It’s official: WGA strike is over! 92.5% of guild vote in favor of strike’s end. *does a groovy dance* I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the brave writers who stood their ground for fair treatment and fiscal compensation for themselves and for future generations of writers, despite knowing they would suffer financial losses in the process that will likely never be recouped. I thank the members of the SGA, show crews, and more, who stood in solidarity with the writers even though they themselves would see none of the benefits of the strike, risking their livelihoods in the process.

Check out this Variety article for the status of your favourite Network shows, but here are mine:

Pushing Daisies: Renewal called a “no-brainer,” as it’s one of ABC’s top-rated scripted performers. Received a 13-episode pickup, as is standard practice among frosh skeins. Will wait until September before making a grand re-entrance, so ABC can give it a proper relaunch.

House: Fox plans to extend the regular TV season in order to take advantage of late-delivered episodes from shows including “House.”

Heroes: With its elaborate serialized storyline, it is expected to take the summer to regroup. It will return in the fall.

Does anyone know of a good article that addresses cable and other pay channels? I’d like to know what to expect regarding Psych (season finale this Friday, WOE!), Burn Notice, and Dexter.

I’m currently watching what I imagine is the last episode of A Daily Show, assuming this means Jon’s writers and the absent The will come back tomorrow. Yay for showing viewers how utterly crazypants Huckabee is. How the heck is he still in the race?

Of course, I can’t stomach McCain either. MY REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: YOU CANNOT HAVE THEM. Hands off my Roe v. Wade, you 71-year-old man! Shouldn’t you be old enough to remember the outrageous death rate due to septic complications of pregnancy as a result of illegal, unsafe abortion? A problem that has been virtually eliminated today? Even if abortion is illegalized, abortions will still happen. Except the end result will be a dramatically increased number of women who suffer severe ramifications to their health, sometimes leading to infertility or death? Just read this doctor’s truly heroic story.

And when did this entry stop being about the writers’ strike and start being about me soapboxing for reproductive choice? Uh… Hey! Jon Stewart is hosting the Oscars again! Sweet!

Aaaaaaaand I lied. See what Robert J Elisberg has to say on the matter. Hopefully it’ll be over soon.

I don’t care about the Oscars. I just want my Pushing Daisies back next fall. (Okay, maybe I care a little about the Oscars. I want to see the three musical numbers they do for Enchanted. But mostly Daisies.)

Why wasn’t I told that there was a new episode of House last night?

Your failure is epic, flist. :D

Edit: Whaaaaaaaaaat? There are three new episodes total, only the first of which aired last night? THANK YOU, JESUS.

The Daily Show and The Colbert Report return tonight, sans writers! Let the madness begin! I’m imagining Stephen with an uproariously ridiculous fake Strike Beard, perhaps in the style of a different famous political leader each time they return from commercial break.

In the meantime, there is hope on the horizon! The WGA and United Artists have agreed to sign an interim deal, allowing striking feature writers to begin work for the studio — and opening the door for other indies such as the Weinstein Co. and Lionsgate to follow suit.

This should put pressure on other studios to do the same, lest they fall behind. HECK YES.

I got to attend the WGA Solidarity Rally in Washington Square Park yesterday! I arrived too late to see John Edwards speak, but I got to hear from awesome folks like Danny Glover, Tim Robbins, and Aasif Mandvi. Sweet!

For those that don’t know what’s going on (have you been living under an internet-rock?), here’s The Writers Strike Explained. Meanwhile, the writers continue to raise awareness of the fact that they aren’t being paid for their writing appearing online by writing online material for free. I can’t be the only one tickled pink by the irony. :D Here are some of my favourite videos:

The Daily Show writers’ thoughts on the strike

WGA Strike: A Love Story

How I Spent My Internet Download Residuals

Classic Movie Lines Without Writers

Ninjas support the writers!

In other news, six years ago, The Daily Show did a spoof on reality TV with “Pitch,” in which “Average, everyday Hollywood producers are locked in a house for three months and given one simple task: come up with more ideas for reality programs.” EVERY SINGLE ONE of the ideas they generated is better than these actual game shows for the spring 2008 season. I weep.

Thursday!

I had to stay in and work through lunch on Friday, but with Variety conjecturing that the strike may extend into 2008, I’ll have plenty of opportunity to show support.

Huzzah, I have fed the downtrodden! I just brought a pizza to the striking writers in Columbus Circle, which was met with joy and merriment and was devoured in ten minutes. Tomorrow, they’re back in Rockefeller Center. Fellow New Yorkers can get the schedule here. I might have to bring two pizzas next time! :D It feels good to give back to the folks that have given me so many years of great entertainment.

I stopped by Rockefeller Plaza at my lunch break today, but there was no one picketing, alas. I was going to come back with pizza if there had been. Why did it not occur to me to stop by yesterday? It’s four blocks from my work! I fail.

In the meantime, here’s a list of how shows are going to be affected.