Arrested Development Two episodes...

Arrested DevelopmentTwo episodes in one night? My hand hurts from trying to write down all the quotes. The first, "Octopussy," was actually an example of how, in the right hands and with enough gratuitous repetition, puns can actually be funny. Like Rita (Charlize Theron) calling Michael a "p---y," a word I'm bleeping, too, just in case sensitive readers don't realize we mean the British definition. (Hope you recognized Buster/Tony Hale as the soldier in the 1941 film "A Thoroughly Polite Dustup.") I won't bother censoring the other unfortunate double entendre, Ann's performance of "We Three Kings with a Camel Toe" for the Inner Beauty Pageant. Speaking of Ann and Buster, Hale told me in an interview recently that Michael's perpetual "Who's Ann?" passive-aggressive digs are some of his favorite of the show's subtle jokes. They are deliciously mean. Personally, I enjoyed Buster's "Hey, possible nephew!" to Steve Holt(!). And the Church and State Fair's two "Startled Straight" tents were the kind of hit-you-over-the-head political satire we need these days. Pair that up with Gob's earlier comment "I hear the jury's still out on science" and we have ourselves some stinging commentary. This was all topped off by the slapstick move of Michael pulling Buster's hook off with the recruitment clipboard yes, I replayed that one four times.

The second episode was just slightly more focused (on the spy plot), though it was filled with equally silly moments. Especially all the asides:
- "The whole back side has moles." "That's Frank's problem, too."
- "English muffin." "Delicious!"
- "Their culture values honor and respect." "And Godzilla!"

Even the boom-mike operator got to make a joke about spying. I kind of felt like Maeby's "Love, Indubitably" ride was a little too much of a Hollywood in-joke (especially with the cranky Frankie Muniz cameo). Then again, the "Mole vs. Jet-Pack Man" movie Tobias and George-Michael inadvertently put on for the Japanese investors got the biggest LOL in my household. Because mentally we are 5-year-olds. And as for the real MRF, Rita, she seems smarter than all the Bluths put together. There are a lot of people I'd sell out for a chocolate star, too.   Sabrina Rojas Weiss

Prison Break
It was kind of interesting to watch Veronica's revelation about the siphoning of funds for the Veep's ambitious presidential campaign juxtaposed with the 10 o'clock news in the New York area, which featured stories about the crazy spending in the NYC mayoral campaign and the NJ gubernatorial race. I'm not trying to be all political or insinuate that any of the real-life politicians were part of a massive government extortion plot and murder cover-up, just thought it was weirdly coincidental timing. Actually, a lot of money almost changed hands in this episode. Michael tried to extort 200 grand from Falzone, and the aptly named C-Note offers up 100 bucks a month (which gets negotiated to 150) to the one-eyed guy running the work crew for a job. Loved that Abruzzi and Michael ganged up and scammed Falzone in a big way. And the way that Abruzzi came hunting down Michael when he heard the news great editing totally had me thinking that Abruzzi was out for Mikey's blood, and that so wasn't the case. It was a nice twist, since earlier I had a strong hunch that there was no way that Michael would easily hand over for Fibonacci and they made a big deal over that. But it wasn't all craziness: There were some sweet things, like when Michael gave Sara an origami flower and when Lincoln asked for blueberry pancakes as his last meal because it was what he used to share with his son on Sundays. Who knew that in a drama about hardened criminals, there could be a softer side?  Angel Cohn

Las Vegas
Las Vegas did the time warp and treated us all to a retropisode. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the effort an Ocean's 8. The vibe was chill, the music was cool and ourposse looked gooood. The show did a credible job of re-creating early '60s Vegas gangsters, gambling, racial tensions and all.

The names were all pretty much the same, except that the Montecito wasn't the Montecito, it was the Jubilee. Frank Sinatra was the main draw. And Mike had hair. The hair cracked me up. I think Robert Townsend wore somethin' like it back when he was in The Five Heartbeats. Nothing much really changed. Although this Ed Deline didn't have to hold back like he has to in the present day. Usually he has to turn the criminal element over to the police, but not in this alternate universe: He can actually go medieval on someone's sorry butt and then drop him off in front of his peeps just to send a message. Cold. Love it, but totally cold.

Kudos to the tailor-made opening sequence that featured vintage Vegas shots. More kudos to the clothes, the hair, Danny trying to do the twist. It's also nice to know that even back then, he and Mike were on the cutting edge of high tech security. However, at times I felt like I was stuck in the original Rat Pack-infested (in a good way) Ocean's 11. That movie was très cool but kinda dragged on in parts (not in a good way). I walked away from this trip in the way-back machine feeling a little torn. Danny and Sam? Or Danny and Mary? I'm giving the edge to the two ABC daytime alums. Josh Duhamel (ex-All My Children) and Vanessa Marcil (ex-General Hospital) had chemistry to spare.  Bettina Charles