Scene and Heard

1. "And The Winner Is..."

The 70th Golden Globe Awards aired Sunday, and was hosted by BC alumna Amy Poehler and her former SNL co-star Tina Fey. Highlights include former President Bill Clinton introducing Lincoln and Jodi Foster making a heartfelt speech about her sexuality. The big winners were Argo and Les Miserables, the former winning Best Motion Picture (drama) and Best Director, the latter winning Best Motion Picture (comedy/musical) and two acting awards.

2. Idol Returns
Last night, American Idol kicked off its 12th season with a fresh face, a front against declining ratings. Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, and veteran Randy Jackson make this season’s panel an eclectic mix aimed to diversify the show’s talent pool. Idol remains the most popular reality show, but suffers from a universal drop in ratings for talent competitions. Idol airs Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m.

3. Obama's Gun Proposal
Following the massacre in Newtown, Conn. last month, President Obama is expected to propose extended background checks on those purchasing firearms as well as a ban on the purchase of high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. The prospect of such reform has drawn criticism from the National Rifle Association, which suggested gun-free school zones and the lack of armed guards at educational facilities were responsible for the shooting. Businessweek projects over 32,000 gun deaths in the US this year.

4. Knew He Was Trouble
As always, it’s been a rough breakup for Taylor Swift. Her latest stint with One Direction heart throb Harry Styles ended abruptly last week, after capturing the public eye New Years Eve, when the pop star was seen kissing Styles in Times Square. Swift, iconic for her breakup songs, is rumored to have already returned to the studio. Taylor Swift’s impressive list of suitors includes Joe Jonas, Lucas Till, Taylor Lautner, John Mayer, Cory Monteith, Jake Gyllenhaal, Zac Efron, Eddie Redmayne, and Conor Kennedy. Her single “I Knew You Were Trouble” is currently ranked third on the Billboard’s Hot 100.

5. Commando in Chief
In a Dateline interview, weatherman Al Roker revealed that following his 2002 gastric bypass surgery, breaking winds led to unexpected showers before a White House press conference. “I pooped my pants. Not horribly, but I knew,” he admitted. After disposing of his soiled undergarments, Roker proceeded to attend the White House press conference “commando.” He  is currently promoting his book Never Goin’ Back, based on his successful loss of 160 pounds.