Pop Culture Checklist

Welcome to the Weekly Buzz, a segment that runs every Thursday. It includes area events as well as the latest pop culture news. Have a great weekend!

TV NEWS

-Kristen Bell will return to “Heroes” next season.

-Katie Holmes will appear this fall in an episode of ABC’s “Eli Stone.”

-”Curb Your Enthusiasm” will return next year.

-Jordana Brewster is headed to NBC’s “Chuck.”

-The kids on “Desperate Housewives” are being recast since the series is jumping ahead five years next season. The biggest cast changes are the Scavo kids. The three sons will now be teenagers, while the daughter will be 8 or 9 years old.

–Saturday Night Live star Amy Poehler is in final negotiations to join the cast of the “Office” spinoff.

TV PREMIERES

Friday — Monk (USA); Psych (USA)

Sunday — High School Musical: Summer Session (ABC)

Monday — Date My Ex: Joe & Slade (Bravo); Wanna Bet? (ABC)

Tuesday — How to Look Good Naked (Lifetime)

Wednesday — Cris Angel Mindfreak (A&E)

TV FINALES

Wednesday — Mind of Mencia (Comedy Central)

Thursday, July 24 — Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (Fox)

MOVIE NEWS

-Quenton Tarantino is in talks with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio about his new movie, “Inglorious Bastards.” He is hoping to land Pitt and DiCaprio as the stars of his next film.

-Kate Hudson will join the cast of the musical “Nine.” The film is based on the Broadway musical. Other cast members include Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Sophia Loren.

-Ed Helms and Bradley Coooper are in talks to star in a comedy called “Hangover.” It’s about three friends who lose the groom during his bachelor party 40 hours before the wedding.

-Jack Black will reprise his role as Dewey Finn for “School of Rock 2: America Rocks.” The film will be a follow-up to the 2003 comedy. The sequel will be about Dewey leading a group of summer school students on a cross country field trip focused on the history of Rock’n'Roll and the origins of other music genres.

MOVIES opening on Friday, July 18:

-The Dark Knight

-Mamma Mia!

-Space Chimps

DVDs being released on Tuesday, July 22:

-21

-Robot Chicken: Star Wars

-The Boston Strangler: The Untold Story

-Las Vegas: Season Five

-Masters of Horror: Season 2

-The Legend of Zelda: The Power of the Triforce

-Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog: Fastest Thing in Time

-The Last Winter

-Turn the River

-Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Mario of the Deep

LOCAL EVENTS

-Summerfield-Petersburg Community Days will be Friday and Saturday in downtown Petersburg. Games, rides, beer tent, music, food will be offered. A Poker Run will be held Friday night. A parade will be at noon Saturday.

-The Southeast Michigan Antique Tractor and Engine Show will be held Friday through Sunday at Nike Park in Newport. Tractor baseball games, an auction, entertainment, flea market and children’s activities will be held.

-The 3rd annual Classic Car Cruise will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Gibraltar Community Center, 29430 S. Gibraltar Rd.

-St. Patrick Catholic Church festival will be held Friday through Sunday at the parish grounds, 2996 W. Labo Rd., Carleton. Parking and admission is free.

-Elite Model Search will be held Saturday at Steve & Barry’s Court at Frenchtown Square mall, 2121 N. Monroe St. Twenty finalists will be entered to compete in the regional search at Sandusky Mall. Winner receives a photo shoot with Elite Model Management. Bring two returnable photos (one headshot and one full body). Registration is at noon. Model walk at 1 p.m.

REGIONAL EVENTS

-Toledo Blues Festival will be held Friday through Sunday at Festival Park, Water St. in downtown Toledo. Times are 6 to 11 p.m. Friday; 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

-The Lucas County Fair begins Tuesday through July 27 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds, 1406 Key St., Maumee, Ohio.

-”Roar on the River” will be held Friday through Sunday at Elizabeth Park in Trenton. The event includes boat races, a car show, fireworks and music. The park is located at Jefferson Ave. and Van Horn Rd.

-Shadow Art Fair will be from noon to midnight Saturday and Corner Brewery, 720 Norris St., Ypsilanti. Music, featured brews, art exhibits and more. Free admission.

A devil fighting for the good guys claimed the No. 1 spot at the box office.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” starring Ron Perlman, took in $35.9 million in its debut. “Hancock” was close behind in second with $33 million, raising its domestic total to $165 million.

No. 3 was the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” starring Brendan Fraser, while Eddi Murphy’s comedy “Meet Dave” bombed with only $5.3 million.

The box office will be on fire next week when Batman arrives in theaters on Friday. Expect it to break records!

BOX OFFICE TOP 10:

1. Hellboy II: The Golden Army, $35.9 million

2. Hancock, $33 million

3. Journey to the Center of the Earth, $20.6 million

4. Wall-E, $18.5 million

5. Wanted, $11.6 million

6. Get Smart, $7.1 million

7. Meet Dave, $5.3 million

8. Kung Fu Panda, $7.5 million

9. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, $2.5 million

10. Indiana Jones, $2.3 million  

A 3D version “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” will air on cable three weeks before the DVD comes out.

The movie will air on Starz in standard and high-definition starting at 9 p.m. July 26. The 3D version will begin airing on the Starz on Demand and Starz HD on Demand channels on July 27, along with the other two versions.

Also, the Disney Channel will air a “Hannah Montana” marathon starting at 2 p.m. July 26, in advance of its 8 p.m. showing.

Starz has a guide to crafting a pair of 3D glasses at www.starz.com/3D.

Welcome to the Weekly Buzz.  Have a great weekend!

MOVIE NEWS

–Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen are reuniting on the big screen. They have signed on for “Sherlock Holmes.” Cohen will play Sherlock and Ferrell will play Watson.

–Josh Holloway has been cast in “Stay Cool.” It’s about an author who returns to high school to deliver a commencement speech and confront his former crush. Holloway will play a former high school jock and ex-boyfriend to Winona Ryder.

–Matthew Fox is in talks to join “Billy Smoke,” a film to be based on the upcoming Oni Press comic. The story will be about a hit man who’s nearly killed during a botched job. He realizes his only redemption is to rid the world of all assassins.

MOVIES arriving in theaters Friday, July 11

-Hellboy II: The Golden Army

-Meet Dave

-Journey to the Center of the Earth

-The Stone Angel (limited)

DVDs arriving in stores Tuesday, July 15

-The Bank Job

-Shutter

-College Road Trip

-Step Up 2 The Streets

-Saving Grace: Season One

-Reno 911: Fifth Season

-Asylum

TV NEWS

–Michael Imperioli has joined the cast of ABC’s “Life on Mars.”

–Kristy Lee Cook, an American Idol finalist, signed with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. Her first singe, “15 Minutes of Shame,” arrives Aug. 11. The album will be released in the fall.

TV PREMIERES

Tonight - Greatest American Dog (CBS); Burn Notice (USA)

Friday - Flashpoint (CBS); Stargate Atlantis (Sci Fi)

Sunday - Big Brother (CBS)

Monday - Saving Grace (TNT)

Tuesday - The Cleaner (A&E); From G’s to Gents’ (MTV)

Wednesday - Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E); Project Runway (Bravo)

TV FINALES

Tonight - Reno 911! (Comedy Central)

Wednesday - Celebrity Circus (NBC)

LOCAL EVENTS

–The 3rd annual River Raisin Jazz Series in downtown Monroe will feature live jazz at several downtown businesses from 6 to 10 p.m. tonight, July 24 and Aug. 7. The locations are 129 Lounge, Cafe Classics, McGeady’s Town Pub, Monroe Street Grill and Rendezvous. It’s a free event.

–Movie in the Park will be “Shrek the Third” at 8 p.m. Saturday at Willow Metropark, 32911 Huron River Dr., New Boston.

–Mom and Me Scrapbook Party will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Flat Rock Community Center, 1 Maguire St., Flat Rock. Cost is $5. For details, call 379-1450.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–The 2008 Toledo Speedway Jam will be held Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s lineup include Seether and Finger Eleven along with special guests Sick Puppies and Radiocraft. Sunday’s lineup includes James Otto, Heidi Newfield, Hunter Brucks and Buck 69.

–LaGrange Street Polish Festival will be held Friday through Sunday. All children’s activities will begin on Saturday. Cost is $3 admission and those ages 5 and younger are free. It’s located at LaGrange and Dexter Sts. in Toledo.

–The Mid-Summer Festival will be held Friday through Sunday in Trenton, on W. Jefferson Ave. It’s from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

–The Manchester Community Fair runs through Saturday at Alumni Memorial Field, 200 E. Vernon St.

–An African-American Festival will be from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at University of Toledo’s Scott Park campus. Food, rides and parade are included in the activities. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

–The Huron River Day Festival will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Gallup Park on Fuller Rd. in Ann Arbor. Admission is free.

Rapper Ice Cube will be performing at the Emerald Theatre in Mt.  Clemens on Sept. 16.

Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m. Friday at the Emerald Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, AEGLIVE.com or charge by phone at (248) 645-6666.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the show.

For more information, visit www.emeraldtheatre.com or call (586) 913-1920.

For the fifth straight time, Will Smith has had a No. 1 movie debut over the Fourth of July weekend.

“Hancock,” a story about a boozing superhero, debuted with $66 million. Since Tuesday, it’s made $107.3 million.

Smith’s other No. 1 July 4 movies were Men in Black and its sequel, Wild Wild West and Independence Day.

WALL-E, last week’s top film, finished in second place with $33.4 million, raising its 10-day total to $128.1 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP 10:

1. Hancock, $66 million

2. WALL-E, $33.4 million

3. Wanted, $20.6 million

4. Get Smart, $11.1 million

5. Kung Fu Panda, $7.5 million

6. The Incredible Hulk, $5 million

7. Indiana Jones and Kingdom of Crystal Skull, $3.9 million

8. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, $3.6 million

9. Sex and the City, $2.3 million

10. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, $2 million

Happy 4th of July weekend! I’m sure you already have plans, but if you don’t, be sure to read the schedule of events happpening this weekend. Be safe this weekend!

TV NEWS

–Chris Noth is leaving “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” He will be replaced next season by Jeff Goldblum.

–CBS announced its fall premiere dates for some of its shows. Most shows will debut Sept. 22, the official start of the 2008-09 season. An exception is “Survivor: Gabon,” the 17th season, will debut on Sept. 18.

The premieres of the Thursday and Friday night dramas have been rescheduled outside of premiere week to accomodate the presidential debate on Sept. 26 and a vice presidential debate on Oct. 2.

–AMC’s “Mad Men” returns July 27.

–A&E’s “Dog the Bounty Hunter” returns July 16.

–Amy Ryan wil return to “The Office” as Human Resources representative Holly Flax for several episodes. In last season’s finale, she replaced Toby.

–The National Geographic Channel is premiering a new series called “L.A. Hard Hats.” It will focus on the building of an eco-friendly high-rise. It premieres at 9 p.m. Aug. 3.

TV PREMIERE

Sunday — I Love Money (VH1)

TV FINALES

Sunday — Million Dollar Password (CBS)

Monday — The Bachelorette (ABC)

Tuesday — Hell’s Kitchen (Fox); 30 Days (FX); Shot at Love with Tila Tequila (MTV)

Wednesday — Real World (MTV); She’s Got the Look (TV Land)

MOVIE NEWS

–Jennifer Aniston’s movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You,” was pushed back from Oct. 24 to Feb. 6 to coincide with Valentine’s Day. That means no box office battle between her and Angelina Jolie, whose movie “Changeling” hits the big screen on Oct. 24.

–A fourth installment of “Spider-Man” is tentatively scheduled to arrive in May, 2011.

–Don’t expect to see another “Cloverfield” movie for awhile. Plans for a sequel have been put on hold until the filmmakers can come up with an idea as interesting as the original.

LOCAL EVENTS

–The 11th annual River Raisin Independence Festival, Fireworks and Freedom Walk runs through Friday in downtown Monroe and Sterling State Park, 2800 State Park Rd.

–Freedom Fest Celebration is being held today at New Life Tabernacle Church, 6023 Summerfield Rd., Petersburg. A pig roast begins at 5 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m.

–The 1320X Drag Racing event will be Friday at Milan Dragway, 10860 Plank Rd., Milan. Gates open at 9 a.m.; racing awards ceremony at 8 p.m.

–Luna Pier is hosting its annual Freedom Celebration on Saturday. It begins at 8 p.m. A fireworks display is at dusk off Clyde Evans Memorial Pier.

REGIONAL EVENTS

–A Community Picnic and Fireworks Show begins at 5 p.m. today on the streets of Conant, Wayne and Dudley Sts. in Maumee, Ohio. It’s free.

–Comerica Cityfest runs through Sunday in downtown Detroit.

–Wyandotte Street Art Fair runs July 9 through July 12 in Wyandotte. 300 artists will be there as well as 25 food and beverage concessions.

–The Ypsilanti Independance Day parade begins at 11 a.m. Friday on Wallace St., ending at Depot Town at Rice St. For details, call (734) 483-4444.

DVDs to be released on Tuesday, July 8:

-The Ruins

-The Mummy Returns

-Stop-Loss

-Superhero Movie

-Batman Begins Limited Edition Gift Set

-Jet Li’s Fearless (Director’s Cut)

-Sleepwalking

-Soul Food: The Final Season

-Soul Food: The Complete Series

-Van Helsing: Collector’s Edition

NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” will be holding a casting call for Season 7 in Canton.

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Gardner White Furniture, 29453 Ford Rd., Canton. The show is casting teams of two who want to compete together and lose weight. Grand prize winner receives $250,000.

They are casting family members, twins, married or engaged couples, co-workers, friends, former teammates/athletes, retirees and college students.

For more details, visit www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser_5/about/casting.shtml.

Poor Britney Spears.

Despite some good reviews on her guest appearance on “How I Met Your Mother,” she did not land a spot on the Emmy semi-finalist lists in the Guest Actress on a Comedy Series category according to the L.A. Times.

Here is a list of the top semifinalists:

Edie Falco, 30 Rock

Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock

Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives

Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives

Vivica A. Fox, Curb Your Enthusiasm

Amy Ryan, The Office

Sarah Silverman, Monk

Shirley Knight, Desperate Housewives

Annie Potts, Ugly Betty

Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

Jane Lynch, Two and a Half Men

James Lipton lands an interview with Hellboy in a funny “Hellboy II” promo on YouTube.

It’s really short…check it out here.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” arrives in theaters July 11.