If you have been too busy pepper spraying shoppers trying to grab that toy you want, here are some of the pop culture stories from the week that you might have missed.
——— Music ———
No Depression featured an interesting story about a recent encounter with Garth Hudson of The Band.
No Depression also featured a nice review of Glen Campbell on his final tour.
Chimesfreedom sends our best wishes to The Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who is fighting liver cancer.
The Rolling Stones are releasing an expanded reissue of Some Girls, including a song with John Fogerty.
“Does this mean I can play whatever I want?” — Ozzy Osbourne on getting his own music channel on SiriusXM Radio.
“What I do is more like a poke in the ribs than a kick in the face.” – Weird Al Yankovic in Chicago Tribune profile.
Influential jazz drummer and bandleader Paul Motian passed away last week. RIP.
“Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board!” Neil Diamond will tour this summer to support a greatest hits CD.
If you are a fan of The Swell Season, check out this interview with Marketa Irglova about The Swell Season, the new documentary on the band, and her new solo CD.
WhatCulture! has a review of William Shatner’s new CD, Seeking Major Tom. Below is Shatner’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with his face in the sky of this crazy official video.
——— Movies ———-
“He’s an older Bruce Wayne; he’s not in a great state.” — Christopher Nolan revealing some information on the upcoming The Dark Night Rises, which begins eight years after the last Batman film. 
Slate listed its top five bad movie songs.
Scarlett Johansson will direct a film adaptation of a Truman Capote novella, Summer Crossing.
A new Woody Allen documentary prompted several stories. One article on the film quoted director Robert Weide on Woody Allen: “He doesn’t think of himself as a great artist.’’ Meanwhile, Salon ranked Woody Allen’s 10 Greatest Films. Personally, I think it is a crime that the list does not include Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Kermit the Frog went to the White House on Tuesday. Also, this past week saw country music day at the White House, which included Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett.
The Artist, a new silent film, opened this week to rave reviews.
An international Laurel and Hardy appreciation society meets every week in California near the Hal Roach Studios.
“The Muppets are sweet and subversive.” — Los Angeles Times review. In another Muppets-related story, Slate discussed “Mahna Mahna” and how music from an Italian soft-core film became the Muppets’ catchiest song.
——— Television ———
Elizabeth Shue will become a regular on “CSI” starting in February, replacing Marg Helgenberger.
CBS signed up Survivor for two more seasons with Jeff Probst as host and executive producer.
Katy Perry will host Saturday Night Live on Dec. 10.
——— Other News ———
Two former death row inmates whose convictions were each overturned after years on death row were married last week.
Finally, the UC Davis Pepper Spray Cop is now a funny Internet meme. Follow this link if you wish to skip the article and go straight to some very funny photos of the Pepper Spray Cop in unique situations, showing the strength of using humor to fight the powers.
What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)
