Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore Signs On For ABC Sitcom

19 Oct 2011 09:42:09 EDT

Single-camera comedy will be called 'Us and Them.'
By Gil Kaufman

Mandy Moore has long bounced between TV, movies and music, and now the "Princess Diaries" co-star is trying her hand at a sitcom. Moore, who has guested on "Scrubs," "Grey's Anatomy" and "American Dreamz" in the past, will star in the new single-camera sitcom "Us and Them," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The family comedy is described as the story of the "inherent conflict that exists between the families you grow up in and the ones we make as adults," told through the perspective of Moore's newlywed character Anne and her husband, Ben. Among the producers on the show are Jon Leshay, who was a music supervisor on a number of Moore movies, including "Saved!," "How to Deal" and "A Walk to Remember."

"Night at the Museum" director Shawn Levy will direct and executive-produce the show. Moore voiced the lead character in last fall's animated Rapunzel tale "Tangled" and appeared on this year's Academy Awards broadcast singing the Oscar-nominated tune from the movie, "I See the Light."

While her music career has been on hold since 2009's Amanda Leigh, husband Ryan Adams has just released his 13th studio album, Ashes & Fire, on which she sings backing vocals on the song "Come Home."

Moore is also slated to appear alongside the voices of Elijah Wood, Lance Henriksen and "Entourage" star Emmanuelle Chriqui on the upcoming animated TV series "Tron: Uprising," which is slated to air on Disney XD next summer. She will voice the character Mara in the show, which takes place between the time of the original film and last December's re-boot, "Tron: Legacy."

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Gwyneth Paltrow, Florence Welch, Mandy Moore Sing Oscars Score

28 Feb 2011 02:09:44 EST

Randy Newman nabs Best Original Song for 'We Belong Together' from 'Toy Story 3.'
By Aly Semigran

Sunday night (February 27) marked the 83rd annual Academy Awards, but there were some moments when the ceremony was more reminiscent of a Grammy stage.

Gwyneth Paltrow, who has gone from Oscar-winning actress to singing awards-show mainstay — having performed "Forget You" alongside Cee Lo Green and puppets at the Grammys — was one of the featured performers in the Best Original Song category.

Paltrow, who joked to MTV News on the red carpet that she'd calmed her pre-Oscar nerves with a beer, called the ceremony "so, like, freaking serious" as compared to her previous stints on both the Grammys and the Country Music Awards.

After being introduced by Jennifer Hudson, a calmer Paltrow (who Hudson described as "a singing sensation and country music's new star") donning a sleek, off-the-shoulder nude and bejeweled gown, sang some of "Coming Home" for the Kodak Theater and millions of Oscar viewers around the globe.

With a starry stage set-up behind her, Paltrow crooned the chorus, "After all of my running/ I'm finally coming home/ The world tried to break me/ I found a road to take me home."

But Paltrow wasn't the only familiar face to appear as a performer during the ceremony. Fellow singer/actress Mandy Moore, wearing a flowing blue gown, sang the nominated "I See the Light" from her hit animated film "Tangled" alongside her co-star Zachary Levi, with Alan Menken accompanying them on piano.

Later in the telecast, Florence Welch, frontwoman for 2010 breakout act Florence and the Machine, helped Oscar winner A.R. Rahman perform "If I Rise" from "127 Hours" while images from the Best Picture nominee appeared in the background.

Welch, who wore a striking burnt-sienna gown, showcased her beautiful, moody voice as she stepped in for Dido (who co-wrote the song, as well as sang on the film's original track).

However, those were the only moments those songs and their performers had any Oscar glory on Sunday, as perennial nominee Randy Newman walked away the winner in the Best Original Song category.

Newman, who had performed "We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3" at the piano on the Oscar stage, won his second career Academy Award, besting the songs from "Country Strong," "Tangled" and "127 Hours."

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!

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Mandy Moore's 'Tangled' Heroine Not 'Typical Disney Princess'

30 Aug 2010 06:50:56 EDT

'She's very independent,' actress/singer tells MTV News of new Rapunzel.
By Kara Warner

While the fall-to-Thanksgiving film season is usually rife with Oscar bait, it's also prime time for releasing family films. One such movie is the highly anticipated "Tangled," Disney's updated and traditionally animated take on Rapunzel, starring the vocal talents of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi.

Kicking off our Fall Movie Preview, we bring you a delightful chat we had with the ever-gracious and lovely Moore, during which she discussed non-typical femmes fatales, singing in front of a 65-piece orchestra and Levi's powerful pipes.

MTV: How is Rapunzel different from the typical femme-fatale characters?

Mandy Moore: She's not the typical femme fatale or the typical Disney princess even, because: A) She doesn't know she's a princess. I think she sort of has this inkling that something isn't quite right in her life, [but] she's just really sort of motivated to find out what else is out there beyond this crazy tower she's lived in for 18 years. Having said that, she's very independent, she can take care of herself, and she's definitely come up with really entertaining ways to keep herself busy.

MTV: Is the Disney take on Rapunzel the same as the original fairy tale?

Moore: Pretty much. She has an overprotective mother who tells her she's not missing out on anything, and it's a big bad world out there and it's too scary and dangerous and she'll be eaten alive, literally, if she decides to venture out into the world.

MTV: What was your reaction to Disney changing the film's original title, in an effort to lure in more young boys?

Moore: I think I was initially a bit taken aback, only because people know the story of Rapunzel, so when you say you're working on "Rapunzel," it's sort of a no-brainer, you don't have to explain it to people. But as the title sort of sunk in, I understood the decision behind changing it. The movie is so great and so cute, and people are going to see the trailer and know what the story is about. I guess you sort of have to leave it up to the brains at the top. They know what they're doing.

MTV: What can you tell us about this particular story? Can you tease any romance?

Moore: She sort of comes face to face with this stranger who precariously ends up in her tower, and he's very handsome [and] he knows it. He's quite the ladies' man, if you will. Somehow, they get roped into going on this adventure together and start to see a different side of one another, and potentially a romance ensues. There's [also] a few musical moments.

MTV: What was that experience like, recording with legendary Disney composer Alan Menken?

Moore: That was fun. I'm definitely the quintessential girl who grew up watching "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aladdin" and the like, so it was probably one of the coolest things I've done thus far, being in the studio with Alan Menken and a 65-piece orchestra. It was such a moment in time. I kept telling myself: "Just be in the moment. Remember this. You're going to want to think about this for years to come." It was really magical and sort of everything you'd want a Disney animated experience to be. As one of the players involved, I was like, "Oh my God!" ... To watch it all come to life, because so much of your job — you're looking at storyboards, you're having things explained to you, but there's nothing tangible to see or get, it has to form in your imagination, which is one of the slightly taxing parts, but also the most fun — to get to be a kid again and go into the depths of your imagination and play around. This, being there with the orchestra and hearing the score sort of come to life and what the feel of the movie was going to be at different parts was like, "Oh, OK, now I really get what we're doing." So that was definitely a moment for me. It was the first time I met Zach [Levi].

MTV: Does Zach actually sing in the film?

Moore: He does, and he's amazing! Oh my God, we had one rehearsal before we went into the studio, and I was so interested [in him], because they wanted to cast actors in the roles who could also sing, and I had no idea that he sang, and it turns out he's like a big musical-theater nut and had that in his background. He has a beautiful voice, but he has the perfect voice for something like this. He's such a sweet guy, and he's so funny in the movie, but I think his voice will astonish people, like, "Wow, where did that come from?"

From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.

Check out everything we've got on "Tangled."

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

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Hayley Williams, Mandy Moore, Others Remember J.D. Salinger

28 Jan 2010 18:23:00 EST

Celebrities take to Twitter to remember the late author of the classic 'The Catcher in the Rye.'
By Josh Wigler

The death of author J.D. Salinger has prompted emotional reactions from literature lovers of all walks of life, including many celebrities that felt their own connection to the "Catcher in the Rye" writer. Following the news of Salinger's death, several actors, singers and other stars took to their Twitter soapboxes to express their heartfelt memories of the late novelist — in 140 characters or less.

"[Sad] to hear JD Salinger has passed," wrote "American Idol" host and E! News personality Ryan Seacrest. "[I] remember reading Catcher in the Rye growing up. He was 91."

Singer and actress Mandy Moore reacted simply and somberly — "RIP J.D. Salinger" — while Paramore's Hayley Williams offered a straightforward show of support of her own, albeit one with significantly more passion (and capitalization) than Moore's tweet: "JD SALINGER FOREVER!"

Certain comedians, such as "The Office" star Rainn Wilson, set aside their typical gut-busting ways to offer thoughtful recollections of Salinger. "I always secretly thought I was a member of the Glass family," said Wilson. "Franny & Zooey defined the spiritual angst of my 20's."

Steve Agee of "The Sarah Silverman Program" offered an interesting and uncharacteristically serious revelation regarding his own past connection to Salinger. "JD Salinger and I are both alumni from the same military academy," he wrote, noting that it was not only the shooting location for 1981's military drama "Taps," but also the basis for Pencey Prep, the fictional college that "Catcher in the Rye" protagonist Holden Caulfield is expelled from at the book's outset.

While some stars, such as singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, offered constructive advice to their followers — "How about reading one of the Nine Stories today in his memory," she suggested — others took the opportunity to make witty remarks about Salinger's propensity for isolation.

"I prefer to think JD Salinger has just decided to become extra reclusive," joked satirist John Hodgman.

"He [loved his] privacy, so I will say no more .. except .. people will probably not be bugging [him] now," Kirstie Alley offered, though she later added a more serious follow-up for her younger followers: "All you kiddies on here be sure to read CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger if you have not already done so. WON'T FIND BETTER WRITING."

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Mandy Moore 'Heartbroken' By DJ AM's Death

29 Aug 2009 18:06:00 EDT

Ex-girlfriend says her 'true friend' will be 'missed beyond words.'
By Gil Kaufman

One of DJ AM's former girlfriends, singer/actress Mandy Moore, expressed her grief on Saturday (August 29) about a man she said was a true friend.

"I am absolutely heartbroken," Moore said in a statement about the DJ, born Adam Goldstein, who was found dead in his Soho apartment in New York on Friday at the age of 36. "For those of us lucky enough to have known him, Adam radiated a contagious exuberance for life and also personified the very definition of a true friend. To say that he will be missed beyond words is an understatement. My heart goes out to his loved ones."

Moore, who married singer/songwriter Ryan Adams in March, flew to AM's side last year when he was badly burned in a plane crash in South Carolina that took the lives of four others. Though the two dated for two months in 2007, they reportedly remained close and, according to Us Weekly, rekindled their romance for a brief period following the accident, in which AM's frequent musical partner, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, also suffered serious burns.

AM also dated reality-TV star Nicole Richie for several years beginning in 2004, but the couple's on-again, off-again relationship ended a months after they announced their engagement in February 2005. Richie has not yet commented on AM's death, possibly because she is due to give birth to her second child with Joel Madden. A spokesperson for Richie could not be reached for comment at press time.

Richie's onetime best friend, Paris Hilton, tweeted about AM's death, recalling their long friendship. "Adam and I were friends since I was 15," Hilton said. "He had a heart of gold and was one of the kindest, funniest and most talented men I have ever met. ... It's so hard to accept that I'm not going to be able to see him or talk to him again. There are no right words for this, I feel so sad."

The New York City Medical Examiner's office announced on Saturday that autopsy results on AM were inconclusive and further toxicology tests will be needed. AM was reportedly found face-down on the mattress of his bad in just his sweatpants, with bottles of prescription pills and a glass pipe near his body, when police broke into his apartment on Friday evening at the behest of concerned friends.

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Mandy Moore Always Knew She Was Different From Britney, Christina

03 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EDT

Singer/actress calls Amanda Leigh 'the record I've always wanted to make.'
By Jocelyn Vena

More than 10 years ago, a slew of young stars hit the pop charts. Although the queen bees were Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, back then, Mandy Moore held her own with hits like "Candy" and "I Wanna Be With You."

With Spears and Aguilera continually reinventing themselves but staying true to what Moore considers their "formula," the singer/actress has moved on with a throwback to a " '70s sort of Southern California pop sound" on her new album, Amanda Leigh.

"I kind of always knew we would all differentiate ourselves from one another," she told MTV News. "Musically, they've stuck to a formula that works for them and, obviously, has always proven successful. I don't think I found that same success singing music that really, at the end of the day, I wasn't happy singing."

But Moore said she wasn't trying to prove anything by jumping off that bandwagon. "It wasn't a bold gesture to try and show that I was an adult," she explained. "I sort of have taken my baby steps to get to where I am today. I feel comfortable singing the music that I'm singing, because it's coming from me, finally."

In fact, Moore helped write all the music on Amanda Leigh, making the album in Boston to stay away from the distractions of her life in New York and Los Angeles. "It's the record I've always wanted to make," she said of the LP, which debuted at #25 on the Billboard albums chart this week. "And I'm excited for people to hear it. It's sort of got a tinge of all the artists that I love and listen to on a consistent basis."

The album — which she said was inspired by Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell and "maybe even a little McCartney" — was recorded on vintage equipment and with Moore's more mature view of life. Partly thanks to her marriage to rocker Ryan Adams, it is a far cry from the music and themes she sang about back in the day.

"I think I have a lot more information now, be it life experience, discovering new music. ... I know what I'm singing about now," she said. "Everything is really personal now, whereas before, I had no connection to it. It's deeper now. It's a bit more organic, because it's what I want to say."

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Mandy Moore Says Husband Ryan Adams Can Audition For Her Band

17 Apr 2009 16:52:00 EDT

'If he ever needs a job or something,' jokes the singer, whose album Amanda Leigh drops in May.
By Jocelyn Vena

Mandy Moore recently married indie rocker Ryan Adams, and — for now at least — she'd like to keep their relationship strictly matrimonial.

"Lots of exciting things going on in my world right now. I'm very happy — very, very happy," said the singer, whose album Amanda Leigh drops in May. "And in terms of collaborating in the future, I wouldn't rule it out as a possibility, but right now, I'm kind of just psyched about this record and getting my band on the road."

She did say that she might be able to find a spot for her husband on the road — if he's willing to put in the work. "You know, if he ever needs a job or something, maybe he can audition for the band," she joked. "Other than that, I think we'll both just stick to being supportive of each other on the sidelines."

Moore said Adams is supporting her these days by teaching her guitar and piano, calling him her "in-home teacher" during an interview with Details. And Moore revealed to MTV News that aside from the Ryan Adams School of Guitar and Piano, she's also learning bass. No word if Adams is also her bass teacher.

"I'm learning bass right now, so I'll potentially show some bass skills off onstage, but only on the easy songs," she said, adding, "I know guitar a little bit, and I play a little bit of piano, both kind of terribly, but I always think its pretty badass when you see a female bass player."

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Mandy Moore Was 'Giddy,' Tearful When Marrying Ryan Adams

13 Mar 2009 11:27:00 EDT

'She was thrilled to be getting married,' Pastor Steve Schulte says.
By Jocelyn Vena

Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams were married Tuesday in a simple, casual wedding ceremony in Savannah, Georgia. The pastor who officiated the ceremony talked about it to People.com, describing Moore as "giddy."

"She was thrilled to be getting married. She was giddy but not in a childish way. She was obviously so happy," Pastor Steven Schulte told the site, adding that it was one of their reps who asked if he could officiate the last-minute wedding. "I thought it was either somebody famous or somebody really bad."

On Tuesday afternoon, Moore — reportedly wearing a cream-colored, lacy, tea-length dress and flat sandals — and Adams — dressed in tight skinny jeans, a T-shirt with sport coat and sneakers — showed up to Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Home for Boys with two other men. Schulte had no idea the couple were celebrities.

The couple kept the 8-minute ceremony low-key and exchanged silver bands from a local jeweler. Moore cried a bit as she took Adams as her husband. After the ceremony, Schulte congratulated the couple, who got engaged just a month earlier.

The couple then shared some romantic moments when it was all over. According to People, "Adams turned and took Moore's face in both of his hands and gave her another kiss. They then walked to a little footbridge near the chapel where they hugged and kissed."

"It was so romantic. It was awesome," wedding planner Chad Baker said. "I just can't stress how happy they seemed."

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Mandy Moore And Ryan Adams Get Married

11 Mar 2009 14:23:00 EDT

Couple got engaged in February and wed in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, according to online reports.
By Jocelyn Vena

Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams are married, a rep for Moore confirmed to MTV News.

The report of their marriage originally appeared on PerezHilton.com. According to the gossip site, Moore and Adams got married Tuesday in an intimate ceremony in Savannah, Georgia. A source told the site, "She's very, very happy." The couple got engaged in February after dating on and off. Another source told Perez that Adams "is completely head-over-heels about her and a changed man."

The couple started dating in December 2007, according to E! News, but didn't make their relationship public until last March. Adams was quite vocal about why the couple broke up the following July, blaming the media's constant presence as a cause. "Unfortunately, I am allergic to paparazzi and have found the best antidote to that sort of nonsense is staying behind the guitar and typewriter," he said of the breakup. "[I'm] staying close to my support group of friends and bandmates and not engaging in activities that prevent me from taking care of myself or others."

Soon after the split, Moore was seen hanging out with former flame DJ AM after he survived a deadly plane crash, though the renewed relationship didn't last long. Before long, Adams and Moore had reunited and were soon after engaged.

"He's a good egg," Moore told the new issue of Marie Claire, reports Just Jared. "I'm in awe of him: his brain, his passion. He's truly one of a kind."

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Shanna Moakler Issues Statement On Travis Barker/ DJ Am Plane Crash

22 Sep 2008 14:01:00 EDT

Barker's ex-wife flew to Georgia Saturday to be with him.
By Jocelyn Vena

Shanna Moakler, the ex-wife of Travis BarkerTravis Barker and the mother of their 4-year-old son, Landon, and 2-year-old daughter, Alabama, issued a statement on Monday (September 22) regarding the plane crash in which four people were killed and Barker and DJ AMDJ AM were critically injured on Friday night. Moakler left for Georgia on Saturday to be with Barker in the hospital.

"There are not enough words to express how thankful we are for the outpouring of love and support we have received during this very difficult time," the statement reads, according to UsMagazine.com. "We can only ask for prayers as we heal and mourn the loss of our dear friends who we considered part of our family. Our lives will be changed forever."

Moakler was referring to deaths of the four other passengers, including Barker's assistant Chris "Little Chris" Baker and his security guard, Charles Still, 25. Barker and DJ AM (real name: Adam Goldstein) are expected to recover fully.

Barker and Moakler starred in the MTV reality series "Meet the Barkers," which chronicled their marriage. Although the pair divorced in 2004, UsMagazine.com reports that they are back together.

According to media reports, DJ AM's ex-girlfriend Mandy Moore visited him and Jermaine Dupri visited Barker in the days since the accident. Also, several of the pair's friends and colleagues have issued statements or wished them love and support.

A statement from the families of both artists thanks fans and friends for their support. "The families wish to thank fans from all over the world for their prayers and concern," the statement says. "Deepest sympathy is expressed to the loved ones of those who perished in the crash."

If you'd like more information on the memorial funds set up to benefit Chris Baker's and Charles Still's families, visit the Famous Stars and Straps Web site.

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