"to say nothing of China's own reputation for maintaining the artistic integrity of films that don't have troublesome politics or penises in them."

I suspect the boredom would be entirely mutual if Matt Smith wasn't otherwise engaged.

"I think there's a misconception nowadays that shows have to have some sort of romantic element to keep everyone's interest"

How long will it be before he hooks up with Betty White, and their turbulent televised shenanigans make us yearn for the halcyon days of Nick and Jessica? 

Well, that's scary — does your job involve you know… actual face-to-face consultations with people?  Because I'm pretty sure you don't have a clue whether Martin smokes, has diabetes, a family history of heart disease or whether or not he exercises regularly — all significant risk factors for cardiac arrest.  But what…

Yeah, and perhaps you need to see a therapist about how you project onto others your self-hatred & obvious body-related self-esteem issues (see what I did there?) and save the medical advice for competent professionals.  You know, people who prefer to diagnose after examining their patients rather than over the…

Nice theory, but it's not actually true. It took Rowling three years to finish 'Order of the Phoenix' (the longest in the series and one she said was a "chore"), then two years for the last two.

Repeat after me, Sean.

I'd be sadder about this if MDNA wasn't such an awful album…

You obviously don't watch a lot of movies.

Probably - whether it's Santorum or Romney, all the crazy and marginally-competent is going to be at the top of the ticket.

And if the film had been all about how Obama's primary campaign was a slick, disciplined machine of strategic genius?  Well, then you've have really heard the right-wing culture warriors have a shit fit. :)

Yeah, and I guess HBO co-produced and broadcast 'The Special Relationship' two years ago, just in case Hillary Clinton was going to contest the Democratic nomination this year.

Of course, if the film has been all about the incumbent President, the usual suspects would be here bitching about the liberal media churning out propaganda for Obama's re-election campaign.  (Not that the book painted a particularly flattered portrait of the 'Obamen' and 'Hillaryland' but when did facts ever matter…

"campaign managers Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace (who get very sympathetic portrayals in the movie of course)"

I re-read 'The War of The Worlds' not so long ago, and was surprised how bloody uncosy it was.  Consider the impact in 1898 of the capital of the greatest Empire on Earth and not a stiff upper lip in sight:

"That's a pretty bold statement."

And whether she gets her dye job done downtown. :)

You're right - I've long complained about the creepy treatment of rape and abuse of women on 'True Blood' and 'American Horror Story'.  Why should Alan Ball or Ryan Murphy give a rat's arse when the networks concerned have absolutely no motivation to make them care?

We've finally going to see if Betty's cuffs match her collar, so to speak?