1. It’s official: Conan O’Brien is gone after Friday’s show. But we don’t feel sorry for him: The deal with NBC is said to be worth around $45 million. [via USA Today]
2. Does anyone else find it strange that the same week Vampire Weekend hits No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, Susan Boyle is sitting pretty at No. 2? [via MTV]
3. Quentin Tarantino has placed Avatar at the top of his updated best films of 2009 list. He also added Julie & Julia. [via FirstShowing]
4. Adult Swim has ordered 40 more episodes of Robot Chicken, ensuring that the Seth Green and Matthew Senreich-created show will be on TV for a fifth and sixth season. [via Variety]
5. YouTubeannounced yesterday that it will make movies from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance film festivals available for online rental; meanwhile over at Hulu they’re planning to charge users to watch episodes of 30 Rock, Modern Family and House.
One of our fave NYC party mainstays is the inimitable Mister Saturday Night. This week, we’re looking forward to a battle of New York old-school house versus cerebral English pop-techno (that’d be Todd Terry vs. Ewan Pearson), taking over both rooms of the clurrrb. Flavorwire friend (and BFF of Mr. Saturday Night, himself) Eamon Harkin grabbed Ewan Pearson — from Wales, no less! — for a quick catch-up before he hits the decks on this side of the pond.
Eamon Harkin: You’re holed up in a studio in Wales currently. Can you tell us a little about the project?
Ewan Pearson: I’m in Rockfield studios — the oldest residential studio in the world apparently. “Bohemian Rhapsody” was recorded here amongst many other things, Hawkwind’s “Silver Machine,” Motorhead “The Ace of Spades”… A lot of heavy ’70s rock was recorded here and a lot of Britpop too. The drummer from Mott the Hoople popped in today to say hello! I am producing the debut album from a band called Delphic. It’s, erm, not at all heavy or ’70s sounding — it’s very ecstatic New Order-ish electronic pop. You can hear their first single, “Counterpoint,” here.
In case you haven’t noticed, it has been an extremely slow day in an extremely slow week for cultural news (blame it on the fact that most publicists get Christmas to New Year’s Day off). Luckily, we just stumbled upon an exciting gem — Michael Ausiello’s last-minute best of TV 2008 list on EW.com. It’s just in time and it’s chock full of surprises! And shout outs to The Shield! And Ugly Betty! And there’s no Tina Fey anywhere! It’s crazy! (Sorry, too much caffeinating in preparation for tonight’s festivities.)
Before we spoil all the fun, check out his expert picks, along with our common man commentary in bold, after the jump.
FOX distributed a promo for last night’s episode of HOUSE that featured a lengthy girl-on-girl scene starring OLIVIA WILDE (who is no stranger to this territory) and her character Thirteen’s one night stand.
Meanwhile over on ABC, KATIE HOLMES was rumored to be dancing her way through one of ALLY MCBEAL’s ELI STONE’s aneurysm-induced. fantasies.
Which one of these ratings ploys (if either) convinced you to tune in?
If you happened to catch both (we had to watch the HOLMES clip via Defamer), did either live up to the hype?
