> It's possibly for the same reason that Sam doesn't like hearing people mumble gooey pet names like "Snookie Wookum Weetie Bunny Pie" in his presence, although the difference is that with star-crossed lovers I'm sure the sentiments expressed are quite genuine.

No no no no no no no no no. My aversion to gooey pet name stuff is purely for comic effect. Although anybody would feel awkward in the presence of strangers fawning over each other, put me in a sincere frame of mind and I'll tell you I don't mind at all.

Wolf, I'm actually rather shocked that you don't "get" musicals, since I would consider you my cultural superior in almost every other manner. But how can you imply musicals aren't "genuine"? Is ANY stage show or movie any more genuine? Was Kate Winslet TRULY so overcome with emotion that she risked her own life to stick by Leonardo diCaprio?

Your criticism of musicals is an unfortunately common one. People don't burst out into song in real life. But what's that got to do with anything? The musical is an inspired means by which characters CAN voice their inner monologues with emotional impact and, in the best of cases, entertain with some moving, funny, or uplifting music. IS there anything more hilarious and joyous than Donald O'Connor's, "Make 'Em Laugh" number in "Singin' In the Rain"? How can "Hi, my little munchkin pookie" be considered less genuine than the heartswooning "Maria" from "West Side Story"? Maybe the problem is good musicals vs. bad musicals, which is a distinctly different problem than the dismissal of an entire celebrated genre.