I keep hearing from the media how bad the Writers strike is and it may change TV viewing habits for a long time to come. This maybe true.

For me, I've not changed any of my TV watching. I admit, I might not be a normal television viewer. I really like Reality TV programs better and never watch current Sitcoms, Dramas or the nightly talk shows like Jay Leno. What I do watch nightly is local news and cable Reality TV shows.

Have You been effected by the Writers strike? What has changed in Your viewing, if any?

My viewing has not been affected in any way. However, I heard an interview on the Rick Emerson show two weeks ago wherein it was stated that even reality shows use the work of writers' guild members to some extent. Of course, what the participants do and say isn't scripted, but what the hosts of these shows say can be.

I've a coupla programs that were completed prior to the strike. No impact.

I do miss Stewart and Colbert. They might be back on, I've not checked.

The only TV I watch is reruns late at night. The writers could stay on strike forever - I couldn't care less.

Colbert and Stewart apparently are back but without writers and supposedly their shows aren't the same.

Andrew

The last writers strike was in the early 90's. Two reality based shows came on major network air during the strike both of which are still airing original episodes to this day and both of which are firmly locked and will be forever in the American lexicon. And you're living under a rock if you have never seen a full episode of either of these shows.

As for my television habits I find myself watching more reality shows but they are cable based and not network offerings. I am enjoying Bad Girls Club2, and can't wait for more of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Emjoyed the first episode last Thursday of Dr Drew's Celebrity Rehab on VH-1. I am loking forward to watching the Bussey Bunch on TLC as I am a wrestling fan.

As for network shows that I was looking forward to that were scrapped for the season due to the strike. 24, Jericho, and Two and a Half Men. Thankfully we will be able to watch at least a couple of original new episodes of LOST. And the premiere of the Sarah Conner Cronicles is destined to be a hit if you like the Terminator backstory.

Other than being a tad annoyed that Bill Maher hasn't been on lately, I couldn't care less either. A large majority of what I watch is sports, politics, news, and stuff like HGTV or Discovery. We don't watch any sitcoms or network shows for the most part.

Gotta love how Howard Stern on Letterman's show called Jay Leno a "scab" for returning to the air without writers.

btw, Letterman paid for the salaries of his entire staff during the time they were off -- some $2 million bucks.

"I couldn't care less"

Ditto! Bring on the Reality shows! I don't go out to movies either, just wait until they're on cable. I really don't care if the Writers EVER come back. Anyone else with me on this?

Uh, no. Here's why: The Sopranos, Arrested Development, Futurerama, . . .

I don't really watch TV much anymore either, ditto with the movies.

My guess is eventually if the Writers Guild remain on strike, the networks will start scouting places like cable access, YouTube and such for original material, find and offer these folks what will look like a heck of a lot of money. They'll accept. They then start writing their own shows that are now appearing on national television. The Guild folks will say "hey, what gives?!" And the response will be "we found people that were willing to create content for less! You're never coming back!"

"Uh, no. Here's why: The Sopranos, Arrested Development, Futurerama, . ."

Those shows are already in the "Can". You don't need writers to write re-runs.

"And the response will be "we found people that were willing to create content for less! You're never coming back!"

In this new U.S. Economy, that will likely happen! They've cut their own throats.

And the response will be "we found people that were willing to create content for less! You're never coming back!"

EXACTLY!!!

I'm sure that there are LOTS of young people with LOTS of writing talent that would just love to have a go at it.

Fire them all and hire people that want to work.

The strike is primarily over internet distribution. As more and more content is distributed over the net, the writers will make less in royalties under the existing structure. They just want a share of the pie.

"Fire them all and hire people that want to work."

Ha! You, me, and everybody's neighbor THINK they have lots of writing talent. The fact is that its a rare individual that can write for Steve Colbert or Jon Stewart.

There's a reason there are no scab writers.


Let the employers and employees settle the dispute themselves. Its none of our business. After all, I don't involved in the discussion of your contract with your boss do I?

The only reason people are buzzing about it is because anti-union people are raising a ruckus. If there's no union involved in any labor dispute (such as Ken Lay's outrageous stock options revealation before the bankruptcy), the anti-union people are noticablly absent -- hypocrites.

I'll get upset if the writers strike starts interfering with my sporting events. Until then, I couldn't care less.

This Sci-Fi nut is all set. Got My complete series of the original Battlestar Galactica, Space 1999, and Season 1 volume 1 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea! Let the corny Sci-Fi drama's begin!

I couldn't care less about the strike, either. Personally, I think crappy programmes are going to continue being produced whether there are union or non-union writers working regardless. There are just fewer people on staff than before.

"Frasier" and "M*A*S*H" are two superb programmes written long before/after any writer's strikes occured. Ergo, they already have it made. (Betcha can tell when most of my TV watching takes place can't you?)

Now, just dump that piece-o-S--- TMZ from the midnight block on channel 12, put back that other episode of M*A*S*H, and WE'D have it made! (Darktemper? ;o)

If nothing else, this is precisely why I have a VCR and a laserdisc machine. Or if I am really hard-pressed for something to watch, there's always Weather Plus and Qubo...........

They can bring on the so-called "reality programming" full-bore if they so pleaseth--I won't be watching anyways. I generaly have better things to do during prime-time, like work. (That said, our accounts have looked a little worrisome lately...........)

Now that the idiot Donald fired Gene Simmons there is one less show to watch. I was only watching that because of him now I could care less!

Simmons Family Jewels.....now thats entertainment! Right up there with Surviving Nugent!

Thank God "Rock of Love" with Poison's Brett Micheals is on 'On Demand"...

jk, worst show ever, but hysterical!

I'm only PO'd about "Lost".

I loved the Gene Simmons show. Great entertainment.

Stern did not call Leno a scab for returning to work without his writers it was because Leno is a member of the guild but is allowed to work when the union us on strike. Kimmel and thr other shows retuned as well but notice how Stern said nothing about them? Stern hates Leno and was just taking a cheap shot.
Leno paid his writers as well but Stern claims hebonly did it cause Dave did.

I could care less, I just downloaded the first three seasons of my new favorite show House on my PS3. I'll be busy for a bit

I'm stuck in the original Star Trek, MASH zone as well. But I so rarely watch TV that I too am on the "could care less" side of the strike.

I haven't gotten into any of the gadgets that download onto computers or other techy stuff. It will obsolete in a couple of years and will just add to the computer wasteland. Thank God for places like freegeek.com.

I just checked freegeek.com and it looks to me like somebody missed a payment to keep the domain name. All the links look suspiciously like sponsored links.

As for my viewing habits, Jeopardy and the local news appear to still be in new episodes, as are the few PBS programs I occasionally catch.

Could we see a return of reruns like My Mother The Car, or Camp Runamuck?

I tend to watch the various CSI reruns, but I only watch about 1 hour of tv a day.

Plus occassionally I watch a NCICS on my laptop on the way to or from work.

1/3 through Space 1999 then i'll start my Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea!

I've not been able to watch Leno since reading "Late Shift" by Bill Carter.

http://www.amazon.com/Late-Shift-Letterman-Network-Battle/dp/0786889071/ref=pd_b bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200777341&sr=1-1

Leno comes off as such a weasel.

Johnny Carson felt that Letterman should have been given the Tonight Show.
After retirement, he appeared on The Late Show, but never returned to guest The Tonight Show.

I think you mean freegeek.org!
(I would know, earlier today I spent 4 hours volunteering down there!)

Plus occassionally I watch a NCICS on my laptop on the way to or from work.

As you swerve from lane to lane!!!

Just kidding! I hope you ride Max!