What Christmas gift do you buy for a basic-cable reality-show superstar who makes serious coin for simply engaging in drama with her friends, having awkward staring contests with her frienemies and occasionally sitting down to chat with a pair of Canadian goofballs? That was the question I faced when I was approached to be Secret Santa for last night’s “The Hills Finale Live From NYC” show.

Due to time constraints, my Secret Santa segments got slashed more than your teacher’s tires during finals week, so a lot of my fun “Hills”-inspired gifts didn’t make it to air, but I thought it would still be fun to share what I would have given Spencer, Heidi, Lauren and the rest of the gang on “The Hills.”

Heidi and Spencer: What do you get for the newlyweds? (Spoiler alert: or, uh, newly-not-legally-weds?) This one was easy. First, I picked them up a giant handle of premium tequila to help them remember their quickie Mexican marriage. (Or in Heidi’s case, it might help her forget.) I also snagged an electric razor, so Spencer could tame that wild beard of his. And last, I bought the happy couple a nice frame so that they could display a wedding photo, a marriage license or a prenup.

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We’re just hours away from the season finale of “The Hills,” and tonight, I’ve been asked to help celebrate the event by popping up in the live finale to act as the Secret Santa for “The Hills”! I’ve hand-picked silly personalized gifts for each cast member and I’ll be doling them out tonight at “The Hills Finale Live From NYC,” starting at 8 p.m. Pray that I don’t get slapped on live television — I hear Lo has a killer right hook.

The whole gang is slated to be there — Lauren, Audrina, Whitney, Justin — and as much as I’m stoked to congratulate the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Pratt in person, I’m secretly hoping that Spencer’s grandma will be in attendance. That’s right, you can keep your Lauren Conrad! For me, the real star of “The Hills” is Nana. Here’s hoping for a senior spinoff called “The Home.” (Madonna could play at the aftershow!)

So check out “The Hills Finale Live From NYC” tonight at 8 p.m., leading up to the season finale at 10 p.m., followed by the aftershow with Dan and Jessi and a special performance by the Pussycat Dolls!

When I was asked to participate in an MTV special in which I’d discuss the Britney Spears documentary “For the Record” with some of her biggest fans, I was excited but super-nervous about the freaks I’d no doubt meet. I figured it’d be a bunch of Chris Crocker clones and possibly even that dude with the dollhouse on his head.

Thankfully, the MTV casting department did a helluva job finding devoted Spears fans who were intelligent, well-spoken, witty and totally not nuts. They were not simple sycophants who blindly worshipped every little thing their idol has ever done. They acknowledged Brit’s missteps, criticized some of her past decisions and had unique insights into her career. Read more…

Shout out your homies and then screech at the top of your lungs because it’s time to live-blog the “TRL” finale! Yes, after 10+ years of racing home after school to catch 45-second snippets of our favorite music videos, “TRL” is saying goodbye in a prime-time extravaganza called “Total Finale Live,” which I suppose technically makes it “TFL.” (That will probably confuse Tim Kash, since “TFL” usually refers to the London transit authority.)

All of our “TRL” faves are likely to appear, from the original HBIC Carson Daly (although nowadays he’s about half the size as he was in 1999), to the artists that “TRL” helped catapult into superstardom: BSB, Beyonce, Korn (remember them?!) and – fingers crossed - LFO. I mean, Britney.

So join me as I revert back to my 16 year-old self and enjoy “TRL” one last time. I’ve got an ignored math textbook next to me on the couch, I’m shoving Oreos into my mouth by the fistful and I’m praying that my comment flashes on screen during Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody.”

7:56 pm - Hello! Or as Marjorie from “America’s Next Top Model” would say “bonjour!” We’re just moments away from the “TRL” finale.

7:58 pm - Marjorie was robbed.

8:00 pm - The show is opening with a quick countdown of the top 10 moments, I think. #6 is Korn’s arrival. #5 is Michael Jackson. #4 is Brad Pitt re-encacting a scene from “Seven.” These are getting scarier as they go on. I’m expecting Mariah Carey’s meltdown to be #1.

8:02 pm - #1 is Beyonce live! Right now! How is she going to live up to that expectation?

8:04 pm - Beyonce is doing the same exact performance from last night’s “SNL.” Thanks for the preferential treatment, B! (At least she changed clothes?)

8:07 pm - It’s hard to follow Beyonce’s “Do this with your hand!” direction whilst typing.

8:08 pm - Beyonce is taking us back to her “Crazy In Love” days. You know, if she really wanted to do something shocking, she would reunite with tDestiny’s Child. And not Michele Williams and Kely Rowland. The ORIGINAL D-Child girls. Latavia, where you at?!

8:09 pm - My buddy Sway just introduced Damien Fahey and Carson Daly. And thanks to a weird audio glitch, he did this twice! Whoops!

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It feels like the day after Christmas, doesn’t it? Except the holiday season only lasts about a month, and this particular election season has dragged on for almost two years.

Back when it started, Democrat Tom Vilsack first filed papers with the FEC — and thus kicked off the race to the White House — Bob Barker was still hosting “The Price Is Right,” CariDee was just about to win “America’s Next Top Model” and America had not yet met Sanjaya.

Crazy, right?

And not only has it been prolonged, but it’s been intense! With a campaign season that had more plot developments than the entire run of “Passions,” it’s hard to remember all the twists and turns the story took. Remember when Rudy Giuliani was considered a front-runner? Or what about when Joe Biden — a then-presidential candidate — got flack for calling Obama “clean?” And there was the Chuck Norris/ Mike Huckabee bromance! Jesse Jackson threatening castration! Hillary threatening scary 3 a.m. phone calls!

Watch Jim’s video recap of the entire election, after the jump!

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MTV News’ Jim Cantiello will be chilling with the CNN elite all night and sending in live observations. Make sure to check back in for updates!

For better or worse, 24-hour news networks have a huge impact on politics. So what better place to watch the election than in the belly of the beast? CNN invited me and John Norris to the “CNN Grill,” an elaborate viewing party at CNN HQ. Truth be told, the recipe of said “viewing party” seems to be three parts party, one part viewing and five parts vodka.

Within two seconds of grabbing my seat on a sofa in the corner, a chirpy waitress named Amber (whose energy is definitely that color) asked for my drink order and gave me a giant menu. Fun! The menu is peppered with fun little “election” tie-ins. In a twist that will surely drive Fox News and Matt Drudge crazy, most of the food items seem to be slamming the Republicans. I can order the “Mudslinger.” And I can also order something called the “Mac & Cheese” — clearly a reference to the McCain/Palin ticket.

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The official Animal Collective Web site was recently updated with a mysterious, mind-melting, wallpaper-like pop-up jpeg, which we’ve just received confirmation is the cover for their highly anticipated album Merriweather Post Pavilion, due out January 20, 2009.

Stare at it long enough and you’ll see a unicorn.

Not really.

But, seriously, does this artwork remind anyone else of those 3D Magic Eye posters that The Nature Company used to sell? In honor of my 14-year-old mallrat self (”Mom, I’ll meet you in the LaserDisc section of Saturday Matinee!”), I just spent the last 15 minutes starting at this album cover, and here are 10 images that have emerged while my bleary eyes studied the pattern: Read more…

Thursday night at Los Premios (which are basically MTV’s Latin American VMAs, if you will), Katy Perry kissed the floor. And I liked it!
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Two flamboyant tours stopped in New York City last weekend: Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour and Of Montreal’s latest stage show. Both artists share a flair for the dramatic, elevating their concerts to epic theatrical extravaganzas. But there’s one major difference: ticket price. The best seats at MSG went for $350, while Of Montreal charged only $23 for general admission at Roseland Ballroom!

So any Madonna fans out there who are strapped for cash, here’s why you can — and should! — check out Of Montreal’s latest gigs and still get a Madgetastic show for a fraction of the price. Here’s a breakdown of which show is better at what:

COSTUME CHANGES!
Madonna: Lots of black. Lots of top hats. Lots of shorts. Also, there’s whatever this is.

Of Montreal: Frontman Kevin Barnes dresses like a cardinal! Then, he’s a minotaur! He’s in a bikini bottom! He’s wearing a giant fanny pack! He’s covered in fake blood! He’s smothered in whipped cream! He’s dressed like Prince! Shall I continue?

Advantage: Of Montreal. Half the fun of a Madonna concert is seeing what she’s decked out in, but her latest wardrobe is a far cry from the Gaultier-designed Blonde Ambition garb. Stick with Of Montreal’s wild and outrageous “WTF ARE THEY WEARING?!?” appeal.
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The photo shoot on last night’s episode of “America’s Next Top Model” started innocently enough. Queen Tyra had the girls act out awkward, unscripted scenarios at a fictional awards show. The photos ranged from tripping onstage to not being able to pee in a fancy dress. (Classy!) And then there was this scenario: “The Interviewer With an Attitude.”

That’s an odd awards-show scenario, isn’t it? I don’t really think that particular situation would pop into most people’s heads when they hear “unscripted awards-show moment.” But whatevs, just last week Tyra called traffic a “natural disaster,” so I’m used to this show making my brain hurt.
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