AMPTP walked away from the negation table with SAG, which means a second strike could very well happen. Word on the street is that AMPTP doesn’t think SAG has the balls to strike after everything Hollywood had to deal with during the writers strike and apparently SAG and willing to call AMPTP’s bluff.

Ok one more clip from last night’s episode. In this one “South Park” totally knocks how the strike ended.

Last night’s “South Park” episode took on the WGA writer’s strike by having Canada strike when the world doesn’t give it respect.

Now that the strike has ended news is flying in about TV shows and movie updates, but instead of talking about all that jazz I want to take a moment and talk about the actual deal.

I’ve looked over the paperwork that was given to WGA members over the weekend and I spoke to two WGA members… basically in the short term the new deal sucks. Any mid-high level writer will be making less money. However, the hope is that new formula for determining online residuals will be worth it in the long run because not only are writers making money from online distribution but they made sure the old “DVD formula” wouldn’t be applied to it. So was it worth it? No one knows and if some one is saying they know then they are talking out of their butt. Its cliche’, but in this case true: Only time will tell if the strike was really worth it.

The writer’s strike is officially over and here is the announcement letter from the WGA:

On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over. Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you’re not employed at an office or other work site, call or e-mail your employer that you are resuming work. If you have been told not to report to work or resume your services, we recommend that you still notify your employer in writing of your availability to do so. Questions concerning return-to-work issues should be directed to the WGAW legal department or the WGAE’s assistant executive director. (Read on …)

Everyone has their fingers crossed that the WGA members will approve of the deal thats on the table and that the strike will come to an end. The writers are being presented with the deal on Saturday and will then vote on if they like it or not. If they do then production on tv shows could start again as soon as Monday or it could be awhile longer while the “legal wording” of the deal is decided upon.

TV Guide, being very optimistic, has put together the following list determining when TV shows will return should the strike end this weekend: (Read on …)

The WGA sent out a press release regarding negotiation talks. They probbally did so becuase of all the “postive” press coverage that has been going around all weekend:

To Our Fellow Members,
While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing. The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.

Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength. Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.

There is hope, but nothing is in stone yet so don’t get too excited. United Hollywood posted the following message:

UH has confirmed from off-the-record sources that progress is indeed being made in the informal talks, and that creative solutions to the biggest differences between the AMPTP and the WGA have gotten the tentative and cautious approval of both sides. This does not mean there is a deal in principle yet. It means we may, finally, be very close to one — as close as days away. And while we’re cautiously optimistic about what we’re hearing, it comes with a real caveat. Just as happened with the DGA deal, points that are agreed to in informal negotiation can be thought of as points on a deal memo — but it’s the drafting language that comes from hammering out those points that makes them legally binding. And our sources say that draft language doesn’t yet exist. That’s a big part of what will be happening in the next few days, as negotiations continue. Until the WGA and the companies have enshrined the deal points — whatever they are — into real draft language, those deal points can’t be thought of as final.

With all the discussions about the strike negations, I thought now would be the perfect time to check back in with the “Why We Write” blog. The except below was written by Jaime Paglia the co-creator and executive producer of “Eureka” (man I miss that show).

Plus, let’s be honest, it’s just a damn cool job. And fun. Okay, fun as in painful. Often, like getting root canal. Like writing this essay, which given that I’m on strike, is all I’ve written in over two months, and I’m convinced is pure crap. Honestly, I hate every word and will regret having written it the moment I send it out for public viewing. But that is the life I’ve chosen. I’m one of the few, incredibly fortunate, deeply pathological people who actually gets to make stuff up for a living.

E! has an interview with “Pushing Daisies’” creator Bryan Fuller who says that even if the strike ends this week we won’t get new episodes till next season.

Lots of talk has been going down this past week. Essentially, even if the strike is resolved in the next week or two, we wouldn’t be back until next season. There was a preliminary conversation that involved a plan to hit the ground running and try to get episodes on the air as soon as possible, but it no longer seems like that’s going to happen. It seems most likely that we will have a very short first season and then come back in the fall for a proper season two.

This sucks but don’t get too downhearted because not all shows are in the same situation as “Pushing Daises” and with most we could possibly get a good 4-6 episodes.

CBS has found a way around the writer’s strike. They just struck a deal with a Canadian company who will produce a TV show for them. Using a foreign production company and then buying the “American Distribution Rights” means they don’t have to worry about the WGA.

In another sign of how the WGA strike is reshaping network TV’s development process, CBS Paramount Network TV is planning to team with Canada’s CTV to produce at least 13 episodes of a police drama dubbed “Flashpoint.”

What the FUCK?! “Celebrity Apprentice” was renewed for another season. I’m not even joking. The ratings are horrible and the show is total crap, yet for some reason NBC is bringing it back. God damn you writer’s strike for making NBC renew it!

Conan shaved his “strike beard.” Could this mean the WGA Strike is ending? Does this mean he no longer supports the writers? What does it mean? Can nobody explain the madness?!

Lionsgate struck a deal with the WGA so that “Mad Men” and “Weeds” can go back to work. This means the next seasons of both shows shouldn’t face any delays since both series have been on their usual hiatus for the past few months. Also rumors are swirling that the strike MAY be resolved by the end of this week, but those are rumors and with the media blackout during this round of negotiations no one really knows what’s going on.

I received an email today and the email was blank but the subject line said “Where did all your spoilers go?” Then earlier in the week I received an email from a girl begging for spoilers on ABC Family’s “Wildfire.”

So I feel it’s necessary to remind everyone that there is this little thing called a “writers strike” that has caused all scripted shows to shut down. So even though some shows have new episodes airing, just about everything (except for “October Road) stopped production work back in December. So the reason I don’t have spoilers is because there is nothing to spoil. Scripts haven’t been written yet, so no one knows what’s going to happen.

Needless to say though, next week I should have some “Lost” “Kyle XY” and “Wildfire” spoilers.