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:

- Fashion designer JOHN GALLIANO has been selected for a career-spanning exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 2027.  The coveted spotlight in the Met’s Costume Institute – the exhibition that serves as the centerpiece for the annual Met Gala – has only highlighted a living designer with a solo exhibition twice before (YVES SAINT LAURENT in 1983 and REI KAWAKUBO in 2017).

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

NANCY GUTHRIE ransom notes published; ARIANA GRANDE's “visibility break”/weight concerns; DONNA MILLS joins Only Fans; limited-edition movie theater popcorn buckets; PEREZ HILTON disturbing TikTok livestream self-harm incident

THIS PAST WEEK IN SPORTS -

- Soccer: FIFA dropped a controversial plan to sell off a stake in the World Cup to private investors one day after several organizations across the world that oversee teams that would compete in FIFA events threatened to boycott their events over the proposed deal. FIFA President GIANNI INFANTINO stated it had “become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”

GOVERNMENT 101 -

- US: The Federal Communications Commission removed a key constraint on broadcasters’ ability to consolidate stations in a 2-1 vote that repeals the ownership cap that was put in place to try to limit the power of any one media company. The restriction had limited companies from owning stations reaching more than 39% of tv households; the removal of the constraint by the FCC will likely face court challenges since only Congress has the authority to remove the restriction.

MOVIE NEWS:

- Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”, the fourth installment in the superhero franchise starring TOM HOLLAND and ZENDAYA, broke box office records in its opening weekend, earning a staggering $72 million from Thursday previews, setting a new record for a previews sum, topping the $60 million “Avengers: Endgame” earned in previews in 2019. The film earned an astounding $168 million on Friday, the biggest opening day for a domestic release, besting the record that also was previously held by “Avengers: Endgame” (which earned $157 million on its first  day in theaters) and earned the highest opening weekend in domestic box office history with $360 million (topping the $357 million opening weekend for “Endgame”). This past weekend was the biggest collective weekend in box office history, with roughly $430 million earned across all movies in the marketplace thanks to the impressive, record-breaking opening for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” still strong three weeks after its release (“The Odyssey” also stars Holland and Zendaya, making the pair two of the most bankable stars in Hollywood right now). Globally, “Brand New Day” earned a whopping $927 million in just three days, making it the second-largest worldwide debut of all time (behind the aforementioned “Avengers: Endgame” which took in $1.2 billion globally its first weekend). “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is the second fastest movie to reach the $1 billion mark at the global box office, reaching the figure in six days (“Avengers: Endgame” earned $1.22 billion in its first five days in 2019).

- Plans for a sequel to Warner Bros.’ 2023 hit “Barbie” have hit a snag after Warner Bros. Discovery CEO DAVID ZASLAV balked at giving the film’s stars, MARGOT ROBBIE and RYAN GOSLING,  pay raises and profit participation for the second film. The original film’s director/co-screenwriter GRETA GERWIG and her husband and co-screenwriter NOAH BAUMBACH reportedly have an idea for a sequel but won’t share the concept with the studio until the deals are complete and there is a deadline on that – deals must be in place by December or else the rights to the “Barbie” IP will revert back to Mattel, which would mean the company would then have to redevelop the IP for a new movie (meaning, a new filmmaker, new cast, and new concept).

- The concert film “Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live)”, directed by JAMES CAMERON, will begin streaming on Paramount+ on August 6^th.

- MOVIE CASTING UPDATE -
- Actress SAMARA WEAVING has been cast to play Emma Frost in Marvel Studios’ reboot of “The X-Men”. In comic book lore, telepathic Emma Frost moved from supervillain to superhero over the course of her long run in print; it is unclear whether the new film will use the character hero or villain.

TV NEWS:

- NBC late night variety talk series “Late Night with Seth Meyers” will be taking the remainder of the summer off starting this week, marking the first time in the 44-year history of the “Late Night” franchise that the network’s 12:35am broadcast will go into repeats for seven consecutive weeks. Host SETH MEYERS and co. will return when season 14 of the show premieres on September 21^st.

- NBC announced it is starting production on a new celebrity spinoff of reality competition series “The Voice” that will serve as the show’s 31^st season. “The Voice: Celebrity” will see a wide range of celebrities compete to become the first “Voice” celebrity champion. Music artists JOE JONAS, QUEEN LATIFAH, and RILEY GREEN will serve as coaches on the celebrity season (Queen Latifah and Riley Green will debut as coaches in season 30 airing this fall; it will be the first season Jonas will serve as a coach) and actress/singer/host KEKE PALMER will take on hosting duties for the special season, which will air sometime in 2027.

- TV CASTING UPDATE –

- “John Oliver Tonight” host JOHN OLIVER has extended his contract with HBO through the end of 2027.

- Actor DERMOT MULRONEY will exit NBC drama series “Chicago Fire” in the upcoming 15^th season. Mulroney, who has played Chief Dom Pascal since season 13, will wrap up his storyline early in the season before departing; no word on how many episodes he will appear in before his exit. 

- TV RENEWALS* AND PICKUPS/EXTENSIONS** -

* “The Artful Dodger”, Hulu/Disney+, renewed for third and final season

* “The Five Star Weekend”, Peacock, renewed for season 2

MUSIC NEWS:

- British musician SAM FENDER and British singer OLIVIA DEAN have made history in the UK with their duet “Rein Me In” officially setting a new chart record as the longest-running No. 1 ever on the UK Official Charts, at 19 weeks and counting. Fender and Dean bested former record holder FRANKIE LANE, who held the record for over 70 years with his 1953 hit “I Believe”, which spent 18 weeks atop the chart.

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

Hong Kong: “Less Than a Lover” by JENNIE

Japan: “Kienai Hanabi” by TIMELESZ

South Korea: “Swim” by BTS

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

Australia/ UK: “Music, Fashion, Film” by CHARLIE XCX

Canada: “Dandelion” by ELLA LANGLEY

Greece: “Confessions II” by MADONNA

Italy: “Tutto E Possibile” by GEOLIER

US: “I’m The Problem” by GRACIE MORGAN WALLEN