Like the best shows for kids or adults, Avatar assumes we have the patience to get involved with its characters as human beings, not just action figures.

Brian and Spencer discuss albums by Sleigh Bells, The National, and The Black Keys, and the novels Matterhorn and A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice & Fire vol 1). Also, the shows they’re keeping busy with this summer (Avatar: The Last Airbender and Daria) and the stupid movies they’re not seeing.

If there’s reason to be disappointed in the way Lost ended, it’s only because they attempted the impossible and did a B+ job at it.

Our panel of two sat down for an epic virtual discussion of our absolute favorites of 2009 — in every category we could think of — and set about explaining why each one made the list.

Instead of having to suffer the race-to-the-bottom most reality fare serves up, we’re witnessing a duel to the death between two of the most beloved and talented comedians in our nation.

We mourn the decline of a comedy institution, and offer an experimental solution to salvage it for the Digital Age.

Brian and Spencer discuss Batman: Arkham Asylum; Beatlemania, as well as albums by Sunset Rubdown, Pissed Jeans, and Neko Case; a book on Columbine by Dave Cullen; and briefly touch on Inglorious Bastards and Jay Leno. Oh, and gypsies.

‘A Serious Man’ trailer, ‘I Am So Proud of You’ comes to DVD, season 3 of one of the best shows on TV approaches, and new games and comics featuring our favorite superhero.

Tell us your favorite The State moment, and you could win a DVD prize pack worth literally tens of dollars.

Between breaks for holidays and vacations, a brief return with notes on Patton Oswalt in ‘Big Fan’, ‘The State’ on DVD, Chan-wook Park’s ‘Thirst’, New Flaming Lips, and ‘Modern Warfare 2′ (with goggles?).