By Cassaundra Brooks

MOVIES

February
12 The Wolfman Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt
     Valentine’s Day Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway (and a whole host of A-listers!)
     Yellow Handkerchief William Hurt, Maria Bello, Eddie Redmayne
19 Shutter Island Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley
26 A Couple of Cops Bruce Willis, William Scott, Adam Brody
     Takers Idris Elba, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker

March
5 Alice in Wonderland Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover
12 Green Zone Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear
     Our Family Wedding Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Regina King
     Remember Me Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brosnan, Emilie de Raven
16 The Back-Up Plan Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Michaela Watkins
19 The Bounty Hunter Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis
26 Clash of the Titans Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson

TV FUN FACTS

Foreigners invade U.S. television. There are a number of foreigners with delightful accents—particularly the British, Canadians, and Australians—who lend their talents to adopting flawless American accents for our U.S. shows, and we blindly accept these actors as our own. One of the best examples is Limey character-actor Hugh Laurie, who so brilliantly assumes all of the challenging aspects of his character Dr. Gregory House that we forget he sheds his lovely British accent in favor of a Yankee one. His fellow countrymen (and women) Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl), Johnny Lee Miller (Eli Stone), Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice), Lena Headly (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Minnie Driver (The Riches) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace) are some of the other Brits masquerading as Americans on the silver screen. Canadians Joshua Jackson (Fringe), Tamara Taylor (Bones), Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic (Castle), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Erica Durance (Smallville), Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Kristen Kreuk (Smallville), and Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) are among the invaders from the North who likely find it a little easier to settle into their American roles. But Aussies like John Noble and Anna Torv (Fringe), Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Rose Byrne (Damages), and Anthony LaPaglia and Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace) ditch heavier accents in order to fool us properly.

What’s with TV ratings? Television is a business, and commentators and other television pundits are ever talking about ratings. What about ratings? Advertising drives media, TV included, so the commercials or subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) product placements are what keep a show on the air. If no one watches the show, no one sees the commercials, which means that fewer people buy the advertised products—and that means those companies have fewer funds for advertising…it’s a cycle. Ratings help networks gauge the size and demographics of their audience. Nielsen Media Research created the most prominent audience measurement systems, which not only measure the percentage of all television households tuning in to a particular program (ratings points) and the percentage of televisions actually in use that are tuned into a particular program (share), but also the average age, gender, race, economic class, and location of those tuning in. Hours after a program concludes its latest time-zone run, online articles spring up depicting early Nielsen ratings numbers. You may have seen them. For example, in the number construction 7.3/11, the numerals represent ratings points/share. The numeral before the slash indicates that 7.3 percent of the nearly 115 million television households in this country tuned into the show in question (let’s say it’s Lost). The latter number states that 11 percent of the televisions in use during Lost’s time slot were tuned into Lost. Make sense? Now, these percentages correspond to a large number of television sets. But Nielsen also records the number of people per television. How? Select households, assessed and chosen to represent the country at large, have TV set meters and people meters. Individuals punch in pertinent information with each program they watch—the number of people watching and their ages and genders, for example. The most coveted audience is the 18–49 age range, so shows that attract that group generally last longer. Others, despite large audiences, may get the ax if they fail to appeal to that group. There are flaws in the system, of course, and Nielsen is beginning to measure DVR and TiVo numbers and the like. With the increase in online viewing, additional changes will likely have to be made.

MUSIC

February
2 Toni Braxton – Pulse
   Lifehouse – Smoke & Mirrors
9 Massive Attack – Heligoland
   Monica – Still Standing
23 Michelle Branch – Everything Comes and Goes

March
2 Jamie Foxx – Body
   Natalie Merchant – Leave Your Sleep
   Usher – Raymond v. Raymond
9 Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time
23 Jane Krakowski – Live at Feinstein’s at The Regency

By Cassaundra Brooks

MOVIES

There are a lot of big stars stepping up to the big screen this winter. It would seem that the public might enjoy a good mix of movies with something for everyone, but bear in mind that it’s the time of year when certain films attempt last-minute and lasting impressions as the film industry goes into award season. Sometimes that means more art and less entertainment. Other times, we viewers get really lucky and get both for the price of one.

December

4 Armored Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, and Columbus Short
   Brothers Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman

11 Did You Hear About the Morgans? Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant, and Sam Elliott

18 Avatar Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver

25 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakual, with voices of Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, and Matthew Gray Gubler
    It’s Complicated Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin
   Sherlock Holmes Robert Downey Jr., Mark Strong, and Jude Law

January

1 Case 39 Renee Zellweger, Ian McShane, and Bradley Cooper

8 Crazy on the Outside Tim Allen, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Ray Liotta
   Leap Year Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, and Adam Scott

15 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Hayden Panettiere, Glenn Close, Andy Dick, and Martin Short
    The Book of Eli Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, and Jennifer Beals

22 Extraordinary Measures Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, and Keri Russell
     Legion Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, and Tyrese Gibson
    Tooth Fairy Dwayne Johnson, Julie Andrews, and Ashley Judd

29 When in Rome Kristen Bell, Will Arnett, Josh Duhamel, Jon Heder, and Anjelica Huston

TV

Winter premieres

The second season of Southland was set to premiere on NBC in October—until the ratings-starved network dropped a last-minute axe on the police drama, to the shock and dismay of its cast and fans. But we’ve not seen the last of it. Perhaps TNT really does know drama—it has picked up the castoff cop show and will begin airing its first season on January 12 (here’s your chance to catch up!), followed by all thirteen episodes of the sophomore season on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

Chuck fans launched a campaign to save the quirky comedy, and thankfully, NBC acquiesced. The network even ordered an additional six episodes, bringing the total season-three count to nineteen, just three shy of a typical full season. See? NBC makes some good calls, too! Chuck and company return Sunday, January 10 with two back-to-back episodes before settling into Trauma’s current Mondays-at-8 p.m. timeslot the following day with yet a third episode. Trauma fans await news on when its remaining six ordered episodes will air.

Yes, Season 4 of Psych and all its hilarity premiered in August. But the golden comedy takes a midseason hiatus each year and returns in January with its winter premiere. The fall finale ended on a slightly serious note with psychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) getting shot (just a flesh wound!). The second half of the season promises more laughs and more totally awesome guest stars. Fridays at 10 p.m. on USA.

Big Love has been a big hit for HBO, and in January it returns with its fourth season. Does a fourth season mean a fourth wife will join in the Henrickson family mix? It’s an unconventional family in an unconventional show, but its singularity among a bombardment of procedurals and failed sitcoms, along with its HBO home, give it the freedom and appeal to keep it going strong.

American Idol returns for a ninth season of embarrassing auditions, behind-the-scenes drama, and—let’s hope—some killer performances. AI brings back its popular “Idol Gives Back” episode, but not “nice judge” Paula Abdul (if you didn’t know). Some of you may finally tune back in, others of you may finally tune out. Regardless, it’ll be interesting, with big-name guest judges and Ellen DeGeneres filling Paula’s seat.

MUSIC

January releases are up in the air, and December is a slow time for new releases, but check out the following three great holiday albums that are must-haves for fans of the classic and the classical:

Josh Groban—Noel Features duets with Brian McKnight and Faith Hill.

Il Divo—The Christmas Collection Features some of your favorites as you’ve never heard them before.

The Rat Pack—Christmas with the Rat Pack Features both live and digitally remastered tracks you’ve grown to love over the years, sung by Ol’ Blue Eyes, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

By Cassaundra Brooks

MOVIES

The couple with the palpable onscreen chemistry and onslaught of obsessed fans is back in theaters this fall, but what could we tell you about The Twilight Saga: New Moon that you don’t already know? Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank tackles an iconic role in Amelia; Juno breakout star Ellen Page teams up with veteran comedic actress Drew Barrymore for Whip It!, a film centered around the action-packed but often overlooked sport of roller derby. The world comes to an end as John Cusack fights to keep his family alive in 2012, a near-futuristic account of the day the Mayan calendar runs out. New York, I Love You unites even more A-listers, seasoned vets, and heartthrobs than summer’s hit comedy He’s Just Not That into You. And several animated features debuting in the next two months feature very familiar voices and will surely vie for a place in awards season come January and February. So many stars align, combine, and shine this fall in a number of anticipated flicks as we hurtle toward the holiday season. The following is a glimpse at what is coming.

October

2 The Invention of Lying, starring Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Tina Fey, Rob Lowe, and Ricky Gervais
   Whip It! starring Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristin Wiig, and Juliette Lewis

9 Couples Retreat, starring Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau, and Vince Vaughn

16 Law Abiding Citizen, starring Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Viola Davis, and Leslie Bibb
     New York, I Love You, starring Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Blake Lively, Shia LaBeouf, Rachel Bilson, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Christina Ricci, Justin Bartha, Robin Wright Penn, Ethan Hawke, James Caan, Cloris Leachman, and Andy Garcia
    The Road, starring Charlize Theron, Viggo Mortensen, and Guy Pearce
     Where the Wild Things Are, with voices of Mark Ruffalo, Catherine O’Hara, and Forest Whitaker

23 Amelia, starring Hilary Swank, Ewan McGregor, and Richard Gere
     Astro Boy, with voices of Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Eugene Levy, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, Donald Sutherland, and Samuel L. Jackson

November

6 The Box, starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella
    A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, and Molly C. Quinn
    The Fourth Kind, starring Milla Jovovich and Will Patton
    The Men Who Stare at Goats, starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges

13 2012, starring John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Amanda Peet, and Danny Glover
     The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, and Paul Bettany

20 The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw, and Lily Collins
     Planet 51, with voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, and Sean William Scott
     The Twilight Saga: New Moon, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, and Elizabeth Reaser

25 The Fantastic Mr. Fox, with voices of Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Willem Dafoe
     Old Dogs, starring Robin Williams, John Travolta, Justin Long, Seth Green, Kelly Preston, Matt Dillon, Lori Loughlin, and the late Bernie Mac.

TV

September is more or less the month of premieres, but some of your favorites return in October and November. Keep your remote handy.

October 1 >> Private Practice premieres its third season on ABC with all the personal drama, medical trauma, and Kate Walsh you crave.

October 4 >> Foodies are not forgotten in the fall lineup. The Food Network begins its search for yet another master chef on the season premiere of limited-run series The Next Iron Chef.

October 9 >> Syfy, formerly Sci Fi, brings you Season 2 of the original series Sanctuary, a Canadian creation that follows Dr. Helen Magnus’s quest to protect the “Abnormals,” a relatively peaceful population of creatures living amongst humans that some are bent on exterminating.

October 9 >> While America Fererra could never quite pass for outright ugly, rumors are that her hit character may employ a few beauty tips in the new season. Ugly Betty’s Season 4 premieres on a new night on ABC.

October 15 >> Comedy favorite 30 Rock, which garnered a record-breaking twenty-two Emmy nominations this year, brings back the ever-clever brainy beauty Tina Fey for a fourth season. Then again, NBC has been known for comedy gold in the past—does the word Frasier ring a bell?

October 23 >> It’s a gritty cop show, yes, but one with an authentic look and feel that has critics and fans lauding seasoned actress Regina King and former OC heartthrob Benjamin McKenzie. The sophomore season of Southland premieres on NBC.

October 23 >> USA Network has been stepping up its game with creative marketing and simply awesome shows. Check out the premiere of their new series White Collar, which features some fresh faces as well as some familiar ones—remember Tiffany-Amber Thiessen?

October 28 >> “Why no Emmy nods?” fans ask. With a loyal audience following them from time slot to time slot, handsome Kyle Chandler and gang are back for a third season of Friday Night Lights on DirecTV.

MUSIC

October

6 The Backstreet Boys, sans former band mate Kevin Richardson, are still churning out new music to a lingering mass of fans. The craze surrounding the group has long since died down, but the boys continue to please their loyal crowd with their familiar smooth vocals and evolving sound. They release their latest album, titled simply This is Us.
    Switchfoot – Hello Hurricane

13 Pink Martini – Splendor in the Grass

27 Sting – If on a Winter’s Night
     Weezer – Raditude

November

3 American Idol Number Four, Carrie Underwood, has earned an impressive collection of awards since winning the megahit show in 2005. Among them: four Grammys, fourteen Billboard Awards, five American Music Awards, and five People’s Choice Awards. She releases her third album, Play On, to a public and panel of critics expecting the excellence produced by her first two.

17 Seventh-season, fourth-place American Idol alumnus Jason Castro releases his debut album, title TBA.
     John Mayer – Battle Studies

By Cassaundra Brooks

MOVIES

Julie & Julia

Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Release Date: August 7
Rating: PG-13

The Facts:

- Meryl Streep holds the record for the most Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, with fifteen and twenty-three, respectively. She has two Oscars and six Golden Globes to her name.

- Stunning redhead Amy Adams (naturally blonde!) has earned two Academy Award and two Golden Globe nominations in her relatively short career.

- Before Julia Child became a beloved TV chef, she was an instrumental figure in the U.S. Intelligence Agency Office of Strategic Services at the onset of World War II.

Synopsis:
Meryl Streep reunites with Doubt costar Amy Adams and The Devil Wears Prada costar Stanley Tucci for this film, based on two memoirs—Julie Powell’s Julie & Julia and Julia Child’s My Life in France. When complacent Powell (Adams) takes on a yearlong project of re-creating the 524 recipes in eccentric Child’s (Streep’s) best-selling book, she’ll create for herself a life full of spice and flavor—a life Child fought to obtain upon moving to France, where she struggled to earn respect in the food and publishing industries before becoming a beloved culinary icon for the generations.

Other anticipated flicks:

August
7: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller)
14: Spread (Ashton Kutcher, Anne Heche)
21: Inglorious Basterds (a Tarantino film starring Brad Pitt)

September
4: All About Steve (Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper)
9: 9 (a Tim Burton film)
25: Surrogates (Bruce Willis, Rosamund Pike)

If you haven’t seen it yet, you must see:
500 Days of Summer, with loveable indie star Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Leavitt.

TELEVISION

TV Fall Premieres:

August 7—Psych is back for a fourth season on USA with a whole new lineup of quirky adventures for pseudopsychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend Gus (Dulé Hill). Also, don’t miss the premiere of Monk‘s final season!

September 14—Gossip Girl, the CW’s latest primetime soap hit, is back for Season 3 with golden-locked Blake Lively and People magazine’s number-one hottest bachelor, Chace Crawford.

September 17—Bones premiers Season 5 on FOX. TV’s sexiest noncouple Booth (David Boreanaz) and Bones (Emily Deschanel) are back with plenty of sexual tension, science, and decomposed murder victims.

September 21—Castle premiers its second season on ABC. Firefly’s Nathan Fillion is again popular mystery writer Rick Castle, the thorn in Detective Kate Beckett’s (Stana Katic) side.

September 23—Law & Order: SVU lead detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) are signed on for two more seasons at NBC, granted the show gets its game back.

September 24—The Mentalist, last season’s number-one new hit, brings sexy Aussie Simon Baker back to CBS for a second season as Patrick Jane.

MUSIC

August

11 Queen Latifah—Persona
18 Third Eye Blind—Ursa Major
25 Colbie Caillat—Breakthrough
     Mariah Carey—Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
     Smokey Robinson—Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

September

1 Whitney Houston—I Look to You
11 Jay-Z—The Blueprint
22 Sean “Diddy” Combs—Last Train to Paris
     Madonna—Iconography [Greatest Hits]
29 Barbra Streisand—Love is the Answer

The Facts:

- With eighteen number-one singles, Mariah Carey has set the chart-topping bar nigh impossibly high.

- A rejuvenated Whitney Houston has paired her powerhouse pipes with the savvy of music producer mogul Clive Davis to release her first album in six years.