After what feels like 6 years (it’s only been 8 months, but still), RAISING HOPE is back on FOX tonight with 2 all new episodes to kick off the 4th season.  Sure, it’s airing on Fridays, but it’s also airing with BONES (which finally makes a 4-season-trumpeted-debut in the Friday slot tonight at 8/7c tonight), so that’s a good thing!

Series creator (and father to the best guest star ever in TRACE!) Greg Garcia has moved on (to THE MILLERS….moment of silence…), but the wit and charm that the show started with is far from gone as they enter the new season led by Mike Mariano.  Season 3 brought us so many amazing things, like a Burt-mitzvah, the appearance of Virginia’s great-grandmother, a trip to Hollywood, the end of the world right before Christmas, and the YES, DEAR reunion we didn’t realize we were all hoping for.  I can only hope that we get something equally as amazing as we have over the past three years, and if the first two episodes of the season are any indication, we’re in for a treat! 

In “Deja Vu Man,” airing at 9/8c, Virginia, Burt, and Jimmy try to decide who exactly the strange man taking pictures of their family is.  Jeffrey Tambor stars as the mystery man, and he has some really funny interaction with the Chances that makes me hope that he’s back a million times again!  Who he is, and why he’s there is just another classic thing to love about RAISING HOPE.  Sabrina’s disdain for the insanity of the Chance family is always a lot of fun, and those Cregut girls just get cuter with every passing episode as this year, Hope talks!

Following that episode, Virginia and Burt come up with a town trade plan that in their minds, is fool proof.  “Burt Bucks” (9:30/8:30c) follows what happens when you start trading lobsters for massages, and sweaters for cleaning services.  Only this show could get away with the absurdity brought on by Natesville’s economy basically folding in on itself, and while Virginia is no Warren Buffet (pronounced Buff-ay), she might just be onto something with her latest hare-brained scheme.  I can’t say enough about how much of a comedic dream-team Garret Dillahunt and Martha Plimpton have been and continue to be.  They are hilarious apart, and even better together.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a great video clip that lets you (and Maw-Maw) know what’s been going on – plus, check out out some slides of this lovely cast and their premiere episodes!  Don’t forget to tune in for all new episodes at 9/8c tonight!