A welcome return for TV’s funniest

The biggest night of comedy is back with new episodes

PREVIEW. The tradition of NBC’s Thursday night comedy block resumes tonight when “My Name Is Earl,” which returned from the writers’ strike last week, is joined by “30 Rock,” “The Office” and “Scrubs.” It’s arguably the network’s most creative and downright hilarious four-pack of sitcoms to hold the hallowed spot. We recap where the shows left off and look ahead to the season’s final episodes.

 

 

‘My Name Is Earl’
8 p.m.
Where the show left off: Earl (Jason Lee) spent half the season in prison, only to be hit by a car after his release.
Where the show’s headed: “Every Oscar winner of the last decade is going to be on the show. It’s going to be the most star-studded event of the last 100 years,” Lee teases. Actually, the series settled for Paris Hilton in last week’s return, and Alyssa Milano is back as love-interest Billie.

 

 

‘30 Rock’
8:30 p.m.
Where the show left off: Jack’s (Alec Baldwin) love life began to resemble that of no-luck Liz (Tina Fey), who failed miserably at her attempt to buy an apartment.
Where the show’s headed: Yes, the strike is officially over; actually, it’s nonexistent in the realm of “TGS with Tracy Jordan.” “We decided that the strike did not happen in our world
because we felt like, for people viewing at home, the real strike was a big enough pain,” Fey says. That doesn’t mean work for the show-within-the-show’s cast and crew will be all sunshine. Tonight, they get riled up over reality show “MILF Island,” and later, Jack vies for the CEO position once again, which means Rip Torn will reprise his role as the company head.
 

 

 

‘The Office’
9 p.m.
Where the show left off: Michael’s (Steve Carell) embarrassing deposition in girlfriend Jan’s (Melora Hardin) wrongful termination suit against Dunder Mifflin caused her to lose the case; meanwhile, a happy Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) told the office about their relationship.
Where the show’s headed: Jim and Pam are finally coerced into that dinner party with Michael and Jan, which couldn’t come at a worse time. “It’s a very charged situation,” executive producer Greg Daniels says. “It just happens to be after the previous episode … so there’s a lot of tension between them.”
 

 

 

‘Scrubs’
9:30 p.m.
Where the show left off: J.D. (Zach Braff) was adjusting to life as a baby daddy, while it was beginning to look like Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins) was going to be forced into retirement.
Where the show’s headed: To ABC, hopefully. NBC chose not to pick up the comedy for the 2008-09 season. ABC may offer the show an 18-episode farewell next year.