Hollywood is all out of ideas; that is the only conclusion I can draw from this installment of pop culture odds and ends, as the links are littered with stories about reboots and spinoffs. Original thought just doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Chances are if you loved something in the last 20 years, you’ll get to experience it all over again with a new version for the next generation. I’m not necessary against the idea of recycling ideas, but it is happening way too frequently now. Is nothing sacred?
While I sound like a crabby old lady and tell some kids to get off my lawn, enjoy your biweekly roundup of pop culture stories that you might have missed.
- Marvel has announced that they will develop four original series for Netflix that focus on Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage, followed by a The Defenders miniseries.
- A stage adaptation of The Princess Bride is in the works.
- The Broadway adaptation of Big Fish is ending its run early.
- Jagged Little Pill will be a Broadway musical.
- David Cross will appear on Community. Also appearing – Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan.
- The 4th season hasn’t aired here yet, but Downton Abbey has been renewed for a 5th season.
- Dan Stevens has joined the cast of Night at the Museum 3. He left Downton Abbey for this?
- The CW has given all their new shows a full season order.
- 21 new characters will appear on Game of Thrones this season. Here’s the list and the actors attached. *spoilers*
- In case you were wondering, Angela Lansbury ain’t too happy about the Murder, She Wrote reboot.
- Ron Burgundy and Daft Punk hung out in Amsterdam.
- Jennifer Lawrence stepped off the red carpet to comfort a crying fan. If she and Aaron Paul ever team up, they will rule the world.
- You can now buy Harry Potter stamps.
- The NY Times has a story on Fallon taking over The Tonight Show in February. He says he has his first guest in mind; I’ll be happy to do it Jimmy!
- The last ever rental from Blockbuster couldn’t be more appropriate (did you read that sentence in your head in Chandler Bing’s voice? I did.)
- A local sports anchor did his entire segment as Ron Burgundy for Halloween:
- Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang is 20 years old. We’re getting old, pals. But Wu
- Ghostface Killah will appear on VH1’s Couples Therapy.
- Ke$ha wrote a farewell to Eastbound and Down for Rolling Stone.
- American Horror Story was renewed for a 4th season. Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett have been approached to return. Connie Britton has also expressed a desire to make an encore appearance.
- Speaking of AHS, Stevie Nicks will make an appearance this season.
- Ghost is becoming a TV show.
- Notre Dame alum Regis Philbin re-enacted the Janitor’s speech from Rudy:
- Bill Cosby is developing a new family comedy and is rebooting Fat Albert.
- The always awesome George Clooney gave an interview to Esquire.
- Drew Barrymore is pregnant with baby #2. Congrats!
- ABC is doing a limited series on Catherine the Great.
- Jigsaw may be back.
- Adam McKay wants to make a movie about Ron Burgundy’s dog and kid going on adventures. I would totally watch this.
- Dave Grohl played with the Zac Brown Band at the CMAs.
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will have a Thor crossover episode.
- A sequel to Layer Cake is being made without Daniel Craig or director Matthew Vaughn. Jason Statham will star.
- A study found that PG-13 movies are actually more violent than R movies.
- Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy took their kids trick or treating together.
- Kate Upton may be the female lead in the Entourage movie. I didn’t think it was possible for me to want to see this movie any less. I was wrong.
- Lifetime has cancelled The Client List.
- The game Temple Run may become a movie.
- Oh man – I love these Comedy Central spots featuring Loki:
- Ali G is coming to FXX as part of a deal with Sacha Baron Cohen.
- This animatronic baby was almost in Twilight: Breaking Dawn. That thing is terrifying.
- A Hunger Games theme park could happen.
- Hear The National’s song from the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack:
- Lorde covered Tears for Fears for the soundtrack as well:
- Cinemax has bought an exorcism show from Robert Kirkman.
- Britney Spears new album, Britney Jean, will feature a duet with her younger sister Jamie Lynn.
- The History Channel is remaking Roots. 10 years ago I would have thought this was maybe an OK idea, but now that the History Channel lineup features shows about aliens and Swamp People, they have lost all credibility.
- Sounds like Girls’ Adam Driver may play Nightwing in Batman vs. Superman.
- The Rock will star in Seal Team 666.
- The restaurant that provided R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People with its title is closing.
- The third Game of Thrones beer from Brewery Ommegang will be released in the spring.
- RJ Mitte (Walter Jr./Flynn on Breaking Bad) is launching a music career.
- Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray is stopping by The Neighbors on ABC.
- It’s never too early to start thinking about the Oscars. Variety looks at the leading candidates.
- A list of the animated films in contention for an Oscar nomination has been released.
- Bruno Mars released a new Gorilla remix featuring R. Kelly and Pharrell:
- If you looking for some clarification about the ending of Thor: The Dark World, Slash Film has got you covered. *SPOILERS*
- ABC gave a full season order to Trophy Wife and The Goldbergs. Super Fun Night also had extra episodes ordered.
- Law & Order: SVU and the Chicago Fire spinoff will do a cross-over episode.
- 10 Things I Hate About You is getting a spinoff.
- Zac Efron broke his jaw.
- Jimmy Fallon let Harrison Ford pierce his ear. For reals:
- Independence Day 2 has been moved to summer 2016 (with or without Will Smith).
- John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson will star in the adaptation of Stephen King’s Cell.
- The Fifty Shades of Grey movie won’t be released until February 2015.
- Miley covered Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness”
- Listen to Mariah Carey’s new single, “The Art of Letting Go.”
- Tina Turner has given up her U.S. citizenship.
- Actress Katey Sagal has released a new album.
- The CW is rebooting Tales from the Darkside.
- A new initiative tries to get people to read and recite the Gettysburg Address. Plenty of politicians have participated, but so have Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien and Louis C.K.
- Pet Sematary is also getting a remake.
- Vulture has created some New Girl paper dolls. They also created AHS tarot cards. They were crafty this week.
- Music publishers are trying to shut down websites that feature song lyrics.
- Starz is developing an 80s set FBI porn drama.
- A fan gave The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus her breast implant. Now THAT is a memorable gift.
- ABC has ordered a pilot from two King of the Hill writers. It will be an adaptation of the UK series Bad Education.
- I liked this sweet LEGO commercial:
- Even though her last series crashed and burned, Anne Heche is getting another comedy at NBC.
- What does your favorite TV show say about you?
- Jay Z is launching a cologne line.
- Carrie Fisher is joining Legit.
- 15 things you might not know about The Colbert Report.
- The wrecking ball sculpture at GVSU will be reinstalled; it was removed after students rode it to parody the Miley Cyrus video.
- Charmin tweeted, and then deleted, a pretty spectacular Thor pun.
- PBS will air Hugh Jackman’s performance in Oklahoma! on Friday.
- The Wiggles have inexplicably written a song for the U.S. Rugby team.
- Idris Elba attached to star in the thriller Bastille Day.
- These Breaking Bad engagement photos are kind of great.
- Midwest people – there will be an open casting call for the new Star Wars movie in Chicago. The new film is slated for release December 2015.
- Lady Gaga is doing a concert in space.
- Rutgers plans a Springsteen theology class.
- Ylvis’ hit “The Fox” is going to be a children’s book. I’m guessing the same will not happen for their follow up song “Massachusetts.” Definitely not for kids (NSFW either):
- The 80s slasher film Sleepaway Camp is being eyed for a reboot.
- The director of some of the Fast & Furious franchise will helm the next Bourne movie.
- Steven Sorderberg posted a list of everything he watched and read in 2009. This sounds like a possible project for the blog in 2014!
- Zombie movies turned into art.
- HAHA….sorry Packers, but Dawson delivered a pretty good burn:
- Grantland goes behind the scenes with Maury (“you are NOT the father.”)
- FOX has ordered yet another animated comedy from Seth MacFarlane.
- The Duck Dynasty cast will be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
- Conan called a horse race at Santa Anita.
- Jon Favreau is in talks to direct the live action Jungle Book reboot.
- FOX has ordered a pilot from The Big Bang Theory’s Jonny Galecki.
- NBC has ordered 5 more episodes of Sean Saves the World, which is 5 too many.
- Icona Pop and Sky Ferreira are joining Miley Cyrus on tour.
- Beyoncé fans have started a petition asking her not to attend Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s wedding. For the record, I would totally attend a Kimye wedding.
- What in the HELL did Lucky magazine do to Kerry Washington? Step away from the Photoshop.
- Ghostbusters III is rumored to be filming in Cleveland. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone are rumored to be attached.
- ABC has bought a comedy from Kristen Schaal.
- Tumblrs of the week: It’s Always Sunny is Asgard and Mr. Men & Little Miss Game Of Thrones
- Cast and plot points have been revealed for Horrible Bosses 2.
- The CW is developing a drama based on DC Comics iZombie.
- Ridley Scott is attached to a drama about football concussions.
- Cougar Town will return in January!
- Oprah had a yard sale and made some mad cash.
- Rumors that a certain actress wouldn’t be appearing much in season 2 of Orange is the New Black may have been exaggerated.
- FOX apparently believes that Romeo and Juliet and drag racing go together.
- Janis Joplin is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- This one is for my pal Jen K: Ben Stiller almost made a movie with Mike Piazza.
- Damon Wayons Jr. is sticking around New Girl for the rest of the seson.
- What do Kanye, George W. Bush and Bryan Cranston have in common? The will all appear in the latest David Blaine magic special.
- From Dusk Til Dawn is coming to TV and will star Don Johnson.
- Pitbull will host the American Music Awards.
- The Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul may be both a prequel and a sequel.
- The latest single from former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) only sold 393 copies.
- Channing Tatum isn’t the only one; Chris Pratt was also a stripper back in the day.
- There will be a reality show featuring the New Kids on the Block cruise.
- There will also be a reality show about Wahlburgers, the restaurant owned by Mark and Donnie Wahlberg.
- Donald Sutherland will star in and co-write an animated pirate movie.
- There will be a spinoff form The Conjuring, focusing on the Annabelle Doll. I’m already scared.
- A Keith Moon biopic is in the works.
- Red Sox DH David Ortiz came in third in Boston’s mayoral election.
- Justin Bieber is no longer the king of Twitter.
- Kate Mulgrew is penning a memoir.
- Oscar the Grouch and Grumpy Cat hung out. The opposite of hilarity ensued.
- SOAPnet will no longer exist after December 31st. I’ll miss my Gilmore Girls re-runs.
- The future for an Ender’s Game sequel is unclear.
- Nine Inch Nails made their U.S. network TV debut last week. It only took 25 years.
- The Onion will cease print publication.
- Glee may be ending, but Lea Michele may get her own spinoff.
- Return dates for Justified and Archer were announced.
- Lauren Manzo from Real Housewives of New Jersey is engaged.
- Martin Starr will appear on The Goldbergs.
- Lady Gaga redesigned the USA Today logo.
Trailers
- A teaser trailer for Looking on HBO.
- Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Trailer:
- Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe in Winter’s Tale:
- How I Met Your Mother is doing an all rhyming episode. Here’s a sneak peek:
- The new Robocop trailer:
- Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones:
- A Case of You with Peter Dinklage, who frankly deserves better:
A teaser trailer for Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent:
As always, we end with the supercuts and mashups:
- Cats remake The Hunger Games:
- A supercut of celebrities doing their best Matthew McConaughey impressions.
- A fake 30 for 30 trailer for the big game from Space Jam.
- I shouldn’t have found this M.C. Thor “Hammer Time” rap as funny as I did.
- Jimmy Kimmel re-cut Thor: The Dark World to be a romantic comedy (Thor Actually):
- Sherlock gets the Friends opening credits treatment:
- And finally, David Hasselhoff “sings” the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song:
If that doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.
Happy Wednesday!