The Golden Globe Awards With Host Ricky Gervais: They dared to invite him back after his hosting performance last year ruffled more than a few feathers. Seems ratings take precedence over some offended actors. (Jan. 15 on NBC)
"Mad Men" Season 5: Playboy Don Draper got engaged in the season four finale. That was 17 long months ago (thanks to some testy contract negotiations among AMC, Lionsgate and series creator Matt Weiner), so we can't wait to see how the newly re-domesticated Draper treats the new missus. (March)
"The Hunger Games": Can’t wait to see kids in the future kill each other for food? The first part of Suzanne Collins' young adult novels hits the big screen. And Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence promises to be the perfect choice to play heroic teen Katniss. (March 23)
The Last Season of "Breaking Bad": Series creator Vince Gilligan and star Bryan Cranston have promised that Cranston's teacher-turned-meth maker Walter White will not skate by unscathed after his many misdeeds. (Summer 2012)
"Harvey" on Broadway: And another Pulitzer-winning play returns to Broadway: "The Big Bang Theory" Emmy winner Jim Parsons tries to prove he has that James Stewart Everyman quality when he plays Elwood P. Dowd, a man who freaks out his friends and family with his imaginary tall bunny friend. (Previews begin May 18; opening night for the eight-week run is June 14)
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey": The first trailer for director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy only stoked the anticipation for the movie. "The Office" U.K.'s Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins and most of the original cast from the "LOTR" trilogy return, including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett and Orlando Bloom. (Dec. 14)
"The Dark Knight Rises": But for how long? Fans have speculated that Batman (Christian Bale) could die this time out, and the hulking (if not easily understood) Bane (Tom Hardy) looks like just the guy to do the killing. The latest big-screen Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) will only add to the Caped Crusader's troubles, which should mean one spectacular conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. (July 20)
"Death of a Salesman" on Broadway: Philip Seymour Hoffman is Willy Loman in the latest adaptation of Arthur Miller's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play. Hoffman back on a Broadway stage is exciting enough, but newbie "Spider-Man" star Andrew Garfield as son Biff and Tony winner John Glover as Willy's brother Ben round out an exciting cast, and make the revival one of the few upcoming Broadway offerings actually worth the big bucks you'll have to shell out to see. (Previews begin Feb. 13; opening night for the 16-week run is March 15)
"Smash": More Broadway, but this time on TV. The NBC musical drama -- on which many of the beleaguered network's hopes are pinned -- revolves around the production of a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. Debra Messing and Bernadette Peters star and Uma Thurman pops in for five episodes, but the whole show may be stolen by "American Idol" season five runner-up Katharine McPhee. (Feb. 6)
"The Avengers": Superheroes band together -- as do Marvel Studios and distributor Disney -- for an all-star effort that brings together Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). How can they lose? (May 4)
Coachella 2012: Kanye West and Kings of Leon performed last year, and Foo Fighters, Radiohead and No Doubt are among the acts rumored for 2012. But the big (and confirmed) news about this year's festival is that it will spread across two weekends, April 13-15 and April 20-22. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale at the end of January 2012.
"Skyfall": With new Bond girls Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris, new cast members Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem and Oscar winner Sam Mendes directing, Daniel Craig’s third outing as 007 should be one of the best in 50 years of Bond movies. (Nov. 9)
Howard Stern on "America's Got Talent": The man who once flew through the air as Fartman will now judge the talents -- or lack thereof -- of his fellow Americans of all ages. It actually makes perfect sense to us, and, for the first time ever, makes this overblown "Gong Show" a must-watch. (Summer)
Madonna at the Super Bowl: Wardrobe malfunctions are soooo 2004, but if anyone can whip up a new controversy as the Super Bowl half-time performer, it's Madonna. And since she'll be trying to stir some buzz for her new single, "Gimme All Your Luvin," which will be released in January, and her upcoming CD (scheduled for March), she's extra motivated. (Feb. 5)
Leonard Cohen's "Old Ideas": Nothing flip to say here. We're just looking forward to 10 new tunes from Rock Hall of Famer Cohen -- one of the most brilliant songwriters alive -- and his smooth, powerful baritone voice. (Jan. 31)
