by Roger Reini (rreini@wwnet.net)

In tonight's long sketches, we have the annual appearance of Midge and Chris as well as the first appearance of Birdie outside of a short bit. Chris is Birdie's niece, but Birdie does not approve of her niece's lifestyle, so she kidnaps Chris and turns her over to deprogrammers. In the other long sketch, Linda is up for a role as an angel, and this leads to her re-evaluating her relationship with God.

In the short bits, Hope describes a deep religious discussion, Ruby relates her experiences on the set of "The Greatest Story Ever Told," Sydney talks about her favorite verse from the Bible, Fern tries to teach Madeline Allbright how to be a Jew, Kay describes a miracle at a Benny Hinn meeting, and Her Royal Highness meets the Pope.

This is the second episode in a row that was very funny throughout. It started in the opening with Tracey revealing the first commandment of "Ullmanism" ("Thou shalt always be funny") and continued to the end with HRH comparing Heaven and life as a royal, and having Heaven come in second. With an attitude like that, she might not find out about Heaven first-hand.... We also see the disturbing side of the practice of religion, when it becomes bound up with unreasoning fanaticism, such as with Brother Sidney's "Straightway" compound, where gay people are given cruel treatments like electro-shock therapy in order to "turn them straight". Then, as if to balance things out, we see the positive benefits of religion, as Linda discovers that, though she may have turned her back on God, He never turned His back on her, so to speak.

In my opinion, this is the best episode of the season to date.

NEXT: Man's Best Friend