I agree, Mandy Patinkin is one of the best things about the show, and the rest of the cast is great too - nice ensemble. Even some of the guest stars really get a chance to shine, which is nice.

I think Mason hasn't grown because he doesn't want to. He's a fuck-up, and he'd rather get stoned, and that's part of his charm. He's comic relief, but he still gets a few scenes that go a little deeper. Maybe George will inspire him to want to grow up.

I like Dead Like Me a lot, but I wish they hadn't thrown out some of Bryan's great ideas after he left. The biggest thing was the gay Clancy storyline, of course, which was going to result in an episode where George finds out her father's gay and realizes she therefore probably isn't even supposed to exist, so that makes the fact that she does even more special -- it's kind of a wake-up call. He also had an episode dealing with reaper mythology, and a storyline in which George kills a reaper and finds out that's where gravelings come from; they're dead reapers and it's kind of like reaper hell. Finally, he had a longer, bittersweet scene between Betty and George where they discuss the afterlife and why they "can't go where they go" which got cut from "Reaping Havoc." There are other little things, too, but those are the big ones... and I really would have loved to see all that stuff happen.

Quoting: a storyline in which George kills a reaper and finds out that's where gravelings come from; they're dead reapers and it's kind of like reaper hell

Okay, that would have been frelling cool. Wow.

The bit about Clancy? Well, I dunno. I suppose it could have worked, but that family was pretty dysfunctional already. I did feel as if his storyline was dropped a bit most of the way through the season.

The gay Clancy thing was set up in the pilot and then dropped, is what bothers me. Remember at George's funeral when her dad's hugging that guy and George asks Rube if a friendly hug between two men is supposed to last that long? There's also a tiny bit in the episode "Sunday Mornings" -- a man walks into the restaurant, sees George's friend comforting Clancy, and leaves looking upset. Little things, but I noticed them before I knew of the dropped storyline, and it bugs me that they didn't follow through.

I posted more details on SaveWonderfalls, but the Comic-Con is definitely a go. The Wonderfalls screening (of "Lying Pig" and "Cocktail Bunny") is on Sunday, July 25. I still don't have the exact time, but it's shortly after Joss Whedon's thing. The second Knitting Factory screening is still happening, too (there was a bit of trouble with it -- the studio wasn't happy that it was a paid event -- but I think it's worked out now). It's on July 23, and they're showing "Crime Dog" and "Muffin Buffalo." I might be going to both screenings (no definite plans yet), and if I do, I'd love to meet any Buffistas who are going.

Ms Havisham and I will be attending the COmicCon, Cran...

(there was a bit of trouble with it -- the studio wasn't happy that it was a paid event -- but I think it's worked out now).

Lesson learned. It's better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Check.

You'd think they'd like the publicity, especially with DVDs coming out in December.

Apparently now we're paying $10 to see an unreleased Macy Gray video, and we get to see two Wonderfalls episodes free of charge. This amuses me.

You'd think they'd like the publicity, especially with DVDs coming out in December.

It's the unions. If they are charging admission to the public to see the eps, the unions want a cut. Or something.

That was the excuse I got, anyway.

When Amber Benson was selling Chance, you were getting a free copy of the movie by paying sixty bucks for a signed poster.

That was my final idea for showing at the WGA theatre. A $25 autographed something gets you free admission.

But then we all gave up and Tim went to the Moon.