December 30th, 2008
Just a day away from a brand new year! And it’s a new release Tuesday. Here’s what’s out:
Movies
1) An American Carol-Kevin Farley, Kelsey Grammer
2) Towelhead-Toni Collette, Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello
3) Surfer, Dude-Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson
TV on DVD
1) Nip/Tuck: Season 5, Part 1
2) Kyle XY: Season 2
3) Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored
BIGGEST TOURS OF 2008
1)Madonna: Her North America Sticky & Sweet tour raked in more than $105 million in ticket sales. On a worldwide scale, the tour grossed more than $280 million — making it the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist. She broke her old record of $195 million for her 2006 Confessions tour.
2) Celine Dion
3) Eagles
4) Kenny Chesney
5) Bon Jovi
6) Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
7) Neil Diamond
8 ) Rascal Flatts
9) The Police
10) Tina Turner
AFI NAMES 2008’s ‘MOST SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS’ IN FILM, TV AND THE WEB
The American Film Institute, famous for its lists of the best movies in various categories, has come up with what it calls 2008’s “Moments of Significance in Film, TV and the Web.” Topping the list is British director Danny Boyle’s acclaimed Hollywood-meets-Bollywood indie film Slumdog Millionaire, which AFI cited for being “a monument to the possibilities of cross-cultural storytelling.” Other moments of significance singled out by AFI include:
*Tina Fey’s double-duty as Emmy-winning writer/co-star of NBC’s 30 Rock and hilarious Sarah Palin impersonator on Saturday Night Live.
*Television coverage of the presidential race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
*NBC’s coverage of the Beijing Summer Olympics and the network’s decision to install departing Tonight Show host Jay Leno into its 10 p.m. weeknight slot.
*Fast-growing website Hulu, a joint venture between various networks and film studios offering video of many popular shows.
*Joss Whedon’s surprise online hit, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, a 43-minute musical comedy starring Neil Patrick Harris.
*The endangered nature of independent filmmaking after major studios closed down specialty divisions such as Paramount Vantage, Warner Independent and New Line Cinema.
*The dwindling influence of mainstream media film critics caused by layoffs at big-name publications like Time, Newsweek and The Village Voice.
The American Film Institute’s “Moments of Significance” was chosen by a 13-person jury comprising scholars, film artists, critics and AFI trustees. The organization will officially recognize the moments in a January 9th ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
NEW YEAR’S EVE SUPERSTITIONS (This comes from snopes.com)
1) Kissing at midnight: Nobody to kiss as we ring in the New Year means a sad and lonely next 12 months.
2) Stocking up: Some people make sure there’s plenty of food and cash in the house to invite that prosperity for the rest of the year.
3) Paying off bills: This isn’t really a bad idea, but the superstition is that if you settle your debts before the New Year arrives you’ll stay out of debt for the rest of the year.
4) First footing: The first person to enter your home should be a dark-haired, tall, and good-looking male, who ideally should be bearing small gifts such as a lump of coal, a bit of bread, a silver coin, or a sprig of evergreen. Blond and red-headed first footers are bad luck, and females bring ruin on a household. The first-footer should knock and be let in, not use a key. He should leave by a different door, and be the first one out.
5) Nothing leaves the house: On New Year’s Day, don’t even think about taking out the garbage or even shaking a rug out of the door. If you have presents to deliver, leave them in the car the night before. More lenient people say it’s okay to take stuff out as long as you bring something new in.
6) Have some lucky food: Lucky dishes to bring prosperity include black-eyed peas, lentil soup, and pork (a chicken scratches backward, a cow stands still, but pigs move forward). Poultry should be avoided unless you want to spend the rest of your year scratching the ground for food like they do.
7) Work: Do a little bit of work the first day, but don’t do more than a token amount or you’ll bring bad luck.
8 ) New Clothes: Wear something new to increase the likelihood you’ll be getting new garments the rest of the year.
9) Money: Once it’s New Year’s Day, don’t pay back loans or lend money to anyone. If you do, you’ll be paying out all year long.
10) Breaking stuff: Make sure not to break anything on New Year’s Day or you’ll have bad luck all year long. Be careful not to cry either or you’ll have a very sad year.
Movie Clip Trivia Answer: Wild Hogs