“Ugly Betty” (7 p.m., ABC) returns to Thursdays a week earlier than planned and a week after ABC yanked sitcoms “In the Motherhood” and “Samantha Who?” abruptly.

“Betty” becomes the latest of several series to reflect the sobering economic realities of our time. The rich and spoilt managers at Mode magazine have been forced to sell jewelry and assets, and have even been seen riding mass transit — a fate worse than wearing off-the-rack for the haughty Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams). Meanwhile, Betty is being wooed by the mega-rich Matt (Eric Gold), who drives her to work in his limo and even promises to turn every Wednesday into a hot-air-ballooning holiday.

Sudden windfalls of this cartoonish sort hardly make for social commentary. They are as old as Cinderella, or other fairy tales about scullery maids meeting their Prince Charming. But it’s plot twists like this that have made “Betty” a hit in many languages and incarnations all over the globe. Tonight: Look for a confrontation between Betty’s salt-of-the-earth outer-borough family and Matt’s billionaire dad (David Rasche).

• With Wall Street wobbly, you can’t blame Forbes for seeking out brighter story ideas. But I’m not sure that “Forbes 15 Hot Hollywood Moms” (9 p.m., E!) is the kind of thing that old B.C. had in mind when he founded his magazine or when Malcolm Forbes Sr. dubbed it (and his private jet) a “capitalist tool.”

The E! special promises to reveal Tinsel Town’s highest-paid and most profligate working mothers. And they aren’t spending their dough on nannies, security, private tutors and custom nurseries. There’s a singing mom who purchased a $900,000 luxury tour bus so her daughters can follow her in style. Another mother with excess cash purchased a Hummer for her teenage son’s birthday party. Hey, somebody’s buying a Hummer. Now that’s newsworthy!

It’s interesting to note that the magazine’s Web site (Forbes.com) titles this list “Hollywood’s Hardest-Working Moms,” so maybe the “Hot” is all in the eye of the beholder, or in the minds of E!’s programmers.

• Turner Classic Movies salutes Denzel Washington with a mini-marathon of four films: “Glory” (7 p.m.); “Philadelphia” (9:15 p.m.); “A Soldier’s Story” (11:30 p.m.); and “The Mighty Quinn” (1:30 a.m.).

Tonight’s other highlights

• A TV news magazine arrives in Camden to file an expose about the Crab Shack on part 1 of a two-part installment of “My Name is Earl” (7 p.m., NBC). Geraldo Rivera guest stars.

• A murder victim is stowed away inside a college’s team mascot costume on “Bones” (7 p.m., Fox).

• A new sales team sparks competition and conflict on “The Office” (8 p.m., NBC).

• Jack’s mother (Elaine Stritch) returns on “30 Rock” (8:30 p.m., NBC). Steve Buscemi also guest stars.

• A crime victim’s body is found being used for target practice on “Southland” (9 p.m., NBC).

• Naomi and Violet face big decisions on the season finale of “Private Practice” (9 p.m.).

• Erica returns to the time before her one true love was married on “Being Erica” (9 p.m., Soapnet).

Cult choice

A car dealer’s (William H. Macy) desperate scheme unravels in the dark 1996 comedy “Fargo” (9 p.m., IFC), written and directed by the Coen brothers who won an Oscar for best screenplay.