It was really silly and zany, he regularly had conversations with a dead person, his office-mate was a neurotic mess, he frequently had wild breaks from reality, and he wasn't a handsome white guy who knew how to display a good smug face.

Mitch said something to the effect of he knew that using Howard on the show would help him sell it to the network.

That's a myth. In every season 1 and 2 episode there's a scene where he's crouching behind a plant.

I still like that balloon song, and I instantly developed an infatuation with Sara Bareilles. I should send her more letters.

I was one of 12 people who watched it live and loved it. That was when normal people were dating their peers or whatever.

I am absurdly out of touch with what's popular in general, but I thought old Lowe-dog had a little power with his name.

Random observation: recent comedy critical darlings have some well-known Hollywood entity in a supporting role. Does this help sell the pilot to the network?

Ooh vulgar. I was just throwing it out there. I'm sure network TV people are trying any way they can to squeeze money out of their dying empire.

Speaking of blocking and the set, Frajer probably used doors better than any sitcom (that I can think of.)

Somehow it's more horrifying to describe an emoticon.

He said he wanted the experience of Mad Men to be "pure" and didn't want to overanlayze it by appearing on talk shows over and over. But it didn't sound pretentious. He does legitimately seem nice. edit: Mostly I'm reacting to the perception of Emmy drama showrunners.

Did we talk about this interview with Harmon yet?

Yes, but you only answer questions that won't be asked for another 30 minutes, and every sentence must end with a preposition.

Goes to show you good writing can't handicap itself on wild settings or effects. You should be able to make people laugh with three characters sitting down at a desk just talking.

And sometimes they cut out the middle man and just hire Pete Holmes.

I do that too. I could watch TV for weeks and not see one entire commercial. I should give myself a medal.

Oh I forgot that normal people do that. I wouldn't watch a comedy with my family unless I was being held down with a knife.

First season never left the bar.

I think perception shifted and all the young writers said multi-cams as dinosaurs and conservative, unimaginative beasts. That's what I thought when I was younger too. I still liked Seinfeld though.

Oh I finally got around to watching more of Cheers (only saw it in reruns as a kid) and made it to when Frajer was introduced! Man he was skinny. And that wasn't his mother! And he had a dog! Craziness.