But what defines sentience?

Very well put. I would ask, thought, what qualifies as intelligence to you?

Sorta like today, you mean?

Beautiful reference; A fuckin plus, sir/madam.

They did it in Black Mirror!

Is there a film/book/TV show in which the robots simply go about their business while humanity ceaselessly murders itself? I'm sure there must be but I'm brain-farting all over the place today…

You have solved all of our problems with that one idea. Congratulations, you fuckin' did it.

Good point, but I imagine he would have been operating under the common copyright loophole that allows the contractor legal ownership over anything the contractee conceives of/produces during his/her time while working for the contractor. The same applies to, say, the Stephen Colbert of the Late Show not legally…

I can't imagine Shearer has copyright claims.

Funny that the Harry Shearer article on this site deals with the same issue…I'd link, but it's on the same site and all…

Those are…fair points. I was getting more at the cast than plot specifics, but…fair points.

Very good point(s), and it won't be a cheap and/or easy battle. I don't think that Shearer really cares much about his money at this point (I think his battle with FOX was largely of the same vein this is — he knows that these companies are screwing the talent and wants to make it an issue). Regardless of the…

I suspect (and don't know by any means) that he wanted to get into a financial situation in which he could afford to take on some of the bigger entities in entertainment. Now that he can afford to, he'd like to take the big guys on so that it's better for the kids.

I think Harry Shearer can buy and own most of us who comment on this site…this seems like a statement lawsuit to me and he won't be satisfied by a settlement. Of course, maybe he's Kelsey Grammer-ed his way into bankruptcy, but Shearer doesn't strike me as the type. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

That's why he threatened to leave…the guy deserves to get paid, but I think this is really more about sticking it to the studios that have screwed talent

What economy do you work in that you have $81!?!?! THANKS HILLARY! Sad.

Beat me to it…Empire was also recorded as a net loss…

Yeah, even him! He was super-fun in Firefly as the gruff dumbass who was accidentally a good guy!

Oh the old troll thing…you're criticizing something that's existed (albeit in a flawed way) for decades while missing out that I'm criticizing it too…

I could never get into this show because there's something about Eliza Dushku I find inherently unlikeable…I suspect that tons of others agree, hence the poor ratings.