Popsquire

Hulk Hogan appeared on Larry King last night.

In case you have been living under a rock, you should know the following before watching the video: (1) Hulk and his family starred in a popular VH1 reality series, “Hogan Knows Best;” (2) he is now embroiled in a bitter divorce with recent requests from his wife’s attorneys to put Hulk in jail for an alleged failure to turn over funds related to a sale of a Vegas condo; (3) Hulk’s son, Nick, is serving an eight-month jail sentence after pleading no contest to felony reckless driving, arising out of a crash that landed Nick’s friend incapacitated; and (4) Hulk faces a lawsuit from the victim’s family, blaming Hulk for Nick’s actions.

So, would you put your family on a reality tv series? Is it a recipe for disaster? Like a good lawyer, Popsquire presents you with evidence of both types out outcomes. Discuss…

If this is your first visit to Popsquire, then you should know two things: (1) Popsquire loves reality tv; and (2) Popsquire is particularly glued to VH1’s Celebrity Rehab because it presents a constant collision between pop culture and law.  

Episode 3 is no exception.  In this episode, the newest cast member — former Ultimate Fighting Champion, Ricco Rodriguez — makes a huge confession…

While driving (1) with a suspended license, (2) high, and (3) with his girlfriend in the car, Ricco slammed into the back of an 18-wheeler truck and then hit a wall.  Believing that his girlfriend was dead, he dragged her body to the driver’s seat so that the cops would think she was driving.  

Ricco says that even though the cops could tell he was driving due to the position of the seat, the girlfriend — after surviving the incident — told cops that she was driving.  According to Ricco, their “attorneys took care of it.”   

Popsquire is actually speechless.  The only thing he can do is hum along to Beck’s hit, “Loser.”

As promised in this previous post, Popsquire expects to do mucho blogging about VH1’s Celebrity Rehab.  In episodes one and two, VH1 shows some of the celebrity rehabbers actually doing drugs.  This seems odd to Popsquire, so as usual, he did some research…

Popsquire’s perspective…

A drug convinction typically requires possession of drugs.  In documentaries and/or reality shows, it’s unlikely that any of the producers or camera people ever take possession of the illegal drugs. 

Simple observation or documentation of drug use likely will not grab the attention of any District Attorney’s office or result in charges. 

Popsquire has identified a good theme song for the rehabbers…Never Again by Kelly Clarkson.  Sing along in support!

Popsquire is definitely hooked on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab.  A summary of the show’s premise likely is unnecessary, but there will be mucho blogging about this show and the numerous issues raised by drugs, law, and pop culture. 

Popsquire Pop Quiz: What’s the deal with drug testing in the workplace?

It varies from state to state.  In California, where the show takes place, pre-employment drug testing generally is ok, so long as the applicant knows the job offer is conditioned upon consent to drug testing, the test is minimally intrusive, and all applicants are treated uniformly.

Of course, this information is for all of us regular folk because the participants on Celeb Reality — including Daniel Baldwin, Chyna, and Brigitte Nielsen — likely will not be applying for a regular job any time soon.