I don't think it's HBO's fault.  In the fall, everyone was talking about how this was the year of the female comedians, with Whitney and New Girl and 2 Broke Girls and Are You There Chelsea all debuting on networks. And all those shows were disappointing, at least creatively.  I think GIRLS paid off that narrative…

GIRLS was saddled with unfair expectations.  When certain critics immediately started comparing Lena Dunham to Louis CK and Matthew Weiner, it made a lot of people who probably wouldn't have paid attention to this show want to shoot it down.

GIRLS was saddled with unfair expectations.  When certain critics immediately started comparing Lena Dunham to Louis CK and Matthew Weiner, it made a lot of people who probably wouldn't have paid attention to this show want to shoot it down.

If "Mad Men" was a show about writing television, it would be a shitty show.  There's a place on television for inside-baseball commentary about that process, and it's called "Episodes." It's not bad, but it's not "Mad Men."  I kind of understand why somebody who writes about TV would start to see most TV shows as…

If "Mad Men" was a show about writing television, it would be a shitty show.  There's a place on television for inside-baseball commentary about that process, and it's called "Episodes." It's not bad, but it's not "Mad Men."  I kind of understand why somebody who writes about TV would start to see most TV shows as…

I understand the concept of artistic license with facts and just sort of rolling with the narrative, and I usually feel like people who point out factual inaccuracies in fictional narratives are missing the point.  But I just could not get past the fact that Hannah's father fell down and hit his head and was knocked…

I understand the concept of artistic license with facts and just sort of rolling with the narrative, and I usually feel like people who point out factual inaccuracies in fictional narratives are missing the point.  But I just could not get past the fact that Hannah's father fell down and hit his head and was knocked…

I think on Sopranos it was a joke that they thought that there could be a DNA identification from urine.

1) So, Sabre stepped in just before Dunder Mifflin collapsed as a direct result of David Wallace's incompetent management, and now David Wallace has stepped in to buy Dunder Mifflin just before it collapsed due to Sabre's incompetent management. There is only one way this makes sense:

Is the explanation for Robert California that he makes all his decisions when he's blackout drunk?  Was Kathy Bates so impressed with him that she never asked him to demonstrate any qualifications?  Why is he in Scranton all the time if there are still other branches?  Doesn't he have some sort of mansion in Scranton…

There is nothing inherently wrong with Kat Dennings.  She's attractive, she's likable, and she can deliver lines.  It is plausible to imagine her at or near the center of a good TV show.

Is this the end of Earth 2 and its story arc?  Is the fifth season going to flash forward to Observer dystopia now?  I get that the Fringe dynamic has been to twist the world around the characters each season, but this was very abrupt, and seems like it left a lot of loose ends open.

I seem to recall a run of episodes in which Michael and Jim were made co-managers, and Jim was terrible. Dunder Mifflin does not run itself, amd that's why branch closings and the collapse of the company were a big part of the overarching narrative for seasons 3 to 6. Michael saved the Scranton branch repeatedly by…

1) I liked this episode better than any from the past several weeks because, when Robert California realized the situation with Andy was about to become unpleasant, he tried to defuse it in a recognizably human way. It was the first time since February that the character has behaved sort of like a human being, rather…

The only thing wrong with this episode is that the B-plot stuff didn't really hold up against the debate plot.  I don't know why they decided to montage the debate, and then have Ron climb a telephone pole for a minute and a half.

I did find the scene in "Tomorrowland" where she mentioned "a friend from college." I did not find her talking about having an English degree.  She could have spent one semester at the place her father taught and then quit to be an actress.  I think you're vastly overstating her qualifications.  She's never been…

Buzz, season 5 Megan is the same character as season 4 Megan. She was established as being pretty dim, and she hasn't exactly demonstrated great intellect or charming wit. As Don's secretary, she was repeatedly portrayed as being very dim. The contrast with Faye Miller was very stark.

I don't think Megan is an adult at all. I think Faye was an adult and Megan is the 22 year-old actress that Don decided he wanted instead.

I will have to go back and watch the S4 episode where Megan laid out her backstory.  I don't recall anyone ever being impressed by her elite educational credentials.  I thought she was a failed actress who took an office job to pay the rent.

Garrison, my understanding is that Ginsberg was brought on specifically to do the weekly coupon for Mohawk, but he seems to be working on other projects as well.