Greed is on the oil barons’ menu at Southfork Ranch again tonight as the Ewings return on TNT beginning at 9 p.m. Here’s a link to a TNT refresher course that reminds us who’s who among the Ewings.

Larry Hagman‘s J.R is 80; Patrick Duffy‘s  Bobby Ewing is 63; and Linda Gray, Sue Ellen Ewing is 71. Good heavens — they all look great, especially Linda Gray!

The series is a continuation of the original series of the same name that aired on CBS from 1978 to 1991, according to Wikipedia.  A total of 10 episodes will carry the original and next generation of Ewings through the summer. The next generation includes John Ross Ewing III, the son of J.R. and Sue Ellen Ewing, and Christopher Ewing, the adopted son of Bobby Ewing and Pam Ewing.

What’s new? Bobby’s got a new wife, Ann Ewing, but you’ll recognize her as  ABC‘s  Desperate Housewives‘ actress Brenda Strong — the one who got killed off early and voiced the beginning and end of nearly every DH episode. She’s not the only Desperate Housewives star on board. Christopher Ewing is the former teenage gardener John Rowland from the popular  drama Desperate Housewives where he played the young lover of  Gabrielle Solis played by Eva Longoria.

What’s old? A lot of original cast members will return with Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing, Ken Kercheval as Cliff Barnes and Steve Kanaly as Ray Krebbs.

It’s got good reviews. I’ll be watching.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Time to get charged up for spring. If you are looking for some bright fashions, here are a few:

Dresses that illuminate like the dresses worn by the bride, bridesmaids and little Lily on “Modern Family.”

CuteCircuit, a fashion tech company, launched a collection of dresses and tops embedded with LED lights. The clothes recharge via USB, and some items have controllers that allow wearers to pick the color and pattern of their lights.

Designer-artist team Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz, have dressed Katy Perry in bright lights. LED lights are also charging up shoes, and they’re not just for kids anymore.

If you want to make a splash at your next party, try LED LiteRays, created by photographer Carl VanderSchuit, who also invented popular LiteCubes, lighted faux ice cubes used to illuminate drinks from the inside out. They start at $7.99 and are available at: http://litecubes.com

If you own a small business, you must tune into Shark Tank on Friday night. Even if you don’t. It’s smart, snarky and teaches me something every time I watch.

The Sharks are a group of billionaires. They decide if entrepreneurs have a business plan worth their investments. The fun part is when the Sharks fight amongst themselves to finance a business and get part ownership of the company. The other fun part is hearing the clever pitches and great ideas out there. Butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, stay-at-home parents, entire families and inventors are among the business owners who went from small businesses to major successful companies. We see the pitching entrepreneurs turned successful companies in some of the episodes.

The Sharks include: Mark Cuban,  owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Real estate investor Barbara Corcoran, investor Robert Herjavec, FUBU CEO Daymond John and financier Kevin O’Leary.

The inspiring stuff of this show is that everyday folks like you and me can pitch a business idea. Wait till you see some of these ideas. The show teaches you how to pull together a successful business plan and answer the tough questions Sharks can ask. “Shark Tank” begins its third season Friday at 8 p.m. on ABC. I’ll be watching.

After watching the premiere of ABC’s “Modern Family” last night, I have to say I love this show. I’ve always loved the show. It is the first show, I think, that gives a somewhat accurate portrayal of blended families. As a member of a blended family, I can vouch for the funny moments, the tender moments and the irritating moments.
On last night’s double episode of “Modern Family,” I was fascinated with little Lily, the adopted child of two male partners. Last year, Lily never spoke, smiled or even showed emotions. This year, she made up for it, much like a few of the kids in our family. For a laugh, even if you aren’t in a blended family, take a look.
It always makes me smile.