Tag: Pop Culture Roundup

Pop Culture Roundup for December 2012

Travolta Newton-John Christmas Amazon In case you were too busy getting ready for the holidays or trying to avoid a fiscal cliff the last few weeks, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.

— Movies —

The Atlantic featured production storyboards from 15 beloved films.

What if there were an animated series called “Clockwork Orange Babies“? Here’s what the promo posters would look like.

The “Honest Trailer” for The Dark Knight Rises was released. Even though I liked the movie, the “Honest Trailer” is funny and captures a number of plot issues. (Thanks @PopcornJunkies.)

Dan Aykroyd on Ghostbusters 3 in Esquire. (Thanks @ravenval.)

Clerks III will be Kevin Smith’s last movie.

— Music —

The 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Albert King, Donna Summer, Heart, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, and Rush.

E Online wrote about the 5 Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2013 Grammy Nominations.

Eddie Van Halen remembered how he came to work on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It.’

Q&A: Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham Revealed Lingering Tensions in Fleetwood Mac.

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will release his new album February 25.

A new book tells the story of the band the Smiths.

Popdose chose its Best Pop And Rock Albums of 2012

Read about the Monkee Magic of Micky Dolenz at Popdose.

Actor James Franco has released a music video.

Watch a video of Moses vs. Santa, Featuring Snoop Dogg.

A couple broke up and then decided to sing about it.

Kinky Friedman on Folk Music, Politics, Mass Murder, and His Bipolar Tour. (from No Depression)

Beck is trying to revive the days of singing ‘round the piano.

The A.V. Club wrote about how Townes Van Zandt’s song “Lungs” veers from platonic epistemology to magical realism. I can’t explain what that means. You’ll have to read the article.

And then there is the strange new John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John holiday song video.

Here is a list of the best (and best-worst) of new Christmas music.

Batmobile Amazon — Television —

Check out an interview with Martin Short about his upcoming return to Saturday Night Live as host.

The original 1966 Batmobile is going up for auction.

The Walking Dead took top honors at the Spike VGAs.

David Chase talked about The Sopranos and that maddening finale.

By chance, Newt Gingrich happened into a guest appearance on Parks and Recreation.

Vanity Fair features an oral history of the awesome one-season series Freaks & Geeks.

— Other Pop Culture News —

Stephen Colbert is not going to be appointed to the Senate. But actress Ashley Judd may run for the U.S. Senate.

Star Trek‘s George Takei is coming to Riverdale in Archie Comics’ Kevin Keller books.

The Pope (@pontifex) is joining Twitter.

Finally, the “IKEA Monkey” — a little monkey in a coat found outside an IKEA — became in Internet sensation and started a meme.

What is your favorite recent pop culture story? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 5, 2011)
  • Willie Nelson & Ray Charles: Who are the “Seven Spanish Angels”?
  • Pop Culture Roundup (for Early February 2012)
  • Groundhog Day (and Ghostbusters?) 2012
  • Pop Culture Roundup (Mid-January 2012)
  • John Lennon and Paul Simon Presenting Grammy for Record of the Year

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    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Post-Thanksgiving 2011 Edition)

    kermit the frog plush toy

    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. William Shatner Calling Major Tom

    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.

  • The Groundbreaking Rock and Roll Movie, “The T.A.M.I. Show”
  • Glen Campbell & Stevie Wonder: “Blowin’ in the Wind” (Duet of the Day)
  • Weird Al Yankovic Joins Weezer in Video for “Africa”
  • The Man Behind the Organ in “Like a Rolling Stone”
  • The Ambiguous Anti-War Underpinnings of “Galveston”
  • Death in Movies That Remind Us to Enjoy Life

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    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 20, 2011)

    Wizard of Oz

    In case you were overwhelmed last week worrying about the NBA lockout or who is the sexiest man alive or the latest on Ashton Kutcher’s problems, below are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.

    ———-Music———-

    The heart-stopping, earth-shaking,…legendary E Street Band will tour with Bruce Springsteen in 2012 supporting a new album.

    In a new interview, Michael Stipe explained why REM called it a day.
    “The horror was if somebody Twittered or leaked it.”

    Listen to Kate Bush’s new CD 50 Words for Snow on NPR First Listen.

    Also on NPR, you may listen to Michael Jackson: Immortal, the new CD of Jackson songs for a Cirque du Soleil production.

    The Los Angeles Times reported that Drake’s “Marvin’s Room,” on his new CD Take Care, was inspired by a visit from Stevie Wonder.

    The New York Times reviewed the new album by Florence and the Machine.

    The Chicago Tribune reviewed a performance by Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump, who played “shiny funkified soulful pop” in promotion of new solo CD.

    I like music critic Greil Marcus, so will have to check out his new book on The Doors that was reviewed in The New York Times at the link.

    “I’ll be watching you.” Sting released a free app for the iPad that documents his career.

    ———-Movies———-

    Brad Pitt plans to quit acting in three years. I guess they need to hurry up and film Oceans Fourteen.

    Natalie Wood films Officials are investigating actress Natalie Wood’s drowning death from 30 years ago. Although initial reports claimed a yacht captain was blaming Woods’ then-husband actor Robert Wagner for the death, recent reports note that Wagner is not a suspect. But Christopher Walken, who was on the boat with the couple the night Woods died, has hired a lawyer.

    Karl Slover, one of the last living actors who played one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz, passed away Tuesday.

    The new film The Great Flood features archival footage from the 1927 flood and music from Bill Frisell.

    The screenwriter for “The Departed” picked his top 5 British crime and suspense films from the 1960s and 1970s.

    Illumination Entertainment is planning a Woody Woodpecker film. (Thanks @VeryAw.) I grew up with the cartoons, so I’m excited that this overlooked character may be revived.

    The Atlas Shrugged DVD was released with a back cover mistakenly saying the movie was from a novel of “self-sacrifice” instead of author Ayn Rand’s contrary philosophy of self-interest. Oops!

    Andy Buckle’s Film Emporium blog wrote an interesting comparison between two epic World War II films, The Thin Red Line vs. Saving Private Ryan. (Thanks @buckle22.)

    Johnny B. Goode! Last weekend, Michael J. Fox reenacted his guitar playing from Back to the Future at a charity event.

    ———-Television———-

    Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton was hired by NBC News.

    Charlie Rose is going from PBS to CBS, which is pairing him with Gayle King.

    A new mid-season comedy on CBS, “iROB,” will feature Rob Schneider and Cheech Marin.

    Ricky Gervais will be back as host of the Golden Globes.

    ———-History and Other Pop Culture News———-

    The new CBS On the Road reported the sad and touching ending to the story of the friendship between Bella the dog and Tara the elephant: Have tissues handy. If you have not heard of Bella and Tara, you might first want to check out an earlier story about the animals.

    “Sticks Like Magic!” CNN reports on the interesting background of the toy Colorforms, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month. I had forgot about Colorforms, which I had as a kid.

    Long-lost Air Force One tapes made the day JFK was killed were just discovered and put up for sale.

    Nice to have some good sports-related news with Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos rescued safe from kidnappers.

    The Houston Astros are moving to the American League. I’m still confused from the Brewers league switch in 1998.

    Shout! Factory released a new 11-DVD set of Mr. Magoo cartoons, featuring the voice of Jim Backus.

    Check out some New Guinness World Records for 2012.

    What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 12, 2011)

    Maybe this week you were distracted with an overload of stories about Herman Cain’s sexual harassment accusers, concerns about whether Justin Bieber is going to be a father, or the firing of Penn State Coach Joe Paterno. If you fall behind on the latest news you risk embarrassing yourself like Ashton Kutcher did. So check out these links to some of the stories you might have missed.

    Music

    Rapper Heavy D passed away. RIP.

    rem part lies

    NPR will let you listen to REM’s new 2-CD set, “Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage.”

    Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards.

    Lady Gaga won four awards at last Sunday’s MTV European Music Awards show. And was that streaker a planned part of show?

    Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and his sister Maile Meloy each have released new young-adult novels.

    Singer Andy Williams revealed he has bladder cancer.

    Wednesday night, Bruce Springsteen performed at the 5th Annual Stand Up for Heroes show. Watch videos of his performance on Blogness.

    A Cheap Trick museum wants you to want it.

    This “Desert Island Disc” discussion reminded us of Willie Nelson’s overlooked concept album Yesterday’s Wine. (via @grayflannelsuit)

    Whatever gets the tooth fairy though the night: John Lennon’s tooth sold for more than $31,000.

    New remasters from Pink Floyd were released and include alternate version of “Wish You Were Here.”

    Movies

    snow white
    The new live-action Snow White will have 8 dwarves and many changes.

    Snow White and the Huntsman will be released on June 1, 2012, but watch the trailer now. This ain’t your Disney version of Snow White.

    Director Werner Herzog discussed his new film, Into the Abyss: A Tale of Death, A Tale of Life.

    Seven years after the release of the excellent film Sideways director Alexander Payne released his follow-up film, The Descendants. I hear Oscar buzzing. . . .

    Slate reconsidered Blue Velvet 25 years after the film’s release.

    For Veterans Day, the Los Angeles Times chose the best war films from American cinema for each war.

    The “Atlas Shrugged, Part 1″ producer is planning Part 2 despite the poor box office for the first movie.

    Television
    Piers Morgan quit “America’s Got Talent” to focus on another talent show: the 2012 presidential election. In related news, Howard Stern might join “America’s Got Talent.”

    The producer of next year’s Oscar telecast, Brett Ratner, stepped down after making a stupid gay slur. After Ratner’s announcement, the Oscar host, Eddie Murphy, announced he would no longer host the show, apparently because he had only agreed to do the show because he had worked with Ratner on Tower Heist. Vegas just announced that the payout on bets for “Eddie Murphy wins an Oscar in the next decade” went up 1000%.

    Regis Philbin’s last week on Live! with Regis and Kelly will include guests Kathie Lee Gifford, David Letterman and Tony Bennett.

    13-year-old “X Factor” singer Rachel Crow started out life in a crack house before she was adopted. Although I had been favoring Josh Krajcik to win, Crow’s performance this week was probably the best of the group.

    Other News
    ‘Family Circus’ creator Bil Keane died at age 89.

    Slate had an interesting discussion of “The New Classics,” enduring books, films, ideas, etc. since 2000.

    “This is Nixon unplugged“is how Historian Stanley Kutler described new recordings of the former president available online for the first time, including Nixon’s grand jury testimony.

    In honor of Joe Frazier, who passed away, Life magazine presented a slideshow of never-seen photos from “The Fight of the Century” of Ali vs. Frazier in 1971

    Two new biographies about Charles Dickens are out. In related news, I have had a two-volume Dickens biography on my shelf for more than a decade that I have yet to read. Now, I do not know where to start. Maybe I will watch a movie. . .

    What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (4 Dec. 2011 Edition)
  • John Lennon and Paul Simon Presenting Grammy for Record of the Year
  • The Regurgitator and the Firecracker-Mouth-Guy on “America’s Got Talent”
  • And Then There Was One (Magician on AGT)
  • “Nebraska” Is More than Bruce Dern (Short Review)
  • Will Forte Takes a Serious Turn in “Nebraska”

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    This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 5, 2011)

    While you were too absorbed wondering whether or not Kim Kardashian’s wedding was a sham and in pondering the prospects of Herman Cain in light of the sexual harassment allegations, here are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed this week. Check out the links below.

    Movies

    FDR
    "An army without leaders is like a foot without a big toe." -- Stripes

    John Goodman and Justin Timberlake are in cast of upcoming Coen Brothers film about the 1960s folk scene, Inside Llewyn Davis.

    We have nothing to fear but . . . Bill Murray is playing Franklin D. Roosevelt in an upcoming film.

    Albert Brooks turned down roles in Dead Poets Society, Big, Pretty Woman, and Boogie Nights. Regarding the latter, he was up for the Burt Reynolds role, not the Mark Wahlberg role.

    What’s the story of Terrence Malick’s upcoming untitled film with Ben Affleck (in editing now)?

    The new James Bond film, featuring Javier Bardem as the villain, will be called “Skyfall.” I wonder if Bardem will flip a coin. I also wonder why the New York Daily News story at the link still has Bardem’s name misspelled in the headline a day after posting the story.

    James Franco plans to communicate with Tennessee Williams via Ouija Board.

    New movie “Tower Heist” make use of anger at Wall Street.

    In more serious film news, an Iranian appeals court overturned a sentence of prison and 90 lashes for actress Marzieh Vafamehr for appearing in a film.

    Music

    Director David Lynch is releasing his first music CD. Hear it on NPR.

    Writer-critic Chuck Klosterman wrote an article about the new Metallica and Lou Reed album . . . and how it relates to quarterback Tim Tebow.

    The official version of “Smile” from the Beach Boys was finally released. Also, here and you can stream all 40 tracks. (via @ThatEricAlper)

    Fallon spoofs Bieber. It’s not my baby, baby, baby. . .

    Liz Anderson, writer of several hit country songs for Merle Haggard and others, passed away. She co-wrote “I am a Lonesome Fugitive.”

    Television

    60 Minutes     commentator Andy Rooney passed away on Friday in New York City. Embedding is disabled, but you may watch his final regular appearance on 60 Minutes here.

    Ellen DeGeneres talked about her experience on American Idol in a new interview.

    Conan O’Brien officiated a gay wedding on his late-night show.

    The U.S. State Department is employing a secret weapon to teach tolerance in Pakistan: Sesame Street. But Elmo leaves Big Bird in U.S.

    What’s the deal with this missing Regis guy?” Jerry Seinfeld will be first guest host on Live! with Kelly.

    What was your favorite story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Pop Culture Roundup for December 2012
  • “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” (Short Review)
  • The First Farm Aid
  • How Does “Inside Llewyn Davis” Rank In the Coen Brothers Canon? (short review)
  • Lou Reed RIP: “Dirty Boulevard”
  • Red Band Trailer for Upcoming Coen Brothers’ Film: “Inside Llewyn Davis”

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