STRIKE DRAGS ON FOR SECOND DAY! IS THIS THE END OF WRITTEN WORD?-Joss Whedon

So let's talk about this strike. Every night this week, there's a blurb on the news about day __ of the writer's strike. Are they gonna do this every day of it? Cuz I think this one is going to be a doozy. 25 years ago they went on strike, but not much changed. 2 years ago, they were planning on it, but it never happened (I believe that it was the actors' union that time). But this one...well, they are doing it for a reason I can get behind. Y'know how cool technology is? How you don't have to choose between Heroes, Chuck, and sleep on Mondays at 9? That's because we know that we can always go online an see what we missed. Networks are streaming their shows on their website--so awesome. AND, now you can buy individual episodes on iTunes, so you can take them to go on your iPod.

But here's the thing...while the actors, directors, producers, advertisers, and just about everyone else involved gets some sort of payment for their work, the writers aren't making a cent off of additional showings of their work. So for example, Keifer Sutherland gets paid for his work on 24, then if the show goes online and to iTunes, he gets another check. THEN, if the show goes into syndication (which it has) he gets another check for that.

Writers get money for the original show and syndications, but not that middle, "new technology" stuff. Now please don't misunderstand me...Hollywood has enough money. I stopped watching Friends when the stars demanded (and got!) one mil an episode, somewhere around the 4th season. But writers have a long history in Hollywood for being neglected, so I understand their reasoning.

Hopefully this will all end soon (an in support of the writers!). As it is, most of the late nite talk shows are in reruns, 24 has been postponed, and there will be no more new episodes of our favorites. The Heroes team has reworked an episode to serve as a season ender, in case the strike continues for longer than a few weeks. Lest we forget what this may do to views of shows like Lost: they've already lost (haha) many fans due to the convoluted storytelling ( I am not one of these fans--I learned long ago to trust JJ Abrams and his team and just enjoy the ride). What will a strike mean to shows depending on their fans? And most people who know me, know I feel that the writers are the stars of the shows--Joss, JJ, Tim, and Josh, you're the reasons Buffy, Alias, Heroes, and Chuck/Gossip Girls work. Oh sure, the actors and everyone else are important, but every show begins with a word, and it comes from you guys.

Note to strikers: feeling that writing bug bite? Try your hand at writing a YA novel! I'd love what some of you would do in the publishing field (I'm talkin' to you, Tina Fey!)

And the worst part of all this? More "reality" tv--as if they weren't stealing enoughs jobs from actual actors and writers!

Penny's boy Nick Lachey is 34 today. He's had such a hard time after his divorce, and would really appreciate it if you showed your support by buying his cd, right Pen? Yuck!