Lifetime movies, like eating frosting out of the tub with a spoon, are one of those guilty pleasures we all indulge in that only our closet friends know about. However, let’s be real: we all love watching those cheesy movies that our favorite D-list actors star in to revive their long-lost careers. And tonight’s newest addition, ‘Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy‘, which stars our favorite unbreakable cheerleader as a suspected murderer, is no exception.

For those of you not in the know, the Amanda Knox movie is based on a true story (like most Lifetime “movies”) about an American student who is suspected of murdering her roommate while studying abroad in Italy. This story has been playing out in the news for over a year and if seeing it dramatized on TV isn’t enough to lure you in for a night of TV (watched alone in your room with the door locked), here are 5 more reasons why you should break out the cookie dough and popcorn for what could be the biggest TV event since Michael Jackson’s funeral the epic fight episode of Jersey Shore.

Overacting:
As much as I like Hayden, girl overacts like nobody’s business. And that’s just in regular movies. Pair it with a script from those dramatic and hormonal writers at Lifetime and you’ve got yourself a recipe for dramatic sighs, spontaneous tears and extreme emphasis on every. single. line. And just thinking of Hayden getting all serious gives me butterflies in my stomach. The “I’m so excited!” kind, not the “I don’t think that chicken was cooked all the way through, lunch lady” kind.

The Melodrama:
Now, let’s pair Hayden’s acting “skills” with some Lifetime melodramatic style writing…and you’ve got yourself more dramz than The Bachelors “most dramatic rose ceremony EVER.” The plot is sure to be something from a crappy murder mystery novel, and the characters (per usual) larger than life and probably not very much like their real life counterparts. Think, 2 hour-long soap opera. But the kind you can feel good about because this one deals with current events.

Hayden Looks Uber Dowdy:
Hayden, for the most part, always looks put together, both on and off screen. She’s most famous for playing the happy-go-lucky cheerleader with the perfect body (gag me) and flawless face (boring). But in this movie, girl is put in some very not-so-flattering clothing, her hair is so the wrong color and texture, and her complexion looks almost grey. Call me a mean girl if you must, but I love seeing a pretty celebrity looking well…not so pretty. (And by the way, Amanda Knox is really beautiful in real life. What’s with the snub, Lifetime? No wonder the girl “almost threw up” when she saw a clip!)

There are Italian men featured:
Olive skin. Brown eyes. Cute accents. Just a little somethin’ somethin’ to lift the dark and depressing mood a bit.

It’s Current:
With the movie coming out tonight and Knox’s trial still in session, it makes this movie totally worthy of some current event points. And go Lifetime for getting their act together on this one. Not only will it sorta catch you up on the happenings of the Knox situation (make sure to check out a summary or two before actually bringing it up in conversation…I have a feeling they will be using some “creative license” in this one), but you can write it off as time well spent learning about something that is going on in the world. Something that doesn’t involve celebrity babies or the next big fashion trend. A real current event affecting someone your age.

Plus, it’s gotta be better than another 2 hours of crazies on The Bachelor, right?

Check out the preview below and see for yourself:

Spotted: Johnny Depp lookin’ fiiine at Cannes.

Now that’s a commencement speech.

Lindsay Lohan “lost” her passport, stuck in France.

Uh oh, Heroes is in trouble!

Who thought this was a good idea?

TMI, Will Smith and Jada!

What will come of our favorite TV couple!?

After three entire months of reruns, and crappy MTV-I-need-a-girlfriend-and-a-life reality shows, I am more than ready for the new fall lineup, which starts this week!

In addition to our old favorites whose finales left us on the edge of our couches with mouths open and ice cream dripping on our PJs, there are a slew of new shows that are totally worth tuning into this fall.

We know it’s hard to get back into your nightly TV schedules, so we complied a guide for the must-see fall TV!

Our Returning favorites:

Gossip Girl (The CW): Monday , September 14, 8pm

Do I even have to recap? Jenny takes over as queen bee; Blair, Dan, and Vanessa head off to NYU (where conniving Georgina comes to stir up more trouble); and Serena is headed off to Europe to find her father? Let’s just leave it at OMFG, shall we?

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC): Thursday, September 24^th, 8pm, ABC

So unfortunately, no one can keep a secret these days and word leaked over the summer that it is in fact George (T.R. Knight) who will be leaving the cast. But that doesn’t change the fact that viewers have an emotion packed premiere, which features a funeral bound to be heart wrenching for us die-hard fans.

Heroes (NBC): Monday, September 21, 8 pm

Who isn’t obsessed with this show? It has taken over Facebook statuses all over the internet. The season finale left us on the edge with a new killer in town, Nathan dead and Sylar and Nathan are one! In the premiere we will see this unfold, as well as Matt and Janice getting another chance at raising their super-power baby.

The Office (NBC): Thursday, September 17, 9 pm

If you haven’t been a fan, it’s not too late to start. The show is super easy to get into, and once your hooked you’ll have plans for the next 3 weekends catching up on old seasons. There were hints in the season finale of a possible pregnancy and we hear Michael’s love interest Holly isn’t out of the picture.

90210 (The CW): Tuesday, September 8, 8 pm

It’s not going to be on the Emmy ballot anytime soon, but it’s become one of our guilty pleasures. In the finale we were left wondering who has caught Annie drunk driving and running someone off the road. Plus the season premiere is full of new hookups, what more could we ask for?

ANTM (The CW): Wednesday, September 9, 8 pm

Here’s to another season of beautiful aspiring models, apartment catfights, and hoping one screws up enough to induce a Girl-no-you-didn’t-let-me-take-my-jewelry-off Tyra smack down.

New Shows!

Melrose Place (The CW): Tuesday, September 8, 9 pm

Sure it’s like a fusion of GG and 90210 in a grown up world, but it’s another one of those shows that will pop up everywhere, so none of us want to be out of the loop. Plus, who doesn’t want to see Ashley Simpson nosedive in the acting arena, or, less likely, surprise us with actually having an ounce of talent? I know I’ll be watching.

The Beautiful Life (The CW): Wednesday, September 16, 9 pm

All you OC fans get ready; Mischa Barton is back in a new drama set around a group of models sharing a home in NYC.

The Vampire Diaries (The CW): Thursday September 10, 8 pm

This show needs no introduction or, really, a plot line at all now that we think about it. Give us a gorgeous, blood-sucking star and we’re happy. But even better for viewers, the acting and storyline look promising. After the cyclone that was Twilight, this is bound to be a hit.

Glee (Fox): Wednesday, September 16, 8 pm

We were already given a glimpse of the show with its first episode in the spring, and we liked what we saw. A lot. A more sophisticated High School Musical with catchy tunes and there are already a slew of guest stars set to join the season including Eve and Kristen Chenoweth.

Modern Family (ABC): Wednesday, September 23, 9 pm

Who couldn’t use a little AL Bundy in their lives? This comedy has been deemed “hilarious” by critics and has that fresh, off-the-cuff office feel. We’re definitely giving it a chance!

What other series premieres are you guys dying to tune into this month?

For those not in the know, the San Diego Convention Center becomes a mecca every summer for fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, and a lot of stuff in between. But even if you’re not a fan of any of those things (or a self-proclaimed geek like me!), Comic-Con has expanded over the years to encompass whatever’s hot in pop culture.

So if you’re going to be in SoCal from July 23-26 and can get yourself a pass, here are some reasons why you should check out Comic-Con (and if you can’t go this year, definitely mark your calendars for 2010):

1.   Check out upcoming films way before they’re released and hear from the filmmakers and cast.
The movie panels are a big hit each year, and 2009 isn’t going to be any different. Dozens of movies are going to be previewed at Comic-Con, but here’s just a sampling of what’s on the schedule next week: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Avatar, Zombieland, 2012, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Heath Ledger’s last film), Astro Boy…and, of course, Twilight. Yes, the cast is going to be there. Including RPattz.

Cue fangirl screams.

2.    Sit in on discussions and upcoming season previews with the cast and crew of your favorite TV shows.
Get the scoop on TV’s most popular shows from the writers themselves (and the hott-with-a-double-“t” cast members!). Shows that will be represented include Smallville, True Blood, Heroes, Dollhouse, Family Guy, Chuck, Lost, 24, and Dexter. If I could just see Stephen Moyer, Milo Ventimiglia, Joss Whedon, and Kiefer Sutherland, I would be able to die a happy, happy woman.

3.   It’s not just about the shows, movies, and comics – there’s intellectual discussion to be found!
Comic-Con will be hosting several discussion panels with college professors, writers, and other experts on everything from parody in art to the anthropology of Star Trek. There are a number of panels relating to women in pop culture and comics specifically, so put your thinking caps on, ladies!

4.    Did you dream about being a filmmaker as a kid? Well, now you can learn how to make your own movie, from pre-production to DVD!
Comic-Con is sponsoring a four-day film school seminar taught by professional filmmakers and screenwriters. They’ll walk you through the film-making process and show you how to make your dream a reality at a low cost. It may not be as comprehensive as film school, but for you aspiring screenwriters and directors out there, it’s not a bad way to spend your time at Comic-Con.

5.    It’s like Halloween in the summertime.
Many hardcore fans dress up in costumes at Comic-Con to show their dedication to what they love. Regardless of whether or not you choose to dress up, it’s fun to see all the different costumes, especially the ornate ones. After all, it’s not every day that you see a real-life Hellboy walking around!

6.   Free stuff!
Need I say more?

7.   Three words: Hot. Geeky. Guys.
And no, I don’t just mean the gorgeous actors who will be there to talk with fans and sign autographs. You won’t find more nerds anywhere else, so if you’re like me and love a geeky guy, you’d better high-tail it to San Diego (and take me with you, please!).

[There are some women out there that we just can’t get out of our minds. No, we aren’t switching teams - yet - but we do have some serious crushes on some pretty fierce females. These ladies are all special in their own right and we aren’t ashamed to tell the world we love them.]

Despite the fact that I have issues pronouncing her last name, I have a huge girl crush on Hayden Panettiere.

Hayden has been around for awhile – starring in commercials at 11 months old, stealing the show at 11-years-old in Remember the Titans, and making appearances on The Guiding Light and One Life to Live – but my crush developed while watching her as Clare on Heroes, one of the kick-ass female leads. While Hayden may not have the ability to heal herself or run through fire in real life, she has shown herself to be a pretty kick-ass lady.

Hayden is an active animal-rights advocate.  She’s been arrested in Japan for interfering with a dolphin hunt, proving she’s not all talk.  On top of her work for animals, Hayden was also vocal during the 2008 election.  She was a strong supporter of Obama, though she encouraged young people to get out and vote before all else.

Like many celebs these days, Hayden has dealt with a lot of gossip and criticism. Who doesn’t remember when,   shortly after her 18th birthday, Hayden and co-star Milo Ventimiglia (who’s last name I also cannot pronounce), came out as an item? Normally this would have been in the tabloids based on the fact they are co-workers, but Hayden took an even bigger blow seeing as Milo is also 12 years her senior.

But she didn’t care. She just kept on going.

And look at her now. She’s super successful, not to mention gorgeous. This woman looks good in just about anything. And I should know, seeing as the paparazzi follow her and photograph her everywhere she is (including the gym…). Hayden’s also got a huge and varied fan-base, from tween girls to old people to Comic-con nerds, something that most celebrities can’t boast and something that means she might be around for awhile.

I love Hayden…a lot….for many reasons, but I think the coolest thing about her is that despite spending her entire life in front of a camera, she isn’t afraid to laugh at herself.  She filmed two “PSAs” for funnyordie – that made me LOL till stuff shot out of my nose. And isn’t that what crushes are made of?

Though there are no new Heroes episodes for the summer, I am looking forward to getting my Hayden fix in the new teen comedy, I Love You Beth Cooper. Hopefully that will get me through until my favorite show (with my favorite actress) starts up again.

Popcorn for the alcoholics in all of us.

Chris Brown charged with 2 felonies.

The real truth behind Ticket Master.

Is Michael Jackson going on tour?

STI results aren’t as clear as you might think.

Axe honors Brad Pitt with chocolate replica…of his face. And we didn’t think we could love chocolate any more.

Will The Hills go on without LC?

Forever 21 launching a plus size line!

Relationships make women sick.

Heroes is coming back for another season.

Students get involved in earth friendly competition.

The man in this picture is a piece of shit rapist.

And now, the whole world knows it.

When Morgan Shaw-Fox forced oral sex on fellow Lewis & Clark University student Helen Hunter, she had the option of staying silent. After all, he was a popular and well-regarded student. They were alone when he did it. And criminal rape cases – especially cases of date rape, or cases where the victim consented to a certain degree of sexual activity before saying the word “no” – are notoriously brutal and hard to win.

The burden of proof is always on the accuser, who is frequently subjected to vicious assaults on her character by defense attorneys and the media. Prosecuting a rapist can be nearly as traumatic as the experience of sexual assault.

So, yeah. For understandable reasons, many, if not most survivors don’t report being assaulted. Many, if not most rapists are never brought to justice.

But Helen Hunter did not choose silence.

She wrote an anonymous letter to her school paper. The letter got people talking, and several other women came forth to say that they’d had similar experiences. Helen Hunter gathered her courage and told her friends that she’d authored the letter, and that she’d been talking about Morgan Shaw Fox.

One of these women – specifically, an amazing human being by the name of Calli Bishop – figured that Morgan (whose Facebook profile listed “copin’ a feel” as one of his interests) did not deserve the gift of privacy. She wanted everyone to know precisely what he’d done, and she saw no point in going through any legal hassle in order to make that happen. So she created a Facebook group called, yes, “Morgan Shaw-Fox Is A Piece Of Shit Rapist.”

The students at Lewis & Clark started talking about the Facebook group.

The Facebook story was picked up by the local news.

The local news story was picked up by the Internet.

Morgan Shaw-Fox is now internationally known. There are literally thousands of know his name, his face, and his crime. He’s experiencing the sort of public shaming normally reserved for victims who take their rapists to trial.

Lewis & Clark eventually found Shaw-Fox guilty and handed out an insultingly lenient punishment – one semester of suspension, whereas rape survivors can deal with the trauma caused by their assaults for the rest of their lives – but that’s not the point. His chances of being alone with a woman again have substantially decreased, just because a few girls decided to speak up.

And, of course, as the story becomes more widely known, the odds become higher and higher that other survivors will use this tactic, thereby empowering themselves and making the world a much less cozy place for would-be sexual predators.

Calli Bishop and Helen Hunter are heroes. I do not exaggerate when I say that, at any moment when I am feeling hopeless or disappointed or just plain sad, I can think of these women and experience overwhelming, radiant gratitude and joy. They make me feel better about the future of the planet.

So many people fail to recognize the power of their voices and the strength of their communities. These women are examples of the victories we can win by supporting each other and using our creativity to set things right.

They’re living proof that it is not impossible, or even difficult, for ordinary people to speak out against injustice. Whether you’re blogging, staging an old-fashioned protest with your friends, or even using Facebook, you can make yourself heard – and, thanks to the Internet, you can reach a wider audience than ever.

So, what are you waiting for? Stop playing Scrabulous. Go out and save the world.

 Since cozying up at an Emmys party in September, Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere have dodged rumors that they are dating.Two months later, the duo some call “Halo” are still close, hanging together at Wednesday’s Race in the Fight Against Epilepsy fundraiser, in Calabasas, Calif. But could these Heroes be a couple? When asked about the reports of romance, Ventimiglia, 30, chuckled then paused. After a few seconds, he answered, “She and I are close friends. It’s only natural that people are going to couple us together.”

The actor and Panettiere, 18, hung together outside the bash while awaiting their fellow Heroes costars. And although they spoke closely in a shadowy corner, they remained strictly hands-off. (Once inside, the two were ushered into a private VIP room.)

First of all, Milo has that weird Sylvester Stallone/Popeye mouth thing going, where he kind of talks out of one side of his mouth. Then there is the whole, HE’S 30 THING! Don’t get me wrong, I am not much older than Hayden and get the whole sexy-older-guy think – but 30 is a pretty big step. This poses the question, how old is too old?

From the album The Dutchess. Buy it here.

It has been way too long, but not much longer. The hotties from HBO’s hit series Entourage return to the small screen 17 days from today- We-hew!

Sundays have been such a bore. I’ve actually found myself hitting a text book or two- but Vince, Pirvert and the boys are certain to put an end to that. Besides, Grey’s, Entourage hands down, has the hottest cast and the hippest story lines.

So mark it down. April 8th. Sundays are back.

Which show do you think has the hottest cast?