Ginnifer Goodwin of 'Big Love'

Credit: HBO

In its long run, "Big Love" has never defined Margene Heffman as handily or specifically as it has Barb Henrickson or Nicki Grant. Both Barb and Nicki are wonderfully complex characters who can't be easily pinned down, but both have had their complexities plumbed and examined by the series. Margie has always played around the edges of the show. She's the youngest wife, the one who most obviously turned to Bill because she just needed somewhere to belong. She's the one who's often able to build bridges between the different family members. And Ben has a crush on her. We know other things about her, obviously (like the fact that she has a sometimes alluded to dark past), but the writers have chosen to keep Margie mostly in the background throughout the series.

[Full recap of Sunday's (Jan. 31) "Big Love" after the break...]

 Jon Hamm

Credit: AP

There are four types of “Saturday Night Live” episodes: episodes where you’re legitimately excited about the host, episodes where you really like the musical guest, episodes where both the host and the musical guest seem to hold promise, and episodes where the expected quality of the episode is anyone’s guess.
If the show surrounding the variables is in good shape, none of this should matter: there will be some political satire, a few Bill Hader impressions, and your usual slew of Weekend Update jokes. However, right now the show is at the bottom of the barrel, leaning on fart jokes and Kenan Thompson more than I would have ever imagined just a year or two ago.

So it means that I’m tuning into "Saturday Night Live" tonight for Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) and Jon Hamm only: if the rest of the show happens to pull together in his presence, then consider me pleasantly surprised.

If, however, it ends up the television comedy equivalent to Michael Bublé, then consider me destructively cynical.

[Full recap of Saturday's (Jan. 30) "Saturday Night Live" after the break]

 Eliza Dushku and Dichen Lachman of 'Dollhouse'

Credit: FOX

I'd like to sit here and tell you that "Epitaph Two: The Return" is an unmitigated triumph, an episode of television that will singlehandedly push future generations to realize that "Dollhouse" is nothing less than a stellar 26-episode miniseries and one that will redeem even some of the series' weaker outings by revealing their place in the overall scheme. And, actually, it does some of that. It's a very, very good episode of television, notable for the fact that it looks like it was made with whatever pocket change Joss Whedon found in his couch. What's more, the script itself here is quite well done, bristling with heady ideas and a forward momentum that never lets up. But some of the episode's execution is off. Not so much that it ruins the experience but enough that this won't sit proudly alongside the "Angel" finale as one of the all-time greats.

[Full recap of Friday's (Jan. 29) series finale of "Dollhouse" after the break...]

 Eric Stoltz of 'Caprica'

Credit: Syfy

Last week’s premiere of “Caprica” was a relative one: chances are, many of you that watched it might have already caught it via DVD in the time since its release last Spring. But tonight marks the start of the series good and proper with its first hour-long episode. It’s fitting that the title of this episode was “Rebirth.” After all, the theme of this week’s episode centered around alternative parent/child relationships in the wake of the train bombing. Dr. Phil would have a FIELD DAY in Caprica City, methinks.
Let’s look at the lost children of “Caprica,” one by one.

[Full recap of Friday's (Jan. 29) "Caprica" after the break...]

 The gang from 'The Vampire Diaries'

Credit: The CW

The ladies of Mystic Falls (who aren’t lucky enough to be dating a Salvatore) get turned down left and right this week on “The Vampire Diaries,” while Stefan, Elena, and Damon team up to track down the mysterious hooded vampire guy from last week. Best of all, Elena gets her first taste of female empowerment…and she kinda likes it!

Read on for the full recap.

 Jesse of 'Project Runway'

Credit: Lifetime

Well, it’s the very first team episode, so I’m guessing there’s going to be hair pulling and seam ripping, because this crew is shaping up to be one dislikable bunch of wannabes. Even before we discover what the challenge for the day will be, it seems like everyone lines up to take a pot shot at Ping. Granted, she’s an easy target, what with a name like Ping and her buttless dress, but it seems a little early in the season for people to be this snide. Not that she was the only target. Jesse, who I hadn’t even realized was on the show up this point (yeah, memorable the guy is not) had to ask Jesus if his strategy for winning was to be in the bottom two week after week. Seriously, why not just smother him with a pillow, Jesse? Who put eau du jerkass in the communal body wash?

[Full recap of Thursday (Jan. 28) night's "Project Runway" after the break...]
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 Vanessa Johnston of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

8 p.m. Before rushing off to try to catch Louis C.K.'s new Sundance documentary, it's time to recap "American Idol" auditions from Dallas.

8:01 p.m. Kady Malloy footage? Oh yes. I'm most certainly sold on Texas auditions. 

8:02 p.m. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Well that's just gilding the lilly.

[More after the break...]

 Austin Fullmer of 'American Idol'

Credit: FOX

8:00 p.m. ET Welcome to the Los Angeles auditions for "American Idol," a convenient location that allows Ryan Seacrest not to have to take the day off from any of his 37 other jobs.

8:01 p.m. Hurray for Hollywood, indeed. The Rose Bowl brought out 11,000 hopefuls, who are all competing to earn a trip to Hollywood, which is just redundant.

[Full recap of Tuesday (Jan. 26) night's "American Idol" after the break...]

 Jack Coleman of 'Heroes'

Credit: NBC

Deception. It’s what most “Heroes” fans thrust upon themselves to digest the show at this point in its run. While there have been some tolerable aspects to the “Redemption” volume (the Claire/Gretchen relationship, Emma, the notable lack of Suresh), in general the carnival plot simply hasn’t gone anywhere. A villain with a lack of discernable motivation, coupled with too many plots not directly tied to the big top, has led to a sprawling, disconnected mess in which the high points have been buried under three rings of muck.

But enough with the metaphors, onto the review!

[More on Monday's (Jan. 25) "Heroes" after the break...]

 Kristin Kreuk and Zachary Levi of 'Chuck'

Credit: NBC

Greeting from Park City, Utah, "Chuck" fans.

As much as I enjoy a good lengthy "Chuck" recap, my current Sundance Film Festival-based time crunch may make this week's recap a smidge less in-depth than usual. With that in mind, I invite y'all to delve into whichever aspects of "Chuck vs. First Class" that I happen to gloss over in an effort to get to an evening screening (and possible procure hot food of some sort).

Fortunately, "Chuck vs. First Class" is a good episode with lots of funny and exciting bits. And how could it not be, coming from the pen (or computer keyboard) of series co-creator Chris Fedak?

[Thoughts on Monday (Jan. 25) night's "Chuck" after the break...]