Pop Culture Checklist

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will be airing a two-part documentary on the life and work of actor Marlon Brando. 

It airs from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday on TCM. 

The documentary features his early career and explores his work on many hits, such as “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “On The Waterfront” and “The Godfather.” 

It also includes interviews from Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Dennis Hopper and Martin Scorcese. 

Brando, who died July 1, 2004, is a two-time Oscar winning actor. He won Best Actor for “On The Waterfront” in 1954 and Best Actor “The Godfather” in 1972.

Nielsens are tallying dismal ratings for top TV shows in the past few weeks. All major networks have hit record lows, such as Lost, Desperate Housewives, ER, My Name is Earl, The Simpsons, Two and a Half Men, CSI: Miami, and Heroes. 

And others, like 24, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and American Idol, had their worst ratings in two years or more. 

No one can pinpoint the reason. However, TV executives and advertisers have their theories. Here are some of them: 

–Daylight. The early switch of Daylight Savings Time, some say, moved viewers outdoors. At the same time, all networks aired repeats that entire month. 

–Long breaks. They say dramas don’t repeat well, and long layoffs hurt the shows. People lose interest by the time they return. Some examples, Lost and Jericho. 

–New devices. More viewers aren’t watching the shows live anymore thanks to the invention of the DVR. Last year, only 5 percent of homes in Nielsen’s sample had the recording devices, but now nearly 16 percent own one. 

TV viewers of “My Name is Earl” will be asked to do more than watch the episode on May 3.
A scratch-and-sniff episode will air from 8 to 8:35 p.m. May 3 on NBC. The episode, called “Get A Real Job,” will have viewers “laugh’n’sniff” their way through the super-sized show.
In order to take part in this unique interactive experience, viewers will need to get hold of a special scented insert card available on newsstands and to subscribers of TV Guide.
Viewers will need to have their card in hand when watching the episode and scratch the appropriate spot on the card when a cue is given on the screen.
You can get your scented card in the TV Guide issue.
NBC super-sizing shows
Each show in Thursday’s lineup on NBC will be super-sized next week. “Earl” is 35 minutes, followed by a 44-minute episode of “The Office,” a 34-minute “Scrubs,” and a longer “ER,” which will start at 9:53 p.m.
NBC will continue to super-size its shows on the following week, with the “Earl” season finale, and “The Office” and “Scrubs” each running 40 minutes. Both “The Office” and “Scrubs” will each have one-hour season finales on May 17.

Here’s your weekly dose of upcoming shows, movies and events coming up. If you have any other news not mentioned here, please share it.

WEEKEND EVENTS
18^th annual Jet Express Cruise to Put-In-Bay
It will be held Saturday. Cost is $45 a person.
The first boat leaves the Toledo Yacht Club at 10 a.m. and leaves Put-In-Bay at 6 p.m. The second boat leaves the Toledo Yacht Club at 1 p.m. and leaves Put-In-Bay at 9 p.m.
Sign up at River View Yacht Club. For tickets, call (419) 349-4095.
Spring Fling in Grass Lake
A spring fling event will be held Friday at Portage Lake Campground – Waterloo Recreation Area – at 11500 Seymour Rd., in Grass Lake.
The event celebrates the end of hibernation through a combined Earth Day/Arbor Day weekend. Activities include stargazing, mushroom hunting, a service project, tree planting, and an owl presentation.
Camping is available, alcohol prohibited. For more information, call (734) 475-8307.
CINCO DE MAYO is only a week away. Here’s a list of some ways to celebrate:
In Toledo…
The 6^th annual WSPD Cinco De Mayo Bash. 5 p.m. to midnight ay Friday, May 4 at Westfield Franklin Park Mall parking lot. It’s located at 5001 Monroe St. in Toledo.
Entertainment includes The Danger Brothers, Johnny Rocker and The Hit Men, and MAS FiNA.
Free admission starting at 5 p.m. Cost is $5 after 6 p.m.
News Talk 1370 WSPD is hosting the event.
A Cinco de Mayo Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5 at the Toledo Zoo, Broadway St. Celebrate the Latino culture with music and activities, from traditional Latino dancing and Salsa dancing workshops, to live music in the main plaza.
The first 1,000 children through the gates receive a free sombrero. For more information, call the information line at (419) 385-4040 or the main line at (419) 385-5721.
A Cindo de Mayo Fiesta! will be held at 2 p.m. May 5 and May 6 at the Hour Backyard Drop-in Child Care Center in Westfield Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe St., in Toledo.
Food, and activities will be available, including Cinco de Mayo bingo, and pinata’s, and make your own poncho and musical maracas.
For more information, call the mall at (419) 724-4687.
Cinco de Mayo Bash in downtown West Dearborn
The three day event includes special performances by That 80’s Band, The Killer Flamingos, Bridge, and 50 Cent Headrush.
Contests will be held every day, including drawings. The big prize is a trip to Riviera Maya (in Mexico, near Cancun).
The schedule is from 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. May 4; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. May 5, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. May 6.
Tickets are $8 for one day or $15 for a three-day pass, and will be available at the main party pavilion entrances. Proceeds go toward Karmanos Cancer Institute and Dearborn Education Foundation.
The party pavilion and main events tent will be located behind Merchant’s Fine Wines, located at 22236 Michigan Ave. (between Howard and Military Sts.).
For directions, or more information, visit www.calientegrille.com/cincodemayobash.htm.
CONCERT NEWS
The Killers will be performing May 9 at the Fox Theater.
Tickets are $38 and are on sale now. They can be purchased at the Fox Theatre box office, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy, and all Ticketmaster locations, including Macy’s. To charge tickets by phone, call (248) 433-1515 or buy online at OlympiaEntertainment.com or ticketmaster.com.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Fox Theatre is located at 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit.
For more information, call (313) 471-6611.
Velvet Revolver will be coming to Detroit on May 12. They will be performing at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St.
Tickets are $49.50 standing, and $75.50 reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at all tickets.com locations, charge by phone at (800) 919-6272, or order online at www.tickets.com or www.royaloakmusictheatre.com.
You can also buy tickets at The Royal Oak Music Theatre box office, open Monday-Friday 12 noon-6 pm. The box office is also open day of show and for a two hour window for scheduled Saturday on-sales. Tickets.com outlets are Record Time Ferndale, Record Time Roseville and most Meijer stores.
SPORTS GALORE!
Another great sports lineup is shaping up this weekend.
All four major Detroit teams have pivotal games/draft picks over the weekend.
Here are the details:
The NFL draft begins at noon Saturday on ESPN.
Detroit Lions have the no. 2 overall pick. Please Matt Millen, do not pick another Wide Receiver!!!
The Detroit Red Wings finally made it to Round Two of the playoffs!
Here’s their schedule against the San Jose Sharks:
–7:30 tonight at Detroit
–3 p.m. Saturday at Detroit
–10 p.m. Monday at San Jose
–10 p.m. May 2 at San Jose
–2 p.m. May 5 at Detroit (if necessary)
–May 7 at San Jose (if necessary)
–May 9 at Detroit (if necessary)
Here’s the remaining First Round schedule for the Detroit Pistons. They are currently leading the series 2-0 in the best of seven series against the Orlando Magic.
–8 p.m. tonight at Orlando
–3 p.m. Saturday at Orlando
–Tuesday at Detroit (if necessary)
–May 3 at Orlando (if necessary)
–May 5 at Detroit (if necessary)
Detroit Tigers will face the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. Here’s the schedule:
7:05 p.m. Friday at Detroit
1:05 p.m. Saturday at Detroit
1:05 p.m. Sunday at Detroit
MOVIE’S OPENING ON FRIDAY
–The Invisible
–Wind Chill
–Kickin It Old Skool
–The Condemned
–Next
–Diggers
–Jindabyne
–Snow Cake
NEW DVDs AVAILABLE NEXT TUESDAY
–Little Children
–The Hitcher
–Happily N’ever After
–Alpha Dog
–Dreamgirls

That sneaky Ryan Seacrest. Just when you think he’s about to send off Jordin Sparks – who is becoming the favorite to win – he psyches us out. 

Instead of kicking off any of the six contestants, Ryan announced that they were all safe this week. Since this week was “Idol Gives Back” week, they couldn’t bear to eliminate someone. 

But, the week’s record 70 million votes will be added to next week’s totals and two of the remaining six singers will go home. 

This week’s show raised money for the needy in American and Africa. Viewers made donations, and nearly $30 million had been raised. 

Last night’s special guests included Bono, Annie Lennox, Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood. 

Next week’s show (8 to 9 p.m. Tuesday on Fox) the top six contestants will be mentored by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora of the rock band Bon Jovi. Finally, we’ll get to hear some rock songs – this should be a huge test for singers like Lakisha Jones and Phil Stacey.

Asia, an 18-year-old single mother, became the newest member of the hit group “The Pussycat Dolls” Tuesday. She was crowned the newest member during the finale of the new reality show on the CW Network called “The Search for the Next Doll.” 

She beat out eight other girls who performed dance routines and sang on each episode. Last night’s episode came down to three girls – Asia, Melissa R. and Chelsea. They worked together to perform the song “Lady Marmalade” before singing solo performances.

It’s official. Today on “The View,” Rosie O’Donnell announced that she is leaving the show in June. 

She said it was due to contract deals not working out, but who knows what the real reason could be. She’s leaving after one season. 

While she was on the show, she caused a lot of controversy, including a feud with Donald Trump. ABC enjoyed the controversy, however, since ratings went up during her tirades. 

Rosie didn’t say what her next move will be, but producers of her former daytime show have expressed interest in having her back.

Heather Mills, estranged wife of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, was voted off “Dancing with the Stars” Tuesday. 

Joining her in the bottom two was John Ratzenberger, better known as Cliff on “Cheers.” 

Besides John, other dancers remaining are Ian Ziering, Laila Ali, Billy Ray Cyrus, Joey Fatone and Apolo Anton Ohno. 

In related Heather Mills news, her ex-husband is slamming her in his new album (good for you, Paul!) The couple’s breakup was used as inspiration in Paul’s new album, “Memory Almost Full,” declaring that he is finally happy. 

He refers to Heather throughout the album, saying he is over the relationship. Lyrics in the track “Mr. Bellamy, he writes, “No one to tell me what to do, no one to hold my hand. Nobody here to spoil the view, interfere with my plans….I like it up here without you.” 

Ouch! The album will be released June 5. 

“Amadeus” will be performed at Performance Network Theatre, located at 120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor.

Directed by Malcolm Tulip, “Amadeus” by Peter Shaffer will feature Chris Korte and Aphrodite Nikolovski. The Tony-Award winning play by Shaffer stars Malcom Tulip as Salieri, a royal court appointed composer who lives and breathes music and yearns for unfounded musical talent. When he finds it is bestowed upon Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Korte), he turns toward vengeance.  A preview show, with a suggested donation of $10, will be held at 8 p.m. Thursday. Previews also will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, and 8 p.m. May 3. 

Opening night is at 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, and will run through June 10.  

Tickets range from $20 to $37 and reservations are suggested. Call the box office at (734) 663-0681 or online at www.performancenetwork.org.

The comedy tour, “Axis of Evil” will hit the stage Saturday at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. 

The show includes four comedians, all of Middle Eastern descent, who talk about politics and pop culture in today’s society. 

Comedians are Maz Jobrani (from ABC series “The Knights of Prosperity” and “The Interpreter”); Ahmed Ahmed (from Vince Vaughns’ “Wild West Comedy Show”); Aron Kader (from “Premium Blend” and “The Shield”), and Dean Obeidallah (creator of the New York Arab Comedy Festival and Comedy Central’s new internet show, “The Watch List”). 

Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Royal Oak Music Theatre box office, Record Time in Ferndale and Roseville, www.tickets.com, or charge by phone at (800) 919-6272. 

For more information, visit www.axisofevilcomedy.com or www.royaloakmusictheatre.com.