I don't think it's so much photos as it is a development deal.

Good to hear. I wondered, but I guess I wasn't really surprised. I mean, where else would you go with a scary, intelligent show besides FOX? I'm still surprised "Alias" isn't there. It's totally a FOX show.

Even if they can be stupid or prejudicial -- and they can -- this is still the network that's given us more edgy stuff than anybody. There's always got to be the dream that they'll go back to being the studio that supported "The X-Files" despite low ratings and confused viewers. Even as much as they bug me, if I wrote down my favorite 50 shows, a disproportionate amount would be from FOX.

Of course, a disproportionate amount also got screwed over by FOX, but hey...

Bwah! That was hysterical. Not unlike some of the mail you got I expect, though in a slightly different sense of the word.

I head-nodded throughout the earlier column. And FWIW, I would think that as a "normal" person who didn't obsessively follow writers from show to show (and they tell me there are a lot of those kind of people out there, who knew?), I'd be more inclined to try to check the show out after reading your column.

Welcome, Chris.

I meant to chime in this morning, but I've been crazy busy all day today. FWIW, I understood Allyson's reaction, but I read it more as an indictment of FOX than as being about The Inside at all.

I would think that as a "normal" person who didn't obsessively follow writers from show to show

What are you trying to say, brenda? I couldn't hear you, my tinfoil hat was blocking out the bad thought rays. I went with the Heavy Duty Reynold's Wrap for the SotU.

There are? Why?

The writers and/or creators of a show affect my decision to watch much more than the show concept, and often more than the stars. I've seen too many talented stars in crappy shows. But a good writer can make anything interesting.

Besides, it makes my decision-making simple. I don't have to hear what Neil Gaiman's plot is, or what the next Discworld book is about, or what Joss is doing these days, or which superhero Brian Michael Bendis or Peter David is writing. I see the names, I buy the stuff, I'm pleased and entertained.

And, clearly, lazy.

I went with the Heavy Duty Reynold's Wrap for the SotU.

Excellent. I've been using the single sheet dispenser for mine recently, but it's letting too much in through the cracks.

By which I mean to say, I hope it was clear that I was including myself in the abnormals up there.

The writers and/or creators of a show affect my decision to watch much more than the show concept, and often more than the stars. I've seen too many talented stars in crappy shows. But a good writer can make anything interesting.

ITA. But I have to say, before I dipped my toes into fandom, I doubt I could have named a writer on a show I watched, or would even have thought to do so. Creators, whatever that means, and producers get some name recognition - I'm not convinced that writers do outside of the fannish world. Which is wrong like a wrong thing, but there you go.

I have found the best defense against the SotU is to watch West Wing dvds, particularly the eps about the SotU. Aluminum foil rips and gets caught in my hair.

See, I was thinking I needed to stage my own little protest by having unmarried non-procreative sex, preferably while speaking french. Since that doesn't seem to be on the cards, I might grab a glass of wine and some smutty slash fic and retreat to the bathtub.

Interesting mail? In a perfect world, that Smallville column would have gotten you baked goods and offers of marriage.

That was good stuff, Chris.