defines IPython Notebook line magic to render 2d-array as HTML table.

ipython_notebook_table_magic.py

from IPython.core.magic import (register_line_magic, register_cell_magic,
                                register_line_cell_magic)
from six import string_types

class T(list): 
    def _repr_html_(self):
        html = [u"<table>"]
        for row in self:
            html.append(u"<tr>")
            
            if isinstance(row, string_types):
                html.append(u"<td>{0}</td>".format(row))
            else:
                for col in row:
                    html.append(u"<td>{0}</td>".format(col))
            
            html.append(u"</tr>")
        html.append(u"</table>")
        return u''.join(html)

@register_line_magic
def t(line):
    "my line magic"
    return eval('T(%s)' % line)
    
# Usage
%t [('a', 'b'), (1,2)]