Pop Culture Checklist

The first book in J.K. Rowling’s Potter series “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” will be released in a special anniversary edition on Sept. 23.

It will feature bonus material from Rowling and new cover art. It’s the 11-year-old Harry looking into the Mirror of Erised, which Harry comes across in his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and learns that the mirror shows you what you most desire.

Cost of the special edition book is $30.

Happy Thursday! Lots to look forward to with Memorial Weekend coming up! Here is the latest segment of the Weekly Buzz, which runs every Thursday.

TV NEWS

–This season’s How I Met Your Mother arrives on DVD on Oct. 14.

–MTV okayed the 21st season of the Real World. This time around, they’ll be living in Brooklyn, N.Y. Shooting begins this summer and will air in early, 2009.

–The Big Bang Theory is coming to DVD on Sept. 2. 

–Megan Mullally is going back to doing sitcoms. She will be playing Alicia Silverstone’s mom in ABC’s “Bad Mom Handbook.” The show is about a 32-year-old woman (Silverstone) juggling care of her 16-year-old daughter and 48-year-old mother. It’s Mullally’s first major TV gig since Will & Grace two years ago.

TV PREMIERES

Tonight — Reno 911 (Comedy Central); So You Think You Can Dance? (Fox); Last Comic Standing (NBC)

Monday — The Mole (ABC); Denise Richards: It’s Complicated (E!)

Tuesday — The Moment of Truth (Fox)

Wednesday — Monsterquest (History); Ghost Hunters (Sci Fi); Men in Trees (ABC)

TV FINALES

Tonight — Ugly Betty (ABC); Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

Monday — Wildfire (ABC Family)

Tuesday — According to Jim (ABC)

MOVIE NEWS

–”Runaways” is the latest Marvel Comics book to go to the big screen. Runaways is relatively new, with the comic series launching in 2002. Since Marvel already scheduled its next four films through 2011, it will be awhile before we see this film on the big screen.

–Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton will star in “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,” a Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ adaptation of Ubisoft’s popular video game. Production begins in July in Morocco and England.

–John Cusack will star in a apocalyptic thriller “2012,” in which the title refers to the end days of human civilization as foretold by the ancient Mayan calendar. It chronicles the heroic struggle of the survivors.

–The 1930’s comic strip “Flash Gordon” will be turned into a live-action film. No word yet on when production will begin.

–The fantasy thriller “Highlander” will be produced by Summit Entertainment. The original premise is about immortals battling each other for a mysterious prize. Production begins next year.  

MOVIES…arriving this weekend

Today — Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Friday — The Children of Huang Shi (limited) and Postal (limited)

DVDS…arriving Tuesday, May 27

-Rambo

-Cleaner

-The Air I Breathe

-Grace is Gone

-Lipstick Jungle: Season One

-Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 2: 1937-1939

-The World War Collection

-Jackass Presents: Mat Hoffman’s Tribute to Evel Knievel

LOCAL EVENTS

–There are several Memorial Day parades and services being held Monday in Monroe County. For a complete list of events, go here.

–Concert in the park will be 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s Park. The free event includes several local bands.

–A Tribute to the Fallen, a visual and musical presentation honoring the memory of Monroe County’s military casualties and veterans, will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the La-Z-Boy Center at Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd.

–A Tim Burton Film Festival will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Rd., Temperance. All ages are welcome, but some of the films are rated PG-13.

–Bedford Buddies is holding a fundraiser Sunday to benefit Autism Speaks. It will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Flat Rock Speedway, N. Telegraph Rd.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–Movement 2008 Detroit Electronic music festival is this weekend in Detroit. Moby is headlining the event, which is from Saturday through Monday at Hart Plaza on the Detroit riverfront. For a complete schedule of events, go to www.myspace.com/detroitmusicfest.

–The annual Polish Festival will be held Friday through Sunday at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, 266 Antoine St., Wyandotte. Dinner, food vendors and live entertainment included. It’s from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For details, call 285-9509.

–The Magic 80’s prom, featuring John Waite, will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. It’s for ages 18 and older. Cost is $10.50.

–Flower Day Weekend is Saturday through Monday at the Farmers Market, 525 Market St., Toledo. Times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

–Toledo will hold its Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Toledo.

–Mackinaw Memorial Weekend Celebration is Saturday through Monday. For details, call (800) 666-0160.

–The Sumpter County Fest runs today through Monday in Belleville. Events include Demolition Derby, car show, parade, fireworks, music, rodeo, carnival and more. For details, call (734) 461-6201.

–Cascades Waterfalls begins Saturday through Sept. 21 in Jackson. For details, visit www.co.jackson.mi.us/parks.

–The Northeast Ohio Divisional Brass Band of the Salvation Army will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday on the Boulevard at The Town Center at Levis Commons, Perrysburg, Ohio.      

In the battle of the Davids, it was David Cook that took home the crown of American Idol last night over Archuleta.

The 25-year-old rocker cried when his name was announced and said he didn’t expect to win. Neither did Archuleta’s dad — did you see the look on that guy’s face? He is evil!

Anyway, Cook won by 12 million votes of the record 97.5 million votes counted.

Highlights of the show included eliminated contestants; Cook performing with ZZ Top; Archuleta performing with OneRepublic, and a George Michael performance just before the winner was announced.

Well, there wasn’t much doubt about this one: Olympic figure-skating champ Kristi Yamaguchi was crowned winner of Dancing with the Stars last night.

In Tuesday’s finale, she and her partner Mark Ballas received perfect scores from all three judges.

Runner-up was Miama Dolphins football star Jason Taylor and partner Edyta Sliwinska in the finals. Actor Cristian de la Fuente, partnered with Cheryl Burke, placed third overall.

Brian J. Robb’s “Heath Ledger: Hollywood’s Dark Star” will be in stores in July.

The 208-page book will be published in the U.K. this month and debuts here in July. Its release will coincide with Ledger’s last film, “The Dark Knight.”  

Julianne Hough of “Dancing with the Stars” is kicking off another career today.

Her debut country album, “That Song in My Head,” hits stores today.

Go HERE for all the details.

If you get it, let me know what you think of the album!

Months after being pulled off the air due to a racial slur, Duane “Dog” Chapman’s TV show is returning.

A&E announced that filming has begun for the fifth season of “Dog the Bounty Hunter.”

Reruns of the show will start June 25, with new episodes, including ones from the fourth season that have not previously aired, coming a few weeks later.

The show features Chapman and crew chasing down bail jumpers in Hawaii and other states. It was pulled from the air in November when Chapman was heard in a taped phone conversation using a racial slur in reference to his son’s girlfriend, who is black.

However, knowing the type of person Chapman is, A&E said he deserved a second chance. Since the slur, Dog has received counseling and reached out to the African American community, such as speaking at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event and participating in a toy drive.

“There was one perfect person, and they called him Jesus Christ,” Chapman said. “You have to…realize that everyone is human, and you can err.”

Iron Man was knocked off the top spot at the box office over the weekend.

It was runner-up over “Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” It earned $56.6 million in its debut.

‘Prince’ will have tough competition starting Thursday, when the new Indiana Jones movie is released.

Box office Top 10:

1. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, $56.6 million

2. Iron Man, $31.2 million

3. What Happens in Vegas, $13.9 million

4. Speed Racer, $7.6 million

5. Baby Mama, $4.6 million

6. Made of Honor, $4.5 million

7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, $2.5 million

8. Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, $1.8 million

9. The Forbidden Kingdom, $1 million

10. The Visitor, $687,000

Fox announced its fall plans for 24 (boy, do I miss that show!)

Anyway, here’s the plan: It will begin with a two-hour “prequel event” at 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. It was shot on location in South Africa, where Jack Bauer battles an international crisis while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, the prequel will set the stage for Season 7.

“Day 7″ is in production and will unfold without interruption in its regular time period (9 p.m. Mondays) beginning in January, 2009. The season will be set in Washington.  

Kiefer Sutherland is calling “Day 7″ the best season yet…I can’t wait to find out!!

TV NEWS

-Lost has added an hour to each of the next two seasons. Now each season will be 17 hours each.

-Fox has renewed Til Death for a third season.

-Fox ha canceled Back To You (Noooo!) But, rumors are CBS may be interested…

-Boston Legal (ABC) has been renewed. However, next season will be its last.

-The CW has renewed Reaper

-CBS has canceled Shark…but rumors say it might end up on another network soon

-CBS has renewed How I Met Your Mother and The Unit

-Scrubs will be moving to ABC for its final season. The true finale of the show will air in the fall.

-Reba McEntire is hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards. It airs 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

-Comedy Central is bringing back “The Gong Show,” which will be hosted by Dave Attell. It premieres July 17.

TV PREMIERES

Monday — The Bachelorette (ABC)

Tuesday — Not Going Out (BBC America)

Wednesday — Mind of Mencia (Comedy Central)

TV FINALES

Tonight — Smallville (CW); My Name is Earl (NBC); The Office (NBC); ER (NBC); Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (Fox); CSI (CBS); Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Fox); Supernatural (CW); Without A Trace (CBS)

Friday — Ghost Whisperer (CBS); Moonlight (CBS); Numbers (CBS)

Saturday — Date My House (TLC)

Sunday — Desperate Housewives (ABC); The Simpsons (Fox); King of the Hill (Fox); American Dad (Fox); Keeping Up with the Kardashians (E!); Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC); Aliens in America (CW); The Game (CW)

Monday — Big Bang Theory (CBS); Bones (Fox); How I Met Your Mother (CBS); Gossip Girl (CW); House (Fox); One Tree Hill (CW); Two and a Half Men (CBS); Rules of Engagement (CBS); CSI: Miami (CBS)

Tuesday — NCIS (CBS); Dancing with the Stars (ABC); Reaper (CW); Shark (CBS)

Wednesday — American Idol (Fox); Criminal Minds (CBS); Boston Legal (ABC); CSI: NY (CBS)

LOCAL EVENTS

–Beer Tasting Night will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sandy Creek Golf Course, 3177 Heiss Rd.

–Ida Community Day Festival is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. It includes community garage sales, rummage sales, library book sale, antique cars and trucks, food, games and more. It’s in downtown Ida.

–Milan Community  Car and Cycle Show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Milan Free Methodist Church, 950 E. Arkona Rd., Milan. Kids’ games, beach volleyball, a parade at Milan Dragway and more.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–Motor City Comic Con will be Friday through Sunday at Rock Financial Showplace, 46100 Grand River Blvd., Novi.

–The Downriver Carnival is happening through Sunday. It’s from 4 to 11 p.m. today; noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 11 p.m. Sunday at Gibraltar Trade Center, 21207 Eureka Rd., Taylor.

–Ann Arbor Book Festival is today through Sunday. Meet authors, attend panel discussion and book signings, and more. For details, visit www.aabookfestival.org.

–The World Expo of Beer is Friday and Saturday in Frankenmuth. Sample over 150 beers and alternative beverages.

–Ann Arbor Antiques Market is Saturday and Sunday at 5055 Ann Arbor Rd.

–MSU Spring Arts & Craft Show is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the MSU Union, which is on the corner of Grand River Ave. and Abbott Rd. in E. Lansing. Admission and parking is free.

–Promenade History Home Tour is Saturday and Sunday in Tecumseh. For details, call (888) 261-3367.

–WRIF Rock Girl Finals is 7 p.m. Friday at Royal Oak Music Theater, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. Filter, with special guest Red, will perform. All ages welcome. $18 admission.

–OregonFest 2008 will be from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Dustin Road, located one block south of Route 2, between St. Charles Hospital and Coy Rd., in Oregon, Ohio. Kids’ rides, exhibits, food, a parade, entertainment and much more.

–The Maumee Valley Gun Collectors Show will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee, Ohio.

MOVIE NEWS

-Johnny Knoxville and Parker Posey will star in a Christmas film called “Fruitcake.” The plot is under wraps at this point.

-Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt will star in “500 Days of Summer,” an anti-romantic comedy. It’s about a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who falls hopelessly in love with her.

-Samuel L. Jackson will star in a thriller called “Unthinkable.” Filming starts Sept. 2 in MICHIGAN!

Movies opening Friday, May 16:

-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

-Reprise (limited)

-Sangre de mi sangre (limited)

DVDs arriving Tuesday, May 20:

-National Treasure: Book of Secrets

-24: Season ONe (Special Edition)

-Bill Engvall Show: First Season

-The Boys in the Band

-Charles in Charge: Third Season

-The Flock

-Hamburger Hill (20th anniversary edition)

-The Muppet Show: Third Season

-Night of the Living Dead (1968)