It seems odd to describe a Lifetime movie as 'serious minded,' but that's the word that comes to mind when watching "Prosecuting Casey Anthony" (8 tonight, Lifetime). While not completely without notes of melodrama, the movie presents a clear-eyed and illuminating look at the 'Tot Mom' case.

As the title suggests, the story is told through the perspective of the prosecutor Jeff Ashton (Rob Lowe); he's being interviewed by a TV reporter trying to figure out, as we all are, how he lost the case. Ashton was near retirement and longing for one last case after a near-perfect winning career record. He's brought on by Linda Burdick (Elizabeth Mitchell) who respects his forensic know-how; the third person on the team is Frank George (David Richmond-Peck).

Casey Anthony (Virginia Welch) isn't in the film much; we experience her much like we did in the trial. We see her on video and reacting during the trial, which is a smart decision on the filmmakers' part. Anthony's defense attorney Jose Baez (Oscar Nunez), is both flamboyant and underrated. There's also Anthony's sad/pathetic parents Cindy (Marina Stephenson Kerr) and George (Kevin Dunn).

The story line stays focused on the case, including appearances by Nancy Grace and Jane Velez-Mitchell, except to show through Ashton's relationship with his wife Rita (Marisa Ramirez), how obsessed he becomes with the case.

And he was obsessed, mostly, it seems because Anthony's guilt seemed so obvious, the case such a slam dunk, that every setback, every tactic that Baez came up with seemed to confound the defense. Although squarely in Ashton's court, the film doesn't skirt over the prosecution's mistakes. They were outplayed by Baez, for whom Ashton seems to have real disdain.

Lowe, who also executive produced, is fine as Ashton; he doesn't overplay the emotion (despite the occasional dramatic pause). You get the sense of a man who is highly competent and tightly wound. And maybe a little to confident for his own good.

And maybe for the good of Caylee.

If you're going to watch one of these based-on-a-true-story movies, it probably helps if you don't know how it all turns out.

That was the case for me with "Blue-Eyed Butcher" (8 tonight, Lifetime), the story of a Houston, Texas woman who stabbed her husband about 200 times after, she claims, years of abuse. I never heard about this but it must have been a big deal; the film includes footage of Nancy Grace discussing it and perhaps even coining the title 'blue-eyed butcher.' (That Nancy!)

The film interweaves the trial with the back story. Pretty, blonde, innocent, sweet Susan (Sara Paxton) meets Jeff (Justin Bruening) at the beach; he's a drug user and a strip joint devotee but he decides it's time to settle down and there's something about Susan. When Susan gets pregnant (either accidentally or with calculation, depending on your point of view), he proposes. After all, they love each other.

Our "Dancing with the Stars" correspondent Lenni G has the details of last night's expected elimination:

We had all sorts of entertainment last night - As Tom Bergeron put it, "All of our women" started the show with some fabulous choreography.  Daggone, these ladies are really good!
 
Andrea Bocelli sang "More" accompanied by trumpet player, Chris Botti, and the dance troupe.  Not sure "More" was a great song choice for Andrea.  Flo-Rida dropped by for two songs, "Club Can't Handle Me" and "Good Feeling."  Don't think these songs would have worked for Andrea either.

"Dancing with the Stars" correspondent Lenni G with last night's recap:

"The Pastor's Wife" (8 tonight, Lifetime) is a good old-fashioned Lifetime movie -- a woman in peril, a crime, tears, a trial. The good stuff!

And it's based on a true story too. In 2006, in small-town Tennessee, timid Mary Winkler killed her husband, a popular local minister, with a shotgun. It seemed impossible; the couple, who had three children, seemed the perfect happy family. But later, during the trial, Mary says Matthew was an abusive tyrant.

The structure of the story helps make it interesting; it starts with the body and has town residents speak to the camera, documentary style. We see one version of the family's life that shows a strict, but loving Matthew and a couple with severe financial problems. Later, those same scenes are revisited, adding Mary's revelation; that her husband smacked her around and forced her to dress up like a hooker for freaky sex.

"Dancing with the Stars" correspondent Lenni G on last night's surprising elimination:

Who says screaming is only appropriate on Halloween?  Justin Bieber, aka The "Biebs," was in the ballroom last night singing "Never Say Never" as well as a song from his new Christmas album featuring Boyz II Men as his backup singers.  Very nice.
 
Team Paso (Ricki, Rob, Hope and their star partners) got the encore spot and looked really good again.
 
Christina Perri provided the music for Victoria-Rose, a young dancer recovering from a life threatening brain tumor.  Very inspirational.

"Dancing with the Stars" correspondent Lenni G is back on recap duty for us this season. Here's what she has to say about last night's season premiere:

We have a new season, a brand new set which looks more like an opera house than a ballroom, and a whole new group of 12 going for the mirror ball.
 
BBaller Ron Artest (aka Metta World Peace) and new pro, Peta Murgatroyd (best last name ever), started it all off with a cha cha.  Len said it was just "the same old shimmy - all sizzle and no sausage."  Bruno said Ron was a "Dance-A-Tron."  Carrie found it "eccentric but sexy" though she felt it was totally wrong technically.  I say Metta needs to be a lot betta if he makes it through tonight. 

Judges' score: 5's from Carrie Ann and Bruno, 4 from Len for a total of 14.