There May Be A Strike, But I'm Still Writing

The writer's strike is on.
As of Monday morning 11/5, members of the Writers Guild of America are off the job and on the picket lines, demanding more residual money for home video and Internet content. Something tells me this will not end well...but rest assured, this non-union Yank will continue to write, WGA strike or not.
The most immediate fallout from the walkout is the late night shows that rely on topical humor. "The Tonight Show;" "Late Show With David Letterman;" "The Daily Show;" "The Colbert Report," "Jimmy Kimmel Live," "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" are in reruns. "Ellen" is a question mark (new shows will air on Tuesday and Wednesday); the daytime dramas on the Big Three networks could either go into reruns or continue with the producers writing the scripts. Most prime time scripted series are expected to have enough episodes to get them through January or February--if the strike continues. (Reality shows such as "American Idol" and "Survivor" won't be affected; writers are covered under a separate contract as are writers for news and sports programs.)
Some series with already produced scripts have stopped production because their stars/producers are showing support for the WGA ("30 Rock's" Tina Fey and "The Office's" Steve Carell are among them). Other sitcoms, such as "Two and a Half Men" and "Back To You"--which do rewrites if jokes fall flat before a live audience--probably won't be in production either. And scripted shows that are set to return in midseason--"24" and "Lost," for instance--will not have enough episodes for a complete season IF the strike goes on.
ABC has postponed the premiere of its new series "Cashmere Mafia;" it was set to premiere November 27th but won't air until a future date. And NBC has scrapped plans for its miniseries "Heroes: Origins," which was set to air for six episodes to bridge the gap between new "Heroes" episodes; the network says the strike has made the short-run series unfeasible this season.
I'll keep you posted on the latest strike news in this space.

PHILO FARNSWORTH GETS HIS DUE: One of television's early pioneers in the United States will get his due on Broadway later this month--and you won't believe who's saluting him. The story of Philo Farnsworth, whose work on television led to legal clashes with General David Sarnoff, the founder of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA)--will be told in a new play called "The Farnsworth Invention"--which is scheduled to open November 14th at New York City's famed Music Box theater. "Invention" was written and produced by a man you may be familiar with--Aaron Sorkin, the man behind such TV series as "The West Wing," "Sports Night" and the late "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip" (see Teletronic for more on that short-lived series). Jimmi Simpson plays Farnsworth; Sarnoff will be portrayed by Hank Azaria. We'll have to see what the critics think, but cheers to Sorkin for turning a book by Farnsworth's widow into a play--and for honoring one of television's pioneers and giving him his due.

Until next time, happy (strike-impaired) viewing!