Lusting for 'The Big Bang Theory'

There may be hope yet for Amy Farrah Fowler.

The female version of Sheldon actually broke away from him in the feelings department. Seems AFF isn’t adverse to a little lusting after a dude, and she did just that over one of Penny’s former flames.

Now I know people have some feelings as to how realistic it is that she has gone her whole life without ever feeling any excitement over a guy until she came upon this one. But honestly, do we think AFF even got out much prior to falling in with our “BBT” brood?

Whether you bought into it or not, it was all worth it for the version of “Who’s on first” that she and Sheldon engaged in as she tried to explain her physical reaction to Penny’s former date. It was yet another example of how “BBT” is able to spin a classic and infuse it with fresh hilarity.

I wasn’t loving the secondary story line with Raj and Wolowitz battling over who would be the super hero and who would be the sidekick – though I do get it. That's exactly what that pair would argue over.

I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Penny, AFF and Bernadette hanging out. Their chemistry (or in the case of AFF, the lack there of) makes for some pretty funny scenes. And as much as I love Sheldon, it’s nice to once in awhile have a show which doesn’t completely revolve around him and his dysfunction.

Calling all Bangers – what did you think of Thursday night's episode?

Fame Bites - Rico Rodriguez

Fame Bites goes inside the belly of the entertainment beast. We're dishing out where the celebrities are eating, what they're eating and who they're eating with.

Young Manny Delgado is lovably pretentious: he drinks coffee, asks Santa for burgundy dinner jackets and sends over virgin Mai Tais to cute tweens by the pool.

Actor 12-year-old Rico Rodriguez, who plays him on ABC's Emmy award-winning comedy "Modern Family," is none of the above. He's just your average kid who has a penchant for Olive Garden breadsticks and can be found frequently sporting a milk mustache.


What's your favorite restaurant in Los Angeles?
"I like two places: my first one would have to be Outback Steakhouse, I eat there with my dad every time he leaves - it’s our tradition. (Editor's note: Rico lives in Los Angeles, while his father works in Texas.) And the second would have to be Olive Garden. Got to love the breadsticks!"

What's the one thing you cannot go a day without eating or drinking?
"My favorite drink: milk. I would not be Rico without milk. I drink three cups, maybe four. I like the regular 2 percent milk, and every now and then, I get the Nestlé powdered chocolate milk for special occasions."

What is your signature dish to cook?
"Grilled chicken with Mrs. Dash seasoning and microwavable rice. I made it for the whole family. We were going to the Pantages [Theatre], and we didn’t want to go out to eat. My mom showed me how to cut it and put it on the frying pan, and everything went well. No one got hurt in the making of this meal!"

Is there a chef that you would love to take cooking lessons from?
"Definitely two - Guy Fieri and Rachael Ray. They are really awesome. I’ve met Rachael Ray. I have not met Guy - I’m hoping to meet him soon."

Favorite meal on the "Modern Family" set?
A chicken and cheese quesadilla with steamed broccoli on the side. When they come take my order they ask, 'Same thing?' and I say, 'Yup! The Rico special!'”

Who is someone you haven’t met but would most like to have dinner with?
"Tobey Maguire from Spiderman or the whole Star Wars cast - the new ones and the old ones - and we’d talk about how the movies were made."

What do you think is Manny’s favorite dish? (We’d guess something fancy like foie gras…)
"Well, Manny looks at the name and if the name sounds fancy, he’ll probably have it. One dish would have to be arroz con pollo, and then he’ll probably have to find fettucine alfredo. He’ll say, 'Sounds fancy enough!'"

What are your favorite foods and drinks around the holidays?
"Hot cocoa and hot chocolate when it’s really cold. [Sings] 'When the weather outside is frightful…' And for a dish, a nice honey-baked turkey is really nice to have."

Devna Shukla is an Associate Producer for CNN's AC360°.

Review: 'The Tourist'

The romantic action caper is a genre that can seem almost decadent in its clockwork jauntiness -- its frantic, overstuffed eagerness to please. "The Tourist," starring Angelina Jolie as a hip-swiveling British agent fatale and Johnny Depp as the innocent American math teacher she ropes into posing as her underworld lover, is an attempt to take the stuffing out of the genre.

Most of the familiar elements are here: guns, gangsters, surveillance teams, vehicular crack-ups, mistaken identities. The star wattage, in theory, could hardly get much hotter. This time, however, the director is Germany's Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, doing his first Hollywood production after the art-house smash "The Lives of Others" (2007), his lacerating tale of political oppression in East Germany.

Henckel von Donnersmarck sets "The Tourist" in the ornate decaying maze of Venice, where he plays down the ultraviolence and mission-improbable stunt work. When Depp, pursued by the world's most inept Russian henchmen, scampers across the city's fragile tiled rooftops, he's wearing pajamas, and the little leaps he takes are (intentionally) more pedestrian than death-defying.

"The Tourist" has a relaxed, at times ramblingly archaic tone (we're not talking Hitchcock -- we're talking "Silver Streak"). It sidesteps the aggressive, wham-bam tone of cheeky-violent romps from "The Mexican" to "Knight and Day." Unfortunately, it doesn't come up with a whole lot to replace that energy. It's American cheese with Euro glaze.

You go into a movie like "The Tourist" hoping for a feast of personality from the stars. What you get, in this case, is a waxworks version of chemistry. As Elise, who is being chased by everyone in the movie because they're out to capture her lover, the slinky, saucy Jolie turns every scene into a playful series of poses. After a while, though, you wish she'd stop posing. She's a great image, but in "The Tourist" she never seems to be a real person.

Depp, in longish curls and a beard that make it look like he's starring in a bad Christopher Columbus biopic, plays the sweet, hapless Frank as a corduroy-jacketed dullard. It's as if, after so many flamboyant portrayals, the actor was out to challenge himself by going minimal -- by creating a romantic hero as ''ordinary'' as possible. But did the script, reportedly worked over forever by Henckel von Donnersmarck, Julian Fellowes, and Christopher McQuarrie, have to be so minimal too?

''So that's how you pick a lock,'' observes Frank, after Elise frees him from handcuffs. ''Why do you know how to do that?'' That's about as roused as he gets. If Frank were a truly colorful putz, the portrayal might have gone somewhere, but Depp, for too much of the movie, seems to be amusing himself in a way that only dogs can hear.

"The Tourist" isn't a debacle, but it's a caper that's fatally low on carbonation. It's clear that Henckel von Donnersmarck adores his film's popcorn tropes for the clichés they are. He's not out to transcend the tropes -- he wants to get out of their way. But a filmmaker as gifted as he is should figure out soon that there's a big difference in Hollywood between playing to crowds and pleasing them.

Geeks' most beloved holiday classics

There's Rudolph and Frosty, the Grinch and Charlie... Ralphie, George Bailey, Clark Griswold and Buddy. But do you recall the geekiest holiday specials and movies of all?

For those looking for a change of pace from the traditional holiday fare on TV this season, here are some suggestions for programming that's traditional in certain households of the, shall we say, nerdier variety. Some of them are regularly seen on cable, others are extremely rare, but all of them are cult classics.

"The Star Wars Holiday Special"

This is the granddaddy of them all. Debuting on CBS in November 1977, and subsequently never aired on television again, it survived thanks to a few early adapters of the VCR and was passed from fan to fan through the years.

Some might have thought it was a legend until they laid their eyes on it the first time. The story centers on Chewbacca's family - whom, you might remember, don't speak English - as they prepare to celebrate the Kashyyk holiday of "Life Day."

Guest stars including Bea Arthur, Art Carney and Harvey Korman (in multiple roles!) show up, as well as the movie's cast of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. At one point, Fisher sings the "lyrics" to the "Star Wars" theme. There's also a notorious scene where Diahann Carroll sings to Chewie's father, Itchy.

For all of its campy appeal, there's also an animated portion which introduces fan favorite Boba Fett, and it's quite good.

At the same time, if you're not a big fan of "Star Wars," chances are you'll have trouble sitting through the entire two hours, 1970s commercials and all.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas"

It's no secret that stop-motion animation and the holidays naturally seem to go together (witness the most recent episode of NBC's "Community" ), and this won't be the last one of those on the list.

In 1993, Tim Burton unveiled his creation of "Halloween Town," a world of ghouls ruled by Jack Skellington, who accidentally found himself in Christmas Town and immediately had to find out more about it, studying it like a science experiment --- even turning it into an equation.

The movie, which originally wasn't released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner because of its dark nature, made a respectable $50 million at the box office.

In the years since, it gained a cult following, and slowly, the Disney theme park and merchandising machine began to embrace it (it takes over the "Haunted Mansion" every holiday season at Disneyland). It's also been re-released in theaters twice in 3-D.

"Claymation Christmas Celebration"

CBS executives probably envisioned an entire special devoted to the California Raisins, a big sensation in 1987. Instead, "claymation" master Will Vinton gave them a show hosted by, well, two geeky dinosaurs, introducing new takes on classic Christmas carols. Our hosts couldn't agree on the meaning of the term "wassail" throughout the proceedings.

The special went on to win an Emmy, and yes, the raisins showed up at the end to sing the Temptations' version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." But, for my money, the highlight is "Carol of the Bells," which would have easily fit in as a "Looney Tunes" cartoon (the stunning animation on "Joy to the World" a close second).

If this doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, I don't know what will.

"Batman Returns"

Continuing on the Tim Burton theme, we have this sequel from 1992, which, despite its summer release, actually took place during the holidays.

This one will start fights among comic book fans. Most will agree that Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman was just about perfect. But for every supporter of the film, there's another who thinks that a movie where Batman is essentially playing "third fiddle" is not a Batman movie at all.

Either way, it's probably the only holiday-themed movie where someone's nose is bitten off.

"Christmas Comes to PacLand"

In the early 1980s, Saturday morning cartoons took notice of the video game craze and did several mostly-forgettable series based on them. The king of them all was "Pac-Man," and ABC even went so far as to create this holiday special.

As one might imagine, Santa Claus has a little trouble with his sleigh, and crash-lands in Pac-Land. Pac-Man and his family use power pellets to help him continue his Christmas mission, while fending off ghosts led by the evil Mezmaron. But of course. (Check this one out on Cartoon Network's Boomerang! --- which, like CNN, is a Time Warner company --- during Christmas weekend).

"Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"/"Santa Claus" (1959)

For out-and-out cheese, "Pac-Land" and the "Star Wars Holiday Special" have nothing on this, what may be the first holiday-themed sci-fi movie.

A mainstay in late-night syndication and on cable throughout the holidays for decades, it seems that the children of Mars are in need of a little holiday merriment, so the Martians kidnap Santa, along with some innocent bystander Earth kids. Much goofiness ensues.

In recent years, many have preferred seeing this one getting the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" treatment -- the cult comedy show riffed on it in the early 1990s. This movie was so popular with fans that some of the original "MST3K" crew did it again in 2008, with new riffs on the movie as part of "Cinematic Titanic."

Then there's the truly bizarre "Santa Claus" from Mexico, in which Santa has to fight off one of the devil's minions (who spends most of the movie prancing about in his red makeup and tights), while keeping a close watch on all the children of the world, using advanced spying methods, such as a disturbing eye telescope.

The poor dubbing adds to the whole affair, and Santa's laughter comes off as just creepy (not to mention his mechanized reindeer). It, too, was given the "Mystery Science Theater" treatment in the show's fifth season.

"Futurama"

All of the holiday episodes --- including this year's --- have been hugely entertaining, and all of them have featured the robotic Santa Claus, who goes on a rampage every year because of a glitch that caused him to believe almost everyone on earth to be naughty.

New additions through the years have included Kwanzaabot and Chanukah Zombie.

"Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special"

When you think of nerds in the 1980s, you probably think of "Revenge of the Nerds," Ed Grimley or Pee-wee Herman.

Pee-wee's 1988 Christmas special was truly one of the weirdest ever, even weirder than most episodes of his Saturday morning show.

Featuring everyone from Oprah to Charro, from Cher to Grace Jones, and from Frankie to Annette, the plot goes something like this: Pee-wee is generally a jerk to everyone on Christmas and keeps receiving fruit cakes, which he turns into a new wing of the Playhouse. Another one that's probably only worth seeing if you're a fan.

"Gremlins"

Not the first movie you would think about during the holidays, but it's been ranked on many "best holiday movie" lists by film geeks over the years.

If you were anywhere in the '80s, you probably know the story of Gizmo, the mogwai who multiplied when exposed to water, and whose offspring became the grotesque gremlins when fed after midnight. They proceed to wreak havoc throughout the town at Christmas time, and the movie is still a lot of fun more than 25 years later.

"The Year Without a Santa Claus"/"'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

You can't have this list without a little Rankin-Bass, now can you? the production company was, after all, behind the best-known adaptation of "The Hobbit," prior to the upcoming movie, and of course the well-known "Rudolph" and "Frosty" specials.

1974's "The Year Without a Santa Claus" is a real favorite among the hard-core aficionados of its stop-motion specials. You've got the Heat Miser, the Snow Miser, plus the two elves, Jingle and Jangle. What's not to love?

Rankin-Bass was riding high in 1974, because it also put out the hand-drawn "'Twas the Night" the same year. Here, Father Mouse's geeky son, Albert, learns the true meaning of Christmas after writing Santa to tell him he didn't exist. Ouch.

"A Wish for Wings that Work"

Now here's a real obscurity. Based on Berkeley Breathed's "Outland" comic strip, nerdy penguin Opus only has one wish for Christmas (see the title).

"Peanuts," "Garfield" and other comic strip series had made beloved TV specials, but "Outland" was certainly the first one to come to mind for a new one. It probably didn't hurt that it was from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment.

It had excellent animation and surprise voices supplied by Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. (Again, it probably didn't hurt to have the Spielberg connection.)

"He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special"

The last one on this list is far from the least. Here, earth children teach the denizens of Eternia and Etheria all about their holiday of Christmas.

Most amazingly, these little moppets even melt the evil Skeletor's heart. It's also notable for the appearance of some "Transformers"-esque characters who seem shoehorned in. The ending, however, is worth the price of admission, when the kids tell their parents all about where they've been.

Whether you prefer to spend the season with Jack Skellington, Pac-Man or Pee-wee Herman, there's probably something in this list for you. Happy holidays!

Review: New 'Narnia' film doesn't challenge 'Potter'

The third of C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" books to make it to the big screen almost didn't happen when Disney lost the faith after the "disappointing" returns for "Prince Caspian," with its worldwide box office gross of $419 million.

Fortunately for fans of wholesome Christian family action and adventure, Fox stepped in, and production company Walden Films has completed the story of the Pevensies, Lucy and Edmund, who first made their way through the back of that magical wardrobe five years ago. Unfortunately for fans of fantasy film, the budget appears to have been slashed across the board for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader."

Per the book, Susan and Edward are out of the picture now, having swapped the innocent enchantments of Narnia for the more mundane diversions of America.

Lucy and Edmund, though, are sticking out Nazi Germany's Blitz in suburban England, at the home of their despised cousin, Eustace. That is, until an apparently undistinguished maritime painting begins to leak seawater, flooding their bedroom and transporting all three children beneath the hull of the Dawn Treader.

They're soon safely inducted into Caspian's quest to recover seven missing lords, and more importantly their ancient swords, from the Lone Isles at the outer reaches of the known world.

Lewis modeled this mock-heroic adventure on "The Odyssey," but modern kids are more likely to be reminded of video games and "The Pirates of the Caribbean."

The voyage skips from one magical isle to the next, each promising another sword and paving the way to the next level. It's less bombastic than "Prince Caspian," with a quirkier sensibility that encompasses a malignant green sea mist, invisible giants and a pool that turns everything that touches it to gold.

That mist is the only real villain of the piece -- an amorphous evil contaminant that thrives on fear, but which unfortunately isn't very frightening at all. It's like being molested by a rancid cloud.

Directed without obvious enthusiasm by veteran Michael Apted -- whose career runs from the "7 Up" documentary series to "Coal Miner's Daughter" and the James Bond thriller "The World Is Not Enough" -- "Voyage" is more suitable for young children than the previous film, or the last couple of Harry Potter movies for that matter.

Parents may wince at the amateurish acting, the ugly and distancing 3-D post-production work and some decidedly threadbare special effects, but at least their kids won't come out traumatized or battle-scarred.

Will Poulter (from "Son of Rambow") functions as the main comic relief as the obnoxious Eustace, and throws himself into the part with such gusto it's a relief when he meets his comeuppance in the form of a fire-breathing dragon.

As Edmund and Lucy, Skandar Keynes and Georgie Henley are old hands by now, but they've lost some of their charm in the process.

And it's a mystery what's become of Ben Barnes' Spanish accent since "Prince Caspian" and his charisma. Perhaps it vanished along with Reepicheep's plumy tones in some previous magical engagement -- the valiant rodent is now voiced by Simon Pegg, not Eddie Izzard.

A spectacular CGI-heavy climax reclaims some of the movie's credibility, but there's something sketchy about Aslan's final invitation to show the children the promised land, the place from which there is no return. All in good time, surely?

As for Narnia, there are four more C.S. Lewis books, one of which ("The Silver Chair") features Eustace. But the Pevensies are done now, and the filmmakers may feel it's time to call it quits.

It's been a serviceable series, but a mild disappointment to those of us who grew up with these books, and it never seriously challenged the Harry Potter films for hearts or minds.

Blake Lively and Ryan Gosling get cozy in New York

Ryan Gosling's new movie "Blue Valentine" almost got an NC-17 rating, but the actor kept the flirtation with Blake Lively noticeably G-rated at the film's premiere after-party.

Still, the pair were almost inseparable as they engaged in close conversation Thursday night while the Quintessentially-sponsored event spun around them at The Top of the Standard at the Standard Hotel in New York.

At one point, Gosling started to leave Lively's side and the actress yanked him back to continue chatting, according to an observer.

As the party wound down, they headed downstairs to the hotel's Standard Grill to dine with two other companions.

PEOPLE.com: Michelle Williams denies romance with Ryan Gosling

Lively, 23, and Gosling, 30, were first spotted together in October at Disneyland where they took in the sights and some ice cream at the park, an appropriate setting since Gosling once was a Mouseketeer.

Neither of the actors is admitting to anything serious.

"She's an incredible actress; she's a good friend," Gosling told PEOPLE at a lunch Thursday for "Blue Valentine" in New York at the Kimberly Hotel.

When asked generally about romances between actors and actresses, Gosling says, "You're not allowed to have friends in this business."

Snooki to drop inside ball on New Year's Eve

For those who want to watch Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi take a fall, she's happy to oblige.
The pint-sized "Jersey Shore" star, 23, has agreed to crawl into a ball that will drop in New York City's Times Square as the clock counts down to midnight on New Year's Eve, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her castmates, including Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, will also have their chance to shine on MTV New Year's Bash, an hour-long program recapping the year in entertainment. They'll lead the crowd in a fist-pumping marathon as they attempt to break a Guinness world record.
The show will be hosted by comedian Whitney Cummings and feature a performance by Flo Rida.