Quick links

I'm always forgetful with the column links, so here are the last few. Wednesday's column was a mailbag, notably dealing with the ways the "Idol" producers can try to prop up contestants they like, and which contained this unwittingly prescient passage:

I don't even think the producers care that much about the winner. If he or she makes money for their music division, great (in that way, they'd probably prefer Chris or Katharine McPhee over Elliot or Taylor, who would be harder to market), but the real cash cow is the TV show.

And in today's column, Mike Judge talks about the end of "King of the Hill," and I riff a little on procedural crime drama fatigue.