Wow, that was fast. In just the 2nd episode of Smash they made that nail-biting casting decision for the title role of musical, Marilyn. Experienced Broadway veteran Ivy, or fresh ingenue Karen? A lot of people were speculating that it would be a double casting, and that's what I was thinking, too. But wow, Smash surprised me! And now I'm left wondering -- with that big decision made, what will keep viewers returning? And is that really a firm decision, or are we in store for some sort of reversal?

I'm going to stop here before I go on and warn you that the rest of the post contains SPOILERS. So if you haven't seen this episode yet, stop reading here and come back after you've seen it! SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.

So, you thought Nicki Minaj's over-the-top performance at the Grammys was a ridiculous spectacle that only buried her talent under crazy costumes and special effects? Yeah ... I'd probably agree with you there. But was it sacrilegious? Eh, I don't think so.

Plenty of people did find the "Roman Reloaded" performance offensive. But I thought it was pretty tame, actually. The Church plays the same role it always does: A moral authority threatened by "evil." What's so controversial about that?

I don't know about you, but I wasn't thrilled with all the love Chris Brown got at the Grammys. It's only been three years since he beat up then-girlfriend Rihanna. But there he was, performing not just once but TWICE, getting more airtime than the Whitney Houston tribute! And then they gave him a standing ovation and a Grammy. What the hell?!?

I don't get it. We're supposed to just move on like that, after only three years? And why are people so ENTHUSIASTIC about forgiving Chris, anyway? It's like they're welcoming back a war hero and not a guy who beat his girlfriend to a pulp.

(Warning: spoilers ahead!) Hey, zombie fans! Can I get a spooky unearthly groan for The Walking Dead being back on? All together now: URRRRRRRNNNNNHHHH.

What's happened so far in season two: Lori's pregnant, Carl got shot but he's all better now, Shane's all haunted and shifty-eyed on account of the fact that he's kind of a psycho, and Hershel's barn turned out to be secretly crammed full of zombies—which is now public info because at the end of the mid-season finale, Shane broke into the barn (psycho!) and all the walkers poured out, including Carol's long-lost daughter, thus putting a much-needed headshot in that whole Where in the World Is Sophia? ♫ storyline.

Tonight we began the six-episode second half of the season, and I've been tentatively hopeful it would be better than the first half (smell ya later, Sophia!). Let's see where things went:

It's about time that someone asked actor Nicolas Cage about this whole being a vampire business, because for the last five agonizing months, the world has been dying to know the truth behind this freaky Civil War photo. And who better to get to the bottom of the rumor than David Letterman. Nicolas Cage appeared as a guest on The Late Show last night, and in a futile effort to try to get the 48-year-old actor to lighten up even a little, Letterman whipped out a blow-up of the famous photo, supposedly of an ageless Cage, that appeared for sale on eBay back in September. Well, let me say this interview finally put one of life's greatest mysteries to rest and confirmed without a doubt one thing we all need to know about Nicolas Cage.

Anyone who's ever written off Chelsea Handler as just another "bad girl" really needs to watch the comedienne's recent chat with Rosie O'Donnell. So what if she has a mouth like a truck driver and isn't afraid to write or talk about things that would make Howard Stern blush? (As if those were bad traits.)

Not only is Handler more honest than the average celebrity, she's more honest than the average human being. She's candid enough to share experiences and feelings with the world that most people have a hard time sharing with friends and family.

And she's brave enough to stand strong against the inevitable backlash to follow ...

Last night on the season seven premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County, it was like poof! and all of a sudden Heather Dubrow was a new housewife. There was no gradual introduction into the group; rather one minute she was turning up her nose at a $4.9 million piece of property, and the next she was in a limo with Tamra Barney and Peggy Tanous on the way to Vicki Gunvalson's party.

We know she's thin, rich, and "probably a bitch," according to Tamra, but what else do we know about this brave new soul willing to join one of the most catty and aggressive groups of Housewives there is? She seems much too normal and classy on the surface to subject herself to their drama, but what's she really all about? And more importantly, can she really deliver the drama? Here are five fascinating things we've learned about new Housewife, Heather Dubrow:

Oh you One Million Moms, don't you know your hate just makes Ellen stronger? I thought it was crazy when I first heard of the bigotry-fueled group trying to boycott JCPenney because Ellen DeGeneres is their new spokeswoman. And clearly I wasn't the only one. Even conservative Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly is "standing up" for Ellen. Wait until you read what he said in her defense.

And wait until you hear Ellen's own response. On her show she gave a shout-out to Prop 8 being ruled unconstitutional. And then she talked about what the One Million Moms campaign meant to her -- and what kinds of "traditional" values she stands for. It's classic Ellen, and it shows why this woman is just too gracious and charming for anyone to truly hate.