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:

- New Jersey entertainment and retail center American Dream are teaming up with the creative team behind horror franchise “Five Nights at Freddy’s” to open a real-life Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza location in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 2027. The pizzeria will be a quick-service dining experience where fans can eat, play arcade games, watch an animatronic show, and participate in survival horror multiplayer game experiences; the immersive restaurant experience will feature two animatronic stage shows: the main stage with Freddy and the Fazbear Band and the Pirate Cove with Foxy the Pirate.

- JACKIE, the bald eagle from Southern California who became an internet sensation thanks to a Big Bear webcam, passed away after several weeks in intensive care. A webcam positioned near a nest high above the mountain community of Big Bear that was occupied by Jackie and her partner Shadow drew viewers from around the world for the past decade, who watched Jackie’s arrival in the nest, the death of an earlier set of eaglets, Shadow’s aggressively kicking out Jackie’s earlier partner, the hatching of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets Sandy and Luna in April (both have since flown the nest). Jackie was found grounded in July after a fight with younger eagles and may have already been ill; she had also been suffering from anemia at that point. Jackie was estimated to be about 14 years old.

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

Man living in a Netflix billboard; AMANDA KNOX stand-up comedy controversy; solar eclipse; Trump decoy flight; Colombian earthquake                

GOVERNMENT 101 -

- US: A federal appellate court ruled that President DONALD TRUMP must get congressional approval to continue building his massive new ballroom planned to replace the East Wing of the White House, which Trump already demolished without prior approval. The court ruled in a 2-1 decision that each president is a “temporary tenant” of the residence and not the owner and thus “the president has no – and claims no – constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people”; the court’s decision ordered that construction on the ballroom must cease except for those parts of the structure for safety and security. The judges did allow for Trump’s team to have 14 days to seek Supreme Court review, which Trump vowed to do.

- US: White House Press Secretary KAROLINE LEAVITT, the youngest person to ever hold the role, announced she will be resigning from the post at the end of the month. Leavitt recently returned from taking a brief leave for the birth of her second child. She previously served as a press aide in Trump’s first administration and had been one of the most visible advocates of his “Make America Great Again” movement.

- US: The Kennedy Center board – comprised primarily of supporters of President DONALD TRUMP – voted to return Trump’s name to the front of the complex despite a federal judge previously ruling that only Congress has the power to change the official designation of the arts institution per law. While the board’s previous decision to add Trump’s name to the building, calling it “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts”, was ruled against by a federal court, this time the board decided to add it in a phrase below the center’s official name that will say “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump”. The board also voted to rename the physical site “the President Donald J. Trump Plaza”. The board also approved a plan to shutter the main complex for said renovations but will keep a newer extension called The Reach open to offer limited programming and serve as a memorial to the late President Kennedy. The board must submit its actions for closure to the same US district court judge for approval.

MOVIE NEWS:

- Director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’s filmed-for-IMAX epic “The Odyssey” is the fifth film to cross the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office this year, having notched $1.008 billion as of August 7^th. The film passed “The Dark Knight Rises” to be the highest-grossing film of Nolan’s career and also is IMAX’s highest-grossing release of all time with $289 million, besting 2009’s “Avatar” which earned $271 million (not adjusted for inflation). The film is the second-biggest movie of the year behind “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (which has earned $167 billion worldwide in two weeks of release) and is currently the second-highest grossing R-rated release of all time, following 2024’s “Deadpool and Wolverine” (which earned $1.3 billion worldwide).

- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actress JULIE ANDREWS reiterated that if the long-gestating third installment of “The Princess Diaries” does move forward, she will not return to reprise the role of Queen Clarisse Renaldi. The 90 year-old, who has essentially retired from on-screen acting, noted that “the story has to continue in Princess Mia”.

- Actor ALDEN EHRENREICH has joined MICHAEL B. JORDAN and AUSTIN BUTLER in the cast of “Miami Vice ‘85”, Universal’s latest film revival of the former ‘80s tv series. While Ehrenreich’s role is being kept under wraps at this time, the film is known to be based on the pilot episode of the series that established the partnership between Sonny Crocket and Rico Tubbs (Butler and Jordan’s respective characters in the film) as they take on drug lords and other criminals in Miami so it is possible Ehrenreich will portray one of those criminals.

TV NEWS:

- CBS reality competition series “Big Brother” will air its 1,000^th episode later this month. The 90-minute episode will include “surprise appearances from former houseguests determined by interactive fan votes” and will also look back on some of the most memorable moments from the show’s 26-year run. The episode also promises to “kick off the biggest twist of the summer” and “shift into overdrive with the BB Blockbuster and a live eviction”. The historic “Big Brother” episode will air on CBS on August 27^th at 8pm.

- NBC will salute actress MARISKA HARGITAY ahead of her Emmys hosting gig with a three-hour “Law & Order: SVU” mini-marathon on September 10^th. The three episodes chosen all showcase her Emmy-winning and nominated performances as Olivia Benson. The series returns for its 28^th season on October 8^th at 9pm.

- ABC and NBC will combine to air 90 NBA games during the 2026-27 season, an increase of 14% from last year.

- TV CASTING UPDATE –

- Actor BORIS KODJOE is joining the season 2 cast of Fox drama series “Memory of a Killer” in a recurring role.

- Actor NICHOLAS HOULT will play Gilderoy Lockhart in season 2 of HBO drama series adaptation “Harry Potter”.

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “S.W.A.T. Exiles”, Starz, renewed for season 2 ahead of season 1 premiere

MUSIC NEWS:

- Country singer ELLA LANGLEY’s hit single “Choosin’ Texas” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts for a record 17^th week, a new record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 for a non-holiday title by a female artist (previously held by MARIAH CAREY for “One Sweet Day”, her duet with BOYZ II MEN”). Two weeks ago the single surpassed Carey’s “We Belong Together” and WHITNEY HOUSTON’s “I Will Always Love You” for the most weeks at No. 1 among non-holiday titled by a female artist with no male-billed acts. (The overall record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 belongs to Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, which has spent 22 non-consecutive weeks and counting in the top spot).

- Scottish singer ROD STEWART cancelled the remaining month of his farewell tour dates, including an upcoming Las Vegas residency stint, after undergoing a coronary stent procedure. While Stewart’s social media posts suggest he is recovering well and has already resumed normal daily activities, he is heeding advice from his doctors that he take the next four weeks to recuperate and “regain full fitness” before returning to the stage, forcing him to cancel the scheduled tour dates. No word on whether Stewart intends to make up the dates or not.

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

Greece: “Aurio” by SNIK

Hong Kong: “Jimo Yuanwu” by KEUNG TO

Japan: “Soda Soda” by TWS

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

Australia/ Canada/ Ireland/ Italy/ UK/ US: “Petal” by ARIANA GRANDE