Pop Culture Odds and Ends – Vacation Countdown Edition

I’m so excited – in less than a month I’ll be going on a much needed vacation. I haven’t taken more than a day off from work since last March and between the increased responsibility and stress at work and this long winter, I’m about ready to snap. As I told a co-worker, if I don’t get away for a while they are taking me out of the office in either handcuffs or a body bag. So thankfully for everyone, it’s only a few more weeks and threat level midnight for my mental health will hopefully be over. How bad is it? My boss, who recently had a major health scare, seems really concerned about how I’m doing. Not a good sign.

But thankfully, I have the blog and the world of pop culture to help me relax until I can get away. A few minutes surfing the web and reading up on television, music and movies and I forget briefly that I’m near my breaking point. And lucky for you, I save up all my pop culture therapy to share with you. So check out the plentiful bounty of pop culture goodness that is helping me bide my time until I’m enjoying sunshine and time with good friends.

Two of my favorites singing a duet for St. Patrick’s Day:

The 4^th season of American Horror Story will take place at a carnival. This may be a challenge for my coulrophobia.

Could Brad Pitt appear on season two of True Detective? Please, please, please – someone make this happen!

After some technical difficulties with the digital download, some Veronica Mars movie backers are getting a refund.

Eminem, Skillex and Kings of Leon are rumored to be headlining Lollapalooza.

The origin story of Matthew McConaughey’s “Alright, Alright, Alright.”

Some excerpts from McConaughey’s character notes for True Detective.

Rumors are swirling that Lupita Nyong’o may join the cast of the new Star Wars movie.

Star Wars VII will be set 30 years after Jedi.

It was only a matter of time – Billy Dee Williams did a Star Wars themed cha cha on Dancing with the Stars:

Kanye is headed to (court mandated) anger management.

Wayne Knight – not dead.

There is an academic journal that only publishes papers on Bruce Springsteen. Where was this when I was worried about publish or perish?

Madonna dressed up as Daenerys Targaryen for Purim.

Vanity Fair has an interview with George R.R. Martin.

If, like me, you can’t wait until Muppets Most Wanted is released this weekend, check out this 20 minute behind the scenes video.

Angus T. Jones, the former ½ man of Two and a Half Men, has doubled down on his criticism of the show. Also – he has a neck beard.

The LEGO Movie sequel will have a new director.

Creator Kurt Sutter wants Aaron Paul for the final season of Sons of Anarchy. You now have my attention.

Alison Brie will play Will Ferrell’s fiancée in the comedy Get Hard, to the delight of fanboys (and some girls) everywhere.

There is a new video game for iPhone featuring Bea Arthur. I’ve never been sorrier to have an Android phone.

Yay! Drunk History will be back June 24^th.

Someone has put a sweet beat behind the Dean’s rap from last week’s Community:

Also on last week’s Community – Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.

Zach Galifianakis and Jon Hamm are starring in a movie together. I’m not sure how I feel about this.

Wendell Pierce has joined the cast of the Odd Couple reboot.

The Internet believes that Gandalf’s sword in in the Iron Throne.

Ke$ha is now Kesha. A nation mourns.

Sofia Coppola will direct a live-action version of The Little Mermaid.

FOX has canceled Raising Hope.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame won’t induct Nirvana’s original drummer Chad Channing– even though he was the drummer on the record that made Nirvana eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Not cool.

Olivia Wilde has joined Martin Scorsese’s rock and roll drama for HBO.

Pixar is prepping Ratatouille and The Incredibles for a 3d rerelease.

Both The Incredibles and Cars sequels are in development.

A Confederacy of Dunces is going to be turned into a play. I’ll believe it when I see it.

A&E has pulled Chloe Sevigny’s Those Who Kill.

J.K. Rowling has posted the first of two essays about the history of the Quidditch World Cup.

First Anna Pacquin and now Halle Berry may have been cut from X-men: Days of Future Past.

Deadliest Catch is coming back.

Steve-O jumped off a San Antonio bridge. (He’s fine).

Fashion designer (and girlfriend of Mick Jaggar) L’Wren Scott found dead of an apparent suicide.

David Siegel, the focus of the documentary Queen of Versailles, has lost his lawsuit against the filmmaker.

Early reviews aren’t great, but they at least got the poster right:

http://blog.thecoquette.net/post/79479174101

Newest item of interest on Kickstarter: A Macbeth movie with Sean Bean and Rupert Grint.

A Bay Area radio station has been playing Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” on a loop for 48 hours straight.

The awesome Walton Goggins has joined the cast of the Jesse Eisenberg/Kristen Stewart action comedy.

Related – a season-by-season guide to Boyd Crowder’s hair on Justified.

The creator of Bob’s Burgers discusses the wonderful burger puns on the show.

GQ has an oral history of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain.

This week in pop culture real estate: The Modern Family house.

Scrabble is holding a contest to let people pick a new word for its dictionary.

The Daily Show’s Jason Jones will star in a pilot for NBC.

Tumblr of the week: House of Drake

Kristin Bell would be interested in returning for the stage version of Frozen.

If you are like me, you may need a refresher before the new season of Game of Thrones begins. This may help:

News to me – Danai Gurira (Michonne on The Walking Dead) is a playwright.

Key & Peele are getting a 4^th season and an animated spinoff.

The late, great Deadwood ended its run 10 years ago; check out this half hour documentary about the show.

Rooney Mara in negotiations to play Tiger Lily in Pan; controversy ensues.

Less problematic: the casting of Levi Miller as Peter Pan.

San Francisco-area friends – someone HAS to go to this Nicholas Cage art show and report back.

Paramount will remake Explorers.

The Simpsons said a final goodbye to Edna Krabappel.

Disney is remaking Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Ghostbusters 3 has lost its director.

Gwyneth Paltrow made a playlist for Jay Z’s Life + Times.

CBS renewed basically everything; of note, The Big Bang Theory is renewed for 3 more seasons.

Lorde turned down an opportunity to tour with Katy Perry.

The Beastie Boys have settled their dispute with GoldieBlox.

Lena Dunham may be done with acting.

The Avengers was almost rated R.

Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb is leaving the franchise after the third movie.

I am fascinated by Graph TV, which charts the ratings of TV shows by episode.

More fun with infographics – 12 Charts only Game of Thrones Fans Will Understand.

Comedy Central may have picked up Hannibal Buress’ show. I hope they do; y’all know I’m a fan.

Between his role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and this Old Spice commercial, I’m really beginning to like Terry Crews.

Entertainment Weekly looks at the 26 best cult TV shows.

Grumpy cat took a nap on the Iron Throne, surrounded by dragons.

Some of Angelina Jolie’s kids will appear in Maleficent.

I know – we’re all a little tired of “Let It Go” at this point. But check out this guy who sings it in the voice of 21 Disney and Pixar characters.

Is a Captain Marvel movie on the way?

FOX and Paul Feig are doing a musical.

Sorry Mean Girls fans – you aren’t getting a reunion movie.

Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden are going out on tour together. Guess who already has tickets.

Also going out on tour: KISS and Def Leppard.

Chris Brown will be hanging out in jail until April 23. Long overdue.

A new documentary looks at the teen movie canon.

Jason Segel in a Krispy Kreme drive-thru. And I didn’t think I could love him any more.

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The Pope cancelled his meeting with Russell Crowe. I like this Pope more and more.

Seth Rogan lists who he has (and hasn’t) smoked pot with.

If you have an hour to kill, check out this discussion with Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón.

A TV series based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame is being developed.

Are there casting changes on the horizon for the Fantastic Four reboot?

Captain America 3 and Batman vs. Superman will be released on the same date.

Keith Richards is releasing a children’s book. Yes – you read that correctly.

We have our first look at The Rock in San Andreas.

The actor that plays Hodor on Game of Thrones came out as gay (though apparently it wasn’t a secret).

During an encore, Billy Joel forgot the words to “We Didn’t Start The Fire.”

A new Wu-Tang Clan single has dropped (NSFW):

If you enjoyed the Kitten Bowl, The Hallmark Channel will also have the Kitten Paw-Star Game in 2015.

Sounds like David Tennant will be pulling double duty on both the UK and US versions of Broadchurch. Has that ever happened before?

Metallica performed a new song at a show last weekend.

Pikachu is the mascot for the Japanese World Cup team.

NBC is putting their pilot based on The Money Pit on hold.

Someone spent way too much time investigating Scooby Doo’s speech disorder.

Pretty Woman is headed to Broadway.

Vulture looks back and the colossal train wreck that was Sammi and Ronnie’s Jersey Shore love story.

Vulture also compiled all the wigs worn on The Americans.

Lady Gaga delivered the keynote address at SXSW. She also let someone vomit on her.

Tyler, the Creator was arrested for inciting a riot at SXSW.

Sienna Miller is in talks for Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper.

Whoa. THIS is Walt from Lost looks like now:

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Some of the cast and the creators of Lost reunited for a panel at Paleyfest celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the show. You can watch the full panel here and here.

It’s early, but we already have a candidate for worst song of 2014: Teen mom Farrah Abraham has released a single. I only got through about 10 seconds before my ears started to bleed.

Miley Cyrus has a new lip tattoo.

Cyrus’ tour bus burst into flames. I’m sure that isn’t a sign or anything.

A man outside Boston is trying to name an island after Busta Rhymes. I love this country.

Some Buffalo Bills made an appearance on last week’s episode of Family Guy – where the Bills beat the Patriots!

Shailene Woodley says that George Clooney is like her second dad.

See Tom Hiddleston sing in The Pirate Fairy:

Shocking fact of the day: Rob Lowe is 50 years old.

Chris Pine receives a six month driving ban after drunk driving in New Zealand.

Some folks from Masters of Sex and Workaholics have joined the cast of How I Met Your Dad.

A companion short for The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Glee fans – see how you do on this quiz.

This makes me happy –a Puss in Boots series is coming to Netflix.

The NFL reportedly wants to fine M.I.A. $16 million for flipping the bird during the halftime show of the Superbowl (back in 2012). To recap – giving the middle finger is a major problem, but rape, murder and animal abuse are no big whoop.

Call off the search – Courtney Love thinks she has found the missing Malaysia Airplane.

Glenn Howerton from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia did a Reddit AMA.

Craig Ferguson and Drew Carey will swap shows on April Fools’ Day.

Andy Samberg voiced a rapping bear on Adventure Time.

Alan Thicke is getting a reality show; son Robin will appear.

Nathan For You season 2 will begin June 24^thIncre on Comedy Central.

The director of The Blair Witch Project is back with a film about Bigfoot.

Trailers! Get your trailers here:

Veep season 3!

Our first look at the James Brown biopic, Get On Up:

The Boondocks are back for season 4:

A featurette for Transcendence with Johnny Depp :

Kristen Wiig and Hailee Steinfeld in Hateship Loveship:

A maddeningly short teaser for season 7 of Mad Men:

A new trailer for Maleficent:

The Mazerunner:

I’m still conflicted about this, but check out the first teaser trailer for the 3-D Peanuts movie:

The final The Amazing Spider-Man 2 trailer has arrived:

Oprah is selling Harpo Studios in Chicago.

Uproxx looks at 10 hit singles that had to be edited to be heard on the radio.

Someone on Homeland has been promoted to a series regular.

Katharine McPhee has joined a CBS drama pilot.

Kristen Wiig and Flo the Progressive Insurance Lady both used to babysit Bob Odenkirk’s kids.

Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau will reunite for a crime thriller.

If there is a High School Musical reunion film, Zac Efron is totally in.

J.K. Simmons has joined the cast of Terminator: Genesis.

Some images from Robin and Barney’s wedding on HIMYM.

For those that were concerned, Minkus will appear on Girl Meets World.

Jennifer Hudson and Weight Watchers are now longer in business together.

Sadly, a third person has died from the car crash as SXSW.

Conan O’Brien, Sarah Silverman and David Cross will guest star on the new season of Maron.

See Steve Buscemi train NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio for The Inner Circle Show.

Latest celebrity beef: Toronto Mayor Tom Ford and Kevin Spacey.

Matt and Amy Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World have separated after 26 years of marriage. Their son Jeremy who appeared on the show just got engaged.