2011: The Year in Entertainment

It's been quite a year on the entertainment front.  There were weddings, annulments, infidelity, babies, inspiring movies based on my favorite books and chick flicks that made you laugh until you cry.  So what are some of the most memorable entertainment memories of 2011?  Take a look and see if you agree...

1.  Most Memorable Wedding:  The marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  If you're like me and grew up watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, this incredibly special day brought all those memories flooding back.  Kate and William made royalty approachable - they kissed, they laughed, and they partied until dawn.  Let's truly hope they live happily ever after.

2.  Most Forgettable Wedding:  Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries.  72 days and kaput.  My only hope is that next time around, Kris Humphries finds true love with a girl who is willing to share her life with him in any city in the United States - even if it's in Minnesota.  

3.  Demi and Ashton, Say it Ain't So:  Call it bad kharma, but the minute Ashton Kutcher signed on to "Two and a Half Men" it seemed like he was possessed by the spirit of Charlie Sheen and in a moment of weakness, cheated on Demi and threw away the best thing that ever happened to him. Demi Moore is positively gorgeous, smart, driven and will eventually go on to find her ideal match. Big mistake Ashton.  Big mistake.

4.  Most Inspiring Movie of the Year:  "The Help," based on the New York Times best selling novel was by far, one of the best movies of 2011.   Octavia Spencer should have a lock on an Academy Award for her shoot from the hip portrayal of Minnie, who turned me off to eating chocolate pie for life!

5.  Laugh Until Your Sides Hurt Movie of the Year...Bridesmaids:  I have never laughed so hard than when I watched as comedy sensation Melissa McCarthy loses control of her bowels while trying on bridesmaid dresses.  I saw "Bridesmaids" three times in theaters - more than any other movie this year.  Went to the preview, then went again with my girlfriends and then took my hubby.  If that's not a stamp of approval, I don't know what is!

6.  Funniest TV Show:  No contest in this category - "Modern Family" is by far the most hysterical show on television.  It's one of those shows that is absurdly relatable.  At least in my case, I have a sister in law who is exactly like Sofia Vergara so every time she mispronounces a word, I burst out laughing.  And don't get me started on Mitch and Cam - the episode where they get rear ended and they attempt to run after the car completely took me back to an incident that happened to my husband and I this summer.  Sure, we may not be sitcom material, but at least we have some elements of "Modern Family" in our own lives.

7.  Let's Hear it for the Ladies:   Once again, Lady Gaga has made her mark in 2011.  But this time, though she's known for her provocative moves in her videos and on stage, she's committed to protecting kids and teens who are victims of bullying.  And a shout out to Lady Antebellum - I'm a huge country music fan and the latest Lady to hit the music scene has become one of my personal favorites.

8.  RJ Martinez Wins Dancing with the Stars:  Truth be told, I was totally gunning for talk show host, actress and mom Ricki Lake, but in the end, Iraq war veteran RJ Martinez managed to tango his way to the coveted mirror ball trophy.  Kudos to RJ who showed that determination, fancy footwork and perserverance truly paid off. Meanwhile, I'm fixated on how I can learn those dance moves so that I can shed some lbs. pronto.

9.   The Passing of Steve Jobs:  In the world of entertainment, Steve Jobs played a profound impact on the lives of adults and kids worldwide.  His innovations transformed the way we hear and see music, movies, videos and more through the iPad, iPhone and iTouch.  And, as one of the partners in Pixar, he played a role in developing some of the best animated movies of all time - from Toy Story to Finding Nemo, the lasting legacy of Steve Jobs will live on for generations to come.

10.  Goodbye and Hello to Oprah Winfrey:  She may have left daytime TV for good, but Oprah Winfrey has embarked on a journey to find true meaning in her life.  While the OWN network is still struggling to find an audience, Oprah is staying true to what she believes in - inspiring stories about real people who are making a difference in our world.  

So there you have it. My top 10 in entertainment for 2011.  Have any additional highlights of the year that you'd like to share?  I love to hear them!