Pop Culture Checklist

This will get all Lost fans excited about the upcoming season — I can’t wait!!

Check out this clip from the show’s premiere.

TV NEWS

–ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” returns for its 8th season on March 9.

–”ER” will wrap up its 15-year run with a 2-hour finale on March 12, and will be replaced by mid-season drama “Kings” the following week.

–Showtime has renewed “Californication” for a third season, expected late next year.

–Starting March 1, “Celebrity Apprentice” will return in a new 2-hour format at 9 p.m. Sundays on NBC. “Medium” returns at 10 p.m. Mondays as of Feb. 2. After the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, an hourlong episode of “The Office” will be shown.

–The CW will premiere a new horror/reality series “13 - Fear is Real” on Jan. 7. The show has 13 people competing to “stay alive” while facing their deepest fears in various competitions. “Reaper” will return at 9 p.m. March 17.

–John Malkovich hosts ”Saturday Night Live” this weekend with musical guest T.I. On Dec. 13, Hugh Laurie will host with musical guest Kanye West.

TV PREMIERES

Sunday - Leverage (TNT)

Monday - Top Gear (BBCA)

Tuesday - Manhunters (A&E)

TV FINALES

Saturday - The Ultimate Fighter (Spike TV); Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling (CMT)

Sunday - The Amazing Race (CBS)

Monday - First Class All the Way (Bravo); Boston Legal (ABC); Scream Queens (VH1)

Tuesday - Frank TV (TBS)

Wednesday - Ghost Hunters (Sci Fi)

Thursday - Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (VH1)

Friday - The Starter Wife (USA)

DVDs arriving Tuesday, Dec. 9

-The Dark Knight

-Get Smart

-Sex and the City: The Movie - The Wedding Collection

-Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

-It Happened One Night

-Lost: Complete Fourth Season

-Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who

-I Am Legend (Ultimate Collector’s Edition)

-Deadwood: Complete Series

-Happy Days: Fourth Season

-Happy Days: Seasons 1-4

MOVIES arriving Friday, Dec. 5

-Punisher: War Zone

-Nobel Son

-Cadillac Records

Limited: Extreme Movie; Frost/Nixon; Local Color

ALBUMS going on sale Tuesday, Dec. 9

-Maroon 5, “Call and Response: The Remix Album”

-Brandy, “Human”

-Musiq SoulChild, “OnMyRadio”

-Jim Jones, “Capo”

-Common, “Universal Mind Control”

-Avant, “Avant”

-Justice, “Across the Universe” (CD/DVD)

-Keri Hilson, “In A Perfect World”

-Soundtrack, “The Dark Knight”

-Various Artists, “The Complete Motown #1s” (10 CDs)

-Ken Block, “Drift”

-Carter Burwell, “Twilight: The Score”

-Thrice, “Live at The House of Blues”

-Alice Russell, “Pot of Gold”

Don’t pass up your chance to win a trip for two to Greece!

Rudolph Foods, a snacks manufacturer, is kicking off “Mamma Mia - Greeke Isle” Sweepstakes to promote the Dec. 16 DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def release of Mamma Mia!

The sweepstakes will run through Jan. 5. Enter the contest at www.RudolphFoods.com. The winner will be awarded a trip for two to Greece, free Rudolph Foods Cinnamon Churros for a year, CDs, DVDs and more. Twenty-five second-place winners will receive a copy of Mamma Mia! 

Sign up today and let me know if you win!!

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon grabbed the top spot at the box office with their holiday flick “Four Christmases.”

Over the weekend, it took in $37.1 million. Since Wednesday, its grand total is $46.7 million. The comedy is about a couple suffering through four separate family holiday gatherings.

In a close race for second, “Bolt” and “Twilight” are nearly tied. After a huge opening weekend, Twilight took a 62 percent decline from its $69.6 million debut. It stands at $26.4 million this weekend, while the animated film Bolt claimed secons with $26.6 million.

BOX OFFICE TOP 10

1. Four Christmases, $31.7 million

2. Bolt, $26.6 million

3. Twilight, $26.4 million

4. Quantum of Solace, $19.5 million

5. Australia, $14.8 million

6. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $14.5 million

7. Transporter 3, $12.3 million

8. Role Models, $5.3 million

9. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, $1.7 million

10. Milk, $1.4 million