Edwin MacPhisto

Hey, finally a classic game! Took long enough, but that was a great one, endless comments about DeJuan Blair's "derriere" notwithstanding.

Lei Tong, were you the deadly weapon?

Montell Jordan- "This Is How We Do It" Warren G. (ft. Nate Dogg)- "Regulate" Nirvana- "Heart Shaped Box" R.E.M.- "Losing My Religion" Skee-Lo- "I Wish" Dr. Dre (ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg)- "Nuthin But a G Thang" New Radicals- "You Get What You Give" Meat Loaf- "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"

What a difference a Bryan Fuller makes. The hard-on this show has for killing women is still pretty weird, but I'm glad his return did not disappoint. I'd been in "show goes on while I'm doing several other things" mode for a while and was just about to banish it to the same pit I tossed Lost this year, but this was good enough to keep me interested to the end of the season. And yes, Mole; Monday's episode was Season 1 good.

I've long had this great idea for a Wheel of Fortune "Before and After" Puzzle. Pat's hints would be along the lines of "it's awful," and the answer would be "Collective Soul Asylum."

I do love "Creep," but it's weak against the rest of their catalog and that New Radicals song is and has always been the jam. "Under the Bridge" isn't awful, but I'd pick any other song still in the contest over it. Except for "Self Esteem."

That was actually one of the first things I thought of when Patrick said he wanted to be a cavalry scout. Somehow, in the forests of a Central American dictatorship, that moment will come back to haunt him.

Thread that keeps on giving.

The Spaghetti Incident? Montell Jordan- "This Is How We Do It" Deee-Lite- "Groove Is In The Heart": I adore "Gin and Juice," but it lacks slide whistle. Warren G. (ft. Nate Dogg)- "Regulate" Fiona Apple- "Criminal" Get a Grip Nirvana- "Heart Shaped Box": I actually really like the STP song, but this is "Heart Shaped Box." I'm not sure what Czech means by "sludge" in reference to "Interstate Love Song," as it's one of the more buoyant big rock songs of the 90s. No grungy meandering, no tacked-on processed solos. Smashing Pumpkins- "1979" R.E.M.- "Losing My Religion": "THAT WAS JUST A DREEEAM"x2 has always been a strong contender for best 6 seconds of the decade. Tom Cochrane- "Life Is A Highway" Armageddon: The Album Skee-Lo- "I Wish" 2Pac- "California Love": Ahead of its time in wanton usage of autotune, leather pants, and Chris Tucker. Dr. Dre (ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg)- "Nuthin But A G Thang" Red Hot Chili Peppers- "Under the Bridge": Yuck. My least favorite of the songs I'm advancing, but the Offspring are just god-awful. Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell - This whole bracket is immortal. New Radicals- "You Get What You Give" Sinead O'Connor- "Nothing Compares 2 U" Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories- "Stay" Meat Loaf- "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"

Might sound fucked up, but hell yeah. That's what I'm talking about. I'm trying not to be a dumbass gung-ho asshole, but this MOS excites the fuck out of me. Has he ever worn his Stetson in your presence? I don't think he has; he was only in for 6 years and has an odd sort of California-cool-kid's distance from it all. He uses his scout background as a means of behaving superior in conversation (even though he was just an E-4 humping around in Germany most of the time), but won't stick with any of the fancy trappings like uniform or medals or whatever. I do know that he's killed a few people, so enjoy that if it comes down to it.

Pretty fruity finish to a usually great show, though I thought there were great character moments throughout the first 80 minutes or so. The last thing I wanted was blasted, irradiated earth to be a fake-out. I was also wholly unimpressed with the Opera House nonsense and the "powers beyond our control did it!" explanation for everything, but I guess that's what you get when you make up goofy mysteries with no understanding of how you're going to solve them. Some good space porn in there, but I felt like this finale largely took the easy way out and tried to wrap things up in a neat bow, which has never been something this show did well. Kara just disappearing was brutally retarded, too.

I work with a former Cav Scout. Biggest douche/asshole I know. Fortunately, I think he would have been a huge asshole regardless of his MOS. Judging from some of his stories, you'll get to do exciting things like stay on your stomach in the woods for 4 days.

Color me stunned the episode actually lived up to the hype, but it really did. Probably too little too late, but at least this show had a single moment of greatness.

Based on the three or four Placebo songs (I think) I've heard, along with the Kate Bush connection, I'm guessing: waifish girls, looking slightly disheveled, with a hint of low self-esteem and quavering facial features.

Between this and Smues not being familiar with half the choices, I'm beginning to wonder if radio and MTV didn't start broadcasting above the lower 48 until 2002.