I wonder how long we'll have to wait before any given vestigial collectivist will come up with a critique of Rand's work that does *not* involve some variation on the drive-by ad hominem of "If you like Rand's philosophy you must be stuck in adolescence."

We should take this kind of thing (I remember a similar off-the-wall ad hominem potshot, directed at "The Fountainhead," in the movie "Dirty Dancing,") as an embarrassing confession by these collectivists that they have absolutely no argument to present in rebuttal to any given element of Rand's thought, nor even a coherent argument in support of their own beliefs. It's just: "If you like Rand you're a Big Fat Stupid, nyeah!"

If that's all we have to face in the way of opposition, that "scurrying rat" that Rand talked about, then the future's so bright I gotta wear shades.

But yes, I think it's also an indication that Rand's increasing popularity scares the hell out of them.
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I don't watch TV dramas. Most of them are a waste of time (I do like BBC's Sherlock). Would rather spend my time with a good book any day.

Any bets that the actress, the writer of the episode, the director, etc., have actually READ the book, AS?

No, probably not. They are fiercely proud of their ignorance.

"...12 year old...." I co-authored two college level text books back in the 1970s. We were told by the publisher to target an eighth (8th) grade level of understanding. Has education improved?

We did not have a problem with this approach, because that was how we perceived the thinking of most of the populace.

By the way, the textbook became one of the publisher's a best sellers, and was published in English and Spanish editions.

We attribute the success to the easy-to understand approach of a very complex subject at the time, programming in the FORTRAN computer programming language.

Good wife, stupid thinker.

I don't think I've ever seen a positive reference to AR in mainstream entertainment. (The actual show or movie - not documentaries or people talking behind the scenes.)

Have you?