andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Reports are surfacing that Jessica Simpson has been having meetings with the top brass at Fox about becoming a judge on “American Idol.”

TMZ reports that producers are desperate to find a replacement for Simon Cowell, and Jessica could be an ideal fit. In theory, she does make sense as a replacement. She has experience in reality TV and of course is a music business veteran. The question remaining is if she has the star power to turn around “American Idol’s” dismal ratings.

However the show needs a hard ass now that Cowell is leaving. Jessica is a nice and sensitive girl. She isn’t going to tell anybody that they suck!

An official announcement will be made in September.

Steve Carell will be leaving his post as Michael Scott on NBC’s hit show “The Office” after the upcoming season. When asked last night by Craig Ferguson why he was leaving, Carell explained he didn’t know the answer. He later rebuffed saying it was to spend more time with his family.

“Honestly, to spend more time with my family,” said the actor. Ferguson replied, “That’s usually what politicians say when they’re caught doing something with their pee-pees … He says, ‘Well, I’m retiring, but not because of what you think — just to spend a little more time with my family.’

Definitely the show will be different without the legendary Michael Scott. Anybody have any views on how writers will get rid of the Michael Scott character?

The custody battle is officially over between Jon and Kate Gosselin, and it is believed this new arrangement is in the best interest of the children.

TMZ reports that the couple have reached a settlement agreement, however the terms are sealed by the court. A source familiar with the situation says “An official agreement between Jon and Kate has been reached and they will be working together for the benefit of their children.”

In April Jon requested primary custody of the children and lessened child support obligations. However because of the confidential terms of the agreement, we aren’t sure the type of deal he was able to work out.

Charlie Sheen should be back at work filming “Two and a Half Men” reports TMZ. Initially there were fears he would miss next week’s filming due to his criminal case.

Charlie has a hearing to discuss a plea bargain on August 2nd. The production team has been assured everything should go to plan, and Charlie should be back at work August 6th. Therefore, he should not miss a single taping for next season.

Daytime TV will make history on Tuesday with President Barack Obama appearing as a guest on ABC’s “The View.”

PopEater reports this is a landmark event as its the first time a sitting U.S. President has appeared on a daytime talk show. Barbara Walters announced that the topics will include jobs, the economy, the Gulf oil spill and family life inside the White House.

The last time Obama appeared on the show was in March 2008 as a U.S. Senator. Obama will be interviewed by Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd.

We are lucky to live in Canada. Free healthcare, democracy, hockey and awesome music! The andFRIENDS tour going on right now is highlighting some of those amazing bands. Low Level Flight, Robyn Dell’Unto, Whale Tooth, Fox Jaws, Everlea, The Balconies, Amos the Transparent, and Crush Luther is the lineup we have put together. We spoke with Crush Luther about the andFRIENDS tour along with life on the road. You can also receive more info about the tour at http://www.andpop.com/the-andfriends-tour/

A Kings of Leon concert was shut down Friday night in St. Louis after pigeons started crapping on the band, reports CNN.

“Jared [Followill, the band's bassist] was hit several times during the first two songs,” said Andy Mendelsohn of Vector Management. “It’s not only disgusting – it’s a toxic health hazard. They really tried to hang in there.”

“I was hit by pigeons on each of the first three songs,” said the musician and self-professed germophobe. “We had 20 songs on the set list. By the end of the show, I would have been covered from head to toe.”

After the cancelation, the band issued a statement via their publicist. “We want to apologize to our fans in St. Louis and will come back as soon as we can.” Added the band’s publicist, “No fans got pooped on as far as we know.”

It has been confirmed that Brad Pitt will be starring in an adaptation of Max Brooks’ zombie novel World War Z.  As E! Online reports, Max Brooks made the confirmation at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Though the details are slim at the moment, some key roles have been filled.  Brad’s company, Plan B Entertainment, has also secured the rights for the production and any sequels that might follow this picture and Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) is slated to direct.

If you haven’t read the book, the publisher’s website has a short synopsis:  “The end was near.  Zombies were taking over.  They were infiltrating ever corner the world.  No neutral ground existed, no nation was secure, and we were in serious danger of becoming extinct – overrun by hordes of the living dead.”

They’re hoping for a 2012 release, so maybe this is what was meant by predicting the end of the world!

Actor Chris Klein, who is most well known for his role in the American Pie movies, had a date in court Friday to be arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty.  RadarOnline reports that the actor wasn’t present though, and instead sent his lawyer, Blair Berk, to tell the judge on his behalf what his plea would be.

Following his June 16 arrest, Klein checked himself into a 30-day alcohol rehab program at Cirque Lodge in Utah, a facility that has seen the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Mary-Kate Olsen.

The actor was charged with two misdemeanors, one count of DUI with a prior and also driving with a .08 blood alcohol level or higher.  His plea says it all, he doesn’t want to end up in jail and is set to fight the charges with the same lawyer who represents the one and only Mel Gibson.

Klein’s pretrial date is set for August 23rd, when he’ll likely have to show up.

Yes, the seventh film of the Saw franchise will be the last one released.  After $730 million made box offices worldwide, around 30 million DVD’s sold, and a whole lot of booby traps, the series of horror movies will come to close when Saw VII 3D is released later this year.

“It’s time to stop,” producer Oren Koules told USA Today.  “We have told the story we wanted to tell, and this is going to be a great farewell.”

The seventh instalment of the Saw series is said to be the most gruesome, but they managed to dodge the NC-17 rating and settled with an R.  Commenting on the rating, producer Mark Burg said “I’m surprised we got it,” continuing, “it’s more violent than any of them. But it’s in 3-D, it answers all the questions, it comes full circle. We have the goods on this one.”

Director James Wan’s first Saw film was produced for $1 million, filmed in 17 days, and made an outstanding $55 million, making the all of the following films possible.  With the boundary-pushing gruesome content, it should come as no surprise that there are people who detest the films entirely.

Tobin Bell, who plays Jigsaw in the films, has a simple answer to those kinds of comments though.  “If people don’t want to look at certain things, they shouldn’t go,” he says.  “You can say what you want about it, but Saw fans have loved and supported it every year. We must have been doing something right.”

Saw VII 3D will be released on October 29.