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:

- Disgraced former film/tv producer HARVEY WEINSTEIN will not face a fourth trial in New York City on rape charges after the accuser in question decided she did not wish to go through testifying for a fourth time. District Attorney ALVIN BRAGG shared that in accordance with his office’s survivor-centered approach to prosecutions they would not retry the remaining count of rape in the third degree. Weinstein is still serving time for a felony conviction for violently sexually assaulting another victim and for additional sex crimes in Los Angeles.

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

D.C. Reflecting Pool algae infestation; Scotland’s ‘Tartan Army’ FIFA fans takeover Boston and Miami; European heatwave; Venezuelan earthquakes

GOVERNMENT 101 -

- UK: Prime Minister KEIR STARMER announced he is resigning from his position after two years in the role. Starmer will step down both as prime minister and as the leader of the Labour Party no later than September; the Labour Party will begin its process to elect a new party leader, who would then become Prime Minister, on July 9^th. Newly re-elected Labour MP ANDY BURNHAM, who just won a bi-election to return to parliament a few weeks ago after previously leaving Parliament to serve as mayor of Manchester, is widely believed to Starmer’s likely successor – if he is not challenged, then he could be selected to replace Starmer in July. Starmer’s announcement came just days ahead of the ten-year anniversary of the Brexit vote; Starmer is the sixth person to hold the prime minister position in the UK since the vote (including former Prime Minister DAVID CAMERON, who was in the positon when the vote was held and resigned shortly after the results of the vote).

ON BROADWAY/ THE WEST END -

- A musical adaptation of the 1965 SOL YURICK novel (and subsequent 1979 cult classic film) “Warriors” will head to Broadway next spring. The musical, which is co-written by LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, will begin previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in March 2027.

- New Broadway revivals of the musical “The Sound of Music” and AARON SORKIN’s play adaptation of “A Few Good Men” will be staged by the Lincoln Center Theatre for its 2026-2027 season. Broadway actress JASMINE AMY ROGERS will star in the staging of “The Sound of Music” next spring, while actors BRADLEY WHITFORD and TOM BLYTH will star in the staging of “A Few Good Men” this fall. In addition to the Broadway offerings, the Lincoln Center Theatre will also stage several off-Broadway productions including a revival of AUGUST WILSON’s “Seven Guitars” and the American premiere of “Playing Burton”, a play about late legendary actor RICHARD BURTON, which will star actor MATTHEW RHYS as Burton.

- Actors DAVID CORENSWET, FRANCOIS ARNAUD, and YVONNE STRAHOVSKI will costar in the Broadway revival of the RICHARD GREENBERG play “Three Days Rain”. The play will begin performances in February 2027 at a Shubert Theatre to be announced.

MOVIE NEWS:

- Lionsgate announced it will release a remake of the supernatural thriller “The Blair Witch Project” in 2027. The film is being referred to as a “new vision” that will “reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation”. The remake of “The Blair Witch Project” has been slated for a September 24, 2027 release.

- Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation announced they have greenlit a “Shrek” spinoff feature film focusing on the EDDIE MURPHY-voiced Donkey. “Donkey”, which will tell the adventure-seeking character’s origin story, is set for a June 30, 2028 theatrical release.

- 20^th Century Studios’ “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, starring MERYL STREEP and ANNE HATHAWAY, will begin streaming on Disney+ and Hulu on July 29^th.

- A24’s “The Drama”, starring ROBERT PATTINSON and ZENDAYA, will make its streaming debut on HBO Max on July 31^st before making its linear debut on HBO on August 1^st.

TV NEWS:

- The CW announced it will serve as the exclusive broadcast home of the 2026 Miss Teen USA competition, which will air live on August 26^th, and the Miss USA 75^th Diamond Celebration, which will air live on August 27^th. Both specials will air at 8pm.

- NBC announced its premiere dates for the fall season, which officially kicks off September 9^th with the NFL Kickoff Game followed four nights later by “Sunday Night Football”. The following Monday the network will air the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards. The network’s entertainment lineup rolls out on September 17^th with the premiere of reality competition series “The Traitors: New Blood”. September will also see the start of the 30^th season of “The Voice” and the debut of the PETER KRAUSE-starring drama “Line of Fire”. Additional fall season NBC shows will roll out in October and November. For a complete list of NBC 2026 fall premiere dates, check out the following link: https://www.tvline.com/2200902/nbc-2026-fall-premiere-dates-chicago-fire-law-and-order-svu-the-voice-full-schedule/

- TV CASTING UPDATE –

- “SportsCenter” anchor LINDA COHN announce she is retiring from ESPN after 34 years with the network. Cohn holds the record for hosting the most episodes of “SportsCenter” with over 5,500 episodes under her belt. Her last airdate will be June 30^th.

- Actor RON PERLMAN has been added to the season 3 cast of Amazon Prime Video drama series “Cross”. Perlman will recur as Officer Herschel Zamora.

- Actor/tv host TERRY CREWS has been tapped to host NBC’s “Macy’s 4^th of July Fireworks” special airing live on July 4^th on NBC and streaming on Peacock from 8-10pm ET/PT.

- Actor BEN FELDMAN has been upped to series regular for season 6 of CBS comedy series “Ghosts”. Feldman has guest starred as Kyle for the past two seasons.

- Fox News senior meteorologist JANICE DEAN, a regular on the Fox News’ series “Fox & Friends”, announced she is stepping away from her role, citing health reasons. Dean has been with the network for more than 22 years.

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “The Americas”, NBC, renewed for season 2

* “Dutton Ranch”, Paramount+, renewed for season 2

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

* “Kevin”, Amazon Prime Video, cancelled after one season

* “Ponies”, Peacock, cancelled after one season

MUSIC NEWS:

- Pop singer OLIVIA RODRIGO announced she has set up a charitable music festival that will feature an all-female lineup who have all agreed to play for free. Daisy Chain Fields music festival will feature such artists as CHAPPELL ROAN, GARBAGE, DOECHII, RACHEL CHINOURIRI, THE BREEDERS, SANTIGOLD, SARAH MCLACHLAN, STEVIE NICKS, KAREN O., KATSEYE, and Rodrigo. The festival listed Baby2Baby, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Center for Reproductive Rights, FreeFrom, and Planned Parenthood among the numerous charities that will benefit from the festival’s proceeds. Daisy Chain Fields will take place on August 29^th at the Great Park in Irvine, California.

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

Australia/ Ireland/ New Zealand: “Stupid Song” by OLIVIA RODRIGO

Canada: “Choosin’ Texas” by ELLA LANGLEY

France: “Pile” by MAUVAIS DJO

Greece: “Adam & Eve” by LIGHT & NOIZY

Hong Kong: “Jimo Yuanwu” by KEUNG TO

Japan: “Lonesome Rabbit” by SAKURAZAKA 46

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

Sweden: “Det Ligger Nat I Luften” by BOLAGET

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

Australia/ Canada/ Ireland/ Italy/ UK/ US: “You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love” by OLIVIA RODRIGO

Greece: “11 Me Liga Logia” by NIKOS OIKONOMOPOULOS