One last thing. I will mention one person who does seem to get it... of course he's had a chance to see more than the critics, and that's Peter Liguori, the pres of the network. He called me Monday to tell me that he wanted to air two originals back to back, and wanted to do it on the 6th so there would be time for it to show up in the listings. He told me he'd been thinking a lot about the show, that he couldn't shake it, that this was a "testament to my illness," he said he didn't think it was something you could sell in ten minutes, called it all kinds of nice things, said it was a much better show than it was performing, and that he hadn't given up on it. So that's good.

Those professional TV viewers have procedural fatigue or whatever.

I'm curious to see what those reviewers have to say about CBSs Criminal Minds which is about FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

I liked this episode. I enjoy when the criminal and the cops engage in a battle of wits. Martin did seem one step ahead of the VCU but he had to have that validation.

And for some reason I thought he was after Roger's wife. Everyone just sort of assumed it was Roger that I thought for sure the housewife was the bad guy. Guess I overthought that one.

For a good while, I thought that the older of the two kids was the one being targeted. I was completely misdirected by the bit with the video game and his pulling a toy gun on Danny. When the missing cat was mentioned, my first assumption was that the kid had done something to it.

Nice misdirect.

Also, no FBI agent (or law enforcement agent anywhere) is going to drop their weapon in a standoff. That's verboten down to the roots of their hair and into their DNA. That's conceding control of the situation and basically ensuring your own death.

In a hostage situation? I thought that was pretty much protocol. But then, I possibly watch too much tv.

I dunno about protocol, but I still would have put a hole in the guy myself, damn the consequences. If I can put a hole in a black silhouette in the dark from 25 feet (4 shots to the body and one to the head--night qualifications with a .38 while I was with the military police), it would have been a cinch to put that guy down.

For a good while, I thought that the older of the two kids was the one being targeted. I was completely misdirected by the bit with the video game and his pulling a toy gun on Danny. When the missing cat was mentioned, my first assumption was that the kid had done something to it.

Plus I still have strong memories of when I first saw "I've Got You Under My Skin". Which is why I was glad Tim didn't go to that well again.

He told me he'd been thinking a lot about the show, that he couldn't shake it, that this was a "testament to my illness," he said he didn't think it was something you could sell in ten minutes, called it all kinds of nice things, said it was a much better show than it was performing, and that he hadn't given up on it. So that's good.

I'd been wondering how this was going to go. We've seen how Fox handles a show they don't like, that the critics are decidedly mixed on, and that doesn't get killer ratings (Firefly), and we've seen how they handle a show they REALLY didn't like, that the critics REALLY loved, and that got worse ratings (Wonderfalls). So I was curious how they were going to deal with a show they really DID like, but that got mixed reviews and poor ratings. We shall see.

I'd love to see the nurturing of a show pay off in this day and age - it has happened with some shows that ended up being huge, but almost never happens anymore.

He told me he'd been thinking a lot about the show, that he couldn't shake it, that this was a "testament to my illness,"

That's probably the coolest comment ever. Tim, I think you should change your tag to "a testament to my illness".

In fact, I know people already love the 'support group for clumsy' whatever for a thread title, but I'm going to toss that into the bureau ring for a Minearverse title--if not for Minearverse 4, than for Minearverse 5. It's too good.

Out of context, it may be difficult to determine the referent to said illness, but still worth a shot.