By: Patrick Irving
11/27/2007

When the NFL Players Association toed a picket line in 1987 their bargaining position was severely weakened by the league’s use of replacement players. Sure, the scabs were less talented and entertaining than the real thing, but they were good enough to put on TV – and that’s all the owners needed to keep the money flowing.

As the current Writers Guild strike drags on and the reservoir of scripts dries up, it’s just a matter of time before the networks try to fool you into thinking crummy unscripted replacement shows are the real thing, too.

So don’t be surprised when you open your TiVo/DVR queues in a few weeks and find this…

THIS WEEK’S RECORDED PROGRAMS


   How I Met Your Promiscuous Mother                                                     CBS, Monday, 8:00
             Dr. Phil helps families air their dirty laundry on national television – in Prime Time!



   2.4                                                                                                      FOX, Monday, 9:00
             No one but Jack Bauer could blow a breathalyzer that high and live…or could they?
             Find out when barflies, boozehounds and unemployed sound engineers from across the
             country get together to see just how many shots of bourbon they can throw back in
             an hour.



   The Daily Show with Martha Stewart                                   Comedy Central, Monday, 11:00
             Join America’s domestic diva for a lively and irreverent look at topical news and politics.
             Tonight: Senator John McCain cooks up a batch of his famous Straight Talk Chili



   Law & Order: IOU                                                                               NBC, Tuesday, 10:00
             Follow out of work New York actors as they mooch lunch off concerned friends and
             family



   Boston Seagal                                                                                   ABC, Tuesday, 10:00
             The 1990’s action hero takes you on a tour of Beantown like you’ve never experienced!



   The Daily Show with Martha Stewart                                  Comedy Central, Tuesday, 11:00
             Join America’s domestic diva for a lively and irreverent look at topical news and politics.
             Tonight: Ben Affleck constructs Obama ‘08 campaign buttons out of Red Sox victory
             parade confetti and unused Gigli DVDs



   Cost                                                                                             ABC, Wednesday, 9:00
             Watch the drama unfold as all “non-essential” Disney staff are relocated to a remote,
             cost-effective island in the South Pacific where they will have to work together to defeat
             the Others (non-essential staff relocated during WGA strike of 1988)



   The Daily Show with Martha Stewart                             Comedy Central, Wednesday, 11:00
             Join America’s domestic diva for a lively and irreverent look at topical news and politics.
             Tonight: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson needlepoints the secret to the universe on
             a throw pillow.



   My Name is Earl Campbell                                                                  NBC, Thursday, 8:00
             The long-retired Hall of Fame running back gets out of bed and makes his way over to
             the couch.



   10 Rock                                                                                            NBC, Thursday, 8:30
             Sneak a peek at Matt, Meredith, Al and Ann behind the scenes at The Today Show
             studio. Well, let’s face it, mostly Al and Ann. Deal with it.



   Macy Gray’s Anatomy                                                                         ABC, Thursday, 9:00
             Sorry, the pickings here were slimmer than expected. It was either this or Jim Gray –
             you know that middle-aged sports reporter? Erin Gray would have been ideal.
             Remember her, that hot chick from Silver Spoons and Buck Rogers? She has to be
             getting up there though, right? Eh, but still, maybe it’s worth a…stay tuned.



   Scabs                                                                                               NBC, Thursday, 9:30
             Watch the hilarity unfold as the kooky young doctors of a real Los Angeles hospital
             stitch up bludgeoned show-runners who tried to sneak in the back entrance of the
             Universal lot.



   The Daily Show with Martha Stewart                                 Comedy Central, Thursday, 11:00
             Join America’s domestic diva for a lively and irreverent look at topical news and politics.              Tonight: Author Reza Aslan decorates Christmas cookies with traditional symbols of              Islam



   Friday Night-Lights                                                                                  NBC, Friday, 9:00
             GE’s weekly showcase for its world class line of bulbs, filaments and fixtures that keep
             scary shadows and creaky floorboards at bay



   Saturday Night-Lights                                                                        NBC, Saturday, 11:30
             An encore presentation of this week’s Friday Night-Lights



   The OJ Simpsons                                                                                 FOX, Sunday, 8:00
             (Cancelled)



   Disparate Housewives                                                                           ABC, Sunday, 9:00
             The ladies of The View take their act to Prime Time where each week they gather an
             eclectic group of opinionated homemakers together to gab about politics, the economy
             and yeast infections.



   Sunday Night Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark                                           CBS, Sunday, 9:00
             Yes, THE Raiders of the Lost Ark! We can show these sweet flicks all day long!!! See
             you in hell Writers Guild.

FADE OUT:

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