This was fascinating. Thanks, G. So is it only a matter of time until somebody tries a directly interactive scripted show? Ending with 'Rt for x, Fav for Y' and then move on from there. I don't know how the logistics would work but it seems the logical progression.

I get the desire of local people to differentiate themselves from tourists but actively trying to avoid Central Park seems pretty dumb.

He's the Peter Mandelson of sitcoms.

What's weird about the Sean Bean dies meme is that what I always thought about Sharpe, which was the first thing I remember him in, is how absurd it was that he hadn't died. It's like he cashed in all his on-screen survival points in that one programme and has been paying for it ever since.

Lord Lucan?

So far I haven't been sufficiently inspired to buy a t-shirt supporting a porn star, although just like Rachel Alexandra, Sasha Grey supposedly loves a sloppy track.

A few years ago when superfilly Rachel Alexandra was winning tons of races there was a t-shirt giveaway with the slogan 'She Runs Like a Girl', I think when she ran at Saratoga. I ordered two of them online but never received them. I really wanted that t-shirt.

It's weird how in some formats universality becomes the norm and in others it just stubbornly doesn't. I'm in the exact situation you describe, pretty much, and it's incredibly annoying. Just let me pay per viewing of the programme or sporting event I want to watch, and let me do it all through my tv..

For a long time I grew up thinking we were inexorably making the world a better place. It's not so clear now. Perhaps a giant insurance premium for those parents who wish to opt out might help, if such a thing would be legal.

I don't think the fact that the police reacted differently when the threat was against them is all that surprising. In that situation they don't have to think about having a provable case, just that they can do something intimidatory to warn other people. Whereas in your position, even if they are sympathetic - which…

Oh, okay. Drat.

Thanks, I'll try that.

It wouldn't be difficult; I already have the IP program because I use it for other things. If the show streams free online in the US I would rather watch that way, but if it isn't possible, you're right.

I'd like to watch The Americans legally, but I'm not even sure there's an air date in the UK. I can change my computer to show up as a US IP address. Will there be a way to watch online doing this?

At some point there will be a backlash, and you seem well-positioned to be at the forefront of it. I don't think I've ever seen her in a film, so I'd only be there for the sake of being contrary at this point. I was one of the leaders of the backlash against Lewis Hamilton a few years ago, though.

'And lo, over the dark horizon came the foul shape of the bus to work.'

I thought one of the fun things about reading LOTR was the way that Tolkien so clearly got swept up in writing it as he went along. By the final book the language has become biblical - it probably has more uses of the word 'lo' than everything else I've read added together.

This is only part 1 of the piece, presumably?

This most recent one is the best of the last few, for me. I think Connelly struggled to get the partner chemistry right for a while but he figured out a good one there.

I really like the Bosch books and Welliver is terrifically cast, but the pilot was a little too by-the-numbers for me, even though it's clearly supposed to be relatively orthodox stuff. I'll watch the rest of them with interest though.