December is drawing to a close which means that it is time to stop dwelling on this year's deluge of disappointing entertainment and look forward to the most promising television and film projects of 2011. Herewith, the big and small screen moments I am genuinely excited about in the coming year. As always, I'd love to hear about yours in the comments below.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Although I was disappointed to hear that David Fincher would be re-adapting Stieg Larsson's brilliant first edition of the Millennium Trilogy (since it had already been brought to screen beautifully in Sweden by Daniel Alfredson), I am anxious to see how The Social Network director translates the thriller. The Hollywood version will star Rooney Mara as the kick-ass heroine Lisbeth Salander, as well as Daniel Craig, Robin Wright, Christopher Plummer and Stellan Skarsgård in supporting roles.
More Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
I consider myself a die hard fan of late night television but this is the only after hours program that consistently makes me laugh out loud. Honestly, I'm not really sure why Bravo exec Andy Cohen gets to host his own show, and, most important, I don't care. He drinks on-air, is genuinely delighted to have a television series (unlike most of the other hosts who are just getting through that night's shift) and makes each episode an intimate experience. And there are always plenty of WTF moments -- like the time Andy asked Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelas if they would open their marriage to him.
The Beaver
After falling in love with Kyle Killen's tragically short lived series Lone Star this year, I made a commitment to follow the scribe's career -- even into the multiplex for this controversial dark comedy starring Mel Gibson. But what I am anticipating even more than seeing how Jodie Foster filmed this former Black List script is how the studio will market this film. Will Mel Gibson, plagued by tabloid reports -- not to mention a damning anecdote of antisemitism from Winona Ryder -- be allowed to hit the talk show circuit? Will Regis nervously have to hedge around the actor's personal life? We'll find out in the spring.
No Strings Attached
Before you skip ahead, hear me out. Yes, this could be the film that single-handedly destroys Natalie Portman's shot at an Oscar for Black Swan, and no one should ever admit that they want to see a feature film starring Ashton Kutcher, but I read Elizabeth Meriwether's script for this movie sometime last year and it contains what could become my favorite line of dialogue in 2011 -- if it wasn't cut from the final edit, obviously. After a night where Kutcher's character gets violently ill after too much drinking, Portman's character says, "I've never seen anyone puke like you puked. You puked with passion. It was like watching Faulkner write As I Lay Dying." Go ahead and judge.
More Between Two Ferns Installments
It's been awhile since Zach Galifianakis filmed a new installment of his Funny or Die web series but hopefully the comedian will crank out a few more episodes in between promoting his 2011 projects (The Hangover Part II, The Muppets and Puss in Boots).
The First Half Hour of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards
The artwork may have been incredibly disappointing but there is no way that co-hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco could produce a less impressive ceremony than last year's, hosted by a strangely unfunny Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.
Horrible Bosses
Seth Gordon's 2007 documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters remains one of my favorite films of all-time so I was thrilled to hear that the director was taking on a comedy with some of my favorite comedic actors. With Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Julie Bowen and Jennifer Aniston in this film about a group of unhappy employees who decide to murder their bosses, how could this possibly disappoint? Right?
More Drunk Today Segments with Kathie Lee Gifford
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Honestly, I can count on Kathie Lee Gifford's celebrity interviews for laughs more than I can count on Saturday Night Live these days. Whether she is letting Joel McHale openly mock her, trashing Amy Sedaris's craft book or convincing Justin Long to debut his hilarious Ted Levine impression (above), Kathie Lee remains one of television's most trusted comedic landmarks.
The Eighth Season of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Little is known about the possibly final season of Larry David's HBO series except that it was filmed in New York City, will premiere in 2011 and will feature appearances from Ricky Gervais, Michael J. Fox, Rosie O'Donnell and Cheyenne Jackson. And that is enough to know that this season will be a must-see for me.
Bonnie Hunt's Comeback
Seriously. I believe. Ever since the Chicago comedian's talk show went off the air in May, I have been patiently waiting for her resurgence in any capacity.
At Least One Worthwhile Comedy
So it is likely that Just Go With It (the Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy), Hall Pass (the Farrelly brothers' film starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) and Bridesmaids (a bridal chick flick starring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Ellie Kemper) will be disappointments, but, for now, let's just naively hope that one of those laughers (all starring Saturday Night Live alums) will be able to deliver the laughs, or at least a worthwhile 90-minute distraction.