POP CULTURE

Hundreds turn out for annual Comic-Con in Fargo

Captain America, the Joker and a human-sized puppy were among the cast of characters who turned out Saturday in Fargo for the annual Comic-Con event. More than 500 people are estimated to have turned out for the third annual event that celebrates comic books and pop culture.

By Associated Press , February 24, 2013

A year for enduring pop culture icons to shine

Marilyn Monroe. The Rolling Stones. And Bond — James Bond. What do they have in common? Sure, one’s long gone, and one’s fictional. But all three marked a golden anniversary in 2012. And after a half-century in our pop-culture consciousness, they each displayed a surprisingly enduring appeal.

By Jocelyn Noveck , December 27, 2012

Smithsonian unveils more modern, diverse US history timeline

Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" have a new home with a diverse set of artifacts in a new timeline of American history that includes a piece of Plymouth Rock, a slave ship manifest, Alexander Graham Bell's telephone and Kermit the Frog at the Smithsonian Institution.

By Brett Zongker , April 15, 2012

POP CULTURE Q&A: ‘A Gifted Man’ has a shaky future

Q: One of my favorite shows is “A Gifted Man.” I hope that the most recent episode was not the last one. Please, please do not cancel it. There are so few good shows on TV anymore that don’t show all kinds of bad stuff

By Rich Heldenfels , March 20, 2012

Make room, Socrates, for Lady Gaga and Beyonce

In a music classroom on the quiet Catholic college campus, a group of students scribbled notes in the dark, their eyes intent on a 10-minute video. They then launched into a discussion of postmodernism, film and religious symbolism. On the screen? Lady Gaga’s music video for “Telephone,” featuring Beyonce. The video’s product placements, prison scenes and boyfriend killings are the point of this St. Catherine University course, titled “The Music and Image Monster: Lady Gaga in Context.” The class is one example of courses with a specific pop culture focus that are increasingly populating academia.

By Jenna Ross , March 10, 2012

POP CULTURE Q&A: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams and ‘The Notebook’

Q: Please tell me about Ryan Gosling. I saw a movie called “The Notebook” on TV and I had never heard of him or Rachel McAdams.

By Rich Heldenfels , March 06, 2012

Pop culture Q&A: Nicholas Ray movies, ‘Man Up’ down

Question: I am wondering what happened to my new favorite sitcom, “Man Up,” which aired on ABC on Tuesday nights. I thought it was excellent, but it suddenly disappeared.

By Rich Heldenfels , February 21, 2012

Pop culture Q&A: ‘Lights Out’ is out, Belzer vs. Bowzer, underwater zombies

I’d like to know if the man who plays on “Law & Order,” I think his last name is Bowzer, is the same man who sang with the group Sha Na Na.

By Rich Heldenfels , February 14, 2012

Pop culture Q&A: Madeline Stowe of “Revenge” is married to which actor?

Pop culture Q & A

By Rich Heldenfels , February 07, 2012

Pop culture Q&A: Searching for old movie titles, videos

I have been looking for a Christmas-type movie. I believe “The Red Shoes” is the title. It stars Rob Lowe and a little boy trying to buy a pair of red shoes for his dying mother. Is there a DVD or VHS that you know of?

By Rich Heldenfels , December 20, 2011

POP CULTURE Q&A: Susan Heyward, Louis Jourdan, 'The Playboy Club,' 'The Return of the Secaucus 7,' etc.'

A reader asks about a made-for-TV film that provided the final film role for Susan Hayward.

By Rich Heldenfels , December 14, 2011

POP CULTURE Q&A: Product placement pays; ‘Dallas’ revival due in 2012

At what point does an incidental prop become “product placement” for which permission is necessary?

By Rich Heldenfels , October 04, 2011

Pop culture Q&A: Who is still alive from the ‘My Three Sons’ cast?

I was watching reruns of “My Three Sons” and wondering how many of the stars were still with us like Barry and Stanley Livingston (Ernie and Chip) and Don Grady (Robbie), Tina Cole (Katie) and Dawn Lyn (Dodie) and how old are they?

By Rich Heldenfels , September 06, 2011

POP CULTURE Q&A: 'The Closer,' 'Rookie Blue,' 'Rubicon,' Marx Brothers, etc.

Also, questions about whatever happened to "The Sheriff of Cochise" and "Heroes" in case you were wondering.

By McClatchy News Service , August 23, 2011

From obscene to obscure, potentially objectionable license plates get Minnesota agency's boot

With fast-changing American vocabularies, it isn't easy to weed out the license plates letters that are odd, offensive or obscene. But that is the job of Tom Evans, Minnesota's license plate censor.

By Bob Shaw , June 13, 2011