Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 26, 2006
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NPR checks in with ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro.
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Speaking of Mark Twain (see Dylan item above) the co-writer of "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" read his own obituary earlier this week.
On Tuesday, The Associated Press reported on the death of a 68-year-old man named Paul Van Valkenburgh of Ormond Beach, Fla., who claimed to have written the song under the name Paul Vance. The story cited the man's wife as the source for that claim.
But the music industry's real Paul Vance, a 76-year-old man from Coral Springs, Fla., is alive and well, and says the other Paul Vance appears to have made the whole thing up.
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Marvel Comics is planning a multi-user, online role-playing game.
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Sci Fi Wire chats with "Doctor Who" producter Russell T. Davies about the spin-off show "Sarah Jane Investigates" now in production.
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The Associated Press interviews Michael Emerson, who plays Others leader "Henry Gale" on "Lost." I'd imagine Emerson is tired of being called "bug-eyed" by now, wouldn't you?
"In Season 3, the show moves geographically and spiritually to another place," Emerson said. "We will be with The Others more. They will become more three-dimensional."
He said viewers may even come to sympathize with The Others, who were on island long before the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815.
"Who's really the intruder? Who's the bad guys? Who's upsetting who? Who has the right to be there?" Emerson said.
DVD: Lassie Triple Feature collects early films
The devoted collie escapes kennel captivity (with help from young Elizabeth Taylor) and braves storms and peril to return home to Roddy McDowall in the all-time classic Lassie Come Home (Disc 1/Side A). Courage runs in the family in Son of Lassie (Disc 1/Side B), as Lassie's progeny stows away on a World War II Allied bombing run piloted by RAF airman Peter Lawford. Wartime heroics are again at the forefront in Courage of Lassie (Disc 2), starring Taylor and shot on beautiful Canadian locations.
DVD collects Elvis' Ed Sullivan performances
Share the excitement of Elvis Presley's earthshattering introduction to the nation in these three unforgettable episodes from The Ed Sullivan Show, now on DVD for the first time ever, and experience for yourself why Elvis became the legendary King of Rock and Roll! Appearing on the show Sept. 9, 1956, Elvis sent shock waves through a repressed nation with his soulful singing, wild hip gyrations and raw energy, attracting a record-breaking TV audience of more than 60 million people. Presley returned on Oct. 28, 1956, continuing to provoke ecstatic screams with hits such as "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog." In fact, these exhilarating performances were so explosive that Elvis was filmed above the waist during his final Sullivan show appearance on January 6, 1957.
Rockin' Special Features: A rare home movie capturing a very early Elvis performance, shot on August 7, 1955, at Magnolia Gardens near Houston, Texas Elvis and Ed remembered Elvis is on his way! Ed Sullivan Show clips Special Elvis moments including an appearance by comedian John Byner Home movies of Elvis and Priscilla, Elvis and his friends cutting up on a film set and some of the first shots of daughter Lisa Marie.
DVD: Disney's expanded "Robin Hood" out Nov. 28
* Deleted scene featuring an alternate ending
* All-new games: Archery Trivia Challenge & Rescue Maid Marian
* Animated Bonus Short: "Ye Olden Days"
* Disney song selection
It's available for pre-order from Amazon now.
DVD: Big buncha Bond offered on Ultimate Collections
Click the links to pre-order from Amazon.
James Bond Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 (The Man with the Golden Gun / Goldfinger / The World Is Not Enough / Diamonds Are Forever / The Living Daylights)
Out. Nov. 7.
James Bond Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2 (A View to a Kill / Thunderball / Die Another Day / The Spy Who Loved Me / License to Kill)
Out Nov. 7.
James Bond Ultimate Collection Vol. 3 (Goldeneye / Live and Let Die / For Your Eyes Only / From Russia With Love / On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Out Dec. 12
James Bond Ultimate Collection, Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice / Octopussy / Tomorrow Never Dies / Moonraker)
Out Dec. 12.
DVD: Perry Mason Season 1, Vol. 2 out Nov. 21
Latest batch of "Walt Disney Treasures" DVDs out Dec. 19
Walt Disney Treasures - More Silly Symphonies (1929-1938)
From the beginning, Walt Disney's SILLY SYMPHONIES series was a mecca for innovation and unabashed creativity. This second volume of the revolutionary series boasts some of Disney's rarest cartoons, including over a dozen never before released on DVD or video. Among the many animation treasures celebrated here are the never-before-released "Hell's Bells" and the original unedited "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood", plus the Academy Award®-winning "Three Orphan Kittens" (Best Cartoon, 1935). Enriching the collection even further are several optional commentaries by some of the world's foremost animation and film music experts, who also take part in a lively conversation about the series that let Walt Disney push the envelope of animation art to unimaginable flights of fantasy. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin.
Expected to include the remaining 38 animated shorts in "Silly Symphonies" series that were not included on the first Walt Disney Treasure. A total of 75 music-oriented Silly Symphonies cartoon shorts were produced from 1929 to 1939. The first tin held 31 of these, plus six others as Easter Eggs.
Walt Disney Treasures - The Complete Pluto, Volume Two
Mickey's best pal Pluto continues to light up the screen as leading dog in more of his adventure-filled cartoons. Putting the spotlight on his comical antics from 1947 through 1951, this volume includes the inspired "Bone Bandit" of 1948 and the 1951 classic "Plutopia." The treats continue with three rarely-seen shorts featuring Pluto's feline nemesis Figaro, and a revealing exploration of a classic Pluto short. Plus, contemporary Disney master animators discuss their favorite Pluto moments and the art and craft behind them. It's no wonder Mickey's faithful pup became top dog around the world. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin.
Expected Shorts: Rescue Dog, Mail Dog, Pluto's Blue Note (1947); Bone Bandit, Pluto's Purchase, Cat Nap Pluto, Pluto's Fledgling (1948); Pueblo Pluto, Pluto's Surprise Package, Pluto's Sweater, Bubble Bee, Sheep Dog (1949); Pluto's Heart Throb, Pluto and the Gopher, Wonder Dog, Primitive Pluto, Puss Cafe, Pests of the West, Food for Feudin', Camp Dog (1950); Cold Storage, Cold Turkey (1951).
Walt Disney Treasures - Your Host, Walt Disney
This set will offer complete episodes of Walt Disney's long-running anthology series which prominently feature Walt not just in the introduction, but as host. Featured episodes will include 1957's "The Fourth Anniversary Show", 1959's "I Captured The King of The Leprechauns" on the making of Darby O'Gill and The Little People, the long-thought-to-be-lost special "Kodak Presents Disneyland '59" and "Disneyland 10th Anniversary Show" (1965), among others to be announced.
Walt's anthology, initially called "Disneyland" (and later "Walt Disney Presents", "The Wonderful World of Color", "The Wonderful World of Disney", "The Disney Sunday Movie", simply "Walt Disney", and "The Magical World of Disney"), debuted in 1954 and consistently aired through 1990.
Walt Disney Treasures - The Mickey Mouse Club Featuring the Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, a pair of teenaged brothers with a flair for detective work, were well-known with readers before they were tapped as a serial subject for "The Mickey Mouse Club", Walt's daily variety series, in its second season (1956-57). This DVD will contain the first serial, titled "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure", which was made up of 20 installments running about 10 minutes each. Disney regulars Tim Considine ("Spin & Marty", The Shaggy Dog) and Tommy Kirk (Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog) portrayed Frank and Joe Hardy, respectively. The siblings returned for a second serial, "The Mystery of Ghost Farm", composed of 15 episodes that aired during the 1957-58 season. Considine and Kirk recently sat for interviews with Treasures host Leonard Maltin and Hardy Boys fans were contacted for additional bonus features.
See the Best Disney Sites on the Web.
Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 27, 2006
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Continuing his fantastic series on DC Comics designer Ira Schnapp, Dial B for Blog charts the evolution of the Superman logo.
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I'm not making this up:
Comic-book style superhero Mr Fruitness launches his campaign to convince consumers that ‘Fruit is child’s play’ from October.
The Fruitness awareness campaign rolls out in the UK, Poland, Austria, Sweden and Germany.
...Mr Fruitness is the star of a special video game in which he shows off the full range of his superpowers, the result not of physical exercise but rather of a balanced diet in which fruit forms an essential component.
If his powers begin to fade, Mr Fruitness uses his 'Fruiteam' of peaches, nectarines, pears and kiwi fruits to give him the boost he needs to restore his superhero abilities.
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Cate Blanchett is set to star in a film adaptation of Marisa Acocella Marchetto's graphic novel "Cancer Vixen."
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First it was Dickens, now Shakespeare is set to appear on an upcoming episode of "Doctor Who."
"Lost" season 3 preview: "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Further Instruction"
Scroll over to see the mild spoilers:
Oct. 4: "A Tale of Two Cities" Episode 3.1
In the season premiere episode, "A Tale of Two Cities," Jack, Kate and Sawyer begin to discover what they are up against as prisoners of "The Others."
"Lost" stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Mr. Eko, Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Henry Gale, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie and Terry O'Quinn as Locke.
Guest starring are John Terry as Christian Shephard, Julie Bowen as Sarah, M.C. Gainey as Mr. Friendly, William Mapother as Ethan, Brett Cullen as Goodwin, Blake Bashoff as Karl, Julie Adams as Amelia, Stephen Semel as Adam, Isabelle Cherwin as little girl, Alexandra Morgan as moderator, Sonya Seng as receptionist, Sally Davis as teacher and Julie Ow as nurse.
The teleplay for "A Tale of Two Cities" was by J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof, with the story by Lindelof. Jack Bender directed.
Oct. 11: "The Glass Ballerina" 3.2
Sayid's plan to locate Jack places Sun and Jin's lives in grave danger. Meanwhile, Kate and Sawyer are forced to work in harsh conditions by their captors, and Henry makes a very tempting offer to Jack that may prove difficult to refuse.
Guest starring are M.C. Gainey as Mr. Friendly, Tania Raymonde as Alex, Paula Malcolmson as Colleen, Michael Bowen as Pickett, Byron Chung as Mr. Paik, Tony Lee as Jae Lee, Sophie Kim as young Sun, Joah Buley as Luke, Tomiko Okhee Lee as Mrs. Lee and Teddy Wells as other.
"The Glass Ballerina" was written by Jeff Pinkner & Drew Goddard and directed by Paul Edwards.
Oct. 18: "Further Instructions" Episode 3.3
The fates of Locke, Eko and Desmond are revealed after the implosion of the hatch, while Hurley returns to the beach camp to tell the tale of what happened when he, Jack, Kate and Sawyer encountered "The Others." Meanwhile, Claire is shocked to find Nikki and Paulo in Jack's tent. Ian Somerhalder guest stars as Boone, on "Lost," WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 (9:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
"Lost" stars Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Mr. Eko, Naveen Andrews as Sayid, Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond, Emilie de Ravin as Claire, Michael Emerson as Henry Gale, Matthew Fox as Jack, Jorge Garcia as Hurley, Josh Holloway as Sawyer, Daniel Dae Kim as Jin, Yunjin Kim as Sun, Evangeline Lilly as Kate, Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet, Dominic Monaghan as Charlie and Terry O'Quinn as Locke.
Guest starring are Kiele Sanchez as Nikki, Rodrigo Santoro as Paulo, Ian Somerhalder as Boone, Justin Chatwin as Eddie, Chris Mulkey as Mike, Virginia Morris as Jan, Joel Himelhoch as sheriff and Dion Donahue as Kim.
"Further Instructions" was written by Carlton Cuse & Elizabeth Sarnoff and directed by Stephen Williams.
See the Best "Lost" Sites on the Web.
Pop Culture Roundup Sept. 26, 2006
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Paging Jan and Dean: Where's the real surf city?
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Via Bedazzled: The Zombies perform "She's Not There" and "Tell Her No."
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Today's Best Song Ever: "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" -- The Silkie
There's nothing like a somewhat-oddball cover version to spice up a iPod of CD mix, so here's a nice one, particularly for Beatles fans.
Produced by John Lennon for a British folk pop group managed by Brian Epstein (The Beatles' manager, don't you know) this one charted at #10 on the U.K. charts in November 1965. It's a nice take, with lovely group vocals by Silkies Sylvia Tatler, Mike Ramsden and Ivor Aylesbury, along with bass by Kevin Cunningham. According to Beatles expert Mark Lewisohn, session musicians on the track include Paul McCartney on guitar and George Harrison smacking the tambourine.
Elvis Costello also recorded a nice version of the tune, available on the expanded version of his Kojak Variety album.
Sample it
Available on:
VA - Gold: British Invasion
Previous Best Song Ever
New DVD releases Sept. 26, 2006
Alvin and the Chipmunks - A Chipmunk Christmas (25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition)
Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated - The Hill's Angels Years, Set Five (1982-1985)
Curious George (Widescreen Edition)
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 26
Dick Tracy: The Complete Animated Series
Forgotten Noir Collector's Set
Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (1931)
Mama's Family - The Complete First Season
The Tomorrow Show: Tom Snyder's Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show
Western Film Noir 1: Little Big Horn & Rimfire
New CD releases Sept. 26, 2006
Tony Bennet - Duets: An American Classic
Sandy Bull - Still Valentine's Day 1969: Live at the Matrix, San Francisco
DJ Shadow - Enuff
George Harrison - Living in the Material World
The Impressions - This Is My Country/Young Mod'd Forgotten Story
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 - Herb Alpert Presents , Crystal Illusions , Ye-Me-Le
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Jean-Jacques Perrey - Happy Electropop Music Machine
Tommy Roe - It's Now Winter's Day
Sparks - Dick Around
Scott Walker - Scott 2
Fats Waller - If You Got Ask You Ain't Got It
OST - The U.S. vs. John Lennon