When I was a kid, I looked forward to the Fall TV Preview issue of TV Guide like I looked forward to Christmas.  On the fateful day it arrived, I would bound out to the mailbox, grab the precious document, and pore over it for hours, reading about all of the new series that would soon enter my life.  I would even highlight, yes highlight, the shows I planned to watch on the schedule.

I may not be quite the television nerd now that I was then, but I still feel that rush of excitement over new programs.  You never know what will become the next "Ugly Betty,” right?

New Shows I Am Most Looking Forward To:

Gossip Girl – From the creator of “The O.C.,” Josh Schwartz, this CW series will follow the privileged lives of teens at a Manhattan prep school.  Narrated by “Veronica Mars’s” Kristen Bell and starring “The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants’s” Blake Lively, I am already quite fond of the cast.  And there is little I enjoy more than living vicariously through rich teenagers with scandalous lives.  Bring it on!

Chuck – Josh Schwartz is a busy man.  He is also an executive producer of this NBC series about a computer geek who becomes a secret agent.  Not only does this sound like a load of fun (especially for those of us who work at Internet companies), but it co-stars "Firefly’s" Adam Baldwin.  I relish any chance to see Adam Baldwin on TV.

Pushing Daisies – This ABC show is definitely getting a lot of buzz.  It is created by Bryan Fuller, the genius behind the little-watched “Dead Like Me,” and focuses on a piemaker who has the ability to touch the dead to make them live again.  The previews make this show look quirky and interesting.

Dirty Sexy Money – Costarring Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland, this ABC drama about a rich family looks to be campy fun in the vein of "Dynasty."  Early buzz on this one is excellent, and I definitely need more soaps in my life.

I am also eagerly anticipating some returning series that I’ve been missing all summer, like "Ugly Betty" (which is apparently featuring ... James Van Der Beek next season), "House," "The Office," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Heroes."

 I’m so glad I no longer have to rely on socializing to entertain myself!

I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures.  If you like something, why should you feel guilty about it?  That said, I do occasionally indulge in pleasures that might be classified as more embarassing than not. Here are just a few:

Laughing at celebrity outfits – I am willing to concede that I have had my share of fashion mishaps, but my picture is not being constantly splashed all over the pages of In Style. Celebrities should know better.

The Baby-Sitters Club – I stopped fervently reading this series in junior high, but part of me really, reallys wants to slip on a trenchcoat and fedora, bolt into a Barnes & Noble, and purchase all of the books I missed after I became “too mature” to follow the exploits of eighth graders and their sitting charges.  However, note that I have no shame about buying and reading Sweet Valley High books. (What? )

Center Stage – The story of Jennie Garth-lookalike ballerina, Jody Sawyer, and her delicious ballet school love triangle.  If I don’t watch this movie at least once a year, well … it’s a bad year.  The tagline of this film is, “Life doesn’t hold tryouts.”  Doesn’t that say it all?

Share your guilty pleasures in the comments!

With “Superbad” leading the pack at the box office and “High School Musical 2” breaking television ratings records, high school is definitely a hot topic in entertainment lately.  I thought this might be a good time to look back at my own favorite high school movies.

The Breakfast Club – Because each one of us is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.  This is the quintessential high school movie.  John Hughes’ masterpiece is both hilarious, touching, and real.   The movie turns high school stereotypes on their heads, and shows the hidden depths of each of its characters.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – In my opinion – and I’m sure the opinion of many others, this is Matthew Broderick’s best role.  Ferris Bueller is so charming and charismatic that you can’t help but love him, even while he is scamming you.  And besides, doesn’t everyone want to play hooky and sing “Twist & Shout” on a parade float?

Back to the Future – I love this movie.  Robert Zemeckis takes the high concept, sci-fi idea of time travel and creates a brilliantly simply romantic comedy.  There are so many lovely scenes that it is impossible to choose a favorite (although I am partial to “You are … my density”).  Michael J. Fox, Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson, and Christopher Lloyd all deliver iconic performances.

10 Things I Hate About You – This is my favorite of the wave of teen movies that came out in the late 90s.  It is no wonder that Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger matured into highly respected actors.  Their characters in this retelling of “Taming of the Shrew” are prickly and complicated, yet you can’t help but root for them.

Sixteen Candles – This is another one of John Hughes’ best movies from the 1980s and Molly Ringwald’s most endearing roles. She is immensely relatable to any high school girl as she navigates the affections of the nerdiest boy in school and her crush on uber-popular, Jake Ryan.

Pretty in Pink – My list may be a touch John Hughes heavy, but with good reason.  John Hughes is the master.  This is another one of his classics.  A wrong-side-of-the-tracks girl falls for a rich boy, while her long-time friend, Duckie, nurses a crush on her.  How can you not love Duckie?

Clueless – Not only is this a favorite high school movie, but it is also a quintessential Los Angeles flick.  Like “10 Things,” “Clueless” is a retelling of a classic work of literature, in this case Jane Austen’s Emma.  It is utterly charming.  Paul Rudd and Alicia Silverstone have an adorable chemistry, and it is a witty satire of the lives of privileged, Beverly Hills teens.

Mean Girls – Many people ask me why I still love Lindsay Lohan, despite all of her recent problems.  Well, my answer is, “Mean Girls.”  Lohan is extremely likable as Cady Heron, and this movie is edgy and biting.  Tina Fey’s script is spot-on at capturing the way teenagers communicate in 2004, and Rachel McAdams is perfect as Queen of the Plastics, Regina George.

Scream – I went into this movie expecting to be terrified, and yes, was terrified, but also laughed my head off.  Scream is a post-modern riff on slasher movies, but also contains genuine scares and is actually solidly plotted.  Kevin Williamson, the writer of “Scream,” is also well-known for creating “Dawson’s Creek,” a show that similarly featured characters trading smart, self-reflexive quips.    

Rebel Without a Cause – This, of course, is one of the first movies to treat teen characters as complex figures, and the very reason why movies like “The Breakfast Club” could be made 30 years later.  If you haven’t seen it, go. Rent it now. James Dean is revelatory.

Other lists of favorite high school movies that I enjoyed:

Movie Snobs

Entertainment Weekly 

Some interesting/weird/revolting news from the television world today ...

Ryan Seacrest is hosting the 59th Annual Emmy Awards.  Remember the first season of "American Idol" when no one really thought that Ryan Seacrest was any better or worse than Brian Dunkleman?  How far our little Ryan has come.

CBS has revealed the 16 new castaways for "Survivor: China."  This will mark the first full-fledged American television production to take place in China. 

Star Jones has returned to TV with her new Court TV show.  Her first guest was Isaiah Washington. Yeah, I'm not going to watch it either.

Brace yourselves: K-Fed is going to guest star on "One Tree Hill."

In better news, Kristen Bell is joining the cast of "Heroes."  A lovely actress on a great show!

I know that one day, I will probably look back over the course of my life and realize that I wasted a lot of time on completely frivolous things.  I will say, "Self, when you were spending all that time reading In Style Magazine, you could have been concentrating on solving the problem of world hunger."  And I will probably feel sort of unfulfilled and disappointed in myself.

However, that time has not arrived yet, and thus, I am incredibly excited about the return of The Hills, which returns to MTV on August 13.  Finally, some answers!  Did Whitney get the job?  Do Lauren and Heidi ever become friends again? Does Heidi ever realize that Spencer is a total wanker?  (I know she doesn't due to the pictures of the two of them frolicking on the beach with Heidi's, ahem, new assets plastered all over magazines all summer long.)

I don't know what it is about following the lives of these over-privileged 21 year olds so compelling, although some of it is probably the fantasy element.  No, I don't want to trade lives with Lauren Conrad, but the thought of being 21, gorgeous, and in possession of a seemingly endless amount of cash to burn on frivolities like the hippest restaurants and clubs has a certain appeal. 

Though the girl needs to develop better taste in men. Stat. 

I just saw Hairspray. I've not seen the Broadway musical or the original 1988 film (I know ... gasp!), but I really enjoyed it.  I love musicals, and this was particularly campy and upbeat, and certainly put me in a good mood.

But perhaps the most important thing about my sojourn to Hairspray is that I now finally see what the teenage girls of the world see in Zac Efron.  I've never seen High School Musical (although I may have to now), but I was totally impressed with his singing and dancing.  And he is adorable!  I am much too old for this, but I sort of want to hang a Zac Efron poster in my cubicle now. Dreamy!

You know how you have those celebrities you love that no one else really seems to?  I have an inexplicable fondness for Tori Spelling, for example. I think I may be only one.

Well, I also find that there are celebrities that I simply cannot stand ... for no good reason.  They could be perfectly adequate - even celebrated! - in their crafts, but they just rub me the wrong way.  This, of course, does not mean, celebrities everyone hates like Paris Hilton or J Lo.  Instead, I am talking about celebrities that the rest of the world seems to love that I find personally repugnant.  I am not saying that everyone should dislike these people ... and hey, they could be perfectly wonderful individuals in real life.  This is all completely subjective. 

Who is on your list of Celebrities You Cannot Stand for No Reason? 

10. Jennifer Garner - More annoying during her Alias days, but she always seemed so fake and cutesy.

9. Anne Hathaway - Just ... blah. I don't get the appeal.

8. Sarah Jessica Parker - Is it me or did she totally start affecting the Carrie Bradshaw persona in all of her real life interviews?

7. Brian Dennehy - Don't ask me why. 

6. Zach Braff - Always appeared to be pretentious to me. 

5. Andy Roddick - Ugh!  (Clearly, I do not share Mandy Moore's taste in men.)

4. Scarlett Johannson - Smug. Blah line delivery.  Why does everyone love her?

3. Jude Law - Not as attractive as he thinks he is.

2. Michelle Trachtenberg - I just cannot get over the annoyance of Dawn "Get OUT! Get OUT! Get OUT!" Summers.

1. Jimmy Fallon - This guy seriously bugs.  He spent years on SNL cracking up during his own jokes.  Isn't keeping a straight face, like, the first thing you need to train yourself to do as an SNL castmember?

Below are my completely subjective and occasionally very shallow Emmy picks in response to the nominations being announced today.

DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos

House is the only show in this category I watch regularly, so ... there you go.

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Spader, Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Ah, Kiefer, how brightly our love once shone.  But 24 sucked this season, and Hugh has taken my heart.

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette, Medium
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

I like Mariska Hargitay, but I like Kyra more.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Michael Emerson, Lost
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy
Terry O'Quinn, Lost
Masi Oka, Heroes
William Shatner, Boston Legal

Dude, how can I not go with Locke?  Lost had its ups and downs this season, but Terry O'Quinn always delivers.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Lorraine Bracco, The Sopranos
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Aida Turturro, The Sopranos
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

I don't really care about this category, but I have liked Katherine Heigl since My Father, the Hero and she was great in Knocked Up, so I'll throw her my support.

GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Tim Daly, The Sopranos
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
John Goodman, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
David Morse, House
Eli Wallach, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip
Forest Whitaker, ER

I also have no strong feelings regarding this category.  I actually thought David Morse's storyline on House was kind of lame, and no one from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip should be rewarded with anything.  I'll go with Tim Daly since I always found him attractive.

GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kate Burton, Grey's Anatomy
Leslie Caron, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Marcia Gay Harden, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Elizabeth Reaser, Grey's Anatomy
Jean Smart, 24

Like I said, 24 sucked this season, but Jean Smart is awesome.

COMEDY SERIES
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty

A category I am actually interested in!  I watch four out of five of these shows.  The Academy's continued insistence that Two and a Half Men is a quality show blows my mind.  I like Entourage as the fluff it is, 30 Rock is a hilarious show that keeps improving, Ugly Betty is a fantastically campy soap, but The Office is ... perfect. 

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Steve Carell's Michael Scott is a brilliant creation. 

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Wow, remember when this category was completely overtaken by the Desperate Housewives?  I have to go with America.  Betty is adorable, Guadalajara pauncho, braces, and all.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office

A tough one.  Jeremy Piven is 95% of what makes Entourage worth watching, but I am going to go with Neil Patrick Harris.  He is legen - wait for it - dary as Barney. 

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men
Jenna Fischer, The Office
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Jenna Fischer's Pam is my single favorite character on TV. 

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Beau Bridges, My Name Is Earl
Martin Landau, Entourage
Sir Ian McKellen, Extras
Giovanni Ribisi, My Name Is Earl
Stanley Tucci, Monk

Eh, the only one of these shows that I watch regularly is Entourage, so I'll go with Landau. 

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Dixie Carter, Desperate Housewives
Salma Hayek, Ugly Betty
Judith Light, Ugly Betty
Laurie Metcalf, Desperate Housewives
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock

A great performance.

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

It is tough for me to choose between The Amazing Race and Project Runway, but I have to go with the Race.  Its always exciting and the host Phil is dreamy.

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Late Night With Conan O’Brien
Late Show With David Letterman
Real Time With Bill Maher

Jon is still number one.

There are only three days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released and the world will know how the Harry Potter saga ends.  This anticipatory week has been filled with spoilers (true or false ... we don't know yet) being spread on the Internet.  Digital images of what may or may not be the book were published online, as most fans are trying desperately to protect themselves from finding out what happens before they have the actual book in their hands.

In fact, I was interviewed by the Boston Herald regarding how I intend to protect myself from spoilers.  With media swirling around the leaked copy, I sort of want to lock myself in a room until Saturday.  However, I am just attempting to be extra careful about what websites I visit.  After I buy the book, I am leaving for a weeklong cruise to Bermuda where I will be away from the Internet and chatty coworkers. 

The release of the seventh Harry Potter book will surely be an event and the end of an era.  Different cities are hosting different events to celebrate.  Harvard Square (the event I am planning to attend) is turning into Hogwart's Square on Friday evening and will feature performances from Harry and the Potters, Draco and the Malfoys and the Hungarian Horntails.  It will be the closest I will come to a trip to Diagon Alley until the Harry Potter theme park in Florida opens in a few years.

How are you planning to celebrate the seventh Harry Potter release?

Even though it is probably the worst television show on the air, every summer, I look forward to Big Brother.  It is so deliciously entertaining to watch people sit around a house, unable to leave, and make idiots of themselves for an entire summer.  The forces of boredom and competition seem to conspire to make these contestants absolutely crazy.  Its brilliant to behold.

In addition, there is the host, Julie Chen, whom fans have dubbed Chenbot because of her unwavering ability to say everything in a complete monotone.  Julie has always treated the show like it is serious news, interviewing the contestants as if she is speaking with a head of state. 

The greatest Big Brother contestant ever is, as many fans would agree, the Evil Dr. Will who took such glee in lying, lying constantly, and lying to everyone.  He was funny, smart, and cute ... characteristics most Big Brother contestants lack.  (Let's face it, the casting directors seem to veer more towards "cute" than "smart.")

So far, this season has featured:

a) a girl who has cried over an unflattering picture of hers, and accused a guy she has a crush on of trying to make out with her since she was jealous that he was flirting with other girls (yeah, you make sense out of that one!)

b) two former middle school friends feuding over a lost five dollars

c) a man who refers to himself as "Evil Dick" and is on the show with his estranged daughter

d)  a web designer with extremely scary eyebrows

and

e) a guy who has publically accused his ex-boyfriend (also in the house) of giving him an STD.

Does summer TV get any better?