This past weekend, The Oatmeal, an incredibly popular web comic released a strip that — depending on ones point of view — legitimized the illegal downloading of television shows online. And while there’s no denying that The Oatmeal makes some salient points in the comic’s trademark funny manner, what really grinds our gears is the “pro-piracy” message it invariably sends. Which is to say, just because a show such as GAME OF THRONES isn’t readily available when, where and how viewers want it, doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to steal it. At the risk of being unpopular, we’re not cool with online piracy. There’s a reason GAME OF THRONES isn’t currently available for viewing via the likes of Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon just yet. The company that invested hundreds of millions of dollars into creating one of the most ambitious and exciting television shows in recent memory wants to make a profit. So if that means viewers have have to wait until sometime after the March 6th DVD release in order for the company that produces it to maximize their profits, well, than so be it. It’s called show business for a reason.
While there was an awful lot to enjoy about last night’s episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, including a fairly funny plot that revealed the secret to Marshall and Lily marital bliss (gambling!) and a surprise cameo by a certain red-headed comedian, there is one thing we’re not laughing at: That ending. Now don’t get us wrong, we were under no illusion that Ted and Robin were actually going to get together and in fact applaud what hopefully will serve as the impetus for two of our favorite unlucky-in-love characters to finally move forward with their lives. That said, we’d like to take this opportunity to call a moratorium on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER episodes that end with yet another ambiguous allusion to the infamous yellow umbrella that the show’s mythology has made clear is associated with the titular mother. Been there, done that.
Since not a day seems to go by without Hollywood’s various trades furiously fighting to be the first to report that so-and-so big name star has been cast in such-and-such Pilot, we thought now might be as good a time as any to remind those of you who take more than a keen interest in this business we so affectionally refer to as show that none of it means anything. Case in point, last winter’s Pilot season that featured such seeming “sure things” as Ronald D Moore’s 17 PRECINCT (It’s Harry Potter Meets LAW & ORDER!), Josh Friedman’s LOCKE & KEY (Based on the popular graphic novel of the same name) and David E. Kelley’s WONDER WOMAN reboot. Need we say more?
With apologies in advance to something that will only be relevant to Canadian Television Addicts, we simply must comment on this morning’s news that has Canada’s Super Channel announcing a deal for the rights to Starz upcoming new Jeffrey Dean Morgan series MAGIC CITY. Or as we like to call it, another blow to our television addiction as a result of the fact that we cannot, and will not, under any circumstance shell out another 15-20 dollars per month for the privilege of adding this so-called Super Channel to our already ridiculously expensive cable bill. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of things that are only relevant to Canadians, does anyone else have a problem with the fact that Monday night marked the return of DEGRASSI (One of Canada’s most popular exports) to American airwaves on TeenNick while us fellow Canadians have to wait until Friday February 24th on MuchMusic for its return north of the 49th Parallel. What’s up with that?
Good news for SMASH’s uber-annoying teenage son (Emory Cohen’s Leo Houston). You know, the one that seems a little too invested in his parent’s (Debra Messing’s Julia and Brian d’Arcy James’ Frank) adoption process. With last night’s episode, Jaime Cepero’s Ellis just stole the spotlight in terms of most annoying character currently on television. In short, Ellis puts the “ass” into assistant… and not in the good way! His belief that he’s owed a piece of Marilyn The Musical based solely on the fact that his off the cuff remark way back in episode one served as the impetus for Julia (Messing) and Tom (Christian Borle) to develop the show is utterly meaningless. Don’t believe us, go rent The Social Network to see how those Winklevoss twins are doing. (“If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you’d have invented Facebook.”) 
