On TV

Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. ET to parse the Golden Globe nominations -- cable killed broadcast but a lot of the shows have no viewers -- and wonder who actually will show up if the writer's guild doesn't grant a strike exemption. Plus: Winter TV Press Tour 2008 is Dead, Long Live Winter TV Press Tour 2008!

The transcript follows.

Lisa Watches So You Don't Have To: "Grey's Anatomy" | de Moraes on TV blog | On TV discussion transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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washingtonpost.com: 2008 Golden Globes nominees for the TV categories (Entertainment Weekly, Dec. 13)

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Savannah, Ga.: What was the name of the monkey on the "Today" back in the olden times?

washingtonpost.com: J. Fred Muggs (Wikipedia)

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. Yes, J. Fred Muggs, who I think went on to become head of affiliate relations at NBC. But, I'm curious -- why are you asking? Is this some comment about "Today" show's glory days and how it has fallen so far that it's got to the point it needs to push on-air talent off bridges in Manchester, England, -- where such things are legal -- to attract an audience, when all they really need is to bring back the monkey? Just askin'...

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Washington: Hi Lisa. So, if the writer's strike is still on for the Golden Globes and Oscars, does that mean that the shows will consist of people opening envelopes and announcing winners without stupid banter or dumb monologues, and that the entire program will last about 30 minutes? Because that would be awesome.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm guessing that will be Carson Daly doing all the presenting and all the accepting in the case of NBC's broadcast of the Globes. Not sure who ABC will get for the Oscars -- maybe former Mouse House Big Cheese Michael Eisner?

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Lisa. How's the morale among the writers on the picket lines? By the way, I love one of the slogans on their T-Shirts -- "We Write. They Wrong." Ha ha!

Lisa de Moraes: If only that writing talent was being put to use on, say "According to Jim"...

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Is this true?: Lisa! My husband read in the paper the other day that "The Office," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Big Bang Theory" are "not to be continued." Does that mean canceled?! Those are the only shows I watch!

Lisa de Moraes: No, it means they've run out of new episodes because of the writers' strike. All three shows are very safe at their respective networks, in fact...

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Arlington, Va.: Hi Pookie. I always wondered about the reasons why shows seemingly more often choose to have British or Australian actors/actresses play roles in recent TV shows. Some examples that come to mind are "House," "Journeyman," "Life" and "Chuck." Is it all just a matter of cheaper salaries? But it seems the foreign talents are well-established in their countries, so it doesn't seem like they would work for less pay than up-and-coming American talent.

Lisa de Moraes: You apparently missed my brilliant expose "As TV Lists, Britannia Sails" in The Post's TV Preview issue, in which I explained it's because they're, um, better trained actors for less money, who are not afraid to crossover and do TV series -- unlike U.S. film actors. It's also because Hugh Laurie on "House" turned out so brilliantly, and imitation is the sincerest form of television...

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Harrisburg, Pa.: Here is my stupid question of the day: You have mentioned that "Scrubs" is a costly show to make and that it is making money for the network that is not producing it (did I get that right?) and thus has no chance of being renewed; why doesn't the network that produces it then show it instead? With the shortage of even halfway decent comedies, shouldn't "Scrubs" be picked up by another network?

Lisa de Moraes: "Scrubs" is produced by Disney, which owns ABC. When NBC was mulling whether to bring it back for another year, ABC suits were toying with the idea of putting it on their lineup if NBC took a pass. I don't know that "Scrubs" is a seriously pricy sitcom, relative to, say, "Friends" in its final seasons -- but any time you have a show that's been on as many years as has "Scrubs" it's going to cost more than it did its freshman season because everyone, particularly on-air talent, want raises. And when they have managed to launch actual film careers during the run of the sitcom, those salaries can go up a whole lot...

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Washington: How is at all possible that this year's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was not nominated for a Golden Globe? Complete garbage -- this was its best year!

Lisa de Moraes: Inexplicable...

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Millersville, Pa.: If I could offer proof that I watched anything on their network, is there any chance NBC will rebate some money to me?

Lisa de Moraes: And if they did, what would the price have to be to make it worth your while to sit through, say, "Bionic Woman" or "Phenomenon??"

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: Australian girls are awesome -- they're exotic without being intimidating!

Lisa de Moraes: Define "exotic" please...

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Love British TV: I wish Hugh Laurie would do another episode of "Jeeves and Wooster." He was so funny as Bertie Wooster. The music with that show is classic. Maybe one day...

Lisa de Moraes: I'm thinking Broadway, with Stephen Fry...

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Austin, Texas: I was sorry to hear about the Winter Press Tour's cancellation. I'll miss your missives from there. How are you coping?

Lisa de Moraes: I am stricken with grief. I adore the press tours. I just show up every morning, seven days a week for two to four weeks and let the nuttiness pour over me in waves...

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Washington: When is the lie detector show?

Lisa de Moraes: Fox's "Moment of Truth" debuts Jan. 23...

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Baltimore: Re: The Golden Globes, what do you think "Mad Men's" chances are? Do you watch it? The writing is incredible but AMC hasn't done much to promote it. Hope that will change if they win.

Lisa de Moraes: Promotions that you would see have no impact on the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They prefer big parties, I'm told...

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Madison, Miss.: Is Kiefer Sutherland now serving his time? I wonder if he'll come out of jail looking like he did when the Chinese released him, like he belonged in ZZ Top.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, Sutherland is doing time at a private prison in Glendale, Calif., where he's apparently snowed under with fan mail. Hope Fox is shooting prison footage to use in "24" whenever it comes back. ... And re: how he will look when he gets out, I think you actually are describing how Conan O'Brien is going to look by the time the strike is over. He's growing a strike beard. It's not a good look...

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"Extras": Why can't I find "Extras" at any Blockbuster? I've searched three in the District and Silver Spring, Md., and none have it.

Lisa de Moraes: I do not know. It's available on DVD, so they should have it...

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Washington: Do you know why they give those women on "Deal or No Deal" the same cases for three years? Are they that dumb that they wouldn't know their number so they give them the same number for all the shows? I think it's the same reason Tony Danza's characters were all named Tony, so he would answer. I noticed one of them got an acting job, and as a stretch her real name (Hayley) was changed to Kaylee. That's acting.

Lisa de Moraes: I, on the other hand, respond to many names. "Carlos" for instance, which is my father's name and which is the name my mother would resort to when she got good and steamed about something one of her children had done and could not remember in the heat of the moment which child's name was which. "Clelia" as well -- it's my older sister's name and I always got her elementary school teachers the next year, and because said teacher had spent a whole year learning how to pronounce "Clelia" they were bound and determined to get another year's use of it. I also have learned to respond to names given to me by people in the TV industry that I cannot print here. Clearly I should have gone on stage, or at least become a "Deal" suitcase minder...

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Anonymous: So wait, with the writers' strike we don't even get the benefit of foregoing award shows? I guess they can just recycle "witty banter" from previous years for the presenters to read.

washingtonpost.com: Trophy Season: Bagged by the Writer's Strike? (Post, Dec. 13)

Lisa de Moraes: Wouldn't that be wonderful if they actually did just have whatever scabs they could get to be presenters read last year's "witty banter"? ... I'd watch that, and enjoy it...

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Rockville, Md.: What's going on with soap operas with regard to the writers' strike? I remember you saying that they probably only would have new episodes for a week, but I record "General Hospital" every day and there still are new episodes every night when I get home. Sadly, it's almost the only thing that I watch anymore now that it's rerun season. Thanks!

Lisa de Moraes: If you can watch "General Hospital" every day surely you can stomach "Moment of Truth" when it debuts on Fox...

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Who's the Brit or Aussie on "Chuck"?: Also, any show you recommend getting into now that we only have reruns to watch? I guess I'm happy that I have six episodes of "Lost" to watch from last season.

Lisa de Moraes: The spy chick, as I recall. ... Watch "Pushing Daisies" on ABC and "Life" on NBC, because both have been picked up for a full season but could use more viewers, and both are worth watching.

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Washington: I support the writers, but I feel sorry for the other workers who are hit by this and do not have as much at stake (until now) as the writers -- the behind the scenes people. I'd like to help them, but how?

Lisa de Moraes: I keep reading that the writers on comedy shows -- "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock" etc. -- are holding live performances to raise money for striking writers, but no one is doing same for the families of the below-the-line workers who have been thrown out of work by the strike and who make less than the writers. I did see one notice that some organization, I think it may have been the Writers Guild of America, was hosting a free day at some amusement park for below-the-line families -- which somehow seemed very lame to me...

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Non-U.S. shows: Hi Pookie. Why don't the stations aside from PBS play non-U.S. shows? Too racy? Too not-American? Accent not recognizable? I mean, don't a lot of American shows go overseas? Why doesn't it work the other way, especially with the writer strike drying up shows? Can't we get some good foreign shows rather than mindless reality programming?

Lisa de Moraes: The conventional wisdom is that U.S. viewers won't watch people with accents, but I'm guessing that's hooey because, for instance, there's not a woman I know who isn't a sucker for a proper British accent. Sadly, because this is the conventional wisdom in Hollywood, all these talented British actors have to make sure they perfect their American accents if they want to work on U.S. series.

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Which begs the question...: How do you pronounce "Clelia"?

Lisa de Moraes: Just like it's spelled: Cle-lia ... a gorgeous name...

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Gaithersburg, Md.: So if the writers' strike goes on much longer, will we even have anything to chat about on Fridays? Will you have to rename the chat "On Reality (TV, That Is)"? And for the chatter looking for "Extras" on DVD: Netflix!

Lisa de Moraes: Well, "Sarah Connor Chronicles" debuts in January. "Welcome to The Captain" debuts on CBS on Jan. 28 (it's a sitcom, seriously). Fox's "Canterbury's Law" with Julianna Margulies, which looked great in the pilot, debuts, um in April. ... But yes, the schedules will have a lot more reality. But that can be fun -- people confessing to cheating on spouses on Fox's lie detector show? What's not to love? (At this point I should apologize for how slow I've been responding to questions. I'm trying to type with only nine fingers -- 10th is under the weather after having been slammed in a car door)...

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Washington: Re: "Pushing Daisies": Hi, Lisa. I recall you expressed concern that the show wouldn't be able to live up to its pilot, and was wondering if you would agree with me that it has. This week's episode had at least two out-of-nowhere revelations, and I loved the previous first-run episode (three weeks ago?) -- the one where Ellen Greene's character sings "Morning Has Broken" near the end. Really beautiful without being mawkish ... or have I just had too many Christmas sweets?

Lisa de Moraes: When I saw the pilot I did not see how they could sustain the concept week after week for a whole season, or two or three. But I too have been pleasantly surprised...

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Reston, Va.: Who do you think is winning the "I'm more generous than you are" game among the late night hosts? Are Colbert and Stewart playing along too?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm told Comedy Central is picking up the staff tab on those shows, so Stewart and Colbert would not even qualify to play in this race. Leno clearly has been playing catch up all along, and Letterman's company actually produces his show, so he's getting back-end money. So I'd say Conan, although operating on a much smaller scale than Letterman, may be the front-runner at this point...

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Springfield, Va.: I would think the writer's strike might be a boon for midseason replacements (i.e. shows that weren't doing that well) to pick up new fans. I'm thinking of "Medium."

Lisa de Moraes: Absolutely. In a sea of reruns, "Medium" looks great...

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Peoria, Ill.: Maybe you can settle a stupid dispute: What is Alan Shore's position at Crane Poole Schmidt on "Boston Legal"? He presumably is not a partner, as he joined the firm on a trial basis after losing his previous job. Yet there is never a reference to him being an associate or a partner. Although, with the cases he's won, he should be a partner. See what mindless discussions occurs in households across America?

Lisa de Moraes: After seeing your question, we called the rep for the show at the network, who said he did not know and referred us to David Kelley's production company. The person we spoke to there also did not know. I'm determined to get to the bottom of this. I smell a cover-up...

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Anonymous: Did anyone else see the Vincent Gallo vodka commercial on Spike? Why can't all commercials be that full of mischief and beautiful people? Also, I don't usually watch "Boston Legal" but caught the ending this week. Is is me, or is James Spader starting to look like William Shatner?

Lisa de Moraes: Spader and Shatner now look like twins. ... only Shatner has better hair. ... And what was this vodka commercial of which you speak so highly? Are there commercials that don't feature beautiful people (except ads for the movie "Knocked Up" of course)...

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New York: My mother, the mother of four kids, used to call us by the cats' names when she was having a particularly hard day. "Smokey, you come home right now." The cats didn't listen either.

Lisa de Moraes: LOL. ... (My father didn't want us to have pets. We once someone managed to get him to agree to a goldfish in what looked like a giant brandy snifter, only someone put him/her on top of the stereo amplifier and she/he got cooked. I always suspected my father...)

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The Writers Strike and "Idol": Will the writers of Seacrest's inanities be out when the new season of "American Idol" starts? Who do we pray to for that?

Lisa de Moraes: They're not WGA, which is one of the reasons "Idol" and other reality series can continue during the strike. One of the things the WGA is trying to get the producer conglomerates to agree to is to let WGA represent the writers on reality programming, which of course will happen when hell freezes over, because reality shows are the networks' fallback position when WGA goes on strike...

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Warning: I am going to rave about "30 Rock": What I love about this show is the great guests they get. What a pleasure to see people like Buck Henry and Elaine Stritch on TV -- Elaine Stritch is priceless as Jack's dad.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, it's one of the nicest things about that series, the guest actors they get. Elaine Stritch is wonderful. Did you also see her as guest programmer on Turner Classic Movies? It was hilarious...

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Huh?: Katherine Heigl was nominated as best supporting actress ... seriously? I didn't know being self-righteous and annoying was so hard, especially given how she appears in "real" life.

Lisa de Moraes: I keep watching "Grey's Anatomy" to try to figure out why these various trophy-dispensing organizations think her acting on the show is so much better this season than Sandra Oh, Chandra Wilson or Sara Ramirez, but for the life of me I don't see it...

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Detroit: I think the Jimmy Kimmel is winning the late night hosts' staff payment war because I hear he is paying it himself, and he doesn't make as much as Conan/Leno/Letterman. And in defense of Stewart/Colbert, I doubt Comedy Central would be paying their staffs if they weren't under heavy pressure from the hosts.

Lisa de Moraes: Gosh, I forgot all about Kimmel, who's paying his staff quietly -- and unlike Conan isn't about to inherit the biggest late night brand on TV and become a gazillionaire. You're right, by gum! Let's give the Good Guy Tiara to Kimmel...

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Indianapolis: Hi Lisa. Are you good at holiday gift recommendations? My 23-year-old son loves "Curb" (which I loathe, so I don't want to buy it or we'll end up watching it on Christmas day) and liked my choice of "Mr. Show" last Christmas. I wanted to get Season 4 of "The Wire" but it was too pricy -- I think he'd have liked that. I thought maybe "Extras" Season 2? Maybe if you and the readers can throw out some ideas it'll give me inspiration.

Lisa de Moraes: I am the worst at holiday gift recommendations ... "Emergency" Season 1? "Quantum Leap" Season 1? The "Green Acres" box set? And, for that uncle you really don't like, the entire series of "Everybody Loves Raymond" just came out in a box set -- a very big box set...

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Vodka Commercial: I saw Gallo in that commercial. The real question is: how does a self-aggrandizing hobo like Vincent Gallo get work sponsoring anything? I'd like him to be in a commercial for Ivory soap, if only to see him look clean!

Lisa de Moraes: Gosh, I need to see this ad. Sounds craptastic...

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Arlington, Va.: The British actress on "Pushing Daisies" is Anna Friel, who plays Chuck. But Kristin Chenoweth and Chi McBride steal the scenes they're in. Why didn't either of them get nominated?

Lisa de Moraes: Um ... because they're not British and this is the Hollywood Foreign Press Association...

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Parents Say The Darndest Things!: My mother would run through all the kids names before getting to mine (I was the last of four). She would run the all together so it was basically the first two letters of each child's name. We asked to name our dog JoWeLeMa in honor of this. Our parents did not see the genius and humor in this.

Lisa de Moraes: Jowelema is a great name...

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Arlington, Va.: Lisa, so far in this strike-shortened season, what's your vote for best new show? And how about for best new show that not enough people are watching so the network will end up canceling it? And is it just me, or has "Nip/Tuck" gone way off the deep end this year -- at least far more than they did in previous seasons? It's like an exponential curve of nuttiness!

Lisa de Moraes: "Nip/Tuck" totally has jumped the shark -- it smacks of desperation. I'd say "Life" is the best new show that's barely making it, though it did get a pickup. In truth it's not a terrific show, but it's good enough and Damian Lewis is absolutely worth watching. Best new show is tough. Maybe "Big Bang," maybe "Daisies"...

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Arlington, Va.: Lisa -- don't you think that the writers' strike is the perfect opportunity to give some canceled shows a second chance? Something like ... oh, I don't know ... "Firefly" for god's sake! Oh, and air the episodes in the right order, perhaps?

Lisa de Moraes: Can anyone say "Wonderfalls?" They only aired a handful of the episodes they shot...

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"Knocked Up" Beauty: Hey, Seth Rogen is a cutie!

Lisa de Moraes: Gack...

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Kansas City, Mo.: I believe Alan Shore is "of counsel" at CP&S. That is a term used by law firms to signify someone who is more senior than an associate, but who has a less-tenured position than a partner. Often used for lawyers brought in on a trial basis or for those with different schedules or pay rates.

Lisa de Moraes: So, given all the things this guy had done for the firm in the course of this show, what exactly is left for him to do to sufficiently impress the Big Cheese that they make him a partner?

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Keira Knightley: Keira was amazing in "Atonement." Her green dress should have been nominated for a Golden Globe as well!

Lisa de Moraes: I feel exactly the same way about the green dress. Best performance in a flick in years...

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Seattle: Pookie, these reality shows like "America's Next Top Model" and "Survivor" just keep spitting out boring winners. I swear Tyra Banks removed the gorgeous Heather because Tyra can control the girl with the terrible pageboy haircut better. Could you give me some hope and tell me they've been feeling pressure with the ratings drop after they take off the interesting contestants?

Lisa de Moraes: "Survivor" has just run out of gas, period. No reflection on the producers, it's just a very old reality series -- in terms of how many editions it has aired. Tyra's show is doing just fine in the ratings, so I'm not sensing any pressure to change the way things are done.. That's the kind of things producers resort to when ratings lag -- like "Race Wars Survivor"...

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Reston, Va.: Is it possible that the networks could force Leno, Letterman, etc., to go back to work at some point?

Lisa de Moraes: Scuttle is they'll go back in January...

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Chevy Chase, Md.: Every week on Scrubs (when it's on) they say towards the end "more Scrubs coming after these messages." But instead, after the messages they go right into "ER." They're just lying -- how do they get away with that?

Lisa de Moraes: Interesting! I had not noticed; I will go back and watch the episodes that have aired...

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Memphis, Tenn.: Our local affiliates down here have started showing a lot more local programming in the past month or so. Last night instead of a repeat of "The Office" we got a production of "Nutcracker on Ice" that looked to be from the late '80s, and then a instead of "Grey's" we got and infomercial. Do you think this will only get worse as the strike continues?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, absolutely. ... if a station's getting away with it, they will continue to do so. When they run local programming they get all the ad dollars; when they run network programming, only a sliver of the ad time is allocated to the station...

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Anonymous: Kristin Chenoweth is stealing scenes because she's shaking her rack like a Polaroid picture every time the camera is on her. Enough already.

Lisa de Moraes: See, and I think it's hilarious ... oh well.

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Madison Avenue, 1963: Yay for "Mad Men" getting two Golden Globe Nominees, but I'm left wondering how the great supporting casts from "The Office" and "Ugly Betty" got snubbed. Can you tell these foreign guys who don't watch television to put in an ensemble award?

Lisa de Moraes: Some trophy-dispensing organizations do have Best-Ensemble Cast derbies -- which I agree makes a lot of sense, given how large some of these casts are...

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Fairfax, Va.: Yup, "Survivor" is boring. So if Mark Burnett hired you and said "fix it," what would you do? Get bigger ratings, and you get a $1 million bonus. Thoughts?

Lisa de Moraes: I'd kill it ... it's over...

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Re: New to You: Or rerun the "Creature Comforts" show...

Lisa de Moraes: Brilliant! I will ask CBS about that...

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Washington on Katherine Heigl's Nomination: I would venture that the source of her recent accolades stems not from her acting but from her physical attributes (coming from a man putting it diplomatically). Personally I think her acting is nothing special, and her smoking is a turn off.

Lisa de Moraes: she smokes on the show? On a Disney-owned network? For shame....

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Lisa de Moraes: Define "exotic" please.... (re: Aussie girls): They talk funny, is what he probably meant. Or they comprehend his lame banter, but they're not from here, so they don't know him, so he has a shot...

Lisa de Moraes: Oh. Well, that explains so much ... thanks.

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Yes to "Wonderfalls"!: Not only did they only show a handful, but the rest of the season just got so much better as it went along! They really hit their stride in the episodes following the last one to air...

Lisa de Moraes: Send your e-mails to Fox, folks. Or bags of nuts. Whatever...

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Strike! Strike! Strike!: So with no end to the strike in sight, what are the chances that CBS might bring some Showtime shows to the network, like an edited "Dexter"?

Lisa de Moraes: Les, is that you? You've already said you're going to do that and possibly other Showtime programs too, like "The Tudors."

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"30 Rock": ... just keeps getting better. This strike better end soon.

Lisa de Moraes: Sadly, you are in the minority. Its ratings are not getting better.

I'm out of time. Bye...

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