Next up in this hectic holiday season: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
And that means it's time to look at the top 10 entertainment stories of 2007.
There were lots of endings and bad behavior this year. Read about 'em and weep.
1. The End of Harry Potter: What will we do without all the excitement of waiting for the next one? Or those midnights at the book store? Or obsessively reading without stopping to sleep or eat? It's come to an end, and all Pottermaniacs are a little sad, even though Harry and his friends all live happily ever after.
2. The Writer's Strike: The creative forces in the entertainment world are showing us just how much Hollywood needs them. The late-night comedians aren't on, TV series are back in reruns, and pretty soon there won't be any new movies to see. Even the Oscars are in trouble.
3. Rosie O'Donnell: Remember when she was known as the Queen of Nice? Not so much anymore. Rosie kept getting into fights with everyone, from Donald Trump to her co-star on "The View," Elizabeth Hasselbeck. She finally called it quits in June. The controversy didn't end, though. One of the new hosts isn't sure if the world is round.
4. The End of the Sopranos: Was he whacked? Or did Tony Soprano just keep eating those onion rings with his family? The final moment of "The Sopranos," considered by many to be the best TV series of all time, was controversial. Some loved it, some hated it, but everyone agreed the HBO show will be missed.
5. The End of Anna Nicole Smith: Lurid doesn't even begin to describe the coverage of her death and the child custody suit that followed. Just writing that sentence makes me want to take a shower.
6. Celebrity Endorsements: Oprah, the most powerful woman in America (who else could get millions to read a classic like "Anna Karenina"?), endorsed Barack Obama for president and drew huge crowds to several rallies. Will it make a difference? Mike Huckabee got the endorsement of Chuck Norris, who appeared with him in some ads. Chuck is going to fix the illegal-immigration mess single-handedly!
7. Those Spears Girls: Britney had a mountain of trouble this year, most of it self-imposed. The MTV music award fiasco, shaving her head, numerous fender benders and other tabloid moments. And the infamous night she left the house without underwear and did not get out of the limo like a lady. Now her 16-year-old sister, Jamie Lynn, is pregnant. Oh, my.
8. Gone: We lost a lot of great ones this year, including two opera stars, Luciano Pavarotti and Beverly Sills; mime Marcel Marceau; author Kurt Vonnegut; Lily Munster herself, Yvonne DeCarlo; class act Kitty Carlisle Hart; Merv Griffin, who brought us "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune"; Ronald Reagan's first wife and the matriarch on "Falcon Crest," Jane Wyman; witty columnist Art Buchwald, who taught us a lot about ending life with dignity; the original Lancelot, Robert Goulet; and good old Mr. Whipple, Dick Wilson.
9. Bad Behavior: It's the thing for celebrities these days: Drive drunk, get busted for drugs, spend time in jail. Maybe beat up someone. It's almost like a rite of passage. Hey, it's tough being young, beautiful, rich and noticed for nothing except the fact you are famous.
10. Local Boy Makes Good: And finally, a nod to Ronks native Jonathan Groff, who had an amazing year, winning a Tony nomination for lead actor in "Spring Awakening," Broadway's hottest show. Congratulations, Jonathan. And I must say, you always behave yourself! Must be those Lancaster County roots.
CONTACT US: jholahan@LNPnews.com or 481-6016. Footlights appears every other Wednesday.
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