The Strike Pipeline: What Show Will You Miss?
As the WGA's Rich & Powerful Hyphenate Scribes (those savvy actor-producer-showrunner-type writers) and their Long-Unemployed-But-Proud brethren (those whose imdb.com resumes get spotty after "Full House") continue to picket shoulder to shoulder in solidarity, one question bedevils a nation of needy viewers.
Not "What are the writers' darned demands, exactly?" Rather, we refer to the other Big Question: "How will all this affect me, the viewer, exactly??"
We on the television homefront haven't had to suffer terribly much yet, but soon we, too, will feel the pain. The kind of hurt that means there are no more fresh episodes of "The Office," because all its miffled Scrantonites have called in sick-and-tired. The type of sacrifice that means there aren't even two-and-a-half new episodes of "Two and a Half Men." The pain that means we turn our lonely eyes to "Everybody Hates Chris" because -- bless you, Ali LeRoi and Chris Rock -- it's the only show that prepared 15 fresh episodes to serve up.
Soon, our reality will be almost entirely "reality" -- the next models and next amazing-racers and next warbling/designing/foxtrotting top chefs. (Reality programming spiced with holiday specials, prime-time sports and -- eventually, if the strike stretches into next year -- midseason start-ups like "The Wire.")
Since there is no Promises rehab center for TV addicts in withdrawal (memo to self: would Oprah invest in this?), we ask you, the true television viewer:
What shows will you miss the most?
And: What will you do to fill that prime-time fix -- whether you'll be jonesing for, say, "Heroes," "House" or "Grey's Anatomy"?
--- MICHAEL CAVNA
Note: "Desperate Housewives" was pre-empted last night for the "American Music Awards." For our "AMA" coverage, go to:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/postrock/
By Michael Cavna |
November 19, 2007; 1:07 PM ET
The Writers' Strike
Previous: 'Grey's': Everything We Know About ER's, We Learned in High School |
Next: 'Heroes': Dads! Daughters! And the Regeneration Gap!
Posted by: 23112 | November 19, 2007 01:52 PM
Desp. Housewives, Ugly Betty, Greys Anatomy, Prison Break, Brothers and Sisters
Posted by: Rockville | November 19, 2007 02:07 PM
Continuing to watch Star Trek:Enterprise on HD.NET, catch up with the last couple seasons of South Park, maybe start Stargate:SG1 from the beginning.
Also watch the DVDs I've purchased but haven't watched, including the new box of seasons 1-5 of Angel.
And read, too.
Posted by: Hemisphire | November 19, 2007 02:07 PM
What will I miss? Heroes and Life...probably How I Met Your Mother, too, although I really haven't been watching it much this season.
Posted by: 23112 | November 19, 2007 02:34 PM
I'm already suffering without The Daily Show. Otherwise...like a couple of other posters, catch up on my Netflix, I'm watching The Richard Pryor Show that just came out on DVD and read. Right now I'm reading Wicked and next I think I'll re-read Love in the Time of Cholera.
Posted by: No TV? OK. | November 19, 2007 02:38 PM
At the risk of being mocked and scorned, I admit that the hardest to go without will be the Young & the Restless. I TIVO it daily and fear that without my daily dose of Genoa City, life will not be the same.
Posted by: Sweetie | November 19, 2007 02:50 PM
TV EDITOR'S NOTE:
Outside of prime time, we're also curious: Are you seriously missing the late-night talk shows -- from Leno and Letterman to Comedy Central's Stewart and Colbert? Or, now that they've been away awhile: Notsomuch?
Posted by: michael cavna | November 19, 2007 03:08 PM
I'll miss Boston Legal! The best show on TV, bar none!
Posted by: Love my Denny! | November 19, 2007 03:24 PM
To be honest, I've been a little disappointed with my favorite show - House - this season, but I desperately want new episodes. I really loved the show until they got rid of the entire cast then brought them all back. I think that's just silly. Why in the world would voluntarily write yourself into a corner like that when you don't have to? Ugh. Anyway, I need to know how they finish this crappy plotline and I am seriously afraid that it won't get fixed before they run out of new episodes.
Posted by: Hugh Laurie Fan | November 19, 2007 03:38 PM
Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Ugly Betty are at the top of my list, followed by Tier Two shows Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, House, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives, & Brothers and Sisters.
But oh, the magic that is Pushing Daisies. I will miss that one the very most.
Posted by: Californ, IA | November 19, 2007 03:45 PM
I really miss the Daily Show. Really miss it. And it was on a break at the end of October right before the strike, so we may be close to a month with only 4 new episodes.
Ditto Hugh Laurie Fan - hate House this season but will still miss it. Also the Office, Criminal Minds and NCIS.
Posted by: TV Late Nights | November 19, 2007 04:27 PM
I already miss the Daily Show & Colbert. The rest of late night, not so much. I would say tier one for shows I will miss: The Office, Pushing Daisies, Friday Night Lights. After that - Heroes, House, Boston Legal and Aliens in America. In my sad scriptless land of TV I will be watching tv shows via Netflix - I've been working my way through Wonderfalls and just finished Hill Street Blues. I wonder if Netflix is going to get barraged...
Posted by: JD | November 20, 2007 10:05 AM
I won't miss new tv shows at all because I'll be watching the 100 tv shows and movies on my Netflix queue. I have Wonderfalls up there too! If I manage to go through all of that list, there are more than enough books for me to read. I also plan on adding an hour or two of exercise to my daily schedule. This strike will probably be the best thing to happen to me.
Posted by: Leya | November 20, 2007 10:28 AM
I will also be working on my Netflix queue (especially TV shows I missed the first time, like Arrested Development and Weeds), a few novels, and a backlog of unread Vanity Fairs. I'm already adrift from a lack of "Daily Show" fixes. I like Colbert but don't miss him as much (at least I have his new book). Besides TDS, I think I'll suffer most from the loss of "Pushing Daisies" and "The Office." And I've had just enough time to get wrapped up in "Samantha Who?" But if the strike isn't over before we run through the 8 available episodes of "Lost" (on top of several months of "Daily Show" deprivation), I may need professional help.
Posted by: jane | November 20, 2007 02:21 PM
Even though they have yet to air, I am already missing both "24" AND "Lost"! Since "24" is the type of show that needs to be shown in succession, the season most likely will be canceled. "Lost" with its shortened season is bound to disappoint as well, since the first episodes will undoubtedly leave me longing for more! Please fix the situation soon! I need my favorite shows!!
Posted by: TxAg | November 27, 2007 05:48 PM
All I really miss are the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. In the midst of the election cycle, the cable news services aremaking self-important fools of themselves while desperately trying to be "trendy". Those two shows are the needed antidote to all that bloviation.
Posted by: Howard | January 11, 2008 02:22 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Well, I'll be catching up on my Netflix subscription and watching more BBC America.