Writer's Strike: 86 Days

"With the writers' strike in its 86th day, the town's running out of patience -- despite hints of progress at informal meetings to lay the groundwork for official WGA negotiations to resume.

SAG muddied the picture Tuesday by blasting the DGA's two-week-old tentative deal, prompting an immediate rebuke of SAG's leaders by DGA president Michael Apted.

SAG's dismissal of the DGA deal may dash hopes that the directors pact would serve as a template for a WGA deal and get the scribes back to work in the next few weeks.

In a message to SAG members, prexy Alan Rosenberg and exec director Doug Allen amplified previous prounouncements that the DGA deal would not automatically be the model for a new SAG deal -- echoing what WGA leaders were saying before they launched the informal contract talks last week and began a news blackout.

"Some have rushed to anoint their deal as the 'solution' for the entertainment industry," Rosenberg and Allen said. "We believe that assessment is premature."

The Dresden Files

"A lot of things are giving hope to us Dresden Files fans that there is now a chance that the show could return. But is it possible?

It looks like there are more and more hints of the POTENTIAL of Dresden Files coming back ...

1. Lionsgate has made a deal with the writers' guild and the writers are no longer on strike at Lionsgate. Lionsgate is the company that makes Dresden Files.

2. Paul Blackthorne's (Harry Dresden) character was just killed off on Big Shots. Big Shots is the show he went to when Dresden Files wasn't renewed.

3. A new poll from NBC Universal asks if people like shows dealing in magic and the supernatural. What better suits this than The Dresden Files?

4. Bonnie Hammer (the head of the SCI FI Channel and the one who had Dresden Files canceled) has stepped down from her position as head of programming for the SCI FI Channel."

Read more here.

Jericho: Links and List

Featured Links from Jericho Junction.

Thanks Terocious.



Here is the current schedule of events at JeriTopia. Going into the premiere of season 2, we have a lot of irons in the fire, so the schedule might get updated at any point.

SPECIAL CHAT EVENTS (chat host)

* TUESDAY 1/29 10pm ET - Season 2: From Promoting to Plots in "Jennings & Rall" - THIS WEEK (1/29): T-minus 14 and Counting - We'll pull together all the items discussed over the past several weeks and plan our steps for the next 2. (schumi & others)

* SUPERBOWL SUNDAY (2/3) Approx. 6pm ET - Join Patriots and Giants fans, and heck everyone else hanging out in JeriTopia, for a SuperBowl party in "Bailey's Tavern".

SAG Awards

"Javier Bardem won the supporting-actor prize for "No Country for Old Men" and "The Sopranos" swept the TV drama categories Sunday at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, which could be the highlight of Hollywood's film-honors season if the writers strike undermines the Oscars.

With the SAG awards a reliable forecast for who will win at the Academy Awards, Bardem's victory may establish him as the favorite there. He had kind words for Joel and Ethan Coen, who directed "No Country" and adapted the screenplay from Cormac McCarthy's novel.

"Thank you, guys, for hiring me, and thank you for taking the hard work of choosing the good takes instead of the ones where I really sucked," said Bardem, who won for his chilling role as a relentless killer tracking a fortune in missing drug money.

Though it wrapped several months ago, "The Sopranos" took all three TV drama categories to open the ceremony, with James Gandolfini and Edie Falco taking both lead-acting prizes and the entire ensemble joining them to accept the award for overall cast performance."

WGA Demands

"The Writers Guild of America's demands for reality TV and animation jurisdiction are officially off the table.

The WGA said so Tuesday in confirming its informal talks with studio chiefs, aimed at getting stalled contract negotiations back on track. Scribes may not end up accepting contract terms similar to the Directors Guild of America's, but the move follows the directors' lead by first meeting informally with studio executives under the cover of a press blackout."




"Evangeline Lilly

* Birthplace: Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
* Birthday: August 3, 1979

Ever since Lana Turner’s miraculous discovery at Schwab’s drugstore (or the Top Hat Café, depending on the source), the myth of being discovered at random in Hollywood has permeated American culture. Most often, however, actors and actresses make it in the business through years of hard work, undaunted determination, and, perhaps, a bit of casting coach expertise."

WGA Deals

"Today the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced two new interim deals, one with Marvel Studios and another with Lionsgate. This is very good news for comic book fans as films as Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel says, "We're very excited about our summer releases, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and look forward to resuming work with writers on our future projects including Captain America, Thor, Ant-Man, and The Avengers."

From what I understand, Iron Man was finished prior to the strike, but I wouldn't be surprised if Louis Letterier took the opportunity to go back and reshoot some scenes from The Incredible Hulk had there been some that just didn't quite work, but couldn't be changed due to the strike. This is just speculation of course, but it shows the importance of such interim deals and why people are anxious to see the AMPTP and WGA come to an agreement and end this strike."

FX International

Amy at Remote Access has even more Jericho news today.

"Brad Beyer (Stanley Richmond, like I needed to tell you guys that) will appear at the FXinternational this weekend in Orlando, Fla. He’ll be signing autographs and will be on hand at 1 p.m. Saturday in the “Panel Room” for a world premiere showing of the first Season 2 episode. (He’ll be around for all three days of the fest, though, Friday-Sunday)."
** Ashley Scott can't make it.**

"The Guardians of Jericho are looking for folks to donate frequent flyer points to help others get to Jerichon. There is a debate over how those frequent flyer points should be allotted to folks; it’s a worthwhile debate to weigh in on. Thanks to Jericho Monster for the link."

Jericho: Carol Barbee

"The fortunate part of the upcoming second season is that Jericho is one of the few original scripted programs that will be on the air because the seven episodes were written before the writers strike. Plus, in order to avoid another similar fan outcry the seven episode story arc will have a beginning, middle and end. The 7th episode, while providing closure does leave the door open for continuing episodes, however."


"With the writers strike now being felt on network television, “Jericho” may stand a stronger chance for renewal than ever before as many channels have begun airing reruns of other shows and are now relying on reality television to draw an audience. With a lack of strong scripted dramas available, “Jericho” is now in the enviable place of having new episodes to show to a clearly loyal fanbase.

But how will the strike affect the pickup of the series? Barbee admitted that although CBS won’t be able to order new episodes with writers at the picket lines but they will certainly announce their plans for the show."

Jericho Technology

"If Jericho had even one solar array or wind turbine, it would definitely help alleviate some of their stress. Imagine if something like that was included in every town’s emergency supply list. If the sh** ever hit the fan, at least they could roll out the photovoltaics and rig up something to provide some support. It’s absolutely maddening to know that this technology exists today, and yet barely any of us can afford to take advantage of it — much less convince others that it is a good idea.

So, let’s play it out. Let’s say you’re living in a real-world Jericho situation. How would you manage to survive? What advantage do you have in transitioning to a different world?"



Sniper 101 has recently taken over http://www.jerichochannel.tv/ and has begun the process of adding all of the latest Jericho Videos. This is a great site to direct folks to because the vids are all Jericho Related. Check it out, leave a comment and become a friend of this very cool promotional tool.



"From Battlestar Galactica to Beverly Hills 90210 to the BBC, Pop Vultures covers TV with a careful blend of snark and love, providing analysis, reviews and recaps of a wide range of television programs."

WGA And Soaps

"The battle between the Writers Guild of America and the broadcast networks began focusing more heavily on the daytime daypart last week. For the first time since the strike commenced in early November, the networks began airing soap opera episodes not written by WGA members.

The WGA for several days picketed in front of ABC headquarters in New York, primarily to protest its airing of All My Children episodes written by non-WGA members. ABC is the only network to produce all of its soap operas, while Days of Our Lives on NBC is produced by Corday Productions, and all of the CBS soaps are produced outside the network, including two by Procter & Gamble and one by Sony."




"In the latest fallout from the writers strike, CBS has trimmed its development slate, letting go of about 20 projects, most of them dramas.

On Friday, the network contacted the reps for the projects, most of which hail from CBS' primary supplier, sister studio CBS Paramount Network TV. Also affected are scripts from Sony Pictures TV, 20th Century Fox TV and ABC Studios.

The list of terminated projects is said to include CBS Par's drama "Brothers Grimm," from writer Stephen Carpenter and Sean Hayes' Hazy Mills Prods., and a 20th TV-produced comedy from writer Barbie Adler.

"Due to the ongoing writers strike, our development needs for the upcoming pilot season have changed, and we have released some comedy and drama scripts," CBS said. "This year's pilot season, at best, will be played out in a very compressed time frame. In this landscape, we are better served creatively, financially and strategically by focusing our development on a more targeted number of projects."

Every Digg Counts

From Terocious:

"EVERY DIGG COUNTS

From now until February 12th I will be stocking up

the Jericho Junction with links to deliciously diggable

Jericho content on digg.com.

Visit us at the link below to see what’s new and see what you can digg for Jericho!"

http://jerichojunction.blogspot.com/



Don't forget to visit and post at JerichoRallyPoint.

Lots of nice Jericho fans are there.

Need A Lobotomy ?

"The Directors Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), after only six days of negotiations. The agreement puts an enormous amount of pressure on the WGA — whose ongoing strike has effectively ground Hollywood to a stop — to resolve its disputes with the studios."



"The Lobotomist” — airing at 9 p.m. Monday on PBS’ “American Experience”is America’s need for the quick fix taken to a horrific extreme. It’s the story of Dr. Walter J. Freeman who is perhaps most famous today for supervising the frontal lobotomy that rendered the mentally challenged Rosemary Kennedy — sister of the late president — severely incapacitated. She, however, was one of thousands who underwent the crude procedure, which often robbed people suffering from anxiety, depression, dementia and psychosis of their personalities and cognitive abilities."

Jericho: Spoiler Free

"Well, I saw the first three episodes of Season 2 last night and they really are fantastic.

I have to admit, it felt weird, after so much time, to see new episodes of Jericho. It took me until about halfway through the first episode, “Reconstruction,” to really settle in. I think part of it was that, given the fact that the season’s story is 22 episodes worth compressed into seven, it took a little bit of the first ep to comfortably settle into the new direction the story’s taking.

I wanted to share some information about the episodes, but I promise none are true spoilers. They’re mostly cast tidbits, such as who’s in what episode. I thought long and hard about what I would reveal and what I wouldn’t, as I know many of you really don’t want to know spoilery stuff ahead of time."



"There are a lot of talented bloggers out there talking up Jericho."

Here are just a few of those that are talking up Jericho on the internet.

Loving Jericho

"Jericho is up to episode 15 on ITV4, and I'm really enjoying it. But somehow I feel like I shouldn't. In an attempt to explore those tensions as shall do what has become traditional on blogs, and make a list..."



"The seventh-season premiere of Fox's "American Idol" was its lowest-rated in four years.

"Idol" fell from last year's series-high premiere perch, yet was once again a ratings titan that readily blew away all competitors Tuesday night, as well as all other network premieres from earlier this season. "Idol" received a 13.8 rating among adults 18 to 49, according to preliminary Nielsen data.

That's down 13% from last year's 15.8 and down 10% from 2006's 15.3."

Comanche Moon

If you haven't been watching the miniseries, Comanche Moon, on CBS then you're missing a real treat. I watch very little television but this is a winner.

"COMANCHE MOON, a new six-hour mini-series based on the book by Larry McMurtry, and the final chapter in the "Lonesome Dove" saga to be made into a movie, will air Sunday, January 13, Tuesday, January 15 and Wednesday, January 16 at 9pm et/pt. Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winners Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana are the executive producers and writers."

This is one of those rare shows where time flies and I didn't even mind the commercials. Maybe that's because I got to see a Jericho Promo.

I have to hand it to the cast. They are superb. Val Kilmer, one of my favorites, is outstanding. Steve Zahn can make you laugh then make you cry. This is the first time I've seen Karl Urban but he does a fantastic job here. I see great things in his future. Then, there's Rachel Griffiths. I love her on "Brothers and Sisters" but this role gives her such depth. She plays her character to perfection.

Last but not least, the performance given by Melanie Lynskey almost blew me out of my chair. You can bet I won't forget her name. I remember seeing her in "Rose Red" but that's been some time ago. I also predict great things ahead for her.

You can watch the series free at cbs.com

CBS Tries Music

"Music specials haven't fared well in primetime lately, but that's not stopping CBS from tuning up a pair of hours toplined by Celine Dion and Garth Brooks.

CBS has sloted the Dion special -- the singer's first since wrapping up her five-year stand in Las Vegas -- for Feb. 15 at 9 p.m.

On Jan. 25, Brooks will headline "Garth Brooks: Live in LA!," which will chronicle the first of Brooks' planned five concerts over two days. Special will originate live from the Staples Center, with CBS airing the hour at 9 p.m."




"Last week a meme rumbled through the web touting the writers strike as the booster behind increased online-video traffic. The assumption was logical but incorrect.
To be clear, online video is growing, strike or no strike. But a look at the Nielsen Online video trend report (a compilation of 10 major video sites) suggests little visible acceleration between November, when the strike began, and December, the most recent month for which viewer data are available. In fact, by unique visitors, December was actually down from November, although time spent with video sites was up. And a look at the past 13 months indicates that the recent fluctuation is nothing out of the ordinary. Online-video usage grew more in June than it did in December or November."

Supernatural Returns January 31

"Last week, I wrote about several series that are either returning or coming back over the next few months. There were some that I didn’t mention because I didn’t have confirmation that they were returning and when. One of those is Supernatural, one of the best series running these days. I’m happy to report that The CW has confirmed that Supernatural will return with new episodes on January 31st. There won’t be many new episodes though because creator Eric Kripke mentions in an interview with TV.com that they were only able to complete 12 episodes of season 3 before having to stop production due to the writer’s strike. Since we’ve already seen 8 of those episodes, which aired last fall, we only have four more to look forward to and I don’t think the strike is going to over within the next month. So, will these 12 be all we get for this season?"

Sit On It

"The writers-strike takedown of the Golden Globes last week has those who participate in the $300 million-Oscar economy shaking in their red-soled Louboutins.

The continuing action by the Writers Guild of America helped scotch the always-bawdy Golden Globes ceremony broadcast on NBC, because the Globes producer, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, couldn't negotiate an interim deal with the striking scribes. That could end up costing the network some $10 million to $15 million if Golden Globes advertisers ask for cash back -- the event brought in some $27 million in revenue last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence."



"You are such wonderful Moonlight fans, I have no doubt that you are writing and calling CBS about our show. :) I just want to encourage you to keep up the good work! Moonlight has received some great news lately.... winning the People's Choice Award, Les Moonves saying it is "likely to return," being number one in our time slot this past Friday, etc. I know that Alex O'Loughlin's humble acceptance speech gained many new viewers! Even though wonderful things have happened for our show, we can not let our guard down. Please, continue to ask the network to renew Moonlight!"

Jerichon 2008 Approaches

"Anyone involved with the campaign to bring back Jericho last spring knows the name Jeff Braverman, of NutsOnline. He noticed a bunch of folks had started ordering peanuts and sending them to CBS. He basically made it possible for the fans to send more than 40,000 pounds of peanuts to the network by allowing people to pay whatever they could afford, then pooling all that money together daily into one giant order per day."


THE GUARDIANS OF JERICHO ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE PRICING STRUCTURE FOR JERICHON 2008:

This list includes all convention prices, except Vendors. Vendor fees have not been decided at this time.

CONVENTION PRICES:

PRE-REGISTRATION: $60*
AT THE DOOR: $70
GOJ MEMBERS: $50*
GOJ AT THE DOOR: $55
1-DAY ADMISSION: $20
2-DAY ADMISSION: $30
STUDENT ADMISSION: $30 (Ages 5-15)
CHILDREN: Free (Age 5 & Under)

* Pre-registration ends May 15th.

"Oh! Just as a bit of added incentive, there're good indications we have more than one member of the JERICHO cast and crew interested in being at Jerichon. We don't have names for you yet, but we've been in contact with a couple of folks. As soon as we have confirmation, you'll be the first to know!"

http://www.guardiansofjericho.net/

Supernatural

"We've got your first look at the TV commercial for the upcoming episode of Supernatural, airing on Thursday, January 31st."



"From the moment the CW announced the news that SUPERNATURAL was being sent to hell ? and by hell we naturally mean taken off the schedule ? this TV Addict’s inbox has been flooded with emails. There have been angry emails, disappointed fans and more than a few sentiments that are not surprisingly ? considering how passionate the fan base is ? suitable for public consumption. Yet regardless of tone, the most common question being posed is “what does this mean for my favorite show?”"

Jericho And Moonlight

"CBS issued the following statement to brag about Moonlight winning its People's Choice Award last night :)

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9 - The fans have spoken. MOONLIGHT was chosen by the people as this year's "Favorite New TV Drama" on last night's telecast of THE 34th ANNUAL PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS on the CBS Television Network.

Alex O'Loughlin, who plays Mick St. John, a captivating, charming and immortal private investigator from Los Angeles, accepted the award on behalf of the cast via video from Australia."



Interesting comment - Veronica Mars was not picked up in second season, despite the support of fans - because they just did not have the ratings.

Good lesson for Jericho fans to heed - we have GOT to get the word out there.

Social Networking in Schumi's wave - don't forget meetings every Tuesday night in Jeritopia to find out how to help!

Striking Oscar

"The ongoing writers strike is taking much of the glitz and glitter out of the TV schedule. NBC is offering some Golden Globes advertisers the option of getting cash back because the traditional broadcast has been scuttled, and could end up returning as much as $10 million to $15 million, according to people familiar with the situation."



"The future may not look so bright for Oscar after Hollywood's striking writers and their allies took aim at the Golden Globes, forcing the popular awards show to cancel the ceremony, in favor of a glorified news conference.

"It's definitely a bad omen for the Oscars," said Stuart Levine of Variety. It's the second big blow to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has been unable to persuade the union to let writers work for the broadcast."

Jericho: Cultural Learnings

Myles at Cultural Learnings has a post today on 10 shows to watch in 2008. You guessed it; today is Jericho.

The post is very well done and Myles didn't start out as a big Jericho fan.

"And they might have found their entrance into the minds of television viewers, as the Writers’ Strike has allowed Jericho to be emerging at a time when CBS will have little else on their schedule. By the time February 12th rolls around, CBS will be dipping into their corporate sibling Showtime for content, and a majority of their original programming will be gone. As a result, Jericho will be better able to capture the attention of the viewers it so desperately needs to survive.

However, I don’t think this is a story about survival or desperation - even if the series debuts to disappointing ratings, it won’t be enough to take away the real impact of this story. Whether the new episodes of Jericho garner ten million viewers or ten thousand, its return will signal a new era for television. In the creation of social networking sites like Hey! Nielsen, or in future campaigns and correspondence when a series is canceled, there is a new respect forming between the people who make television and the people that watch it.

But this obviously doesn’t extent to the networks, or the producers - the continuing Writer’s Strike is the reason for the (Hopefully) in the title of this event. Jericho fans, like so many others, have made it clear that it is not the studio heads who they thank for Jericho’s return - it is the people who created the show, the writers who made it possible and the people who brought the series to life. While we will all enjoy Jericho’s return in February, I also hope that it shall coincide with an end to this strike. Because, if not? Nuts to you, Producers."

TV: 2008 Winter Schedule

*** I have the flu. Hope to be back Wed.***

"I've gathered a complete listing of all of the TV Season Premiers for Winter 2008 for you. This list includes all the new premiers for the major TV Networks (broadcast and cable) in the U.S."




"NIELSEN LATE FRIDAY ANNOUNCED TIME frames for two major data initiatives, including a new "enhanced weighting" procedure that has the potential of generating differences in ratings estimates effective with the next television season. In that latter initiative, Nielsen said it will revise the algorithms it uses to weight national ratings beginning in September 2008, and that the revision would likely have an effect on both program and average commercial minute audience estimates."

CBS: Baring Britney

If anybody had told me I'd one day blog about Britney Spears I would have called them Nuts! Yet, here I am. Why?

Britney is a beautiful girl with talent and too much money. So many people bad mouth her and wish her harm yet nobody taught her how to handle fame. I know I wouldn't know how to handle the fame or the money. What's most disheartening to me is that the press and others just want to use her.

How much does her photo sell for now? The girl can't walk without cameras in her face. And now Dr. Phil rides in on his white horse.



"Hasn't CBS made the most of Britney Spears' problems? It's enough to give you the creeps.

There was Dr. Phil McGraw on Monday's edition of CBS' "The Early Show" explaining why he had jumped into the singer's crisis.

"I went to see Britney at the request of her family," Dr. Phil told. He said he talked to her parents and brother, and they were frustrated that she wouldn't be held longer at a hospital.

Kevin Frazier of "Entertainment Tonight" interviewed McGraw for this "Early Show" exclusive. Here's why it's an "Early Show" exclusive. "Dr. Phil" and "Entertainment Tonight" are offerings of CBS Television Distribution. And "The Early Show" needed the gossipy story as it started its latest revamp Monday to build ratings for CBS. Funny, but "The Early Show" didn't explain these connections."

Veronica Mars: DC Comics

"Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas confirmed a second meeting with DC Comics concerning the possibility of a Veronica Mars comic book series, but Thomas also noted that he had been told that the Writers’ Guild of America did not want its member’s writing comic book series based on network properties during the current writers’ strike, because a comic book could promote a network property."



"The Golden Globes saga took another step Friday toward what increasingly looks like a starless conclusion.

SAG released a statement that conversations with members had resulted in the collective decision not to cross the picket line.

"After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe Awards as acceptors or presenters," SAG president Alan Rosenberg said, noting that SAG "applaud(ed)" members for the decision."

WGA East

"With the writers strike about to enter its third month, staffers at the WGA East have gone public with a dispute with guild leaders over their contract ratification.

The Newspaper Guild announced Thursday it had filed unfair labor practice charges with the Natl. Labor Relations Board against the WGA East, alleging that the guild rewrote language in a previously ratified contract. The filing by TNG, which reps 19 employees at the WGA East, also asserted that the WGA East had threatened a union leader and delayed paying holiday bonuses.

"It's unbelievable that the a union doesn't understand that it can't pick and choosse the language it was to live up to in a contract," said New York TNG prexy Bill O'Meara."



"Though his Tonight Show monologue was irreverent, topical, and clearly strong enough to help him win the night in viewers (7.19 million versus The Late Show With David Letterman's 5.5 million), Jay Leno's jokes on his first show back didn't sit too well with the Writers Guild of America. Today, the union issued a statement saying that it talked with Leno to "clarify that writing for The Tonight Show constitutes a violation of the Guild's strike rules."

Joss Whedon Firefly Game

"Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” series will get its own massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). The Multiverse Network, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing companies responsible for MMOGs has only recently acquired the rights to develop the MMOG based on Whedon’s highly, but short-lived, popular sci-fi television series. 20th Century Fox optioned the rights to The Multiverse Network, Inc. for an undisclosed figure. One item that was revealed has Multiverse selecting and leading an independent production team to develop the project. Fox and Multiverse expect the offering to be available to the public through The Multiverse Network sometime in 2008.

“Fox’s Firefly series is set in an incredibly rich and exciting universe. It’s going to make a very compelling and unique online experience filled with adventure, humor, and mystery,” said Corey Bridges, Multiverse co-founder and Executive Producer. “It’s our hope that Firefly’s passionate and dedicated community of fans will enjoy the chance to become part of the story as they develop and explore the worlds of Firefly.”

Entertainment Bits

"Meet Harry Dresden, the only wizard in Chicago's phone book and the star of the Sci Fi Channel television show "The Dresden Files." Across a season of 13 episodes, he's battled a brainwashed woman, a seductive femme fatale vampire, a serial killer who stole people's second chances and the evil side of his roommate Bob.

Based on a books by Jim Butcher, the series had to tone down some of the high budget pyrotechnics and quirky humor in the books and fought with episodes shown out of their planned order. This made the series seem weak at first, as might be expected. As the series continued, however, it grew stronger."



Nice entertainment blog. Movies, celebrities, videos, and lots of links.
Check it out. I like it!



"The formal establishment of the Texas Rangers in 1835 (the force had existed unofficially since 1823) marked an important milestone in the ongoing struggle between white settlers and Native American tribes in the Southwest. "Comanche Moon," a lavish fictionalized account of the Rangers' adventures in the years leading up to the Civil War premieres on CBS Sunday, Jan. 13, and continues Tuesday, Jan. 15, and Wednesday, Jan. 16, 9-11 p.m. EST each night."

The Hawkins Of Communication

"If any year will ever stand out as the most dramatic change of direction for network television, it will likely be 2007. And if there is any credit is to be given, it doesn’t belong to a single network or broadcast executive, but rather the collective efforts of fans from several television shows, with Jericho Rangers leading the charge in the form of 20 tons of nuts and constant coverage from personal blogs to The Wall Street Journal.

It’s not so much that old media is dead as much as it is that old media has been challenged to become indistinguishable and better than new media. It’s the kind of challenge that will lead to bright possibilities in journalism and broadcast. The new year will be the year to decide. Will a company adapt or die?

Reality programming is not the answer. With rare exceptions like Survivor and American Idol, the net has taken over the reality programming niche. Not only can we watch real-life realty clips on YouTube, but also entire lives put up for consumption with live streaming. The networks need better niche programs."

TV Moments: 2007

"But what about those moments in your favorite (or even not-so-favorite) shows that pretty much made you swallow your tongue with shock or fall off the sofa with laughter? What about those singular moments that just left you sitting where you were, long after the credits rolled, saying, “WTF?” And how about those moments that just made you mad.

Your friends here at Remote Access wracked our brains for the moments that most shocked, amused, confused and infuriated us over the past year."

Great writeup about Mimi and the chicken and more.



"It's been pretty quiet due to the Holidays, so I've had time to think about the Save the Dresden Files Campaign, to look back on all we've done in 2007...and to wonder how in the world I got so involved!

If anyone had asked me at this time last year about how I planned on spending 2007, I can say with complete certitude that helping run a campaign to save a television show would not have been on the list."



"The Nielsen Company and HBO recently announced that Nielsen will begin measuring the programming available on HBO's subscription video on demand (SVOD) services – HBO On Demand and Cinemax on Demand – making HBO the first company to receive television ratings for its on-demand offerings."