Going into any HBO-Milch show I think even a casual viewer knows to expect a slower pace and challenging dialogue, but I think the HBO may have overestimated the patience many viewers would have for learning an entirely new language that comes along with the track ESPECIALLY dealing with the intricacies of betting.…

It just occurred to me that for a show called Luck (that was felled by spectacularly bad luck with the horses) cast Jason Gedrick in the ensemble and was then cancelled.  Talent aside (RIP Boomtown!) that guy really does carry the cursed "showkiller" track record.

Agreed.  I was surprised how much affection I came to have for some of the characters that really left me lukewarm at the onset of the show.  If you told me 9 weeks ago I would be missing Escalante and the gamblers I would not have believed you.

The last time I was at a racetrack in August, a horse fell in the homestretch of the race and had to be euthanized.  I was struck by how quickly the track moved to erect a large screen/partition to obstruct the view of the onlookers in the stands from the horse's death.       It made perfect sense because just seeing…

The episode made we think about the Charles Minor arc as well.  Minor came in, shook things up, and had no patience for Scott's antics but because he seemed like a fully realized character, the viewer did not want to stab the tv screen.

I've enjoyed Catherine Tate in other projects, but I HATE this character.

Todd, you mentioned some online clearinghouses & podcasts that are repositories for a lot of these old shows.  Since there is no TCM for radio, or tv, or the transition from radio-to-tv that curates the good, bad, themes, vision, actors, directors, etc., is there any scholarly or non-profit institution going out of…

I'd be curious to know what Anderson's day-to-day voice sounded like as well.  It's possible that was his natural voice (it's how he sounds as the star of "Cabin In the Sky") - is it really possible to fake a raspy-graveleyness for decades on end?

I just finished that book yesterday - it's a good read!  Burns is pretty clear all throughout the book not just how much he loved her but how she was the undisputed star of the act.  Sure enough, he was unable to mount another successful television run after she retired.

Jack Benny and George Burns & Gracie Allen are terrific!  During a recent bout of insomnia I discovered their old tv shows on one of those new digital channels (Me-tv?).  The tv programs apparently recycled most of their old radio bits in a visual format.

THANK YOU! That makes much more sense. When this episode repeats during the week I will re-watch w/ your explanation in mind.

The horse-human connection is a pretty amazing thing.  Even though I HATED the six months I spent learning how to ride as a kid (the whole heights + speed thing is just not for me, and I'm not crazy about the scent of horses either), there is no denying that they are majestic creatures that seem to tap into an aspect…

Putting any animal down is a sad affair.  What really upsets me about horseracing is when a horse's racing career is over but instead of living a happy life on a farm it gets abused, starved, or sent off to a slaughterhouse.  (This fate of many a horse was alluded to by Joan Allen's character in tonight's episode when…

Can anyone help me out with what was going on in the conversation between Marcus and Lonnie about Niagra's Fall?

Kerry Condon ("Rosie") addressed this issue in an interview w/ NYMag's Vulture blog.  According to her the horses received excellent care and their trainers/wranglers/grooms were despondent over their deaths.  It's a good read.

As soon as he agreed to be a double agent for Mike the guy was toast.  One way or another he was going to end up on bad side of Ace or Mike  - which seem like pretty dangerous places to be.

The plus side about visiting Shelby is checking in w/ Kenny's family. (i.e. more John Hawkes.)  Also- nearly any scene with Andy Daly or Ben Best is a winner in my book.

I find "All the Real Girls" heartbreakingly beautiful - minus any scenes having to do with clowns.

Green is absolutely going through a rough slump comedy movie-wise right now, but the guy is not untalented.  (Check out his "George Washington" through "Pineapple Express" period, even though most of the plots are real downers, he's no hack.)

"or if Andy Daly isn't involved, I don't generally bother."