The Cricket's Daily 3: Shatner's back!

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Here's what's happening today in pop culture:

• William Shatner is back as the Priceline "Negotiator" in a new series of ads. Was his demise just a set-up? [AP, via The Salt Lake Tribune]

• Why'd it have to be snakes? And why are they so tall? Because Paramount is planning an IMAX re-release for "Raiders of the Lost Ark." [The New York Times]

• Two icons of nerd-dom have passed on: Ron Palillo, who portrayed Arnold Horshack, the runt of the Sweathogs on TV's "Welcome Back, Kotter," has died at the age of 63; and science-fiction author Harry Harrison, who created "The Stainless Steel Rat" series and whose "More Room! More Room!" inspired the famous closing scene of "Soylent Green," has died at the age of 87. [Los Angeles Times; io9]