Pop Artifact! Planet of the Apes model kit

Pop Culture Roundup July 6, 2007

Deal alerts: Amazon is offering 47 percent off on Fox/MGM sci-fi DVDs and 50 percent off on MGM TV series DVDs.

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John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met 50 years ago this weekend.

The Beatlegs Podcast has a special episode commemmorating the event

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An online gallery demonstrates how classic Disney animators swiped ideas and images from themselves.

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The BBC has uploaded a batch of official "Doctor Who" clips onto YouTube.

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Speaking of "Doctor Who," rumors abound that actor Dennis Hopper wants to do a guest spot on the show.

According to an insider, talks have been going on for a while, but Hopper's schedule is proving very difficult to work out. The unnamed source reports that "Dennis is a big fan of the show and bosses are really keen to get him on board."

Vintage Aurora model kit ad



DVD: Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes Volume 2

The second DVD collection from the FF's latest cartoon series is out Sept. 11 on a single disk. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.



DVD: The Fly Collection (The Fly / Return Of The Fly / The Curse Of The Fly)

Out Sept. 11 on four disks, this set collects the 1958, 1959 and 1965 "Fly" movies. It's available for pre-order now from Amazon.



DVD: The Jungle Book (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)

Due out Oct. 12, this double-DVD set is available for pre-order now from Amazon. No details on extras yet.



DVD: The Secrets of Isis - The Complete Series

Out July 24, this set collects the fan-favorite live-action series on three DVDs. You can pre-order it now from Amazon.



Details:



Cast: Joanna Cameron as Andrea Thomas, co-starred Brain Cutler as Rick Mason, Joanna Pang as Cindy Lee, and Ronalda Douglas as Rennie Carrol.



Oh Mighty Isis! She was Saturday morning's first live-action super-heroine, saving lives and stopping crime in a mini-skirt and go-go boots on The Secrets of Isis! When science teacher Andrea Thomas unearthed a lost treasure on an archeological dig, she found that the mystical amulet endowed her with the powers given to the ancient Egyptian Queen, Isis! Now granted the powers of animals and the elements, Isis soars as the falcon soared, runs with the speed of gazelles, and commands the elements of the sky and the earth. Although her secret identity is unknown to even her closest friends, fellow teacher Rick Mason, or students Cindy Lee and Renee Carrol, Andrea uses her powers as Isis to stop criminals, save lives, right wrongs, and teach valuable lessons... sometimes with the aid of fellow hero Captain Marvel (Shazam!). Now available on DVD for the first time, the entire two seasons of The Secrets of Isis contain a treasure-trove of special features, and all the super-powered goodness that the heroine represented. Now, you too can be the heir to...The Secrets of Isis!



New and upcoming action figures July 6, 2007

Complete List of Marvel Legends Action Figures
Complete List of DC Direct Action Figures

Here's a look at action figures available via your local comics shop or via the TIP!-supporting links below:

DC Direct Action Figures

Superman Last Son Action Figures
--Last Son Superman
--Ursa
--Bizarro
--Zod

Shazam Action Figures
--Dr. Sivana
--Captain Marvel Jr.
--Mary Marvel
--Billy Batson and Hoppy
--Captain Marvel

Superman Vs. Doomsday
Doomsday
Lex Luthor and Robot
Solar Suit Superman
Superman

Batman and Son
Batman
Ninja Man-Bat
Robin and Daimin
The Joker

52 Weeks
Animal Man
Batwoman
Booster Gold
Supernova

DC Direct Reactivated Action Figures
--Batman
--Wonder Woman
--Lobo
--Superman

DC 13-inch Figures
Green Lantern
Lex Luthor
Martian Manhunter
Catwoman
Nightwing
Classic Batman
Batgirl gray costume
Batgirl black costume

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 2
--Red Son Batman
--Red Son President Superman
--Kingdom Come Jade
--Kingdom Come Spectre and Norman McKay
--Gotham By Gaslight Batman

Elseworlds Action Figures Series 3
--Supergirl
--Batgirl
--Nightstar
--Kingdom Come Aquaman
--Red Son Green Lantern

First Appearance Series 4
--Blue Beetle translucent
--Blue Beetle
--Brave New World Atom
--Warlord
--Brave New World Martian Manhunter
--Brave New World Aquaman

Infinite Crisis Action Figures Series 1
--Powergirl
--Omac
--Mongul
--Earth Prime Superboy
--Alexander Luthor

JSA Action Figures
--Mr. Terrific
--Hawkgirl
--Dr. Midnite
--Hourman
--Golden Age Atom 2-pack

DC Direct Wonder Woman Series 1 Action Figures
--Wonder Woman
--Agent Diana Prince
--Circe
--Donna Troy as Wonder Woman

DC Direct New Frontier Series 2 Action Figures
--Batman
--Dr. Fate
--The Flash
--Martian Manhunter

Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer action figures
Battle Stretch Mr. Fantastic
Fire Blast Human Torch
Raging Thing
Force Field Invisible Woman
Silver Surfer
Lightning Attack Dr. Doom
Blast-off Human Torch
Super Strength Thing

Hanna Barbera Series 3 Action Figures
--Fred Flintstone Quittin' Time
--Twinkle Toes Fred Flintstone
--Great Grape Ape
--Huckleberry Hound
--The Jetsons
--Secret Squirrel
--Snagglepuss

McFarlane Lost series 2 action figures
--Crash site box set
--Sawyer
--Jin
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Sun
--Mr. Eko

McFarlane Lost series 3 action figures
--Sayid
--Desmond
--Claire
--Ben/Henry

Marvel Figure Factory Sets
--Angel
--Beast
--Black Costume Spider-Man
--Deadpool
--Invisible Woman
--Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Action Figures

Hasbro Marvel Legends Action Figures Series 2
--Wolverine
--She-Hulk
--Yellow Jacket
--Quick Silver
--Lord Asgard Thor
--Magneto Xorn
--X3 Jean Grey
--First Appearance Storm

Hasbro Marvel Legends Figures Series 3
--Bucky Barnes
--First appearance Captain America
--Marvel Girl Rachel Grey
--Heroes for Hire Black Knight
--Hydra Soldier
--X-3 Colossus
--Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
--Danger

Hasbro Marvel Legends Icons 12-inch Action Figures
--The Punisher
--Doctor Doom
--The Human Torch
--The Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Masterworks Sets
--Spider-Man Vs. Green Goblin
--Fantastic Four Vs. Mole Man
--Hulk Vs. The Thing
--Galactus Vs. Everybody

Marvel Select Figures

Best of Marvel Select Figures
--Grey Hulk
--Thanos
--Ultimate Spider-Man
--Green Goblin
--Mephisto

Marvel Sideshow Toys Figures
--Venom
--Black costume Spider-Man
--Spider-Man
--White Queen
--White Queen Exclusive

Today's video: The Kinks play "Days"




Pop Artifact! Planet of the Apes model kit

Pop Culture Roundup July 5, 2007

Catherine Tate, who appeared on last year's Doctor Who Christmas special is set to become the Doctor's newest companion, according to the BBC.

Hot on the heels of the critically-acclaimed season three finale of Doctor Who, the BBC has announced that Catherine Tate is set to return to the Tardis for the complete 13-week run of the new BBC One series.

Award-winning comedian Catherine Tate has been confirmed as the Doctor's new companion, returning to her role as Donna who featured in last year's Christmas special The Runaway Bride.

Donna mysteriously vanished as she prepared to marry her boyfriend in a glittering ceremony on Christmas Eve. She reappeared, much to her astonishment, in the Tardis with the Doctor.

As the Tardis raced to the church, it soon became apparent that Donna was the key to an ancient alien plan to destroy the Earth.

The episode ended with The Doctor inviting Donna to travel with him – an invitation which, at the time, was declined…

Catherine Tate was asked if she would like to become the Doctor's new companion at the press screening of The Runaway Bride.

She replied: "I would love to, but no-one has asked!"

Freema Agyeman who has played Martha Jones, the Doctor's companion, throughout the critically-acclaimed third series will return to the show to join the Doctor and Donna mid-series.

Doctor Who's Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies said: "Catherine was an absolute star in The Runaway Bride and we are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us for the fourth series.

"Viewers can expect more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Catherine Tate said: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."

The fourth series of Doctor Who goes into production this July and will hit UK screens in Spring 2008.

Yesterday the BBC announced that Kylie Minogue will be joining the Doctor Who cast in a major lead role in an hour-long Christmas special to be broadcast in December 2007.

Kylie will star alongside David Tennant (the Doctor) for the episode, Voyage Of The Damned.




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Speaking of Doctor Who, the Beeb has posted new photo galleries dedicated to the 10th Doctor, his companion Martha and the latest incarnation of The Master.

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The reclusive Sly Stone breaks his long public silence in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Stone, 64, who made a brief, awkward appearance at the 2006 Grammys replete with a giant mohawk, says he plans to start work on a new album in the fall. But after more than two decades away from the spotlight, why come back now?

"'Cause it's kind of boring at home sometimes," he tells the magazine. "I got a lot of songs I want to record and put out, so I'm gonna try 'em out on the road. That's the way it's always worked the best: Let's try it out and see how the people feel."

Stone says he has "a library, like, a hundred and some songs, or maybe 200" that he's been sitting on at his Napa Valley compound, also home to his two chopper motorcycles and an eclectic collection of cars that includes an old London taxicab.


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Waffyjon posts images of some great Batman-related merchandise from a 1966 Montgomery Wards catalog.

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NPR profiles former Shangri-Las singer Mary Weiss, who has a new album out--her first recordings since 1965.