A blackout of a different variety.

So I was driving to work this morning and started really thinking about how crappy the WGA's strike is for the TV viewers. I absolutely hate that my favorite shows are being cut short, not airing, or cancelled altogether. I cannot fathom that, after finally getting the slow start to pay off, that I only have 3 episodes of Heroes left. I hate that The Daily Show has been stuck in perpetual reruns. I hate that shows like Journeyman and K-Ville, while admittedly not the best shows I have ever watched, will end up as afterthoughts of memories when all is said and done.

But at the same time I feel some internal struggle because I actually think that the WGA has some legitimate beefs. For those of you that don't know, the writers are fighting to increase the revenue they get from back-end residuals on DVD sales and to get any residuals on money received from Internet broadcasts (iTunes and Amazon Unboxed sales and also ad sales from website broadcasts). It is funny because everyone knows who the actors and directors are for movies and television. A large number of people know who the producers for shows are (Jerry Brukheimer/Joss Whedon/Shonda Rhimes/Bryan Singer/Aaron Sorkin/Mark Bellarus all pop to mind without even thinking hard). But how many people know who the writers are for shows (besides TV freaks like me)? These people are the ones who craft the genius that is our favorite TV shows. I can assure you that Grey's Anatomy, House, CSI:, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, CSI: Turks and Cacaos and every other show that you love to watch would be shells of the shows they are without the writers doing what they do. And what are we going to get instead of these scripted shows? That's right, reality TV. Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Apprentice, 3 episodes a week of Deal or No Deal, a brand new American Gladiators (seriously), Extreme Makeover...all kinds of crap that the networks can put out to make sure they have something to broadcast. I don't know about you, but the last thing I want to watch on TV is Todd Bridges in the boardroom with Donald Trump.

So here is what I propose: On December 20th (a Thursday night - the most profitable for the networks) we should all turn our TVs off. While it is especially important that Neilson families are a part of this, I think that we should all do our part and not watch the television that night. By doing it on the 20th of December, it gives us a little over a month to get the ball rolling on the grassroots campaign that we will need to get this going. I truthfully have no idea how many people read this blog, but if any of you know people who can create applications for Facebook or a website that we can use as a petition/sign-in book for people who will be turning their TVs off that night, please let me know (email me at tvblackout@hotmail.com). I am going to do my part and email my idea to several people who have larger readership than me in the hopes that they will take part as well.

I really think that we have an opportunity to show the people in Hollywood that we are the third party in these negotiations, and we have the most negotiating power!!