Full Season Orders for CHUCK and LIFE

NBC has finally started handing out back-nine orders, granting both Chuck and Life a full season. Lately, Chuck has been the highest rated of all of NBC’s new shows. Life, on the other hand, has been pulling in lukewarm numbers, but the critically acclaimed show is tops in its timeslot with the all-important 18-34 demographic.

“Both shows are hitting their stride creatively, have developed loyal audiences and offer unlimited potential to grow throughout the season,” said NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios co-chair Ben Silverman. The pick-ups came unusually late in the season this year because, Silverman claims, NBC was waiting to get a better idea of which shows might develop a loyal following, although it seems likely the long-anticipated WGA strike had a lot more to do with it.

No word yet on the fate of NBC’s other freshman shows, Journeyman and Bionic Woman, but given their poor performance, it doesn’t look good.

Journeyman creator Kevin Falls told website Premium Hollywood last week that it seems likely the show’s 12th episode will be its last. “Let’s not kid ourselves,” said Falls. “It’s a long shot that we would get a back nine, given the strike and our questionable numbers.” Falls added that Episode 12 is written in such a way that it could constitute an end to the series should it be canceled. “It wouldn’t answer every question, but it would give you a lot to chew on,” he said. “We would give you some answers, and we’d withhold others.”

A Hopeful Start to WGA/AMPTP Talks?

Deadline Hollywood Daily’s Nikki Finke is reporting that the first day of negotiations between striking writers and the AMPTP yesterday went very well. There were no end-of-day statements from either organization, due to the agreed-upon news blackout, but according to Finke’s source, “It was very productive, very level-headed, and it seemed as though the producers came ready to bargain.”

In fact, the AMPTP reps for the studios and networks showed up to the first day’s negotiating session since the WGA strike began November 5th with what was described to me as “a very comprehensive proposal which laid out to all the entire roadmap to the deal. Over the course of the session, the producers addressed every single issue, and the writers listened and kept getting up to caucus.”

Both sides plan more negotiating sessions not just for Tuesday but also for at least Wednesday. “It’s anyone’s guess where this process goes,” said a source. “Today, they spent time on old business. Tomorrow, they handle new business — and that’s where the rubber can really meet the road.”

This, after Finke quoted an inside source yesterday claiming that there may already be a deal in the works.

“It’s already done, basically,” the insider describes. That’s because of the weeks worth of groundwork by the Hollywood agents working the writers guild leadership on one side, and the studio and network moguls on the other. I was told not to expect an agreement this week. But my source thought it was possible that the strike could be settled before Christmas.

Great news, but is it too good to be true? We sure hope not. A speedy and fair resolution to this strike is at the top of the TV Bacon Christmas wish list.

Tryptophan Television

As the denizens of TV Bacon gather together to ask the Lord’s bles…er, to make pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pancakes and other assorted holiday foods, we celebrate TV-wise with guest blogger Lisa‘s list of the best Thanksgiving television. Enjoy it while celebrating with someone you love, or use the episodes to escape from family gatherings with people you love but could use a break from. Happy holidays!

“Do you know what I dream about when I dream about Thanksgiving, which is often? I dream about eating SO much deliciousness that all the blood rushes to my stomach and I pass out at the table.” – Seth Cohen

“Shibboleth” – The West Wing
Written by Aaron Sorkin

There’s nothing I can say about “Shibboleth” that would do it any sort of justice. It’s a brilliant hour of television and one of the finest episodes of The West Wing that ever aired. This episode has it all – specially raised turkeys Eric and Troy gobble their way to a presidential pardon; Toby fights prayer in school; Bartlet goes head-to-head with China over a container ship full of men, women, and children; and we hear one of the most heartfelt speeches about religious freedom ever. And just when you think that your overworked heart can’t take another minute, the music swells and your eyes get a little misty as we close on Bartlet declaring a National Day of Thanksgiving. It’s simply not the holidays until I watch this episode. I cry every darn time.

“The One With Chandler In A Box” – Friends
Written by Michael Borkow

Monica gets an ice chip in her eye and is forced to see the substitute ophthalmologist, who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend’s son. And happens to be totally hot. Michael Vartan guest stars in the ep where Chandler spends some time thinking in a box. A really big box. Oh, and Monica gets to wear an eye patch.

“Thanksgiving” – Felicity
Written by JJ Abrams

Hands down one of the best episodes of Felicity ever. It’s pretty perfect – jealousy, flirting, cooking in a dorm lounge. Julie and Felicity try their hand at a turkey and all the trimmings, but find that their makeshift dinner leaves much to be desired. It all works out in the end, after Javier brings his turkey and makes things as awesome as possible with his adorable and judgmental self. And when Noel plants one on Felicity in the bathroom? Kissing, y’all. Be still my beating heart.

“The Homecoming” – The O.C.
Written by Josh Schwartz & Brian Oh

I’m not going to mince words here – Seth Cohen is ten thousand kinds of adorable as he juggles two women on Thanksgiving Day. But while Summer and Anna vie for his affections, Ryan goes back to the old neighborhood to settle a score for his brother. Those crazy Cohens down bottles of wine, pitchers of margs, and end up eating Chinese take-out as the day goes from perfectly pleasant to downright nutty. And even though Seth doesn’t win the heart of either girl that evening, he sure captured mine.

“Thespis” – Sports Night
Written by Aaron Sorkin

Dana test runs her Thanksgiving turkey by thawing it out on the light board, much to the confusion of the entire staff. Meanwhile, Dan and Casey celebrate their “anniversary”, Jeremy convinces the staff that a Greek ghost named Thespis is out to ruin their evening broadcast, and Isaac worries about his pregnant daughter after she’s unexpectedly rushed to the hospital. Maybe it’s Robert Guillaume’s quiet grace and maybe it’s because he’s what made Sports Night so amazing for me, because when he happily passes out cigars in honor of the birth of his healthy grandson? It’s a happy Thanksgiving indeed.

“Colorblind” – Alias
Written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci

I confess. I usually don’t watch this entire episode. Because really, the Thanksgiving part starts at around the 32-minute mark and that’s where I start, too. After a crappy day of saving the world, Sydney comes home to find an annoyed Francie burning Thanksgsiving dinner. What ensues is the sweetest gal pal cooking scene ever, a Thanksgiving proposal, and all-around good times. But the best scene comes at the very end as we see Jack’s icy exterior thaw just enough to give Syd a slight smile after she brings him Thanksgiving leftovers.

“The One Where Underdog Gets Away” – Friends
Written by Jeff Greenstein & Jeff Strauss

After everyone’s plans go awry, Monica makes Thanksgiving dinner with three kinds of potatoes (lumps, tots, with peas/onions) to mark their first holiday together. But all is not well for the gang as Joey deals the fallout from being cast in a VD prevention ad, Rachel misses her flight to Vail, dinner burns after an unfortunate (but hilarious) miscommunication, and Chandler relives his worst Thanksgiving ever. The “Got the keys?” vs. “Got the keys!” is still one of my favorite Friends moments.

Writers Harnessing Fan Power with Pencils2MediaMoguls

Last week, Joss Whedon dropped a few hints about a meeting he’d attended with a number of other showrunners to discuss ways to harness the potential energy of their fanbases. Now the fruits of that meeting have been made public with the Pencils2MediaMoguls campaign.

By filling out an easy order form on the United Hollywood blog, fans can now buy pencils for $1 per box to show their support for the WGA (and can even specify what show they’re supporting on the form). The pencil campaign targets the CEOs of the six largest media conglomerates: CBS, NBC/Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., Disney, and Viacom. Taking a cue from the successful Jericho nuts campaign, United Hollywood has contracted with California Republic Stationers to fulfill the orders, which will be delivered in bulk, a truckload at a time, for maximum impact. The pencils are all made from sustainably harvested wood and United Hollywood says that any funds leftover will be donated to the Union Solidarity Fund, which was created to help non-WGA members affected by the strike.

The email that went out to showrunners announcing the campaign was signed by 13 writers, including Whedon, Battlestar Galactica‘s Ron Moore and Jane Espenson, Jericho‘s Carol Barbee, Private Practice‘s Marti Noxon, and Grey’s Anatomy‘s Shonda Rhimes, among others.

In her latest blog entry, House scribe Doris Egan stressed the importance of keeping the heat on the studios, especially in light of the recently announced resumption of negotiations:

The fact the other side has chosen to show up at the table is not enough. The truth is, I worry that it could even boomerang against us if it’s in the nature of a PR stunt; you know, “Here we are at the table, see what nice guys we are?” “But you’re not actually offering anything.” “But we’re at the table — that’s taken the heat off us.”

“If enough pencils arrive,” she goes on to say, “then maybe, by the time November 26 comes around and the AMPTP sits down at the table, they’ll be serious about negotiating. And everyone can go back to work.”

AMPTP and WGA to Resume Negotiations

Last night the AMPTP and WGA issued a joint statement announcing that “Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26.” Further information is not forthcoming, as both sides have agreed to a news blackout.

However, shortly after the announcement, WGA president Patric Verrone emailed members, calling the announcement “a direct result” of their efforts.

For 12 days I have repeated that a powerful strike means a short strike. … It is equally important that we now prove that good news won’t slow us down, either. We must remember that returning to the bargaining table is only a start. Our work is not done until we achieve a good contract and that is by no means assured. Accordingly, what we achieve in negotiations will be a direct result of how successfully we can keep up our determination and resolve.

Whether the resumption of talks is an indication of the two sides’ willingness to bring a speedy end to this dispute remains to be seen, but at least it’s a very welcome first step.

Squee! It’s…

Quadruple backflip squee! It’s a Friday night full of multiple squeeage!

• Colm Meany guests on Men in Trees. Perhaps best known on TV as the bridge between Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he stayed in space for Stargate: Atlantis. He’s also guested on Remington Steele, MacGyver, and Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman–you’ll know him when you see him. While I’m whining as much as anyone about the American remake of Life on Mars, he’s pretty much casting perfection for it.
• Kathleen York pops up on Ghost Whisperer. While “Bird” and I are still on the outs over her participation in Crash (wow, my Crash hatred knows no boundaries), I’ll always love her as Congresswoman Andi/y Wyatt–Toby’s ex, mom to Huck and Molly–on The West Wing.
• Ari Graynor graces Numb3rs. If she isn’t embroiled in a mystery involving a bus driving off a cliff and killing a bunch of high school kids or scoring ecstacy from her roommate’s Mobbed-up boyfriend, it won’t be as fun as her stint as a bus driver’s daughter on Veronica Mars or as Meadow’s college roommate on The Sopranos.
• Finally–and perhaps my personal favorite–Kay Panabaker joins Kathleen York on Ghost Whisperer. Young Miss Panabaker’s been all over the place (bless her heart, she was George in the new Nancy Drew. I love George)–CSI, ER, even Two and a Half Men. But she’s perhaps been best as the demon–a cold spoonful of evil served up in a velvet dress–controlling Wolfram and Hart’s White Room on Angel (that role almost made her the model for Doctor Who‘s version of the devil, too, which is more than a little hilarious).

“We are screwed. Dunder-Mifflin Scranton is being shut down.”

It’s a sad, sad night for fans of NBC’s The Office. Tonight’s episode, “The Deposition,” is the last new episode that will be aired until the WGA strike is resolved, making The Office one of the first primetime casualties of the strike. Depending on how long this thing drags on, it could be months or possibly even next fall before we find out if Jim and Pam really do get to live happily ever after. Or if Angela ever forgives Dwight. Or if Stanley is going to smile again on pretzel day.

What’s a poor Office fan to do? Well, at least we can always re-watch the golden oldies of the first three seasons. Over and over and over again.

Lord, beer us strength.

SNL and 30 ROCK Go Live

Okay, SNL was already live, but this weekend, for one night only, it’s moving from its usual digs at NBC Studios to the New York Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Arrested Development‘s Michael Cera will be hosting “Saturday Night Live – On Strike!” with musical guest Yo La Tengo on Saturday, Nov. 17. The entire current cast of SNL is expected to be on hand to perform a selection of favorite sketches.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, on Monday, Nov. 19, the cast of 30 Rock, including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and Alec Baldwin, will perform a live episode of their series at the UCB Theatre. I think it’s safe to say that there may be some mocking of the show’s network, NBC, and its parent company, General Electric.

Unfortunately, advance tickets for both shows are already sold out, although the UCB website indicates that limited tickets will be available at the door for “30 Rock – On Strike!”

Squee! It’s…

Squee! It’s Mercedes McNab on Supernatural tonight! This is the second undead character she’s appeared as in the last 10 days, as she was a soul escaped from Hell on Reaper last week (a soul escaped from Hell who had way too much affection for “Radar Love,” in fact). It’s also the second vampire she’s played on WB/CW shows, as you may remember her as vampiric enemy/vampiric secretary Harmony on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. I’ll always be fond of her snotty foil to Christina Ricci’s Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values:

Gary: One of you will be the drowning victim, and the other one will be our lifesaver.

Amanda: I’ll be the victim!

Wednesday: All your life.

Give Mercedes McNab her own show!

Is the WGA Winning the PR Battle?

Perhaps the studios should have shown a little more caution before engaging in a war of words with a bunch of writers.

Two new polls indicate that public sympathy currently lies overwhelmingly with the WGA. A SurveyUSA poll in Los Angeles reported that 69% of adults familiar with the strike supported the writers. Meanwhile, according to a survey by Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business Management, a mere 4% of 1,000 American adults polled favor the studios in the dispute, while 63% side with striking writers. Additionally, 47% thought writers deserved the largest share of residual payments, compared with 26% for actors, 25% for producers and 2% for directors.

Don’t count the studios out completely, though–33% of respondents in the Pepperdine poll say they’re unsure of who they support, meaning there’s still plenty of opportunity for them to jockey for position in the court of public opinion.

One reason for the overwhelming public support the writers are enjoying may be the very medium that’s in contention. The WGA and its members are making strategic use of internet blogs and YouTube videos to state their case, creating the kind of viral whirlwind the studios can only dream of. Many writers are speaking out directly to their fans, encouraging their mobilization efforts, and the fans are answering with exactly the kind of enthusiasm you’d expect from, well, fans.

And then, of course, there is the WGA’s canny use of themed rallies to generate extra media attention. And all those celebrities walking the picket lines beside them certainly doesn’t hurt, either.

Another indication of the AMPTP’s untenable position is a recent letter to the L.A. Times, signed by over 80 independent producers, asking the press to correct and clarify their use of the term “producer” when referring to the AMPTP. The letter appeared the same day Producer’s Guild of America executive director Vance Van Petten sent an email to website Deadline Hollywood Daily, definitively disassociating the organization from the AMPTP.

The writers are neither negotiating with nor striking the producers. The WGA’s battle is with the studios and networks—the Alliance—not with producers. It’s true, the last ‘P’ in AMPTP stands for ‘producers’. But that designation is a vestige of a time long past, when producers and studios were effectively synonymous.

All of this could mean trouble ahead for the networks, who have been hemorrhaging viewers all season (and for many seasons before this). If the strike is allowed to drag on for months, seriously disrupting audience viewing habits, it remains to be seen how many of their viewers they’ll be able to convince to put down their Wii remotes and come back to traditional network television programming.