In case you have been too busy this week angrily Tweeting about American Airlines because a flight attendant interrupted a game you were playing on your phone, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed this week. FYI, see below for a funny video relating to the American Airlines incident. Three of the big stories that were already covered this week in Chimesfreedom were the passings of actor Harry Morgan, singer Dobie Gray, and blues man Hubert Sumlin, so check out those stories too. But here are some of the lesser known reviews and stories from the fields of movies, music, and popular culture.
—— Movies —–
Filmmakers are clashing with each other over access to West Memphis 3 witnesses.
The Hangover III may be set in Los Angeles and may try a new formula.
The Los Angeles Times contemplated predictions for the Golden Globe race for drama films.
The Sundance Film Festival announced its short film roster.
Salon featured a slide show of 20 classic spy movies.
The trailer for the new Three Stooges movie is out.
Jeremy Piven revealed that an Entourage movie is in the works.
A sci-fi fan is suing James Cameron, claiming the director stole Avatar story idea.
Below is a video tribute to the year of 2011 in film and music, “The 2011 Portfolio”:
—– Music —–
Amnesty International released a 4-CD set: Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan: Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty Intnl.
In the New York Times, Camille Paglia reviewed Greil Marcus’s new book on the Doors.
Was Gram Parsons an underrated songwriter?
2012 R&R Hall Inductees: Beastie Boys, Donovan, Guns N’ Roses, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers & Small Faces/Faces.
Barbara Orbison, the widow of Roy Orbison, passed away Tuesday.
Lady Gaga’s latest video, for “Marry the Night,” is 14 min long and reflects one of her darker days.
Popdose has a funny discussion of the AM Gold songs from 1967.
New music collaborations include My Morning Jacket & Kelly Clarkson, as well as Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys on tour.
Cover Lay Down has covers of songs in the new Christmas canon.
Twangville has a review of a recent performance by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
Blogness has Bruce Springsteen’s performance with Gaslight Anthem from this week in Asbury Park.
Billboard named Adele the top artist of 2011 as she makes history.
—– Television —–
In Wookie news, Chewbacca is going to guest star on Glee.
The Mythbusters guys apologized after they accidentally fired a cannonball into a residential area earlier this week.
“Very funny.” — Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks on the Roots’ controversial entrance song for Michele Bachmann.
Laugh-In star Alan Sues, who also was in the Twilight Zone Episode “The Masks,” passed away this week.
Was it too soon for Saturday Night Live to spoof the Penn State scandal? Colin Quinn thinks so. In other SNL news, Alec Baldwin appeared on the show last night to apologize about the American Airlines incident to . . . Alec Baldwin, “an American treasure.”
—– Other Pop Culture News —–
Manny Ramirez un-retired from baseball. That’s Manny being . . . Brett.
Salon listed its favorite non-fiction books of 2011.
Jerry Robinson, the comic book artist who created Batmans’s The Joker, passed away yesterday. RIP.
In the way that all sci-fi alien horror movies begin. . . NASA just discovered an earth-like planet. Assuming the aliens do not attack us, we will see you with more pop culture stories soon. . .
(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)
