A gay man's wet dream

[Big RR]

Did you watch it Scooter (or anyone else)? I saw part 1 and give it about a C-C+; it wa entertaining at times, but I never bought Sarandon or Lange as Davis and Crawford, and honestly wonder what future episodes will deal with--or will we just see evidence they don't like each other again and again? I'll give the second episode a watch, but I don't know if I'll go any further. It looks like the idea is miles ahead of the execution.

[Scooter]

I haven't seen it yet; I recorded it last night (along with my regular Sunday night fare) and haven't got through it yet.

[Lord Jim]

I watched it, and I'm close to Big RR about it...C+...

It had its moments, but it didn't knock my socks off...

I enjoyed learning some of the back history that I wasn't aware of... (for example I didn't know that Crawford was the one who found the story and pushed the production)

So far I think Sarandon's performance is better than Lange's...

There's something about Lange's performance that seems forced and unnatural...She doesn't seem to be bringing any emotional depth or intensity to the role...

But I think it was good enough to watch it for more than just one more episode...

[BoSoxGal]

I haven't watched yet, waiting to binge. If you guys report back that it sucks, I might just skip it altogether.

[Long Run]

FX has had a string of very good mini-series, so if this one doesn't measure up that will be doubling disappointing.

[Lord Jim]

I'm ticked off at FX...

We watched the second episode, which I thought was an improvement over the first, (especially Lange's performance) but ever since then, the only versions FX has been sending through to Comcast On Demand are the HD versions...

I am not a fan of HD (neither is Kelly) so we haven't "upgraded" any of our fleet of televisions to it..

This has happened from time to time before with other programs, (it's also been a a problem recently with the latest season of Ripper Street) but normally the station fixes the problem after a few days, and sends through the Standard Definition version...(BBC America has been doing that with Ripper Street...)

But we're now past episodes 3 and 4 with episode 5 coming today, and FX hasn't done jack about it...

I hope I'm not going to have the same problem with the new Fargo....

[Scooter]

Perhaps you should wait until it comes out on VHS.

[Long Run]

Yes, first world problem and all.

[BoSoxGal]

Why are you not fans of HD? Just curious . . .

[RayThom]

Why are you not fans of HD? Just curious...

I've avoided an upgrade to HD because Xfinity wants an extra $10 a month from me. They're already charging me too much for basic service and that creeps higher every year.

[BoSoxGal]

Cable television is a huge ripoff, IMHO. Several years ago I had a bronze package on Dish and it seemed a fair deal, but I suppose it depends a lot on what channels and how many you need. I'll admit I do watch my TV several hours each week for MSNBC politics coverage, but otherwise I do all my watching via streaming services - Amazon, Hulu, Netflix and the PBS webplayer/app. With all those I have WAY too much to choose from, and total cost is $37.50/mo. - it's a good investment considering that and my library card constitutes my entire entertainment in life - and it's plenty, I'm happy.

I wouldn't mind if my housemates cancelled the cable, and I think they are considering it. I share all my streaming services with them and we have the 4 screens package because sometimes everyone is watching something different. Modern life . . .

[oldr_n_wsr]

LJ doesn't have HDTV??? well now I have heard everything. Even I (and in my man cave no less) have HDTV. Of course it is hardly ever used and even less so now that DD has finished it's run.

Now I have to travel to east-bumF#@k Pa to see god-fearing rednecks blow stuff up.
But it is live rather than memorex recorded.

[RayThom]

... Now I have to travel to east-bumF#@k Pa to see god-fearing rednecks blow stuff up. ... But it is live rather than memorex recorded.

That sounds like a Tannerite party. May God have mercy on your soul.

[oldr_n_wsr]

May God have mercy on your soul.

That's still up in the air.

[Lord Jim]

Why are you not fans of HD? Just curious . . .

I think it tends to make shows and movies look kind of cheap and harshly lit...(sort of like the quality you see in a daytime soap opera)

[Scooter]

I felt that way at first too, I think it's a function of a couple of things: (1) the higher resolution means you are seeing a lot more detail, a standard resolution picture will naturally look "softer" (2) this means that it is more important that your picture settings are properly adjusted to match the ambient lighting. After a while, a standard definition picture will look almost grainy and blurry by comparison.

[Lord Jim]

Why are you not fans of HD? Just curious...

I've avoided an upgrade to HD because Xfinity wants an extra $10 a month from me. They're already charging me too much for basic service and that creeps higher every year.

Ray, when Xfinity dings you with their annual price increase, have you called them about it?

Six years ago when I dropped AT&T and switched to a package deal (phone, internet and cable) with Comcast, I got a great deal...

But every year when they've hit me with their charge increase, I've called them and said "This was a really good deal when I signed up, but with that increase I think I'm going to have to look at going with another service"...

Every time they rolled back the fee...( a couple of times when I was a month or two late in calling them on this, they've made the lower rate retroactive and credited me back for the months I paid the higher fee...the last time I even wound up with a cheaper rate for the same service, and locked it in for two years)

I'm now paying less for our bundled service, (which includes the Comcast Gold Package on multiple TVs) then I was six years ago...

If I hadn't squawked, by now I'd probably being paying twice as much...

It's worth picking up the phone...

[Long Run]

I felt that way at first too, I think it's a function of a couple of things: (1) the higher resolution means you are seeing a lot more detail, a standard resolution picture will naturally look "softer" (2) this means that it is more important that your picture settings are properly adjusted to match the ambient lighting. After a while, a standard definition picture will look almost grainy and blurry by comparison.

I'm with you. HD is so much sharper. Plus, if you watch sports, it's no contest!

[RayThom]

... If I hadn't squawked, by now I'd probably being paying twice as much...
It's worth picking up the phone...

Thank you for the advice. I'll see how far my feigned righteous indignation gets me upon their next price hike.

[Crackpot]

I had that sort of deal going until I moved out of my apartment where they screwed me royally. ( I paid installation fees in order to keep my current charges and they reneged on the deal).