2011 was a fantastic year for entertainment. Here are my eleven favorite things from the year that's about to wrap, in chronological order...

1. Southland, TNT

(Season 3 began January 4)

I have to admit that I didn't keep up with TNT's gritty Los Angeles cop drama as much as I would have liked; it fell victim to sharing Tuesday nights with three other shows on my watch list. Yet when I did find time to catch it, I was no less than impressed every time.

There's been talk about the show's TV-MA content (allegedly the reason that NBC axed it), but the real talking point should be the st...

Here's a way to start off a new year of TV viewing: TNT brings back the acclaimed cop drama Southland for its third season tomorrow night at 10 PM. Season three is the longest that the show has seen yet (ten episodes, up from seven in season one and eight in season two), and it's been highly anticipated (not to mention heavily promoted). Is it worth it?

You bet.

The characters haven't gone stagnant in the time between seasons; in fact, they've all got new problems to deal with. Lydia (Regina King, still criminally underrated) has a new and somewhat reckless partner, Josie Ochoa (gue...

TNT has booked a third season of its critically acclaimed drama "Southland." The network has ordered 10 episodes for the third season, which is slated to begin airing in January 2011.

Created by Emmy winner Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue, Public Enemies), "Southland" takes a raw, authentic look at police work in Los Angeles. The series focuses on officers, detectives and members of a gang unit as they endure the triumphs and tragedies that populate their lives both on and off the job. The series is shot on location in the streets and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

"Southland's" ensemble cast incl...

On Tuesday, January 12, Southland will begin airing the original 13 episodes on TNT after its premiere on NBC last April. The show's producers are delighted

with the move to TNT and released a statement to the press: "This is a great win for fans of 'Southland' and a perfect opportunity to introduce the series to new viewers, and it's also another outstanding example of how TNT has established itself as the go-to place for the best dramas on television."

Created by Emmy-winning writer Ann Biderman and produced by Emmy-winning John Wells, "Southland" follows the lives of Los Angeles pol...

Season two of "Southland" has been scrapped before it started, according to Variety.com. The show was scheduled to return Oct. 23.

NBC did not comment on the reasons for the cancellation, but insiders say the dark nature of the cop drama was a factor. "Southland" stars Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie as L.A. police officers.

Executive producer John Wells said in a statement, "I'm disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically acclaimed series that was for so many years a hallmark of their success. We remain extremely proud of 'South...

In the past few seasons for network TV, there have been a few shows that were destined for greatness from their very first pilot episodes: Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Lost and The Office.

That's it, that's the list. And of those six shows, one was cancelled due to low ratings ("Arrested Development"), one is on life-support ("Friday Night Lights"), and two were in danger after having lost their way - no pun intended, but "Lost" managed to find its way back while "Heroes" is struggling. "Housewives" still has its foundation of viewers but is...

The immediate fate of NBC's heralded Thursday night 10 pm slot seems to be in stable, if not extraordinary, hands; Southland provides a gripping snapshot of the life of a Los Angeles police officer. The future is more of a mystery considering Jay Leno's new show will occupy this and four other weeknight time slots next season. Michael Cudlitz (who plays officer John Cooper) and Arija Bareikis (Officer Chickie Brown) join us to discuss this topic, their characters, the future of the show and realize the liberties of the Internet once they realize we were not, in fact, broadcasting this inter...

Ben McKenzie is constantly reassuring fans he hasn't given up on his acting career - after they confuse him for a real police officer on the set of new cop drama Southland.

The star has swapped his role as a rogue teen in former show The O.C. to play a Los Angeles police officer in the new TV series, which premiered this month. But McKenzie admits fans of The O.C. are often left perplexed when they spot him in full uniform while shooting in L.A., thinking he's quit acting to fight crime.

He says, "All the time people come up and ask directions, or they'll recognize me. But then ...

Nothing is a secret when Gossip Girl is around. With all her little pre-teen minions running around Manhattan snapping photos, she definitely has all the help she can get in delving into the secrets of New York's elite. This, of course, includes favorite 'it' couple, lonely boy Dan (Penn Badgley) and Serena (Blake Lively) who still haven't seemed to make their relationship official, again.

Gossip Girl keeps nothing to herself for long and posts a picture of the two lip-locked, letting everyone know that they are, in fact, together. This leads to nothing but scrutiny from family and fr...

Bloopers. We all laugh at them. Sometimes we can't help but watch closely for them. Some bloopers are harder to notice, but we still spot them. Here is a sampling of some great TV bloopers.

Gilmore Girls

During the first season viewers hear Lane (Keiko Agena) talking about her parents, but we never meet her father. In one episode, after Lane moved out, she snuck back home and into her mom's room and only her mother was sleeping in the bed.

Sean Gunn (Kirk) first appeared in the second episode as Mick who was at the Gilmore's house to install the DSL that Emily (Kelly Bishop) ord...

Benjamin McKenzie hated performing motorcycle stunts on the set of new movie 88 Minutes, fearing he would accidentally killing his co-star Al Pacino.

The former O.C. star had to ride towards Pacino, and break sharply during one particular scene - and the novice biker was so nervous during failed takes, it prompted a concerned Pacino to call in his stand-in.

McKenzie explains, "I had to learn to ride, and I was absolutely convinced I would screw up and hit the gas when I was supposed to hit the breaks and kill Pacino. I would forever be known as that kid from that TV show who kil...

For years, Hollywood has celebrated a certain type of empowered women - a strong nosed, uber self-confident, in-your-face fighter who is going to take on the establishment using whatever means necessary to get what she wants. The archetype of this character is Erin Brockovich who famously said "They're called boobs, Ed", and screamed her way from a legal secretary to the chief factor in toppling a billion dollar company that was poisoning its customers.

But in the tradition of Melanie Grifiith's Working Girl, Amy Adams has popularized a new type of woman: one who uses her feminine grac...

What's Airing, Re-Airing & Entertaining On TV This Week:

Monday, Dec. 31

Lack of New Year's Eve plans leaving you stranded at home? Never fear, there's actually some shows to watch before the ball starts dropping on ABC.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8 p.m.), Aliens In America (The CW, 8:30 p.m.) - The CW and CBS offer up a pair of stand-out episode reruns. The awkwardness and misguided thinking of being a teenager is perfectly captured in “The Metamorphosis” episode of "Aliens in America." Meanwhile, on "How I Met Your Mother," Barney offers Lily money to paint him nude. Need...

Tate Donovan has blasted the young stars of former soap The O.C., insisting they were "incredibly difficult" to work with. The star, who played Jimmy Cooper on the once cult drama series, has laid the blame for many on-set problems at the feet of the show's stars Mischa Barton, Benjamin McKenzie, Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody.

He says, "They were really tough. Directors were leaving the set and saying, `I'm never going to work with (them again).' I think they all wanted movie careers and did not want to be on a television show. All four of them were, like, `This show is ruining my care...

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Adam Brody dislikes socializing with his O.C. co-star Benjamin McKenzie - because it makes him feel uncomfortable, like a "fictional person". Brody, who played McKenzie's character Ryan Atwood's surrogate brother Seth Cohen on the now-defunct TV show, is convinced strangers are laughing at them when the twosome are out in public.

He says, "I was with Ben McKenzie yesterday, who plays Ryan and I guess we're adopted brothers (in the show).

"I'm always embarrassed hanging out with him because I feel like a fictional person. I feel that everyone who recognizes us is for sure laughing ...

Following are some quotes from The O.C. cast about the series finale. Quotes from Peter Gallagher:

“I think it will be remembered for a really vibrant first season that captured a lot of imaginations around the world and gave families a chance to watch a show together -- mothers and fathers and kids -- that they could both enjoy and the show found at least briefly a happy marriage, between comedy and drama.”

“I guess my favorite moment was the day I read the pilot script. That was very exciting. And I certainly loved singing in the second season. And you know, frankly, I have had ...

Dozens of young Hollywood’s biggest television stars have joined together in a once-in-a-lifetime auction on eBay this holiday season, supporting the Young Storytellers Foundation. Americans and Canadians can bid on private voice and video calls with participating celebrities, during which they can chat with and actually see the star on the other end.

Celebrities taking part in the auction (for both video and standard Internet calls):

· Kristen Bell - Veronica Mars

· Sophia Bush – One Tree Hill

· Adam Duritz – The Counting Crows

· Rob...

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Summary:

Forget terrorists or hijackers -- there's a handful of deadly assassins aboard a jet liner and they don't even have arms or legs in this airborne thriller. Neville Flynn (Samuel L. Jackson) is an FBI agent handling what seems like a routine assignment --

Continue Reading Summary...

Cast and Crew:

Samuel L. Jackson - (Neville Flynn)

Nathan Phillips - (Sean Jones)

Julianna Margulies

Bobby Cannavale

Benjamin McKenzie

More Info...

Mischa Barton was thrilled her The O.C. character Marissa Cooper was killed off in an explosive ending to the third series, instead of leaving the show "in one of those lame farewells." During her three years on the show, her character has overdosed, dealt with drinking and drug problems, witnessed her friend's death and shot her on/off boyfriend Ryan Atwood's (Ben McKenzie) brother Trey (Logan Marshall-Green).

At the end of the Fox drama's season three finale on Thursday, Cooper died in Atwood's arms following a car chase with another ex-boyfriend Kevin Volchok (Cam Gigandet).

...

The O.C beauty Mischa Barton is allegedly trying to get fired from the hit show by pulling a host of sick days. The 20-year-old star has allegedly been worried about the show's spiralling ratings and is concerned about being typecast as a teen brat. According to reports, Mischa has been frequently calling in sick or arriving late to the set much to the displeasure of her bosses.

A source told New York Post newspaper: "She's definitely flirting with leaving the show. But the real problem now is that she isn't taking her work seriously." The brunette's actions are said to be angering the...

The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz is stumped for ideas after the hit show's next season because the four main characters will be leaving for college. But the producer is optimistic the departure of Seth Cohen (Adam Brody), Ryan Atwood (Ben Mckenzie), Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) and Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) could open doors for new exciting storylines.

He says, "I think we've got at least one more good year in us, so we're going to do some pretty radical stuff at the end of this year. The season finale is going to be the craziest thing we've ever done, and it will launch the sho...