The Writer's Strike Should End Already

Bobdoc of MEFB forum posted this tidbit from http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272618248.shtml:

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: Emmy-winning actor Michael Emerson still maintains a hero lies within the ruthless, antagonistic Ben Linus (leader of "the Others") he plays on "Lost," which is returning for its fourth season Jan. 31. The troupe was only able to shoot eight episodes before the writers' strike, but Emerson says after shooting those segments, he's more convinced than ever that the end Ben is working toward justifies his ruthless means. "I feel it even more strongly that Ben is in a position to save life on this planet," says Emerson. "It's a show about parables. People say to me they were disappointed when they realized the island wasn't purgatory, and I'm here to say it is a place where people can process pasts and are tested, so in a very real way, it's still a purgatory story as a parable or metaphor." Emerson says the writers' strike has left him feeling "we're in our own show biz purgatory -- reflecting on the sins of our past, wondering if we'll ever come up into the light. I'm just hanging out in New York wondering what the next move will be. It would be so nice to finish this season. The promise of the first half is really strong. It's like a derailed train. Everybody's in high gear to do the work and unable to do anything else." Even if the strike were over in time to salvage the second half of the season, he notes the troupe would have to "come back from scratch. The crew's all gone. The only people still connected to the show are the cast, and even that will wear away if the strike goes on too long. They either pay you or cut you loose."

Well the statement started me thinking. The strike is going on way too long. The CEOs just don't give a shit. Why don't they give a shit? Because they are not feeling any loss. People are still watching television; commercials are still being sold. Reality shows are taking over and, I, as much as I am mesmerized by them (I admit, I am a lunatic who loves wife swap, the nanny shows—love those bratty kids—etc.) now avoid them. I don't want to support the CEOs and give them a reason not to discuss an end to the writer's strike.

I also love talk shows. My favorites are The View and The Late Night Show with David Letterman. Why? Because those two are not affected by the strikers. The View has no writers and David Letterman settled the strike with his workers. Not only did he settle the strike with them, but he was paying them while they were striking. Hey, this man went up a lot of notches in my book.

I miss my shows. I miss Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Two and Half Men, Jericho, Desperate Housewives, and of course, LOST. LOST is coming on soon, but only 8 episodes. I want to watch all 16 of them, this season, with all the actors who where hired previously. I don’t want a different Locke, Jack, Kate, or even Ben. But if the strike goes on, who can stop the actors from looking elsewhere? Michael Emerson is a stage actor. He’d be a fool not to accept a role on Broadway, off-Broadway, or way off-Broadway. I want to learn what happened to the LOSTies by watching the show. I don’t want to read about it or see it in the movies.

Something must be done to expedite the talks. If we don’t, we will soon have to face the actors’s strike as well. What can we do as an audience? Maybe stop watching the shows. Let the advertisers know that there is no show without writers. We must do something. I do my share, but I am but one person. I don’t watch Jimmy Kimmel Live. He was my favorite night-time talk-show host. But he is performing sans writers. Hence, I don’t watch him. I am happy to watch David Letterman. Kudos for you, David. You are a good man!!!!