JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE made his network TV debut with "Harlem River Blues" at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

GIRLS stopped by the World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

SMITH WESTERNS are advance streaming Dye It Blonde.

GREGG ALLMAN is advance streaming Low Country Blues (produced by T-Bone Burnett).

TAMMI TERRELL gets a feature from Oliver Wang at All Things Considered.

THE HONEY CONE are gonna put it in "The Want Ads" for ya.

THE GUMMY AWARDS for 2010 were posted at Stereogum.

IRON & WINE: Sam Beam talks to The Skinny about poetry, unicorns, and expanding his sound by going back in time. (Thx, LHB.)

GREG DULLI talks to SPIN about the Twilight Singers, Gutter Twins, basketball, Skype, Twitter and more...

ARETHA FRANKLIN & ADAM RAUCH have sort-of-good health news to report, though Rauch says he is not free of cancer.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Rooster Cogburn rules the roost as True Grit finally tops the chart in its third week with 15 million.  The Coens & Co. also pass the 100 million mark on a 38 million budget.  True Grit will likely be the biggest grossing Western since Dances With Wolves.  Little Fockers places with 13.8 million and will make a decent profit worldwide, though lagging its predecessors.  Season of the Witch debuted in the third slot with an estimated 10.8 million, which sorta counts as good news for a film with almost uniformly hostile reviews.  It cost 40 million, but iirc the studio sold off the foreign rights and minimized its downside.  Tron Legacy drops a hefty 48 percent to the fourth slot with 9.8 million; its domestic gross remains well below its production budget, though its worldwide gross shows it in the black.  Rounding out the Top Five is Black Swan with 8.3 million and a 61.5 million domestic gross against a 13 million budget.  Below the fold, the wide release of Country Strong managed sixth place with 7.3 million, which isn't terrible against a 15 million budget.  Awards bait like The Fighter and The King's Speech also continue to profit.

ORLANDO BLOOM & MIRANDA KERR welcomed their first child - a son - in L.A. on Thursday.

LINDSAY LOHAN & SAMANTHA RONSON reportedly declare a truce.

MAD MEL UPDATE: Gibson's lawyer went to court for an emergency hearing Friday, asking the judge to immediately strip Oksana Grigorieva of custody of baby Lucia.

THE KARDASHIANS have been sued for 75 million in debit card damages.

JANE KRAKOWSKI is knocked up.

DENISE RICHARDS & NIKKI SIXX have gone their separate ways.

ZAC EFRON & VANESSA HUDGENS: Back on?

THE KENNEDYS, an ambitious and much-anticipated miniseries about the American political family, will not air on the History channel, reportedly due to political pressure from the Kennedy family who were not comfortable with the project coming out in the year of the 50th anniversary of Camelot. It is now being shopped to Showtime.

THE BEST & WORST REVIEWED MOVIES of 2010, compiled by Metacritic.

EGYPT: Muslims turned up in droves for the Coptic Christmas mass last Thursday night, offering their bodies, and lives, as "shields" to Egypt's threatened Christian community.

IRAN: The chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran claimed Iran can now manufacture nuclear rods and plates at the Isfahan site. Israel's outgoing intelligence chief said Iran won't be able to build a nuclear weapon until 2015.

IRAQ: Moktada al-Sadr delivered his support on Saturday for an Iraqi state he had once derided as a traitorous tool of the United States and that his followers had battled in the streets of Iraq's most important cities only a few years before

TICKLISH CAMEL: Let's go to the video.

THE SQUIRREL THREAT: They'll take on tigers.

HORNY GOATS don't let friends drive drunk.

SCOOBY the GREAT DANE foiled an attempted rape in Chicago and kept the suspect at bay until police arrived.

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE...

... with THE RASCALS!  I was delighted to find one of my fave clips, their cover of "Mickey's Monkey" in a medley with "Turn On Your Love Light."  A second live medley includes a pair of Rascals originals, "I've Been Lonely Too Long" and "Come On Up." Plus, a copy of "How Can I Be Sure?" has returned to the Tube.  Round it out with the live-instudio version of the obligatory "Good Lovin'."

IRON & WINE perform its new Kiss Each Other Clean album in its entirety, front to back, at New York City's Greene Space.

BRIGHT EYES drops "Shell Games" as an advance track to The People's Key.

MUSIC BLOG ZEITGEIST 2010, courtesy of the ol' HM.

THE HEAD & THE HEART get a twofer on World Cafe: Next.

MOTHER LOVE BONE, Live at the Vogue Theater in Seattle, WA, Jan. 3, 1990.

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Live at the Brooklyn Bowl, Dec. 30, 2010.

DESTROYER: Dan Bejar talks to Crawdaddy about the upcoming Kaputt album and tour.  The title track is the first video; it's a bit racy -- and nerdy -- at that.

BILLY BRAGG: Neighbors of the singer-songwriter have received hate mail demanding they kick him out their village for being anti-British and a hypocrite living a celebrity lifestyle despite his socialist views. Bragg thinks it's the work of a disgruntled BNP member.

JOLIE HOLLAND has an essay in the latest issue of Poetry magazine. Oscar Wilde and Gram Parsons are among the cameos.

JOHN VANDERSLICE talks to the Palo Alto Daily News about avoiding music and his ego. (Thx, LHB.)

CUTOUT BIN: From Ike & Tina Turner to Jon Auer, from Bob Dylan to the Psychedelic Furs, from Elvis Presley to Peter Gabriel, plus the Clash, Todd Rundgren, Jason & the Scorchers, the late Gerry Raffery and more -- the first fortuitous finds of the year are now streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases include The Season of the Witch, which is currently scoring 05 percent on a small sample; and Country Strong, which expands to 1500 screens scoring 15 percent.

JAIME PRESSLY, best known for her Emmy winning role on the NBC sitcom My Name is Earl, was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of drunk driving.

LINDSAY LOHAN: Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Palm Desert Police Department officials believe Lindsay Lohan was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while at Betty Ford. On the home front, Lohan now says she has no intention of moving out of her new beach pad, and plans to build a fence so new neighbor and ex-lover Sam Ronson can't spy on her.

MAD MEL UPDATE: Oksana Grigorieva has just made an explosive allegation under oath that she never before made - that Mel Gibson beat her during sex.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS talks to the Daily Beast about  Blue Valentine, Heath Ledger, the Osacrs and more...

DAVID FINCHER talks to HitFix about The Social Network, Fight Club and the digital age. BTW, The Social Network is returning to theaters to break the 100 million mark and build Oscars buzz.

THE TOP 10 MOVIES of 2010, according to AICN's Harry Knowles.

ANNA NICOLE SMITH IS STILL DEAD, and the judge in the Howard K. Stern drug conspiracy trial just threw out the jury verdict - making Stern a free and innocent man.

IRAN: A woman referred to by authorities as American, who is of possible Armenian Christian descent, has been arrested on espionage charges, an Iranian newspaper reported Thursday, as officials launched a major crackdown on the country's Christian minority for alleged proselytizing.

AFGHANISTAN: The US will send an additional 1,400 Marines to the south in the spring.

DRAMATIC KITTEH: Let's go to the video.

AN ORANGE ALLIGATOR is turning heads in Venice, FL.

THOUSANDS of DEAD CRABS have been washing up on England beaches along the rocky Thanet Coast in recent days, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists for the past few years.

A FUGITIVE EMU is sought by authorities in eastern Maryland.

A BABY POLAR BEAR waves to camera after his crippled mother beats the odds to give birth in Alaska.

A BABY PYGMY HIPPO is now on display at Zoo Miami.

SON VOLT plays a four-song session at LaundroMatinee. The MP3s are there; all the videos are at Vimeo.

BANDS FOR 2011: A streaming playlist and video gallery from NME.

TWIN SHADOW did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter.

SOCIAL DISTORTION drops "California (Hustle & Flow)" as an advance track to Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.

AKRON / FAMILY drops "So It Goes" as an advance track to S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT (a title made for mass marketing).

R. DEAN TAYLOR: "Indiana Wants Me." Someone mentioned it on the Twitter last week, and I have fond memories of The Service's cover version.

JOHN LYDON talks Mr. Rotten's Scrapbook and the future of the Pistols & P.I.L. with Stereogum.

JOANNA NEWSOM talks touring, songwriting and more with... The Economist.

MAC McCAUGHAN talks to Spinner about the big year for Superchunk and Merge Records.

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: Another bad year.

CARLOS SANTANA gives the drummer some.

LINDSAY LOHAN is telling friends she had "no idea" her new badass beach house was right next door to ex-gf Sam Ronson ...but she's ready to move out in order to "keep the peace."

RYAN REYNOLDS & SANDRA BULLOCK: Rumors escalate, but are called ridiculous by sources close to both stars.

ELTON JOHN is the biological father of his boy, born by a surrogate mother.

MILA KUNIS tals to The Advocate about the topics you want to read about, minus Macaulay Culkin.

NICOLE KIDMAN talks to co-star Jennifer Aniston at Harper's Bazaar about marriage, motherhood, and the joy of lightening up.

EVA LONGORIA rebounding from soon-to-be ex-husband Tony Parker with Penelope Cruz's little brother, Eduardo?

THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS went to these folks.

THE BEST DOCUMENTARIES of 2010, according to Cinematical.

PAKISTAN: Lawyers showered the suspected killer of a prominent Pakistani governor with rose petals when he arrived at court Wednesday and an influential Muslim scholars group praised the assassination of the outspoken opponent of laws that order death for those who insult Islam.

AFGHANISTAN: On New Year's Day, leaders of a tribe that has been responsible for numerous attacks in Sangin struck a deal with the Afghan government to cease offensive acts and evict foreign fighters in the area in exchange for the release of a prisoner, the promise of development assistance and the prospect of establishing their own security force.

IRAQ: Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who led several Shiite uprisings against American forces in Iraq before going into exile in neighboring Iran almost four years ago, returned to Iraq Wednesday.

THE BIRDS swarmed a news crew in Oklahoma City.

ANOTHER MASS BIRD DEATH, this time in Sweden.

FRANKENSWINE: The creators of the genetically modified superpig, nicknamed the Enviropig, say its manure contains less phosphorus than normal slurry and poses less risk to rivers, streams and lakes. BONUS: Taiwan environmental authorities say they are planning to promote potty training for pigs to help curb water and waste pollution.

AN UNKILLABLE COW sent a Florida man to the hospital in critical condition.

A HERMAPHRODITE DOG had a rare operation to become a female, and could even have pups.

BEST COAST brought their "Boyfriend" to meet Fallon.

BRITISH SEA POWER is advance streaming Valhalla Dancehall.

THE VACCINES, "purveyors of classic fuzzed-up indie in the mould of The Jesus & Mary Chain and The Ramones," are profiled by The Scotsman. (Thx, LHB.) They're also touted by NME. You can stream a couple via TheirSpace.

ABIGAIL WASHBURN plays a Tiny Desk Concert at the offices of NPR.

DAVID BOWIE: Scary Monsters Alternate Takes.

GERRY RAFFERTY, whose songs such as "Stuck in the Middle with You" and "Baker Street" soundtracked the 1970s, has died aged 63 after a long illness.

THE GO! TEAM talks to Spinner about their upcoming LP, claiming more coherent lyrics and more diverse music.

PINK FLOYD & EMI settle all family business.

SPOTIFY: Don't expect a US launch of the downloading-streaming service soon, but there is a shady way to try it out here.

WHY IS INDIE so... white? And why does nobody complain about the ethnic issue in country music or hip-hop?

LINDSAY LOHAN, fresh out of rehab, has moved into a plush beach pad next door to ex-gf Samantha Ronson, who is none too pleased about it.  Meanwhile, Lohan's legal issues could get more complicated after police in California said she violated her probation.

JOHN MELLENCAMP & MEG RYAN are quietly dating. That was the sound of the other shoe dropping on his separation from his wife of 18 years, Elaine Irwin.

TAYLOR SWIFT & JAKE GYLLENHAAL are reportedly dunzo. Song to follow.

BRETT FAVRE: Two more women have come forward, filing a sexual harassment suit against the star quarterback.

JUSTIN BIEBER is profiled by Vanity Fair. Which seal is that? Fifth? Sixth?

DAVID ARQUETTE is undergoing treatment for depression and alcohol abuse at the Betty Ford Center in California, according to RadarOnline.

LeANN RIMES had some work done.

GUILTY PLEASURES of movies and TV, according to PopMatters.

THE 80 GREATEST HOLLYWOOD MOMENTS, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

IRAN has invited Russia, China and several European Union members to visit its nuclear facilities this month, but pointedly snubbed the United States. The European diplomats said the invitation was not likely to be accepted, if at all, until after the next round of negotiations, expected to be held in Istanbul at the end of this month.

EGYPT: Security forces said a suicide bomber who attacked a Coptic church on New Years Day was "linked to al Qaeda." A prominent Egyptian cleric claimed the US and Israel were responsible for the suicide attack.

PAKISTAN: A senior Pakistani terrorist linked to al Qaeda and the country's intelligence service has been released from "protective custody." The governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province  -- strong voice for rights of women and religious minorities -- has been killed by one of his own guards at a market in the capital Islamabad, police have said.

BEAR CUB vs BICHON: Who you got?

CAR vs PIG: Who you got?

MORE MASS BIRD DEATHS: State biologists are trying to determine what led to the deaths of an estimated 500 red-winged blackbirds and starlings on a quarter-mile stretch of highway in Louisiana, just three days after more than 3,000 blackbirds rained down from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas.

A VULTURE suspected of spying for Israel is held by authorities in Saudi Arabia.

BEAVER, correctly used, could save our ecosystem.

R.E.M. drops "Oh My Heart" as another advance track to Collapse Into Now, and a lyrics video for "It Happened Today," featuring a cameo from Eddie Vedder.

WIRE is advance streaming Red Barked Tree, the band's 12th studio LP.

MGMT did the four free songs thing for Daytrotter at MoogFest.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, Live at Nassau Coliseum, New Years Eve 1980.

SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN: Their "Back in the Saddle" is not the Aerosmith classic, but that didn't stop someone from syncing up some video for Twofer Tuesday...

THE PITCHFORK READERS' POLL for 2010.

THE 50 MOST IMPORTANT RECORDINGS of the DECADE, according to NPR.

THE FLAMING LIPS: Wayne Coyne tells Rolling Stone that the band will hit the studio soon and plans to release new songs every month, while filming the entire process.

ZOMBIE PROFITS: The big business of posthumous music sales. (Thx, LHB.)

MILA KUNIS & MACAULAY CULKIN have called it quits after eight years. He's doing that Munch-like thing right now.

DAVID ARQUETTE partied wildly with strippers just days before landing in rehab, according to RadarOnline.

LINDSAY LOHAN has been released from the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California after a 90-day stint in rehab.

RYAN REYNOLDS & SANDRA BULLOCK, co-stars in The Proposal, spent New Year's Eve together.

JASON SCHWARTZMAN and wife Brady Cunningham welcomed a daughter on Saturday.

PETE POSTLETHWAITE, an Oscar nominee for his role as the father of Daniel Day-Lewis's character in the 1993 In the Name of the Father, died Sunday after a lengthy fight with cancer.

ANNE FRANCIS, who was the love interest in the 1950s science-fiction classic "Forbidden Planet" and later was sexy private eye in "Honey West" on TV, has died at age 80.

ZSA ZSA GABOR is losing half a leg.

QUENTIN TARANTINO's Favorite Movies of 2010.

IRAN announced that the Bushehr nuclear power plant is ready to join the grid. Opposition leader Karroubi offered to stand trial if the government would agree to open proceedings. An Iranian nuclear scientist who claimed he slipped away from his CIA captors has not been seen publicly since his heroic return to Tehran last year and could be facing an investigation as a possible turncoat, according to an opposition website.

PAKISTAN: The second-largest party in Pakistan's ruling coalition quit the government Sunday over fuel price increases and other complaints, leaving the country with a minority government.

THE BIRDS: An enormous number of crows have been descending on an Ottawa neighbourhood each evening for the past several winters.

MORE THAN 1000 DEAD BLACKBIRDS fall from the sky in Beebe, Ark. Meanwhile, Arkansas officials are investigating the death of an estimated 100K fish in the state's northwest.

ARMADILLOS & ELEPHANTS are among those targeted by a new law in Morinville, Calgary.

ZOO BIRTHS of 2010.