"This could have been the pilot"
That's an interesting point. My problem with the pilot is that they got to the Craigslist posting too quickly.

I agree with the both of you! It was pleasant enough, and I think the premise has promise. As with any show about a writer, it's gonna be tough for BTD to avoid becoming pretentious, and the casting Jason Shwartzman only makes that job tougher (thanks in no small part to any Wes Anderson residuals).

(short for Audio Visual Talk)
Thanks for keeping us in the know!

Animal House (1) and Trading Places (2) are his best movies.

My favorite encounter
I was riding shotgun in my friend's shitty car going to our busboy job in Milwaukee (this was in college). Stopped at a light downtown. Turn to see Eliot Gould standing there in a long, tan overcoat and hat. He looks at me, then nods his head as if to say, "yes, I'm really Eliot Gould." The…

"the Spielberg depiction of suburbia as idyllic."

I've lived in the Suburbs or the City of Chicago most of my life. The city is a much more interesting place, culturally speaking. I don't know anyone, even those who live in the suburbs, who would claim otherwise.

Does every AVClub staffer have a filmmaker/artist they aren't allowed to meet?

It's good. It may be overrated, but it's not a bad movie. I give it a passing grade.

Williams + Academia/Literate World = Good
Garp, Dead Poets, Good Will, This.

Hello?
Keanu Reeves in Sweet November anyone? And I thought you guys were cinephiles.

Those guys sucked. I watched one episode with them and it made me long for Michael Medved.

I actually think that other girl judge gave some pretty good advice last season, mostly toward the end.

There's always Colin Hanks!

Well, judging by the teasers, the bomb DOES reset things. Of course, they could be misleading. But, as of now, I think they do reset things but that goes against the natural order of what should happen — or fate. And so the season will be about returning that order and fulfilling everyone's destiny. Or something.

I think he'll be back… which is good because he became my favorite character of the series last season.

Looks like Jack's plan worked!
Good for him.

Can't Wait
For 2015 when the complete Michael & Michael (seasons 1 and 2) DVD is finally released to a small but enthusiastic reaction.

I didn't associate the Jamba cartoons…
with Get Your War On because they're not funny.

Brothers & Sisters
Why are we fighting? Everyone needs to cool out.