Sunday TV Roundup

It's a good thing Battlestar Galactica is finally back, because otherwise, all the TV worth watching would be piled up only on Sunday right now.

Six Feet Under provided its usual quotient of "cringe because these situations are so awful" moments. (Don't get me wrong -- they're the reason I watch the show.) Nate and Brenda not just drifting farther apart, but rocketing away from each other at a breakneck pace. Ruth practically determined to be unhappy no matter what situation she puts/finds herself in. Vanessa essentially prostituting herself just to have help around the house. Claire losing a little piece of her soul every time she hears "yeah baby!"

Lots of quality 80s humor on Family Guy tonight. References to Corey Haim, The Goonies, The Neverending Story... but hands down, the biggest belly laugh of the night was Chris stepping into the A-ha video -- complete with creepy pencil thugs with tire irons chasing him.

Then there was The 4400, a very bizarre riff on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Future Imperfect" (with just a dash of "The Inner Light"). Not a bad episode, but also total "filler" as far as the main plot goes. Still, we did get the great analogy "I'm like a cell phone or TiVo... once you have me, you can't imagine life without me." (Well, I still think cell phones are evil... but oh, how I love you, TiVo.)

Speaking (circumspectly) of Star Trek, The Dead Zone had its eighth or ninth episode with a title taken from a Star Trek episode. ("Heroes and Demons" being tonight's installment.) That Michael Piller, tipping the hat to the fans. An odd episode, but enjoyable. Still, two or three weeks now with no Sarah (Nicole de Boer). Shameful!