I openly admit that I voted for Kelly Clarkson several times during Season 1 of American Idol. That was the first and last time that I ever called in to support a reality TV show contestant. I remember exactly when and why I picked up the phone. It was Big Band week, and I literally jumped off of the couch with applause when she just nailed it with the song “Stuff Like That There.” Honestly, I have not watched an entire season of that show since. After Kelly, I simply lost interest.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are that you are a fan of specific television shows and movies. Well, those 12,000 men and women on strike have made every single TV series and film you’ve ever seen possible. Here is a petition that supports the Writers Guild of America; sign it now because we are all on their side (regardless of the fact that some of you might be annoyed/disappointed by how the strike is affecting your favorite shows). It was created earlier today and already contains almost 5,000 digital signatures.

For my part, here are additional steps I am going to take in support of the writers, who have in many ways made me into the pop culture sponge that I am today:

• TV online & on iTunes: Every week I was watching 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, Life, Men in Trees, My Name is Earl and Ugly Betty online. No more. Not until the writers of these shows (and all others from shows that are available free online or via iTunes) receive compensation for this medium (right now they earn absolutely nothing).

• TV on DVD: I own several box sets of television shows on DVD. The writers receive only $.04 per set or DVD sold, and they are asking for a mere $.04 more. So until this is resolved, I shall rent entire seasons of shows rather than purchase them. [Admittedly, not buying Season 3 of Lost is going to be VERY challenging for me; it comes out the night before I'm having surgery and I was planning to watch all of it during recovery. But I'll suck it up and make do, because to me, the writers on this show deserve their just due more than anyone else in the industry right now. Hi, I'm biased.]

This isn’t going away quickly, and neither am I. My coverage of the strike will continue until it ends (although judging from the crickets in the comments section, my readers are either already over it or, sadly, not interested).

So go on, channel your inner Norma Rae. Sign the petition, bookmark and read United Hollywood (the WGA writers’ blog), and leave comments of support for them. You know you want to.

February 4, 2008. Mark your calendars, Lost fans. That is the rumored start date for Season 4.

Insert very large sigh of relief here. I totally support the writers, so I would have waited patiently until 2009 for all of Season 4 to air without interruption…but I’m glad that I don’t have to now.
 

In addition to the sites that I listed in the the two previous blogs, here are some new ones to bookmark for writers strike updates and inside perspectives.

As for Lost, today on EW.com, executive producer Carlton Cuse (who is a WGA negotiating committee member and is picketing along with producing partner Damon Lindelof) said the following about how the strike will affect the filming and airing of the show:

“It will feel like buying a Harry Potter book, reading half of it,
and then having to put it down for many months. There
is a cliffhanger at the end of the eighth episode. It will only be
frustrating [for viewers] to have to step away from the show and not
see the second half of the season.

The first half of the season, like a good novel, sets all the
events of the show in motion and the second half deals with the
consequences. We’re very proud of the first eight but
it feels weird to have to stop literally mid-stream.”

Well, fellow Losties, what do you think? Comments are open again on this site, and I know you’re not shy.

Recognize the
names below? You should. They are just a few of the more popular and successful writers/creators/show-runners among the 12,000 members of the
Writers Guild of America who are currently picketing in Los Angeles and New York due to unfair compensation (little to no residuals for their work on DVD and when watched or downloaded online).

This should give
you an idea about the scope of this strike and the status of your
favorite shows.

• Greg Berlanti (Brothers and Sisters, Dirty Sexy Money)
  
• Jenny Bicks (Men in Trees)
• Daniel Cerone (Dexter)
• Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives)
  
• Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (Lost)
• Greg Daniels (The Office)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock)
• Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl)
• Matt Groening (The Simpsons)
  
• Hart Hanson (Bones)
• Silvio Horta & Marco Pennette (Ugly Betty)
  
• Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights)
• David E. Kelley (Boston Legal)
• Tim Kring (Heroes)
  
• Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men)
• Seth McFarlane (Family Guy)
  
• Carol Mendelsohn (CSI)
  
• Marti Noxon (Private Practice)
• Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice)
• Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Unit)
• Josh Schwartz (Chuck, Gossip Girl)
  
• David Shore (House)
• David Simon (The Wire)
• Matt Weiner (Mad Men)
  
• John Wells (ER)
  
• Craig Wright (Dirty Sexy Money)

For a more comprehensive look, here is the ad that the WGA placed in Variety.