pop culture news stories on Newser

Stop Picking On Sinead O'Connor

John Johnson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:59:57 CDT

Catch those new photos of Sinead O'Connor performing in Ireland? (See the video in the gallery at left for a sample.) She is, gasp, no longer the slim, bald 20-something who captivated fans, and the Internet has not been kind in pointing this out. Lay off, write Mimi Turner...

Amy Winehouse Haters, Please Save the Sanctimony

John Johnson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:00:50 CDT

Mary Elizabeth Williams has heard about enough from the holier-than-thou folks carping about Amy Winehouse coverage. You've heard it all: Winehouse got what she deserved, I told you so, or why waste time on her when people are dying in Norway, Africa, fill in the blank. "God forbid a young...

Meet Rebecca Black Pal: 'That Girl in Pink'

John Johnson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:28:31 CDT

Rebecca Black isn't the only one who got noticed in her Friday video: Her friend Benni Cinkle became an Internet sensation in her own right as "that girl in pink" dancing next to her. She's been endlessly photoshopped and turned into animated GIFs, but good luck if you're out to...

Lots of Snooty NPR Listeners Don't Get NPR

John Johnson — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:28:37 CST

Farhad Manjoo loves NPR, but he doesn't like the listeners who write in every time the network dabbles in coverage of pop culture. Maybe "doesn't like" isn't strong enough: "Oh, I hate them, hate them, hate them," he writes at Slate . These "snobby pseudo-intellectuals" think NPR should be a "high-minded...

Bieber Launches ... Nail Polish Line

Emily Rauhala — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:17:38 CDT

Justin Bieber, mop-haired heartthrob and undisputed King of Twitter , is expanding his tween empire by launching his very own ... nail polish line. The ultra-glittery 'One Less Lonely Girl' collection by OPI will debut at Wal-Mart over the holidays and then spread like Bieber Fever to Target, Sears, and Ulta stores...

'Hey Mom, I Got an A in Zombie!'

NxBigmouthery — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:34:13 CDT

Zombies may not be rising up and seeking out tasty brains, but zombie culture is. And now a University of Baltimore professor is offering an English 333 course focusing on the undead, reports the Baltimore Sun . Arnold Blumberg's class will feature studies around zombie films and comics. Students also will...

Ban Lady Gaga, Not Jewish Settlements

Kevin Spak — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:25:00 CDT

The Obama administration is making a big stink about Israeli settlements on the West Bank, but you know what causes a lot more radical anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world? Lady Gaga, argues Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal . Or, if you prefer, Madonna or Marilyn Monroe, or any...

After 20 Years, The Simpsons Is Irrelevant

Evann Gastaldo — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:49:52 CST

Today marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons , a show that has influenced everything from modern TV to the president’s speechwriter—but is now barely relevant. “There will never be another show or entertainment program as wide-reaching as The Simpsons ,” says John Ortved, author of The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized...

Rehab: How Celebs Say Sorry

Nick McMaster — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:38:00 CST

Lately, when celebs want to show contrition, they turn to rehab. Whether counseling for alcohol and drugs (take your pick) to sex addiction (Steve Phillips) to homophobia (Isaiah Washington) to domestic abuse (Chris Brown), stars see a rehab trip taking the place of a public confession. “It really is a...