5 Reasons We Like The Peanuts Gang

Happy Year, Charlie Brown As Chuck and Co. gather to have their "Auld Lang Syne" on in Happy Year, Charlie Brown, tonight's adorable finish-of-the-year special from 1986, we want to consider a mug of kindness and count lower the reason why these old acquaintances should never be forgotten. 1. They rock the holiday season. The Emmy-winning It is a Charlie Brown Christmas has trained decades the real meaning of year, and when you haven't joked about "obtaining a rock" while trick-or-dealing with, it is possible you was raised living under one. 2. Snoopy! Since his debut on October 4, 1950, Daisy Hill Puppy Farm's top graduate has stolen our hearts like a The First World War flying ace, a writer and, obviously, Charlie Brown's four-legged closest friend. No surprise the boy and the dog required no. 8 just right TV Guide Magazine's listing of the 50 Finest Cartoon Figures ever. 3. From Scrubs to Robot Chicken to Saturday Evening Live to Due To Jimmy Kimmel Live, they've inspired a number of TV's sharpest spoofs. Our fave? The Simpsons' place-on parody of It is the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 4. They are total fashion symbols. Chuck's zigzag. Lucy's little blue dress. Peppermint Patty's sandals. Project Runway could be lucky to attain looks that timeless. And do not even get us began on the dancing abilities! 5. They have remained gold. Debuting in 1947 as Li'l Folks within the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the children have continued to be a wonderful reflection from the innocence, optimism and sometimes melancholy charm of creator Charles Schulz. Guess you can say happiness is getting buddies such as these. Happy Year, Charlie Brown airs tonight at 8/7c on ABC. Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!

TV Ratings: 'Person of Interest' Grabs Largest Audience Since Debut, 'Prime Suspect' Hits Series Low

This article appeared in the Dec. 23 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.our editor recommendsOscar Dog Showdown: Who's Cutest? 'The Artist' Tops Golden Globe Nominations 'Hugo' and 'The Artist' Top the Broadcast Film Critics' List of Nominations With 11 EachYoung Adult: Film Review A round of a-paws, please! These four-legged thespians may be ineligible for an Academy Award, but their performances in the Oscar contenders of the season are stealing the show. The season's awards contenders feature numerous animal stars, from the horses of War Horse to the feline star of Puss in Boots. But these four dogs have gone above and beyond with their on-screen performances this year. PHOTOS: Oscar Dog Showdown: Who's Cutest? Uggie, 9 | The Artist His barks might all be silent, but the energetic Jack Russell, seen here playing with a toy Oscar, is one of the big stars of Michel Hazanavicius' tribute to the days before talkies. A seasoned performer -- his specialty is riding a skateboard -- Uggie also appeared this year in Water for Elephants. Says trainer Omar von Muller, who rescued him when he was headed for the pound: "He was a very hyper puppy, but he's now one of the best-trained dogs in the industry. Just look at the scene where he rescues Jean Dujardin from a burning building without missing a cue." Cosmo, 9 | Beginners This all-white long-hair Jack Russell, who previously appeared in Hotel for Dogs and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, is trained by Mathilde de Cagney, who knows a star when she sees one: She also trained the late Moose, who played the long-running role of Eddie on Frasier. "The hard thing in training a dog for a movie isA round of a-paws, please! These four-legged thespians may be ineligible for an Academy Award, but their performances in the Oscar contenders of the season are stealing the show. making his behavior look natural," says de Cagney. But that proved no problem for Cosmo, who not only tags along loyally beside Ewan McGregor but also has dialogue of his own thanks to director Mike Mills' clever subtitles. STORY: Golden Globe Awards Nominations Complete List Blackie, 3, Hugo He was one of three Dobermans in Hugo that portrayed the fearsome Maximilian, who patrolled the Parisian railway station alongside Sacha Baron Cohen's Inspector. Because Martin Scorsese shot in 3D, often panning 360 degrees, de Cagney, also his trainer, was sometimes costumed as a character in scenes so she could work with the dogs without destroying the illusion. Hummer, 4, Young Adult A compact Pomeranian, he is, by showbiz standards, a non-pro. Director Jason Reitman discovered the purse-sized pooch while Hummer was out on a walk on the streets of NY and convinced his owner to let him make his film debut opposite Charlize Theron. View more photos from THR's photoshoot with the top dogs of the awards season here. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Oscar Dog Showdown: Who's Cutest? Related Topics The Artist Beginners Young Adult Hugo

Digital tools add quality, cut back

'The Girl while using Dragon Tattoo'The fluid workflow of digital editing is creating a faster, cheaper and -- according to Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter, co-editors of "The Woman While using Dragon Tattoo," -- better approach to making movies.That which was once visual effects tasks, for instance compositing, is now handled inside the editing bay faster plus much more cheaply, as well as the shots goes in towards the cut.Digital tools also empower the editors to get their preferred aspects of multiple takes -- an actor's line reading through through in a single take, another actor's entrance from another -- and mix them. The finish result, hopefully, is more suitable to the take that happened at that time.InchWhenever we enter that final amount of detail, everything starts to sing," Baxter states. "There's some minute particulars that really help an editor give clearness that ultimately produces a far greater film."

The Dictator Teaser Trailer Lands

Sacha Baron Cohen in the helluva large beardThe first trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator has turned up, that is offensive. Precisely how you (possibly) appreciate it.Billed since the film adaptation of Iraqi romance novel "Zabibah as well as the King" by Bottom - yes, that Bottom - it differs greatly within the source text, representing Baron Cohen just like a foreign dictator who involves America to know a couple of things.Become familiar with a couple of things, and, um, sleep with Megan Fox in exchange for many precious jewels and zipline between structures for no pointless.As opposed to Bruno and Borat, it is not a mockumentary, but it is directed using it . guy: legendary Seinfeld author Ray Charles.For any clip itself, it's definitely not vintage Baron Cohen. The jokes feel somewhat tired, the rare rascism an impact too casual, an impact too rascist.Still, as he's playing dual roles for the reason that one, we're only seeing one for yellows in the gold gold coin at this time around, so possibly a few trailers in the future things can look quite different.Anyhow, take a look by yourself and let us read your comments. Does Sasha have another Borat-sized smash on his hands or possibly a another Ali GIndahouse?Inform us inside the comment box below.The Dictator, which stars Anna Faris and Mister Ben Kingsley, is going May 18, 2012.

Katie Couric, Boyfriend Split After 5 Years

Brooks Perlin and Katie Couric Katie Couric and her boyfriend of 5 years, entrepreneur Brooks Perlin, have split, People reviews.The breakup was "inevitable," a resource informs playboy, since the two were at different procedures in their careers. Poll: Which 2011 celebrity breakup shocked the most?Couric, 54, and Perlin, 37, met in a 2006 fundraising event for cancer research, and she or he was concerned about their 17-year age difference. Her husband, Jay Monahan, with whom she's two kids, died of colon cancer in 1998.Couric, who left the CBS Evening News in June, is focusing on her new syndicated ABC daytime show, Katie, that will come from September.

NBA Renews Three Big Ad Partnerships

NBC Saturday Night Live drew solid ratings this weekend with first-time host Katy Perry and musical guest Robyn.our editor recommends'Saturday Night Live': Katy Perry Hosts, Alec Baldwin Gets Last Laugh on American Airlines (Video)Alec Baldwin Mocks American Airlines Controversy on 'Saturday Night Live' (Video)Katy Perry Photos at Center of $3 Million Paparazzi Showdown Saturday night's episode of the NBC sketch-comedy show averaged a 4.8 rating in the metered-market households. That marks SNL's highest metered-market household rating since the Nov. 5 episode with host Charlie Day and musical guests Maroon 5. PHOTOS: Katy Perry and the Best (and Worst) Moments of AMAs 2011 In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, SNL averaged a 2.7 rating in the adults 18-49 demo, making it the No. 11 telecast of the night in the LPMs, topping all primetime programming on the broadcast networks. Perry appeared in at least nine sketches during the Saturday's show, portraying Christina Aguilera in a parody of New Year's Eve, recent musical guest Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine and a ballsy Pippa Middleton, among others. PHOTOS:54th Annual Grammy Nominees: Kanye West, Adele, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Katy Perry Alec Baldwin also made a surprise appearance to spoof his recently being thrown off an American Airlines plane. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery 'SNL' Stars Salute Kennedy Center Honoree Will Ferrell Alec Baldwin Katy Perry TV Ratings Saturday Night Live

Judge Poised to Send Allegations Of Sexual Antics On 'House' Set to Jury (Exclusive)

When Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning July 23, she left behind five Grammys and scores of tabloid headlines -- but little new music. While she had written an album's worth of ideas since her 2006 breakthrough, Back to Black, almost nothing had been recorded.our editor recommendsDollars After Death: 12 Albums That Got Big Posthumous Sales BoostsAmy Winehouse's Posthumous Album, 'Lioness: Hidden Treasures,' Debuts at Top of U.K. Charts PHOTOS: 12 Albums That Got Big Posthumous Sales Boosts On Dec. 6, Universal Republic released a posthumous album from the singer. Lioness: Hidden Treasures was made available last week in her native Britain via Island Records, topping the U.K. charts with 140,000 copies sold. A collection of covers and unreleased original tracks, producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson, Winehouse's frequent collaborators, compiled and completed the 12 songs, some of which existed as nothing more than a single vocal take. PHOTOS: Portraits of Amy Winehouse By Bryan Adams "My heart is sad but bursting with pride," Mitch Winehouse wrote on Twitter. Many artists experience their biggest sales after death. An example from the last decade: Ray Charles, whose 2004 album, Genius Loves Company, was released two months after he died, topped the charts and has since sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. In addition to Charles, Winehouse is in the company of artists including Janis Joplin, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash and Aaliyah. For a look at some of the highest earning posthumous releases, click through THR's photo gallery. PHOTO GALLERY: View Gallery Dollars After Death: 12 Albums That Got Big Posthumous Sales Boosts Related Topics Amy Winehouse

Tom Cruise's Bollywood Dreams

Tom Cruise wants to be in a Bollywood film. (Yes, that sentence is as ridiculous to write as it is to read.) While attending a red-carpet screening of 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol,' in India, Cruise expressed his admiration for the popular Hindi film genre. "I love watching Hindi movies. There are many Hindi movies that come out every year but I do watch a few of them. [If offered a Bollywood film] I would never say no. I would love to do it," said Cruise. Later in the evening, the actor was treated to a dance performance by Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar's troupe. Although Cruise may have been playing up his Hindi movie dreams just for the night, he is set to star as Stacee Jaxx, the lead singer of an '80s rock band, in 2012's 'Rock of Ages.' Perhaps the singing-dancing Tom is here to stay? 'Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol' opens in North America on December 21. [via THR] [Photo: AP] Follow Moviefone on Twitter Like Moviefone on Facebook

Mike Leigh To Preside Over Berlin Jury

Mike Leigh continues to be named leader from the jury for that 62nd Berlin Worldwide Film Festival. The British director’s films happen to be asked to Berlin in a variety of sections previously including 1984′s Meantime, 1998s short The Short And Curlies, 1991s Existence Is Nice and 2008s Happy-Go-Lucky that Sally Hawkins required the Silver Bear for the best Actress. Leighs latest film, Another Year, went competing in Cannes this year and was nominated to have an original script Oscar. Berlin runs from February 9-19, 2012.