andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

andPOP was at the Canadian premiere of the highly anticipated “Inglourious Basterds,” the latest Quentin Tarantino film. The director himself was present along with Eli Roth, who plays Sgt. Donny Donowitz in the war movie.

The event took place on Aug. 12 at the Scotiabank theatre in Toronto and featured two World War II vehicles mounted with models dressed in ‘40s attire. Hundreds of fans lined the street of the theatre to catch a glimpse of the director and a star of his film.

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The stars of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” brought a little Hollywood glitz and glamour to Tempe, Arizona as they attended the world premiere screening of the movie on Monday.

The city won the right to host the world premiere via an online voting contest sponsored by Twentieth Century Fox.

According to the Arizona Republic, thousands of people – many of whom camped out the night before – showed up for the event at the Harkins Tempe Marketplace theatre.

Jackman arrived at the premiere in style, riding in on a Harley Davidson motorbike in a nod to his mutant counterpart. He was also presented with a “Wolverine Parking Only” placard from the mayor of Tempe, Hugh Hallman, who proclaimed the day “X-Men Day.”

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The eclectic new cast of “Dancing With The Stars” was announced yesterday, featuring everyone from young R&B artists to infamous figure skaters.

The men in the running are comedian Adam Carolla, Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, “Police Academy” star Steve Guttenberg, 21-year-old Grammy nominee Mario, illusionist Penn Jillette and NFL star player Jason Taylor. Lovely ladies Priscilla Presley, “American Pie” actress Shannon Elizabeth, Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, the original “Tracy Turnblad” Marissa Jaret Winokur, tennis champ Monica Seles and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin will also tear it up on the dance floor.

Stars will be paired up with their professional dancer partners this morning, and fans will get to see them in action on March 17. They’ll have to prove themselves right away, as the March 25 episode will be a double elimination – the first in “Dancing with the Stars” history.

The new trailer for Beowulf, one of Hollywood’s most anticipated epic films, went live on Apple.com yesterday.

The family friendly preview (as well as the provocative restriced version) are just the beginning of the buzz for the film, slated for release November 16.

“Scene Unseen Movie Reviews” has been conducting weekly podcasts for the Robert Zemeckis film that will continue up until the film’s release. Hosts Chris and Jimmy interview cast and crew members, discuss behind-the-scenes stories, and dish the dirt on this medieval movie.

With a star studded cast including Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, and Angelina Jolie, Beowulf will surely heat up the holiday season.

To learn more about the legendary battle of Beowulf and Grendel, and to hear from your favourite stars, check out the remaining seven podcasts:

9/24: Crispin Glover
10/8: Brendan Gleeson
10/15: Doug Chiang
10/22: Roger Avary & Neil Gaiman
10/29: Ray Winstone
11/5: Angelina Jolie
11/12: Robert Zemeckis

This television season?s biggest mystery: Who is Gossip Girl?

Savvy fans will recognize Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, as the all-knowing voice behind Gossip Girl?s biting narration. Based on the best-selling series by Cecily von Ziegesar, the identity of Gossip Girl is never revealed, while she spills all the secrets of the most popular students at a posh Manhattan prep school on her web site.

Helmed by the acclaimed creators of The O.C., Josh Schwartz and Canadian Stephanie Savage, Gossip Girl promises to be every bit as fresh and juicy as viewers came to expect from The O.C., with some Sex and the City flair and a hip soundtrack.

But Gossip Girl?s drama is on a whole new level than the Cohen family ever dealt with. The pilot, airing at 8 p.m. ET tonight, focuses on the sudden return of Serena Van der Woodsen (Blake Lively, Accepted), whose self-imposed exile to boarding school was at the centre of a falling out with her best friend, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester, Entourage). While Blair has enjoyed her time as reigning social queen, Serena?s arrival threatens to take away her spotlight – and the affections of her boyfriend, Nate (Chace Crawford, The Covenant).

One person who is pleased to see Serena is Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley, The Bedford Diaries), an outcast at school because of his middle-class background who only has eyes for her. His freshman sister, Jenny (Taylor Momsen, How the Grinch Stole Christmas), is desperate to be accepted and is thrilled by the attentions of bad boy Chuck Bass (Ed Westick, Children of Men).

And of course, every last scandalous detail is provided to the members of this elite and vicious circle via Gossip Girl?s up-to-the-minute messages to their Sidekicks.

You know you love it.

Gossip Girl will settle into its regular timeslot next Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.