Thanks for that, I didn't read that episode's recap thread.

Who? You? I don't see any comments that look like there were left by Gautam.

Well that explains that. I'm sure he was nervous, I would be too, which is why I normally root for the awkward contestants. The touching was a bridge too far though.

I tend to root for the weird or awkward contestants because I don't think I'd be much better if I were ever on the show, but Gautam was too much. Between his slow category picking, his running commentary, and cracking up at "B-school" for some reason, I already didn't like him and the condescending/creepy pat on the…

That's too bad. I thought "Evgeni" first, because of hockey, and then I quickly realized that was wrong and I didn't know the full answer.

Oh, every week there's a canal.

I haven't read Lolita, and I couldn't remember his first name, but I still yelled out "Nabokov" almost immediately. Does anyone know if they would have accepted just the last name as a correct answer since it's not a complete anagram?

He prefers we call him Chulhu.

That was the line when it clicked for me last night! It only took watching the episode, like, 10 times to notice!

One subtle runner throughout the episode that isn't noticeable until you're watching it the second time (or more, in my case) is that Bender uses all 10 of his most frequently uttered words throughout the episode.

"Stabbed?"

Sex-hold!!!

Can't be worse than the book.

Are you going to have any human with your salt?

I'll get more bricks.

He was thinking of Wallis Simpson, I think, though he still would have gotten the answer wrong. He said Edward the sixth, not Edward the eighth.

The commentary! It does nothing!

Also, hours late, but I've been thinking about this; there's absolutely the perception that it will cost more in taxes to the wealthy (and my understanding is that this is accurate). I may think it's fair, but it's not "nothing" to the rich to have to pay more in taxes.

While I agree with you, I've got to give @avclub-087970e21971cc19e2427e2fee6ba71c:disqus an upvote for his delivery.

I live in Texas right now. I fully expect it to become more liberal, but I think "more liberal" will still be a conservative stronghold in 20ish years.