By Amy & Nancy Harrington, Pop Culture PassionistasThis week an Oscar contender supports Free the Children, a reality star shows her philanthropic side and an “Idol” gives a wake-up call (with flapjacks).Natalie Portman Announces Free The Children ContestThe last few months have been good ones for Natalie Portman. The 29-year-old actress announced that she is…

By Amy & Nancy Harrington, Pop Culture PassionistasOne talk show host gets an uplifting birthday surprise while another finds a long lost sister, and an ex-“Bachelor” raises $100,000 for charity. Here are this week’s most inspirational pop culture moments.Ellen Basks in the Glow of the Double Dream HandsWhat do you get the talk show hostess…

Chris Medina walked on to the American Idol audition stage and all I could think was, “great, another grunge rocker, just what the world needs.” Shame on me, not because of his silky smooth voice but because the cover of this book was hiding a story that made this grown man cry like a baby.…

In the not so distant past, we had to wait for the paperboy to gauge reaction to the traditional State of the Union Address. Television changed that and the internet has now revolutionized it. On Twitter we truly see the clash of popular culture and politics and we see it in real time. Even after…

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