'Ugly Betty': Unhappy Returns

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Elsewhere on the show, the battle between Willy and Renee became red-hot. Willy tried her best to get Daniel to dump Renee, for reasons still not completely clear to me, but in the end, her efforts only pushed the couple closer together, as they eventually decided to move in together. Renee, however, showed she definitely shares Wilhelmina's DNA: She liquored Marc up and got him to spill all of Willy's baby-making plans. So now, both sisters have secrets on the other. Willy's foreshadowing comment — ''I know you think I'm the evil sister, Marc, but at least I stop short of murder'' — made it clear that Renee has something dastardly to hide. But just murder? That's so been done before. C'mon! The funniest part of this whole story line was when Willy sent Marc into Daniel's apartment to switch out Renee's crazy pills. When he pulled out Daniel's see-through underwear — ''Daniel, you naughty boy!'' — and smelled them, I simply lost it.

In what seems like a desperate attempt to give Claire and Alexis a story line of some sort, the Meade mother was busy launching her new over-50 women's magazine, Hot Flash. And despite the great acting abilities of Judith Light and Rebecca Romijn, even they couldn't give this lame story — Alexis cut off funding for the mag, so Claire hired recently released prisoners — any oomph. May I suggest to the writers that rather than have Claire flaunt the fact that she's gone through menopause, they give her a love interest? And, on that note, isn't Alexis burning and yearning for some lovin' too?

So after seeing this ''heart''-and-Betty-infused first episode back, I have to say I was pleased, but with the caveat that I miss seeing more of the supporting players. I — along with all of you TV Watchers, I'm sure — demand more Justin. And surely more Amanda. I'm all for this show getting back to what it was originally about — Betty's sunny point of view — but don't scrimp on the genius moments with the supporting cast, please!

Before we part ways for the week — and it's only a week this time, friends! — how about a few of my favorite Betty sound bites? Here goes:

· Amanda, assuming that Betty is a tad older than she really is: ''What's your favorite thing about getting old? Is it your hair thinning or when kids ask you about Vietnam?''

· Marc, on Willy's cold demeanor: ''Well, maybe the massage will help circulate the ice in her veins.''

· Marc, lamenting the prospect of being locked up for his part in Willy's baby scheme: ''I'm too pretty for prison. They'll pass me around like a collection plate at a Catholic church.''

· Marc, on Renee and Daniel's relationship: ''Uh, don't look at me. I don't get straight people. Who puts what where — it's all so confusing.''

· Willy, berating Marc for replacing Renee's crazy pills with fat-blocking pills: ''Marc! We want her crazy! Not crazy and thin!''

But what do you think, my long-absent TV Watching friends? Are you just as bored as I am with Claire's story line? Have we hit the breaking point with Henry and Betty? How do you feel about the nickname Getty? And, most important, what do you think of Hilda's new 'do?