The Slug

It's Been Nice Knowing You

(AP Photo/HO/Disney/Gene Duncan)

In the year since launching The Slug, some unimaginable stuff occurred within the realm of popular culture. Anna Nicole Smith died. "Survivor: Cook Islands" divided their tribes by race. Bob Barker retired. And we blogged about it all. We hope we kept our original promise to "simultaneously investigate and celebrate all thangs pop culture." Even if you don't think we did, well, we've totally had a blast trying to, anyway. Remember folks: Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.

Happy Halloween from The Slug!

(AP Photo)

It's the day we've been excited about and/or dreading for months! Today is both Halloween and the death of our pimp: asap, The Associated Press' premium multimedia news service. Celebrate this bizarre day with this YouTube link to Tim Curry's performance from "The Worst Witch." For those of us privileged enough to have had HBO back in the 1980s, you can't deny you squealed fervently every time this came on.

Loose Ends

(AP Photo)

Look out! asap's endingstravaganza has begun! The Associated Press' premium multimedia news service is nearing its final hour with content all about conclusions. Online now, you can find a list of great literary outcomes, a story about the death of indie rock, an essay discussing the end of a meal and videos about the finales of wars and movies. Stay tuned. Later today, The Slug will reveal our favoritest TV finales.

"Star Trek" Shows Its Bones

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

The Enterprise is ready to engage. With the official announcement that Chris Pine will indeed play Kirk and that Karl Urban from "The Lord of the Rings" films has been cast as Dr. "Bones" McCoy, that means all the roles of the starship's senior officers have been filled. Honestly, we don't have a problem with any of director J.J. Abrams' hot young not-too-too-famous choices. We can't wait to see them in uniform— and find out what this big-screen reboot's secret plot is all about.

 

Meet (Most of) the New "Star Trek" Crew

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon/Matt Sayles/Jason DeCrow/Carolyn Kaster/Ahn Young-joon)

Spock. Chekov. Uhura. Scotty Sulu. The bridge of J.J. Abram's Enterprise is almost full. According to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, Simon Pegg from "Hot Fuzz" and John Cho from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" have joined the new "Star Trek" film as Scotty and Sulu, respectively. Previously, Eric Bana was announced as the film's villain, Nero. And blue-eyed Chris Pine is reportedly in talks for the role of Kirk. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The lead roles remaining to be cast are Christopher Pike, Kirk's predecessor, and Kirk's parents." Hey, what about Dr. McCoy!?

"Kane & Lynch: Dead Men" at Work

(AP Photo/HO/Eidos)

Already finished "Halo 3" and ready to move on to another first-person shooter? Well, The Slug recommends "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men," which comes out Nov. 20 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. Earlier today, game publisher Eidos gave us a firsthand sneak peak at the game's violent action, inspired by the likes of "Heat" and "Pulp Fiction." We like that "Kane & Lynch" feels more like an interactive movie than a sprawling game. And we're sorta sick of battling aliens and German forces, so bring on the hasty hoodlums and contemporary coppers!

Favoritiest Photo of the Week: Buy a Vowel

(AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

Our mother thinks photos featuring folks with closed eyelids are automatically bad. However, we think if Vanna White, Pat Sajak and a giant "Wheel of Fortune" cake are involved, all is forgiven. However, there's one thing that does bug us about our Favoritiest Photo of the Week this week. How come there's no "Bankrupt" or "Lose a Turn" spaces on that cake?! Whatever. You know we'd still eat a slice. Take the original caption for a spin:

"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak and co-host Vanna White arrive at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "Wheel of Fortune" sponsored by People magazine in New York, Thursday Sept. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

One Way to Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day

(AP Photo/HO/Disney)

It's Sept. 19. Happy Speechify Like a Freebooter Day! If you're unsure o' how ter actually speak like a buccaneer, check o' this nifty "Pirates o' th' Caribbean Online" buccaneer translator. Arrr! All here this blog post was run through the translator. That's probably why ye weren't able ter savvy any o' it, ye mute frog-lickin' scallywag. Yes, it e'en translates ill language.

"Star Trek" Adds Another Crew Member

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster/Gus Ruelas/Chris Pizzello)

Is it us or is the emerging new crew of the Enterprise looking way hotter and younger than the original? Zoe Saldana from "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Haven" is the most recent addition to the cast of J.J. Abram's "Star Trek." As Uhura, she'll join Anton Yelchin's Chekov and Zachary Quinto's Spock. Wowie zowie. We can't wait to see who'll be beamed up as Sulu, Scotty, Dr. McCoy and Captain Kirk — and what they'll be wearing. 

Meredith Taking Some Time to Enjoy "The View"

For the first time, Meredith Vieira will return to "The View" as a guest. The only way this appearance won't illicit a yawn from this pop-culture blog is if good ol' Meredith truly dishes the dirt on what's gone down since she left for "Today." When she was moderator, "The View" was good-natured fun. Now, it's daytime's biggest train wreck. Hopefully, Vieira won't be all phony. She does have a Photoshopped dog, you know.

Hmmm. Now that "The View" dust has settled, The Slug has a new "View" dream. For November sweeps, we want every loud-mouth who's ever been a co-host on the show — Barbara, Joy, Debbie, Star, Meredith, Lisa, Elizabeth, Rosie, Whoopi, Sherri and , um, Lassie —  to converge around one ginormous half-table for the hottest Hot Topics segment ever. It'd be like daytime's Justice League (or maybe the Legion of Doom). Make it happen, Babs!