I had just this epiphany when my kids and I were watching the latest episode of “Avatar: The Legend of Korra”, and my four-year-old daughter couldn’t understand why we couldn’t just keep watching to find out what happened next. I realized that, as they’ve been watching old shows on Netflix (e.g., “Curious George”, the ’90s version of “X-Men”, “Busytown Mysteries”, etc.), everything’s already laid out from beginning to end for them. When there have been continuing storylines, we just need to spend another 22-44 minutes to wrap things up.

Anyone else thought about this?

I haven’t yet watched Downton Abbey myself, but I am assured by people whose views I trust that I should check it out sometime. I’m just rather afraid of having a similar reaction to Mitch, here…

Update (3/27/12): For those of you looking for the video of Downton Arby’s, here it is:

The more I listen to some of the Presidential candidates and their supporters and surrogates, the more I struggle to understand precisely what they’re saying. Not necessarily understanding the words, but understanding how they can be so demonizing to ones they disagree with. It’s not enough to say, “I disagree with the President.” No, instead they must accuse him of a radical agenda in which his ultimate purpose (whether because he’s a secret Muslim or socialist or whatever) is to destroy our very way of life. How can you say that and still claim to want to lead all of the people of our country?

Wow, OK, sorry. Didn’t mean to get all riled up, there. Lemme take a deep breath and go watch some bunnies with pancakes on their heads or cute baby otters or something.

Hey, all! I have no idea if this marks my triumphant return, or if this is just a quick hop back in and then right back out, but this comic came to mind nearly fully-formed, and I couldn’t NOT share it with you. Hope you like it, and if you do, please re-share, re-tweet, or otherwise socialize the heck outta this thing.

Granted, I’ve never actually been on a game show, so the cameras and the audience may do something to the contestants, but it seems to me that all the people who are on them – and yes, I’m particularly singling out that Hangman for Money-Hoarders classic, Wheel of Fortune – are missing a few brain cells. They’ll look at a board that says something like “J__K _ND J_LL WEN_ _P _HE H_LL”, and, rather than solving the puzzle, or even spinning to get more money, they’ll inexplicably buy a frakkin’ vowel! Now, if they buy an “O”, here, and the next guy gets a shot…he’s got it all figured out. He spins, lands on $2,500 or whatever, and smugly calls out “C”, then solves the puzzle. Didn’t think of calling out “T” and netting twice as much, didja there, hotshot?

Oh, and don’t miss the alt-text of this one. Little bit of mind-bending trivia for all you folks!

This strip is based on a recent conversation had at my house. It didn’t end the same way, though.

Similarly, perhaps, but not the same way.

Anyone else out there face this particular dilemma? How did you solve it? Inquiring minds want to know!

Yeah, this tidbit threw me for a loop when I realized the same as Jane, here. I’ve also occasionally worked out what albums Billy Joel had already had under his belt by the time he was my age (he’d done “An Innocent Man” by now), and I try hard to forget that Kate Winslet is only a month older than I am.

Anyone else have comparisons out there like this? Let me know in the comments!

No further comment, Your Honor.

Well, except for this, in case you have no knowledge of what I’m talking about! The Purple Smurfs

This happens to me all the time. It’s particularly vexing given how spoiler-phobic I am, so I end up fast forwarding into the first few seconds after the commercial break, thus destroying the dramatic tension.

I think this came from a word puzzle my father-in-law was working on the other day, but it’s decidedly fuzzy. What I do remember is singing the theme song to the show, on the spot. It was … special.

But hey, you know what I just thought of? The Love Goat’s perfect sidekick: Gopher!