Tag: Pop Culture

The Takeaway

Chuck Klosterman on 'The Visible Man'

Friday, October 07, 2011

Chuck Klosterman has his finger on the pulse of contemporary American life. His essays and novels examine not only sports and pop culture, but also what the most popular athletes, music, movies and Internet obsessions say about who Americans are. Klosterman’s new book, "The Visible Man" is a novel about a therapist and her extraordinary patient, a man who claims he’s perfected the art of invisibility.

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The Takeaway

Your Take: Too Much TV

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

New Nielson data says that Americans watch an average of 34 hours of television per week. Is it time to re-think your priorities if you watch television for almost the same amount of time as you spend at your full-time job?

We’ve been asking you to complete this thought…”You know you’re watching too much TV when…” and have received plenty of responses.

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The Takeaway

Spore: A marriage of evolutionary biology and computer simulated games

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Will Wright, the godfather of gaming, is rolling out his latest creation—“Spore.” The game can best be described as “evolution meets computer simulation.” Eight years in the making—a mere nanosecond in the evolutionary scheme of things—this greatly anticipated game hits stores this Sunday. For a sneak preview we check in with enthusiastic gamer and evolutionary biologist, Dr. Thomas Near

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The Takeaway

Postum, Underalls, and the comeback of the Hydrox cookie

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Are you a brand-loyal consumer? Are you a cookie-eater? If so, you may have noticed a void at the supermarket these past five years. The crème-filled Hydrox cookie disappeared from shelves in 2003, but, with a huge marketing push, is being revived by the Kellogg Company at stores this week—sans trans fat. Which brands would you bring back?

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The Takeaway

The Emmys celebrates TV moments and The Takeaway compiles its own list

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

For this year’s Emmy’s, the Academy is asking people to vote online for their most memorable television moments – either in comedy or drama. But what about news and other reality TV? At The Takeaway, we’re also head first into news and love these moments, so here’s our own category: most memorable “unscripted” television moments...

1 — The Coop slaps Sen. Mary Landrieu over Katrina response, 9/1/2005

2 — Tom. Cruise. Couch. 5/23/2005

3 — Daily Show smackdown on Crossfire, 10/15/2004

4 — Kelly Clarkson’s win on American Idol, 9/4/2002

5 — CNN pulls Florida back, 11/2000

6 — The Chase: O.J. Simpson with L.A. Det. Tom Lange, 6/17/94

7 — CNN's coverage of the Challenger explosion, 1/28/86

8 — The Moon Landing, July 20, 1969

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The Takeaway

Video: Frenzied "Chicago footworking" fuses juke and house moves with breakdance, tap dance and Riverdance

Saturday, August 16, 2008 - 12:00 AM

By Corey Takahashi : Associate Producer / Jennifer Hsu

Trouble viewing this video? Check out the YouTube version (click "watch in high quality" for best quality).

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The Takeaway

Ol’ Blue Eyes: What John Mccain and Barack Obama have in common

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

On the eve of the Democratic and Republican conventions, Blender Magazine polled presumptive Presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain for their favorite songs. The candidates Top 10 lists include Bruce Springsteen (Obama), The Rolling Stones (Obama), Louis Armstrong (McCain), ABBA (McCain) and Neil Diamond (McCain). While Obama and McCain may differ politically, they have one musical taste in common: a love for Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.

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The Takeaway

Children's books: The G-rated apocalypse

Friday, August 01, 2008

Guests: Susan Pfeffer, author of post-apocalyptic childrens books, "Life as We Knew It" (2006) and "The Dead and the Gone" (2008), and Dr. Frank Gaskil, child psychologist

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The Takeaway

What sound hath Amy Winehouse wrought?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

It’s been a year and a half since Amy Winehouse caught the ears of American listeners. Now, there’s a new crop of young singer-songwriter-types tapping the well of old- and new-school sounds. If Amy was already a throwback, what’s so new about this latest crop?

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The Takeaway

The X-Files’ XX factor

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Ironman and Batman. Both are summer box-office heroes but neither is a woman. With the arrival of The X-Files’ Special Agent Dana Scully to the big screen Friday, that's set to change. Scully reminds us there are female protagonists who aren’t interested in Manolo Blahniks.

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The Takeaway

The Big Mac Chant-Off: How to sing happy birthday to a burger

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Happy Birthday, Big Mac. The McDonald’s signature burger turns 40 this year and the company has asked MySpace users for their own take on the iconic song. The Takeaway talks about the different ways you can sing two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun. Also online, view video of classic food jingles.

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The Takeaway

Video: Classic food jingles

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - 12:00 AM

McDonald's is asking MySpace users to create a new jingle for its signature Big Mac sandwich. Will the new tune find a place among these classics?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1 — McDonald's Big Mac

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The Takeaway

Peace, love, lyrics and loot

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Today, Christie's auctions a memento from John Lennon: his scrawled lyrics for “Give Peace a Chance.” Lennon gave the page to then-16-year-old Gail Renard in 1969 after she and a friend climbed up a fire escape to see him and Yoko Ono during their Montreal “bed-in.”

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The Takeaway

What's the summer song of 2008?

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

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The Takeaway

The cubicle turns 40

Friday, May 16, 2008

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The Takeaway

Takeaway culture critic Mary Elizabeth Williams: What's left for viewers when networks downsize the upfront?

Friday, May 16, 2008 - 12:00 AM

By Mary Elizabeth Williams : Culture Critic

I've seen the future of television, and its name is Ian Ziering...

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The Takeaway

Guest blogger Vincent Williams: The end of the world... yawn

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:00 AM

By Vincent Williams : Guest Contributor

The world is looking like it’s about to end at any moment, there’s no zeitgeist that seems to suggest anyone is that worried. What’s the deal with that?

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The Takeaway

The Friday movie mashup

Friday, May 02, 2008

It’s The Takeaway’s “Mother of All Trailers.”

Hear what happens when you combine a superhero blockbuster, an indie movie about a wannabe action hero and a chick flick. Then, leave your six-word review at 1-877-8-MY-TAKE, mytake@thetakeaway.org, or on our Web site by clicking "get in the mix".

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