This was a good week for welcoming back familiar and much-missed talent to some very good shows. Let's start with one of cable's underdogs, TNT's gritty and gripping police drama Southland, which introduced Carl Lumbly (who'll always be Dixon from Alias to me) as the squad's militaristic new captain, Brucker. "Our job just got harder," grumbles one of the grunts. Bad for him, good for Southland. Pledging to command a pro-active patrol, with Mickey D applications at the ready for those who screw up, Brucker's mantra is: "We protect! We serve! And we kick a— till we smell s---!" Yeah, he's that kind of boss.
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Who knew the President could sing?
During a fundraiser Thursday at New York's Apollo Theater, President Obama paid tribute to soul legend Al Green by actually singing a few bars of "Let's Stay Together." "Don't worry, Rev. I cannot sing like you," Obama said after his musical interlude. "I just wanted to show my appreciation." (But he's really not too bad either!)
Watch Obama in action below and decide for yourself:
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Our top moments of the week:
15. Best Clean Slate: New year, new look for Walden (Ashton Kutcher). Though he's initially upset that Zoey wants him to shave and look presentable for a corporate shindig on Two and a Half Men, Walden finally gives in and does away with his hirsute hobo look. Later, however, Zoey comes over to apologize for forcing him to change and is stunned to see her clean-shaven and much younger-looking beau. You know Ashton couldn't have hidden the pretty for much longer.
14. Most Substantial Goodbye: After Agent McQuaid and her friend Laura are...
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Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison Wednesday, The Associated Press reports.
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Gwyneth Paltrow and Tia and Tamera Mowry are among GQ Magazine's Least Influential People of the Year.
Paltrow, who came in at No. 16 on the list that "salutes the great artisans of utter uselessness," was chosen for spending most of 2011 performing on awards shows, promoting her blog Goop, and releasing an "awful cookbook."
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