Pet Rock: The Pop Culture Blog

No joke, people, I'm fired up for the return of "Beverly Hills 90210" to television. OK, sure, I just admitted that in public, but lucky for me, we've only had about 20,000 readers to Pet Rock today.

Even with Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh coming back, I know the show won't be as good as it was growing up, but that's because I'm just as old as the gang from West Beverly (not in real life, those dudes were like 40 when they starred in the show). The new crop of kiddies watching the new crop of 90210ers will no doubt enjoy it.

But for us old folks, we're not too old to stop having fun. So here's a little old school "Beverly Hills 90210" trivia quiz for you. I went 8-for-10.

• Photos: Where are the '90210' cast members now?
• Map: '90210' hot spots

I have absolutely no idea why I even thought to look for this on YouTube. But I did it, so I shall own up to it.

This could be the pivotal selection that either ends Old School Tuesday or catapults it into mainstream Blog America.

Enjoy a little "Stop That Train" from Vanilla Ice.

Ever wondered what happened to the "rump shaker heroes" of the 1990s?

The earliest stars I remember were Wreckx-N-Effect and their multi-platinum hit single "Rump Shaker," which was produced by Teddy Riley way back in '92. I can still hear 'em: "All I wanna do is zooma-zoom-zoom-zoom in the boom-boom... just shake ya rump!" It's been rumored that Pharrell Williams wrote that verse instead of Teddy. Either way, it's one catchy song! And yes, I still shake my rump when I hear it!

The group was made up of Aqil Davidson, Brandon Mitchell, Markell Riley and Keith "K.C." Hanns. Sadly, Brandon was killed in a shooting, according to reports. The group came out with a record called "Rap's New Generation" in 1996, but Wreckx-N-Effect never achieved the success it once had with its first booty-shakin' single. What a tragedy!

Wanna shake ya rump? Check out this video by Wreckx-N-Effect ...

In 1996, Ginuwine teamed up with beatmaster Timbaland for "Pony," his first single from the album "Ginuwine ... The Bachelor." Ginuwine's smooth lyrics, sexy dance moves and swagger sent throngs of screaming women over the edge. I should know, my girlfriends and I were among the throngs screaming! Remember these risque lyrics? "I'm horny, let's do it ... ride it, my pony ..." Ahh, the memories ...

Ginuwine put out a few more albums, but none were as good as the first one. In 2002, it looked like his luck was turning around when P. Diddy/Sean Combs tapped him to sing on "I Need a Girl (Part II)," which is one of my personal faves. Shortly after, Ginuwine started his own label called Bag Entertainment and released the album "Back II Da Basics" in 2005, according to Wikipedia. Word is Ginuwine is working on a new album, called "The New Beginning," slated for release this year. Keep it sexy baby!

Watch Ginuwine move in this video clip ...

Sisqo came out with "Thong Song" off the "Unleash the Dragon" LP after leaving Dru Hill to go solo in '99. This single became a mega-hit and was the booty-shakin' anthem for Spring Breakers that year -- anyone remember MTV's Spring Break? -- and it was definitely the jam of the summer. Comedian Will Ferrell even gave a nod to the song's popularity by singing part of the lyrics to the "Thong Song" as Robert Goulet in a skit on "Saturday Night Live."

Sisqo's success has waned over the years, but he's tried to remain in the spotlight by appearing alongside the unpredictable Bobby Brown in "Gone Country," a reality show on the Country Music Televison channel.

Wanna relive the memories up close? Both Sisqo and Ginuwine can be seen live at the Millennium Theater in Brooklyn on May 17. You can enter to win tickets on Hot97's Web site or get more information on the Millennium Theater's Myspace page.

Watch Sisqo unleash the "Thong Song" remix ...

With all the chitter-chatter lately about teen sensations doing things some people deem inappropriate, it's time to take a look back at the days when teen matinee idols were looked at it through less judgmental eyes.

That's right, folks. We're talking all the way back in the early 1990s, when the Peach Pit was the only place people could eat, seemingly only eight students went to West Beverly High and Donna Martin graduates.

Ah yes, "Beverly Hills 90210," quite possibly the greatest teens growing up show and characters ever created for television. So, while the world unfairly hammers away at Miley Cyrus and touts new people to "replace" her as top teen queen, let Pet Rock take you back with this double feature. And we'll keep it in the Cyrus theme will musical numbers from "90210."

First off, we have Brenda Walsh impersonating Laverne from "Laverne and Shirley" and lip-synching "It's My Party" with backup dancers Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin.

The closing number is by my all-time favorite character in a "90210" mini-arc, Emily Valentine. Again, backup vocals provided by Kelly, Donna and Brenda.

You may now carry on about your day, and we both know you feel much better now after watching these videos.

- La Monica

NKOTB photos

And yes, Long Island girls-turned-women, they're coming to the Coliseum, so get out the aerosol cans and get that hair high!

May 16 - New York City: The Today Show
May 17 - East Rutherford: Izod Center
May 18 - Boston: Tweeter Center

Sept. 20 - Montreal: Bell Centre
Sept. 21 - Toronto: ON Air Canada Center
Sept. 23 - East Rutherford, Izod Center (Pre-sale: May 5, 10 a.m.; on sale: May 12, 10 a.m.)
Sept. 24 - Nassau Coliseum (Pre-sale: May 5, 10 a.m.; on sale: May 12, 10 a.m.)
Sept. 26 - Boston: TD Banknorth Garden
Sept. 27 - Atlantic City: Borgata (on sale May 17)

Oct. 4 - Chicago: Allstate Arena

Look for updated dates as they announce them at nkotb.com/tour

In the past few weeks, there have been way too many MC Hammer sightings in the pop culture world. Is it a coincidence, or am I just watching all the wrong shows and reading all the wrong things?

Either way, the subliminal marketing worked because it's Old School Tuesday and you can't touch this. Such a great song back then, such a great song now. The dance moves are still impressive. The clothes, eh, not so much,

- La Monica

Networks finally ran out of celebrities to cast on reality shows, so they're turning to their kids for help.

MTV debuts "Rock the Cradle" on Thursday night at 10 p.m., which features nine offspring of famous musicians competing for a record deal.

Sounds tragic in a lot of ways. But, at least we can say MTV is producing a show about music.

For some of you, these next two sentences may be hard to believe: There was a time when MTV aired original shows as a way to break up videos and promote different genres of music. Music Television, a network once aptly named, created programs about music and pop culture and would air them. No, seriously, it's true.

This was before The Real World and The Hills, before True Life and MTV Cribs.

Top 5 Thursday remembers all too well those days when the television was about music and not about, well, television. So here we go with our Top 5 countdown of the best old-school shows from MTV:

5) Headbanger's Ball

Metal heads partied deep into the night when this show came along. If not for host Riki Rachtman, there's a lot of music none of us would ever have been introduced to and spent money on back then.

4) 120 Minutes

When alternative music hit the scene, MTV went nuts. It soon became mainstream to be alternative. And even if you weren't too into this music, you watched this show on Sunday nights.

3) Beavis & Butthead

Arguably the most controversial show in MTV history. It started out as an excuse to play bad videos and then blew up into a full-fledged pop culture phenomenon. Love 'em or hate 'em, you watched this show and yelled "Kick me in the jimmy!" on more than one occasion. It's OK, you don't have to lie. We know you did. Heck, I did it on Monday.

2) Remote Control

An MTV classic and its first game show that paved the way for all those silly shows we watched (and loved) during the network's Spring Break coverage. Adam Sandler and Denis Leary got their starts here, as did Colin Quinn and the lovely Kari Wuhrer. Buzz-bin.com will tell you more about this show just in case you don't remember it. Buzz-bin.com will also show you video clips of "Beat the Bishop" and other elements of the show just in case you remember it and want to watch.

1) Yo! MTV Raps

Fab 5 Freddy. Ed Lover. Dr. Dre. 'Nuff said . . . but we'll say more anyway. The Ed Lover Dance. Rappers showing their normal side instead of acting hard. A feeling of hanging out in your basement with Ed, Dre and whatever big-name or up-and-coming rap artists came on the show that week. Fab 5 Freddy interviewing people on location and always being positive no matter what the interview subject said. (I still don't think he ever listened to what they said, but it was compelling TV.) By the way, MTV is honoring the 20-year anniverary of the show's start this April. Check the schedule and watch old clips at yo.mtv.com (and let me know if you beat a score of 8,000 on the Yo! quiz).

P.S. Other shows we liked but not in our top 5: The Cut, House of Style, Beauty and the Beach, Singled Out, Fade to Black.

- Mark La Monica

That's the scene as Wesley Snipes left an Ocala, Fla., courtroom Friday after a federal jury acquitted him of tax fraud, conspiracy and three other counts of not filing a return.

However, the jury did find Snipes guilty of three misdemeanor charges of not filing tax returns.

But the real question is this: Is that Wesley Snipes or Nino Brown in the photo?

Am I my brother's keeper?

- Mark La Monica

By Mark La Monica

Apparently, some old-school synapses were firing late last night. Somewhere in my REM sleep land, there are a few dreams of 1990s glory waiting to be unleashed. Who knew?

That's the only way to explain why Michael Bivens and I shared the stage to sing "Poison." Where Ronny DeVoe and Ricky Bell were, I'm not really sure.

But, that was I me on stage, in black overalls, one flap down, of course, and a white turtleneck busting a move to some hip hop smoothed out on the R & B tip with pop feel appeal to it. Yes, it was one of those "Did I really just dream that?" moments of waking up. It was followed by one of those "Uh, yeah, I gotta blog that" moments.

Hey, ride the wave, baby. Smack it up, flip it, rub it down, oh nooooooooooooo!