Now that Lois and Clark are stepping up their relationship, it’s time for Clark to uh, re-meet the parent whenGeneral Lane and Lois’ sister, Lucy Lane, return to Smallville for Thanksgiving.

“Ambush” (TV-PG, L) (HDTV) 

The General (guest star Michael Ironside) and Lucy Lane (Peyton List) decide to drop in on Lois (Erica Durance) and Clark (Tom Welling) for a surprise Thanksgiving dinner. Clark and the General get off to a rocky start after Lois’ father bashes the superheroes and tells Clark he is trying to pass a vigilante registration law. Meanwhile, in an effort to stop the vigilante registration act from being passed, Rick Flagg (guest star Ted Whittall) lies to Lucy in order to lure Clark away from the farm long enough for him to assassinate the General. Lois is torn between making her father proud and her love for Clark. Turi Meyer directed the episode written by Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson.

Check out clips and pics from "Ambush", after the cut…

I didn’t know if I would like the CW’s new take on the classic film, LA FEMME NIKITA, but as the eighth episode of the first season approaches, I have to admit — I’m hooked on NIKITA.  Former model and "Bond Girl", Maggie Q, rocks as Nikita.  She brings a depth to the character that makes her rogue spy / assassin compelling and believable.  Lyndsey Fonseca is equally intriguing as Alex, The Division’s spy-in-training and Nikita’s secret mole on the inside.  Not quite as hardened as Nikita, she displays a vulnerability in her toughness that makes her quite likable.  And both characters are strong, kick-as% women!  The show has yet to truly crack the code that is Shane West’s character, Michael — Nikita’s former trainer/handler and perhaps more, but recent episodes point to that being fleshed out more as the storyline progresses.

In this week’s episode, "Phoenix", Division sends Thom (Ashton Holmes) to eliminate Anna (guest star Rayisa Kondracki, "The Bridge"), a woman who was having a secret affair with a U.S. Senator (guest star Spencer Garrett, "Leverage"). Division agrees to cover up any trace of the affair as long as the Senator agrees to help pass a bill that will continue to fund the agency. Nikita (Maggie Q), with Alex’s (Lyndsy Fonseca) help, attempts to reach out to Anna’s parents, but the conversation doesn’t go as she expected. Shane West, Xander Berkeley, Melinda Clarke, Aaron Stanford and Tiffany Hines also star. David Barrett directed the episode written by James Barnes.

Check out clips from "Phoenix" after the cut…

There is an ancienct presence in Mystic Falls in this week’s new episode of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, entitled "Rose".  After last week’s cliffhanger ending,

Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) come to Elena’s assistance and, in the process, learn surprising new information about people, vampires and events in the distant past. Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) helps Bonnie (Katerina Graham) after she casts a difficult and exhausting spell, and Caroline (Candice Accola) does what she can to make things easier for Tyler (Michael Trevino). Finally, Stefan and Damon reach a new understanding. Liz Friedlander directed the episode written by Brian Young.

Check out promos, clips and photos from the episode plus a behind the scenes look at last week’s lavish and mysterious "Masquerade" episode after the cut. 

While Amber Benson is still loved by Buffy fans as Tara, she’s getting quite a reputation as an author. A few weeks ago, she released her new book, Among the Ghosts, about a young girl who encounters ghosts and a sinister presence at a boarding school. She recently appeared at three book signings in Sacramento and San Francisco.

TV Guide magazine is letting readers choose a fan favorite show for an upcoming cover, and as it happens, ALL of the contenders have a Whedon connection! Vote as many times as you like until November 1. Pick up the winner on the December 13 issue.

Click here to vote.