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”