Pop Culture

Commentary

'Sopranos' Lack of Resolution Mirrors Real Issues

June 13, 2007 · Just as The Sopranos ended its run Sunday without any resolution, many of the world's real problems persist — with no clear hope of resolution.

Commentary

'Sopranos' Finale: A Nod to Nothingness

June 11, 2007 · Creators of successful dramas start to resent the popularity of what they've done — and take it out on the audience. It is hard to come up with a good ending. But that doesn't excuse what David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, put on HBO Sunday night.

The Unger Report By Brian Unger

Filling Your Post-'Sopranos' Sunday Nights

June 11, 2007 · Our humorist says Sunday night's Sopranos finale represents the end of appointment-TV viewing as we know it. He offers some suggestions on what to do with your Sunday nights in the future.

More and More, PBS Rocks Its Way to the Bank

June 11, 2007 · Anyone who watches public television is familiar with its pledge drives. And PBS has always used music specials to bring in the bucks. But more and more these days, PBS is going after pledges with big rock 'n roll shows. This month, some public TV stations around the country are featuring concerts by Bruce Springsteen and Donovan.

'The Sopranos' Finale: A Post-Mortem

June 11, 2007 · David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker magazine, is an avid fan of the HBO series The Sopranos. He delivers his take on Sunday night's series finale.

Got a Question? Ask a Ninja

June 11, 2007 · The creators of "Ask a Ninja," a series of videos with millions of viewers on the Internet, hope to turn their recent Web awards into financial success. The series features a masked character delivering advice — with a humorous twist. Web Extra: Ask a Ninja Videos

'Sopranos' Spoilers Hard to Avoid

June 11, 2007 · The series finale of The Sopranos is a hot water-cooler topic. But many who planned to watch the last episode of the long-running HBO show by tape, TiVo or rerun are now trying to avoid hearing how it all wrapped up.

Movies

Extreme Horror: Basic Escapism or Simply Base?

June 9, 2007 · Horror films increasingly skip the supernatural shivers in favor of extended torture scenes; detractors say that with their gross-out excesses and unsettling mass appeal, these films are a kind of "torture porn." But they've never been bigger at the box office. Web Extra: See a Clip, Hear Extended Interviews

Online Bettors Target Tony Soprano

June 9, 2007 · Several betting Web sites are taking wagers on whether Tony Soprano will be killed in the final episode of the television series The Sopranos, which airs Sunday on HBO. John Ydstie comments.

Farewell to 'The Sopranos'

June 8, 2007 · HBO's hit show The Sopranos airs its last installment on Sunday. Mike Pesca does all he can in 90 seconds to deliver a complete Sopranos orientation. Jerry Capeci, who runs the organized crime website GangLandNews.com, tells Madeleine Brand how he thinks the series will end.

Nation

Paris Hilton Heads Back to Court After Early Release

June 8, 2007 · Hotel heiress Paris Hilton is out of jail after just three days of a 45-day sentence. Hilton was sent home early Thursday morning with an electronic ankle bracelet. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's office says her release was due to an undisclosed medical condition. Now, the judge in the case has ordered the heiress back to court to decide whether she should return to jail.

Kiwi Comedian Brings 'Smash Hit' Projects to U.S.

June 7, 2007 · Jemaine Clement, one half of New Zealand's fourthmost popular folk-parody duo, has a lot on his plate this summer: Eagle Vs. Shark, a new indie comedy to rival Napoleon Dynamite; a comedy sketch show on HBO launching June 16; and, later this summer, a digi-folk-parody comedy CD, "Flight of the Conchords," from Sub Pop records. Clement is a smash hit in New Zealand and hopes to succeed in the U.S. as well.