Pop Culture Checklist

I’m a day late on this one, but it was 10 years ago yesterday that Chris Farley died.

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! He was one of my favorites, especially in Tommy Boy and of course, Black Sheep.

But his best material was on Saturday Night Live. The Chippendales skit with Patrick Swayze was classic but I will always love him as the motivational speaker who “lives in a van, down by the river!”

If anyone wants to share their favorite Farley moments, please do so!

The writer’s strike is playing havoc on TV network schedules. ABC is no different.

The biggest is the return of “Lost,” which will be an 8-episode season on a new night. It will air at 9 p.m. Thursday starting Jan. 31, replacing Grey’s Anatomy.

Here is ABCs mid-season schedule:

MONDAY (January)

8 p.m. — Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

9:30 p.m. — Notes from the Underbelly

10 p.m. — October Road

MONDAY (February)

8 p.m. — Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann

9 p.m. — Samantha Who?

9:30 p.m. — Notes from the Underbelly

10 p.m. — October Road

MONDAY (March)

8 p.m. — Dancing with the Stars

9:30 p.m. — Samantha Who?

10 p.m. — The Bachelor

TUESDAY

8 p.m. — Just for Laughs

8:30 p.m. – Just for Laughs

9 p.m. — According to Jim

9:30 p.m. — Carpoolers

10 p.m. — Boston Legal

TUESDAY (March)

8 p.m. – Just for Laughs

8:30 p.m. – Just for Laughs

9 p.m. —  Dancing with the Stars results show

10 p.m. — Boston Legal

WEDNESDAY

8 p.m. — Wife Swap

9 p.m. — Supernanny

10 p.m. — Cashmere Mafia (Men in Trees beginning Feb. 27)

THURSDAY (JANUARY)

8 p.m. — Ugly Betty

9 p.m. — Grey’s Anatomy

10 p.m. — Big Shots (after special premiere of Cashmere Mafia on Jan. 3)

THURSDAY (February)

8 p.m. — Ugly Betty

9 p.m. — Lost

10 p.m. — Eli Stone

FRIDAY

8 p.m. — Drama encores

9 p.m. — Drama encores

10 p.m. — 20/20

SUNDAY (March)

7 p.m. — America’s Funniest Home Videos

8 p.m. — Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

9 p.m. — Oprah’s Big Give

10 p.m. — Desperate Housewives     

Have you seen the new “The Dark Knight” trailer? 

“The Dark Knight” arrives in theaters July 18, and stars Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger as The Joker. Other stars include Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The trailer is shown before ”I Am Legend” in movie theaters and some people have said it’s better than the Will Smith movie.

Judge for yourself. Here it is.

Nintendo says it will offer a “rain check” program to deliver the Wii in January to shoppers who can’t buy it during the holiday season due to inventory shortages.

The game console will still cost the full price of about $249 for out-of-stock Wii’s, but customers will get a certificate promising one “sometime in January.”

The program is exclusive to GameStop, and the store said it has “many tens of thousands” of rain checks available.

Tailor Made! What a shock that was in the finale of “I Love New York 2″ last night. He was chosen over the favorite, Buddha.

The couple has been spotted dining in New York City six months after the finale was taped, so this could possibly be the real deal, but we’ll see.

We’ll find out all the juicy details during the reunion show, slated for Jan. 6 on VH1.

News reports say that Johnny Depp is in talks to star in 2 upcoming Pee Wee Herman movies, playing the legendary kids’ character.

Paul Reubens, who played Pee Wee in the TV show and movies until 1990, said he wants to reprise the role himself, but it sounds like Depp may get the nod instead.

Reubens apparantly talked to Depp about it, and Depp told him, “Let me think about it.”

I love Depp and Pee Wee — please let this be true!!!

The Police.

That’s right. The reunion tour led all tours in 2007 with a gross of over $212 million.

The following is the top 10 tours of the year.

1. The Police, $212 million

2. Genesis, $129 million

3. Justin Timberlake, $126.8 million

4. Kenny Chesney, $71.2 million

5. Rod Stewart, $70 million

6. Cirque Du Soleil, $59.4 million

7. Roger Waters, $53.2 million

8. Tim McGraw/Faith Hill, $52.3 million

9. Christina Aguilera, $48.1 million

10. Rascal Flatts, $41.6 million

“I Am Legend” starring Will Smith debuted this week with $76.5 million, the biggest December opening ever.

Last week’s number one movie, “The Golden Compass,” took a nose-dive. In its second week, it came in third with $9 million - down 65 percent from its opening weekend. The controversial flick cost $180 to make, and has done $90 million so far overseas but has been a dud domestically with just $41 million.

Here is the top 10 from the weekend:

1. I Am Legend, $76.5 million

2. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $45 million

3. The Golden Compass, $9 million

4. Enchanted, $6 million

5. No Country for Old Men, $3 million

6. The Perfect Holiday, $2.97 millin

7. Fred Claus, $2.3 million

8. This Christmas, $2.3 million

9. Atonement, $1.85 million

10. August Rush, $1.8 million  

The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced the other day, and the Beastie Boys were snubbed!!! I can’t believe it — how could this be?!?

Anyway, the ones who made it are Madonna, John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen, and the  Dave Clark Five.

Welcome to the weekly buzz, a segment that offers listings of upcoming events, shows, concerts, and area events. It appears every Thursday, and also includes the latest news in music, TV, DVD, and movies.

LOCAL EVENTS

–Pet Photos with Santa Claus will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at PetSmart, 2347 N. Telegraph Rd.

–The Watoto Children’s Choir from Ugandaa will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Monroe Free Methodist Church, 3928 E. Dunbar Rd.

–The 4th annual Christmas party will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Erie Post 3925, VFW, located at 1944 E. Erie Rd. Cost is $20.

–The Outlaws of Professional Wrestling returns Saturday for its 2nd annual Christmas show. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first match at 7 p.m. at Arthur Lesow Community Center, 120 Eastchester.

–A Christmas Cookie Walk will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Dundee United Methodist Church, 645 Franklin St.

–A choreographer is being sought for the spring production of “High School Musical - On Stage.” Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Norman Towers, 810 W. Elm Ave. Potential choreographers should bring at least 6 dancers to perform to music similar to the production.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–”Our Body: The Universe Within” at the Detroit Science Center is open through Jan. 6. The exhibit is made up of 20 actual human bodies and 135 anatomical displays. It goes “under the skin” to expose the intricacy of the human body. Visit www.detroitsciencecenter.org for ticket information and hours.

–Breakfast with Santa will be held from 8 t0 10 a.m. Saturday at the Town Center at Levis Commons, 3201 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg, Ohio.

–The Old Road Dinner Santa Train boards at 7 p.m. Saturday at 301 E. Adrian St., Blissfield.

–Ice Carving demonstrations will be at 6 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Toledo Zoo.

–Horse Drawn Carriage Rides will be held every Friday and Saturday this month. It’s from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Ohio.

TV NEWS

–”Survivor: China” finale airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS. It will be followed by “Survivor: China Reunion” live from Los Angeles.

–”Duel,” a six-night game show with a jackpot of over $1.5 million, premieres at 8 p.m. Monday on ABC. Mike Greenberg of ESPN will host the show, which pits 20 contestants in a trivia challenge and a strategy game along the lines of high-stakes poker.

–The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award nominees will be announced at 6 a.m. Dec. 20 on TNT. Kate Walsh and Terrence Howard will announce the nominees.

–CBS has ordered a 13th season of “Amazing Race.”

–”Journeyman” has been canceled.

–The Sci Fi Channel’s “Tin Man” is coming to DVD in March.

–Regis Philbin will host the official 30-minute red carpet show preceding the Oscars.

–”Medium” returns in January, and Anjelica Huston will make special guest appearances in 6 episodes.

MOVIES

The following is a list of movies arriving in theaters in the next week:

Dec. 14

-I Am Legend

-Alvin and the Chipmunks

Dec. 21

-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

-Charlie Wilson’s War

-National Treasure: Book of Secrets

-P.S. I Love You

-Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Dec. 25

-Aliens vs. Predator

-Requiem

-The Great Debaters

-The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep  

DVD NEWS

The following is a list of DVDs arriving in stores on Tuesday, Dec. 18:

-The Simpsons Movie

-Balls of Fury

-Halloween

-Underdog

-Stardust

MUSIC NEWS

–Citizen Cope will be performing at 9 p.m. Feb. 22 at Royal Oak Music Theatre. Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. Friday. Buy tickets by calling 800-919-6272 or visit www.aeglive.com.

–Madonna is set to release a new album in April.

–Marilyn Manson announced a 5-week tour, supporting “Eat Me, Drink Me” that went on sale in June. He will make a stop at the State Theatre in Detroit on Feb. 4.

–Trace Adkins will be going on tour, and will be making stops in Michigan and Ohio. He’ll be performing at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw on Feb. 14, and at the SeaGate Center in Toledo on Feb. 15. 

The following is a list of CDs coming out Tuesday, Dec. 18:

-Mary J. Blige, ”Growing Pains”

-Rod Stewart, “Smiler”

-Lupe Fiasco, “The Cool”

-Jaheim, “The Making of a Man”

-Soundtrack, “Sweeney Todd”

-Soundtrack, “Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical”

-Soundtrack, “There Will Be Blood”