Category Archives: Popular Culture

From celebrity watch to quirky things in the news, we have something to say about it here at the Families.com Popular Culture Blog.

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 3

Not even halfway through 2012, and there’s already been a lot of celebrities we’ve lost this year.  Here’s some more: May 2012 2 – Patricia Medina – Natural Causes (92) Medina appeared in many films in the ‘40s and ‘50s including Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, Plunder in the Sun, Fortunes of Captain Blood, and Phantom of the Rue Morgue. 2 – Junior Seau – Suicide (43) Seau was an NFL linebacker who played for the San Diego Chargers, the Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots.  He was elected to the All-Pro ten times, the Pro Bowl … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 2

More of the people we lost in 2012: March 2012 5 – Robert B. Sherman – Natural Causes (86) Songwriter Sherman wrote “It’s a Small World (After All)” and penned songs for other musicals including Mary Poppins, Charlotte’s Web, The Jungle Book, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 11 – Michael Hossack – Cancer (64) Hossack was the drummer for the Doobie Brothers, appearing on eleven of the band’s albums. 29 – Ronnie Montrose – Suicide (64) Montrose was a guitarist who had played with such acts as Sammy Hagar, Johnny Winter, Boz Scaggs, Van Morrison, and Sammy Hagar.  At the … Continue reading →

In Memoriam 2012 – Part 1

It’s that time of the year again – to reflect on those we have lost.  Some deaths might have been expected, but many came as a shock to us.  Either way, all will be missed. January 2012 1 – Etta James – Leukemia (73) James had a beautiful voice and was lucky enough to see it appreciated by a whole new generation when songs such as “At Last” became popular again in the 2000’s.  James won six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards.  Her music crossed genres as she was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame … Continue reading →

Dave Hester’s Out on ‘Storage Wars’

My 8-year-old loves “Storage Wars,” the A&E reality show that follows around people who bid on storage units being auctioned off for lack of payment by the owners.  He wears his fake teeth and calls himself Barry (after Barry Weiss, one of the regulars on the show who wore fake teeth in one episode to “disguise” himself).  He also runs around the room yelling “Yuuup,” which is what Dave Hester, another show regular, says when he bids on the storage units. At least Hester used to be a regular.  My son will probably be devastated because Hester has been let … Continue reading →

Hector “Macho” Camacho Dies

It’s not normally a sport girls like to watch a lot, but over the years, I’ve enjoying watching boxing from time to time and kept up with the bigger names in the sport. That’s why last Tuesday, when I learned Hector “Macho” Camacho was shot in the head in Puerto Rico, I was saddened. I remember watching Camacho, a Puerto Rican native, in the ring with his long, flashy trunks. His ring entrances were equally as flashy. Once, he came in dresses as a Roman warrior, including armor, once, he had a black mask on with a trunk that looked … Continue reading →

Larry Hagman Dies at 81

Actor Larry Hagman passed away yesterday due to complications from throat cancer. He was 81. If you are close to my age (49), you may remember first seeing Hagman as Capt. Tony Nelson in “I Dream of Jeannie,” a slightly dumb, but popular show that ran from 1965 until 1970. Before that, he had appeared on television in shows such as “Sea Hunt” and “The Defenders,” but it was really “I Dream of Jeannie” that put Hagman on the map. After “Jeannie” ended, Hagman bounced around television, appearing in “Ellery Queen,” “Barnaby Jones,” and “The Rockford Files” while starring in … Continue reading →

What if O.J. Didn’t Do It?

Surely you remember the ‘90s circus that was the O.J. Simpson murder trial. The infamous white Bronco freeway chase that lasted an hour and a half and was watched by most of America. The glove and Johnnie Cockran’s famous “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit” statement. The racist remarks made by LAPD officer Mark Fuhrmann. The acquittal followed by the guilty verdict in the civil suit of the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Then, the book that Simpson wrote titled “If I Did It.” What gall, what arrogance…what…if he didn’t do it? (This image is a … Continue reading →

The Voice of Elmo is Silenced

Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, has resigned from “Sesame Street.” But, it was not entirely voluntarily. (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.) In case you haven’t been keeping up with the news, Clash has found himself in the middle of not one, but two underage sex scandals. The first case broke a little over a week ago when a 23-year-old man reportedly contacted Sesame Workshop bigwigs with the news that the 52-year-old puppeteer had engaged in a sexual relationship with him when the accuser was only 16. On November 12th, the news came … Continue reading →

The Strike that Killed Twinkies

I woke up this morning in a good mood. I had been fighting off allergies or a cold, but I slept well last night. I happily came into work, looking forward to the weekend, the short workweek, and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Then, the unimaginable happened. I logged into Facebook and saw that Hostess is shutting down. In case you aren’t aware, Hostess Brands, Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of bakery goods in the U.S. They are the makers of Wonder Bread, Ding Dongs, Nature’s Pride (I love that bread!), Ho Ho’s, Sno Balls (which I never liked – … Continue reading →

Channing Tatum Named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive

Last year, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive title went to Bradley Cooper but not without much hullabaloo from fans of Ryan Gosling. In fact, there was speculation this year that maybe Gosling would receive the title. But, no, this year is all about Channing Tatum and today, he was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive. Tatum has starred in four movies this year – Haywire, The Vow, 21 Jump Street, and Magic Mike, which have grossed over $589 million worldwide. Magic Mike was made for only $7 million and grossed $158.9 million alone, making it the highest grossing movie under the Dance … Continue reading →