A Possible Break In The Writer's Strike?

There may be good news when it comes to the writer's strike that has paralyzed Hollywood.
The Writer's Guild of America has agreed to restart talks with studios and networks on November 26th--right after the Thanksgiving holiday. And according to the "Los Angeles Times," the two sides may be closer on the issue of residuals for the Internet and other new media content, which sparked the two-week-old walkout.
Why a change of heart in getting talks back on track? Money. Says the "Times":
"The strike was starting to cause economic pain. At least two dozen TV shows have come to a grinding halt. The late-night shows, including "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," and "Late Show With David Letterman," went into repeats because those shows are topical and dependent on guild writers. A wave of prime-time comedies also shut down, including CBS' "Two and a Half Men" and NBC's "The Office," as well as such popular dramas as ABC's "Desperate Housewives"....The disruption of production threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of crew members as well as administrative assistants and other workers who risked the loss of their jobs when several studios suspended production deals with top writer-producers. Both sides are motivated to resolve the dispute before it disrupts next year's pilot season. Scores of businesses that feed on the (Los Angeles) area's $30-billion entertainment industry also saw their businesses take a hit."
It's all about the Benjamins, folks. And if it get the warring factions back to the bargaining table, that's good news for we viewers--"The Office" has already aired its final pre-strike episode, and the supply of other shows is getting mightly low.

"Trading Spaces": Can Gordon Ramsay's Producers Breathe New Life Into The Format?

Not so long ago, the US cable channel TLC was riding high on the success of "Trading Spaces" (an Americanized version of the UK hit "Changing Rooms). But it became overexposed and ratings started to fall. The producers kicked out its perky host Page Davis; several of its best-known designers and carpenters went on to other home shows (Ty Pennington is now the star of the very popular "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition;" designer Vern Yip and hunky builder Carter Osterhouse have their own series on HGTV). And fewer viewers have tuned in--from an average of four million per week down to less than a million.
Now it seems TLC is giving "Trading Spaces" another shot with a major facelift. Out was the old production company; the new firm behind the scenes is A. Smith & Company--the same production firm responsible for Gordon Ramsay's two series on Fox, "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares." What's more, Page Davis will return as host.
The format will stay the same, says TLC--two homeowners swap houses to transform the other's room with a designer and a budget of $1000. But there promises to be more "conflict" on the show--feuding couples; bad neighbors; relatives who don't get along--all those wonderful ingredients that make for good (or is it bad) reality television. But new executive producer Arthur Smith promises the makeover will remain the star of the show: "We want to protect the things that made the show popular in the first place. It'll still be heartwarming." Does that mean Gordon Ramsay will NOT make a guest appearance? If the changes work, it could be "Trading Spaces'" most successful makeover yet!
Until next time (a strike-free time, we hope), happy viewing!

Mike Spadoni