The ShowBuzz Weekly Forecast
Talking animals at the movies, "American Idols" on the CD player and a holiday album from a different sort of Idol entirely (Billy) are all possibilities this week.
Of course, if you are the organized type who already has finished your seasonal shopping, you may not be in the market for most of this stuff. But somewhere out there, no doubt there is someone who is seeking the perfect thing for an animal-loving "Idol" worshipper who is into old punk rock.
You can always look at these offerings for pure entertainment value, anyway, because it's certainly true these days that your computer screen often replaces the old sport of window shopping.
Shall we take a stroll along the avenue and see what entertainments await?
MOVIES
"Charlotte's Web" is a new screen adaptation of the classic tale by E.B. White about the spider that saves the life of Wilbur the pig. Dakota Fanning plays Fern, while Charlotte the spider is voiced by Julia Roberts and the goose by Oprah Winfrey. But the best casting probably is Steve Buscemi, who is sure to give new creepy life to Templeton the rat.
"Eragon": The story of a boy and his dragon. It ain't Lassie but, on the other hand, it's not "Saw III" either.
"The Pursuit of Happyness" gives us a struggling father (Will Smith) and his adorable 5-year-old son, played by Jaden Smith, the real-life son of Smith and actress Jada Pinkett Smith. And, yes, that's "happyness," not happiness, no matter what your spell-check is telling you.
"The Good German" has George Clooney in it, which will be enough reason for many people to go out and buy a ticket. But let's not forget the wonderful Cate Blanchett, who plays the woman he can't forget.Photos: 'The Pursuit Of Happyness' Premieres
Another movie and another bankable star: "Breaking and Entering" and Jude Law. He finds himself re-evaluating his life after a young Muslin breaks into his London office.
Opening in very limited release is "Dreamgirls," with a powerhouse cast that includes Beyoncé Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. Word is that former "American Idol" fave Jennifer Hudson gives a breakthrough performance in this one, and she's already generating Oscar buzz. It opens throughout the U.S. on Christmas Day.
TV
What would you do if you had a room key that could unlock any door, then lead you almost anywhere once the door was open? For police detective Joe Miller, who was given that key by a young man dying from a gunshot wound, it proves handy at first for instant holidays.
But such a key isn't really meant for fun, as Joe soon finds out in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries "The Lost Room." It originally was meant to fit a certain motel room where something terrible took place. Now the room is a mysterious trove of seemingly mundane objects, each of which possesses forbidding powers — with the key the most potent object of all.
Peter Krause ("Six Feet Under") plays the beleaguered cop. Julianna Margulies, Kevin Pollak and Margaret Cho co-star. "The Lost Room" airs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 11, 12 and 13, from 7-9 p.m.
Other shows this week to look out for:
Shel decides to organize a strike for marital equal rights, which spreads nationwide. But where does that leave Ben and his intended? James Brolin plays the governor in this film, which airs Monday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m.
But then, just days before Christmas, Emily's relentless boss whisks her from Denver to an island off the coast of Florida for a business meeting. What will happen when the meeting runs long, then a tropical storm grounds all the airlines?
Meanwhile, back home, Emily's laid-back fiancé (Eric Mabius, "Ugly Betty") displays a lackadaisical approach to handling last-minute details. Will Emily get back in time — and what will she find when she gets there?
He goes out drinking with Jim (John Krasinski) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson), who has his own contribution to the holiday party: a Christmas goose he found dead in the road. "A Benihana Christmas" airs Thursday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. on NBC.
MUSIC
Here comes "American Idol" winner "Taylor Hicks" and right behind him comes "Fantasia" as in Fantasia Barrino. Big week for "Idol" fans, so if you know any of them, you know what to stuff in their stockings.
Mary J. Blige kicked serious butt at the Billboard Awards and she leads the field for the Grammys, which are to be handed out in February. See what all the shouting's about with "Reflections: A Retrospective."
And if you're looking for kicks this holiday season, how about something seasonal from Billy Idol? It's called "Happy Holidays (A Very Special Christmas Album)."
BOOKS
The fifth installment of Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry fantasy series is being published: "Mistral's Kiss." Gentry used to be a private eye in L.A., but the books have taken her to a place where she has left that job for the post of a faerie princess. (Yes. That's right. Go check it yourself.) If you are a Gentry novice, you should know that this is not a book for children, packed as it is with grownup concepts and even more grownup sex. But Hamilton sure knows how to spin an enthralling tale, and "Mistral's Kiss" is a terrific holiday gift to her many devoted readers.
"True Evil: A Novel" by Greg Iles has a fascinating premise. It appears that a lawyer and a doctor are conspiring to cause cancer in unsuspecting spouses whose partners would rather see them die than lose property or prestige in a divorce. Of course, the FBI agent who smells a rat is not being heeded by her bureaucratic bosses.
THEATER
"The Apple Tree" opens Wednesday, Dec. 14, with Broadway favorite Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda in the original Broadway cast of "Wicked") playing the leading lady in three separate musical vignettes, starting with Eve in the Garden of Eden. The male lead in the stories is Brian d'Arcy James, and playing such supporting roles as the Snake is Marc Kudisch. (Chenoweth and Kudisch used to be engaged in real life; even though the wedding never happened, they are clearly still good friends.)
This production springs from the concert version that was presented last year in the popular "Encores!" series at City Center. The three one-act musicals are based on Mark Twain's "The Diary of Adam and Eve," Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady or the Tiger?" and Jules Feiffer's "Passionella."
In the original 1966 Broadway production of "The Apple Tree," Barbara Harris gave a Tony-winning performance and the leading man was none other than Alan Alda.
DVDs
This Christmas, Will Ferrell is not an elf. He is a NASCAR star in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." Making his shtick even better is sidekick John C. Reilly.
A less fortunate sidekick is poor Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), who has to put up with the terrible magazine queen Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) in "The Devil Wears Prada." But, this being a movie and not real life, a good time is had by all. Stanley Tucci gives a great performance as a snotty fashionister who winds up with a soft spot in his heart for poor little Andy.
If you have kids, then you probably already know that many of them adore the old TV series "Full House." That's the show that introduced the Olsen twins to the world. The entire fifth season is out on DVD this week.