Category Archives: Popular Culture

From celebrity watch to quirky things in the news, we have something to say about it here at the Families.com Popular Culture Blog.

Channing Tatum Named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive

Last year, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive title went to Bradley Cooper but not without much hullabaloo from fans of Ryan Gosling. In fact, there was speculation this year that maybe Gosling would receive the title. But, no, this year is all about Channing Tatum and today, he was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive. Tatum has starred in four movies this year – Haywire, The Vow, 21 Jump Street, and Magic Mike, which have grossed over $589 million worldwide. Magic Mike was made for only $7 million and grossed $158.9 million alone, making it the highest grossing movie under the Dance … Continue reading →

The Hits Continue for Lance Armstrong

Oh, it was good to be Lance Armstrong a few years back. Young, athletic, and attractive, Armstrong won the Tour de France, the grueling, yet historic annual multiple stage bicycle race, seven years in a row. Seven. In a row. Heck, even cancer couldn’t beat him. After chemo proved successful, he formed the Lance Armstrong Foundation, now known as the Livestrong Foundation, to help others defeat cancer and live a healthier lifestyle. He dated a rock star (Sheryl Crow from 2003 until 2005) and has fathered five healthy, beautiful children. Yes, it was good to be Lance Armstrong…until now. Armstrong … Continue reading →

Charles Darwin’s Race for Congress

I love our country and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, but I think most of us would admit that election time – especially a presidential election – is just crazy. For instance, some people said they voted for Obama and the screen automatically switched to Romney, or vice versa. In some voting venues, mysterious “Please have a photo ID ready” signs showed up, even though photo IDs were not required. Some people were concerned that the deceased may be casting votes and some Florida results are still not clear – almost a week after the elections. But, I heard … Continue reading →

Scary Places – The Franklin Castle

The Franklin Castle can be found in Cleveland, Ohio. While all castles are probably a bit eerie simply due to age, the Franklin Castle is a bit creepier than most and thought to be one of the most haunted castles in the world. The Franklin Castle was built in 1865 for Hannes Tiedemann. Tiedemann was German and perhaps he was just homesick when he had a castle built in America. His daughter Emma died of diabetes in 1881 and his mother Wiebeka died shortly after. Within the next three years, three more Tiedemann children would die. That seems like an … Continue reading →

Scary Places – Rolling Hills Asylum

What’s worse than a haunted prison? How about a haunted asylum? Rolling Hills Asylum, located in East Bethany, New York, opened in 1827. The massive building, 53,000+ square feet, was originally a poorhouse. The Genesee County Poor Farm included a mix of the elderly, vagrants, orphans, handicapped people, drunkards, the mentally ill, and minor criminals who had nowhere else to go. Despite the fact that it wasn’t a prison, the resident were referred to as “inmates.” The able-bodied worked raising animals and food. Some even made coffins in the wood shop and it’s believed there was a cemetery – a … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The Myrtle Plantation

When you think of a southern plantation, you may think of women in white dresses and bonnets, gentleman farmers, and sweet tea, but do you think of ghosts? If you don’t, you might want to visit the Myrtle Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the plantation is currently a bed and breakfast, but it may not be for the faint of heart. It is known as one of the most haunted homes in America. The plantation dates all the way back to 1796 when it was built by General David Bradford, only he … Continue reading →

Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy Split

Taylor Swift and her most recent boyfriend, Conor Kennedy, have reportedly parted ways. It seemed this summer, 22-year-old Swift and 18-year-old Kennedy (son of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.) were all over the eastern coast, evoking memories of a young John and Jackie Kennedy. Despite the fact that the mega superstar singer was gearing up for her new album release and he was gearing up for his senior year in high school, the beautiful couple seemed to define teenage summer love. They were holding hands at a pizza restaurant, kissing in public, and in a most Kennedy-like way, seen on a … Continue reading →

Scary Places: Eastern State Penitentiary

Maybe it’s just because I am a law abiding citizen, but I think prisons are pretty creepy in general. Maybe it’s the barbed wire fences, maybe it’s the road signs warning you not to pick up hitchhikers, or maybe it’s just my imagination running away with the horrible crimes committed by those inside. But, can an abandoned prison be even creepier? Maybe, especially if it reportedly haunted! The Eastern State Penitentiary is located in Philadelphia. It opened in 1829 and held bad guys behind bars until it closed in 1971. Then, it was abandoned. For 20 years, the prison just … Continue reading →

New Celebrity Moms

The stork has visited Hollywood again. Actress Drew Barrymore has made a remarkable recovery from a troubled child actress with a drug and drinking problem to a beautiful, successful adult actress who recently married and gave birth to her first child. Barrymore married her third husband (first husband Jeremy Thomas lasted less than two months and second husband Tom Green lasted a little over a year) Will Kopelman in June 2012. Although Barrymore was obviously with child, the couple didn’t announce her pregnancy. They simply went on with their wedding and lives until she gave birth to a daughter named … Continue reading →

Hollywood Couples Update – October 10, 2012

Every week, Hollywood couples come and go – here are a few for this week: In what seemed like a surprising move to most, actors Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman split after 42 years together. The couple met when Devito was on Broadway in 1971 and moved in together two weeks later. But, it took Devito and Perlman a while to get married – 10 years to be exact. They have three grown children. During their marriage, the couple starred together several times. So, what could have gone wrong? Some tabloids, such as RadarOnline, are reporting sources saying Perlman was … Continue reading →