If a young Hollywood actor wants to skyrocket to fame and become the object of every American female’s desires, he needs to do only one thing — star in a Nicholas Sparks movie.

Uh, der

Do you honestly think women would be so wacky about Ryan Gosling if it weren’t for The Notebook? So why are we such suckers for Nicholas Sparks' movies and books?

Implausible = romantic?

Every girl wants a take-your-breath-away answer to, “So how did you guys meet?” Saying you found your lover’s message in a bottle or that your Zac Efron look-alike fiance found you by matching a picture of a lighthouse to the town you live in sounds so much better than, “It was Saturday night at the club and coming up on 2 a.m., he bought me several drinks, we did the New Jersey Turnpike on the dance floor and I realized how funny he was.”

We’d have a better chance of figuring out how to live on Mars than experiencing most Nicholas Sparks scenarios, so why are we so enthralled with them? Is it about hope? Fantasy? Have implausibility and romance become completely synonymous? When WhatsYourPrice.com conducted a survey of 10,000 men and women regarding the connection to Nicholas Sparks-like storylines and hooking up, 24 percent of men reported that they have mimicked a scene in a chick flick to impress a girl. Yep. It would appear that the “being saved by a handsome prince” scenario that is so ingrained in all of us supersedes any and all reason, at least 24 percent of the time.

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Photo credit: WENN.com

Are the networks finally coming to their senses? Yesterday, we learned Fox's The Mob Doctor had been canceled. It was one of the lowest-rated dramas on network television. Yet it took them ages to give it the boot. Now, The CW is following in their footsteps.

Fox finally whacks The Mob Doctor>>

Since its premiere, Emily Owens, M.D. has been grasping at straws. The slightly more adult series has struggled in the ratings. Perhaps its quirky nature didn't fit in with the network's target audience? At the moment, The CW's biggest shows are The Vampire Diaries and Arrow. The medical dramedy doesn't have much in common with either.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emily Owens, M.D. won't live past its 13-episode order. Unlike its fellow CW newbies , it had one of the lowest-rated fall premieres. Also,  there was no major improvement as the season progressed. This week's episode pulled a mere 1 million viewers and a 0.3 rating in adults 18-49.

The CW's Arrow hits the bull's-eye... in ratings >>

The CW will keep its promise and let the remaining episodes run their course, but production is scheduled to wrap next week. Now, the network's focused on launching their midseason slate. With the new year comes the highly anticipated Sex and the City prequel,The Carrie Diaries.

The CW makes a date with The Carrie Diaries>>

Emily Owens, M.D. stars Mamie Gummer, Justin Hartley, Aja Naomi King, Michael Rady, Necar Zadegan and Kelly McCreary. The show currently airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

Are you shocked by The CW's decision?

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN

Kate Middleton adopts a new style

Get the look

Kate Middleton is rocking a new hairstyle to go along with her designer duds. We enlisted the help of celebrity hairstylist George Gonzalez to find out how to get the same look at home.

Is it just us, or does Kate Middleton's new bangs-centric hairstyle look like the style original Charlie's Angels star Jaclyn Smith rocked in the late '70s?

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out with the new style during an appearance at London's Natural History Museum on Nov. 27. She didn't get anything too drastic done — the biggest change is the new bangs.

And apparently, she's not too sold on the new look yet.

"I told her I loved her new hair style," spectator Joanne Baldwin told the Daily Mail. "She said, 'I'm not sure about it. It's a bit windy today.' I said don't worry, it looks lovely.'"

It totally does and we love that certain royals aren't too chicken to try out a new look. And Kate? Hair grows, so you're not stuck with it forever.

Loving the look? We turned to one of Oprah's favorite stylists, George Gonzalez of George the Salon Chicago, to find out how to ask for the same look at the salon.

"Kate's iconic cascade of curls get a modern update with the addition of a softly sculpted angled fringe that blends perfectly into her long layers," he told SheKnows.

"The staple of this style is of course the bang," he added. "The key to re-creating this is having your stylist cut an angled fringe with some of the sections skimming the tip of the nose in order to have the hair long enough to effortlessly sweep the fringe to one side. To soften this otherwise blunt edge when first cut, make sure your stylist 'chips' into the hair with the tips of the scissors."

And to do it at home? Gonzalez gave us a rundown of the steps it takes to get royal-ready hair.

• Apply a leave-in conditioner and use a wide tooth bone comb to detangle, applying a volumizing mousse throughout. Concentrate this on the roots in order to create a style with height that doesn’t lay flat.
• Blow out hair in 1-2-inch sections using a large boar bristle round brush paired with a thermal protectant to ensure the shine factor is amplified. Gather bangs and pin separately as you will style these later. Twist hair around the round brush and direct heat from the dryer on it for a few seconds. This will help create that loose, cascading effect.
• Clip each section after the twisting motion is completed in large pin curls and mist with a flexible light hold hairspray.
• For the bangs: I find styling fringe is easiest when you can start with fresh, damp strands. If they have dried too much so far, take a water bottle and gently mist them with water. Then, take a small round brush and start drying with a cupping action on a high fan setting. As the bangs become drier, start a brushing action on a low fan setting, directing them in the desired angle.
• Let cool. Take down the rest of your hair to reveal soft curls using your hands to style.
• Accentuate the loose waves by taking sections and curl with a jumbo curling iron for this iconic royal style. Mist with a light hold hairspray to seal this soft, bouncy style.

Not too difficult! Now, if he could only tell us how to get Kate's designer wardrobe without the five-figure price tag. Someday...

More Kate Middleton style

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Spotted: Kate Middleton rocks the red carpet in Alice Temperley

Photo credit: WENN.com

Photos of Jared Leto's weight loss are making fans do a double-take. Not only has the actor shed pounds for his role in the Dallas Buyers Club, he's shaved his eyebrows!

Much like co-star Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto is on an extreme diet to become emaciated for the filming of the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof. The 40-year-old singer and actor has signed on to play a transsexual woman with AIDS.

Along with the eyebrows, Jared Leto has been waxing his legs to help get into character.

Deerhunter singer joins the cast of Dallas Buyers Club>>

"Your body goes through weird stages," the 30 Seconds to Mars singer told Vulture of his weight-loss experience. "Sometimes it’s hard to hold on to water. But for me, it's not about the most weight I can lose, it's more to represent the character. I'm focused on what it means to be a transsexual woman."

For fans watching the transformation, however, it is very much about Jared Leto's weight loss! The actor, seen here on Nov. 26, hasn't revealed how much weight he's lost yet, but Matthew McConaughey is working on shedding a full 40 pounds from his normally svelte 183-pound frame.

Stars who are willing to look "near death" for the perfect role>>

Both men are doing their best to reassure fans who are unsettled by their scary-skinny new looks.

Matthew McConaughey told The Daily Beast, "Everything has shrunk quite a bit. ... I don't have the leverage I used to. I have body soreness. ... [But] I'm as healthy as can be. My blood pressure, everything's fine."

Jared Leto tweeted to fans Thursday, "Thanks for all the concern.. energy a bit low but I'm doing OK over here! XO."

Do you think Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto are going too far for their roles?

Image via WENN

Overheated chocolate is thick, lumpy and definitely not ideal for baking . Next time this happens, don’t throw it out. Surprisingly, overheated chocolate can be salvaged.

Tips to saving chocolate

Melting chocolate can be tricky. It melts at a relatively low temperature and is extremely sensitive to high temperatures, like microwaves. Dark chocolate should never be heated to more than 120 degrees F, and milk and white chocolate should stay below 110 degrees F. Ideally, we want our chocolate to be smooth, silky and creamy. If you accidentally overheat your chocolate, giving it a muddy appearance, there are some ways to save it.

Cool it immediately

If you've overheated your chocolate, begin cooling it as quickly as possible. The longer it stays warm, the harder it's going to be to save. To cool the chocolate, remove from heat source and transfer to a cool, dry bowl. This immediately stops the melting process. Add in a few handfuls of chocolate chunks and stir. The coolness of the chunks helps cool the melted chocolate down quicker.

• Chop it up. Chocolate buttons are the best for melting purposes, but if you only have a regular bar of chocolate, break it up into smaller pieces before melting. This will help the chocolate melt evenly and quickly.
• Avoid contact with water. When heating chocolate, make sure it does not come into contact with water or steam. This will cause it to seize — or become one gritty mass. Make sure all spoons and bowls are dry before adding chocolate.
• Use small, heatproof bowls. Clear, glass bowls work great since they don't trap the heat. This prevents the chocolate from further cooking once it's melted.
• Use a metal spoon or spatula. Never use a wooden spoon. Wooden spoons may contain moisture from previous use, which will cause the chocolate to seize. They also may contain odors from other foods that will spoil the chocolate. Make sure to stir the chocolate frequently as it melts.

More on chocolate

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3 Healthy chocolate dessert recipes

When Benjamin Franklin said, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes," he must have understood that Hollywood and the IRS are not good friends. Let's add Britney Spears and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, to that list.

Their tax debt of over $37,000 goes all the way back to 2004, which seems like another lifetime in Hollywood years. In 2004, Spears was married twice: first to childhood friend Jason Alexander for 55 hours in January, and then to backup dancer Federline in September. This was all after canceling her Onyx Hotel Tour when she injured her knee performing in June of that year. Well, that eventful year still has a tax bill owed to the State of California.

The California Franchise Tax Board has officially hit the duo with a $37,712.71 lien for income tax that remains unpaid. Spears' rep told TMZ on Wednesday that the lien was an error and that they plan on rectifying the issue immediately.

So, The X-Factor judge was clearly working in 2004 — not only on her tour, but promoting her greatest hits album. What was K-Fed up to? He was a dancer in the 2004 movie, You Got Served.

It's unclear how the exes plan on splitting up the tax bill, but Spears certainly isn't hurting for cash these days. She reportedly signed a $15 million contract for the musical contest show for one year.

Does anyone know what K-Fed is up to these days? He might need a weekend job to help with that tax bill.

Image courtesy of Bridow/WENN.com

It's an odd time of year to list a house on the real estate market, but that's exactly what Halle Berry is doing. The infamous Hollywood Hills home is the site of the Thanksgiving Day brawl between her ex-boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry, and her fiance, Olivier Martinez.

TMZ is reporting that the 5-bedroom home is on the market for $15 million and is listed with Billy Rose from The Agency, a high-end boutique real estate company. The Agency is well known due to its founder's reality show ties. Mauricio Umansky, also known as Kyle Richards' husband from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is the owner of the brokerage.

The home has an interesting history as it was once owned by Realtor Rose about a decade ago. He renovated the home and then sold it to Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz, who in turn sold it to Berry.

The home is a pocket listing, which means it isn't being advertised, but has already been shown to prospective buyers. According to TMZ, the Monsters Ball actress recently turned down an $11 million offer.

The mansion has been in the spotlight since the fight between Martinez and Aubry hit the news. Currently, the former model is being labeled as the aggressor in the fight and the police report states that "Victim [Martinez] defended himself and punched the suspect."

It appears that the home was listed before this altercation ever happened. Berry had been trying to move overseas with her fiance and daughter Nahla, but the courts rejected that idea since Aubry lives in the U.S.

If you're wondering what $15 million will buy you, try a 5,900 square-foot main house with a 1,400 square-foot guest house, a pool, a large backyard and a spa on a Tuscan-style estate. Now get shopping!

Image courtesy of WENN.com

A date with Betty White is poised to go to the highest bidder! Putting her dining schedule where her do-gooding heart is, the 90-year-old actress is auctioning off an evening of her time to help furry friends in need.

Your chance to "Win a Date with Betty White" kicks off Monday, Dec. 3, when the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles' auction begins. A starting bid is just $1,000!

An announcement at the spcaLA's website promises the following:

"You, and three of your closest friends, will join spcaLA's Friend for life, Betty White and spcaLA President, Madeline Bernstein at one of Betty's favorite fine dining restaurants for an intimate dinner. The dinner will take place in the greater Los Angeles, CA area."

Encouraging longtime Betty White fans to open their pocketbooks, the spcaLA promises the group dinner date "will be scheduled on a day mutually agreed upon by all parties."

Who's calling dibs on being "the next Betty White"?>>

Die-hard fans of The Golden Girls actress likely already know of her love and dedication to animal-kind. Since 1971, the actress has served as a trustee for the Morris Animal Foundation and has personally sponsored more than 30 animal health studies to improve the health of cats, dogs, horses and multiple species of wildlife.

What's her favorite animal of all? The California sea otter!

This past March, Betty White spoke to Smithsonian magazine about where her love of animals began, sharing, "Oh, it is so embedded in me. The first time must have happened long before my memory started. Both my mother and father were tremendous animal lovers... there isn't an animal on the planet that I don't find fascinating and want to learn more about."

Check out this clip of Betty White speaking on behalf of the Morris Animal Foundation:

How much would you be willing to bid for a date with Betty White?

Image via WENN

We didn't even know you were expecting!

Former The Wonder Years star Fred Savage surprised his Twitter followers on Monday with a photo of a newborn baby's hand.

The photo bore the caption, "He's here."

Savage and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their third child into the world to add to their growing brood. The couple, who married in 2004, were childhood friends back in his home city of Chicago. Their new son joins big brother Oliver, age 6, and big sister Lily, age 4-1/2.

In an interview with People back in 2007, Savage said, "Before having Ollie, Jenny wanted three kids and I wanted two. I figured we could compromise on two kids and a dog — but now she wants five!"

It sounds like the director's wife is winning since they are already on baby No. 3.

The child star has remained largely out of the limelight, choosing to focus in on his television directing career. He has directed episodes of 2 Broke Girls, Modern Family, and Whitney over the past year.

He has kept fairly mum on his personal life, and that is why the Twitter announcement was a surprise to many. His brother, Ben Savage, has been the one making all of the news lately with Disney Channel's reboot of the classic ABC sitcom Boy Meets World.

In fact, other than the baby boy's little hand, no further information is available about the new member of the Savage household.

It does look like the former actor needs to update his Twitter bio, though.

It currently reads, "I used to be an actor but then showbusiness decided I should be a director. I have a wife, a son, a daughter, and 2 People's Choice Awards."

Don't forget to add that extra son, but do it within 160 characters or less.

Image courtesy of Katherine Christine/WENN

Baklava is a classic Greek dessert, but it can be a bit time consuming to put together. Layer after layer of flaky phyllo dough and sweet nut filling. Instead of going the traditional route, we simply took the flavors and turned it into a cupcake! A simple spiced cupcake topped with homemade honey cinnamon buttercream and a dollop of sweetened honey nuts. It's delicious and beautiful!

Baklava cupcake recipe

Yield 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cupcake mix
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. Prepare cake according to box directions. Adding in the ground cloves and ground cinnamon while mixing.
2. Bake cupcakes according to box directions and let cool.
3. Top with frosting and 1 teaspoon nut topping per cupcake.

Honey cinnamon buttercream frosting recipe

Yield 1 cup frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 stick room temperature unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons orange flower honey
• 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. In a bowl of an electric mixer, add unsalted butter. Mix until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
2. Add in honey and cinnamon and blend.
3. Add in powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time. Blending completely with each addition. If frosting seems too thick, simply thin it out with a splash of milk.

Mixed nut topping recipe

Yield 1 cup nuts

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup finely chopped shelled pistachios
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a high-sided saucepan, add all ingredients and stir over medium-heat until water is almost completely evaporated and nuts are covered in a sticky sauce. Do not over-cook, or the nuts will become too hard once they sit.

More cupcake recipes

Strawberry cheesecake cupcake recipe
Creamsicle cupcake recipe
Apple pie filled cupcake recipe

For someone who is now in "retirement,"Amanda Bynes sure knows how to stay in the news. The actress found herself in the middle of a situation recently, but she decided to not run away this time.

"Bynes, whose dark hair is now a golden hue and extra long thanks to extensions, accidentally stumbled upon a group of photographers waiting to snap a picture of Justin Bieber while walking down a New York City sidewalk," said Yahoo! "Once she realized her mistake, she immediately tried to cover her face with her scarf, but it was too late."

As soon as she was recognized, Bynes tried to hightail it out of there by hailing a cab, and luckily, one pulled over right away. However, it seems she had second thoughts about abandoning her fellow celebrity, and she made the cabbie pull over so she could go back.

"Bynes scolded them for acting illegally — even though they were not — and then hopped back in the cab and headed straight to Bergdorf Goodman for a shopping spree," said Yahoo!

Bieber hasn't commented on Bynes' interceding in his paparazzi chase, but she might try to watch out for herself from now on. She is currently fighting a few different cases regarding traffic troubles she encountered over the summer.

"The actress' hearing for tomorrow regarding her misdemeanor charges of driving with a suspended license in Burbank has been continued," said E! News. "It is now set for Jan. 15 for pretrial and disposition. Meanwhile, her Beverly Hills misdemeanor hearing for her DUI is set for Dec. 5."

Bynes sought anonymity in New York after her troubles in L.A., and she also announced she wouldn't be acting anymore . But despite her attempts to escape the public eye, she seems to be doing a better job at staying within range of the media than many celebrities who are actually trying to be seen.

Photo courtesy WENN.com

Stephen Colbert has always been very vocal about his love for the upcoming The Hobbitmovie series, and now he is using his fame and influence to bring the stories to the world.

"Comedy Central's The Colbert Report will present four nights of Hobbit-themed programming , pegged to the Dec. 14 release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," said Entertainment Weekly. "Guests will include stars Ian McKellen , Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis , along with director Peter Jackson ."

Colbert spent time on the set of The Hobbit, and there is a rumor he will be making a cameo in one of the films. In October, he spoke with Playboy about the possibilities.

"I flew out and watched them shoot some scenes and went to some locations," Colbert told the magazine. "I saw a 25-minute cut, and it was amazing. Jackson knows I'm a big fan of the films."

When asked if he would appear, he replied, "Could be."

"It's yet to be confirmed or denied," Peter Jackson told EW last month when asked if Colbert would be appearing in the films.

Colbert even knows Elvish, one of the languages spoken in The Hobbit, and there is a good chance he will be putting that to use during his week with the hobbit and hobbit-friendly characters who will be visiting.

Jackson spoke last month about his respect for Colbert and the amount of knowledge Colbert has of Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle Earth.

"I have never met a bigger Tolkien geek in my life," Jackson told Entertainment Weekly. He also said Colbert's "encyclopedic knowledge" of the author is "spectacular."

If Colbert appears in The Hobbit trilogy, it won't be until the second or third film, so only time will tell if the rumor comes true. But we know now that all next week, fans of the series can get their fill just by watching The Colbert Report.

Photo courtesy WENN.com

Stephen King and his fans got a gift today from CBS when the network announced it would order an initial 13 episodes of a TV show based on a King book.

"CBS has given a straight-to-series order for 13 episodes of Under the Dome, a serialized drama from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television based on Stephen King's best-selling novel of the same name," according to Phil Gonzales with CBS. "The series will be broadcast in summer 2013."

According to CliqueClack.com, the series was originally supposed to be a miniseries on CBS' sister network Showtime, but today it was announced that the show would go straight to CBS.

"Under the Dome is the story of a small New England town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome," said Gonzales. "The town's inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away."

Stephen King will act as one of the executive producers, along with other big names involved with the new series. It seems like everyone involved is excited about the project and the network is doing everything it can to make the show successful.

"This is a great novel coming to the television screen with outstanding auspices and in-season production values to create a summer programming event," said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. "We're excited to transport audiences Under the Dome and into the extraordinary world that Stephen King has imagined."

The network has also announced it will create a cross-platform model for this show, although it hasn't said exactly what that will look like. By promoting the show from a miniseries on Showtime to a full series on CBS, the network is giving the novel adaptation a chance to run beyond the 13 episodes already ordered.

Photo courtesy of Vince Maher/WENN

With the rights to 50 Shades of Grey being worth more than maybe any other movie yet to be made, Universal is being very protective. The film studio bought the rights and is currently in the process of making the film.

While porn companies regularly make "adaptations" of other films, the substance of the 50 Shades of Grey series makes the porn version a touchy subject. Universal says the porn studio based the movie directly on the book, without attempting to make it a parody or any other genre that would make it somewhat acceptable.

"The lawsuit said that Los Angeles–based Smash Pictures had produced a movie called Fifty Shades of Grey: A XXX Adaptation which lifted 'exact dialogue, characters, events, story, and style from the Fifty Shades trilogy,'" said Reuters. The report continued by quoting the lawsuit: "The first XXX adaptation is not a parody, and it does not comment on, criticize, or ridicule the originals. It is a rip-off, plain and simple."

Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels, written by E.L. James, have reportedly sold over 40 million copies after being released a little over a year ago. Reuters said that Universal bought the film rights to the entire series for $5 million earlier this year.

The lawsuit was filed by both Universal and James' company. She currently owns the copyright to the novels. The lawsuit is looking not just at the proceeds from the film but also at money earned from any subsequent films or products made with the name or likeness of the 50 Shades brand.

"Universal said Smash Pictures had two subsequent movies in production and that one of its subsidiaries had also launched a 'Play Kit' of kinky sex toys called 'Fifty Shades of Pleasure,'" said Reuters.

"The lawsuit seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and profits from sales of the movies, which it says are trademark and copyright infringements."

The real film is currently in pre-production. However, given the storyline of Fifty Shades of Grey, you have to wonder how far from the porn version the Universal movie will be.

Photo courtesy of WENN.com

Who is the man behind the money? CBS' Elementary is all about mystery, but the biggest one has yet to be solved. Sherlock Holmes' father has been an overbearing presence since the pilot, yet we've never seen his face. According to executive producer Rob Doherty, they'll shine a light on Papa Holmes sooner or later.

In Episode 6 , the writers pulled the old bait and switch. They set it up so that Watson would meet the elder Holmes, but it never happened. The master detective hired a local actor to impersonate dad instead. Therefore, Watson never saw him — and neither did we.

Sherlock Holmes comes to the 21st century in Elementary>>

In a recent interview with TV Guide, Doherty admitted the role hasn't been cast yet.

"For me, when it comes to Sherlock's dad, I keep feeling like we'll know when it's right," he said. "We do want to meet him. I've been kind of fascinated by the notion of the man since we made the character part of the pilot. Yet we want to do it right, and we want to do it at the right time. It's nothing we want to rush out."

They're definitely taking their time with the reveal. Doherty's inspiration for the vague character comes from a classic '80s TV show.

"I've likened the character to Robin Masters from Magnum P.I. I don't know if you were a fan, but he owned the estate where Magnum and Higgins lived, and he was often mentioned, but never seen. It's funny. I think they actually cast Orson Welles. I think Orson Welles popped up as Robin Masters at some point, but he's not available [since he died in 1985]. On that show, he was never exposed, and I think of Vera on Cheers, or Maris on Frasier. We will get there.

Are you ready to meet Sherlock's dad?

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN

The mystery surrounding the death of Sons of Anarchy actor Johnny Lewis just got even more mysterious. Lewis was found dead two months ago, just after his landlady was found murdered — a murder Lewis is suspected of committing.

"The 28-year-old Sons of Anarchy actor died of traumatic injuries sustained in what can only be ruled an accidental fall due to lack of evidence that he jumped or was pushed, according to the official autopsy report released today," said E! News.

Lewis' landlady, Catherine Davis of Los Angeles, died of "blunt-force trauma and manual strangulation," said E! News. "According to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman, Lewis was seen fighting with neighbors outside following the alleged altercation with Davis. He was then spotted climbing up on the roof and was later found dead in the driveway."

Now for the mystery. At the time of Lewis' death, the investigator on the case, Jerry McKibben, said he believed Lewis may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The actor did not donate his organs or tissue because of "recent drug use." Drugs would have been a reasonable explanation for the murder, but new information may leave many wondering why he killed his landlady — it turns out that he was sober.

Police did not comment on whether Davis' death is still being investigated or if they have ruled officially that Lewis killed her.

Lewis was a rising star in Hollywood at the time of his death. He played his first parts in 2000 on 7th Heaven and Malcolm in the Middle. The actor also appeared on shows like The OC, Boston Public and Criminal Minds, as well as in the film The Runaways with Kristen Stewart. According to E! News, Lewis once dated Katy Perry.

"Lewis was cremated and buried at sea off the coast of San Diego last month," said E! News.

Photo courtesy of WENN.com

And a lot changed during that single year.

In 2006, as Dan was bringing home a pie to his family, he ended up saving a drunken blonde girl from a fateful encounter with the hood of a taxi. He lost the pie, of course, but he rescued the beautiful girl. Upon telling the story to his parents as they sat around the table, Dan and Jenny's mom commented about how their dad always had a thing for crazy blondes, too. Sure, she's as blonde as her daughter, but she doesn't consider herself crazy: that's a right reserved for someone else.

By 2007, Dan had finally worked up the courage to talk to that crazy blonde. He and Serena were dating. Also, Dan and Jenny's mom was no longer living with the family. She showed up for Thanksgiving, though... making things awkward when Dan's girlfriend and her family arrived to celebrate the holiday with the Humphreys. That doesn't sound all that awkward, but here's the thing: 2006's "crazy blonde" was Lily, Serena's mom. Rufus and Lily used to be inseparable, much to the chagrin of Dan and Jenny's mom. So, Dan spent Thanksgiving with his family and the van der Woodsens went to a Chinese restaurant.

Thanksgiving was rocky for Blair in 2007. She and her father were Thanksgiving junkies and, for the first time ever, they'd spend the holiday apart. B's mom, Eleanor, told him Blair didn't want him around when the truth was that Eleanor wasn't ready to face him . Blair was a hot mess and soon plunged face-first into her favorite pie, only to upchuck it later. Speaking of Chuck , when B decides to make up with S , Blair lets her in on a very big, very shameful secret: She's slept with Chuck Bass. Twice.

There were other issues: Chuck and his father were at odds and Nate's family was suffering the consequences of his father's illegal business scheming. However, since Nate's more or less become a background character, we'll skip the nitty-gritty. Let's just say things weren't great for either of the Upper East Side boys.

Now that we're up to speed, watch this...

Five years later, things are very different... and yet somehow the same. Rufus and Lily still can't get themselves together, despite their brief marriage and clear love for one another. Dan and Serena are together, just like before. But without all the obstacles, things seem more permanent. Also, they're about fifteen miles and a few socio-economic classes away from the Humphrey flat in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Blair has slept with Chuck a lot more than just twice and it's no longer a shameful thing. After a whole season of "just say it," Chuck admitted to loving Blair seasons ago and he's beside her at the table. Blair is, once again, at odds with her mother. However, she has a new family to celebrate with that's full of friends and just as much drama.

Dig out the last of the pumpkin pie and spend yet another belated Thanksgiving with Gossip Girl on Monday, December 3, 9/8c.

Images courtesy of The CW

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If your teen is like most, he wants to go to bed late and wake up late — not the best plan when it comes to school. According to studies, only 8 percent of teenagers are getting the required amount of ZZZs they need.

Help your teen get the right amount of zzzs

The good news is, even if your teen’s sleep habits are all over the place, it is possible to get his internal body clock back on track.

How much sleep is your teen getting?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, "Sleep is, in essence, food for the brain. And insufficient sleep can be harmful, even life-threatening." So even if you read that and think your child is fine, that he's getting enough sleep, you could be mistaken. According to a study published in The Journal of Adolescent Health, "Ninety-two percent of teens aren't getting enough sleep each night."

So what qualifies as enough? The National Sleep Foundation strongly suggests that teens need nine hours of shut-eye each night with eight hours borderlining on poor.

Where does your child fall on this scale? Is he in the 8 percent of teens getting nine or more hours? Not likely.

So what gives? Why aren't teens getting enough sleep?

Turns out, your teen's body clock is at least part of the blame. According to a research report published by the National Sleep Foundation and the Sleep and Teen's Task Force, adolescent's sleep patterns undergo a phase delay for both sleeping and waking. Studies show that the typical high school student's natural time to fall asleep is 11 p.m. or later.

Plus, if your teen isn't going to sleep and waking at the same time each day , his irregular sleep schedules can contribute to having trouble falling asleep and waking, and fragmented, poor quality sleep.

Study: Morning light exposure affects teens' sleep patterns>>

No sleep = ?

So what are the negative consequences of your son or daughter not getting at least nine hours of sleep per night? According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens who don't get enough sleep:

• Have an increase of unintentional injuries, even death.
• Perform less well during the day.
• Experience negative moods and inability to control emotions; inability to stay focused.
• Have an increased likelihood of stimulant abuse.

The 4 deadliest drugs teens are taking>>

What can you do to help?

Dr. Frank Coletta, co-director, Pulmonary Medicine & Respiratory Therapy and director of South Nassau Communities Hospital's Sleep Medicine Center suggests:

• Make sleep a priority. Make a bed and wake-time plan and stick to it as much as possible, even on weekends. Not only will the teen get more beneficial sleep but it should be easier to fall asleep at a regular bedtime.
• Make time-management changes in order to get to bed on time, which means not only organizing homework, but nighttime school and sports activities, and even downtime.
• Establish an off time for the computer and electronic devices as teens can spend extra hours into the night surfing, texting and viewing instead of sleeping.
• Avoid eating, drinking or exercising within a few hours of bedtime. Stick to quiet, calm activities, and falling asleep will be easier.
• Parents should set a sleep plan when their kids are young and be consistent about following it as their children grow older. Helping their pre-teens with good sleep habits will make it easier to sustain healthy patterns through the teen years.

Read more about your teen's health

Encouraging teens to eat healthy
Eating disorders amp up with technology
Exercise and teen girls: How much is too much?

Redneck reality shows remain hot as MTV continues the streak of rural-set unscripted shows with the Jan. 3 premiere of Buckwild, coincidentally just as Jersey Shore is winding down.

Much like Jersey Shore followed the exploits of a group of friends spending summers in New Jersey, Buckwild centers on what MTV calls a "fun-loving group" of West Virginians.

Goodbye, Guidos: MTV cancels Jersey Shore>>

The trailer for the show features a lot of four-wheeling and drinking and cussing and filling a dump truck with water to use it as a makeshift swimming pool and fighting in underwear and rolling down a hill in a giant truck wheel "after eating about 15 hot wings."

But none of that will come as a surprise to fans of this strain of reality faddism, exemplified by shows like Swamp People, American Hoggers, Bayou Billionaires and Hillbilly Handfishin', where, as the Washington Post wrote this summer, "sons of the South make moonshine, chase wild hogs, stuff dead pets, carve duck calls, wrestle alligators, catch catfish with their bare hands, mess around in swamps and generally hoot and holler."

TLC's controversial Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is perhaps the twinkling rhinestone in the crown of Southern-set reality programs, with millions of viewers and fans always thrilled to watch the antics of child beauty pageant contestant Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thomas and her family, self-described by Honey Boo Boo's mom as "rednecks."

Did TLC hit a new low with Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?>>

Just as many Italian-American commentators didn't particularly enjoy the Jersey Shore cast members referring to themselves as Guidos and Guidettes, many Southerners respond badly to the "hillbilly" and "redneck" labels.

The director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi told the Washington Post that "people of the South get frustrated at the narrow range of representations."

Yeah, watching the cast of Buckwild clink red Solo cups at a festive dinner party in the show's trailer: not so uplifting for Southern culture.

Image courtesy of Michael Wright/WENN.com

Cheesecake may have gotten its start as far back as the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. With the accidental creation of cream cheese in 1872, it got even better. While the New York style is considered a classic cheesecake, cooks around the world have been adding their own unique touches to this delectable dish. Here are three that you are sure to want to make!

No-bake cherry cheesecake

This no-bake wonder is not only easy to make, it's extremely delicious! The addition of a ready-made pie crust makes this a no brainer for last-minute holiday gatherings or a regular place at your holiday table.

Ingredients:

• 1 graham cracker pie crust
• 2 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 container whipped topping, thawed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 can cherry pie filling

Directions:

1. Blend together cream cheese, whipped topping, vanilla, and lemon juice until smooth.
2. Pour into pie crust.
3. Chill for two hours.
4. Top with cherry pie filling before serving.

Double layer pumpkin cheesecake

This sinful cheesecake has the best of both worlds — reminicent of pumpkin pie coupled with the perfection of cheesecake. Your holiday guests are sure to love it!

Ingredients:

• 2 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash ground nutmeg
• 1 prepared graham cracker pie crust

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing at low speed after each addition until just blended. Remove one cup of batter; stir in pumpkin and spices.
3. Pour remaining batter into crust and top with pumpkin batter.
4. Bake 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate three hours or overnight.
5. Can top with whipped cream, if desired!

Fudge bottom cheesecake

A wonderful, fudgy surprise can be found at the bottom of every slice!

Ingredients:

• 1 package Jell-O No Bake Cheesecake
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 5 tablespoons margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 squares semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1-1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 cup whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

1. Mix box of crust mix, sugar, five tablespoons of melted margarine, and water with a fork in a 9-inch pie plate until blended.
2. Press firmly against side of pie plate using a large spoon or your fingers to shape the edge.
3. Press the rest of the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom, using the bottom of a measuring cup.
4. Microwave the chocolate and one tablespoon of margarine in a small bowl on high for one-and-one-half minutes, or until margarine is melted.
5. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Let cool slightly.
6. Beat milk and filling mix with an electric mixer on low until well blended.
7. Beat on medium speed for three minutes.
8. Keep in mind that the filling will be thick. Measure out three tablespoons of the filling and stir this into the melted chocolate; spread evenly onto crust.
9. Top with remaining filling.
10. Refrigerate at least one hour. Top each serving with whipped topping.

More cheesecake recipes

Baked blueberry cheesecake
Vegan pumpkin cheesecake
Peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake bars