No, the other kind. Funny, though. Or is that an American expression? Where you try to be mysterious or shocking or something to get people talking around the water cooler.

I knew you meant the other kind-- but yeah, I think it's American. It's one of those ones that I understand, but wouldn't normally use myself.

I liked Petrie's commentary on Fool for Love -- but anyone responsible for my favourite episode of all time has to be worth listening to. What's wrong with Fury and Greenwalt?

And I liked Marti's commentary generally -- her stuff about the huge flood of extras out there who are desperate for a part brought home the toughness of the business -- but I still thought talking about JM's love life like that was icky.

What's wrong with Fury and Greenwalt?

Great writers but incredibly dull at doing commentaries.

FTR: Joss; Marti; Jane Espenson; and Doug Petrie all do commentaries worth listening too (at least once). The Greenwalt and Fury commentaries should be avoided.

I agree that those four do more enjoyable commentaries, but I still think the others are worth listening to. In my opinion the only truly boring commentary is the one done by the director of Consequences - memfaulting on his name.

Joss and Doug Petrie are my favourites, because they tell you interesting stuff and are funny. I already loved Joss, but Petrie's commentaries made me develop a fangirl crush on him. I love how he's always pointing out the things he ripped off from other sources. "This intercutting was inspired by - by which I mean ripped off from - Reservoir Dogs." Hee!

Petrie's got such a crush on Marc Blucas, it's hysterical.

The Greenwalt and Fury commentaries should be avoided.

This is s.2, but I watched Reptile Boy today, commentary by Greenwalt. He 1. assumes you are a fangeek and have seen all the episodes (he's explicit about this) and then 2. assumes you haven't seen this episode, and so narrates the whole goddamn thing. So he's not only boring, he's spoily, too. While watching the commentary with someone who is watching the eps in order for the first time, I had to scramble for the remote as Greenwalt started revealing Cordy/Xander and sent the newbie out of the room for the rest.

... so narrates the whole goddamn thing.

Fury does much the same thing for "Helpless" but couldn't even get it right. I mean, I can understand that they might not remember every little detail but he could've at least watched the episode once before doing the commentary track.

Emlah ... I completely forgot (purged from memory) there were some episodes with commentary by the director of the particular episode. Michael Gershman (also DP of most seasons), James Contner and one other who's name escapes me for now.

I picked up the Babylon 5 Season 2 set the other day. JMS does commentaries like Joss ... funny and informative, with insights only the creator/guiding light could provide.

BTW ... my nomination for the best commentary ever, goes to the John Carpenter/Natasha Henstridge effort for Ghost of Mars. Very funny and informative, with non-stop talking. :)

Petrie's got such a crush on Marc Blucas, it's hysterical.

And Espenson's got such a crush on Danny strong (not that I blame her). In Superstar she keeps pointing out how handsome he looks in certain shots (again, not that I blame her).

BTW ... my nomination for the best commentary ever, goes to the John Carpenter/Natasha Henstridge effort for Ghost of Mars. Very funny and informative, with non-stop talking. :)

I like the commentary for Donnie Darko done by Richard Kelly/Jake Gyllenhaal. They're very informative and sarcastic. Big points just for Gyllenhaal's Christopher Walken impression. It's so interesting to hear Kelly's elaborate explanation and the deep mythology he's developed - although I pretty much ignore it and stick with my own vague interpretation.

Not such a fan of the Darko commentary, myself, since Gyllenhaal is, well, 20. My fave and nomination for best commentary is for The Limey-- I think the commentary is intended to tie into the themes of the film, actually. And Soderbergh just does incredibly informative commentaries in general.

Soderbergh -- bring me Traffic and Sex, Lies and Videotape -- two of my best of all time movies.

Have mixed feelings about commentaries and all the appurtenances of fandom, maybe because I'm new to the condition. On the one hand I lap it up, I want to know everything. On the other hand I want to be innocent of interpretation by others -- just want to watch it and experience it as it is, without being told where the seams are and what the recipe was. Just the way studying a novel or a poem at school can ruin it for you.

I can see my bank balance plunging further, but all in a good cause -- my season 6 DVDs have just arrived at the bookshop, all ready for me to flash my credit card. Wonder what extra goodies are on those.