Is it this episode where Julianna and Christopher are at that diner at night and the snow flurries outside?  For some reason that always struck me as a scene that summed up the latter part of the show so well.  See also the warehouse for the final sitdown, or the parking lot near the airport where Tony meets with the…

Is it this episode where Julianna and Christopher are at that diner at night and the snow flurries outside?  For some reason that always struck me as a scene that summed up the latter part of the show so well.  See also the warehouse for the final sitdown, or the parking lot near the airport where Tony meets with the…

Yes, "The Simpsons" is a good counterexample, though 1) it's a cartoon (and more cartoony than "King of the Hill") and 2)
The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism is not an actual denomination along the lines of the Catholic Church.  "7th Heaven" would be a good counterexample too (though how mainline…

Yes, "The Simpsons" is a good counterexample, though 1) it's a cartoon (and more cartoony than "King of the Hill") and 2)
The Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism is not an actual denomination along the lines of the Catholic Church.  "7th Heaven" would be a good counterexample too (though how mainline…

Someone (I looked it up, it was Maxim Gorky) once called God and Tolstoy "two bears in one den."  "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" both treat religion as a serious topic.  Tolstoy is a world historical genius (but don't call him a "great man of history"), we're pretty removed from his religion and 19th century…

Someone (I looked it up, it was Maxim Gorky) once called God and Tolstoy "two bears in one den."  "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" both treat religion as a serious topic.  Tolstoy is a world historical genius (but don't call him a "great man of history"), we're pretty removed from his religion and 19th century…

What this short presupposes is- maybe it will be Batman?

What this short presupposes is- maybe it will be Batman?

The shot of the Eiffel Tower might be my favorite in the whole series.  And Carmela's speech, talking about "all the people who lived and died" in Paris is easily one of the best bits of dialogue from any TV show ever.  This was one of my favorite episodes, and one of the reasons I think 6A is so incredibly fantastic.

The shot of the Eiffel Tower might be my favorite in the whole series.  And Carmela's speech, talking about "all the people who lived and died" in Paris is easily one of the best bits of dialogue from any TV show ever.  This was one of my favorite episodes, and one of the reasons I think 6A is so incredibly fantastic.

You're right about those counter-examples.  I just wish the characters got out of the office more- out of the set (as nice as it is). That there was more showing, less telling. That would of course probably be even less realistic, not to mention financially unfeasible on what was a very expensive show anyway.

You're right about those counter-examples.  I just wish the characters got out of the office more- out of the set (as nice as it is). That there was more showing, less telling. That would of course probably be even less realistic, not to mention financially unfeasible on what was a very expensive show anyway.

Right, politics is largely talk, but it's not largely speeches.  Political speeches obfuscate quite a lot.  They conceal real conflict, and magnify fake conflict.  Is that conducive to effective drama?  Sam and Toby were completely unironic about their jobs, and that's one thing, but the show was similarly unironic in…

Right, politics is largely talk, but it's not largely speeches.  Political speeches obfuscate quite a lot.  They conceal real conflict, and magnify fake conflict.  Is that conducive to effective drama?  Sam and Toby were completely unironic about their jobs, and that's one thing, but the show was similarly unironic in…

Sorkin seems to have this belief, which is also self-serving, about the power of words and speeches to accomplish things.  How much time did The West Wing spend on Sam and Toby and the process of writing presidential speeches, in contrast to all the other stuff a White House or any organization has to do (raise money,…

Sorkin seems to have this belief, which is also self-serving, about the power of words and speeches to accomplish things.  How much time did The West Wing spend on Sam and Toby and the process of writing presidential speeches, in contrast to all the other stuff a White House or any organization has to do (raise money,…

Most people think Moneyball succeeded because of Sorkin, but the truth is the movie had career years from the ace staff of Steve Zaillian and Bennett Miller.

Most people think Moneyball succeeded because of Sorkin, but the truth is the movie had career years from the ace staff of Steve Zaillian and Bennett Miller.

WHERE'S GRAN TURISMO.

WHERE'S GRAN TURISMO.