Back in my January 24^th issue, I discussed how the final season of one my favorite shows, Scrubs, was hanging in the balance due to the writers' strike. I saw a couple interesting addendums to this topic and thought I would share them with you.

First, according to the Hollywood Reporter, there was report just recently released which estimated that the 3-month long writers' strike cost the city of Lost Angeles and its surrounding areas about $2.5 billion. That number is pretty staggering, so let me repeat it... $2.5 billion (with a B). This figure was due to lost wages from canceled TV shows and postponed movies, support services such as limousine drivers, catering and florists, general tourism and the canceled Golden Globes ceremony. The viewers were punished by not getting to watch new episodes of their favorite shows, but that number puts some of the other surrounding economic effects into perspective. That was just for three months, so imagine if it would have lasted any longer.  I am not saying that the writers did not have a just cause to fight for, but just pointing out some of the consequences.

Next, back to the specific topic of Scrubs, I read that there may be another season (8^th) for this fantastic sitcom. This, according to an article of Reuters, would mean an additional 18 episodes, but it may find its way onto the ABC network (rather than NBC where it currently airs). In a strange arrangement, Scrubs is actually produced by ABC Studios even though the show has been aired on rival NBC since it began back in 2001. When NBC was wavering on whether to pick up the show for its 7^th season, ABC was ready to make the move at that point, but NBC still owns the right of first refusal and decided to give the show one more season. With the writers' strike taking its toll, it appears that the 7^th season will only end up being 12 episodes long instead of the 18 episodes that were intended. Many of those involved as well as fans feel that is no way for this quirky sitcom to end. It sounds as if there have been many options considered for the end of the show including one special episode finale or releasing the remaining episodes directly to DVD, but it seems as if ABC has different plans for Scrubs. The problem for ABC is that NBC still should own the right of first refusal, but the good news is that regardless of how it proceeds it looks as if Scrubs will get to go out on its own terms. I hope they take advantage of the opportunity to put together an amazingly funny final season that makes us all proud. There were 5 new unaired episodes completed prior to the strike and NBC plans to begin airing those starting April 10th. That would put the show at 11 episodes for this season and I guess we will have to wait and see how the rest plays out.

I am sure many of you are like me and wondering when your favorite shows will begin to air new episodes again. I did a little research through TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly to compile this list for you. Please check your local listings to confirm these dates and if there are any other shows that I do not list, please let me know and I will try to find out that information for you.

Back to You (Fox) - already began airing new episodes
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - new episodes come back March 17th
Bones (Fox) - new episodes come back April 14th
Boston Legal (ABC) - new episodes come back April 7th
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) - new episodes come back April 20th
Chuck (NBC) - no new episodes until Fall
The Closer (TNT) - expected to kick off 4th season this Summer
Cold Case (CBS) - new episodes come back March 30th
Criminal Minds (CBS) - new episodes come back April 2nd
CSI (CBS) - new episodes come back April 3rd
CSI: Miami (CBS) - new episodes come back March 24th
CSI: NY (CBS) - new episodes come back April 2nd
Desperate Housewives (ABC) - new episodes come back April 13th
ER (NBC) - new episodes come back April 10th
Friday Night Lights (NBC) - no new episodes until Fall
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - new episodes come back April 24th
Heroes (NBC) - no new episodes until Fall
House (Fox) - new episodes come back April 28th
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - new episodes come back March 17th
Law & Order (NBC) - new episodes come back April 23rd
Law & Order: SVU (NBC) - new episodes come back April 15th
Lost (ABC) - new episodes already began airing, but short break planned mid-March
My Name Is Earl (NBC) - new episodes come back April 3rd
NCIS (CBS) - new episodes come back April 8th
Numb3rs (CBS) - new episodes come back April 4th
The Office (NBC) - new episodes come back April 10th
One Tree Hill (CW) - currently airing pre-strike episodes through March 18th, with new episodes starting again April 14th
Prison Break (Fox) - season ended and not renewed for Fall yet
Private Practice (ABC) - no new episodes until Fall
Psych (USA) - new episodes will begin again this Summer
Pushing Daisies (ABC) - no new episodes until Fall
Rules of Engagement (CBS) - new episodes come back April 14th
Samantha Who? (ABC) - new episodes come back April 7th
Saturday Night Live (NBC) - new episodes have already began airing
Scrubs (NBC) - as said above, pre-strike episodes will begin airing April 10th, but then future is still unknown
Smallville (CW) - currently airing pre-strike episodes, with new episodes starting again April 17th
South Park (Comedy Central) - new episodes come back March 12th
‘Til Death (Fox) - final pre-strike episode scheduled to air March 25th, with new episodes starting again April 16th
30 Rock (NBC) - new episodes come back April 10th
24 (Fox) - season 7 postponed until January 2009
Two and a Half Men (CBS) - new episodes come back March 17th
Ugly Betty (ABC) - new episodes come back April 24th
Without a Trace (CBS) - new episodes come back April 3rd

That should get you up to speed with most of the shows. Not affected by the strike, American Idol is off to a good start already and provides some of the best entertainment until these shows start airing new episodes over the coming weeks. The Writers Guild and Directors Guild were both able to eventually agree to deals, but the Screen Actors Guild is next up and if you thought the writers' strike caused a commotion, just imagine what damage a much higher profile actors' strike could do. If the 3-month writers' strike cost L.A. $2.5 billion and viewers months and months of original programming, then what could an actor's strike cost? I hope they all learn from the past 3-4 months and we do not ever have to find that out.

That does it for another issue of Kickin' it. Thanks so much for reading and please be sure to click on the Archive buttons in the upper left hand column to make sure you have not missed any previous issues. Have a great week. Peace and much love.

Check this out: Have you ever heard someone singing a song, but totally butchering the lyrics? Have you ever heard a song on the radio and you were not quite sure exactly what they said? There is an official website for misheard song lyrics and a book titled "Hold Me Closer Tony Danza & Other Misheard Lyrics." I have the book and it is a lot of fun, but the website can be fun as well. Go check it out. I plan on doing an article at one point pointing out some of my all-time favorites.

Quote of the day: "If there's a way to do it better... find it." -Thomas Edison

Download this: "Throwing It All Away" by Genesis - From their hugely successful 1986 album Invisible Touch