It’s time for the second installment Impact People of the Quarter (IPQs).

Six impact IPQs are selected every three months (by me, of course — this blog is not a democracy) for their contributions to the same categories that define this blog’s Pop Culture Hall of Fame: politics, sports, music, film, television and culture in general.

My picks for the second three months of ’09:

POLITICS: Democrat Nancy Pelosi is not one of those people who appeal to any middle-of-the-roaders. From a Republican standpoint, the Speaker of the House is some sort of the Wicked Witch of the West, the target of venom-like remarks about her alleged Botox and plastic surgery procedures. For the Democrats, she is viewed as a front-line warrior and someone who takes some of the heat off Barack Obama.

SPORTS: His name is Stephen Strasburg, and he’s about to become a very rich young man. He was the No. 1 pick in the recent Major League Baseball draft, a pitcher from San Diego State who can throw a baseball 102 mph. He will receive the largest signing bonus in draft history, probably something around $50 million. That, folks, is making an impact.

MUSIC: It would be hard to find someone in the last three months who has dominated conversation as much as Adam Lambert when it comes to music. The “American Idol” runner-up was a hot topic from the moment he appeared on the nation’s top-rated television show, and to say things heated up again following his “coming out” article in Rolling Stone magazine would probably be an understatement.

FILM: You have to hand it those “Star Trek” guys — J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. Abrams directed and was a co-producer with Lindelof. The latest “Star Trek” release remains a strong top 10 box office smash six weeks after its release. I enjoyed the original TV show when I was a kid, but was never able to sink my teeth into the movies. Whenever I think about a Star Trek film, my first thought is of the late Ricardo Montalban as that goofy Khan character in one of the early efforts of the series. Remember the crazy wig he wore for that role? This particular movie franchise has an audience that knows no age limit and those in charge milk it for all it’s worth.

TELEVISION: The hottest topic in recent weeks has been Conan O’Brien’s following Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show. Ratings for O’Brien have fallen more than 40 percent from his first week. I applaud America for turning him off. He’s terrible. He’s not funny. He’s the human equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard. What was NBC thinking? O’Brien was barely beating Craig Ferguson (host of “The Late, Late Show” on CBS) in the ratings in his previous gig. I have a better chance of being Mick Jagger’s successor with the Rolling Stones than Conan O’Brien does of being embraced as America’s favorite late night TV host.

CULTURE: We owe a lot to Simon Cowell, the central figure behind the “American Idol” phenomenon.” It’s what America talks about the morning after and it’s been the No. 1 show on television longer than I’ve been confused with being Brad Pitt’s twin brother. “It” is “American Idol,” the Fox talent series other networks not so politely refer to as “The Death Star.” It was still commanding more than $700,000 per 30-second commercial when other shows were giving away air time during the hardest months of the recession back in January, February and March. “American Idol” is a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, and I’m glad it came along in my generation. Thanks, Simon.

LeBron James

I’ve enjoyed the conversations stemming from our “Pop Culture Hall of Fame” blogs in recent weeks. So much so, in fact, I’ve decided to expand on that thought process with Impact People of the Quarter (IPQs).

Six impact IPQs will be selected every three months for their contributions to the same categories that define our Pop Culture Hall of Fame: politics, sports, music, film, television and culture in general.

My picks for the first three months of ’09:

POLITICS: I don’t necessarily agree with all of Barack Obama’s presidential decisions, or even some of his stances, but public opinion polls indicate he has served as a unifying force and a source of (at least some) hope in the most trying economic times this nation has seen in almost 80 years. The fact he or his wife have been on the cover of just about every magazine in the world in the last few months says something about the guy’s popularity.

SPORTS: The amazing LeBron James is doing things on a basketball court that only one other player in history has managed — or even attempted — and his name was Jordan. That King James has elevated the normally pedestrian and often woeful Cleveland Cavaliers to the best record in the NBA is more than a minor miracle. It is the stuff of legends.

MUSIC: Former American Idol Carrie Underwood continues to dominate country music, and her overall popularity has allowed her to transcend all demographics. Everybody loves Carrie. She has also elevated herself to a pop culture diva through boyfriends such as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Ottawa Senators player Mike Fisher.

FILM: I’m giving the nod to actor Liam Neeson for two reasons. Neeson enjoyed a monumental comeback with his starring role in Taken, which continues to rake in the bucks at the box office, only to have that career accomplishment shattered by the death of his wife, Natasha Richardson. Richardson was injured in a skiing accident and died shortly afterward.

Tim Roth as Cal Lightman

TELEVISION: Tim Roth has been an incredible breath of fresh air in the series Lie to Me on the Fox Network. His edgy performance as Dr. Cal Lightman, a deception expert, is based on a true story. Roth dominates the screen and gives life to a fascinating subject. Roth had previously been best known for his work in some off-the wall film efforts such as Reservoir Dogs, but this role could be his ticket to genuine stardom.

CULTURE: The most talked-about contestant on the nation’s most-talked about TV show, American Idol, has made every episode of this year’s finals must-see television. To say Adam Lambert can be over the top at times would be understating in its truest sense. He is one of the few participants in the show’s eight-year history who has effectively taken the spotlight away from judge Simon Cowell.