It's Almost Over, I Promise

That's right - this week could be the end of the WGA strike against the AMPTP.

After three months without work, and about a month without talks, both sides went back to the bargaining table this week, and the word on the street is that a resolution is imminent (an interim one, at least). Mark my words, I predict the strike will be over by next Friday.

But what does this mean for TV watchers like you and me? It depends on the show, but most series will be able to start production back up two to four weeks after a deal is made, which translates into new TV for us by mid-March.

Lost, for example, would be able to complete four or five more episodes before the end of the 2007-2008 season, if the strike ends by next Friday. That means we'll get 12 to 13 (instead of just 8) of the originally-planned 16 episodes of Season 4. The leftover eps will likely be tacked onto Season 5 in 2009.

Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty are in almost the exact same situation as Lost, so viewers could hope for four or five new eps before May. Shows like The Office, Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, Samantha Who?, and 30 Rock may be able to crank out more than that, simply because production is cheaper and quicker. Nine or ten new episodes might be possible.

But there are some shows that will probably get pushed back. Chuck, Pushing Daisies, and Heroes will like get pulled until the Fall, because they'd only be able to finish two or three by May. Unlucky fans of 24 will probably have to wait until winter 2009. And NBC's Friday Night Lights may get canceled altogether due to abysmal ratings (sorry, Joel). In my opinion, they should cancel Heroes instead, and I don't even watch FNL. Did we really need 8 episodes of Hiro flirting with a girl in feudal Japan? Or those useless twins? Or the return of the most one-dimensional character ever, Sylar? Get it together, Kring.