Pop Culture Buzz

THE CAST OF “SURVIVOR: CHINA”

Ushering in the New Year on CBS are new seasons of “Big Brother” and “Survivor”. The 16th edition of “Survivor” premieres Thursday, Feb. 7. Hosted by Jeff Probst, “Survivor” has won its time period every week this season in viewers and key demographics. This season of “Survivor: China” has been great television. This show has become the most reliable reality show on t.v. other than “American Idol” in ratings (which I think is starting to “jump the shark” creatively).

The first ever winter edition of “Big Brother” premieres Tuesday, Feb. 12 with additional broadcasts on Wednesdays and Sundays. Julie Chen returns as host of the live weekly eviction broadcast. This past summer’s “Big Brother” was a roller coaster ride of over the top drama, surprises and twists.

“Big Brother” just happens to be my favorite reality show on t.v., so a winter addition during the writer’s strike is t.v. heaven for me! The flip side to this flux in more reality shows during the writer’s strike is that a majority of the new shows look like crap. If you have never had a chance to get hooked on “BB” then this winter is your chance to watch the drama unfold!

THE SEASON 8 CAST OF “BIG BROTHER”

Jordin Sparks, the winner of the sixth and most recent season of “American Idol” (who many thought was the most marketable of the shows winners) probably won’t be thrilled when she learns her album has turned out the lowest first week numbers of a debut issued by any of the shows previous winners. Jordin Sparks enters next week’s chart at #10 (the sole new release to crack the top 10) with little more than 119,100 units sold.

Comparatively, season-one victor Kelly Clarkson’s 2003 debut “Thankful” opened at #1 with 297,400 scans, while season two “Idol” Ruben Studdard’s 2003 LP “Soulful” also entered at #1, selling 416,600 units. These numbers have not been able to be duplicated by any “Idol” winner to follow.

America’s third “Idol,” Fantasia Barrino, sold more than 239,000 copies of her 2004 debut “Free Yourself” to bow at #8. While season-four champ Underwood’s 2005 opus “Some Hearts” opened at #2 with sales of 315,000. Her latest album “Carnival Ride” debuted at #1 and has already been certified a hit.

The last man standing at the conclusion of the shows fifth season, the salt-and-pepper-pelted Taylor Hicks, sold more than 298,000 copies of his 2006 eponymous debut to enter the chart at #2. At the time people thought that Hick’s debut was the beginning of the end of the “Idol” craze. As it stands it looks like the joke is actually on Sparks.

Are these the signs of the end of “American Idol”? If the writer’s strike continues this may be the biggest “Idol” yet. But apparently “Idol” viewers doesn’t mean “Idol” buyers. The formula for “Idol” is getting old, Paula Abdul has become a public joke and the talent has become stale. After the whole Sanjaya season I for one am tired of the hoopla surrounding this show.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL STORY POSTED @ SHOCKTILLYOUDROP.COM

Victor Salva is officially on board to write and direct “Jeepers Creepers 3,” the latest installment in MGM’s franchise that he helped to create in 2001 with a superior sequel released in 2003. Both films introduced audiences to The Creeper, an ancient creature that comes out of hibernation for 23 days to feed.

Victor Salva is an American film director, mostly of horror movies. His body of work includes the films “Powder” and “Jeepers Creepers”. His work is often overshadowed by his conviction for sexually molesting a 12-year-old boy in the 80’s. Salva pleaded guilty in 1988 to five felony counts of child sex abuse; he served 15 months of a three-year prison sentence.

Early rumblings on the web say that Salva is committed to overseeing the third chapter himself. Whether it will fly straight-to-DVD or into theaters remains to be seen. Shocktillyoudrop.com also adds that “Jeepers 3″ may pave the way for a television series Salva is discussing with MGM and American Zoetrope (both mainstays in the franchise to date).

“JEEPERS CREEPERS” CREATOR VICTOR SALVA

The initial Jeepers Creepers opened at $13 million, breaking Labor Day weekend box office records at the time. Its follow-up was met with a $15 million bow two years later during a similar holiday release period. Together, the films have pulled in a little over a $100 million, not counting DVD sales.

Shooting will begin on the threequel either before he begins production on or after he completes his new film “Entity”. Salva has stated on several occasions that “Entity” is the closest he will ever get to a sequel to his underated 1995 film “Powder”. He wrote it shortly after “Powder” as part of three films he refers to as his “alien trilogy”.

“Jeepers Creepers 2″ is one of my all time favorite horror films. It has so many homoerotic subliminal messages in it that they are hard to count. “Powder” was a truly sweet picture which was over shadowed by Salva’s legal drama. I am not sure if it is cool to be a fan of a convicted felon or not, but Salva’s films do entertain. If Roman Polanski can get away with his crime, then someone like Salva (who served his time) deserves a second chance in my opinion.

Variety Magazine reports that the two companies are teaming up to bring Galactica’s two-hour season premiere, titled “Razor”, to theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, and Seattle. The screenings will take place on November 12th at 7 P.M., and they’ll be free!!

FROM THE “VARIETY” MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

In the Los Angeles area, four theaters will participate, with each screening the episode twice, beginning at 7 p.m., to accommodate the crowds. The theaters are in Palmdale, Huntington Beach, Orange and Ventura.

“Galactica” moviegoers will have to be 17 and older because the series is rated TV-14, and Microsoft’s role-playing videogame “Mass Effect,” a sponsor of the screenings, is rated mature.

Fans that can’t make it to one of the screenings will still be able to see the unrated version of this episode (which will be released on DVD) ten days after the network cut is shown.

I am so excited to see the new episodes of “Futurama” on Comedy Central in 2008. To hold me over I just read that by the end of 2007 FOX will release an all new direct to DVD feature called “Bender’s Big Score”. I love Bender almost as much as I do Homer.

This show can be subversive, sweet and silly all at once and that is why I love it. The show has always been creative and has terrific animation. If you have not seen this show, you have missed out big time.

If you like “The Family Guy” you will remember that FOX released the “Stewey” movie the same way a couple of years back to coincide with the new episodes. All of this is very exciting news for fans of “Futurama”. Watch one of my favorite clips ever below:

I love this show more than “Family Guy” and at times even more than “The Simspons”. The fact that this show was canceled by FOX and has been off of the air for 4 years is remarkable.

Just like “The Family Guy”, demand by fans has resurrected a brilliant adult comedy that was taken off the air before it’s prime. I think Bender is one the best cartoon characters ever. I am so excited for this cartoon’s return I can hardly contain myself.

Forget Brad and Angelina, Posh and David Beckham are the most beautiful celebrity couple in the world in my opinion. Personally I am pretty excited to get this inside look at the Beckham family next Monday on “Victoria Beckham: Coming to America” on NBC.

Posh seems like a really fun person to make a reality show about and she doesn’t come off as such a Hollywood nut job. Although she can eat a sandwich (the girl is WAY too skinny)! Check out the preview below:

I am in shock after watching this preview of the new Bravo reality show “Hey Paula!”. This has the potential to be as horrible as “Britney & Kevin: Chaotic” and as much as a travesty as “Being Bobby Brown”.

Much like a train wreck I cannot look away from this disaster in the making. Will we finally get some insight into Paula’s drunken, pilled out ways? Or will it just be all about her crappy QVC jewelry collection and nothing more? I am scared to watch.

Finally some good news for the gays! Yes, the homophobic actor has been sacked from his hit t.v. show for his anti-gay remarks made towards fellow cast T.R. Knight member earlier this year. ABC announced it will not be renewing the contract of the troubled actor.

The move was confirmed by two sources with knowledge of the situation, one of whom said, “It was a difficult year and this should come as no surprise to anyone.” Officials at ABC Television Studio, which produces “Grey’s Anatomy,” declined comment.

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore,” Washington said in a statement released through his publicist, Howard Bragman. Ahhh, poor baby. Maybe he should get his ass out of his head and join the 21st century, people need to be accountable for their words. Imus had to, and why not this guy? Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!

I used to get real excited to watch the Miss Universe pageant years ago. It was a campy, over the top production made for gay people, Texans and other countries. It has no redeeming social or pop culture value in the grand scheme of things. I wish I would have watched the show that aired last week because things got wacky for Miss U.S.A.

This years pageant was held in Mexico City, Mexico. If you are familiar with these pageants then you know that the Latin American countries take their pageants really serious. The footage below shows Miss U.S.A. taking a nasty spill during the evening wear portion of the show. No one could have predicted that Miss U.S.A. would get booed when she walked on stage to answer the judges questions moments later. Check out the footage below:

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE AUDIENCE BOO MISS USA AT THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT:

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH MISS U.S.A. SLIP AND FALL AT THIS YEARS MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT:

Rosie O’Donnell has fought her last fight with Elizabeth on ABC’s daytime chat-fest “The View”. ABC said Friday she won’t be back on the show following her angry confrontation with co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck on Wednesday. O’Donnell asked for, and received, an early exit from her contract. She was due to leave “The View” in mid-June.

“Rosie contributed to one of our most exciting and successful years at `The View,’” show creator Barbara Walters said. “I am most appreciative. Our close and affectionate relationship will not change”. In a statement, O’Donnell said she was grateful. “It’s been an amazing year and I love all three women”. I am guessing that includes Hasselbeck.

O’Donell and Hasselbeck had a heated discussion throwing evil stares and catty barbs (Elizabeth bringing up Trump?) on Wednesday over O’Donnell’s opposition to the war in Iraq. It became very awkward and the producers resorted to a split screen as the two fought. O’Donnell released a statement expressing her anger over that decision. They’ve frequently had bitchy political exchanges during O’Donnell’s year on the daytime chat-fest, but never as long and loud as the one posted below:

The only reason “The View” is even relevant these days is because of Rosie O’donell and her honest and loud opinions. Sure she grates on peoples nerves but if it weren’t for her this show would have died a slow death after that train wreck Star Jones left. I will miss Rosie on “The View” for many reasons, but here are my top 3:

#1 - Gay Issues: Rosie has brought gay rights and issues to the forefront of the news media by being vocal about her relationship and family life.
Her gay family cruise has benefited from the publicity and her insights have given a wholesome image to gay families. When the whole “Grey’s Anatomy” thing blew up, Rosie was the only true voice of reason.

#2 - Hot Topics: The “Hot Topics” portion of the show is the best part of “The View”. No subject is ever too taboo or controversial. And many of the over sensationalized moments in entertainment over the past year have come from this segment of the show. Donald Trump anyone? Or how about Rosie talking like an Asian person “Ching, Chong, Ching, Chong” and pissing people off? Rosie even called the demise of Anna Nicole Smith weeks before she passed. What will “The Soup” do now that the best part of the show is leaving? Some think this part of the show is shrill and annoying, to me it’s ripe gossip time.

#3 - Elizabeth Hasselbeck: Who will shut this nasty little wench down when we need her to shut up? One of the best parts about this particular group of 4 ladies is that we get to see Elizabeth put her foot in her mouth, and then watch Rosie tear into her. Who will keep this pest at bay? I wish it was Elizabeth leaving…..sigh.

The rumors are all over the map, who will replace Rosie? Connie Chung, Kathy Lee Gifford and Whoopi Goldberg have been named, but my favorite and the leading contender is Rosanne Barr. I think Rosanne is a natural replacement, she is into gay activism and rights. She is a big girl with a shrewd sense of the American culture and political climate. And lastly, she is hilarious, if you haven’t seen her HBO stand up special from 2006 you need to see it to believe it. Check out the clip of her on “Real Time w/ Bill Maher” below. Her pointed and topical points of view are dead on and a bit over the top. And that is just what “The View” will need once Rosie is gone.

The brilliant animators and creators of “Wallace & Gromit”, “Chicken Run” and “Flushed Away” have had a hit animated t.v. show in the U.K. using their animation technique for a couple of years now. The deal to bring the show over to the states has taken a long time, but finally the show will make it’s American debut this summer. Using American voices the creators animate animals to portray who is being interviewed with hysterical results. I love the dry humor in the British version, so I can only guess what the U.S. version will be like. Check out a clip of the British show below.

This news is absolutely awesome. I love “Futurama” just as much as “The Simpsons”. I think bringing this show back to “Comedy Central’s Adult Swim” is inspired. I continue to watch the re-runs when I can. “Bender” is one of the best cartoon characters ever. If you are fan then this news will tickle you pink. I think the reception will be big and people will watch in droves. Or maybe I am just a cartoon geek with big hopes for one of his favorite shows…..check it out below.

HERE IS THE ARTICLE REGARDING THE RETURN OF “FUTURAMA” FROM IGN.COM:

February 5, 2007 - After the recent TCA panel on The Simpsons, IGN was present as Matt Groening was asked several questions about the upcoming return of his other series, Futurama. Groening explained how Futurama’s revival came about thanks to, “A great run on the Cartoon Network in reruns.” He also added that, “The DVDs sold really well, and we followed the model of Family Guy, which was also cancelled by FOX, and then the DVDs sold so well, they brought it back.”

As to whether reassembling his old collaborators on the show was difficult, Groening said, “No, everybody had such a good time on Futurama, that we got everyone back. The entire cast. The same animation house, Rough Draft. The same writers. And it’s really been fun

I thought J.P. was a douche bag and deserved to be kicked off of “Survivor” when he did. That said, he was so easy to look at. He was easily the best looking male on the show that season. If you remember he was in the latino camp when “Survivor” decided to play “racist island”. Now J.P. has started a modelling career with Janice Dickenson. I hate the fact that I watch “Janice Dickenson Modelling Agency” on the Oh! channel. It is gay drama at its best. J.P. recently had to come out of the closet on her show to be on the cover of “Instinct” magazine. He came off as a much better person on this show than his last appearance on t.v. Here are some pics of J.P. below, enjoy.