Sharapova’s switching racquets; Bravo’s replacing housewives

Sharapova's racquet, devoid of any noticeable Prince-brand signage or shock absorber, seems likely to change come 2011.

Apparently Sharapova’s tight lips when it came to discussing her darkly wrapped racquet this year meant something. She’s decided to make the switch from Prince, the sponsor that provided racquets for her only 3 Slam wins, to Head. Perhaps she’s gotten tired of the less than stellar results in the less than light-speed time it’s taken to get them, or maybe it’s something else. I guess a new year is supposed to spur on a new Sharapova. For tennis’ sake, let’s hope that happens. I’m never entirely sure what’s going on in that always-clicking PR-focused brain of hers, but Tennis.com may. 

For Your Consideration: Larry King Live, SAG nominations, Australian Open 2010

How did World No. 16’s Mardy Fish and Marion Bartoli fare this year? Why was the Serena Williams-Justin Henin final of the Australian Open the 7th best match of 2010?

What could be the Oscar fallout from today’s SAG Award nominations?

Who has the best chance at nabbing a Golden Globe as of now?

After a stunning 25-year run (it was the longest running program before shutting down tonight), what were Larry King Live‘s Top 10 Moments?

For Your Consideration: The “Person of the Year,” unhinging actresses, Ana Ivanovic

I have not yet been able to catch up on the backlog that has been threatening to make “For Your Consideration” slightly behind the times (or, rather, hours). So, I am finally coming good on my promise — 2 of these in 1 day!

Have you heard who is TIME‘s “Person of the Year”? Hint: He created a little site called Facebook. The readers clearly disagreed. Who is their choice for “Person of the Year”? (And if Assange isn’t ridiculous enough, check some of TIME‘s other “Top 10’s”: Campaign Ads, Political Gaffes, Quotes, Tweets, Reality TV Moments, Sports Moments, Talented Web Videos, TV Commercials, New Species, Scientific Discoveries, Apologies, Buzzwords, Comebacks, Facebook Stories, Feuds, Fleeting Celebrities, Late-Night Jokes, Scandals, Twitter Moments, Viral Videos…basically, I’ve given you the rest of TIME‘s gazillion “Top 10” lists (a ridiculously long list in itself), so take your pick(s)!)

What were Slant magazine’s top (25) films of 2010? Beware of some not-so-mainstream picks.

After a strong finish to a year that threatened to ensure her descent into the edge of tennis’ netherworld, can Serb Ana Ivanovic capitalize on her new momentum in 2011? Does ATP vet Ivan Ljubicic still have enough gas at 31 to bring himself another good start next year?

As Awards Daily asks: what kind of “unhinged” took down the Oscar-contending female characters this year? (Also, I thought Marion Cotillard came unhinged most obviously and expertly in Inception, but Daily has decided she’s only worth an “Honorable Mention.” Perhaps it was the fact that much of her character is communicated through the eyes of Leonardo DiCaprio’s (more) unhinged protagonist.)

For Your Consideration: “The State of the Race,” Maria Sharapova, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga

What’s “The State of the Race” for the Oscar-contending films of 2010?

After an abysmal 2009, Maria Sharapova had a better 2010. Can she reach her former Grand-Slam peak in 2011? Does America’s leading newcomer Sam Querrey fare any better come next year?

What were the top world, U.S., crime, oddball, religious, overreported, and underreported stories from 2010?

Why doesn’t Slant magazine think Katy Perry’s newly Grammy-nominated Teenage Dream is the zenith of this year’s albums? And why does it think Lady Gaga and her ridiculously good singles are more difficult to copy than previously thought?

For Your Consideration: Shakespeare, John Travolta, and more of TIME‘s top 10 lists

Alright, so today’s “For Your Consideration” is a little late. But that just means you get two in less than a day — the more the merrier, right? Anyways,I’m continuing with a few trends, as in those started by Tennis.com’s “The Last Word” articles and TIME‘s “Top 10” lists for the year. There are other links as well, so stay tuned!

Ever wondered how many of Shakespeare’s monumental plays made it into films (and how well)?

Ever since his Saturday Night Fever stint (and perhaps before), John Travolta’s sexuality has been questioned through and through, but do others have the right to declare what he chooses not to?

What do the ATP and WTA tours’ respective No. 20 and 19 — Maria Kirilenko, Marcos Baghdatis, John Isner, and Aravane Rezai —  have in store for next year’s season?

In other Time news, what were the popular magazine’s top 10 TV series, TV series’ episodes, albums, and songs for the year?

For Your Consideration: Natalie Portman (again!), (female) binge-drinking, and LGBT youth

What were some of the scientific achievements that mattered most in 2010? The New Yorker‘s Michael Specter has 7 of them.

“Who’s White? Who’s Black? Who Knows?”

Are LGBT youth punished more harshly than their straight friends, and is “fat” bullying still prevalent?

Has the “Other Swiss” Stanislas Wawrinka peaked at No. 21 on the ATP rankings chart? And can Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova improve her head-to-head record against top players to move beyond the 21st spot?

Does Natalie Portman already have that “Best Actress” Oscar in the bag? (For more of Time‘s film-related reading, check out its Top 10 Movies and Top 10 Movie Performances of 2010.)

Are women really heavy binge-drinkers? And what did the vacillating banter between female celebrities Bristol Palin(?), Chelsea Handler, Margaret Cho, and Kathy Griffin have to say about the gestures of female friendship?

For Your Consideration: More “Top 10” Lists, Helena Bonham Carter, and the LGPA

So, can you narrow down the top directors of film from this year to just five?

Will Helena Bonham Carter’s queenly roles fail to appeal to Academy voters?

Why is No. 22 good and bad for Estonia’s tennis player Kaia Kanepi, and what are 10 ATP-related questions to ponder for 2011?

What does the LGPA tour’s rescinding of its “female at birth” requirement mean for transgender athletes?

Do Salon.com and The New Yorker agree on their best-and-worst-films-of-2010 lists? (If Salon.com’s list is too extensive, check out Richard Brody’s comprehensive yet manageable “The Best 25 Films of 2010”)

For Your Consideration: Blue Valentine, The Office, Natalie Portman

So, does Blue Valentine still have the MPAA’s infamously condemning NC-17 rating?

Do you know about Michael Scott’s “Office Politics”?

What are Salon.com’s top books of 2010?

Which films (on DVD/Blu-ray) were the best and worst for Rolling Stone‘s Peter Travers?

Who are some of the actors that made film shine this year (photo slide with video)?