ABC

OK, so the "Dancing With the Stars" judges -- Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli -- didn't actually hand out 1s on April 30, but based on the booing in the ballroom, they may as well have.

An orchestra, operatic stars and an extra dose of formality set the scene for Classical Week on "Dancing With the Stars," but it also proved the perfect setting for some ballroom drama -- and this time it didn't come from the man known as the bad boy of the ballroom.

Well, at least not directly.

Sometimes-temperamental pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy was on his best behavior all night, but the same can't be said about "Dancing's" judges, who threw their weight around with harsh criticism and questionable scores, or the audience, who let those judges know just what they thought of them.

The biggest sparks of the night flew after Maks and his star partner, Melissa Gilbert, took the stage alongside two competing couples -- Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd, and William Levy and Cheryl Burke. Together they formed Team Paso and put on a show-stopping routine that judge Carrie Ann Inaba admitted would likely "go down in history as the fan favorite paso doble."

She wasn't wrong. The dance had everything fans clamor for, from an intense, character-driven dynamic to perfect poses to outstanding foot and legwork (especially from the gents) -- and of course, some well-placed shirtlessness. (Again, courtesy of the guys.) It was nothing short of amazing, as the standing, cheering crowd clearly communicated.

Which begged the question: Why the heck did head judge Len Goodman call it a routine of "fire and ice," with the ice alluding to the lack of heat in execution? And how could any of the judges excuse the scores they gave the anything-but-icy routine?

Carrie Ann billed it as the best, but gave it a score one point shy of the best. Len could only grump together an 8. And Bruno Tonioli matched Carrie Ann.

Now a 26 out of 30 might not seem so bad. It is, after all, just four points off a perfect score. But the kicker was that Team Paso danced head-to-head against the remaining pairs (aka, Team Tango) and clearly bested them. Yet somehow Team Tango tangoed away with a higher score.

The injustice wasn't lost on the audience, who then delivered some of the biggest and longest lasting boos heard in the ballroom to date.

That hubbub capped off an odd night of highs and lows in the ballroom – the very lowest, scorewise, also involved Maks and Melissa.

For their non-group effort, the pair put on an Argentine tango full of extreme lifts and intense choreography -- quite the feat considering that the pro was off his feet for much of the week due to an injury. As for Melissa, she did her best to follow the dance set to Mozart's ballet-friendly but not tango-ready "Marriage of Figaro," though she did it all with a look of panic.

The judges could have focused on the positives of the routine's complexity or the negatives, including the look of fear or occasional stiffness from Melissa. Instead, they mostly focused on delivering low-blows.

Bruno compared to it Coney Island's Cyclone. Len vaguely complained that it lacked "dance quality." And Carrie Ann? She said it was like "Cirque du Soleil gone terribly wrong."

In seasons past, that was the point in the evening when Maks would have earned his bad-boy rep and given the panel a review of his own (as the audience did with more boos). But (sadly) that wasn't the case on Monday night. Through gritted teeth, the pro just looked the other way and ignored the harsh words. And when co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet asked him what he thought of the judges' opinions on the 21-point dance, he simply said, "I don't think. I just dance, and I teach."

Too bad.

Of course not every couple received that sort of reception from the judges. In fact, for Maria Menounos and Derek Hough, the night was full of wins. Not only did they collect kudos for their Team Tango effort, they also put on a perfect paso doble -- and unlike the perfect team version, they nabbed a perfect score to show for it.

The judges each raised their 10 paddle for the pair to make for the season's first 30.

Other nearly top contenders included Katherine Jenkins, Donald and William, each of whom continued to display the sort of moves that might just take them all the way to the finale. Each of them also scored 27 points for their near-perfect routines.

In the middle of the pack were Jaleel White, with a 24-point Viennese waltz and Roshon Fegan, with a 25-point Argentine tango (oddly set to Lady Gaga's not-so-classical "Bad Romance").

Which means Melissa (and Maks) is in last place with the judges, and will have to hope for fan support to stay out of the bottom two. After all, Tuesday night's dreaded ballroom boot once again goes to the panel of (possibly biased) experts.

This week marks the last installment of the Dance Duel experiment that's so far sent both Gavin DeGraw and Gladys Knight packing -- at least it's the end for now. So the viewers will only help decide the overall ranking, and the judges will make the ultimate call "based solely" on the final dance off.

Do you think the judges made classic mistakes for Classical Week? Share your thought on our Facebook page. And be sure to join me and Anna Chan for our weekly "DWTS" live chat Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Related content:

• 'Dancing With the Stars' live chat with Ree and Anna
• Bring 'em back! Celebs we want to see on 'Dancing With the Stars: All Stars'
• Bruno: I don't have a favorite on 'Dancing With the Stars'
• All-stars season reportedly coming for 'Dancing With the Stars'

More in The Clicker:

• My word! Why are some stars suddenly down on 'Downton Abbey'?
• Jimmy Fallon's 'SNL' audition tape makes an excellent first impression
• Elise didn't feel it was her time to get cut from 'American Idol'

Chinafotopress / Getty Images Contributor

Singer and 1970s-era sex symbol Tom Jones said in an interview with the UK's Radio Times that was once up for the role of James Bond, but got passed over because he was “too well known.” The 71-year-old Welsh singer, who had U.S. hits with “What's New Pussycat,” “She’s a Lady” and “Kiss,” said that despite his successful run as a pop singer, he’d have liked to have had a shot at acting.

“The only thing I regret is that I'd like to have had a pop at acting when I was younger,” Jones told the Radio Times. “My name was up for James Bond at one time, but [producer] Cubby Broccoli apparently said I was too well known for people to believe it.”

The role of the fabled Agent 007 was established by Academy Award winner Sean Connery in “Dr. No” from 1962. Connery played the lead role in the half dozen James Bond films that followed (excepting “On Her Majesty's Secret Service” from 1969), after which Roger Moore nabbed the part.

Ironically, it might have been Jones’ presence on the small screen, more than the radio, that made him too popular in the eyes of “Bond” series producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli. From 1969 to 1971, the singer hosted his own variety show, “This is Tom Jones,” which got him nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Jones was involved peripherally, at least, with one Bond film, singing the main title track for the 1965 film “Thunderball.” He also realized his dream of acting in 1996, when he played himself in the Tim Burton science fiction spoof “Mars Attacks!” These days, he can be seen on UK TV in a new drama “King of the Teds.”

And if you’re wondering whether Jones’ acting is as keyed-up as his singing on songs like “It’s Not Unusual,” the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”

“I have a tendency to overact,” he said to the Radio Times. “It's a Welsh thing.”

Related content:

• Britain's Eurovision contestant -- Engelbert Humperdinck!
• Video: Robert Flack pays tribute to John Lennon

Jennifer Lopez will tour North America this summer with Enrique Iglesias. This concert series will kick off a global jaunt the "American Idol" judge plans to embark on which will see her play her first headlining shows ever in Latin America.

The 42-year-old Lopez confirmed the news this morning on Ryan Seacrest's radio show.

MORE: Marc Anthony Files for Divorce From Jennifer Lopez

The joint headlining trek with the "Hero" crooner opens in Montreal on July 14 and will make stops in 13 cities including Toronto, Newark, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta before wrapping up on Aug. 31.

Before that however, she and estranged hubby Marc Anthony will join forces for a performance at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26.

Lopez will follow that with a series of gigs south of the border including Caracas, Venezuela on June 16; Santiago, Chile on June 20; and four in Brazil -- the Pop Music Festival in Sao Paulo on June 23 (on a bill with the first "Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson and Paris Hilton), Rio De Janeiro on June 24 and dates in Fortaleza and Recife on June 30 and July 1 respectively.

MORE: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Get Back Together...on Stage!

The "On the Floor" singer will make a formal announcement about her tour plans later today via a livestream that starts at 7 p.m. ET on her newly relaunched website, JenniferLopez.com.

The redesign also touts a "tour feed" section where Lopez will give away tickets for each show day; the singer will also post messages, scenes from backstage and other specialized content.

Lopez fans across the pond will have to wait a little while longer as there's no word yet on European dates.

Tickets for the North American leg -- the full itinerary is listed below -- go on sale via Ticketmaster and other outlets beginning May 4.

July 14: Montreal Bell Centre
July 17: Toronto Air Canada Centre
July 20: Newark Prudential Center
July 25: Boston TD Garden
July 28: Washington DC Verizon Center
Aug. 03: Chicago United Center
Aug. 08: San Jose HP Pavilion
Aug. 11: Anaheim Honda Center
Aug. 16: Los Angeles Staples Center
Aug. 25: Dallas American Airlines CTR
Aug. 26: Houston TX Toyota Center
Aug. 29: Atlanta Philips Arena
Aug. 31: Miami American Airlines Arena

GALLERY: J.Lo &Marc--The Arc of a Romance

Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images file

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder contributed "Skipping," a gentle acoustic ballad, to "Every Mother Counts 2012," a benefit for the maternal health advocacy campaign of the same name. The disc also features previously unreleased cuts by Beck, Coldplay, Bono and the Edge, Patti Smith, Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, Alanis Morissette and the Dave Matthews Band.

"Eddie was amazing to accept this project while in the midst of so much," says Every Mother Counts founder Christy Turlington Burns. "I spoke to him and exchanged several emails about his contribution. 'Skipping' is such a sweet song and I just love that his daughter Olivia has a little cameo at the start. He once wrote me saying that his girls would be proud one day that their dad contributed to such a meaningful project."

"Every Mother Counts 2012" will be available in Starbucks shops in the United States and Canada between May 1 and May 29, and $8 from the proceeds of each CD will go to the Every Mother Counts campaign.

Go here to listen to Vedder's song on RollingStone.com.

More music news:

• Bob Dylan to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
• 3 Kanye albums among Rolling Stone's Greatest 500

Updated at 3:40 p.m PT: Over the years, octuplets-and-then-some mom Nadya Suleman has insisted that she would do whatever she had to do to support her 14 kids -- as long as that didn't involve starring in a pornographic movie. Now? The woman known as "Octomom" has had a change of heart.

It seems tough financial times, which recently necessitated doing an about-face on her no-public-assistance pledge, have led Suleman to reconsider an X-rated future.

And it seems she's certainly in dire straights when it comes to money. Our pals at E! News have confirmed that the 36-year-old mom of 14 has filed for bankruptcy.

"I have had to make some very difficult decisions this year and filing Chapter 7 was one of them," Suleman told E! News. "But I have to do what is best for my children and I need a fresh start."

As for possibly venturing into adult films to pay her bills, she told HLN's "Showbiz Tonight": “You know if the opportunity comes up, I'll be the first to admit, I’m gonna eat my words! Because all that matters is that I can take care of my family."

So, if the price is right, she'll participate.

"If it's a job, and it's a well-paying job, and it's gonna allow me to get us out of here and into a very safe, huge home that (the kids) deserve, I'm gonna do it," she explained.

As of earlier this month, during an interview with TODAY, Suleman discussed her recent move to pose topless, but insisted that porn was strictly off limits for her.

“I won’t touch other human flesh,’’ Suleman said at the time. “The only flesh I’m touching is my own. I would never, never accept anything. I will not lose my grip of my deeply indoctrinated morals and values."

Even though it seems she's now willing to adjust those values, she may not see the sort of payday she hopes for. In 2009, shortly after Suleman gave birth to the latest members of her brood, Vivid Entertainment bigwig Steve Hirsch offered her $1 million to star in an adult film. Now that years have passed and the aforementioned topless shoot has removed some of the mystery, Hirsh recently revealed that he is now only willing to pay her $100,000 -- in exchange for starring in three films.

Also in the Entertainment blog:

• Latest 'Prometheus' trailer tempts with holographic aliens
• Radio DJ's sex advice to father of gay daughter sparks controversy
• Bob Dylan to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Mike Coppola / Getty Images file

Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard became the proud parents of their second baby girl, a rep for Gyllenhaal confirms to Us Weekly exclusively. Born April 19 in New York, the parents named their newborn Gloria Ray.

The "Hysteria" actress, 34, and the "Lovelace" actor, 41, are already parents to daughter Ramona, 5. Together since 2002, the couple tied the knot at a small chapel in Brindisi, Italy, on May 2, 2009.

PHOTOS: Most memorable celebrity pregnancies

Since first becoming a mother in 2006, Gyllenhaal has struggled to balance her personal and professional life. "I had been so focused on Ramona -- and she's been everything to me -- but I'm also an actress," she told Us in January 2010. "It's not possible to do it perfectly."

PHOTOS: Celebs' pregnancy cravings

Gyllenhaal waited until her second trimester to announce her most recent pregnancy.

"I find it difficult to pretend you're not pregnant, which I had to do," the "Crazy Heart" star told USA Today in March. "I didn't let anyone know until three and a half months this time. I went to film festivals. I'm throwing up in the bathroom and having to keep pretzels in my purse, and having to fit into dresses."

PHOTOS: Hollywood's newest babies!

Sarsgaard, meanwhile, had another set of concerns -- the biggest being how to prepare Ramona for sisterhood. "I've seen kids with siblings -- I don't have any siblings, so I don't know -- but they generally go for about five minutes, 'Oh, cool! Anyway, what are we going to do now? Can we return it?'" he told reporters in February. "I think it gets boring quickly, at first, and it takes a while for them to bond."

Related content:

• Beyonce: Surrogacy rumors were 'just crazy'
• No baby yet, but Jessica Simpson delivers video
• Video: Which celebs made headlines at D.C.'s 'nerd prom'

LOS ANGELES -- The latest international trailer for "Prometheus" gives audiences brief, tantalizing glimpses of some ornery alien creatures.

Ridley Scott has kept his "Alien" prequel's plot twists tightly under wraps, so even the few glimpses of deep space carnage chalk up to the most extended look yet at the creatures that will menace Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and the rest of the "Prometheus" crew.

Of course, the extraterrestrials in question appear outlined in holograms or as some sort of snake-like creature, so it's difficult to tell how closely they resemble the flesh-eating monsters from the first film.

Based on the blood, screaming and chilling music in the trailer, this mission to the far reaches of space does take a similar turn for the worse.

More movie news:

• 'Think Like a Man' remains No. 1 at box office
• Super, heroic 'Avengers' set to rule the world

In his first interview since the death of Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown exclusively tells TODAY's Matt Lauer, "I'm not the reason she's gone."

NBC

In a candid sit-down set to air Wednesday, Brown, who says he’s "very much clean and sober from narcotics," talks to Lauer about the last time he saw Houston, how he found out about her death, and why he gets blamed for her drug use. He talks about his relationship with their daughter, Bobbi Kristina, and addresses recent rumors and controversy surrounding her personal life. And Thursday, speaking publicly for the first time, three of Brown’s children and his fiancée tell TODAY how they feel about the media’s portrayal of Brown. 

When asked about the last time he saw Houston, a week or so before she died, Brown says the iconic singer "had this glow about her that was just, you know, incredible. I'm saying to myself, you know, 'She must be ... she must be doing really well,' because she looked really well."

Brown says Houston, to whom he was married for 15 years, "looked like she was in a good place."

Video: Coroner says Houston took drugs before drowning

Lauer asks Brown how he took the news that cocaine was a likely contributor to the death of Houston, 48, who was found in a bathtub in a Beverly Hills hotel on Feb. 11.

"I was hurt. I was hurt ... because, you know, me being off of narcotics for the last seven years, I felt that she was, you know, I didn’t know she was struggling with it still. But at the same time, you know, listen, it's a hard fight.  It's a hard fight to, you know, maintain sobriety that way."

Based on his own feelings and how she appeared when he last saw her, Brown theorizes that that one day of cocaine use -- not the effects of longterm use -- was enough to kill Houston. "It had to be that one, because that's all it takes," Brown said. "One hit, you know ... it could definitely take your life away from you. And, unfortunately, that was it."

Lauer pressed the 43-year-old R&B star on the talk after Houston's death. "If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times, and I know you heard it too," Lauer said. "Fans, people who say they were close to Whitney, say her life went downhill when she met Bobby Brown. How does it make you feel when you hear it?"

"It makes me feel terrible," Brown said. "But you know, I know differently. I think if anyone ever knew us, if anybody ever spent time around us instead of time lookin' through the bubble, they would know how we felt about each other. They would know how happy we were together."

Video: Houston's hairstylist opens up about star's death

Brown says the couple got a wakeup call from starring in the reality TV series "Being Bobby Brown." "We looked at the bubble and saw ourselves. We was able to see what other people were saying about us, you know? We was able to see that our drug use had affected our relationship, had affected the love that we felt for each other."

But when asked by Lauer about the popular perception that he is the one responsible for getting Houston hooked on drugs, Brown says, "not true."

"I didn't get high [on narcotics] before I met Whitney," Brown said. "I smoked weed, I drank the beer, but no, I wasn't the one that got Whitney on drugs at all." He says drugs were a part of the singer's life "way before" they got together.

"It's just ... it's just unexplainable how one could, you know, [say that I] got her addicted to drugs. I'm not the reason she's gone," Brown said.

NBC

Video: Star-studded sendoff for Whitney Houston

In the second part of Lauer's interview, which will air Thursday, the TODAY host talks with three of Brown's children -- Landon, Bobby Jr., and La’Princia -- and his fiancée, Alicia Etheridge.

The children all say the public perception of their father is not the right one.

"I honestly feel like my dad's a great person," daughter La'Princia said. "He's been my best friend, like, my whole life. If I ever have a problem with anything, I know I can always go to him. Likewise, if he ever needs to talk to somebody, he knows he can always call me and I'll be there for him."

Son Landon says people confuse his father's stage persona with the real man. "I feel like my father's always had the bad boy image. So, you know, they just keep followin' that. Anything that they can take a negative from the situation, they blow it out of proportion and blame him."

Video: Details emerge about Houston's final days

La'Princia says everyone makes mistakes.

"They don't see the good part of him that we see every single day. Everyone goes through their ups and downs. You can't be judged forever about one event in your life or just the bad decisions you've made, you can't always be judged just by that."

How do you feel about Bobby Brown's view of Whitney Houston and his take on people's perception of him? Discuss on Facebook.

Related content:

• Whitney Houston slideshow

Reuters, AP

The star-crossed and much-scrutinized lives of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston may have been intertwined beyond public knowledge, as a bodyguard for Jackson is now saying the two pop enigmas had a brief romantic affair in the early '90s.

Determined to prove he is the biological father of Jackson’s youngest child, Blanket, former bodyguard Matt Fiddes made a number of striking claims to UK’s The Sun, including the suggestion that the pop superstars had a two-week fling at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in 1991, and that Jackson never quite recovered from it.

"They met because they were two of the biggest recording artists on the planet and mixing in the same circles. They instantly connected as kindred spirits because they understood each other’s massive fame,” Fiddes told the Sun on April 29. “Whitney practically moved into Michael’s ranch and they had a fling like any other young couple. But Michael said later he had always hoped the relationship had gone further, and I know he dreamed of marrying her."

In March, there was speculation that Houston was romantically linked to Jackson’s older brother, Jermaine. The Sun also reported that the affair took place while Jermaine was married to Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown founder, Berry Gordy. Jackson’s sister, La Toya confirmed the rumor on March 5 when she appeared on the "The Talk," saying, "He [Jermaine] has admitted that they had an affair."

Fiddes further elaborated to the Sun, commenting that Michael "was furious when he heard she had also slept with Jermaine, but this didn’t stop him holding a candle for her his whole life."

The 32-year-old British martial arts expert and fitness instructor met Jackson in 1998, and soon became his bodyguard and confidant until his passing in 2009.  Fiddes insists that Jackson asked him for a sperm donation in 2001 because he wanted to "create an athletic child," and that 10-year-old Blanket (real name Prince Michael II) was the result of his endowment. Though not seeking custody of the boy, Fiddes is aiming to bring the paternity issue to court in order to have DNA testing carried out and obtain visitation rights.

As further testament to his close ties with the late superstar, Fiddes has made a number of other allegations about the singer, including that he was "anorexic" and "impotent" due to heavy use of drugs and alcohol. He claims Jackson’s body was riddled with needle marks, and that he was ashamed of his balding head and had a closet containing more than hundred wigs.

Added Liddes, the last days of the pop icon were sullen. "If he couldn’t get drugs, he would drink. When he announced the 'This Is It' concerts at the O2 in London in 2009, he had downed half a bottle of whisky to cope with the pressure. He was also wearing a bullet-proof vest, petrified he would be assassinated due to the child abuse allegations that haunted him until his dying day."

Though he asserts he spoke to Jackson just three days before his death on June 25, 2009, Liddes was banned from the Jackson family circle following the singer’s passing.

What do you make of Fiddes claims? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

Related content:

• Video: Coroner: Houston took drugs before drowning
• Video: Houston's daughter opens up to Oprah

A disc jockey on WMMS 100.7 FM, a popular rock station in Cleveland, recently said that a father should have one of his male friends have sex with his daughter in order to stop her from partaking in apparent lesbian affairs, and is now facing rebuke from activists calling for his suspension.

Radio personality Dominic Dieter, who hosts the morning show, “Rover’s Morning Glory” on the station, reportedly received an email from a parent who caught his teenage daughter kissing another girl on April 27, according to The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). In response, the on-air host instructed the father, "You should get one of your friends to screw your daughter straight."

As observed by GLAAD, the remarks, regardless of whether the girl was gay or not, incite violence and perpetuate false stereotypes and beliefs on sexual orientation. The organization is, thus, calling on Clear Channel Communications, parent company of the WMMS, along with the Ohio affiliate to suspend Dieter and offer an apology.

GLAAD spoke to Clear Channel Monday morning about the matter, and Aaron McQuade, spokesperson for the LGBT organization, told msnbc.com, "Clear Channel is taking appropriate steps not just to send the message to this station’s listeners that this issue is not one to joke about – but also to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Messages of parental rejection are serious issues plaguing and hurting LGBT youth today."

Clear Channel additionally told GLAAD that Dieter made a pre-recorded apology, which would be issued shortly, and that the station was going to run PSAs about parental rejection and a safe schools initiative. Furthermore, Equality Ohio has been invited to become a part of their community advisory board to ensure this does not happen again.

“According to [the] journal “Pediatrics,” LGBT young people who are rejected by their parents are 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs than LGBT young people whose parents accept them,” McQuade explained to msnbc.

He also commented that, despite Dieter’s anti-gay remarks, “There is a dramatic increase in support for LGBT people among conservatives. Americans across the political spectrum see that LGBT people are our neighbors, our friends, and members of our families, and are shifting their views."

While Clear Channel did not expound on any specific details of what direct actions were to be made due to company policy, McQuade pointed out that Dieter wasn't live on the air Monday morning.

Related content:

• Video: Lesbian service member discusses fight for equal benefits
• Video: Country singer Chely Wright opens LGBT center

"Downton Abbey" has enjoyed tremendous success both in England and the U.S., which means that a backlash had to happen sometime. But that doesn't mean recent comments made by star Elizabeth McGovern and now actor Benedict Cumberbatch (of "Sherlock" fame) haven't gotten us all in a tizzy. Where are our smelling salts?

Last week, McGovern, who plays Countess Cora Crawley, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying the soapy turn the show took in the second season was a little tiring, with all of the twists and turns. "It's kind of a taste thing, and the show in the first season was more to my taste than the show in the second season," she said.

She's since backtracked, telling TV Guide Magazine in a statement that she was "horrified" that those comments were "taken out of context and misinterpreted.... I was in no way criticizing the second season or implying that I loved it or enjoyed it less."

Now here comes Benedict Cumberbatch, who fans of PBS miniseries (like "Downton") will know from his reprisal of Sherlock Holmes (season two begins airing May 6 on "Masterpiece Mystery!"). In Thursday's New York Times, Cumberbatch displayed a certain amount of envy that "Sherlock's" first season got ignored in the rising light of "Downtown" by relating a story from January's Golden Globes ceremony. He recalled that PBS "Masterpiece" executive producer Rebecca Eaton taunted him with "Downton's" just-won trophy.

"I just looked at it and went: 'Begone, woman. Bring it back when it says “Sherlock Holmes” or (series co-creator) Steven Moffat or myself -- someone else who’s more deserving than the second series of 'Downton Abbey.''"

He wouldn't say more about the series, only noting: "I know too many people who are in it. I thought the first (season) was good. That’s what I’ll say."

So what do you say? Did you find "Downton Abbey" too soapy in its second season? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related content:

• 'Downton Abbey's' Dowager Countess could be killed off
• Jimmy Fallon gives 'Downton Abbey' the 'Late Night' treatment
• The real 'Downton Abbey' housed its own drama
• Major 'Downton Abbey' character will die in season 3
• More on 'Downton Abbey' in The Clicker

C'mon, "Dancing"! Bring back Kyle Massey, Mel B and Gilles Marini for the all-stars season!

When former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Mario Lopez dished last week that the powers-that-be behind the ballroom bash had contacted him to do an all-stars turn next season, we couldn't help but start formulating a list of past contestants we'd love to see return. After all, there are quiet a few runners-up and early exiters (thanks a lot, voters!) who should've had a legit shot at mirror ball glory, but instead had it snatched away, leaving tears instead of confetti in their wake.

Among those we consider must-haves (no winners allowed!):

1. Mel B.: The season five runner-up was robbed, we say! Robbed! The former Spice Girl performed consistently and beautifully throughout the competition. Her final dance earned her a perfect score, yet she lost to race-car driver Helio Castroneves. And her flawless and powerful paso doble with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy in week seven? Mmmm! That performance earned a perfect 30 from the judges and landed at No. 5 of "Dancing's" list of top 10 dances in the history of the show. We already know what a hot pair she and Maks are together, but should she come back, we hope the producers tweak things just a little and put her with Maks' little bro, Val, instead. Let's see what the younger Chmerkovskiy can do with Mel!

2. Gilles Marini: Long before William Levy brought sexy back to the ballroom this season, this French actor heated things up when he hit the floor with two-time champ Cheryl Burke in season eight. But don't get us wrong! Our desire to see Gilles waltz back onto the show isn't about ballroom eye candy -- well, it's not just about ballroom eye candy. Gilles delivered a number of standout dances, including a fan-favorite Argentine tango that earned him a perfect score from the panel. He even made it all the way to the second place spot for the season. Without Shawn Johnson standing in his way again, he could take it all the way. His perfect take-two partner would have to be another winning champ -- Kym Johnson.

3. Carson Kressley: OK, we're the first to admit he's far from the best dancer the show has ever seen. But who can deny that he was possibly the most fun star to watch -- ever. The fashion expert had a grin from ear to ear for every performance and made each week that he performed on season 13 an absolute joy to watch. And even after his week-five elimination, his over-the-top personality continued to bring new life to the show in the form of extra video clips. Let's keep that going by adding him to the all-stars cast. And as an added bonus (for viewers and Carson), pair him with Maks for extra hijinks! We all know what a big crush he has on the bad boy of the ballroom.

4. Kyle Massey: The original idea behind "Dancing With the Stars" was to take entertainers with no real background in formal dance, put them through rigorous rehearsals and eventually bring out their ballroom best. In season 11, dance-savvy ringer Jennifer Grey stole the spotlight, but we felt it was Disney Channel star and runner-up Kyle who really deserved top honors. In the beginning, he brought enthusiasm and big laughs, if not flawless footwork, to the dance floor. And by the finale, he showed off moves any ballroom amateur would be proud to master. While pro Lacey Schwimmer was a great match for Kyle the first time around, this time we'd like to see him put his best foot forward alongside the always eager Chelsie Hightower.

5. Sabrina Bryan: The former Cheetah Girl's week-six exit during season five goes down as one of the biggest shockers in the show's history. Sabrina and pro partner Mark Ballas wowed viewers each week with ridiculously high scores (never anything lower than a 25), and even earned a perfect 30 in week four, the earliest anyone had received that score up until then. To bring her back for a second chance would give her the opportunity to show once more just how far she could've gone. But let's keep Mark out of it this time (the two dated for a bit after meeting on the show). For her new partner, we choose Tristan MacManus.

So many great past contestants to choose from! But who *wouldn't* you want to see compete again? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related content:

• Mario Lopez: 'Dancing' asked me to do an all-stars season
• Bruno: I don't have a favorite on 'DWTS'
• Melissa and Maks aren't happy with angry 'DWTS' edit

More in The Clicker:

• Elise didn't feel it was her time to get cut from 'Idol'
• Reporter accidentally dunks $2K mic in water
• Ellen DeGeneres reads 'Fifty Shades of Grey' -- with sound effects

Sebastien Pirlet / Reuters file

Robin Gibb

Robin Gibb's incredible recovery continues apace. The Bee Gees member, who was hospitalized early in April and fell into a coma that lasted nine days, may leave the hospital this week, according to a report in the British press.

The 62-year-old Gibb is reportedly sitting up in bed and speaking to his loved ones, says the Sunday Mirror, which adds that he has "astounded doctors with his 'iron will' and 'remarkable physical endurance.'"

The Mirror quotes a friend as saying, "Robin is still weak but getting better by the day. His recovery is nothing short of a miracle. Weeks ago [wife] Dwina and the family were prepared for the worst, now they are hoping he will be home very soon."

Added the friend, “The doctors will not take the decision lightly. Dwina will make sure his every medical need is catered for. Robin is aware how close to death he was. But he is determined to go home.”

Gibb has been battling colon and liver cancer, and he entered the hospital after contracting pneumonia arising from complications from the disease; he slipped into the coma while in the hospital. He had been set to attend the premiere of his classical debut, "The Titanic Requiem," which marked the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking on April 12, but had to cancel due to illness.

Related content:

• Doctor says Robin Gibb's 'iron will' helped bring him out of coma
• Bee Gee Robin Gibb wakes from coma
• Report: Robin Gibb was making 'bucket list'

Torsten Blackwood / AFP - Getty Images file

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the New York Times reports. The songwriter will be given the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States along with author Toni Morrison, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, astronaut John Glenn and former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Bob Dylan's greatest collaborations

Dylan was praised as one of the "most influential American musicians of the 20th century" in a statement about the honor released by the White House. The White House also acknowledged that Dylan had "considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades."

Dylan was previously honored with a National Medal of Arts in 2009.

Related content:

• 50 years ago today, Bob Dylan released his debut album
• VIDEO: The evolution of Bob Dylan

Also in Entertainment:

• South Korea protestors deem Lady Gaga is 'too homosexual and pornographic'
• Jack White gives Stephen Colbert the cold shoulder

Hollywood glitterati met Washington elites at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, and the joke was certainly on the night’s guests. Both President Barack Obama and featured comic Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at each other and their audience, with the lasting gag of the night being a bizarre quip on eating dogs.

"Last week we learned that the president's two favorite steaks are rib-eye and seeing-eye," Kimmel remarked during his half-hour stint. It was a pun made in reference to the revelation that Obama ate dog meat as a child in Indonesia.

Obama also took cracks at himself and the dog-eating story.

"What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?" he asked. "A pit bull is delicious."

Deemed the “chaperone” of the evening by the president, Kimmel began his act with a special edition of “This Week in Unnecessary Censorship,” a weekly parody used on his late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Following the video montage, the comedian entertained the audience with jokes about the Secret Service, Newt Gingrich and, of course, Kim Kardashian.

On the reality star, the comedian pointed to her table and said, "If you're looking for the greatest threat to America right now, she's right there. She's Kim Kardashian. When (Obama) took office, the Kardashians had one reality show. Now they have four. This is not a good trend."

Kimmel didn’t let anyone off the hook, including the Commander-in-Chief, mocking Obama’s large ears, comparing his thin frame to the Kenyan winner of the Boston Marathon and highlighting some of the struggles he has faced during his years in the Oval Office.

Slideshow: Stars at the 98th White House Dinner

Nicholas Kamm / AFP - Getty Images

Launch slideshow

"Hey, Mr. President, do you remember when the country rallied around you in hopes for a better tomorrow?" the comedian asked. "That was hilarious."

Kimmel also took a stab at Republican governor Chris Christie of New Jersey: "You might be misunderstanding the New Jersey state slogan. It's not the 'Olive' Garden State."

Additionally, the comic commented on the death of the printed word, a jest that didn’t earn so many laughs from journalists in the room, though Obama’s own quips on the Huffington Post’s Pulitzer Prize earned a rousing response from the audience. The president, who did the introductory routine before Kimmel, played upon the website’s achievement.

Congratulating Huffington Post, Obama said, “There’s no one out there linking to the kinds of hard-hitting journalism that HuffPo is linking to every single day. And you don’t pay them -- it’s a great business model!”

The president ended his routine commenting that while he did have more material, there simply was no time to use it. “I have to get the Secret Service home in time for their new curfew,” he joked.

Originally a fanfare for journalists and politicians, in recent years, the WHCD has become more a celebrity-infused night of revelry, hosted each year by a popular comedian. Saturday’s event was attended by the likes of George Clooney, Goldie Hawn, Reese Witherspoon and the cast of “Modern Family” joining the nation’s journalists in a night of eating, networking and poking fun at, well, everyone.

Did you watch the festivities? What did you think of the jokes? Tell us on our Facebook page.

More in msnbc Entertainment:

• Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian go to Washington
• South Korea protestors deem Gaga 'too homosexual and pornographic'
• Jack White gives Stephen Colbert the cold shoulder

Screen Gems

Mya (Meagan Good), Zeke (Romany Malco), Candace (Regina Hall), Bennett (Gary Owen), Michael (Terrence J), and Cedric (Kevin Hart) in the comedy "Think Like a Man."

Sony Screen Gems' "Think Like a Man" is the repeat box office champ.

It was relatively quiet weekend, the last before next week's arrival of Disney and Marvel's "The Avengers," the first in what is expected to be a string of summer blockbusters.

The African-American ensemble film, based on an advice book by comedian Steve Harvey, took in $18 million from 2,015 locations, lifting its overall gross to $60.8 million.

More from TheWrap: Apatow's 'Five-Year Engagement' misfires at the box office

It easily beat out last week's No. 2 film "The Lucky One." The Warner Bros. movie, based on a Nicholas Spark romance novel and starring Zac Ephron, took in $11.6 million from 3,175 locations.

Just behind that was Sony's animated family film "Pirates! Band of Misfits," propelled by a strong Saturday showing into the No. 3 spot with $11.5 from 3,358 locations.

More from TheWrap: Kristen Stewart hops aboard 'sexy, action' film 'Cali'

"The Five-Year Engagement," an R-rated comedy from Universal, was a disappointing fourth. Co-written by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, it took in $11.2 million from 2,936 locations. The film, with a production budget of $30 million, received a B- Cinemascore from an audience that skewed female (64 percent to 36 percent male) and older (57 percent over 30 vs. 43 percent under). 

The weekend's two other new movies, "Safe" from Lionsgate and "The Raven" from Relativity, finished sixth and seventh, with $7.7 million and $7.2 million respectively.

Related content:

• Warm-hearted 'Five-Year Engagement' rings with rom-com originality
• 'Avengers' poised to take on the world
• Say 'nevermore' to 'The Raven'

NBC

Mel Gibson spoke out about his recent drama on "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on April 27.

Mel Gibson has been relatively quiet since screenwriter Joe Eszterhas accused him of being anti-Semitic and released tapes of the star raging and screaming profanities. But Gibson is finally speaking out ... and with some humor.

On Friday, the actor appeared on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and brought up all the drama with the "Maccabees" scribe. "You know, I love coming to 'The Tonight Show' because when I get here and you tape me, you let me know you're going to do that up front!" Gibson joked.

The actor admitted that he had been "peeved" at Eszterhas over the delay of the script and had indeed yelled at the writer.

"Was it just you swearing at the guy?" Leno asked in regards to the secretly taped tirade.

"Yeah, pretty much!" Gibson said. "You know, maybe you don't know this about me, but I've got a little bit of a temper."

The actor also told Leno that even though the situation has made him angry, it was OK because the last few years had been so odd for him. "It's like living in a bad B movie," Gibson said of all the drama in his life. "From slipping on a banana peel in your driveway to sort of midnight phone calls ... how did I get here?! It is bizarre!"

See what else he had to say about the Eszterhas situation and what he does to relax:

Related content:

• Rant recording has Mel Gibson calling ex 'filthy'
• 'Maccabees' screenwriter: I have tape of Gibson's 'violent' rant
• Screenwriter levels anti-Semitic charges against Gibson

Mark Seliger/NBC

Howard Stern has never been one to hold his opinion back, and that apparently extends to his upcoming stint as a judge on "America's Got Talent."

The first footage of outspoken radio host Stern in his new capacity as "AGT" judge has emerged, and the self-proclaimed King of All Media makes it clear that he won't be coddling any contestants if they don't make the grade.

More from TheWrap: Stern's $300M lawsuit against Sirius dismissed

"I've gotta stick to my guns," Stern asserts in the clip. "You gotta get the very best talent. I don't want to go buzzer-crazy, but I'm going to be a strict judge, and I've gotta stick to that."

Indeed, shots of Stern in action on the upcoming season indicate that he isn't afraid to throw out a zinger or two. "I haven't seen anything like that ever, and I hope I never do again," he tells one would-be entertainer. To a musical group playing instruments fashioned out of suitcases, he cracks, "Wouldn't the suitcases be better used for you packing up and getting off the stage?"

More from TheWrap: Chloe Sevigny joins 'American Horror Story'

Another musician, whose harp-like instrument is strung throughout the performance space, fares much better in Stern's estimation.

"You turned this whole theater into an instrument," Stern raves. "That's originality, and I made my career on originality, and I bow to you."

"America's Got Talent" returns to the air May 14 on NBC. (TODAY.com is powered by msnbc.com, which is a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC Universal.) Until then, get an advance glimpse in this video.

Judging from this clip only, do you think Howard will make a good judge? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related content:

• Howie 'thrilled' to work with Stern on 'AGT'
• Stern is 'very confident' as 'AGT' judge
• Why Howard Stern is perfect for 'AGT'

More in The Clicker:

• Bruno: I don't have a favorite on 'DWTS'
• Elise doesn't feel it was her time to get cut from 'Idol'
• Reporter accidentally dunks $2K mic in water

Valerie Macon / AFP - Getty Images file

Patrick Dempsey.

Move over Ryan Gosling, there's a new hero in town named McDreamy! "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey rescued a teenage driver Tuesday evening after he crashed his car into the front yard of the actor's Malibu home, a source confirms to Us Weekly.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's everyday celeb heroes

According to TMZ, the driver lost control of his car and overturned it multiple times before crashing into Dempsey's front yard.

The source tells Us that Dempsey rushed to the car (a Mustang) with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in hand.

PHOTOS: Stars' good deeds

The 46-year-old actor freed the boy from the car before calling 911 and police arrived. No serious injuries were sustained.

PHOTOS: Stars' first cars

In NYC, Gosling has been the resident good Samaritan. The 31-year-old star saved a woman from getting hit by a taxi on April 4 and in August he broke up a fight between two men in the street.

Fox

Elise Testone was eliminated from "Idol" on April 26.

Elise Testone had a "permanent vacation home" in "American Idol's" bottom three, as mentor Jimmy Iovine has said, and on Thursday night, she was finally eliminated.

"I was a little bit surprised just because in my heart, I didn't feel like it was time for me to go," Elise told reporters during a conference call on Friday. But don't get her wrong. "It wasn't a total shock. I've been in the bottom three that many times, it's kind of inevitable that it would happen. ... I guess I just felt sort of like a fighter in that I was going to push through."

During Wednesday's performances, the judges all praised her performance of Queen's "I Want It All," but Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson criticized her for picking the wrong Jimi Hendrix tune for her second act. Jimmy agreed, but also slammed her pick for the first song. 

"Steven did love my performance, he just worried about the song choice not being right for America," she said of "Bold As Love." "Randy kind of bothered me, but whatever. I just let it roll off.  ... I didn't feel like I was boxing with the song, and that's what Randy said. I didn't feel that way at all. I felt like the song flowed out of me very naturally and I was painting the picture and feeling the lyrics."

Though the trio (and definitely Jimmy) has had some tough criticisms for her, the singer and vocal coach said it didn't wear on her confidence. But it didn't make her feel very good either.

"What's frustrating about it ... this is (people's) first impression of me and sometimes I felt like the criticism didn't line up or was discrediting to things I have achieved and worked hard to achieve," she said.

But she's not -- and she didn't, even during the competition -- taking it sitting down. "I'm confident in myself and that's why I did speak up sometimes. Because I believe in certain things, and I don't want to just keep my mouth shut and smile. I'm never trying to be rude or argumentative, it's just honesty."

Do you think it was Elise's time to go? Were the judges unfairly hard on her? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Related content:

• Thursday recap: Bad song choices send Elise home
• Colton Dixon invited to White House Correspondents' Dinner
• 'Idol' judges are missing key component -- credibility

More in The Clicker:

• Ellen DeGeneres reads 'Fifty Shades of Grey' -- with sound effects
• DUN DUN: 'Community' plays 'L&O' for laughs, kills off fan fave
• Oops! Reporter accidentally dunks $2K mic in water

Kim Hee-Chul / EPA

Fans in Gaga-inspired dress gather before the pop star kicks off her "Born This Way Ball" world tour at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on April 27.

Seoul's underage Little Monsters were out of luck earlier this week when Lady Gaga's "Born This Way Ball" concert became an adults-only event.

According to the BBC, a small group of Christians staged a rally outside the South Korean capitol's Olympic Stadium ahead of the performance. Activists in Seoul had been protesting the concert for a week, calling the 26-year-old's music and performances "obscene," with the potential to "taint" young people.

READ: Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga to Play Aliens in Men in Black III

One group calling itself the Civilians Network against the Lady Gaga Concert said her show was "too homosexual and pornographic."

Rev. Yoon Jung-hoon, who organized the group, told Reuters the Christian Council of Korea "will take all measures such as boycotting Hyundai Card [a sponsor of Gaga's tour] to root out this kind of obscene culture."

Joon attended the concert to "monitor" the performance for homosexual content.

GALLERY: Lady Gaga's Top 10 Red Carpet Moments

Gaga is an advocate for gay rights and empowering people of all sexual orientations. "I can hear you, Korea," the pop star tweeted Thursday night. "I'm shaking."

Related content:

• Lady Gaga slideshow

Former half of The White Stripes Jack White stopped by "The Colbert Report" Thursday ostensibly to promote his new solo album, "Blunderbus," but what really he actually did was give Stephen Colbert his best verbal sparring partner since author Maurice Sendak paid the host a visit in January.

Playing the part of the reluctant rocker, White refused to join Colbert on stage and answered most of the backstage questions with deadpanned disinterest.

"You want to talk about music?" White grumped. "It's ridiculous. ... It's like dancing about architecture or singing about painting or something."

Colbert, who released a record with White last year, repeatedly teased the rocker.

"Do you hear any of my influence in your recent work?" Colbert asked. When White insisted he did not, the host shot back, "I hear it. I do – oh, yeah. It's subtle."

See just how subtle it is for yourself. After the mock-tense chat, White performed his new single "Freedom at 21."

Related content:

• Stephen Colbert wins Peabody Award for SuperPAC satire
• Colbert's kids' book 'I Am a Pole' is getting published
• Stephen Colbert gets wild with author Maurice Sendak

In her quest to test the durability of a waterproof iPhone case, “Good Day Sacramento” reporter Melissa Cabral forgot that her microphone was not similarly equipped for the challenge.

Filming a live segment for the program’s Thursday morning broadcast, Cabral found herself perched above a dunk tank. In her hand was an iPhone cased in a water-resistant shell. The case, she noted, cost “less than $80,” and was supposed to be impermeable for “up to six feet” of water. According to the reporter, the tank she was about to go into was four feet deep.

After teasing the phone’s owner, a man named Kenny, Cabral initially set aside her microphone and prompted him to take a shot at her in the hot seat. One pitch and Cabral took the plunge, resurfacing from the water with his phone. She then tweeted to her fellow news anchors to prove the phone, after getting submerged, still functioned.

“It still works!” she exclaimed. Cabral then grabbed her microphone again so she could explain the results to the audience. “I did the tweet on here, then I sent it ... and it worked!”

Her excitement proved distracting, nevertheless, as she accidentally dropped the phone into the water. But this time, forgetting she was holding her $2,000 microphone, she took the sound equipment down with her under water to fetch the mobile device.

Almost immediately, Cabral realized her expensive gaffe, as did her fellow news team.

“The microphone will not work if it goes underwater,” they laughed as Cabral shook her head despondently in agreement. “Hopefully she won’t be punished publicly for that.”

What's the funniest goof you've seen on live TV? Tell us on our Facebook page!

More in The Clicker:

• Ellen DeGeneres reads 'Fifty Shades of Grey' -- with sound effects
• DUN DUN: 'Community' plays 'L&O' for laughs, kills off fan favorite
• Paul McCartney, Jon Hamm rock '30 Rock' live show

Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Images

Lindsay Lohan.

To the bewilderment of some, Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian will be among the celebrities heading to Washington on Saturday for the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, attending as guests of Fox News Channel.

Kardashian was invited by the network itself, which has included her in the past; Lohan will attend as personal guest of news anchor Greta Van Susteren.

Considering Lohan’s recent history of drug and alcohol abuse, and time spent in jail, it’s primarily this latter move that caught people off guard, given the fact Van Susteren recently spouted off on the dinner’s original host, comedian Louis C.K., because he uses foul language. The anchor said she felt he was an inappropriate emcee because his jokes were derogatory towards women, and indicated she would boycott the event should he remain on board.

Soon thereafter, Louis C.K. declined the gig and was replaced by talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.

In response to the Lohan news on Thursday, Meghan McCain gave her assessment of the matter, tweeting, “Let me get this straight Greta Van [Susteren] is bringing Lindsay Lohan to the WHC Dinner but has a moral offense to [Louis] C.K?”

The conservative journalist and daughter of Sen. John McCain promptly found a bandwagon amongst her following.

Scott Shields tweeted in response, “Sure. A comedian using bad words is unacceptable, while a celebrity with substance abuse issues is hilarious. America, 2012.”

Added Joey Guzman, “Thank you! She’s offended by someone who's a comedian but is cool with someone who's life has been a comedy ... wtf?”

The Fox host later explained herself to TMZ, referencing news from Monday that Lohan would play Elizabeth Taylor in the upcoming Lifetime movie, “Liz and Dick.”

“I love comebacks, and I'd like her to succeed," remarked Van Susteren, who was also the one that invited Kardashian in 2010. "She's got a new movie and I'm hoping things work out for her."

Though the typical crowd at the event varies from A-listers down, the rest of the attendants this year don’t spark as much debate. Reports People, additional guests include George Clooney, Josh Hutcherson, Charlize Theron, Sofia Vergara, Viola Davis, Daniel Day-Lewis, Dakota Fanning, Jason Schwartzman, Aziz Ansari, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer.

Related content:

• Lindsay Lohan slideshow
• Kardashian Klan slideshow

Chris Pizzello / AP file

Kanye West.

LONDON -- Three Kanye West albums have made it on to the latest edition of Rolling Stone magazine's authoritative "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list, placing him among the greats of popular music.

The new ranking, which combines a 2003 list (updated in 2005) with a later survey of the 2000s, saw two Radiohead records join the elite club, while long-established names including Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan also had albums added.

Rolling Stone has published the list, along with details of the albums and several new recording histories based on first-hand accounts, in "bookazine" format available for $11.99 on newsstands between Friday and July 25 in the United States.

As with any survey that tries to put arguably the greatest rock and roll recordings into a particular order, there was plenty of heated debate among the journalists and editors who came up with the final list.

Much of the hard work had been done, however, with hundreds of reporters, executives and musicians involved in the earlier surveys.

"We had arguments in the office, and I hope those arguments are replicated elsewhere," said Christian Hoard, a senior editor at Rolling Stone, of the selection process.

"These special issues are great sellers," he told Reuters. "But they also turn people on to music they haven't heard, and hopefully start fun arguments too.

"People like to get angry about these 'best' lists. It was really a great deal of fun to make."

The big beneficiary was U.S. hip-hop star West, who saw 2005 album "Late Registration," "The College Dropout" (2004) and "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (2010) make it to the top 500.

In total, 30 albums were added and 30 taken away, with the casualties including several artists well-represented on the list already and whose "lesser" albums have now been dropped.

The highest entry among recent albums was West's "Late Registration" at No. 118.

Asked whether the relatively low position of recently released albums reflected a barren period for great rock and pop, Hoard replied:

"My personal opinion is no. Music is as inspirational as it's ever been.

"Things get clearer as the years pass. If you held this poll in 10 years, say, Arcade Fire could be a lot higher and the same could be said of Kanye West. Reputation and time definitely help an album, especially with pollers like ours."

Canadian band Arcade Fire's Funeral is among the 30 additions, as is British act Arctic Monkeys for their 2005 hit "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not."

Radiohead features twice -- for "Amnesiac" (2001) and "In Rainbows" (2007), Jay-Z is added for "The Black Album" (2003), Lil Wayne makes it with "Tha Carter III" (2008) and the late Amy Winehouse for "Back to Black."

Among those dropping out to make way for the additions were The Beach Boys ("Sunflower"), David Bowie ("Changesone"), Elton John ("Elton John") and Madonna ("Music").

The first change to the previous list comes at number 59, leaving the Beatles to dominate the top 10.

The Fab Four feature no less than four times in the first 10; at number one ("Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"), three ("Revolver"), five ("Rubber Soul") and 10 ("The White Album").

Three acts have 10 albums each on the list -- the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan -- and the oldest album on the list is from 1952 ("The Anthology of American Folk Music").

Only 40 albums released since 2000 feature, compared with 187 from the 1970s.

What do you think of the changes reported here? What's your all-time favorite album? Let's talk music on Facebook.

More music news:

• Six-year-old with autism a true 'Piano Man'
• Canadian band raps tribute to Bill Murray
• 'Bohemian Rhapsody' -- family carpool jam