LIVE: WGA Strikewatch; the picket lines organize (UPDATE 11/2 AM)

By Mark London Williams Nov 2, 2007, 15:58 GMT

A photo of CBS studios in Hollywood California , USA, 01 November 2007. Hollywood writers prepair to go on strike if a contract can\'t be agreed upon before the midnight expiration of their current contract. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

The "big news" remains, of course, the very fact the strike is happening at all. WGA's strike captains are apparently meeting Saturday, and it appears Monday would
be the earliest for actual picket lines (nor would the WGA want to wait much longer, from a strategic/psychological standpoint...)

Lacey Rose, writing about the strike for the Forbes website, had some interesting quotes about strike impacts -- especially on TV - in her column today:

"Emmy-winning writer, director and producer Ken Levine, whose TV credits include M*A*S*H, Cheers and Frasier, agrees. 'It's like if you're a restaurant that's struggling, it's not a good idea to close on the weekends.'"

"Though CW Entertainment Chief Dawn Ostroff says they're prepared, with new reality series like Farmer Wants a Wife and Crowned waiting in the wings, she, too, sees no advantage to striking: 'It's just better for everyone if habits aren't broken and if people that are getting into characters and shows are able to continue to do so.'

"The film side is in slightly better shape, at least in the near term, since movies have longer production timetables and major studios have reportedly readied their 2008 scripts in preparation."

Maybe it's just me, but the fact that a network has a show called Farmer Wants a Wife prepared at all, tells me that primetime TV has a lot worse problems on its hands than just this strike.

Apparently, if you've ever thought your trips to the grocery store warrant a reality show -- Food: Not Part of the Inflation Index! -- now may be the time to pitch it.

Mark London Williams is a regular contributor and columnist for Industry trade Below the Line and has written for Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.  Williams is also an award-winning author of the children's literature series, "Danger Boy."