NaWriStriMo

So I've just now explained the disastrous writers strike plaguing Los Angeles -- and us all! -- to my third friend in two days and I figure what the hey, why not throw some word NAWW's way too. It might be because I work in intellectual property like the writers do, and maybe it's the strongly held union blood coursing through my veins, but I'm with the little guy on this one. Sure, I understand that the Internet is still "new" and it's not immediately clear how money will be made on downloads, webisodes, revamped websites, ad-supported original content, etc. But if the studios' arguments are that they're not making any money yet, why not promise the writers, say, 2 percent of that nothing? Then, once the technology develops, that 2 percent reiumburses the writers for widening their audiences. Obviously, the real issue here is that I'm looking at spending a whole frigging year without The Daily Show or the Colbert Report, in an election year even still. Look, I need my snark, people. (I suppose there's always reality TV, which seems to me to be the antithesis of snark -- seriously, aren't all these shows, like, the most earnest works ever?) Anyway, fact remains there is good TV that will never be produced because of the strike. At least I'm just a consumer. I couldn't imagine staking my life's career on this. (What's worse are those who will lose their jobs without ever having a say in the strike, I guess.) It's also not television, a medium I frankly could live without, that will be hit. Movies, which I couldn't, will also not be written any time soon. "Good" news: this could be the dawn of a new age of indie flicks as most independent movies are made by first-time filmmakers, according to an independent producer.

Oh, I'm sorry, were you hoping to watch...

Scrubs? The last six episodes of the final season may never exist.
Heroes? An early episode will receive an alternate ending to let it serve as a season finale.

Lost? Hope you weren't planning to see a full season, either.

The Office? Steve Carell won't cross a picket line and has thus called in sick to work with "enlarged balls." (Great video explaining the strike here.)

Curb Your Enthusiasm? 30 Rock? SNL? Not a chance. Big Love? Entourage? Prepare for delays. Bottom line: I'm already jaw-clenched irritated by all things American Idol, which is about to take over our pop culture like cockroaches in an abandoned townhome.

In the interest of giving each side fair play, Michael Eisner, former Disney studio chief, calls the striking workers "stupid" and "misguided" and puts the blame squarely on the turtlenecked shoulders of Steve Jobs. I remain unconvinced.