Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

We still have time to mess this up!

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

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Reader Interactions

163Comments

  1. 1.

    lojasmo

    Season four of Fringe. We finished the fifth season, and started right over again at the begininng. I literaly haven’t watched anything else in a month or so.

  2. 2.

    gogol's wife

    I’m bereft because Endeavour is over, and I don’t like the Place of Execution Masterpiece that’s on tonight. I guess I have to read the NYTimes. I just watched Angela Lansbury’s twelfth rehash of Downton, I’m so desperate.

  3. 3.

    dance around in your bones

    Can’t get into True Blood.

    I’ll repeat what I said on the last thread – Breaking Bad! Breaking Bad! Breaking Bad is starting! SPOILER! Walt has a beard!

    Left coast here….Breaking Bad is starting! Woo hoo!

  4. 4.

    Chat Noir

    Recording “Breaking Bad” then going to watch it after it airs so we can forward through commercials. We’ve loved this show since the pilot aired in early 2008. Vince Gilligan and his writers are awesome storytellers and the acting is so good it’s ridiculous. Can’t wait to see how the series ends.

  5. 5.

    Violet

    No one’s watching Newsroom? Have only watched the first two shows of this season but am enjoying it so far.

  6. 6.

    pat

    Our local PBS is still in Pledge Week and showing crap like 50’s girls bands or some such. The only thing worth watching all week was the Nature show on the Lippizaner horses, and I was so happy I sent them an extra $50.

    I’m not into netflix and despise network TV so if PBS is down I have nothing to do in the evening but check in with you guys who also have nothing else to do.

  7. 7.

    gogol's wife

    @pat:

    There’s also TCM, but they’re showing Grapes of Wrath tonight, which is a little depressing, much as I love Jane Darwell.

  11. 11.

    NotMax

    @gogol’s wife

    (Know I sound like a broken record mentioning this yet again.)

    As, from past comments, our tastes seem to gibe, you might care to check out this recommendation.

    Also too (though absolutely not everyone’s cup of tea – it’s a love it or loathe it program), the British show Misfits. Think X-men if written and directed by David Lynch, with an assist by John Waters.

    Oldie (relatively speaking) but stands up still as a goodie, is the series Wonderfalls. Just a taste musical trailer. Entertaining to da max, and the way the ensemble cast works with and off each other is a delight.

  12. 12.

    dance around in your bones

    @gogol’s wife: I was watching Grapes of Wrath, but it got too depressing for me as well.

    Which is why I switched to the totally not-depressing Breaking Bad! Haha! Walt started out with a full on beard but somehow has reverted to his usual goatee.

  14. 14.

    piratedan

    i happen to want that girl grooves package if only I could confirm the song list…..

    probably a night of referencing the family library of movies here

  15. 15.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @pat:

    I don’t even have to watch PBS locally to know when they’re in pledge drive mode. If the local NPR station is running promos for a show on the sister PBS channel, it’s a given. Royals, Downton, Celtic or Doo-Wop seem to be the genres of choice for pledge weeks.

  16. 16.

    gogol's wife

    @dance around in your bones:

    I have never seen Breaking Bad — it sounds too violent for me. But I noted that it had a role for Jonathan Banks, whom I absolutely adored in Wiseguy, probably the greatest television show ever made.

  17. 17.

    gogol's wife

    @NotMax:

    I don’t know — Wild Boys looks a little down-and-dirty for me. I’m more about ladies in veils taking tea in the garden.

  18. 18.

    Robert

    I needed something totally bizarre to take my mind off of Fruitvale Station, so I’ve been marathoning Twin Peaks again and drinking coffee. Sadly, it was not damn fine coffee. It was merely adequate.

  19. 19.

    Mnemosyne

    Netflix finally managed to figure out how to have two queues on a single account again, so now I have my very own streaming queue.

    Only problem is trying to figure out what to watch first. I’m leaning towards Duck Soup at the moment, just ’cause.

  20. 20.

    NotMax

    @gogol’s wife

    The down and dirty is a really small part of the series, used more to set up situations than as the crux of the plot.

    This coming from someone who doesn’t care for violence, and is at best lukewarm to Westerns. Try the first 2 episodes.

    If you’ve never seen Wonderfalls, can state that every single person on whom I’ve pushed my DVD set has gushed positive about it and gone on to purchase their own set.

  21. 21.

    dance around in your bones

    @gogol’s wife:

    I’d suggest watching the very first episode and then see if you don’t get hooked. I’m not much of a fan of violence but this show has me watching every single time.

  22. 22.

    Southern Beale

    Okay so True Blood is annoying me with this flashback shit. Were they trying to kill time or something?

    Also, if Bill could get into the room with the sun roof, why didn’t he just lead them all out into the rest of the complex? Why did they need to feed on him?

    This show isn’t making sense anymore.

  23. 23.

    pat

    I read Grapes of Wrath many years ago. I think I’ve probably seen outtakes from the film. Just not in the mood for something so depressing when it is at the same time so topical.

    I’ve started watching Saturday night on PBS. Lark Rise to Candleford (have to inject the insulin first), Doc Martin (clueless small town doctor has one-night stand with the local schoolmarm, I suppose, since that happened before I started watching), followed by Dr. Who. I’m still curious about that one. I like Matt Smith (think that’s his name) and the other characters, but it does make me wonder what was going on in the previous Dr. Who series.

  24. 24.

    debbie

    @gogol’s wife:

    He’s great as Mike. The violence is a very small part of the series. Do what I do, and close your eyes when it gets too bad (just a handful of times in five seasons).

  26. 26.

    Chat Noir

    @the Conster: Agree with you on “Mad Men.” My husband declared, after watching the pilot, “This show isn’t going to succeed. There are no likeable characters.” I like to remind him of that every so often.

  27. 27.

    Suzanne

    I just blew out my hair after trying a new type and color of dye, and it’s soooo soft. This is awesome. Now I want highlights.

  28. 28.

    NotMax

    @Chat Noir

    “This show isn’t going to succeed. There are no likeable characters.”

    Sure he wasn’t talking about the last slate of GOP presidential wanna-bes?

    (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

  29. 29.

    raven

    Just watched “In The Name of the Father” for the first time in years. All worried about the security state? Have a look at the Guildford Four.

  31. 31.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    There was a Torchwood Children of Earth marathon on BBCAmerica this afternoon, which of course meant that I had to watch tv and clean the bedroom. I had forgotten, (or perhaps put it out of my mind) how much the ending of the show disturbed me, in fact how much the premise of the entire show disturbed me. I was not surprised at all that the powers that be would exempt their own children, and grandchildren, and nephews and nieces etc., but it really upset me how the powers that be decided to choose the 10%. It was strange watching Peter Capaldi in a prominent role know that he is going to be the next Doctor. I think they showed this today seeing as they are going to be showing Miracle Day again in September. I truly think that Miracle Day is a spectacular piece of TV.

  33. 33.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    @pat: the Bay Area PBS station is showing Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman. This is one of the reasons I won’t give them money: they always pre-empt the shows I want to see with crap. The ones that really get me are the ones that amount to infomercials. At one point tonight they’re actually showing the same thing on their main channel and their “plus” channel. Fuck them.

  35. 35.

    handsmile

    Seems like a fair number of disgruntled public television devotees have gathered here tonight, so here’s my question about PBS pledge/fund drives:

    Given its target market/audience, do “Doo-Wop” specials really bring in the desired bucks?

    I mean I can sorta understand the reasons behind most of the usual programming subjects (even Andre Rieu) presented during pledge drives, but Doo-Wop? Really? For this audience?

    –signed, middle-aged metrosexual

  37. 37.

    Schlemizel

    @pat:

    Our PBS has the same crap, I can tell by looking at the lineup its pledge week. They did have an interesting documentary on Highway 61 but the 20 minute commercial breaks are dreadful

    I also tuned in a couple of times for the Beatles imitation band. They sound pretty close & could occasionally look like them but, meh. As much as I love the music I wouldn’t pay to see them live.

  38. 38.

    JasonF

    I just learned Magic City has been cancelled and Friday’s episode was the series finale. Too bad — it was a very good show.

    Oh well. I’m halfway through the penultimate episode so I’ll just enjoy the 90 minutes I have left to watch.

  39. 39.

    Burnspbesq

    One goal conceded on a play that was obviously offside is bad enough.

    Two is inexcusable.

    That assistant referee should never work another MLS match.

    Fcuk. Two points stolen.

  40. 40.

    pat

    @raven:

    No. In reference to what?

    I’m working my way through Tuchman’s The March of Folly, probably recommended by a commenter here a few weeks ago. About half way through the Viet Nam part, and at least once a page I have to think that it is remarkable that our governing bodies have learned NOTHING from that debacle. And will learn nothing from Iraq.

  41. 41.

    geg6

    @gogol’s wife:

    OMG, another Wiseguy fan! Totally awesome show. I have the DVDs of the first two seasons. Fuck, what a great show. Still holds up, too. And the best villains ever; Sharkey and Spacey? Heaven! If you’ve never seen it, can’t recommend it enough to my fellow BJers, especially Cole himself. Run, don’t walk to rent or download it. You won’t be disappointed. Ken Wahl imploded after it, but he was freakin’ killer in this.

  43. 43.

    Schlemizel

    @Southern Beale:
    The wife was bringing the books home from a friend & I love the premise and the author does a great job of setting up a believable balance between the benefits and drawbacks of vampires. The discrimination thing could really make for some great stories as well as ‘meeting the sun”.

    But instead of following all that great potential we get 47000 mythical creatures and a soap opera of intrigue and silliness. I gave up after about 6 books. I’m not surprised to hear the show has a problem staying on the rails

  44. 44.

    Keith P

    @Violet: I gave up on Newsroom after about the 3rd episode of last season. Everyone on that show has a single mood (super-serious), and to top it off, I kind of think Aaron Sorkin is a bit of a hack. May not be a popular opinion, but that’s just what I thought of it.

  45. 45.

    gogol's wife

    @NotMax:

    I’ll keep it in mind. But I’m like Steeplejack — if it isn’t being broadcast, I just don’t watch it. I have stacks of unwatched DVDs sitting around because it just don’t seem natcheral to me.

  46. 46.

    handsmile

    @Robert:

    Was the coffee black as midnight on a moonless night? (I hope you cleaned out the pot first.)

    And what kind of pie?

  47. 47.

    dance around in your bones

    @gogol’s wife: Jonathon Banks was wonderful as Mike Ehrmantraut (what a name!!) in Breaking Bad.

    I don’t think I ever saw Wiseguy (must have been out of the country or w/o TV) but will have to look it up.

    Am now watching Low Winter Sun – no opinion yet.

    I swear, if you watch the 1st episode of Breaking Bad? It’s killer.

  48. 48.

    Schlemizel

    @handsmile:

    I’m guessing that PBS audience skews old and doo-wop is right up their ally.

    Which leaves me with a hilarious vision of PBS 2053. “Ice-T, 50 Cent and all your favorites brought together on one stage for this PBS special”

  49. 49.

    pat

    I send money to PBS because I can always find something there, even if it’s just Martha Stewart, to watch when MSNBC (Rachel and Chris) are yammering about something that I’ve been more or less following on the intertoobs. Need to have some down time from the daily outrage, and PBS usually provides it.

  51. 51.

    lojasmo

    @Chat Noir:

    I never thought it wouldn’t last. My feeling is that I deal with enough pricks in real life to spend my spare time watching pricks on television.

  52. 52.

    Mike E

    Got back from the local AAA baseball tilt, where the hometown nine trailed going into the last frame…they tied it up, then loaded the bases, then won it on a walk off grand slam. Our group was leaning on the restaurant railing when the game winning souvenir rattled just over our heads.

    Guess who’s got the baseball…

  53. 53.

    Chris

    @Keith P:

    No cause for unpopularity, plenty of BJers have ripped on Sorkin.

    I go back and forth. Never seen Newsroom, but found plenty to love and plenty to eyeroll at both in The West Wing.

  55. 55.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    OT but Carolina Crown won their first ever World Championship in Drum Corps today, DH is so happy he cannot contain himself.

  56. 56.

    Schlemizel

    @lojasmo:

    That is exactly why I don’t see how all the “reality” shows about inflamed assholes draw so many viewers. I wouldn’t want to spend 3 minutes in an elevator with any of them let alone an hour

    @Mike E:
    Good on ya

  57. 57.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    It’s been about a month on, and yet still, I find myself galled and defeated by the fact that Trayvon Martin has become nigh-synonymous with ‘thug’. I found an article on The Nation from the beginning of the month called “The Monsterization of Trayvon Martin” that lamented this…the overwhelming response to it seemed to be “YES, TRAYVON MARTIN WAS A SUPER-ULTRA MEGA FERAL THUG AND DESERVED TO BURN!!!”

    I just…god….

    I mean…fuck it. I see and read people honestly claiming that the supposed lack of crime in that neighborhood since proves that either Zimmerman was a superhero or that Trayvon Martin was somehow a one man fucking super crime spree and that the world was fucking safer off without him.

    Just…holy fucking shit. The freaks are out to play, and honestly, I don’t see why not. They seem to have outright fucking ‘won’ this in the realm of public opinion.

  59. 59.

    geg6

    @Schlemizel:

    I recommend hanging in until the end. Just finished the last book in the series and I got pissed and then it got real (but not “real” if you know what I mean). I liked how it got serious real quick, had many underlying political messages and finally ended Ina logical place. The books, as the cliche goes, are better than the film, or rather, the series. Though I also find the series entertaining, if only for the opening credits and theme. Chris Isaak singing “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing” is always freakin’ awesome:

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZQ7ZLy3MI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdPZQ7ZLy3MI

  60. 60.

    Billy Dilly

    @gogol’s wife: The characters of Breaking Bad have been first class from the Moncada Brothers who played Leonel and Marco Salamanca and their uncle Tio all they up to Bryan Cranston, thiswill be the last series I see before I drop the cable.

  61. 61.

    Keith P

    Getting around to watching True Blood (HBO Go rules). Glad for having fast forward, because they are REALLY dragging out this Terry Belfeur death. I mean, first he dies, then they spend an ep mourning him, and then it got even worse by interleaving tonight’s entire episode with eulogies for him, including flashbacks. If something eventful happened with them, let me know, because I don’t have the patience to watch everyone on the damn show reminiscing about their favorite Terry moment.

  62. 62.

    Keith G

    Using Netflix to take on all seasons of BBC’s Being Human. I cannot recommend this creation enough. Russell Tovey is brilliant and is a thoroughly engaging out actor as well.

    But more importantly…

    Anyone here have experience roasting a large (8lb) bone in pork loin? That’s part of the meal I am doing for the hospice tomorrow.

  63. 63.

    MikeJ

    @Robert:

    so I’ve been marathoning Twin Peaks again and drinking coffee.

    That’s a show I always meant to watch someday. When it was first on I was doing nights. Better DJs than I can watch TV while on the air, but I wasn’t really all that great with all my concentration.

    I do make a point of stopping by Twede‘s for a piece of pie every time I climb Mt Si.

  64. 64.

    normal liberal

    @Suzanne:
    What kind of dye? Brand? I am unhappy with my hair and looking for options.

    Add me to the Wiseguy fan roster. (Dear God, that was a long time ago. I think Kevin Spacey was about twelve.)

  66. 66.

    YellowJournalism

    Ooooo! Alan Rickman fest tonight. “Die Hard” an “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” are on at the same time right now. (The latter on the History Channel. WTF?)

  67. 67.

    Ted & Hellen

    @The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik:

    Do you honestly not think it conceivable, even likely, that TM was involved with some of the prior break ins in that neighborhood?

    He, like all of us, was neither all good or all bad, but somewhere in the middle. Which is something “freaks” on both ends of the sociopolitical spectrum like to forget.

  70. 70.

    burnspbesq

    @raven:

    Just watched “In The Name of the Father” for the first time in years.

    Follow that up with “The Boxer.”

  71. 71.

    FlipYrWhig

    @MikeJ: Seriously? No Rodney, no how. I was all for Stacy all along, but this will do. Hopefully she doesn’t have a Paula Deen past or something.

  73. 73.

    Hal

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Foodnetwork has gone so downhill for me. It used to be relaxing for me to watch cooking shows after work and on weekends, and they are so into the competition shows now it’s ridiculous. There’s some horrible new show with Alton Brown called Cutthroat Kitchen that looks like an Onion parody. Plus, judging by the success of previous winners, it seems a short lived career. I don’t think any previous winners currently have shows in production. The guy with the cherry lips who one last season has only had specials. No actual continual show to speak of, and I think he co-owns a restaurant and has won some awards.

  74. 74.

    burnspbesq

    @Ted & Hellen:

    Do you honestly not think it conceivable, even likely, that TM was involved with some of the prior break ins in that neighborhood?

    Is there honestly one shred of evidence to support that theory, or are you just making shit up again?

  75. 75.

    Wayners T

    Low Winter Sun looks promising bc of Mark Stong – and I hear this song playing in my head every time I see him pop up in a movie.

  77. 77.

    dance around in your bones

    Apparently, starting tomorrow on AMC is ‘Mob Week’ and I’ve seen Once Upon a Time in America (Robert De Niro! James Woods!) and the original The Godfather (you know who) on the schedule tomorrow.

    Mob Week! I like!

  78. 78.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Hal: I actually agree with almost all of that — there’s less and less actual cooking in prime time now, much less tips that home cooks can use, which was, like, the whole point of the f-in’ network a few short years ago. But it still fills an interesting niche: a way to kill an hour without taxing the brain or triggering violent revenge fantasies. Apparently the secret of Guy Fieri’s success is that his show can be watched by parents and children without bringing on any uncomfortable conversations, and while I don’t have kids for that to make a difference, I see the value in that, and making essentially a whole network out of that.

    But, yeah, as far as success stories, the would-be Food Network Stars are on par with Project Runway and American Idol winners. They just disappear into the night.

  82. 82.

    Violet

    @FlipYrWhig: Several of the American Idol winners have done very well–Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood. Apparently last year’s winner, Phillip Phillips, had a very popular song. I think a lot of them do reasonably well, but aren’t super famous.

  83. 83.

    Suzanne

    @normal liberal: Wella Color Charm, the gel formulation. I also used a cheap argan oil deep conditioner by Organix afterward. The Wella stuff is sold at Sally Beauty, and you have to buy the developer separately. I have a reusable hair dye bottle and use cheap latex gloves from Target in the cleaning department.

  84. 84.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Violet: Also Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry, I suppose. Food Network had one breakout success, Guy Fieri. Project Runway hasn’t even had a Philip Phillips.

  85. 85.

    Keith P

    I think I just OD’ed on a combo of blood pressure medication and antibiotics. Not only can I barely stand up, but it’s taking actual effort to remember to breathe. Plus my jugular pulse is almost nonexistent. I need a sodium infusion STAT.

  86. 86.

    Violet

    @FlipYrWhig: Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry weren’t Idol winners, though. If you want to look at people who were on Idol and have gone on to have good careers in the music/entertainment business, they’d be good examples.

  88. 88.

    Redshirt

    @Keith P: More details please.

    Also, I’m catching up on Newhart. No one spoiler it for me!

    I think Larry, Darryl, and Darryl will play a bit part in the end. Like, we find out they’re a three headed god from mythology or something.

  90. 90.

    burnspbesq

    @Yatsuno:

    If there were any such evidence, chances are it would have been used by the defense at trial, as it supports the theory that Zimmerman was reasonably in fear of the One-Man Crime Wave Trayvon Martin.

    So yeah, random lie is the most plausible explanation.

  92. 92.

    dance around in your bones

    @Keith P: If I were you I think I’d get to an ER, STAT.

    Not being able to stand up and forgetting to breathe sounds a little too much True Blood for me.

    Please let us know how things go.

  93. 93.

    Ted & Hellen

    “Tweaking” was Cole’s weasel word to his Botsplainer Base, not mine.

    I asked a for an opinion, but no surprise I won’t get a coherent response.

    So I’ll play along: There is zero chance, given TM’s past troubles, that he was involved with any, any I tell you!, shady activity in that neighborhood.

    Skittles!

    I wonder why he was looking in peoples’ windows then…

    …looking for decorating tips, I’d guess.

  95. 95.

    jeffreyw

    Damn, started watching the new Breaking Bad and realized that we haven’t seen any of season 5. There was a scuffle between Dish and AMC that killed a few episodes and then we had a receiver breakdown and the replacement was never reprogrammed. Netflix streaming to the rescue! We watched the last half of the last season 4 episode to get caught up and then started in on season 5.

  96. 96.

    Hal

    @Violet: The season Jennifer Hudson was on was the only season I had any interest in watching when there was a chance of a Latoya London, Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson finale. Of course what we ended up with was Fantasia VS Diana whats-her-face because the voting audience of this show loves mediocrity. AI is one of those shows where being too polished is actually a bad thing.

  97. 97.

    Ted & Hellen

    @burnspbesq:

    Do you honestly not think it conceivable, even likely, that TM was involved with some of the prior break ins in that neighborhood?

  98. 98.

    NotMax

    @burnspbesq

    Como was one of the good guys, and his long-lived fame and success in both barbering and singing were phenomenal. I attended one educational program to which he made annual sizable donations and expected and requested no publicity or accolades for doing so; likely not the only occasion where that occurred.

    Como sometimes expressed amazement and dismay at the younger generation of musical artists. In a 1990 interview with Good Housekeeping Magazine, he described one evening when he and Roselle were watching a sexually suggestive MTV video featuring Madonna and Cher, and “that certainly isn’t TV as I used to know it. During my 17 years on the air, if I had expressed myself in such a way, never mind the censors, my mamma and Roselle would have both slapped me silly. That I don’t understand today’s music or morals doesn’t make either me or them better or worse, just different. I still perform in respectable clubs and venues, but nobody is offering me money to run around bare-bottomed at my age. Actually though, I would like to make a music video. It might put to rest the persistent rumors that I’m dead.” Source

  99. 99.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    Bleh. If I knew I’d stir up the contrarian shittroll, I would’ve kept my mouth shut rather than vent.

  100. 100.

    dance around in your bones

    I wish everybody would just ignore T&H.

    I’m watching the new Breaking Bad for the second time, just because. I wish Jessie would throw a brick of bills on MY front lawn, haha!

  105. 105.

    Ted & Hellen

    @The prophet Nostradumbass:

    No, actually not.

    He hasn’t answered my very understandable question. Nor have you or anyone else.

    Also too: You should pie me so your tender fee fees won’t have to contend with the appalling fact of my presence inside your echo chamber.

  106. 106.

    Ted & Hellen

    @Redshirt:

    Hey Redshirt, do you believe everything you read on the Intertrons?

    Does the possibility that I might be friends with Cole…upset you?

    How?

    Why?

    Do you comment here to find friends?

    Never mind, you probably do…

  107. 107.

    dww44

    @Hal: I agree fully and their early morning lineup doesn’t even provide true cooking shows. Prior to 10 a.m. the only programming on offer are long-winded infomercials. And their nights are one reality take after another. HGTV is going that way too. No wonder so many folks are giving up on cable. Their programming sucks.

  110. 110.

    esc

    @FlipYrWhig: Christian Siriano is a past PR winner who has done quite well. It’s unlikely there will ever be another since the show has declined precipitously since it moved to Lifetime.

    But anyway, Breaking Bad was so good. So glad they didn’t drag things out.

  112. 112.

    Violet

    @Hal: I loved Idol in the early days. Everything was still kind of low budget, the talent was raw and people were still shocked when Simon was mean. Now it’s far too polished and it’s all about the judges not the contestants.

  115. 115.

    Hal

    @The prophet Nostradumbass:

    the “Cooking Channel” they set up as a place for the actual cooking shows is already heading in that direction as well.

    Cooking Channel is becoming less about cooking, and HGTV is chock full of bad acting. For awhile I was watching Love It or List It, but that show drives me insane now. Every single episode is exactly the same with just a rotating cast of homeowners.

    And I just love it when someone says they want a full house remodel and their budget is 35,000. Shocking that the designer Hillary can’t do a full basement, add an addition, fully remodel the kitchen and bathrooms for 35 grand.

    Cooking Channel ruined my admittedly pathetic Saturday night life which involved drinking wine and watching Nigella Lawson followed by Two Fat Ladies and Bitchin Kitchen. If only I liked watching people make meals out of cows tongue and lemon heads.

  116. 116.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Hal: I don’t know why HGTV invested so much in Love It Or List It. It’s like the only thing that’s ever on. They have a “next star” show too that has completely fallen apart. David Bromstad used to be watchable, and then they made it yet another gimmicky bitchfest with contrived crises, like every other “reality” show. Pfft.

    Also, not every network really has to have 10 shows about rednecks.

  117. 117.

    normal liberal

    @Suzanne:
    Thanks, Suzanne. I always forget about Sally Beauty. I shall have to stop by. Happily, it’s in the same strip mall as a good Indian restaurant and a liquor store that sells mixers I like. I sense an after-work errand tomorrow in the making.

  119. 119.

    dance around in your bones

    The only reason to watch HGTV is for the cute guys with sweet eyes and buffy arms, busting shit down and building it up again.

    Suzanne and I agreed on this the other night:)

  121. 121.

    Mnemosyne (iPad Mini)

    @Ted & Hellen:

    Yes, Timmy, why don’t you just scroll past comments that annoy you?

    That’s right, because you’re a hypocrite who holds other people to higher standards than you hold yourself. Which is why you’re now playing this “but how do we knoooowwww Trayvon wasn’t robbing people?” game after spending months decrying anyone who extrapolated any conclusions at all from Zimmerman’s behavior. Because, of course, you’re allowed to pull shit you whine about other people doing, you special widdle snowflake, you.

  122. 122.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @aangus:

    (Douche & Bag needs to listen.)

    No need to waste a good song, Damn, Dhani Harrison looked just like his dad in the early Beatles days.

  124. 124.

    Seanly

    Trying to kill on tanks on the Xbox 360 World of Tanks Beta. Do I suck or what? Some games I might get a shot off…

  128. 128.

    Suzanne

    @dance around in your bones: Yes, the Property Brothers are the only good thing on HGTV. And yet I watch, because it is like cheap, tawdry porn for those of us in the design profession.

    HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DOES SHE NEED TO PROMISE TO KNOCK DOWN A STRUCTURAL WALL AND THEN FIND OUT SHE CAN’T BEFORE SHE STOPS PROMISING?!?! Christ on a cracker.

  129. 129.

    Seanly

    RE: shows – Watch the 5 episode season of BBC’s “The Fall” on Netflix with (the even sexier than I remember) Gillian Anderson. And since we came late to it, I had to shell out cash so we could watch the 5th season of Sons of Anarchy before the 6th season starts in a few weeks. Seasons 1 to 4 available on Netflix, Amazon, etc.

  130. 130.

    dance around in your bones

    @Suzanne:

    From watching that Love it or List it show it has made me wary of ever doing a renovation – you don’t know WHAT the hell you’re going to uncover. Knob and tube wiring, back deck that has to come down, ancient furnace that needs to be replaced, no insulation in the attic and on and on.

    But I do love watching the cute guys! Plus, they seem to be able to renovate in a matter of weeks, which is rather unprecedented in my limited experience. I guess that’s what happens when you are on a “show” with a pretty big budget.

    Kind of like those people on Intervention who get put into rehab places that normally cost people an arm and a leg for help with their various addictions.

  131. 131.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    It’s hard to tell which channel actually has the worst of these “reality” TV shows. TruTV, A&E, TLC, Discovery, “History” Channel, I’m sure there are other contenders.

    ETA: Of course, I forgot about Food Network.

  134. 134.

    Suzanne

    @dance around in your bones: Naaah, a few weeks is typical for a home reno. The thing these dipshits all fail to grasp is that old houses all have old house problems, and once you start to renovate, you are obligated by law to bring things up to current code. None of them have reasonable expectations. When we do renovation projects for any of our clients, we recommend a 10% contingency minimum, because there’s invariably surprises. The project I’m working on right now….the GC demolished the interior, only to find that the mortar on the entire brick facade of the building was crumbling and you could see daylight streaming through the walls. No waterproof sheathing or insulation. OOPS. That was a few bills to repair.

  137. 137.

    dance around in your bones

    @Suzanne:

    Really, a few weeks for a reno? I have heard of people spending months on a renovation (maybe because they were trying to do it all by themselves).

    In any case, if I had the Property Brothers doing my (non-existent) renovation, I wouldn’t mind if they hung around for a few months :) I’d just keep on looking and smiling and maybe giving them a hug once they were done. Also, that Scott McGillivray guy on Income Property?

    Oh yeah. (I hope my husband’s ghost isn’t reading this!)

  139. 139.

    Suzanne

    @dance around in your bones: An entire house can be built in six weeks without batting an eye. Renos drag on and on when the GC sucks or is understaffed and the homeowners can’t make up their minds, or didn’t actually bother to design shit before starting construction.

  142. 142.

    Radio One

    my lame Breaking Bad prediction: the White family downfall is going to begin with Hank somehow trying to cover up Jesse throwing millions of dollars of cash out of his car.

  143. 143.

    dance around in your bones

    @Suzanne:

    I think that is what I have seen in some of these shows – they have a whole crew assembled, from the plumbers to the electricians to the tile-layers to the hardwood floor installers and etc. Plus, it really helps to have a professional designer to guide the whole process and create an overall picture of the finished renovation.

    I’m sure you know all this – I’m just a casual watcher of the shows on HGTV. It’s so funny how many people come into their newly renovated home and start exclaiming “Wow! Is this OUR house?!” Hahaha!

  144. 144.

    ? Martin

    @dance around in your bones: No, few weeks for a renovation if you have a decent contractor. The ones I’ve seen take months were because the general contractor couldn’t get his shit together or he brought in fuckwits to do the work.

    It does depend a bit on the level of work you’re having done. I redid our kitchen a LOT faster than it’s taking me to do the trim work.

  146. 146.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @? Martin:

    he brought in fuckwits to do the work

    ‘fuckwits’, I think that’s who my landlord brought in to get the unit next door ready to rent.

    Start working at 4:30am last Sunday and things went downhill from there. To say I’m not a happy camper is an understatement.

  147. 147.

    dance around in your bones

    @? Martin: Well, I bow to you and Suzanne’s practical experience.

    I’ve never actually owned a house – always been a renter – so I am a kind of patch it and forget it kind of person. Until the landlord comes along to fix it :)

  150. 150.

    fuckwit

    @aangus: This video contains content from WMG, SME, AdShare MG for a Third Party, INgrooves, The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), EMI and EMI Music Publishing, one or more of whom have blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.

    wtf?

  158. 158.

    Keith P

    @dance around in your bones: I’ve had that reaction to BP meds on more than a few occasions. It all passes after an hour or so, especially after getting some electrolytes (pickles work particularly quickly). The bigger danger is when I come close to passing out, but that happens almost exclusively when I’m on dialysis, so I’m at a hospital with medical staff monitoring me on those occasions. I’m fine now; just had some sodium, juice, and a nap, and I feel like I slept for 12 hours.

  159. 159.

    dance around in your bones

    @Keith P:

    Well, I’m glad that it all worked out well for you (pickles as a remedy? I learn new stuff on this blog every day!)

    Thanks for letting us know that you are a-ok. {{smile/hugs}}

  160. 160.

    kindness

    So where do you all stand on how Olivia Mumm handled her ex in Newsroom? He had taken nude photo’s of her and posted them on the internet after they broke up. While I don’t think violence is good alternative I laughed really hard when she did what she did.

  161. 161.

    Ted & Hellen

    @Mnemosyne (iPad Mini):

    You’re just about the dumbest bint ever.

    Sorry, that’s old news…

    …but it is amusing how you still pretend no to know the difference between what’s admissable as evidence in a courtroom, and what’s not. Or the difference between speculating on a blog about likely or unlikely circumstances (without which, regarding non tribal members, BJ would have no front page posts) and presenting those speculations as testimony in a courtroom.

    Dip shit.

  163. 163.

    Missouri Buckeye

    @pat: I used to watch the original Doctor Who shows when our PBS station would show them (they stopped in the mid-90’s a few years after the original production stopped).

    I’ve seen bits and pieces of the reboot in the past few years, and have been interested, but I didn’t start watching regularly since I didn’t want Spoilers.

    Finally, with the hubbub around the latest Doctor, we decided to start binge watching the reboot, and we’re now up to 2008-2010 Specials, a.k.a. Series 4.5 (“The Next Doctor” is the last one we watched).

    My advice is so watch the reboot from the beginning. After that, I would watch some specifically recommended originals. “Genesis of the Daleks” would be my first choice, with the Fourth Doctor and characters and events that echo throughout the reboot.

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