I've always liked Ruby's "rescue" keyword. I've implemented something similar in Javascript.

gistfile1.coffee

rescue = do(console) ->
  (expression, fallback) ->
    try expression?() || expression
    catch e
      console?.warn?( 'Rescued from', e, '. Using fallback value', fallback )
      return fallback

gistfile2.js

/*
* USAGE
*/

var riskyValue = rescue( function() { throw new Error("oh no!"); }, "All ok!" );

console.assert( riskyValue === "All ok!" );

gistfile3.js

var rescue = (function(console) {
  return function(expression, fallback) {
    try {
      return (typeof expression === "function" ? expression() : void 0) || expression;
    } catch (e) {
      if (console != null && typeof console.warn === "function")
        console.warn('Rescued from', e, '. Using fallback value', fallback);
      return fallback;
    }
  };
})(console);