I can support this with anecdotal evidence: I was banned from AOL at least twice for breaking Terms of Service. My response, of course, was "I thought this was AMERICA Online. Where's my freedom to do whatever I want?!"

Also, celebrity reality TV became a Thing. Justin Timberlake was briefly taken seriously as an artist. And, of course, how could we forget 80s Night?

This is one of those things that only writers ever really think about. It's just a simple idea you want to get across — the Sutherlands are touting this as the first time they've headlined a movie together, and so that must be mentioned in the review. It's almost the raison d'etre of the whole project. But how do you…

Right, I've heard him say that too. He sold the rights to Shawshank to Frank Darabont for $1 and let him go on his merry way. But then he hated Kubrick's Shining so much he made his own adaptation. Even if he isn't involved, I think he'd be fairly public with his disapproval.

She's got a pretty healthy IMDB page, but just check out Hustle and Flow, or any random episode of Empire.

Two things it can be, yes.

Teehee! Speaking of The Stand, if all this leads to an HBO mini-series starring Matthew McConaughey as that Randall Flagg, too, it might be worth it.

Yeah, I feel like I've been imagining Taraji P. Henson as Susannah even before I knew who she was. I can't even think of who might be comparably capable.

I've been assuming his producer credit on this will mean quite a bit more than on, say, The Shining. Or even the Frank Darabont movies. It's his life's work, after all. In any case, even if he's not super involved, I can't imagine he'd be A-OK with whitewashing Susannah.

Good for her.

HBO WHEN?

It's not about color-coding. It's that being a black American in its very racist past is a significant part of her character and arc.

Which is a shame, because they could pretty much leave her as she is on the page, then cast Taraji P. Henson and call it a day.

Oh, I agree. I've always thought the Gunslinger was a no-brainer of a movie. My guess is Tirana will basically be a modified Allie. Or, my hope is that's the case.

So Roland's going to do Tirana? So, going back to one of your other comments, it's going to be chase, chase, shootout, bang, chase, chase, chat, bang, sleep?

I can't imagine they'd be that tone deaf to erase one of the best characters in the books, and one of the few major roles for a black actress in a major blockbuster like this. Would Stephen King even allow something like that? But you're right. There will be fury if that's the road they go down.

I'd like to burden her beast with two backs, if you know what I mean.

Heh, butt thrive.

Rob Liefeld comics aren't Biblical canon!

I think you mean Cliffordius Clavenium. And, yes.