TVSquad

Last week we mentioned that a lot of people were wondering where the season premiere of 30 Rock was? Fans thought that NBC might want to take advantage of Tina Fey's Emmy wins/Sarah Palin work and air the first episode of the new season a littler earlier than October 30, but that's not going to happen. But the network has put it online a week early, and we have it after the jump!

I'll have a full review next Thursday night, but let's just say you won't be disappointed. The show is just like it has always been: funny, unpredictable, and really clever. We even find out how a few plot points from the past actually turned out. The guest star in the first episode is Will and Grace's Megan Mullally, who plays an adoption agency rep who has to check out Liz's workplace to see if she's a suitable candidate to raise a child. Will Arnett also appears, as Jack tries to get his job back.

If Don were ten years older and this was 1972 instead of 1962, we'd be saying that Don Draper is going through a mid-life crisis. After spending last week contemplating a new future with the jet set, or at least getting the offer of a hobo-existence without the worries of finances or fidelity, Don was compelled to look back before making a choice. That phone call at the end of The Jet Set was to the real Mrs. Draper.

Back home, meanwhile, Betty is again faced with having to grow up. Between her father's decline, Don's disappearance and her rebukes of Arthur and Glenn, Betts has been forced to be more than she's been in the past. Sally's latest stunt shouldn't be a shock considering that she's snuck a drink earlier this season and clearly idolizes everything her father does.

Sally blames Betty for Don's absence, and Betty realizes that pain she's been feeling is just as acute for her child and she does something human about it -- she gives Sally the boots to cushion the blow of the truth that Daddy may not be coming back.

Brooke Smith from ABC's Grey's Anatomy has just adopted a little girl Ethiopia. So, move over Brad and Angelina!

Smith, who plays Dr. Erica Hahn on Grey's, already has one daughter Fanny (five-years-old) with her cinematographer husband Stephen Lubensky. Back in October, Brooke Smith told People that she would consider adopting, "You know, why not?"

According to People, Smith and her husband have traveled to Africa on numerous occasions. In fact, she and Lubensky filmed a documentary about the conservationists in Zimbabwe.

Paula Abdul, often seen as a nurturing, loving maternal-figure to American Idol's young contestants, is now talking about her desire to experience personal motherhood. Paula says she "loves kids" and she'll consider adoption if she is unable to produce her own mini-Abduls.

Still, the 44-year-old former cheerleader remains optimistic about her chances of giving birth to a biological child. "With medical technology these days, I could have children by myself using a donor. But I would rather be in a relationship so the child has a father to help instill core values," Paula said.

Pop superstar Madonna, who is currently shopping for a baby at a large store called "the world," will tape an interview with Oprah Winfrey that will air this Wednesday.

Madonna's adoption of a Malawi boy is currently in dispute by the boy's father. Or maybe it's not. It's really hard to follow all of the twists and turns of this story. But I'm sure the Material Girl will set the record straight when she sits down on Oprah's couch.

The baby's name is David, and he is currently in London as all the adoption legal stuff is figured out.

This was one of the better episodes of the season. Well, it was one of the best in my book. We had less Susan and more Applewhite, Scavo and Van De Camp this week, and that meant more answers than questions. Though there wasn't a lot of the Solis family, what we did see was surprisingly heartbreaking for a couple who aren't typically in such a situation.

Obviously, with only three episodes left, we're seeing things finally start coming to a close, though so far it's really no match for what we saw in this series' first season.

I just realized tonight that Desperate Housewives suffers from what I call "Providence Syndrome". The term dates back to the second season of the old series Providence, right around the time Tom Cavanaugh joined the show and I lost interest (though to no fault of Cavanaugh or his character).

Basically, a show suffers from Providence Syndrome when it finds the need to place funky, stringed instrument plucks during humorous scenes, as if to say, "hey everyone, this is a funny scene so we're going to throw some of these plucky notes at you." You know the tune: blump blump...blump blump! Watch just about any scene featuring Susan and you'll hear that tune.

Anyway, I digress. On to the show.