Pop Culture Checklist

Raymond Kelly, New York Police Commissioner, gave a press conference today about the scene of Heath Ledger’s death.

According to USA Today, he said there “were no illegal drugs” visible in the apartment. He was found lying in bed, face down — not on the floor or at the foot of the bed.

Pills were not “strewn” around the room, but there were prescription sleeping pills in capped bottles. He could not confirm if Ledger had pneumonia at the time of his death.

I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Heath Ledger is dead. I didn’t see that one coming, so it will be interesting to hear more about his life from close family/friends in the days ahead.

In the meantime, check out the movie trailer for “Dark Knight” - Ledger’s final movie. The Batman flick is still slated to be released in July.

Ledger playing The Joker is just creepy! Check it out here.

Eddie Murphy predicted the New York Giants win over the Packers in 1988.

If you don’t believe me, check out the video here! It’s unbelievable!!

The Oscar nominations were announced this morning. For now, the show is still set for Feb. 24. Jon Stewart will host the event.

What do you think of the nominations? Who was left out? Who should not be on the list?

BEST PICTURE

-There Will Be Blood

-No Country for Old Men

-Juno

-Michael Clayton

-Atonement

BEST ACTOR

-Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)

-Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)

-Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises)

-George Clooney (Michael Clayton)

-Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah)

BEST ACTRESS

-Ellen Page (Juno)

-Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Golden Age)

-Laura Linney (The Savages)

-Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose)

-Julie Christie (Away From Her)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

-Casey Affleck (Assassination of Jesse James)

-Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

-Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)

-Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)

-Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

-Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There)

-Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)

-Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)

-Ruby Dee (American Gangster)

-Saorise Ronan (Atonement)

BEST DIRECTOR

-Jason Reitman (Juno)

-Ethan and Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)

-Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)

-Julian Schanbel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly)

-Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton)  

Sunday night’s matchup between the Giants and Packers was the highest rated NFL conference championship game since 1996.

According to Fox, ratings were up 21 percent from last year’s NFC title game between the Bears and Saints. The Giants overtime victory over the Packers averaged 47.9 million viewers — more than any other football game this season.

Blender magazine listed 33 things you should know about Led Zeppelin.

Go here to read the complete list. Enjoy!

Fans of the popular board game Monopoly can decide which cities will appear on “Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition.”

You can select from more than 68 candidate cities, including six from the United States. The 20 cities earning the most votes will be placed on the board by rank in descending order of rent property.

Cast your vote at www.monopoly.com. Vote for up to 10 cities until Feb. 28. Wild card cities can be nominated. Beginning Feb. 29, the top 20 wild cards will compete for one spot.

The ‘World Edition’ goes on sale in September in 45 countries.

“Cloverfield” debuted this weekend with $41 million, a record opening for January. It surpassed the $35.9 million premiere weekend of the “Star Wars” special edition in 1997, the previous best for January.

Through the perspective of a hand-held camera, the film tells the story of a monster in New York City.

“27 Dresses” starring Katherine Heigl opened in second place with $22.4 million. The other movie debut, “Mad Money” didn’t do as well. It pulled in only $7 million for seventh place. It stars Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes.

Top 10 at the box office:

1. Cloverfield, $41 million

2. 27 Dresses, $22.4 million

3. The Bucket List, $15.2 million

4. Juno, $10.3 million

5. National Treasure: Book of Secrets, $8.1 million

6. First Sunday, $7.8 million

7. Mad Money, $7.7 million

8. Alvin and the Chipmunks, $7 million

9. I Am Legend, $5.1 million

10. Atonement, $4.8 million  

MOVIE NEWS

–Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are returning to the big screen after 10 years. The untitled sequel to “The X-Files” will not pursue the long-running plotline of the theory of aliens on earth. Writers say it will be something different, but refuse to reveal the plot of the film.

I guess all we really need to know is that David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are reprising their oles - that alone will make it a hit. It arrives in theaters on July 25.

–The “Justice League” has been defeated. Warner Bros. announced the movie about the DC superheroes is on indefinite hold. The earliest it will begin is late summer or fall.

–Hayden Panettiere (”Heroes” actress) is in negotiations to star in ”I Love You, Beth Cooper.” The film is based on a novel by Larry Doyle, a former writer for “The Simpsons.”

Hayden would play Beth, the school’s hottest cheerleader who shows nerdy Dennis Cooverman the best night of his life after he proclaims his love for her during his graduation speech. Shooting is expected to start in the spring.   

DVD NEWS

–The “Best of the Price is Right” DVD set is coming March 25. It’s a 4-DVD set that includes 26 episodes. It includes the final five shows of Bob Barker’s final week, as well as his very first show. It also has shows from the 1950s and 1960s, and has a total of 930 minutes. Cost is $40.

The following is a list of some DVDs being released Tuesday, Jan. 22:

-The Game Plan

-Saw IV

-Blonde Ambition

-Hawaii Five-O: Third Season

-Hustle: Season Four

Kiefer Sutherland will be going home from jail early Monday morning. Yeah!

He spent two months there, including over the holidays.

Now if we can only get 24 back on the air, life would be better!!