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:

- Business mogul ELON MUSK became the world’s first trillionaire after his company SpaceX went public on Friday, causing his net worth to surge. Shares in the stock opened on the NASDAQ at $150 and was up 18% nearing the closing bell. Musk’s current net worth - which includes combined stakes in the rocket and satellite company and also automaker Tesla (which is also publicly traded) – is a reported $1.2 trillion. SpaceX’s assets include satellite internet business Starlink, social media platform X, and AI startup xAI (home to the chatbot Grok).

- The US Justice Department cleared the way for Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion deal to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, a key approval that removes a major regulatory hurdle for completing the merger. The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division suggested the acquisition will “increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem” and also claimed that “markets of streaming, linear tv and development, production and distribution of films for theatrical release will not be harmed”. The decision, which does not appear to require any divestitures, behavioral remedies, or concessions, clears the way for Paramount to become the largest theatrical distributor in the country and own a top five streamer unless the merger is stopped by another entity (such as state attorneys general, the FCC, the European Union, and/or consumers); at least one lawsuit to try to stop the acquisition is being prepared to be filed by the California attorney general with seven other states in talks to join that suit. Authorities in several other countries including Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Germany, France, and New Zealand have also cleared the merger.

- Fox Corp. announced plans to acquire Roku for $22 billion. The deal would combine Fox’s broadcast network and stations, including Fox News and Fox Sports, and the Tubi streaming service with Roku’s connected tv platform, the Roku Channel, and its more than 100 million global streaming households. Fox Corp. (under its earlier incarnation as 21^st Century Fox) had previously been an investor in Roku but sold its 5% stakes in the company in 2020 when it bought Tubi.

- NAMES, HASHTAGS, MEMES, AND TRENDS FROM THIS PAST WEEK –

ALEXI LALAS’ on-air JAMES CORDEN ‘full kit wanker’ jab; BILL RITTER; UFC fighter’s MICHELLE OBAMA jab; TOM HOLLAND and ZENDAYA marriage confirmed

THIS PAST WEEK IN SPORTS -

- NBA: The NEW YORK KNICKS defeated the SAN ANTONIO SPURS four games to one to win the NBA Championship. It is the third NBA championship in Knicks franchise history and first since 1973. Over the course of the playoffs, the Knicks tied for the second-longest playoff win streak with 13 straight wins (their only loss was game 3 of the Finals) and the team set a record in game 4 of the finals for the greatest comeback in finals history, coming back from a 29-point deficit to win in the last seconds of the game. Team captain JALEN BRUNSON tied MICHAEL JORDAN for the most points in a finals game on the road with 45 points scored in the championship-winning game 5; Brunson was named the NBA Finals MVP.

- NHL: The CAROLINA HURRICANES bested the VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS four games to two to win the Stanley Cup. It’s the franchise’s second NHL championship, having previously won in 2006.

AWARDS UPDATE -

- The Grammy Awards: The Recording Academy announced five new categories and changes to its rules and eligibility for the Grammys that will go into effect for next year’s ceremony. The new categories are Best Latin Song, Best Asian Pop Music Performance, Best R&B Collaboration for Duo/Group Performance, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Traditional Folk Album. As a result of these added categories, the academy clarified that the Best Folk Album category will now be dedicated to contemporary folk and the existed R&B category will now be renamed to focus on solo performances. Additionally, the eligibility criteria for the number of times a performer can be submitted for Best New Artist has been increased from three to four and the threshold of new recordings required on an album eligible for a Grammy has been reduced from 75% to 66% to reflect how singles are now released across longer timelines. Awards will now also better recognize songwriters and composers across most genre album categories and digital-only albums will now be eligible for two additional categories – Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album.

GOVERNMENT 101 -

- UK: The UK passed legislation banning anyone under 16 years of age from using 10 social media platforms including X, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat, following a similar law that was enacted in Australia earlier this year.

- US/Iran: US President DONALD TRUMP signed an agreement with Iran to end hostilities between the countries for a period of 60 days, during which time further negotiations will take place to hammer out a deal regarding Iran's nuclear program. The new agreement reopens the Strait of Hormuz, requiring the US to end its blockade and for Iran to remove mines it allegedly put in the strait, and reportedly would give Iran access to a multi-billion dollar fund allegedly supplied by neighboring gulf countries to help rebuild damaged infrastructure in the country. The deal does not address Iran's funding of terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is curently embroiled in a war with Israel, who had been engaging in the fighting with the US against Iran, nor does it force a ceasefire between the two. Trump has been criticized from both sides of the aisle for agreeing to this arrangement, with many critizing the deal for being weaker than the anti-nuclear deal Iran agreed to with the Obama Administration that Trump tore up in his first term and many suggesting that the deal gives into all of Iran's demands to end the war while accomplishing little to nothing that Trump insisted starting a war with Iran was meant to accomplish. A meeting between both sides to start further negotiations that had been scheduled to occur on the 19th in Switzerland that US Vice President JD VANCE was scheduled to attend was cancelled leaving many to wonder whether Iran will negotiate further in good faith or if this deal just "kicks the can down the road" but will not result in any actual finalized deal to occur. 

ON BROADWAY/ THE WEST END -

- Actor BILLY CRYSTAL’s new one-man show “860” will begin a limited 14-week engagement at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway, with previews starting on October 1^st and an official opening night set for October 21^st. The show will run through January 3, 2027.

- “Paddington: The Musical”, the seven-time Olivier Award winning musical based on the beloved children’s book character, is set to make its debut on Broadway next year. The musical, which is still scheduled for performances in London’s West End through February 2028, is based on “A Bear Called Paddington” by MICHAEL BOND and features music and lyrics by TOM FLETCHER from the British band MCFLY. “Paddington: The Musical” is set to begin previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on March 30, 2027; It will officially open on April 18, 2027.

- The Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End is set to be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre in honor of the veteran actress’ “unparalleled contribution to British theatre and the performing arts”. The name switch will happen in February 2027.

MOVIE NEWS:

- “Michael”, the musical biopic about late King of Pop MICHAEL JACKSON, has surpassed “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the biopic about late Queen frontman FREDDIE MERCURY, as the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, grossing over $911.9 million worldwide since its release earlier this year.

- Director RON HOWARD confirmed he is working on an as-yet-untitled sequel to the 2000 live-action adaptation holiday classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for Universal Pictures. Actor JIM CARREY, who starred in the film as the Grinch, is in talks to reprise the role. The sequel’s plot is currently being kept under wraps.

- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actress JENNIFER LAWRENCE will star in the romantic comedy “One Month Mark” for Apple Original Films.

- Actress ANYA TAYLOR-JOY has been added to the cast of the ANDY SERKIS-directed “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” as Seren, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm.

- Actor BRADLEY COOPER is set to star in an as-yet-untitled film set amid the events of the January 6^th Capitol riot. The film’s script was written by actor SEAN PENN, who will also direct the film.

- Actor JEFF DANIELS will star opposite actor BRENDAN FRASER in the sci-fi thriller “Starman” from filmmaker JOSH WAKELY.

- Actors CHRIS ELLIOTT, MICHAEL IAN BLACK, SARA TOMKO, OLIVER COOPER, and JAMES DUVAL will costar in the indie mystery “Bad Day for Bigfoot”, the sophomore feature from filmmakers ZACH GREEN and DEVIN O’ROURKE.

- Actors KATE HUDSON and ANA DE ARMAS are set to costar in the erotic thriller “Palm Grove”.

TV NEWS:

- Disney announced its 2026 animated Christmas special will take inspiration from the 1990 live-action MACAULAY CULKIN-starrer “Home Alone”. “Mickey’s Home Alone” will see Mickey looking forward to spending Christmas at home but have his plans take a turn when Minnie surprises him and the gang with tickets to spend the holiday at a world-famous Ice Palace. In a rush to get out the door, Mickey and Pluto are left behind, later finding themselves needing to protect their home from two feisty villains after their Christmas dinner, while Minnie and the gang try to make their way back home. “Mickey’s Home Alone” will debut in the 2026 holiday season on Disney Junior and Disney+.

- NBC and Macy’s announced details for the “50^th Macy’s 4^th of July Fireworks” special. The special will feature performances from NOAH KAHAN, POST MALONE, SALT-N-PEPA, BEBE REXHA, SHABOOZEY, and BLAKE SHELTON ahead of the fireworks display, which will feature a 27-minute score produced by Grammy-winning composer JASON HOWLAND and a live performance from “The Voice” season 29 winner ALEXIA JAYY. The expanded show will also feature never-before-seen effects including a laser show from the Brooklyn Bridge. The “50^th Macy’s 4^th of July Fireworks” special telecast will air live on NBC on July 4^th from 8pm to 10pm ET/PT with a simulcast on Peacock and Telemundo.

- NBC revealed the civilian version of Peacock reality competition series “The Traitors” has officially been dubbed “The Traitors: New Blood”. Actor ALAN CUMMING, who hosts the celeb-filled Peacock version, will also host the NBC spinoff. “The Traitors: New Blood” will premiere on NBC on September 17^th at 8pm ET/PT with a two-hour episode.

- TV CASTING UPDATE –

- Reality star WEST WILSON is leaving Bravo reality series “Summer House” after three seasons.

- Actors DAVID TENNANT, JODIE WHITTAKER, NICOLA COUGHLAN, RICHARD AYOADE, JENNIFER SAUNDERS, SIMONE ASHLEY, SHARON HORGAN, MARTIN FREEMAN, GERI HALLIWELL-HORNER, JANE HORROCKS, DEREK JACOBI, LESLEY NICOL, and JIM BROADBENT are among several actors that have been added to the season 6 cast of Hulu comedy series “Only Murders in the Building” in recurring roles.

- Actress MIRIAM SHOR has been added to the season 2 cast of AMC drama series “The Audacity” as FBI agent Randy Flemming.

- JIMMY KIMMEL announced on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that his right-hand man on the series, GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ, will compete on the season 35 of ABC reality competition series “Dancing with the Stars”. Rodriguez is the fourth contestant announced for the season 35 cast, joining previously announced “The Traitors”/”Love Island” star MAURA HIGGINS, “Summer House” star CIARA MILLER, and Savannah Bananas player JACKSON OLSON. The full cast of celebrities and pro dancers will be announced September 2^nd.

- Former model/tv host TYRA BANKS is joining season 22 of Freeform reality competition series “Project Runway” as a recurring judge alongside returning judges NINA GARCIA, LAW ROACH, and host HEIDI KLUM.

- Actors MANNY JACINTO, EMILY MORTIMER, and THOMASIN MCKENZIE have been added to the season 3 cast of Amazon Prime Video drama series “Fallout” in recurring roles.

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “Bloodaxe”, Amazon Prime Video, renewed for season 2

* “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy”, Apple TV, renewed for season 4

* “Rivals”, Disney+, renewed for season 3

* “The Four Seasons”, Netflix, renewed for season 3

* “Funny AF With Kevin Hart”, Netflix, renewed for season 2

* “House of Guinness”, Netflix, renewed for season 2

* “Life of Fire”, Outdoor Channel, renewed for season 3

- TV CANCELLATIONS* AND TRIMMED/NOT-EXTENDED SEASONS** -

* “The Boroughs”, Netflix, cancelled after one season

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 SINGLES AROUND THE WORLD –

Australia/ Canada/ UK/ US: “I Knew It, I Knew You” by TAYLOR SWIFT

Germany: “Killy Manjaro” by SUMMER CEM & BILLA JOE

Greece: “Paloma” by RACK

Malaysia: “Hate That I Made You Love Me” by ARIANA GRANDE

- LAST WEEK’S NEW #1 ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD –

Australia/ Ireland/ UK: “Dinner Party” by NIALL HORAN

Greece: “Greatest Hits” by TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS