Reunion Tours

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want. Do you really, really want a Spice Girls Reunion Tour? It's been ten years since the "Cool Brittania" icons quit the music industry and now they're enjoying more popularity than ever before. Their worldwide stadium tour will include 40 shows in five continents and will earn each grrrrl about $25 million, not to mention a percentage of sales from their new album. Why do we care about these blatantly manufactured bubblegum pop music groups? What about The Police and Genesis reunion tours? Why do rock music idols feel the need to continue touring? Is it all about money? Certainly, Sting, Phil Collins and Robert Plant don't need the money, so why do they do it? Why do we pay so much money to see and hear bands who have nothing new to say?

Hollywood Writers Strike

The Writers Guild of America went on strike last week, demanding a percentage of revenue from DVD sales, cellphone downloads, podcasts and video streaming. Unfortunately, it won't really impact audiences for months because TV networks just keep showing reruns and fans keep watching. In the meantime,writers will lose their source of income, which makes it almost impossible to stay on the picket line.The only shows that the strike will immediately affect will be late night talk shows and sketch comedy series, such as SNL and MADtv. Will you miss new TV programs? Do you think writers deserve a percentage of the revenue from DVD sales? How would you resolve the dispute?

YouTube Instant Celebrities

This week, Andrew "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" Meyer became the latest YouTube phenomenon, joining the long list of instant celebrities, such as Numa Numa Boy, Daft Hands, the Thriller prison dancers, and lonelygirl15. Why do we respond to these people? Do we only respond to the media hype surrounding them? If so, then why does the media focus on these people? Do people become famous for the wrong reasons? Or do you think the democratic nature of the Internet has created a culture that glorifies the average citizen? Do you think you would want to be famous on YouTube, if only for one week?

Madeleine's Parents Become Suspects?

The disappearance of Madeleine McCann, which generated worldwide media attention, took a tragically bizarre twist when Portuguese police suggested the parents might be involved in her murder. If it's true, the media, and as a result, all of us, have been duped by two calculating, cold-blooded murderers. If the parents are innocent, the police have only added more misery to their unbearable grief. Do you think the media interferes with these high profile murder investigations or do they help the police catch the criminals? How do these cases become high profile? Is it the grieving families that get our attention or is it the horrific nature of the case?

David Beckham Comes to America

The most famous soccer player in the world recently joined the L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer at a salary of $250-million for five years. The fledgling league hopes that Beckham's star power will attract mainstream America to the world's most popular sport, not to mention sell tickets, merchandise, and network TV contracts. After playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the English national team, Beckham, at 32, seems to be ready to conquer new uncharted territory. Can he do it? Do you think Beckham can turn around the failing league by bringing more attention to the game? Will the novelty wear out? How do you feel about "celebrity" athletes? Do they improve the game or destroy it?

The Simpsons Movie

The show that Time Magazine selected as the Best TV Show of the 20th Century finally hits the big screen. With a weekend opening of $74 million, The Simpsons will probably set new records for animated TV show adaptations. Much of the success is based on innovative Fox marketing strategies that had 7-11 stores converted into Kwik-E-Marts, Springfields all over America competing to roll out the yellow carpet for the movie's premiere (Vermont won), and a huge sprinkled donut painted at the bottom of the CN Tower, which created a buzz that dominated pop culture for weeks. After 18 years, do you think it's too late for a movie about The Simpsons? Do you think the show is still a relevant commentary on modern life? Why do you think The Simpsons is still popular after all these years?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Thousands of people all over the world waited patiently at midnight on Friday for the final Harry Potter installment. J.K. Rowling and her publishers know the secret of marketing hype by hinting that Harry will die. Media coverage of the crowded bookstores, Harry look-alikes, and hyperactive muggles will fill the airwaves for days before and after. Do you think that the hype was worthy of the book's release? How much of the media coverage do you think is staged, or at least constructed, by the publishers? Did you get excited about the book's release? Do you usually try to be the first one to read the latest Harry Potter book or see the latest Harry Potter movie? Is there anything you would wait in line overnight to be the first one to get it?