The third season of this year's Emmy winner for best comedy, "30 Rock," kicks off tonight at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. The premiere was available in advance through several Internet outlets, so I was able to check out the episode ahead of schedule.

It begins with Jack returning from Washington, D.C., and focuses on Liz's meeting with a woman from the adoption agency (played by Megan Mullally). There's also Jack's plot to get his old job back, and Tracy's run-in with Jenna over video game royalties.

There are a few real laugh-out-loud moments that come toward the end of the show, and although I'm not going to declare it the best sitcom ever or anything like that, it's a fun way to spend a half hour. Plus, Alec Baldwin (Jack) and Tina Fey (Liz) have a nice, easy-going chemistry between them.

If you're new to the series, like me (having given up on "Grey's Anatomy" last year, I plan to start watching "30 Rock" this season), you can follow the episode without difficulty. There are a few things here and there that you might wonder about - What job did Jack have in D.C.? What's up with the crazy lady, Kathy, and all her stuffed animals? - but there's nothing that will keep you from enjoying the show.

If you want to bring yourself up to speed, seasons one and two are available on DVD. The last four episodes of season two are available for free on several Web sites, including nbc.com, hulu.com and imdb.com.

nn

Last week, ABC added an extra hour to its "Dancing with the Stars" overload to make up for the hole left by the canceled game show "Opportunity Knocks." That brings the total up to 150 minutes of "DWTS" a week. Well, actually, make that 154.

See, ABC tacks an extra two minutes onto Monday's show and Tuesday's results show. The network is notorious for adding an extra minute to its more popular shows, but "DWTS" is the only one where it adds two. Not only does this make it difficult for those who record the shows (ABC's prime motive, I'm sure - not that they'd ever admit it), but it's also unfair, I think, to the shows that follow "DWTS."

Particularly affected is Monday night's "Samantha Who?" Sitcoms are only about 22 minutes long anyway, so to take away two minutes is significant. Plus, these shows generally wrap up at 59 past the hour, so there's another minute lost.

The third season of this year's Emmy winner for best comedy, "30 Rock," kicks off tonight at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. The premiere was available in advance through several Internet outlets, so I was able to check out the episode ahead of schedule.

It begins with Jack returning from Washington, D.C., and focuses on Liz's meeting with a woman from the adoption agency (played by Megan Mullally). There's also Jack's plot to get his old job back, and Tracy's run-in with Jenna over video game royalties.

There are a few real laugh-out-loud moments that come toward the end of the show, and although I'm not going to declare it the best sitcom ever or anything like that, it's a fun way to spend a half hour. Plus, Alec Baldwin (Jack) and Tina Fey (Liz) have a nice, easy-going chemistry between them.

If you're new to the series, like me (having given up on "Grey's Anatomy" last year, I plan to start watching "30 Rock" this season), you can follow the episode without difficulty. There are a few things here and there that you might wonder about - What job did Jack have in D.C.? What's up with the crazy lady, Kathy, and all her stuffed animals? - but there's nothing that will keep you from enjoying the show.

If you want to bring yourself up to speed, seasons one and two are available on DVD. The last four episodes of season two are available for free on several Web sites, including nbc.com, hulu.com and imdb.com.

nn

Last week, ABC added an extra hour to its "Dancing with the Stars" overload to make up for the hole left by the canceled game show "Opportunity Knocks." That brings the total up to 150 minutes of "DWTS" a week. Well, actually, make that 154.

See, ABC tacks an extra two minutes onto Monday's show and Tuesday's results show. The network is notorious for adding an extra minute to its more popular shows, but "DWTS" is the only one where it adds two. Not only does this make it difficult for those who record the shows (ABC's prime motive, I'm sure - not that they'd ever admit it), but it's also unfair, I think, to the shows that follow "DWTS."

Particularly affected is Monday night's "Samantha Who?" Sitcoms are only about 22 minutes long anyway, so to take away two minutes is significant. Plus, these shows generally wrap up at 59 past the hour, so there's another minute lost.

Although I fail to see the attraction, I know "DTWS" has a strong following and good ratings. But really, when you've already got three and a half hours of it on each week, are four extra minutes really necessary? I'd say those four minutes are more important to the shows that follow "DTWS," which are less established and have a less rabid fan base.

Besides, did ABC learn nothing from its "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" overexposure?

nn

Premieres: "30 Rock," 9:30 p.m. tonight, NBC; "Brotherhood," 8 p.m. Sunday, Showtime.

Finale: "Army Wives," 10 p.m. Sunday, Lifetime; "Raising the Bar," 10 p.m. Monday, TNT.

Of note: "E.R." watchers, if you were a Reela fan, be sure to be home for tonight's episode when Ray (Shane West) returns to County General for the first of two episodes. He's just one of the many returning docs who will pop up during Sweeps.

Remember, Tuesday is Election Day, so with the exception of the CW, all regular network programming will be pre-empted. Also, on Monday, NBC pre-empts "Chuck," "Heroes" and - for what it's worth - "My Own Worst Enemy" for an episode of "Deal or No Deal" and the "SNL Presidential Bash 2008."

Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com.