Brendan Gates

I was running a single elimination TV show tournament to determine what my next excuse will be for not going outside. This post is about the Final Round, so be sure to read about Round 1 and Round 2 if you haven’t already.

Thanks to some unexpected re-negotiations with our sponsor, the turnaround between the 2nd and final rounds took a little longer than expected. But our lawyers tell us all is well now, and we’re happy to report that the Laughing Cow Original Creamy Swiss still makes an excellent amuse-bouche to complement your TV watching. Find some at your local grocer today.

Without further ado; our final matchup:

The Walking Dead (AMC) vs. Game of Thrones (HBO)

The Walking Dead took the lead in the suspense category, no question. Being set in modern day helped, since you can imagine being right there with Rick and the walkers. But it did have a sub-plot I wasn’t a fan of, with Shane & Lori hooking up. Not looking forward to finding out how Rick comes to terms with that. As for Game of Thrones, well, it was no slouch in the plot twist category. There were almost too many sub-plots going on, with so many different characters and families all competing for airtime. It did have a leg up in the “Mighty Ducks” category, though, as far as knowing clearly who to root for or against. Ned Stark? Tyrion Lannister? Any of the Direwolves? I’m cheering for them. Joffrey Baratheon? Viserys Targaryen? I’m cheering against them. Simple. And sometimes simple is nice.

In the end, there were two of us with a vote – so a compromise had to be made. I wanted to see both shows continue, while Ladyfriend had a clear preference between the two. So we agreed that I’d vote for her choice, and she would no longer watch the Real Housewives of Anything while I was home. That’s a win-win in my book.

…and now for what you’ve all some of you have been waiting for… the winner is… Game of Thrones!

The LASI would like to thank the fine people at Laughing Cow (especially their benevolent and handsome legal team), AMC, HBO, and DirecTV. LASI specifically does not thank FX, on account of their short-sighted content distribution policy.

Thanks for following the first of many Limited Attention Span Invitationals. We’ll see you again next time.

I’m running a single elimination TV show tournament to determine what my next excuse will be for not going outside. This post is about Round 2, so be sure to read about Round 1 if you haven’t already.

Ladyfriend and I put out the popcorn over the weekend and got to watchin’.

The Walking Dead (AMC) vs. Justified (FX)

This turned out to be a pretty easy decision. Justified had to forfeit because you can’t stream it on Netflix or Hulu. It is available on Amazon Video, but not as part of my Amazon Prime all-you-can-stream subscription. It might have been for the best anyway, since I don’t know if Justified could have beaten the suspense of “will that guy shoot his zombie wife from his sniper post or won’t he” that The Walking Dead delivered.

Mad Men (AMC) vs. Game of Thrones (HBO)

Upset alert! To my surprise, anyway, the underdog Game of Thrones took down the number one seeded Mad Men. Mad Men was good, and I wanted to go on to the second episode if for no other reason than to learn why Zoey Bartlet kept trying to sleep with everybody. You’d think she’d know that Jeb wouldn’t approve of such strumpet behavior. But I’m not the only one with a vote in this competition. Thanks to Wikipedia and too much free time in her past, Ladyfriend already knew some of the Mad Men plot twists ahead. So those surprises were ruined for her. Plus we found out that Game of Thrones is based on a series of books, and nothing beats being able to dickishly say “the books were better” when somebody brings up a TV show. So Game of Thrones takes it, and I’ll just have to assume that Don Draper’s day drinking never catches up to him.

Here is your updated Limited Attention Span Invitational Bracket:

You know what would have gone well with this post? Some Laughing Cow Original Creamy Swiss. Go stock up so you’re prepared for the finale.

Ladyfriend and I have decided to do a little house cleaning on our regular TV lineup. We’re going to eliminate a show or two, and bring in a new face. I’m personally hoping “The Real Housewives of Anything” gets the axe, but that’s still to be determined. What we’ll bring in as a replacement, though, is the more difficult decision. An hour a week doesn’t exactly grow on trees, and we’re also committing to the related post-show discussions at work and through social media.

To assist with our decision we’ve taken shows that our friends have recommended, and entered the first episode of each into a single elimination tournament. Only the first episode of the first season will be allowed to compete in the first round.

The Limited Attention Span Invitational, brought to you by The Laughing Cow Original Creamy Swiss, features the following competitors:

The Walking Dead (AMC)
Seeded #1 for no good reason at all, we have received several very direct and almost angry “watch this show” recommendations for The Walking Dead. It also apparently manages to feature zombies and not be completely cheesy, so that’s impressive.

Mad Men (AMC)
Rounding out AMC’s sweep of the top two seeds, Mad Men hasn’t generated many recommendations since most of our friends assume we already watch it. The shock accompanied by “You’ve never seen Mad Men!?” tells us that we might be missing something good.

Game of Thrones (HBO)
I have no idea what this is about. Knights in armor? The Crusades? HBO’s strength-of-network factor, combined with FB buzz, earned this one an invite to the dance.

Justified (FX)
This is a crime show featuring that guy from Major League: Back to the Minors. At least three friends with generally good taste seem to enjoy Justified, and we needed a fourth to even out the bracket. So, they’re in. Please note that we reserve the right to replace Justified at any time with a substitute show, additional internet surfing time, or snacks.

Check back soon to see if your pick makes it to the finals!

And remember, The Laughing Cow Original Creamy Swiss pairs excellently with Triscuit crackers and at only 50 calories per wedge it truly is smart snacking. Pick up a pack today at fine grocers nationwide.

Update: The first round is finished. Read about it here.

This is what happens when Mizzou loses, badly, in the first round of the NCAA tourney and I stop being a basketball fan for at least another 7 months.