Doin' Time

So, like I mentioned earlier this week [I think}, I've been doing an hour of writing every other day as part of this anti-laziness campaign. Now, all of that writing so far has been on a sitcom teleplay that's been rattling around my brain for a year or two that I finally decided to put the proverbial pen to paper on. But I'm kinda stuck on it and I need to write something to fulfill the deal. And yes, it's past midnight on the 13th so I'm technically not writing on the day I'm supposed to write but it'll do, donkey.

The Writers Strike is over!

You can't understand how happy I am about that. For a couple different reasons actually. Mainly, it's because all my favorite shows [well, most] are about to get some extra episodes added to their abbreviated seasons. Shows like Lost will come pretty close to meeting what they had promised. More eps of How I Met Your Mother, 30 Rock, and The Office is awesome. And everyone's favorite guilty pleasure, Gossip Girl, has been instructed to put out as many eps as they can.

But with every silver lining comes a big fuckin' cloud.

Turns out that the 24 team will not go back to work to finish up their season and we are delayed until January 2009. Now, if it were me producing 24 and I was coming off my worst season so far, I'd probably rush my show back on the air to take the bad taste out of everyone's mouth. But that's just me.

Pushing Daisies won't be back til fall which blows but... I'll deal with that one. It was such a pleasant surprise, I won't shed any tears considering we're damn lucky that any of these shows are coming back this spring at all.

But the biggest "fuck you" of all news post-strike? NBC apparently isn't sure if they want to air the last episodes of Scrubs.

...

Let that sink in a second.

The network gave the show seven years on the air and as its final episodes are approaching to wrap the series up, NBC suddenly isn't sure if they want to show them.

Seriously?

You're fucking kidding me, right?

Not only is it a total and blatant slap in the face to all the artists [producers, writers, actors, etc.] that have worked on the show over the past six years to not allow it the send-off it richly deserves but what about the fans? You know, those fans that stuck with the show no matter what even when you jerked them around with late renewals and short seasons and timeslot Musical Fucking Chairs? You know, those same fans that are making 30 Rock and The Office successful because they appreciate smart comedies. Ringing any bells yet?

Apparently the Scrubs execs say they'll finish the show no matter what. They're co-owned by Disney so apparently the option is there to wrap things up on ABC... but God knows how that would turn out. Probably buried in the worst time slot they can possibly dream up. The other option is a straight to DVD release of the final eps. Honestly, I think I'd be happy with that. They could do the shows as they wanted... they could release them as they were meant to be seen and they can go out on the high note they deserve.

NBC has really made some jackass decisions lately. They're damn lucky I have no choice but to watch them for 30 Rock, Earl, and The Office [even though I'd drop Earl in a heartbeat with little sadness if I had to.] Well, Heroes too. Damn you, NBC. But seriously... they put a ton of money into Bionic Woman promotions... a show that was so "eh" that they couldn't even get a huge reaction from a Comic-Con crowd that pretty much jizzes over anything geek-related. And they shitcan Journeyman which was ten times the show that they churn out usually. Apparently they're also considering dropping Friday Night Lights which sadly I haven't been watching but I've heard nothing but great things about and is definitely on my "catch up on DVD someday" list.
God forbid you show quality scripted television. There might be an urgent need to shovel a few more hours of American Gladiators, To Catch A Predator, or the like onto the schedule. Maybe you can create a few dozen more Law And Order spinoffs so we can get "original" stories "ripped from the headlines" which is a nice, cute way of saying, "We pay our writers to sit in front of CNN and write down any shit that Nancy Grace is going to cover tonight." I can't wait for the episode where the steroid-fueled pro wrestler murders his wife and child before offing himself. It'll be money for sure. I know I'll be glued to the TV to watch it... unless it conflicts with one of the dreaded VH1 reality shows which are like visual crack.

Jesus... that was a major tangent.

Anyways... my other reason for being happy about the strike being over?

Apparently they got a decent deal... better than they expected. As an aspiring writer who would treasure a WGA membership card, I'm happy that they made the sacrifice for the future. Since the entire disagreement was based on residuals, it really is more for the future of the union... the future members who aren't quite there yet. Sure, some current writers will benefit but as the Internet becomes more and more a force in television/film viewing, it's those who've yet to pen their first screenplay that will beenfit. And for that, I thank them in advance.

I mean, they took a lot of heat from people for it... even from members of their own union. I don't think people quite understand the conviction and courage it takes to go out on strike like that. Overall, I'm not a huge union fan because I've been burned by watching the major sports unions do their damndest to torture fans all over the world. I've also had the displeasure of being bullied by union rules on worksites at my last job. But... honestly, to walk out of your job with no guarantee of when you're going back? Guts. To risk your house, your health, your children's educations, your... well, you get the point. It's an admirable... or really stupid... thing to do. Let me know which one you decide it is.

Anyways... the strike is over... I've written for 20 minutes or so now... uhhhh... more in a bit maybe?

Pens to paper, my friends. Pens to paper.