SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Today KTVU-Channel 2 announced Gasia Mikaelian has been promoted to Anchor of the KTVU Channel 2 News at 5 and Bay Area News at 7 on TV36.

Hey, did they just sneak in an announcement that there will be a 7 p.m. newscast launching? That’s right and it begins in January. But we suspect it will be little more than a rehash of the KTVU evening newscasts.

Anyway, a friend, Jason Bezis, called me about a week ago saying that he had been contacted by a polling firm to see if he would watch a 7 p.m. newscast.

That newscast time works out perfectly for folks who are still sitting in commuter traffic when most nightly newscasts air.

Gasia Mikaelian

Gasia will share the KTVU-Channel 2 News at 5 desk with Frank Somerville. This might help placate viewers the station angered recently when it replaced 14-year early news veteran Mark Curtis with L.A. transplant Dave Clark.

“I’m thrilled to be offered this opportunity,” Gasia says. “Growing up in the Bay Area, KTVU has always been the station I wanted to be a part of, so it is very exciting to be promoted into such a key role here.”

Gasia, who holds a BA in broadcast journalism from San Diego State University, joined the KTVU Channel 2 News team in March 2005 as a reporter/fill-in anchor and was promoted to weekend anchor in July of 2007. Prior to joining KTVU Channel 2 News, she began her career in 1997 in Yuma, followed by stints as an anchor/reporter in Huntsville, and San Diego.

She grew up in Livermore and her family still lives in the East Bay. She has been active in a number of Bay Area charities including the MDA Telethon the past two years.

“It is a pleasure to be able to promote Gasia into this important position,” KTVU News Director Ed Chapuis says. “Her knowledge of the Bay Area and her roots in the community will be an asset for KTVU.”

Yep, it’s Tuesday once again and time for the posting of the ratings. No one’s surprised that “Dancing with the Stars” grabbed the first two spots, but we’re happy to report that the spectacular cliff-hanger of “Desperate Housewives” came in No. 4. The resolution has already been produced and is set to air in January. But because of the WGA strike, ABC has to decide if it will air the little orphan show, or save it until more can be produced.

Also, several people asked that the season-to-date also be listed, so here you go:

1 DANCING W/STARS RESULT-TU 24880 8.7
2 DANCING W/THE STARS-MON 24230 8.5
3 SHREK THE HALLS 20830 7.3
4 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 20650 7.2
5 HOW GRINCH STOLE X’MAS 18530 6.5
6 NCIS 17040 6.0
7 HOUSE 16970 5.9
8 CRIMINAL MINDS 16230 5.7
9 CSI: MIAMI 15580 5.4
10 TWO AND A HALF MEN 15260 5.3
11 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. 14400 5.0
12 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 14380 5.0
13 CSI: NY 14190 5.0
14 SURVIVOR: CHINA 13570 4.7
15 CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS 13550 4.7
16 OT, THE 13320 4.7
17 60 MINUTES 13240 4.6
18 BROTHERS & SISTERS 12560 4.4
19 CSI 12330 4.3
20 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 12290 4.3
21 HEROES 11890 4.2
22 SAMANTHA WHO? 11690 4.1
23 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT 11580 4.0
24 HALLMARK HALL OF FAME 11350 4.0
25 AMAZING RACE 12 11260 3.9
26 ALLSTATE BCS SELECT SHOW 11200 3.9
27 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP 10840 3.8
28 UNIT, THE 10560 3.7
29 DEAL OR NO DEAL-FRI 10490 3.7
30 ABC FRI MOVIE OF WK-11/30 10370 3.6
31 PUSHING DAISIES SP-11/28 9990 3.5
32 WITHOUT A TRACE 9760 3.4
33 BONES 9680 3.4
34 SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK 9250 3.2
35 SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER 8970 3.1
36 CHRISTMAS-ROCKEFELLER CEN 8870 3.1
37 DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS 8720 3.0
38 E.R. 8710 3.0
39 GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM 8690 3.0
40 CHUCK 8420 2.9
41 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 7910 2.8
42 AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS 7770 2.7
43 NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY 7450 2.6
44 CBS SATURDAY MOVIE SP 7400 2.6
45 HOUSE-MON 8P 7350 2.6
46 BIG BANG THEORY, THE 7340 2.6
LAS VEGAS 7340 2.6
48 BIGGEST LOSER 4 7280 2.5
49 NUMB3RS 7270 2.5
50 FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 7210 2.5
51 20/20-FRI 7200 2.5
52 KID NATION 7120 2.5
53 FAMILY GUY 7050 2.5
54 DIRTY SEXY MONEY 7040 2.5
55 KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 7030 2.5
56 SIMPSONS 6700 2.3
57 48 HOURS MYSTERY 6650 2.3
58 MY NAME IS EARL 6620 2.3
59 CANE 6480 2.3
60 RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL75TH 6460 2.3
61 COPS 2 6410 2.2
62 BONES SP-11/26 9P 6320 2.2
63 AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK 6300 2.2
64 LIFE 6280 2.2
65 TIL DEATH 6220 2.2
66 UGLY BETTY 6150 2.1
67 MY NIGHT AT THE GRAMMYS 6080 2.1
68 JOURNEYMAN 6050 2.1
69 BIONIC WOMAN 5930 2.1
70 SCRUBS 5910 2.1
71 OFFICE 5900 2.1
72 30 ROCK 5820 2.0
73 TIL DEATH SP-11/28 8P 5740 2.0
74 AMERICAN DAD 5720 2.0
75 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS 5470 1.9
76 OCTOBER ROAD 5430 1.9
77 LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT 5410 1.9
78 COPS 5390 1.9
79 BIG SHOTS 5290 1.8
80 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-3 5040 1.8
81 DON’T FORGET LYRICS-FRI 4850 1.7
82 FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN 4550 1.6
83 FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 4250 1.5
84 GOSSIP GIRL 2930 1.0
85 CHUCK-SAT 2810 1.0
86 GAME, THE 2800 1.0
87 SMALLVILLE 2730 1.0
88 BEAUTY AND THE GEEK-2 2520 .9
89 GIRLFRIENDS 2280 .8
90 EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS 2260 .8
91 REAPER 2230 .8
92 NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND 2090 .7
93 ALIENS IN AMERICA 1880 .7
94 SUPERNATURAL 1870 .7
95 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-3-ENC 1280 .4
96 LIFE IS WILD 1260 .4
97 CW NOW 960 .3
98 ALIENS IN AMERICA-SUN 880 .3

Season-to-date from 09/24/07 through 12/02/07

1 DANCING W/THE STARS-MON 10 21580 7.5
2 CSI 9 21080 7.4
3 GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM 9 19950 7.0
4 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 9 19710 6.9
5 DANCING W/STARS RESULT-TU 9 19440 6.8
6 HOUSE 9 19120 6.7
7 NCIS 10 17540 6.1
8 CSI: MIAMI 10 16140 5.6
9 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 9 15970 5.6
10 CRIMINAL MINDS 10 15850 5.5
11 WITHOUT A TRACE 8 15520 5.4
12 SURVIVOR: CHINA 9 15080 5.3
13 TWO AND A HALF MEN 10 14520 5.1
14 CSI: NY 10 14250 5.0
15 60 MINUTES 10 14150 4.9
16 SAMANTHA WHO? 7 14050 4.9
17 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. 9 13940 4.9
18 COLD CASE 9 13570 4.7
19 BROTHERS & SISTERS 9 13000 4.5
20 HEROES 10 12830 4.5
21 PRIVATE PRACTICE 8 12730 4.4
22 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 10 12450 4.3
23 AMAZING RACE 12 5 12230 4.3
24 SHARK 9 11790 4.1
25 UNIT, THE 10 11740 4.1
26 BOSTON LEGAL 7 11450 4.0
27 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT 10 11440 4.0
28 DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED 4 11410 4.0
29 OT, THE 5 11030 3.9
30 SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK 9 10720 3.7
31 UGLY BETTY 9 10640 3.7
32 WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB 6 10340 3.6
PUSHING DAISIES 7 10340 3.6
34 NUMB3RS 10 10310 3.6
35 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-7P 2 9970 3.5
36 E.R. 9 9950 3.5
GHOST WHISPERER 9 9950 3.5
38 OFFICE 9 9800 3.4
39 DEAL OR NO DEAL-FRI 9 9720 3.4
40 BACHELOR, THE 9 9670 3.4
41 BIONIC WOMAN 8 9650 3.4
42 BONES 9 9550 3.3
43 SIMPSONS 8 9540 3.3
44 FAMILY GUY 8 9430 3.3
45 DIRTY SEXY MONEY 9 8990 3.1
46 CANE 10 8940 3.1
BIG BANG THEORY, THE 10 8940 3.1
48 SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER 7 8750 3.1
49 LAS VEGAS 9 8610 3.0
50 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 10 8540 3.0
51 FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 9 8520 3.0
52 CHUCK 10 8500 3.0
53 BIG SHOTS 8 8390 2.9
54 MY NAME IS EARL 9 8380 2.9
MOONLIGHT 9 8380 2.9
56 AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS 7 8170 2.9
57 PRISON BREAK 6 8080 2.8
58 LIFE 9 8000 2.8
59 KING OF THE HILL 5 7770 2.7
60 KID NATION 10 7680 2.7
61 BIGGEST LOSER 4 10 7470 2.6
62 NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY 1 7450 2.6
63 JOURNEYMAN 10 7270 2.5
64 HOUSE-MON 8P 2 7170 2.5
65 AMERICAN DAD 7 7080 2.5
66 CARPOOLERS 6 7070 2.5
67 48 HOURS MYSTERY 8 7060 2.5
68 30 ROCK 7 6930 2.4
69 BACK TO YOU 8 6890 2.4
70 CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8 6870 2.4
71 MEN IN TREES 6 6860 2.4
72 SCRUBS 5 6830 2.4
73 20/20-FRI 9 6780 2.4
74 COPS 2 6 6720 2.3
75 PHENOMENON 5 6690 2.3
76 CAVEMEN 6 6600 2.3
77 VIVA LAUGHLIN 1 6500 2.3
78 SINGING BEE 4 6490 2.3
79 TIL DEATH 9 6460 2.3
80 DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS 6 6440 2.2
81 AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK 7 6370 2.2
82 KITCHEN NIGHTMARES 9 6340 2.2
83 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS 8 6260 2.2
84 SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL 8 6240 2.2
85 SIMPSONS-SUN 7:30P 5 5930 2.1
86 COPS 7 5880 2.1
87 CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8PM 8 5800 2.0
88 K-VILLE 7 5500 1.9
89 DON’T FORGET LYRICS-FRI 3 5450 1.9
90 OCTOBER ROAD 1 5430 1.9
91 LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT 8 5340 1.9
92 SMARTER THAN 5TH FRI-8P 2 5240 1.8
93 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-3 10 4970 1.7
94 SMALLVILLE 9 4890 1.7
95 FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN 9 4690 1.6
96 SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME 8 4590 1.6
97 FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 10 4550 1.6
98 KING OF THE HILL-SUN 7P 3 3840 1.3
99 BIONIC WOMAN-SAT 4 3460 1.2
100 CHUCK-SAT 5 3170 1.1
101 SUPERNATURAL 8 3160 1.1
102 BEAUTY AND THE GEEK-2 10 3010 1.1
103 REAPER 10 2950 1.0
104 NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND 6 2820 1.0
105 GOSSIP GIRL 10 2630 .9
106 GAME, THE 10 2590 .9
107 EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS 10 2440 .9
108 GIRLFRIENDS 10 2260 .8
109 ALIENS IN AMERICA 9 2050 .7
110 EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS-MON 1 1790 .6
111 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-3-ENC 10 1440 .5
112 LIFE IS WILD 9 1280 .4
113 ALIENS IN AMERICA-SUN 7 950 .3
114 CW NOW 10 820 .3
115 ONLINE NATION 3 670 .2

NBC announced Monday “Law & Order” will be back in session on Wednesday nights starting Jan. 2 with a two-hour season opener. The following Wednesday, there will be a double-dose when “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” kicks off the night at 9 p.m. starting Jan. 9.

Joining the “Law & Order” cast for the show’s 18th season are Jeremy Sisto as Detective Cyrus Lupo and Linus Roache as Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter. Cutter reports to Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) who has been promoted to District Attorney, replacing Arthur Branch (Fred Thompson).

Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, Jesse L. Martin as Detective Ed Green — NBC Photo: Will Hart

“The last time Rene Balcer was showrunner of ‘Law & Order’ we won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. I am thrilled he is back,” said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of “Law & Order.” “Jeremy and Linus bring a new energy to the cast and we hope the return to our longtime timeslot of Wednesday at 10 will bring renewed success to the show, not just from our core fans, but from a new generation of viewers as well.”

Linus Roache as A.D.A. Michael Cutter — NBC Photo: Will Hart

Detective Edward Green (Jesse L. Martin) and his new partner Detective Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). In the second half-hour, the focus shifts to the criminal courts, as Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and the Executive Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) work within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of the newly appointed District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).

“Criminal Intent” will be recycling episodes that aired earlier on USA.

In “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) and his partner, Detective Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson), make up the Major Case Squad alongside long-time partners Detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe). The two Major Case Squad detective teams split the caseloads week to week. The series takes viewers into the minds of its criminals while following the psychological approaches the Major Case Squad uses to solve the crimes. D’Onofrio (“Men in Black”) stars as Detective Goren, an exceptionally bright homicide investigator with well-honed instincts that match up favorably with his criminal quarry. Likewise, his partner, Detective Eames (Erbe, “Oz”), brings an independence and stylish edge to her work that meshes well with Goren.

Alicia Witt as Detective Nola Falacci — USA Network Photo: Will Hart

Alicia Witt (“Vanilla Sky”) joins the cast for the first six episodes as Logan’s detective partner while Nicholson is on maternity leave.

Eric Bogosian also plays Captain Ross who was rewarded with the Major Case Squad after heading a successful three-year Joint Task Force on International Money Laundering.

Eric Bogosian as Captain Danny Ross — USA Network Photo: Will Hart

Can we blame the writers’ strike for this?

“Heroes” broke my heart this season by going from an obsession to a duty. Oh, the writers teased me with a few episodes that made me think this series was getting back on track. The last two episodes looked that tonight would be redemption time – and make me want to care about Volume 3: Villains.

It didn’t.

To begin with, we knew that two heroes would be killed tonight. I was hoping against hope one would be the mind-numbing Maya. Oh, I there was that glimmer when Sylar shot her, but then Suresh had to revive her.

Why?

Instead, two heroes were knocked out in the most unlikely of ways and Hiro proved to be crueler than we can accept. In the final moments when the Shanti virus was about to be unleashed on the world, naive Peter came to his senses and caught the vial just as it was dropped by Adam/Kensei.

Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli, comes to his senses and goes after Adam — NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

Hiro swept Adam/Kensei away _ and into a cemetery vault where, we imagine, he’ll spend eternity locked in a tomb.

Or until the writers need him back on the scene. But by then will he be a mere bones?

David Anders as Adam Monroe before he gets tossed into a tomb– NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

In two improbable storylines, Monica should have been able to use those snappy martial arts she learned to get away from her captor. Instead, she struggles and would have been burned alive with Niki hadn’t shown up. It’s Niki who ends up toast, so now Micah has to deal with the deaths of both his parents while they saved the lives of others?

The other storyline has Nathan standing up in front of TV cameras to expose The Company when he’s shot by an assassin. Hello! He’s got invincible cheerleader blood coursing through his veins. If Nathan doesn’t pop up again, I’ll be surprised.

Adrian Pasdar as Nathan Petrelli, who decides it’s time to out The Company– NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

And who snuffed Nathan? Please. HRG. After all, he made a pact with the devil (or in this case The Company) to keep his family safe. And that pact certainly involved a dastardly deed like knocking off Nathan.

Finally, the closing scene with Sylar regaining his powers and going all “I’m baack…” on us. We’re assuming from the title that Sylar plays a big role in the next series that’s slated to air next spring.

But who knows? With the writers’ strike, it could be next season. All we are hoping is that the writers spend this time pondering a better second half of the season.

Let’s face it. “Jericho” was a ratings-challenged and when it came back last summer, the numbers didn’t get much better.

But CBS still believes that if those “Jericho” Rangers can rally enough support to bring it back, they can collect enough viewers to keep it on the air.

Thanks to Ranger Jonathan Whitesell for passing this along:

Dear Rangers,

We have some exciting news and wanted you to hear it first. Later today we will announce Jericho’s return to CBS’s primetime schedule. Seven new episodes will be broadcast on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT beginning Feb. 12.

We hope you will rally around the new episodes of Jericho with the same passion and volume you displayed this summer to bring the show back. The writers and producers have crafted an exciting second season that picks up immediately following the battle with New Bern, as the town begins the rebuilding process, and along the way discovers why their small community is so important to the newly formed government, and what the true intentions of this new government might be.

In success, there is the potential for more Jericho, but we will need your help to recruit new viewers. For your friends or family who have never seen the show, the entire first season can be seen on CBS.com, or on the recently released Season One DVD set.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for your continued support of Jericho.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment

Both “Jericho” and the first-ever winter “Big Brother” premiere on CBS on Feb. 12.

Jake (Skeet Ulrich, right) and Hawkins (Lennie James, left)

Game shows and news magazines plump up CBS’ winter schedule, but at least one new series will be in the line-up announced today.

“The Captain,” premiering at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28, is a comedy about a wildly eclectic group of people whose lives are intertwined through the place they all call home, a fabled Hollywood apartment building, El Capitan, which they’ve dubbed “The Captain.”

The comedy stars Fran Kranz (“The TV Set”), Chris Klein (“American Pie”), Jeffrey Tambor (“Arrested Development”), Raquel Welch (“The Three Musketeers”), comedian Al Madrigal, Valerie Azlynn (“Two and a Half Men”) and Joanna Garcia (“Reba”).

CBS has also completed production on episodes of the game show “Do You Trust Me.” A scheduling announcement will be made at a later date.

CBS’s Revised Programming Schedule Effective in January and February:

Wednesday, Jan. 2
8:00-9:00 PM POWER OF 10 (Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Sunday, Jan. 13
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part One)

Tuesday, Jan. 15
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part Two)

Wednesday, Jan. 16
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part Three)

Tuesday, Jan. 22
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

Monday, Jan. 28
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE CAPTAIN (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

Tuesday, Jan. 29
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

Thursday, Feb. 7
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR 16 (16th Edition Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CSI
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

Tuesday, Feb. 12
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM JERICHO (Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Feb. 13
8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Wednesday Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Sunday, Feb. 17
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Sunday Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK

It didn’t take long for KTVU-Channel 2 news anchor Sara Sidner to pack her bags.

CNN announced Sara will be their New Delhi correspondent beginning in January. CNN is opening a new editorial operation in India, where Sara joins former CNN senior producer Liz Neisloss.

“The rapid growth in India in terms of global business and regional political influence underlines how crucial these appointments are as part of CNN’s international expansion,” said Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of CNN International newsgathering in the press release. “With Sara and Liz now confirmed, we can combine that with the strength of our sister network CNN-IBN and have a powerful editorial presence in India.”

In the same release, Sara says this is a great opportunity for her.

“To be part of CNN’s international team of correspondents is an opportunity that any journalist would relish,” Sara says. “To be based in India as CNN expands its newsgathering operations makes the challenge and responsibility all the more rewarding.”

This new position in South India is part of the multi-million dollar investment that CNN announced earlier this month and that will see an additional editorial resources and correspondents based in a number of countries. New operations are also planned for Afghanistan, Belgium, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland and Vietnam

As announced in my Nov. 14 blog entry, Allen Denton has left KNTV-Channel 11 news and tonight was Allen’s final newscast.

At the end of the 11 p.m. news, his co-anchors bid him a fond farewell, with Lisa Kim saying that Denton would be “movin’ on to near Nashville to actually having a real life outside of news.”

“We’re going to try,” Denton says, adding he will miss “all of you,” then added “y’all” before laughing about taking on the twang.

A few snapshots, then it was over.

According to the bio posted on the KNTV-Channel 11 Web site, Allen started in the business while still in high school as a radio DJ and spent the next 10 years working at several radio stations, holding positions in sales, news, programming, and eventually management. Allen landed his first TV job as an anchor/reporter in Bowling Green, Kentucky and anchored at three other stations before calling the Bay Area home.

When he’s not at work, Allen usually trades in his suit and tie for a tank top, cotton shorts and a pair of sandals. In his spare time, Allen enjoys gardening. Allen and his wife, Mary Jo, have two sons, Spencer is following in his dad’s footsteps, working as a TV Meteorologist in Alabama and his other son is attending college in San Diego.

Pencils down means pencils down.

Except, of course, when the striking writers want to romp on the Web. And of course the irony is lost on no one that these guys are writing for the Web when the main sticking point in the negotiations is over pay they think they should get from the studios for their work being used on the Internet.

Having made that point, it seems like TV and movie writers, like Judd Apatow, have been using their free time to make some pretty funny videos that are being posted on the Web.

We like Judd’s piece starring Palo Alto’s James Franco and Mila Kunis in a spoof of “The Hills” that was posted on the Funny or Die web site.

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With the assistance of Christina Applegate, “Samantha Who?” writer Bob Kushell churned out this little piece on how his marriage is suffering because of the strike. Bob says since his wife was uncooperative, the part was played by Christina.

But really, what can these guys actually do if they can’t write?

Oh, yeah. Time to let the dogs out.

When Peih-Gee won the challenge to go to the Shaolin Temple, she picked Hunky Eric and Lunch Lady Denise to come along. Turns out Denise has some wicked karate moves, which she shared with the people at the Kung-Fu temple. Very cool.

But without the three, the remaining Survivors back in camp could plot like MacBeth witches around a cauldron.

The surprise came when Amanda told the camera that she didn’t see herself being in the final four with any of these hound dogs. And who could blame her? Machiavellian Todd, ripped James and skinny mini Courtney.

Please snuff out Courtney. Please snuff out Courtney.

Of course, it’s too soon for that to happen. Too soon strategy wise, never too soon for me.

Why do I dislike Courtney in this game? Because she’s an idiot, and an annoying idiot to boot. Case in point: Before the challenge, both she and Amanda plotted to get James out if he didn’t get immunity. Of course, James could still use one of the two immunity idols he already possesses. But everyone figures he won’t do that because he’s still feeling secure.

Jeff Probst (left) watches as the survivors (l-r) Amanda Kimmel, James Clement ,Courtney Yates, Erik Huffman, Todd Herzog and Peih-Gee Law prepare for the Immunity Challenge

But at the challenge, Courtney insisted on giving the wink-wink, nod-nod to Amanda all through the challenge, which James ultimately lost. If he had even a smidgeon of observational skills, he would have noticed the scheming taking place and used one of the idols at Tribal Council.

But he didn’t.

Todd took the biggest risk tonight, because if James had been canny enough to use the idol, then Todd would have been snuffed for sure. And he knew it. Still, he’s enough of a gamesman to risk it, and the risk paid off handsomely.

Todd, you are the ultimate player

Actually, it was amazing strategy on the part of Todd, Amanda, Courtney and Denise. They got rid of possibly the strongest player in the game AND both of the immunity idols. James just trusted too much. He should have known people were gunning for him.

James, you shoulda played the idol.

You can check out James’ final words on the Survivor site.