Labor Day weekend always brings some juggling to the TV lineup, but there are some special opportunities over the next few days that viewers may want to be aware of:

Thu., Sep. 2, 9pm: Note the synergistic date…9/02/10.  Tonight, you’ll get another look at the 90210 season two finale, complete with homicide and theft confessions, arson and multiple assaults.  Just another day in Beverly Hills.  The new season kicks off Monday, Sep. 13 at 8pm.  (90210 follows the awesome season finale of The Vampire Diaries—a great refresher before next week’s big premiere!)

Fri., Sep. 3, 4pm: The CW4Kids Toonzai Friday Fall Preview is followed by the network’s primetime preview special.  Be the first to know what’s coming!

Sat., Sep. 4, 11pm: Take a Sneak Peek at the first episode of Heartland (pictured), our new award-winning weekend family drama based on the popular series of novels.  There’s plenty of tension and romance on the Midwest ranch, where a teenage girl uses her special gift to heal traumatized horses.  Heartland premieres Sun., Sep. 18 at 2pm.

Sun., Sep. 5, 2pm / 6:30pm: Here are your final two chances to see the CW 2010 Fall Preview Special, hosted by Kristoffer Polaha (Baze on Life Unexpected) and Robert Buckley (Clay on One Tree Hill).

MDA Telethon: It’s the 45^th annual event to raise funds for Jerry’s Kids.  There will be round-the-clock entertainment, beginning Sunday at 9pm and continuing through Labor Day at 7pm.  Melanie Murphy, Matt Miller and Ronnie Duncan will host local segments from MetroHealth in Cleveland.

Tue., Sep. 7: Better Cleveland moves into its new time period, weekday mornings at 8am.  And for two weeks, The Wendy Williams Show will occupy the 2pm timeslot each afternoon.  On Monday, Sep. 20, Wendy’s popular talk show settles into its permanent home at 4pm.

CW Premiere Week: Don’t forget, America’s Next Top Model and Hellcats premiere next Wednesday, with The Vampire Diaries and Nikita debuting on Thursday.  The new fall season is here, folks!!

Lots of fall television spoilers have been floating across the internet this summer, whetting our appetite for new episodes.  Glancing at each of The CW’s ten programs, we’ve chosen at least one intriguing storyline that should drive viewers to their nearest watercooler or chat room next month.  

90210:   Ready for some rockin’ and rollin’, West Coast style?  An earthquake jolts the Hills right away, but will that be enough to distract Naomi from her creepy teacher…who’s still very much around after the assault. 

Gossip Girl:   Two new babes steal the limelight—and that’s not easy with this cast.  Katie Cassidy latches onto Nate, but producers say she’ll also bring ‘nice, juicy trouble.’  Across town, Dan tends to Georgina’s baby, wondering how he became a papa. 

One Tree Hill:   What could be more dramatic than Clay and Quinn sprawled in pools of blood, with gun-toting whacko Katie still on the loose?  Might have been the series’ most heart-stopping season finale thus far. 

Life Unexpected:   In a stroke of programming genius, the Oct. 12 episode will feature a CW crossover, with One Tree Hill songbirds Haley and Mia (Cleveland’s Kate Voegele) trekking to Portland for Cate and Ryan’s radio concert promotion.            

America’s Next Top Model:   Venice and Milan…and a contestant who boasts “the smallest waist in the world.”  

Hellcats:   It’s a new show, so there’s much to reveal.  But judging from the promo trailers, Heather Hemmens (pictured) is more than an injured cheerleader.  She’s a Mean Girl.  And every pep squad dorm needs a backstabbing Mean Girl. 

The Vampire Diaries:   Seeing Katherine lop off four of David Anders’ fingers was frightening and gruesome.  The good news is Elena’s dad may well have survived the attack, says E! Online.  And doctors are doing wonders with re-attachment. 

Nikita:   Another freshman series, and this one’s working outside the box.  Expect action and suspense from the opening credits, but it’s an off-the-wall twist at the end that has bloggers abuzz.      

Smallville:   Nothing’s gonna be held back this season—it’s advisable to catch every episode.  Fan favorite Chloe will be missing for part of the year, throwing new beau Oliver for a loop.  But apparently her absence is tied to some new headgear: Dr. Fate’s helmet!  

Supernatural:   The new emphasis on family and monster mythology will be entertaining, but the highlight could be the Winchesters’ satirical send-up of the vampires from Twilight and Vampire Diaires.

The new fall TV season begins in just over four weeks, and many CW series are making guest appearance headlines.  Here’s the latest round of casting mayhem: 

Sebastian Roche (Fringe) is already at work on Supernatural.  Might he be the new angel who’s gone a bit rogue?  TVG describes the seraph as an “attractive charmer who appears slightly manic on the surface, but carries a great sadness.”    

Sahar Biniaz (pictured) has landed the role of Shayera in the second episode of Smallville.  Her alter-ego is Hawkgirl, the wife of Justice Society leader Hawkman (Michael Shanks, who is returning).  This may be a flashback scene, since Hawkgirl had been killed in battle when the superhero team appeared last season.  The stunning Sahar was the first runner-up to be Canada’s rep in the Miss Universe pageant.  

Courtney Ford hopes for an extended stay on The Vampire Diaires.  She’ll play a mysterious grad student at Duke who assists Alaric, Damon and Elena in digging up Isobel’s research on vampires and werewolves.  Exec producer Kevin Williamson teased EW that the role “could evolve into this massive storyline, or we could gut her like a fish.”  Courtney is best-known as the daughter of the deceased Trinity killer (Akron’s John Lithgow) on Dexter, and she’s married to big-screen Superman Brandon Routh.

Allie Bertram was recently added to the cast of Hellcats.  Sounds like she’ll be a member of the rival college cheerleading team—surely the claws come out, right?  The 21-year-old was a runner-up on the first season of a TV dance competition, so the transition to this aerobic workout should be smooth.  

Kyle Riabko and Scheana Marie will quickly make their presence felt on 90210.  A Canadian pop singer and Broadway star (Spring Awakening), Kyle’s on board for an unusual romance.  Scheana, meanwhile, may follow in the West Beverly pill-pushing steps of George (Kellan Lutz) and Jasper (Zach Sherman).

#1:    Baze (Kristoffer Polaha, pictured) on Life Unexpected
#4:    Seely Booth (David Boreanaz) on Bones
#9:    Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) on One Tree Hill
#10:  John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) on Supernatural
#15:  Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) on Desperate Housewives
#17:  Harry Wilson (Rob Estes) on 90210
#20:  Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle) on Gossip Girl 

Forbes employs a more formulaic strategy in assembling its list of the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Celebrities.”  Measurements include earnings and media exposure across all platforms.  Noticeably absent from this year’s rankings are Tyra Banks, who appeared on the previous four compilations, and Will Smith (Fresh Prince), who claimed the #11 position in 2009.  Here are the WBNX stars who placed this year: 

#25:   Tyler Perry (House of Payne)
#26:   Jennifer Aniston (Friends)
#78:   Steve Carell  (The Office)
#84:   Ray Romano  (Everybody Loves Raymond)
#92:   Eva Longoria Parker  (Desperate Housewives)
#94:   George Lopez (George Lopez Show)
#100:   Mariska Hargitay  (Law & Order: SVU)

Evan Ross will undoubtedly bring some much needed edge to 90210.  The 21-year-old son of music legend Diana Ross, Evan immediately catches the eye of Annie (Shenae Grimes), but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him linked with singer Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes), since he’s a budding R&B artist himself.  The young film star has won acclaim for his early roles, quickly establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand faces on the big screen.  Evan’s casting is a huge coup for 90210.   

Emma Caulfield.  The name alone sends Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans into a frenzy.  As Xander’s comical demon/girlfriend “Anya,” she was a favorite throughout the final five seasons.  This fall, Emma moves into the financial fishtank on Life Unexpected, working with Baze’s father in investments and—dare we say?—developing a crush on the boss’s son.  If you’re keeping track at home, that’s three new women (plus Cate) with an eye on Kristoffer Polaha.  Series creator Liz Tigelaar wasn’t kidding when she promised a much larger show for Season Two.

Jeff Hephner and Laurie Metcalf stole the show on last season’s short-lived CW drama, Easy Money.  Will he now steal the cheerleading coach (Sharon Teal) away from her longtime beau, D.B. Woodside, on Hellcats?  Yeah, that seems like the plan.  Jeff is the new football coach at Lancer University, where the pigskin is king, and we’re thrilled that this talented actor is back home on the network.  

Cindy Sampson is not exactly a household name, but she’s Dean Winchester’s go-to girl for affairs of the heart on Supernatural.  Dean showed up on her doorstep in the season finale, and when the spookshow reboots in September, we’ll have jumped ahead a year—during which Dean lived a “normal” life with Lisa and little Ben, unaware that Sam is alive and hunting.  Trust us, this is one premiere you don’t wanna miss.    

Breakout TV Show:   Life Unexpected and The Vampire Diaries
Female Breakout Star:   Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries)
Male Breakout Star:   Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries)
Female Scene Stealer:   Hilary Duff (Gossip Girl), Bethany Joy Galeotti (One Tree Hill), Katerina Graham (The Vampire Diaries) and Shenae Grimes (90210)
Male Scene Stealer:   James Lafferty (One Tree Hill)
TV Parental Unit:   Rob Estes and Lori Loughlin (90210); Bethany Joy Galeotti and James Lafferty (One Tree Hill)
Male Hottie:   Ian Somerhalder (The Vampire Diaries)
TV Personality:   Mario Lopez
Music Single:   California Gurls (Katy Perry), The CW’s summer image theme
Red Carpet Fashion Icon:   Eva Longoria Parker (Desperate Housewives)
Choice Activist:  Eva Longoria Parker
Movie Scene Stealer:   George Lopez (pictured)
Choice Twitterer:   George Lopez

Nearly a dozen WBNX shows will be releasing DVD collections this summer.  Here’s your one-stop guide to their street dates and bonus material:

One Tree Hill: Season 7 due Aug. 17.  Also contains three featurettes: New to Camp One Tree Hill, The Directors’ Debut, Pt. 2, and Spring Break; along with two audio commentaries, unaired scenes and a gag reel.

90210: Season 2 due Aug. 24.  Includes commentary with producers and series stars Michael Steger, Jessica Stroup, Trevor Donovan and Jessica Lowndes.  Other extras:  New Faces, Same Drama; From the Hills to the Beach, The Look of 90210; Beverly Hills Surf Crew; Adrianna and Navid; a set tour of the Beverly Hills Beach Club; and the season in review.

Gossip Girl: Season 3 due Aug. 24.  Special features:  Interactive Viewing Experience on Eps. 16; Throwing a Party, Gossip Girl-style; unaired scenes; Lady Gaga and Plasticines music videos; and a gag reel.

The Vampire Diaries: Season 1 blu-ray and DVD due Aug. 31.  Featurettes include Bringing Vampire Lore and the High School Experience from Page to Screen; The Popularity of Vampires and the Fans Who Love Them; A New Breed of Vampires—Casting the Series; and Vampire 101: Rules of the Vampire.  Other extras:  Creators and director pilot commentary; A Darker Truth webisodes; unaired scenes; gag reel; and downloadable audiobook of Vampire Diaires: The Awakening by L.J. Smith.

Smallville: Season 9 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7.  Featurettes on Zod and the Justice Society of America; cast and creator commentaries on two episodes; and unaired scenes.

Supernatural: Season 5 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7.  Bonus material includes a gag reel, an unaired scene from “The Real Ghostbusters” episode, producer/writer commentary track on “The End,” the Ghostfacers web series, and Apocalypse Survival Guides: Bobby’s Exclusive Video Collection.

Three WBNX weekday comedies recently released DVD sets:  The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Season 5), My Wife & Kids (Season 2) and According to Jim (Season 2).  Here’s a rundown on our other syndicated series:

Lost: Season 6 and The Complete Collection, on blu-ray and DVD, due Aug. 24.  Too much bonus material to list, including the much-anticipated 12-15 minute “new chapter of the island history” with Ben and Hurley.

The Office: Season 6 on blu-ray and DVD due Sep. 7; and the Seasons 1-5 Collection on Sep. 8.  Many hilarious extras!

Desperate Housewives: Season 6 due Sep. 21.  Extras include bloopers and deleted scenes.

Scrubs: Complete series, Seasons 1-9, due Sep. 28.  Many extras!

Legend of the Seeker: Season 2 due Sep. 28.  Bonus material includes extended scenes and two featurettes: Under the Underworld and Redemption of a Mord’Sith—Meet Cara.

TV Drama:  90210 and Gossip Girl
TV Drama Actor:  Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl); Tristan Wilds (90210)
TV Drama Actress:  Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill); Blake Lively and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl)
TV Villain:  Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries), Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl), Terry O’Quinn (Lost)
TV Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi:  Tom Welling (Smallville), Paul Wesley (Vampire Diaries), Josh Holloway (Lost)
TV Actress Fantasy/Sci-Fi:  Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries) and Evangeline Lilly (Lost)
TV Fantasy/Sci-Fi Show:  Lost, Smallville, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaires
TV Reality Competition:  America’s Next Top Model
TV Comedy Actor:  Steve Carell (The Office)
Choice Comedian:  George Lopez
Film Actor, Horror/Thriller:  Penn Badgley [pictured, with girlfriend Blake Lively]
Film Actress, Horror/Thriller:  Rumer Willis (90210) and Katie Cassidy (Melrose Place)
Film Actress, Romantic Comedy:  Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl)
Film Actress, Comedy:  Kristen Bell
Film Actor, Comedy:  Steve Carell and Chris Rock (Everybody Hates Chris)
Choice Movie Dance:  Steve Carell and Tina Fey