2012 in Review: The Top Ten Stories

And so here we are at the end of the year 2012. Hard to believe. I finished a novel and am in the process of editing it. But enough about me. I’ve put the monkeys in my head to work again to come up with the Top Ten Stories of 2012.

10. All Things Royal and British.
If you thought last year was the best year for Britain’s monarchy (what with Prince William tying the knot with Kate Middleton), this year beat it soundly. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) in style. Family members spread out to visit all corners of the Commonwealth. Even though Prince Philip ended up in the hospital, festivities continued and Britons celebrated their queen. Then the scandals began to hit. First, Prince Harry is caught on camera in the middle of naked romp in a Las Vegas hotel room. And then Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, was caught topless while vacationing with William in France. They were published in a few magazines and the Royal family sued. Things have calmed down…well, with one exception. But that’s for later!

The Return of the ABC Soaps?

ABC Daytime fans may have gotten an early Christmas gift. It’s been reported that Prospect Park is looking to revive “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” sometime in 2013.

For those who forgot or didn’t know, ABC announced these two long running soaps were cancelled. But shortly after, Prospect Park announced they had bought the rights to the two shows and planned to continue them online. Actors from both shows signed on to continue their roles and things were swimming along. “All My Children” still ran a week wrapping up the show but then, on Friday, had a deranged JR Chandler (Jacob Young) fire into a party filled with the entire cast. Then the screen went blank, with the promise of finding out who JR shot when Prospect Park got the show back up and running.

The Hobbit: A Long Expected Movie

One cannot deny people have been waiting for this movie for a long time. Pretty much since “The Return of the King” left the theaters, if we’re honest. But there were delays and issues with directors but finally, it is here: “The Hobbit.”

“The Hobbit” is a prequel to the “Lord of the Rings” films, set 60 years prior. Bilbo (Ian Holm, reprising his role) is writing this story for nephew Frodo (Elijah Wood again) to read. He tells about the fall of Erebor, the great dwarf city, and how it was taken by the dragon Smaug. Years later, the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan, naturally) comes to the Shire to speak to Bilbo (now played by Martin Freeman). Later that night, a large amount of dwarves arrive and rattle up Bilbo’s peaceful evening. Their leader is Thorin (Richard Armitage) and they are going to reclaim Erebor. Gandalf has decided Bilbo will be a member of their company. Bilbo has decided Gandalf is insane.

Nostalgia Nook: “The Christmas List”

There are plenty of things I can rely on in the holiday season: My mother breaking something on Thanksgiving, me in the mall hours before Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas carols ad nausem, Hallmark movies, parties, food, and my father taping “The Christmas List.”

Oh, yes, he loves the movie. And that’s why I made it this month’s topic.

So, what’s on my Christmas list? SPOILERS!

The March Sisters at Christmas

Time for another made-for-cable Christmas movie review! I told you my family lives on them this time of the year. But this one is from Lifetime, not Hallmark.

So sit back with some hot chocolate and enjoy the SPOILERS!