Nilly, my "establishing scene" post happened only in my head but not on paper.

The establishing scene is the scene that establishes who your characters are and why they matter. In Buffy, it's the bit in WttH where Buffy is lured into a dark alley and then kicks the vampire's ass. It's "Ohhhhhh... *this* is the movie in which the tiny blonde girl isn't the victim."

In Butch Cassidy, the establishing scene has a guy acting like a boor in a poker game, bullying the other player (Robert Redford) and accusing him of cheating. The other player just stays quiet and takes the abuse. Paul Newman is trying desperately to mediate, trying to talk the bully down from his escalating demands. After his last attempt, he says "Sorry, Sundance, can't help you."

The bully freezes; the power in the scene does a 180. All of a sudden the bully is very very afraid; this isn't some random poker player, it's the Sundance Kid. He backs down and Redford and Newman prepare to leave. The bully calls out "Just how fast are you?" Redford spins around, and in six shots shoots the bully's gun off his belt and propels it across the room.

So. Robert Redford is a famous gunfighter. He doesn't pick fights or go into them lightly. He and Newman are fundamentally decent men, but dangerous. And we're off!

---

Oh, me too. I always love hearing people talk about things they understand and love and are engaged in, if it's their work or otherwise.

'Zacly.

---

News Corp is launching My Network TV this fall to compete with The CW. They should use it as a safety net to save good but struggling shows on Fox from cancellation. Also, I wouldn't object if they decided to resurrect Firefly, The Inside or Wonderfalls.

---

Barry, when Allyson says she wants a pony we all know she's joking. You do know that dead shows are dead, and that part of the grieving process is moving on?

---

Allyson doesn't really want a pony?

I hope I still have the receipt...

---

And that "Ponies R Us" takes returns without a restocking fee

---

Barry, when Allyson says she wants a pony we all know she's joking.

Yes, but deep down she really does want one.

You do know that dead shows are dead, and that part of the grieving process is moving on?

It was a throwaway line I added to my post. The main thing I wanted to discuss was the new network and what it might mean for struggling shows.

---

Most shows die and stay dead. But they did bring back Family Guy. In all of its animated zombie showness.

Which I think adds credence to the mourn, grieve, rend your garments and then move on theory.

---

The morphing edits make my head explode.

---

That's what I was going for.

---