Binge Viewing

Binge-viewing, empowered by DVD box sets and Netflix subscriptions, has become such a popular way for Americans to watch TV that it is beginning to influence the ways the stories are told — particularly one-hour dramas — and how they are distributed. Some people, pressured by their peers to watch “Mad Men” or “Game of Thrones,” catch up on previous seasons to see what all the fuss is about before a new season begins. Others plan weekend marathons of classics like “The West Wing” and “The Wire.” On Friday, Netflix will release a drama expressly designed to be consumed in one sitting: “House of Cards,” a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. Rather than introducing one episode a week, as distributors have done since the days of black-and-white TVs, all 13 episodes will be streamed at the same time. “Our goal is to shut down a portion of America for a whole day,” the producer Beau Willimon said with a laugh.

Someone lock me in the TV panic room.

Remember The Onion?

The election Will Be Won On The Beer Aisle

Apparently all this hubub over who will be the next president is just a waste of time. Well, we already knew that, but now we know how to figure out who will win based on beer. If they would have listened to me, I coulda told them this a long time ago...

I prefer Amstel, Stella, and Yazoo microbrew from here in Nashville. I guess that means 4 more years, but with fewer taxes, and gay marriage rights with every gun purchase. Stay thirsty my Bastards...

I nominate a new Grand Poobah

I'm not even sure who the current Poobah is, but I'd like to nominate Eric as the new Grand Poobah. I nominate Eric because he probably has the least amount of free time. Eric, if elected, you'll be expected to spend 4-6 hours per day working on the blargh. You also have to sit up nights with Jay if he gets collicky. Any seconds?

New Yorker endorsement gets it right, I think

In what amounts to mostly preaching to the choir, I recommend you read this well-written, comprehensive, and thoughtful endorsement of Obama by the New Yorker. It does a very good job of encapsulating most of the lucid and legit arguments in favor of an Obama presidency, with relatively little knee-jerk quotient.