Brian gains charm as the writers realize that the audience will only tolerate so much of his shameless, unapologetic arrogance.

I don't need to see ass and package unless I have a good reason to. Heh. :) Agreed, especially in light of the thankfully mostly bygone trend of guys wearing their pants three sizes too big and around their knees besides. But the opening credits besides, which I tend to write off as more of a flashing neon warning sign to potentially uninitiated viewers, the show is pretty good about not getting needlessly gratuitous.

Thanks for the LotR tip. I'm thinking of surprising myself on Valentine's Day, and not with my bank statement, so definitely good to know.