Obsessions: MTV's 'The City'

After four seasons, I am still working out (defending) my ongoing fascination with 'The Hills.' Now with a spinoff of the reality show set to debut at December's end, I can see already that 'The City,' with Hills regular Whitney Port leading, will be my new must-see TV. What is it about it? More on that later.

The Cult of Claire Huxtable

The release of 'Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' moved me in ways too difficult to describe. Yes, there were the surface changes, but the real movement was from within. Now, a decade later, Miss Hill is, it turns out, a black girl in need of inspiration. And, I, for one have been in need of new heroes & heroines: My cousin, Pascale, is poised to give Michelle Obama and the fictional Claire a run for their greenbacks. Having just graduated from Harvard Law School in June 2008, she joined the Chicago firm where Michelle and Barack first laid eyes on each other. Is it any wonder she's one of my heroes?