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PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW
WEAK-END PLANNER

But Then Again, He Was Always A Rolling Stone
To paraphrase the classic anti-drug commercial of about a decade ago, "We learned everything we know about this Weak-End Planner from you, Dad! We learned it from you!" Packing the poignant punch of the climactic scene of Field of Dreams, where Kevin Costner finally gets in a game of catch with dear old Dad, this weekend’s Planner would like to remind you that Father’s Day is this Sunday (June 17). You know, they even celebrate it in Mexico, where it is known as Dia del Padre! If you can’t be with your dad, make sure to celebrate him (or any dad, really) in some way this weekend. Put on the tuneful stylings of Gay Dad (perfect for Gay Pride Month), the harder edge of Papa Roach or the folky fiddlin’ of Papa John Creach. This time last year, you could’ve also thrown a little Puff Daddy in the mix. But this ain’t P. Diddy Day, now is it? Get all misty-eyed remembering the drag-racing career of Big Daddy Don Garlits (and visit his website) or the droll Catholic comedy of Father Guido Sarducci. Read Arthur Kopit’s play Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feeling so Sad, or anything by Ernest Hemingway. Even though you can no longer enjoy the sitcom Daddio, there are plenty of patriarchally themed flicks to rent, from Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy to Bill Cosby’s Ghost Dad. There are also good films, such as the classic Cary Grant-Leslie Caron comedy Father Goose or Father of the Bride (actually, both the Spencer Tracy and the Steve Martin versions are worth a look). And don’t forget, this forthcoming week also includes the first day of summer, sometimes known as the summer solstice, on June 21.

THE END IS NEAR
A Slam-Dunk Series:
The Sixers transformed what was expected to be another romp by the Lakers into a dogfight for the first three games of the NBA Finals. Indeed, until the Lakers took control in Game Four, the sustained drama was so electrifying that there was no need to schedule those superfluous halftime "events" featuring U2, "The Weakest Link" and Destiny’s Child in an attempt to boost what had earlier in the playoffs been sagging ratings. The games themselves have been Must-See TV of the highest order, and Americans have been glued to their TVs. Thanks to the timely maturation of a new generation of superstars—Shaq, Kobe, Allen Iverson and, earlier in the playoffs, Vince Carter—the NBA suddenly finds itself in excellent shape once again, even as M.J. and Barkley ponder their returns. Meanwhile, back in Philly, the powers that be are pondering whether to stage the traditional midcourt celebration should the Lakers take it tonight. This is hostile territory, as Destiny’s Child found out Wednesday, when two of the girls’ Lakers adornments inspired a thunderous crescendo of boos…or maybe the crowd was just reacting to their performance. And get this: Tonight’s halftime act will be Sugar Ray, who are so quintessentially SoCal that they’ll undoubtedly be savaged by thousands of phrustrated Philly Phanatics on general principles, in what could turn out to be the most amusing—or ugly—of this series’ myriad subplots. Will the season finale of The Shaq & Kobe Show be tonight? As Dick Ebersol might urge, stay tuned. —Bud Scoppa

TRAKIN'S PICKS TO FLICK
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
(Paramount): This one could either be Aliens or Super Mario Bros. Based on the popular video game, Angelina Jolie is all pumped up as Lara Croft, sort of a female Indiana Jones. Croft is the daughter of a renowned archaeologist who travels to far-flung parts of the world in search of lost crypts and long-forgotten empires. Wonder if she ran into the guy from Atlantis during one of her trips? Croft speaks numerous languages, is highly trained for combat, answers to no one (except maybe Billy Bob Thornton) and looks, well, stunning, at least in the film's poster and marketing materials. The film was helmed by BBC vet and commercial director Simon West, whose credits include Jerry Bruckheimer's Con Air and the Travolta-starring The General's Daughter, both of which topped the $100 million mark at the box office…as this one better if the principals are to make back their substantial investments. The cast also includes London stage actor Iain Glen (The Blue Room), Shine and Almost Famous' Noah Taylor and Jon Voight as Jolie's father, Lord Croft. How's that for some strange casting? The website, at www.tombraidermovie.com, looks almost as big-budget as the film itself, while the Elektra soundtrack features a new song from Nine Inch Nails and a remix of U2's "Elevation."

Songcatcher (Lion's Gate): A 2000 Sundance Film Festival winner, Songcatcher also garnered Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Actress Pat Carroll and Best Debut Performance by Emmy Rossum. The movie tells the story of a turn-of-the-century doctor of musicology (played by Oscar nominee Janet McTeer) who escapes her career in the male-dominated world of academia to take a trip to the mountains to visit her sister (Jane Adams). There, she runs into some fiercely independent locals (including gun-toting local music expert Carroll and blue-eyed heartthrob Aidan Quinn as a rough musician) and discovers the birthplace of ancient folk that recalls both Harry Smith's Anthology and the Coen Bros.' Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? This is the rare film about the roots of today's American pop music, with a trip to the fountainhead of country, folk, bluegrass and rock & roll. Directed and written by Maggie Greenwald, the film features cameos by Iris Dement, Hazel Dickens and Taj Mahal, as well as highly touted newcomer Emmy Rossum. The Vanguard soundtrack juxtaposes the haunting, romantic score of Heaven's Gate composer/musician David Mansfield, with new music from Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton. The film's gently evocative website can be found at www.songcatcherthefilm.com/

Sexy Beast (Fox Searchlight): Here’s a hard-boiled thriller in the noble tradition of such British gangland flicks as Mike Hodges' original Get Carter, Mike Figgis' Stormy Monday and John MacKenzie's The Long Good Friday, not to mention the two films directed by Mr. Madonna, Guy Ritchie. The movie stars the great Ben Kingsley as a foul-mouthed Cockney gangster who interrupts the idyllic Spanish retirement of British mobster Ray Winstone with an offer he can't refuse: to return to London and get back in the game. When Kingsley arrives on the scene, the mobster's life is irrevocably changed, and the actor who once played Gandhi responds with what many critics have called a one-man tour de force as a bald, tattooed, profanity-laced force of nature who will stop at nothing to accomplish his task. The movie is directed by Jonathan Glazer, who previously helmed music videos. The rather attenuated website can be found at http://www.foxsearchlight.com/sexybeastwebpage/sexybeast.htm
—Roy Trakin

SURPRIZE!
Weezer, Weezer (Geffen):
My previous experience with this band—I saw the video for "The Buddy Holly Song" a few times, and that’s about it—didn’t prepare me for the formal sophistication of its remarkable third album. The disc, whose 10 tracks clock in at a streamlined 28 minutes, deserves a Ramones Memorial Less Is More award for its marriage of concision and completeness. The seductive "Hash Pipe" recalls the first Cheap Trick album in its amalgamation of aggression and tunefulness, even as Rivers Cuomo’s inflectively varied repetition of the key line, "C'mon and kick me," echoes Devo circa "Gates of Steel." The "Hip…hip" vocal accent in "Island in the Sun" is no less than the aural equivalent of being tickled. And in the one-two-punch finale of "Glorious Day" and "O Girlfriend," Cuomo pits fashionable irony against quaint sentiment without seeming to take sides—not an easy polarity to pull off. Now that I’ve digested this record, I’m shocked and delighted to discover that something so smart could debut at #3, and continue hanging around the Top 10, in this dumbed-down age. Was it his belated Harvard education, or was Cuomo always this good? In any case, I’m hooked. —Bud Scoppa

THINGS TO DO IN A NEW YORK MINUTE
For those of you not joining the kids caravanning to the More Than Music Fest in Columbus, OH, there's plenty to do in N.Y.C. Friday night's a toss up between the opening of Tomb Raider (see above) and Rainer Maria's show at Bowery Ballroom. Considering opening act Karate has nothing on Angelina Jolie, I recommend seeing the 7 p.m. show and get to Bowery just in time for Rainer Maria. Also on Friday: the Old 97's at Irving Plaza, the Loser's Lounge tribute to Paul Williams at the Westbeth Theatre and Air Supply at B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill. Yes, you read right...Air Supply. Saturday marks the long awaited return of the White Stripes, who will be performing both Saturday and Sunday at the Bowery Ballroom. Aerosmith hits Jones Beach and the fabulous Ben Kweller can be found opening for Dispatch at Irving Plaza. Sunday night head to the Bottom Line to catch the Magnetic Fields before they head out on the Wotapalava tour and start playing places like Jones Beach. U2 and PJ Harvey are at Madison Square Garden, but since it's sold out you can opt for seeing Ani DiFranco at Central Park Summerstage or cuties the Pinehurst Kids at Maxwells. (C'mon, Hoboken isn't THAT far away!) —Heidi Anne-Noel

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"A good woman is known by what she does; a good man by what he doesn't." —Helen Rowland

PRESIDENTIAL FACT OF THE WEEK
John Tyler, our 10th president, was born March 29, 1790, in Greenway, VA. Tyler’s presidency was marked by many notable firsts. Dubbed "His Accidency" by his detractors, Tyler was the first vice president to be elevated to the presidency by the death of his predecessor. He was also the first president to be married in office, when he married Julia Gardiner on June 26, 1844. They had seven children together, bringing Tyler’s two-wife child total to 15. In retaliation to his veto of two National Bank bills, the Whigs expelled Tyler from their party. A year later when Tyler vetoed a tariff bill, the first impeachment resolution against a president was introduced in the House of Representatives. (The resolution failed.) When the first southern states seceded in 1861, Tyler led a compromise movement; failing, he worked to create the Southern Confederacy. He died in 1862, a member of the Confederate House of Representatives. With a mere nine letters of Tyler’s name, there is really only one anagram to be made it, making the Best Anagram Of His Name: Henry Jolt.

CURIOUS NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK
Half a Million "Hijras" Can’t Be Wrong: Thousands of eunuchs from across India are converging on the remote northern town of Rath for a national convention expected to seek ways of promoting their role in politics, organizers said Wednesday (6/13). Eunuchs, called "hijras" in India, are mostly men castrated at puberty and are referred to as "she." The expression is broadly used for those classified as neither male nor female. The convention, being held between June 20-29, will chart out an agenda for eunuchs including a more active role in politics. Organizers said it would be attended by several high-profile eunuchs including two mayors. There are approximately a half-million "hijras" in India. They live mainly by collecting cash gifts from people on auspicious occasions. Groups of eunuchs dressed in colorful saris with heavy make-up and jewelry often turn up uninvited at wedding parties and leave only after receiving generous cash donations. —Jeff Drake

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Upcoming Birthdays
June 15-21

16—Stan Laurel (would have been 111) & Brian Eno (53)
18—M.C. Escher (would have been 103) & Paul McCartney (59)
19—Moe Howard (would have been 104) & Ann Wilson (50)
20—Chet Atkins (80) & Brian Wilson (59)
21—Joe Flaherty (61) & Ray Davies (57)

Special Events
June is Gay Pride Month
16—National Hollerin’ Contest (Spivey’s Corner, NC)
17—Father’s Day
19—Juneteenth
20—World Juggling Day
21—Summer Solstice

YOUR WEAK-END WEATHER
Who’s Your Daddy Edition:
If you’re like most of the hitsdailydouble.com staff, you’re hoping that you don’t get any surprise Father’s Day cards in the mail. That said, if you’re in New York City this weekend, there’s a chance that you’ll be surprised by some thunderstorms late Saturday or during the day on Sunday. Otherwise it should be gorgeous, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. In Los Angeles, there will be no such surprises, as temps also hit the upper 70s and dip to the low 60s. As for my own dad, he’ll be in Chicago this weekend. Since he’s ashamed that I work for such a terrible website, he won’t read this and discover that it will also be great in the Windy City: highs in the upper 70s, lows in the upper 50s. —David Simutis, apprentice meteorologist

"FACTS OF LIFE" SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK
A cadet from the nearby military academy asks Natalie to a boxing match he's fighting to impress Natalie and his dad, even though he's hopelessly outmatched.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
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