(S04E12) "We need simulations for our game theory algorithm to determine what our next step should be as a couple." - Charlie

Nerds in love. Awww. If I started talking that way to my girlfriend... I'd probably be sleeping on the couch. Whenever Charlie starts talking like that, all I can think of is that throaty hacking/laughing sound that Professor Frink from The Simpsons makes.

Once again, Charlie and Amita were discussing about moving in together, and once again that's all it was -- a discussion. It's old at this point and frankly, I wish they would just get it over with. I was honestly hoping for some tension when Larry asked Amita to assist on his new research project; perhaps some jealousy from Charlie. No such luck. So if they're so happy together and everything is perfect, explain to me why they aren't living together?

(S04E11) "He's not one of your agents. You know that, right?" - Alan

The return of everyone's favorite FBI nerd! With only one new episode left ("Power," it airs next Friday) you better savor it, though. We won't be getting any new Don and Charlie exploits for a while now.

Fortunately, we started off this final two episode run with a good one. I've always been a proponent of episodes that play to the characters weaknesses/strengths and this was a perfect example. A good case that doesn't overwhelm the storyline coupled with some personal issues (Alan and Charlie in this episode) generally makes for a good hour of Numb3rs.

(S04E10) "It's always something." - Charlie

Great episode! I've always wondered when Don's team would encounter a situation right in their own building. While this wasn't on the grand scale that I imagined, this was still pretty damn good. Plus, you have to admit, right from the beginning it felt like a math problem. Two guys in a box. Sounds like the type of thing that was probably tossed around the conference room table when this show was originally developed. Sounds exactly like the type of thing that Charlie can take apart with theories and equations. And that's just what he did.

(S04E09) "If you're good enough to fake a comic, you're good enough to be drawing your own." - Seth Marlowe

Numb3rs finally returned to form tonight with an episode that didn't quite make sense to me. When I think of the FBI tracking down a counterfeiting ring, currency comes to mind before comic books. Regardless, this was a great episode layered with an enjoyable and overly nerdy case, some mathematical explanation from Charlie (for once!), and some great sub-plots. It got even better though. Not only did Christopher "flux capacitor" Lloyd guest star, but the episode also saw a great turn from TV Squad's very own Wil Wheaton.

(S04E08) "I'm not a cowboy. I'm just a field agent." - David

I never thought I'd say it, but the cases on Numb3rs have officially taken a back-seat to the personal lives of the main characters. The cases just aren't that interesting anymore. Come on! A Paris Hilton wannabe with daddy issues. Big deal. I practically wanted to throw my glass of soda at the TV screen when Megan figured out that the daughter was behind it all -- 45 minutes into the episode! Could it have been more obvious? It doesn't help that Charlie's math (the centerpiece of the show) has been relegated to him just sort of being there, rattling off a few complicated theories every now and then. However, Don and his gang are now more interesting than they've ever been.

(S04E07) "You could move in with me but I don't live anywhere." - Larry

Calling all nerds! Kind of an odd choice for this show. I know for a fact that my folks and many of their friends love Numb3rs, but after watching this episode, they had no idea what an MMO, an ARG, or an MMORPG were and as a result were lost as to what was going on. I'm not saying I know all there is to these games. World of Warcraft is something that I gave up playing a long time ago. But when it comes to the demographic that this show is trying to reach, I'd be willing to bet that only about 50% of that group knows what an MMO is. Most would probably describe this episode as being "something about computers" (as my Mom put it). But if this episode proved one thing about MMOs, you never know who's behind the avatar.

(S04E06) "Even the vow of silence guys are grumbling." - Larry

Well this was unexpected. Just when I thought that Numb3rs was starting to tumble down the same path that it did last season with a string of mediocre episodes, it bounced right back. Last week's installment was, in my opinion, sloppy and there were far too many layers. This week was great though, much like the season premiere. It had personal involvement because of Don's stake in the case as well as a current issue that everyone loves to read about: the mob and witness security. Plus -- wait for it -- scandal! I love dirty agents!

(S04E05) "I dunno. I just like watching things explode." - Larry

For a show that most folks (I include myself now) often refer to as just another cop show, Numb3rs can sure as hell be confusing sometimes. It's almost as if the writers are trying to one-up each other by making every episode more intricate than the last one. It's a good thing I watched this early this morning though. Had I sat down and put it on last night, I don't think I could have kept up with all the twists and turns.

If you haven't entered our latest three giveaways yet (Ghost Whisperer season two, Numb3rs season three and The Kids in the Hall Megaset), you've got until 5PM Eastern today to enter. Just head on over to the posts linked above, read through the rules and make the applicable comment there (not here!) We'll notify the winners next week.

Two more next week! Good luck!

The giveaways continue today! Not only are we giving away three copies of The Kids in the Hall Complete Series Megaset, we've also got ten copies of Numb3rs season three on DVD for ten lucky, random commenters. The set is already available in stores.

To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, October 19, simply telling us your favorite episode from the series. As always, we'll randomly choose ten winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
Click here for complete Official Rules.

(S04E03) "Oh... well. Enter Fleinhardt." - Larry

That might very well have been the funniest thing to come out of Larry's mouth yet. I'm glad they brought his character back into the fold, although it'd be nice if he were utilized more and the whole "I live at a monastery" story was dropped. He's barely even talking with Megan we found out and let's be honest -- he isn't learning anything from those monks if he lets her slip away.

Anyway, despite the fact that this episode was like watching a scene from any of the three horrible Fast and the Furious films, I still liked it for a handful of reasons.

(S04E02) "Nothing like this at the monastery and you know how I love a good soak." - Larry

I'm one of the biggest critics of this show, so if I've got something positive to say, then you know things must be changing. That's the way it seems though. Everything I hoped for last year seems to be coming into play this season. Charlie's math is playing a much more prominent role. Home life with Alan and Amita is more than just dinner. And the biggest one of all? There's solid character development and it's actually happening at the beginning of the season.

(S04E01) "Because I hate owing you." - Colby

Yeah, yeah... I know. Here it is, the end of the the fall premiere week and I'm blogging about a show that only seven months ago I said I was done with. "It's bland" I decried, and it's lost the spark that originally drew me in. So what am I doing here? Well, despite the fact that I stopped writing about Numb3rs, I'm a sucker for pretty much anything on TV. (Case in point? I reviewed the entire first season of Dirt!) That's right. I put my pen down and I watched Don and Charlie's antics for the whole rest of the third season anyway. And you know what? I sort of got sucked back in. Last season's finale was right up there but I still bit my tongue when I considered throwing up a post. I knew I'd end up being negative despite the fact that I enjoyed it. So I here I am, starting from scratch, attempting once again to remember why I liked this show in the first place.

Tonight at 7:30PM, David Krumholtz of Numb3rs will be signing copies of the recently released season three set of the aforementioned show. Just head on over to the Borders on Sunset & Vine in Hollywood, CA tonight and say hi to David for us. Then marvel at how he kids at not knowing who in the hell we are. Oh, David.

Oh, and get this: By showing up you may get a chance to win a walk-on role on Numb3rs. That is pretty damn cool.

Not able to make the trip out to Hollywood? Fear not, as we'll be getting a few sets of signed copies to give away in the next couple of weeks! We've got some awesome giveaways coming up the next couple of months and likely beyond, so keep checking back.

CBS is on a good run, being the most watched network for the last five years, but they have taken a bit of heat for the formulaic way they have gone about doing it. Not arguing with success, the whole family of CSIs, and their crime based cousins, will be back, but the network is trying to branch out with some edgier programming. Most notably, Swingtown, Viva Laughlin, and Moonlight.

Returning: The Amazing Race, Cold Case, 60 Minutes, How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The Unit, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Survivor, CSI, Shark, Without A Trace, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, 48 Hours Mystery.

New: Viva Laughlin, Swingtown, Moonlight, Cane, Big Bang Theory, Power of 10, Kid Nation

Out: King of Queens, Jericho, The Class, Close To Home

Moving: Without A Trace moves back to Thursday at 10. Shark heads to Sunday at 10.