Tag: Pop Culture Roundup

Pop Culture Roundup for Late October 2011

Below are links to some of the latest pop culture stories you might have missed. . .

Halloween

Prince Charles
The new Dracula costume?

The Chicago Tribune‘s listed the top 25 scariest movies for Halloween.

Batty? Prince Charles claims he is related to Dracula.

Salon is featuring a slide show of the top ten Halloween special moments from The Simpsons.

Zombies rise again in pop culture. Wait, what’s that at my door. . . arrrrrr.. . .


Literature

Renovation of Edgar Allen Poe’s cottage in the Bronx, where he wrote “Cask of Amontillado,” is almost finished.

Did you know the original Pinocchio is a tragedy that ends with Pinocchio’s execution?


Movies

The Guinness Book of World Records named Samuel L. Jackson as highest grossing actor of all time. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness.

“He’s brought the theater of the absurd to the masses.”- Jack Black on Will Ferrell receiving Mark Twain Prize.

Check out this review of new documentary about the band The Swell Season, which features Once stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Tim Burton has designed a balloon for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

A new biography delves into the life and career of Spencer Tracy.

The Princess Bride cast reunited for a recent photo shoot.

Washington Cougars Clock
Betty White is now a Cougar.

Television

Betty White received an honorary doctorate degree from Washington State Univ. She’s a Cougar now.

Survivor’s Rupert Boneham is running for governor of Indiana.

Music

U2 revisits Achtung Baby while pondering the band’s future.

Listen to Tom Waits’s new album, Bad as Me on the NPR website.

“I love to be in a barbershop where I know I don’t have to get a haircut.” — Tom Waits in interview about new CD.

The Flaming Lips will pay tribute to Steve Jobs by playing “Revolution” by the Beatles at the O Music Awards.

One writer gave a nice appreciation of Extreme’s “More Than Words” . . . with words. (from Popdose)

If you are a fan of Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music, you should check out this person’s blog.

Folk-singer Pete Seeger enters his ninth decade as an activist.

The iPod turns 10 this month. How has it changed music?


What are your favorite pop culture stories this month? Leave your two cents in the comments section.

  • Mississippi John Hurt: “Lonesome Valley”
  • The Heroic Death of Folksinger Victor Jara
  • Springsteen and Hansard “Drive All Night”
  • Bono and Glen Hansard: The Auld Triangle
  • ‘Fairytale of New York’ at Shane MacGowan’s funeral
  • Trini Lopez: Hammerin’ Out Danger

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    October Pop Culture Roundup

    In case you might have missed some of the recent stories in popular culture, check out the following links from around the Internet:

    In TV-related news . . .

    – Conan O’Brien returned to NBC to pick up Triumph the Insult Comic Dog on Jimmy Fallon’s show.

    Homer Simpson Halloween Mask

    – “Woo Hoo! I outlasted Andy Rooney!” — Homer Simpson, in Fox statement announcing The Simpsons has been renewed.

    – Sorry Homer, the #1 choice for Halloween costume is. . . Charlie Sheen.

    In Music news. . .

    – Bids may go “high.” Willie Nelson’s tour bus is for sale.

    – Coldplay will stream a live concert on YouTube on Oct. 26 (4 p.m. ET).

    In Movie news. . .

    – “I hear it’s happening. I think it’s got a ways to go.” — Laura Dern on Jurassic Park 4 sequel.

    – A new book recounts the story of Rin Tin Tin in the context of Hollywood and U.S. culture.

    – Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the opening of an Austrian museum dedicated to . . . Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    – Are the “Toy Story” writers working on a Farmville movie?

    – The popularity of this Audrey Hepburn classic film, which turned 50 years old this month, prompted a run on ginger tomcats when the film was released.

    – After eighteen years in prison, The West Memphis 3 reunited this week for a screening of the films that helped secure their release.

    . . . To keep up with events, check back here on Chimesfreedom and follow us on Twitter @Pophistory and on Facebook.

    Any thoughts on the pop culture events of this month? Leave a comment.

  • Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson
  • 80 Years of Willie: From Opry Singer to Outlaw to Wizard
  • Three Unusual (But Awesome) Coldplay Covers
  • Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Visits Presidential Debate
  • This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 12, 2011)
  • Willie Nelson, Coldplay, and . . . Chipotle?

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