The Big Bang Theory - "The Beta Test Initiation" (S05 E14) CBS (US) 26th January 2012
While Leonard and Penny resume dating, and decide to take it slowly, while initiating a computer style beta test of their relationship. As an A-Plot, it actually works surprisingly well, as Leonard once again screws things up. Naturally he fixes the problems by the end of the episode, and it looks like we'll be seeing this relationship for a while. Elsewhere Raj becomes even more pathetic than usual when he falls in love with his phone's virtual assistant, giving some great jokes, especially when Kripke shows up having problems with his voice recognition. And while away from the main stories, Sheldon and Amy create a video podcast on flags. Tell you what, I'd watch it. A very good episode, hopefully the form continues.
****
30 Rock - "Idiots Are People Three" (S06 E03) NBC (US) 26th January 2012
The concluding part of last week's story is a resounding success and one of the best episodes 30 Rock has ever produced. Jack is still in Liz's head over her relationship with Criss, which she eventually sorts out, while Tracy continues his "Idiots Protest". But while both of these threads work fine, it's the other two that absolutely shine. Devon Banks is back (hooray for the return of Arnett!) and resumes his feud with Jack. Cue some excellent work from Alec Baldwin and Will Arnett, as Banks thinks he's gotten the upper hand on Jack, only for Jack to realise that he'll win anyway. And while that was great, the return of the Best Friends Gang is one of the greatest C-Plots in sitcom history. We find out why Pete was unconscious as Kelsey Grammar performs a one man show on Abraham Lincoln. Absolutely magnificent.
**** 1/2
30 Rock - "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell" (S06 E04) NBC (US) 26th January 2012
The backlog of episodes due to the show's mid-season start this year allows two episodes this week. The scheduling was a little strange, but never mind that, it's still a treat to get two. This episode sees Jack eliminate the page program to impress Hank Hooper. When things go wrong, Jack realises he needs Kenneth and the rest of the pages. Predictable? Yes. Funny? Yes indeed. Elsewhere, Jenna gets caught up in her new found fame and dumps Liz as a friend, bringing in a fake Kardashian, a YouTube sensation, and Mick Foley (yup, Mick Foley, legend) as her new friends. The fake movie Jenna stars in is extremely well done, the Emma Stone and Andy Samberg cameos working a treat. And Tracy almost has an epiphany, but then realises he was just pissed off at Grizz and Dot Com. It wasn't as good as the first of this week's episodes, but was another excellent piece of television.
****
Whitney - "Codependence Day" (S01 E13) NBC (US) 25th January 2012
Ok, it's still not great, but Whitney has at least turned into a steady show. This episode sees Whitney get a job as Roxanne's assistant, hired mainly to spy on her work rivals. Things naturally don't go quite to plan, but she manages to make everything ok in her own special way. The character has taken a while to warm to, but it is starting to happen. A character who was instantly likeable was Alex, and he has another great episode as he attempts to find things after Whitney rearranged the apartment. I could relate to his situation completely, as I frequently find myself in just that situation. Alex takes matters into his own hands and rearranges everything again himself. Pretty fantastic stuff from him. Now, unfortunately, Neal, Lily and Mark's plot was a bit weak though, as Mark goes to the other two for help in dealing with a clingy girlfriend. Not great. But another pretty decent episode with some good laughs.
***
Archer - "El Contador" (S03 E05) FX (US) 26th January 2012
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Cyril becomes a field agent and immediately gets dropped into a mission in the jungle with Archer and Lana. When he disappears, Archer and Lana decide to continue with the mission and find him later. The mission goes awry when they get captured, only to find out that Cyril has managed to get himself into the criminal's inner circle. They facilitate an escape thanks to Cyril's quick thinking, but he eventually takes a beating when he pisses off Lana. It's wonderfully silly, and Archer at its best. The B-Plot sees Cheryl, Pam and Ray worried about forthcoming drug tests. They are offered a solution by Krieger, but that turns out to be one of his experiments, which causes the three to go crazy. Archer is magnificent, there's really no other way to put it.
**** 1/2
Unsupervised - "Rich Girl" (S01 E02) FX (US) 26th January 2012
The pilot last week was alright, unspectacular, but not bad overall. It certainly had potential. The potential is still there, but "Rich Girl" is on the same level as the pilot. A new student has joined the school, a drug addled goth girl called Allie. Joel and Gary take her home after she passes out on drugs only to find out that her dad is a dentist and pretty well off. A plan is hatched to hook the dad up with Gary's stepmum, so they can have a better life. It doesn't work, she ends up shagging Darren, and it's back to the status quo. Meanwhile, Megan decides to start smoking weed. It's been an unspectacular start for this series, but I'll definitely be giving it another couple of weeks.
***
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