This week on From the Cheap Seats, Michelle and Becca review the triumphant return of women's basketball. We're getting down to the wire, and a few teams have clearly risen to the top (Silver Stars and Sun), and others are going to have to really fight for it (Indiana, Chicago). Plus, a quick update on the women in the US Open.

Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm; Kara Lawson of the Monarchs

Tune in next week as the girls give a full report from their first ever courtside seat experience. Here' hoping it doesn’t involved getting thrown out of the game for “accidentally” tripping a ref.

This is a vlog by fans for fans, so please leave plenty of comments, questions, rants and raves, or anything else that comes to mind. And check back next weekend for another episode!

The Women — an updated version of the legendary 1939 film of the same name about a wealthy New Yorker who leaves her cheating husband and bonds with other society women at a resort — doesn't open in theaters until next week, but some of the media are already releasing their reviews. So far, there've been positive remarks about Bette Midler's hilarious cameo and the "witty and warm ensemble" that includes (deep breath) Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Natasha Alam and Candice Bergen.

That's a lot of fabulous ladies — how could this movie go wrong?

Some reviewers are taking the film to task on race issues. Specifically, they're asking, "Why are the roles of lesbian outsider and designated home-wrecker villainess relegated to the only women of color in the film?"

Sarah Warn and I have different takes on this issue, and we thought we'd offer both of our answers below. Read them and let us know what you think in the comments!

Heaven Kogo is a regular teenage girl — she just also happens to be a ninja. OK, so perhaps "regular" isn't the word; it would be more correct to refer to her as Samurai Girl, hence the name of the new three-part series on ABC Family that begins tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

The series is based on a young adult book series of the same name written by Carrie Asai. The character of Heaven seeks to avenge her brother's death and get out of an arranged marriage (she really gets herself into some crazy predicaments). Luckily, she's a master of the sword, and is able to take care of herself as well as some others (though the latter happens to be in a violent sort of way).

Jamie Chung plays Heaven, whose acting credits include Greek, Veronica Mars and CSI: NY. Oh yeah, and you also might remember her as herself, when she was a cast member on MTV's The Real World: San Diego. Good to see that something pleasant can come out of that kind of exhibitionism.

This week on Cherry Bomb, comedian Bridget McManus climbs out of her bed and onto the couch. The women tackle the topic of fuzzy friendships: Are you still friends with your exes or is your girlfriend still friends with her exes? It can bring drama to even the most stable of relationships without proper communication.

For this week's question, the women discuss the use of dental dams and safe sex among lesbians.

If you have questions you'd like addressed on Cherry Bomb, email them to cherrybombtv@yahoo.com.

Watch more episodes of Cherry Bomb, check out the official Cherry Bomb MySpace page, and check back here Fridays for new episodes.

Jon Mallow rants about Sarah Palin and Jennifer Vanasco compares creationism with unicorn-hunting, all on this week's episode of The Gay Agenda.

This week on U People, Olive, Hanifah and friends Zakiyyah and Alliot play Wii while talking about the hilarious ups and downs of dealing with straight women.

Get more info at www.iLoveUPeople.com.

Zuleikha Robinson is not very well known as her work on both New Amsterdam and Rome has been short-lived. However, she's going to be recognized now, after becoming a regular cast member of the hit show, Lost.

The London-born actress was raised in both Malaysia and Thailand, so she's certainly worldly. Some may remember her from the 2007 film The Namesake, in which she played Moushimi, opposite the protagonist Golgol (Kal Penn).

Entertainment Weekly reports that Robinson will play Illana, "a European female who possesses great intelligence but who's also dangerous as all get out. She's alluring and apparently used to getting her own way." She sounds like everyone else on the island. She sounds like trouble — I like her already!

This is part of an ongoing series of Jane's World comic strips posted every Thursday on AfterEllen.com.

For more Jane's World, visit PaigeBraddock.com, and read our previous Jane's World blog posts.

Dana and Helen of Mombian.com are excited (and a little anxious) this week because their son is starting kindergarten. They take the opportunity to reflect on some of the things that have surprised them most about parenthood during the past five years, including aspects of their child's development, their relationship with each other, Helen's relationship with her body and the community of LGBT parents.

This week, Cat's on the prowl in Indiana. Cat and her mom discuss The Girls Next Door, and she receives a "hip-hop make-over" from The Franchize frontman, Nate Davis (Cat's "white rapper cousin").

The pair throw down in a rap-battle-to-end-all-rap-battles to prove which Davis has the smoothest moves. Sexy songstress Lynda Sayyah serves as judge, so really, everybody wins.

Look for a new episode of Cat on the Prowl every Wednesday afternoon. For more information on Cat, visit myspace.com/catdaviscomedy.

On the second to last episode of Oh God I'm Gay, host Alicia Ross talks with Stephen Covello and Michael Stern of the Kabbalah Center.

The guests share an overview of their religion and their organization, Spirituality for Kids.

Check back next week for the last installment of OGIG.

Fall has yet to officially begin, but the album releasing schedule has started to pick up some steam. Now that Labor Day has come and gone, watch for several anticipated full-lengths to drop.

Sonya Kitchell — This Storm (Decca/Velour)

She's only 19 years old, but she could be the best new jazz singer around. Her voice is a throwback to simpler times. She also scores some points with us for hailing from Northampton.

Various artists — Bones: The Soundtrack (Nettwerk)

If we could just pretend these were all Emily Deschanel's favorite picks, the soundtrack would feel like a mix tape from her to us. She must have great taste in music like sis, Zooey. The ethereal soundtrack features Placebo's cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," a Sinead O'Connor song and a Sarah McLachlan remix.

This week, Michelle Paradise answers a lot of your questions, and gets some surprise guests to answer them as well.

This vlog is so action-packed and guest-filled that it had to be done in two parts. Look for part 2 next week.

Look for new episodes from Michelle on AfterEllen.com every other week or so, and watch previous episodes of her vlog here.

You can learn more about Michelle at her official website, her MySpace profile, or her Facebook page.

You can also buy the first season of Exes & Ohs on DVD!

On Episode 8 of Girl Rock, Jen takes the very stylish Fuji Minx to her couch.

The band talks about their individual fashions, and front woman Greta Valenti shares that her leggings were made by a past Project Runway contestant.

Check back for a new episode in two weeks!

This week, Tracy and Angela of LesbianGamers.com give you the lowdown on "Baroque" and "Battle of the Bands" for the Wii, and a review of the much-awaited "American Idol Encore" for the PS3.

There's also a homage to Malinda Lo and Sarah Pecora for their last vlog, as well as lots of viewer feedback. Sprinkled on top is some site guff and the ladies' geekiest purchase of the week.

Read more game reviews at lesbiangamers.com!