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Here's everything that's been happening in the world of Pop Culture this past week... in case you missed it! Feel free to comment on any of the stories and info shared here, add any news bits that you caught going on that may have been missed, or at least show us some love if you read the post but have nothing to comment on by clicking on that little heart icon at the bottom of the post...
GENERAL POP CULTURE NEWS:
- A sketch of the Empire State Building drawn by US President DONALD TRUMP prior to him taking office, sold at an auction for $16,000.
- A California appeals court reversed a decision against Johnson & Johnson, who were previously found negligent in a case of a woman who developed cancer that was alleged to have been caused by regular use of Johnson & Johnson’s talc. The court’s reversal means the company will no longer have to pay out $417 million.
- Former US Presidents JIMMY CARTER, BILL CLINTON, BARACK OBAMA, GEORGE H.W. BUSH, and GEORGE W. BUSH appeared and gave speeches at “Deep From the Heart: The One America Appeal”, a concert held at Texas A&M University that raised money for ongoing hurricane relief efforts. President DONALD TRUMP also appeared via a prerecorded video statement.
- Those still enraged over last year’s US general election results will have another opportunity to publicly vent their feelings on Election Day this year. On November 8th, a “Scream Helplessly at the Sky on the Anniversary of the Election” event will take place in Boston to mark President DONALD TRUMP’s surprise victory over former Secretary of State HILLARY CLINTON in last year’s election. The event’s description states, “Come express your anger at the current state of democracy, and scream helplessly at the sky!” So far, 4,400 people have RSVP’ed on Facebook while another 33,000 have noted they are “interested”.
- NAMES, HASHTAGS, MEMES, AND TRENDS TO KNOW FROM THIS PAST WEEK -
JUSTIN BIEBER’s massive torso tattoo; #JusticeForJanet; ‘REINHOLD NIEBUHR’; LADY GAGA’s new wax figure
- THIS WEEK IN SPORTS -
- MLB: The HOUSTON ASTROS defeated the New York Yankees 4 games to 3 to win the American League Championship Series. It is the first time since 2005 that the Astros have made it to the World Series; they are seeking their first World Series win in team history.
- MLB: Game 1 of the 2017 World Series held in Los Angeles, California was the hottest game on record, with a recorded temperature of 104 degrees at Dodger Stadium at the start of the game. The previous hottest temperature for a World Series game was recorded in 2001 in Phoenix, Arizona with a game time temp of 94.
- MLB: Game 2 of the 2017 World Series set a new record for the most home runs hit in a World Series game with 8 total home runs hit between the two teams including 3 hit in the 10th inning and 2 more in the 11th inning (prior to the game there had only ever been 17 extra-inning home runs in World Series history).
- WTA: Former world #1 female tennis star MARTINA HINGIS announced she is retiring from the sport. Hingis leaves with 25 total Grand Slam titles to her name.
- AWARDS UPDATE -
- Four collaborative performances have been announced for the upcoming 51st Annual CMA Awards –KELSEA BALLERINI & REBA MCENTIRE, BRAD PAISLEY & KANE BROWN, DIERKS BENTLEY & RASCAL FLATTS, and MAREN MORRIS & NIALL HORAN are scheduled to perform one-of-a-kind musical collaborations on the telecast, which will air live on Wednesday, November 8th at 8pm ET on ABC. Paisley will once again co-host the program alongside fellow country superstar CARRIE UNDERWOOD.
- POLITICS-R-US -
- US: Former President JIMMY CARTER said he is open to working with President DONALD TRUMP to solve the growing tensions between the US and North Korea. Carter has offered his services to go to North Korea and work on negotiations; Trump has yet to respond to Carter’s offer.
- US: Per a 1992 law, files of documents pertaining to the assassination of President JOHN F. KENNEDY have been released. Some of the files; however, were held back from release by President DONALD TRUMP to give federal organizations such as the CIA and FBI a chance to redact any information they deem necessary to withhold from the American public. The redacted files will not be released until April 2018.
- Japan: Prime Minister SHINZO ABE has retained a supermajority following Japan’s snap election and may now push to amend the country’s constitution.
- US: Republican Arizona Senator JEFF FLAKE announced he is not going to seek reelection next year, saying to do so would mean he’d have to compromise on his own principles just to win a primary in the state given former White House advisor STEVE BANNON’s plan to run far-right candidates in primaries against GOP senators and representatives up for reelection next year. Flake, whose approval rating in his state is well below 50%, decided that with his decision he would stand up against current President DONALD TRUMP and voice his feelings about the current administration and his own party’s decision to be complacent about his behavior, taking the senate floor to express to his fellow senators that they are compromising the country for the sake of the party and they would not put up with a Democratic president behaving the way Trump has while in office. Flake is the second Republican Senator to speak out against Trump this year; Tennessee Senator BOB CORKER has also vocalized issues with Trump but also did so only after announcing he would not seek reelection.
- THE BOOK NOOK -
- SAMANTHA GRANT, the half-sister of “Suits” actress MEGHAN MARKLE, has announced her forthcoming memoir is titled, “The Diary of Princess Pushy’s Sister”. Grant claims that while the title is “accurate” it is not “some sort of slamming tell-all”. According to reports, Grant and Markle, who share a father, were born 17 years apart, were never raised in the same house, and by all accounts do not have a relationship. Grant claims the book is more about their family than Markle’s high-profile relationship with UK royal Prince HARRY.
- TECH TALK -
- Wikileaks founder JULIAN ASSANGE confirmed that the data firm used by the campaign to elect DONALD TRUMP approached the site last year to try to obtain Democratic rival candidate HILLARY CLINTON’s emails.
- Twitter has banned Russian media companies Russia Today and Sputnik from advertising on the social network after finding both had “attempted to interfere with the 2016 US general election on behalf of the Russian government” through the site.
MOVIE NEWS:
- Nickelodeon animated series “Dora the Explorer” is reportedly going to get the live-action, feature-length film treatment.
- TOP 5 LAST WEEKEND AT THE U.S. BOX OFFICE (NEW RELEASES IN BOLD) –
- “Geostorm” could lose as much as $100 million -
1. “Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween” – $21.2M
2. “Geostorm” - $13.7M
3. “Happy Death Day” - $9.4M
4. “Blade Runner 2049” - $7.4M
5. “Only the Brave” - $6.0M
- FILMS OPENING THIS WEEKEND (US Releases) -
* Crime/Horror/Mystery/Thriller “Jigsaw” starring MATT PASSMORE and TOBIN BELL
* Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller “Suburbicon” starring MATT DAMON and JULIANNE MOORE
* Biographical War Drama “Thank You for Your Service” starring MILES TELLER and KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES
* Drama “All I See Is You” starring BLAKE LIVELY and JASON CLARKE
- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actress NAOMI WATTS will star in the psychological thriller “The Wolf Hour”.
- Actors SOPHIE OKONEDO, BRIAN GLEESON, and ALISTAIR PETRIE have been added to the cast of the “Hellboy” reboot.
- Actress RENEE ZELLWEGER will portray late actress/singer JUDY GARLAND in the biopic “Judy”, which will center on Garland’s final concerts in London in the late ‘60s.
- Actress KATIE STEVENS will star in the horror thriller “Haunt”.
- Actress OLIVIA MUNN will replace actress ZOE SALDANA in the action thriller “Hummingbird”. Saldana had to pull out of the project due to scheduling conflicts with the “Avatar” sequels.
- Actor TOM HANKS will star in the sci-fi film “Bios”.
TV NEWS:
- A Capella singing group/“The Sing Off” winners PENTATONIX will return to NBC for a new holiday special. The one hour event will feature singer/actress JENNIFER HUDSON, comedian and former “Tonight Show” host JAY LENO, and singing ventriloquist and this year’s “America’s Got Talent” winner DARCI LYNNE FARMER as guests (other guests will be announced at a later date). “A Very Pentatonix Christmas” is set to air on NBC on Monday, November 27th at 10pm ET/PT and re-air on Wednesday, December 6th at 8pm ET/PT.
- CBS has picked up a pilot-production commitment for a reboot of the ‘80s Hawaii-set drama series “Magnum P.I.”.
- The Kardashian family has signed a renewal deal with E! to stay on the channel for 5 more years. The contract covers all Kardashian-related reality programs on the network including flagship series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”.
- ABC announced the network will air “Living Every Day: Luke Bryan”, a special hosted by “Good Morning America” co-anchor ROBIN ROBERTS sharing an intimate look at the life and career of country music superstar LUKE BRYAN. The special will also feature Bryan’s wife Caroline and their children and nephew with a documentary-style look at how Bryan balances family and a career that has his touring the world, preparing the launch of a new album, and taking a seat at the judges’ table on ABC’s reboot of “American Idol”. The pre-CMA Awards special will air on ABC on Monday, November 6th at 10:01pm ET.
- Disney Channel comedy series “Andy Mack” is set to feature the cable network’s first gay main character in the show’s second season.
- ABC drama series “Ten Days in the Valley” will move from Sunday nights to Saturdays as of December 16th due to struggling ratings. The series will air back-to-back episodes on the 16th starting at 9pm and will air one episode on the following two Saturdays at 10pm with a 2-hour season (likely series) finale airing on January 6th at 9pm. ABC will air back-to-back original episodes of reality series “Shark Tank” on Sundays at 9 and 10pm to fill the schedule void for at least 2 weeks beginning October 29th (meaning there will be no “Ten Days in the Valley” until its mid-December shift to Saturday night).
- WHAT’S ON TAP (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR TIME AND STATION NUMBER) –
* “The 2017 MLB World Series” The Los Angeles Dodgers vs The Houston Astros, Fox, Game 3 – Friday, October 28th, 8pm ET; Game 4 – Saturday, October 29th, 8pm ET; Game 5 (if necessary) – Sunday, October 30th, 8pm ET; Game 6 (if necessary) – Tuesday, November 1st, 8pm ET; Game 7 (if necessary) – Wednesday, November 2nd, 8pm ET
- TV CASTING UPDATE -
- Actors BRADLEY WALSH, TOSIN COLE, and MANDIP GILL have been added as series regulars to the cast of BBC/BBC America drama series “Doctor Who”. The trio will play Graham, Ryan, and Yasmin, respectively, all new companions for the latest iteration of the Doctor, to be played by actress JODIE WHITTAKER. Also, actress SHARON D. CLARKE will reportedly have a recurring role in the series.
- Actress BEBE NEUWIRTH has exited the CBS drama series “Madam Secretary”. Actress SARA RAMIERZ has since been announced as a new cast addition to the series.
- Actress KIERSEY CLEMONS is joining the season 4 cast of TBS comedy series “Angie Tribeca” as a series regular.
- TV journalist JEFF GLOR has been named the new permanent anchor of the CBS Evening News.
- Actor VINCENT D’ONOFRIO will return as Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin to Netflix drama series “Daredevil” for the show’s third season.
- Actress OLIVIA COLMAN has been cast to replace actress CLAIRE FOY in the expected third and fourth seasons of Netflix drama series “The Crown” as Queen ELIZABETH II. No word yet on which actor will replace MATT SMITH as Prince PHILIP in the series.
- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS** -
* “Star Trek: Discovery”, CBS All Access, renewed for season 2
* “Ray Donovan”, Showtime, renewed for season 6
* “Preacher”, AMC, renewed for season 3
* “American Vandal”, Netflix, renewed for season 2
- TV CANCELLATIONS AND TRIMMED/NOT EXTENDED SEASON ORDERS** -
* “Barstool Van Talk”, ESPN, cancelled after one episode
* “Zoo”, CBS, cancelled after 3 seasons
MUSIC NEWS:
- Country singer JASON ALDEAN has released his cover of TOM PETTY’s “I Won’t Back Down” as a single to benefit Las Vegas shooting victims. Aldean performed the song the week after the tragic Vegas attack in an appearance on the NBC series “Saturday Night Live”.
- Singer JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE confirmed he will headline the Super Bowl LII Halftime Show.
- Heavy metal band METALLICA, indie rocker DAVE MATTHEWS, and rapper G-EASY are set to headline a concert for wildfire relief in San Francisco next month. The three artists have formed the “Band Together Bay Area” coalition to raise money for victims of the recent wildfires that have ravaged parts of Northern California.
- Hip hop artist DRAKE is the latest artist to forgo submitting his work for Grammy consideration. Drake’s album “More Life” was released during the qualifying time for the 2018 Grammys, but the rapper opted not to submit the album or any of its tracks for the nomination process. Drake is not the first artist to snub the Grammy Awards, last year fellow rappers KENDRICK LAMAR and KANYE WEST opted to pass on submitting their work.
- MUSIC CHARTS – LAST WEEK’S #1 SINGLES AND ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD –
Australia: Song – “Rockstar” by POST MALONE ft. 21 SAVAGE; Album – “Beautiful Trauma” by P!NK
Canada: Song – “Rockstar” by POST MALONE ft. 21 SAVAGE; Album – “Beautiful Trauma” by P!NK
China: Song – “Dear Memories” by WILL PAN
France: Song – “Katchi” by OFENBACH VS. NICK WATERHOUSE
Germany: Song – “Was Du Liebe Nennst” by BAUSA; Album – “Heartbreak Century” by SUNRISE AVENUE
Ireland: Song – “Rockstar” by POST MALONE ft. 21 SAVAGE; Album – “Beautiful Trauma” by P!NK
Japan: Song – “Itsuka Dekiru Kara Kyou” by NOGIZAKA 46
US: Song – “Rockstar” by POST MALONE ft. 21 SAVAGE; Album – “Beautiful Trauma” by P!NK
UK: Song – “Rockstar” by POST MALONE ft. 21 SAVAGE; Album – “Beautiful Trauma” by P!NK
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This week's highlights include the series premeire of "Lanterns"; new seasons of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", "Average Joe", "Love Is Blind UK", and "Conana O'Brien Must Go", the final season of "Outer Banks"; a new cocktail-themed reality competition series; documentaries about Novak Djokovic and the UConn Huskies; "The Run for A Million" horse competition (which might be of...
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I recently heard a great 2007 song the other day, "Falling Slowly" because it popped up in my newsfeed, accompanied by the sad news that the male singer, Glen Hansard, just died in a motorcycle accident. I learned that the song won an award and was featured in an indie movie called Once. I just watched it, and it's really good. They made it in 3 weeks on a $100,000 budget. It's streaming on...
As nice as it is to see Jeff Flake and Bob Corker say what they have regarding Trump, it doesn't mean a hill of beans if they continue to vote for everything Trump wants to go through. Sure the shackles of party loyalty are off them but it's all just rhetoric if your actions don't back up your words and admitting your defeat before you've been defeated only renders you useless in the long run unless you use that last stand you're making to actually try something bold like not vote in lock-step with your party.
Who on Earth thought it was a good idea to let Meghan Markle's half sister write a book as if anyone on the planet cares about who she is or what she has to say about someone she's basically had no relationship with ever in her life and only matters to most people right now because she might just marry a real prince and live out many a girl's childhood fantasy?
Why are the media and members of the GOP more hung up on who paid for that dossier on Trump than they are about the fact that Trump's media people did actually try to get info from WikiLeaks knowing how the site has connections to Russia? Who paid for that dossier doesn't make it any less true (after all, it was first being compiled for a GOP candidate before the Dems got involved) but actually asking Julian Assange to get them stolen emails from Hillary Clinton is a crime, no?
Who ever took a look at Renee Zellweger and thought, "My God she's the spitting image of Judy Garland"? Like, nobody right?? I hope she's going to lip sync at least...
No surprise CBS is rebooting another '80s series... that is what they do best these days.
Ugh 5 more years of the Kardashians, really E!????
I just knew Luke Bryan would end up with a special or two on ABC as soon as I heard he signed on for "American Idol". You know that was part of his deal to get him to sign for what they were willing to offer him.
Disappointed that ABC not only is relegating "10 Days in the Valley" to Saturdays but they can't do it this weekend? Why wait until December and then rush job it over the holidays? I mean, the whole point of putting it on Saturdays instead is because no one watches anything on Saturdays anyway and you're just burning it off, so why can't they just do that now? By December 16th I will likely forget where the show left off... Though I suppose I should just be grateful they're allowing it to play out on tv still and aren't yanking it from the schedule never to be seen again. It should never have been on Sunday nights in the first place, it doesn't make sense with a whole lineup of reality shows before it.
I heard the rumor about Bradley Walsh joining "Doctor Who" a few months ago and it was being dismissed as wholly untrue but now it actually is true. Kind of surprised. Interested to see how they make this new team work... I don't know about the other guy at all but I recall Mandip Gill on "Hollyoaks" where she at first got on my nerves but I eventually warmed to the character. I don't get though why they couldn't just have kept Pearl Mackie and Matt Lucas around for another season instead of make fans adjust to a whole new team on top of a new Doctor and new showrunner and new tone of the show and everything.
"The Crown" fans should be very happy. You can't go wrong with Olivia Colman... I can't think of any better actress to take over for Claire Foy. Colman's brilliant (I wish she were the first female Doctor, to be honest).
Still not sure how I feel about Justin Timberlake doing Super Bowl Half Time. Feels sort of "been there done that" and like he's not really current and fresh (I'm glad though that it isn't Taylor Swift). I'll only really be happy with it if he brings out his former NSYNC bandmates for a little ditty like how Beyoncé brought out the Destiny's Child gals for part of her show. I heard he said something about being "over it" with the group but whatever... he should suck it up for the fans. If he's bringing out any guests it should be them but something tells me we're more likely to see Jimmy Fallon do a history of rap interlude with him than see Joey, Lance, JC, and Chris up there alongside him.
Not sure how I feel about "screaming helplessly at the sky" I can certainly understand the desire to scream, but as far as a statement or a protest, I'm not sure it sends a strong or effective message. I also don't like the idea that those that oppose Trump have nothing they can do but scream helplessly. Maybe I'm taking this way too seriously though.