Pop Chart

TALK-SHOW EDITION

GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK

Mike Huckabee

The Fox News host and former Arkansas governor will helm a new radio show

Rosie O’Donnell

After only five months on the air, the comedian’s Rosie Show was canceled by OWN

POOR TASTE

Bobblehead Blunder

For about a week at the Gettysburg battlefield’s gift shop, tourists could buy a bobblehead doll of Abraham Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. The dolls were pulled on March 10 after critics cried foul. But collectors need not fret; the doll is still available online for $19.95. Sic semper idiotis.

ONE QUESTION FOR …

Kevin Smith

The soon-to-be-retired indie filmmaker (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Red State) and author of the new memoir Tough Sh*t talked to us about his podcasting empire:

Why essentially give up movies to focus on podcasts?

For the first 10 years of my career, it was, “You guys, see this movie I made. It’s going to be playing here, and you go sit there and watch it.” And now it’s the opposite: “You guys, when can we be there for you?” You record all these podcasts and create a vast library so that when people are bored, they put you on. You become their friend. They take you with them wherever they go.

Podcasting is simple storytelling. The morning-radio people have known this for years. They’re living as white noise of their listeners’ lives, and they have far more pull than the guy who is simply like, “Hey, I made a movie. Come see it.” There’s no loyalty to that entertainer. There’s a loyalty to someone who spends every day or every week with you.

IT’S ON LIKE …

From the Corner Arcade to the Gallery Wall

See, Mom, all those quarters were totally worth it. Video games, long regarded as a disreputable or lesser art form, are getting their due with a major exhibition at Washington’s Smithsonian American Art Museum. Running until Sept. 30 (before traveling to other U.S. cities), “The Art of Video Games” shows off 40 years’ worth of images from 80 titles. (The work can also be seen in a book of the same name by Patrick O’Rourke and the show’s curator, Chris Melissinos.)

1982 DONKEY KONG

JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES

1977 COMBAT

1981 PAC-MAN

1987 THE LEGEND OF ZELDA

1991 SUPER MARIO WORLD

1991 SIMCITY

1994 DOOM II

2012 MASS EFFECT 2

RECOMMENDATION

DVD

The War Room

Yes, the 1992 presidential campaign propelled a young Southern governor into the White House. But it also made stars of James Carville, George Stephanopoulos and the others who ran the rapid-response crew that this 1993 documentary is named after. The Criterion Collection’s new edition includes the original film as well as great making-of features.

IN PLAIN SIGHT (SORT OF)

After the Chinese government destroyed the compound that housed his studio in 2005, artist Liu Bolin began to use China’s capital as a backdrop in his work. Select images from the resulting series, Hiding in the City, are on display through May 11 at New York City’s Eli Klein Fine Art gallery. They showcase the artist (who painted himself as a means of camouflage) in various locations like Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, above. (See more at lightbox.time.com.

‘@AndersonCooper called me a terrorist for speaking out, and expressed support for the SLgov when this was happening.’

–M.I.A.

‘You are mistaken. I never called you a terrorist. I don’t even know who you are other than the lady who sang at superbowl.’

–ANDERSON COOPER

TWITTER FEUD

M.I.A. vs. Cooper

M.I.A., the oft controversial rapper, instigated a spat with talk-show host Anderson Cooper, accusing him of dissing her for having supported the Tamil Tigers during their 26-year civil war with the Sri Lankan government. Anderson smacked down the claims (in 2009 his blog simply linked to another article about M.I.A.), and the two quickly made up.

STYLE

A Heavenly Scent

Pope Benedict XVI is the latest famous figure to get a custom fragrance, but this one won’t be for sale to the public. The Catholic leader tapped notable perfumer Silvana Casoli to create a personal cologne filled with tree-blossom and grass notes meant to reflect his love for the animals and forests of his native Germany.

3 THINGS YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS WEEK

1. Filling that Jersey Shore–size hole in your heart.

MTV signed the cast up for a sixth season, despite declining ratings, a rehabbed Situation and a pregnant Snooki.

2. The continuity of the sacred Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backstory.

In his upcoming reboot, producer Michael Bay made the turtles part of an alien race.

3. Tebowmania.

Now that Peyton Manning is taking the reins in Denver, the kneeling QB is likely headed east.

FOR MORE POP-CULTURE COVERAGE, VISIT TIME’S ENTERTAINMENT WEBSITE, entertainment.time.com