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

As The Strike Turns

The Writers Guild strike is now in its second week, and the rhetoric is heating up. But little negotiating is getting done. But there are some lighthearted moments on the picket lines. For instance, according to the "Washington Post," kids have joined their parents on the strike front, holding up signs demanding better terms for Internet and new technology residuals. Among the signs carried by the tots: "I Learned to Share When I Was in Freaking Diapers!" and "Residuals Paid for My Birth." OK, if you say so. Sounds better than "Kid Nation" to me!
Meanwhile, we American viewers will be suffering without our favorite fictional characters. Not to worry: The networks are stepping up production of one genre not covered by the WGA--reality shows! Yes, more and more reality until everyone throws their new expensive high definition sets out the window!
Here's a list of what we can expect in the months ahead:

Duel--Quiz show where contestants win by bluffing.
Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann--The choreographers of "Dancing With the Stars" field their own teams to cover until the parent show returns next March.
Oprah's Big Give--Talk show tycoon Oprah Winfrey bestows cash on needy families. (Where do I sign up?)
Here Come the Newlyweds--A six-episode game show that puts couples to the test.
Wanna Bet?--Celebrities wager whether contestants can perform outrageous stunts. (The money goes to charity.)
CBS will air the early return of "Big Brother;" ABC has new episodes of "Wife Swap;" "Supernanny;" more "America's Funniest Home Videos" and expanded editions of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
"Million-Dollar Password"--A new version of the classic game show hosted by Regis Philbin.
New episodes of "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race," plus the return of the Drew Carey game show "Power of 10."
When Women Rule the World--Strong women control a group of men used to calling the shows.
Fox is counting the days for the return of "American Idol" (Jan. 15). Also on the Fox lineup: New episodes of "Hell's Kitchen," "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?," "Don't Forget the Lyrics," "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted."
NBC has a celebrity version of "The Apprentice" on hand; the resurrection of the 1990's competition series "American Gladiators;" plus new game shows "Amnesia;" "My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad;" and more "Deal or No Deal" plus the return of "1 Vs. 100."
And there's more to come. Can't wait?

TV's GREATEST ICONS: That's the title of a new survey compiled by "Entertainment Weekly" magazine and the cable network TV Land. The list is made up mostly of personalities who are recent and/or have lived on thanks to reruns. Here are the top ten on the list:
1. Johnny Carson
2. Lucille Ball
3. Oprah Winfrey
4. Bill Cosby
5. Walter Cronkite
6. Carol Burnett
7. Mary Tyler Moore
8. Jerry Seinfeld
9. Homer Simpson
10. Dick Clark
Hard to disagree with most of the choices--but of the top ten, only two (Oprah and Homer Simpson) have programs still on the air. Two (Johnny & Lucy) have passed on; Walter Cronkite and Dick Clark (the latter for health reasons) are rarely seen on television these days; and the others have shows still running in syndication or on home video. Still, these are the guys and gals who have stood the test of television time. So maybe the term "icons" is no misnomer.
Until next time, happy rerun-free viewing!

Mike Spadoni