"As for last week's season finale, well, that was strange, no? Originally scheduled to air earlier in the season, which accounts for the heavy presence of Dr. Kelso (Ken Jenkins), who a couple of weeks ago told Sacred Heart Hospital they could take his job and shove it, it centered on a fairy tale told by Dr. Cox to his young son as a bedtime story. As a narrative innovation, it ranked nowhere near the "Scrubs" musical episode (a hackneyed trick, but a good one) — essentially, it was a regular episode of the show, with the addition of numerous hours of costume and makeup. Not clever, just cute.

"Once, 'Scrubs' felt fantastical even without gimmickry. The humor was quick, and the characters had texture, Braff delivered genuine pathos beneath his simpering exterior, and Faison has been among the most guileless comedic actors on television.

"This season, though, their relationship became rote, and even they knew it. In several episodes, they openly struggled against the very nature of their freewheeling bond, especially since they're both young fathers — maturity may be out of reach for them, but thinking about it isn't. (Plus, the race-baiting jokes are becoming a bit much — y'all no longer get a pass just because Turk is black.)

"Braff's continued work on the show is reminiscent of Ashton Kutcher's labors on late-period 'That '70s Show.' In the acting, to be sure — both boiled their characters down to a few key tics, easy to deliver on cue — but also in the relatively quiet accumulation of wealth while they elsewhere aim for holier artistic pastures. "Garden State" was a moment, but the "Scrubs" checks will never die — it's a pretty good hustle." [LAT]

Jerk.

The men's preparations were notably brief. They all put on striped shirts and the bald ones oiled their heads to a high shine. The ladies, on the other hand, spent hours crimping, picking out outfits and applying eyeliner. Boobs out, faces on, they were ready to party. Casey spoke longingly for the release she hoped to find on the dance floor. Sarah's decolletage was marvelous, probably scented. Hopes were high. But when they approached Nikki Beach, the "hottest club in Miami" [NB: So not true!], there was Padma, looking prettier then any of the ladies. And there was a block full of knives. She informed them they'd actually be cooking all night in cramped mobile kitchens instead of partying! Yay!

Casey, the cutest of the women left on the show, clearly was planning a way to stab Padma. We felt the same! Padma, like Gwyneth Paltrow, seems to be one of those beautiful women who like to torture other women. Already we've seen the cutest of the contestants offed and now Padma is just toying with the remaining ladies. It's just like when third wave feminists turned on second-wavers, accusing them of biological essentialist principles! Except hotter and meaner and dumber and chances are we won't have to take some dumb N.Y.U. class on Top Chef interpersonal dynamics.

His novels, from "Players" and "White Noise" through "Libra" and "Mao II" and the remarkable "Underworld," not only limned the surreal weirdness of the waning years of the 20th century, but somehow also managed to anticipate the shock and horror of 9/11 and its darkly unspooling aftermath.

As some of you know, there is a movement afoot to appeal directly, via letter, to each of the Bancroft family members that sit on our board. I am urging you to take part in this. The Bancrofts are under tremendous pressure to accept News Corp's offer, and that pressure will only become greater in the likely event that Murdoch raises his bid. The fact they have opposed it so far indicates that they are committed to maintaining the quality of The Wall Street Journal and all of Dow Jones' publications and products - despite their opportunity to profit tremendously from accepting the offer. A short letter addressed to each of the three - make a separate copy for each - urging them to stand firm can only help our cause.

Breaking: Wall Street Journal Reporters Urged To Oppose News Corp Bid [DealBreaker]

FOR GAYS:

Gay marriage finger puppets make a great passive=aggressive gift for the children of your most intolerant relative.

FOR COKEHEADS WHO LOVE IRONY:
Haha, it looks like a McDonald's coffee stirrer, but it's a gold coke spoon! Oooh, so many levels. This one shows your drug friends that you didn't go to art school for no reason.

FOR HATERS WHO LOVE TO HATE MARIO BATALI:
Winding up little Mario and watching him walk blithely to his doom at the end of the tabletop will satisfy these giftees' twisted needs.

More to come as the holidays loom closer! And please feel free to send in suggestions.