Pop Culture Safari!

DVD and Blu-ray new releases Feb. 11, 2014: Sherlock; Jungle Book; All is Lost; Doctor Who - Moonbase; Filmation Superheroes!

Click the links to order discounted DVDs or Blu-rays from Amazon.

Sherlock: Season Three

The Jungle Book (Diamond Edition)

All Is Lost

Doctor Who: The Moonbase (Story 33)

DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures 1

Video find: The Bee Gees, 1963

Today's best picture ever: Lenny Bruce

Pop focus: The Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show!

50 years ago today (Feb. 9, 1964), the Beatles peformed for the first time on the "Ed Sullivan Show." That was a Sunday night, too. A record 73 million Americans watched the performance. Also on the show that night was a performance by the London cast of "Oliver!," including future Monkee Davy Jones as the Artful Dodger, and a routine by comedian/impressionist Frank Gorshin -- soon to portray the Riddler on ABC's "Batman" TV series.

The Beatles also appeared on the Sullivan show, the following week (Feb. 16), when it aired live from Miami Beach. And they were featured in a pre-taped performance on the Feb. 23 episode.

Below, is a video featuring the Beatles spots from that first episode. If you want to see the entire episode, complete with other guests and commercials, nab a copy of this great DVD, which features all the Beatles' Sullivan shows.

Also very highly recommended is the documentary film "The Beatles: First U.S. Visit," directed by Albert and David Maysles, which provides amazing, fly-on-the-wall footage of the Beatles backstage, traveling and performing.

If you saw the Beatles' first Sullivan Show appearance, or just have strong feelings about it, let us know in the comments section!

Video find: Steve Wonder performs "Superstition" on Sesame Street, 1971

It was 50 years ago today: The Beatles make first visit to U.S., Feb. 7, 1964

Today's best picture ever: Laurel and Hardy

Pop culture roundup: Karen Gillan! World's Greatest Superheroes! Beatles!

Check out Karen Gillan's Dalek impersonation.

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Via Jon's Random Acts of Geekery: Several installments of DC Comics' 1970s newspaper strip "The World's Greatest Superheroes."

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Everyone's reminiscing about the Beatles as we approach the 50th anniversary (Feb. 9) of their first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Here's a piece by Peter Brown, billed inexplicably as the Beatles' "manager" when he actually was an assistant to their actual manager Brian Epstein. And here's a tribute from their manager, George Martin:

“I am amazed how quickly time passes and that the Beatles appeared in New York for the first time 50 years ago. Hard to believe – I feel like Rumpelstiltskin! The first record I produced with them – 'Love Me Do' was merely a warm up. 'Please Please Me' was the biggie that swept Britain in 1964 and paved the way for their debut in the USA. And when that happened it was like an exploding keg of dynamite.

The wonderful people of America took the Beatles into their hearts and never let go. They were crazy days, and I remember being in New York and listening to the radio, and no matter where you turned the dial you would hear the Beatles singing. It was complete saturation, never before heard and never since. The Boys loved the USA and they loved performing there, but the world now demanded their attention, so they began an exhausting round of Europe and the States in an effort to satisfy the demand for their attention.

The people of America have always been generous to those that they like, and the Beatles will always be grateful for that wonderful display of love and support they received back in the Sixties. Me too!”.