KenJennings

Aye. I actually think Gran Torino was a little bit underrated because it doesn't tow the Hollywood political line. I could be biased because I grew up on the east side of St. Paul- an aging neighborhood with a high Hmong population very much like the setting of Gran Torino. (I read that it was actually originally supposed to be set in St. Paul) The movie tells the story of a man very much like my own Dad or Grandpa. It was very special to see a movie tell their story from an unbiased perspective for a change. To me, that movie is an absolute masterpiece.

Star Wars is overrated because it combines a simplistic story, bad acting, no significant parable or meaning, and yet it still gets lauded as a masterpiece for some reason.

Star Wars (all of them)

The latest episode of Star Trek Continues... a direct continuation of the original episode "Mirror, Mirror".

How so? Breaking Bad is a case study on how to clean up a show at the end. If Fargo comes anywhere even near the brilliance of closure that Breaking Bad did, it will be a stunning success.

I always thought that someone should open a buffet where, when you walk in, you step on a scale, and it charges you based on your weight.

I don't understand why Lester would've had Linda put the jacket on. If she would've gone in uncovered, Malvo may have simply remained hidden, and they could've got their passports and been on their way. Having her put on the jacket only drew Malvo out into the open, so that she could not retrieve the passports, and Lester would be trapped with another mess to deal with. I've absolutely loved the series up until the latest episode. But I don't understand where they're going now. I'm hoping the last episode ties it all up, but it seems like a tall order. It just seems like they're all over the board, and can't possibly close all of these loops. I hope I'm wrong on that front. One vibe I'm getting is that Lester is kind of doing the Walter White thing all over again... Mr. Chips turns into Scarface, except it's not executed with nearly as much nuance, and it's gone much deeper much faster. I just hope that they can surprise me in the last episode, and bring things back to purpose nicely.

CBS and Paramount might have the Star Trek name tied up with JJ Abram's 'Bad Robot' for the indefinite future, and licensing battles might clog the pipeline of content for years to come... but the question is: do we need their clout to advance Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future? There are several independent Star Trek productions of varying quality, and they just seem to be getting more and more impressive. This concept has completely changed my vision of the future of media. We're not going to need top-down production companies to make entertainment in the future, as fans of a concept can simply use crowd funding to commission the works they want. I generally dismissed and scoffed at such endeavors as amateur and lacking until I watched "Star Trek Continues". With that experience, I realized that the talent to produce top-notch stories is abundant, and that the future is bright for anyone to be the storyteller they wish to be. Here are just a few of the stories ongoing in the 'unofficial' Star Trek universe: Star Trek Continues is an attempt to pick up the Original Series where it left off. Yes, it is an entirely new cast, but they represent all of the original characters especially well. Their set design, musical score, and special effects are SPOT ON to the original. Nobody has captured the feel and tone of the original Star Trek better than these fellas. They currently only have two episodes released, with a third coming this weekend. http://www.startrekcontinues.com/ Their second episode, Lolani: Another production in the works is Star Trek Renegades. This show, set in the prime universe after the end of Star Trek: Voyager, features Walter Koenig and Tim Russ reprising their roles as Chekov and Tuvok, as they lead a renegade crew into the darker side of the Trek universe. This ambitious project has attracted the attention of a lot of former Trek talent, and will advance the prime universe into uncharted territory. http://startrekrenegades.com/ The latest Renegades trailer: And the last production I want to highlight is Star Trek: Axanar. Axanar might be the most exciting of the group, as the special effects look amazing, and the talent shows a lot of potential. This feature will begin as a History Channel style documentary, featuring Starfleet and Klingon leaders being interveiwed about a historic watershed battle. Taking place shortly before the Original Series, this looks to bridge the gap between Enterprise and The Original Series, and seems to have the look and feel very well in hand. http://startrekaxanar.com/ The latest Axanar trailer: Now, with each of these, I only ask that you approach them with an open mind. I was won over after expecting shortcomings. Of course, this concept can't go from zero to sixty overnight; but the steps they have taken have left me with a sense of wondrous awe. I am very, very inspired by these people's accomplishments as independent producers. Give them an honest chance, and if you like what they're all about- look up their kickstarter pages, and pitch them a little coin for their work!

There's a Chinese restaurant in St. Paul called Señor Wong.

Water is arguably the most interesting substance in the universe. But Gweneth Paltrow is a few ounces short of a full glass.

saccharine (the adjective not the noun)

Jason Lewis uses this word like every day.

Yeah, I'm loving it. My favorite show on TV right now. Was surprised to see the show suddenly advance a year like they did last night. Bold move, and one I actually like. A lot of shows would've spent that time painfully hashing out the characters, and failing to advance the story. Not here, they haven't wasted any time on this series, it is wall to wall nuts and bolts. But still the characters aren't hollow, you get a sense of where they've been and what they're becoming. Even in skipping a year of time, the characters develop wonderfully and obviously without you ever seeing a moment passed. It was cool to see the new confident Lester in Las Vegas, and how far his character had come- then the very moment that he saw Malvo in that vegas bar (sitting across the table from the great Stephen Root, I noticed) he shrunk back down to the mannerisms and nervousness of the original Lester from the beginning. I'm excited to see how Key and Peele develop into the plot, as their angst about spending a year in the archives room will certainly act as a huge motivating force in their future actions. Malvo's new look, and unexpected arrival in Las Vegas makes me wonder what he's up to. And Molly and Gus' new family life makes me very, very nervous about the vulnerability of such innocent, good natured, lovable characters.

He'll earn back a lot of points if he can spring Tyrion from the Hoosegow.

Well, the Red Wedding was bloody... but this looked like someone was making spaghetti in a pressure cooker and hit the wrong knob.

knob

Yes it was. Too much. Way overboard in the gratuitous gore department. Disgusting, in fact. Seriously? You sound like you just started watching this show. With all the violence this show has had, someone getting their head crushed in is too much for you? Yes, it was done in a brutal and barbaric way but we shouldn't expect anything less from the show at this point. the red wedding was way more freakish. Huh??

There's just too much profit motive for someone to not solve the problem. I'm not worried.

DQ is headquartered in MN.

Posting on forums is the original form of social media.

I have no interest in joining Twitter, but I've been on Facebook for years, and I see its usefulness.

OK, three things. 1. Go get a corn dog from Dairy Queen. Theirs are actually pretty good in my experience. Don't let your first Corn Dog be a crappy pre-cooked grocery store one. Get a real dipped one. 2. Watch seasons 5-10 of the Simpsons immediately. 3. Watch the South Park episode "Butt Out" immediately.

There goes Harold, mowing the lodge lawn on the riding lawnmower I built! And remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they can at least find you handy.

There is only one possession I have that I can not imagine losing. It is the one possession that I have always had, it has traveled the nation with me, and it has been there through thick and thin. While I've gone through years of my life where it's been packed away in a box, and through long periods of life where I've forgotten it existed, it's always been waiting patiently for me to come back. I'm not sure where he came from or who made him, but as far as I can remember, I have always had my Teddy Bear, Lukey. He survived my early childhood years, despite being dragged through the dirt and spilled jukeboxes of my formative years. He survived through my kid years, where he was played with hard as the giant bear nemesis of my Jim Kirk and Alan Grant action figures. He spent many of my teen years in a box in the closet, almost forgotten, but always ready to come back as soon as I wanted to see him. He's spent recent years sitting up on a shelf in my room, prominently displayed as the prized possession that he really is. If my house was on fire, and there was only time for one thing to grab, he would be it. There is something special about a Teddy Bear. Every child should be given a Teddy Bear. It symbolizes a constancy, a reflection of their own growth and development- it is an avatar of the journey of their life. He's seen better days, he could probably use a good cleaning, his fur is ragged and nappy, the black felt that used to cover his plastic button nose has been gone for the better part of 20 years, and his battle scars show more stitching than a baseball... but he's still in one piece, the rattle in his belly still chirps the same as it always has, and ultimately Lukey is still there every day. He never argues, and never judges anything. He never gets sick, and he never dies. He never betrays, and never lets me down. Every human being should have a Teddy Bear.

1000 feet shouldn't be any scarier than 50 feet. You're not likely to survive either.