Despite its prevalence, most of us still have a lot to learn about mental illness. Our ignorance makes it easy to laugh when we should be alarmed -- call me a troll, but I see much tragic in the Charlie Sheen show.

"Bringing Ashley Home" (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 tonight) takes on the ravages of drug abuse, bipolar disorder and the gaps in the legal system through the story of Libba Phillips, who founded an organization called "Outpost for Hope."

Libba (A.J. Cook) is the responsible, together sister who takes care of, and eventually, takes in her younger, troubled sister Ashley (Jennifer Morrison). Ashley just can't seem to get focused. She parties all night, drinks and does other drugs, and finally ends up dancing in a strip club. When she starts stealing, Libba gets fed up and puts her out. And then, one day, Ashley just disappears.

It would be tough for any overworked, under-appreciated wife and mother to not enjoy "On Strike for Christmas (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 tonight), a snappy little holiday film.

But even if you don't fit that demographic, you might be pleasantly surprised that you end up enjoying the movie.

It stars Daphne Zuniga as Joy, a woman who owns a yarn shop, is married to a college professor and is raising two teen-age boys. Joy wants Christmas to be perfect this year, in particular, because her sons are heading to college.

The males in the house are less interested; they like the fresh-baked cookies Joy makes, the neat home she keeps, the skilled party planning, but they see it as her responsibility, not theirs. After all, she always gets things done.

Happiness always gets a little excited when we see N.C. talent on TV. So there was some delight in finding that Jaime Pressly ("My Name is Earl") was starring in "Sandra Brown's Smoke Screen" (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 tonight). The Kinston native is an Emmy winner, after all.

Too bad it's a dog of a film.

Pressly is Britt Shelley, a star TV reporter in Charleston, South Carolina (although since I have family in Charleston, I can tell you the setting looks NOTHING like Charleston, and is in fact, Vancouver), who wakes up in bed next to a naked dead police detective.

She can't remember how she got there, and becomes the prime suspect. Raley (Currie Graham), a former best friend of the victim hears about the death, and is shocked.

If you prefer your scary movies deliver its chills the old-fashioned way, you might enjoy "Secrets in the Walls" (8 tonight, Lifetime Movie Network).

There's no gore or slashing here, just creepy music, surprises behind doors, and things that go bump in the night.

It's the story of Rachel Easton (Jeri Ryan), a new divorcee with two daughters Lizzy (Kay Panabaker) and sensitive Molly (Peyton Roi List), who has an uncanny knack for knowing the phone is about to ring, just before it does. Rachel is starting over, going back to work with the support of her brother Marty (Ian Kahn), a contractor, but she's worried she may be pushing her girls too quickly into a new life. At her new job she meets Belle (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a nurse and psychic. Yes, a psychic.

The Devil's Teardrop (8pm, Lifetime Movie Network) - An original movie based on a bestselling novel by Jeffrey Deaver in which a handwriting specialist (Tom Everett Scott, right) retired from the FBI helps a special agent investigate a serial murderer. All while battling his ex-wife (Rena Sofer) for custody of their kids.

The Uprising (8pm, Animal Planet) - A new documentary tracing the increase in aggressive animal behavior toward humans. They must have found about all that laboratory testing. Narrated by Richard Belzer ("Law & Order: SVU).

Speed of Life (8pm, Discovery) - A new Discovery series in which photographers capture images from nature with high speed cameras. Three episodes tonight: Africa's wildlife at 8, Central American Rain Forest creatures at 9, and predators and prey in the American Southwest at 10.

Hoarding: Buried Alive (8pm, TLC) - A new season of the TLC hoarding show which is almost exactly like the A&E hoarding show (which came first, incidentally).

Rubicon (9pm, AMC) - Katherine is still trying to figure out why her husband committed suicide and why he had a second secret home.  Meanwhile, David's son wants the motorcycle David gave to Will (James Badge Dale, left) just before his death, which leads Will to uncover another set of clues about David's fatal accident.

Army Wives (10pm, Lifetime) - Dr. Jill Biden guest stars as herself, visiting base to discuss challenges facing military familes whose relatives have been deployed. Read more about it here.

Mad Men (10pm, AMC) - Don takes a trip to Acapulco while Lane and Joan have a major disagreement at the office. Also, Joan does a little family planning.

Despite the fact that they've done separate projects, I couldn't tell you which one is Tia and which one is Tamera Mowry.

That's probably why they shouldn't do projects like "Double Wedding" (Lifetime Movie Network, 8pm Sunday) where the plot hinges on twin mistaken identity. Plus, it's a concept well past its sell date.

Having said that, "Double Wedding" isn't awful. It has it's sappy sweet moments. And I think that's because the Mowrys are sisters, and twin or not, stories about siblings -- the complications of family -- are timeless, and always, resonate.

I read an article recently about the Lifetime brand struggling with its identity; it doesn't know whether to be the hip network that airs "Project Runway" or the women-in-jeopardy, serious drama network that skews a little older.

I enjoy Heidi and the gang, but I wouldn't want to give up a film like "Amish Grace" (Lifetime Movie Network, channel 47, 8 tonight).

It's a thoughtful, well-acted piece that explores some intriguing issues in an approachable way.

Stories of wrongful imprisonment always rile me. There's just no adequate compensation for lost time.

But they are stories of heroism. Someone or ones has to have a lot of determination and do a lot of work to untangle our legal system and right a horrible injustice.

That world is the backdrop for "Wronged Man" (Lifetime Movie Network, 9 tonight), the true story of Calvin Willis, sent to jail for a rape he didn't commit and Janet "Prissy" Gregory, the legal assistant who fought to get him freed.

Everything She Ever Wanted (8pm, LMN) - Lifetime Movie Network's adaptation of this Ann Rule book is something else. Adrienne calls it "maybe the best Lifetime Movie ever!" Read her full review and tune in (tonight is part one of two parts). Stars Gina Gershon.

Wanda Sykes Show (11pm, Fox) - As of Friday night, Wanda's website had no info about her guests this week. We're watching anyway and hoping it's better than last week's spotty debut. 

Saturday Night Live (11:30pm, NBC) - Last week's solid show makes me hopeful. Tonight's guest host is January Jones (right), who plays the cold-as-ice Betty Draper on "Mad Men." Musical guest, Black Eyed Peas. Sounds promising. Don't let me down, SNL.

Austin City Limits (12:30, UNC-TV) - Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel perform songs from their 2009 album, "Willie and the Wheel."

Evil pretty people are extra scary, probably because we like to think that things that look good are good.

That's why Rob Lowe is well cast in "Ann Rule's Too Late to Say Goodbye" (Lifetime Movie Network, channel 47, 8 tonight).

Lowe uses his borderline feminine looks as Bart Corbin, a successful dentist whose wife Jenn, as the movie opens, appears to commit suicide. Her young son finds her with a gun in one hand and divorce papers in the other.