Teams Lei it All on the Line

We finally got a non-elimination round last week! And it came with a new twist: the Speed Bump. This week, Kynt and Vyxsin will have to complete an extra task while still trying to stay in the race. How will it all turn out? Here are this week's "live" thoughts.

Damn! Things are looking up for Jen/Nathan! It's not that I'm rooting for their relationship to fail (OK, maybe just a little, but it's only because Nate is a jerk and Jen deserves better!), but them not getting along = excellent TV. This whole "on an upswing" thing probably won't last long anyway.

Meanwhile, Ron is busy professing that he's going to stop giving his daughter such a hard time and blah, blah, blah for the one millionth time this race! Chances are he won't, and we'll have to listen to it again next week - if they make it that far.

Jen's confused why she and Nate don't get the flights before hand like everybody else. Because I like you Jen, I'm going to give you a little tip: telephones and Internet. I'll let you piece the rest together.

Kynt and Vyxsin just pulled an airport fast one! They faked out TK and Rachel and found a flight that arrived in Mumbai more than 2 hours before them! And then, their slightly later flight arrived in Mumbai before the first flight (carrying the other teams), putting them in first! Unfortunately for them, the newsstand doesn't open until 6am, allowing everyone else to catch-up.

Yes!! "Fighting Jen and Nate" is back!! That didn't take long. They're fighting over a clue hidden in the newspaper. It's going to be a long leg for them and a funny one for us!

SPEED BUMP!!! Kynt and Vyxsin have to perform yoga before they can get to work on the Detour. Let's hope Jen and Nate's inability to find the ad placed them far enough behind to make this an interesting race.

Proving once again that a leopard really can't change its spots, Ron is back to berating his daughter. This time, it's due to too little paste. And now it's the lack of a stool. And now the poster's alignment. All of this means we'll definitely be listening to his same pre-leg routine next week (insert eye-roll smiley here).

Oh snap! Jen just gave it right back to Nate! He couldn't understand why she couldn't thread the flowers properly (being that she's a girl and all girls do is play with flowers and sew, of course) and she told him that she couldn't understand why he couldn't row since he's a guy! Being the thickheaded guy that he is, he obviously missed the point and declared that he's not used to rowing (but apparently, Jen's supposed to be used to sewing). Wow, they're really self-destructing faster than I expected. Everything was all jolly and happy when the thing started and now, it's low blows and eye rolls.

It seems Nate/Jen have competition in the dysfunctional department from Ron/Christina. I'm not sure who is worse - Ron or Nate. It's too close to call at this juncture. Ron's probably going to put a lid on it for now since he and Christina are finished with the Detour.

Wow! Jen and Nate just dodged a HUGE bullet! And Kynt and Vyxsin made a HUGE mistake! They U-Turned a team that was already ahead of them! And to celebrate, Nate/Jen are having a sweet moment. Who knew these two actually liked each other?? Not anyone who has seen them in stressful situations.

TK and Rachel just landed at the Pit Stop in first place thanks to TK's awesome job at the Roadblock.

Speaking of the Roadblock, Jen is rockin' this thing! She's surprisingly strong for being so small! Too bad she forgot to get the receipt at the first delivery point. That's OK because Kynt gave his copy of both receipts to the homeowners.

Jen's stressing because they can't find the Pit Stop and Kynt and Vyxsin are hot on their tail. This is definitely going to be a close one. Who will land at the Pit Stop first??!! And it's... Nate and Jen! Bummer because this means that Kynt and Vyxsin have both been eliminated from the race. But on a positive note, we will get at least one more chapter of As Jen & Nate's World Turns next week. Will they be up or down? Depends on the stress level.

Were you as bummed to see Kynt and Vyxsin go as I was? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

USA Cancels Two Faves

Cable's USA Network has decided NOT to renew two summer favorites. Both The 4400 and The Dead Zone aired their final episodes this past September. In a press release obtained by TV Guide's Mike Ausiello, Exec. VP of Original Programming Jeff Wachtel expresses his "deep sadness" over the decision. "We wish we could keep all our great shows alive forever. But we feel we need to give some of our new shows a platform to grow, and it's with great sadness that we say goodbye to two shows that had a great run and helped create the resurgence of original programming on our network and on all of cable."

Meanwhile, The 4400 series creator Scott Peters addressed the bad news with the show's fans on USA's message board. "So let me raise my metaphorical glass to you all and thank you for being so loyal and so dedicated. I wish we could go on forever, but the party has come to an end. Be well and on behalf of all of us at The 4400 -- thank you, it's been a pleasure."

Sorry for the two HUGE lumps of coal today. But remember that awesome Kathryn Morris video that LillyKat posted AND the exciting new trailer for Kristen Bell's new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall that we posted just the other day? See, PTR is all about spreading the holiday cheer!

In other recent TV news, ABC has decided to give Lost a new time slot when it returns next month. The series moves to Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET instead of its usual Wednesday slot. The highly anticipated return comes January 31st after current time slot holder Grey's Anatomy runs out of new episodes.

Previewing 'Sarah Marshall'

'Tis the season for giving, so PTR is giving you the gift of *NEW* Kristen Bell. You're welcome. First, new Kathryn Morris video and now this! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! Anyway, the former Veronica Mars star (and current Heroes shocker) stars in the big screen's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The film, about a man (How I Met Your Mother's Jason Segel) who takes a trip to Hawaii to forget his ex-girlfriend (Bell), but winds up in the room next door to her and her new boyfriend, is from the same people who brought you Knocked Up and The 40-Year Old Virgin. Here is an early look at the official trailer:


Forgetting Sarah Marshall is scheduled to hit the big screen this summer. For more on the film, visit www.forgettingsarahmarshall.com.

Kathryn Morris Makes a 'Case' for Locks of Love

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

In the spirit of the holiday season, leave it to PTR Fave Kathryn Morris to inspire us with a little love.

Locks of Love, that is.

Back in November, Morris lended her support to an event for Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

"A few months ago, I met this young lady named Moriah," says Morris. "She had this long glorious hair, and I said, ‘Your hair is so beautiful.’ And she said, ‘I’m growing it out. I’m donating my hair to Locks of Love for the fourth time.’ I was so inspired by this girl that I really wanted to know more about the organization."

Morris continues to be inspired by the young girls and children who get involved to donate their hair for more than just cancer victims.

"They’re finding that the hair is not just used for cancer victims," says Morris. "It’s also used for people who have alopecia. And, when young girls know they can donate their healthy hair [to other children and adults], it’s a real gift. It’s a small thing they can do, and they [can] bond together in kind of a sorority of hair - I’ve been very inspired by that."

You can watch video of Kathryn at the event over at ET Online.

(Thanks kindly to the good folks at the Look Again Forum for the heads-up).

Kyra, Glenn do the Double w/ SAG Awards Noms

By LillyKat / PTR Staff Writer

'Tis the season for award nominations.

Even with the ongoing writers strike.

After earning Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a TV Drama, PTR faves Glenn Close (Damages) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) also earned Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series. Additionally, the gang over at The Closer were also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

SAG will honor its own and celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding at the 14th Annual Actors® ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center, simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT, and 6 p.m. MT.

And, unlike the still-in-doubt-what-are-we-going-to-do-with the Golden Globes telecast if the Writers Guild of America (WGA) is still on strike (and actors/actresses are no-shows at the event), the WGA has already granted permission for one of its members to write for the SAG ceremony, thus potentially leaving the SAG Awards as the only major televised film honors to be broadcast as planned come 2008.

Sources: SAG Awards; AP

WGA Rejects Waivers for Globes, Oscars Telecasts

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

From United Hollywood

LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild has notified the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and dick clark productions that their requests for an agreement to allow writers to prepare material for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards show have been denied.

The Guild has also denied a request from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a waiver in connection with the use of clips from motion pictures and past Academy Awards shows for use during the annual Academy Awards presentation.

In letters to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, WGAW President Patric M. Verrone described the Guild’s respect and admiration for both organizations, explaining that:

“Writers are engaged in a crucial struggle to achieve a collective bargaining agreement that will protect their compensation and intellectual property rights now and in the future. We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies’ failure to engage in serious negotiations.”

The signatories producing the Golden Globes and the Oscars are West Coast signatories. The WGAW’s Board of Directors concluded, reluctantly, that granting exceptions for the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards would not advance that goal.

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So folks, unless we have a strike settlement before either awards telecast (Globes in January; Oscars in February), the networks are going to have to get pretty creative on how they broadcast either ceremony. This would also need to include figuring out how to deal with the very real possibility that many of the top talents nominated for these awards will boycott both shows as a sign of solidarity with striking writers.

Stay tuned for more As The Strike World Turns.

Pencils Delivered

Last week, United Hollywood made its first delivery of pencils to the media moguls behind NBC, Disney, and Universal in their successful Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign. According to a report posted at United Hollywood, the pencils were turned down at all three locations (the turned away pencils are being donated to help children and schools that need them). Jeffrey Berman wrote the following about the event from December 11th on the UH site:

Ron [Moore] told the guard we were here to deliver the pencils to [NBC Executive] Jeff Zucker and the guard turned us away. I used their company phone and called Zucker's office and asked his secretary if at the very least Mr. Zucker could come down and address us. She promptly hung up on me.

We then rolled the pencils over to Disney and asked for Bob Iger. The guard told us they weren't accepting deliveries at the main gate. So Ron asks which gate they would accept them, and the guard calmly responds, "We're not accepting deliveries at any gate."

At Universal they wouldn't even let me near the front gate. A policeman told me he had already spoken to the main office and they didn't want our delivery.

Click over to United Hollywood for the full report. You can also check out more photos from the event HERE. All photos are courtesy of United Hollywood. Most importantly, don't forget to click the box on the right of this blog and make your donation to Pencils2Media moguls. We need to encourage a fair end to this strike as soon as possible.

'Damages' is Golden; Kyra to 'Close' in on Two?

By LillyKat / PTR Staff Writer

Patty Hewes would be so proud.

BJ wouldn't be too disappointed, either.

FX Networks (and PTR Fave) Damages lead the television series nominations for the 65th Annual Golden Globe awards, earning nods for Best Television Series (Drama), Best Actress in a TV Drama (Glenn Close), Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama (Rose Byrne), and Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama (Ted Danson).

Additionally, PTR Fave Kyra Sedgwick has earned her third Best Actress in a TV Drama nomination for her role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on TNT's The Closer. We remember she won last year - can she make it two in a row? It's a packed category this year.

The Globes are scheduled to be broadcast on January 13th on NBC, but the ongoing writers strike could put a significant dent in that plan. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has requested the Writers Guild of America (WGA) grant the award ceremony production a waiver so the Globes could use writers on the show. But if the WGA rejects the request, we may have a less-than-entertaining show to watch - especially if fellow actors and actresses refuse to cross the strike picket line and not attend the show.

Stay tuned.

Photos: FX; TNT
Sources: TV Week; Official Golden Globes Site

A 'Cold' History Lesson

They say those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. Whenever Cold Case takes us for a journey back in time, it's packed with things I hope we never repeat. Last night's history lesson focused on our country's shameful practice of placing Japanese-Americans into internment camps during WWII. It's one thing to read about it in a history textbook, but it's another to watch characters go through that painful chapter in our history. I watched Ray and his family register and check in to their shared shanty, and I found myself outraged that this country put its citizens through such unfair and discriminatory behavior (on more than one occasion, I'm afraid). Of course, all of that is in the past where it will hopefully serve as a warning for our present and future. In the end of Ray's tragic story, it wasn't the internment camp that got him killed. It was old-fashioned hate brought on by the horrors of war. Well that, and a good shove down a nasty flight of stairs during a heated fistfight. I wasn't sure how the CC writers were going to find an appropriate song to close the episode. After all, it wasn't just Ray's murder, but also Billy's death and a family's pain that needed to be wrapped up just right with the fitting musical wrapping paper. There was no closing song, though, just the beautiful underscore playing underneath Billy's moving words in that letter he wrote to his father right before his death. Yet another well done break in the usual formula. This show knows when to take the right risks.

One risk they thankfully didn't take was having Stillman (a.k.a. the best boss EVER!!) retire. I had a split second panic attack when Scotty told Lilly that Stillman had turned in his retirement papers, but I quickly recovered when my sensible side kicked in and reassured me that CC would never do something so wrong. I did love, though, that it was Lil who got Stillman back in the game. First, she "accidentally" left that file on the bar next to him. She knew he'd read it and do some of his own investigating. Then, she ambushed him at the bar and gave him a good dose of "these are the people we fight for." By the end of the episode, he was moving back into his comfy office. Nice job, Lil! Speaking of Lil, how awesomely "wink, wink" was that conversation between her and Scotty about dating ADAs??!! They both should know! Oil and water, indeed. And now I'm jonesing for some ADA Kite and Lilly. Cold Case scores again and moves to 11-0 on the season.

Teams Row, Row, Row their Boats

Last week, I begged the TAR gods to make the blondes go away and I got my wish! In a thrilling counting Detour, the blondes self destructed and wound up in last place and off the Race. It was a very happy moment for me. Who will be eliminated next? I'm not sure, but I'm beginning to smell that familiar sent Eau de Non-Elimination. Here are this week's "live thoughts."

So, Jennifer is using this race to determine whether or not she and Nathan should stay together. I'm going to go ahead and start celebrating early because Nate is sooo history!

AIRPORT DRAMA ALERT! Let's play Who Was Smarter? Will it be TK and Rachel for staying in line for Czech Airline or Kynt and Vyxsin for visiting the travel agent? And more importantly, WTH has gotten into Azaria??!! He's berating his sister! Not cool. Going back to our original question, it seems that it's a draw. Both methods have the teams landing in Dubrovnik at 11:20 am. Meanwhile, Jen and Nathan got screwed at the ticket counter, but got back on the right track at the travel agent and the brother/sister team just got screwed by the travel agent who sold them business class instead of economy - a total no-no on The Amazing Race.

But wait! There's a magical TAR commercial break. And the commercial break produced... DELAYS!! TK/Rachel and the grandfather/grandson missed their connecting flight to Dubrovnik thanks to those delays. Meanwhile, the other three teams landed in Dubrovnik on time.

OK right now, I have MAJOR zip line envy! The view, the thrill, the sound of Ron chucking up his lunch!

Zip line envy moment #2 for the night. And they got to splash into the beautiful water too! Not fair!

Oh yes!!! A rowing challenge. I think we all remember how south this thing went a couple seasons back with the beauty queens and the infamous Rob and Kim. CLASSIC TAR moments. It seems so easy, and yet, no one ever gets it right, which of course leads to some hilarious in-team fighting. I'll shut up now because Jen and Nate are attempting to row and this is going to get good. The insults are starting, now the finger pointing, and we're moving right along to total team and relationship meltdown. Jen HATES! Nate and she's so done with him. Told ya he was sooo history! This dysfunctional rowing moment was brought to you by Rob and Kim.

Does anyone know where the brother/sister team is?? We haven't checked in with them in awhile.

Oh, things between Nate and Jen are getting so good now. The taxi diver refused to give them a ride because they were wet (the water-logged are always discriminated against!), but gave Christina and Ron a ride. Jen freaked and when Nate tried to calm her down, she insisted that their relationship "sucks." Acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step to recovery. Yup, he's so gone.

TK and Rachel finally made it to Dubrovnik! Wow, brother/sister must really be behind! I hope this really is a non-elim round and not just my wishful thinking.

Ron and Christina just finished in first place. Even better, Jen and Nathan landed in second, but had to go back to the Detour location because they didn't take a "legal form of transportation" to the Pit Stop. Jen is now in full-fledged meltdown mode and is declaring that she doesn't want to be here anymore. Unfortunately for her, they still landed in third.

Call off the search! Azaria and Hendekea are alive and well and finally in Dubrovnik! Now if they could just catch up with the other lagging teams...

They're within eyesight of granfather/grandson! We have ourselves a race here! Both teams are in taxis, but it's hard to tell if it's really neck and neck or just editing. We just got a "Phil Point," so someone's coming. Who will it be... grandfather/grandson, leaving Azaria and Hendekea in last place and eliminated from the race. Major bummer!

Were you as bummed to see Azaria and Hendekea go as I was? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Janitor Finds a Lady Friend

You know how you pretend to be a better version of yourself when you first start dating someone? You hide your flaws, weird quirks and secret hobbies just in case one or more sabotages the thing before it even takes off. Well, Janitor feels your pain. He didn't just pretend to be a better version of himself, nope; he took it to a whole different level by erasing every thread of himself in order to have a chance with Lady. Normally, I would advocate against losing yourself in a relationship, but in Janitor's case, I think it just might be a good idea. Of course, I'm biased because the story line made me laugh. There were many other things that made me laugh tonight including: Janitor's "smitten voice," the game of "Smelly Belly," the moment JD realized he wanted to be a doctor, everyone's obsession with rateyourdoc.org, Dr. Kelso and his "Muffins for Life" prize, The Todd pretending to be JD and Dr. Kelso's quest to finish the latest Harry Potter book without being spoiled. Now, here's a look at this week's best, funniest and all around awesome lines in this edition of the Scrubies.

The Scrubies
"Quick announcement -- I have signed Sacred Heart up for a web site called rateyourdoc.org where patients can evaluate and score their doctors. I think it's going to lead to better patient care and if along the way you all become paranoid and overly competitive, happy birthday to me!" Dr. Kelso to the staff

"Dr. Kelso, I became a doctor to save lives, heal wounds and occasionally, drop the MD bomb to pull hot tail in bars." JD

"Of course, I've only been a doctor for some twenty years and the person who wrote that Wikipedia entry also authored the Battlestar Galactica episode guide, so what the heck do I know?" Dr. Cox to a patient who declined chemo because he read on Wikipedia that a raw food diet cures bone cancer

"Hell, Enid still thinks it's too snowy to go outside. I spray the windows with shaving cream to keep her out of the yard. Her wheelchair tears up the grass." Dr. Kelso to Janitor after proclaiming that lying is the best form of communication between men and women

If you have a line that you would like to nominate for a Scrubie, be sure to leave me a comment and I'll publish it in a future edition. And if you were loving tonight's ending song, Jump Little Children's "B-13," you can get it from iTunes.

A Festive Sense of Kinship on ‘The Closer’

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Got RV?

Or better yet, go RVing?

With your parents.

And coworkers.

And murder suspect.

Must be Christmas in the world of Brenda Leigh Johnson.

Or, at the very least, a really interesting and creative homicide investigation.

The two-hour holiday special of The Closer sent us all RVing. Vicariously, anyway. Aptly titled “Next of Kin,” it was a cross between Where’s Waldo (er, Brenda), a Bing Crosby Christmas Special (thanks, Lieutenant Provenza) and a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie (‘cause I kind of felt all choked up at the end).

And in the true spirit of the holiday season, Brenda and Co. gave us some serious food for thought: how often do we actually question her?

Her methods?

Her ways?

And how much it all weighs on her in the end?

Another CCC (Classic Closer Curveball) I did NOT see coming.

I questioned Brenda’s actions.

For the first time ever.

The case centered on a group of serial bank robbers that ol’ Commander Taylor’s Robbery Homicide couldn’t quite get a handle on for the past 11 months. Chief Pope had seriously grown tired of having bank robbers play cowboys and Indians whilst shooting up parking lots and people.

BJ and Priority Homicide get the call to solve the case.

This most recent armored bank car heist seemed to have gone pretty darn bad. It was a job being worked from the inside – employee joins the security company that handles the routes of the armored car, gives it to his buddies, and voilá, bank robbery worth a whole lot of extra cash. Turns out the “insider” employee of the security company, Wesley Reed, wasn’t too keen on watching his fellow security guard friends get shot, or having his own partners turn on him. So, he up and flees to Georgia all the while leaving his little brother, Grady, behind to fend off the murder investigation. Not too cool considering his little bro’ is the only family member he’s got left in his life.

Ah, family.

Did someone say Georgia?

Christmas with the Johnsons?

Too bad mom and dad thought BJ and Fritz were actually coming to spend the holidays down South, not trying to extradite a suspect. Especially since mom and dad up and canceled their plans to RV-it down to Florida for a Johnson family-reunion-type Christmas.

Mom: “Your father’s not mad, Brenda Leigh. Just disappointed. The child that comes home to visit the least is the one you want to see the most.”

Awwww.

Did anyone just feel like slapping some sense into BJ for a minute? As in, it’s the holidays, and you’re using your parents to help you solve a murder investigation?

Questioning BJ’s actions #1.

But so begins the tale of Where’s Brenda, seeing as Wesley isn’t all that cooperative of a witness (go figure) – especially after Lieutenant Provenza and Lieutenant Flynn red-eye it over to Georgia to take Wesley back to Los Angeles only to have him act up a bomb threat in the Georgia airport that promptly gets all three of them on the Federal terrorist no-fly list.

Road trip!

All aboard!

Mom, dad, BJ, Fritz, Provenza, Flynn and Wesley board the RV, which was all shined up, festively decorated and spiffed out to head down to Florida before mom and dad aptly canceled their plans (read: now help Brenda with her suspect).

You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me!

So, a couple of misplaced Perry Como Christmas CDs later (and mom doing one heck of a job of driving), Wesley still isn’t being all that cooperative, still is trying to escape wrecking dad’s RV, still throwing himself out a window and refusing to get back on the ol’ RV.

And then it really happens.

Lieutenant Provenza: “I don’t know if that was such a good idea, chief.”
Brenda: “If it gets him to talk, it’s a great idea. Before you get back on the RV, I want you to call Lieutenant Tao and have him go back to Wesley’s apartment and have him fake a crime scene depicting Grady’s murder.”

Whaaaat?

Yes, Wesley is a jerk.

Yes, he really needs to be thumped upside the head.

Yes, he’s a criminal.

But fudging about his little’ brother’s death, then getting him drunk to fess up about his partners-gone-wrong plans for yet another bank heist on Christmas Eve?

Fritz: “You know Wesley has a drug and alcohol problem …”
Brenda: “And his friends are killing people with Uzis. Pick your poison.”

Questioning BJ’s actions #2 and #3.

Now, this is not an easy to thing to do.

Brenda is So. Darn. Good.

Her absent-minded Southern charm coupled with wickedly keen investigative skills that put her at the top of her game and of which continues to reaffirm why she is worthy of the title of Deputy Chief.

We know she always gets her suspect. We know we’re probably going to laugh in the process. We know she fires off enough one line humdingers to fill up a book. We know we do not want to be sitting opposite her in the interview room. And we know there is the chocolate obsession.

Do we ever ask, “Is BJ right?”

If we do, it usually lasts about five milliseconds and is written off to her having a bad day. Yes, even BJ can take her work home with her. And yet, she’s got Fritz to balance it all out and give her a much needed reality check. This is unlike another homicide detective who is at her breaking point, haunted by nightmares, alone, isolated, depressed, drinking and still having nothing in her life to balance out her obsessive work nature.

Lilly Rush could learn a thing or two from BJ. As could the Cold Case writers on how to create tangible balance between the work and the personal lives of their characters. I’m sorry, but I don’t watch that show for the cases. I watch it for the detectives, and specifically, Lilly. Call me crazy, but didn’t that show start out being centered on the "lone female Philadelphia homicide detective who finds her calling working cold jobs?" I’m pretty sure every piece of first season promotional gear I read used that exact phrase. So, when did it become only about the predictable cold jobs, and the detectives falling into some sort of gray oblivion of emotional zombiehood?

The Closer, refreshingly, has not fallen into the procedural trap of recycled predictability and stagnant character growth. The show continually entertains and challenges the audience by striking a balance between the personal and professional. This episode followed on the heels of the revealing struggle Fritz and Brenda worked through in the season finale by giving us yet another glimpse into how Brenda makes her decisions – the decisions no one would want to have to make but of which she has to enter into on almost daily basis.

Brenda: “I feel just horrible about how I had to treat Wesley … But if I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

For BJ, this case hit her from both sides – personal values and professional responsibility. She had a job to do, but knew the process of how she went about doing that job this time out crushed her own family, and ultimately, made her question her own self. Yet she still emerged triumphant, if not substantially humbled trying to do the best she could whilst also being at fault.

This is the show’s absolute brilliance.

Striking a balance.

In the end, BJ was left to sort out the truth of her lie - especially after Wesley reneged on his deal to turn state’s evidence against his buddies, then sent a poignant videotaped Dear John to Brenda to look after Grady given he knew it was probably going to end badly for him.

And it did.

Brenda’s lie came back to haunt her, and she still ended up doing the right thing. She had a tough line to walk - had to do what was right for they system whilst figuring out how to explain it all to those closest to her.

Including the now orphaned Grady.

Perhaps most poignant was her true realization of the importance of her parents in her life.

Brenda: “[Wesley] told how me how lucky I am to have you – and I am!”

That bond – and the truth in that bond – both crushing and triumphant was what sealed this episode’s brilliant premise.

Dad: “You have a tough job. You have to make tough decisions.”
Brenda: “I try to do what’s right … I do … to the very best of my ability.”
Dad: “I guess if I had to trust anybody to make tough decisions, it’d haveto be my little girl.”

Like I said, can this show get any better?

Happy Holidays BJ and Co.

Look for The Closer’s fourth season to premiere in Summer 2008 on TNT.

Two 'Heroes' Fall

Why do shows like Lost and Heroes string us along all season (or in Heroes' case, half a season) with mediocre plots and so much mythology that I'm not even sure the writers understand it all -- just to wallop us with a kick-ass finale that leaves our heads spinning and our hearts wondering why we ever doubted this show??!! Why, I ask! It's just not fair. And with the continuing writers strike spelling out a bleak TV future that includes the looming sensation that most shows may not finish out their seasons past the 12 or so episodes they have in the bank, it makes this week's spectacular Heroes finale even more bittersweet. I'm psyched that they ended "Volume II" with a HUGE bang, but bummed that I might not get to follow the story until Fall 2008 at the earliest. Moving on because if I don't, I'm going to get all depressed over the current condition of this TV season. Did anyone else find themselves literally hanging on Every. Single. Moment?? It's no secret that I usually find this show's multi-story formula to be its biggest weakness (too many stories + too many characters = total viewer confusion), but this week, it worked in this episode's favor. It built up the suspense and had me glued through the entire hour. Every story was intense. Every story had real emotion. And every story advanced the plot and cleared up a lot of ambiguous elements from the first half of this season.

The promos promised that two heroes would die. The writing has been on the wall all season for Nicki, so no surprises there (although, the manner of her death was a shock -- I was so sure the virus was going to get her since Mohinder was distracted with Sylar). Nathan, on the other hand, was a shock for me. Of course, you can never be too sure that characters are actually dead on these sorts of shows, but assuming the older Petrelli bit the bullet last night (and in a very unsettling manner), you can go ahead and paint me shocked. I never liked Nathan, so no love lost on his passing, but I am a bit unnerved that the two dead heroes are two original heroes. Oh hell, I'm just glad my girl Kristen Bell survived to shock another season.

I really wish they had killed Sylar. I really HATE him! I know I'm supposed to and all, but I think I hate him more than the writers want me to (he has NO redeeming qualities). I was so hoping Elle would electrocute his evil butt. Even Adam, Mr. Let's- cleanse- humanity -with- a- horrible- infectious- virus, has redeeming qualities. Plus his motives, while totally whacko, at least make some sort of sense and he seems to be motivated by good versus Sylar's evil. A bit misguided, but still, he believes he's doing what's best for the world. Looks like he'll be spending those next 400 years six feet under, though. Let's just hope that the wait for the next new episode of Heroes is a little shorter.

'Case' Star Hits the Track for Charity

Cold Case may have taken this past Sunday off, but series star Kathryn Morris was busy kicking off a holiday toy drive at Pole Position Raceway in Corona, California. The effervescent actress was joined by fellow CBS stars Alex O'Loughlin (Moonlight) and Skeet Ulrich (Jericho) as well as NASCAR driver Stanton Barrett (Morris dates Barrett's brother David) yesterday (Dec. 2nd). The celebrity racing charity event put Morris and other attendees behind the wheel as they raced for a good cause. The race track is accepting toy donations from now until December 24th, and all of the toys will go to neighboring communities. Please visit Pole Position Raceway's site for more information. Here are a couple more photos from yesterday's event (as usual, thanks to the wonderful folks at Look Again for the heads up).

Morris poses with Moonlight star Alex O'Loughlin

Morris rounds a corner during the charity racing event at Pole Position Raceway

Cold Case will return this Sunday on CBS. In the new episode, Lilly and the gang investigate the 1945 murder of a man who moved his family to Philly after their release from a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII.

‘Tis the Season: ABC Family’s 25 Days of Xmas

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Did anyone notice it’s now December?

Where did the year go?

Anyways, if you’re anything like me, you’re now counting down how many shopping days you have left before you a) have to mail your gifts across the country so that they will arrive to extended family and friends before the big day; and, b) when is the absolute last day you could possibly brave the crowds to purchase for all the non-far-away-live-down-the-street-coworker-last-minute-gift people.

And, if you're anything like me, when you’re sitting down to either a) relax after mall mania; b) wrap presents you got from mall mania; or, c) just avoid mall mania altogether and do all your shopping online (smart!), be sure to tune into ABC Family’s 10th annual 25 Days of Christmas, which runs now through December 25th.

It features 200 hours of holiday programming, including two ABC Family Original Movies – Holiday in Handcuffs (December 9th) starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez and Snowglobe (December 15th) starring Christina Milian and Lorraine Bracco. In addition, ABC Family will host the basic cable premiere of the hit animated film The Incredibles (December 16th).

You can check out ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Official Web site for complete programming schedules and lots of other cool stuff!

Teams Count On Staying in the 'Race'

Last week, we were all spared any future "Flo-esque" moments (those who haven't seen the early seasons, have to rent them) on The Amazing Race when Lorena (a.k.a. Flo: The Sequel) and Jason landed in last place. I was beginning to like them, though, so boo to their elimination. Of course, those insipid blondes are still lingering (it was their stupidity that got poor Lorena and Jason further behind at the darn U-Turn). Please, please let this be their last leg! In the meantime, here are this week's "live" thoughts.

Ron and Christina are trying to work out how they can communicate better. I have an idea -- how about Ron keeps his trap shut long enough for Christina to get a word in! Communication is a 2-way street.

Outside-the-Airport, But-Still-Airport-Drama Alert! Ron and Christina think that they have scored the coup of the century with their arrival in Lithuania at 2:10 pm. Unfortunately for them, the rest of the teams have found one that arrives at 1:25 pm. And then there's Grandfather/Grandson who refused to reveal any information to the other teams. As we've all learned, TAR Karma is a beyotch, so their inability to speak French (and the lack of help from the other teams that they just alienated) cost them an earlier flight. Too bad they were able to rectify the situation at the airport.

The blondes seem to be self-destructing over Shana's bad decisions (she made the infamous U-Turn call last week). No worries, though, because she's the "most methodical" of the two. Riiight! Let's hope this continues and they self-destruct themselves right off this race.

WOW! When I suggested that the blondes self-destruct themselves off the race, I wasn't thinking with a BUS!!! Seriously, that was scary from my living room and I wasn't the one almost flattened. On the plus side, they're so lost!!

I see Shouldn't Be Dating Couple are up to their usual antics. This time, they're lost on the streets of Lithuania and being just as nasty to each other as ever! How are they going to find their car again??

Product Placement Alert! It seems that Lithuania is the perfect place to do a Travelocity promo since it's apparently the gnome capitol of the world or something.

It's a total toss-up on which Detour sucks more this week: the stilts or the counting. As a general rule, counting Detours are never a wise choice, but the stilts aren't doing anyone any favors, either. And adding to the chaos of both, Jen and Nathan are getting stressed. The insults are mere seconds away. Apparently, Nathan refuses to count in his head and being the prince that he is, he just called Jen a "Bitch." Told you the insults were seconds away. She has got to lose this loser!

Meanwhile, TK and Rachel just landed on the mat in first place. It seems I was wrong; the stilts did do them a favor.

Oh. My. Gosh! The blondes are in last. Please don't let this be a non-elim round... and it's NOT!! The blondes are gone! And I can't believe this, but it's totally due to their own self-destruction. They completely imploded at the counting Detour and lost the race.

Were you as happy to see the blondes go as I was? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

SciFi Returns to Oz with 'Tin Man'

Beginning tonight, you can make a dark return trip to L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with SciFi's Tin Man. This re-imagined, re-telling of the classic tale finds Dorothy (known as "DG" in this version) plucked from her waitress job and placed in the Outer Zone (Oz) - a world oppressed by dark magic and evil. She must rely on her emerging memories and a few friends in order to overcome the dark forces at work. This 3-night miniseries (the story continues Monday and Tuesday nights) stars Zooey Deschanel as DG, Neal McDonough, Alan Cumming, and Richard Dreyfuss. Tin Man premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET on cables's SciFi Channel. For more on the miniseries, visit SciFi.com.

PTR Watch Reminder: Deck the Halls with a Special 'Closer'

By LillyKat / PTR Staff Writer

"I do not like it when I am ordered to be festive."

Even though PTR's favorite homicide detective is taking the weekend off (and the ongoing writer's strike has us all wondering if and/or when we'll get to see the remainder of this season's Lilly Rush chronicles), Brenda Leigh Johnson will happily tide us over in a two-hour holiday special of The Closer this coming Monday, December 3rd at 8 p.m. on TNT.

Tune in or fire up the Tivo, then be sure to check PTR next Tuesday for a full recap of all the tidings and trimmings of BJ and the gang!

Photo: TNT

Jingle 'Bones,' Jingle All the Way

'Tis the season for holiday episodes, but last night's Christmas-themed episode of Bones exemplified that "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (Andy Williams-style) sentiment better than any other. How Christmas-riffic was this outing??!! I really thought that those witty Bones writers couldn't top this year's spectacular Halloween episode, but they sure proved me wrong last night. I'm pretty sure that I haven't laughed that hard in a long time -- even with a sitcom and Bones definitely falls more in the drama column. Everything from the escalating Santa similarities (North Pole variety) to Bones and Booth's bantering to the rent-a-Santa who needed a hearing aid and the always hilarious counseling sessions with Dr. WayTooYoung had me laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. Holiday movies should be so funny!

Of course, the talk of the night lands squarely on the shoulders of THAT kiss. Sure, it was part mistletoe, part black mail and a whole lotta chewing gum, but it was still quite spectacular! And even though Bones and Booth will carry on as if it never happened, we all know that they were both jolted by the way they felt during and after. LOVED the awkwardness between them and the way the prosecutor (a.k.a. the "Puckish" kiss arranger) rubbed the idea that they both went a little above and beyond those "steamboats." Just a well-done scene. And even though I ultimately want Bones and Booth together, I'm content to sit back and let the obvious tension between them fester for a few more seasons. Besides, the most romantic and touching moment came at the very end when Booth gave Bones and her family that tree. It's the little things that set this show apart and this episode was chock full of them and holiday cheer. Oh, and mistletoe. Can't forget that mistletoe.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Fans Can Make the Call

From Fans For the WGA:

CALL BLITZ
On Monday the WGA and AMPTP will recommence negotiations. The FFWGA wishes them Godspeed. However, our support cannot waver. I must stress: we will not stop campaigning on the writers’ behalf until the contract is signed, sealed, delivered, and serenaded by Stevie Wonder.

That is why on Monday and Tuesday, during normal business hours (9AM to 5PM) we are asking EVERY ONE of our members to call one or all of the following numbers:

1.818.560.1000
Anne Sweeney, ABC, ABC Family, Disney

1.310.369.1000
Kevin Reilly, Fox

1.818.954.6000
Bruce Rosenblum, Warner Bros.

1.212.258.6000
Phillipe Dauman, Viacom

1.818.777.1000
Jeff Zucker, NBC Universal

1.212.975.4321
1.212.975.4545 (This is a direct line)
Les Moonves, CBS

Click over to the Call Blitz page for a sample script of what to say and more. Today's the last day of the blitz, so make your call(s) count! And don't forget to click the link on the right of this blog to send Pencils2MediaMoguls! We need to encourage a speedy and fair end to this strike as soon as possible.

Lilly Finds the Writing's On the Wall

Well, well, well... it seems that some very small part of Lilly Rush paid attention when her therapist told her that she's never going to stop having nightmares if she doesn't face what happened to her and the realizations that come with it. The nightmares returned this week, and when they did, Lil woke up with an "Oh crap! My therapist was right" look on her face. So maybe she hasn't faced it, but at least she seems to realize that she needs to. Baby steps, but a very positive development in the emotional well being of our favorite cold case detective.

Speaking of cold cases, we had a great one this week. A victim that I think we can all agree didn't have us boo-hooing over his murder. A serial rapist who not only forced himself on women, but also laughed in their faces after the fact. Oh yeah, and there was also the poor girl who killed herself. LOVED, loved, loved Lilly and Kat's interrogations with these women -- victims themselves. I get that Lilly wants justice and she doesn't get to pick her victims and yada yada yada, but she sure was hell-bent on arresting this scumbag's killer. In her mind, it was all tied into this idea about facing the thing that's holding you back. She thought one (or all) of the women had killed Mike and the only way they were going to move on was to own up to it. Yes, yes I know: Pot meet kettle. When it became clear that they weren't responsible, she changed her tune. She made Jimmy say that Mike's murder was a case of "imminent danger" so he wouldn't be separated from his sister. Like Lilly, I'm a little torn about it. On the one hand, Mike was a creep and he would have continued to rape women, but on the other, murder is murder. I'm glad it ended as it did, but I couldn't help but feel a little morally wrong for feeling that way.

There was sooooo much funny goodness in this one. As usual, Kat and Vera had me cracking up. And then there was the entire gang's reaction to Jeffries being in charge. I lost it when someone made that paper "Lieutenant" sign! This (hopefully) temporary power shift is making for an interesting new dynamic. I like it when shows change things up (again hopefully) temporarily for the better. I also LOVED the scene between Will and Stillman on Stillman's boat. It was an insta-classic and a great way to have the wonderful John Finn in the episode. So, another excellent hour. Cold Case moves to 10-0 on the season.

'Heroes' Saves One of its Own

I have to admit - I didn't really think that Heroes' HRG was dead. He's just too integral a character to kill off this early on in the series. I didn't, however, think that they would bring him back to life by the end of the episode. His "resurrection," if you will, did make for an interesting final moment. In fact, all in all, I liked this week's outing a lot. It focused on a couple of stories instead of the show's usual several-a-week format. It's just too difficult to follow when they try to stuff 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5-pound sack, and that causes me to lose interest -- fast. Even Lost, for all its faults, sticks to one character's story at a time each episode. Anyway, it seems that Claire in more vulnerable now that The Company has her father. He's not able to protect her and there's no way The Company isn't going to exploit him. It's no secret that Claire's story is my favorite, so I'm excited about the possibilities here.

If someone had given me a detailed character description for Kristen Bell's Elle, I never would have believed that she could pull it off. "BUT, she's too cute, " I would have uttered vehemently. And boy would I have been wrong. She's fan-frickin-tastic in this role! She brings the right amount of fun, evil and even a little "Kristen essence" to a role that could easily have turned into an exploited bad girl cliche in the hands of another actress. Major kudos to Bell for knocking my socks off once again.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Catch a 2-day marathon of the first season of Heroes on cable's MOJO November 23rd and 24th. Visit www.mojohd.com for more.

Photos courtesy nbc.com.

'Case' Star Speaks Out For Her Crew

Cold Case star Kathryn Morris weighed in on the effects of the ongoing writers strike on the hit crima drama's crew members. In a brief interview with the syndicated Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith, she explains why she's standing behind the people behind-the-scenes:

Kathryn Morris: "Cold Case" Bitter Strike Realities Setting In

Publish Post"Cold Case" star Kathryn Morris reveals that the Hollywood writers' strike has made things "very emotional on our set. Writers on a lot of other shows on the Warner Bros. lot tried to pump out a few extra scripts to help the crews get through the holidays. Our writers chose not to do that. It hurt the crew, hurt their feelings," she says. "The electricians, the grips, the costumers, hair and makeup people — all who do not have the luxury of receiving residuals and get paid week to week — are going to have to find work to feed their families. Some of these people will not be coming back to 'Cold Case' at all. This is bound to break up our crew," she goes on heatedly. "This is a crew that just put in over 100 episodes, that puts in 80-hour work weeks and does double episodes to make air dates. We've worked together closely for five years, and we're a tight family. Now, some of them will probably have to find work outside of TV or films." Morris stresses, "As much as I respect and understand what the writers are doing, catching up with the technology, to see this crew getting split up is painful." They'll be working until Friday (Nov. 16), she tells us, and then the set will be shuttered. As for Morris herself, she relates that she'll still have some post-production recording and other work ahead on the series, and then she'll possibly take on another movie assignment. She notes, "There's been more feature activity — films that have locked scripts. I'm going to be available because of the break. Even when we do go back, it's going to take awhile to get some scripts together."


Sobering words. And a HUGELY respectable stance from Kathryn. Even more reason why we need both sides to find a fair resolution ASAP.

Stillman Solves His Last 'Case' - For Now

All those in favor of Lt. John Stillman for Boss of the Year, say "I." All those opposed...nobody? That's what I thought. We all knew that Stillman was a stand-up guy, a devoted detective and one hell of a boss, but this week's episode proved just how much he embodies all of those admirable traits and more. He has spent most of these 5 seasons of Cold Case trying to make things right in his personal life - supporting his daughter through her pregnancy and recent separation and even reconnecting with his ex-wife. But, it is his professional acts that garner him the most praise here at PTR. He has gone to bat more times than he probably cares to remember for Lilly, he blamed himself for her shooting and he entered into George Marks' attic gun-in-hand to save her life and he tried to save her from having to live with a death on her hands. He shared many glasses of Scotch with Will, comforted Scotty after Elisa jumped to her death, and lent an understanding ear to Nick after his wife left him. Stillman has always been there for his detectives whether it's being the father that Lil never had or a friend right when the others need him the most. But this week, he took the fall for Scotty's bad judgment and the 30-day suspension that comes with it. It was Scotty's fault that a disturbed father wound up on a rooftop holding a gun to the head of his son's murderer, but Stillman told internal affairs that he gave the order so he could save Scotty's young career. Scotty may have gotten off suspension-free, but he's going to be dealing with a heaping helping of guilt. That final scene with Stillman carrying his box out the door as his team looked on was moving thanks to the entire cast, but John Finn really shone the brightest this week. Big kudos to him for the entire hour!!

It's difficult to imagine a world where women are expected to fit into one solid mold. If not, they end up in mental facilities receiving extremely risky electric shock treatment. Of course, this wasn't the story for every "gender confused" teen in the 60s, but the sheer fact that it was the story for any is sad enough. As far as I'm concerned, that hospital and that doctor killed Sam, not her friend. It was maddening watching Kat arrest Dom while the real killers were never held responsible. When Dom found Sam, there was nothing left that resembled the vibrant, proud teen that made her classmates uneasy with her boyish tendencies. The Cold Case writing staff are masters of weaving tales that champion society's "underdogs" - the sectors that bare the brunt of the majority's ignorance-fueled hate, and this episode was no exception. I love these sorts of stories because they really are the essence of this show. I also loved Kat's interrogation with Red. She was adorable and always in control. It was nice to see a different side to her character. Cold Case moves to 9-0 on the season.


Support the writers who write your favorite shows. Send Pencils2MediaMoguls.

Teams Cry Over Spilled Milk

Last week, we said goodbye to the Married Ministers on The Amazing Race. To quote Phil, "Who will be eliminated next?" Here are this week's "live" thoughts.

The Exorcist??!! Really, Jason??!!! You compared your girlfriend to something out of a horror film! Boyfriend of the Year nominee over here, folks. Oh wait, he has competition from Nathan who is busy complaining about Jennifer stressing him out too much.

Shocking, but the blondes are already complaining about how they don't look good. It's a race girls, not a beauty contest. Wouldn't you just love to see these two on Survivor??

Airport Drama Alert! Ron and Christina have 30 minutes to make their flight and they're still at the ticket counter. Editing says they won't make it, which means they're a lock for getting on. See, told ya. BUT WAIT, there's more! The flight carrying most of the teams is having a mechanical problem, which means they can't take off for Paris. And that means they can't make their connecting flight to a newly emerging country in Africa! And since it's a newly emerging country, there's only one flight a day. Bottom line, all of the teams that aren't Shouldn't Be Dating Couple (who made an earlier flight) are totally screwed!

As usual, the signature TAR commercial break fixed everything (including the plane) and all of the teams arrived in Paris and (barely) made the flight to Africa. It couldn't, however, fix the blondes, who, upon arriving in Africa, decided that the place was "rough" had "no street signs" and worried that they might be "sold to people for money." Well, the taxi driver did take their money and laugh at them, so it wasn't a total loss.

OK, so I was laughing at the idiot-ness that is the blondes, but now they're being downright offensive. They're insulting the local people's clothing, smell and cleanliness ("These people bring flies"). Ugh! They're back on the Hate List for me.

Didn't anyone learn anything from the donkey task in the premiere? Taking out your frustrations on a stubborn animal will get you nowhere, people! Notice that, once again, the calm, nice teams are the ones NOT crying over spilled milk and already leading their pack of camels along the marked path (except for TK and Rachel who are lost once again). Meanwhile, Lorena and Jennifer are this close to losing it. OK, so Lorena just lost it. Good thing there was a magical TAR commercial break. Maybe it can make her STOP SCREAMING!

No such luck. She's still screaming and carrying on. Please. Make. It. Stop!

Loyal TAR watchers know that there is a tried and (Notso) true method of getting people who speak other languages to understand you. No, it's not talking loudly. It's SPANGLISH! Apparently, it has surpassed English as the universal language, and thus, "educationale" is the international word for education/school. I wonder why it didn't work??

Yes! The Brother/Sister team just finished in first after zipping through Learn It at the Detour. And as an added bonus, Phil got to say "Spa."

Lorena Update: She's still yelling and crying back at the Roadblock. And no, she still hasn't gotten all of the milk she needs. This is going to be a LONG Roadblock. BUT, I now see where Jason was coming from with that Exorcist comment early on. Oh thank god, she finally got the damn milk. My ears want to hug the camel that gave it to her!

Editing says that it's a tight race between Jason/Lorena and the Sisters, but me thinks the Sisters are in last. And they are, so Lorena stays around to scream another day. The Sisters, however, are not as lucky. They landed in last and were eliminated.

Were you bummed to see the Sisters go? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.


Support the writers that write your favorite shows. Send Pencils2MediaMoguls.

Send Pencils2MediaMoguls

The great folks at United Hollywood have come up with a great way to support the writers with their latest campaign:

Pencils2MediaMoguls

Spread the word! One buck sends a box of 12 pencils to a mogul. We're pooling everyone's money to buy the pencils from a "green" manufacturer who uses wood from sustainable forests.

If the moguls refuse to accept our truckloads of pencils, we'll donate them to schools and non-profits that deal with children's literacy.

Hopefully, we will indeed have truckloads to deliver. But only if we all spread the word.


So, first click over to United Hollywood to send your pencils and then spread the word to everyone you know. I sent my pencils and it was quick and easy and done through PayPal.

AMPTP Sets New Date for Talks with the WGA

Promising news via United Hollywood:


November 16, 2007

CONTRACT 2007 NEGOTIATIONS STATEMENT

LOS ANGELES – The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have issued the following statement today:

Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued.

For more information about the Writers Guild of America, West, please visit www.wga.org. For more information about the Writers Guild of America, East, please visit: www.wgaeast.org.

The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The unions conduct numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers.
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Let's hope that the network and studio execs are willing to make a fair deal with the writers. BUT, there is something you can do to facilitate this. Thanks to the fan-run site, Bring TV Back, you can print off and send a letter to the appropriate heads. The site provides this template:

If you are a fan of a specific show (or shows), PERSONALIZE the following template:

Dear (CEO):

As a loyal viewer of many of your TV shows, I'm disappointed that you, along with the rest of the AMPTP, have broken off negotiations with the Writer's Guild. In refusing to negotiate residuals for new media, especially streaming media, you are alienating those who enjoy your product.

I consume my entertainment via new media -- I watch streaming video and download shows. As a viewer, I want to know that the writers who crafted my favorite TV shows and movies are getting a fair residual, no matter what screen I use.

Please respect your audience and respect your writers by returning to the bargaining table and negotiate new media residuals fairly.

Sincerely,

YOU

Not sure where/who to send it? Bring TV Back has taken care of that as well:

MAKE THE STUDIOS AND NETWORKS LISTEN:

ABC network/ABC Family/Lifetime/Disney Channel/A&E/ABC Studios
Robert Iger
CEO of The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

CORPORATE PHONE: (818) 560-1000
CORPORATE FAX: (818)560-2500

FOX network/FX/MY Network TV/Fox Television Studios
Peter Chernin
CEO of Fox Entertainment Group
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035

CORPORATE PHONE: (310) 369-1000

CW network/Warner Bros. Television
Barry Meyer
Chairman, Warner Bros. Entertainment
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

CORPORATE PHONE: (818) 954-6000

NBC network/USA/Sci Fi/A&E/Universal Media Studios
Jeff Zucker
CEO of NBC/Universal
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

CORPORATE PHONE: (212) 664-4444

CBS network/CW network/Showtime/CBS Paramount Television
Leslie Moonves
CEO of CBS Entertainment Network
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

CORPORATE PHONE: (323) 575-2345

Sony Pictures Television
Michael Lynton
Chairman/CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment
10202 West Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232

CORPORATE PHONE: (310) 244-4000
CORPORATE FAX: (310) 244-2626

Comedy Central/MTV
Philippe Dauman
President/CEO of Viacom
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

CORPORATE PHONE: (800) 459-2539


Write those letters and let these bigwigs know that you support the writers. It could make a big difference come November 26th.