The Simpsons: "Funeral for a Fiend" (11/25/07) - Sideshow Bob is back, and that always makes for a memorable episode. David Hyde-Pierce also returns as his brother, and we meet his father, played of course, by John Mahoney. This time Bob dies, but it’s hardly a twist to find out that he faked it. Not the best Sideshow Bob episode but better than most. Grade: B+

http://video.aol.com/partner/hulu/king-of-the-hill-dream-weaver/fSuyTw5z4lJ2wK6KMRbg0tr46-6ZiKp-

King of the Hill: "Dream Weaver" (12/16/07) - Another look into the mind of Dale, which is almost always a disturbing thing. This time we learn of his love for baskets. But when it turns out that Hank is a better basket weaver, Dale is depressed, to say the least. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang tries to catch lightning in a bottle with a Youtube video. Grade: B+

Family Guy: "Peter’s Daughter" (11/25/07) - After Meg ends up in the hospital, she falls for a doctor. Brian and Stewie try to flip a house. Some belly laughs here but only sporadically. Grade: B-

American Dad: "The Most Adequate Christmas Ever" (12/16/07) - Stan loses it when Christmas isn’t picture perfect, dies and goes to heaven. Some fairly brilliant stuff here, but once again, not a twist we didn’t see coming towards the end. Grade: B

How I Met Your Mother: "The Platinum Rule" (12/10/07) - And so, we bid adieu to this season (assuming the writers’ strike goes as long as everyone thinks) with another episode about one of Barney’s "rules." Here we have flashbacks within flashbacks, a tour de force of the How I Met Your Mother school of sitcoms. Not quite as funny as it could be but definitely ambitious. Grade: B+

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=23049270
My Name is Earl: "Burn Victim" (11/29/07) - Earl puts together a prison prom (which means Earl breakdances again!) but the warden isn’t telling the truth about his promises to get Earl out early on good behavior… Grade: B+

"Early Release" (12/6/07) - …Setting up this knee-slapper of an episode where Earl tries to break out. The Rev. Crabman and Sister Joy is one of the funniest things all year. Grade: A

Scrubs: "My Identity Crisis" (11/15/07) - J.D. can’t name anyone without using a nickname. And Turk disses Carla’s heritage (again). Pretty observant episode about these characters, but not much else to say about it. Grade: C+

"My Growing Pains" (11/29/07) - We learn at the very end that Dr. Kelso is being pressured to retire, setting up the series finale (if we will ever get one, thanks to the strike). Also J.D. and Turk continue to struggle with growing up. I understand this is a theme this season but it’s getting kind of tired. I did like Turk and J.D.’s baby puppetry though.Grade: B-

Next week: 30 Rock recaps return!

BY HENRY HANKS