Five pop culture items we missed

Today's catch: James Franco's album, "Knocked Up's" follow-up, "Glee" cast member's new book, and more

Published June 8, 2011 11:09PM (EDT)

Chris Colfer has some big news for you...
Chris Colfer has some big news for you...

1.) Annoying Judd Apatow prodigy news of the day: James Franco is readying his EP "Turn It Up" with Kalup Linzy for a July 12 release date, which is less than a month after "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" premieres. He literally cannot give it a rest.

2.) Less annoying Judd Apatow prodigy news of the day: Indie darlings Lena Dunham, Charlyne Yi and Chris O'Dowd all join the cast of the "Knocked Up" spinoff. Yi will be reprising her role from the original as a giggling stoner.

3.) "It gets way better" news of the day: Wunderkind Chris Colfer of "Glee" signed a two-book deal with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. The deal includes a novel and a book of fairy tales called "The Land of Stories." That's in addition to those two scripts he just wrote. For some reason when James Franco does everything it's annoying, and when Colfer does it, it's inspiring. Go figure.

4.) Best comedy news of the day: Finally, a whole live show on Comedy Central for voice actor Jon Benjamin ("Archer," "Home Movies") called "Jon Benjamin Has a Van."

 

5.) Second best piece of comedy news of the day: Zach Galifianakis' Rolling Stone cover story. The anecdote of his unaired "Saturday Night Live" sketch for Britney Spears is especially inspired.


By Drew Grant

Drew Grant is a staff writer for Salon. Follow her on Twitter at @videodrew.

MORE FROM Drew Grant


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Archer Celebrity James Franco Pop Five Television Zach Galifianakis