@avclub-cfe912f5cb3aa572bd1c9ae2a9b82207:disqus I'm sure this conversation has been done before, but I'm amazed it took anime companies so long to standardize the way they released series. The "three to four episodes of a TV series" on one DVD system of release was common to anime up until relatively recently. Just…

"In a way, Ray represents a faction of comic book fandom that is obsessed with holding on to the past rather than exploring the possibilities of the future. "

Ah yes, the "two episodes per $40 DVD" release schedule. I remember those days fondly.

So apparently FLCL came out over 11 years ago. <sigh> Now I'm getting old…

@avclub-e57f718840a576abbb40a7d046c4e3b0:disqus  Ah, I only counted Eddard Stark as a "major character." I only really get invested in the POV characters, because those are less likely to die than the Maesters and Castellians.

He wrote for Justice League of America a few years back.

Yes, but what great dramas is HBO showing now? Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, maybe?

Regarding "Wheel of Time:" It really scares me when Martin sticks up for Jordan in interviews. I know the guys were friends later in life and write in similar genres, but "Wheel of Time" is probably the best example of how to really screw up a fantasy series. I hope Martin doesn't take any of Jordan's advice to heart.

I didn't really care for Ready Player One at all. Perhaps I'm just sick of 80s geek nostalgia, but I found all the references to be pretty rote. The book reminded me a lot of Cory Doctorow's "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" in that it started with a cool premise but just devolved into the most obvious plot. That,…

What, one major character is killed off by the beginning of book two?

I'm amazed by people who's parents and relatives get them amazing pop-culture gifts. Even with Amazon (and me sometimes offering direct links to items), my parents still can't get that kind of stuff for me. It's always nice shirts and gift cards for me.

Set up a Kickstarter fund and you'll have that by the end of the month.

Oh Ben Bailey…the plight of the stand-up comedian who makes his big break on a game show and is therefore stuck doing game shows for the rest of his life.

For as "serious" as Nolan's Batman movies have been, the whole "football field is collapsing behind Hines Ward as he's running, but he doesn't even notice it until he turns around" bit is really kinda stupid.

re: 1); I noticed that too. Also, with Fallon's opening monologue walking through the backstage area, the Fallon/Samburg mirror sketch, and the early 00 SNL cast doing the musical number, the show really felt like it "expanded the space," if that makes sense. Usually all the TV show parodies sap energy from the show.…

Maybe they can save money by using the same sets and makeup from the Bradley Cooper version of "The Crow."

To be fair, there really wasn't a lot of good music being filtered down in the mid to late '90s. It was Korn, Marilyn Manson, shitty ska bands, and Limp Bizkit for all. No teenager knew of Elliott Smith or Modest Mouse back then.

The relationship between Margo and Jay works simply because it isn't a relationship seen often on TV. Jay's 20 years older than his sister, but he treats her more like an adult that anyone else on the show. He's also extremely protective of her, possibly more so than an older brother that would be age-appropriate.

Man, I really missed on that one. Probably because Sean moved his pieces when I wasn't looking.

A-1!