It has already affected Canada in the sense that you are now allowed to read 5 American Voices, and then have annoying subscription prompts start popping up.

Uh, ad-based (+merch) websites are like the ONLY model that is working. Paid web content doesn't seem to work outside MMOs.

As a person who enjoys funny things, I really do have to concur that this is great news.

RE: loose ends - Do any of you think the Grey Matter / Walt's college friends plotline might not be fully wrapped up? After Walt told his friend's wife to fuck off, I thought we'd see them back again in the 3rd or 4th season… it felt like there was more history there than they'd explored.

How much money is tossed at Breaking Bad anyway? I know they've run into financial constraints before (Fly). The seasons seem pretty economical, with a lot of talking, and then three or four big violent acts, or explosions, or CGI, or all of the above. It's constantly shot in New Mexico, allowing it to be pretty…

Good one, Mike.

Money money money money money money
money money money money money money

Yeah, I really thought the writers chalked Marie's klepto thing up to a learning experience about shitty go-nowhere subplots. Disappointed to see it back. A lot of people say the show is perfect apart from the Mexican assassin-cousins, but frankly I think the only misstep has been the Marie thing.

"Nobody's defending that kind of horrible shit, but it has absolutely nothing to do with Islam in of itself"

But I don't really get the sense that Savage thinks every Muslim is a crazy extremist, or that all Muslims subscribe to the regressive, violent, creepy parts of their faith (elements which are sure as hell not relegated only to Islam). But as a gay guy and a proponent of democratic, tolerant ideals, I think he has a…

Yeah, I agree. Powers is a largely irredeemable asshole, and sometimes that's hard to watch. But life keeps shitting on his entitled ass, which lets the writers give us some genuinely humbling, emotional bits without having to compromise the intensity of Powers's character.

Giving Crank 2 an A-grade went a long way towards making amends for the frankly embarrassing Crank 1 review.

'And finally there's Animal Collective, who have obtained "current most important band of the world" status'

The problem I see with this idea is that it skews heavily to the prolific. Frank Zappa and Tom Waits easily qualify as having "10 good albums," mostly by virtue of having released a ton of records over long healthy careers. Now, those guys are great, but the Pixies are pretty great too, and they would have to release…

Yeah, I'm glad to see there are other people who find that word as insipid as I do.

It's a cool idea, but is there much to read if you've been compulsively keeping up with AV Club coverage of Breaking Bad? I mean, if the reviews and cast interviews are the bulk of the e-book, I've probably read most of it pretty thoroughly.

@TooLazy: "This is why paying for digital content is such a joke"/"Those artists are ignorant of the realities a digital economy."

Woah woah woah, we got this far into the thread before someone said "Don't call it that" ??

I consider that pretty good lyricism, actually.

Yeah I thought Mike D just messed up the line, and they left it in to annoy him.