Athena's Fall TV Guide

By: Nicola Pioppi

These are the shows everyone
has and will be talking about
this fall.  Let Athena catch you
up on what you’ve missed and
get you settled in for some
quality TV watching (after your
homework, of course!)

The Hills (MTV)
Everyone's guilty pleasure
show is in full swing.  Most
recently, Lauren has become
friends with Stephanie,
Spencer's sister, although it appears that her relationship with Lauren's
ex-boyfriend Doug may break up this budding friendship.  Elsewhere,
Heidi’s mom stepped up and told her daughter she thought Spencer was
manipulative, and ruining her relationships with everyone, including her
family, who Heidi neglected to inform of her and Spencer's relationship
status.  Of course, there's been Lo and Audrina drama all season long, and
with Audrina getting her own show, it's possible their issues won't be
resolved pleasantly.  

Ugly Betty (NBC)
Betty's back, and after spending a summer trying to decide between Gio
and Henry, she makes the right choice: herself.  Love life aside, Betty's
old high school enemy is her dad's new boss, and Betty's new boss is
unbearable.  Daniel now works for Player magazine ("the third best-
selling, non-nudity men's magazine in America ") and his office has been
turned into a nursery for Wilhelmina's baby.  Betty's moving up in the
world though, with a swanky Manhattan pad that happens to be adjacent
to the abode of a very cute boy named Jesse.

iCarly (Nick)
Carly is also back, and sassier than ever.  Three episodes into the new
season, and she and best friend Sam have already fought over cute-boy
Shane and helped Spencer fight his video game addiction.  Meanwhile
Sam struggles to balance work with everything (and everyone) else.  Are
there any big events in Carly's near future? Not sure, but she'll be sure to
podcast about it!

America's Next Top Model: Cycle 11 (CW)
It's Cycle 11 already, and after Cycle 10's first plus size winner, Whitney,
the show is looking to push the envelope further!  Even though the show
is already a few episodes in, everyone knows it doesn't get good until you
get down to six or seven girls.  Follow the girls as they try to make it in the
modeling world.  I hope they go to Paris this year!

Greek (ABC Family)
Even more of the scripted drama we love, but in college!  The show
focuses on Casey and Rusty Cartwright, a brother and sister who attend
the same university, Cyprus-Rhodes University.  Casey has already made
it, socially speaking, and has risen to become president of her sorority,
Zeta Beta Zeta in the second season.  Rusty has recently pledged Kappa
Tau Gamma in hopes of shedding his nerd image, but his plan doesn’t
appear to be working.  His roommate hates the Greek system to the point
of organization, and is the leader of University Students Against Greeks,
while his fraternity president (and Big Brother) has had a rather sordid
past relationship with Casey.

Samurai Girl (ABC Family)
ABC Family needed a female-focused teen drama to replace the summer's
hit The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Samurai Girl is it.  
Nineteen years ago, a baby was the sole survivor of a major plane crash.  
The press named her Heaven, and she was adopted by a wealthy Japanese
family. Nineteen years later, ninjas (that's right) disrupt her wedding.
While escaping the ninjas, she meets Otto and Cheryl.  They lead her to
Jake, an accomplished samurai, and tell her of ancient legend about a girl
warrior who falls from the sky.  Sound familiar?  The show follows
Heaven as she trains in the way of the samurai, mastering her family's
sword, the Whisper of Death, and tries to find out the truth about her
family: biological AND adopted.