'Supernatural' Going back

This is probably not good news for the contestants on the forthcoming season of Hell's Kitchen, but chef-host Gordon Ramsay says he's been a relative teddy bear so far.

Longtime, dedicated Dunder Mifflin fans should cherish the next few days. Because once Sunday night comes and goes, The Office could just blow the ef up, beckoning new and ardent fans from far and wide. I just previewed their post Superbowl festivities and can say without hesitation that this special episode they've got planned contains some of the series' finest work. In the first few minutes alone, you will lose your mind watching Dwight Schrute commit a felony, nearly killing a co-worker... not to mention another one of Angela's cats... More

Lie to Me is a brand-new show, but there are so many things it's already doing right. Its characters are smart but by no means perfect -- and their quirks aren't (yet) annoying. The pace is quick and feels tight, but even though it's a procedural the vibe is loose and never anxiety-inducing. It's based in Washington, D.C., but it's finding stories to tell that have nothing to do with politics (aside from the congressman storyline of the debut). And if this week is any indication, those in charge were smart enough to ratchet back a little on the quirks that were great in a pilot but would get old if overused -- the continual exposition and the slo-mo zooming in on the microexpressions that Cal Lightman sees. Bravo.