MarkBlankenship

After watching Series 5, my husband and I started back with Series 1, and it really is amazing how much different the show was back then. But unlike so many reality series, which lose the plot as they age, @tentativelyyours is totally correct that this one improves. It makes me excited to catch up on past seasons, since I know I'll be watching an evolution toward greatness.

pubtler -- You're so right about the respect the contestants have for each other. It's lovely to watch. And thanks, Yoshi, for recommending the Oz version. I love all things Australian, so I'm sure I'll fall for it!

I watched this! I remember it as thing that existed! I also remember that when the other ER arrived, I assumed at first it was a remake, particularly since Clooney was back. Also: At 2:07 in this sizzle reel, we get a scene with Clooney and a young, slender, hirsute Jason Alexander! Wonder of wonders!

Oooh! At :57, you can see that Rami Malek is listening to The Cure on his phone, this completing his embodiment of my dreamy, tortured boyfriend who both breaks and mends my heart with a single, wounded glance.

I love bloopers, too! And they're especially satisfying when they're from a serious show. You've done me a service by posting this, Tara, and I thank you.

Maybe? I saw it in a catalogue a few years ago and strongly hinted to my husband that he should order it for me for Christmas.

@LAFR -- Thank you on all counts! And I wanted to make sure Eve got a quick burst of energy as the game progressed. No one can think of cast members on an empty stomach.

Tara speaks the truth. Full details are provided in Monday's mini. (Or if you can't wait... my episode airs on Thursday, December 17.)

You're right about Simone, I'll bet. She's clearly going to get up to something.

Agreed, Queena!

Oh my god, ProfReader. These photos have made this an incredible day.

Hi Kristen! I'm so glad that phrase proved helpful to you!

It would seriously make my year to see a photo of Padma and BiBi together.

Kat! Let's make it a goal to be discussing season 2 IN GERMAN.

Hi Actionmage... It's VERY bingeworthy! MissLucas... I hadn't heard that, but that's so exciting! God willing, Milli Vanilli will make the cut.

Yay! I'm so glad you made it to the end of that little tale. Writing it brought me more joy than I should admit in polite society.

Aw... thanks, YoSaffBridge! (And I do think you'll enjoy D83!)

Those accents were borne completely out of my rage. Apparently, shoddy screenwriting makes me broadly Irish.

Hi reggiejax... that is indeed a typo. I meant to say "Only You," but I clearly had "Don't Go" on my mind. Whoops!

Hi Mindy... it does have a Birdman vibe to it, yes. But I'm holding out hope for a solid finale. And like.. I loved the ending of Birdman. I just don't think it belongs in this context.

@maik I'm not sure I know what to think either! But since it IS such a short commitment, I'm pretty certain I'll keep coming back for more.

Yes, tangentwoman! The wedding ring! I've somehow never even thought about that until right now, but you are so right.

Yes ma'am. It looks like the best parts of Fame mated with the best parts of Black Swan, and apparently, Tovah Feldshuh plays someone named Ivana. Cancel Thanksgiving. I've got plans in November.

Regarding the song selection: The snippet they played was mostly wordless, so I made some incorrect inferences. I guess that means the actual lip-syncing was less compelling than the booty drops. As is so often the case.

Oh come ON, y'all! AHS is not an going series just because of a few characters reappear. It's an anthology series that purposely reinvents itself every year. It has narrative echoes, certainly, but it's not, per the Emmy's new rules, following a consistent set of characters/stories over a consistent period of time. Put this show next to Homeland, which also completely rebooted itself this season. Despite the new setting and many new characters, the show is still dominated by the extension of Carrie, Saul, and Quinn's ongoing stories, whereas the callbacks in AHS were Easter Egg-y ornaments in an otherwise unrelated story. It's incredibly cool that the callbacks happened, but I cannot --- nay, WILL NOT --- accept that they turn AHS into a continuing drama.