BY HENRY HANKS
http://www.fox.com/fod/player.htm?show=simpsons
The Simpsons: "I Don’t Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (10/14/07) - Marge convinces a bank robber to turn himself in, but he breaks out of jail later and comes looking for her, after she doesn’t visit as promised. Pretty so-so stuff. Grade: B-
http://www.fox.com/fod/player.htm?show=kingofthehill
King of the Hill: "Four Wave Intersection" (10/14/07) - Boomhauer actually has a (semi-)storyline! Hank and the gang take Bobby to a water park during a heat wave. Also Bill becomes famous in Arlen. The highlight, by far, was Bobby and friend singing the ad for the water park. Grade: B+
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/how-i-met-your-mother-how-i-met-everyone-else/3710758297
How I Met Your Mother: "How I Met Everyone Else" (10/22/07) - When Ted brings a (jealous) date to meet the gang, they all reminisce on how they met each other, and we get a new wrinkle into how Marshall met Lily. A highlight: Barney’s Hot/Crazy scale. Grade: A-
http://video.aol.com/partner/cbs/how-i-met-your-mother-im-not-that-guy/mArS3Yv3kMWY0zOJY2dKS5KXWtaQHDlR
"I’m Not That Guy" (10/29/07) - Marshall is wooed, literally, into working for a company he doesn’t like. Plus we learn of Lily’s massive debt and a porn actor named "Ted Mosby." Some decent laughs here but not the best episode. Grade: B
http://southpark.comedycentral.com/season.jhtml?season=11

South Park: "Imaginationland, Episodes 1-III" (10/17, 10/24, 10/31/07) –
Wow. Probably the best episode(s) of the season so far. Definitely an epic and hilarious on so many levels. I loved picking out all of the characters in Imaginationland. I’ve really gotta ask: Why wasn’t this turned into the new South Park movie? Grade: A+
http://sarahsilverman.comedycentral.com/videos.jhtml
The Sarah Silverman Program: "Face Wars" (10/17/07) - Sarah gets into an argument with a Black man in a restaurant over what is hardest, being Jewish or Black. So, in her own little way, she tries to find out… by "disguising" herself as Black… in the most offensive way possible, of course. I’m sure that even Comedy Central was worried about this one making it on the air. However, you have to admire the chutzpah. Grade: B+
"Doodie" (10/24/07) - At long last, we get more than a passing glance at "Cookie Party" (shown in the first episode to air) and it is even more nonsensical than anyone could have imagined. Pretty brilliant stuff, including Sarah and Laura’s duet. Grade: A-
"Ah, Men" (10/31/07) - Sarah meets God again (see the pilot/season finale last year), and now they’re officially a couple. And about halfway through this episode, it runs out of steam. Even the "oh face guy" from Office Space couldn’t save it. Grade: C+
http://www.nbc.com/My_Name_Is_Earl/video/episodes.shtml
My Name is Earl: "Creative Writing" (10/18/07) - Best episode of the season so far, as we see inside the minds of all the characters. Loved Randy’s Krofft-inspired fantasy, and Crabman’s song. Grade: A-
"Frank’s Girl" (10/25/07) - First episode of the season that really gets back into the show’s premise. Alyssa Milano plays Frank’s girlfriend, who becomes his ex and Earl gets a lesson out of it too. Not bad. Grade: B+
http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/video/episodes.shtml
30 Rock: "The Collection" (10/18/07) - Jack is up for CEO of GE, and hires Steve Buscemi as a detective to dig up dirt on him. When he finds out about Jack’s cookie jar collection, Jack has trouble giving it up. Until Kenneth comes along, of course… Also Jenna doesn’t want to lose weight, and Tracy’s wife wants to keep an eye on him. Some funny parts here and there but a little too much of it falls flat. Grade: B
"Rosemary’s Baby" (10/25/07) - At times, I fear this will be the "all-guest star show" that Will & Grace became, but in the case of Carrie Fisher, it was brilliant stunt casting. She plays a female comedy writer from the ’60s and ’70s, who challenges Liz to be more daring. Also, Jack takes Tracy to therapy. Now here is the 30 Rock I know and love. Not a wrong note to be found anywhere. Grade: A+
http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/episodes.shtml
The Office: "Money" (10/18/07) - The last hourlong episode, and this time with the length, it becomes a little more of a dramedy, dealing with Dwight’s pain over the breakup and Michael’s money problems. A little too dour for my taste. I did love the visit to Dwight’s beet farm though. Grade: B
"Local Ad" (10/25/07) - As 30 Rock found its footing this week, so did The Office. Michael tries to go all out to make the greatest local ad for a paper company ever, but of course Ryan and his other bosses won’t stand for it. Great stuff through and through, with some hilarious moments by the whole cast. Grade: A
http://www.nbc.com/Scrubs/video/episodes.shtml
Scrubs: "My Own Worst Enemy" (10/25/07) - It’s back for its final season, as J.D. and Elliot go in for a kiss, and… promptly don’t kiss after all, but Elliot breaks it off with Keith, leaving the door open. J.D. realizes he will never love Kim either. Again, pretty glum stuff to start off the season, not that it didn’t have its moments (Scrubs always does). Grade: B
(Note/full disclosure from Henry Hanks: Flight of the Conchords, referenced in an earlier column, aired/airs on HBO, owned by Time Warner, which is the parent company of my employer, though of course, that has nothing to do with why I like the show.)
(Note from atnzone editors: We are not Henry’s employers and have no connection to HBO or Time Warner, in fact, we have never seen Flight of the Chonchords, though we take Henry’s word that it’s good…)