House Charms (and Apologizes), as Betty Learns to Love Fashion...

I love this time of year, when the winter season "break" is over, and new episodes return. At least network execs are finally admitting the fact, dividing up the year's TV seasons into "Fall" and "Spring" mode, and giving us the bad news along with the good -- and best of all, letting us know when the hiatuses will occur, in chunks, instead of interspersed interminably with the occasional new episode.

New this past week were some excellent new episodes of both "Ugly Betty" and "House," the former simply cementing the title character's adorableness and spunk, even as the latter showed that no rung on the ladder is too low for House (scamming drugs even in rehab), who still also somehow managed to remain at least somewhat adorable for those of us biased in that direction. It's Hugh Laurie, people. I can't hate a man played by Hugh Laurie. It's the eyes. Besides, the guy can deliver a line of sarcasm like a Stradivarius plays music. It's that perfect.

Betty's episode was heartbreaking and lovely, not filler at all to me, although I can see why some would view this episode (repurposed as a "flashback" from an ep meant to air earlier in the season) as such.

But to me Betty's first new January episode was so heartbreaking and simple that it was a reminder, and a lovely one, of the huge gaps between those who have and those who have not. Daniel, Betty's boss, casually borrows a few bucks for a bagel -- money Betty (with an ailing father who cannot even fill his heart prescription) doesn't have. His version of "poor" is much different than hers. Poor for Daniel means he can't dine out this month. Poor for Betty means she cannot get her father's meds, or that they may even be in danger of losing their house. I grew up pretty poor, and I remember what a big deal it was, those days when we had to pay for school photos, or for chorus uniforms (yes, I was a raging geek. Be surprised. LOL). Or simply when my Mom tried to buy a better cut of meat. It was cause for celebration but also wariness -- a simple roast could bankrupt us for the week.

So I loved this episode of "Betty," who finally heard the siren song of fashion and understood what all the fuss was about... that the glitzy, trashy designer $4,000 purse kindhearted Christina had saved for her had made Betty remember her childhood... but perhaps just as importantly, it had made her feel beautiful. What a brutal moment, then, when Betty sells the precious handbag for 15 refills of her father's medication. The scene when Betty sobbed herself to sleep, hugging the purse that reminded her of childhood, her mother, and of her own possible beauty... man, I cried like a baby. So sue me.

So this was a really important episode to me, far from the "filler" label that many might justfiably attach to it. It brought Christina into sympathetic light, making her a more realistic and lovable person (not just the office kook), showed us how much faith the publisher had in Betty, and even showed us the (comparative) desperation of Daniel's circumstances, and why he hasn't done more perhaps for Betty than he has. So it was a lovely flashback, overall -- not least for showing us Henry and Betty's first meeting, adorably frantic and all Roz-Russell-Meets-Cary-Grant zaniness as Betty steals his bagel and Henry (if ruffled) ultimately saves the day. These two can't get together soon enough to suit me.

Meanwhile, on to this week's subtle and surprising new "House," where we discovered Tritter did indeed have a soul, House apologized, Cuddy saved the day, and Cameron... well, yeah, she continued to march ahead on her crusade to prove to the world that only she knows what House is thinking... too bad so much dialogue is wasted on Cameron instead of Cuddy, who has genuine reason for insight into him. I just don't find the two interesting. I did find it interesting that Chase was right -- once again -- and ignored -- once again.

And in the end, Tritter is thankfully human: "I hope I'm wrong about you." A rather quiet and gentle exit for the show's latest Mephistopheles, and a nice wry turn by Morse (who resisted chewing the scenery even when the plot seemed to demand it).

And best of all: House apologizes to a much-deserving Wilson instead of delivering yet another unkindness to this kindest friend of all. It wasn't a very merry Christmas in House-land, but it was a lovely and funny New Year, especially with House smiling to himself as he drifted off in jail in a haze of Vicodin...

So why do I think this is the beginning, not the end, of this? House won't get off so lightly. At least, not yet...