Anyone who says that there have been no good programs on US TV over the last 20 years really needs to have a look what is out there. The last 10 years of US TV has been very strong with some brilliant programs being made. Some of the most inventive, well written and well acted TV shows ever made are a product of the last 10 years.

House, The Sopranos, The West Wing, Lost, Six Feet Under, Weeds, Prison Break, Carnival, Big Love, Californication, 24, Studio 60, Heroes just to name a few. It is so easy for people to just dismiss this and say there is never anything on but the truth is rather different.

GM, Brisbane,

yeah... looks like this dude needed a story to write... we aint gonna stop watching TV. if we are watching youTube, its still watching something.... so when the new shows are back on, ratings will sky rocket!

yo momma, hollywood, california

I'd like everyone who posts something on here to know that for every one writer that's on strike, there are about 200 crew members(camera department, lighting, sound, make up, etc) that are out of work. So while some of you sit at home and wonder when your shows will come back on or debate the evils of television remember that there are REAL PEOPLE attached to this debacle. And what most consider entertainment feeds a lot of kids and pays a lot of mortgages out here in LA.

Bob Fredericks, Hollywood, CA

I would post a comment here but no one has written it for me so I don't know what to say.

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

What a blessing in disguise this strike has been. Have enjoyed channels like the History, Military and pay channels whenever I needed some entertainment.
As for the other programs, some consistency in broadcasting episodes may assist in bringing back some viewers.
In the meantime, have enjoyed several good books from the library and book stores.

George Masters, Anchorage, Alaska

Good. Maybe some of us will get up off the couch and see what our elected officials have been doing for the past 20 years.

Tommie, Miller, USA / FL

yawn.....im sure it will pick up in time
its not like people will suddenly stop watchin tv
next story................

tim, london,

Great - tv does waste a great deal of time. With any luck some of those fat couch potatos may get up and do a little exercise thus save our NHS from illnesses caused by lazing about.

Farrukh, Woking, UK

I'm in no hurry to switch to digital - five channels of rubbish is more than enough. Not to mention the drop in picture quality.

Alan, Edinburgh,

I hope the strike ends. My good friend in L.A. lost his job at a stock footage company over the strike. Another friend, an editor, is having trouble making ends meet. So goes the trickle down effect. Not that anyone should care, but the entertainment industry is to L.A. what cars used to be to Detroit, and look what happened there.

Melissa, London,

Dont turn it back on.
It is how they control and con us all.
It is the herding mechanism of thought and worldview.
Leave it turned off.

ralphie, nashville, usa

I watch little or no TV due to advert interuptions, of the TV i do watch, non is american so this doesnt effect me except for Heroes which was on BBC with no adverts.
there is too much adverts and unfunny american shows on our TVs.
Pick up a book instead, its pretty eay to get over it and complaining about drops in ratings?!? hurry up and give the writers what they want then!

Lucie, England,

boston legal, house, studio 60 on sunset strip, cold case, without a trace, californication, 30 rock, nip/tuck, lost, desperate housewives, sex and the city. -we do not get many british shows, sometimes they treat us with a bit of inspector morse, little britain and cold feet. love them all. and these are just my favourites. and I read. and I love documentaries. and I love the outdoors. and I love a good chat. but absolutely not fishing, thank you very much.

the problem with cable tv in argentina is that we get the world versions(or worse: latin american version= cheap version) of many otherwise worth watching channels like bbc or cnn.

I think that people who say they despise tv and that we should stop watching it, have a very narrow view about how to enjoy themselves and think they are better than us, who can enjoy tv for what it is: entertainment.

tete, buenos aires, argentina

I must admit i find TV incovenient its time table around children of which i have none, Iam forced to stay up late every night to watch any thing decent, I have long since given upon telvsion how ever and now download programms of the internet for free.

There is no adverts there is no waiting for some one else children to go to bed i can watch adult content at 5pm when i get in from work, no thinking what can i do to fill the time till soemting decent is on.

I would probley say i have watched less than 30 hours of televison in the last 8 months, I resent having to pay a tv licence for a service i will never use just so i can have what in esance is a large display device hooked up to my pc.

Most of what i watch is now fansubbed from japan, personaly i am sick of watching shows with americans as heros where they can do no wrong. I am so tired of losing my culteral identity, I now say things like sidewalk and trunk instead of pathment and bonet.

MR W Jones, Liverpool,

I dont watch much TV at all, but I do like watching Lost but find it imposible to watch on UK TV due to the amount of adverts they air during the show, it's a constant distraction.

The only way I care bare to watch the show is to download the ep off the internet (without any adverts in of course).

Thing is though it's no one's fault apart from the studio's who arn't willing to pay the writers what they all feel they deserve. So the company are not willing to back down at the cost of the viewers, they are shooting them selves in the foot.

If the Lost peolple descide to just release 8 eps then wait another 6 months I'm just gonna stop watching it all together, it's not worth watching, you just start getting into it and then realise you have to wait 24 weeks untill your next ep.

Also, seen as I'm on Virgin, I dont have SKY1, so if I wish to watch the program I have no choice but to illigally download it.

You cant just pickup British writers to take over a show like LOST!

Andy, England,

As a Writer I understand the just claims of the Hollywod script writers. All they are asking for is a proper recompense for their labours. In my opinion the only writer/author ever to receive a propotionate sum, was J K ROWLING, whose writings brought pleasure to millions.
One could argue that taking JKR's royalties as a benchmark, then pro rata the Hollywood Writers - who also appeal to millions of viewers, deserve a better deal.

Drapkin, Leeds, U.K.

first off all, i have a question:why are the film companies not hiring non american writers:Canadians, Brits,...?

I think that TV can do nothing else but lose viewers, there are so much commercial breaks during shows that most people will just buy the DVD's or wach them on the net (I do). And Videogames are more fun to play than seeing an average show who are al alike anyway (CSI, NCIS, Bones)

Delphine Verhaeghe, Scotland,

WWE claims that TV is "rude and sexualizes or commercializes everything", and suggests using the Internet more.

What Internet is he on?

Phil, Brentwood, Essex

TV show are not what they used to be. I have 300 cable channels ,and have trouble finding something new and interesting to watch. Everybody should be ashamed at the salaries they are making. How many more stupid shows, and movies can the american public take? What happen to the original ideas ,we can only take soooo many sequels . After 4 please give up.

nick, canton, mi

If I do watch TV these days, its cable TV. I rarely watch scripted shows these days because they are so awful. For entertainment, more often I go to the Internet. Screw the networks, screw the writers!

John B., Washington, DC, USA

I think it was Grouch Marx who said " I find television very educating, every time someone turns it on, I go and read a book".
A lesson for us all there I think!

Pete, St Albans, England

TV hasn't been the same since Dukes of Hazzard finished. However have enjoyed reading all the DoH books since, have almost finished them.

Gripper, London, England

I watch the shield ( thankfully unaffected as the final season finished filming just before the strike) and prison break, unfortunately affected and out of all the shows affected their are the only 2 i care about.
the strike seems to have spiralled to an awfully large level and its shame its took this for some wonderfully talented writers to get the pay they deserve.

james, teesside,

"My wife and I stopped watching TV almost a year ago. It has been great! We actually have dinner conversations now. "

just one more reason to love my tv. mrs jem has no gifted team of writers, regularly schedules repeats and it's impossible to change channel or even turn the volume down.

jem, london, uk

I thought strikes weren't allowed in the US?

Blackall, Portsmouth, UK

Turn off your TV and leave it off. It is a wasteland, that comes into your home with foul language, bad manners, and hates every value and ethic that you are trying to teach your children. It is rude, and sexualizes or commercializes everything. I promise you that you WILL NOT MISS TV. You get better news from the Internet, better entertainment from a conversation, and better programming from YouTube!

WWE, Menlo Park, CA

There's a strike?

J.J. DeWitte, Hyattsville, Md

I watch a total of 5 shows a week. I have no real use for TV. It is not like the internet will ever go on strike. It will go out the same way radio went out. Some will still watch it for the news or a few kid shows but that might be it. So long TV, it was fun but it is time to move on.

I can't help but wonder if the union knows that this might backfire ...

Sean Allen Burley, Buffalo , USA, New York

And unions help kill another American industry.

Jeff, Los Angeles, CA

I didn't even notice, I stopped watching TV a long time ago when they started to force feed us dating shows. A DVD of a movie I want to watch is much better and I get to choose when it starts, can pause, rewind, etc without paying extra for TIVO!

Cary, Baton Rouge, LA

Wow, lots of TV haters... History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, AMC, TCM, Animal Planet . All of these offer outstanding programming. You can throw everything else out though. (except, ESPN)

Bill P., USA, USA

Forget TV - if there is a show you like, rent it on DVD without commercials - and if it's a new series with an ongoing story line, you will know if they ever finish the season or series before starting to watch and having it cancelled mid-stream.

George, denver, co

EdgeGamers is one of the many internet venues that is making TV obsolete. As video games are already more interactive and community oriented.

JohnT

JohnT, cyberspace, cyberland

I love you

DTS, Manchester, England

TV is a waste of brain matter. Most TV now is written for propaganda and moral degeneration. there is no real flow of creativity..It is a fact your life will be more meaningful without BritneyLohanMadonna and American Midol.The powers that be realized a long time ago what a great propaganda and brainwashing tool television really is, Powerful corporate entities own the media, the same entities that bring you war, pollution and cheap diversions from any real information.
TV turns people into lazy waste who cannot think critically and analyze reality.

Mr.Fun, Salem, Mass

The writers have a legitimate case. The studios know how much money is at stake and will hold out. It will cost them in the long run. I stopped watching tv about 15 yrs ago. There will always be "boobs" who will fork out $50+ per month for garbage but their numbers are dwindling.

Tom, Los Angeles, CA

People will absolutely return to television without question because they're inherently lazy.

What the strike has done to non-Angelinos is reveal a group of unfairly disenfrachised, yet generally affluent, privileged and cynical writers to the nation. It's very difficult to sympathize with ivy league-educated trust-fund children/"adults" who purport to think for the nation at large -- whether they effectively do or not. It is interesting to see how little power they have even collectively. The people really hurt here are the young, non-supplemented aspiring talents who moved to Los Angeles and put themselves on the line -- some of who are now wholly starved-out and further delayed or thwarted in their pursuits. As much as I loathe them, the writers deserve better terms.

The issues will resolve soon enough, however, and to all non-industry civilians this will be forgotten in a matter of days. Money talks and when it gets low enough one side will submit.

W. E. Kurtz, Way Up River, CA

It would be nice if this strike affected the speech writers for politicians .

midori harry , Nara, japan

I don't even have TV anymore. I get all my news from the web and print and rent DVD's for entertainment.

JE Gaudio, Burbank, CA

I have been watching less and less TV, both cable and network..and movies too for that matter. The main reason is there is so much else to do today than even 20 years ago where we just worked, came home and watched TV.

But what has diven me to watch almost ZERO TV is the way the networks have broken up their schedules. I got interested in several shows, Lost, Desperate Wives, Smallville, and a few others. Then they distroy the sseries by showing 2-4 new episodes, then 2-3 weeks off, then 2-3 weeks re-runs, then new episodes...It is hard to follow whats up. With all the breaks (and I don mean the strike), for 3-4 years now I noticed less episodes per-season, and they try to stretch it out less new episodes by having mini-breaks. ITs like "hamberger helper" for episodes. You lose tour interest in the series and stop watching because someting else has gotten your attention while they feed you "hamberger helper". TV cut costs by diluting the episodes, and people choise other substitut

Jim, cincinatti, OH

Let the strike continue for ever. Have not had a TV for the last 9 years. It feels so good.

Chris, LA, CA

My wife and I haven't watched TV for years. It has been an amazing blessing.

By the way, why would anyone want to sit on their butt for hours daily just to pack on more cellulite?

Life is too short to spend it killing your own brain cells in front of a TV.

phil, scranton, pa

It seems the History Channel and PBS-watchers don't realize that those are scripted shows. Yes, writers who need to get 'real' jobs wrote those. And writers who should get 'real' jobs also wrote all those movies you're enjoying on DVD. And the ones you don't pay for over the interent. Which is what the whole strike is about. Writers don't get paid for any show, movie or program streamed or downloaded over the internet. Nothing. OK, a show of hands: who among you works for nothing? Anybody? I thought so.

Mr. Ed, Hollywood USA,

It will only get worse for the networks next year when, they switch to all-digital broadcasts. Most people will not buy $40 converter boxes to keep their analog TV's working.

They lobbied for this change and it will ruin them. The networks are getting what they deserve.

Scott, Springvale, USA

go fishing.

cheers!

JPP, Encinitas, CA

Wow, sad. As a twentysomething employee of a major network, the strike has hit hard. I got into this industry because I liked telling stories and whether you like it or not, there is an audience for almost everything out there. I don't like all TV programming, but you people are ridiculous. Glad that you all turned your TVs off, but consider those prop houses that have no business anymore. Or the driver who usually makes half his wages on Golden Globes night. Would you say "Die Hollywood Die" to their faces?

By the way, there was never a show called TOOL TIME. It was called "Home Improvement.

Heather, Los Angeles,

Who misses the writers? I watch football occasionally and sometimes the nightly news. Period. And I'm tempted to give up on the news because of all the "medical" commercials -- sleep aids, mucus products, and, of course, the ever-present expensive anti-cholesterol drugs.

Besides, the network "news" talks about things covered on the Internet 2 days earlier! Use your computer. Read your current events. And let the unionized "entertainment" industry follow the lead of the Titanic...

Joe, Cincinnati, Ohio

It's all over for television as it used to be. In a few years, maybe months the networks will be gone. Good writers though, like good contractors will be able to find work on a case by case or script by script basis. They will get what the market will pay, and rights to the after market on the internet etc etc. But they will lose the cozy union and retirement plans and health care. I know because I am a contractor in the IT field. The same thing will happen to writers. ABC, NBC, CBS execs and unHOLYwood should take their retirement and run .... the days are numbered ....

Roger W. , Midlothian, USA / VA

What a bunch of effete elite nonsense.

There is plenty of good stuff on TV, it's just many if this forum ate too lazy to look for it.

Not everything on TV appeals to you, huh? Big deal.

I despise sporting events and find they should be banned from the airways.

But I can safely tune into things like Battlestar Galactica, House, the Simpsons, Nova, Prison Break, South Park, NCIS, local, national, and world news BBC documentaries (as well as Germany's ARD and ZDF) King of the Hill, Bones, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, etcetera in several genres, much of it now in Digital, widescreen high definition with Dolby 7.1 digital soundtracks.

My cable provides me much pay per view content, eliminating any netflix work, and myu PC connects directly to my TV, allowing DVDs and downloaded material to be shown, often in HD.

Those of you who are still stuck in the 1970's look pretty foolish with your kill your TV stickers on your SUVs.

eric R. Johnson, los Angeles, uSA

Folks,

Use one of the many BitTorrent clients out there, and start downloading movies and TV shows. I will not pay Tom Cruise a dime anymore! I will not pay for cable! I will not watch network TV!

The writers should get a real job.

Peter Griffin, Quahog, Rhode Island

Once you go for a while without TV, you'll realize you are smarter, more productive, and more optimistic than you ever were before. Where's the downside? If only the newsreaders would go on strike, too.

Paul, Austin, TX

My wife and I quit most of the major TV shows long ago.
The main things we watch are cable news, Discovery Channel, History Channel or some reality shows.

We are tired of the Hollywood folks. The only thing on TV is pushing the nuts from LA and New York. You would think middle America never exists. LA and NY have no idea what this nation is about. They live in a dream world.
I hope the strike continues. It will be good for America.

Jack Gleason, Grand Rapids, USA / Michigan

Our family are big subscribers to Netflix because we love all sorts of movies, but we would never consider watching network TV here in the States because of the commercials. Not only do they totally ruin any show / movie, but we won't be brainwashed (and feel suckers) into buying things we don't need. Bobby Dylan foretold all this back in 1965 in his brilliant song "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" - way to go Bob.

Nicholas Leeves, Birchwood, MN, USA

My wife and I stopped watching TV almost a year ago. It has been great! We actually have dinner conversations now. It also freed us up to work on improving our business. In a 10-year old company our profits were triple the previous year-which had been our best year ever- largely by being more focused and not wasting time.

We have already committed to go another year without TV. My wife is even talking about never watching TV again. Having more time is great, but losing out on all the negativity is even better.

Steve, Carefree, Arizona

This is a godsend for our country, directing our attention away from the tripe that Hollywood has been spewing for the last twenty years. There are so many options available to us now beyond network TV. Thank God. They have inadvertantly weaned us off thier tit. Now hopefully we will never go back to thier doltish political correctness. And maybe Americia can get back to thinking about the important issues of the day and not be so concerned with the issues of Britney Spears and her lack of concern about her personal affairs. Let the court system take care of that, not the public!!!!

Lorrie B, Dayton, WA

I haven't watched primetime network television for years. Most of the scripted programming is utter garbage. The writer's strike is a blessing in disguise because it is weaning millions of people away from their network TV screens. Maybe the average American will actually spend some time on other more beneficial activities now.

Patrick C., Irvine, CA

I for one could not be happier that the networks are tanking. I hope the greedy writers strangle hollywood. It's been a waistland of dreck for years. I would not miss it one shilling.

Roger, Dillion, Montana

I only watch tv on rare occasions anymore, mostly cable stuff on Food, History, Discovery, or TLC. I watch some sports too, but not much network tv at all. With the strike, I found that I've watched maybe about 2-3 hours a week for some of the cable shows I recorded to my DVR...but I haven't missed the tv at all. I've even read 3 books in the past month, moved, and managed to do a lot of work around the house with the time I would have spent in front of the tv. Honestly, network TV began it's slow suicide with this "reality" junk. They showed that they lack creativity because there are 2-3 of every type of show out there, even for sitcoms. There's little originality, and the writing has been pretty attrocious for years. Even the old staples like SNL have stunk for over a decade...yet it's still on. Why? My bet is that by 2015, TV will not remotely resemble what it is today...and thank goodness!

John H., Radford, VA

Seems ironic, the liberal entertainment industry's self importance. Billions of dollars for entertainment, but not one cent for necessities. People should get free health care, but damn they should shell out for mindless trash entertainment. Wish they had the same view towards taxes that they have for their so called "intellectual property " rights.

WJMIII, Welch, MN

We too have turned off the TV for the most part. Our fare these days is weather, a tiny bit of news, PBS, and DVDs we get from the rental place when we have 2-3 hours to waste. We used to watch several of the series, but we're getting along fine without them. Now if only I could get Rick Steves, Rudy, Globe-trekker, etal non-stop....... and if my could get the home decorating shows over the antenna........

John Carey Brown, Topeka, USA / KS

Television has become unwatchable even before the strike due to the number of commercials. Example: A 30 minute nightly news segment probably has 15 minutes of commercials. It's outrageous! These excessive commercials are driving viewers away in droves!

Patrick , San Antonio, TX

Writers?! What writers? Every time I turn on the TV, all I see is that reality crap. What's next? Let's throw a bunch of people in a room and watch which one picks their nose first and then "vote" them off? It's pathetic.

There used to be some things on worth watching about 30 years ago, but since political correctness and agendas began being shoved down our throats, it's all the same now. Besides, when you watch TV all you see are ads. My dvr has saved me from some of that, but all I really watch are educational shows and documentaries anyway.

Writers should be ashamed of themselves. The only choices we have now are promiscuous teens or slutty middle-agers. Sex and violence. Where's the creativity in that? Then they all get together and pat each other on the back. Total delusion.

Let them go out and live in the real world and earn a real living, and the tube die peacefully.

Mike, Tampa, FL

Grand dad used to say "...better be careful what you wish for...". I hope writters are happy. Now, back to the History Channel......

Roger Underwood, Ames, Iowa

Who needs TV when you can waste hours reading random news articles on the web and post your opinion on the same page, maybe even start an argument which can provide DAYS of entertainment without commercials or scheduling conflicts.

JD, Seattle, WA

What strike? A Writer's Strike? That sounds serious...I mean, I love my books, and the idea of the authors going on strike certainly is frightening, I mean if they...um what? Oh, TV's writers are striking? Not the real ones, I mean the ones who right books? Whew. Boy, that was frightening, for a moment...but, hopefully the strike will end, and they can get back to writing. But, the last time I watched TV regularly was in the early 80s. From my 'spot-checking' since then, maybe they SHOULDN"T get back to writing. Well, maybe not the SAME writers. Or, at least not for the remainder of this century...

Please file this article under WC (for 'who cares') and let's open our books, shall we...?

Chapter One....

Dan'l, Portland, US/Maine

I haven't had cable since 2002, so I'm not affected by this strike like nearly everyone else in America. I only still have a TV to watch the occasional DVD.

My life is infinitely richer without the droning of the idiot box.
Kick the T.V. habit once and for all. Read a book. Learn to play an instrument. Start a journal. Create artwork. You get the idea...

Now is your golden opportunity to do something constructive, to grow, to develop new interests, instead of frittering your life away in front of an illuminated screen full of inconsequential drivel.

MojoXN, Morgantown, WV

Tired of the same old sitcoms with the same old cliche gay characters anyway. Hollywood is dead.

Chad Snaggler, Rootstown,

I highly recommend BBC America for fresh, quality programs!

Mark, Washington, USA/DC

I used to watch about 24 hours of tv programming a week, about the time the writers began the strike. Then, thankfully, I re-discovered reading! I had Time-Warner turn off my cable, listen to NPR for the worlds happenings, and enjoy getting lost in novels. I hope the overpaid, whiny diva-writers stay on strike for another 5 months, when SAG will join them. Then these two unions will ultimately destroy their medium, and discover there is no longer an audience. The writers are shooting themselves in the foot. Believe it or not, I am very pro-union, but the egos on these writers is incredible!! I have no sympathy for them.....however, I am truly saddened for all those crews and Below-Liners (is that what they're called?) in the unemployment lines because of this strike. While the writers are still earning money (in residuals), the crew people are losing homes, cars, marriages. I also just came to understand that the WGA 'froze' health benefits for their members-not true with Below Line.

P. Johnson, South Bend, Indiana

I worked swing shift for many years and never saw many of the prime time shows that were on in the 80's and 90's. My viewing time was between 0130 and 0700 and there wasn't squat on tv during those hours.

Instead, I hooked up the old vcr and taped most of the old television marathons from TV Land and Nickelodeon and others. After tediously tranferring them to dvd I ended up with over 1300 dvds stuffed with old television from the late '50s to '70s. Hmm, maybe I'll watch some Ghost & Mrs. Muir tonight. Or Alfred Hitchcock...or F Troop.. maybe even Courtship of Eddie's Father.. or.......

Bill, Seattle, WA

I stopped watching TV after the last episode of the A-Team aired. No point in watching TV anymore after that.

Brock Reiser, Beverly Hills, California

To be totally honest, I won't go back to tv when the strike is over. Then again, I only watched "The Office" and occasionally "30 Rock". Between reality tv for idiots and derivative crime procedurals for the brain-dead, there's little else to choose from.

What happened to returning home from work, turning on the tv and LAUGHING? Thanks network execs!

I doubt this strikes much fear in networks though - as the above stats reveal roughly 80% of the viewers have remained, watching REPEATS of bad tv. Small wonder it's called the "boob tube".

Will E. , Los Angeles, CA

If it weren't for my PS2, XBOX 360, DVD's and the educational channels such as History, Discovery etc I'd not even bother having a TV. I turned off of TV for the most part years ago. Once Survivor and American Idol and its ilk took over and the FOX execs killed shows like Firefly without giving them a chance, I lost just about all interest. I now only tune into a handful of shows, '24', The Shield and The Unit. Firing all the writers and rehiring them only when they come in a non-union basis as another poster suggested would be the final nail in the coffin for TV. They need to fire the executive pinheads who sign off on these shows and stop the creativity of the writers from bringing solid TV shows to the screen.

I have plenty of DVD's to keep me entertained when there's nothing that interests me on the educational channels. I honestly could care less if new shows ever come back on, just wanna see the end season of The Shield even on DVD would be fine for me.

Moe, TX, USA

Who cares? For news, I use the internet; for entertainment, I read books. TV has become a vacuous wasteland and isn't worth the electricity it takes to run it.

Janet Fuls, Cottonwood, CA USA

Both parties better 'wake up'! Much more strike time and the advertising watching audience disappears..... permanently!!!!!

David, Springfield,

Why watch tv when you have the internet?

HUGO, NYC, NY

Dear Hollywood,

I watch all my stuff online (except for the occasional classic movie on DVD)...oh, for free, too. My roommate has satellite, and I've got a receiver in my room, but I never turn it on, because there's nothing but crap on. She watches Lifeline and stupid stuff like that. So, I was never orphaned. Don't worry about losing me as a viewer, because I haven't watched any network TV in like 5 years.

Ignatz Horowitz, watching bootlegs,

hollywood needs to fire every writer and offer to hire them back in a non- union environment. anyone who refuses should be replaced by interns and recent grads. i imagine the spike in creativity brought by these new writers would erase all memory f this strike,

Jeffsd, san diego, ca

I only watch these lousy reality shows now since droping cable. If viacom or redstone would offer la carte cable then I would come back to cable tv, which I am done with due to 50 dollars worth of espn and shopping channels when I only wanted to watch the sci-fi channel and a few educational channels. I'll buy my dvd's of battlestar on ebay and amazon from now on. One set if worth what it would cost for one month of cable. Why politicians are giving 30 billion dollars to Africa when the average American is going through the great depression and can no longer afford gas or fresh fruit is beyond me.

Jon Snow, Oakhurst, CA, USA

It's a shame Doug who won't pay for cable. There's terrific stuff on TV but not on the broadcast networks. Try History International, Discovery Channel, "Big Love" on HBO or great old classic films on TMC. Better and cheaper than DVDs and you might even learn something useful.

Mark, Milwaukee, WI

The best thing in the world that could happen is for the big studios to fracture into smaller studios and then REALLY start competing for audiences. Then we'd get more 'genre specific' movies and shows like we used to get!

Jo, New York, New York

Reading everyones comments, seems like the only way Hollywood will get viewers back is if they pay them.

It's kind of like smoking, you know it's bad for you but you can't stop until someone forces you to stop cold turkey.

Yep, it's gotten that bad.

Walt, St Paul, MN

Sadly, viewers will return in droves about 1 second after new programming appears. Just watch the ratings for the Lost premiere tomorrow night (31st).

Joe Melnick, Charlottesville, VA

"Hollywood" is a very diverse community of artistic and crafts people, many of whom, at one time or another ,contribute to a vast array of product that everyone views - regardless of political leanings. 'Alternative media' is fun from time to time, but since before the ancient Greeks, man has preferred and demanded theatrical, emotional comedy and drama as a source of personal and spiritual nourishment. That first mask worn around the campfire will never die, and is part of the human psyche. Some product is good, some is not. But it will always be made, and most of it will be made in part or in full right here in Los Angeles, where we all are. Honest work is what all writers do, except for the mindless reality shows, which will go the way of all wasted effort. Many of those who "hate" Hollywood are also those who "hate" to pay for a DVD or a CD or anything else that they can't make but want for free. We in Hollywood are entrepreneurs. Greek and Roman theatre was not free. Masks cost $

Sean, Los Angeles, California, USA

Many of us are realizing we don't miss it much.

James Polyniak, Austin, TX

It's all the same. It hasn't changed since the 60's. Same characters (doctors, lawyers and cops), same situations, same jokes. It's all been done to death.
I stopped watching it in the early 90's when I got an evening job. I do not miss it the slightest bit.

Mark, Austin, Texas

TV has produced nothing but crap for years. Don't know if writers are the problem or not. However, I am considering canceling cable and getting rabit ears for the ocasional sports program.

William Johnson, Auburn, N.H.

Network television hasn't offered anyting but crap for years anyway. Once the strike is over, maybe each can air their version of "Survivor: WG Picket Line". It's not that so many of us won't come back, it's that you never cared - or noticed - when we left years ago. When you're relying on people who are mentally lazier than the couch potatos they solicit to entertain you, you wind up with such mindless pap as - well - fill in your own......______________________. the list is endless.

Scott, Elizabeth, USA/West Virginia

Except for NFL games, occasional Seinfeld and Frasier reruns, and major news events, our TV is utilized for DVDs and games. I refuse to pay for cable, and network television's political correctness is insufferable. Strike forever I guess because we're not missing anything out here. Hollywood has contempt for the average American, and the feeling is fast approaching mutual.

Paul, Seattle, Washington

I don't watch TV. I know how to read.

Doug, Studio City, California

I did not know about the strike,......I forgot I had cable and was paying for it ($155.00 per month!),......My wife kept paying the the bill because she thought I wanted cable,.....disconnecting it today,......This strike will save me $1860.00 per year!!!!! Yea for Hollywood!!!!!

J.W.H., Lake Charles, LA

Considering that the writers generally do not have the dame values that I do..I am not missing anything.
With the smut they call TV, who needs it?

me, RSM, USA

Looking forward to the decentralizing of Entertainment Media. The Music industry is dying a slow death because musicians can now afford to write / produce / market / distribute their product, within their home studio and PC. How long before quality TV can be done the same, and competes with the dinosaur networks? Whatever the length of time, it's not soon enough.

Jason, East Norriton, PA

It seems sometimes actors have an overblown sense of their importance. Entertainment is not a 'need.' And most of what is on TV now doesn't qualify as entertainment, Sidney Poitier wrote in his autobiography about how he once flipped through 100+ channels not once but three times, and finally turned it off in disgust because there was nothing of a quality worth watching. Most of us can probably identify.

Dray, Greensboro, North Carolina

I just disconnected my cable last week and will be donating the extra money I save by not watching the pathetic TV to the online radiostations I listen to everyday. Good riddance TV! I'll never go back.

Gary, Richmond, California

Perhaps this isn't true for everyone in college (girls watching Heroes and Grey's Anatomy being prime examples) but most people my age don't watch television at all. Guys are playing videogames, and most watch DVD's and movies in the theater. I can see cable channels surviving, but does anyone honestly think people will be watching traditional sitcoms on major networks in 30 years?

Peter Herrin, Springfield, United States / MIssouri

At 39, I've never installed an antenna or purchased cable service. If TV is on I'll be drawn in, but if it's not there I've got better things to do. With Netflix, I can watch whatever I want no matter when it was produced, and while in any single year most of what's filmed is rubbish, cumulatively there's a lot of good stuff.

Then there's always reading ...

Preston McConkie, Roosevelt, Utah

From what I've seen so far the writers were phoning it in in preperation for the strike and little of the work they produced is worth bothering with so no great loss.
On the up side I have a life again.

Ken, Miami, Fl

Turned off my TV a year ago and frankly I forget I even have one. Turned it on briefly for one show, but there was nothing to watch. Thanks, network television and Hollywood writers for helping me overcome an unhealthy TV addiction.

Ed, Hollywood, California

What is so great about scripted shows anyway? Comedies aren't funny, everything else is boring. There are a couple of good reality shows but other than that, I'd rather be watching the news channels, surfing the net, or reading.

Maxie, Elysian Fields , TX

I turned off my cable over 20 years ago and other than an occasional sporting event and a few odds and ends have never watched it since, probably not more than 20 or so hours of network in the last 20 years. I never missed it. Spend more time with your family, reading or take a walk, there's a lot better things to do with your time.

frank3108, Cameron Park , Ca.

Broadcast TV is still a vast wasteland. Those who will watch ANYTHING that's on are already brain-dead and have no real life beyond their TV's anyway. There is still a little programming worth watching on cable TV, but not much. In my house the number of hours the TV is on shrinks every month. If we didn't have so many DVD'S, I would throw it out completely A big thank-you to the writers for showing so many of us there is a great life after TV. And no, we won't be back.

Don, Prescott Valley, Arizona

Is there anything more loathsome than network television? These people are getting what they deserve. One of these days each of the networks will be just another web-site.

Viva the alternative media!

B. Samuel Davis, Morristown, United States

I'm waiting for Mad Men to return along with "24", Dessperate Housewives and several others. Why should I deprive myself of entertainment. I'm a musician and we've been fighting these royalty awards for years. It doesn't mean I've stopped performing or listening to music.I hope the writers get what they want and everyone gets back to work. I'll wait and when they do, I'll watch.

Pat Mitchell, Groton, cT.

Hmm, why do the networks fear their audience will not return after they return to producing "quality" programming? Could it be they know their product's success is based on its obviously highly-cultivated hypnotic properties? That when the spell has been snapped, it will not be so easy to get people back into a trance-like state that encourages people to think their time is better spent sitting and absorbing programming meant to alter their perceptions of reality? I pray this strike continues for a long time. So should you.

Damon F, Indiana, US

Personally, I download about 4 hours a day of movies and tv shows. I watch all without commercial interruption. With the strike I've started downloading a couple BBC shows, two Canadian shows and one Australian. I believe this proves that free trade is a boon for moochers, thieves and pirates.

90014, Los Angeles, CA

Sometimes it seems actors have an overblown sense of their place in the universe. Entertainment is not a 'need.' The time I do spend passively sitting in front of the TV can be better spent anyway.

Dray, Greensboro, North Carolina

This is good news. Die Hollywood, die!

Let the writers find honest work in other places.

jj, Chestertown, USA

Heck, I quit watching television 10 years ago. Got tired of the mush they put on the air. Sure, there were some decent shows off and on; but......I've much more stimulating things to do nowadays that don't involve manufactured drivel.

LeRoy, Fairbanks, Alaska

Welcome to the club. I kicked the TV habit back in 1987 and from what I hear, it has only gotten worse in the last 20 years.

John Galt, Miserable Gulch, Nevada

Can you blame anyone the TV shows are so BAD!! I have not seen anything worth watching as a series sence TOOL TIME!!
So we do watch the cable showes.

Peter B, Farmington, Maine