Search Results for: blog pop culture updates harry sampson and the simpsons

TV Update—-What You Will and Won’t Be Seeing This Fall

You know you’ve hit the big time when you are asked to make a cameo on Fox network’s “The Simpsons.” At least that’s the general consensus among most of Hollywood’s elite. But, apparently, some outside the industry do not share the sentiment. Namely, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. According to news reports, the political powerhouse has turned down an invitation to visit Bart, Homer and Lisa in Springfield. Critics say the TV appearance would have helped shake the prime minister’s dour image, but alas, Brown decided against following in his predecessor Tony Blair’s footsteps and will not share a donut … Continue reading →

Harry’s Author Reveals Big Secret

Was it really a secret? Hard core Harry Potter, you should know. I mean, really, how many of you were that surprised when J.K. Rowling revealed last night that one of her main characters, Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, is gay. According to news reports, it shocked the heck out of thousands of fans who gathered to engage in a Q& A session with Rowling at Carnegie Hall Friday night. After reading portions from her final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the mega-selling author fielded questions from devoted Potter fans. One young fan asked Rowling whether Dumbledore finds “true … Continue reading →

New Adventures For Some Old Favorites

Harry’s creator has gone sleuthing. At least that’s what observers of J.K. Rowling are telling news reporters. Neighbors of the woman responsible for penning the beyond popular “Harry Potter” books is said to be working on her next potential best seller—-a detective novel. Rowling has reportedly been spotted at cafes in Scotland writing a crime fiction book. It’s familiar turf for Rowling—you’ll recall she famously wrote initial drafts of the Potter story in the Scottish city’s cafes. But, back then she was a financially strapped single mom who set up shop in the cafes to save on the heating bill … Continue reading →

Strange But True

FASHION FILES: BAN ON CROCS Like millions of other kids around the world my daughter has a pair of trendy and stylish Crocs. I swear she would wear those hot pink rubbery clogs everywhere if I’d let her. When it comes to comfort Crocs are hard to beat, which is why I was not surprised to learn that they are very popular amongst nurses. Unfortunately, when it comes to footwear, comfort isn’t winning out over safety at various Pittsburgh area hospitals. In fact, some clinics have banned their medical staff from wearing Crocs all together. One hospital in particular has … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Potpourri: Cool New Toys For Kids and Cool New Names For Babies

NEW TOYS I was beginning to feel the TV show “Lost” was some how getting lost in ABC’s primetime line-up. But it’s summer and the network is experimenting with some seasonal programs so all is not “lost” yet. According to network execs, new episodes of the show will begin airing in the fall. Until then fans of the hit show will have to make do with a new set of “Lost” action figures. Four more character replicas recently joined the first group that came out last year. Just released to stores are Sawyer (played by Josh Holloway), Jin (Daniel Dae … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Updates: Harry, Sampson and “The Simpsons”

JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY We all know by now that Harry Potter, the fictional boy wizard, is a pop culture icon. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” smashed all sales records this weekend (8.3 million copies of the book were sold in the first 24 hours). But, there’s another record the book has earned that you may not have heard about. According to the National Braille Press, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was made available to the blind at the same time sighted readers could purchase their print versions. The Boston-based publisher says that is an extremely rare occurrence … Continue reading →