DEAR GOD KEEP THAT THING AWAY FROM ME!

Here's the indispensable Caitlin Moran on the subject (in an article on Sherlock): '[I]t made an overnight star of its Holmes, Benedict Cumberbatch. Previously the kind of well-respected theatre actor who popped up in award-winning thinky dramas on BBC Two, Cumberbatch – with his clay-white skin, sexy-sloth face and…

Maybe? It looks awfully billowy for leather. Plus, silver. Anyhow, cool. (When is he supposed to be in New Zealand embodying Smaug? He seems to be a bit overscheduled.)

Exactly. A quick check of tumblr reveals exactly the kind of squee-ing that you'd expect.

Does lens flare fall into "fire bad" category?

Definitely longcoat! Kind of a weird plastic-y one, but still.

You know, although I'm glad the 'Batch didn't go after the Dr. Who gig, he is possibly the most Who-ish actor ever.

The mother is Ted. KIDS, I AM YOUR MOTHER!

We all do, even those of us who crush on him. (I want a "Cumberbitch" t-shirt!)

This is great - but I got it even w/o the photo!

I bow to your skillz!

I know, right? You've got to love Rupert Graves, and I would love to see D.I. Lestrade dealing with a Dalek or two.

The Creature. But yeah.

Speaking of Sherlocks, CBS's obviously-in-no-way-inspired-by-the-BBC-show modern-day version, "Elementary," has just cast its lead: Jonny Lee Miller. Who just co-starred with Cumberbatch in "Frankenstein" at the National Theatre last year.

I'm high on the list of people who are delighted by Benedict Cumberbatch's name (high in more than one sense, probably). But I've got to say that "Nazeen Contractor" is also awesome.

So far my favorite 3D movie has been Coraline, which was both beautifully thought-out and restrained in its use of the third dimension. Must see Hugo!

I've known it for months as well. But now that I think about it I'm not sure where I read about it ... probably some Sherlock fan site.

It's just that the actor makes it sound like Jackson is planning to bring Sauron into the story, and possibly into the Battle of Five Armies, which would be ... weird. But it also sounds like Cumberbatch is not at all familiar with the original material (or he's pretending not to be), so who knows.

Yes, and this has always made me wonder: why WAS it such a great idea to drive him from Dol Guldur?

Think of it this way: it gives them something mostly harmless to do with their time. Less room in the schedule to go out and campaign for Sarah Palin or hang with the godhatesfags folks.