MTV stages celebrity-studded contest at City Hall

Editor’s Note: Due to MTV Productions restrictions Itemlive.com was not able to film video from the event.

LYNN n More than 1,000 teens and pre-teens flooded the Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Thursday to get a glimpse at Hollywood - and a performance by popular hip-hop artist Soulja Boy - as MTV filmed an episode for its upcoming reality series, "Made! Head to Head Hip-Hop Challenge."

Three young contestants danced in front of the cameras for the chance to win $10,000. Soulja Boy was one of three celebrities judging the contestants who recently performed for students at Winthrop High School.

Click here to see a photo gallery from last night’s MTV event in Lynn.

Lynn City Hall officials received some criticism since Tuesday when MTV announced it was filming in the city. Several Item readers commented about possible violence stemming from the show's taping on the newspaper's Web site.

The transformed City Hall venue looked more like a television studio than an auditorium Thursday.

"I feel like I'm in some L.A. stage," said Jamie Marsh, the city's Development Director who was instrumental in getting MTV here.

"To bring MTV, which is nationally recognized as the pioneers of the music medium and television, to Lynn is not only good but it brings validity to the auditorium as one of the up and coming venues in Massachusetts," said Marsh, adding that acts such as Blessed Union of Souls and Vienna Boys Choir are scheduled to perform here in the next few weeks.

Even Deputy Police Chief Kevin Coppinger was watching the taping from the stands as his 16-year-old son and some friends sat closer to the main stage.

"I have no idea who Soulja Boy is," Coppinger said. "I said, 'If you're going, I'm going.'"

Two police officers were stationed in the back of the auditorium as well as two firefighters and loads of private guards.

"The security here is very well done," Coppinger said.

The audience, which consisted primarily of youths between ages 10 and 18, were patient and well behaved as stage coordinators instructed them on when to clap and scream in excitement or to stay quiet while the host spoke.

The three contestants, Abby, Eddie and Christine, were taught by well-trained hip-hop dance choreographers over the past four weeks leading up to Thursday night's show. Christine is described as a "girly girl" cheerleader despite being a total klutz; Eddie is a pop culture fanatic but self-described loner who spends time reading gossip blogs; and Abby - a clear crowd favorite - is a "total tomboy" and three-sport athlete.

A winner was selected, but a clause in an MTV agreement prohibits the press from sharing the name of who won.

In addition to loud cheers for Abby, the crowd made some noise for Soulja Boy, the 18-year-old Atlanta rapper whose hit "Crank That," shook the music world in 2007 with the chorus line, "Superman that ho."

Soulja Boy had to apologize earlier this month after he made comments about slave masters when asked by a reporter his thoughts on historical figures.

The two other judges were well-known choreographers Laurie Ann Gibson and Cris Judd, the former husband of Jennifer Lopez.

The episode will air in January.

July 2009

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