The Social Climber: Britney Spears Returns in Las Vegas, Oscar Race Begins

Dec. 28, 2013 — -- quicklist:1title: Britney Spears Returns in Las Vegastext: The wait is over, and the spectacle is on! Britney Spears made her Las Vegas debut on Dec. 26 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. "Britney: Piece of Me" is being called a departure for Spears, which includes acrobatics, a ring of fire, confetti, and oh yes, a live band in the show.

Missed it? Never fear, the pop princess has signed on to perform 50 shows each in 2014 and 2015.media: 21355908

quicklist:2title: Oscar Race Officially Beginstext: Which of this year's Oscar-bait contenders will slip into the Best Picture category? Can Matthew McCaughey overcome a decade of mediocre rom-coms for Oscar glory? Will Meryl Streep be nominated AGAIN? Well, the ballots are officially out for 2014's Academy Award nominees, and we shall find out soon. Nominations for the 86th Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 16. media: 21355957

quicklist:3title: Garth Brooks Returns!

text: For holding the title of second best-selling solo albums artist in the U.S. of all time (just behind Mr. Elvis Presley), Garth Brooks sure takes his time to put out new tunes. But the 5-year wait ended with the release of "The Call." The man formerly known as Chris Gaines has given the world a tribute to his former wife Trisha Yearwood, who even duets on the track.

And good news, Garth fans. He's launching a 2014 world tour. media: 21356007

quicklist:4title: Sherlock Holmes Now Belongs to Youtext: Do you have the perfect modern-day Sherlock Holmes story boiling inside you, but have been hindered in getting it out at all turns by legal mumbo jumbo? Well you can release it at last, as a federal judge ruled that elements in the 50 Arthur Conan Doyle works published before the start of 1923 are not covered by copyright, according to the New York Times.

So just leave that updated version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" right by the fireplace on your way out, thanks.media: 21356057

quicklist:5title: Audiences Just Don't 'Believe' in Justin Biebertext: Threatening to quit the biz on the eve of the release of his new flick didn't seem to work out for the Biebs, at least at the box office. According to Box Office Mojo, the Justin Bieber documentary, "Believe," earned just $1.25 million on its Christmas opening day – well below the $12 million his 2011 movie "Never Say Never" made on its opening day. media: 21356108