2012 preview: The year in entertainment

Babyonce’s big reveal is right around the corner! The real question (beyond the baby’s gender and Beyonce‘s due date) is where Beyonce and Jay Z plan to go for their splashy magazine cover. Will they go the Brad and Angelina route with little Shiloh and appear on the cover of People, or follow in the footsteps of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes with Suri and choose an Annie Leibovitz shoot for Vanity Fair? Either way, the couple could rake in close to seven figures.  (Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

The once controversial Material Girl is now wholesome family entertainment. How else to explain a Feb. 5 gig as a Super Bowl halftime performer from the “Glee”-friendly artist? The latter, however, is simply a teaser for her new album. The still-untitled new set will be released in March via Interscope Records. First single, “Gimme All Your Luvin,” is due in late January.   (Joel Ryan / Associated Press)

Host Carson Daly again will team up with judges Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera to scope out talent using only their ears and a spinning chair (initially). The show was a bigger success than imagined, and with Christina Milian coming aboard as a backstage correspondent, it could actually build.   (Matt Sayles/ Associated Press)

The British power couple were nearly packing their bags for France as soccer star David Beckham was said to be closing in on a new deal with French club Paris Saint-Germain. But the French soccer club president debunked those rumors in the first few days of 2012.

Beckham helped boost domestic and international interest in Major League Soccer and helped the L.A. Galaxy win the MLS cup since his arrival in 2007 with wife Victoria Beckham. Perhaps the former Spice Girl and her well-heeled brood will stay in L.A. to support her hubby’s next headline-making endeavor now that David is reportedly working on renewing his contract with the Galaxy.

Photo: Victoria and David Beckham arrive at LAX in 2007.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The reality TV starlet who made headlines in 2011 for her short marriage to and high-profile divorce from NBA player Kris Humphries will step out on the big screen in Tyler Perry‘s “Marriage Counselor” on July 27. How’s that for irony? Kardashian will play a coworker of the titular counselor (played by Jurnee Smollett), who gives her boss a big-city makeover when her life is in the dumps.

The former Mrs. Kris Humphries last appeared on the big screen in the 2009 film “Deep in the Valley” and made her big-screen debut in 2008’s “Disaster Movie.”  (Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images)

If the third time’s the charm, then Britney Spears is looking at a lifetime of love with fiance Jason Trawick. The pop star is engaged and if her last two weddings are any indication, she won’t be waiting long to tie the knot. Trawick surprised Spears when he popped the question at his 40th birthday party in December.   (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

How can anyone live up to the eye-popping, rainbow-hued bird outfit that Cee Lo Green sported for his duet of “Forget You” with Gwyneth Paltrow at the last Grammys? Probably no one can, but we’re banking on Lady Gaga to give it a heck of a try. Tune in to CBS on Feb. 12 to find out.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Drake has announced he’ll perform at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Nov. 25.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Everyone got giddy when Nintendo introduced its wand-and-nunchuk-based Wii in 2006. The Wii U takes things one step further with a video game system that takes Wii graphics into the modern era and adds a touch-screen controller that allows you to continue playing the game even when the TV is turned off. The official launch date in 2012 has not been announced, but it’s expected to be confirmed at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Expo in January.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Will 2012 bring OutKast‘s first album since 2006’s “Idlewild”? Members Andre 3000 and Big Boi have been plenty busy in the meantime, but until there’s an official release date, color us hopeful skeptics.   (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)