Happy Thursday, everyone! Here’s the latest installment of the Weekly Buzz!
TV NEWS
-NBC’s American Gladiators wil feature a special Incredible Hulk-themed episode at 8 p.m. Monday, days before the movie hits theaters on June 13.
-Charming Olivia Pig, the main character in Ian Falconer’s book series for kids, is being turned into a new animated TV series for Nickelodeon. It will launch in 2009 with 26 episodes.
-Fox is moving Moment of Truth to 8 p.m. Thursdays as of June 12.
-AMC’s Mad Men returns July 27.
-The Two Coreys returns for a second season on June 22.
-The BET Awards ‘08 will air live at 8 p.m. June 24 in Los Angeles. D.L. Hughley will host the show. Performers include Nelly and Usher, Kanye West, Alicia Keys and more.
TV PREMIERES
Tonight — Fear Itself (NBC); Swingtown (CBS)
Sunday — Army Wives (Lifetime); Ice Road Truckers (History)
Monday — Nashville Star (NBC)
TV FINALES
Tonight — Step It Up and Dance (Bravo)
Friday — Man vs. Wild (Discovery)
Sunday — This American Life (Showtime)
Monday — Greek (ABC Family)
Tuesday — Work Out (Bravo)
MOVIES NEWS
-Matt Damon will play a rugby player in Clint Eastwood’s new movie, “Human Factor.” He’ll play Francois Pienaar, a rugby star who created, with Nelson Mandela, an event that gave whites and blacks in South Africa a common cause to rally around as the country was trying to heal from apartheid. Shooting begins early next year in South Africa.
-Bruce Willis will star in an adaptation of the video game “Kane & Lynch.” The movie is titled “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men.” Bruce will play Adam “Kane” Marcus, a mercenary who aligns with a schizophrenic killer named James Lynch. The duo is forced on a mission to retrieve a stolen microchip.
-Guy Ritchie will direct a new Sherlock Holmes movie. A 2010 release is expected.
MOVIES…arriving in theaters Friday, June 6:
-You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
-Kung Fu Panda (conventional theaters and IMAX)
Limited release: Mongol, The Mother of Tears, When Did You Last See Your Father?
DVDs…available as of Tuesday, June 10:
-The Bucket List
-Jumper
-The Other Boleyn Girl
-The List
-John Adams
-Witless Protection
-Soap: The Complete Series
-What’s Happening!: The Complete Series
ALBUMS…going on sale on Tuesday, June 10:
-Lil Wayne, “The Carter III”
-Alanis Morissette, “Flavors of Entanglement”
-Jakob Dylan, “Seeing Things”
-My Morning Jacket, “Evil Urges”
-Montgomery Gentry, “Back When I Knew It All”
REGIONAL EVENTS
–The Detroit Festival of the Arts will be held on the streets of Midtown Detroit on Friday through Sunday. Tons of events will be held. For details, visit www.detroitfestival.com.
–Festival of the Arts will be held Friday through Sunday in Grand Rapids. For details, visit www.festivalofthearts.org.
–A Gizzard Fest will be held Friday through Sunday in Potterville. The festival includes a car and truck show, antique tractor display, 3-on-3 basketball, 5K Run/Walk, mud bogs, carnival, arts/crafts, music, flea market, beer tent, fireworks and more. For details, visit www.gizzardfest.com.
–A Hungarian Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at Benjamin Yack Arena, 3131 Third St., Wyandotte. It’s from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (313) 842-1133.
–A Beer Train Special is a unique train ride for beer lovers. Sample a collection of beers and enjoy a gourmet meal. Tickets are $44.95. For details, visit www.murdermysterytrain.com/blissfield.htm.
–The 37th annual King Wamba Carnival Parade and Festival will be Saturday at Old West End, located at Collins St. and Robinwood Ave. in Toledo. For details, visit www.kingwamba.com.
LOCAL EVENTS
–Free yoga classes will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Mary’s Park, located on W. Elm Ave. in Monroe. It will be held every Tuesday through July 8.
–Newport Fire Fighters Association Homecoming is Friday through Sunday at Newport Fire Fighters Association Park, 9005 Brandon Rd.
–The Summer Stop Car and Bike Show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Raisinville Baptist Church, 1675 Stewart Rd. The church also will be holding a concert and dinner Saturday to benefit Tommy Brancheau of Flat Rock.
–KidFest is Saturday at Community Park in Flat Rock. Concessions and events will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Events include face painting, inflatables, crafts, start smart soccer, fire demonstrations, a museum open house, in-line hockey, safety town exhibit and tennis lessons.