Love it or hate it, the controversial TV show "Extreme Couponing" has spawned a spin-off series scheduled to debut next week.

 "Extreme Couponing All-Stars" will air at 10 p.m. Dec. 27 on the TLC network. It will be the first show in a seven-part series.

If it's anything like the original show, "All-Stars" is likely to feature over-the-top coupon shoppers loading multiple grocery carts to over-flowing, then paying pennies on the dollar after redeeming hundreds coupons.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Inside TV blog:

Buddy Valastro of TLCs "Cake Boss" heard yummy things about a popular Raleigh cupcake emporium so he stopped by the other day to check it out.

Valastro added his special touch to a cake under construction and saw first-hand how The Cupcake Shoppe is run.

Afterward, he gathered for a photo with the team.

Due to the season and demand, the shoppe, located at 104 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, is now open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

And circle Dec. 3 on you calendar.

That's when the shoppe holds its annual holiday party from noon to 5 p.m. Guests can enjoy free cupcakes and coffee and get 10 percent off holiday orders. The shoppe is expanding its offerings this season to include macaroons and truffles.

Game times and TV networks have been set for this week's slate of ACC football games.

Sorry, Duke and Virginia. You may have pulled off unlikely wins Saturday over Navy and Miami, respectively, but your Battle for the Bottom of the Coastal Division remains relegated to an online ESPN lead-in of German Bundesliga soccer and something tennis fans know as the Valencia Open 500.

Parents who grew up glued to reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Happy Days" are now questioning the effects of Facebook and texting. Today's parents are coping with the digital culture of their own children who seem to have more interest in their cell phones than being part of the family.

Our pal Brooke Cain over on the Happiness Is a Warm TV blog says you can audition for a TV show while at the fair this year.

"The Marriage Ref," the Jerry Seinfeld-produced show in which couples get celebrities to help them figure out their marital problems, will be casting couples for the show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sony's lineup of sleek televisions boasting Google's Web-surfing system will go on sale Saturday, testing how much consumers are willing to pay to combine access to the entire Internet with their regular TV programming.

A Google blog post offers a look at what their Google TV will look like and provides a few more details on its features. Apple TV may be about to be leapfrogged.

The Eternity II is not going to win many barstool spec fights, but it does have a party trick that may charm many users to overlook its middling spec sheet.

The Tokyo-based company on Monday unveiled the world's first high definition liquid crystal display 3-D television that does not require special glasses - one of the biggest consumer complaints about the technology.

On Thursday, Bogart's American Grill in Raleigh will host a Mad Men Martini Mixer for Mentoring to support local freelance artist Jeff Bowman and his bid to win a walk-on role on the hit TV series "Mad Men."

Bowman is trying to win the grand prize in the Banana Republic and AMC Mad Men Casting Call contest. People are invited to vote online through Friday. Those of you on Twitter can also follow him @JeffBowman.

During the event, from 5 to 8 p.m., Bogart's will offer $5 martinis and also ask for a $5 suggested donation that will go to the Boys to Men Mentoring Network. There will be door prizes awarded for the best "Mad Men" attire.