Striking a blow for sharper No. 2 pencils

As far as blog launches go, it's impossible to ignore the irony that our TV-related musings come at a time when the Writers Guild of America is on strike. If it didn't seem foolish enough to be writing about imaginary hospitals, offices and schools, it'll probably be even MORE absurd to write about a strike that doesn't involve - you know - actual nurses, doctors, administrators and teachers waving placards for the greater good.

The point isn't to compare picket lines, though. Obviously, not watching "Lost" isn't a life or death proposition (at least I hope not) for everyday schlubs who still can't get that final airport scene with Kate and Jack out of their heads. Life will go on. And for the truly desperate, there are still reheated reality leftovers to choke down.

Then again, the strike is major news. Celebrities (and plenty of no-name writers with scruffy beards) are involved. And whether your favorite show is "30 Rock," or god forbid, "Cavemen," if the strikes drags on, there will probably be a moment in the coming weeks when you say to yourself, "Huh, I miss Jim making googly eyes at Pam," or "Hmm, I wonder what Jon Stewart or David Letterman thinks about the latest political debacle?" while wolfing down your third Hot Pocket and lounging in sweatpants.

(Or maybe this whole chain of events will be like that classic "Simpsons" episode where Marge turns "Itchy and Scratchy" wholesome and all of Springfield's kids abandon their TV sets to skip rope and climb trees? Come to think of it, I haven't engaged in a good hopscotch game in awhile ...)

So yeah, expect some daily writer's strike coverage (this just in: John Stamos is really good at shouting slogans that rhyme!) as this ugly mess continues to get uglier. Already, we know that late night TV is dark and Steve Carell not showing up to work puts "The Office" on ice, with the last available episode reportedly airing Thursday. "24" has been postponed indefinitely and virtually every scripted TV show will eventually hit the wall - it's just a matter of when - which the always-awesome Michael Ausiello of TV Guide chronicles here.

Variety's Scribe Vibe blog, LA Weekly's juicy Deadline Hollywood Daily, and this Twitter feed also contain plenty of helpful snapshots, links and rumors. And be sure to read this New York Times op-ed by Damon Lindelof (co-creator, writer for "Lost"). You may have to log in, but it's worth it for lines like, "I will probably be dragged through the streets and burned in effigy if fans have to wait another year for 'Lost' to come back. And who could blame them? Public sentiment may have swung toward the guild for now, but once the viewing audience has spent a month or so subsisting on 'America's Next Hottest Cop' and 'Celebrity Eating Contest,' I have little doubt that the tide will turn against us."

Mary-Kate Olsen would so dominate "Celebrity Eating Contest" ...

-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com