What to Do During the Writer's Strike, Vol. 18: Get In Treatment

HBO's ambitious new series, In Treatment, starring Gabriel Byrne, requires viewers to tune in Monday through Friday for a 30-minute session for a large chunk of 2008. Not surprisingly, viewers have shown fatigue. This has turned out to be a positive development for cheapskates like myself who don't have HBO or cable, and rely on the Internet that's not a Seinfeld re-run.

The Home Box Office is offering the first three weeks of the series online for free. That's 12 episodes of Paul (Byrne) counseling patients, and three episodes in which he's on the other end of the couch.

I checked out the first episode last night, and, although I probably wouldn't normally let this show slip into my life, I'm intrigued by the format — a recurring patient for each day of the week — and am willing to checking out at least the first three weeks, even if it's only during the commute.

Oh, yeah, please, don't give me that guff.

Topics: Strike

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 17: Pet Therapy

Therapists at work.

We're getting to the point in the Hollywood Writers' Strike where many of you are probably going through withdrawals. We suggest that you takes some clinical advice and invest in Pet Therapy.

There are no guarantees, of course, but considering how long it looks like we're gonna be without our writers, you may as well give it a shot.

Topics: Strike

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 16: Ask Conan

The red-headed host of a certain writer-less late night show shares his troubles with Entertainment Weekly, as part of their "67 Tips to Beat the Entertainment Dry Spell." Wow, 67? Shit, we're only at 16. We'll get our act together soon. Promise. Feel free to leave any suggestions.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 15: Unlimited Netflix

It's official: there's no longer a compelling reason to leave your home.

On Monday, Netflix is expected to announce that subscribers will be allowed unlimited online streaming of some 6,000 movies, according to an Associated Press report this afternoon. That's right. Netflix subscribers — except for those on the $5.99-a-month plan — will be able to watch as many of the titles as they want, as often as they like.

Online streams of movies has been a part of the Netflix shtick for better part of the last year, but the dramatic increase in complimentary online streams is supposedly intended to fend off Apple, which is expected to announce its foray into the online movie rental business on Tuesday.

No f*cking wonder writers want a piece of the digital action.

Topics: Strike

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 14: Poop in the Pool

ITunes is offering "Poop in the Pool," an episode of MTV's Rob & Big, for free.

Here's a taste, and perhaps all the reason you need to know why they have to give it away.

Topics: Strike

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol 13

At Bored.com, you can do fun things like warp the faces of your favorite celebrity or presidential candidate.

I like that Bored.com epitomizes everything that the Internet was made for: distracting me from my work and family.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 11: Watch Run's House

iTunes is still serving up a free episode of the MTV series featuring the good Reverend. And while you're in the Run D.M.C. mood, pick up 18 of their greatest hits for $8.97.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 10: Watch "Spider Pig"

The Simpsons Movie is in stores today. Get it for $15.99 on Amazon.

The Kwik-E-Mart took over a local 7-Eleven this summer to promote The The Simpsons Movie. Click the photo for an audio slideshow featuring the classic "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart."

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 9: Jump Off a Cliff

Seriously.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike Vol. 8: Learn Spanish

... Like Crazy.

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What to Do During the Writer's Strike, Vol. 7: Watch the 'Speechless' Campaign

Jeff Garlin

Visit DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com to watch videos from high-profile actors like Sean Penn, Jeff Garlin, and Holly Hunter show their support for the Writers Guild of America. Penn is, of course, humorless, but Garlin at least lends a couple chuckles.

Press Released posted by our friends at DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com:

On Thanksgiving Day (November 22), a group of Writers Guild Of America members will begin posting Public Service Announcements featuring A-list Screen Actors Guild talent as part of an independent WGA membership's "Speechless" campaign conceived by director/writer George Hickenlooper and writer Alan Sereboff. For the first time in the TV and movie industry, high-profile SAG actors will be taking their talents directly and exclusively to the Internet — the very medium which is at the center of the current WGA labor strike against the Alliance Of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

The spots will begin appearing on Thursday morning which will begin posting Thanksgiving Day and run exclusively on DeadlineHollywood.com through Sunday night. Beginning Monday, they can be found on SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com with links on UnitedHollywood.com and every day thereafter during the duration of the strike.

Included are SAG talent such as Sean Penn, Holly Hunter, Laura Linney, Alan Cumming, Jay Leno, Harvey Keitel, Kate Beckinsale, Tina Fey, Tim Robbins, Gary Marshall, David Schwimmer, Patricia Clarkson, James Franco, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Martin Sheen, Josh Brolin, Susan Sarandon, Andre 3000, Chazz Palminteri, Jason Bateman, Christine Lahti, Patricia Arquette, Jenna Elfman, Olivia Wilde, Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Eva Longoria, Justine Bateman, Joshua Jackson, Rosanna Arquette, Diane Ladd, Rebecca Romjin, Minnie Driver, Nicollette Sheridan, Robert Patrick, Matthew Perry, Ed Asner, and America Ferrera and the cast of Ugly Betty. Arrangements have been made to also shoot Woody Allen, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jane Fonda, Marisa Tomei, Ethan Hawke, Jason Alexander, Charlize Therone, Minnie Driver, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Many, many more are also in the works.

Here's how the PSAs came about: During the first day of the strike, director/writer George Hickenlooper (Factory Girl) and writer Alan Sereboff (The Red House) were struck by the talent surrounding them on the picket line. Hickenlooper suggested to Sereboff that they focus their energies on a creative campaign. That night, they met at WGA Headquarters with writers Ian Deitchman (Life As We Know It), Justin Zakham (The Bucket List) and director Josh Marston (Maria Full of Grace). After conferring, the team came to an agreement: What better way to bring attention to the issues regarding the Internet then to use the Internet itself?

Hickenlooper, evoking the style of Factory Girl, suggested shooting Warhol-esque screen tests of major SAG talent not saying anything on camera, thus showing their solidarity with the WGA. And Sereboff offered the concept "Speechless," where prominent SAG actors stood silently in front of the camera, ultimately writing and holding up a sign that simply read, "Speechless". Campaigns combined under one name, Hickenlooper and Sereboff joined with WGA/SAG member Kamala Lopez (I Heart Huckabees) and began reaching out to fellow creatives. Within a few days, Hickenlooper/Sereboff had recruited fellow DGA members Wayne Kramer (The Cooler), Paul Haggis (The Valley of Ellah), Rod Lurie (The Contender), WGA writers Steve Pink (Gross Pointe Blank), Jordan Mechner (Prince of Persia), two-time Emmy winning writer Jill Kushner (Ellen), Chic Eglee (Executive Producer, The Shield) in addition to the writing staff of The Tonight Show. SAG board member/actress Justine Bateman became involved and was instrumental in recruiting many of her fellow SAG actors to participate.

The "Speechless" idea quickly took off and, after a single day of filming, the team learned that the support of major A-list SAG talent was so overwhelming that many wanted to do more than just a screen test. After extensive conversations with various actors, it was decided that the screen tests might be expanded to improvisational scene work that would be done to entertain those of the public who might not be aware of the importance of the writer, and at the same time create mystery and intrigue surrounding the UnitedHollywood.com website.

On the second day of filming, the screen tests quickly evolved into actual short moments and sometimes full-fledged scenes. The result is a unique series of PSAs bringing together talent in solidarity. The "Speechless" campaign has thus far stockpiled several dozen very creative and innovative spots in black & white, ranging in length from 15 seconds to 4 minutes long.

The "Speechless" campaign support team includes music composer Anthony Marinelli, who is dedicating his time to scoring the spots; Clint Bennett, sound engineer; Joel Marshall, technical advisor; Jill Kushner production manager; Kamala Lopez and Melissa Cochran, editors; Mical shemesh, editor; Justin Schumacher, production sound; and Ian Deitchman who is putting together the website.

For more information regarding the "Speechless" campaign contact SpeechlessWithoutWriters@gmail.com.

Topics: Strike

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What to Do During the Writer's Strike, Vol. 6: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Photos courtesy of www.worldrps.com.

Three reasons why WorldRPS.com is in contention for most useful Web site on the Internet:

1. You can keep up with the rock, paper, scissors community.
2. Read tips to improve your game.
3. You can play RPS against the computer. Seriously.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 5: Catch Up on Damages

Glen Close and Rose Byrne.

I have (mostly) horrible taste in television. I was all about Studio 60, passed on Arrested Development, and don't make the time for Six Feet Under. Which is why I couldn't be happier that the almost-killed Damages has been picked up by FX for two more seasons.

This is one of those shows that I got hooked on after the pilot was offered up free on iTunes for a while. I bought the rest of the season because I don't have cable, but I do have quite the commute.

There are a couple episodes available via Hulu.com. Otherwise, pick up the season on iTunes for your chance to see coke-blowing, hooker-humping Art Forbisher (Ted Danson) in action.

P.S. I'm typing this as my roomie watches Dancing With the Stars. This is the kind of crap I'm gonna be stuck with for months if the Guild and the studios can't work it out. Please, help!

Marie Osmond: Make her stop!

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 4: Play With Guns

Courtesy of ShootingUSA.com.

... or at least watch other people do it.

Today's submission comes from The New York Times' Neil Genzlinger, who says that if you miss Jon Stewart's pot shots this Hollywood strike season, try "Shooting USA" on the Outdoor Channel.

"The show has profiles of marksmen, coverage of shooting championships and a segment called "Sighting In," described as "the newest products demonstrated and explained."

Click here for more of Neil's suggested viewing to help get you through the strike.

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What to Do During the Writers' Strike, Vol. 3: Make Political Endorsements

Everyone's doing it.

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