Shameless on Showtime is one of the best things on TV right now. Season 2 kicks off Sunday. This isn’t your Phantom of the Opera’s Emmy Rossum. She doesn’t sing in this show. Not when the opening credits feature her on the toilet.

Emmy’s Fiona Gallagher is a the kind of Chicago/Irish gal who isn’t afraid to eat an Al’s Italian Beef in a fancy hotel and say “I think I just came” when it appears on her plate.

Fiona - now that's a Chicago gal

One of the best songs of 2011 is a gem that is rarely heard in the states (and definitely not in Chicago – ‘xrt you suck – or Northwest Indiana). In fact, you rarely hear this great band at all around here. I’m talking about Hooverphonic and The Night Before, their first single with their newest lead singer, Noémie Wolfs.

Hooverphonic

I’m not the only one who noticed a similarity between Batman Returns and The Dark Knight Rises after viewing the trailer for the latter.

A mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it...a storm's coming, Mr. Wayne

I don’t know if director Christopher Nolan did this on purpose – I doubt it – but it’s interesting. Both scenes featuring Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle take place at what appears to be a masquerade ball. Batman Returns, in my opinion, is the best of the pre-Christopher Nolan Batman films.

Although I suppose that isn’t saying much. It does feature the very underrated Siouxsie and the Banshees song “Face to Face.”