"It's the second strong comedy in a row for Spencer Tracy, doing the title role, and he socks it", Variety noted.

"Friends," if not quite a "Seinfeld," remains the strongest comedy on network television, both in terms of ratings and critical appraisal.

It's hard to think of a more uncomfortable pleasure - or maybe a more pleasing discomfort - than good, strong black comedy.

With its excellent time period (following "Everybody Loves Raymond"), this looks like a favorite for strongest new comedy of the season.

CBS has announced that "Murphy Brown," still that network's strongest comedy, will return next season and perhaps for more seasons after that.

Similarly, the network will move "Friends," this year's strongest new comedy, from Thursday at 9:30 to the lead-off spot at 8 P.M. Thursdays.

A strong comedy can make hundreds of millions of dollars from its repeats in syndication.

With "Friends" remaining in the 8 P.M. slot, NBC has its two strongest comedies on its most important night.

Alan Sepinwall, television columnist with The Star-Ledger, said the episode featured strong physical comedy, political satire, romantic tension and character moments.

On Wednesday night, ABC inserted what amounted to a used cable movie instead of the strong comedies scheduled for that night.