New Angel episode brought to you by the letters W and B.

Tim Minear wasn't joking when he told us to expect groundbreaking television from Smile Time - last night's episode of the recently axed vampire show. The premise sounded so cool that we passed up another chance to sample L.A.'s nightlife, bought in some snacks and sat down to enjoy one of Angel's most brilliantly innovative - and laugh out loud - episodes.

Scripted and Directed by Ben Edlund, from a story co-written by Joss Whedon, Smile Time pitted Wolfram and Hart's new owners against the suspiciously Muppet-like stars of a kids' TV show as they attempted to suck the life force from California's children.

Star of the episode was a brilliantly realised puppet Angel. Made from felt and with a removable nose, the knee-high hero leapt into battle with the promise to "take down some puppets," whilst wielding a sword in a spoof recreation of the show's title sequence. He even managed to pull a hot werewolf.

An extra treat for Angel fans was a cameo from Angel producer David Fury - his third in a Joss Whedon show. Fury previously played the legendary Mustard Man in Buffy episode Once More, With Feeling, and a goat-slaying minion in Angel episode Reprise.

How such a brilliant show can be cancelled after producing something like Smile Time is beyond us. We demand they bring it back next year. And make toys of all the puppets too.