'Brothers & Sisters' on February 20, 2011: Nora's Long-Lost Beau....(Bridges, That Is, as Nick Brody)

This episode of "Brothers & Sisters" entitled "Brody" brought Beau Bridges into the mix as "the one that got away" from Nora Walker (Sally Field) back in the day. Molly Newman wrote this episode and Matthew Rhys, who plays Kevin Walker on the show, directed it. It was better than last week's, at least.

CARA BUONO

Cara Buono plays Rose, Tommy Walker's (Balthazar Getty's) new love interest since he's returned to the show. Cara previously played Faye Miller on 5 episodes of "Mad Men." On "Brothers & Sisters," Cara has Elvis-like jet-black hair. You can tell she is not (naturally) this dark a brunette. In fact, if you check out pictures of Cara Buono on Imdb.com, she is blonde in all of them, and is much more attractive without this shoe polish black color hair.

Cara was born in 1971 (NYC), which makes her 40. In this episode, she wears a plunging red top (unattractively patterned) that is very low-cut and allows her to feature a lot of pushed-up cleavage. It was one of the least attractive outfits I've seen anywhere any time in any episode of anything When wearing it, she is in a kitchen sequence where Tommy says, "I don't see a place for me there," meaning the radio station. (Not the cleavage). Earlier in the episode (entitled "Brody") Tommy says to Sarah and Kevin, "I'm not stickin' around. I can't deal with you two any more."

BEAU BRIDGES

The big plot twist this week is Nick Brody's (Beau Bridges) return to Nora's life in a giant Winnebago-like camper, with his sick dog (which, by episode's end, he leaves with Nora). They were boyfriend/girlfriend when Nora was also dating William Walker, (whom she ultimately married.) Although Nora tells Brody, "I don't need or want my flames fanned," she obviously likes him.

MUFFIN MISTAKE

The big faux pas that Brody commits is to make muffins for the troops in an attempt to ingratiate himself with Nora's family members. He uses flour from a 5-lb. sack of flour that Paige Walker (Kerris Lilla Dorsey) has been assigned to carry around and treat as though it were a child as a school assignment. (Couldn't this school afford dolls?) Page names the doll, (which she says is from Paraguay), Jaquim and is upset with her mother (Sarah, played by Rachel Griffiths), who does not take care of the sack of flour properly. (Otherwise, it would not end up in Brody's muffin recipe). Page also finds out, accidentally, that Grandmother Nora (Sally Field) was pregnant with Sarah when she and William Walker married. By episode's end, Brody has offered Tommy a job in Phoenix managing a branch of his Buccaneers semi-pro baseball team (which Nick Brody manages in Modesto, CA). Then he takes off in his camper, but leaves his sick dog behind.

LINES FROM THE EPISODE

After 40 years, Nick Brody's (Beau Bridges) best opening line to Nora was, "Hi, Slugger."

"Page is way too invested in that baby." (Re the sack of flower she named Jaquim)

"Aren't you the grumpy Grandma?" (to Sarah)

"Passion was never our problem." (Brody to Nora)

"Some of us just can't stay put." (Nora, to Brody)

"Now that he's dead, I like my chances better." (Brody, to Nora, concerning his long-ago rivalry with William for Nora's hand).

"I'm sure it's a shock to learn your Grandmother was an unwed pregnant teen. Perhaps we shouldn't dwell on any mistakes Grandma might have made.' (Sarah to her daughter Page, as the truth of Nora's long-ago pregnant status when she walked down the aisle at 19 is revealed.)

"Kitty is working for the CIA." (preview of next week's episode)

I'm hoping that the program is not really going to try to foist a Valerie Plume plot line on us regarding Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart). Let's hope they merely milk it for comic effect in the next episode.

Fingers crossed here.