The Downside to Good Manners, 'Without A Trace,' and Scotty Finally Lets Go

How many of you were watching Desperate Housewives last night and thinking how much better this episode was than the others so far this season? Yeah, me too, and it's all thanks to series creator Marc Cherry. Yes, we finally got a script last night penned by the man himself, Marc Cherry. The difference was quite noticeable because that dark, sardonic humor was back, loose ends were tied, and the characters were back to their more likeable and hilarious selves. I found myself actually liking Susan again, instead of wanting to wring her neck. Edie, as usual, delivered some of the best lines of the night. I LOVE that she thinks that Carl came back to her after talking with Susan. That entire scene was hilarious from top to bottom with Edie barely able to thank Susan for "helping Carl" and Susan's quiet satisfaction in knowing that Carl only went back to Edie because he couldn't have Susan! Classic Desperate Housewives! It was nice to have a week off from Lynette-goes-to-work. She and the twins were back and up to their usual antics. The sex tape neighbors were great, and Tom and Lynette's willingness to forgive just about anything in order to get some free time without their kids was priceless! I was laughing out loud at this storyline, especially the "professional shoot!" Gabby cracked me up as usual with her dress ordeal. After all that heartache with the dress, her friends walk in and know immediately that she's pregnant. As I was watching this episode, I started to get a feeling that the writers were going to have Gabby lose the baby, but I wasn't expecting her tumble down the stairs. I don't know whether she lost the baby, but it did seem that way. George was even creepier this week, and Bree granted herself a reprieve with her decision to "stay engaged for a while." I loved the scene at her therapist where she tells him that she said yes to George because it would have been impolite to say no with his mother and her friend looking on. Her reply to her therapistÂ’s shock that she said yes because of good manners ("I knew there was a downside to good manners") was hysterical! I can't believe George knocked the therapist off the bridge! I guess he'll kill anyone who gets between him and Bree. Total psycho! Overall, this episode was such a HUGE step in the season one direction, and very enjoyable. I wanted to scream up and down and shout that Desperate Housewives was back!

It has been a great week for me in the television arena. Not only was Desperate Housewives back to its original form, but there was the spectacular Cold Case return and the new life breathed into fellow procedural Without A Trace. The latter had another strong outing Thursday night. I watch several crime shows, so I'm pretty immune to most of the gruesome and disturbing storylines that they cover, but the child pornography episodes never cease to disturb me. It's just so atrocious and sickening because you know that it really goes on. I found myself going back and forth with Gordon Klapp's character. Deep in my heart, I knew he wasn't apedophilee, but I kept getting suspicious because the FBI agents doubted him. I know that going undercover must have made Jack sick because of his own daughters, but finding Melissa and getting her out of that horrible world made it all worth it. I was surprised to learn that Delgado has a daughter as well. She has made some really nice catches in the few weeks that she has been on the show, and last week's barn pictures was no exception. I definitely think that the character is an asset to the show.

Well, Cold Case had big shoes to fill after its excellent outing last week, so I wasn't going to hold it against the show if it came up short. Luckily, the show was once again strong and back to its usual wonderful self. Instead of an emotional Lilly sidestory, we got a Scotty one.. I was concerned about this impending storyline when I read about it over the summer because I didn't see the sense in dragging up the whole Elisa thing again, but I should have trusted the show and its writers. Scotty was so desperate to make sense of Elisa's death that he was grasping at straws. I thought for a moment in the interrogation that the suspect might have been responsible for Elisa's death as well, but Scotty's expression changed and I knew this was just false hope for him. I thought his scene with Stillman outside of police headquarters was nicely done. Scotty's closing scenes where he put Elisa's suicide letter in the river and watched the river carry it away just as it did Elisa was very poignant. It was so symbolic of him coming to terms with her death and letting it go. Danny Pino did an excellent job in this episode. In fact, this show is blessed with a very strong cast from top to bottom. The case was also well done. The writers didn't try to go for the shock value where they reveal the killer and we're all left scratching out heads because it doesn't make sense. They had gotten into a rut where they were using thistacticc in order to catch us off guard, and it just came across as weak writing. I knew Coleman was dirty all along, but I just wasn't sure how dirty. I was surprised to learn that it was Scott who actually carried out the murder, but he was definitely more ruthless than Amy. I found myself connecting to the victim, so I was bummed when they showed the final scene with Scott handing her thepoisonedd sports drink. I liked the subtle parallel to Lilly's life, and Lil's realization that she was similar to the Amy, and therefore, people see her in a similar light. This has been a constant theme throughout the season, and I like how they are carrying it out. I think we're going to see a lot of changes in her character this season, and I am excited to be along for the journey.

BREAKING NEWS!!! TV Guide.com is reporting that actress Tracie Thoms is joining the cast of Cold Case as a new homicide detective. Thoms stars in the upcoming movie version of the Broadway musical Rent. She'll play a former narcotics cop who comes to homicide. Her first episode airs this Sunday, November 20th on CBS. I know what you're thinking because I'm thinking it too. Didn't we already get another homicide detective and it made the show too crowded? Yeah, I'm worried. The show has been at the top of its game the past couple of weeks without a sixth detective, so it bums me out that they're trying out this sixth detective idea again. I guess I don't understand this burning need to add another detective to the mix. The current cast is so strong, and they barely get enough personal stuff for their characters as it is with the show's procedural case solving structure. Hopefully, adding another character (again) won't hurt theintegrityy of the show as it did the last time they attempted this idea. What do you think? Is adding another detective going to make the show too crowded again? Are you just going to wait and see before deciding? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

About Last Night... CBS started out on top with Cold Case, followed by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC and Fox comedies The Simpsons and The War At Home. At 9, ABC's Desperate Housewives easily won the hour, followed by CBS's movie Category 7 and NBC's Saturday Night Live special. The final hour of the night went to Grey's Anatomy on ABC, followed by CBS's movie and NBC's special. For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - Laura, Rich, and Jackson work to build the submersible and rectify the many setbacks as they attempt to take it out to sea on NBC's Surface.

@9 p.m. - Michael receives a surprise visitor, which angers Lincoln and makes Captain Bellick even more suspicious on Fox's Prison Break. Over on NBC, the Montecito reviews its security measures in order to ensure that the Kashmir Sapphire is protected from theft while on loan at the casino on Las Vegas.

@10 p.m. - D.A. Devalos runs for office and Allison has a vision that could jeopardize both of their futures on NBC's Medium.


QUICK CUTS

*ABC is pulling the plug on freshman drama Night Stalker. The show has only aired six episodes, but it struggled to find an audience up against CSI, the most watched show in primetime. Overall, the series averaged a little more than 5.5 million viewers. The cancellation is effective immediately, and ABC will fill the timeslot with an extended Primetime this week.

*Mandy Moore is checking in for a few episodes of NBC's Scrubs. The singer/actress will play a love interest for J.D, played by her real-life on-again/off-again love Zach Braff. Moore is set for two episodes so far. NBC has not set a premiere date for the show, but it is expected to return at mid-season.

*Smallville creators Miles Millar and Al Gough are developing a pilot for a new series about Aquaman for the WB. The pilot will be in much the same fashion as its superhero counterpart in that it will be set in present day and focus more on character development and less on superpowers. The series will follow the adventures of 20 year old Arthur Curry who becomes aware of his powers while figuring out his life on land.

*And finally, it's TV on DVD Monday! The tenth and final season of Friends hit shelves tomorrow as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the complete series!), Charmed (season 3), Frasier (season 7), Murder One (season 2), Scrubs (season 2) and Tru Calling (season 2). For the full release schedule, visit tvshowsondvd.com.

That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for Medium (How will Allison deal with her dream about Joe cheating?). Plus all the latest television news!