Relief!

First: 207 improv types freeze simultaneously in the great hall of Grand Central Station. Amazing!

After a few weeks in the desert of American Gladiators, Pros vs. Joes, reruns of The Office and The Biggest Loser, LOST has returned. It could not have come at a better time. Last week we recorded Antiques Roadshow in HD.

I was really impressed with Thursday's episode because the writers have managed to move the story forward. Moving the story forward is not the same as answering questions, but in the age of overblown plot-lines and questionable character development being able to advance the plot is an achievement to behold on network television. Lance Reddick asking Hurley "Are they still alive?" cemented the future trajectory of the show. It also managed to give us the specter of a villain, which the show needs. Sorry to those of you opposed to binary oppositions, but a good story needs a villain (or at least an entire cast of characters with questionable morals - cue the Wire).

I am part of a telly-obsessed family, so most of us gathered last night for tapas and LOST deconstruction. The hawkeye - my sister, KK - confirmed that it was Jack's dad in the rocking chair. Cue speculation! This will send a few of us hunting for Christian Shepherd in the next few episodes.

According to AICN, no Jack flashback/forward in sight. Michael is guaranteed to return in the last ep of this short season. Good! Who cares about Jack!?

Also returned (to my great joy): Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares on BBCA - it's not as good or as entertaining when bleeped, but the stories are still horrifying. We watched the first episode of Eli Stone, and I thought it was pretty good. The George Michael soundtrack didn't hurt.