Dave in Chicago

An entire game about TV drugs, and no mention of Glint, street name "The Devil's Harelip"? I know the games are user submitted, but: am I remembering correctly that this podcast is generally anti-"Strangers with Candy" or did I make that up?

How, how, how did they keep writing situations where Brandon got indignant about tertiary characters? I mean, I get how TV works - Jessica Fletcher had to find a new murder every week; but Social Justice Brandon wasn't really baked into the premise here.

I guess that makes sense if he's using it to be like a stronger welcome. Although "Don't welcome me, *celebrate* me" sounds like a line from a White Diamonds commercial.

Not to look a guest star in the mouth, but what is the deal with the grammar of "Celebrate me home"? Is he saying it like a pirate would, actually meaning "celebrate my home"? Or is celebrate an action verb with some kind of transportation property, like "celebrate me (to my) home"?

Wow, everyone is really bringing their D-bag A-game this season. At least a few are trying to rise above it, but it feels like an unusually high number of people ready and willing to stir shit up.

Sorry, I shouldn't use quotation marks when paraphrasing. That still reads as condescending to me, even if it comes from some real conversations.

This will almost certainly be the dumbest thing I watch a minimum of 4 episodes of this fall. Murphy's interview comments that he made this show because American Horror Story is too scary for most women really bugged me.

Last week: "Never use male models as props!" This week: "Please lean on these veterans."

Why is anyone surprised about Norm? He's funny, but his presentation has always been sleepy and "seems annoyed to be here". I can't imagine he loves the long days and multiple takes needed for a show like this. (Not that anyone would, he just seems particularly ill-suited.)

Re: Bonnie Hunt's feelings, it's kind of a wonder that any actor agreed to participate in this first season. It made more sense in S2 when the main cast were young performers who could (mostly) only benefit from the exposure, but for Hunt and Quinn the deal was pretty rough - low pay, untested writer/director, you'll be extensively documented, and you will eventually see how other people react to you when you're not around.

Logic schmogic, Rabbi Dan is a dreamboat. Okay, and: less baggage, knows what he wants without all this "Sam-and-Diane" stuff.

Gene is totally the Pierce, for reasons Dave already outlined. Tina and Louise both have clear personalities, Gene just has general enthusiasm. I see the function of having a character vaguely defined enough that they can be plugged into any plot, but I don't think it's necessary.

Just caught up with the 2nd season this week - they are at the top of their game right now. The dance battle had me cackling. Fun fact: one of the few IMDB user reviews for "Playing House" is just a complaint that one episode had a "Homeland" spoiler and thoughtlessly ruined that other show.

Just saw that in the press release for the latest issue of "Doctor Who Magazine", they refer to The Master as "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know". Seen here, in the blurb for "Secret Diary of the Master": http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/dwm-490-best-enemies-75394.htm "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know" is verbal wildfire!

Holy. Hell. I used to hear variations on the "Viper" story as a joke/campfire story back in grade school. I now have no idea if "GI Joe" originated it or appropriated it.

When I heard the pre-release agony over this week's Canon, I was expecting, like, "Squidbillies" or something. This should be good too.

Aw, Ahndrea's zinger about the script's pacing problems. Bless.

It's not a record, no, but: 1/2 of season 7 + premiere and XMas; anniversary & Smith's farewell; season 8 + Xmas; presumably all of series 9. Not the most, but a lot. Maybe my larger concern is that they've already written such complicated arcs for her (some of which didn't make sense, but nevermind), as well as multiple ideal exit points - I just don't see much else to be done with her at this point. Hope they prove me wrong.

I don't have anything against Clara specifically, but I think it's contrary to the spirit of the show to have any one companion hang around for too long. Another full series seems to be pushing it - I want change, reinvention, surprises.

I thought you were going to be way more brutal to Lavoine, but "too disgusted to engage with it" is a solid choice too.

I am still shocked that NBC is bringing back "Coach" but not "Mad About You". The key players are more or less available, and they would now have an adult daughter Mabel to vary the ensemble.

Somehow I did not expect the purse full to the brim with pills, made even more delightful because it was practically a non sequitur before they set up an eating disorder as the real concern.

I haven't had cable in a while, but in the early aughts: "Little Shop of Horrors". Mid-aughts: "Legally Blonde".

I watched far more "Ally McBeal" than the average 8th grade male. I thought (or hoped?) that's what having a job would be like.