Ryan Gosling (aka the guy who should have been People's Sexiest Man Alive) in the movie, "Drive." Photo: Beyond Hollywood

If Drive doesn’t rake in nominations come awards season, then they’re all just deaf and blind.

It deserves Best Picture and Best Director nods.

Based on the James Sallis’ novel of the same name, the thriller (“Pretty in Pink with head smashing”) centers on Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine), a mechanic, movie stuntman, and getaway driver all in one. Things get complicated when a heist goes wrong.

There’s a great balance between the action (which, be forewarned, gets bloody) and the love story. When he’s not in the middle of a car chase, Gosling falls for his neighbor, Carey Mulligan (An Education).

“The idea behind the romance is that it’s very innocent,” explains Mulligan. “We looked at their relationship like a fairytale: she was a damsel-in-distress and he was the knight in shining armor.”

Of the director, Nicolas Winding Refn, she says:

“I had seen Bronson when it came out because I love Tom Hardy so much and just thought it was the most incredible film. And then, I watched the Pusher trilogy because it was Nicolas. And then, last summer, I watched Valhalla Rising and emailed my agent and said, ‘I just want to work with someone like Winding Refn. I want to work with anyone who makes films like he does.’ And he emailed me back and said, ‘Well, he’s making a film.’ But, the character was originally written for a slightly older Latina woman, so my agent said, ‘We’ll get you a meeting and just see what happens.’”

Refn is scheduled to work with Mulligan again on I Walk With the Dead and Gosling on Only God Forgives and possibly, a remake of Logan’s Run.

Hear what Gosling has to say about the director:

Not to mention, its stars also deserve acting nods.

Gosling is one of the film’s better chances of winning awards. He switches from a reserved, good guy to a hard ass later in the second half. He also plays up the chemistry—and longing looks—with Mulligan, and he manages to sneak in a few light, comedic moments.

He appears on several critics’ shortlists, but his chances are split between his performance in Drive and another picture, The Ides of March. And to think Neil Marshall and Hugh Jackman were the original director and actor attached to Drive.

Oscar buzz also surrounds Gosling’s co-star, Albert Brooks (Muse and Finding Nemo) for Best Supporting Actor. Even though everyone else is terrific (Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, and Ron Perlman), unfortunately, their roles may be too small to grab the voters’ attention.

Last but not least, its music deserves to be shortlisted—at the very least.

Drive has an amazing soundtrack, which I would probably describe as techno or new wave music. If you’re like me, it’s better to be late to the party. The CD is already at the top of the charts.

Aside from the score of Cliff Martinez, the former drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, the songs in the movie are Tick of the Clock by The Chromatics, Oh My Love by Riz Ortolani feat. Katyna Ranieri, Nightcall by Kavinsky feat. Lovefoxxx, and my two faves, Under Your Spell by Desire (below), and A Real Hero by College feat. Electric Youth.

“The song that basically explains the movie is the College song (“A Real Hero”), because that, just by [coincidence], had a lyric that also described my idea for the movie. To me it was the story about a character, the protagonist, who lived in two worlds. By day he was a human being and by night he was a hero,” says Refn, adding, “He’s more half machine, half man. And those two worlds conflict because he doesn’t know how to transform himself into one or the other until he realizes that he has to blend himself into becoming a superhero, which he was always meant to be.”

Also, be sure to check out the documentary on a movie mogul, Unauthorized: Harvey Weinstein. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Jason Statham (The Transporter) tries to keep a young girl Safe in yet another action movie. Expected U.S. release date: April 27, 2012

After the jump: Films by big-name directors, Guy Ritchie, Joss Whedon, Steven Soderbergh, Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, Peter Jackson, Cameron Crowe, Jason Reitman, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, and David Fincher

13 looks interesting: Statham, Michael Shannon, Mickey Rourke, and Alexander Skarsgard gamble on who lives and dies in Russian roulette. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

A group of real-life Navy SEALs star in Act of Valor as they rescue a CIA agent and stop a terrorism plot. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 17, 2012

Tom Cruise is back in Mission: Impossible 4 – Ghost Protocol. He’s thrown in with Jeremy Renner, who’s poised to take on the series. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 21, 2011

Black Gold tackles the war on oil through the eyes of a young Arab prince, who has to decide between his father, Antonio Banderas, and the family of his lady love, Freida Pinto. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 23, 2011

Any Friday Night Lights fan will be glad to know that Michael B. Jordan is coming to their nearest theater in the sci-fi action movie, Chronicle. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 3, 2012

Acclaimed director Zhang Yimou (Hero and House of Flying Daggers) works with Christian Bale in a historical drama, The Flowers of War. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 16, 2011

Together with Michael Ealy, Kate Beckinsale revives her role as a vampire in Underworld Awakening. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 20, 2012

Into the Abyss, a documentary, examines death row through two men who committed murder in Texas. Michael Perry received the death penalty while Jason Burkett got a life sentence. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

Amanda Seyfried searches for her sister, who’s been abducted by the same man who took Seyfried years prior. Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan, and Wes Bentley join her in the thriller, Gone. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 24, 2012

Angelina Jolie sits in the director’s seat for the drama, In the Land of Blood and Honey, which she also wrote. It’s a love story between a Serb and Bosnian, which is not without its complications as it takes place during the Bosnian War. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 23, 2011

Madonna has decided she isn’t done with directing. However, W.E.‘s only bragging right, thus far, is acclaimed actress Abbie Cornish (Limitless and Bright Star). Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 3, 2011

Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston (Thor) have an affair in The Deep Blue Sea. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Learn more about the Academy Award-winning musical duo and real-life couple, The Swell Season, in this documentary. You may have heard their music on season nine of American Idol (see below). Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Were The Borrowers a part of your childhood? The book and film are being remade into a cartoon, The Secret World of Arrietty, starring Amy Poehler and Will Arnett. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 17, 2012

Are you ready for Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-wrecked? Hollywood seems to thinks so, as they enlist Poehler, Justin Long, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, and singer Jesse McCartney for their voices. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 16, 2011

Eddie Murphy only has A Thousand Words left in this dramedy. Expected U.S. release date: March 23, 2012

Aside from The Muppets, the movie also has some Hollywood A-listers, such as Amy Adams, Jason Segel, Sarah Silverman, Neil Patrick Harris, and Chris Cooper. Expected U.S. release date: Nov. 23, 2011

Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, and Danny DeVito bring Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax to life. Expected U.S. release date: March 2, 2012

The second trailer for the animated feature, The Pirates: Band of Misfits, is out. Expected U.S. release date: March 30, 2012

Martin Scorsese washes his bloody hands with the family film, Hugo, which stars Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, and Ben Kingsley. Expected U.S. release date: Nov. 23, 2011

The hot new celebrity couple, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, met on the set of the comedy, Wanderlust. The film also reunites the love team from The Object of My Affection, Aniston and Paul Rudd. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 24, 2012

Meanwhile, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill team up for the remake, 21 Jump Street. Expected U.S. release date: March 16, 2012

Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 11) points the camera at Gina Carano, Tatum, Ewan McGregor, and Michael Fassbender in the action flick, Haywire. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 20, 2012

Two trailers for Shame means double the Fassbender goodness. Carey Mulligan co-stars as his sister in this explicit drama about a sex addict. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 2, 2011

The ensemble cast for the cop drama, The Son of No One, includes Tatum, Katie Holmes, Juliette Binoche, Tracy Morgan, and Al Pacino. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

If exorcisms are your thing, then The Devil Inside is for you. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 6, 2012

Post-Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe thrills us in a ghost tale, The Woman in Black. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 3, 2012

Rebecca Hall and Dominic West delve into the supernatural world in The Awakening as they investigate the paranormal. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

The teaser trailer for Red Lights only shows Robert De Niro, but the Rodrigo Cortes-directed project (Buried) also has Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, and Elizabeth Olsen. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Being Flynn offers a story on an estranged father-and-son relationship. Paul Dano volunteers at a homeless shelter, where he runs into his dad, De Niro. Julianne Moore adds even more star power. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

In the curious period piece, Albert Nobbs, you’ll get to see Glenn Close like you’ve never seen her before—as a man. Mia Wasikowska and Aaron Johnson co-star. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 27, 2012

What do you get when you pit Oscar-winnning director Roman Polanski together with other Oscar vets, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, John C. Reilly, and Christoph Waltz? Carnage. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 16, 2011

Get to know the male puppeteer behind one of Sesame Street’s beloved characters in Being Elmo. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Two spies and best friends, Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, fight over the same girl, Reese Witherspoon, in the promising romcom, This Means War. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 17, 2012

The credits for the American Pie sequel, American Reunion, are surprisingly, complete. Fans can rest easy. Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Mena Suvari, Chris Klein, Sean William Scott, Tara Reid, Eugene Levy, Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Lyonne, Eddie Kaye Thomas, and Thomas Ian Nicholas are all back for more. Expected U.S. release date: April 6, 2012

Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton duke it out in the church choir comedy, Joyful Noise. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 13, 2012

Happy Feet 2 has some pretty famous penguins, namely Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, Robin Williams, and Elijah Wood. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

Arthur Christmas gets an A+ for cuteness. The list of voice actors involved is also impressive: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Eva Longoria, and Laura Linney. Expected U.S. release date: Nov. 23, 2011

Pixar has release the first full trailer for Brave. The video is a bit of a mess, but I’m hoping that it doesn’t reflect on the animated movie, which features a female heroine. Expected U.S. release date: June 22, 2012

Steven Spielberg portrays the friendship between a young man and his steed in War Horse. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 25, 2011

The Divide follows survivors of a nuclear attack whose luck runs out when they’re trapped in a room with depleting supplies. Among the survivors is Milo Ventimiglia. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 13, 2012

In The Raven, John Cusack plays Edgar Allan Poe as he chases a killer whose acts are straight out of Poe’s works. Expected U.S. release date: March 9, 2012

Prepare for more scares in the horror film, The Thing. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

Answers to Nothing, an indie drama, boasts of Dane Cook, Julie Benz, Elizabeth Mitchell, Barbara Hershey, and Zach Gilford (not seen in the video). Sidenote: I think the dialogue in the trailer’s last scene is pretty great. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 2, 2011

Emily Browning is Sleeping Beauty. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 2, 2011

Thomas Haden Church, Demi Moore, Ellen Burstyn, Ellen Barkin, and Kate Bosworth explore family dynamics in Another Happy Day.  Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

The Lady serves as a biography of Malaysian political activist, Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh). Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 2, 2011

In Oranges and Sunshine, Emily Watson attempts to reunite families, who were separated due to “migration schemes” by the British government. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

I Melt with You centers on the reunion of friends, Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven, and Thomas Jane. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Bruce Willis, Forest Whitaker, Nikki Reed, and Malin Akerman do some gun slinging in Catch .44. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

From the bestselling novels, come David Fincher’s The Girl with Dragon Tattoo American and international sneak peeks. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 21, 2011

Hollywood can surprise you with the actors they pair together, and this is a good one: Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington. Reynolds, a CIA agent, has to protect a fugitive (Washington) when their Safe House comes under fire. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 10, 2012

Nicolas Cage seeks Justice for his assaulted wife, January Jones. He goes to Guy Pearce, who, in turn, will ask Cage for a favor in the future. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

The Grey finds a group of stranded men, led by Liam Neeson, who have to fight off wolves in the dead of winter. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 27, 2012

Matthew Goode tries to get his life back on track in Burning Man. Rachel Griffiths co-stars. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

If you haven’t heard of Breaking Dawn, good for you. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

Director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) is back with We Bought a Zoo. Matt Damon, a widower, moves his kids into a new home that just happens to house wild animals. As you can see from the U.S and international trailers, Scarlett Johansson and Elle Fanning help him out. Expected U.S. release date:Dec. 23, 2011

My Week with Marilyn chronicles an employee’s time (Eddie Redmayne) with Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams). Harry Potter stars, Kenneth Branagh and Emma Watson, both appear in the drama. Expected U.S. release date: Nov. 23, 2011

Catch a glimpse of Kaya Scodelario in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights teaser trailer. Expected U.S. release date: unknown

Clint Eastwood puts Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, and Ed Westwick to work in the bio, J. Edgar. As of this writing, it has 7.3 stars on IMDb.com. Expected U.S. release date: In theaters now

Mirror Mirror is a family-friendly take on Snow White (Lily Collins). Hammer is the prince while Julia Roberts plays the evil queen. Expected U.S. release date: March 16, 2012

On the other hand, Snow White and the Huntsman amplifies the fight scenes in the classic tale. Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth co-star. Expected U.S. release date: June 1, 2012

In the sequel to Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Josh Hutcherson returns on a quest to find his grandfather, Michael Caine. Dwayne Johnson and Vanessa Hudgens tag along. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 10, 2012

The Hunger Games takes Suzanne Collins’ breakout trilogy to the big screen. Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Oscar nominees, Jennifer Lawrence, and Woody Harrelson get in on the action set in a dystopian world. Expected U.S. release date: March 23, 2012

Rampart‘s trailer is quite a ride and I expect no less from the team behind The Messenger: director Oren Moverman, Harrelson, Ben Foster, and Steve Buscemi. Weaver, Cynthia Nixon, Robin Wright, and Anne Heche chip in some girl power. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 27, 2012

If you can’t get enough of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, look no further than the action flick, Premium Rush. Expected U.S. release date: Aug. 24, 2012

Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, and Kristen Bell try to save whales from being trapped in the Arctic in Big Miracle. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 3, 2012

New Year’s Eve is patterned after the romcom, Valentine’s Day. Some familiar faces are back (Jessica Biel and Ashton Kutcher), but there are plenty of new ones as well. Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Lea Michele, Seth Meyers, Abigail Breslin, Hilary Swank, Josh Duhamel, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ludacris, and Alyssa Milano all ring in the new year.  Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 9, 2011

Based on the Janet Evanovich novels, One for the Money follows Heigl as a bail bondswoman on the hunt for Jason O’Mara, who happens to be an old flame of hers. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 27, 2012

Director Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) adapts another beloved series for the big screen. Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig voice the characters in The Adventures of TinTin. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 21, 2011

Man on a Ledge‘s trailer has me intrigued. I won’t even spoil the video by revealing the plot, but I will say Bell, Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks,  Ed Harris, Kyra Sedgwick, Anthony Mackie, and Ed Burns all play a part. Expected U.S. release date: Jan. 27, 2012

Writer-director Joss Whedon lends his brilliance and snark to The Avengers. Expected U.S. release date: May 4, 2012

Director Guy Ritchie, Robert Downey, Jr., Rachel McAdams, and Law are back for seconds in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 16, 2011

Young Adult is easily one of the top films I’m looking forward to. It’s written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman (aka the same people we should thank for Juno). On top of that, it also stars Theron, who’s said to be garnering her third Oscar nomination for this. Theron goes back to her small hometown to win back her ex-boyfriend, who’s now married with kids. Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt, Elizabeth Reaser, and JK Simmons round out the cast. Expected U.S. release date: Dec. 16, 2011

If you can judge a film by its trailer, then Norman looks pretty great. Dan Byrd (Easy A) plays a trouble high school kid who deals with his dying father and finds solace in a girl, Emily VanCamp (Revenge). Expected U.S. release date: unknown

When McAdams loses her memory, her husband, Tatum tries to make her fall in with him again in The Vow. Scott Speedman stars as McAdams’ ex-fiance. Expected U.S. release date: Feb. 10, 2012

The latest episode is a game changer for these actors' characters (L to R): Kim Raver, Sandra Oh, and Kevin McKidd. Photo: Pop Tower

Shonda Rhimes, what did you do? WHAT DID YOU DO?

The medical drama has its fair share of mediocre episodes—the kind that made some Grey’s Anatomy fans stop watching years ago. However, I stuck with the show and I’m glad I did. Case in point: The awesome season 6.

Season 8 is no different in this matter, especially the first few episodes, which were ho-hum. Then, it got better again … and then the ninth episode happened.

Depending on who you talk to, this is either a terrific or horrible episode. Rhimes, the show runner, is either a genius or a bitch. Call it sitting on the fence, but I think all of the aforementioned applies.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

The episode is terrific, but some horrible stuff happens. After I gathered myself, I think Rhimes is a genius, but I get why others are calling her bitch. You only have to go on Tumblr to see the hate.

When they cast Scott Foley as Kim Raver’s love interest, I was totally on board. Foley, if nothing else, is an incredibly charming actor. Perfect for someone wooing a stranger/doctor (aka Raver) who just handed him health insurance.

And I was fairly confident that the producers and writers weren’t going to kill him because that would be a complete recycling of the Izzie and Denny storyline. Patient and doctor fall in love, patient dies, cue heartbreak. I thought, “No way would they do that. And if they did, they wouldn’t be able to come up with an original and poignant way for Foley to die.”

But the thing is? They did.

It’s inconceivable that they killed a great character and in the process, a happily married couple … but you’ve got to hand it to Rhimes. She did it in a way that’s so provocative and incredibly heartbreaking and in a way that’s going to change the dynamic among the characters from this point forward.

It’s in the storyline where Sandra Oh, who just recovered from a recent trauma in season 6, unknowingly operates on Foley and fails. She doesn’t try to do more because she doesn’t think there is more. She thinks it’s just another patient, not the husband of her mentor. And when Oh finds out …

It’s in the writing where Kevin McKidd can’t tell Raver that her husband is dead. The news would traumatize Raver, who is in the middle of an operation that only she can perform. So, he pretends everything is fine as Raver continues to talk to him about her husband in the O.R. And the scene fades out …

And we don’t get another episode until January 2012. Now, that’s a bitch.

The cast of a new comedy, Raising Hope: Martha Plimpton, Shannon Woodward, Lucas Neff, and Garret Dillahunt. Photo: Couch Time with Jill

The half-hour comedy is just as funny as Modern Family, if not more, then definitely wackier. It’s easily one of my new favorite series! To give you a better idea of the show’s sense of humor, it’s brought to us by Greg Garcia, creator of My Name is Earl (which was super wacky, in case you didn’t know).

Raising Hope is about Jimmy Chance (newcomer Lucas Neff), a young single dad who grapples with the day-to-day problems of taking care of his daughter. He has some help from his lower class family: his great great grandmother (Cloris Leachman) and his parents who also had him at a young age (Garret Dillahunt from The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Martha Plimpton from The Goonies).

Not only do Dillahunt and Emmy nominee Plimpton portray a sweet married couple, but there’s also love story between Jimmy and his crush, played by Shannon Woodward (The Riches). It’s definitely a relationship that you’ll be rooting for.

On its second season, the quirky comedy has had notable guest stars like JK Simmons (Juno), Amy Sedaris (Maid in Manhattan), Bijou Phillips (Almost Famous), Greg Germann (Ally McBeal) and basically, the entire My Name is Earl cast: Jaime Pressly, Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, and Eddie Steeples.

Every episode brings on the laughs, but some stood out so much so that I’m re-watched them recently, namely Blue Dots; Meet the Grandparents; Snip, Snip; Sabrina Has Money; and possibly my fave thus far, Mongooses. It was funny and though every episode is sweet, this one really showed some heart as the family tries to figure out who should be the baby’s guardians if they die.

Here are a few clips to give you an even better idea of the show’s adorability:

Simon Baker, star of "The Mentalist." Photo: Fanpop

Happiness is Simon Baker’s smile.

When The Mentalist star flashes his pearly whites as Patrick Jane, he lights up the screen. The series is a procedural cop show with an overarching story, in which Jane tries to catch Red John, the serial killer who murdered Jane’s wife and daughter.

Jane’s part of the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), so they take cases all over the state. As a bonus, because of that, I’m familiarizing myself with a lot of places I haven’t heard of before.

It differs from other mystery shows because of its central character. Jane is a quirky guy who can adeptly read people and decipher crime scenes. Some people even go so far as to call him a psychic. He can tell what job you have just by looking at you (deciphering) and he also drinks a lot of tea (quirk).

Many funny moments arise from Jane’s antics; hypnosis is no exception. Here’s an example of the show’s sense of humor:

However, in later episodes, those same antics become annoying at times. Occasionally, to catch the killer, Jane will frame and arrest an innocent person to make the real perpetrator confess.

At least once, he did it with the fake suspect’s permission, which is fine. But, it becomes completely unnecessary and frustrating in other episodes when he doesn’t let other people in on his plans, especially since he could use all that wit to nab the real suspect in a better way.

CASTING CALL

The rest of the team are Agent Lisbon (Robin Tunney from The Craft), Agent Cho (Tim Kang), Agent Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti), and Agent Rigsby (Owain Yeoman). Baker and Tunney are standout actors; plus, Tunney just has that X factor.

To keep you watching, the writers have also thrown in romantic story lines between Van Pelt and Rigsby as well as Jane and Lisbon. However, I hope they keep Jane and Lisbon as friends.

END SCENE

And if the writers could take out or cut down the interrogation parts, that would help because it’s almost always the weakest and most boring scene. The depth and cleverness of the writing is constantly improving though—not that it was ever bad.

In fact, starting with the first season is a good idea. It’s especially charming, as compared to later seasons, which are more of a balance between the dark and light elements.

As an aside, my favorite episode so far is S03E14 – Blood for Blood. It’s one of those where you’re genuinely surprised about who the killer is, and it gives Van Pelt a chance to shine in an empowering way. The last scene is also thought provoking, and the very last line speaks volumes and makes you chuckle—I laughed out loud.

GUEST (STAR) LIST

In addition, there’s a myriad of guest stars, someone for every fan. The credits include Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood), Michael Trevino (The Vampire Diaries), Reed Diamond (Journeyman), Michael McGrady (Southland), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), and J. August Richards (Angel), just to name a few. Keyword: few.

As a Joss Whedon fan, I hope more alums of his shows guest star in more prominent roles on The Mentalist, which would also attract other Whedonites (or whatever we’re called). How awesome would it be if James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) played the real Red John? I’m throwing down the gauntlet!

The Mentalist season 4 is currently airing in the U.S.

Turn It Up – Taryn Manning
Check out the latest catchy dance tune from the singer/actress with a raspy voice. If you haven’t heard her stuff as one-half of Boomkat (her brother is the other half), I also recommend tuning in to their unique sound. The Wreckoning (below) is a good place to start.

After the jump: Music from TV shows, such as Cougar Town, The Big C, Hart of Dixie, Revenge, etc.

Disaster – Jojo*
With this song, Jojo doesn’t stray too far from her other albums, but if there was any doubt she has the pipes, doubt no more.

Easy – Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield
I love these two artists separately, and together, they make for a terrific, albeit surprising, duet. Their voices complement each other well, and the song’s stanzas have beautiful lyrics. At first listen though, the chorus is kind of lame in terms of lyrics and tune. Still, you get used to it and/or you’re willing to overlook it because it’s a pretty good duet—almost like Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean on the song, Don’t You Wanna Stay. It’s pop and country coming together again on a ballad. Hmmm… I sense a trend.

You Are Mine – Enter the Worship Circle*
If you like country music, you should start watching the new fall show, Hart of Dixie. There is as much music as there is dialogue. I first heard this one in the pilot episode and while it’s religious, it’s also just about love in general.

The Last Day on Earth – Kate Miller Heidke
Here’s another song I heard on TV and loved it. It played during a pivotal scene in The Big C‘s awesome second season. If this bittersweet song isn’t your type, don’t give up on the singer yet. Her other songs are actually more upbeat, like Lenka’s, if that’s your thing.

Paper Airplane – Allison Krauss and Union Station
I was nothing short of impressed with Krauss’s vocal stylings of her new lullaby-like tune. There’s an official video, but I think she’s better live.

I Want You Back – The Civil Wars
They’re my new favorite band—and one of the very few I’d pay to see live. I have two favorite songs of theirs and this is one of them (starts at 1:15 in the video). It’s a cover of the Jackson 5 hit, which is also great in itself. See how the duo makes it better and totally their own—so much so that at first, I thought it was an original song.

Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars
This is my other favorite song from the twosome. Here’s just a snippet of the powerful lyrics: “I don’t have a choice but I still choose you / I don’t love you but I always will.”

Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars
Here’s an extra bonus. I included it because it undeniably shows that the musical direction they’re going in is nothing like what’s on the radio at the moment. Also, unlike most of the songs in this post, it’s a non-ballad.

What You Want – Evanescence
That’s right. The band is back with a new single, which is more pop than rock, but still good. After you watch it, let me know if, for some weird reason, it reminds you of Phil Collins’ Susudio, too, or if it’s just me.

The Pursuit of Happiness – Nuno Bettencourt*
As heard on Cougar Town…

Phoenix Burn – Alpha Rev*
Aside from TV shows, you know how else you can stumble on good songs? Wait until the end credits of a movie, that’s how. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was playing on the boob tube and while I saw it in theaters, I wouldn’t have heard this song if I’d flipped channels as soon as the credits rolled.

Carousel – Vanessa Carlton
Even though her current single is less of a pop outing, it’s no less fairy tale-like.

For You – Angus and Julia Stone*
“If you love me, with all of your heart / If you love me, I would make you a star in my universe.” The beautiful song appeared on another fall show, Revenge (aka my new guilty pleasure). If you’re a Grease fanatic, they’ve also notably covered You’re the One That I Want (below). And if you haven’t heard of the performer yet, you will. They’re going to be on the Breaking Dawn soundtrack.

*Not an official video

Michael Fassbender is getting Oscar buzz for his role in "Shame."

That’s right. The breakout hottie from X-men: First Class reportedly lays it all bare in his role as a sex addict—and he’s not the only one. Apparently, Carey Mulligan also joins her co-star in the full-frontal nudity fun as his younger sister.

Since the director insists on keeping the NC-17 rating, audiences will see it all in its untainted form. Fox Searchlight just picked up the rights to Shame, so don’t worry, the indie won’t vanish into oblivion either. People will actually get to watch it starting Dec. 14—in time for awards consideration.

To tide you over, check out Fassbender in the adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, and if you haven’t seen An Education with Mulligan yet, you should.

I leave you with a clip from the movie:

1. Apartment 23
Stars: Krysten Ritter, James Van Der Beek
Synopsis: Comedy about a girl whose new roommate is a bitch at first, but turns out not to be
Why Watch: The pilot got good reviews.

2. New Girl
Stars: Zooey Deschanel
Synopsis: Comedy about a wacky girl who moves in with three guy roommates
Why Watch: FOX released the pilot early. I’ve seen it and while there’s a bit of transition issues and they’re recasting one of the guys, it is funny. Plus, for me, the charming Deschanel is the real draw.

3. Hart of Dixie
Stars: Rachel Bilson, Scott Porter, Jaime King
Synopsis: Bilson is a doctor who has little choice but to practice in a small town, where she meets romantic interest, Porter, who’s engaged to King.
Why Watch: The show has drawn comparisons to other CW shows like Everwood. It reunites Bilson and The OC creator, Josh Schwartz. While I wasn’t an OC fan, the results are darling, as you’ll see below.

4. Revenge
Stars: Emily Van Camp, Madeleine Stowe, Marc Blucas
Synopsis: Loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo. Here, Van Camp is the one looking to avenge her father’s death.
Why Watch: I don’t know how they intend to stretch the story throughout the years, let alone one season, but the trailer’s delicious. It’s not a Colombiana or Alias type of revenge. She isn’t a spy and she doesn’t fire guns or go hand-to-hand combat with people. The main character is a regular girl who carries out her revenge in the Hamptons.

5. Once Upon a Time
Stars: Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin
Synopsis: The characters from the Snow White fairy tale are living their lives as regular people without any memories of who they really are. It’s up to Morrison, who’s possibly Snow White’s daughter, to fix it.
Why Watch: If you’re a fan of Lost, it’s the same writers. I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for revamped fairy tales.

6. Awake
Stars: Jason Isaacs
Synopsis: Isaacs gets into a car accident with his wife and son. Next thing he knows, he’s switching between two realities: one where only his wife is alive and the other where only his son made it.
Why Watch: Interesting premise and Isaacs is a solid actor.

7. Ringer
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Synopsis: The show centers on twin sisters: Bridget’s a recovering addict and Siobhan’s a socialite. After being estranged for years (the reason is a mystery), they reunite—only Siobhan commits suicide soon after, and Bridget takes over her life, not knowing what she’s getting into.
Why Watch: Sarah Michelle Gellar! They’re also aiming for film noir, so if that’s your thing…

8. Prime Suspect
Stars: Maria Bello, Aidan Quinn
Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed British series starring Helen Mirren. Bello gets the bad guys while dealing with the sexist boys on her own squad.
Why Watch: Bello’s one of my fave actors. Did I mention it’s a remake of an acclaimed show?

9. Homeland
Stars: Damian Lewis, Claire Danes
Synopsis: Lewis plays a soldier who was held captive in the Middle East and is returning to the US. However, Danes suspect he’s a terrorist sleeper agent.
Why Watch: Aren’t you curious to know if he is? I think he probably is a terrorist, and that just gives Lewis an opportunity to show off his tremendous acting chops.

10. Person of Interest
Stars: Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson
Synopsis: As a wealthy guy, Emerson has the technology that tells him when a crime is about to happen. He hires Caviezel to stop them every time.
Why Watch: Its creator is none other than JJ Abrams. Abrams actually has another show coming out, but this one caught my attention more.

Maybe’s/Runners-up:

1. Alcatraz
Stars: Jorge Garcia
Synopsis: Criminals at the prison mysteriously vanished 50 years ago. Now, they’re coming back—without having aged.
Why: This is Abrams’ other production. While it’s a great idea, it’s the more Lost-like of the two, and I don’t want to have to keep up with it.

2. Grimm
Stars: David Giuntoli
Synopsis: A hunter, descended from the Grimms, has to fight off the supernatural forces from the stories.
Why: Buffy producers and writers David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf are behind it, but one fairy tale show (see no. 5 above) might be enough.

3. American Horror Story
Stars: Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange
Synopsis: A couple moves into a haunted house and the rest is shrouded in mystery.
Why: Reviews have been split between praise and damnation.

4. Pan Am
Stars: Christina Ricci
Synopsis: Drama about the flight crew of the 1960s
Why: Even Ricci’s name wasn’t enough to make me care about a series on flight attendants. Then, I read that one of the attendants doubles as a spy, so I might give it a try. ABC should capitalize on that plot line rather than a crew that sleeps around.

5. The Secret Circle
Stars: Britt Robertson, Thomas Dekker, Gale Harold
Synopsis: Teenage witches
Why: Who doesn’t love supernatural TV? Still, I’m not invested in any of the actors, and the writing—which is most likely, typical of CW—has me hesitant to jump in.

'The Killing' stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos.

With the slew of mystery shows on television, you’d think you couldn’t add anymore to your DVR. Well, you should. If any channel can bring a fresh take on the genre, it’s AMC, home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

Another thing that gives The Killing credibility is its creator, Veena Sud, who’s an alum of another good show, Cold Case. Sud has revamped a hit Dutch TV series, and in its first season, the US version seeks to solve one mystery: Who killed Rosie Larsen?

In 13 episodes, the show follows two detectives (Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman) as they rifle through suspects, the young girl’s grieving family as they cope with their loss, and a councilman (Billy Campbell) as he runs for mayor.

As soon as you get through a couple of minutes of the pilot, you’ll see why The Killing is different. Since it’s on cable, it’s darker and more chilling from the theme song to the cinematography to the story lines.

And the acting! It’s superb. I think they could have found a better lead than Enos because while she has an Emmy nom, I think she lacks the likability factor of, say, Anna Torv of Fringe. You’re not really rooting for Enos. Also, if NBC could get Maria Bello for Prime Suspect, AMC could have probably gotten a better name and actress.

However, up-and-comer Swedish actor, Kinnaman, kills it. Not only does he get rid of his accent, but he emerges as a ghetto-talking cop, saying things like, “Chill, girlfriend.” He also exudes goodness on screen, and that makes him a fan favorite, someone you root for.

The actors who play Larsen’s mourning parents are brilliant as well. The show kicks off with a two-hour season premiere and I was in tears by the end of it. I wasn’t expecting that AT ALL. The episode just crept up on me. Indeed, one of the many online reactions you’ll find is that there are others out there who found it sad, too. (Yay! I’m not alone/pathetic.)

The show kicks off with a two-hour season premiere and I was in tears by the end of it. I wasn’t expecting that AT ALL.

The only more popular opinion is how much people hated the season finale, BUT that’s mainly because almost everyone (including me), thought that the killer would be revealed, but apparently he/she wasn’t. Even though I didn’t know that little piece of info at the time, I actually thought the ending was fine. I even thought they had captured the killer.

Apparently not.

Other people thought the episide was ambiguous and I guess it was meant to be so. Sud herself said that the resolution will bleed into season 2.

That’s right. Don’t expect to know who killed Rosie Larsen by the end of season 1.

As long as you keep that in mind, I think you can still enjoy the last episode because the only real problem people had with it was that their questions weren’t answered.

The only other criticism I had was that I wish the writers had stuck with the second-to-the-last suspect (let’s call him/her Suspect A—to avoid spoilers) and not the “last suspect” (Suspect B) because Suspect A was soooo much better.

When Suspect A was looking like he/she was the murderer, my mind was blown! Like, whoa! I thought it was genius because it was (1) unexpected and (2) it would have plenty of repercussions for future story lines.

Then, suddenly, it wasn’t Suspect A, but Suspect B and my reaction was: LAME.

Again, since the finale didn’t reveal the perp, the good news is that it might not be Suspect B anymore. It could still be Suspect A or someone as surprising, I hope.

So, be sure to get into it before season 2 starts in 2012! If you’re like me, you’ll only need one day for all 13 episodes. It’s so addictive, it’s a crime.