Music:
My favs: Lisa Loeb, Madonna, Jill Sobule, Tom Petty, Poe, REM. I'm also into musicals (recent favs: Phantom of the Opera, Evita) and jazz (esp. the Sim City 2000 game soundtrack). I'll listen to almost any music other than country.
Movies:
I usually gravitate towards Mafia related, psychological thrillers, or musicals. Donny Brasco, A Beautiful Mind, American Psycho II (not I), Chicago, Evita, Falling Down, The Green Mile, Reservoir Dogs, 50 First Dates, The Harry Potter Movies, on and on and onI was recently asked by a family member why Mafia related movies? They command respect face-to-face and yet stab each other behind the back. There is a heirarchy but that doesn't protect you... I could go on and on, but in short the answer is simple. Their everyday life is just so different from mine that it is nice to just have a change of pace. The first mafia related movie I saw was Donnie Brasco, about an undercover cop who infiltrates the mafia to the point that he started thinking and acting like them. Very interesting scenario. From there, I was hooked. I must admit that I've never seen the Godfather movies. Would I really consider myself a Mafia aficionado? No, but I do enjoy the occasional mafia movie. :)
Television:
House, Las Vegas, Gilmore Girls, all the adult cartoons (King of the Hill, Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, South Park), the occasional CSI, Veronica Mars, etc.
Books:
Comics: Calvin & Hobbes, Get Fuzzy. Books: Most anything by Amy Tan (The Joy Luck Club, The Hundred Secret Senses), The Ann of Green Gables Series, Works by Jane Austen, Works by James Frey (hey it's still entertaining even if its not true)
Heroes:
I know this sounds cheesy, but it's honest-- I think just about anybody in this world is a hero in one aspect or another. They just need to recognize their good qualities and/or accomplishments and exploit them.