Pop Culture Checklist

Let’s hope there’s a Taco Bell in doggie heaven.

Gidget, the chihuahua in the Taco Bell commercials, died Tuesday night at age 15. The little pooch became famous by saying “Yo quiero Taco Bell” in the commercials.

No surprise here – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince earned the top spot at the box office this weekend with $79.5 million.

Its five-day total was $159.7 million – a franchise best.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs faired well with $17.7 million with a total gross of $152 million. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also is holding on well by earning another $13.7 million. Its 4-week gross is $363 million.

Bruno, on the other hand, is not holding audiences. In its second week, it lost 73 percent of its first weekend value and earned only $8 million. Its 10-day gross is $49.5 million.

TOP 10 BOX OFFICE

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, $79.5 million

2. Ica Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, $17.7 million

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, $13.8 million

4. Bruno, $8.4 million

5. The Hangover, $8.3 million

6. The Proposal, $8.3 million

7. Public Enemies, $7.6 million

8. Up, $3.1 million

9. My Sister’s Keeper, $2.8 million

10. I Love You, Beth Cooper, $2.7 million

Latest Pop Culture News

-Jon Heder (Napolean Dynamite) will star in a new comedy from writer-producers Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Chris Henchy. Heder will play an out-of-work computer IT specialist who moves back in with his parents. It will premiere in 2010 on Comedy Central.

-Ryan Reynolds has landed the role of Green Lantern in the upcoming movie. The live-action film based on the DC Comics hero will begin filming in January. Reynolds won the role over Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto.

-It’s official: Neil Patrick Harris will host the Emmy’s. The award show will air live at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 on CBS.

-”What the Barnacles?” (a quote from my 4-year-old niece, Hailey. Hi Hailey Rose!) — SpongeBob SquarePants is turning 10 years old on Sunday – yikes! It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long, but the first episode aired July 19, 1999. Nickelodeon will mark the anniversary with more than 50 hours of SpongeBob this weekend, including 11 new episodes starting at 8 p.m. Friday. (Interesting fact: SpongeBob has made $8 billion in total merchandise sales worldwide – wow!)

-David Arquette and Courteney Cox have signed on for “Scream 4.” Neve Campbell turned down the chance to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott.

-After nearly two years, Drew Lane has returned to WRIF radio. He has re-teamed with Mike Clark to bring back “Drew and Mike” morning show on WRIF (101.1). He returned this past Monday. They recently signed multi-year contracts so they’ll be around for a long time!

-Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are teaming up for the film “The Fighter.” Wahlberg will play Boston boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, who was losing bouts until his brother (played by Bale) comes back into his life. Filming is going on right now in Massachusetts.

-MTV and Paramount Home Videos have announced the DVD release of “Jackass – The Lost Tapes.” Coming out Oct. 13, the DVD will include never-seen-before stunts and tricks as well as other extras.

-Natalie Portman has joined the cast of “Thor,” and will play Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of Thor in the Marvel Comics. Chris Hemsworth will play Thor in the movie, which begins shooting early next year. It’s due in theaters May 20, 2011.

-Harper’s Island finished its 13-episode run last Saturday with an audience of 3.84 million — up 8 percent from its last outing. (I was one of the few who watched the show – I really liked it!)

-Mel Gibson will star in a movie called “The Beaver.” It’s about a man who wears a Beaver puppet on his hand. Jodie Foster, director of the film, will also co-star. Filming begins in the fall.

-DMC, of Run DMC, will be at Gibraltar Trade Center in August. Go here for details.

-After a 10-year hiatus, Brooke Shields is returning to the big screen. She iwll be in a live-action family comedy called “Furry Vengeance” starring Brendan Fraser.

-Robin Williams will be returning to HBO in December as one of his stops on his “Robin Williams: Weapons of Self-Destruction” comedy tour.

TV PREMIERES

Friday – Catch It Keep It (Science)

Saturday – The Bill Engvall Show (TBS)

Sunday – HGTV Design Star (HGTV); Most Popular (WE); Pawn Star$ (History)

Monday – Torchwood (BBCA); Dating in the Dark (ABC); The T.O. Show (VH1)

Tuesday – Hell’s Kitchen (Fox); Moving Up (TLC); Restorer Guy (TLC); The Real Estate Pros (TLC); Ruby & The Rockits (ABC Family); The Colony (Discovery); Primetime: Family Secrets (ABC)

Wednesday – Toddlers & Tiaras (ABC)

TV FINALES

Tonight – 16 & Pregnant (MTV); Raising Sextuplets (WE)

Friday – The Chopping Block (NBC); 24/7: Mayweather/Marquez (HBO)

Saturday - Man vs. Cartoon (Tru TV)

Sunday – Valentine (CW); The Stagers (HGTV); HGTV Showdown (HGTV)

Monday – 4th and Long (Spike)

Wednesday – Tatto Highway (A&E)

MOVIES

Arrived Wednesday, July 15: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”

Arriving Friday, July 17 (all in limited release): (500) Days of Summer; Homecoming; A Woman in  Berlin

DVDs hitting shelves on Tuesday, July 21

-Watchmen

-Coraline

-Retribution Road

-Messengers 2: The Scarecrow

-Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II

-The Unknown Woman

-2 or 3 Things I Know About Her

-Echelon Conspiracy

-The Great Buck Howard

-Psych: Third Season

-Prison Break: The Final Break

-Monk: Season Seven

-Pushing Daisies: Second Season

-Charlie’s Angels: Fourth Season

-G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero — Season 1.1

-Hotel: First Season

-The Lucy Show: The Official First Season

-Made in U.S.A.  

ALBUMS arriving Tuesday, July 21

-Jordin Sparks, “Battlefield”

-Our Lady Peace, “Burn Burn”

-Sugar Ray, “Music for Cougars”

-Kenny Loggins, “All Join In”

-Young Dro, “Young & The Restless 1.5″

-Brooke Hogan, “The Redemption”

-Demi Lovato, “Here We Go Again”

-Marie Digby, ‘Breathing Underwater”

-Stryper, “Murder By Pride”

-Matthew Sweet & Susannah Hoffs, “Under The Covers: Vol. 2″

-Fiery Furnaces, “I’m Going Away”

Emmy nominations were announced this morning. The awards will be handed out on Sept. 13 on CBS.

Here are some of the categories announced today:

Comedy

-30 Rock

-Family Guy

-How I Met Your Mother

-Entourage

-Weeds

-Flight of the Conchords

-The Office

Lead actor in a Comedy

-Steve Carell

-Charlie Sheen

-Jim Parsons

-Alec Baldwin

-Tony Shalhoub

-Jermaine Clement

Lead actress in a Comedy

-Tina Fey

-Mary Louise Parker

-Sarah Silverman

-Julie Louis-Dreyfus

-Christina Applegate

-Toni Collette

Drama

-House

-Breaking Bad

-Lost

-Dexter

-Damages

-Big Love

-Mad Men

Lead actor in a Drama

-Jon Hamm

-Michael C. Hall

-Simon Baker

-Hugh Laurie

-Bryan Cranston

-Gabriel Byrne

Lead actress in a Drama

-Holly Hunter

-Glenn Close

-Sally Field

-Elisabeth Moss

-Mariska Hargitay

-Kyra Sedgwick

Reality Show

-American Idol

-Top Chef

-Project Runway

-Amazing Race

-Dancing with the Stars

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” made $22 million at its midnight showings Wednesday.

It’s a new record that was previously held by “The Dark Knight,” which made $18 million at its midnight showing.

‘Half-Blood Prince’ is the sixth movie based on J.K. Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books.

The film had more than 1,500 midnight screenings in the U.S. Its showing in nearly 4,300 theaters across the U.S. and Canada. It’s expected to easily gross over $100 million this weekend.

Are you going? If so, please post a review (without spoilers)!

A poll of the “Greatest TV Characters” recently was launched by Zap2It.

For this particular online competition, only 21st-century TV characters are eligible. Also, each week users vote in a variety of categories, such as best TV mom, dad, couple, reality personality as well as best boozer, bromance and robot, and much more.

The poll runs through August so be sure to check back each week for results and new categories.

Go HERE to cast your vote!

Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Bruno” landed at the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office with $30.4 million.

It may not hold the same staying pwer as “Borat,” however, which made $100 million. Most of Bruno’s earnings came on Friday — $14.4 million — then tumbled with just $8.8 million on Saturday and about $7.2 million on Sunday.

“Bruno” is about a gay Austrian searching to achieve celebrity status. It finished ahead of “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” which earned $28.5 million.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” finished third with $24.2 million, raising its domestic total to $339.2 million. It has now passed the $319 million total of 2007’s ‘Transformers.’

The only other new wide release, “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” opened with only $5 million, finishing at No. 7. It stars Hayden Panettiere.

Top 10 Box Office

1. Bruno, $30.4 million

2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” $28.5 million

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” $24.2 million

4. Public Enemies, $14.1 million

5. The Proposal, $10.5 million

6. The Hangover, $9.9 million

7. I Love You, Beth Cooper, $5 million

8. Up, $4.7 million

9. My Sister’s Keeper, $4.2 million

10. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, $1.6 million

You, yes you,  have a chance to be on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” when its airs new episodes this summer.

It will air Sundays through Thursdays from Aug. 9 to Aug. 23 on ABC in honor of its 10th anniversary.

There are two ways to apply to become a contestant. You can play the phone game and/or submit a video. Also, audience tickets are avaible at www.millionairetv.com.

To become a contestant, go here. GOOD LUCK!

Hello everyone! I’m back from vacation and ready to deliver another segment of the Weekly Buzz. Enjoy!

Latest Pop Culture News

-Uh oh! “Lost” is losing a major writing staff member for its final season. Brian K. Vaughan, the one with the comic book ties, has stepped down to pursue bigger and better things, such as writing graphic novel films.

-I can’t believe they’re making this film: Will Forte’s SNL spoof “MacGruber” is headed to the big screen. Ryan Phillippe and Val Kilmer may star in the film that spoofs the 80’s TV show “MacGyver.” Kristin Wiig (best current SNL actor by far) will reprise her supporting role as well.

-Carrie Underwood will release her third album in the fall. The yet-to-be-titled CD will be released on Nov. 3, with the first single hitting the airwaves later this summer.

-FX recently set its fall schedule. Some highlights include the “Sons of Anarchy” premiering at 10 p.m. Sept. 8 with 13 episodes; the fifth season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” debuts at 10 p.m. Sept. 17 with 12 new episodes, and season six of “Nip/Tuck” begins in October with 10 new episodes.

-Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is dedicating its Friday (July 10) primetime lineup to the late Oscar-winning actor Karl Malden, who died this week at age 97. They will pay tribute by airing “On The Waterfront” at 8 p.m.; “A Streetcar Named Desire” at 10 p.m., and “Birdman of Alcatraz” at 12:15 a.m.

-A big box set of Seasons 1-5 of “The Office” will be released this fall. The release of the Season 5 DVD will be Sept. 8. On the same day, ”The Office – Seasons 1-5 Collection” also will be released. It will be an 18-disc DVD set with every episode shown to date. Cost is $199.98 but you can get it at a pre-order discount on Amazon.

-Ryan Gosling is releasing an album. He is in a band called “Dead Man’s Bones,” which is a goth-folk collaboration between him and Zach Shields. Their self-titled debut album will be released on Oct. 6.

-The Discovery Channel is airing a tribute to Billy Mays at 9 p.m. tonight. 

-I’m late on this one, but a couple days ago the Sci Fi Channel officially became “Syfy.” The change is to signify the new direction of its fantasy programming.

-Watch the trailer for “Couples Retreat” starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell and others. It’s a comedy based on four Midwestern couples who take a journey to a tropical island resort to work on their marriages. It debuts on Oct. 9.

-Michael Jackson is dominating all music sales. According to Nielsen SoundScan, 800,000 copies of his albums were sold in the U.S. last week – nearly double from the previous week. Jackson claims the entire top 10 roster on the top catalog album chart this week. His “Number Ones” collection is the top seller, followed by “Thriller.”

TV PREMIERES

Tonight – Big Brother (CBS)

Friday – Eureka (Sci Fi)

Sunday – Entourage (HBO); Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime)

Tuesday – Miami Social (Bravo)

Wednesday - Leverage (TNT); Dark Blue (TNT); Extreme Loggers (Discovery); Verminators (Discovery); Michael & Michael have Issues (Comedy)

TV FINALES

Tonight – In The Motherhood (ABC); Science of the Movies (Science)

Saturday – Harper’s Island (CBS); Eli Stone (ABC)

Monday – Here Come the Newlyweds (ABC)

Tuesday – ‘Stager Invasion (TLC); Apprentice UK  (BBCA); Jail (MNT); Food Party (IFC); Wrong Door (IFC)

MOVIES arriving Friday, July 10

-Bruno

-I Love You, Beth Cooper

Arriving Wednesday, July 15 is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

DVDs hitting stores on Tuesday, July 14

-Beach Kings

-Grey Gardens

-For All Mankind

-The Edge of Love

-12

-The Horsemen

-The Human Condition

-Rec

-Mad Men: Season Two

-The State: The Complete Series

-Tracey Takes On…The Complete & Final Seasons

-Leverage: First Season

-Van Wilder: Freshman Year (Unrated)

-American Gladiators: The Original Series – The Battle Begins

ALBUMS to be released on Tuesday, July 14

-Daughtry, “Leave This Town”

-Jordin Sparks, “Battlefield”

-Soundtrack, “Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince”

-Celtic Thunder, “Take Me Home”

-The Dead Weather, “Horehound”

-Twista, “Category F5″

-Clutch, “Strange Cousins From the West”

-Chico DeBarge, “Addiction: Reality Music”

-Lisa Lisa, “Life N Love”

-Joe, “Signature”

-Robin Trower, “What Lies Beneath”

-DevilDriver, “Pray For Villains”

Do you judge a movie based on its trailer? I think a lot of us do, and a lot of times, we are disappointed.

But sometimes, a film lives up to its awesome-looking trailer.

IFC has made a list of the “50 Greatest Trailers of All-Time.” It includes a good mix of old and new flicks but I think you will be surprised by what they chose as No. 1.

Go HERE to check out the list.

What’s your all-time favorite? Or even better, what is the worst one you have ever seen?