It's been an eventful few days for Star Wars fans. Last week, Disney confirmed that J.J. Abrams would direct their latest sequel, Star Wars: Episode VII. Ever since they bought Lucasfilm, the franchise has become a top priority.

Episode VII's just the tip of the iceberg. Disney's planning a whole new trilogy. It's going to take a lot of effort to develop, therefore other projects will fall by the wayside. According to Deadline, they've decided against re-releasing the prequels Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith.

Last year, Episode I: The Phantom Menace got the 3D treatment, but it came and went. Most fans saw it as a shallow cash-grab. Attack of the Clones 3D was supposed to hit theaters Sept. 20, while Revenge of the Sith 3D would debut Oct. 11 of this year. As of now, neither release is happening.

Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt hired to write new Star Wars>>

Disney has bigger fish to fry. Episode VII is slated to hit theaters in 2015, which means 10 years would have passed since Revenge of the Sith. They tapped screenwriter Michael Arndt to pen the script, who's best known for writing Toy Story 3.

Will he or won't he? J.J. Abrams set for Star Wars 7>>

When confirming the news that he'd direct, Abrams released a statement saying, "To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor."

Photo credit: WENN

Julie Gonzaloknows drama. Last season she took con-artist to a whole new level when she portrayed the beautifully manipulative Rebecca Sutter on TNT's hit series Dallas. Rebecca went to great lengths to get exactly what she wanted in Dallas,  which included concealing her identity and marrying the prince of Southfork, Christopher Ewing .

By the finale, Rebecca's secrets were revealed, including her true identity as a Barnes ! Not to mention, she's pregnant with Chris' babies. Awkward.

Back for season 2, Julie gives SheKnows a little taste of what to expect from Southfork's woman we love to hate!

"You can expect the truth from her this time around," Julie told SheKnows, "She's coming clean to everyone. And this is who she's going to be. So you finally get to know this character for who she is truly is."

Which is fantastic since last season she fooled everyone on Southfork, especially Christopher, which left the audience wondering if the devious Rebecca ever really loved the handsome Ewing?

"In the first season she really was in love with Christopher. You know, she really did fall for him," Julie says. But, with all the baby and undercover Barnes drama, is there any hope for this couple to reconcile in the future? "There's a battle going on between the two, but I think as a true Dallas show, anything can happen."

It isn't Dallas without conniving and plots of revenge. This season, Rebecca has two motivations to destroy the Ewings: her father and Christopher. "Cliff has never had any nice things to say about the Ewing family," Julie told us, "so I think she grew up listening to that. I think that most of the reason why she went on a two year con to trap Christopher into marrying her is because of her father. But, she is hurt. She definitely is hurt with the fact that Christopher never would have loved her as much as he loved Elena."

Despite all the lying and scheming her character's done, Julie still doesn't see Pamela as a bad guy. "I don't find her to be a villain in any sense of the word. I think she's trying to make her father happy… I had a very different upbringing than Pamela did. But as an actor that's the fun part for me. I get to explore that and I get to go into different levels that I've never been in. And I'm like 'well this is great.'"

Although the success of Dallas has made Julie Gonzalo a household face, she's still the same down-to-earth girl she always has been. "I definitely have a lot more fans, so it's really great. To be honest with you, it doesn't really change my personal life. I'm still the same person I was, you know, 20 years ago... I don't really change whether I'm on a hit movie or a hit show."

For those who can't get enough of Julie and Pamela Barnes, be sure to catch all the drama Monday nights on TNT!

Recommended links

Julie Gonzalo Playing Rebecca Sutter Ewing on Dallas
Dallas Season 2: More turmoil's a brewing
Dallas Comings & Goings

Photos Courtesy of TNT

A-listers go old-Hollywood glam

SAG Awards: Get the look

Julianne Moore, Claire Danes and more celebs recalled old Hollywood glamour with their deep side parts at the 2013 SAG Awards.

Julianne Moore

Chris McMillan was the hair expert responsible for Game Change star Julianne Moore's shiny strands and deep side part. The inspiration? Old Hollywood glamour, of course.

"I was most inspired by style icon Veronica Lake and the blonde in the new Dior campaigns," McMillan told SheKnows. "Her Van Cleef & Arpels earrings were amazing, so we wanted to tuck her hair behind her ears to make sure they weren't invisible."

To create the style, McMillan applied Living Proof Prime Style Extender to Moore's damp, towel-dried hair and combed it through.

"Prime Style Extender gave me the sleek, healthy hair I needed for styling," McMillan said.

Then, he parted the hair on the left and blow-dried it straight with a large, round brush. Once it was dry, he applied Firm Hold Hair Spray as a heat protector and used a 1.5-inch curling iron to create an S-curve with her bang, playing up her eyes and keeping her strands away from her face.

"I then used the same iron to bend the ends under, curling the iron in a counterclockwise motion," McMillan continued. "I wanted the look to be glossy, sleek and simple."

Mission accomplished!

Jessica Chastain

Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain reminded us of another famous Jessica — Jessica Rabbit, that is — with her red Alexander Wang gown and side-parted strands. Hairstylist Renato Campora created the look on behalf of Vidal Sassoon Pro Series.

Get the look:

1. Prep wet hair with Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Boost & Lift Foaming Air Mousse for volume without weight.
2. Spray Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Heat Protect & Shine Spray to protect the hair from blow-dryer heat.
3. Blow-dry the hair with a round brush. Once hair is dry, part it on one side to give extra volume.
4. Use a 1.5-inch curling iron to curl the ends for a soft wave. When hair is cool, brush the curls out with a thin-toothed comb to soften the look.
5. Finish with Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Extra Firm Hold Hairspray around the face to make it stay in place with natural movement.

Claire Danes

Hairstylist Peter Butler pulled Claire Danes' hair back into a low ponytail with a soft side part.

"If we try and make this Hollywood, it just won't work," he recalled telling the Homeland actress, so he kept it looking youthful, yet elegant, with soft pieces around the face.

"The dress is very sharp looking and I wanted to soften it by giving her a cool 'New York girl' style," he continued.

Get the look:

1. Apply MATRIX Amplify Foam Volumizer evenly throughout wet hair to provide hold.
2. Add texture and volume by adding Total Results Blonde Care Flash Filler Sheer Mist to the ends so they'll smooth out nicely.
3. Dry the hair with a medium, round brush.
4. Brush the hair into a side part and add a bit of BIOLAGE Exquisite Oil Replenishment Treatment to smooth stray hairs.
5. Add Applied Design Pulse Mega Dust to the roots at the crown and lightly tease to provide height.
6. Gather hair at the nape of the neck, leaving some pieces out in the front, and secure with a bungee elastic, joining the two hooks underneath the tail.
7. Lightly spray Total Results Amplify Hairspray to keep it all together without adding stiffness.
8. Finish with a few sprays of Blonde Care Flash Filler Sheer Mist to bring out the natural shine of the hair.

Amanda Seyfried

Suave Professionals stylist Jenny Cho was responsible for Amanda Seyfried's sexy style.

"My inspiration for the hair was the bottom of her beautiful dress — the layers of ruffles on her fishtail dress cascading down to the floor were so elegant," Cho said.

Get the look:

1. Wash and condition hair with Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Shine Shampoo and Conditioner.
2. Blow-dry with a large, round brush.
3. Make a deep side part and separate strands into four or five large sections. Wind each section around a large curling iron and hold for a few seconds.
4. Spritz a paddle brush with Suave Professionals Touchable Finish Lightweight Hold Hairspray to created a softer, wavy look.
5. Bring hair to one side and tuck behind the ear. Secure with a duckbill clip.
6. Add a few drops of Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil to your palms and work through the hair.
7. Remove the clip.

More SAG Awards celeb style

Get the look: Nicole Kidman's hair at the 2013 SAG Awards
Anya says: 2013 SAG Awards red-carpet trends
Whitney Port talks beauty trends at the 2013 SAG Awards

Photos: WENN.com

No one does bad quite like Dallas, and Josh Henderson fills his role as the rebellious son of iconic character J.R. Ewing brilliantly. John Ross is the sexy bad guy you can't get enough of and you secretly root for. But after just a few minutes of speaking with Josh you start to realize that good looks may be all he and his character have in common.

"I'm actually a very laid-back, nice person in real life," Josh told SheKnows. "I kind of put everyone else before myself which is kind of how I was raised, who I've always been, and that's just who I am. But being able to step out of that and play a character that is so conniving and scheming and willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants is something that I've grown to have fun with."

Josh received incredible on-set training from legendary actor Larry Hagman, who played J.R. Ewing for 14 years in the original Dallas series and returned for the new series.

"That's something that Larry taught me in the first season. He said, 'If I can tell you one thing: John Ross or someone like his father, is that everything he does, he has fun in it.' Larry had fun with everything he did. Whether blackmailing someone, you know, destroying a man's life… he did it with a smile on his face and he enjoyed it and that always bled through. I think that's why people loved J.R. or loved to hate J.R… It was a blessing for me to be able to learn from a man like that."

Larry passed away in November at the age of 81, leaving not only John Ross, but Josh Henderson to carry on the bad half of the Ewing legacy. "I have a big responsibility playing his son. Now that he's gone, hopefully I can really exude that spirit of Larry and J.R. through my character John Ross and keep it living."

And what devious little tricks does John Ross have up his sleeve now that he's the man of the family? How will he gain control of Ewing Energies and get what he believes is rightfully his?

"He has chilled out a little bit and he has a different approach." Josh explained, "He still wants to take over Ewing Energies, that's his goal, but he knows he can't just be, you know, guns blazing angry all the time. He wants to kind of fly under the radar a little more, but he's definitely working on a big plan."

He may have big shoes to fill, but this Texas-bred star couldn't be happier to accept the challenge.

"I was born in Dallas so I just feel so lucky to be a part of the Dallas television show and getting to come home and shoot the show here. I'm having a blast. It has changed my life for the better and I hope I can continue to do this for a long time."

Watch Josh raise some hell, hopefully be covered in oil and carry on the J.R. Ewing legacy Monday nights on TNT!

Photos courtesy of TNT

Recommended links

Julie Gonzalo dishes on Dallas Season 2
Q&A with Dallas star Jordana Brewster
Dallas Season 2: More turmoil's a-brewing

What you'll need:

• 1 sheet of thick white craft foam
• 2 sheets of regular white craft foam
• 1 sheet of red craft foam
• craft foam stickers
• 1 8x10-inch sheet Duck brand tape, white
• pen
• scissors
• ribbon
• brad

What you'll do:

Cut the thick sheet of craft foam in half crosswise to form the base of the mailbox.

Arch one sheet of the thin craft foam over the base of the mailbox. Cut two 1-inch wide strips of the tape and use it to secure the foam in place on the inside of the mailbox.

Set the mailbox on its end on top of the other sheet of white craft foam. Trace around the end of the mailbox and cut out the shape to form the flap. Cut out a second piece the same size to form the back of the mailbox.

Line the flap up with the front of the mailbox, and cut another piece of tape to secure it in place along the bottom. Tape the second piece to the back of the mailbox. Tape it all the way around from the inside to form the back wall of the mailbox.

Cut two 6-inch pieces of ribbon. Tape one piece at the top of the inside of the mailbox flap, and tape the second piece inside the top of the mailbox. Tie the two pieces of ribbon together to keep the mailbox closed.

Cut a piece of red craft foam in the shape of a mailbox flag.

Poke the brad through the mailbox flag, then poke the brad through the side of the mailbox. Open the prongs of the brad on the inside of the mailbox to secure the flag in place.

Stick the foam stickers on to the outside of the mailbox to decorate it.

Image credit: Amy Vowles

More Valentine's Day crafts

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3 Fabulous homemade Valentine's Day crafts
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Ingredients:

• Macadamia nuts
• Candy melts in your team's colors
• Candy pens in your team's colors
• Christmas lights sprinkles
• Optional: Luster dust for 49ers helmet

Tools:

• Toothpicks
• Wax paper
• Piping bags

Directions:

For the Baltimore Ravens helmets, you will need black candy melts, a black candy pen and purple candy pen or candy melts in a piping bag. Optional: For added detail, you can also include yellow candy melts.

You will also need Christmas lights sprinkles. They come in mixed colors, so pick out the purple ones.

For the San Francisco 49ers, you will need a red candy pen and peanut butter chips or candy melts.

Dip one side of a macadamia nut into the candy melt that will be the base color for your helmets. Then turn and dip another side so that they resemble a Pac-Man. Place on wax paper to dry. Continue with the rest of the nuts.

Use a black candy pen to pipe the bottom of the mask. Next, pipe the top line of the mask. Finish by connecting the top of the mask to the bottom with little lines. Use a purple candy pen or purple candy melts melted in a piping bag to create the stripe along the top of the helmet. Glue a purple Christmas light to the side of the mask with candy melt.

For 49ers fans, you will use a red candy pen to draw a line along the opening of the helmet, as well as the mask. Draw a dot on the side of the mask as well.

These are almost too cute to eat! Almost…

More football recipes

Almond football and macadamia football helmets tutorial
Football favorites: Easy main courses
Football game snack recipes

Duke University has launched a study aimed at gathering parents’ experiences with prenatal testing and receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome .

Uncovering informational, emotional needs

The study is open to parents currently expecting a child with Ds, and parents who have previously received the prenatal diagnosis and have a child with Ds now.

As parent to a toddler with Ds, I wanted to participate in this study from the moment I heard it existed.

My husband and I had experienced a range of emotions as we went through genetic testing leading up to a prenatal diagnosis of Ds for our son, Charlie, who is now two years old.

We had powerfully positive and powerfully negative interactions throughout the process, and participating in the study felt like my little way of helping out the next parents blindsided by an unexpected diagnosis.

Why was it unexpected? Well, does anyone really consider that their unborn child might have a chromosomal abnormality before they've even started genetic testing?

It seems the more common reaction to discovering a pregnancy is fear of the unknown, along the lines of being clueless about potty training and diaper changing.

Rarely will a newly pregnant woman spend time considering how she may one day learn American Sign Language to communicate with a child who has speech delays.

And while it's possible, it seems unlikely for a newly pregnant woman to fully understand and look forward to discovering an entire community of supportive, unconditionally loving people who understand her range of emotions.

The truth is, no matter how educated, informed, loving, open-minded or religious you may be, discovering that your unborn child has a health problem will take your breath away.

The team beside you during such an emotional, unchartered journey can have tremendous influence. In our case, we were so thankful for the calm, measured assurances from our physician. He prepared us before we had a diagnosis.

Alternately, we came away from every meeting with our genetic counselor feeling stressed and misunderstood. She meant well — we never questioned her compassion. But she always had an air of sadness when she spoke with us. Her voice mails were never neutral. We knew the news wasn't what we had hoped to hear, and we still had to call her back.

The idea that a survey of such experiences might help change experiences for future parents motivated me to complete it.

The survey took about 30 minutes to complete and sparked a nostalgic conversation with my husband. We received our unborn son’s Down syndrome diagnosis on January 27, 2010. We were to be married on January 30. I remember the details of our ultrasounds as vividly as the details of our wedding.

We struggled, and we survived. Parenthood will do that to you. Marriage can do that too!

Was it hard to relive those memories? Not really. Today, we have the benefit of being able to look down at the monitor and see our beautiful sleeping boy. He is worth any moment of fear, angst or self-doubt I ever experienced.

This survey could be pivotal in teaching a new generation of genetic counselors and physicians how to share unexpected news. Maybe it will help genetic counselors understand how to neutralize the downtrodden tone of their voices when leaving a message to “call me back, I have news to share.”

Whatever outcome, I believe this study is critical in helping educate the generation that will care for my daughter during whatever pregnancies she may be so blessed to have.

Katie Sheets, MS, CGC and Blythe Crissman, MS, CGC at Duke University Medical Center received the 2013 Jane Engelberg Memorial Fellowship to conduct the study, titled: Response to genetic counseling: Understanding the experience and needs of individuals receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

The anonymous survey is open until September 30, 2014, and can be accessed at obgyn.duke.edu/prenatalstudy.

The goal of this two-year exploratory study is to describe the experiences and understand the informational and emotional needs of patients receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Ds. The survey looks at parents’ decision-making throughout the pregnancy, according to Katie Sheets, MS, CGC, Duke University Medical Genetics.

“We hope to learn about the experiences of those making all available choices for pregnancy management,” Sheets said.

On the survey website, researchers share: “Participation will improve our knowledge and help us to provide appropriate information, resources, and support to individuals in similar situations. Sharing your journey could benefit other individuals or couples going through a similar experience in the future.”

While there’s no firm timeline planned to publish results, Sheets hopes to share preliminary results via abstracts and proposals at various professional and educational meetings/conferences.

“As part of this questionnaire, we also allow an opportunity for participants to provide contact information to participate in future research, as we are hoping to see the study into a phase 2, which will involve patient interviews,” Sheets added.

The study involves a one-time anonymous web-based questionnaire with web-consenting. Eligible participants include males and females who have received a prenatal diagnosis of Ds between 2013 and 2014. Patients who have received an earlier prenatal diagnosis of Ds who wish to share their story may also participate.

For more information about the study, contact Kathryn Sheets, 919-681-1984; or Blythe Crissman, 919-681-1976.

More about Down syndrome

Having a sibling with Down syndrome
Moms share favorite books on Down syndrome
What expecting moms should know about prenatal testing

Just when we thought our Thursday nights were going to be a lot less funny, now at least we can drown our Tina Fey-withdrawal in a pint of ice cream. Starting in February, you can get your hands on the elusive new flavor. The series finale airs on Jan. 31 on NBC at 8/7 Central.

For 30 Rock fans or even ice cream fans in New York, Ben & Jerry's will be hosting an event on Jan. 31 to debut their flavor and pay tribute to the show. Fans will gather at Latitude Bar and Lounge to celebrate the culmination of the final season. A limited number of tickets are available, and the proceeds will benefit charity. The event comes complete with trivia, giveaways and, of course, ice cream samples.

Anyone else interested in trying the new flavor can get in on a chance to do so before it hits stores. Details will be made available on Jan. 31. Visit the Ben & Jerry's website for more information.

I scream, you scream!

While we have no idea what flavor concoction the quirky minds at Ben & Jerry's have dreamed up this time, we do know they are no strangers to creating ice cream honoring iconic moments in television and other events. In 2011, Schweddy Balls debuted with mixed reviews to honor a Saturday Night Live skit that included Alec Baldwin. They must be fans. Other notable flavors include Apple-y Ever After, a tribute to gay marriage that showed their activist side and Late Night Snack in honor of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

See what Alec Baldwin had to say about Schweddy Balls>>

We don't really care what their ice cream is honoring as long as we have a spoon. Any guesses on what the new flavor will be like or what they'll call it? Liz Lemon cream pie? Eh, no — We'll leave the naming to the pros.

More food news

Nigella Lawson dishes on The Taste
Bite sized news: Gluten-free doughnuts
Tastemakers campaign

Photo credit: Art Streiber/NBC

Drew Barrymore is taking her new role as wife and mother very seriously. During a visit to daytime talk show The View last Friday, she revealed that she plans on raising her daughter, Olive, in the Jewish faith.

She told the ladies on the show, "He's a nice Jewish man from a nice Jewish family. I'm a shiksa [gentile]. I do the Seders and we do Passover. I haven't converted yet, but Olive will be raised traditionally."

The former child star did not have a conventional upbringing because she started working at the age of 11 months in a dog food commercial. Barrymore was best known for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but it was her stint in rehab at age 13 that made her another child star statistic.

Her turbulent childhood was chronicled in her memoir, Little Girl Lost. The actress's big comeback in 1995 showcased her acting talents, not her childhood troubles, in movies like Boys on the Side and a cameo role in Batman Forever. By the time the first installment of the movie Scream rolled out a year later, Barrymore was back on top.

Now, The Wedding Singer star appears to be relishing motherhood and enjoying the fruits of family life.

On The View, she shared, "[My daughter] actually has made me a morning person, so she's already made me a better person in every way possible. I'm like Godzilla in the morning... before I've had that cup of caffeine, and with her I sing her Good Morning with my husband, from Singing in the Rain, every day. She has the biggest smile and it's the first time I've smiled in the morning. I love it."

Barrymore married art consultant Will Kopelman in June 2012. Baby Olive arrived later that year in September.

The actress is currently working on a new makeup line called Flower.

Image courtesy of Apega/WENN.com

Did you know that steel-cut oats can be used to make a delicious risotto? The result is a bit more dense and slightly chewy, but the texture makes a wonderful accompaniment to seafood. For this recipe we've poached fresh shrimp in butter for a succulent gourmet meal.

Butter poached shrimp with steel-cut oat risotto recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2-3 cups butter, cut into chunks
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced finely
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 cups hot chicken stock
• 1 cup steel-cut oats
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

To poach the shrimp:

1. In a small saucepan, heat the butter to 160 degrees F. This will be below a simmer. The size and shape of your saucepan will dictate how much butter you will need.
2. Poach the shrimp for approximately 3-5 minutes, spooning butter over the shrimp throughout the process. Monitor the temperature regularly with an instant read thermometer and move the pan on and off the heat as needed for a consistent temperature. Cut one shrimp in half to test doneness. When cooked, the shrimp should be soft, not rubbery.

To make steel-cut oat risotto:

1. Heat up the stock to a boil, then turn down the temperature slightly.
2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of butter to the bottom of a saucepan. Sweat the onions and garlic with a pinch of salt for several minutes.
3. Add the oats and turn up the heat. Stir occasionally and let the oats toast a bit for a few minutes.
4. Once the bottom of the pan starts getting a light glaze, deglaze with the wine, stirring briefly. After the wine has mostly soaked into the oats, add a ladle of hot stock and stir. On medium heat, add one ladle of stock at a time and let the liquid absorb almost completely before adding more. Stir regularly. Steel-cut oat risotto takes longer to make than regular risotto, approximately 30-35 minutes or until the oats are soft.
5. Begin taste testing the oats for doneness when the stock starts getting low. The oats should be soft and not overly chewy. If necessary, turn the heat down to low to allow them to continue cooking while stirring until they reach a good consistency. Season with salt and a bit of pepper. When the risotto is ready, add the Parmesan cheese.
6. Ladle the risotto into serving dishes. Top with shrimp, garnish with parsley and drizzle with butter.

More shrimp recipes

Moroccan-style shrimp with pomegranate dipping sauce
Quick Asian noodles with shrimp
Mofongo with shrimp recipe

We didn't even know they were dating, but hopefully the third time is the charm for Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield. The 48-year-old actress, best known for her childhood role in Little House on the Prairie, got engaged to the 55-year-old Busfield over the holidays.

Their rep told People a simple, "They are engaged and both are incredibly happy."

Their engagement comes as a surprise given many people in the industry had no idea they were a couple. This will be the third marriage for both of them. Gilbert was previously married to Bo Brinkman and most recently, Babylon 5 actor, Bruce Boxleitner. Their divorce was finalized in 2011.

The couple will be merging into one big blended family since Gilbert has two children and Busfield has three kids from their prior relationships.

A source told E! News, "They've known each other for quite some time, as their paths have crossed off-and-on over the past 20 years."

The couple celebrated their engagement with family and friends on Monday night at the famed Beverly Hills eatery, Mr. Chow.

Busfield, best known for his work on Thirtysomething and The West Wing, spends a lot of his time now behind the camera as a successful television director. Gilbert was on season 14 of Dancing with the Stars strutting her stuff with professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

Read more on celebrity engagements:

Sorry, ladies: Brantley Gilbert is engaged

Matt Dallas: I'm gay and engaged to my beau Blue!

Nene Leakes is engaged to her ex-husband!

Image courtesy of Travis Wade/WENN.com

Level 2
Lenore Appelhans

Appelhans' debut novel takes the reader to Level 2, the world beyond this one, a sort of afterlife with no apparent purpose. It's where Felicia Ward has been since she died the day before she turned 18. All she has are her memories, but when someone she knew from her real life suddenly appears and tells her the truth about Level 2, everything changes. Appelhans herself is a YA blogger, so you can be sure she knows the ins and outs of everything young adult.

Prodigy
Marie Lu

The sequel to the well-received Legend, Prodigy continues to follow the story of June and Day. They live in what used to be the west coast of the United States, in an area now called the Republic. June was raised in privelege, bred to serve in a prestigious position in the military, while Day is from a poor area and must steal in order to survive. We won't tell you anything else in case you haven't read the first in this series yet, but rest assured, there's a reason everyone is buzzing about this sequel.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Jennifer E. Smith

Hadley Sullivan is NOT HAPPY. She missed her flight to London and now she's stuck at JFK airport. But then Hadley meets Oliver, who just happens to be sitting in her row on the plane. They chat, they connect, and before they know it, they're landing in London. But then, they lose one another. This romantic story of missed connections, timing and fate is sure to please readers who truly believe in love at first sight.

The Tragedy Paper
Elizabeth LaBan

We already featured The Tragedy Paper here in the Book Lounge, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention it again as a book that's sure to be one of the hottest YA reads of the year. It's been compared to Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why, a breakout hit that topped the charts. You can read more about The Tragedy Paper in our Red Hot Book of the Week feature.

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Lindsay Lohan really doesn't want to go to court. She has a new excuse every day and it seems that TMZ is confirming that theory.

Why can't Lohan go to court this time? According to TMZ, she's too sick. Her new lawyer, Mark Heller, gave documents to the court that state she cannot fly due to illness. In a winter season with a flu epidemic, this might be reasonable, but come on, it's Lindsay Lohan we are talking about.

Heller included a doctor's note diagnosing her with an upper respiratory infection and suggesting she stay away from flying to prevent infecting others. However, TMZ has photos showing Lohan enjoying a shopping spree and a cigarette on the same day she was examined by her doctor in New York.

Her whole case is in chaos anyway. The Mean Girls actress fired her longtime lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, and replaced her with Heller. Unfortunately, the new lawyer isn't licensed in the state of California and he has not been approved by the court.

What does this mean for Lohan's case? It means a whole lot of trouble. She was required to be in court on Wednesday in Los Angeles. If she does not appear and her sick excuse is deemed invalid, there will be a warrant out for her arrest.

The sick excuse has been used time and time again with the Liz & Dick actress. On the set of her upcoming film, The Canyons, she partied all night with Lady Gaga and then claimed she had an inner-ear infection the next day and had to go home.

A recent New York Times article on the film quoted director Paul Schrader as saying, "That’s her doctor, he’ll say whatever she wants. I shot one day from a stretcher. She could do it, but she doesn’t want to."

We also can't forget that she had an upper respiratory infection during her time on Scary Movie 5. When one of the producers called foul and hung suing her for breach of contract over her head, Lohan showed up to the set.

What will it take to get Lohan to straighten her act out? She's made herself virtually unemployable in the entertainment industry, the IRS seized her bank account and she can't make it to court to clear up her legal troubles.

Perhaps a little time behind bars will make all the difference.

Image courtesy of WENN.com

When your uncle is master manipulator J.R. Ewing and your father is ultimate good guy Bobby Ewing there's bound to be some tension. In season one of Dallas, Jesse Metcalfe portrayed the young and morally grounded Christopher, often caught between the two sides. But this season he may embrace the dark side a little more than fans would expect.

Jesse Metcalfe let us in on a few secrets about what's in store for the heroic Christopher and his wildly dramatic family in season two.

Christopher's morally shaky ground

In a town filled with buried secrets, does Christopher have any skeletons in his closet?

Jesse Metcalfe: I think Christopher is really defined by his need to prove himself as an Ewing. And, you know, the baggage of being abandoned by the only mother that he's ever known.

I think that's the fuel for his ambition... anything can really come out of that... He could have a substance problem. He could fly off the handle. I mean he's already proven himself in the first season to be pretty temperamental at times... certainly there's the propensity to go to the dark side.

Will Christopher become more cut-throat in the business world as he finds himself at odds with the Barnes family and John Ross?

JM: He definitely starts to consider compromising his ethics. And he certainly ultimately does dance on the dark side a little bit. He's really forced to in order to compete with everyone around him being so manipulative. You're definitely going to see a darker side of Christopher come mid-season.

Dallas without J.R.

How has Larry Hagman's passing affected season two's storyline?

JM: Our writers, our producers and obviously us as actors have all come together to try to honor Larry and honor the character of J.R. Ewing in the best way that we know how. And it's going to make for some very compelling television. There's no doubt about that... a lot of very intriguing storylines have been set in motion because of his death. I think they're really going to fuel the second half of the season and possibly seasons to come.

Has J.R.'s passing affected Christopher's character at all?

JM: has to step up even more and assume the Bobby role and really selflessly serve his family… his father's grieving and John Ross is also grieving as well and acting increasingly more erratic.

On a personal note

We're seeing layers in your acting we haven't seen before. Do you bring yourself into the character?

JM: You know, it's interesting. I bring a lot of myself to the characters I play... and it's almost like you learn things from your character or you become more like your character the longer that you play him. And, you know, Christopher's a very noble character. You know, he's really at the moral center of the show. He's incredibly ethical and oftentimes heroic and he's really the guy that selflessly tries to serve and protect his family.

How has starring on such a popular series changed your life?

JM: It's just nice to be on a show that people are watching and to be working with such an exceptional group of people. I feel very lucky. You know, this is my first opportunity to be a true lead on a series and, you know, and in part carry a series.

I take this job very seriously. I consider it one of the biggest jobs I've ever had. And I've been enjoying every minute of it. But there — not a whole lot's changed for me personally.

Watch Jesse dance with the dark side in Southfork Monday nights on TNT!

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Photos courtesy of TNT

Synopsis:

The new drama series The Americans revisits the 1980s Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, this time we see the war through the eyes of two sleeper agents from the KGB who have infiltrated the United States to fulfill their Russian mission. An unordinary man-and-wife combo played by Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell , walks a fine line of trust as the two trade secrets and work undercover as Russian spies in America. While it is always their goal to fulfill their mission, they must balance their so-called "normal" lives at home as well. While they maintain their working relationship, Rhys and Russell must also keep up their "married life" in front of their peers. Is this just a case of love by association? Or has it become something real? If so, how much can they truly trust their lover when they are both trained spies. Although they are paired together for their Russian spy/lovers honeymoon, they may soon find themselves falling for more than just each other's tricks.

Why should you watch?

For those interested in following the thrilling lives of spies, you'll love this revisitation of the risky Cold War tensions with a relatable cast of characters. Every "marriage" has its complications, but the stakes are a lot higher when one wrong move could not only end the marriage, but demolish a whole country. Talk about needing a strong pre-nuptial agreement...

Maintaining a healthy relationship is hard enough without government complications , but we can't imagine staying sane during the Cold War era. Thankfully, we can live out this fantasy life without worrying about it happening to us... for now.

Starring:

Keri Russell — Elizabeth Jennings

Matthew Rhys — Phillip Jennings

Annet Mahendru — Nina

Holly Taylor — Paige Jennings

Need more motivation to tune in? Check out this promo!

The Americans premieres Jan. 30 at 10 p.m. on FX.

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Images courtesy of FX

Generous George Clooney has payed another diner's bill. The story of the actor's kind deeds comes from the patron on the receiving end of a free dinner — coincidentally one of the last people on the planet who has no idea who George Clooney is!

Oliver Hermann, the diner who shared a restaurant with the actor and his group of friends in Berlin, confirmed the 51-year-old coughed up roughly $135 for his check.

While most certainly a kind gesture, Clooney's generosity wasn't entirely random. The waiter told Hermann the actor feared he and his party had been too loud and paid for his fellow restaurant patron’s bill as a way to apologize.

George Clooney will never marry Stacy Keibler, says sis>>

This was all news to Hermann, who refuted the idea the star's table had been bothersome.

"That's not true at all," he insisted to the German newspaper Bild. "They had behaved in a very cultivated manner. I was stunned."

Stunned a very handsome stranger had payed the bill, that is! Oliver Hermann had no idea who George Clooney was. Even after leaving his business card at the Hollywood star's table, in hopes he could one day return the free dinner favor, his identity didn't dawn on the diner.

George Clooney and his lady love struck down by food poisoning>>

It's unclear when Hermann caught a clue, exactly, though strangely enough his brush with fame has now found him a bit of it as well! The Berlin man's dining experience has since made headlines around the world.

George Clooney, pictured here at the Golden Globe Awards earlier this month, is in Germany to film the movie The Monuments Men.

Image via WENN

Directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller have found the key to their Sin City sequel. They've searched high and low and have finally found A Dame to Kill For. Dimension Films confirms that Eva Green will play the titular character.

Skyfall’s Bond girls aren’t just pretty faces>>

The French actress and former Bond girl is a perfect fit for Ava Lord. The official press release describes her as "every man’s most glorious dreams come true, she’s also every man’s darkest nightmares."

That's a dangerous combination. Ava is tied to Dwight, who'll be played by Oscar-nominee Josh Brolin. Ava's the only woman he's ever loved yet she's hunting him down like prey.

Rodriguez and Miller said, "We’ve been wanting to tell this story for a very long time. Ava Lord is one of the most deadly and fascinating residents of Sin City. From the start, we knew that the actor would need to be able to embody the multifaceted characteristics of this femme fatale and we found that in Eva Green. We are ecstatic that Eva is joining us."

Green joins an all-star cast which features returning actors Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson and Jaime King alongside newcomers Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dennis Haysbert, Christopher Meloni, Jeremy Piven, Jamie Chung, Ray Liotta, Juno Temple and Julia Garner.

Green previously starred in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace and Tim Burton's Dark Shadows, as well as Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is currently in production and hits theaters Oct. 14.

Photo credit: Lia Toby/WENN

Ashley Judd's marriage has run off track, tanked, hit the wall, if you will. After 11 strong years as man and wife, the actress and racecar driver Dario Franchitti are getting a divorce.

Going public with the news of their split, the pair released this statement to People on Tuesday:

"We have mutually decided to end our marriage. We'll always be family and continue to cherish our relationship based on the special love, integrity, and respect we have always enjoyed."

Judd, 44, and Franchitti, 39, are pictured here looking happy together at 2012's 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which were held in September. The pair became engaged in December of 1999, and wed Dec. 12 of 2001.

The star's sister, singer Wynonna Judd, served as maid of honor, while the groom's brother Mario was the best man at the private ceremony held in Scotland.

More proof Ashley Judd is running for senator>>

Judd and Franchitti do not have any children together, though she once commented of the possibility, "I think that, as with marriage, you just know when it's time to have kids."

Regarding life and marriage in the public eye, she previously explained, "Both my husband and I give a lot of ourselves in what we do because that is our public lives; but in my private life, I have an intrinsic right to be left alone."

Ashley Judd says STFU about her face, please>>

As news of their split hit the press Tuesday evening, the actress tweeted, "Family forever. @dariofranchitti." No comment yet from the racecar driver's personal account.

Are you surprised by news of Ashley Judd's divorce?

Image via WENN

Gina McDonald Blogs

Jill is the boss. Don't forget it!

Gina McDonald is a contestant on NBC's reality weight loss show, The Biggest Loser. As millions of people watch her and the other contestants struggle to survive fitness challenges each week, Gina will share her personal thoughts, obstacles and hopes on SheKnows to give readers a better glimpse into the life of a Biggest Loser contestant.

I can't tell you how hard the workout was the very first day. Bob Harper, the Blue Team's trainer, had us on the row machine and within 2 minutes I had a 444-pound big man  falling on me! I thought "these people have lost their minds!" Little did I know that was the easy part of the workout. At one point Bob had us running up and down the mulched pathway from the house to the gym with 20-pound medicine balls... at that point I considered making a run for it!!

The most challenging part of being on the ranch was overcoming the emotional and mental aspects of my life. I thought I would show up, work hard, eat right and lose weight. Little did I know that the secret to my weight loss and lifetime of obesity was buried well below the layers of fat! I had to start peeling those layers off hour by hour each day. Trust me... becoming vulnerable and exposing your emotional side day after day was a lot harder than any workout or wearing a sports bra in front of 8 million people each week!

It feels great to know that I am getting back on track for my family. Believe it or not, absence has made our relationships closer. I have an amazing husband, who although he is 15 years younger than me, has helped me raise my two children as his own. It has also been helpful that people like Danni Allen have become my surrogate family on the ranch.

As for my behind the scenes thoughts on all the trainers: Dolvett has that sly come-over-here grin then he yells at you like a drill sergeant. Bob is like a long-lost brother to me... and on most days I wish he was still lost! No, really, Bob and I have a brother-sister thing going and we each know what buttons to push! Jill, where do I begin? She is the boss of the gym and don't you ever forget it! Like Dolvett said, she built this house and, let me tell you, she can train you like no other.

I want people to understand and BELIEVE that little steps each day WILL change their life! After five weeks, I am already down to 197 pounds! Can you believe it? If I can do it, anyone can do it! Our Blue Team has been safe from elimination so far, but you'll have to tune in to see if we stay safe next week.

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Photo credits: NBC

New Girl fans have waited for this episode for a season and a half. Nick and Jess have finally kissed! And to think that just three minutes out we didn't think it was going to happen. We don't usually recap New Girl — it's such a short show — but tonight seemed like a special occassion.

The episode started off with Nick calling Jessica a "cooler", because she has awful timing and tends to ruin his steamiest moments. She swore she wasn't, of course. The boys decided to go out to a club and Nick completely downplayed the event so that Jess wouldn't tag along. She ended up doing all sorts of Jess-like things by herself at the apartment... including dressing a melon up to look like Nick.

Later, when she hears scratching at the door, she freaks out and calls nearly everyone in her cellphone's contact list. Like always, Nick talks to her and comes to the rescue... despite the fact that he was near closing the deal with a hot girl he met at the bar.

Nick, Winston, Schmidt and two girls from the bar show up to "rescue" Jess. When Jess realizes she's messed things up with Nick, she tries to fix it with a elaborate plan to get them back together. Somehow, though, it ends up with her and Nick trapped behind her bedroom door, the rest of the party chanting for them to kiss.

They almost do. Multiple times. Until Nick bellows, "Not like this!"

It's adorable and super swoon-worthy. But, he quickly ruins it by trying to play it off. In his defense, I'm not even sure Nick realized his feelings for her until that very moment. In an attempt to escape the awkward moment, he climbs out of the window.

After the commotion dies down, everyone heads to bed including Jess... with Sam. It really looked like it was going to end right then and there. Then, of course, the scratching at the door returns and it's Nick that Jess calls for help.

Then this happens... .

I'm still giddy.

What do you think? Will this be the beginning of Nick and Jess' relationship... or are they going to pretend it didn't happen for the sake of "saving their friendship"? Tell me everything!

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Images courtesy of FOX