Harry24

LOVED how Bryan Cranston couldn't resist smooching all those darling puppies! The way Stephen was holding them at the throat made it look like he was about to strangle them. What was that about?

I liked the first episode where Frasier was "the girl" (as Daphne put it), but I thought the actress playing Sam was very weak. I loathed the second episode where Frasier was so celebrity-hungry.

Better. She's almost too gorgeous. And I also think she's doing a great job. Still, I would have loved to have seen Judy Davis take a shot at the role. She's got the requisite acidity.

You just need to look down the cast list ... Bette's "cousin" Judy!

He has the tone of a kindergarten teacher reading a story to the class.

Nancy Kerrigan was one of the least natural movers ever among top figure skaters. She was often described as graceful, but I think that must have been because of her considerable beauty. She was also dull as dishwater as a personality.

Yeah, that remark landed with a distasteful thud. I suspect it was an ill-considered "inside" comment between him and his wife or within the staff of the film.

Always great to see him, but I hope he brings better material than his last visit.

I adored Cam (wish he had been free to become a more regular guest star), but I think the actress who played his mother, however lovely, wasn't a big enough star to become the regular love interest for Martin. They were very charming together and worked so well as characters, alas.

I suspect they are also being coached/encouraged to bring the "big personality" stuff instead of just letting it happen organically the way it was at first. Everything gets spoiled on TV over time. Sigh.

Oh, god, that was hilarious. Martin and Frasier's stunned reactions were priceless. "We'll have to put a red mark on the real Niles to tell them apart!" Although I thought the actor they got as the Fake Niles was really weak, the joke still worked amazingly. And I thought the biggest problem with the Niles/Daphne pairing was that Daphne's character changed too much. I suppose the creators (and maybe Jane Leeves too?) wanted to have her grow up a bit, but that change threw the relationship out of balance. Daphne seemed much stronger and heavier (metaphorically) than Niles, and it seemed as though she could beat him up if she wanted to. It became much less fun to watch.

Okay, I've really been enjoying the opening monologue and desk bits lately, and last night laughed out loud at Jon B's Valentine's bit. Well done, JB. He's finding his sea legs.

Mojoween, I'm guessing the match TTC was playing was last year's Brisbane final.

Patrick Murt- ... ge- ... Serena's coach was asked to explain the background on the Stan-Jo ill-will, but between the crowd noise and PM's accent I couldn't understand what he was saying. It had something to do with remarks Stan had made (about French players?) after he won his first major. Anyone know about this? I was sad to see it because I like both of them so much, and I've always heard they are both very well-liked, nice guys.

(Hi, roseha! - waves) Is there any chance Nike didn't give him preferential treatment this time because his ranking is down? It's hard to believe, but the thought did cross my mind.

It's so great to see that incomparable Fed fluidity again. However, he is wearing the ugliest kit of his entire career. Normally you can count on him to buck the Nike Uglies, but not this time.

My lord, yes! Add Borg to that pantheon of middle aged beauty. I call it LWS (Living While Swedish). So happy Stan won. I find his game so beautiful, especially that great backhand, and just can't warm to Djoker. It doesn't help that the aesthetics of his game, however great, do not appeal to me. Same problem with Murray and Serena too, so it's been rather a dull time for this tennis fan. So glad that Stan struck blow for Beautiful Power Tennis. Now if Kvitova would just get her act in gear. I'm hoping that Pliskova's success lights a fire under PK.

Well, actually he just hit a very long sac fly, but it was almost a home run. He said when the Yanks were in Seattle recently a pitcher trying to walk him intentionally left a pitch close enough for him to hit but he wasn't ready for it that time. Good for him that he remembered and gave it a long ride yesterday. He had to double clutch the pitch was so slow (52 mph).

I've been loving the opening bits and think he's really found a good new groove. I still don't really watch the interviews, though. But the comedy bits have been so much more inspired.

I think Cynthia Potter has been excellent for all these years and continues. I also think Laura Wilkinson and the sideline reporter both did a great job. Ted Robinson is fine, although I tire of his "gee, whiz!!!!" tone. As with the rest of the disciplines, NBC has a way of making everything, even the live events, seem canned and packaged to draw all the life out of them. It's really quite a talent.

Anyone else like the Marco Polo ad? I think it's adorable.

That was great, Athena. Thanks for sharing. I particularly loved:

I thought it was David Cone who made that suggestion.

Okay, now that we have a day or two respite between events, I have a few questions for those here who really know the gymnastics scene: 1) What really happened with the Ukraine men's team all-around and did it affect Verniaiev in the individual? Does everyone in gymnastics know what the deal was but no one is willing to say it out loud? I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND! 2) While it was great to see the US women be so powerful and mentally strong, what the heck has happened to the rest of the world? When was the last time neither Russia, China, Romania, Hungary, wherever had a true contender in the all-around? This doesn't seem to be the case in the men's world: the men's all-around had so many exciting performances from a variety of athletes. 3) When did the Chinese women become so uncreative and boring on the bars and the beam? I used to revel in the beauty and originality of their moves on both apparati (is that the plural of apparatus?) It's come to the point that a few people on this board have remarked on how predictably boring their bar and beam routines are. So sad. What's happened? 4) Did the rules do away with handstand moves on the beam? I really miss those. The reminiscing about Shannon Miller upthread made me remember "The Miller," and how much I enjoyed that move along with other handstand-related beam moves. 5) I think someone upthread queried this, but I'll pile on: why can't the rulebook encourage more daring mounts on to the beam? They were such fun. And why can't the rules in general for all the apparatus encourage creativity? TIA, Gymnastics Experts.

Stating The Obvious: Rebeca Andrade is beautiful (Plus I love her make-up. She should give some of the other gymnasts a lesson.)