Guess who's coming to dinner

I usually don't watch television on Friday and Saturday nights, but there I had nothing to entertain myself. (Sheepishly glancing at stack of books in my "to read" pile).

"V" (ABC, Tues., 8:00): I'm kicking myself for not taping the pilot when it first aired, and I'm karate kicking ABC in the stomach for waiting 5 days to post it online. That being said, "V" sucked me in as soon as that tall drink of mocha goodness, Morris Chestnut, entered the scene. Give me a minute while I enjoy this hot chocolate.

The show opens with what appears to be an earthquake but is really just 29 spaceships settling over New York and every other major city in the world. No big deal, right? Flashback: The scene looked like it was straight out of "Independence Day". A woman's face appears on the bottom of the ship proclaiming that they come in peace. Anna is the Obama of the visitors (or Vs) and wants to offer everything they know to us earthlings. Pause it: The Vs say they can cure 65 ailments. Do stretchmarks count as an ailment cause I need that remedy. I hope they take insurance. At the end of her speech, people were cheering and clapping. Really people? A SPACESHIP is hovering over your city. You stand there clapping. I'll in church repenting and making sure my insurance policies are up to date.

There were a lot of twists and creepy turns that come to a head at a secret meeting called by a man who says we shouldn't trust the Vs. A gunfight breaks out and I can't tell who's a V and who's a human. The only way to know is by the skull ... humans have one, Vs dont. So far I can see that Erica (Elizabeth Mitchell) and the priest are indeed human. But the rest of these people are a mystery.

This show sets up some very interesting conversation on religion, government and terrorism. Can we trust our government leaders at a time of crisis. How do you know if your next door neighbor isn't part of a sleeper terrorist cell (or an alien)? Does God accept those who only come to him in times of turmoil and for nothing else? I want to know the Vs are and I'm along for the ride on this spaceship!

Funny, funny: During her first broadcast interview, the Visitor High Commander Anna says that they want to offer medical care for everyone. The interviewer slowly replies, "You want universal health care?" (Good luck with that, lady!)