows him cooking a hand on a grill. Better to stay on his safe, non-Hulk-like side, no?

But that set photo is one of the last we’ll see as The Rock just announced he wrapped filming in Miami today. “Pain and Gain” is a black comedy that follows a pair of bodybuilders who find themselves in an extortion ring and kidnapping plot that spirals way out of control.

When MTV News caught up with Michael Bay back in 2009 before the storyline was divulged, he said, “[It?s based on] a true story, and it’s very funny. It?s a dark comedy.” Quite a departure from his usual “Transformers” work, but since he hasn’t disappointed us yet, we’re having faith that the film will be highly entertaining.

Is “Pain and Gain” going to be on your list of films to see next year? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags dwayne johnson, michael bay, Pain and Gain

Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti

There’s no gain without the pain, right? Or at least that’s what Michael Bay’s latest project “Pain and Gain” tells us. Starring alongside Mark Wahlberg, is Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson and judging by his past career in WWE?and the fact that every single one of his muscles is probably the size of our head?he’s someone we would not want to cross. Especially since one of the set photos shows him cooking a hand on a grill. Better to stay on his safe, non-Hulk-like side, no?

But that set photo is one of the last we’ll see as The Rock just announced he wrapped filming in Miami today. “Pain and Gain” is a black comedy that follows a pair of bodybuilders who find themselves in an extortion ring and kidnapping plot that spirals way out of control.

When MTV News caught up with Michael Bay back in 2009 before the storyline was divulged, he said, “[It?s based on] a true story, and it’s very funny. It?s a dark comedy.” Quite a departure from his usual “Transformers” work, but since he hasn’t disappointed us yet, we’re having faith that the film will be highly entertaining.

Is “Pain and Gain” going to be on your list of films to see next year? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

Tags dwayne johnson, michael bay, Pain and Gain

Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump

Hooray for Movie Awards season and the cutthroat competition between this year’s very deserving group of nominees! And although the majority of the nominations were snagged by some popular wizards, bridesmaids and tributes, there is plenty of Movie Awards love and Golden Popcorn to go around. Kinda.

Speaking of Movie Awards love, we have to give it up to first-time nominee Oliver Cooper for putting together this very clever campaign video and Facebook page.

“These are the nominees for Best Onscreen Dirtbag, but only one of them has a proven track record as a douchebag,” the ad begins. “He’s been called a crude, pushy creep, and ‘the most annoying movie character since Jar Jar Binks.’”

MTV News recently caught up with the Best Onscreen Dirtbag nominee to discuss his creative campaign efforts.

“I’m stoked. I’m putting all my hours in the campaign to win this Dirtbag award,” Cooper said. “My strategy is to talk to as many people as I can to win this thing. I’m traveling across the country,” he joked. “We don’t have much money right now, I’m taking Greyhound buses to different cities telling people why I should win.”

The “Project X” star went on to say that he’s going for strong word of mouth, as well as a few sympathy votes.

“We’re going to put up more videos and hopefully catch a following, get people onboard, who liked the movie or hated me,” he said. “There are probably more people that hated me.”

“I’m trying to gain as much weight, let myself go as much as possible,” he continued, speaking to how he’s getting ready for his big night on June 3. “I want people to really think of me as disgusting. ‘God that guy is despicable. How can he possibly be in movies?’”

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

Tags MTV Movie Awards, Oliver Cooper, Project X

Carmen Electra Carol Grow Carrie Underwood Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter

If you have a thing for busty blondes, we suggest you pencil a double feature into your weekend plans, seeing as model-turned-actress Brooklyn Decker stars in not one, but two movies opening Friday: the blow-’em-up action flick “Battleship” and the pregnancy rom-com “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”

In the Decker vs. Decker showdown, box-office analysts seem to agree that “Battleship” will sink “What to Expect,” though it’s unlikely either will unseat reigning superheroes of the cinema, “The Avengers,” who are eyeing their third first-place weekend. Nonetheless, having two films open on a single day is a neat distinction for the 25-year-old actress, though one that’s not as rare as you might think. Here are a cluster of stars who have pulled theatrical double-duty (or are set to):

James Franco
Nowadays, you can’t shake a stick at pop culture without James Franco fetching it, but back in the early aughts ? following the cancellation of the beloved “Freaks and Geeks” ? Franco wasn’t nearly so ubiquitous. Yet he still managed to star in two films opening May 3, 2002: “Spider-Man” and “Deuces Wild.” We probably don’t need to tell you which one snagged all the dollars at the box office that weekend.

Christian Kane
Big-name stars aren’t the only ones holding a pair. You may recognize Christian Kane from the TNT heist series “Leverage,” or you may know him from a duo of 2004 film roles. On October 8 of that year, he appeared in the film version of “Friday Night Lights” and the Queen Latifah/ Jimmy Fallon comedy “Taxi.”

Dakota Fanning
No one saw Dakota Fanning in two films opening February 6, 2009, technically speaking, but that’s only because one was animated. The pint-size actress flexed her supernatural skills in the action flick “Push,” while letting her vocals do all the work as the titular heroine of “Coraline.”

David Koechner
Another actor dabbling in both animation and live-action on a single release date is David Koechner. The “Anchorman” actor hit the pit crew in Will Ferrell’s “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and channeled his inner-animal as the voice of a coyote in the animated “Barnyard,” all on August 4, 2006.

Samuel L. Jackson
The most recent two-for-one special comes courtesy of the prolific Samuel L. Jackson, whose “Avengers” continues to hammer the competition. But did you know his crime drama “Meeting Evil” (based on the novel by Thomas Berger) also opened May 4? Yeah, we didn’t think so.

Channing Tatum
Maybe it’s a sign of the apocalypse (or, at the very least, a trend) that four actors had or will have two movies opening on the same day in 2012. Like Decker, Tatum is hitting nearly every demographic with his titillating twofer. On June 29, the 32-year-old will suit up as Duke for “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” and strip down as an exotic dancer for “Magic Mike.”

Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Christmas present to America this year is himself. Twice over. The actor stars in two films opening December 25: “The Great Gatsby” and “Django Unchained.” Which one will egg-nog-fueled audiences choose to unwrap? Only Santa knows for sure.

Check out everything we’ve got on “Battleship” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”

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

Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta

“Welcome! Death to the West!” That is how the Dictator greeted MTV News’ Josh Horowitz when he sat down with him for an interview.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest infamous character is Admiral General Aladeen, a dictator who oppresses his people and dislikes democracy. In “The Dictator,” he’s mistaken for a refugee and taken under the wing of Zoey, played by Anna Faris. Aladeen’s misadventures in America lead to an array of hilarious culture clashes. Thus, the interview was nothing less than we’d expect ? offensive, outrageous and, yes, very, very funny.

After inquiring about Horowitz’s knowledge of the rapper Tupac Shakur, the Dictator reveals it was him who killed the MC. “He came to play at my birthday party and all the time he get on the microphone, and you know what he tell me?” Aladeen questioned. “You know what he tell me? He said, ‘Put your hands’ ? he ordered me! ? he ordered me to put my hands in the air and wave them like I just don’t care. Why would I, Dictator, wave my hands like I don’t care? I wave my hands like I do care, like this. I don’t do it like I don’t care. How dare he come to my palace and my birthday and tell me how to wave my hands like I don’t care? I care about the hands!”

Apparently someone forgot to inform the tyrant that it’s a figure of speech here in America.

“To put your hands in the air like you don’t care?” he continued. “You think Hitler put his hands in the air like he don’t care? It was a very careful gesture that he did. I won’t do it here. And this Biggie Smalls, he then performed the next night for my weekend of birthday. That fat bastard ate all of the buffet. It cost over 120 Euros per head.”

When our correspondent noted that his phrase is not respectful to the dead, the admiral general replied, “It’s not respectful to the people who wanted to eat the buffet.”

Note to self: Eat before heading to Aladeen’s palace. Although, it’s possible not much eating will take place on a trip to his home. Shortly after assuring Horowitz he has nothing to worry about and sliding a gun on the table between them, he talked of his latest tryst with reality-TV star Kim Kardashian.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of [stars in America] that come to the palace and negotiate with the pimps,” he said. “Kim Kardashian, she came two weeks ago. I negotiated with her pimp, who is also her mother. Three-hundred-thousand dollars for one hour ? not bad. Good rate.”

But Kardashian isn’t the only American entertainer the Dictator is fond of. He happens to enjoy Snooki and has a list of movies he’s enjoyed ? one of which is definitely in the wrong category.

“I am a huge supporter of your Snooki,” he said. “I find him a very funny, little, orange man. And we have many of your sci-fi and fantasy films like ‘Transformers’ or ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘Schindler’s List.’ “

Check out everything we’ve got on “The Dictator.”

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

Brody Dalle Brooke Burke Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

If you’re a fan of “Game of Thrones,” the photo you see below should make you very, very happy. Your mind isn’t playing tricks on you: that is indeed Jerome Flynn as the sellsword Bronn, taking aim with a fire-tipped arrow at an unseen enemy with Blackwater Bay at his back. That’s right: the Battle of Blackwater is on!

It’s the first official photo from “Blackwater,” the highly awaited episode of “Game of Thrones” season two that finally, finally, thrusts viewers into the thick of an all-out battle (as in on screen, no getting-knocked-out-and-skipping-the-fight trickery) between Joffrey’s allies in King’s Landing and the forces of Stannis Baratheon. “A Song of Ice and Fire” mastermind George R.R. Martin wrote the episode, only adding to the list of reasons why fans are losing their minds in anticipation of the hour.

Before we get to “Blackwater,” we’ll have to encounter “The Prince of Winterfell” in this Sunday night’s episode ? but whether we’re talking about Prince Bran or “Prince” Theon is a matter of some debate. We’ll certainly be tuning in either way. Here’s a look at Tyrion and Varys from that episode.

Tell us what you think of the new “Game of Thrones” photos in the comments section and on Twitter!

Tags Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin

Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich

Lady Gaga turned 26 years young on Wednesday (March 28), and to help celebrate, MTV News drew up a handy A-to-Z guide touching on some of the most exciting things to come from Mother Monster. Read on and share your birthday wishes for the pop princess!

A: April 27. On that day, Gaga will launch what’s sure to be one of the year’s most spectacular spectacles at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, Korea, which brings us to …

B: … Born This Way Ball! We were there when Gaga announced the name of the tour in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last year, and it has been hinted that we can expect an “electro pop opera.” She had us at “opera.”

C: Castle. Mother Monster tweeted an image of the stage design for the tour, and the elaborate gothic castle has us excited.

D: “Dark.” Gaga’s former creative director, Laurieann Gibson, opened up just last week about why she parted ways with the pop star, telling “ET Canada” that Gaga’s ideas “got a little dark for me creatively.”

E: Elton John. The godmother to John’s adopted son, Gaga has teased a duet with the “Rocket Man” singer for her next album.

F: Fernando Garibay. The musical director behind Born This Way told MTV News that the new album already has a title and concept.

G: Gothic. Veils, brooches and lots of black: Gaga has adopted a gothic theme for her tour, but also in her fashion choices.

H: “Heavy Metal Lover.” This jam has been begging for radio play; at the very least, the BTW cut should make it to the tour set list.

I: Inez & Vinoodh. The Dutch photography duo were heavily involved in the spectacle surrounding Gaga’s “Yoü and I” video, crafting awesome fashion clips after the official music video.

J: Joanne. Lady Gaga’s parents recently opened this Italian trattoria, named for Gaga’s late aunt, on New York City’s Upper West Side.

K: Kinney, as in Taylor Kinney. The beautiful man who played Gaga’s love interest in the “Yoü and I” video is rumored to be her real-life love interest too.

L: Luc Carl. Gaga must still be on good terms with her ex-BF, because she recently tweeted a shout-out to him when he published his new book, “The Drunk Diet.”

M: Monster Pit. The special enclosed space within the Born This Way Ball stage where lucky Monsters who line up for hours, even days, before the show will be able to take in the concerts.

N: Nicola Formichetti. The singer’s new creative director will be her co-HBIC for the foreseeable future.

O: Oprah. The talk-show queen is Gaga’s new BFF, pretty much. She even tapped the OWN network boss to interview her not long after they launched Gaga’s anti-bullying-focused Born This Way Foundation together.

P: Piano. One of the best parts of the Monster Ball was when Gaga would slow things down, chatting with the crowd and showing off her raw talent at the piano.

Q: Quinceañera. Gaga’s one-word Twitter response to a Little Monster who asked how she would celebrate her 26th birthday this year, never mind that it’s the kind of party reserved for 15-year-olds. They grow up so fast.

R: Red Wine. Widely known to be Mother Monster’s alcoholic beverage of choice, alongside whiskey and beer.

S: “Stuck on F—in’ You.” This unreleased and unedited track was leaked by Gaga herself as a Christmas gift to her Little Monsters. She recorded the naughty song on her tour bus last go-round. Can we get another?

T: Tea. Gaga’s non-alcoholic beverage of choice, about which she recently tweeted a lesson she learned: #KettlesAreForTeaNotFashion.

U: Unicorns. The mythical creatures may not exist, but Gaga swoons for them, and why not? Fantasy is as important to her as reality.

V: Video Music Awards. Is it too early to begin the campaign for her to blow our minds again at the 2012 VMAs? We’d even settle for Jo Calderone again.

W: Wigs. Her supply is never-ending and will likely continue to fascinate us right on through her 26th year.

X: “Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson.” Amazing photo book. Seriously, check it out.

Y: Yuyi. Will the mermaid join Gaga on tour this year? As long as the tour bus is sea-creature-friendly.

Z: Z100 Jingle Ball. In December, Gaga performed a short-but-captivating set at New York City’s Madison Square Garden that gave us a peek at what’s to come on the Born This Way Ball.

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Nine gun shots wasn’t enough to take out 50 Cent, but a bad hamburger could have been the undoing of rap’s #1 bad guy. The G-Unit general was hospitalized this week with stomach pains, but a phone call from his homey Eminem surely lightened the mood.

“I’m in a dead serious moment like, ‘Damn, I don’t believe this is happenin’ right now,’ ” Fif said recalling the moments before Slim Shady phoned him. “He goes, ‘Yo Fif, you were shot nine times man if you die over a burger, this sh– ain’t gonna go right. People ain’t gonna be feelin’ this.’ “

On Wednesday, Fif tweeted a picture of himself in a hospital bed and sent a public message to his boxing friend Floyd Mayweather that read: “I don’t want to go into surgery.”

Lucky for him, he didn’t have to. When MTV News checked up on 50 at his NYC G-Unit office on Thursday, just hours after he was released from the hospital, he said he was able to avoid going into surgery to remove blockage in his small intestine.

“I’m feelin’ better; I’m in good spirits,” Fif added.

DJ Drama, who is in New York to promote his upcoming mixtape with 50, The Lost Tape, told MTV News he was worried about his boy. To lift the gangsta rapper’s spirits Drama sent three stuffed animals to 50: a giraffe, an elephant and a lion.

They say it’s the thought that counts, but Drama’s get-well gifts didn’t go over so well. “That wasn’t cool. That’s all you get,” 50 told Drama jokingly while our cameras rolled. “You get 15 tracks, you damn near have to die to do a Gangsta Grillz and this is the thanks I get?”

Stay tuned to MTV News’ Mixtape Daily for more on 50 Cent and DJ Drama’s The Lost Tape, which will be released on May 22.

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Lady Gaga was one of the big winners on Saturday night at the 23rd annual GLAAD Media Awards, taking home the prize for Outstanding Music Artist for her Born This Way? album. The show honors various branches of the media that represent the LGBT community.

The show was hosted by “Glee” stars Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera and included guest spots from Dakota Fanning, “Jersey Shore” nice guy Vinny Guadagnino,? talk show host Wendy Williams, “Top Chef” star Padma Lakshmi and Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir.

Broadway veteran Bernadette Peters and TV star John Stamos presented the Vito Russo Award to Craig Zadan and Neil Meron for their work on the NBC musical series “Smash.” The Russo award is presented annually to openly LGBT media professionals who have made a difference in promoting equality. In accepting the award, Meron said the pair, who were also behind the Oscar-winning movie musical “Chicago” and “Hairspray,” have spent a long time trying to “fight, persuade and manipulate” Hollywood into including LGB characters in their work.

Also on hand was openly gay 17-year-old high school student Katy Butler, who received a special award from Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein for her work in launching a Change.org campaign last month to argue for a PG-13 rating for the upcoming documentary, “Bully.”

Other winners included: “Dancing With the Stars” (Outstanding Reality Program), for including the story line of transgender dancer Chaz Bono last season, the HBO film “Cinema Verite” (Outstanding TV Movie or Mini Series), a film focused on the life of a black lesbian teenager, “Pariah” (Outstanding Film — Limited Release), “Battle Against Bullying” from ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (Outstanding TV Journalism Segment) and the “Batwoman” comic book by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (Outstanding Comic Book).

More awards will be handed out on April 21 in Los Angeles and June 2 in San Francisco.

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The surprised, sincere and heartfelt reactions continue to roll in as the news of Disco Queen Donna Summer’s untimely passing Thursday (May 17) spreads far and wide. Summer influenced the music industry as a whole, but her impact is especially felt in today’s electronic dance music ? which includes current club-anthem king Flo Rida.

“I was just looking at something with her months ago,” the “Wild Ones” singer told MTV News. “Today, when I got a text message [about her death], I thought, ‘Wow, she passed away.’ She definitely is one of those iconic people when it comes down to the dance scene and all that. My condolences go out to all her family. She definitely influenced what I do.”

Speaking to Summer’s genre-bending influence, house-music forefather Frankie Knuckles called her unforgettable hit “I Feel Love” one of the most commercial electronic pieces of music ever written.

“Today you can hear its influence on all popular Dance music, House, Techno, Trance,” he told MTV News in a statement. “She was deemed ‘The Queen Of Disco.’ She’s been sampled and ideas of her songs have crept into today’s popular dance music by everybody. Her association with [legendary record producer] Giorgio Moroder set the tone for what Dance Music is all about.”

“Donna Summer RIP I FEEL LOVE FOR YOU,” Swedish dance-pop princess Robyn tweeted, adding a link to a Summer performance of “I Feel Love.”

The reception of Summer’s iconic 1977 anthem essentially revolutionized music, not to mention the rest of her chart-toppers that would soon follow.

“One day in Berlin, [Brian] Eno came running in and said, ‘I have heard the sound of the future,’ ” David Bowie famously wrote in the liner notes to Sound and Vision. “He puts on ‘I Feel Love,’ by Donna Summer. … He said, ‘This is it, look no further. This single is going to change the sound of club music for the next 15 years.’ Which was more or less right.”

Share your condolences for Donna Summer’s friends, family and fans in the comments or on Facebook.

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Donna Summer, the powerhouse singer known as the “Queen of Disco,” died on Thursday (May 17) in Florida after a battle with cancer, according to The Associated Press.

The five-time Grammy winner who set dance floors ablaze in the 1970s with such anthems as “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and her most iconic hit, “I Feel Love,” was 63 years old. In a genre that was filled with many one-hit wonders and fly-by-night studio acts that were unable to keep the disco inferno stoked after scoring hits, Summer was a lifer, consistently charting even after the dance craze faded in the late 1970s.

For photos of Donna Summer through the years, click here.

Unlike many of her contemporaries, Summer set herself apart with strong vocals backed by her songwriting skills, as well as some creative luck in hooking up with producers/songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The pair helped her pump out hit after hit and provided her with a sensual, almost ethereal sound on tracks such as “I Feel Love,” which seduced both on and off the dance floor.

Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts to a butcher father and schoolteacher mother, Summer showed promise as a singer from an early age. She made her public debut at age 10 at her church when the scheduled singer didn’t show up and she filled in. After appearing in a number of musicals and plays in high school and singing with the psychedelic rock band The Crow, she joined the cast of German production of the musical “Hair” in 1967 at age 18.

She stayed in Munich after the show’s run ended and recorded her debut solo album there in 1974, Lady of the Night. Though it spawned a hit overseas with “The Hostage,” she didn’t crack the U.S. market until a year later with the song that would make her an international superstar, the seductive disco anthem, “Love to Love You Baby.” The tune she created with Moroder and Bellotte was a #2 hit in the U.S. and landed her an American record deal with the it label of the era, Casablanca Records.

The 17-minute club remix of the single, which featured such real-sounding ecstatic moans that some radio stations refused to play it, became a huge hit and set a new standard for sophisticated arrangements in a genre often marked by cheesy sounding instrumentation and lazy songwriting.

She released two albums in 1976, A Love Trilogy, which featured the nearly 18-minute epic “Try Me, I Know We Can Make It” and the winter/spring/summer/autumn-themed Four Seasons of Love. In a singles genre where the one good song was the thing, Summer continued to put out consistently artistic albums, including 1977′s I Remember Yesterday, which featured the tune that would secure Summer’s place at the top of the disco diva pecking order, “I Feel Love.” That hypnotizing track was also the first one recorded with music made up entirely of synthesized sounds.

This being the era of excess, her second 1977 album, Once Upon A Time, was another concept disc, this one retelling the Cinderella story in the disco era on tracks like “Once Upon a Time,” “Fairy Tale High,” “Working the Midnight Shift” and “Queen for a Day.”

She transitioned into acting in 1978 in the disco comedy “Thank God It’s Friday,” which earned her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal for the hit “Last Dance.” By 1979′s two-album Bad Girls she was indisputably a star, logging six weeks at #1 and scoring hits with the sexy “Bad Girls” and more rock-oriented “Hot Stuff.” When Summer released a double-album greatest hits disc later that year she became the first artists to ever score three #1 albums in a row with double-disc releases.

She went on to record a hit Barbra Streisand duet and moved over to the then-new Geffen Records, where her success began to wane. By 1983, she’d moved past the disco beat and into a synth-heavy R&B/new wave sound with the female empowerment anthem “She Works Hard For the Money.” That song, though, would effectively mark the end of her hit-making days. Summer continued to release albums through the late 1980′s, but was never again able to capture her disco peak. In fact, by the end of the decade she spoke out against the “sinful” nature of her disco hits and turned her back on her earlier material and focused on painting.

After a 17-year break, she released her first studio album of original material, Crayons, in 2008.

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Lady Gaga lives to provoke and push the envelope. But not everyone is up for her antics. The “Americano” singer has been forced to cancel her sold-out June 3 “Born This Way Ball” show at the 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia after Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers said her sexy costumes, suggestive dance moves and “vulgar” style could corrupt the nation’s youth.

According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the national police said on Tuesday (May 15) that the permit for the show has been denied after religious conservatives worried that the concert could undermine the nation’s moral fiber. Some of the critics actually threatened to use physical force to prevent Gaga from getting off her plane. Though Indonesia is a secular state, it has the world’s largest population of Muslims and a small extremist fringe of religious leaders has been more vocal in recent years.

“She’s a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings and she stated she is the envoy of the devil’s child and that she will spread satanic teaching,” said Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of hardline Islamic Defender Front (FPI), according to Reuters. “This is dangerous.”

Local police worried that they might not be able to guarantee security at the show and suggested to national police that the permit for what was to be Gaga’s biggest gig on her current Asian tour be pulled. Every seat at the Karno stadium had been sold, with half of them going in the first two hours.

The AP reported that permits for shows are typically issued three weeks before concerts in Jakarta, so it is not uncommon for tickets to be sold well ahead of receiving a final permit. Gaga’s Asian tour started last month and the Indonesian flap is not the first bump she’s faced along the road. Gigs in South Korea? were 18-and-over because conservatives in that country also raised objections over the concert’s content.

Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen Cristina Dumitru Daisy Fuentes Dania Ramirez Danica Patrick

Lady Gaga lives to provoke and push the envelope. But not everyone is up for her antics. The “Americano” singer has been forced to cancel her sold-out June 3 “Born This Way Ball” show at the 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia after Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers said her sexy costumes, suggestive dance moves and “vulgar” style could corrupt the nation’s youth.

According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for the national police said on Tuesday (May 15) that the permit for the show has been denied after religious conservatives worried that the concert could undermine the nation’s moral fiber. Some of the critics actually threatened to use physical force to prevent Gaga from getting off her plane. Though Indonesia is a secular state, it has the world’s largest population of Muslims and a small extremist fringe of religious leaders has been more vocal in recent years.

“She’s a vulgar singer who wears only panties and a bra when she sings and she stated she is the envoy of the devil’s child and that she will spread satanic teaching,” said Salim Alatas, the Jakarta head of hardline Islamic Defender Front (FPI), according to Reuters. “This is dangerous.”

Local police worried that they might not be able to guarantee security at the show and suggested to national police that the permit for what was to be Gaga’s biggest gig on her current Asian tour be pulled. Every seat at the Karno stadium had been sold, with half of them going in the first two hours.

The AP reported that permits for shows are typically issued three weeks before concerts in Jakarta, so it is not uncommon for tickets to be sold well ahead of receiving a final permit. Gaga’s Asian tour started last month and the Indonesian flap is not the first bump she’s faced along the road. Gigs in South Korea? were 18-and-over because conservatives in that country also raised objections over the concert’s content.

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Finally, a blockbuster that stands a shot at dethroning “The Avengers” (not that we’re necessarily rooting for such an outcome) sails into the scene this weekend: “Battleship,” the action flick starring Taylor Kitsch! Loosely Based on the board game of the same name, “Battleship” has already been invading theaters globally for weeks, but it’s now ready to make its domestic debut this coming weekend. One of our regular Watch It contributors checked the movie out this week, and loved what they saw.

Get more on “Battleship” and everything else we’ve been watching lately ? yes, as the headline implies, you’ll get some Ryan Gosling action today ? in today’s Watch It!

Joel Hanek, MTV Movies producer:
You either love it or hate it, but “Drive,” my favorite movie of 2011, is now available for streaming on Netflix. If you haven?t seen it yet, please watch it! Right, we get it, Ryan Gosling is the hottest thing on the planet (no one is disagreeing the man is Charm personified), but let?s look at the film in a bigger picture. Director Nicolas Winding Refn does a beautiful job at creating a world around a wordless character by combining a syncopating warm electronic soundtrack with the clean Nagel-esque glossy lens of LA to pull off this modern day film-noir. Not to mention that this film has the coolest supporting cast: Hank Scorpio and Hellboy (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman) give great gangster gravitas as the film?s baddies, Bryan Cranston pushes the plot with shades of Ratso Rizzo, and Christina Hendricks, while she doesn?t have much to do, is always a great addition.

Tami Katzoff, MTV News producer:
I?m on a continuing quest to catch up on the films from last year that seemed intriguing but I somehow missed, so I recently watched ?Hanna? on DVD via Netflix. It?s about a teenage girl raised in total isolation by her dad, who (for reasons too complicated to enumerate here) has taught her to be the consummate assassin. Director Joe Wright is responsible for respectable dramas such as ?Pride & Prejudice? and ?Atonement,? so I was expecting to see a dark yet straightforward thriller. ?Hanna? is not that. It?s strange and trippy and somewhat confusing. Also I?m not sure if Cate Blanchett was the right choice to play Hanna?s nemesis. But what makes ?Hanna? worth a couple hours of your time is the amazing performance of Saoirse Ronan as the title character. She manages to make Hanna wise yet innocent, sweet but absolutely terrifying.

Fallon Prinzivalli, MTV Movies editorial assistant:
Amidst mixed opinions on whether “Battleship” would sink or swim at the box office, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I went in without any expectations and thoroughly enjoyed the film. I think the biggest surprise was the humor, which is especially present in Taylor Kitsch and his “Friday Night Lights” co-star Jesse Plemons. I also want to note the audience reaction. One scene left the man in a suit who sat next to me covering his mouth in horror and two other scenes found practically the whole audience erupting in applause and celebratory cheer. There’s something to be said about a film that can unite an audience. And while I don’t claim to be a tech whiz, I thought the special effects were stunning. Overall, I recommend grabbing a few friends and heading out to see this flick. It may not be on the same level as “Avengers” (at this point, what is?), but the film stands on its own.

Kevin P. Sullivan, MTV Movies editorial assistant:
Since I consider “The Road” to be one of my favorite books of all time and “The Proposition” to be one of my favorite movies of all time, it was curious that it took me so long to watch John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. I didn’t actively avoid it, but I never felt compelled to sit through it until the preview for “Lawless” hit and I knew I had to. “The Road” is undoubtedly made with an amazing performance from Viggo Mortensen, but when the horrifying images are stripped of McCarthy’s poetry, they lose any shred of beauty or hope that the author stitched in.

Josh Wigler, MTV Movies Blog editor:
I’m the cheater of the group, aren’t I? I cheated by listing “Hunger Games” books instead of movies a few weeks ago, and here I am again touting the “Survivor: One World” season finale. Sorry, I just can’t help myself. I’m a lifelong “Survivor” fan ? one of few who started in the very earliest seasons and hasn’t stopped watching yet ? and it’s always been my pie-in-the-sky dream to be on the show. I even auditioned back in college. (No, the tape doesn’t still exist, which is a shame; I ate a cat and it was awesome.) I have no illusions that I’ll never get the chance to compete for the million bucks, but I did make it onto the show in a way I didn’t expect ? by attending the live finale in New York City. It was an unforgettable experience getting to watch Jeff Probst read the votes live and grant the Sole Survivor title to all-too-deserving winner Kim Spradlin. Definitely a super-nerdy experience that I won’t soon forget. Okay, enough gushing… back to movie-watching next week, I promise!

Amy Wilkinson, Hollywood Crush editor:
Now that my cable provider is HBO Go compatible, I’m finally jumping on “The Wire” paddy wagon. (Better a decade late than never, right?) A season into the gritty crime drama, and I’m beginning to understand the near-universal reverence for this show (despite my belief that there never possibly could have been that many payphones in Baltimore). Economical yet poignant writing, coupled with nuanced performances by Dominic West and Idris Elba (actually make that the entire cast ? there’s really not a weak link in the bunch) make this series worthy of much more than the two paltry Emmy nominations it received during its five-season run.

What are you watching? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

Tags battleship, Drive, hanna, Survivor, The Road, The Wire

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Lady Gaga turned 26 years young on Wednesday (March 28), and to help celebrate, MTV News drew up a handy A-to-Z guide touching on some of the most exciting things to come from Mother Monster. Read on and share your birthday wishes for the pop princess!

A: April 27. On that day, Gaga will launch what’s sure to be one of the year’s most spectacular spectacles at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, Korea, which brings us to …

B: … Born This Way Ball! We were there when Gaga announced the name of the tour in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last year, and it has been hinted that we can expect an “electro pop opera.” She had us at “opera.”

C: Castle. Mother Monster tweeted an image of the stage design for the tour, and the elaborate gothic castle has us excited.

D: “Dark.” Gaga’s former creative director, Laurieann Gibson, opened up just last week about why she parted ways with the pop star, telling “ET Canada” that Gaga’s ideas “got a little dark for me creatively.”

E: Elton John. The godmother to John’s adopted son, Gaga has teased a duet with the “Rocket Man” singer for her next album.

F: Fernando Garibay. The musical director behind Born This Way told MTV News that the new album already has a title and concept.

G: Gothic. Veils, brooches and lots of black: Gaga has adopted a gothic theme for her tour, but also in her fashion choices.

H: “Heavy Metal Lover.” This jam has been begging for radio play; at the very least, the BTW cut should make it to the tour set list.

I: Inez & Vinoodh. The Dutch photography duo were heavily involved in the spectacle surrounding Gaga’s “Yoü and I” video, crafting awesome fashion clips after the official music video.

J: Joanne. Lady Gaga’s parents recently opened this Italian trattoria, named for Gaga’s late aunt, on New York City’s Upper West Side.

K: Kinney, as in Taylor Kinney. The beautiful man who played Gaga’s love interest in the “Yoü and I” video is rumored to be her real-life love interest too.

L: Luc Carl. Gaga must still be on good terms with her ex-BF, because she recently tweeted a shout-out to him when he published his new book, “The Drunk Diet.”

M: Monster Pit. The special enclosed space within the Born This Way Ball stage where lucky Monsters who line up for hours, even days, before the show will be able to take in the concerts.

N: Nicola Formichetti. The singer’s new creative director will be her co-HBIC for the foreseeable future.

O: Oprah. The talk-show queen is Gaga’s new BFF, pretty much. She even tapped the OWN network boss to interview her not long after they launched Gaga’s anti-bullying-focused Born This Way Foundation together.

P: Piano. One of the best parts of the Monster Ball was when Gaga would slow things down, chatting with the crowd and showing off her raw talent at the piano.

Q: Quinceañera. Gaga’s one-word Twitter response to a Little Monster who asked how she would celebrate her 26th birthday this year, never mind that it’s the kind of party reserved for 15-year-olds. They grow up so fast.

R: Red Wine. Widely known to be Mother Monster’s alcoholic beverage of choice, alongside whiskey and beer.

S: “Stuck on F—in’ You.” This unreleased and unedited track was leaked by Gaga herself as a Christmas gift to her Little Monsters. She recorded the naughty song on her tour bus last go-round. Can we get another?

T: Tea. Gaga’s non-alcoholic beverage of choice, about which she recently tweeted a lesson she learned: #KettlesAreForTeaNotFashion.

U: Unicorns. The mythical creatures may not exist, but Gaga swoons for them, and why not? Fantasy is as important to her as reality.

V: Video Music Awards. Is it too early to begin the campaign for her to blow our minds again at the 2012 VMAs? We’d even settle for Jo Calderone again.

W: Wigs. Her supply is never-ending and will likely continue to fascinate us right on through her 26th year.

X: “Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson.” Amazing photo book. Seriously, check it out.

Y: Yuyi. Will the mermaid join Gaga on tour this year? As long as the tour bus is sea-creature-friendly.

Z: Z100 Jingle Ball. In December, Gaga performed a short-but-captivating set at New York City’s Madison Square Garden that gave us a peek at what’s to come on the Born This Way Ball.

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