"Bitch is the New Black": Tina Fey Takes on "SNL"

Was it just me or was Tina Fey the perfect vehicle to welcome back scripted television to the airwaves?

Fey's winning turn as host this weekend on Saturday Night Live, the sketch comedy series on which she served as its first female head writer, was hilarious, inspired, and completely appropriate, after the long, dark months of the WGA strike. (It also earned SNL its highest overnight ratings in two years, scoring a 6.1/15 share.)

From the opening moments--in which she referred to the lack of any hard feelings amongst the crew for the writers strike (and then had to duck several times from a boom being dropped on her head)--to an unexpected cameo from Steve Martin, advising her that she had to stop being a writer and start being a performer (complete with a lesson on the comedy rule of three), Fey proved why 30 Rock is such a critical success: she's funny, sexy, and not afraid to poke fun at herself, even when it means getting bitchslapped by Martin on stage.

But it was her rapturous return to Weekend Update that had me cheering, as she took the stage next to former Update co-host Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers, this time as a women's news correspondent. "I think we can all agree it's a great time to be a lady in America and not just because of that new yogurt that helps you poop," said Fey. "Although, on the serious, thank you for that yogurt. Now let's take a look at the stories affecting your daughters and mothers and the grouchy ladies in your office."

(So when are we finally going to see Amy Poehler drop by the set of 30 Rock for a guest turn? 'Cause I would pay to see Poehler show up at The Girlie Show as, say, Liz Lemon's stalker.)

It's funny how a late-night sketch comedy series can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. But after the tension and division of the strike, it was wonderful to see the show actually go on, for a change, to see the writers and the crew back at work, delivering content to the public and making them laugh, instead of wondering why all of their favorite series have been replaced by American Gladiator all of the sudden.

Still, nothing could ever replace Fey's Weekend Update signoff: "What bothers me most, people say Hillary's a bitch. And let me say something about that. Yeah, she is. And so am I. And so is this one. Bitches get stuff done. That's why Catholic schools use nuns as teachers and not priests. Those nuns are mean old clams, they sleep on cots. They're allowed to hit you. And at the end of the school year, you hated those bitches, but you knew the capital of Vermont. It's not too late Texas and Ohio! Get on board. Bitch is the new black."

I think I'm in love.

StrikeWatch: And... It's Over

It's official: the WGA strike, which began November 5th, has finally come to a close, following a member vote overwhelmingly in favor of ending the strike (92.5% to be precise) and getting back to work during the official ten-day ratification process.

You can literally hear the sound of relief echoing through Hollywood today as writers return to their keyboards to try to pound out as many scripts as possible in time to salvage the 2007-08 season.

"Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work," said WGA West President Patric Verrone in a statement. "This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet. Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed."

So what series will be the first to make it back on air? Most likely it will be NBC's Saturday Night Live, scheduled to return on February 23rd with 30 Rock's Tina Fey as the host (the following week brings Juno's Ellen Page).

As for dramas and comedies, don't expect to see any new episodes of series like Two and a Half Men, The Office, or Ugly Betty until mid-March (for multi-cam comedies) or April (for dramas and single-camera comedies).

As for how many episodes each series will be able to deliver, that depends entirely on the speed of the writing staff and the production schedule. The Office is expected to shoot six more episodes this year, possibly seven. The writing staff on that series had completed a script before the strike began (but were unable to film due to star Steve Carell joining the picket line) but will have to scrap another, a Christmas-themed episode, in an early stage.

"We're going to throw that one out," executive producer Greg Daniels told The New York Times as he explained how the writers would meet this week to plot out the series' storylines. "I'm tempted to just leap ahead to where we would have been."

Five episodes of 30 Rock are expected to be completed before May, depending on Alec Baldwin's availability; the star recently signed on to a feature film, making production slightly more difficult. (And yet something tells me it will all work out.)

The fates of ER and Scrubs are up in the air. It was widely thought that both NBC series would end at the end of this season but without filmed finales, one or both might head back to produce more episodes.... and ER could end up on the fall schedule again, should certain economic factors be worked out. As for Scrubs, NBC has not yet made a decision on the fate of those final six unproduced episodes.

CBS has handed out additional orders for two of its series, giving a six-episode order for comedy Rules of Engagement and four-episode order to Shark.

The network is also in discussions with Warner Bros. Television about restarting production on midseason comedy Old Christine, which was unable to fulfill its entire 13-episode order.

HBO will push the premieres of returning series Entourage and Big Love; Entourage is now expected to be shifted from summer to Fall 2008 while Big Love could launch in either fourth quarter or 2009.

For others, it's the end of the road. On the bubble for renewal (and not producing any further episodes this season): Journeyman, Bionic Woman, Cane, and Big Shots.

While ABC has not yet decided about ordering additional episodes of drama Women's Murder Club this season, if it does return, it will be without showrunners Sarah Fain and Elizabeth Craft and executive producer R. Scot Gemmill, who have all been let go from the series.

StrikeWatch: Another 48 Hours

In about 48 hours time, the strike could be a thing of the past.

By Tuesday night, we'll know about the outcome of the WGA's vote about whether or not to lift the strike proviso and if they will in fact return to work while the 10-day ratification process of the tentative agreement takes place.

In the meantime, showrunners (those lucky writer-producer types) returned to the job today and it's expected that the WGA's member body will vote to lift the strike. For the first time in months, things seem hopeful here in Los Angeles.

Since the strike began over three months ago, there has been a pall cast over this city, a hush that infected every restaurant, every bar, every coffee shop. All anyone could talk about was this strike, when it would end, what it would mean for an industry already under seige, a business which many viewers seem to have deserted for parts unknown. Expense accounts were slashed, pickets raised, overall deals were canceled, crews given pink slips, writers force majeured off the lots.

And yet maybe that's just what this city of dreams needed: a wake-up call. When this strike first started, I don't think anyone anticipated quite how far the writers were willing to take this battle nor that David would be able to slay Goliath in the end. After all, they were warring against multi-national corporations with vast resources. They were fighting against corporate greed. They were crusading for change, for fair pay for themselves and the generations to come.

Did they make sacrifices? Yes. And for many, the ends did justify the means. The tentative deal, currently under review by the WGA's membership, did allow for significant gains to be made. Gains which will hopefully be taken on board by SAG once their contract comes up in June. (Members of that union have stood side-by-side with their writer brethren and my hope is that there won't be another strike this summer, especially because I don't think the unsung victims of the strike--those TV crews, many of whom supported the writers' cause--can weather another dry spell.)

As for what this means for you, the viewing public? Production on many series will ramp up again in the coming days and weeks as networks try to get as many original installments of scripted series on the air before May. Expected to show up this spring: 30 Rock, The Office, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Two and a Half Men, Cold Case, Bones, House, and a slew of others.

But don't expect many of your favorites to return this spring. Word on the streets (and in the creative bullpens) is that several freshman series--like Dirty Sexy Money, Chuck, Pushing Daisies, and Life, among them--may resume production but will not air any new episodes until this fall. (On the other hand, Gossip Girl is expected to air new episodes throughout the summer in order to entice the teen set to return to the series.) Big, heavily serialized series like 24 and Heroes won't turn up until next season either.

Some many not return at all. The prognosis isn't looking too good for Bionic Woman, Cane, Journeyman, Friday Night Lights, or Women's Murder Club.

Pilot season will be a much smaller, much more contained affair this year, with only a handful of pilots expected from each network. Many projects will be ordered directly to series, like Fringe, The Oaks, Kath & Kim, etc. while others will get presentation orders rather than pilot orders. Still others will fade away into the ether, an unavoidable side-effect of the strike-impacted pilot timeframe.

One thing is certain. This has been a television season unlike any other. Now that the strike is coming to an end, let's all agree to put the drama back where it belongs: on our televisions.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: How I Met Your Mother/Welcome to the Captain (CBS); American Gladiators (NBC; 8-9:30); Gossip Girl (CW); Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (ABC; 8-9:30 pm); Prison Break (FOX)

9 pm: Two and a Half Men/New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC; 9:30-11 pm); Girlfriends/Girlfriends (CW); Notes from the Underbelly (ABC; 9:30-10 pm); Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (FOX)

10 pm: CSI Miami (CBS); October Road (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Gossip Girl.

It's another chance to catch up on the teen soap. On tonight's repeat episode ("Poison Ivy"), Dan and Nate find themselves competing for something other than the lovely Serena: namely, a covered usher gig when Ivy League reps come to their school; Blair uncovers one of Serena's secrets; Jenny and Eric get to know each other better; Rufus has a favor to ask of Lily.

8:30 pm: Welcome to the Captain.

It's not the best series out there, but there's something winsome about this low-key comedy. (And, hell, at least it's scripted.) On tonight's episode ("Weekend at Saul's"), Josh invites Hope to stay at the apartment for the weekend, but Uncle Saul thinks it's a bad idea and tries to persuade him to stay at his weekend retreat... to make Hope jealous.

9 pm: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

On tonight's installment ("Queen's Gambit"), Sarah meets a stranger (guest star Brian Austin Green) at a chess competition whose past mirrors her own, while Cameron undergoes grief counseling and Ellison finds some spare terminator parts.

9:30 pm: Old Christine.

On tonight's episode ("Beauty is Only Spanx Deep"), Christine must face her fears that Mr. Harris will leave her for a younger woman after a pretty waitress flirts with him during their date. Oh and Sad Dad (Andy Richter) returns.

10 pm: No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain on Travel Channel.

It's a brand new season of No Reservations on the Travel Channel; follow enfant terrible chef Anthony Bourdain as he travels the world in search of good food. In tonight's installment, Tony skips across the pond to take in the cities of London and Edinburgh (which easily could have had their own unique episodes), where he observes the veddy British scenery and samples the local cuisine.

StrikeWatch: Cautious Optimism Are Today's Buzzwords

I've gotten several emails from readers asking if the WGA strike is over and I just have to clear the air here and say: it's not over until we're told by the WGA that it's over.

While I want more than anything for the strike to come to a swift conclusion and the writers to walk away with a fair deal, I don't think we should be breaking open the champagne just yet. While all signs point to progress in the ongoing talks between the WGA and the AMPTP, we all know that nothing in this life is for certain and progress is just that: progress.

When there is a tentative agreement between the two camps, I will cheer with abandon and when that deal is ratified by a majority of the WGA West and East's 10,000+ members, I will break open the Bollinger. In the meantime, I am advocating maintaining an air of cautious optimism.

Can this season still be saved? Possibly. But until there's something concrete, in writing, from the AMPTP that the WGA accepts, talking about which series will go back into production first, etc. it's just wishful thinking.

Let's all hope for the best and continue to support the striking writers, still on the picket lines, but let's be honest about what's going on here and not jump the gun.

DGA Signs Deal with AMPTP; What Does It Mean for This Season?

Well, at least we're going into the three-day weekend with some positive strike-related news for a change, though it's still unclear whether the deal signed between the DGA and the AMPTP, signed after six days of meetings, bodes well for a return to the bargaining table in that other dispute.

“Two words describe this agreement - groundbreaking and substantial,” said Gil Cates, DGA Negotiations Committee chair. “The gains in this contract for directors and their teams are extraordinary – and there are no rollbacks of any kind.”

Among the highlights of the deal are increases in wages and residual bases for each year of the three-year contract, DGA jurisdiction over original programming produced for the Internet, new residual formulas for EST (double the current rate), and residual rates for ad-supported streaming and use of clips on the Internet. The new agreement will be submitted to the DGA's National Board for approval on January 26th.

(For more on the DGA deal, check out this op-ed piece in The Los Angeles Times on why the deal makes sense, written by DGA president Michael Apted.)

While it will take a few days for the WGA to carefully look over the specifics of the deal, many here in Hollywood agree that it's a positive step in the right direction and could signal a thawing of relations between the Writers Guild and the AMPTP. Some pundits felt that the accord meant that the WGA would have to give up side issues like reality fare and animation in order to structure a deal similar to the DGA agreement, which would put pressure on the WGA's leadership to sign a deal quickly. (That remains to be seen.)

So what does this deal mean for the struggling 2007-08 season? Can it be saved? Variety had the following to say on the subject:

Should a deal be hammered out within the next month, network and studio insiders have said that portions of this TV season -- as well as pilot season -- could still be salvaged.

It would be on a case-by-case basis: Some series could power back up relatively quickly and churn out at least a few more episodes this year, if not an entire back nine order.

[...] Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry told KABC-TV that a strike settlement in the next two weeks would let him produce most of the episodes that had been planned for this season.

Some showrunners and execs were looking at Valentine's Day as a key date, believing that if a deal is done by then, they could still finish up the season -- particularly if networks are willing to air original episodes in June and July.

So it looks like all eyes will be on that February 14th line in the sand. I'm not sure how realistic is it is to say that many shows could actually complete their back nine episodes this season. Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller told E! Online, "If the strike is resolved in the next three weeks, there is a slim chance that shows could come back and produce four or five additional episodes to wrap up their seasons. If it isn't resolved by mid-February, then, yes, that's pretty much it for the 2007-08 season."

For some returning series, especially heavily serialized fare like Lost or 24, it's probable that they have already broken stories and could hopefully get the scripts written sooner rather than later.

Still, others were a lot less decidedly sunny about the possibilities of series getting back on track during this current season, according to E! Online's Kristen:

Crew members who work on to [sic] two mainstream, fan-favorite TV shows tell me they were informed this week that it is "extremely unlikely" they will be producing any more episodes this season whether the strike ended soon or not.

According to one below-the-line crew member: "We were told that even if the strike ends soon, we won't be doing any more episodes until next season, because it just won’t work." (These sources requested that their shows not be named.)

Hmmm.

It's still speculation about whether any series would be able to return or not and with each network heavy under the weight of so much reality fare, I'd expect to see many sink into the shadows for now, hopefully to return next season with a fresh batch of episodes. Plus, will the networks really air top-notch first-run scripted programming during the slow summer months, a time traditionally reserved for burn-offs, repeats, and reality?

Speaking of next season, it's still unclear what the affect would be on the sagging pilot season, already underway. Many felt that studios would simply pick three or four pilot scripts and simply order them to series for next season, rather than shoot a dozen or so pilot episodes at this point... which would mean that the May Upfronts, when networks unveil their fall schedules to advertisers, could still happen, albeit in a slightly scaled-down way. Signs are definitely leaning towards this theory, especially as the networks continue to move towards a year-round development model, with some insisting that this is their approach.

As for me, I'm hoping that the DGA deal gives the WGA some flexibility and that both sides return to the bargaining table in good faith to hammer out a deal that gives the writers fair and equal pay and gets everyone--writers, directors, actors, and below-the-line crew--back to work sooner rather than later.

Life Without Writers: Murder Unscripted

For a fictional glimpse into a world without writers, you can't do much better than the "Murder Unscripted" sketch which pits Dean Winters and Kathryn Erbe (as an "impossibly hot detective team") against a crime they can't solve... without the help of a writer, anyway.

Chris Noth, Zeljko Ivanek (Damages' own Ray Fiske!), and Eric Bogosian show up to offer their own possible solutions to his baffling crime in a library.

My favorite moment? Erbe's thoughts that the crime echoes that in another episode, in which the mom did it as Winters tries to puzzle out if she meant that mom also committed this crime. Also rather telling: Ivanek's gruff DA at a literal loss for words when presented by Winters with a tangle of rope as a possible murder weapon.

StrikeWatch: Day 32

Welcome to Day 32 of the WGA Strike.

Cautious optimism are the words du jour as talks between the WGA and the AMPTP continue. Negotiations are set to resume this morning at 10 am PT after yesterday's encouraging talks that had both sides nearing some sort of common ground on several looming issues.

The WGA released its end-of-day statement, which contained language far more encouraging than anything thus far:

"The Writers Guilds met today with the AMPTP and discussed issues of jurisdiction for original content for the Internet, Reality TV, Animation, and Basic Cable. The talks also were focused on contract enforcement. For the last two days, we have had substantive discussions of the issues important to writers, the first time this has occurred in this negotiation. However, we are still waiting for the AMPTP to respond to all of our proposals, including Internet streaming of theatrical and television product and digital downloads."

And the AMPTP released their own statement as well:

"Negotiations with the WGA continued throughout the day and at the request of the Guild no joint sessions occurred during the evening. We will resume tomorrow. We remain committed to making a fair and reasonable deal. We believe that there is common ground to be found between the two sides that will put all of us in the entertainment industry in a better position to survive and prosper in what is a rapidly changing modern, global marketplace."

Wow. I never thought I'd see the usage of "fair and reasonable" coming from the studios. Let's just hope they put their money were their mouth is and come up with an agreement that is just that: fair and resonable.

One hot topic, however is the matter of Reality Television writers; the WGA had tried in vain to get these writers organized under their union and failed in the past. Apparently, the Guild is demanding that networks and studios no longer sign deals with reality producers like Mark Burnett Productions, Fremantle, Endemol, etc. unless those companies become WGA signatories. Expectedly, the other hot button issue is online compensation.

Elsewhere, CBS is said to be turning to feature scripts for possible pilot presentation material, a move that worked wonders for Warner Bros. several years back when it dusted off an unproducted feature script called EW by Michael Crichton and then transformed it into medical drama behemoth ER, reaching its 300th episode tonight.

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: China (CBS); My Name is Earl/30 Rock (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); The Office/Scrubs (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); ER (NBC); Barbara Walters Special: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2007 (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's episode ("Bananas for Betty"), Betty drags Henry on a double date with Hilda and Gio (um, okay) and Betty White drops in to tangle with the evil Wilhelmina, who is in the process of transforming her image post Mode-departure.

8:30 pm: 30 Rock.

On tonight's episode ("Secrets and Lies"), Jack and C.C. face a crisis when she suggests they take their relationship public, while Liz attempts to satisfy the diva-like needs of her two stars, Tracy and Jenna. If it's half as hilarious as last week's episode, I will be a happy, happy boy.

9 pm: The Office.

On tonight's repeat episode from Season Three ("Business School"), t's time to relive the brilliance that was the guest direction by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. In this episode, Michael agrees to give a presentation at Ryan's business school, while back at the office, Dwight must deal with a bat that has gotten loose inside the Dunder-Mifflin offices.

9-10:30 pm: Top Chef Holiday Special on Bravo.

The perfect antidote to a stress-filled holiday and strike season: curling up on the sofa to catch up with the gang from Top Chef. In this brand-new special, past contestants including Stephen, Tiffani, Betty, Marcel, and Tre return to spice up the holidays.

StrikeWatch: Day 26

Welcome to the 26th day of the WGA strike here in Hollywood. I had hoped better news would spill out of the talks held this week between the WGA and the AMPTP but, now that the media blackout has been lifted and the AMPTP's "groundbreaking" proposal has seen the light of day, it's not at all what anyone supporting the writers had hoped for.

The AMPTP offered the following official statement:

"The AMPTP today unveiled a New Economic Partnership to the WGA, which includes groundbreaking moves in several areas of new media, including streaming, content made for new media and programming delivered over digital broadcast channels. The entire value of the New Economic Partnership will deliver more than $130 million in additional compensation above and beyond the more than $1.3 billion writers already receive each year. In response, the WGA has asked for time to study the proposals. While we strongly preferred to continue discussions, we respect and understand the WGA's desire to review the proposals. We look forward to resuming talks on Tuesday, December 4.

We continue to believe that there is common ground to be found between the two sides, and that our proposal for a New Economic Partnership offers the best chance to find it."

The proposal on offer would deliver more than $130 million in compensation to writers over three years. However, the WGA, looking at the numbers involved, have countered by saying that the proposal is a "massive rollback" and a "bad deal." It should be noted that the proposal amounts to a mere 3% increase in earnings.

The WGA countered with its own statement, the full text of which can be read here.

According to Variety, the three key issues are:

"-For streaming television episodes, the companies proposed a residual structure of a single fixed payment, based on 1.2% of producers' receipts after a six-week promo window, amounting about $250 for a year's reuse of an hour-long program.
-For made-for-Internet material, they offered minimums starting at $800 for five minutes up to $1,300 for 15 minutes and granted jurisdiction on derivative material.
-No change in the Internet download formula, currently paid at the DVD rate."

Meanwhile, United Hollywood reacted to the AMPTP's proposal in their own way, via a tersely-worded statement that belied their frustration with the rollbacks:

"Turns out their exciting, groundbreaking proposal is... a residual rollback. And not just any rollback, one of the biggest in the history of the Guild. Then, stunningly, the companies have the balls to say their plan gives us more compensation. Well, I'm sorry, but If you take away a dollar and give me a nickel, the nickel ain't a raise. Somewhere, Nick Counter's first-grade math teacher is embarrassed.

So we decided to do some math of our own: We broke out the cost of the WGA's current proposal to the conglomerates into yearly figures. We found that the TOTAL payment yearly -- the total that ALL the companies would make under our proposals -- is $50.54 million. And that, we realized, is about one-third the budget of TRANSFORMERS. We are asking IN TOTAL, for the equivalent of the cost overrun on a summer event movie."

Sigh.

Anyone hoping that the talks this week would lead to a fair and equitable contract between the AMPTP and the WGA is sorely disappointed. So much for those "groundbreaking" proposals that the studios hinted at.

One positive sign: the disastrous offer didn't end the talks between the two parties (as I feared it might); instead they'll reconvene on Tuesday to continue negotiations.

Meanwhile, picketing continues at the studios, which are hard pressed at debating whether or not to go ahead with planned holiday parties this season, just a day after another WGA picketer was struck by a car. Hmm, maybe those party-planning budgets could be better spent by paying salaries and benefits below-the-line staffers who lost their jobs during the strike without so much as severance during the holiday season. Just a thought.

Earlier this week, many showrunners returned to work to focus on performing non-writing services, such as editing and supervising post-production. One report claims that one studio exec claimed that half of his series' showrunners were back at work. Over at Disney/ABC Television that group included Lost's Carlton Cuse, who returned to work following an agreement in place to return to his duties once talks restarted again.

Stay tuned.

StrikeWatch: Day 22

It's Monday morning and Day 22 of the WGA Strike with no sign of a resolution anywhere in sight.

As the writers strike enters its fourth week, the WGA and the AMPTP will sit down today for the first time since the writers went on strike three weeks ago.

The session, scheduled to begin at 10 am today, will happen at an "undisclosed neutral site at a hotel without CEOs in attendance." Said talks will also occur under a news blackout.

So far, there has been no indication about whether talks are set for Tuesday in addition to today's silence-breaking return to the negotiation table. The writers, meanwhile, resumed picketing at major studios today, after the Thanksgiving holiday. Shifts have been set for three-hours, with Warner Bros. getting the first shift as early as 5 am.

Missed 30 Rock's live show in New York to benefit the production crew affected by the strike? Read Entertainment Weekly's report here and The Huffington Post's recap here.

And did you catch the blink-and-you'll-miss-it writer's strike gag on 30 Rock a few weeks ago, in which an MSNBC news crawl reads, "NEWS CRAWL AFFECTED BY WRITERS STRIKE -- USING REPEAT TEXT FROM PREVIOUS SEASON."? Catch up here.

Finally, the next edition of United Hollywood Live will stream today from 12-1:30 pm PT and will "include interviews, live reports from various picket lines and video clips." You can tune in by clicking here; United Hollywood encourages fans and WGA supporters to participate via live IM chats, video feeds, and phone calls.

StrikeWatch: AMPTP Agrees to Resume Talks with WGA

One piece of promising strike-related news: the two sides seem headed back to the negotiation table, at least for now.

The studios and networks have agreed to restart talks with the striking writers on November 26th, though said writers will remain on strike during the talks, after the studios dropped their demand that the strike had to cease before talks could begin anew.

It's rumored that CAA agent Bryan Lourd helped broker the agreement to return to the table.

A joint statement released by the WGA and the AMPTP said the following: ""Leaders from the AMPTP and the WGA have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued." (Both sides had agreed to a press blackout.)

An email from WGA West President Patric Verrone, obtained by Variety, offered this statement:

"This announcement is a direct result of your efforts. For 12 days I have repeated that a powerful strike means a short strike. [...] Now it is equally important that we now prove that good news won't slow us down, either. We must remember that returning to the bargaining table is only a start. Our work is not done until we achieve a good contract and that is by no means assured. Accordingly, what we achieve in negotiations will be a direct result of how successfully we can keep up our determination and resolve."

It may not be the resolution those of in Hollywood have asked for but it's at least a sign of progress that the two sides will sit down again. Fingers crossed that it leads to some real momentum in terms of giving the striking writers some semblance of fair compensation.

StrikeWatch: Day 12

It's Day 12 of the WGA Strike with no sign of a resolution anywhere in sight. After today's fan-themed protest at Universal, only two days of pre-Thanksgiving strike-related activities planned, including Monday's planned assistant and below-the-line employee strike at Fox.

In other news, the strike has now affected US network productions that shoot outside the country. Both Vancouver-based NBC Universal productions Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica have shut down due to the strike.

Bionic Woman, which was supposed to continue shooting until mid December, has instead shut down far ahead of that schedule, ceasing production on November 9th. Across town, fellow NBC Universal drama Battlestar Galactica, which was meant to shoot until March on the final batch of its Season Four episodes, will instead shut down today, as it has run out of scripts.

Production on FX's The Riches was shut down for 15 minutes yesterday due to picketing organized by showrunner Dmitry Lipkin and writer Tim Lea, which delayed the start of a location-based scene starring Minnie Driver that attracted the attention of the Service Employees International Union. The writers then "negotiated a deal with the producers that allowed filming to resume 15 minutes after the shouting forced it to stop."

For fans wondering how many original installments of, say, Pushing Daisies are left, Entertainment Weekly has composed a list of how many episodes remain on most series.

New York City-based fans of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live are in for a treat, as the casts of both comedies will perform one night only live renditions of unproduced scripts at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre on November 17th and 19th. All proceeds from the sold-out performances benefit the Writers Guide strike fund.

Saturday Night Live, scheduled for November 17th, will feature a collection of "favorite sketches," hosted by Michael Cera. Confirmed to participate is the sketch comedy series' entire cast, with musical guest Yo La Tengo.

30 Rock, to be performed on November 19th, will feature the entire 30 Rock crew, including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, and Alec Baldwin.

The Hollywood Reporter's entertainment and media blog, meanwhile, asks whether the casts of these shows can legally mount productions of material that owned by NBC, raising questions of intellectual property ownership as well as contractual--such as non-compete clauses--issues: "[S]triking thesps can create new sketches or stage skits from intellectual property they own, but they can't advertise themselves with trademarks that might violate those associated with the long-running show."

Today's strike-related activities are fan-based (Impromptu Fan Day) and are supposed to start at Universal Studios at 11 am. According to United Hollywood, the following fan communities are already involved and are being deployed to various Universal lot gates:

"Main Gate: Battlestar Galactica
Gate 1: Desperate Housewives
Gate 2: CSI, King of the Hill, Friday Night Lights
Gate 3: Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, The Office (optional event for them)
Gate 5: Ghost Whisperer, Bionic Woman, Carpoolers

This does not, of course, mean that only fans of these shows should show up for this event. And there remains the real possibility that other writers will be there as well."

While you're out there, you can catch a glimpse of three of the original Lollypop Guild members from The Wizard of Oz, who will be participating in today's strike.

Elsewhere, The New York Times has offered another perspective of the writers strike, this time offering hope for on-the-bubble series such as Journeyman, Life, Big Shots, and Cane, which in other years would have been shelved, due to low ratings, before their initial episodic orders had aired. In an era where new episodes of a series--even ones with mediocre ratings--are a valuable commodity, these series and some holdover series (Friday Night Lights and Men in Trees for example) may even return for another run.

Of course, a protracted strike could shutter pilot season as typically these scripts are rewritten countless times before shooting begins. Expect fewer comedy pilots this development season as those pilots usually need the most rewriting prior to production.

And NBC Universal has invoked the force majeure clause in the SAG contracts for the actors on several series, including The Office, 30 Rock, and Bionic Woman, suspending them at half-pay for five weeks.

Says The Hollywood Reporter, "According to SAG's interpretation of Section 61 of its collective bargaining agreement, the studios have three options in case of a strike: put series regulars on hold at full salary, suspend them for a period of up to five weeks at half-pay or terminate them. If, like Universal, the studios opt for suspension, the performers themselves, according to SAG, can terminate their deals at the end of the five-week period. If they don't do that, the studios can choose to keep the regulars with full pay or end their deals."

Most writers' production deals include the force majeure option after production is suspended, many of those deals have termination clauses that force the studio to wait four to six weeks after a stoppage but others only have a two-week cushion... which means that several writers' deals could be terminated as early as Monday.

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Ghost Whisperer (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); Friday Night SmackDown (CW; 8-10 pm); Men in Trees (ABC); Next Great American Band (FOX)

9 pm: Moonlight (CBS); Friday Night Lights (NBC); Women's Murder Club (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: NUMB3RS (CBS); Las Vegas (NBC); 20/20 (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8-11 pm: BBC America.

If you happen to be staying in after a long work week, why not do it in true Anglophile style with back-to-back episodes of The Office, Coupling, Catherine Tate Show, and Mighty Boosh?

StrikeWatch: Day 11

It's Day 11 of the WGA strike and there's still no sign of resolution to the strike as we inch towards the Thanksgiving holiday. Strike-related activities will cease on Tuesday as Hollywood shuts down for the holiday.

Writers should have something to be thankful for, namely an overwhelming public support for the strike, even though the studios haven't yet given them what they deserve. Maybe since they've been nice, a resolution to the issues on the table will come in time for Christmas/Hannukah. (Just a thought.)

Speaking of that public support, a pair of studies released yesterday (conducted by Pepperdine University and SurveyUSA respectively) showed that public sympathy during this battle definitely falls with the writers. 69 percent of those polled in the Pepperdine study and 63 percent in the SurveyUSA poll were in support of the writers' cause. The studios fared far worse, with only 4 percent and 8 percent of those polled (respectively) in support.

There are still no signs of any new talks between the WGA and the AMPTP, though AMPTP chief Nick Counter did drop the condition that the WGA would have to cease striking in order for negotiation talks to begin again. So a minor bit of progress on that front... or just another attempt to further stall as there is still no timetable in place to restart talks? You decide.

Meanwhile, it appears that the DGA--whose contracts are up at the end of June--will begin negotiations now, following their typical six-month lead on talks.

Over at United Hollywood, Ali LeRoi, showrunner/creator of the CW's Everybody Hates Chris, has coined a new slogan for the writers' DVD issue in this video: "You Want to Take DVD Money from a Little Black Girl."

The Oregonian's Peter Ames Carlin has written a provocative editorial piece about the writers' strike, "When Will We Feel TV's Hand in Our Pockets," in which he finds a thematic connection between the studios' wanton disregard for the creative community and that of cable companies' treatment of local customers:

"[T]his is not a sustainable kind of industry. Strip-mining never is. And as the FCC's newfound interest in the cable providers' unsettling rate hikes and market domination -- the regulators may actually allow for competition in the cable business -- makes clear, the end can come suddenly.

Networks, producers, take heed. When the factory noise overwhelms the dreams you're producing, the next sound you hear will be your customers leaving."

Elsewhere, Monday's themed rally is for the assistants and below-the-line personnel who have lost their jobs during the strike; idea is for those who have been laid off due to the strike to come out to show their support of the writers' cause as well as for the writers to show their appreciation for the sacrifices that have been made by below-the-line staffers and assistants. (Several studios and agencies have sent assistants packing.) Or as the release succinctly phrased it, "For writers, this is a chance for us to celebrate the assistants and “below-the-line” employees, and to recognize them for the sacrifices they’re being forced to make as we fight for a fair deal."

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: China (CBS); My Name is Earl/30 Rock (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); The Office/Scrubs (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Don't Forget the Lyrics (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); ER (NBC); Women's Murder Club (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On tonight's episode ("I See Me, I.C.U."), Henry works overtime to get Betty something she needs, with the help of Mode's weekend receptionist (guest star Mo'Nique), Wilhelmina must devise a new plan after the events of last week's wedding, and Betty tries to repair her relationship with Daniel.

8:30 pm: 30 Rock.

On tonight's episode ("Somebody to Love"), Jack begins an unexpected relationship with a Democratic congresswoman (guest star Edie Falco) after meeting her a cocktail party; Liz begins to suspect her Middle Eastern neighbor is a terrorist.

9 pm: The Office.

It's a little sad to think that tonight's episode will be the last installment of The Office until the strike ends. On tonight's episode ("The Deposition"), Michael is deposed as a witness when Jan sues Dunder-Mifflin for wrongful termination and Kelly puts Pam down after new boyfriend Darryl trounces Jim at ping-pong. Consider it a mini-season finale for now, albeit without a cliffhanger or resolution.

10 pm: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX.

Season Three of FX's hilariously subversive comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia concludes tonight. On tonight's season finale ("The Gang Dances Their Asses Off"), Charlie mistakenly puts Paddy's bar up as the grand prize in a dance marathon competition, leading the gang to have to compete in order to keep the bar.

StrikeWatch: Day 10

Good morning. It's Day 10 of the WGA strike and, with Thanksgiving nearly upon us, there are no signs of a resolution any time soon. Yesterday's SAG-themed strike brought out approximately 2500 strikers to the gates of Universal, including many A-list actors who turned out to support their scribe brethren.

Televisionary yesterday participated in a sign of solidarity with the writers by not posting any new material on what was termed Dark Tuesday and offering the general public some options in terms of supporting the creators and writers of their favorite series. Reaction to the symbolic strike was mixed, thanks to a link on The Drudge Report, which soon flooded many media sites covering the blog blackout with largely negative comments.

I think many people are against this strike simply based on their misguided perception that the writers striking are (A) rich and (B) liberals.

The fact is that the writers who are being the most abused by the studios are in fact those making the least amount of money. Political views shouldn't play any role in determining fair pay for people, whether they are auto workers, sandwich makers, or microchip assembly line workers (you get my point). They all work enormously hard to create a product and should be paid fairly for their work, especially when writers often work insane hours (we're talking 100+ hrs a week at times).

Do some writers get paid a fortune? Sure. Those same people typically make their respective studios billions of dollars. Shouldn't they be compensated fairly, especially given the nascent Internet business which will, in the long run, reinvent the television landscape and prove to be a vast money-maker for studios?

In a sign that not all is well at the networks, NBC has pulled out of the upcoming TCA Winter Press Tour.

A network spokesperon called the withdrawal from the midseason press tour a "difficult decision," going on to say, "These are challenging times due to the strike. We felt it was not prudent to move forward with a TCA session."

There had been no decision made by other broadcast networks whether to participate in the tour; if they do go ahead with the plan to make presentations, these would likely revolve around unscripted series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the networks and Television Critics Association have been discussing how best to proceed with the annual press gathering.

"NBC's out, but other broadcast networks are keeping their options open while expressing varying levels of uncertainty about staging effective tour presentations if the WGA strike isn't settled by January," TCA president Dave Walker wrote in an e-mail to TCA members. "The TCA is working on two possible footprints for the January tour -- one for a strike tour organized around presentation days and nights by cable and PBS, who are the only firm commitments at this point, the other to quickly execute in case the strike ends before January."

Also at NBC, a NBC.com sub-site devoted to 30 Rock fictional scribe Frank ("Frank Talk") is showcasing a low-key sign of solidarity with the striking writers as his trademark trucker hat is noticeably blank of any text. The simple caption reads, "On Strike."

In other news, UK writers have pledged their support; the Writers' Guild of Great Britain plans to "highlight the importance of writers at its awards ceremony Sunday, the first time the kudos has been held in 10 years." There is currently no strike in the United Kingdom as the WGA has no authority over writers within Great Britain, but there has been much debate among British writers about their involvement in the strike and whether they should avoid working with the US studios until the strike has ended.

"That raises the question of when is a U.K. company a U.K. company," WGA member Jeremy Brock told Variety . "The best support you can give is just to hold the line and not work with the studios while this is going on... I sincerely hope the studios go back to the table to negotiate, because that's the only way this is going to be resolved."

Over at United Hollywood, writer Laeta Kalogridis speaks out about fear, intimidation, and the dreaded blacklist, following the AMPTP's accusations. It's a chilling read.

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Kid Nation (CBS); Phenomenon (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Pushing Daisies (ABC); Back to You/'Til Death (FOX)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Bionic Woman (NBC); Gossip Girl (CW); Private Practice (ABC); Kitchen Nightmares

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Life (NBC); Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Pushing Daisies.

Finally a new episode of Televisionary obsession Pushing Daisies. On tonight's installment ("Bitches"), Ned and the Pie Hole crew investigate the death of a dog breeder who happens to be a polygamist and whether one of his four widows played a role in his demise. Plus, Chuck learns about Ned and Olive's kiss, which puts him in a rather uncomfortable position. And was that a shot of Ned and Olive in bed together? I can't wait!

8 pm: America's Next Top Model.

On tonight's episode ("The Girl Who Starts to Lose Her Cool"), the girls become muses for student designers and then must discuss their custom-created dresses on the runway, Heather lashes back at Bianca, and the girls model in a photo shoot with a burning car.

9 pm: Bionic Woman.

On tonight's episode ("Trust Issues"), Jaime and Antonio (Isaiah Washington) are tasked with foiling an attempted assassination but Jaime isn't sure if she can trust her partner after overhearing something she shouldn't. Hmmm, Washington saying something inappropriate? Well, that would never happen...

10 pm: Dirty Sexy Money.

On tonight's episode ("The Wedding"), Karen suddenly has cold feet as her nuptials to Freddie approach and Karen blames her hesitance on her feelings for Nick, Brian Jr.'s mom returns from Brazil, and Natalie Kimpton tries to mend her relationship with Juliet.

10 pm: Project Runway on Bravo.

It's finally here! The launch of Season Four of Bravo's addictive Project Runway. On tonight's episode ("Sew Me What You Got"), the new batch of contestants are unveiled and then must face a challenge and appear before guest judge Monique Lhuiller.

TV Blogs Go Dark in Solidarity with the Writers Guild of America

On November 13th, this blog and the blogs listed below will be on strike for the day in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America.

As fellow writers and as TV fans, we are coming together to express our strong support for the writers and their goals. We believe that when a writer's work makes money for a company, that writer deserves to be paid. Many writers depend on residuals for a stable income, and that income shouldn't be based on an outdated formula which ignores the existence of new media and all but a tiny percentage of DVD sales. The talented writers responsible for so much of what we love about television should and must be paid fairly and equitably, and we will stand with them until they reach that goal. For everyone's sake, and for the sake of television, we hope both sides can come to an agreement quickly.

To further that goal, we are calling on our readers to sign this petition and to contact the following television networks, voicing support for the writers and for a return to the negotiating table:

FOX
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 369-1000

CBS
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 575-2345

ABC
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
(818) 460-7777

NBC / Universal
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-1000

After the blackout, we intend to continue our campaign to support the WGA until the dispute has been resolved fairly. Since we will not be posting any new content tomorrow, we encourage our readers to visit United Hollywood instead for frequent updates about the strike.

In solidarity-

The CineManiac
Daemon’s TV
Ducky Does TV
Gabby Babble
Give Me My Remote
Glowy Box
I am a TV Junkie
The Media Pundit
Mikey Likes TV
Pass the Remote
The Pie Maker
Ramblings of a TV Whore
Seriously? OMG! WTF?
Silly Pipe Dreams
Tapeworthy
Televisionary
TiFaux
Tube Talk
The TV Addict
TV Series Finale
Watch with Intelligence

StrikeWatch: Day 8

It's Monday morning and Week Two of the WGA Strike begins today, with no sign of resolution anywhere in sight. Today's themed strike: Bring Your Child to Strike Day (it's a school holiday, thanks to Veteran's Day). Expect the big stars to come out on Tuesday for a SAG-supported round of picketing.

For those of you who missed my late Friday post, an updated list of which series have shut down production (along with how many shot episodes and scripts remain) can be found right over here.

Over the weekend, Lost showrunner Damon Lindelof offered an eloquent and sobering op-ed piece about the strike in The New York Times, entitled "Mourning TV."

Lindelof's piece speaks volumes about the conflicting interests of writers and studios as much as it does signal the (long-coming) end of an era in which we all watched the same television series live, with commercials, on a set-top box. Those of us obsessed with our beloved TiVos knows that the winds of change blew long ago but it's only now that the studios have seen the obvious: that the Internet is drastically changing both the way that television is viewed as well as it is the way it's monetized.

As Lindelof succinctly puts it: "This is how vaudevillians must have felt the first time they saw a silent movie; sitting there, suddenly realizing they just became extinct: after all, who wants another soft-shoe number when you can see Harold Lloyd hanging off a clock 50 feet tall? Change always provokes fear, but I’d once believed that the death of our beloved television would unify all those affected, talent and studios, creators and suits. We’re all afraid and we’d all be afraid together. Instead we find ourselves so deeply divided."

The silver-tongued Lindelof goes on to explain his position, vis-a-vis the latest stage of grief he's encountered so far:

"I am angry because I am accused of being greedy by studios that are being greedy. I am angry because my greed is fair and reasonable: if money is made off of my product through the Internet, then I am entitled to a small piece. The studios’ greed, on the other hand, is hidden behind cynical, disingenuous claims that they make nothing on the Web — that the streaming and downloading of our shows is purely “promotional.” Seriously?

Most of all, I’m angry that I’m not working. Not working means not getting paid. My weekly salary is considerably more than the small percentage of Internet gains we are hoping to make in this negotiation and if I’m on the picket line for just three months, I will never recoup those losses, no matter what deal gets made.

But I am willing to hold firm for considerably longer than three months because this is a fight for the livelihoods of a future generation of writers, whose work will never “air,” but instead be streamed, beamed or zapped onto a tiny chip."

Meanwhile, Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence has spoken out about Disney/ABC TV Studio's request that he write a "backup ending" for Scrubs that would have enabled the studio to shoot a series finale for the beleaguered medical comedy should the strike continue.

Lawrence did not in fact comply with this request, instead filing typical scripts for the series and not the ending that had "two people kiss," opting instead to hold out on writing a finale until a later date. "I will use all my leverage to end this show properly, even if it means I have to do all the voices myself and call people up to read it over the phone," Lawrence told The Hollywood Reporter.

Over at United Hollywood, Office scribe Michael Schur has posted his Modest Proposal on how to resolve the ongoing battle between the writers and the studios. His Swiftian solution: that fat cat studio suits cut their swollen salaries by 85 percent in order to keep costs down. After all, says Schur, "Sumner Redstone of Viacom made about $52 million in cash and stock last year, so he’d still have close to $8 million a year. Peter Chernin of Fox made about $61 million, so he’s good. Sadly, Les Moonves of CBS only made about $35.3 million, so taking the paycut barely leaves him $5 million a year. Maybe he can get a bridge loan or something."

That, Schur promises, would get him back to work in a heartbeat. "I will write like the wind, buoyed by the inspiring knowledge that my corporate brothers stand beside me in this crucial time of belt-tightening for our industry."

Amen.

Speaking of The Office, one of that beloved series' staffers affected by the writers strike, key grip Dale Alexander, has spoken out about the fate of his fellow 102 below-the-line workers. Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker had excerpts from an email sent by Alexander, which express the strike from an entirely different perspective, that of the workers who find themselves caught in the battle between the writers and studios.

"We all know that the strike will be resolved," writes Alexander. "Eventually both sides will return to the bargaining table and make a deal. The only uncertainty is how many of our houses, livelihoods, college educations and retirement funds will pay for it."

Televisionary reader The Cinemaniac attended the huge massive rally at Fox on Friday, an event he called "incredible." (Cinemaniac can be seen here at right, pictured with the fabulously talented Jane Espenson.)

"It was truly amazing to see thousands of people gathering together, most in red, for a single cause," he told me. "There was a sense of excitement and and determination in the air, and it was clear this group would not back down and was ready for the long haul." For a description of his attendance at the event (and some pics with Joss Whedon, Ed Helms, Jason Bateman and others) head over to this post.

Among the interesting gems over at The Cinemaniac, there's this bit from his conversation with Espenson: "She told me about how ABC/Disney told all their writing fellows they had to show up for work or be fired. Now this might not seem so strange, but as writing fellows this is basically their foot in the door, so they don't want to lose their first job, but at the same time, if they cross the picket line, they will never be allowed into the WGA. It's a Catch 22, get fired from your possible entry into the guild, or cross the picket line and never be allowed into the Guild."

Man, the studios really don't want to make life easy for anyone these days, do they?

StrikeWatch: Production Blackout Update #2

It's Friday evening and the first week of the WGA strike is winding down with no signs of resolution in sight. For those of us who work in the TV industry and didn't live through the 1988 strike, it really has been a strange, strange week here.

Rumors are circulating of a "secret, backchannel discussion" between parties that are being planned for this weekend. However, many insiders believe this to be more wishful thinking than anything concrete.

Around town, many writer/producers whose projects aren't currently in production found their term deals suspended as FOX, CBS Paramount, NBC Universal, and ABC Television Studios react to the strike.

But what the general television audience is curious about is how the ongoing writers strike will affect their favorite series.

Below is the latest production blackout update, sorted by network:

ABC
Big Shots: Shot episode nine on November 7th. Has 11 of its 13 episode order already written.
Boston Legal: Will have 14 of 22 episodes completed.
Brothers & Sisters: Expected to have either 11 or 12 episodes completed. 13 scripts written.
Carpoolers: Remains in production on final script. Shuts down Nov 9. Will have 13 of 13 eps.
Cashmere Mafia: On hold indefinitely. The current rumor is that ABC is not happy with it creatively and the strike was the perfect smokescreen to pull it. 7 eps in the can.
Cavemen: Expected to have 13 out of 13 episodes completed; has not received an order for a full season. Shuts down November 16th. Word around town is that the series will be pulled after episode 6.
Desperate Housewives: 10 episodes in the can. Shut down Nov 8.
Dirty Sexy Money: Expected to have between 11 and 13 episodes completed. Prepping #112 next week. 13 scripts written, but unclear if production will continue.
Eli Stone: Shooting #110 (day 3 of 9). Prepping #111, shoots November 15th – 26th. 13 scripts written. Whether production will continue for final 2 episodes is unclear.
Grey's Anatomy: 13 episodes of 23 episodes written, 11 of which have been shot and 6 have aired. 5 more episodes in the can. Currently shooting #411. Shutting down Nov 14.
Lost: Expected to have 8 out of 16 episodes in the can. Production shutting down end of November, following completion of episode #408 (currently shooting #407). Premiere date of February 6, 2008 is tentative.
Men in Trees: Has five episodes left over from last season, 10 new episodes shot, and four scripts to shoot; total would be 19 out of 27 for the season.
Miss/Guided: Midseason comedy will have completed all six episodes.
Notes From The Underbelly: Remains in production. Has five episodes from last season and will have 7 episodes from the current season, for a total of 12.
October Road: Shooting #210, which wraps November 21st. Has scripts through #213. Will complete all 13 episodes.
Private Practice: Will complete nine episodes.
Pushing Daisies: Will have nine completed episodes out of a total order of 22.
Samantha Who?: Production shutting down November 12. Will have completed 12 of 13 episodes.
Ugly Betty: Has 13 of 24 scripts written.
Women’s Murder Club: Shooting episode #109 until November 13th. They will shoot #110 between November 4–27th. Will have 10 of 13 eps ready.

CBS
Big Bang Theory: Production shut down.
Cane: Expected to complete all 13 episodes; has not yet received an order for a full season.
The Captain: Shooting #102 between November 8th – 14th. Have scripts through #104; goes dark November 30th.
CSI: Will have 11 or 12 out of 22 episodes completed.
CSI: Miami: Will have 13 out of 24 episodes completed.
CSI: NY: Will have 13 or 14 out of 22 episodes completed.
Cold Case: Going dark November 16th.
Criminal Minds: Will have 12 of 22 episodes completed.
Moonlight: Expect to have 11 out of 12 episodes completed; has not received an order for a full
season.
Ghost Whisperer: Shooting #312 between November 12 – 21st. No additional scripts written.
How I Met Your Mother: Production shut down. Will have 11 of 22 episodes completed.
Jericho: Will have all 7 episodes of its second season order completed.
Moonlight: Expected to have 11 out of 12 episodes completed; has not received an order for a full season.
NCIS: Will have 13 out of 22 episodes completed.
Old Christine: Production shut down.
Numbers: Prepping #412 for shooting between November 19th – 30th. No additional scripts written.
Rules of Engagement: Cancelled production on episode #210. No additional scripts written. Production shut down.
Shark: Will have 12 of 22 episodes completed.
Swingtown: Shooting episode #103 around November 9th – 11th. No additional scripts written.
Two and a Half Men: Production shut down.
The Unit: Will have 11 of 22 episodes completed. (Was recently picked up for full season.)
Without a Trace: Production shutting down November 22nd.

CW
Everybody Hates Chris: Wrapped for the season. Expected to complete 22 of 22 episodes.
The Game: Production shut down. Dark as of November 9th.
Girlfriends: Shutting down November 14th.
Gossip Girl: Expected to complete 13 of 22 episodes.
Supernatural: Estimates peg the series at completing 10-12 episodes. Shutting down December 4th.

FOX
24: 6 out of 24 episodes completed. Premiere postponed in order ensure “Day 7” completed before launch.
American Dad: Will have 19 new episodes.
Back to You: 9 episodes completed out of 24 total episodes ordered.
Bones: Will have 12 out of 22 episodes completed.
Family Guy: Will have 14 new episodes.
K-Ville: Will complete 10 of 13 episodes.
King of the Hill: Will have 17 new episodes.
Prison Break: Will have 13 out of 22 total episodes ordered.
The Simpsons: Will have 17 new episodes.
'Til Death: Episode #212 wraps November 9th.

NBC
30 Rock: Completed 9 out of 22 episodes, with several days of shooting for the 10th episode
scheduled for this week. Tina Fey back on show as an actor after picketing on Monday, November 5th. Shooting #210 through November 9th. No additional scripts written.
Bionic Woman: Production shuts down November 12th.
Chuck: Reports claim that the freshman series has 6 episodes in the can, which--if true--would mean that it had wrapped its 13-episode initial order. Has not yet received an order for a full season.
Friday Night Lights: Expected to complete 15 of 22 episodes.
Heroes: Production shut down November 9th.
Journeyman: Expected to complete 13 of 13 episodes; has not yet received an order for a full season.
Law and Order: SVU: Will have 14 of 22 episodes completed.
Medium: Will have 9 of 22 episodes completed. Prepping #069-09 to shoot November 15th through 28th. No additional scripts written.
My Name is Earl: Has shot 13 episodes out of 13 scripts turned in.
The Office: Shut down, due to strike on November 6th. Completed 8 of 24 eps. (Note: 4 episodes were one-hour installments.)
Scrubs: Expected to complete 12 of 18 episodes.

AMC
Breaking Bad: Last day of Season One will be Wednesday, November 21. In the middle of shooting episode 6 and are contemplating whether episode 7 is in good enough shape to shoot.

ABC Family
Greek: Shooting #1018 beginning November 15th. No additional scripts, out of a 20-episode order written.

FX
Damages: No word yet on second season pick up.
Dirt: Prepping #206 for November 20th-30th shoot. Script #207 written.
Nip/Tuck: Season Five intended to be broken down into two cycles, with 14 to run this fall and 8 in 2008. All 14 in the first cycle have been written.
Rescue Me: Recently announced Season Five affected.
The Riches: 7 scripts of 13 written, reportedly good through December 10th.
The Shield: The final season is written, no date set for airing.
30 Days: Completed and not expected to be affected.

HBO
Entourage/Big Love: Currently in the writing stages and scheduled to air in the summer of 2008. Affected.
True Blood/12 Miles of Bad Road: Have begun production; both affected.
The Wire: Completed and will air as scheduled.
In Treatment: New series will air as scheduled, with 45 episodes to air over nine weeks.

Lifetime
Army Wives: Production suspended indefinitely. Intended to start pre-production on Season Two on November 19th. Will resume when the strike is over.

Sci-Fi
Battlestar Galactica: 10 episodes shot, plus two-hour movie, "Razor," to air this Fall. Production shuts down on November 16th.
Eureka: Season Three Will be affected.
Stargate Atlantis: Season Four will air as scheduled.

Showtime
The Tudors: Season Two returns in late March, completed production November 1st on 12 episodes.
Tracey Ullman: Five-episode series is shot.

USA
In Plain Sight: New series nearly wrapped.
Psych/Monk: Enough scripts in hand to guarantee a full second half of each season for both.
Law and Order: Criminal Intent: Enough episodes--ten in all--for first half of the season; the second half (12) will be affected.
Burn Notice: Scheduled to start production of Season 2 in January.
Starter Wife: Scheduled to start production in March.

Stay tuned.

StrikeWatch: Day Five

It's Day Five of the writers strike here in Los Angeles and there's been no movement towards resolution (or reconciliation) this week since the strike began on Monday morning and no talks are planned for anytime soon.

WGA president Patric Verrone said that he wanted to return to the bargaining table as soon as possible but added that the timing for that would be determined "when the companies are ready" to negotiate. The ball then, according to Verrone, is firmly in the studio's courts.

A massive strike rally is planned for 10 am this morning by the writers at Fox. It's believed that between 2000 and 4000 people will join in during this en masse rally, the biggest yet this week. For more details about today's rally at Fox, please visit UnitedHollywood.com. Expected speakers include WGA West President Patric Verrone and SAG President Alan Rosenberg and Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello will begin the event with an acoustic set. Meanwhile, Fox employees girded themselves for complications arising from the rally.

Elsewhere, The Office showrunner Greg Daniels has spoken to E! Online about the writers' position and specifically that of the NBC series' writers, who find themselves in a very unique position with the new media issue currently at the very heart of the WGA's fight. The Office only currently has one episode left to air and had been prepping the final written script when production was shut down earlier this week.

It's an intelligent and compelling interview that's filled with concrete information about what's at stake for the writers during this strike. On the new media issue, Daniels had this to say:

"... The main thing I think that's special about The Office, even more so than the writer-performers—although that is what gets SAG and WGA working together—is that we're very much aware of the future. You know, we had 7 million downloads on iTunes. We are the big draw on NBC.com. We did webisodes before anybody did webisodes. We won the Daytime Emmy for our webisodes. None of this stuff did we get paid for and, you know, this is the future of TV. We've seen the future because we've kind of lived it, and so we're very much aware that the business model is fantastic for the companies. The ad rates are much higher for Internet ads than they are for TV ads, because you can't skip 'em. You have to watch 'em, and they can tailor them to the consumers. So, they're very valuable ads.

It's obvious that all TV entertainment will come through the Internet soon. They're going to make a ton of money through it, and they know it, and that's what they're fighting for. They've made projections that if they have to give a few crumbs to the writers and actors, it'll reduce these gigantic profits from the Internet by a certain amount, and they're willing to try and keep that amount in their pockets and take the strike now."

Hollywood producers now looking elsewhere for writers may turn to the shores of the United Kingdom, says Variety, given the fact that the WGA has no jurisdiction overseas. Of course, the issue brings up a debate as to whether British writers should work on projects involving US studios... and could impact said writers' ability to enter the WGA in the future. "We are contacting the major U.K. broadcasters and producers, and the U.K. Film Council, asking them not to dump U.K. material into the U.S. market and not to dress up American projects to look as though they are British," said Writers Guild of Great Britain general secretary Bernie Corbett. "Strike-breaking would at best be a short-term payday but would have a devastating long-term effect on a writer's U.S. career."

Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily reports on a plan by a producer to "shame" studios and WGA into restarting negotiation talks on behalf of people who have lost their jobs as a result of the strike.

A public petition has been started in favor of the writers strike and their agreement "with the WGA's stated goals of obtaining just and fair compensation regarding revenues generated through "new media"." As of this time, the petition had generated 12,717 signatures.

Finally, Damon Lindelof is not in favor of ABC airing the eight episodes of Lost that will be produced. "That would not be ideal," Lindelof told Variety's Joseph Adalian. "It would be a lot like airing the six last year." Fans of the series will remember the slightly, er, lackluster quality of those first six episodes which injured the pacing and momentum of the series' third season.

Stay tuned.

StrikeWatch: Day Four

Perhaps it's just me but I cannot believe that the strike has only been going for four days so far. Maybe it's because it's been discussed endlessly for the past few months that it feels like it's been going on for an eternity already. I'm still hopeful that a fair solution can be found to this dispute sooner rather than later but that hope is dwindling by the day as it seems that both sides are willing to dig their heels in for the long stretch.

Today's StrikeWatch brief, on the back of yesterday's fairly inclusive roundup of series going dark that I posted, focuses on a few updates since yesterday.

United Hollywood confirmed yesterday that production on The Office has in fact shut down. (You, gentle readers, knew this already when I broke the news of the Office shutting down on Tuesday.) The series only has two episodes in the can that have yet to air, including tonight's "Survivorman" episode written by Steve Carell (who had told NBC he couldn't report for work because of “enlarged balls"), and next week's episode, "The Deposition." When The Office stopped production it was shooting a script that series star Jenna Fischer said involved "Pam and Jim being in Michael's home" and was "the funniest script of the year." Said script had been written by Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky.

WGA members could find themselves in even more of a bind if they turn in unproduced materials that have been shopped or sold to studios to the guild under Strike Rule 8. The Guild is requesting that members turn in these scripts by Friday but the indication is that writers will instead follow the warnings handed down from studios and networks that they will be in breach of contract if they turn over studio-owned materials to their guild. It's another twist in an already difficult time for writers as the material is question is owned by the studios.

Says Variety: "Many scribes are angry about the program, alleging the WGA has resorted to Orwellian measures to police its membership with the implication that the union doesn’t trust its members. Others are upset at being put in the unenviable position of either disobeying their union or jeopardizing studio step payments that will be sorely needed after the strike ends."

In either case, the studios don't want to see their wholly-owned property in third-party hands. "These are our properties, and for competitive reasons we don't want them circulated, especially if they say unfinished scripts," AMPTP spokeswoman Barbara Brogliatti told The Hollywood Reporter. "You don't want unfinished scripts in third-party hands -- I don't care how trustworthy you think those people are."

Elsewhere, FOX and ABC have decided the fates of serialized dramas 24 and Lost this season. ABC has announced that, as of right now anyway, it was going ahead with launching Season Four of Lost this season (as my gut had told me they would) with an eight-episode arc that concludes with the "mini-cliffhanger" written by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse mentioned in yesterday's update. To those of you bemoaning this twist, just be thankful for any new installments Lost, even if they only number eight.

As discussed yesterday, FOX has decided to hold Day Seven of 24, which has shot eight episodes to date, indefinitely. Reports were conflicting as to whether they will keep the series in a holding pattern until the strike ends or whether the network had in fact shelved the season until 2008-09.

The network also unveiled its new primetime schedule, filled with more than a few changes, including knocking 24 off of its Monday night berth, shifting Bones to Fridays, and launching schedule-saving American Idol with a two-night, four-hour event. The network also announced launch dates for new scripted series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Unhitched, The Return of Jezebel James, New Amsterdam, and Canterbury's Law as well as new unscripted series When Women Rule the World and Moment of Truth (formerly known as Nothing But the Truth).

From the press release FOX put out to announce the shift in lineup, in light of the WGA Strike:

RECAP – FOX JANUARY THROUGH MAY
(All times ET/PT except as noted)

MONDAY
Monday, Jan. 7:
7:30 PM-CC ET ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (LIVE)

Mondays, beginning Jan. 14:
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (Time Period Premiere)

Monday, March 3:
8:00-9:00 PM WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD (wt) (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES

Mondays, beginning March 10:
8:00-9:00 PM WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD (wt)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)

TUESDAY
Tuesday, Jan. 1:
8:00 PM-CC ET ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL (LIVE)

Tuesday, Jan. 15:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 1)

Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 22:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE

Tuesdays, beginning April 1:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, Jan. 2:
7:30 PM-CC ET TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL (LIVE)

Wednesday, Jan. 16:
8:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL (Season Premiere, Part 2)

Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 23:
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH (Series Premiere)

Wednesdays, beginning March 12:
8:00-9:00 PM THE MOMENT OF TRUTH (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:30-10:00 PM BACK TO YOU (Time Period Premiere)

THURSDAY
Thursday, Jan. 3:
7:30 PM-CC ET FEDEX ORANGE BOWL (LIVE)

Thursdays, beginning Jan. 10 (No changes to lineup):
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS!

FRIDAY
Fridays, beginning Jan. 4:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE (Time Period Premiere)

Friday, Feb. 22:
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM (Series Premiere)

Fridays, beginning March 7:
8:00-8:30 PM ‘TIL DEATH (Time Period Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM

Fridays, beginning April 11:
8:00-8:30 PM ‘TIL DEATH
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES
9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY’S LAW (Series Premiere)

SATURDAY
Saturdays, beginning Jan. 5: (No changes to lineup)
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
11:00 PM-Midnight MADtv
Midnight-12:30 AM TALKSHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN

SUNDAY
Sundays, beginning Jan. 6: (No changes to lineup)
7:00-7:30 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES
7:30-8:00 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES
8:00-9:00 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Sunday, Jan. 13:
7:00-7:30 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only)
7:30-8:00 PM VARIOUS COMEDY ENCORES (West Coast only)
8:00-9:00 PM TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Sunday, Feb. 3 (Super Bowl Sunday):
6:00 PM ET SUPER BOWL XLII (Approx. 4 hours, LIVE)
Approx. 10:00 PM ET HOUSE (Original episode; guest star Mira Sorvino)

Sundays, beginning March 2:
7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY ENCORES
(West Coast only on 3/2 due to NASCAR)
7:30-8:00 PM COMEDY ENCORES
(West Coast only on 3/2 due to NASCAR)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM UNHITCHED (Series Premiere)

Sundays, beginning April 13:
7:00-7:30 PM COMEDY ENCORES
7:30-8:00 PM COMEDY ENCORES
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Stay tuned.

StrikeWatch: Production Blackout Update

Thanks to a well-placed source, I have managed to obtain a list of current strike-affected series and when they will turn their lights off (or have already), along with how many additional scripts have been written:

[UPDATE can be found here.]

30 Rock: Shooting episode #210 through November 9th. No additional scripts have been written.

24: Eight episodes completed. FOX has shelved Season Seven indefinitely.

Big Bang Theory: Production shut down.

The Captain: Shooting episode #102 November 8th - 14th. Scripts in for episodes #103 and #104 (production will conclude 11/30).

Carpoolers: Production shut down 11/16.

Cavemen: Shooting episode #113 between November 7th - 13th. No additional scripts had been ordered.

Cold Case: Production shut down 11/16

Desperate Housewives: Production shut down.

Dirt: Prepping episode #206 for a November 20th - 30th shoot. Script written for episode #207.

Dirty Sexy Money: Shooting episode #111 between November 8th - 19th. Prepping episode #112 next week. Shoots 11/21. There are other scripts written but it's unclear if production will
continue.

Eli Stone: Prepping #111 now which shoots between November 15-26th. Not clear if there are additional scripts.

Ghost Whisperer: Shooting episode #312 between November 12th - 21st. No additional scripts written.

Greek: Shooting episode #1018 starting November 15th. No additional scripts out of the 20 episode order written.

Heroes: Production shut down 11/9.

K-Ville: Shot #110 October 28th - November 8th.

Journeyman: Status of production unclear. 13 scripts written.

Medium: Prepping episode 069-09 for a shoot between November 15th - 28th. No additional scripts have been written.

Numbers: Prepping episode #412 for a shoot between November 19th - 30th. No additional scripts have been written.

October Road: Shooting episode #210 between November 9th - 21st. Scripts through #213 completed.

The Office: Production shut down. One additional script written.

Old Christine: Production shut down.

Rules of Engagement: Canceled production on episode #210 (meant to shoot 11/7-11/13). No additional scripts written. Production shut down.

Samantha Who: Production shut down 11/12

Swingtown: Shooting episode #103 11/9-11/21. No additional scripts written.

'Til Death: Episode #212 completes production on November 9th.

Two and a Half Men: Production shut down.

Ugly Betty: Shooting "Odor in the Court" between November 9th and 20th. Prepping "A Thousand Words Before Friday" next week. No additional scripts available after that.

Without A Trace: Production shut down 11/22.

Yes, it's staggering. Stay tuned. [UPDATE can be found here.]

StrikeWatch: Day Three

Not much to report today on Day Three of the WGA Strike. However, it does seem as though both sides are digging their heels into the ground and seem unwilling to sit down with the federal-appointed mediator to discuss the contract negotiation any further, a decision which will have lasting ramifications in the months to come.

Several high-profile series have shut down after work was unable to be completed this week, due to the fact that writers, showrunners, and actors have walked the picket line and not turned up for work. Expect confirmation today from studio NBC Universal that production on hit comedy The Office has in fact been shut down, as I reported yesterday. (For a hilarious and apt behind-the-scenes look at the striking writers on The Office, click here.)

The tally of series that have either had shoots derailed or have shut down completely include: The Office, Old Christine, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Desperate Housewives (which was, however, expected to wrap production this week on their final script), Cane, Back to You, 'Til Death, The Rules of Engagement.

Expect pink slips to fly today like confetti as studios shut down production and let staffers go in the wake of a protracted strike that many believe may continue into 2008.

According to Variety, the working classes will be the first to feel the pinch:

"At 20th Century Fox TV, insiders said assistants and other show staffers will be informed of their fate shortly.

"It will be true across the board, and not just ‘24,' " one exec said, referring to rumors that "24" staffers had already been let go. "There will be layoffs."

Studio reps said they'll attempt to keep workers on as long as there is work to do, but that might not be much longer.

"As those jobs become obsolete and shows finish up their final script, we can't keep those jobs," one exec said."

Elsewhere, Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof was philosophical yesterday about how long the strike would continue and had feverishly worked over the weekend to turn in the eighth script for Season Four of Lost. Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, who likened the possibility of a short season of Lost as "buying a Harry Potter book, reading half of it, and then having to put it down for many months," had included a mini-cliffhanger in the event that ABC would air the eight episodes this season, though it was entirely possible that they would shift the eight installments to 2008-09 for a 24-episode season. Stay tuned while the networks determine their next move for high-profile serialized dramas like Lost and 24, which have yet to launch this season.

TV God Joss Whedon, who watched his writer father strike in 1988 and was "proud" to strike, has spoken out about his resolute support of the WGA strike in an articulate letter to the masses that joins earlier statements made by showrunners Shonda Rhimes and Shawn Ryan.

In speaking of the support of actor-friends like David Boreanaz, Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders, and Alexis Denisof, Whedon says, "They understand that the issues at hand affect the future of the entire creative community here, and that the writers, by virtue of being first, will set a precedent that affects all the guilds. That is why we writers have to be firm, intractable and absolute in our dedication to getting a fair deal. And that’s all we’re talking about: a fair deal. For us, and for generations of artists to come."

In times such as these, it is important, I think, to reflect on that statement and to remember, that no matter what the outcome of this strike in the short- and long-term, the battle is being waged for what is fair and equitable.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Kid Nation (CBS); Phenomenon (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); 41st Annual CMA Awards (ABC; 8-11 pm); Back to You/'Til Death (FOX)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Bionic Woman (NBC); Gossip Girl (CW); Kitchen Nightmares

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Life (NBC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: America's Next Top Model.

On tonight's episode ("The Girls Who Crawl"), Tyra teaches the girls how to model in front of a moving camera and later they shoot a music video with Enrique Iglesias.

9 pm: Bionic Woman.

I'm not really digging Bionic Woman, but Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money have both gotten the boot tonight so that ABC can air the CMA Awards (yawn), so I'm desperate for something to watch. On tonight's episode ("The List"), Jaime and Tom (guest star Jordan Bridges) turn all jetsetter, flying off to Paris for a mission involving Berkut and CIA operatives. Back at home, Becca ends up in jail trying to impress a boy.