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True, the strike has been over for awhile now and things have pretty much returned to normal. But I don't want you writers to think we are taking you for granted just because we're not honking anymore. We are honking with our hearts. New television shows are finally trickling down to the TiVo-ed masses, and they are better than ever! Clearly the writers weren't just sitting around eating free breakfasts at Bob's. They were......

George Clooney & friends don't want this guy's job, as seen in January '08 | Photo © Copyright 2008 by Jonathan Alcorn (aka Sundogg) via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr If there's one scene Hollywood actors aren't eager to rehearse, it's the one where they march back and forth in front of studios in shifts, carrying signs and accepting honks and donuts from sympathetic supporters. It's something the Screen Actors Guild is hoping......

How many ways can you say “Today I walked in a circle for three and a half hours”? Thankfully, after 50-odd posts, 100+ days, a 2.5 billion blow to the local economy, and 217 donuts eaten by me, you can finally close the book on “The Writers Strike of ‘07”. Last night, the WGA announced that its members had voted “overwhelmingly” to ratify the new MBA contract. With over 4,000 votes cast, Guild members......

This morning at the Marriott Downtown, Los Angles Development and Economic Corporation (LADEC) financial uber-guru Jack Kyser will be presenting the 2008-09 LAEDC Forecast Results, a 71-page document entailing the region's financial future. Highlighting a recession watch, the crumbling housing market, and growth opportunities such as tourism, one loosely dubbed as "Its NOT business as usual!" talks strike and its ill-economic impacts upon the city. From the Hollywood Reporter: The figure includes lost wages from......

a writer's perspective So now that the writers have voted overwhelmingly to end the strike, what next? Well, now we’re in the midst of the contract ratification process. Last week, interested writers were asked to provide the WGA with “camera ready” statements for or against the new contract. Over the next few days, guild members will be receiving ballots along with the pro and con statements, and will have the opportunity to vote as to......

Writers Strike outside Disney | Photo by Heath Biter/LAist Just moments ago, in a letter to its members, the WGA announced that writers have voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the “restraining order” and officially end the strike. The move comes on Day 100 of the labor dispute. WGA president Patric Verrone is expected to hold a press conference in just a few moments at the WGA Theatre in Beverly Hills, where members......

There's a good chance that the WGA strike will end tomorrow. What implications does this have for the rest of the year? Will we really not see any effects on TV until the late fall sometime, or will we get some reason to turn the TV on over the summer? 8:00pm American Gladiators NBC - conclusion of the semifinals, four contenders return to face off for a spot in the finals. American Gladiators.com 8:00pm Westminster......

In a press conference held at noon today, the WGA announced that they approved of the tentative deal negotiated last week and shared with its membership in meetings yesterday. The LA Times reports: The endorsement paves the way for writers to return to work on Wednesday, pending a vote by the guild's membership to lift the strike order on Tuesday. The guild's 10,500 movie and TV writers covered by this contract are expected to......

a writer's perspective After last night’s WGA membership meeting at the Shrine, it now feels very likely that the end of the strike is here. Over 3000 WGA members turned out to hear the announcement that over the next 48 hours, writers would be given a chance to vote as to whether or not they wanted to call off the strike. This means that writers could be back to work as early as Wednesday.......

WGA Bests: Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Comedy Series, Drama Series The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) didn't hold a gala ceremony this year (who can afford a gown when you're not getting paid?) but they did take a break on the East coast from discussing the possible end of the strike to announce the winners of their annual awards. This year's very informal and somewhat unusual gathering "was decidedly looser than past ceremonies and......

As we reported earlier, the two-month Writers Guild of America strike is nearly over. WGA-East members voted heard about the proposal earlier and West members weighed in at 7 p.m. Some are already questioning the deal, but most expressed relief that the work stoppage is about to come to an end. Stay tuned to LAist for excellent coverage. A man was shot this morning in North Hollywood by an alleged gang member who approached......

Writers Guild members picket in front of Sony Pictures in Culver City, California, November 2007 At nearly 3am last night, WGA members received an email announcing that "we have a tentative deal." I'm told that the language of the deal could have been done earlier, but that the AMPTP attempted some last minute shenanigans - most reprehensible in the fact that it made me use the word "shenanigans." The WGA East will be holding......

Flavor Flav Roast Highlights on FunnyOrDie.com What could be a better Valentine than telling your loved one that you ordered the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav for them? I think the purpose of the above highlight reel is to see how many times they can get the word "pussy" into a highlight reel. Hopefully the WGA East and WGA West can help finalize a deal this weekend. Word has it that if they decide......

A striking writer outside Disney Studios in Burbank, CA | Photo by movielover via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr In an interview on CNBC's "Fast Talk," ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner said the writers strike is over but was noted "to hesitate initially about whether it was possible that the writers could still reject the agreement," yet finally suggesting the acceptance of the deal was inevitable."A deal has been made, and they'll be......

KNX1070 is reporting that "a police manhunt is ongoing West of a Washington Mutual bank at Ventura and Topanga Canyon in Woodland Hills. Authorities are searching for two armed kidnapping suspects." Things were something close to touch-and-go late this afternoon on the Blue Line near 5501 S Long Beach Ave when a female pedestrian fell near the tracks as a train passed by, but did not have any direct contact with the train itself.......

a writer's perspective As rumors that the writers strike is going to end begin to morph into a reality. I have been spending way too much time every day trying to differentiate between the truths, the rumors, and the half-truth/half-rumors. (AKA truemors) At this point, here is what I can tell ya. The WGA has scheduled an “important” membership meeting for this Saturday evening at the Shrine Auditorium. Without even knowing exactly what the......

The WGA strike has created a shortage of new television and films. If it can't be resolved soon, the studios can always take old movies and re-edit them. This trailer reimagines David Lynch's Blue Velvet as a romantic comedy ala Meet The Parents. Why are there people like Frank?......

John Mulaney - talent reelComedian John Mulaney is taking SoCal by storm, check out his schedule for the first part of this month (he'll be back in LA at the end of the month also): Feb 5 2008 8:00P - Comedy Death Ray @ UCB LA Hollywood Feb 6 2008 8:00P - The Improv Hollywood Feb 9 2008 8:00P - The Improv Hollywood Feb 11 2008 9:00P - Garage Comedy Feb 12 2008 9:00P -......

a writer's perspective With rumors flying fast and furious that The End Is Near, picketing resumed this morning with increased media scrutiny, and with healthy skepticism amongst the writers. I know everybody is anxious for this thing to be over, but there’s no point in listening to the rumors before they become a reality. I know Fox CEO Peter Chernin allegedly told his buddies at the Superbowl yesterday that “the strike is over”, but......

Not sure how to cap off your Super Tuesday voting experience? Why not grab a drink with LAist! We'll be at the Seven Grand in Downtown from 7-9 p.m., and your first drink is free if you're sporting the hottest accessory in town tomorrow: Your "I Voted" sticker! 21+ only, please. The body of a 32-year-old woman who fell off a cliff late Saturday morning near Chantry Flats on Mount Wilson has been recovered. Recovery......

It's more of a challenge than anything. Dear WGA, you've got some big shoes to fill, can't wait for you guys to get back on the job with proper compensation and creating something "worthy" of TCM's high standards.......

The Negotiating Table on FunnyOrDie.com "You’re a monkey" "Well you’re a Jew, so what?" Written by Seth Macfarlane (the voice of Peter Griffin on The Family Guys), Featuring Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Kat Foster ('Til Death), Nick Kroll (Cavemen) as the writers.......

The 3-month-old WGA strike could end as early as Friday if the new contract is completed and approved It's still in the outline phase, but a new contract has been drawn for striking writers, and may meet with approval as early as Friday. The new deal is said to including resolutions to fundamental concerns, like compensation for work done for and distributed on the Internet, all of which led to the walkout and picket......

a writer's perspective Today was buzzing on the line – in no small part because Thursdays at Warner Brothers are now officially “Teaching Thursdays at Warner Brothers”. Wannabe writers, students, and fans are being encouraged to show up and learn about the craft from the experts. Each week there will be a different theme, and today was “Multi-Camera Sitcom Day”. Those of us who have worked on multi-cam shows were asked to wear nametags......

Photo courtesy of United Hollywood For those of you who've been reading Nikki Finke's blog Deadlinehollywooddaily, the "Speechless" videos are old news by now. For those who haven't, they are a series of pro-WGA videos that demonstrate just how vital writers are to the creative process. Conceived by filmmaker George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff, the videos have been appearing sporadically since November. They all feature A-list talent appearing in what are essentially silent......

a writer's perspective Returning to Warner Brothers to picket yesterday and today felt like a bit of a homecoming. Between Monday’s SAG unity day at Fox, and the last holiday-shortened week that saw me putting in appearances at Paramount, WGA headquarters, and, of course, Xena Appreciation Day at NBC, it seemed like I’d been working out of the office for ages. It felt good to be home. I don’t know what they’re putting in......

Bright Umbrellas in Chinatown for a Less than Bright Day Crews are still working to restore power to some 3,600 Edison and DWP residents that lost power due to heavy rains and winds over the past two days. North Hollywood, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, Pomona, Torrance, Stevenson Ranch and - gasp! - Beverly Hills residents were affected. Candles, people. More rain is on the way so gather ye umbrellas while ye may. Tons of......

Because it's Sunday and because I want to make it to the line before Our Commander-In-Chief, it's time for a little editorializing about TV. The WGA strike that will be ending soon has shed a light on how vulnerable TV (and LA) is to disagreements about how this industry should function. While movies have always benefited, unworthily (Meet The Spartans anyone?), as art that exists at a level separate from commercialization, TV has always been......

Astra Heights, who is this week's iTunes Latino “Single of the Week,” will play tonight at The Echo. Lemon Sun will also be there. Yesterday was Xena: Princess Warrior picket day at the WGA Strike. Tonight, Xena herself, Lucy Lawless, will be bashing heads and belting out songs over at the Roxy. And earlier this morning, we interviewed Talib Kweli who will be at the House of Blues down the street from the Roxy......