The future of television may have arrived today in the form of Netflix's heavily hyped original series House of Cards, a 13-episode political thriller set inside the halls of power in the nation's capital. It's not just the prestigious names (Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are in front of the camera, while directors like David Fincher, Carl Franklin, James Foley and... um, Joel Schumacher are behind it) that are associated with this remake of a popular British series that makes it such a notable production -- it's also the way Netflix is choosing to put it out into the world. Instead of going network-style with one episode per week, the streaming service is releasing all 13 hour-long installments of Season 1 in bulk, allowing viewers to decide if they want to consume the whole thing in one day, one week or one month. It's the ultimate test of the relatively new practice of "binge-watching" television, an experiment Netflix will try again in April when it unveils an entire new season of Arrested Development in one fell swoop. Will it work? We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, we watched the first episode of House of Cards and here are five reasons why you'll probably want to binge-watch this series.

After a whole lot of drama about being shortened fifth season, the producers of Breaking Bad have been shopping around their series to other networks. We all know it's totally a power move -- and an appreciated one at that, because a six-episode final season is just plain cruel -- but it's fun to imagine what Walt and the crew would look like on other channels, both broadcast and cable.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand... they're out of here. The powers that be at the various networks got out their axes and started chopping this week in preparation for upfronts, and while guilty pleasure Off the Map and the genuinely solid cop dramas The Chicago Code and Detroit 1-8-7 were butchered in the process, most of the cuts were richly deserved. Here are the ones we're least likely to miss:

It's network upfronts week, and what a wonderful time to be alive! All the promise of new shows with great casts and expertly cut trailers, plus all the fun of prematurely mocking shows with dumb plots and even worse CGI (seriously, Once Upon a Time? What is even happening there, ABC?). But what's even better is that we can thank the TV gods for the rare moments when networks get it right and decide to pass on awful-sounding pilots. As with every year, many possible disasters were rejected this season, but these are the ones we're happiest about. (Assuming they don't get "saved" by another network or come back to haunt us next summer, of course.)

There's a new sheriff in town over at NBC, and a whole new slew of shows to replace all the shows that failed last season (pretty much all of them, basically). It's an entirely new programming slate over there, so I attended the red carpet portion of the network's Upfront presentation this morning to get some interviews with the new and returning talent. They were all so lovely that I hope none of their shows get canceled too soon.

There's definitely something appealing about the idea of hanging out with a bunch of really funny people. Not only are you probably going to have a laugh, but you'll probably get to feel a little bit funnier by proximity. However, when you let Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and Louis C.K. - who could each justifiably be labeled as brilliant -- get together for some light chit-chat about what makes them so funny, you end up with something that's more egotistical, self-congratulatory and smug than, you know, humorous. In case you didn't tune in to the premiere airing of this awkwardly edited conversational circle jerk, here are some of the more outstanding insights of the night:

While some mostly original content has been on IFC for the past few years, over the past few months the channel has worked hard to place more of these shows front and center on its schedule. They've changed their logo, given us Portlandia, and today they threw down the gauntlet by having their very first honest-to-goodness upfront. While most channels work to produce huge spectacles to wow reporters and advertisers, today IFC gave us a chill laid back presentation fitting for a post-SXSW week. The whole event was so subdued that even Suzanne Sena opening the presentation in her Onion News Network persona, Brooke Alvarez, wasn't even annoying. We were then told just how cool IFC is and how it is working to "curate alternative comedy," so that we would know that even though they were holding an upfront they still were proud to be serving their own spot in television the "media of the niches." Even if they were almost too chill, I have to give them credit for not overusing buzz words like "authentic." After a pithy rundown of the new shows, Fred Armisen was brought out as if a bird to be put on a tote bag to announce that they will beginning writing the next season of Portlandia in April.

It's early yet, but American Idol is already cleaning house for next season. Not all of it is official, but most of the news seems pretty definite, at least for the time being. Ellen's out (that's been confirmed). Kara's probably out, and being replaced by J.Lo. Randy, easily the most universally hated judge in the show's history, is reportedly staying, for reasons I cannot for the life of me discern. Seacrest isn't going anywhere, of course, and then there's the most baffling of all the news: Steven Tyler may replace Simon. Well, that should be terrifying.

We're sure to get flack for this, but Supernatural... well, it just hasn't been all that great in the last couple seasons. Yes, there have been some stellar standout episodes, but much of the mythology and the ongoing story arcs... really didn't make much sense and lacked payoff. Personally, we liked the show a lot better when it had more monsters-of-the-week and less concentration on demons and seals and whatnot. There are loyal fans who will tune in no matter what, but some of us who have been watching since Day 1 were thrilled by the news from Comic-Con that new showrunner Sera Gamble plans to give us more creatures getting killed. We think this bloodthirsty redirection might be a refreshing change of pace, for a number of reasons.

We can't help but feel a little bad for Katie Cassidy at the moment. She was the best thing on The CW, and they knew it, so they delayed officially canceling Melrose Place until after pilot season, essentially leaving her trapped on the network until next year's pilot casting rounds. And as such, she'll be guesting on Gossip Girl this fall, playing a love interest for Nate. Great -- we know what a fantastic opportunity that turned out to be for Joanna Garcia last season. Nothing like showing up on an established show past its prime to form an annoying new love triangle (I know he and Serena are done, but I know this show, so I know they are never going to be done) -- just ask Melissa George how awesome it is! So it sucks, and it just made me think of other, possibly worse ways the CW could have stuck it to Ms. Cassidy for (allegedly!) trying to leave the network last spring. You know they at least considered all of these at some point.