At the upfronts I always learned something too about what the American people want: heartwarming dramas, women’s stuff, sports, heroism, complex characters, real people, guilty pleasures, eye candy, names they can trust, ambiguous villains, simple comedies, hipster hipness, good old-fashioned values, edginess, upscaleness, satire, science fiction, girls, boys, Latinas, crime procedurals, urban sitcoms, aspirationalism, a way to express their anger.

On the outside, the Trans-Am still looked like a rusty bucket of bolts, but if all his little adjustments kicked in as planned, the thing should take off like a rocket.

These two principles are to some extent in conflict in every animal group and at all times; sometimes the one preponderates so that for millions of years the species remains the same, again the other preponderates so that perhaps even in a few decimillennia new subspecies arise.

She brought him off with her mouth, while gently tickling his balls, and got herself off with her fingers while she did him.