29th November – 5th December 2011

This week’s number one single is the X factor charity single ‘Wishing on a star’. Perhaps because Cowell and co feared this year’s final 12 would not be a sufficient draw to get the single to number one, they have generously roped in One Direction (signed to Syco) and JLS signed to a Sony subsidiary) to ensure the single’s success.
This week’s number one album was released by Olly Murs (X factor runner up, presenter of the Xtra Factor). Last week, Olly (signed to Syco and the same subsid as JLS) performed on the factor alongside The Muppets, prompting some to ponder about the death of irony.
The Grammy nominations were announced.
Lady Gaga released her latest video, for single ‘Marry the Night’. As is becoming a bit normal for Gaga, it takes a while to get going.

This week Heat helpfully live-tweeted a ‘secret’ gig performed by the contestants for a mobile-phone company.
Misha B was kicked out this week, which was a pity if you like songs sung very loudly and with a lot of notes in. Misha B was an early favourite in the competition, until during a live show Tulisa suggested Misha had been upsetting people backstage, that she had been ‘mean’ and since the word ‘bullying’ was mentioned the Misha B journey went haywire.
Justin Bieber and Kelly Rowland both performed this week. Justin looked a bit like he was on work experience.
Louis Walsh remains employed.

This week Robbie Savage was voted out of Strictly Come Dancing. Helpfully, the BBC have put together ‘strictly in 60’ seconds (oddly it’s 66 seconds long) which sums of this week’s ‘drama on the dancefloor’. Even at 66 seconds it dragged a bit.
I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here came to a conclusion, but not before Peter Andre visited the camp for a bit. He was only there briefly, having perhaps learned a lesson from Jade Goody and his ex-wife Katie Price, about returning to the show that gave popularity. Dougie The bassist and ‘the best one’ from McFly won, leaving Mark from The Only Way Is Essex in second place. The overriding narrative of the series seemed to be the ‘Bromance’ between the two, which was sort of touching in an odd sort of ITV way.
Pictures were released of the Dr Who Christmas special. If you’re into that sort of thing, they can be found here.
The last episode of Daybreak happened. The Metro’s online article includes the first fifteen minutes of teh show. It looks pretty bleak.

Beyonce launched a new DVD. Rumours about her pregnancy continue, with many indulging in speculation that she’s got a fake bump/trying to look more pregnant than she is etc. It all seems a bit silly but there you go.
Dr Conrad Murray was sentenced to four years for ‘involuntary manslaughter’. Conrad Murray’s mother had pleaded for a light sentence. “Nothing like this has ever happened to him before”, argued Murray’s mother. Well, ZT would hope so. Once again, Michael Jackson was unavailable for comment, once again despite Derek Acorah’s efforts. (It’s worth linking two again, trust us).
There were more rumours about Katy Perry and Russel Brand getting a divorce, but they went out together at the weekend so apparently that means everything is a-ok after all.

This week the object d’outrage was Jeremy Clarkson. By last Friday 21,000 people had complained about a comment he made on the One Show, facetiously remarking that striking public sector workers should be shot. The majority of these complaints followed the circulation of a short extract in which Clarkson is talking about neutrality on the BBC. Basking in the attention, he chose to follow this up by spending the weekend trivialising suicide.

Producers have been talking about Jurassic Park IV, which should come out over the next few years. They insist that the script needs to work as they don’t want to ‘disappoint the fans’. If ‘not disappointing the fans’ is their only articulated hope for making the film, ZT thinks it might actually be best not to bother.
Somewhat optimistically, Mark Wright (him out of I’m A Celebrity and The Only Way is Essex) has been talking about playing James Bond in a film. Or talking about how everyone else is talking about him playing James Bond: “I never said I wanted to be the new James Bond but everyone is saying it now so I just own it” (link). Mark Wright can barely play himself in a TV show so it seems like a stretch.
Zookeeper is now out on DVD. Why not buy it as a Christmas gift for someone you hate.

zeitgeist tapes