Next week it's back to school for teen shows "Gossip Girl" and the all-new 90210 spinoff. Pay attention, you will be tested on your knowledge of the subject.

First up, Gossip Girl. The frothy teen soap is heading into its second season (is that like sophomore year?) and features a cast that mostly could have graduated from college by now. But no matter. The show bears little resemblance to actual high school (like going to class, ever). Instead, the melodrama centers on a group of private school coeds at an elite Upper East Side private school with the wardrobes and pedigrees of American royalty.

Gossip Girl wannabes are studying up on "gossip girl episodes," "gossip girl cast," "gossip girl fashion," and "gossip girl music," in anticipation of what New York Magazine calls "the most awesomely awesome show ever." Fans are also searching for cast members Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, and Leighton Meester.

 
East vs. West. If the whole elite preppie New York thing isn't for you, then perhaps you'd fit in more with the 90210 crowd. (Cue music.)

Serious viewers are holding study sessions on the 90210 hit show with searches on "new 90210 cast," "beverly hills 90210 spinoff," "beverly hills 90210 episode guide," and "new beverly hills 90210." While the new cast hasn't caught the buzz just yet, original cast members Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty remain red-hot. The two actresses will reprise their roles, this time as faculty at West Beverly Hills High.

The original show, which ran from 1990-2000, made an impact by highlighting controversial issues, and Ms. Garth promises that viewers should expect no less from the new show. As she told the Los Angeles Times, "It's going to reflect teenagers as they are. It's not going to sugarcoat it." Plus lots of in-fighting, back-stabbing and conniving, natch.

Tiger Woods is one of the most dominant athletes alive. But is he really a mortal like the rest of us? Footage of the golfer walking on water has some folks wondering if he's actually something more... divine.

Well, not really. The footage was just a viral video. Still, though obviously a joke, the clip has started a firestorm of buzz. So what's the story? Apparently, in an older version of the Tiger Woods video game, players could "walk on water" when their golf balls landed in the drink. Fans of the games noticed this and pointed out the bug by uploading clips to the Web. EA Sports, the publisher of the series, decided to have a fight back by posting a video of Tiger casually strolling on water a la Jesus. The clip concludes with, "It's not a glitch, he's just that good." In your face, gamers!

Naturally, news that EA had gone to great lengths to have a little fun stirred up the bloggers. An article from USA Today notes that the video is getting millions of views and that another of Tiger responding to a Rubik's Cube will likely garner a lot more eyeballs. Meanwhile, Mashable writes that it is nice to see major companies like EA "get" the Web subculture. Indeed, a clever response to customer criticism goes a long way. Finally, though the ad may seem original, TrendHunter points out that this isn't the first time an athlete has been compared to Jesus Christ. In "The Theater of Dreams," an upcoming musical, David Beckham gets the whole son of God treatment. No word on whether he trades in his cleats for sandals.

They've Got Words for You
It's almost a pre-requisite to run. For a candidate to be considered seriously, he or she has to have a book. And since the Democratic National Convention kicked off this week, viewers have been turning from their TVs to e-booksellers for copies of the candidates' musings. The search box has been flooded with lookups for "joe biden biography," "joe biden book" "barack obama biography," "barack obama book excerpt father," and "barack obama books."

Write On
Fortunately, these candidates are quite prolific. Barack Obama's personal and critically acclaimed memoir "Dreams from My Father" catapulted up the best-seller lists after he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. The moment didn't just launch his national political trajectory, but his successful writing path, as well. Both "Dreams" and his second book, "The Audacity of Hope," remain on the New York Times best-seller lists.

Interest in Barack Obama is spilling over into Joe Biden. After Biden was selected as Obama's V.P., booksellers were unprepared for the sudden rush on Biden's autobiography, published last summer. According to the New York Times Caucus Blog, Biden's book, "Promises to Keep," is being rushed into print with a whopping 100,000 paperback copies.

Advice Fit for a President
There are also recommendations for the Oval Office bookshelf. "Physics for Future Presidents," by UC Berkeley scientist Richard A. Muller, is a primer on the scientific issues of the day. And don't forget Madeleine Albright's, "Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership." The former Clinton administration Secretary of State is sure to have some helpful tips for the president-to-be.

Finally, while she doesn't have a book (yet), "michelle obama thesis" searches are on the rise. Frustrated academics must want to delve into the Princeton University undergraduate mindset of the wife of the presidential candidate. We have to admit, you certainly are a thorough bunch.