Support The Writer's Strike

It really doesn't matter how much of a cost savings the networks think they are going to have due to the Writer's strike and the increased reliance on reality shows, that will dry up soon. While America may be a superficial nation in more regards than are seemly, reality television is only attractive to those who like to see others suffer and fail. That glow will pall soon. Perhaps if networks would let new shows air more than once or twice, they wouldn't have to produce so many pilots. Some shows are so bad that the don't need more than one or two airings before being canceled, but shows like Firefly were canceled even though they had a loyal following.

I worked at Universal for several years and the one thing that was made clear to me, even more that years of television watching, is that the majority of shows are made for the lowest common denominator. That doesn't require much talent from anyone involved. Heroes was a brilliant show last year, but when they dumbed it down at the beginning of the season it lost viewers. I watched the first year of Desperate Housewives but three episodes into the second season, I was done. Brilliant writing, not notations from executives trying to homogenize everything to increase viewership, is the key. This explains my love of the third season of Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica and other "arc" shows.

The Writer's strike is having an effect because the writers are valuable. Actors, directors and studio heads can, and have, been replaced and the shows have continued successfully. Usually when you replace the head writers or creators, the show goes down hill and gets canceled. Bionic Woman is the current example.

I miss The Daily Show and the Colbert Report, they need to come back so we have truth in news again. I know they are supposed to be comedy shows but they are the only ones who bother to comment on the important stuff that is glossed over by the news organizations in their efforts to be the Bush administration's mouthpieces.

The holidays will be over soon and then the networks are probably going to notice a big drop in viewership as people rediscover talking with friends, playing with their kids and pets or surf the internet for entertainment and intellectual stimulation. Paying the writers a decent wage and continuing to pay them every time the shows are aired, no matter what medium, is the smart thing to do. Trying to keep all the money for themselves will leave the studios all dressed up and no where to go. Not even to the awards ceremonies.

3Bs

Because It's The Write Thing To Do

Support the Writer's Strike, they deserve to make a living wage. Heck, they deserve to make a profit. You have no idea how different their original story is from what finally makes it to the screen. Don't blame them because producers and studio executives are frustrated writers without an original idea so they have to steal from those they have power over.



Have you seen the commercials with the digital actors? The producers want all the money for themselves. Very little work on their part, massive return to their pockets. Just like the rest of big business.

Raging And Caving

I guess the ratings for Las Vegas (I miss James Caan) were lower than I thought. It has been on the air for five years and now the WaPo has a story about the link between casino surveillance and counterterrorism. Better late than never. Funny, I don't mind being watched in a bank or casino but I do mind everywhere else. I realize that I'm a "Taurus" but that shouldn't be an excuse for being daft.

Rage and cave. What an apt description of the Demowienies. I never paid much attention to Chris Dodd before, but right now the man is my hero. I despair of any positive change in Washington, our representatives seem to be a little too morally compromised. They take the money and the perks to do the job but they don't vote int he best interests of their constituents. Frauds on the taxpayer dime. It should be illegal.

I worked at Universal Studios during the last writer's strike and it was not a pretty picture. Besides the ridiculous shows and movies that resulted from that debacle, so many small businesses disappeared. Flower shops and restaurants were especially affected. Businesses in Hollywood survive on schmoozing. This is going to get ugly. And yes, the new season really does suck. It's lame. Heroes has become a snore fest and Bionic Woman could do with a scene of Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner talking about how 50 million just doesn't go as far as 6 million did back in the day. If it wasn't for Katee Sackhoff and Miguel Ferrer, the show would be completely unwatchable.

Coming up, more rage and cave. Bush wants another 46 billion for war operations in various parts of the globe. I guess that why he couldn't spare 35 billion for children's healthcare. The man has chutzpah, he phrases the request saying that anybody in Congress who is interested in success in Iraq and with bringing the troops home sooner, should vote to give him the money. They'll probably give him 50 billion just so they can say they supported the troops. Into more caskets.