TV on the rebound

Finally there are a few things to watch on television. Finally, finally I won't have to wait through another round of My Dad is Better than Your Dad, or the dreaded Moment of Truth. The times they are a changing. It seems like development deals are all over the place these past two weeks or so, and spirits are high with old shows finally starting to return to the airwaves and new shows getting their due. The writers strike may have claimed a few casualties along the way, but ultimately it was a necessary step that I think really will help the industry. Now the question remains, will SAG follow suit and walk off the job this coming summer... Hopefully that's not why the deals seems so fervent recently, hopefully people aren't just working in desperation preparing for the next big blow. We'll have to see where we are in a while...

For now lets be happy. Lost is, and has been going strong for the last few weeks, Juliet's episode not withstanding. This past weeks Sun and Jin story was simply fantastic, and next week we'll finally get to see what happened to Michael in this seasons mini cliffhanger. Very exciting stuff. I thought that the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles finale was excellent. Brian Austin Green as an addition to the cast is perfect and if a second season does get approved I sure hope he returns permanently. Breaking Bad has a wonderful season finale. And some of the new shows that are starting up like New Amsterdam show potential. It's a good time for tv.

The really solid show that no ones watching Friday Night Lights has been renewed for a third season. This show has been on the verge of cancellation for a while now, but this new deal NBC has struck is really interesting. According to Ausiello's report over at TV Guide, NBC has partnered with Direct TV and will share costs on the show. Direct TV will probably getting first crack at airings, followed in suit by NBC. Weird I know, but anything to keep the show on the air is good.

And speaking of shows that you thought were gone getting a comeback, NBC looks to be renewing the uber long, and mostly annoying ER for a 15th season. sigh... just so long as my hero John Stamos has a job. In actually exciting news though the rumors of Scrubs return for a final season look to really by true. Scrubs is going back into production for an 18 episode final season, only its moving over to ABC!

New shows are making their appearances all over the place too at the moment. Obviously New Amsterdam, but there's Canterbury's Law (apparently a courtroom version of House), Unhitched, Oprah's Big Give all of which have had premieres in the last few weeks. And upcoming shows Miss Guided (which I think honestly looks funny), and The Return of Jezebel James. I haven't had a chance to check these all out but whether they last or not, I definitely would like to investigate more. Metacritic has a good run down of shows upcoming for this mid season.

Old fun shows like How I Met your Mother (with upcoming guest star Britney Spears! and new love interest Sarah Chalke!), Big Bang Theory, and I believe New Adventures of Old Christine are returning with new episodes this week. And ratings powerhouse Grey's Anatomy is coming back in two or three weeks as well. Of course my wife is probably most excited about the premiere of the new (and British) Bachelor series. But I personally am more into the new season of South Park which started this past week, and the always entertaining Big Brother.

The Hollywood Reporter has put together a snazzy little article about shows 'on the bubble' and where we might find them once upfronts are announced for next season. Check out their list as well. Some of the things I find it most interesting that they speculate that Terminator should be coming back, which is awesome, and makes sense with the buzz that is sure to grow as the new movie gears up for release. Jericho, the show saved by the fans, is not likely to make a comeback though. Rumor has it the producers had two versions of the final episode shot, one for if it gets picked up, and one if it isn't. Shows that should probably be canceled are likely to comeback: Prison Break, According to Jim, and Moonlight; and others like Reaper and Aliens in America are not. And the really ridiculous Knight Rider series looks like it will become a reality.

Finally a few brand new shows are on the horizon for us to speculate about. Totally unasked for, the CW is planning an updated version of Beverly Hills 90210. NBC looks to be signing Christian Slater into his first regular tv role as a Jekyll & Hyde style character who one day wake up from his boring suburban life to find that his alter ego is a super spy. Mitch Hurwitz, the man behind Arrested Development is putting together a new primetime animated show for FOX called Sit Down, Shut Up about a self centered high school faculty. And the short lived 90s show Cupid, about a man who believes Zeus has given him the mission of matching couples, is making a comeback on ABC in a new re-imagining.

We're sure to get more info on these and more as we move into the Spring. One thing for sure, tv is definitely on the rebound; both on air, and in development. And this revitalization is exactly what we need now. The break has far been too long. Thank goodness for television.
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Upcoming Marvel - 02/08

Care of SuperheroHype! here is Marvel's list of upcoming projects...

It should be noted that because of the writers strike, Marvel will probably not have 2 feature films in 2009, as is their business plan from 2010 and onward. Which film will make the cut for '09 though is still up in the air. SHH thinks it will be Thor, and I hope so too.

Feature Film Projects Being Developed by Marvel – partial list
Iron Man, Marvel - Scheduled for May 2, 2008 release
The Incredible Hulk, Marvel - Scheduled for June 13, 2008 release
Ant-Man, Marvel - Writer/director engaged
Captain America, Marvel - Writer engaged
Thor, Marvel - Writer engaged
The Avengers, Marvel - Writer engaged

Licensed Marvel Character Feature Film Line-Up
Punisher: War Zone, Lionsgate - Completed principal photography; scheduled for September 12, 2008 release
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fox - Director engaged; scheduled for May 1, 2009 release

Marvel Character Animated TV Projects
Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, Moonscoop SAS (France) - 26, 30-minute episodes airing internationally.
Spectacular Spider-Man, Sony - In development; US distribution agreement with Kids’ WB; scheduled for Spring 2008 release.
Wolverine and the X-Men, First Serve Toonz (India) - 26, 30-minute episodes in development; scheduled for Spring 2009 release.
Iron Man: The Animated Series, Method Films (France) - 26, 30-minute episodes in development; scheduled for Spring 2008 release.
Hulk: The Animated Series, TBD -In development; scheduled for Spring 2009 release.
Super Hero Squad, TBD - In development; scheduled for Spring 2009 release.

Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-DVD Projects
Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, Lionsgate - Scheduled for August 2008 release.
Hulk Vs., Lionsgate - Scheduled for January 2009 release.
Thor: Son of Asgard, Lionsgate - Scheduled for September 2009 release.
Planet Hulk, Lionsgate - Scheduled for February 2010 release.

Marvel Character Live Stage Projects
Spider-Man, the Musical, Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment
In development/opening date to be determined; Julie Taymor director; music & lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge

Marvel 2007 – 2008 Video Game Releases (Release dates controlled by Publishing partner)
Sega, Iron Man - Scheduled for release Friday, May 2, 2008.
Sega, The Incredible Hulk - Scheduled for release Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
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It's all over baby

Well basically. Still waiting on a few dotted i's and crossed t's by the AMPTP, but reportedly the proposed settlement between the striking WGA and the studios has come to a fruitful conclusion today. Official or not, it seems fair to say: THE STRIKE IS OVER.

As I mentioned a few days ago as this deal was looming after a tentative 'informal' agreement was reached a week ago. Care of United Hollywood, here is the letter sent out to guild members...
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To Our Fellow Members,

We have a tentative deal.

It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery. It creates formulas for revenue-based residuals in new media, provides access to deals and financial data to help us evaluate and enforce those formulas, and establishes the principle that, "When they get paid, we get paid."

Specific terms of the agreement are described in the summary at the following link - http://www.wga.org/contract_07/wga_tent_summary.pdf - and will be further discussed at our Saturday membership meetings on both coasts. At those meetings we will also discuss how we will proceed regarding ratification of this agreement and lifting the restraining order that ends the strike. Details of the Los Angeles meeting can be found at http://www.wga.org/subpage_member.aspx?id=2763.

Less than six months ago, the AMPTP wanted to enact profit-based residuals, defer all Internet compensation in favor of a study, forever eliminate "distributor's gross" valuations, and enforce 39 pages of rollbacks to compensation, pension and health benefits, reacquisition, and separated rights. Today, thanks to three months of physical resolve, determination, and perseverance, we have a contract that includes WGA jurisdiction and separated rights in new media, residuals for Internet reuse, enforcement and auditing tools, expansion of fair market value and distributor's gross language, improvements to other traditional elements of the MBA, and no rollbacks.

Over these three difficult months, we shut down production of nearly all scripted content in TV and film and had a serious impact on the business of our employers in ways they did not expect and were hard pressed to deflect. Nevertheless, an ongoing struggle against seven, multinational media conglomerates, no matter how successful, is exhausting, taking an enormous personal toll on our members and countless others. As such, we believe that continuing to strike now will not bring sufficient gains to outweigh the potential risks and that the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike.

Much has been achieved, and while this agreement is neither perfect nor perhaps all that we deserve for the countless hours of hard work and sacrifice, our strike has been a success. We activated, engaged, and involved the membership of our Guilds with a solidarity that has never before occurred. We developed a captains system and a communications structure that used the Internet to build bonds within our membership and beyond. We earned the backing of other unions and their members worldwide, the respect of elected leaders and politicians throughout the nation, and the overwhelming support of fans and the general public. Our thanks to all of them, and to the staffs at both Guilds who have worked so long and patiently to help us all.

There is much yet to be done and we intend to use all the techniques and relationships we've developed in this strike to make it happen. We must support our brothers and sisters in SAG who, as their contract expires in less than five months, will be facing many of the same challenges we have just endured. We must further pursue new relationships we have established in Washington and in state and local governments so that we can maintain leverage against the consolidated multinational conglomerates with whom we bargain. We must be vigilant in monitoring the deals that are made in new media so that in the years ahead we can enforce and expand our contract. We must fight to get decent working conditions and benefits for writers of reality TV, animation, and any other genre in which writers do not have a WGA contract.

Most important, however, is to continue to use the new collective power we have generated for our collective benefit. More than ever, now and beyond, we are all in this together.

Best,

Patric M. Verrone
President, WGAW

Michael Winship
President, WGAE

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Yes, the AMPTP are dragging their feet slightly on the final naggling issues, trying to squeeze their last possible cent, point, or whatnot through the door as it closes behind them; and the WGA is talking about holding a vote within the next 48 hours to ratify the terms of the deal. Generally speaking though, this deal is done. The 3 month long writers strike really finally is over. And a formal final FINAL end will probably come Monday, or early next week.

Keep an eye on TV Guide's strike watch page as they will be updating us all on the fate of our favorite tv shows as soon as they get official word. However as I mentioned most likely we will be getting the older established hits back for a few more episodes this season, and the freshman shows will have to hold off until the Fall. As for Lost, and Heroes... who can say yet. Of course rampant speculation on some of the films that could get back on track immediately has already begun, thanks to IGN and Variety. They specifically mention Angels & Demons, JLA, and Transformers 2 as properties that could possibly move forward very rapidly. I for one doubt it, but I suppose they could.

Really, at this point, we should just be happy that the strike is ending, and enjoy whatever tv and movie we do get with a minimum of griping. Even if it is more ridiculous yet so very very addictive Big Brother episodes...

At least we've got the Oscars coming up :)
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Lost is back, sweet

I just wanted to mention how great I think it is that Lost is back in action now. This show is seriously one of the best pieces of television ever. The first two episodes this season have been great. I think we need another two or three more to get a real sense of where this season is going, or would be if not for the strike interruption, but I like the way were just being thrown into it.

The Hurley flash forward in the premiere was excellently handled, only now I'm left stumped as to who might be the other members of the Oceanic Six... I'd guess one is the man Kate had to get back to in the season 3 finale, and another is probably the dead man in the coffin, but who is the other one. My guess, is that its Sawyer, waiting for Kate back home, and Ben in the coffin. I also think that the flash forwards are not the end of the series. My theory is that at least the final full season will take place back on the island, only after the flash forwards... exactly.

Logistically speaking only 8 episodes of Lost were made before the strike hit. All 8 episodes are scheduled to air weekly until they are finished for this season. With the strike looking to end now, the fate of the show to come for this season, is still up in the air. Most likely, the 8 produced episodes will suffice until at least the Fall, but who knows what ABC has up their sleeve.

As a mini spoiler, if you're interested in knowing who will star in the flash forward/back for the 8th and final episode of this contracted season, just highlight ahead to read that it is all about Michael.

Finally, remember to fly Oceanic Air.
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strike ending soon?

The news has been trickling in since Sunday night that the writers strike is nearing a speedy end. A tentative agreement has apparently been reached, albeit without the aid of "formal" negotiations, that both the WGA and the AMPTP are reportedly able to live with. The main sticking point of that agreement, is the brokered revenues for internet content. Supposedly the deal is similar, if not better, to the one that the AMPTP made with the DGA a short while ago.

While of course nothing is set in stone by this purported tentative agreement, people genuinely seem positive that this strike may be finally coming to a close. Reports that it could end as early as next week have been giving writers some well deserved hope. Of course nothing is formal yet, and I've little doubt that either side could screw things up, but the formal proposal is scheduled to be presented at the negotiating table this Saturday, Feb 9th, and we'll see what happens from there. To keep totally on top of this though, I like surfing the TV Guide's Strike Watch blog for the latest.

As Michale Ausiello reports in his excellent blog, the networks are expected to start devising and revealing plans for the future of their seasons as soon as an outcome has been determined. And he already has the unofficial scoop on the proposed fate of a number of ABC shows. Established big hits Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty and Brother's & Sisters are expected to resume filming as early as the end of March with the intention to put 4 or 5 more episodes on our screens before the season is out, while newer shows that are returning are expected to hold off until a summer shooting scheduled and a fall relaunch. And this is expected to be the pattern the other big networks take. As for Lost, Heroes and 24, for now there's no word. I know it's seems like there is a lot of new stuff on tv these days, but just check out this updated list of the shows left to us; 'seriously dwindling' is a phrase that I think describes the situation well.

But regardless of when we get our shows back I definitely think this has gone on for long enough. The writers deserve compensation for their work, and I'm glad to see that the AMPTP sounds like its finally starting to come to some reasonable terms. Lets keep our fingers crossed that this is all over by next week, and definitely in time for the Oscars.
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New deals with the WGA

Two great new deals were announced today between studios and the WGA. Both classified as interim deals I've no doubt these will be supplanted once the major studios and consequently the AMPTP gives up their stubborn ways and accepts the WGAs terms. I'm still very excited about these deals, because it means not only that some writers will be able to get back to work, but that these studios will be able to move forward on their films; and these are probably my two favorite studios. The first deal was struck with Lionsgate, creators of such esteemed new films as Rambo, Punisher: War Zone, and The Spirit. And the second with Marvel Studios, makers of all things comic and great. Their projects that have been currently stalled by the strike include Thor, Captain America, Ant Man, and more. So from my perspective, this is really just great news all around.

Here's hoping this will help the AMPTP realize that they need to shape up. Either that, or face a time in the very near future when their colleagues at studios who have made deals are raking in the money from an entertainment starved public and they are still sitting on their stubborn hands.
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Justice League on hold

Well it's official now, and thank goodness, The Justice League movie has been put on "indefinite hold", until at the very least after the writers strike ends. Hopefully that will give everyone time to think things through and for everyone to realize that their approach was all wrong from the get go.

I do feel bad for George Miller who seemed to genuinely think he was headed in the right direction, but I applaud Warner for not rushing headlong into something like this.

Whats to become of the stand alone Flash and Green Lantern movies? Will the rumored Megan Gale still don the star-spangled swimsuit? And what does this really mean for Superman: The Man of Steel?

Those are questions that we will be left wondering for now...

UPDATE - The Hollywood Reporter and Variety make note specifically of which actors contracts has been allowed to lapse, and hence we have finally an actual semi-official listing of the cast that was to be. And since Warners has said, at least for now, that they want to make this movie with these actors at some point, this list could be something we'll be seeing more of. As the man of steel Superman, we find D.J. Cotrona, as the dark knight Batman, Armie Hammer Jr., as Wonder Woman, Megan Gale, as The Flash, Adam Brody, and as john stewart Green Lantern, Common. their lists also include Anton Yelchin, and Teresa Palmer. I think Anton was going to play The Martin Manhunter, and Teresa was going to play Lois Lane, but I could be off base there as those roles specifically aren't mentioned. Anyhow, it definitely is interesting to see where they were going with this film, and it's still quite clear to me that this delay is a good thing for everyone. Well everyone except the actors.
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It stings doesn't it...

Oh that's right Hollywood. Feel the burn. Because your precious Golden Globe Awards show has been CANCELED!!!

After negotiations between the HFPA and the WGA to find a common ground for the awards ceremony that would permit writers to work on the show fell through last week it became clear that there were serious problems afoot. But then when SAG president Alan Rosenberg urged union actors across LALAland to boycott the ceremony, and show their solidarity by not crossing picket lines we went into crisis mode.

And now as reported here it looks like NBC have crumbled under the weighty proposal of a starless telecast. And what pray tell do they have planned in place of the GG awards? What will be put up against FOX's premiere of The Sarah Connor Chronicles? Why a series of super exciting News Telecasts that will reveal the GG winners!!! Wow, the glamor is almost too much to take...

Here's the schedule:
-- At 7 PM, we will air a Dateline with clips and interviews with nominees. (Currently scheduled to air for two hours on Saturday night.)
-- At 8 PM, we are negotiating with Dick Clark Enterprises for a one-hour retrospective/clip show.
-- At 9 PM there will be a press conference covered by NBC News announcing the Golden Globe winners. (9pm-10pm)
-- At 10 PM, we will broadcast an "Access Hollywood" style, Golden Globes party show...visiting the various parties in Hollywood

Wow. When you talk about Hollywood magic I definitely think Brian Williams announcing the Golden Globe winner for best make up in a Lifetime movie...

I hope this makes the AMPTP wake up some, I mean Jesus Murphy, is this what I can expect from my Oscars too???

All this hot on the heels of official word that Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner's United Artists production company has struck a deal with the WGA along a similar lines to Letterman's Wold Wide Pants to become the second production company able to get back to work. And while it may effectively be only a temporary agreement before a larger reaching one is hammered out, it does absolutely nothing to strengthen the studios position.

This news just makes me more and more unhappy with the AMPTP. They need to get back to the table and cut a friggin' deal asap. If this strike bleeds into a SAG strike this summer we probably won't even remember what real television looks like by the time we get anything back.

Watch Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles premiere on 01/13.
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The end is near for Journeyman

Since I've been so busy lately I think I missed mentioning this Journeyman news last week, but NBC has allowed the options on the actors contracts to expire, freeing them to seek other work if desired. Not exactly an outright death sentence, but effectively the same thing. As far as I understand it for most shows the ongoing strike will eventually effect a force majeure contract clause which rather sneakily allows the AMPTP to duck out of liability for contract breach and avoid their potential debt due to halted production. Great loophole jackasses.

Anyhow, Journeyman has one more episode to air, and I say its a real shame. This show is totally just hitting its stride creatively. Each episode especially since the 2 parter a few weeks ago has been consistently better than the last. I'm getting involved in the fate of these characters and I'm pissed that it looks like it's not going to get another chance.

It feels like good genre shows always get screwed. Thank god for Heroes, and the few others like Lost which can buck the trend.

If you believe the hype you can still act to save Jouneyman by visiting Savejourneyman.net They're trying to organize a Rice-a-roni campaign in the same vein as the Jericho nuts saga of last year. Can internet lightning strike twice in consecutive seasons? I doubt it, even though I'd say Journeyman is more deserving that Jericho.

So with that I will say my personal fond farewells to yet another great genre show cut down far too soon. We'll miss you dearly Journeyman. It was really getting good too...
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Latenight to return

Well, the writers strike doesn't look like its going to be ending anytime soon, but we may be getting a new dose of late night tv regardless.

According to The USA Today Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are both planning a return to the airwaves as early as January 2nd. They will be joining Carson Daly who is already back on the air, as well as 'probably but not definitely' yet David Letterman, and Craig Ferguson, who are currently in the midst of their own direct negotiations with the writers guild.

The late night slate will obviously be missing the two most important pundits though, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert who rely on a much more scripted format for their shows.

While I'm interested to see what they do, the big dogs on the air for an hour a night without a net. Can they really just fly off the cuff like that? The word on the street is that back in the strike of '88 when Letterman hit the screen sans writers it was just about the worst thing on television. Now I have faith in Conan O'Brien, but really I have to be practical minded about this.

And what does this mean for the writers? I believe that these hosts have all gone on record in support of their writing teams? Does falling to this pressure to return to work hurt the cause of the writers; or will it just show the networks that without material even the best comedians will fall flat...
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Journeyman to end unfinished?

Maybe...

According to this article over at AICN, and their source this Premium Hollywood interview with Kevin Falls, series producer, it looks like there may not be room on NBC's schedule for the 12th and probably final episode of Journeyman. While nothing is set in stone yet, the way they're shifting things around and whatnot it looks kinda dicey for my current favorite time traveling show. And as Falls explains, NBC wants to wrap things up and clear their slate for January. I just hope Journeyman isn't another casualty.

This damn writers strike sucks. I hope I don't have to wait for the dvds to find the answers I'm looking for... come on NBC, don't do this to the fans :(

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Films fall to the strike

While I want to believe that these can all get back on track eventually, and hopefully even easier than a fallen tv series; a few films have started to feel the pressure of the WGA strike and fold before they get stuck in the lurch.

Oliver Stone's Pinkville, and Ron Howard's Da Vinci Code sequel Angels & Demons have both been put on indefinite hold after not quite managing to put their pieces in place before the strike began a few weeks ago. Both high profile pictures Pinkville is based on the on the investigation into the very screwed up Mai Lai Massacre in Vietnam, and was set to star Bruce Willis. If the strike does end soon its possible that the film could continue, but according to Variety Willis is set to start filming Jonathan Mostow's The Surrogates in February, so we'll have to see what 's what when the time comes.... hmm, odd about that Surrogates film, isn't Mostow set to direct something else? hmmm. As for Angels & Demons, well that seems more likely to actually come together. Disney has simply pushed the release date for the film back from Christmas '08 to May 15th '09. Unless this strike really goes on for a long time (which it admittedly might), then that should cover their bases.

Variety also reports that production has been delayed on Shantaram, a film set to star Johnny Depp in a role... well only a role Depp could play. Check out the wacked out sounding story on the wiki; sounds great if weird. And finally Rob Marshall's proposed musical about a stressed out director called Nine set to star Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz has been put on the backburner until the second half of '08. Sigh.

The good news is strike talks are expected to resume on November 26th (which is tomorrow morning) so let's all keep our fingers crossed that this is the beginning of the end, and our films don't start to fall apart like our tv shows. This could well be the first cinematic casualties of many; but I certainly hope not.

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Ross on WGA strike

Jason Ross of The Daily Show gives a rundown of the WGA strike right from the front lines. Funny stuff :)



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TV Show Death Grid

Care of the LA Times and their excellent WGA Strike Blog, they've very nicely put together a very readable grid of what's happening with your favorite shows. Like I mentioned yesterday, its really a different scenario for each show, and for each network. I would feel bad just copying it here, so I'll just say you should definitely check it out. It shed a lot of light on where the tv season stands.

here's the link to The LA Time TV Grid

Also some more shake ups as a fallout of the strike, FOX have announced their plans for the tv schedule in January. Check out a rundown of all the changes over at TV Guide. The biggest note, is the revelation that they will NOT be airing 24 until they have more of a full season to work with.

We can only hope that this logic will apply to ABC regarding Lost as well. The fans don't want to be short changed.

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And the list grows

More casualties of the Writers Guild strike.

Ain't It Cool News has something of a roundup of more shows, and especially showrunners who are picketing. Read their story with personal accounts here. Also check out this piece from EW and Comingsoon.net, as well as this great piece from Michael Ausiello at TV Guide.

Shows affected immediately should include The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Conan O'Brien, and all the other late night shows, as well as some game shows. I know the writers on Jeopardy were picketing yesterday. But Dancing With the Star this Week is relying on the improv skills of its hosts, so we'll see if that works out.

The Office has should have stopped production with many of its cast members of the WGA. Although NBC claims that work continues as usual. Rules of Engagement however has officially stopped filming. And Julia Louise Dreyfuss and Tina Fey are picketing their own shows, so those will have stopped as well. Writers alongside their respective showrunners are picketing Battlestar Gallactica, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Desperate Housewives, and Pushing Daisies. Also word on unrest from J.J. Abrams and the Lost producers. And Tim Kring of Heroes, who apparently wouldn't complete the last minute weekend rewrite for that final scene expected to round out the season in December. And even more with showrunners for Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, The Shield, The Oaks and The Unit all picketing.

Another casualty, possibly for good happened when ABC made the decision to remove their new show Cashmere Mafia from the schedule completely... is this the first of many?

These shows still may of course have a few episodes in the can. And some series will have scripts locked down so that they can shoot an additional episode or two, that is if the actors aren't picketing themselves. So its not exactly clear what the picketing will mean, it's being determined on a show by show basis for now. Eventually though even if the shows are filming one or two more episodes they will be forced to shut down. Most will be fine up through November sweeps, and probably last until at least mid December. After that though, who knows.

Variety has set up a strike blog. And so has TV Guide. Those alongside the LA Times strike news should keep us up to speed.

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more strike stuff

Pop Candy has a good post rounding up a few points and links to others regarding the Writers Strike. Apparently Tina Fey was picketing outside Rockefeller plaza this morning. Its good to see that everyone is united on this.

A few things to mention right off. The late night shows, at least The Daily Show and Colbert Report will be immediately affected by the strike. As will shows like The Office where a number of the writers are also actors. Will they cross picket lines.... I think probably not.

As the most recent TV Guide Talk podcast pointed out, the soap operas might just die a quick death. Can they sustain themselves with a potentially long break? I don't think so. Back in '88, the last time the writers went on strike the soaps hired scabs to continue their shows. Will they do that again?

It's hard to see where this will all go. Shows like Lost, and 24 are probably going to have to wait to even begin airing, because I'm sure they would hate to be forced to stop in the middle. Check out this interesting blog post by Brian K Vaughan of Lost. And while new shows like Sarah Connor Chronicles can probably stay in the can until later, will the studio want to keep paying to keep production offices open on a show that no ones seen?

And finally according to this story it looks like the final 6 episodes of the final season of Scrubs can be chalked up as yet another casualty of the strike.

This LA Times blog has good continuing updates on the entire affair.

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Heroes ending early :(

Ok, first Heroes Origins cancelled and now this sad, sad news...and frankly its only going to get worse before it gets better.

Michael Aussiello the talented and wise sage over at TV Guide has spilled that Heroes production crew are prepping an early end to the season in light of the writers strike. Apparently an alternate ending for the December 3rd episode has been written, but not filmed yet. This ending will allow that episode originally intended to be the end of this story pod entitled "Generations", to serve as the final episode for the season.

If the writers strike were to end tomorrow, then yes they would probably go back into production for January shows, but that simply isn't going to happen. Chalk this up as another casualty.

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Heroes Origins CANCELLED!!

Man this sucks!

Heroes Origins, the planned spin-off series set to air next April has been scrapped by NBC. According to TV Guide, there has been no official comment as to why, but speculation favors the impending writers strike is behind the cancellation. Hopefully the writers strike won't happen and NBC will reverse this decision.

If not, then I declare Heroes Origins the first official casualty of the strike...

This is a sad, sad day :(

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