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21 May ' 05:27
2012-05-218:01 AMHappy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend -- I ran a bunch of errands and watched The Towering Inferno, a film which somehow manages to feature Fred Astaire, O.J. Simpson and Bobby Brady.
Headlines:
- Dan Harmon is out as showrunner on Community. (He says he was fired.)
- The Bee GeesRobin Gibb has died.
- Is Donald Glover coming to HBO's Girls?- Who are the best SNL musical guests of all time?
- Jon HammDaniel Radcliffe will star in a new British miniseries.
- The Associated Press has uncovered information that Loretta Lynn is older than she has claimed.
- Nick Stahl is no longer missing and is entering rehab.
- See Bill Murray play FDR in the new trailer for Hyde Park on Hudson.
- Whoa, Matthew Fox has been working out.
- Kanye West and Marilyn Manson are bringing films to Cannes.
- Read George R.R. Martin's review of The Avengers.
- Harold Perrineau is joining Sons of Anarchy.
- Did a VW ad steal Beach House's music?
- Wes Anderson names his favorite New York movies.
- The Foo Fighters headlined a music festival before playing SNL last weekend.
- The band Handsome Furs broke up.
- And finally, the Guinness Book of World Records has declared that Sherlock Holmes is the "most portrayed literary human character in film and TV."
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18 May ' 18:47
3:40 PMBefore you start your weekend, check out my weekly list of pop-culture faves. Feel free to add your own:
1. Will Forte -- The alum popped up on last weekend's episode to make us laugh and remind us what an asset he is to the show. Next up for him are roles in That's My Boy (with Adam Sandler), Rock of Ages (with Tom Cruise) and The Watch (with Ben Stiller).
2. Take a WalkPassion Pit -- Enjoy a shiny new song from these guys while you're waiting for the new album (out July 24).
3. How I Met Your Mother -- This week the season ended with a satisfying finale that progressed each character's storyline. That said, I wouldn't complain if next season were the last so we could finally meet the dang mother!
4. Eric Andre -- On Sunday the actor/comedian debuts a madcap talk show on Adult Swim. (And during the week, he's a highlight of Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23.)
5. Jake Johnson -- The New Girl star shines in the upcoming time travel comedy, Safety Not Guaranteed
6. Johnny Carson: King of Late Night -- Kudos to PBS for airing this smart and funny documentary about the TV legend.
7. The Moth -- I loved this week's episode of the podcast, which featured a Michael Jackson-themed tale from musician Thomas Dolby.
8. Danny McBride -- The actor discusses growing up in Fredericksburg, Va. (also my hometown) in Marc Maron's latest podcast.
9. Roman TickFergus + Geronimo -- I dig this straight-up punk tune; it comes off the duo's upcoming album, out Aug. 7.
10. Margaret Cho -- Though she once told me it was a struggle to put the wig on, I'm glad she did it again as Kim Jong-Il/Kim Jong Un on 30 Rock.
11. Los Encantados -- The six-piece Brooklyn band made me smile this week with its catchy EP, Some Damned Soul. Stream the whole thing on their site.
Have an excellent weekend, everybody -- see ya Monday!
1:10 PMGot a question about pop culture? This afternoon I'll be answering a bunch of them, and I welcome more at popcandy@usatoday.com. (Just refresh to see new replies.) Let's go ahead and get started:
I wondered if you plan to attend BEA next month? -- Liz P. in Grand Haven, Mich.
I was tempted because BlogWorld is happening at the same time (and in the same place), but I'm passing on BookExpo this year. As far as conventions go, I can't say I get as much out of it as I'd like. Also, every time I've been I end up carrying a huge load of books -- and being on my feet for a long time -- and physically, I'm just not up to that sort of stress these days!
Where has Top Chef been? Don't the three Top Chef series run end to end? -- Ryan A.
Top Chef was renewed for Season 10, and I sure hope it's better than the endless, tedious Season 9. It started casting in February, so we should see it later this year. In the meantime, Bravo is touting its new food series Around the World in 80 Plates, which is kind of like Top Chef crossed with The Amazing Race.
There are some shows that I DVR and wait to see if they're picked up before watching a single episode. I do this to avoid the disappointment of getting into a show, then finding out that it's not returning. I've done this with Awake, and despite the fact that it's been canceled, I find myself still wanting to watch the episodes that the network airs. Will I be disappointed if I watch this series? Are there many unanswered questions? -- Justin P.
That's probably a smart tactic, since so many shows don't make it past the first season. Personally, I had my doubts about Awake from the start -- it's a difficult premise to sustain.
Creator Kyle Killan says "it wasn't intended as a series finale" but he thinks "the finale is very satisfying." I'd take that to mean there might still be some loose ends. The series finale airs May 24.
My boyfriend and I recently decided to watch all of the Star Wars movies, as we've only ever seen bits and pieces of them throughout our lives. We'd love any advice from you and the other readers of Pop Candy to prepare ourselves for watching all of the movies. Is there anything we should specifically pay attention to? -- Jessica T.
The main piece of advice I have is to definitely start with Episode IV (i.e. the 1977 film), or else you'll become so bored you won't even make it to the good stuff. I don't know that you need to take serious notes or anything while watching -- the films aren't that hard to follow, and you should have fun with them above all else.
Others may disagree, but really, I think it's fine if you decide to skip the prequels and just focus on the earlier (and better) trilogy. Hayden Christensen can be quite a buzzkill.
12:01 PMI've enjoyed following Henry Rollins' projects over the years. Whether they involve music, television or politics, he never fails to entertain (and often enlighten).
This month Hank pops up in a rather unlikely place: the Nat Geo Wild network, where he'll host a three-part series called Animal Underworld. On the show, we'll see him travel the globe, "immersing himself in different cultures to uncover why humans are out to worship, tame and even taste the wildest of creatures."
Highlights are sure to include Rollins' encounters with snake charmers, Vietnamese cockfighting rings, a rat-infested Hindu temple and people who treat toad venom as a hallucinogen. (OK, so maybe "highlights" is the wrong word here.)
The network has posted a clip of Rollins wrestling an alligator, and it's quite captivating/unsettling. Though I know Henry possesses the strength of 400 men, I couldn't help but be concerned:
All three episodes of Animal Underworld air May 28 on Nat Geo Wild, starting at 8 p.m. ET. There's a channel finder on this page, in case you aren't sure where to find it.
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18 May ' 08:59
2012-05-1810:56 AMI can't believe Season 2 of PBS' Sherlock is almost over -- we were just getting started!
The British detective drama has successfully reinvented Arthur Conan Doyle's characters, thanks to smart writing, creative presentation and a talented cast led by Benedict CumberbatchMartin Freeman
It's pretty shocking, then, that CBS has decided to debut its own Sherlock series this fall. Elementary stars Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as -- get this -- Dr. Joan Watson. A preview was released this week, and it looks pretty dreadful:
Do we really need a dumbed-down version of what the Brits are already executing so well? And please don't tell me Holmes and Watson are going to get romantically involved ...
Anyway, the good news for Sherlock fans is Sunday's finale looks great, and Season 2 arrives on DVD/Blu-ray May 22. Here's a preview of the upcoming "Reichenbach Fall," which marks the return of Moriarty:
To watch previous episodes from Season 2 of Sherlock, head to PBS.org
9:57 AMPop quiz: Which Betty White in this photo is real, and which one contains thousands of calories?
This week the Friars Club commissioned a life-size replica of Betty made out of cake. It was created by "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro and his team at Carlo's Bakery in Jersey City, N.J.
The cake stands 5 feet, 2 inches tall and is made of vanilla cake with buttercream. It was presented to the 90-year-old star at her roast on Wednesday and will be featured on an upcoming episode of TLC's Cake Boss
For more cake, tune in to the season premiere of Cake Boss May 28.
This weekend three very different movies debut at the box office: , Battleship and What to Expect When You're Expecting. Do any of them appeal to you? Will you just go see for the seventh time? Vote now ...
Today's pic comes from Justin G. in Syracuse, N.Y.:
Last Saturday before seeing Red Hot Chili Peppers in Newark, I went with my brother and his girlfriend to the Quick Stop in Leonardo, N.J., where Clerks was filmed," he says. "Naturally I had to take the pic in black and white."
It's Friday! Congrats on making it through another week -- I don't know about you, but I'm pooped!
Before we get into stuff like the Mailbag, here are a few headlines:
- R.I.P., Donna Summer
- Don't worry, everyone is staying on Glee
- Watch Letterman and Conantalk about Jay Leno on last night's Late Show
New York magazine talks to Aaron Paul- The Guinness folks have a thoughtful response to 's recent complaint.
Donald Glover unleashed a 40-tweet response to his critics the other day.
- That Sin City sequel will arrive next year
- The New York Timestalks to Billy Bob Thornton about his new memoir.
The Boondockswill return to Adult Swim.
- Artists pay tribute to Maurice Sendakthese illustrations
- Watch the first teaser for the CW's Green Arrow series.
- A trailer for The Perks of Being a Wallflower will debut before the MTV Movie Awards.
- Abed says "cool" a lot on , so you knew this "supercut" was inevitable ...
Elvira is looking for some good indie horror flicks
- "Bananas Tattooed with Famous Works of Art
- Thanks to Facebook, Bono is about to become even richer
- TBS now owns a percentage of Funny or Die.
- Check out some more weird picsTom Cruise as a rock star.
- Batman is now selling Mountain Dew. Sad.
- And finally, if you need a lock for your pint of ice cream, you may need some professional help as well.
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17 May ' 13:16
2012-05-172:08 PMGoogle is known for featuring cute "doodles" to celebrate holidays and milestones, but they're generally created by established artists.
Through the company's "Google 4 Doodle" competition, however, the site opened the field to kids. This year about 114,000 students entered the contest, and today a winner was named: 7-year-old Dylan Hoffman from Caledonia, Wis.
Dylan will get a few minutes of fame tomorrow when his doodle is featured on Google's homepage. His artwork will also appear on a special 64-count box of Crayola crayons -- and this marks the first time Crayola has ever featured a child's drawing on its products.
In addition, Dylan won a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his school. Not bad for one drawing!
Browse all of the finalists' doodles at google.com/doodle4google. The 50 state finalists will have their art displayed at the New York Public Library through July 19.
Here's Dylan's winning doodle, which is about to be seen worldwide:
12:59 PMIf you live in New York, you're fully aware that this city is still mourning the loss of the Adam Yauch, aka MCA.
One fan decided to put together an event that would celebrate the artist's life and music. Dubbed "MCA Day," the all-day festivities welcome fans to wear their Beasties T-shirts, sing songs, and have "a good time while showing appreciation for a light that has brightened all of our paths."
I love this idea and hope it attracts a big crowd! The event starts Saturday at 11 a.m. in Manhattan's Union Square.
For more information, head to MCA Day's FacebookTwitter accounts.
11:57 AMIf there's a Twitter-related award, chances are Rob Delaney already has it -- or he was at least in the running.
Last year National Lampoon named the comedian the "Twitter King" over faves like Daniel Tosh. A few weeks ago, Delaney was crowned "Funniest Person on Twitter" at the 2012 Comedy Awards.
It makes sense, then, that Delaney should preside over a Twitter joke contest. Klondike (you know, the ice cream company) has just announced the Klondike Comedy Showcase, a competition where all Twitter users are challenged to submit jokes in specific categories.
Here's how to enter: Check the Klondike site for the weekly category. Tweet your jokes with the hashtag #KCS. At the end of the week, a finalist will be announced -- and one of 10 finalists will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the New York Comedy Festival in November.
You can check the jokes via Twitter or the site to see how you stack up against the competition. For example, this week's topic is "Old People and Technology," so here are a few of the jokes submitted:
"Grandpa joined Instagram and so far has posted 32 artsy pictures of Ensure and oatmeal."
"I told my grandma about the dangers of computer viruses, and now her computer has a coat and a can of soup in the CD tray."
I can't emphasize enough how bad so many of the jokes are -- which is good news for your chances of winning.
The contest lasts 10 weeks. Good luck!
10:57 AMToday Time magazine unveils an updated version of its list of the 100 best movies of all time.
As Richard Corliss explains, the list needed to reflect the top films released since 2000, as well as some other titles that were forgotten -- like, inexplicably, Gone With the Wind
Take a glance at Corliss' roundup of the "10 Greatest Movies of the Millennium" for a peek at some of his additions.
While several of the flicks listed make sense -- Lord of the RingsWall-EThe Artist -- I found others a bit baffling. For instance, is Charlie KaufmanSynecdoche, New York really one of the best films of all time? I had trouble staying awake through that one.
After you take a gander and add 2011's A Separation to your must-see list, feel free to share your feedback in the comments.
9:58 AMThere's something for everybody on this weekend's , from host to the special guests (can't wait to see what does).
In the below promos for the episode, Jagger and Kristen Wiig talk sex, drugs and magic -- pretty much everything except whether she's leaving the show.
Check 'em out:
airs, well, Saturday. Set your DVR for 11:30 p.m. ET.
A lot of us will be tuning in this weekend to watch Mick Jagger host the season finale of Saturday Night Live. (Don't forget about the backstage video!)
With Mick on the brain, it seems like a good time to see which Rolling Stones album we love the most. Vote now ...
Today's pic comes from Pop Candy reader David Kulczyk in Sacramento:
"I saw John Waters at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento during his Role Models tour," he says. "During autograph time, I gave him a copy of my book Death in California: The Bizarre, Freakish and Just Curious Ways People Die in the Golden State. His eyes lit up when he read the cover. I hope he liked it."
Good morning! We're nearing the end of the week, so iron your party pants.
Some headlines:
MCAwas honored on the floor of the New York State Senate.
- Check out pics from Communityvideo game episode- What are the most viral ads of 2012
Friday Night Lights' Jesse Plemonsjoining Breaking Bad
- Musician Chuck Brown has died
- I'm worried about John Waters hitchhiking. This guy needs a driver!
- Adult Swim has green-lighted a spin-off of Children's Hospital
- What's the connection between the Rolling Stones and Winnie-the-Pooh?
- Actor Nick Stahl has been reported missing
- Forbes has released its list of the 100 most powerful celebrities
- Arab-American groups aren't happy with The Dictator
- Here are highlights from a Q&A Damon Lindelof did with fans.
Stan Lee isn't making tons of moneyThe Avengers
Jack White has a bone to pick with the Guinness World Records people.
- HBO has won a lawsuit over Entourage's "Johnny Bananas" character.
- Celebrate Jonathan Richman's birthday with these covers
- Comic-Con will feature a Walking Dead obstacle course
Brigitte Bardot is in the news, although it's probably not what you think
- Check out the world's tallest LEGO structure
- And finally, "12 Canceled Shows with Higher Ratings Than Community
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16 May ' 16:57
2:24 PMThere are lots of things to notice in every episode of Mad Men, from the retro ensembles to the musical references to Betty's ever-changing waistline.
But while many sites chronicle the twisting plots and kitschy props, there may be only one devoted solely to the food.Last year Smart Pop Books published The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook, a title devoted to the series' culinary references. The book contains "more than 70 authentic recipes from the kitchens, restaurants and bars" seen on the show, as well as historical info about many of the locations.
Picking up where the book leaves off, authors Judy GelmanPeter Zheutlin have been dishing on the series' dishes throughout Season 5. Head over to their blog, and you'll find info about Weight Watchers, Pepsi Sno Ball and Trader Vic's, all of which played a part in Sunday's episode.
Like the cookbook, the blog also features recipes; some of this season's highlights have included boeuf bourguignon and crab rangoon.
The season finale of Mad Men is scheduled for June 10. If you're planning a party, consider this Mad-themed site an essential bookmark. Be warned, though: Eat too many dishes from 1966, and your body may not make it to 2013.
12:56 PMFor Takeru Kobayashi's sake, I hope the following video is a hoax -- but I don't think it is.
The competitive eater appears with comedian Jim Breuer in a new viral ad for Eight O'Clock Coffee. Everything seems normal at first but spirals out of control when Kobayashi starts drinking coffee ... and doesn't stop until he has ingested 42 cups of the stuff.
Though Guinness has several coffee-related records on the books, I don't see one for "most coffee chugged by one person." Kobayashi currently holds several records, including the most hot dogs eaten in three minutes, the most hamburgers eaten in three minutes and the fastest time to eat a bowl of pasta.
On July 4 Kobayashi will ingest an eye-popping number of hot dogs at the First Annual Crif Dog Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. As you may know, he's a six-time champion of the famous Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest but was arrested at the event in 2010 for trying to disrupt it.
Below are a few exclusive pics from the set of the video:
11:50 AMThere's quite a bit of hype surrounding this weekend's season finale of . Not only will Mick Jagger serve as host and musical guest, the ep will include appearances by Arcade FireFoo FightersJeff Beck ... and will broadcast live from backstage.
Yep, the show is trying something new by presenting live video shot by cast members throughout the show. To see it, you'll have to download the Color app onto your phone/mobile device. It's free and available via iTunes and Google Play.Color is a relatively new app that allows users share live video broadcasts with their Facebook friends. So, for instance, if you're a musician and you'd like to play a little concert for your pals, you could do it this way.
Still confused? Watch the tutorials on Color.com
Again, note that Color links up with Facebook, so "everything you do on Color will be represented" on the social site, according to your privacy settings.
I'm eager to see how this plays out -- if it works, it could change the way we look at SNL. (And if the show announces any cast-member departures on Saturday, we may see more tears than laughter ...)
10:56 AMConsidering most of us hardly go a day without hearing about Spider-Man or Snow White, we might as well put this pop-culture information to good use.
Enter Movieland, a new interactive game from Yahoo!. The feature focuses on summer movie releases and offers prizes to those who score highest.
Some of the big-ticket items include vacation packages, signed posters and tix to movie premieres. The biggest draw? One grand prize winner will receive free movie tickets until 2020.
The only bummer about this game is users are required to log in via Facebook, so you may not be able to play during work hours. A "3-D version" of Movieland will be set up at Comic-Con this summer.
Movieland lasts through Sept. 7.
I don't know how many of you tuned in to the Johnny Carson documentary on PBS the other night, but I thought it was great: touching, surprising and, most of all, very funny.
Almost every big name in comedy is interviewed in the film, including Jerry SeinfeldDavid LettermanEllen DeGeneresDon RicklesConan O'Brien and Garry Shandling. Carson's former assistants, co-workers and even one ex-wife contribute anecdotes about the late-night host I'd never heard before.
Anyway, if you missed it, PBS' American Mastersstreaming the whole thing for a limited time. (The DVD arrives July 17.) Enjoy!
Watch Johnny Carson: King of Late Night on PBS. See more from American Masters.
This morning I linked to a story about the best films with time travel. Upon reading it, I was surprised to learn that the device isn't used nearly as often as one would think.
Do you have a fave in the bunch? Vote now, though I have a feeling I know what No. 1 will be ...
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16 May ' 06:11
2012-05-168:46 AMToday's pic comes from Pop reader Scott F. in Athens, Ga.:
"I took this photo of a classic Route 66 motel sign in Kingman, Ariz., on my way to hike across the Grand Canyon with a friend," he says. "Instead of taking Interstate 40 we took the opportunity to drive a classic stretch of Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman, Ariz. We were very glad we did!"
Do you have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to popcandy@usatoday.com with your name, city and a brief description!
8:01 AMHey! We're midway through the week, and I hope it's treating you well. Don't forget to submit you pop-culture questions to me for Friday's Mailbag; you can send 'em to .
Headlines:
- I'm surprised New York isn't on the list of well-read cities.
- What are the "10 best time travel movies"?
- ESPN has renewed its 30 For 30 documentary series.
- Aaron Sorkin is writing a screenplay about Steve Jobs.
- Casablanca is screening on Facebook tonight. Interesting.- Charlaine Harris has announced her final Sookie Stackhouse book.
- A Harold & Kumar animated series is in the works.
- Watch trailers for ABC's new series.
- Ellen DeGeneres will receive this year's Mark Twain Prize for humor.
- Design your own DC Comics-themed Converse.
- "Shy Ronnie" performed at a Santigold concert the other night.
- "The 10 Nerdiest Easter Eggs in My Little Pony."
- Good lord, it's a TARDIS cat tree.
- Could The Hulk return to TV?
- Watch Ryan Adams cover Danzig's Mother.
- Stream the new posthumous album from Joey Ramone.
- Watch a trailer for Michel Gondry's new film.
- Mario Batali is trying to live on a food stamp budget for a week.
- Gossip's new album is streaming on its website.
- IFC has picked up Save the Date, the film co-written by cartoonist Jeffrey Brown.
- Maybe Mike Daisey should consider not talking for awhile.
- The Watchmen toaster is real.
- The sandwich turns 250 this year.
- Cute: Kids act out the Beastie Boys' Sabotage video.
- From The Onion: "Hershey's Announces It's All Out of Candy."
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15 May ' 12:56
2012-05-151:56 PMFortunately, we don't really have those annoying "First!" people on this blog. But as you've seen, plenty of other sites are plagued with nutty folks who, for some reason, believe it's extremely important to leave the first comment.
A new clip from Funny or Die asks, "Who was first to say 'First!'?" Patton Oswalt stars:
Oswalt hosts the Webby Awards May 21. If you're interested in hearing those five-word speeches, they'll be streamed live at www.webbyawards.com
12:56 PMIf you have SiriusXM, then you already know one of the best stations on the dial belongs to Willie Nelson. Nelson's name is attached to "Willie's Roadhouse," a channel that specializes in classic country tunes.
Right now Willie is busy promoting his new album, Heroes, which includes guest vocals by Kris KristoffersonMerle HaggardSheryl Crow and even Snoop Dogg
Yesterday, Willie performed one track from the record on the radio -- it's a cover of Pearl JamJust Breathe, and it proves the troubadour still has it at age 79. If you notice the guy he's singing with sounds oddly Nelson-esque, it's because it's his son, Lukas Nelson:
Heroes also includes Nelson's cover of ColdplayThe Scientist, which you may have heard on this Chipotle commercial
Heroes arrives in stores today. Here's another track, It's Flooding Down in Texas, which Willie performed when he visited Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night:
11:56 AMDon't feel like trudging to the theater to see The Avengers again? Here are some discs in stores today:
Release o' the week: Being John Malkovich. I can't wait to get my hands on the Criterion edition of this film. Expect a bunch of extras in this director-approved package, including new commentary by Michel Gondry (not Spike Jonze), a new behind-the-scenes documentary and a conversation between Malkovich and John HodgmanChronicle. The premise sounds promising: Three teens mysteriously develop superpowers. It's the execution that can be a little grating; the whole thing is much more of a teen flick than a superhero flick, and it's told from the shaky home-video perspective of one of the characters. If Cloverfield didn't make you queasy, you may wanna try this.
The GreyLiam Neeson fights wolves!
My Perestroika. This acclaimed doc follows five Russians as they live through Soviet childhoods, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the country's continued changes.
We Were Here. The beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the early '80s is explored in this documentary.
Also out: Albert NobbsBag of BonesHell on Wheels: The Complete First SeasonFlashpoint: The Fourth SeasonOne for the MoneyRampartThe Devil Inside
Blu-ray highlight: PBS' The War, a 2007 Ken Burns doc about WWII, arrives in the format, as does the classic New York Stories
Related news: The classic Singin' in the Rain comes to Blu-ray July 17.
Next week: The Secret World of Arrietty arrives.
10:55 AMLast week fans of public radio's This American Life headed to theaters for This American Life Live!, an event broadcast on movie screens across the country.
The live show featured several guests, including David SedarisDavid RakoffTig NotaroOK Go
One highlight of the big-screen broadcast was a short film from comedian Mike Birbiglia, who stars in the upcoming flick Sleepwalk With Me. Check out what happens when an interview on NPR's Fresh Air goes awry:
Ha! How great is Terry Gross?
You can still catch This American Life Live! with encore performances TONIGHT in about 150 theaters.
Sleepwalk With Me opens Aug. 24. To hear Gross' 2010 interview with Birbiglia -- yep, she really did talk to him -- head to NPR.org
How I Met Your Mother, so steer clear if you haven't caught up! If you'd like to discuss another series with readers, consider starting a thread in the forum.
We don't normally discuss How I Met Your Mother, but after last night's game-changing season finale, a few of you might want to share your thoughts.Not all sitcoms succeed at evolving their characters over the years, but HIMYM has done this fairly well ... despite Ted's perpetual singledom. Last night Marshall and Lily finally welcomed their son, and we'll see how big a role he plays next season. Are we in for tons of baby jokes (a la Murphy Brown), or will the kid mysteriously disappear (a la Friends)?
For Ted, the finale was a time of reflection, although he seems to be doing a lot of that lately. The finale marked the return of Victoria, Ted's least annoying ex-girlfriend, and seemed to be headed toward a happy ending. Some fans may recall, however, that this pastry chef has already been ruled out as "The Mother," so Vic may just be another stumbling block.
Finally, the last few minutes revealed a lot about Barney's future. Now we know the identity of his bride -- although I suppose we don't know if he'll go through with the wedding.
In this interviewHIMYM co-creator Craig Thomas talks about these latest developments and previews the show's next season, which may or may not be its last.
"It's going to be heartbreaking whenever it ends," Thomas says. "We still think we have great stories to tell. ... I'm hoping we'll know (the end date) soon, and whatever happens, I think we can wrap up the story in a great way."
So what did you think of the finale? Were you surprised by the bride's identity? Did you expect that middle name? Is Ted still boring? Feel free to comment ... we have several months until we get any more clues.
Today I mentioned that an Anchorman 2 teaser will screen before The Dictator -- and that's pretty impressive, considering the film isn't slated to arrive until 2014.
Speaking of Will Ferrell, the actor has been all over the place lately, from to trailers for his new flick, The Campaign. What's the best part he has played? Vote in today's poll ...
Today's pic comes from Steven I. in River Edge, N.J.:
"A brand new state-of-the-art Converse store (featuring a design-your-own shop) just opened in the Garden State Plaza Mall in Paramus, N.J.," he says.
"I had heard about the recent opening but had no clue where in the mall it was located. While walking, I saw this giant American flag from a distance. Upon closer view, I discovered the new Converse store and that this flag was made entirely of red, white and blue Chuck Taylors!"
Do you have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to
By Whitney Matheson, USA TODAYGood morning! This week is moving right along -- last night I saw a screening of Safety Not Guaranteed, the movie I mentioned a few weeks ago starring New Girl's Jake JohnsonParks and Rec's Aubrey PlazaMark Duplass
The story involves a man who says he has built a time machine and the journalists investigating his claim. It's funny, original and has a good soundtrack ... check it out! It opens in limited release June 8.
Watch trailers for all of NBC's new series.
- Watch a four-minute Amazing Spider-Man preview -- unless you wanna be surprised when it arrives in theaters.
Kirk Douglas, 95, is writing an e-book
- 7-Eleven has come out with something called Slurpee Lite- Ringo Starr says he has lost the photographs he took during the Beatles' heyday.
- Modern Family's Sarah Hylandgotten a kidney transplant.
- HBO is developing an '80s Wall Street comedy.
- 's Simon Helberg has become a father.
- If Courtney Love did "flip out" at a hotel the other night, I don't blame her. Sounds like a creepy scenario.
- An Anchorman 2 teaser will debut before The Dictator.
- 30 Rockdefinitely ending after the fall.
- Jimmy Kimmel is taking his show to Brooklyn.
- What are actors really smoking/snorting when they're doing drugs on camera?
- Alan Rickman will star in a new film about CBGB.
- Louis C.K. does a Reddit AMA.
- A Clockwork Orangeturns 50 this week.
- This video takes you on a "Ghostbusters tour of New York
- What 50 famous authors want us to know about the writing process
- And from The Onion: "Game of Thrones Running Out of Unkempt Old Men to Cast."
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14 May ' 17:52
2012-05-141:50 PMThanks to everyone who participated in Friday's Candy Mailbag -- I tried to answer as many of your questions as I could, which included topics like and Comic-Con.
On May 18 I'd like to pick up where we left off, so if there's anything on your mind, please send questions to or via the comment thread on this post.See you here on Friday!
12:35 PMIf Sunday's left you yearning for more Don Draper & Co., you'll want to record tonight's Inside the Actors Studio, which welcomes the series' entire cast (or most of 'em, anyway).
Host James Lipton will direct his little blue cards toward show creator Matt WeinerJon HammJanuary Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, Jared Harris and young Kiernan Shipka. (No word on Elisabeth Moss' absence, which is a huge bummer.)
Writes Lipton in his blog:
If you watch the episode you'll learn how alike Jon Hamm's and Don Draper's stories are. Look at the faces of his co-stars as he reveals the source of Don. Time and again the groups who've come to us have expressed their astonishment at how much they're learned about each other on our stage, secrets they hadn't learned in years of intimate daily contact. This night was no exception.
The site has posted a few clips, including one of Shipka dancing and another where Weiner says the network wasn't sure if Hamm was "sexy enough" to play Don.
Inside the Actors Studio airs at 7 p.m. ET. The ep will rerun tonight at 2 a.m. ET.
11:33 AMNote: In the Pop Traveler, Pop Candy readers name their cities' best pop-culture hot spots/events. Wanna write about your town? Holler at popcandy@usatoday.com
By Aaron Hernandez, Special Correspondent for Pop Candy
Portland, Ore., is a wonderful metropolis. Though far from one of the biggest cities, Portland is a vibrant example of how several cultures can mesh to create a far-from-boring cityscape. We're like Austin (but without the Texas) or the Twin Cities (but without the sub-zero winters) in that we value our art, our ethos and our activities, for they make us who we are.
Just about everyone can find something to love about Portland. If you're outdoorsy, there's hiking, biking, fishing, disc golfing, boating and tons of parks. If you're indoorsy, we've got lots of museums, concert venues, and movie theaters. Several TV shows are filmed here (currently Portlandia, LeverageGrimm), and two comics publishers (Dark Horse Comics and Oni Press) are even based out of Portland.
Portland's artists are varied and inspiring: Gus Van Sant, Matt Groening, Chuck Palahniuk, Beverly Cleary, Stephen Malkmus. When it comes to music, all sorts of great local bands are making waves, including M. Ward, The Decemberists, Horse Feathers, Laura Veirs, Portugal. The ManBlind Pilot
But if you're visiting Portland, you might be looking for hot spots that will help you absorb the culture and climate of our city, or maybe you're just looking to be entertained. While no trip will ever be long enough to see it all, and no list will ever hold everything, I couldn't resist mentioning some specific spots that have kept people both local and not coming back for more:
1. Voodoo Doughnut -- An international tourist attraction, Voodoo Doughnut has become a hallmark Portland institution. Pink boxes, maple bacon bars and more varieties of sugars than you ever though possible, Voodoo doughnuts are so delicious that you can understand why there's a permanent line of sweet-toothed patrons waiting during open hours. The length of the line can seem daunting, but you won't regret it once you try any of their delectable delicacies.9:56 AMI'm in awe of Stan Lee. The 89-year-old comics legend could very well spend his days chilling on a remote island somewhere, but he continues to crank out books, film appearances and web series like it's no big deal.
One of Lee's latest ventures is a weekly web series called Cocktails With Stan, where he chats with interesting people over drinks. I was thrilled to see his first guest is our pal Jane Espenson, known for her writing on Once Upon a Time, Battlestar Galactica, and many other shows we love.
Enjoy the conversation:
Look for new episodes of Cocktails With Stan on Fridays. If you don't follow Espenson on Twitter, I highly recommend it.
9:55 AMNote: This post discusses last night's episode of Mad Men, so avoid it if you're behind. If you'd like to discuss another series with readers, feel free to create a thread in the forum.
We should've presumed from the title ("Dark Shadows") that Sunday's episode of Mad Men wasn't going to be its best.
Much of the action belonged to Betty, who has become the show's most unlikable character by a mile -- and not necessarily in a good way. Although it can be fun to see January Jones sporting prosthetics, Betty's storyline often slows the pace of the series.
Last night Betty attempted to concoct a devious plan that would hurt Megan and even her own daughter; however, it backfired and the former Mrs. Draper was left to stew in her own misery.
"I'm thankful that I have everything I want and nobody else has anything better," she tells her family at Thanksgiving. Ugh. Remember when we actually used to root for this character?
As for Don Draper, he's still trying to prove he's a man in his prime by rejecting Michael Ginsberg's (better) ideas in favor of his own. If he isn't careful, he could drive some of the agency's best talent right out the door -- and that includes Peggy, who is growing increasingly frustrated with the treatment she receives from her superiors.
In other news, Pete is still a jerk. No surprise there -- although I do love that Alexis Bledel is playing the object of his fantasies.
So what are your thoughts on the episode? How do you feel about Betty this season, and what needs to happen to the character? Is it possible that anyone in the bunch will have a merry Christmas? Leave your comments below ...
Related: Last week's Mad Men
It's hard to believe we've already seen 100 digital shorts on Saturday Night Live, but I guess that number makes sense, considering the first one ("Lazy Sunday") aired back in 2005.
Do you have a fave? Vote in today's poll ...
Today's pic comes from Mary Alice T. in Silver Lake, Ohio:
"Here's a pic from week's "Weird Al" Yankovic concert in Akron -- he is better than ever," she says. " He signed autographs out of the bus 'til the line was gone! Here, my youngest gets his shirt signed."
Do you have a picture you'd like to share? Send it to popcandy@usatoday.com
Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend -- mine was pretty busy and included taking my nephew's "Flat Stanley" on a few adventures in the city.
As some of you saw on Twitter, I also went to see Dark Shadows ... and walked out of it halfway through. Let me tell you, it is very rare that I walk out of a movie, but this one was just an atrocity. Bad writing, over-the-top acting and a lack of direction all contributed to this shadowy train wreck. The film defies genre in the worst way, failing to achieve any attempts at humor or horror.
After sitting through this, The Rum Diary and The Tourist, Depp and I may need to take a break for awhile -- and perhaps Tim Burton and the actor should separate as well.
- Watch the new trailer for True Blood
- One highlight of last weekend's was the 100th digital short
Iggy Pop will be self-releasing his new album of French pop classics.
- In this feature, 20 musicians talk about their college majors.
Paul Reubensoffers an update on the upcoming Pee-wee film.- The New York Times has a story about Wes Anderson's new film.
- Slate has an excellent chat with Maria Bamford
Jim Parsonstalks about starring in the upcoming Broadway production of Harvey
- Download a new special from Louis C.K
Jay-Zheadline and curate a music fest in Philly.
- An original copy of Batman No. 1 has sold for $850,000.
- The CW picked up Green Arrow, among other series. It canceled Ringer
Neil Gaimanwrites about Maurice Sendak
- "100 Geeks You Should Be Following on Twitter."
- Entries are being accepted now for an "ugly pancake contest."
- Here are 10 famous fiction writers' favorite cocktails
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11 May ' 16:35
2:48 PMBefore you start celebrating the weekend, take a gander at my weekly list of pop-culture favorites. These go to 11:
1. Santigold's Master of My Make-Believe -- This album has been on constant rotation at my apartment this week. It's the perfect record to take us into summer -- and worth the four-year wait since her debut.
2. Some Assembly Required by Anne Lamott -- Lamott's new companion to Operating Instructions chronicles her grandson's first year. (And yep, she's already a grandma -- her son became a dad when he was just 19.)
3. The Big Bang Theory -- On Thursday the sitcom ended its season with a sweet episode that made me laugh and sigh. Loved the last scene!
4. Tom Hiddleston -- Avengers' heroes are getting a lot of credit for its success, but Hiddleston deserves praise for his performance as the villainous Loki.5. Laverne & Shirley -- I just noticed cable network The Hub airs reruns of the classic show every weeknight. The Big Ragu still has a place in my heart.
6. Archaia Entertainment -- Kudos to the publisher for giving away the loveliest book -- a hardcover, no less! -- on Free Comic Book Day.
7. Art in the 21st Century -- The fascinating PBS series helps me keep track of who's who in today's art scene.
8. Dark Shadows -- It hasn't gotten the best reviews, but I'm always a sucker for DeppBurton collaborations ...
9. Welcome to Sweetie Pies -- The OWN reality series is my current guilty pleasure, mainly for its wealth of hearty Southern vittles.
10. Gossip's Move in the Right Direction -- Beth Ditto is back, and she still makes me sweat. The new single appears on the band's upcoming record, A Joyful Noise, out May 22.
11. Patti SmithApril Fool -- Everything is better with Patti! This is the first single off Banga, out June 5.
12:22 PMToday I'll be answering some of your pop-culture queries in this Mailbag post, which will be updated live.
If you have a burning question, feel free to drop me a line at popcandy@usatoday.com or via the comment thread. If I don't get to it today, I'll try to address it in a future installment.
Let's get started, shall we?
Have you been watching Fringe? I don't think you've written about it, which seems crazy, considering it's one of the best sci-fi shows on TV. Curious to know what you think of it. If you haven't watched it, do you have plans to do so? Now that it got picked up for a final season, this should be at the top of your summer to-do list! -- Nick in Los Angeles
I watched maybe the first half of Season 1, then I decided Fringe wasn't for me. I know its fans are happy about the renewal, but I'm not sure if I'll invest the time in catching up on four seasons! (My pop-culture to-do list is already pretty long: I still haven't seen the last two seasons of The Wire.)
Why so little love for the movie The Cabin in the Woods? I thought it was a very original movie which had Whedon involvement and actors from Dollhouse, Angel and . I'm thinking this is going to be this year's Rise of the Planet of the Apes for you (meaning no love when it came out until it was on video). -- Mike V. in Indianapolis
You know I love Whedon as much as (OK, probably more) than the next person, but there is one film genre I've never been a huge fan of: horror. And while I know Cabin probably has a touch of that Whedon wit, I did choose to avoid it on the big screen. You may be right in likening it to Apes, as I'll probably watch the DVD -- and love it -- when it releases later this year.
As a father of three and avid Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. fan, I have tried and epically failed to get my kids interested in the power of geekdom. I still have a chance with my 4-year-old. Do you have ways that you are going to try to "engage and make is so" with your new baby? -- Matt
Well, I have a few years before I'll be introducing my kid to Spock and the like, but I can understand your sense of urgency with your brood. When I first saw , I liked it for many reasons, including the fact that a) it was accompanied by a huge line of toys! and b) it had been released just a few years earlier, so the special effects still impressed.
With today's kids, there may be different entry points for franchises than there were 30 years ago. For instance, my nephew loves Star Wars mainly because of The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, not the original trilogy. He's obsessed with Indiana Jones -- but that's because he started with The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, not Raiders
I feel like big, geeky franchises might actually be easier to get into these days because companies are very aware that they wanna snag fans early. If they learned anything from Star Wars, it's that folks will not only spend money on toys when they're kids -- they'll hand over even more cash on collectibles when they're all grown up.
10:57 AM"Who is that woman, and why is she always naked?"
This week my husband couldn't help but sneak a peek at my bedside reading and ask for an explanation. His question, as it turns out, has been asked for nearly a century by admirers and curious onlookers.
In the new graphic biography, Kiki de Montparnasse (Abrams, $24.95), writer Jose-Louis Bocquet and artist Catel Muller tell the story of a free-spirited, fascinating muse to some of the most influential artists of her time.Born Alice Prin, the woman later known as "Kiki" grew up in poverty in early 20th century France. By the time she was 18, she had begun to make a new life for herself -- and that included working as an artists' model.
Kiki is best known for being the longtime partner of artist Man Ray and was the subject of many of his famous photographs, including Ingres' Violin (1924). But Kiki also rubbed shoulders (and sometimes other parts!) with Jean Cocteau, Alexander Calder, Moise KislingTsuguharu Foujita, to name a few.
This hefty, 416-page biography explores Kiki's life from birth to her death in 1953, and it does an excellent job of conveying her positive outlook and lack of inhibition. Yes, the book contains quite a bit of sex and nudity -- but so did Kiki's life.
I truly enjoyed reading this 416-page title, and I hope it receives more attention. Many of the artists Kiki worked for achieved worldwide fame and fortune over the years. Even though Kiki is no longer with us, it's time her contributions to the art world received a little recognition, too.
10:01 AMJames Hance is a big fan of pop culture, with interests ranging from Star WarsWhere the Wild Things Are to the Beatles
All of Hance's passions are evident in his artwork, which melds different facets of pop culture to create humorous -- and sometimes touching -- images.
Take a look at this example, which puts Han Solo and friends in a Winnie the Pooh universe:
Or this one, which is self-explanatory:
If you have some free wall space, note that the Florida-based artist is selling prints via his website for just $10 each. (Limited-edition works are a little more, and they usually sell out.)
Other subjects of Hance's works include Doctor Who, the Muppets, The Goonies, Labyrinth and Firefly, so there's something for virtually everyone. He also sells some of the designs on T-shirts, if that's more your style.
Thanks to Pop reader Ron O. for the tip!
This morning I linked to a list of the top band logos -- and if you like that, you may want to check out a cool book from 2008 called Band ID: The Ultimate Book of Band Logos
In any case, what's your fave of this bunch? Vote now ...
Today's pic comes from Pop Candy reader Tim N.:
"As you (may have heard), Bono joined at The Living Room on Tuesday," he says. "It was a taping for Sirius/XM's The Loft, and we were all just happy to be there. For the last number, Glen said a friend of his was joining in ... once we saw who it was, it was all ear-to-ear smiles."
Tim adds, "I've seen U2 about 60 times, but it was pretty special to see Bono sing in a room that small."
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11 May ' 05:08
2012-05-118:01 AMHappy Friday, everyone! I'm so thrilled this week is coming to an end -- it felt like a long one.
Last night I stayed in to watch the Big Bang season finale and all of the NBC shows that may or may not be returning. (Seriously, what is the holdup with Parks and Rec's renewal? It's the best comedy on the air right now.)
Headlines:
- ABC's Cougar Town is moving to TBS
- has been picked up for a shortened, final season. NBC also renewed Parenthood
- What are the best band logos of all time?
- Here's an interview with the very funny Billy Eichner
- Fox has picked up Mindy Kaling's new show. Guess she'll be saying goodbye to The Office ...- Mad Men's Megan (Jessica Pare) will be submitted for a lead actress Emmy nomination.
- Game of Thrones' Sean Bean was arrested in London this week.
- Here's an interview with SNL alum Rachel Dratch.
- Conan O'Brien will appear on Letterman May 17.
- A heavily tattooed Tom Cruise covers W magazine.
- Billboard talks to Liza Minnelli.
- Lou Ferrigno talks about how he helped voice the Hulk in The Avengers.
- Shepard Fairey will make art inspired by Neil Young's new record.
- An early Maurice Sendak illustration has been found.
- I want this R2-D2 coffeemaker.
- And finally, check out the best "Swansonisms" from this season of Parks and Rec.
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