By TERRY MORROW, Scripps Howard News Service

PASADENA, Calif. - Looking back on it, actor Josh Lucas used to think it was only "a little strange."

But now, upon reflection, he sees it a little differently.

PASADENA, Calif. - The barn doors opened, and Carol Peletier's life changed.

At least a dozen or so zombies came wobbling out of the barn in that scene in the midseason finale of "The Walking Dead" in December. One of them was most unexpected: Carol's missing daughter, Sophia, was no longer the sweet child her mother knew. She was now a gray-skinned, flesh-eating monster.

"The River" (9 p.m. EST Tuesday, ABC) -- a sprawling new sci-fi mystery set against the backdrop of the Amazon River -- looks to be this season's answer to "The X-Files" and "Lost."

Maybe Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele were always meant to know each other.

"We are so much alike," says the New York-born Peele, 32. "Our senses of humor are so in the pocket ... and coming from similar backgrounds make us very much alike."

PASADENA, Calif. - Liam McIntyre couldn't believe what he just saw.

He stared and thought to himself: "Oh, my gosh. I can't make sense of this."

Driving into town from Hollywood, he took a quick glance out his car window and saw a picture of himself, dressed as a gladiator, in an advertisement for "Spartacus: Vengeance." The image took him aback.

PASADENA, Calif. - Joan Rivers has had a bad day.

"The dog got sick," she says during an interview. "My toilet overran. It's just been a (terrible) day."

But there she is, dressed to the nines in black, with bright blue nails and sipping on a martini.

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is having the last laugh.

He took some ribbing for being a judge on "American Idol" last season. Now, they're cool with him being on the hit singing contest (returning 8 p.m. EST Wednesday, Fox).

NEW YORK - Instead of using her tears for a scene this time, "One Life To Live" actress Kassie DePaiva waited until she walked off the set and into the shadows.

Perhaps the so-called "golden age" of television is almost over, but it doesn't mean quality was lacking in 2011.

Need proof? Here are the top 10 best series of the year (and some may surprise you):

1. "Breaking Bad" (AMC).

Those characters inside Fred Armisen's head call out to him at the most unexpected times.

Riding on the New York subway can inspire him or simply seeing a newspaper photo of a man with a bright red perm.