The Great Gatsby Trailer!

One of my favorite books ever is The Great Gatsby, set in New York City in 1925. While it already has been made into a film, director extraordinaire Baz Luhrman decided in early 2011 to take a more modern stab at the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic. Insert Toby McGuire, Carey Mulligan, and, wonderfully, Leonardo DiCaprio, and there is little room to do the book injustice.

Finally, the trailer has arrived! Here is our first look at the spectacular remake of The Great Gatsby.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20597788,00.html

The movie will hit theatres on Christmas day.

Musical Tidbits!

There's a lot going on in music right now! Here are several headlines:

• British boy bands One Direction and The Wanted might consider a collaboration! What a great way to cash in on American musical anglophilia while its still hot. I, personally, think that they should try an NKOTBSB-style tour, minus the decade of irrelevance prior-to. http://perezhilton.com/2012-05-22-the-wanted-want-to-collaborate-with-one-direction-charity-single

• Kelly Clarkson claims that her composing creativity is squashed by her boyfriend! How about writing a sweet song about true love rather than rough-and-tough breakupsong for once, Miss Kelly?

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20597347,00.html

• Jay-Z thought that when his daughter, Blue Ivy, was born, he would be so inspired that he would write new songs all the time. But now that she is here, the last thing he wants to do is spend time away from her composing. We may have to wait until she becomes a bratty pre-teen to get another album out of him. http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice#/column/the-juice/jay-z-puts-new-music-on-hold-to-hang-out-1007050352.story

We all know by now that Mark Zuckerberg got married this weekend, but did you know that Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong sang at the reception? Here are some other celebrity musicians who performed at other celebrities' weddings. Personal favorite? Ellie Goulding at last year's royal wedding. http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/05/21/mark-zuckerberg-wedding-billie-joe-armstrong-green-day/

Teen Wolf: THE FIRST TEN MINUTES!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted the trailer for season 2 of everyone's summer favorite, Teen Wolf. Finally, MTV has released the first ten minutes of the first episode! You can catch the video here: http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/770102/the-first-10-minutes.jhtml#series=2214&seriesId=31789&channelId=1&id=1685308 (I dare you to watch it just once!)

Some quick thoughts:

• What happened to Jackson? Who bit him, when, and why? 
• If it was hard for Scott and Alison to avoid her father before, it is going to be even more difficult now that he knows the truth about Scott and is out for his head. How much stress will this put on their relationship?
• How cute is Stiles, staying at the hospital all weekend with Lydia?
• When she was in the shower, I though Lydia was just bleeding from an open wound and shedding hair or something. But was that some kind of CREATURE coming out of the shower drain? (Also, again, I love how adorable Stiles was, attempting to come to her rescue ASAP).
• How cool is it that Scott can identify Lydia's screams? Must be part of the wolf-powers.

June 3rd cannot come fast enough!

The Top Ten Movies of the Millenium (So Far)

What are the best movies of the 21st century?

Well, Time magazine asked itself that question, and came back with ten answers. You can find them here: http://entertainment.time.com/2012/05/17/top-10-movies-of-the-millennium/?iid=ent-main-mostpop1#the-artist-2011

I am sad to say that I have only seen two of the films (The Artist and Avatar), but the rest I am adding to my summer-watch list. Still, I feel like there are some movies the left off the list. The biggest snubs, in my opinion? Slumdog Millionaire and Finding Nemo.

Keeping Up With the Kardashians Returns!

If you read my earlier post, I ditched the Billboard Music Awards last night to watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians. And while nothing of true worth happened on Keeping Up, I was much more invested in that than my half-hour of the BBMAs.

Here are my thoughts:

• We have now dragged out the Khole's Paternity storyline accross several episodes of two Kardashian programs. I am now sick of it. Let's move on.
• I loved how Kim said something non-chalantly about "going through a divorce" in the begining of the episode, and that was it. That is probably all we will hear about it for the rest of the season.
• And speaking of Kim, how can she say she feels left out by Kourtney and Khloe? I am sure they felt left out of her spotlight all the time!
• Why is Bruce storyline always about him being ignored? I secretly love the poor guy, and his bromance with Scott.
• Now that Kourtney is having a girl, will she have to give her a name that starts with K? Are there any left?
• I love how mature Rob is becoming now that he moved out of Khloe and Lamar's. Buying a house? Welcome to adulthood!
• I actually felt really bad for Kylie when she admitted that she was having trouble in Chemistry because she works too much. Then I remembered that her phone was just clawed from her hands because she was texting so much, when she could have been doing her homework. I stopped feeling bad.

If you missed the episode, you can catch a full recap here: http://www.realitywanted.com/newsitem/5415-keeping-up-with-the-kardashians-season-7-episode-1-recap

Billboard Music Awards: I Didn't Watch, but Luckily EW Did

Well, the tilte is a half-lie. I watched half-an-hour of the Billboard Music Awards (Julie and Ty are so funny! The Wanted is so amazingly attractive! Taylor Swift is still pretending that she has NO idea that she is winning an award! What on earth is Miley Cyrus (not) wearing?) before switching over to Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Luckily, someone at Entertainment Weekly stayed tuned in, and listed all the highlights here: http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/05/21/2012-billboard-music-awards/.

One thing that they didn't mention on that list that I discovered through outside research? Justin Beiber took a highschooler, who had asked him to her prom numerous times via twitter but never got a yes, as his date. That crappy B-list award show was probably the best night of her life.

Summer 2012 Movies!

                       

It is only May, and some of the most anticipated "summer movies" have already premiered: The Avengers, Battleship, Dark Shadows... But what is left for the next three months??? 

For all the movies to see from now until September, check out IMBD's list of the Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2012 here: http://www.imdb.com/list/3AW298Hr9Lw/.

I am personally most excited for The Amazing Spiderman! I have been waiting for that movie for more than a year, and, as a true Spidey fan, it is getting really hard to wait until July! 

What are you looking forward to seeing this summer in theatres?

The Best Television Fashion of the Season!

One of the best parts of television is the fashion statments!

Entertainment Weekly and Instyle have put together an excellent album of the greatest fashion moments of the 2011-2012 television season for our enjoyment. You can find it here: http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20596528,00.html

My favorites? Elena's beautiful ballgown from The Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time fairytale garb, Beckett's fabulous jackets on Castle, and, best of all, the masquerade ballgowns from the season finale of Pretty Little Liars!  Oh, how I wish I was an actress on one of those shows...

New Show PICTURES: the CW

Of course, the CW has left us with only photos and descriptions, no real trailers. Bummer! Still, here are some highlights:

  Ever wanted to know how Carrie Bradshaw became Carrie Bradshaw?? The Carrie Diaries, based on the popular young adult book, will tell you just that! The perfectly-casted Anna Sophia Robb plays 16-year-old Carrie in 1984 Connecticut suburbia, just as she gets an internship in Manhattan! I cannot wait to watch this show!

 Despite the title, Beauty and the Beast seems far off from the actual fairy tale. While the plot line is certainly a reflection, this is no Once Upon a time: it is the story of a homicide detective and the man? beast? who saved her life. It will take the time slot of the now-canceled Secret Circle, airing after the Vampire Diaries, which is sure to bring in some viewers.

Are you excited to watch The Carrie Diaries or Beauty and the Beast??

Keeping Up with the Kardashians--and Kanye!

Look who has finally arrived!

After months of tabloid speculation and question-dashing, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are making it official! Well, somewhat. I would call inviting a guy to be in your reality show serious, wouldn't you?

Well, this mini teaser of the new season of Keeping Up with the Kardashing begs that question!  And many others as well, but you know that Kimye is the most important part (though I am excited to see Kourtney's new little baby!!).

http://www.hollywire.com/2012/05/hot-vid-first-glimpse-kanye-west-new-keeping-kardashians-trailer?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hollywire+%28Partner+Feed+-+Hollywire%29

Who else is mega-excited for this new season?

New Show Trailers: ABC

It seems that ABC has the most new shows slated for next season! Still, few look intersting, so let's just talk about one.

Nashville: Friday Night Light's Connie Britton is once again jumping to a drastically different show (last season she was on American Horror Story), and this time she plays an older country star competing for fame against the young, Taylor Swift-like Hayden Penettiere's character. Kind of like Country Strong: television style. I just don't see it lasting, as much as I love both actresses... but I cannot pinpoint why. Maybe it is because I watched Country Strong, and hated it.

You can find Nashville here: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/nashville

New Show Trailers: Fox

Now it is time to chat about the new shows that will premire this Fall on Fox, alongside favorites like "Glee" and "Bones".

After reading Mindy Kalling's book "Is Everyone Hanging Out with Me?", I am so excited to see her brand of humor on "The Mindy Project". Despite the terrible title, I have high hopes for the show about a female doctor lacking any knowledge of what she wants in the near or distant future. It looks like a weekly rom-com: hysterical, adorable, relatable, and inviting, even if it is deviod of any depth.

The Goodwin Games is such an interesting, humorous concept! But really, I am excited because it means that Becki Newton will be too busy filming this show to stick around on How I Met Your Mother! (Sorry for the reference if you don't watch the show-but you should!)

And as morbid as it sounds, America has an odd fascination with fictional murder dramas. Throw in Kevin Bacon? It seems like Fox may have the most enticing drama on television on its hands. However, the trailer makes it play out more like a movie than a television show. Will it work well in weekly installments?

Check out all the new Fox trailers here!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/the-mindy-project-fox-new-show-trailers_n_1516236.html

New Show Trailers: NBC

We have a couple of months before the new fall television season starts (I am still getting over the finales of the most recent seasons!), but it is early enough for the new shows to release trailers to amp up some pre-excitment.

I thought it would be fun to give a quick opinion about some of them in these blog posts, going by network. Lets start with NBC!

Guys with Kids is one of those funny-commercial-but-obviously-unfunny-in-general shows. Bummer, because Jimmy Fallon, one of my favorites, is producer! Good idea, bad execution. I'll give it two months.
http://www.nbc.com/guys-with-kids/

Revolution is supposedly the golden torch that will lead NBC to 2012-2013 gold, but I see too many similarities to Fox's now-defunct Terra Nova: a good idea (a global electric blackout) taken too far and too complex to keep fans interests for too long.
http://www.nbc.com/revolution/

I know that I am only part of the legion that wants to see Matthew Perry FINALLY find a successful show. Go On, a show about group therapy, may just be that, as long as it stays out of insulting humor territory.
http://www.nbc.com/go-on/

And finally, lets chat about Chicago Fire for a moment: hot firemen. Thats all I really need to say.
http://www.nbc.com/chicago-fire/

Welcome to the X-Factor, Britney!

I was so excited to read this article today!

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-05/D9UMGCF00.htm

After months of rumors, the favorite singer of my childhood has reportedly signed a deal to be a judge on British singing-competition crossover program "The X-Factor"!
After several years of attempting a "comeback", I can imagine no better job for Spears than this! She will get the media exposure, opportunities to showcase her talents, and the chance to help aspiring artists.
Who knew Simon Cowell could make such a smart judging decision?

Show Renewals!

ABC and NBC recently renewed a number of their current programs!

You can find ABC's here:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/10/abc-renews-revenge-modern-family-greys-anatomy-more/
and NBC's here:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/10/nbc-renews-parenthood-30-rock/

My personal favorite renewals? NBC's "Parenthood" was previously considered an at-risk show after low viewership this past season, but I am so glad that the wonderfully-acted family drama is returning for another season. I also can't wait for the returns of my two favorite new dramas, "Once Upon a Time" and "Revenge", and am so excited that "Castle" will stick around for a fifth season! While it was smart to keep "Grey's Anatomy" and "30 Rock" around for one more season each, I firmly believe that it will be their last.

Next television season will be a great one to be a couch potato!

MTV and Russel Brand: Repeating the Same Mistake

When will MTV learn?

After two Russel Brand MTV Video Music Awards hosting gigs, both filled with offensive rants and thousands of dollars worth of live cursing to pay for, you would think that the mega media company would be smart and let the British comedian (recently divorced from pop-star Katy Perry) remain unemployed.

He has not hosted an MTV show since 2009, and we all expected it to remain that way. Until, recently, MTV announced that Brand would host their upcoming Movie Awards. In light of his recent divorce drama, is this a good idea?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2142658/Russell-Brand-host-MTV-Movie-Awards--estranged-wife-Katy-Perry-attend.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Don't get me wrong; I think Brand is hysterical. I loved his past two hosting gigs. But I was one of the few.

Will Brand learn from his past hosting gig mistakes? Is MTV just hoping for a ratings spike after this publicity? Will Katy Perry still show up?

Summer 2012 Music

It is May, which means that summer is right around the corner... and so is summer music. Last year, LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" ruled as the summer chart-toppers, though they were expected to hit summer nirvana as early as late April. This year, the song possibilities are less obvious, but Jason Goldberg of the Cornell Daily Sun has made his predictions. His playlist includes current hits like "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia and "Payphone" by Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa, as well as unexpected tracks like "Let it Go" by Dragonette. And he does not forget the yet-to-hit-the-airway singles, like Katy Perry's "Dressin' Up" and "Naked" by DEV and Enrique Iglesias.

http://cornellsun.com/node/51464

So, here are my questions: Will Gotye's "Somebody that I Used to Know" not be super-annoying by summer, even if it is remixed? Can Minaj reign summer-supreme once again with "Pound the Alarm"? Will Ke$ha, infact, make a suprise return to the airwaves this summer in a, "whirlwind of glitter, tequila and body odor"?

I guess we will not know until September comes and we see what songs we are super-sick of from several months of overplayment.

Miley's Movie Crashes

http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/75325/Miley-Cyrus-Demi-Moore-Are-Box-Office-Disaster

"LOL", a movie starring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore, opened in theatres last weekend. I am sure this is the first time you have heard of this.

The movie was actually filmed in 2010, then put on the backburner for a year. And the backburner scorched the movie like a piece of bread left in the toaster for an hour.

Had they released "LOL" while the paparazzi shots of Miley filming were still fresh, maybe the movie would have had a chance. Instead, they waited until the tabloid information about the movie dissapeared, and Demi Moore went through her divorce and left for rehab.

Then, when the movie company finally got around to releasing the film, they made virtually no publicity efforts. Not a good idea for a movie that needs all the help it can get.

Consequently, the movie bombed in the box office. Better luck with the DVD release!

Teen Wolf Season 2 Trailer

The Summer hit of 2011 returns June 3rd, and the much awaited MTV program has been very secretive with their high-profile sophomore season--until now. After only releasing spoiler-less photos and a mini-trailer with no show footage since the season one finale, show execs finally released a full trailer!
http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/765386/teen-wolf-season-2-trailer.jhtml

Even better, execs promise that when the video reaches 15 million views, they will release the first 10 minutes of the season two premire episode!

So what do you think? What is going on with Jackson? How will Allison's grandfather play into everything?  Let me know in the comments below!

Castle: Season 4 Finale

As a long-time fan of ABC's primetime dramedy "Castle", I have spent four long seasons asking if NYPD murder detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and her bumblingly adorable novelist-sidekick Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) will ever get together. When Fillion told Jimmy Fallon on his show that our questions will be answered in the season four finale, I nearly jumped for joy. When I saw this trailer, I could barely wait for Monday's episdoe.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/05/04/castle-season-finale-clip-am-et/

Still, I am skeptical. The show writers have thrown us for loops before, even when trailers made it seem clear what was going to happen.

Nonetheless, Castle always delivers a great season finale. I cannot wait to watch tonight (Monday)!

Welcome to Pop Culture Kernels!

Welcome to Pop Culture Kernels! For those days where you are just too busy to hunt through the magazines and websites, I'll do all the hard work for you, and comment on only the most important of stories right here. I am right on trend with the hottest movies, books, television shows, music, and more, and I have no problem giving my 100% honest opinions on them. Consider this your one-stop-shop for all things entertainment!