MAMA loves a little sci-fi
escapism as much as the next geek:

* “Fringe” (Tonight, 9 p.m., ABC): Who knew Joshua Jackson could be the new Fox Mulder? “Fringe” surpasses its original “X-Files” pastiche with creepy, mysterious shape-shifters and alternate realities. In “Fringe,” plots progress, there is actual action — even if it’s kinda gross temporal lobe extraction — and, unlike “Lost,” the parallel universe isn’t unrelated to the rest of the show for an entire season.

Tonight, in part one of the two-part finale, Walter and Olivia will take a trip to the parallel universe, which should cause a few ripples in both worlds.

* “Smallville” (Tomorrow, 8 p.m., CW) Even bringing back Ma Kent with new boyfriend Perry White (real-life couple Annette O’Toole and Michael McKean) can’t save this dense, esoteric show that’s knee-deep in super-geek comic lore. And if everyone on the show has a super power, exactly what’s the fun of watching Clark Kent grow up to be Superman?

* “Lost” (Tuesday, 9 p.m., ABC): On the heels of an episode where a lot went down, this week’s all-backstory installment of “Lost” was a stillborn bore. Yes, we got some answers, but they were of the eighth-grade morality play variety. Most upsetting to Mama is that the creators were able to demand a timetable for ending this island mystery, and yet we have to endure an entire plodding hour of Jacob and his twin-in-black, two people we care nothing about, when we have one more episode before the finale? Mama wants some more forward movement.

* “V” (Tuesday, 10 p.m., ABC): Beyond coveting the laser tool that immediately heeled Lisa — it could come in handy for a few acne scars — “V” once again made us sit through an episode of watching eggs hatch, which is very similar to watching soup boil.