Mandy Pantinkin: crops up more frequently than you'd expect

We've been watching a lot of Criminal Minds recently.

It's no good. The characters are stock-types, the stories silly. It's completely unrealistic.

What a relief! How soothing to spend time with something designed to entertain you, something which isn't always demanding your nodding respect.

Let's raise a toast to the unchallenging. To the loose ends tied up in a big bow. To the good-looking characters cracking wise. To the exciting. To the fun! To the things which can be both laughed-at, and legitimately enjoyed.

Now, careful. I'm not recommending it. The stupidity:quality ratio is fine for us, but your mileage may vary. Still, I think it's probably a good idea for everyone to have a Criminal Minds in their lives. It needn't be this one. Choose your own Criminal Minds.

Do we all like Phil Collins nowadays, or is that a bit 5 years ago?

I can't remember where we all are with Phil Collins. We used to hate him (can't remember why, his popular music, I think, and that divorce by fax) but then we realised that African American people liked him, and African American people are the coolest of all people. That was confusing.

Then he popped up on This American Life being all vulnerable and wise, and we figured maybe we'd got him wrong.

But then everyone said that he was good, actually.

So presumably it's time to say he's shit again. I lose track.

Anyway, here he is (via Slate) singing in front of a band full of middle school kids at his sons'… something, probably a prom.  That's nice, right?