Pop Shots
Makin' Major Moves
By: Adam Bernard
Last updated January 27th , 2010

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Snookie getting her own dating show, to Simon Cowell's new deal with Sony Music Entertainment, to Aerosmith's search for a new member, and since it's Pop Shots, you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Jersey Shore's first season may be over, but we haven't seen the last of at least one of the roommates from the show. Snookie, she of the multiple punches to the face and lifetime supply of Bumpits, is reportedly going to be getting her own dating show, tentatively titled Snookin for Love. With the way the final episode of Shore was edited, they made it obvious she's looking for a boyfriend, even using the phrase Snookin for Love at one point. Here's hoping she gets to bring along JWOWW to help her sort out which guys are good and which guys aren't. An appearance by The Situation would be nice, as well. Who thinks I should audition?


* A bajillion entertainers made appearances at the Hope for Haiti Now telethon last Friday, which was broadcast on basically every non-sports channel in existence. I support the relief efforts in Haiti (obviously. Who doesn't?), but I didn't watch. There's something I don't like about millionaires asking thousandaires to give money. The pessimist in me also can't help but think some of the artists were hoping their appearances would result in an increase in album sales. There's something to be said for giving silently. Not everything has to be a public act, even if you're a public figure. Of course, the optimist in me hopes the telethon raised a ton of money and that all of that money actually goes to those who need it, but I'm still far too uncomfortable with the process to actually sit down and watch such an event.

* As if we didn't know this already, Simon Cowell makes bank, SERIOUS bank. The latest fattening of his wallet, according to Reuters, will come from the long-term venture he just formed with Sony Music Entertainment to "produce music, television and film, beginning with the U.S. version of hit British show The X Factor." The venture has been named Syco, which is the same name as Cowell's record label, and Sony Music will be exchanging it's 100% ownership of the label for a 50% share of the entire venture. Translation - Cowell will not be going hungry anytime soon. Further translation - Good luck surviving without him American Idol.

* Prince is a musical legend with talents that are, at times, unparalleled. The song he wrote for the Minnesota Vikings, however, didn't happen to be made at one of those times. The song, titled "Purple and Gold," is the kind of dreck you'd find in a middle school chorus song book and is so bad the team could probably blame their loss in the NFC championship this past Sunday on it and no one would argue with them. "Purple and Gold" honestly seems like it would be most fitting as a triumphant ode at the end of a Care Bears' movie. I remember my New York football Giants, at different times, inspired both Mad Lion and Jim Jones to pen Giants versions of their hit songs (Mad Lion - Shoot to Kill" and Jim Jones - "We Fly High") and they both made you want to get up and punch someone in the mouth for your team. Check out Jim Jones' NY Giants version of "We Fly High" for all the evidence you'll need of this. Dare I say Prince could possibly learn something from a member of DipSet? Oh, I think I just did.

* In what sounds like an act of rock n roll blasphemy, seminal rock group Aerosmith is currently holding auditions for a new lead singer. OK, I get it, Steven Tyler hasn't sounded very good since the 70's and now he's battling some addiction problems (or, perhaps more accurately put, now he's finally admitting to the addiction problems he's been battling for quite a while), but will Aerosmith really be Aerosmith without Steven Tyler? Is this going to be another Van Halen situation? Or, being that Aerosmith hasn't been relevant in over a decade, will anyone even notice?

* In television rumors that I REALLY hope are true, word is that not only is Joss Whedon going to be directing an episode of Glee, but that he may be bringing Neil Patrick Harris with him. The duo previously worked together on Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, which was their major internet project during the writer's strike, and if they can translate even a percentage of the awesome that they had with Dr. Horrible to Glee it should be one heck of an episode.

* What's my choice for the best thing on pop radio right now? One Republic's "All The Right Moves." I have no idea why more people aren't talking about it. It's pretty much a perfect song. Check out the video.

And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.

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