If it was between (and I think it is) talking through commercials rather than slide shows and paying more for the ticket -- I'm going with commercials every time. They're not that hard to ignore (except for the Fantanas -- they're evil) even when I don't have someone to talk to.

I've only been to an Olive Garden once, it inspired no strong feelings in me either way.

Fred's "Italian" experience is mine, only with Chinese food. Growing up, there was not a Chinese restaurant anywhere within 30 miles, so I was brought up thinking that my dad's homemade version of chop suey (which, sorry Dad, is disgusting!) was Chinese cuisine. I wasn't introduced to what most Americans consider Chinese food until college, when I fell in love with it. I still don't order Chop Suey to this day, though.

Chop Suey was invented in America.

I still don't order Chop Suey to this day, though.

Nobody orders chop suey, Kathy.

Unfortunately, though, for decades most Americans thought that it represented Chinese food, and in non-Asian-settled towns such as my own, it did. My first taste of sweet-and-sour shrimp was heaven, in comparison.

We had one chinese restaurant in town, that I know of. It wasn't takeout. I know I ate there, but I remember nothing about it. We had 2 called italian, and one was a fancyschmancy place (never ate there.) Other place was good italian-american fare.

But I had a kajillion different mexican places. It was awesome.

I like Olive Garden. I'm a philistine.

I'm a philistine, too. I can get my favorite cheap red wine and very good fetuccine Alfredo. And their chairs are on casters, which makes it easy to get up to the table. This contents me.

I refuse to eat at Olive Garden thanks to long-ago posts on the alt.gothic newsgroup; too many fellow Freaks In Black dealt with rude service from the employees.

Nobody orders chop suey, Kathy.

Thank G-d for the International Cuisine movement of the past fifty years! I can't imagine only eating the kind of food my parents grew up on.