Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Rhea Pearlman

The season uncorker of Pearl was simply smashing. Malcolm McDowell, as the opprobrious and acerbic professor is unlike any TV character in recent memory. The war of tongues between him and the always ripe Pearlman, trickled down so smoothly, I found it rather hard to believe this was CBS--abode of the Nanny. Welcome home indeed. (Mondays at 8:30 on CBS.)