The first show for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has a couple of pretty big guests lined up. Fallon takes over as host of Late Night on Monday, March 2, and his first guest will be Oscar winner Robert De Niro. The night's musical guest will be Van Morrison, who will be performing "Astral Weeks."

Other guests scheduled for Fallon's first week will be 30 Rock star Tina Fey, Cameron Diaz, Watchmen star Billy Crudup, Drew Barrymore, Ludacris and Santogold. These stars should easily bring in a large audience for the new host.

The Roots will serve as Fallon's house band, and bring a hip-hop aura to the set. Recently he hired comic A.D. Miles as the show's head writer and Saturday Night Live scribe Steve Higgins as the "Late Night" announcer.

Fallon has chosen his first week of guests very well in my opinion. He will probably attract more of a younger audience with these guests, which may not be the demographic that Late Night was aiming for. However, Fallon will start his Late Night run off strong, and he will be a fresh face to the long standing show.

-Vanessa

Wisteria Lane is about to lose one of its residents! What desperate housewife is it? I'll give you a hint: the tall, loud-mouth blond-bombshell. Yes, you guessed it; Nicollette Sheridan is reported to leave her role as Edie Britt on ABC's Desperate Housewives.

This isn't the first time it's been reported the actress will end her run on Wisteria Lane. At the end of the fourth season, she moved to Boston, and was absent from Wisteria Lane during the five-year time jump that took place between Seasons 4 and 5 before returning at the beginning of this season.

How is she getting the boot this time? Edie finds out her husband, Dave, plans to kill her, and almost does. She then runs out of the house, but poor Edie gets in an accident, somehow involving her car and an electrical wire. What a way to go. Nothing's too flashy for good old Edie. Sources have said that Sheridan has never been creator, Marc Cherry's, favorite, most likely because of her inability to keep her mouth shut (on and off camera).The show might lose a little of it's oomph without the crazy antics of Edie Britt, but it shouldn't suffer too much. Bree, Susan, Gaby, and Lynette will hold down the fort for sure.

-Vanessa

The real Idol competition has finally arrived! The first 12 of the top 36 contestants performed and now it's in America's hands to decide which three will move on to the finals.

I think this first live episode was all about song choice. There were so many moments that left me scratching my head at what some contestants thought were logical picks. This year's semi-finals had no themes (like last year's God-awful 60s, 70s and 80s rounds) and it was a one-shot chance for the performers to show America who they would like to be as recording artists. Barely any of them (even the good ones) did that.

Here are my picks for who did the best and worst this week:

The "D/F" Team:

* Stevie Wright (You Belong With Me)--I had semi-high hopes for young Stevie, but man, was this painful to watch. I'm not sure what happened here. The song was much too low for her voice and wound up sounding like (to borrow a repeated phrase from Simon) karaoke with a capital K. It was so weird and out of tune, and I feel sad that Stevie will have to leave on such a terrible note.

* Stephen Fowler (Rock With You)--I was already suspicious of Stephen after he bombed in Hollywood week but was still given a free pass over the much more interesting Jamar Rogers. His voice was good, but I don't think there was bigger cheesefest all night than this. The arrangement was so out of date and I couldn't believe that out of all the songs there are in the world to sing, this is what Stephen said yes to.

* Jackie Tohn (A Little Less Conversation)--oh Jackie, I wanted to like you. This performance, however, was a mess. It was so self-indulgent, and while there were hints of a great voice, Jackie masked it with a weird mixture of growling and screeching that just did not sound good. And what was with that legging/sneaker combo? I was not impressed.

The "C" Team:

· Brent Keith (Hicktown)--Brent definitely can sing, but this may be the most forgettable performance of the night. Maybe I'm biased as a non-country fan, but between Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, there definitely is some contemporary and interesting country on the radio right now, and unfortunately, that was not it.

· Casey Carlson (Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic)--I don't think that Casey was a complete disaster. She has that Demi Lovato/commercial look and her voice isn't half bad. I also commend her for picking something a little different. The performance, however, came out sounding much too karaoke and the pitch of the song didn't allow her to exert any power.

· Anne Marie Boskovich (Natural Woman)--I liked Anne Marie from the beginning and I still like her. Her voice is natural and controlled. But I just can't let her get away with picking such a clichéd song. Time after time, the judges tell contestants not to pick Whitney or Aretha, and while she sang it well, it doesn't tell me anything about what kind of artist she wants to be.

The "B" Team:

* Michael Sarver (I Don't Wanna Be)--I'm really interested in the fact that Michael has a country accent but somehow seems to sound soulful when he sings. It's a weird mix that I oddly like. He isn't blowing my mind or anything, but I think he's a nice guy that I wouldn't be sad to see move on.

* Anoop Desai (Angel of Mine)--I was totally in the "I Heart Anoop" fan club before this but now I'm not as sure. I think he has a great voice and is geeky-adorable, not to mention his Hollywood week "My Prerogative" was ballsy and fun, but "Angel of Mine" was such a stupid choice of song. What was he thinking?

* Ricky Braddy (A Song For You)--We haven't seen much from Ricky, but the guy can really sing! I definitely agree with Simon that Ricky has "no star quality," but there is no denying that he sung the hell out of this song. My one big problem was that my all-time favorite Idol performance is Season 5's Elliot Yamin singing this same song. Ricky was great, but Elliot's version blew me away.

The "A" Team:

* Tatiana Del Toro (I'm Saving All My Love For You)--Yes, you read that right. Crazy Tatiana gets an A. Despite all the insanity and the dramatics, I challenge anyone to tell me that Tatiana can't sing--she has good tone and can hit almost all the notes. The judges weren't as quick to praise her, but I say get over it! Yes, she's unbelievably bizarre and her toned-down personally during the show was even creepier than her usual crazy one, but she's still one of the best singers in the competition.

* Danny Gokey (Hero)--Before the episode even aired, I KNEW Danny would be the last performance of the night. Does Fox really expect us to believe the order is all random? Danny IS great--his tone is rich and he hits all his notes with ease. But the fact that Idol is pimping him out to be the next great superstar reeks of David Archuleta. I just can't let myself ultimately root for the original man on top. Plus, "Hero?" Really? Does it get any more unoriginal than that? (And jeez Kara, calm down! I take back everything I said about her being the competent judge, only Simon knows what he's talking about.)

* Alexis Grace (I Never Loved a Man [The Way That I Love You])--OMG I LOVE her! I usually measure my feeling about a performance by how likely I am to download it, and Alexis' was the only one I really want to hear again. Fantastic song choice, fantastic vocals, and fantastic presence. Alexis is soulful, confident and unique. I agree judges--she is the one to watch.

While I think Danny and Alexis are a lock for this week's top 3, I'm not so sure about Tatiana. I think she deserves it, but America and I don't tend to agree. My margin of error says that either Tatiana, Ricky or Anoop will be the third chosen to move on.

--Kristen

Love is in the air...and on your TV screen! In honor of this Saturday's lovefest (and because I'm a girl), here are my top 10 favorite mushy, gushy, adorable and vomit-inducing TV couples of ALL time:

10. Robin & Barney--How I Met Your Mother

Not necessarily a couple yet, but we know that's where they're headed. Barney's subtle pining for his emotional-equal Robin is one of the best new additions to this already hilarious show.

9. Angela & Jordan--My So-Called Life

The show only lasted one season, and the two really had nothing in common besides Angela's love for the way bad boy Jordan "leaned." But man, they were fun to watch. (If you've never seen it and you like high school drama, get the series on DVD. You'll love it, I promise!)

8. Monica and Chandler--Friends

I never saw this unlikely duo coming, but when they got together, it was perfection. Monica cured Chandler of his commitmentphobia, and he gave her what she's wanted since episode one--a husband.

7. Carrie & Mr. Big-- Sex and the City

It took six years filled with hook-ups, break-ups, an affair, a broken engagement and a broken marriage for Big to finally go to Paris and tell Carrie that she was the "one."

6. Seth & Summer--The O.C.

This show was supposed to be about Ryan and Marissa, but the ditzy, popular girl and the nerd-next-door stole the show with their unconventional romance and by always snagging to best lines--it also helped that Summer didn't die in a car crash.

5. Blair & Chuck--Gossip Girl

Who cares about Dan and Serena? Those two absolutely nauseate me. I'd rather see Blair and Chuck's crafty, scheming, overly-dramatic, and surprisingly sweet "relationship" any day.

4. Ross & Rachel--Friends

Ross and Rachel are the quintessential American couple. For 10 seasons, we watched them pine, fall in love, go "on a break," get married, get annulled, and have a baby, all while knowing that by the series finale, they'd realize how much they belonged together.

3. Rory & Jess--Gilmore Girls

When I was 13 and started watching Gilmore Girls, I was aaaalllll about Dean...until brooding bad boy Jess arrived. He and Rory were the perfect bookworm pair, and even though Jess left Rory without a word, he was still ten times better than her next boyfriend, Logan.

2. Kevin & Winnie--The Wonder Years

Growing up, The Wonder Years was (and still is) my favorite show. Kevin and Winnie are childhood romance personified and every moment of this fantastic series makes me want to be 12 years old again.

1. Jim & Pam--The Office

Admit it--the reason you started watching The Office in season one was "Jam's" awkwardly adorable crushes on one another and their hilarious office pranks. It doesn't get any better than these two.

--Kristen

1. Anoop Desai--I love this kid, I just hope his personality can stand out.

2. Von Smith--better known as Screamy McShouty.

3. Alex Wagner-Trugman--still has some crazy facial expressions, but I like him.

4. Adam Lambert--sorry, I don't get it. Cher's "Believe"? Really??

5. Taylor Vaifanua--reminds me a little bit of Jordan Sparks.

6. Jasmine Murray--we didn't see a lot from her this week, but I think she's great.

7. Arianna Afsar--who?

8. Casey Carlson--I remember her having a good audition, but we haven't seen much from her.

9. Megan Corkrey--very different and one of my early favorites.

10. Mishavonna Henson--we only saw her for a bit on Tuesday, but I already like her.

11. Stevie Wright--I remember liking her, but I can't quite place her voice.

12. Joanna Pacitti--oh boy, all these girls are starting to blend together...

13. Kendall Beard--has a commercial/Carrie Underwood vibe.

14. Kristen McNamara--great voice, and I'm glad the judges overruled Simon and picked her over the painfully boring Jen Korbee. That was one of Simon's lowest moments, even for him.

15. Alexis Grace--big, soulful voice in a tiny package. I can't wait to see more from her.

16. Scott MacIntyre--I think having a blind contestant is really, really cool and I hope he goes far.

17. Lil Rounds--she's good, but I'm not really loving her yet. We'll see.

18. Jesse McCullah--I was a big fan of Frankie Jordan, but Jesse has the same retro style with much less attitude.

19. Allison Iraheta--the small bit they showed of her this week impressed me. She could be a dark horse.

20. Danny Gokey--Is AI pimping this guy, or what? He's a great singer, but they mention him almost every five minutes! (I'm pretty sad about his buddy, Jamar. I think that one was a mistake.)

21. Ricky Braddy--who?

22. Matt Giraud--another early favorite.

23. Ju'not Joyner--what a great name! He sounds a bit like Ruben Studdard to me, and "Hey There Delilah" was great song choice on Tuesday.

24. Jorge Nunez--I remember the name, but not the voice. Bad sign...

25. Brett Keith--I also remember the name, but not the voice. Another bad sign.

26. Stephen Fowler--he messed up pretty badly on Tuesday, but the judges decided to give him a chance. He definitely can sing, so it's a toss up for me.

27. Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle--I kind of love this guy. Is there something wrong me?!?

28. Tatiana Del Toro--crazy, Crazy, CRAZY! But she really can sing! OK, there definitely IS something wrong with me!

29. Jackie Tohn--she's fun and current, but needs to tone it down just a smidge.

30. Nathanial Marshall--Oh Emo Boy...How did I know you'd make it? Oh, right -- because they've shown you in EVERY EPISODE!

31. Jeanine Vailes --who?

32. Kai Kalama--yay!

33. Anne Marie Boskovitz--double yay!

34. Kris Allen--who?

35. Michael Sarver--I like that he does a sort of soulful country thing, but he's a tad bland.

36. Matt Breitzke--I don't think the judges made the right decision here. He was just way too boring. Also, if they were planning on eliminating either him or Michael, who was the original number 36?

Overall, I'm really excited about this year's picks. I think 36 vs. 24 is a little stupid though -- the first 12 to go are usually completely forgettable anyway, and now the shortest performances will drag out much too long.

Next week will feature the first (out of three) group of 12: Stephen Fowler, Casey Carlson, Jackie Tohn, Ricky Braddy, Anne Marie Boskovitz, Brett Keith, Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, Stevie Wright, Danny Gokey, Tatiana Del Toro, and Anoop Desai. I'm betting on Anne Marie, Alexis and Danny to steal the show. But then again, there's always Tatiana...

--Kristen

While in Europe a year ago, I started missing my American television shows and ventured on to abc.com to catch some re-runs of my favorite programs: Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. The Web site is a lifesaver, especially when I have a lot of work to do on Sunday or Thursday evenings--if I miss an episode, it's not the end of the world. Well, when I was abroad and pulled up abc.com, I clicked on "full episodes" and then there was a notification that popped up saying that only viewers in America were able to watch full-length episodes. My heart stopped when I realized the only TV channels my Dutch television got was the Dutch news and porn after 9 p.m. All I wanted were re-runs in English with no subtitles.

I quickly learned about a Web site called surfthechannel.com and hulu.com. What a relief, there I had it -- movies and television shows minus the Dutch language.

I still use abc.com to this very day but I'm still discovering all the other Web sites I can use to watch older movies. I now realize that I've taken advantage of all of the Web sites I have used over the years; there are so many good TV shows that people abroad may not have heard of -- my best friend in Europe was from Spain and the most popular TV he watched on a daily basis was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Go '90s, but I must have my Grey's Anatomy!

Take advantage of the abc.com Web site and catch up on this seasons Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives -- and if possible and not too busy, watch the episodes weekly!

-Cayla

Everyone stop what you are doing and listen up! For all of my fellow Gossip Girl fans, I have some news! There is going to be a spin-off that features the crazy adolescent teen years of Lily Van Der Woodsen (Serena's mom) in Los Angeles in the 1980s. I know, this sounds cool. I don't think this is much of a surprise since Gossip Girl has recently focused on the whole hidden pregnancy thing. Krysten Ritter will co-star in the spin-off, marking the first casting on the project.

The show is sort of a prequel to Gossip Girl, which is a different spin that I say should attract most GG fans. The new show is written by Gossip creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and focuses on Lily moving in with her sister, Carol (Ritter), the outsider of the family after a falling-out with her parents. Overnight, Lily has to transition from a life of luxury and education at a wealthy Montecito boarding school to living in the San Fernando Valley she once made fun of and going to public school. The pilot for the spin-off will air as a Gossip Girl episode May 11. Ritter is well known from her roles on Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars.

MTV used to be a leader in programming for the 18-23 male demographic, with quality shows like Jackass and Viva la Bam, but recently things seem to have been bogged down with lame reality series like Paris Hilton's My New BFF and that insipid The Hills and its spin-offs.

This said, I have high hopes for their new Sunday night lineup premiering tonight:

9:00 - Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory - featuring Rob of Rob and Big

9:30 - The CollegeHumor Show - likely to become my new favorite show.

10:00 - Nitro Circus - finally something to fill the void Jackass left in my soul after it got canceled

10:30 - How's Your News - the oddest of the batch, this news program is nearly entirely produced by individuals with mental disabilities (insert FOX News joke here)

I'll be back Monday with a recap for those of you who still aren't convinced.

- Nick out

Ahhhh Hollywood week--the start of the real American Idol. No more joke auditions. No more waiting room drama. No more time-wasting clips...

Whoops...that's exactly what they did.

This week's post-audition episodes didn't exactly thrill me. Idol spent too much time focusing on nonsense instead of giving us what we really want to see (or at least what I want to see) -- great performances.

Instead, we literally spent a half hour during Wednesday night's show watching members of certain groups bicker and cry instead of performing. I actually thought about shouting, "Shut up and SING!" to the TV. I understand there are too many people (most of whom are probably just mediocre) to show each individual performance on Tuesday, but am I the only one who would have rather seen an hour of back-to-back group performances instead of fighting on Wednesday? This is a show about singing, so why do the producers think the viewers don't actually want to see people sing?

OK, enough of MY complaining. There were some standouts this week.

People I'm excited to see more from:

Matt Gerard's group "White Chocolate" was fresh and fun, but he was the only member that really stood out for me and showed great vocal ability. I remember this guy every time I see him.

Danny Gokey has a fantastic voice and his group's decision to sing "Somebody to Love" was perfection for him. I like his friend Jamar as well, but I don't think he quite has Danny's talent. It'll be interesting to see the two duke it out for a spot.

Jeremy Michael Sarver auditioned with a country vibe, but proved during the group round that he could also sing soul--who knew?

Jasmine Murray--I love, love, LOVE her! She was the only sane one in the Rose/bikini girl/other-person-I've-never-seen-before's train wreck of a group. "The Trouble with Love Is" and "Mercy" were the perfect songs for her controlled and memorable voice.

People I was sad to see go:

Emily Whynn-Hughs (the girl with the pinkish hair) was the biggest upset for me this week. I thought her voice was really unique, and the way they featured her on Tuesday and during her audition really led me to believe the judges saw something in her. Forgetting the lyrics is something that unfortunately happens, and it shouldn't outweigh real talent. The contestants they choose better be damn good if they so easily discarded someone as promising as Emily.

Rose Flak--I really, really liked this girl, but she just didn't have the vocal chops. I kept rooting for her, but every time she opened her mouth I knew she'd eventually have to go.

People I can't believe made it through to next week:

Tatiana, the psycho girl with that crazy laugh--I thought her audition was a joke, and while she has a semi-decent voice, there is nothing special or great about her. Plus she's just crazy.

Nathaniel Marshall (who I like to refer to as "Emo Boy") really just isn't doing it for me. He kind of reminds me of Danny Noriega from last year--a little too much to say and not enough talent.

People I saw (but didn't hear) that I'd like to know the status of:

Blind Guy Scott McIntyre

Amy Winehouse look/sound-alike Frankie Jordan

Jason Castro's brother Michael Castro

Quotes of the week:

Kara to Bikini Girl Katrina Darrell -- "Damn, what a bitch!"

Crazy Tatiana--"I'm the sweetest person I've met since I've been here."

Final thought--While I do like a few people, where are the Carly Smithsons? Man, I miss that girl. Did anyone sing like this this week?

Maybe next week?

--Kristen

Normally I'm a music reporter, but I just had to mention this Super Bowl ad. It's become something of an Internet meme. Maybe it's the next "Chocolate Rain"? All I know is I will have nightmares forever, yet I can't stop watching it.

First, the original commercial:

Here's a kid who wrote an extended version of the "song" in the commercial:

A horrifying "remix" of the "song":

- Andy

ABC Family has picked up three pilots: 10 Things I Hate About You, Ruby and the Rockits and Perfect 10. ABC Family has had its best year ever, including the hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The three new shows are sure to follow ABC Family's great, wholehearted comedy and drama scripts that they do best.

10 Things I Hate About You is a half-hour series based on the 1999 film of the same name starring the late Heath Ledger (I truly miss him) and Julia Stiles. The series will focus on sisters Kate and Bianca Stratford (Meaghan Jette Martin, Lindsey Shaw). They attend Padua High School and like all teen girls, juggle their social lives and boys. However, Kate and Bianca have to manage a life and their over-protective dad (Larry Miller). Kate is impatient to make a difference in the world, is strong-willed and a feminist, while Bianca is more concerned with her looks and popularity. Ethan Peck, grandson of Gregory Peck, will play Kat's love interest, Patrick.

Ruby and the Rockits is a half-hour comedy starring Alexa Vega (Spy Kids) as Ruby, the teenage daughter of David Callahan (David Cassidy) and niece of Patrick Callahan (Patrick Cassidy), brothers and former teen idols in the band The Rockits. Since David continues to tour, he turns to Patrick to help raise Ruby.

Perfect 10 is a one hour drama revolving around the world of competitive gymnastics and follows a group of teen Olympic hopefuls. There's newcomer Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs), top gymnast Payson Keeler (Ayla Kell), her mom Kim, (Peri Gilpin, Frasier), the beautiful Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren) and the gym's hottie Carter Anderson (Zachary Burr Abel).

Also coming up is Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise, which is set to premiere in March. April is set to premiere an untitled romantic comedy starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence as two strangers who fake a relationship, engagement and wedding in order to get gifts and cash from their friends. And of course, they fall for each other. Both of these TV movies are classic ABC Family style and should be a cute and lighthearted way to start spring!

Last but not least, Greek and Lincoln Heights will be returning to their normal slots in the ABC Family lineup.

- Vanessa.

The Super Bowl has come and gone, and with it a bevy of ads aimed at the captive audience. As the (self-appointed) authority on television advertising for the Collegian, here is my take on Sunday night's offerings.

Best Cameo:

These Cash4Gold adds usually piss me off, but they pulled a brilliant move here. If MC Hammer and Ed McMahon use this service, everyone should.

Most Honest:

Most Super Bowl ads have little to do with the actual service or product the company offers. HULU took a different approach, letting everybody know exactly the intent of the company. Aliens and evil plots to destroy the world? Who cares if I can watch as much TV as I want.

Best Cinematography:

This one seriously deserves an Oscar nod for Best Short Subject.

Most Unsettling:

Seriously, who exactly are they marketing to? That was just downright harsh. The last line is the kicker for me.

Best Trailer:

Forget Transformers 2, this trailer made sure to let everyone know that the next Star Trek movie is not going to be the standard nerd fodder the rest of the series was (which in my opinion is awesome).

Best Thing EVER:

Seriously, this commercial made my life. I can now die happy.

- Nick out

Parks & Recreation is the title of Amy Poehler's new show on NBC. Super Bowl viewers were the first to be confirmed of the title when Poehler promoted the series in one of the 69 Super Bowl ads shown last night. The show, which debuts Thursday, April 9th, comes from The Office but is NOT a spin-off. Executive producers Greg Daniels and Mike Schur once thought about the possible idea of a spin-off. However, they changed course when Poehler signed on. This is good idea in my opinion, since spin-offs don't usually fair too well in the TV world.

The show has been called a plethora of things, including Untitled Mockumentary about a Local Public Works Project and Public Works. I think Parks & Recreation fits the show appropriately.

The show stars Poehler as Leslie Knope, an employee for a municipal parks and recreation department in Indiana who wants to start a career in politics. She vows to help a city resident turn a vacant lot into a park, despite obstacles and resistance. It sounds kind of dry, but if it consists of the same humor as The Office than it could be worth watching. Amy Poehler is funny and entertaining, so it shouldn't be too hard to watch.

--Vanessa