This week in TV: October 8-12

Boston Legal, Season 4, Episode 3: FINALLY! After a slightly rough transition period in the first two episodes (3 characters left, and 3 more had to be introduced) Boston Legal returned to top form with its mix of outlandish humor, energetic music, fantastic writing, and compelling, ripped-from-the-headlines cases. A case about HIV, a hilarious bet between Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Carl Sach (John Laroquette, asdfasdf one of the new guys) involving a man tried for involvement in cock fighting (animals fighting for sport...sound familiar?), and a blooming relationship between Jerry "Hands" Espenson and Katie Lloyd (fellow newbie Tara Summers) made for the first strong episode of season 4. Grade: A

The Colbert Report: it's hard to comment on this seeing as it's not a show with a story, but highlights included Stephen shamelessly plugging his book I am America (And So Can You!) which included a hilarious interview with himself, and an extra hilarious edition of "The Word". Why this man keeps losing awards to John Stewart, I'll never understand. Grade: A+

The Office, Season 4, Episode 3: As a devoted fan of The Office, it was always a treat when the special hour long episodes came along. Now, the freshness is starting to wear thin as tonight's episode showcased a lot of hilarity, surrounded by plenty of literary flab trying to muck up the works. A lot happened, that's true, but this would've worked better as a 45 or if possible, 30 minute episode. This would have resulted in a near constant stream of laughter much like this week's surprisingly good "Sarah Silverman" episode (more on that later). Despite this complaint, there was still plenty to love, from the outrageous opening scenes (Meredith trying to get Jim to sign her cast was hysterical considering its.....location) to the ludicrous competition, to the Jim/Pam prank on Dwight, all the way through Andy serenading Angela. As I said, I love The Office, and I can't wait for a return to the regular 30 minute shows......that's how they should be save for those few special occasions. Grade: B+

30 Rock, Season 2, Episode 2: Just like its first season, 30 Rock is off to a bumpy start, but this time that bumpy start is much easier to get through now that I'm familiar with the characters. Just like The Office, there was plenty to love, but this could've done as an extra short episode. Oh well, I still have plenty of faith that season 2 won't disappoint. The writers just need to get over that their first season set the bar so high by winning the Best Comedy Series Emmy (which they fully deserved). Best of luck 30 Rock, I know you'll pull through. Grade: B

Ugly Betty, Season 2, Episode 3: The weakest episode so far, and unfortunately it really sticks out like a sore thumb because episode 2 was so strong. While it was interesting to follow the increasingly pseudo-soap opera plot as the plot thickened, this episode was missing something. With the exception of some priceless antics involving the always hysterical Marc and Amanda, something about episode 3 (maybe it was Freddy Rodriguez's annoying as hell character...sheesh I hope he never comes back) made it interesting, but also a tad tedious, especially the return of Betty's dad, who by all logic should be dead (of course, it is a pseudo-soap) returns without any explanation of HOW he got out of his troubles (deus ex machina anyone?). Grade: B-

The Sarah Silverman Program, Season 2, Episode 2: What The Office should have been; short, hilarious, and to the point. Silverman continues her mix of bizarre and occaisionally gross humor and gave her audience one of the strongest (if not THE strongest) episode of both seasons. Continuously funny, I was laughing almost the entire way through. Bravo Sarah Silverman, bravo. Grade: A-

South Park, Season 11 part 2, Episode 2: Gross and outrageous, but still funny and a great spoof of Bono. Grade: B