With The Bourne Ultimatum set to become an instant blockbuster when it opens on Friday, it's about time we at PopWatch deal with the question that everybody's been talking about since Matt Damon's series started five years ago: Which JB do you prefer ? Jason Bourne or James Bond? Simple.

Or is it? Sure, for a long time, Jason was the hands-down winner. After all, The Bourne Identity introduced a much more visceral, energetic, edgy kind of spy thriller to audiences in 2002 ? the same year in which my man Pierce Brosnan's 007 went out with a whimper in Die Another Day. But then, all of a sudden, unexpectedly, as if out of nowhere, Daniel Craig thoroughly reinvigorated the James Bond franchise last year with Casino Royale, a film that certainly owed a huge debt to the Bourne flicks ? but, in my opinion, exceeded them.

So, that's right, my vote's for James. What about yours?

Good morning, Pop Watchers! Okay, I know, it may not actually be morning when you're reading this, but I still can't get that catchy ditty "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray out of my head. (Damn you, brilliant songwriting of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman!) Lucky for me, New Line has arranged a bunch of special Hairspray sing-a-longs this weekend: Selected theaters across the nation (though, ironically, none in Baltimore) will show the hit musical and encourage audience members to belt out the film's tunes with their fellow Zac Efron wannabes. Just like those Sing-A-Long Sound of Music fiestas that have been so popular. Sounds like fun, huh? Are you looking forward to going out and unleashing your inner Nikki Blonsky? Well, hey, friends, if you happen to catch the event near where you live, do us a favor and report back. If, that is, you're not too hoarse.

Today's New York Times report on television-watching habits in Afghanistan is a fascinating read. It turns out that TV, banned during the Taliban years, has since emerged as a major cultural force there; despite the myriad problems facing the war-torn nation, huge audiences tune in every night to watch their favorite shows. In our country, where the tube is constantly accused of rotting kids' brains and coarsening society, it's refreshing to read a story where rising TV viewership is recognized as a largely positive development.

So what does your average Kabul couch potato like to watch? A lot of lame-sounding soap operas, mainly ? but Afghan TV evidently offers almost as many options as we're used to over here. The article mentions cooking shows, reality makeover shows, crime shows, quiz shows, music video shows, and call-in shows, among others. They've even got a hit singing competition called Afghan Star ? their very own Idol! (In a droll moment, the show's host tells the Times he's never heard of Ryan Seacrest. Can it be?) And the leading station is getting ready to start rebroadcasting original American episodes of 24. Surely, The Sopranos can't be far off. Anyone else find it as heartening as me to know that at least TV is doing all right in a nation facing such serious strife?

All this week, Woody Allen'€™s Manhattan is screening at New York's Film Forum. I've seen it 11 or 12 times straight through ? it'€™s usually playing on September 11 somewhere in the city, and it'€™s a generally good movie to watch if you'€™re into Valentine'€™s Day ?€” but that probably won't stop me from going to see it again. On the all-time Woody list, I'€™d put it slightly ahead of Annie Hall but just behind Allen'€™s greatest movie, Hannah and Her Sisters; the three put together comprise the holiest of all New York Trilogies.

If you've seen Manhattan, you've fallen under the spell of its astonishing black-and-white cinematography, which is, of course, the work of Gordon Willis. He has built a rep as arguably the most famous American DP of all time, mostly thanks just to the unbeatable work he did throughout the 1970s. (In addition to Manhattan, Willis shot the Godfather movies, All the President'€™s Men, The Parallax View, Klute, and a few other Woody movies, including Annie Hall.) Willis is reclusive, and we haven'€™t heard much from him lately ?€” his last IMDB credit is for 1997'€™s The Devil'€™s Own ?€” which is why I thought I'€™d pass along this likable e-mail communique from him, courtesy of The Reeler, which got him talking in unaffected stream-of-consciousness style about Manhattan. Consider it worth a click if you love Willis, Manhattan, or that classic poster shot of Woody and Diane Keaton on a bench staring out at the 59th Street Bridge at dawn. It'€™s amusing to hear Willis ID one of the most iconic shots in movie history as just "a button that ends the sequence." Yet another reason to love the guy.

During the late '80s and early '90s, in the throes of a fanatical preteen James Bond obsession, I started reading Bond novels when I got tired of watching the movies over and over. I dutifully made my way through a few of the Ian Fleming originals ? but what I was really into were the flashier and trashier contemporary Bond spinoffs by English spy writer John Gardner. Looking over the list of the Gardner Bonds on Wikipedia, I fondly recall tearing through For Special Services; Nobody Lives Forever; No Deals, Mr. Bond; Scorpius; Win, Lose or Die; and a few others ? I just wish I could remember the one where Bond makes love to a woman with one breast (who maybe later turns out to be a Blofeld?s daughter, or something else along those villainous lines).

Given all that, the news this week that another English novelist, Sebastian Faulks, has been recruited to write a new Bond novel for early next year was rousing enough to get me to pick up a phone and make some old-fashioned telephone calls. Before I knew it, I had Sebastian Faulks himself on the other line, game for a few questions about James Bond. Faulks, who lives in London, is the highly-successful author of On Green Dolphin Street and Charlotte Gray (the basis of a 2002 Cate Blanchett movie), and his Bond novel, Devil May Care, comes out on May 28, 2008 ? Fleming?s 100th birthday. After the jump, the interview!

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: A few writers besides Fleming have written Bond books, but this announcement comes at a good time, now that Casino Royale has re-energized the Bond franchise. What?d you think of that movie?

SEBASTIAN FAULKS: Oh, it was powerful, well-made, and exciting. The girl was great, too.

And everybody pointed out that Daniel Craig?s tougher Bond was truer to the original Fleming creation.

Oh, he was certainly a lot tougher than Roger Moore, who was very soft. You felt that if you punched Roger Moore in the stomach it would be like punching a bag of marshmallows. And Fleming does stress the cruelty of Bond, particularly in the early novels. I think that was one of the things that made the creation appealing and rather shocking when it first came out. But if you actually analyze the way that Bond behaves, both towards his enemies, and towards women, it isn?t actually a sadistic or unnecessarily cruel. He only kills in self-defense, or if absolutely necessary for his mission. Although he is an incurable womanzier, he doesn?t actually treat the women badly. In fact, he frequently falls in love with them and is jilted by them sometimes.

So obviously you?re writing about Fleming?s Bond, not the Bond from the films?

No, mine is the book Bond, and [my book] is set in 1967. Which is just after the last [Fleming] book [1966's Octopussy and the Living Daylights]. So we pick him up as Ian Fleming?s Bond, and not Roger Moore?s Bond, or Pierce Brosnan?s, or Daniel Craig?s. I?ve just given Fleming?s Bond another chapter.

You even tried to write in Fleming?s style?

That?s right, I did. The idea was that it should read as though Fleming had written it. And indeed that's what [Bond movie producer] Barbara Broccoli said when my book was sent to her. She said, "If you told me you?d found this in Ian?s desk, I would have believed you." On the other hand, I didn?t want to write an exact imitation, because obviously with James Bond, there?s a danger of parody and self-parody ? you only have to think about the Austin Powers films.

The John Gardner books are fun. Did you read the other novelists who?ve tackled Bond?

I didn?t. My commission was from the [Fleming] family, and they strongly believe in Ian Fleming?s value as a writer. And that?s one of the reasons they went to someone like me rather than a genre thriller [writer]. Therefore, I felt that all I wanted to do was immerse myself in Fleming and not be distracted by anyone else?s take on the character.

Any chance Devil May Care could be Daniel Craig's next 007 movie?

Well, it?s a possibility. It?s been read by Barbara Broccoli and [her fellow Bond movie producer] Michael Wilson. They were both very positive about the book. But I?m sure that their choice of story for the next movie will be dictated by hundreds of other considerations to do with Hollywood and franchise and marketing. I?d be delighted if it works.

I?ve been told you?re not allowed to reveal anything about the book?s plot...

If I tell you, I will be strapped to a chair naked and whipped with knotted rope.

Not in the testicles...

Let?s hope not.

I have an abnormal love of horror films. I think it came from wanting to conquer my fear of the dark, spiders, and clowns. What kid isn't afraid of clowns? I even remember the first trailer that scared me so much I cried my little eyes out ? and then spent the next two years out in the lobby when the previews ran. What was the movie you ask? The Funhouse, by acclaimed horror director by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). I'll admit the film looks lame now, but I was 4 when I saw the trailer. This poses the question: What the hell was the movie that my parents took me to that this was shown before?

I started thinking about this after seeing the trailer for 30 Days of Night, a new vampire flick coming out this October with Josh Hartnett. I wasn't that spooked by its preview, but it reminded me of a recent film, The Haunting, whose teaser scared the living bejeezus out of me at the ripe old age of 22. Trust me, it's much scarier on the big screen. And after watching The Haunting, I can tell you the best part of the film was the teaser.

But I can't be the only one who still cowers at the cinema. Bare your souls, PopWatchers! What trailer made you cover your eyes? I don't care if it's when you were 2 or 52.

Do you like staring blankly at your computer screen with only a vague impression of what's going on or why you're doing it ? but that's okay? So do I. You might like HBO Voyeur, a "multimedia experience that gives you a peek into what happens behind the countless windows we pass everyday." Or in this case, 40 windows plus stairwells of an apartment building at Broome and Ludlow in NYC. (There's also a funeral home on 72nd, "the meditator" on Prince, and more.) The site's a bit confusing and difficult to load at times ? if you want to figure out what exactly's going on with Voyeur production-wise, it's best to watch the videos off HBO's homepage for the project. Somehow the little vignettes are all connected; we're supposed to speculate as to how. Will anyone care? Hard to say. I just like watching the animated dollhouse and grooving to the cool tunes.

Then again, if that's all I'm going for, I should just watch Massive Attack's video for "Protection" on a loop, since it's kind of the same thing.

In honor (read: defiance) of Friday the 13th, I give you my list of pop-culture things that freak me out. You'll make fun of me, but after you've done with that, PopWatchers, please share your own personal frights.

13. Dakota Fanning?s Marc Jacobs ads

Disclaimer: I?m not saying that I fear this extremely talented tween (I?m not that mean). It?s just that I expect to see runway models sporting couture when I thumb through Vogue. But 13-year-olds? Not so much.

12. Macy Gray?s voice

The best way to get me out of a party is to have the DJ spin ?I Try? by the eccentric pop artist. (I had to endure a few bars just to paste this link, and it was a difficult task.) I think Macy Gray is creative and talented, but I just can?t deal with her voice. My dad once took me to a Carlos Santana concert and heavy traffic made us two hours late. We arrived at the beginning of Santana?s set. But I?d never been so happy in my life. Why, you ask? Because Macy Gray was the opening act....

11. Starbucks

If you?re questioning the coffee company?s pop-culture relevance, I give you exhibit A: celebrities sipping the ubiquitous Starbucks latte. And exhibit B. And exhibit C: my addiction to iced soy chai. Frightening. And expensive.

10. R.L. Stine novels

Backstabbing stepsisters (and by that I mean stepsisters who actually stab you in the back), and drama queens who want a part in the school play so much they?ll do anything to get it -- these wacko adolescents fill R.L. Stine?s novels. And even though the books scared the bejesus out of me, I read one about every week as a teen.

9. The music video for ?Mary Jane?s Last Dance?

As a kid, I had so many questions about this video: ?Mom, is he dancing with a dead woman?? ?Why is he doing that?? ?Is she really dead?? That last question -- and kudos to Kim Basinger for seeming so realistic -- was perhaps the most difficult to grapple with. I love this song and I realize now that the video represents its most literal interpretation, which makes it kind of heartbreaking. But mostly it just gives me the creeps.

8. Grown-up kid stars

Call me crazy, but I really feel like I grew up with the kids from Nickelodeon (Amanda Bynes, Kenan Thompson), Disney Channel stars (Hillary Duff, Shia LaBeouf). Not to mention those Olsen twins (T.G.I.F. anyone?). So when I see them all shiny and grown up -- as many of them are in this week?s issue of EW (see: ?Tween Spirit?) -? it?s a little hard to deal.

7. ?Aquemini? by Outkast

Seven is lucky, right? So, I figured this was the perfect spot for my so-good-it?s-scary pop-culture item. If you haven?t heard this song from the band's critically acclaimed album of the same name, it?s definitely worth a download. (For what it?s worth, the whole album is pretty amazing.) The music is eerily dissonant; the lyrics, intriguing. There are so many good elements to this song, you?ll want to listen over and over again.

6. Nickelodeon?s Are You Afraid of the Dark?

I give you...the tale of the scariest kid?s show ever. Remember SNICK's All That, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and this 30-minute-horrorfest? Scary stuff. Squeaky-voiced teens told tales of ghosts, headless horsemen, and wayward clowns, who made normal adolescent stuff (dating, acne, geekdom) look easy. (Hey, was that the point of this show?) A few weeks ago, my roommates rushed to my door after hearing my high-pitched scream. ?What?s wrong?? they asked. Naturally, I told them I had been watching an old episode of Are You Afraid online.

5. Gnarls Barkley?s ?Necromancer?

It appears that this track from the Cee-lo/Danger Mouse mash-up is about necrophilia, and though I?m sure it has a deeper meaning, I can?t listen to it long enough to speculate on what that might be.

4. The Shining (1980)

Jack Nicholson. Don't think I need to say any more.

3. The Sixth Sense (1999)

My sister and I first watched this after our dad installed surround sound in our basement. We heard every creak, scream, and whisper. And my sister heard a blood-curdling scream when M. Night Shyalaman cuts to a hanging corpse in the school scene. The shriek was mine.

2. Michael Jackson?s ?Thriller? music video

OK, so not totally original. I think any '80s baby who saw this video got a little ?shook.? But I still can?t watch it alone.

1. Poltergeist (1982)

As if all of the urban legends associated with this ghoulish franchise weren?t enough, I have my own reasons for why I will always be scared of this movie, no matter how many times I watch it. This was the first real horror film my parents allowed me to see (I?d begged them), and we sat together on our couch to watch it together. Until my dad thought it?d be a good idea to go behind the couch, and jump out and scare me during the closet scene. (Carol Ann! Carol Ann! Come into the light!). He screamed boo! I screamed aaaah! And then I burst into tears. It?s a wound that has never completely healed.

It's the Wedding Edition, PopWatchers, in honor of Rev. Tori Spelling, who recently performed her first ceremony. (Congrats Tony and Dex! Can't wait to see your nuptials on Season 2 of Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Inn Love. And that is not sarcasm.)

So here's what we're confessing this week: How did a love of pop-culture infiltrate your wedding day, the wedding day of someone you know and love, or the wedding day of someone you neither know nor love but who invited you anyway? If you're single but looking (like me), you can pay your shame forward.  For instance, I'm sad that I wasn't South Park co-creator Trey Parker's bride because (1) Norman Lear performed his service, which both my father and I would have thoroughly enjoyed, and (2) There was karaoke at the reception. (I'm a Diamond Girl, Trey. That's all I'm sayin'.)

I'm also obsessed with knowing the songs people chose for their first dances -- and why -- so if that's all you got to share, love it. If you're like my friend Karen, however, who got married in the month of "Rocktober" so she could give out mixed CDs as favors, love you.

Last night I tuned in to Fox's game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, in an effort to be good at my job. Sometimes I feel I should be "aware" of what's "popular." This was difficult. I was filled with dread for hours and tried everything to avoid the show. I watched So You Think You Can Dance. Ate a stale donut. Charged through five reruns (30 Rock, Reno 911, Weeds, me eating a donut, Reno 911.) It was almost like an effort to ween me on to the drug. Feeling super, I pressed play. It couldn't be that bad.

Absolutely incorrect. It was horrible! The contestant, Brian, a 36-year-old crab fisherman and stay-at-home son, thought he was Owen Wilson, which got old even before he completed his breezy jog onto the stage. His mom cheered heartily when he couldn't name a major ocean -- in fact, they panned to her many times, tearful and terribly proud of her idiot son who thinks he's likable and can act...like Owen Wilson. The show's only redeeming quality is how horrifically awkward things get when the contestant attempts to gauge how okay it would be if he hugged the kids (such as Kyle, pictured). Look at poor Bri. He's like, "Jeff Foxworthy, is this cool? Am I allowed to mangle this wriggling mass of precocity and plaid? Oh please please please! Owen Wilson!"

Have you ever watched this show? Discussion questions if so:

1. How?

2. Why, exactly?

3. Are you younger than a 5th grader?

4. That's the only way this would be okay.

I really think this might be the absolute worst thing I've seen...ever. And that's a whole different post.