HopsGuy

This story made me start thinking of the Olympics and how the US had performed in a truly American sport that has gone world-wide: basketball. I learned that basketball was a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. This provided the stage for the 1906 AAU championship which was won by the Buffalo German YMCA over Missouri AC, 97-8. (How many points were they laying?) I can't believe I had never heard that! I'm going to count that as a championship. I don't care. Wiki page

This week's episode seemed like a big FU to critics/viewers that complained about how nobody wants to see Lena Dunham naked. "Oh really? How about a whole episode, haters!?!" Seemed like the first couple of episodes with Donald Glover were the same sort of answer to critics that there weren't any non-white people on the show. There were lots of comparisons between "Girls" and "Sex and the City" but I think this show is actually more like "Seinfeld". These are really shallow, despicable people but they're sure fun to watch.

Christa Miller was on the first issue of Maxim: "The Office" was finished when Steve Carrell left but that's the way it should be. The original British version was all about David Brent (Ricky Gervais).It probably held on for a season or two too long but I'm okay dealing with newer characters like Erin (Ellie Kemper, getting her own NBC show next season) and others. I doubt "The Farm" will do well but I'll give it a shot.

You know that when you write something like that and not notice the possible ways it could be taken, you're getting old.

I like it. It's not fantastic but the cast & writers seem to have a good time making fun of themselves. I read that Bob Clendenin ("Tom") was really popular on the set and everyone kept pressuring the writers to have him more involved. Now he gets to come inside.

Indeed. According to IMDb, Matt Jones (Badger) will be on "The Office" spin-off, "The Farm".

Don't get me wrong, I want to grow up to be Hank Moody. Back to the actual thread topic... Matt Jones (Badger) was on "The Office" last week playing an Amish friend of Dwight's. I couldn't separate the two. I thought he was going to start spouting off about Nazi zombies.

I watch it but more out of habit than anything else. Like "Weeds", it has hung on a bit too long. Charlie Runkle is always funny, though. Evan Handler is usually solid in everything he does. The daughter from "Taken" has turned out quite nice, too.

I was a bit bummed by Stephen Tobolowsky (Ned Ryerson!) getting popped in the melon. He could have been a great addition. BTW - I highly recommend "Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party". It's a great documentary. See that and then find some of the podcasts he did. He's a great storyteller.

I'm not sure if it's really meets the definition of a GP but this song from "Moneyball" was stuck in my head for months after seeing the film. This is the concept video and the singer is quite attractive, IMHO. She's originally Czech but grew up in Australia which means she probably likes beer. So there's that. Caution: This might be on the level of "Dancing Queen" for sticking in your head. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsh3J5lJ6g

I read this article about how evil the Java install is and uninstalled. So far, so good.

The music made me smile. The show opened with Quarterflash's "Harden My Heart". I remember their base drum had a picture of a quarter with Washington wearing sunglasses. So 80s. Then during the chase scene following that, Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" was blaring. That was AWESOME. I'll be watching. Gotta see if Dr. Jenner can figure this out. Okay, I'll stop doing that.

The recently departed Rick Majerus had the greatest comment on Ashley Judd ever. He was the commentator at UK game once and said: "Man, if they show Ashley one more time, I'm not going to have to rent a movie when I get back to the hotel tonight." That is fantastic. Here's to you, Rick... not good enough for the Notre Dame job - if there's a heaven, that should get you in... well maybe.

It's not that they do it twice. they light it twice. They shot it several times in both lightings with several cameras, as was planned. That's how I understand it. Hopper just wanted to get a better feel for the scene from watching Walken do it first. That's how I understood the description.

The opera ("The Flower Duet") playing over this scene at the end was the same from "The Shawshank Redemption". The commentary on the DVD talks about how they set the lighting for this scene for Hopper to do his side first. But he came to Tony Scott (RIP) and asked if he could have Walken how his side first because he thought he'd be able to react better. They had to have all the lighting redone, which is a big deal because these are all union guys that work the crew and it's a big expense. Scott agreed to it and it ended up being such a success - it appeared on an "Off Topic" thread on a forum for disappointed Buffalo Bills fans.

Did you see the Deadspin piece on how Casa D'Bundchen has a moat? A moat? A moat. Of course, it's not really that effective unless there's a true drawbridge. Jus' sayin'.

Got "For Nothing" on my Kindle for, well, next to nothing. I'm finishing up "No Easy Day" and will dig into this next.

That's a great story. I put it up there with Mock's Fabio telling. I wish we were more interesting. Especially you, Tom.

I'm going to check the books out but this thread shocked me into remembering I watched a movie about the Buffalo (Russian) mob many years ago: Stiletto Dance Great if you love the Nickel City but otherwise...

I'm considering Beef on 'Weck sliders as my "dish to pass" at the party. I'll do a roast in the slow-cooker and put some dinner rolls in the oven with egg wash to hold to some kosher salt & caraway seeds. Bring along some fresh prepared horseradish and I'm done. But I'll probably get lazy and do a multi-layered dip with tortilla chips. That always works.

Agreed. The only reason I watched the first episode was that Alan Sepinwall was on "The BS Report" talking it up. I was hooked. I think even then Sepinwall predicted its demise because the reason you cited - poor advertising, bad name. No one knew what it was about. If they had given it a name like "Rizzoli & Isles", more people probably would have tuned in. PS - I think Britt did his time. Jeeze, Neal McDonough had one episode on "Terriers" and was great as Robert Quarles on "Justified". These folks all loop together.

I get the feeling you guys aren't putting enough Jameson's in your coffee.

I'd say that was a pretty good synopsis considering you have to avoid spoilers. I would add that the relationship between Don and Peggy nicely contrasts everything else in Don Draper's life. The 7th episode of Season 4 "The Suitcase" is about as close to a perfect hour of television drama I've seen. Of course, you need to see everything leading up to that to understand.

Oh, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6VRxHP66nE