Pop Culture Checklist

CBS PREMIERES
Wednesday, Sept. 19
8 p.m. – Kid Nation
Thursday, Sept. 20
8 p.m. – Survivor: China
Sunday, Sept. 23
7 p.m. – 60 Minutes
9 p.m. – Cold Case
10 p.m. – Shark
Monday, Sept. 24
8 p.m. – How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. – The Big Bang Theory
9 p.m. – Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. – Rules of Engagement
10 p.m. – CSI: Miami
Tuesday, Sept. 25
8 p.m. – NCIS
9 p.m. – The Unit
10 p.m. – Cane
Wednesday, Sept. 26
9 p.m. – Criminal Minds
10 p.m. – CSI: NY
Thursday, Sept. 27
9 p.m. – CSI
10 p.m. – Without a Trace
Friday, Sept. 28
8 p.m. – Ghost Whisperer
9 p.m. – Moonlight
10 p.m. – Numbers
Thursday, Oct. 18
10 p.m. – Viva Laughlin preview
Sunday, Oct. 21
8 p.m. – Viva Laughlin official premiere

CW’s PREMIERES
Tuesday, Sept. 18
8 p.m. – Beauty and the Geek (2-hour special)
Wednesday, Sept. 19
8 p.m. – America’s Next Top Model (2-hour special)
Friday, Sept. 21
8 p.m. – Friday Night Smackdown
Sunday, Sept. 23
7 p.m. – CW Now
7:30 p.m. – Online Nation
Tuesday, Sept. 25
9 p.m. – Reaper
Wednesday, Sept. 26
9 p.m. – Gossip Girl
Thursday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. – Smallville
Monday, Oct. 1
8 p.m. – Everybody Hates Chris
8:30 p.m. – Aliens in America
9 p.m. – Girlfriends
9:30 p.m. – The Game
Thursday, Oct. 4
9 p.m. – Supernatural
Sunday, Oct. 7
8 p.m. – Life is Wild

Despite horrible reviews, the comedy “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry” finished in the top spot at the box office over the weekend. 

It beat out “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” to claim the number one spot. 

Here’s the top 10 box office movies: 

1. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, $34.8 million 

2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, $32.2 million 

3. Hairspray, $27.8 million 

4. Transformers, $20.5 million 

5. Ratatouille, $11 million 

6. Live Free or Die Hard, $7.3 million 

7. License to Wed, $3.8 million 

8. 1408, $2.6 million 

9. Evan Almighty, $2.5 million 

10. Knocked Up, $2.3 million 

Welcome to the weekly buzz, a segment that offers listings of upcoming shows, movies and local and regional events. As always, please add any events or shows not mentioned.
POTTER MANIA!
Well, Potter fans, the time is almost here. At 12:01 a.m. Saturday, you can finally start reading the final Harry Potter book. Two main characters will die – who will it be? I have a small wager with a co-worker (aka Shawn) that Potter will NOT die. I can’t wait for that chocolate Frosty, Shawna!
Anyway, the book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling is supposedly the last book so enjoy! There are numerous “Harry Potter” parties being thrown Friday night in anticipation of the book release. Check Tuesday’s Evening News for the complete listing. The library, Waldenbooks, all major book stores, and other local stores will be open Friday night for the book release. Check out all the details in the Evening News!
LOCAL EVENTS
–Stephon Marbury will be in Monroe on Saturday! The New York Knicks player will make an appearance at 11 a.m. Saturday at Steve & Berry’s at Frenchtown Square mall, 2121 N. Monroe St. He’ll be available for autographs for about an hour.
-“Jazz in the Square” is a new local event that will include jazz performances at the Loranger Square pavilion in downtown Monroe. The first performance will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday. The lineup includes regional Jazz artists like Urban Transport featuring Vincent Chandler, the Duane Parham Society, Lin Rountree & Shelby Brown and more.
–Sherman Arnold (Elvis Tribute Group) will perform at 7 p.m. tonight at St. Mary’s Park. In case of rain, it will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.
–18^th annual Southeast Michigan antique tractor and engine show is being held Friday through Sunday at Nike Park, Newport Rd., west of Telegraph Rd. It features case tractors and economy engines. It also has kids activities, an auction, flea market, entertainment, and fireworks on Saturday.
–St. Patrick Catholic Church festival will be held Friday through Sunday at the church, 2996 W. Labo Rd., Carleton. For more information, 654-2500.
–The Southern Michigan Fire Muster will be held Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with the Huron Hometown Days Festival. The fire muster features vintage fire apparatus. Local fire departments also will show modern equipment. It will be held at Waltz Memorial Park, in Waltz.
–The 31^st annual Summerfield-Petersburg community days will be held from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and noon to 1 a.m. Saturday at Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department, Sylvania-Petersburg Rd. Plenty of activities are being held during the two-day event. The theme is Hawaiian luau.
REGIONAL EVENTS
–The 48^th annual Ann Arbor Street Fair is currently going on through Saturday. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
–The finale of “Rally by the River” at Promenade Park, Toledo, will be Friday night. The Gin Blossoms will be the final act, taking stage at 8:30 p.m. Prior, other area bands will perform. It begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the park. Cost is $5 a ticket. Kids 12 and younger are free with a paid adult. To buy a ticket, call (419) 249-4090.
–“Roar on the River” will be held in Trenton from Friday through Sunday. It features hydroplane races, along with food, boating events, and a fireworks display on Saturday. It will be held at Elizabeth Park.
–The Lucas County Fair will run from Tuesday through July 29 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee, Ohio.
–The Seneca County Fair will run from Monday through July 30 at the Seneca County Fairgrounds, in Tiffin, Ohio.
MOVIES
David Duchovny recently announced that an “X-Files” sequel will be coming to a theater near you. He said he will get the script next week, penned by creator Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Both Duchovny and co-star Gillian Anderson are committed to the project.
In other news,
–Jared Leto will join “Mr. Nobody,” a romance drama. It’s a multi-layered love story that used the “butterfly effect,” in which one single occurrence can cause a ripple or domino effect and have a significant outcome.
–John Leguizamo has been cast for M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Happening.” He joins Mark Wahlberg and Spencer Breslin in the film based on a global environmental disaster that threatens the existence of mankind.
Shooting begins next month in Philadelphia. It will be released on Friday, June 13, 2008.
–“Ace Ventura 3” is on its way. It will star Josh Flitter, who will play the son of Ace Ventura and becomes a pet detective for the 7^th grade. He works on a case involving a stolen baby panda. Shooting begins in September.
And to answer your question: No, Jim Carrey is not in the movie.
–Brittany Murphy will star in a fantasy comedy “The Other Side.” Jason Lee, Giovanni Ribisi, Jim Broadbent, Tim Roth, and Lili Taylor also will star in the movie. It’s about a grad student (Murphy) who begins working at a scientific institute on a remote island. She finds an eccentric community who are hiding a secret about a tragedy that took place years ago. Production begins in November.
New films opening on Friday:
-I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
-Hairspray
-Sunshine
TV SHOWS
Not too many new shows are popping up in the next week, besides a new drama starting on AMC. “Mad Men” will air at 10 p.m. Thursdays on AMC. It follows big-time ad man Dan Draper in 1960s New York during the “Golden Age” of advertising.
On Monday, the “CMA Music Festival” will air at 9 p.m. on ABC. It will feature several country singers, including Carrie Underwood, Big and Rich, Rascal Flatts, and many more.
Here’s a list of who will be on all your favorite talk shows today and Friday:
TODAY
David Letterman – Kevin James, White Rabbit
Jay Leno – Don Cheadle, Puddle of Mudd
Jimmy Kimmel – Chris Hansen, Kalai
Late Late Show – Rosie Perez, David Milch, Patti Smith
Conan O’Brien – Queen Latifah, Fountains of Wayne
Last Call – Floyd Landis
FRIDAY
Regis and Kelly – Kevin James, Rupert Grint, Eric Ripert
The View – Ashley Judd, guest co-host Sherri Shepherd
David Letterman – Anne Hathaway, Nick Griffin
Jay Leno – Glenn Close, Sebastian Manisalco
Jimmy Kimmel – Austin Nichols
Late Late Show – Parker Posey, Ian Hunter
Conan O’Brien – Kevin James, Jordana Spiro
Last Call – Petra Nemcova, Mims
MUSIC
–Riverfest ’07 is being presented by 93.9 The River radio station. It features Guster, Ben Kweller, Chantal Kreviazuk & Bedouin Soundclash. It’s being held on Friday night at the Fillmore Detroit (formerly known as State Theatre). Doors open at 5 p.m., show is at 7 p.m.
Here are some new CD releases on Tuesday:
–Hanson, “The Walk”
–Prince, “Planet Earth”
–Billy Ray Cyrus, “Home At Last”
–Silverchair, “Young Modern”
–Johhny Cash, “The Great Lost Performances”
–Puddle of Mudd, “Famous”
–Sum 41, “Underclass Hero”

Nominations for the 59^th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced this morning.
No big surprise that HBO’s “The Sopranos” received 15 nominations since its final season has just ended. It received best drama and top acting noms for James Gandolfini and Edie Falco.
HBO’s made-for-TV movie “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” led all Emmy nods with 17. AMC’s miniseries “Broken Trail” followed with 16.
The Emmy’s will be televised on Fox on Sept. 16. Here’s the list of nominees. Who was snubbed? Who is unworthy of their nom? Let me know your thoughts!
Besides Sopranos, the other best drama series were Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, House, and Heroes. (24 did not make the list, but lead actor
For best comedy series, the list includes Entourage, The Office, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, and Ugly Betty.
“24” didn’t get nominated for best drama series, but lead actor Kiefer Sutherland is up for outstanding actor in a drama series for his role as Jack Bauer. He’s up against James Gandolfini, Hugh Laurie (House), Denis Leary (Rescue Me), James Spader (Boston Legal).
Nominated for outstanding actress in a drama series are Patricia Arquette (Medium), Minnie Driver (The Riches), Edie Falco, Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: SVU), and Kyra Sedgwick (Closer).
Outstanding actor in a comedy series noms went to Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (Office), Ricky Gervais (Extras), Tony Shalhoub (Monk), and Charlie Sheen, (Two and a Half Men).
Outstanding actress in a comedy series went to America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Julia Louis-Dreyfuss (New Adventures of Old Christine), and Mary Louise Parker (Weeds).
Nods for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series went to Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Kevin Dillon (Entourage), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), and Rainn Wilson (The Office).
And for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, nods went to Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl), Jenna Fischer (The Office), Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men), Conchata Ferrell (Two and a Half Men), Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), and Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds).
In the best reality series category, the nods went to The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, and Top Chef.

Have you been watching the World Series of Pop Culture on VH1? I don’t know about you, but I’m hooked! The teams are unbelievable, the questions are fun, and the contestants and host of the show are very entertaining. 

–“The Office” fans will be seeing a lot more of their favorite show when the season begins in the fall. NBC announced that the comedy show, premiering Sept. 27, will be an hour long. Actually, the first four weeks of the show will be hour-long episodes. It will be interesting to see the rating for the 9 p.m. Thursday hour since the Office will be pitted against Grey’s Anatomy and CSI.
The extended order of “The Office” is part of NBC’s strategy to cut down on the number of repeats throughout the season.
The early shows will deal with Ryan being the boss. He will try and shake things up and attempt to bring the company into the Internet age. The story line also will focus on Jan moving in with Michael – that should be hilarious!
–Jerry Seinfeld will be returning to NBC, for a little while at least. In October, he’ll be making an appearance on 30 Rock. He’ll be in the Oct. 4 premiere of the show.
–“High School Musical 2” will premiere Aug. 17 on the Disney Channel. It begins at 8 p.m.
Original stars Zac Efron (as Troy), Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella), Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay), Lucas Grabeel (Ryan), Corbin Bleu (Chad) and Monique Coleman (Taylor) all return for the sequel. Also returning are Alyson Reed (Ms. Darbus), Chris Warren, Jr. (Zeke), Olesya Rulin (Kelsi), KayCee Stroh (Martha), Ryne Sanborn (Jason) and Bart Johnson (Coach Bolton). Mark Taylor joins the cast as country club manager Mr. Fulton.
–I guess Donald Trump wasn’t fired after all. After “The Apprentice” was supposedly canceled, NBC is now bringing it back.
A new format is in place, however. It will focus on celebrities. The competition will be the same, but now celebrity contestants will play for a charity.
I think I speak for the majority on this one: Please ask Rosie to participate!!
–Here’s a list of premiere dates for NBC:
Sunday, Sept. 9
7 p.m. – Football Night in America
8:15 p.m. – Sunday Night Football
Tuesday, Sept. 11
8 p.m. – Biggest Loser
Monday, Sept. 17
8 p.m. – Deal or No Deal
Monday, Sept. 24
8 p.m. – Chuck
9 p.m. – Heroes
10 p.m. – Journeyman
Tuesday, Sept. 25
9:30 p.m. – The Singing Bee
10 p.m. – Law & Order: SVU
Wednesday, Sept. 26
8 p.m. – Deal or No Deal
9 p.m. – Bionic Woman
10 p.m. – Life
Thursday, Sept. 27
8 p.m. – My Name is Earl
9 p.m. – The Office
Friday, Sept. 28
8 p.m. – Deal or No Deal
9 p.m. – Las Vegas
Thursday, Oct. 4
8:30 p.m. – 30 Rock
Friday, Oct. 5
9 p.m. – Friday Night Lights
Thursday, Oct. 25
9:30 p.m. – Scrubs

A new question is raised about the death of Jim Morrison, frontman for The Doors. Did he die from a heart attack while in his bathtub, or did he die of a drug overdose in a bathroom stall in a bar? 

We all know the first version, but now a Paris nightclub manager is telling a different story. In a new book, Sam Bernett says Morrison died in a toilet stall of his club after a heroin overdose. He writes about the details in his new book, “The End: Jim Morrison.” In it, he says of the singer, “…The beautiful California boy, had become an inert lump crumbled in the toilet of a nightclub.” He goes on to say that two drug dealers brought his body back to his apartment.

He offers details of that fateful night of July 3, 1971. He said Morrison was at the club with two men, who were drug dealers who sold him heroin. They later found Morrison in a toilet stall unresponsive. A club customer happened to be a doctor, so he examined him. The doctor said Morrison was dead, and that he had a little foam on his nose and blood, too. He concluded it was probably a heroin overdose. 

The two drug dealers insisted he was just unconscious, and carried him out of the club. Bernett said he wanted to call the paramedics, but the club owners ordered him to keep quiet to avoid a scandal. Bernett believes the drug dealers put Morrison in the bathtub in an attempt to revive him. Morrison’s girlfriend, Pam Courson, gave a different version. She said they went to the movies, went out to eat dinner, listened to records, and fell asleep. She also told police that Morrison woke up in the night feeling sick, and took a hot bath. Courson found him dead in the tub.  Morrison was buried in Paris, and no autopsy was performed.

Even though rumors have long suggested that Morrison died of an overdose, and that he had fallen ill at the nightclub, witnesses did not come forward. 

Stephen Davis, author of “Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend,” said he’s not going to rewrite history because of the new book. Based on his book, Davis believes Morrison did overdose at the club, but that it was shortly before his death – not the same night – and he survived the overdose. Davis said if Morrison did die in the toilet stall, it would have come out before now.

So what do you think about all this? Is this new version believable? If so, why did they wait so long to come out with the truth…in a book no less? 

“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” took the number one spot at the box office with $77.4 million. The total domestic gross is $140 million since opening Wednesday, and it took in an additional $190.3 million in 44 other countries.
It knocked off “Transformers,” which placed second overall with $36 million. Total earnings is $223 million in just over two weeks.

Here is a list of the top 10 movies from the weekend:
1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, $77.4 million
2. Transformers, $36 million
3. Ratatouille, $18 million
4. Live Free or Die Hard, $10.9 million
5. License to Wed, $7.4 million
6. 1408, $5.01 million
7. Evan Almighty, $5 million
8. Knocked Up, $3.7 million
9. Sicko, $2.65 million
10. Ocean’s Thirteen, $1.9 million

Welcome to the weekly buzz, a segment that offers listings of upcoming shows, movies and local and regional events. As always, please add any events or shows not mentioned.
LOCAL EVENTS
–“Trilogy” will perform at 7 p.m. tonight at St. Mary’s Park. They will perform Oldies and classic rock.
–The River Raisin Jazz Series continues tonight at six locations in downtown Monroe. It will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. tonight at 129 Lounge, Rendezvous, Café Classics, Jefana’s On Front, McGeady’s Town Pub, and Monroe Street Grill.
–Ida area garage sale, sponsored by Friends of Ida Library, will be held Saturday. A complete listing of garage sales will be available at the library, 3016 Lewis Ave., and an outdoor book sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, too.
–Monroe KOA is hosting a “Sandcastle Contest” on Saturday. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and work will be allowed until 11:15 a.m. Winners will be announced on the beach at noon.
It’s located at 15600 Tunnicliff Rd., Petersburg. For more information, call 856-4972.
REGIONAL EVENTS
–The Lagrange Street Polish Festival will be held Friday through Sunday in the Polish Village in Toledo. It will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
–River Raisin Festival will be held from Friday through Sunday in downtown Blissfield. It will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
–City of Taylor Summer Festival begins today through Sunday. For more information, call (734) 374-3906.
–8^th annual “Michigan ElvisFest” will be held Friday and Saturday in Ypsilanti. Tribute bands will play Elvis hits. Other events include magicians, clowns, contests, crafts and more. It’s located at Shady Riverside Park, Depot Town, Ypsilanti. For more information, call (734) 480-3974 or visit www.mielvisfest.org.
–“Taste of Battle Creek” will be Friday and Saturday. It offers samplings from area restaurants. It includes bands, a film festival, and a special area for kids. For more information, call (269) 962-4076.
–Saline Celtic Festival will be held Friday and Saturday in downtown Chelsea. For more information, call (734) 475-1145.
–The Ann Arbor Antiques Market will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Admission is $6 each, and parking is free. For more information, call (352) 771-8928.
–The 46^th annual Wyandotte Street Art Fair is happening now through Saturday. Live entertainment, kids’ activities and areas, and 350 artist booths will be available. It’s located in downtown Wyandotte.
MUSIC
Tickets for George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic will go on sale at 5 p.m. Friday. They will be performing on Sunday, Sept. 16 at Royal Oak Music Theatre. Tickets are $29.50 or $50.
Get your tickets at www.tickets.com or by calling (248) 399-2980.
In other news:
Suzanne Vega’s new and 7^th CD comes out Tuesday. It’s called “Beauty and Crime.” Here are some other artists who are releasing CDs on Tuesday, July 17:
–The Chemical Brothers, “We Are The Night”
–Yellowcard, “Paper Walls”
–Garbage, “Absolute Garbage”
–Meat Puppets, “Rise to your Knees”
–Mick Harvey, “Two of Diamonds”
–Various Artists, “Now That’s What I Call Music! 25”
TV SHOWS
–Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, where chef Gordon Ramsay advises restaurants, will air at 8 p.m. tonight on the BBC.
–Shows “Monk” and “Psych” return Friday for all-new seasons. The shows begin at 9 p.m. Friday on USA.
–The 15^th annual ESPY Awards will be held at 9 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. Co-hosts will be Jimmy Kimmel and Lebron James.
–“Rock of Love” with Bret Michaels will premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday on VH1. The Poison frontman looks for love in this reality show.
–“Scott Baio is 45…and Single” another reality show, will premiere at 10:30 p.m. Sunday on VH1. Remember Scott Baio? Every girl (including me) was in love with him during the “Happy Days” and “Charles in Charge” years. I can’t believe he’s 45!
–“Saving Grace” starring Holly Hunter as a cynical police detective facing a personal crisis, will premiere at 10 p.m. Wednesday on TNT.
–Nominations for the 59^th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced at 8:35 a.m. July 19.
MOVIES
–Tomorrow is Friday the 13^th. In honor of the special day, rent all Friday the 13^th” movies and watch a marathon of it!

Okay, now for the big screen debuts. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you know that “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is coming out Friday. “Captivity” also comes out Friday.
Here’s some other “blockbuster” movies set to come out this summer:
July 27: The Simpsons Movie
Aug. 3: The Bourne Ultimatum
Aug. 10: Rush Hour 3

–It’s finally official: “Sex in the City” will be on the big screen. The girls will reunite for the movie, with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. Shooting begins this fall.
–Jamie Foxx will star in “Blood on the Leaves,” an adaptation of the novel by Jeffrey Stetson.
The book is about a district attorney who deals with feelings of revenge as he prosecutes a black history professor on trial for the murders of white men accused of crimes against blacks during the Civil Rights movement.
No word yet on when it will be released.
–For the “Superman Returns” sequel, Kevin Spacey has agreed to return as Lex Luthor.
Filming is expected to begin next year for a 2009 release.
–Jim Carrey is a busy man these days. He recently signed on for two movies. The first one is a comedy called “Sober Buddies” that is about a hard-partying software executive assigned to a Sober Buddy (Carrey) by a court to keep him in line while at a business trip in Las Vegas. Things get out of hand when the Buddy falls off the wagon.
He is also starring as Ebenezer Scrooge in a new version of “A Christmas Carol.”
–The 1984 film “Footloose” is being remade. Zac Efron (from High School Musical) will play Ren McCormack, a newcomer in a town where dancing has been banned.
–Ryan Gosling will join Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones.” Rachel Weisz is already a part of the cast in the film adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel.
The story is based on a girl who is murdered but continues to observe her family on earth after death. She watches the impact of her loss on her loved ones, while her killer covers his tracks and prepares to murder again.