Mom and Pop Culture

Helping you find the hidden images sprinkled throughout the movie

By MomPopCulture 12 hours ago
'Monsters University'/Disney/PixarBy Kate Erbland

Special to MSN Movies


Modern cinema's most beloved animation house, Pixar Animation Studios, has spent over three decades (did you know Pixar was first founded as part of the computer division at Lucasfilm, way back in 1979?) inventing and implementing new computer programs and systems, using them to make some of the best animated films the world has ever seen. Pixar's fourteen feature productions have proven to be both critically and commercially successful, and that success is, no doubt, due to their unwavering attention to detail and their willingness to have a whole heck of a lot of fun with their often very different narratives.


Bing: More about 'Monsters, Inc.' | More about 'Monsters University'


Pixar has a long and healthy relationship with so-called "Easter eggs," little hidden nuggets that pepper their films: inside jokes, references to their other productions, nods to Pixar employees or even just sly shout-outs to some of the geekier sides of their craft. Pixar's love of Easter eggs also adds an extra layer to their already-clever films, weaving in pieces of narrative from other films to further the idea that every character in their films is living in some special Pixar universe (for the sake of our personal happiness, let's ignore the implications of "Cars" existing in said universe). Pixar's fourth feature film, "Monsters, Inc.," is no different, as the 2001 release comes complete with Easter eggs of every shape and color, including now-classic inside jokes and nods to upcoming films that are sure to still give its audience the warm and fuzziest.


With the sequel "Monsters University" hitting theaters this week, we wanted to look back at some of the best (and smartest!) Easter eggs in "Monsters, Inc.," some of which may give us an idea of what we can anticipate finding tucked away in the newest Pixar feature.


Click here to see the rest of the gallery.


What's your favorite Pixar Easter egg from "Monster's, Inc."? Tell us on our MSN Movies Facebook page and on Twitter.

 

Young stars you love watching and who to watch out for next

By MomPopCulture 14 hours ago

The CW/HBO/ABC/ABC/ABC

By Michaela Sinclair
Special to MSN TV


Young Hollywood continues to thoroughly impress us with scene-stealing performances and breakout roles, proving once again that age is just a number. In our annual roundup of the top 25 television actors age 25 or younger, we obviously highlighted the A-listers, but pay attention to the emerging stars you'll want to look out for.


Bing: More about Hayden Panettiere | More about Sarah Hyland


Click here to see the rest of the gallery.


Who's your favorite star age 25 or younger to watch on TV? Tell us on our MSN TV Facebook page and on Twitter.

 

New series 'Little Children, Big Challenges' meant to help children who have parents behind bars

By MomPopCulture Mon 8:13 AM
Over the years "Sesame Street" has taught children how to say the alphabet, count their numbers and sing, but now the show's muppets are trying to teach kids about what to do if their parents are in prison.

Bing: More about 'Sesame Street' | More about 'Little Children, Big Challenges'

PBS
E! reports the new series, "Little Children, Big Challenges" is being promoted as a "bilingual multimedia initiative" that's meant to help kids whose parents are incarcerated.

The initiative also includes a storybook about a muppet who brings her uncle to family fun night because her dad is in prison and couldn't be there.
 

What do you think about "Sesame Street" addressing the topic of kids dealing with parents in prison? Is this a good move or bad move? Tell us on our MSN TV Facebook page on and Twitter.

 

Network releases two images from the pilot episode

By MomPopCulture Mon 8:11 AM
It's the moment all you "Boy Meets World" fans have been waiting for! Disney Channel has officially announced it has picked up the spin-off series "Girl Meets World."

You've probably seen the pictures the cast has tweeted out from the set, but now the network has released two official pictures from the pilot episode (and MSN and Mom & Pop Culture are among only a few media outlets to get the photos first!)

Bing: More about 'Girl Meets World' | More about 'Boy Meets World''Girl Meets World'/Disney ChannelThe first pic has Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) together again with their daughter, Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and her best friend Maya (Sabrina Carpenter).'Girl Meets World'/Disney ChannelThe second pic is of Riley and Maya together at their school.

Set in New York City, Disney Channel says the new comedy series will have the same feel as "Boy Meets World," only this time, the story will be told from a tween's (Cory and Topanga's daughter's) persepctive.

No premiere date has been announced yet.

Are you excited for the return of Cory and Topanga in "Girl Meets World?" Tell us on our MSN TV  Facebook page and on Twitter

New Jersey second-grader comes to the aid of his choking friend

By MomPopCulture Wed 11:17 AM

CBS 2"Sesame Street" has helped kids all across the world learn many lessons in the years the show has been on the air. In the case of William Ruhno, a second-grader from New Jersey, watching the PBS series helped him save a life.

Bing: More about 'Sesame Street' | More about PBS

William and his friend Derek Almeida were on the playground at Ann Street School last Friday when Derek started choking on a pretzel.

That's when the 7-year-old started doing the Heimlich maneuver he learned from watching "Sesame Street."

He told the CBS affiliate in New York: "I put my arms around him, did a fist and pulled."

It didn't work the first time, but on the second try, the pretzel dislodged.

Derek is grateful that his best friend was there to save him. "Well, I really appreciate that William is a very good friend, and is always at my side," he said.


Watch the full interview with William and Derek below:

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Iron Man, Thor and guest star George Takei

By MomPopCulture Jun 7, 2013 2:20PM
Mom & Pop Culture has a first look at some new episodes of Disney XD's "Ultimate Spider-Man."

Bing: More about 'Ultimate Spider-Man' | More about George Takei

On Sunday, June 9 in a special one-hour event, Iron Man (Adrian Pasdar) joins Spider-Man to contain an unstoppable threat.

Then in "Itsy Bitsy Spider-Man," Spider-Man and his team are turned into mini-versions of themselves when they cross paths with Loki and the Destroyer. Travis Willingham will reprise his role as the Avenger, The Mighty Thor in this episode.
Then in the episode airing Sunday, June 16, George Takei guest stars as Elder Monk.
 
Spider-Man travels to the mystical city of K'un L'un to help Iron Fist fulfill his destiny. But The Scorpion plans to destroy them both.
'Ultimate Spider-Man'/Disney XD"Ultimate Spider-Man" airs Sundays at 11 a.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.

Want more TV? Follow us at MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter.


 

Steve Carell returns as Gru to take on a new super criminal

By MomPopCulture Jun 6, 2013 9:30AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gru returns to save the world again in "Despicable Me 2"! This time Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a new super criminal. Steve Carell, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig and Miranda Cosgrove are the returning voice cast. Benjamin Bratt, Ken Jeong and Steve Coogan also join the lineup to lend their voices to the sequel.

 

Bing: More on Steve Carell | More about Kristen Wiig

 

Check out this exclusive clip where Lucy and Gru are rescued by minions!

Are you excited for the sequel? Tell us on our MSN Movies Facebook page and on Twitter.

 

"Despicable Me 2" is out in theaters July 3.

 

Season 3 of the Disney Channel show set to premiere Friday

By MomPopCulture May 30, 2013 3:07PM
Season 3 of the Disney Channel show "A.N.T. Farm" is about the premiere and MSN TV has an exclusive first look at some behind-the-scenes photos of the show's stars.

In the episode called "trANTsferred" Chyna, Olive, Fletcher, Angus and Lexi audition for an exclusive and presigious A.N.T. boarding school developed by former child star prodigy and billionaire, Zoltan Grundy.

Bing: More about 'A.N.T. Farm' | More about China Anne McClain

Are you excited for the Season 3 premiere of "A.N.T. Farm"? Tell us on our MSN TV Facebook page and on Twitter.

Season 3 of "A.N.T. Farm" premieres Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel.

'A.N.T. Farm'/Disney Channel/Tony Rivetti'A.N.T. Farm'/Disney Channel/Tony Rivetti'A.N.T. Farm'/Disney Channel/Tony Rivetti'A.N.T. Farm'/Disney Channel/Tony Rivetti'A.N.T. Farm'/Disney Channel/Tony Rivetti
 

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Deanna Barnert

Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.

Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.