Pop Culture Checklist

How well do you know famous actors? Good enough to know if they’re dead or alive?

Take this quiz and find out just how good you are!  

Welcome to the weekly buzz, a segment that offers the latest news of upcoming local and regional events. It appears every Thursday, and also includes the latest pop culture news.

LOCAL EVENTS

–Thousands of people are expected at this weekend’s “Christmas in Ida Festival” beginning Friday through Sunday. Tons of events and entertainment will be held each day in downtown Ida, including the Parade of Lights on Saturday night.

–St. Patrick School will hold its 9th annual auction on Friday at Grafton Hall, Carleton. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7. Tickets are available at the school office or by calling 654-2522.

–Holiday Bazaar in Waltz will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran School, 28320 Waltz Rd., Waltz. Free admission.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–Carriage rides will be available every Friday and Saturday throughout December. It will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio.

–”The Night Before Christmas — The Whole Story” will be performed today through Sunday at the Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St., Toledo.

–University of Toledo Jazz Concert will be held at 8 p.m. tonight at the Center for Performing Arts, Recital Hall at the college, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo.

–The Toledo Symphony Orchestra Christmas Show will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Westgate Chapel, 2500 Wilford Dr., Toledo.

–Holiday Balloon Fest will be held Friday through Sunday in Battle Creek. It’s the only winter balloon event in Michigan.

MUSIC NEWS

–Van Halen is extending its tour into 2008. The additional 29 cities include a stop in Grand Rapids.

–Amy Winehouse canceled the rest of her shows this year because her husband is in jail, and she said she can’t perform without him.

–Janet Jackson will have a new album out in February. It has yet to be named.

–Rufus Wainwright’s live, song-for-song interpretation of Judy Garland’s 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall is coming to CD and DVD. The double-disc “Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall” CD collection of the singer’s June 14, 2006 show will be released on Dec. 4. Also on that day, the release of “Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! Live at the London Palladium” DVD will be available.    

The following is a list of some albums on sale Tuesday, Dec. 4:

-Mariah Carey, “Sweet Soul Odyssey”

-Wyclef Jean, “Carnival II”

-Ashanti, “The Declaration”

-Blake Lewis, “Audio Daydream”

-Styles P, “Supa Gangsta, Extraordinary Gentleman”

-Johnny Mathis, “Night to Remember”

-Too Short, “Get of the Stage”

-Godsmack, “Good Times, Bad Times — 10 years of Godsmack”

TV NEWS

–NBC picked up full seasons of “Chuck” and “Life.”

–When ER runs out of new episodes because of the writer’s strike, NBC will air “Lipstick Jungle” at the 10 p.m. Thursday time slot. It’s a new dramedy based on the novel by Candace Bushnell. It follows three high-powered pals.

 The following is a list of upcoming finales, premieres and special presentations:

THURSDAY, NOV. 29

10 p.m. — Run’s House (MTV). Season finale

FRIDAY, NOV. 30

8 p.m. — My Night at the Grammy’s (CBS). Special presentation

8 p.m. — Flash Gordon (Sci Fi). Season finale

SUNDAY, DEC. 2

9:58 p.m. — Brotherhood (Showtime). Season finale

10:30 p.m. — Keeping up with the Kardashians (E!). Season finale

MONDAY, DEC. 3

9 p.m. — Intervention (A/E). Season premiere

10 p.m. — Saving Grace (TNT). Season winter premiere

11 p.m. — The Closer (TNT). Special presentation  

TUESDAY, DEC. 4

8 p.m. — Beauty and the Geek (CW). Season finale

8 p.m. — Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (CBS). Special presentation

10 p.m. — The Victoria Secret Fashion Show (CBS). Special presentation

THURSDAY, DEC. 6

10 p.m. — Barbara Walters Presents: 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007 (ABC)

DVD NEWS

The following is a list of some DVDs due out Tuesday, Dec. 4:

-Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

-Superbad

-The Nanny Diaries

-The Sure Thing

-Tyler Perry: The Plays

-The Last Man on Earth

-Will & Grace: Season 7

-The Best of Crank Yankers

-24: Season Six

Here is a list of the latest movie roles for some of your favorite stars:

–Jake Gyllenhaal will play Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath in an upcoming film. The script will be written after the writer’s strike. Namath was the first football palyer to find rock star status, and recently ok’d the movie.

–Christian Bale is in the running for the role of “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.” The fourth installment of Terminator will be released in 2009.

–Russell Crowe is replacing Brad Pitt in “State of Play” after Pitt left the project last week. He reportedly left due to disagreements with the studio about the script. The film is a thriller based on a BBC miniseries that told of a congressman (played by Ed Norton) who finds his career in jeopardy after an investigation into the death of his mistress. Crowe will play a journalist who oversees his newspaper’s investigation into the murder and develops a relationship with the politician’s estranged wife.

–Matthew Perry will star in a new movie called “17,” which is being compared to the movie “Big.” It’s about a dad who wakes up one morning to realize he’s 17 again. In order to be closer to his kids, he enrolls in the same school as them. Production begins next month.

–The film “Repossession Mambo” has added another star to its cast. Liev Schreiber joins Jude Law and Forest Whitaker in the flick. He will play Law’s boss at a futuristic credit union dealing in artificial organs.

–Nicolas Cge, Steve Buscemi, and Tracy Morgan will voice the lead characters in Disney’s new film called “G-Force.” It’s about a group of animal commandoes who must stop an evil billionaire from taking over the world.

Helio Castroneves was crowned winner of “Dancing with the Stars” last night.

He earned the mirrorball trophy over Mel B. This is the second consecutive win for Helio’s partner, Julianne, who won last season with speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

Personally, I didn’t care who won between the two finalists because they are both awesome. I do think Mel B. is a better dancer, but who can deny a man with so much charm and charisma?

In other ‘Dancing’ news:

TMZ is reporting that an insider on the set of ‘Dancing’ revealed that Marie Osmond’s fainting spell was a fake! Sources say Marie had a writer just off-camera who fed her lines as she “came to.”

Wow, what a crazy lady! I totally believe it!!!

All “Wizard of Oz” fans will love this.

At www.movies.com, they compiled a list of ‘35 things you don’t know about Wizard of Oz.’

As a fan myself, I heard of some things, but also learned a lot too. For example, I knew it was true that Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” coincides with some of the scenes. But I didn’t know that Judy Garland called the Munchkin actors “drunks who got smashed every night” during a TV talk show interview in the 1960’s. Ouch!

Go here for the entire list. Enjoy!

The December issue of Blender magazine lists the “100 Greateset Indie Rock Albums Ever.”

Personally, I had to scratch my head on a few of these. Let me know what you think!

Here’s the top 10, but go here for the complete list.

 TOP 10

10. The Smiths — The Smiths

9. Big Star — Third/Sister Lovers

8. My Bloody Valentine — Loveless

7. The Velvet Underground — The Velvet Underground

6. Arcade Fire — Funeral

5. Pixies — Surfer Rosa

4. R.E.M. — Murmur

3. The Replacements — Let It Be

2. Sonic Youth — Daydream Nation

1. Pavement — Slanted And Enchanted

Welcome to the weekly buzz, a segment that offers listings of upcoming shows, movies and local and regional events. It appears every Thursday, except this week because of Turkey Day. It will return to its regular slot next week.

LOCAL EVENTS

–Black Friday returns this week! Frenchtown Square mall opens its doors at 5 a.m. The first 100 shopperss at the food court entrance receive free goody bags. Tower 98 will be at the mall from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., running a Christmas for Kids Toy Drive.

–The 24th annual Christmas Tree Festival at Matthes Evergreen Farm, 13416 Lulu Rd., Ida, will be in a heated barn and include over 80 acres of trees. Lots of events being held. It’s from 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. Friday through Sunday.

–Stepping Stones Therapeutic Riding is hosting its Holiday Auction on Saturday at the 4-H Activity Building at Monroe County Fairgrounds, 3775 S. Custer Rd. Preview starts at 5:30 p.m., spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m., program at 6:45, and live auction at 7.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–Toledo’s Holiday Parade will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in downtown Toledo. It will go along Summit, Jefferson, north to Jackson Blvd., west to Huron, and south to Monroe St.

–Detroit will host “America’s Thanksgiving Parade” on Thursday. It will go along Woodward Ave. in the morning.

–Several comedians will take stage Thanksgiving Eve at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, 314 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor. “Kamikaze Komedy” will feature comedians Russell Rabb, Nate Fridson, and Kate Brindle. It begins at 8 tonight. Tickets are $10 each.

–Magician Jim Fitzsimmons is holding a magic show at 11 a.m. Saturday at Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor. For details, call (734) 663-0681.

–The Fantasy of Lights parade will be held Friday in Howell.

–Holiday Nights is an event for kids and families. Located at the Ritter Planetarium-Brooks Observatory at the University of Toledo, Holiday Nights traces the origin of our calendar and holiday celebrations. It will be from Friday through Dec. 21. Cost is $5 for adults and $4 for children and senior citizens.

–Ongoing is the “Lights Before Christmas” at the Toledo Zoo. It will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

SANTA’s HERE!

Santa Claus is waiting for you at Frenchtown Square mall. Visit with Santa and have your photo taken. You will receive a free gift from Mrs. Field’s. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

MUSIC NEWS

–Ministry will perform its “C U LaTour” tour at the Emerald Theatre on May 7. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 1. Get your tickets at www.ministry.tickets.musictoday.com.

–A new Weezer album is on its way. “Album Six” is the title for the moment, and is scheduled to go on sale on April 22.

–A new Kurt Cobain biopic from Universal Pictures will be the first Nirvana film to feature the band’s music. Universal bought the rights to Charles R. Cross’ Cobain biography, “Heavier Than Heaven.”

DVD NEWS

–Mariah Carey’s “The Adventures of Mimi” will be coming to DVD on Dec. 4. The 2-DVD set chronicles her recent tour and includes behind-the-scenes footage, videos, and other cool stuff.

Here are some DVDs coming out Tuesday, Nov. 27:

–Bratz

–Hot Rod

–I Know Who Killed Me

–Mr. Bean’s Holiday

–Waitress

–Happy Days: Season 3

–Laverne & Shirley: Season 3

–Mork & Mindy: Season 3

–The O.C.: The Complete Series Collection

–The Usual Suspects: Collectors Edition (comes out Nov. 28)

MOVIE NEWS

–Tim Burton will direct two 3-D films for Disney. The films are “Alice in Wonderland” and “Frankenweenie.” ‘Alice’ will be made first, beginning early next year. ’Frankenweenie’ is based on a 1984 short film about a pet dog brought back to life by his owner.

–Seth Rogan will star in “Zack & Miri Make a Porno,” a movie written and directed by Kevin Smith. The film is aobut two lifelong platonic friends who are broke, so decide to make a porno for quick cash. Shooting begins in January in Pittsburgh.

–Due to the writer’s strike, two movies have been canceled. Ron Howard-directed movie called “Angels & Demons” is a goner, as well as Oliver Stone’s “Pinkville.”

The following is a list of movies hitting theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 21:

–Enchanted

–August Rush

–Hitman

–Stephen King’s The Mist

–This Christmas  

No big shocker: Jennie Garth got sent home on Dancing with the Stars last night.

That means the final 3 dancers are Mel B., Helio and Marie Osmond.

Personally, I won’t be watching the finals if Marie makes the final 2. It better be a Mel B. vs. Helio showdown!

Go Helio!!!

I know we’re in full swing for fall movies, so I’m a little behind on this one. But, there are a lot of good movies still due out before the New Year.

Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti kicked off the holiday movie season with “Fred Claus” two weeks ago. Its opening debut brought in $19.2 million, and it took in another $12 million this past weekend.

The Bee Movie and American Gangster remain strong the last three weeks, and there are other big movies coming up. Beowulf, an epic film based on the Old English poem, debuted over the weekend on an estimated 1,000 3-D screens. It was number one with $28.1 million.

But the fall movie season is just heating up. It’s filled with your typical holiday films, but there is much more variety this time around. Dramas, comedies and Oscar contenders will be opening soon. So here’s some information on some of the bigger movies that will be closing out 2007. 

Holiday movies:

–Fred Claus  is already out in theaters, but there are more coming. “Christmas in Wonderland” and “This Christmas” will both arrive Nov. 21, while “The Perfect Holiday” hits theaters on Dec. 12.

War-themed movies:

–”Lions for Lambs” already debuted with a disappointing fourth place finish last weekend. The movie starring Tom Cruise only took in $6.7 million.

–Other films coming out are “Atonement” on Dec. 7. It’s a tragic love story with a World War II backdrop. “Grace is Gone” will also debut on Dec. 7. It stars John Cusack, who copes with his soldier wife’s death.

“Charlie Wilson’s War” stars Tom Hanks as a Texas politician who assists Afghan rebels. It’s due out on Dec. 25.

The musicals:

–”Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” stars Johnny Depp and is directed by Tim Burton. It’s considered dark, but entertaining with a lot of music. Oh yeah, and a lot of blood! Sacha Cohen also is in the movie.

–Sweeney Tood is a dark film, but “Enchanted” is a lighter musical. Amy Adams stars as a naive Disney-style cartoon princess who must adapt to the hard knocks of Manhattan. It’s rated PG and includes songs, dance, prince and princesses, and of course, dragon slaying. It arrives on Nov. 21.

Other notables:

–”The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” on Nov. 30. It’s an artful perspective on the struggles of a French magazine editor who suffers a stroke.

–”Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” on Dec. 21. John Reilly stars in a fictional account about the rise, fall and rise of a world-renowned musician. It’s being called raunchy, light, and is mostly for older teens and 20-something males.

–”The Bucket List” starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It’s about two terminally ill guys who escape a cancer ward for one last road trip. It opens Dec. 25.

Notable November Movie Releases:

-August Rush (Nov. 21)

-Enchanted (Nov. 21)

-Stephen King’s The Mist (Nov. 21)

-Awake (Nov. 30)

Notable December Movie Releases:

-Atonement (Dec. 7)

-The Golden Compass (Dec. 7)

-The Perfect Holiday (Dec. 12)

-Alvin and the Chipmunks (Dec. 14)

-I Am Legend (Dec. 14)

-The Kite Runner (Dec. 14)

-National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Dec. 21)

-The Great Debaters (Dec. 25)

-The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Dec. 25)

Even though there’s a writer’s strike, there’s still a lot of news in the television world.

Here’s a list of the latest news:

–You won’t want to miss today’s episode of Oprah. It’s her annual “Favorite Things” extravaganza. She gives the lucky crowd several gifts — from camcorders to wrapping paper to refrigerators. It airs at 4 p.m. today on ABC.

 –High School Musical 2 fans can catch it on TV this Friday. Disney is doing a pop-up edition of HSM 2 featuring fun facts, trivia, and behind-the-scenes production tricks. It’s on at 8 p.m. Friday on the Disney Channel.

–Beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, the “25 Days of Christmas” will kick off on ABC Family. It will feature 25 days of Christmas movies and specials.

–Dirty Sexy Money as been picked up for a full season on ABC.

–The cast of “Celebrity Apprentice” has been announced. Some of the 14 cast members include Omarosa (2004 contestant), Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Stephen Baldwin, Gene Simmons, Trace Adkins, Lennox Lewis, and Tito Ortiz.

They won’t be competing for a job, rather, they will be raising money for their favorite charities. The winner gets a $250,000 bonus to donate. The show debuts Jan. 3 on NBC.

–Paige Davis is returning to Trading Spaces on TLC. The show is getting an entire facelift in hopes of reviving the show. The re-launch can happen as early as January. Davis will host the show after leaving two years ago.

–CW’s One Tree Hill will return for a fifth season with a 2-hour premiere at 8 p.m. Jan. 8. It will take over the 9 p.m. slot starting Jan. 15 as Reaper goes on hiatus because of the strike.