CNN - The Marquee

U2's Bono: 'We Love CNN!'

2008-01-15T13:54:00.000-05:00

The rock stars of U2 lit up Sundance with their star power and incomparable music. ("New Year's Day," "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Stuck in a Moment" are some of my favorites, though it's hard to name just a few.)

A little 'Nip/Tuck' at Sundance

2008-01-15T13:18:00.000-05:00

Julian McMahon may be the Lothario on FX�s "Nip/Tuck," but Dylan Walsh certainly turned heads at the CNN suite today.

Colin Farrell lets the F-word fly live on CNN

2008-01-15T12:49:00.001-05:00

Yes, Colin Farrell is an Irishman. Yes, he's "dangerous," sexy � a rebel. But I have interviewed Colin before where he kept his language in check. Not this time. He let himself get a little too comfortable as we were talking live on CNN about his new film "In Bruges."

Cooking tips from Alan Alda

2008-01-15T12:30:00.000-05:00

Alan Alda hates Earl Grey tea. He believes the world is divided into two types of people, those who love Earl Grey and those who don�t.

Waiting ...

2008-01-15T12:04:00.000-05:00

From CNN's Dan Simon

There are just a few minutes to go before Steve Jobs' keynote, and the doors of the convention hall are still closed. Thousands of journalists are waiting outside. So far, the only clues to what is coming is a big Apple poster that says "2008, There's something in the air."

Hope and hype at Macworld

2008-01-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

Apple's Steve Jobs is getting ready to give his annual keynote address at the Macworld Conference in San Francisco. Jobs has used the speech to introduce new products and services in the past (take last year's unveiling of the iPhone) and Apple works hard to keep the announcements under wraps.
There's no live video coverage of the event, so CNN's Dan Simon will be sending us updates from the conference hall.

Live Blog: Britney Spears/K-Fed in court

2008-01-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

CNN Producer Jack Hannah is live at the Los Angeles Superior Court this morning coordinating CNN's coverage of the latest in the Britney Spears-Kevin Federline child custody case. He is contributing reports throughout the day as events unfold at the courthouse.

5:02 p.m PT

We finally know what the court decided.

In a press conference outside the courthouse, we were told that the ruling from January 4th, which states that Spears is to have no visitation rights, will continue to be enforced.

In other words, we spent the day reporting from court that there's nothing new to report.

The next court date on the schedule is February 19th.

4:33 p.m PT

Everyone has exited the courtroom. Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said there will be a press conference "eventually" today outside the courthouse.

Anne Kiley, one of Brit's attorneys, said she had "no comment."

3:41 p.m PT

Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, just went back into the courtroom. On his way in, he told us that it's "quite possible" that he'll speak to the press AFTER today's proceedings are over.

In other words, be prepared for a press conference outside the courthouse later...

Meanwhile, court spokesperson Allan Parachini just told us that there will likely be four witnesses TOTAL today and that it's "not clear" whether or not there will be any proceedings tomorrow.

3:24 p.m PT

All attorneys for both sides just left the courtroom, Kaplan told reporters "we'll be back."
When, we're not so sure...

3:00 p.m PT

According to Public Information Officer, Meredeth Pierce, attorneys are through witness #3 out of eight (she "thinks" there's 8 total). So, most likely, there will be more to come tomorrow.

1:58 p.m PT:

15-20 police officers, 20-25 members of the media... waiting.
First, Brit's lawyers arrive... then, K-Fed and his entourage arrives...

Security guards assume their positions. The media gathers.
"Is she in the building?"
"TMZ says she's here!"
"What, she's gone!?"
"No, she's on her way up right now."
"No, she's gone, she's on the 101...she left."
The Public Information Officer tells the media "to the best of my knowledge, she's left."

It's 1:55p, court is back in session... without Britney.

1:45 p.m PT:

Kevin Federline is just now arriving at court while at the same time, we're being told by court spokesperson, Allan Parachini, that Britney is leaving.

1:26 p.m PT:

Tension is growing as Britney's arrival is imminent. Officers just told us there will be absolutely no photography in the courthouse and if they witness any they will take cameras away.

1:15 p.m PT:

Security at the courthouse is being beefed up in anticipation of Britney's arrival. By my count, there are six sheriff's department deputies as well as two additional security officers.

In an odd twist of events, I'm hearing word that both security and Spears' attorneys are learning about what she's doing and her movements via the media outlets.

12:32 p.m PT:

We're told that court will resume after lunch at around 1 p.m. PT.

There seems to be a lot of chatter around here (mostly media types) about what Britney needs to do. "Britney needs to do this." "Britney needs to hire so-and-so." "Britney needs to stop with the fast food and cigarettes." "Britney needs to move back to Louisiana and stay there."

Suddenly we are surrounded by Britney experts.

12:11 p.m PT:

One of Britney Spears' attorneys, Sorrell Trope, told reporter's he's "hopeful" that Britney will show up this afternoon.

The court is breaking for lunch.

11:32 a.m PT:

On her way back into the courtroom, Anne Kiley, an attorney from the Spears camp, said she had "no comment" when asked if she knew if Britney is going to show up.

Members of the media out here are now commenting how nice Anne Kiley's shoes are.

11:20 a.m PT:

Members of the media have been asked multiple times to keep the noise down. Apparently there are other cases being heard at this courthouse. Go figure.

10:32 a.m PT:

The attorneys for both sides are taking a short break.

Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, walked briskly past members of the media and held up both hands as if to say, "Back away, I have nothing to say yet."

There are media outlets from all over the world. As I type this, a lady is sitting next to me speaking German.

10:23 a.m PT:

What time Britney Spears arrives at court depends on who you talk to.
At first we were hearing that Spears wouldn't show until 1:30 p.m. Now People.com is reporting on their site that she has "no plans" to attend.

I asked the People reporter here and he says it's not his source so he can't confirm that.

9:20 a.m. PT:

We just got kicked out of court after a minute or so.

After a motion was granted to clear the court by judge Scott Gordon, a reporter for gossip site TMZ.com sighed, prompting Gordon to respond, "Ma'am, do you have a problem with that motion? Well, maybe next time you'll find a nicer way of expressing it."

Kevin Federline arrived around 9:03 a.m. surrounded by what I'm told are bodyguards and witnesses (about six or seven). He's sporting a mohawk and wearing a navy suit. He seemed very calm. Not suprisingly, it's crowded -- so far, no sign of Britney.

Best Globes ever?

2008-01-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

The Golden Globes went by so fast last night, I thought I'd left my remote on fast-forward.

And yet, could this be the wave of the future?

Consider: No acceptance speeches. Short clips (some of them couldn't have been any more than a second or two). Just a list of nominees, the name of the winner, occasional chat and on to the next one.

What if the Oscars tried this?

As an aside in talking about the importance of the writers' strike, Don Cheadle observed that the Oscar ratings have been declining for years. Commentators have pointed out any number of reasons for that -- a lack of rooting interest in nominees, a culture inundated with celebrities -- but a biggie is bloat. The awards simply go on forever.

It's not the speeches, either. It's all the musical numbers, and routines, and presenter patter, and the "why film is important" segments. What if the Oscars consisted of a red-carpet fashion show, a recitation of winners, a bunch of after-parties and called it a night?

As NBC (yes, I was watching NBC ... old habits die hard) moved on to "American Gladiators" after the Globes, a friend looked at me and asked, "Could this have been the best Globes ever?"

Well?

Not so far, far away...

2008-01-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

From CNN Entertainment Producer Matt West

There is no "strolling the floor" at the Las Vegas Convention Center... it's more like "trekking."

Though I guess that's kind of a mixed metaphor, given all of the cool "Star Wars" gadgets we saw.

During the final hours of the show on Thursday, editor/producer Paul Chase, new media maven Jennifer Martin and I journeyed into what seemed like a galaxy far, far away: the South Hall of the convention center.

From our broadcast position in the central hall, the South Hall might as well have been on another planet. Getting there required winding through a serpentine obstacle course of booths, conventioneers, stairways, escalators and the occasional Segway. (We later discovered that we took the long way -- pronounced "wrong way" -- as our engineer pointed out that all we had to was simply set outside our workspace, walk 20 feet and enter the building right next door. That's an engineer for you.)

When we finally got to our destination, radio-controlled car manufacturer Nikko's booth, our fatigue gave way to sheer giddiness. For there in front of us was nearly everyone's favorite droid R2-D2.

Nikko was displaying two "R2" products at CES. The first a remote controlled, wireless webcam "R2 unit" -- complete with a Skype enabled light-saber remote control (which we immediately dubbed the "Skype-saber"). The second, a remote controlled "R2-D2" home theater projector with DLP projection and other built-in goodies like an iPod dock.

Both products took two-and-a-half years to develop and feature some very cool details, such as reactive sound effects that capture nearly anyone's attention and interest.

As a life-long fan of the original films, recalling the famous scene where Luke Skywalker watches a video recording projected by R2-D2 of the captured Princess Leia pleading for Obi-Wan Kenobi's help, I couldn't help but channel my innermost geek when seeing this product up close.

But with a slightly out-of-this world price-point, these high end electronic collectibles are aimed at a more serious enthusiast. At $2200 for the projector, according to one Nikko representative it's a market "that's definitely out there."

Good thing they won't have to travel to a far off star system to find these two collectibles -- they'll be heading into stores the next few months.

PR attack

2008-01-10T20:24:00.001-05:00

From CNN.com/Live's Dan Wright

CNN wrapped up its live coverage of CES today, and our crew will leave on Friday to return to our normal TVs, non-pimped out phones and alarm clocks that don't project onto the ceiling.
We'll also be saying goodbye to the PR ATTACK.

To register for the event, you have to list your company and function, which gets distributed to all the exhibitors on the various floors and halls. That’s pure poker chip gold to an aggressive PR firm.

The emails and phone calls start in late November, each offering private interviews with executives and behind-the-scenes looks at their 'must have' products. Once the show starts, business cards, product pitches and ambush gadget proposals come at you like taxi cabs on the Vegas strip.

As the show went along we lined up guests to appear on our platform and discuss and display products they enjoyed. When the products arrived, so did the handlers. In some cases, the PR firms representing clients offer a simple follow up and a casual, frankly soothing approach to pitch the products, Goldilocks style, not to hard, not too soft.

When we came across Eye-Fi during the pre-show tours and they offered simple conversation and the non-stalking approach getting their message out. Mindy Whittington and Jef Holove took their wireless 2GB Memory Card from the booth to the awards stage by, in my opinion, letting the product do the talking. A simple wireless card that retro fits older digital cameras as well as new cameras to simply upload pictures straight to the popular sharing websites (Shutterfly, Snapfish, etc) without taking the card out of the camera or attaching a cable.

They won one of the Yahoo Tech Last Gadget Standing awards and left a favorable impression on me with a simple non confrontational approach.

Lisa Townsend and Stefan Pollack from Human Touch were also great with helping us stage their massage chair on our set as a prop. Good luck to them all.

I have mixed feeling with the show ending. There's so much too see and so little time, but I look forward to a few months without getting CES PR requests.

The gadgets our readers want

2008-01-10T11:23:00.000-05:00

All this week, CNN has been asking readers to send us their ideas for the perfect new gadget, and we've gotten a ton of responses.

Some of the ideas were practical, like adding voice-activated features and GPS to the iPhone, a portable language translator for travelers, or a six-disk changer for the Xbox 360, so gamers won't have to get up to switch from "Soul Calibur IV" to "Halo 3."

Dick Tracy-style cell phone watches, paper-thin computers that can be folded up and put in a purse and retractable car overhangs to keep you dry while loading groceries or bucking kids into cars seats are a little more fantastic, but not too hard to imagine.

Other suggestions, like an ATM card that never runs out of money, were just absurd (though I'm totally signing up for one if they ever come out).

Several people suggested medical devices that would be a huge help to people with diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.

CNN.com's Nicole Saidi compiled our I-Reporters'ideas, which you can check out here.

Who knows, some of these ideas might turn into the hottest new gadgets at next year's CES.

Sound Judgment

2008-01-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in an earlier posting, there's no end to the quantity of eye-candy at CES. There is also plenty of EAR candy as well - with plenty of toys for noise on display from various audio manufacturers.

The influence of the hit game "Guitar Hero" is evident on the floor here. In fact, Peavey - well known as leader in the music world for their amps and guitars - is showing off their own Peavy branded Guitar Hero controller.

I dismissed it at first - until I saw a demonstration.

As a musician, one of the most challenging aspect of playing "Guitar Hero" is that it's nothing like playing guitar. Peavey's controller is attempting to bridge the gap between gamers and guitarists by offering a full-size fret board, where the buttons are spaced more like the real thing.

The super-cool graphics don't hurt its appeal, either.

Another "Guitar Hero" inspired development is the "Guitar Wizard" software and controllers. Developed by a music teacher, this teaching tool uses a guitar with familiar looking color-coded frets.

Using a computer, novice rockers learn to play based on colors scrolling across a screen - much like the "Guitar Hero" game, but later those colors give way to actual notes, eventually turning the player - into a player.

Look for it in stores later this year.

Rock on.

Love, gadgets and the saddest booth

2008-01-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

From GameTap's Dana Jongewaard
Within a single half-hour on the show floor, I ran across five couples walking around and holding hands, which just struck me as incredibly bizarre. Either there was some fancy match-making gadget that I haven't yet stumbled across, or else electronics are a literal aphrodisiac for this crowd.

But even if you didn't have someone to love, there was sure to be something that caught your fancy. Maybe it was the 150-inch Panasonic, which I finally got to see today (though all of my photos of it sucked due to both the massive swarm of people around it and the fact that I have very poor photography skills).

If you like really bulky bizarre not terribly useful gadgets, then you might want to check out a new gaming peripheral. It's a vest that you connect up to a game and then wear; when you get shot in the game, you feel a corresponding thud to that part of your chest or back. (For those of you to whom this sounds appealing, be warned, however: friend reports say that the response is disappointingly weak and slow.)

However, my favorite part of shows like this are always the kind of sad, not very exciting booths. I'm not quite sure what the appeal is--maybe it's part of the human nature to root for the underdog (I know I'm not the only person who weeps like a little girl when she watches the movie Rudy.) Or maybe it's just that it makes even the bad days at my job seem not so horrible. At least I'm not in charge of doing marketing for batteries, or sitting behind a counter of random networking cables that are not discernibly different from the counter of networking cables in the adjoining booth.

Perhaps the saddest was one lonely little booth on the periphery of the South Hall. In the midst of hundreds of companies touting their latest digital technologies and gadgets the size of your hand that can contain your entire personal media library, they were showing off a few dozen wooden shelving units, perfect for CD and DVD storage. Soldier on, brave people--soldier on.

Digital Crack for XBox Live Arcade

2008-01-08T21:01:00.000-05:00

From GameTap's Dana Jongewaard
This morning's first stop was in Microsoft's press tent, where we got to see five of the upcoming titles that are coming to XBLA this year. I have to say that as much as I love some of the big titles, the games that always end up sneaking up on me are the little downloadable ones, so this was one of the appointments I was looking forward to most.

And it's pretty clear that Microsoft is really still pushing to provide a wide variety of content to users. There's cult favorite Rez HD, which looks appropriately amazing in HD (go figure), and there's even a classic version for those of you who don't like your games as bright and shiny as possible. Omega Five, which comes out tomorrow, is side-scrolling flying combat action. And Brain Challenge is XBLA's answer to Brain Training, the type of game that gets hyped so moms get convinced that they should buy gaming systems.

One of the titles we spent the most time looking at was the long-rumored update of classic Lode Runner, which first came out 25 years ago. Basic gameplay, where you're zipping up and down along a level while collecting gold and avoiding robots, is the same as before, but the graphics have now been 3D-ified (although gameplay is still 2D). The game includes 16 stages, with four to five levels per stage, and also has a number of modes in addition to classic play, including a survival mode, which is available in both single-player and multiplayer.

The other featured game was Poker Smash, which is basically match-three gameplay with poker elements. Rows of tiles creep slowly up the screen, and each tile is labeled with a card type-ace, king, queen, etc. Shoot for three- and four-of-a-kinds while trying to set up the maximum combos. Show-offs will have the chance to edit footage of their combos and then upload them for others to view their mastery. While I'm not entirely convinced that people are going to want to watch other people's play footage, the game itself looks like one of those deviously addictive pieces of digital crack.

Pray Station

2008-01-08T19:55:00.000-05:00

Making your way around the convention center floor here in Las Vegas, one would think that the most striking thing would be the brightest and the loudest... the shiniest and the slickest. And true, there is plenty of eye-candy here at CES.

Arriving late in the game, I took the opportunity today to stroll the floor in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Why limit myself to just one of the three buildings in this sprawling facility, you might ask?

It is really almost too much to take in all in one sitting. A simple stroll is not going to cover it. An endurance march might. In fact, at one point, I thought that I had actually seen all that the Central building had to offer until I looked at a map which showed me the difference between "where you are," and where you still need to go.

But amidst the hustling booth barkers, the babes, the booming sound-systems and crowds, one of the most striking things I have seen so far was the most silent.

There, just off the convention floor was a crowd of maybe two-dozen Orthodox and Hassidic Jews, quietly at prayer. Amid the sensory overload and non-stop movement of CES, here in Las Vegas of all places, was this reverent and spiritual time-out that would not be interrupted by passing crowds, panoramic LED displays or in my case, curious bloggers stopping to look in on this most personal moment.

The ultimate in noise-cancellation...

'Don't Tase me Flo'

2008-01-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

From CNN.com's Paul Chase

Wow, you see everything here at CES, and I mean everything. So, if you forgot to get your Aunt Flo something for Christmas you may want to consider a fashionable Taser, because pepper spray was so last year.

Taser International introduced its Taser C2 line, which comes in a variety of colors, such as Redhot Red, Electric Blue, and even Leopard.
They also have a complete line of "fashionable" accessories including holsters (with or without a built-in MP3 player), batteries and a cleaning kit. So don't forget your lipstick, iPod, and Leopard Taser when leaving the house.

Meeting Bill Gates

2008-01-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

From CNN Internet Correspondent Veronica De La Cruz

A 7-1/2 hour flight, a whirlwind tour of the show floor and a long night of editing may not be the best way to prepare for an interview with one of the most important people in the world, but that's how things work at the International Consumer Electronics show. CNN Internet Correspondent Veronica De La Cruz describes her meeting with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates...

We arrive in Vegas with just enough time to change some clothes and grab a quick shower at the hotel. Then we're off to cover the opening event, the official CES preview party.

I make my way out to the floor and take a quick look around. Immediately, I'm captivated.
There on the floor before me is my new found love: a Human Touch Zero-Gravity Massage Chair equipped with Accu-point detection. It's a massage chair made of soft black leather. The accu-point detector scans my back and finds the knots perfectly; I never even utter a word. The whole experience is earth-shattering and I'm determined to take my new love home, until I discover the price: $4,000.

My heart says "YES," but my wallet says "NO." I force myself to move on.

Another jog around the room and I find that I also adore the bright red design of the Ladybug I-pod Docking Station. I'm in awe of the technology behind Viable Inc's touch screen for the deaf and hearing-impaired and I'm riveted by the Invisible Shield, a clear skin that keeps your gadgets safe and scratch-free.

My producers realize it's getting late and we still have to go back to the hotel to edit our video piece. One last parting glance at my chair and I'm out the door.

The next morning my alarm goes off at 6 a.m. Not a lot of sleep considering we were up really late trying to feed the video package back to Atlanta.

My mind wanders to my massage chair for a moment, but then I quickly shift focus to the present: my upcoming interview with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. I have just one hour until the interview and my mind races. What questions will I ask? What will he be like? Is he a nice guy? Is he a tyrant? Will he be a good interview or will he stare at me like I have two heads and I'm speaking in tongues? Watching the clock tick I realize I'm out of time and my crew is waiting for me downstairs.

Arriving at the Microsoft tent I'm pleasantly surprised. The place is crawling with Microsoft product and I find the people are nice and friendly. A publicist for Mr. Gates approaches me. His name is Chris and he wants to brief me on the parameters of the interview. I get ten minutes with Mr. Gates. I'm to keep my questions on topic. Any "off-topic" questions should be saved for last. I am sure they do this so I will run out of time during the interview before I ever get to the "off-topic" questions and therefore, Mr. Gates will never be subjected to them.

Walking up the stairs, Mr. Gates is sitting with a bunch of people. He stands, I shake his hand and give him a big smile. He returns his signature half-smile he's famous for. So far, so good. Seems like a really nice guy.

I sit down and the whole thing goes by like a flash, in fact, looking back I can't even tell you what I asked.

All I know is we discussed the future of technology. We talked about his future, as he steps down from the helm of Microsoft to shift his attention to philanthropy. I tell him my little brother lives in a virtual world and communicates almost solely through instant messenger and I'm worried that future generations might be socially stunted. Are we becoming too dependent on technology? Will technology cripple the social interaction of future generations?

Mr. Gates talks about his kids. He tells me they search online for dogs that need to be rescued and his kids beg him to adopt them. This is all good stuff. I love it, and for a split second, I forget that I'm sitting with one of the richest, most powerful and most successful visionaries in history.

The time flies by. My ten minutes are up. He stands and shakes my hand. "That was good!" he exclaims. He gives me his signature half-smile and even agrees to pose with me for a picture. What a rock star. He's made my day. Decades at the helm of Microsoft and ten minutes in a room with me -- and a conversation that will stay with me forever.

Ho-hum start for gamers

2008-01-07T11:32:00.001-05:00

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates showed off his gaming chops on Sunday by rocking out with real-life "Guitar Hero" Slash, but if you were hoping for major gaming news from Microsoft or Sony, our colleagues at GameTap.com say you might be disappointed.

Gates did make some news -- including a new HD programming deal with Disney-ABC and MGM -- but GameTap's Curt Feldman said it was "not exactly scintillating or terribly sexy."

Sony execs barely mentioned the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Portable at their news conference on Sunday, Dana Jongewaard said. They mentioned a few new products, like the Rolly, a portable music player that moves and scoots across the floor to the beat of your favorite tunes.

Jongewaard said Sony spent most of its time announcing new versions of their existing lines.

"There will be 16 new Handycams, two new Walkman phones, a Blu-ray PC drive, a mainstream entry into the Alpha camera line, new Mylo models, some new Vaios, a bunch of new Bravias -- although I missed the exact number, apparently 10 of them are 1080p," Jongewaard said.

"How on earth can it be profitable to have this many different products?" she added. "Think about Apple, with its streamlined offerings, or Nintendo, which has a ridiculously small product lineup -- only two primary pieces of hardware. Then look at Sony's smorgasbord of offerings, and it just seems unnecessarily bloated and confusing. Does any consumer really need 16 different video camera choices from a single company as opposed to three or four solid, distinctive options?"

Taking over Vegas, and The Marquee

2008-01-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

From CNN.com Science/Technology Writer David Williams

We're doing something a little different this week with The Marquee Blog. The Consumer Electronics Show opens today in Las Vegas, so we'll be focusing on Sony, Microsoft and Motorola (to name a few) instead of Britney, Lindsay and that guy from "Grey's Anatomy."

I'm not ruling out celebrity shenanigans. Kevin Costner is supposed to be there -- WITH HIS BAND -- and so are Yoko Ono, race car driver Danica Patrick and Chuck D from Public Enemy.

Xena is also scheduled to attend, but we're not sure if it's the original warrior princess Lucy Lawless, or just some woman in big boots and a leather sports bra.

Either way, gadgets are the stars at this show, and for the electronics industry, CES is the Super Bowl without the point spread or the Oscars minus the borrowed jewelry.

About 2,700 hundred exhibitors will be there, all hoping their gadgets will be the next iPhone or Nintendo Wii.

There's a lot of ground to cover, so CNN has sent a team of reporters and producers, who will be sending back videos, stories and other tidbits. We'll also be hearing from our sister site GameTap.com and possibly from some of the bloggers covering the show.

We'd also like to here from you. Got an idea for a great gadget, are there features you'd like to see -- or see wiped of the face of the Earth?

Send us an I-Report.

And if you're lucky enough to get into the show and see something cool, let us know.

Wishes for 2008

2007-12-31T13:53:00.000-05:00

New years always bring fresh starts -- or, at least, the hope for them -- and the prospect of surprise and wonder.

With 2007 about to enter the dustbin of history, my thoughts naturally turn to what the next year may bring. Who or what will earn Oscar nominations? (If "Persepolis" is as good as the books -- and reviews suggest it is -- I hope Marjane Satrapi and co. receive some recognition.) What musician will put out a single or album I won't be able to get out of my head? (Marah's "Angels of Destruction!" is getting an early start.) Will I finally make a dent in that stack of books -- from 2007 and many years previous -- that threatens to topple off my overfilled bookshelves? (Nope ... not that there's anything wrong with that.)

What's on your mind as the clock counts down to 2008?

Whatever the next 12 months bring, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and joyous new year. Thanks for your comments, criticisms and contributions -- and keep 'em coming.

On to the future.

The best of 2007

2007-12-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

CNN's Entertainment crew has been reading a lot, listening to a lot and watching a lot more. Here are some of our picks for the best of the year. Feel free to add your own in the comments section:

"Showbiz Tonight" Executive Producer Dave Levine:
There were not a lot of TV shows that were absolutely "must-see" to me in 2007, but two definitely stood out:

"Mad Men": I still don't understand why AMC's "Mad Men" never achieved the kind of success and hero worship associated with shows like "The Sopranos." This absolutely brilliant reflection of the Madison Avenue world at the turn of the 1960s was so much more than just about advertising. Compelling characters with their own personal stories were interwoven into this "anything goes" world, and Jon Hamm's brilliant portrayal of ad exec Don Draper earned him a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination. "Mad Men" will be coming back for Season Two and I, for one, am mad with anticipation!

"Heroes": Granted, it had some missteps when it returned for Season Two in the fall -- most annoyingly, Hiro traipsing around 16th-century Japan and the nerve-grating brother and sister, Maya and Alejandro, trying to get out of Mexico. But when the fall season ended, it all came together, made sense and most importantly, laid the groundwork for the next chapter, "Villains." That will include the full-blown return of the deliciously evil Sylar (with his powers back), who was absent most of the fall because the actor who plays him, Zachary Quinto, was off playing "Spock" in the next Star Trek movie being shot by J.J. Abrams. Beam me up, Scotty!

Producer David Daniel:

Film: "Once." It sounds almost too simple: a modern-day musical about one week in the lives of a "Guy" and a "Girl" (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) as they meet, learn about each other, and become close through their music. It's both realistic and magical, works the songs into the storyline in a dozen different ways, and it simply made my soul happy.

Notable book: "Hate Mail from Cheerleaders," by Rick Reilly. This latest collection of 100 Sports Illustrated columns is vintage Reilly: Either he was cracking me up describing taking his 14-year-old son to an SI swimsuit photo shoot, or choking me up with inspirational stories about everyday people doing extraordinary things -- stories only tangentially related to sports, sometimes, and yet filled with the passion and teamwork and self-sacrifice and joy that sports is really all about.

Producer Rachel Wells:

Book: "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert should be in contention on a best-of book list ... it appeared to be a women's book and seems to have hit a chord with men also. It concerns one woman's personal travelogue, as she goes out and looks for her real self for one full year. She's kind of doing what everyone longs to do, and tells the story with laugh-out-loud humor. Many were the times I laughed out loud amid morning rush on the subway.

Producer Matt West:

Indie album: "Neon Bible," Arcade Fire (Merge): A sophomore album that easily outdoes their stunning debut. This is one of those cases where you think you like the album because it truly, and beautifully, expands on their sound, end up seeing them perform selections from it live (as I did at this year's Coachella festival), and end up loving it even more afterward. (Runner-up: "Autumn of the Seraphs," Pinback [Touch and Go])

Sci-fi film: "I Am Legend": Finally, a sci-fi/horror film that brings both intense action and brilliant acting to the screen, all in just 100 minutes. Will Smith, Hollywood's "Mr. Fourth of July," uses his experience as both a blockbuster action-hero as well as a serious dramatic actor to deliver a performance as the last man on Earth, fighting for survival in a world populated by mutant vampires. It stays in your head and makes you think -- just as soon as you catch your breath. (Runner-up: "Day Watch": So it's in Russian ... and it's a sequel [to 2004's "Night Watch"]. The studio marketing geniuses who wanted you to see "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" should've offered to buy you a ticket to see this instead. If you missed it, you can catch it on DVD.)

CNN.com producer Todd Leopold:

Book: "Schulz and Peanuts," David Michaelis (Harper). The Schulz family may not have approved, but Charles Schulz's lonely heart and expansive soul came through in Michaelis' terrific biography, incisively sprinkled with some of the master's comic strips.

Books from last year in paperback this year: "Arthur & George," Julian Barnes (Knopf); "The Looming Tower," Lawrence Wright (Knopf). Barnes' novel, about a half-Indian lawyer falsely accused of a crime, and the work of Arthur Conan Doyle in freeing him, is a rich tale of justice and friendship. As for "The Looming Tower," if the cure for fear (and fear-mongering) is calm and measured knowledge, Wright's spellbinding history of al Qaeda is a tonic for our nervous, color-alerted times.

Album: "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse (Republic). Yes, her personal life is sad and embarrassing. Yes, "Rehab" was played far too often (though I never got tired of it). But her album, particularly the title song and "You Know I'm No Good," had the human soul to put her competition's electronic beats to shame.

Song: "Girls in their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen (Columbia).

Special recognition: "Never Hear the End of It," Sloan (Yep Roc). At times it was sloppy, had too many songs (30 in all) and abruptly changed styles from one tune to the next. But, for all that, I found it endearing and -- with "Who Taught You to Live Like That?" -- hard to shut off.

Remembering Ike Turner

2007-12-13T07:55:00.000-05:00

From Entertainment Producer Denise Quan in Los Angeles:

We pulled up in front of a modest home in suburban San Diego. Newspaper in the driveway. No security gate.

"Are you sure this is the house?" asked my cameraman, Rick.

I checked my assignment sheet. "Yup. According to my notes, this is where Ike lives."

Ike Turner. In April, we'd gone to interview the rock and soul icon about Phil Spector, on the eve of the music producer's trial for murder. We ended up talking about Ike's legendary career, his time in jail on drug charges and his physical altercations with Tina Turner -- his ex-wife and former partner. "Yeah, I hit Tina," he admitted unapologetically. "But Tina hit me, too. It was a different time back then." He likened it to spanking children.

Ike Turner was a complicated man. Yes, he had his demons, but he was also a proud man who took care with his appearance and wasn't afraid of hard work. His shirt was perfectly pressed. His hair was a glossy flat-top -- jet black and meticulously coiffed. He sang us a song he'd just written about how peace could occur if we all just loved each other a little more. And despite reports of emphysema, he was planning to tour early next year.

Ike was 75 at the time we interviewed him, and he still had an eye for the ladies. They kept coming out while we were at his house. There was a woman -- presumably an assistant and/or housekeeper -- who answered the door. There was an attractive singer he introduced as his latest protege. Then there was a third woman who offered us something to drink.

Maybe it was because of his age, but you got the feeling he had come to terms with his life, and didn't have many regrets. Not even about the 17 months he spent in prison. He told us he loved being in jail -- that he had been treated well, and didn't have to worry about his bills or figuring out what to have for his next meal. Incarceration also helped him kick drugs, and for that, he was grateful.

The only subject that seemed to unnerve him was the state of his relationship with Tina. When asked how long it had been since he'd last spoken with her, he got up and said, "That's the end of the interview."

But Ike Turner wasn't one to hold a grudge. In true Ike fashion, he grabbed an 8 x 10 glossy, autographed it, then promptly asked me out to dinner.

-- Denise Quan

The best of the rest

2007-12-12T13:10:00.000-05:00

Entertainment goes well beyond the basics of movies, television and music. CNN Entertainment Producer Matt West, who covers technology and video with his "Pop Digital" segments, offers his take on the best video games, comic/graphic works and gadgets of the year.

Top Video Game: "Bioshock" (2K Games)

One of the best video games I've played all year is also one of the best reviewed games of 2007. It combines great first-person shooter gameplay with a truly imaginative story that's easily as important as the action itself.

Runner-up: "The Orange Box" (EA)

The most bang for the buck. Five amazing games, one box. Worth the price alone for "Portal," a reality warping puzzle solver.

Top Comic Book: "Green Lantern: The Sinestro Wars" (DC Comics)

As Hollywood tried in vain to excite audiences with their summer superhero sequels, writer Geoff Johns was quietly penning an epic blockbuster in the pages of DC's Green Lantern that put them all to shame. The galaxy spanning "Sinestro Wars," wrapping up this week in Green Lantern #25, featured the kind of action and intrigue that should be required reading for studio execs as a how-to in the superhero action genre. (Editor's note: DC Comics is a unit of Time Warner, as is CNN.)

Runner-up: "Sentences: The Life of M.F Grimm" (Vertigo)

The gritty true story of Percy Carey, whose career as an up-and-coming rapper was cut short by his second job as a drug dealer on the streets of New York.

Top Gadget That's NOT an iPhone: Flip Video (Pure Digital)

This pocket-sized video camera, which can capture up to an hour's worth of video, is now my favorite toy (next to my Xbox 360). The video resolution certainly isn't on the level of a DV cam -- but then again, neither is the price, just $129. Simple and easy-to-use, Flip Video is a great way to capture the moment on the fly. A simple internal editing program and a USB interface makes it just as easy to upload your content straight to your laptop and then on to YouTube.

-- Matt West

Asking for direction

2007-12-10T14:23:00.000-05:00

Imagine making a movie. Imagine your movie has a cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Gina Gershon and Alison Lohman. Imagine that your movie is praised at festivals and earns raves from most of the film critics who see it. Then imagine that the film struggles for distribution and advertising, grosses about $200,000 and sinks without a trace.

This is the situation faced by indie filmmaker Tom DiCillo, director of "Delirious," and he wonders what the heck happened.

Roger Ebert has a fascinating column on DiCillo and the challenges of indie filmmaking. Check it out here.

Did DiCillo expect too much? Or do moviegoers -- and the film industry -- expect too little?

How did the Grammys do?

2007-12-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

So the Grammy nominations are out. What did the Recording Academy get right? Where did it whiff?

And, when February 10 rolls around, will you watch?