The only problem with prestige TV is that it would be virtually impossible to fill a 10-hour series with all the great lines in this film. That's why 2 hour theatrical is so perfect for something like this, and why it's such a shame we get so little of this any more.

Network coverage is so much more sophisticated now that I think it's virtually impossible to figure out exactly what is spontaneous. In a lot of stories, there are so many staged shots of the subjects "going about their daily lives," that the distinction may not matter any more.

Kline and Hurt were also terrific as dimwits in a largely forgotten Kasdan flick called I Love You to Death. But their dimwit thunder in that film was stolen by Keanu Reeves.

Without spoiling the scene, Hurt's and Reeve's conversation over the Reggie Jackson bat is marvelous.

My apologies. I just found a clip and your recollection was better than mine. Sorry for the incorrect correction.

Hurt was perhaps my favorite actor during this period. Damn, he was firing on all cylinders. Starting your movie career with a run of Altered States, Eyewitness, Body Heat, Big Chill, Gorky Park, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Children of a Lesser God, and Broadcast News? That's what you call a resume.

I would go so far as to argue that when in his lane, Tom is actually the most savvy of the three. He understands the "Broadcast" part of the business far better than either of the other two. As you point out, the moment he adjusts Aaron's coat to improve his line on camera shows which one is truly out of his depth.

It…

And the network evening news is replete with this garbage to this day. Every time I hear one of the network anchors editorialize on a story, I flash back to Prosky's line, which I think is actually "Who gives a damn what you think?"

ETA: actually, Franko's quote is correct. My memory was faulty.

I won't name names,…

Plus, his feet don't appear to be bleached white. From the scene in the trailer, it looked like they were going with the comic book/Burton chemical bath origin. But maybe not.

(The look on his face reminds me of Bub from Day of the Dead.)

And his friends all called him "Butch," but I don't know what point I was trying to make, either.

I've always liked the Monkees. But there was a time not long ago where admitting that would have gotten you some odd looks from any "serious" music fan.

It goes back farther than that. When a woman appeared on a 50s game show, the host's first question was always, "tell us what your husband does for a living."

I would generally agree with a TV version, except that the book is so slight. The Burton version is under two hours and the ill-conceived dentist dad subplot probably accounts for 15 minutes of that (the Wilder version is exactly 15 minutes shorter). I'd hate for them to add further unnecessary padding.

I remember when the original Match Game was on in the afternoon, sometimes in the right after-school slot.

This is too perfect an idea not to happen. I would literally pay money to see Andrew Lincoln or Iwan Rheon knocked off a platform into the mud.

Wow. A couple of weeks ago, it was a non-ironic appreciation of the Monkees. Today, it's Match Game. The world is apparently ready for a Battle of the Network Stars reboot.

I used to really enjoy it when Gene Rayburn and his wife would do Tattletales, the Burt Convey-led celebrity sort-of Newlywed Game. As hip as he…

Though I greatly prefer the Wilder Wonka, I think the Burton version has a lot to recommend it. Except for Depp, who I think makes interesting, but ultimately unsuccessful choices, the cast in the Burton version is uniformly superior. Also, while they aren't quite as catchy, Elfman's songs at least use the lyrics…

Good call. I think everything after the hospital should have been saved for a sequel.

For me, you can tell if you want to watch an episode of Happy Days just by watching the opening credits. If the jukebox plays Rock Around the Clock, awesome. It's shot on film, instead of before the live studio audience. Fonzie is a great supporting character. Chuck is still around. And the plot actually has…

I wish I was good with editing software, because I would create a version of War of the Worlds that completely cuts out, or at least significantly softens, the shrill deadbeat dad plot. The movie has some amazing scenes, but Cruise fighting with his kids just makes my skin crawl.

I almost always turn off Apocalypse Now when they get to the native canoes protecting Kurtz's compound. Prior to that, it's a surreal masterpiece about the madness of war. Everything after is two fading Hollywood legends spouting gibberish. And by turning it off then, you get the added bonus of avoiding Chef's…