There is another innocent victim in the debacle that is Randy and Evi Quaid’s life – their dog Doji.

After their arrest in Vancouver last week, Doji was impounded by the local animal shelter reports TMZ. However as per the rules of the shelter, if the dog is not claimed within 72 hours, the dog then becomes city property. At which time,  the shelter is given the right to “destroy, or sell by auction or private sale, an impounded dog.”

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

They say that good things happen to good people, and that seems to be the case when it comes to A.J. Buckley’s story.  Although the actor was born in Ireland, he was raised in Vancouver and is just as nice as any other Canadian.

Acting seems to be Buckley’s calling and after getting a start with appearances in television series like The Odyssey and X-Files and a recurring guest part on Supernatural, he landed the role of Adam Ross on CSI: NY, the scientific genius who runs the tests and delivers the facts.

Talking about his high-school science teachers, “I think they just passed me to pass me,” Buckley said, but also made it clear that it was actually his lack of real-life scientific abilities that helped him to shape his character in the early days.

He told us that from “the anxiety that I would get from the big words came this character who kind of was nervous … ‘cause in real life when I first started the show I was terrified of what I had to say and I didn’t want to lose my job.”  The nervousness translated into humour and provided a bit of comic relief for the show, which the producers liked.

“I’ve been really blessed that I’ve got to have the career that I’ve had thus far, it seems like things are just getting better,” says Buckley.  He’s humble about his success, but also made it clear that to be successful and do something that you love, you just have to go for it.

Buckley emphasized that he’s doing what he’s most passionate about in life.  “If there’s anything that you need to be, is be fearless, you have to be fearless and you have to be able to risk it all and throw it into the wind… ‘cause if it’s what you love, it’s what you have to do,” he told us.

Acting isn’t just a job for him, it’s everything.  “Since I understood what the word ‘actor’ was that’s all I wanted to do,” he said.

We also asked Buckley the most important question that needed to be answered:  Who would win in a staring contest between Mac Taylor and Horatio Caine? Buckley chose his character’s boss, saying “Mac.  Without a doubt,” adding that Horatio’s manhood would be taken away in the battle.

If you want to check out A.J. Buckley, tune into the premiere of the seventh season of CSI: NY, which airs on September 24th on CTV.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

It’s been announced by Summit Entertainment that “Twilight’s” “Breaking Dawn” shooting will take place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vancouver, British Columbia.

E! Online reports that shooting for parts one and two of the final ‘Twilight” saga begins in the fall.

Locals better get ready for a lot of paparazzi moving into their town!

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Wait, wait… Chad Kroeger has a girlfriend?

Sorry, enough jokes. Here’s the scoop.

As CHARTattack.com reports, Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger has made headlines recently for firing his housekeeper, Arlene Morris.

The firing took place just a few days before Nickelback’s Vancouver concert on June 3. Morris says that Kroeger had promised her tickets to the show for her five songs, but took the offer back after she was fired.

To add insult to injury, Morris’ 11-year-old son was so sad over the events that he wrote a letter to the Vancouver Sun newspaper.

“[Eight] months were waiting and the day is just about here when my mom gets a call,” Morris’ son wrote. “Oh wow how hard that was, she tells us the tickets were cancelled guys im sorry and not only that he fires her too.”

“Well mr CHAD KRUGER WE dont think your cool and we took your stupid picture off our rockstar wall cause you dont deserve to sit up there with john lennon, mick jagger or bob dylan,” the letter continued.

Jonathan Simkin, Nickelback’s manager, told the Vancouver Province newspaper that Morris was fired for taking Kroeger’s girlfriend’s discarded clothes - an act that Morris denies. Simkin also said that Morris was not directly employed by Kroeger, but had actually been hired by a fellow employee. That same employee was apparently the one who decided to fire her.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

andPOP’s Side B is pleased to offer fans the chance to see Plants and Animals in Victoria and Vancouver for free! You can win yourself two tickets to either their May 4th show at Sugar Nightclub in Victoria or their May 5th show at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver. P&A are touring their second LP, “La La Land”, selling out dates all across North America. This is a band you don’t want to miss.

How to enter? Easy. Follow andPOPsideB on twitter, and tweet @ us! The winners will be randomly selected, but the shows are coming up quickly – get your entry in right away!

Not sure who Plants and Animals are? Check out our interview!:

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

We hope the top brass at NBC aren’t planning on a bonus this year – because they sure do not deserve it. First they have Conan debacle which cost them a boat load of money. Now the VancouverOlympics have officially cost them even more money.

PerezHilton reports that the 2010 Vancouver Olympics cost NBC $800 Million in TV and Online rights. However at the end of the day they lost $223 Million on the entire deal.

You can thank extraordinary production costs and less than expected ad revenue for the loss. However ratings were up from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Conan O’Brien took an unexpected visit to a Vancouver, British Columbia hospital yesterday, reports TMZ.

Conan’s tour manager had to be taken to the hospital after showing “symptoms” (what kind of symptoms we don’t know).

Luckily the new TBS host was in a joking mood with the cameramen, and couldn’t help but comment about the free Canadian healthcare system. “I think they’re gonna take his American Express card … because we’re American.”

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

While it’s easy for any up-and-coming band to dream of the day they become so famous that they sell out back-to-back shows at the Air Canada Centre, the three guys of Kelowna, BC’s We Are The City have a smaller goal in mind: the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.

Seating a modest 2,688 people, the Orpheum is one of Vancouver’s most beautiful theatres, and also a definition of success for We Are The City’s Cayne McKenzie, Andy Huculiak and David Menzel.

“That would be crazy,” Andy, the band’s drummer, told andPOP at the prospect of playing the Orpheum.

“If I get to play there I will quit the band right after the show because it can’t get any better,” said Cayne, lead singer and pianist.

At this, Andy started to laugh.

Cayne turned to him and said, “You’re laughing because you think I’m joking, but…”

“No, I agree, I’ll quit the band too,” Andy interjected.

The band’s guitarist, David, agreed with a, “Me too!”

The thing is, booking (and selling out) the Orpheum is not out of the cards for these three talented artists. And if they plan on staying true to their words, that day will be a sad one for the world of music.

Though still considered babies in the “real world,” the guys in this progressive indie rock band know what they are doing – and they do it well. Andy, who just turned 20, and Cayne and David, both still 19, have been playing together since they were in Grade 10.

“We were always serious about it, we were always trying to make the best music possible,” David said. “But it only became something we really put everything into like, two and a half years ago.”

Fair enough. Three guys, two years, one dream. Sounds like just about every other group of musician hopefuls around. But there’s a kicker: last year, We Are The City entered a huge music contest organized by Vancouver’s 100.5 The Peak radio station and Music BC. Called the Peak Performance Project, the contest saw 450 BC bands compete for a top 20 spot in band boot camp, a top three cash prize, and ultimately, the top prize of $150,000.

Well, We Are The City won.

“The three of us were just so excited that we made top 20 and then camp was so awesome, the people that we met were so great and that’s what we were so stoked on,” Andy said. “And then we found out we got top three it was like, ‘Oh my goodness we’re third place?’ That was so awesome, and then the night of [the finals] was just mind-blowing.”

Since then, their lives have been a whirlwind of tours and live shows (including gigs as part of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Canadian Music Week) and surreal appearances (including the premiere of the music video for their song “Astronomers” on MuchMusic).

“So many awesome things have been happening that we were just so humbled by,” Andy said.

And humble is probably the best word to describe the band; they do not even read the reviews on their album: “Good reviews and bad reviews both fill your head really fast with either negative or positive things,” Cayne said. And despite their successes so early on in the game, We Are The City are friendly and grounded.

Their debut, In A Quiet World, is alive with emotion and true to the realities that every young adult has to face when finding their place in the world.

“You can only write about what you know about,” Cayne said. “You can only write about what’s close to your heart.”

For the guys, who all went to school together, being in the band has turned their friendship into a brotherhood. Or, as David likes say: “It’s changed from a friendship into a marriage.”

All jokes aside, their tight-knit bond is evident in every aspect of their lives, particularly the grins of “Can you believe this is real?” that pass between them onstage. We Are The City’s passion for music is undeniable; it shows in their recordings, during their live performances, and even recently, on their fingers.

“I do have a blood blister that I just found on my thumb from playing piano,” said Cayne. “My first one in my life.”

Andy and David leaned in to take a look as Andy piped up, “Rock n’ roll, man!”

Catch We Are The City here:
Mar. 16 @ Kilroy’s in Thunder Bay, ON
Mar. 24 @ SAIT in Calgary, AB
Mar. 25 @ Henotic in Lethbridge, AB
Mar. 27 @ Haven Social Club in Edmonton, AB

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

The search for Growing Pains star Andrew Koenig ended today after he was discovered dead in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

Koenig, who suffered from depression, reportedly took his own life.

The actor’s father, Walter Koenig, best known for his role as Pavel Chekov on Star Trek, made a public announcement today in a Vancouver press conference.

“We’ve already said what a great guy he was and (what) a good human being. He was obviously in a lot of pain.”

Walter Koenig wrapped up the press conference with a message to people like his son that are affected by depression.

“If you can learn anything from this, it’s that there are people out there who really care. So before you make that final decision, check it out and talk to somebody.”

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

TMZ is reporting that actor Andrew Koeing from “Growing Pains” is missing. Koeing played Boner on the ABC sitcom.

Koening was last seen a week ago when he was supposed to be on a flight back to the United States. However he did not make the flight and nobody has any information of his whereabouts.

Anybody with information should contact Detective Raymond Payette of the Vancouver Police Department at 604-717-2534.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Popularity hurts.

It only took ten seconds last night for the Olympic Alexisonfire concert in Vancouver to get shut down by chaotic fans, reports the Vancouver Sun.

The concert held in Yaletown LiveCity was brought to a fast halt after fans knocked down a barricade separating the crowd from the stage. The crowd then surged forward toward the band, injuring 20 crowd members and hospitalizing nine.

As soon as the mob rushed at the stage, the band stopped playing and the concert was promptly shut down.

“The reality of the situation is that it’s completely destroyed and it’s really dangerous and there’s an incredible amount of sharp objects up here and a lot of people got hurt when that happened,” says Alexisonfire guitarist and singer Wade MacNeil.

Organizers of the Olympic concerts are reassessing barricades to ensure that no one is injured at tonight’s musical line-up.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Kid Cudi has left Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball early, according to rollingstone.com.

He vacates his opening-act slot on Lady Gaga’s current tour just five days after punching a fan during a solo performance in Vancouver. According to an official statement, the Grammy-nominated rapper took “an early leave of absence from Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour, in order to balance his schedule surrounding the recording of his next album and acting commitments.” Cudi will also now embark on his own solo tour, which kicked off in Reno, Nevada last night.

In addition to opening for Gaga, Cudi was performing his own shows during the Monster Ball’s off-days and after-hours. Cudi’s punching incident at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on Dec. 12 was his fifth show in three days in the city. Video of the incident shows Cudi catching a wallet that was thrown at him during his performance and then throwing it back into the crowd. The audience member who caught the wallet was not the owner, so he threw it back at Cudi, who then lashed out with punches at the fan.

This is not the first time a rapper has dropped out of a tour with Gaga: her planned Fame Kills tour with Kanye West was called off at the last minute just days after the rapper interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

There is no word yet on who will replace Cudi on the Monster Ball Tour, which continues tonight in Las Vegas.

Kid Cudi’s solo tour will take him here:

Dec. 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
Dec. 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia
Dec. 27 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Dec. 31 – Miami Beach, FL @ Wet at the W Hotel
Jan. 5 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
Jan. 6 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Jan. 11 – Ann Arbor, MI @ University of Michigan
Jan. 15 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
Jan. 22 – New York, NY @ The Fillmore at Irving Plaza

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

The hilarious late night television show, The Colbert Report featuring Stephen Colbert, has a new take on the issue referred to as “Canadian Groin Kickers.” This epidemic is featured as  part of the Don’t Be an Ice-Hole campaign and the ThreatDown segment.

According to The Comedy Network, Colbert has expressed a sentiment of fear after hearing about the woman in Langley, B.C. who seems to have a fond habit of randomly kicking men in the groin. With an upcoming trip to Vancouver, it seems as though Colbert may be in the danger zone of this inexplicable hate crime.

In order to protect Colbert’s package, the Comedy Network has created and sent Colbert the “Maple Member Minder” (MMM), a described “beaver fur-lined jockstrap.” This jockstrap will ensure the safety of Colbert and his groin in Canada. In order for the product to work efficiently, the network believes the best approach for Colbert would be to test out the goods, on air.

For this to happen, fans and advocates of balls-safety are encouraged to discuss the Maple Member Minder and to write to Colbert through twitter @StephenAtHome, or email at Colbernation Forum. Canadian hospitality is not to be undermined!

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Where do Toronto Film Fest buffs, WWE RAW fanatics, free concert goers, and Maple Leaf hopefuls converge at 11:59PM on a Monday? Why Future Shop at Yonge and Dundas in down town Toronto for the midnight release of EA Sports’ NHL 10, hosted by Xbox Canada of course!

AndPOP was in tow to witness the launch of what may very well be this year’s best hockey title. In a town that loves their hockey hundreds lined up early, a pick-up street hockey game was going on across the street, and anticipation was high for the clock to strike midnight.

Fans lining up outside Future Shop. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

At the event which took place both in Toronto as well as Vancouver  Hockey stars were present to offer photo ops and autographs to fans waiting (Trevor Linden in Vancouver and Wendel Clark & Ian White in Toronto). As well, the Xbox Canada crew gave out t-shirts, lanyards, and one lucky hockey fan even walked away with an Xbox 360 Elite unit! Game stations were available for all to try out the newest NHL title and in my little time spent watching this station, I saw hockey fans, TIFF fans, concert goers, and Wrestling fans go at it complete with smack talk on the side of Yonge street.

NHL 10 producer, Sean Ramjagsingh was available for questions, and to ensure everyone would love the thrill of hockey of course.

While there, I got a chance to speak with the producer of NHL 10 Sean Ramjagsingh who filled me in on a couple of the new features in this year’s title. “This year we really tried to capture the emotion and intensity of NHL hockey, the importance of solid tough guys and really make them important, just like in real life. ” (Yes, I took that as the fighting and hitting are getting major boosts this year around) Sean also discussed the new features such as first person fighting (what I am most excited for), post whistle play, interactive and intense crowds, and the new board play feature, “you can pin guys against the board defensively or offensively, dump the puck in and be really strong against the boards, team mates will come in and support you. really changing the gameplay” says Sean, as well, with over 150 goalie animations, the revamping of the goalie specifically will really give gamers new intensity levels to deal with, especially playing online in leagues and tournaments.

Adam, the first purchaser of NHL 10 in Toronto. While you read this and wait for stores to open on the 15th, he will already be dekeing, fighting, and scoring hat tricks.

As the line proceeded into Future Shop at midnight, eager fans (as well as some passer byers) faces lit up as they stood on the escalator to be met at the top with employees welcoming and handing fans copies of the title. I was able to speak and get a photo with Adam, the first purchaser of NHL 10 to walk out of Future Shop with the game in hand and while I didn’t want to keep him from playing the game he eagerly waited for, I couldn’t help but feel the same sense of urgency to rush home and pop this bad boy into my Xbox 360. After seeing people play the game, and speaking with Mr. Ramjagsingh, I rushed home, but like any responsible reporter, work first play second. Once this writeup is over, I’m heading straight to the Xbox for some NHL 10 goodness. Well, would you look at that? writeup is over! HOCKEY TIME! (stay tuned for a full review in the near future).

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Fugitive Ryan Jenkins was found hanged in a hotel in Hope, B.C. early this morning, according to CBC News. Jenkins, a former reality-TV contestant on Megan Wants a Millionaire, was on the run from murder charges for killing his ex-wife swimsuit model Jasmine Fiore in the United States earlier this month.

Fiore’s mutilated body was found stuffed in a garbage bin in a park outside Los Angeles on Aug. 15 and was only identifiable by serial numbers on her breast implants.

The same day, Jenkins’ boat was discovered docked at a marina near the Canadian – US border close to Vancouver. The Los Angeles police contacted the RCMP and launched a widespread manhunt along the coast, and a $25,000 reward was being offered by the U.S. Marshall’s Office for any information leading to Jenkins’ capture. A man was even detained leaving a plane from Vancouver in Toronto because of a striking resemblance to Jenkins. He was released shortly after.

The RCMP released a statement they suspect Jenkins, 32, took his own life, although no further details are being released.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

The now-infamous cast of Eclipse, the Twilight sequel have been spotted throughout Vancouver where the third installment of the series is currently filming. It will be a prime time for some snooping too, as rumours have been flying about romances between a number of duos on the set.

Lead actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arrived just days ago, Stewart still clad with a mullet from her title role in the Joan Jett biopic Runaways. They were sited a few nights ago getting cozy at a Kings of Leon concert in Vancouver Aug. 15, with photos of them practically making out appearing on RadarOnline.com and Just Jared. This comes after the two attended Comic-Con, an international and now celebrity hot spot comic book convention in San Diego, where they were practically joined at the hip according to the Los Angeles Times.

Also on site in Vancouver are Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) and Xavier Howard (Riley) who have been spotted together throughout the city, although like Stewart and Pattinson, no romance has been confirmed. Bryce Dallas Howard (Victoria) invited her husband Seth Gabel and son Theodore along for the trip to the Great White North and Dakota Fanning just left after filming her scenes as the character Jane.

Eclipse has already been scheduled to hit theatres on June 30, 2010, just eight months after the release of New Moon this November, with director David Slade (30 Days of Night, Hard Candy) in charge.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

As Spears makes her way across Canada with her Circus tour, there is only one trick that can make Britney disappear from the stage; the smell of smoke.

It seems that during her show at Vancouver’s General Motors Place last week, Spears stormed off stage because the air was too smoky, according to chartattack.com. The brief pause in Spears’ set was approximately 15-20 minutes in length after which she returned to finish the show.

Rumors have been circulating that fans were smoking marijuana near the stage which prompted Spears to become agitated and storm off, but in a statement released on her website, that is not what her management is claiming.

“We want to apologize to all the fans who attended our Vancouver show tonight for the brief pause in Britney’s set,” the statement reads. “Crew members above the stage became ill due to a ventilation issue.”

Spears ended her performance with a message to fans: You were wonderful. Drive safe. Don’t smoke weed and rock out with your ***** out!”

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Thursday, Vancouver punk icons D.O.A. performed at the Horsehoe Tavern, and made their views on Canadian politics crystal clear.

According to the review on chartattack.com, frontman Joey Shithead was in favour of president-elect Barack Obama (“it’s about time”), and called Prime Minster Stephen Harper a “fuckin’ asshole.”

Otherwise, it was business as usual, with slamdancing, moshing, and favourite tracks to honour the band’s 30 years on the road.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

Oasis is extending their stay in Canada this fall with three other performances.

The band is scheduled to headling the Virgin Festival in Toronto in September. Now, pairing up with Ryan Adams, the band will play Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary in August, just before the festival.

According to their web site, advance tickets to the special shows can be purchased at ticketmaster using the password OASISINET.

Oasis will play in Seattle before flying North. It will be their first live performance together in over two years.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance

George Stroumboulopoulos is taking his “Hour” to the West coast.

From Monday to Thursday next week, Stroumboulopoulos will air live from The Roundhouse in Yaletown, Vancouver. Rocker Matt Good, former-Miss Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam, and wildlife painter Robert Bateman are among the guests who will chat with him on these special dates.

Stroumboulopoulos will follow up his trip to the West with a Holiday Musical Special, airing Christmas Eve. Paul Potts (winner of “Britain’s Got Talent”), Jully Black, crooner George Canyon, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello will all perform their unique versions of seasonal tunes. More fantastic guests are yet to be confirmed.

The Hour airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on CBC Television, 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld.

Read more at andPOP. andPOP - POP Culture with Substance