Snippet to extend Backbone's view to avoid the empty wrapping element when rendering

init.js

/*
 * Helper method to avoid Backbone wrapping empty element
 */
Backbone.View.prototype.replaceElement = function (html) {
  if (typeof html === "string") {
    html = $(html);
  }
  this.$el.replaceWith(html);
  $(this.el).undelegate();
  this.setElement(html);
  this.delegateEvents();
  return this;
}