Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. ET to hear your thoughts on how big of a train wreck the scriptless Golden Globes will be, the pending return of American Idol and more.

The transcript follows.

Lisa Watches So You Don't Have To: "Grey's Anatomy" | TV columns | 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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Writer's Strike: Do you think there will be a tipping point when actors will stop supporting the strike? I was thinking about the young cast of "Big Bang" who probably have worked hard for success only to see it stopped cold by the strike. Who knows if they'll be able to regain their momentum? Because writers don't fund the projects actors work on, it seems to me they'll be the ones to who eventually will get the cold shoulder, whether they deserve it or not.

And I would just like to point out that a creative programming executive really could have some fun. I for one would happily tune into "Pilots We Never Should Have Paid For and Thought You'd Never See Week" on a network, especially if they feature early, laugh-worthy work of a major celeb. Imagine the riches currently gathering dust in the library.

Lisa de Moraes: Hi ... that reminds me of when Jeff Sagansky was head of programming at CBS and said he was going to take all the shows he'd bought and put on the air and cancelled quickly (because they only got the kind of ratings broadcast networks would kill for these days) that featured animals prominently (there were a lot) and run them all together in the summer and call it "Pet Cemetery." Good times.

Oh wait, you had a question. The last strike lasted a really, really long time and I think given that the writers guild gave the Screen Actors Guild a waiver for their upcoming trophy show -- which brings the guild a pot of money in the form of its TV telecast license fee -- it will be a cold day in hell before actors stop supporting the strike in any meaningful way. Those actors would risk the wrath of SAG -- which, yes I know, keeps saying it's not forcing its members to not to cross picket lines and it's their decision, but then "canvasses" them to see what their thoughts on the subject are, which has to be kind of intimidating, and then SAG puts out announcements that after canvassing its members it has learned they are nearly unanimous in their decision not to cross the picket line and show up at the Globes. ... Initially, when the nominations were announced and everyone knew this would be a struck show, some of the stars gave canned statements about their nomination indicating they would attend. I think one of those canned comments was later "clarified."

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Anonymous: So, let's say the writers strike was to end today (wishful thinking I know). How long would it take for new episodes of "Grey's," "Heroes," "Gossip Girl," etc. to start airing again? I ask because I'm wondering at what point I should just give up hope and count down the days for the fall season to start in September (clearly an assumption on my part).

Lisa de Moraes: If it ended literally today, probably mid-February. But if it goes on much longer, the networks probably just will declare this season a total loss and order no more original programming for this season from existing series, because why bother?

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Arlington, Va.: Colbert, Leno and Stewart obviously all do staged material. Colbert, however, has refused to act in character the past two nights. What's the point of doing this middle-ground approach, instead of just doing a polished show?

Lisa de Moraes: I think that falls under the Hair-Splitting clause of the Writers Guild strike rules...

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Fairfax, Va.: Why are you so down on "Scrubs," Pookie? I know it isn't nearly as good as it was the first two years, but it is still a somewhat decent sitcom (the longest-running sitcom on the air right now, too!).

Lisa de Moraes: You answered your own question, Pookie. I whine because it used to be such a clever show and now it's running on fumes, which happens to all good series that don't know when to call it a wrap. But people are still talking about this show like they're cranking out "War and Peace" every week, or at least "Night at the Opera"...

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Cleveland: I thought Dave was going to have the big time guests?

Lisa de Moraes: Didn't you love when Tom Hanks (I think it was Hanks) told Letterman that shaving his strike beard on the air was what you were supposed to do if you had no writers. But, of course, Letterman is one of only two late night shows that have been given a WGA waiver to return to the air with his writers, the other being Craig Ferguson's CBS show, also produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants. Last strike, when Letterman was at NBC he also got a shave on the air -- but last time he was coming back without his writers. Given his huge advantage over Leno re: writers and the ability to get celeb guests who won't cross the picket line to appear on Leno's show, it's very odd some of the choices Letterman's making on his show -- doing things you'd assume are being done out of desperation to fill the time because there are no writers. ... (Pausing for breath.) ... All this said, when Letterman had Tom Hanks on his show, he beat Leno in the metered markets, though we won't know if that translates to a national win for another week -- yes, it takes Nielsen that long to crank out the numbers.

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Stafford, Va.: Hi Lisa. Any chance Hollywood will look to BBC to start filling schedule holes, or would the accents scare them off?

Lisa de Moraes: There was some talk about buying British shows, but I'm not sure they're that desperate yet -- particularly when you can do the kind of numbers NBC is doing with "American Gladiators." Gak...

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St. Petersburg, Fla.: So as all the late night talk shows have come back, I've been DVRing them to see how the various hosts handled the strike situation. I've come to two basic conclusions: that I should watch more Craig Ferguson -- that guy is just plain funny -- and that Conan O'Brien still isn't amusing or entertaining in any way, shape or form. I think he's going to crash and burn when he takes over "The Tonight Show." Discuss.

Lisa de Moraes: I've said it before, watching Ferguson since he came back on the air has been a revelation. I had not watched a whole episode in ages and he has gotten much better and more comfortable. Plus his show is distinctive, not just a clone-lite of the 11:30 shows. Best of all, he looks like he's having gobs of fun, which goes a long way with me...

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Reston, Va.: Hi Lisa. I think I need an intervention. My name is Reston, and I'm addicted to "American Gladiators." I've watched, I've Googled, I've rewatched. It's only the first week and I've already gone over the edge. Help!

Lisa de Moraes: You appear to be yet another innocent victim of the Cult of Ben Silverman. You need help. Get it now while there's still time -- aka before NBC adds about three more hours a week of "Gladiators" to its lineup.

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Rockville, Md.: Hi Lisa: I'm psyched for "The Sarah Connor Chronicles," but I'm wondering about it's duration. Was it finished before the WGA strike, or will it screech to a halt after five episodes?

Lisa de Moraes: Nope. Nine. Fox had shot nine episodes before the writers strike kicked in ... if this strike is not over in nine week we're going to have bigger problems than the sudden halt to the storylines on "Sarah Connor Chronicles"...

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Boston: Hi Lisa. I have a question about the writer's strike. I read your column and follow your chats, and you seem to be pretty annoyed at the writers regarding the WGA strike (I know you've made snarky comments about the producers too, I'm not saying you're biased or anything). But I'm surprised, because from what I've read, the writers' demands seem pretty fair, especially regarding new media (I watch The Office, Chuck, and The Daily Show online most of the time with ads). And I know that not all writers make Shonda Rhimes-level of moolah. I'm not a writer or related to anyone in the WGA, I'm just a big TV fan who's suffering from the strike. But I still think the writers were right to do so, and wish the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers would come back to the table. (Seriously, not a member of the WGA).

Lisa de Moraes: I believe the writers have a very sound basic point: That if the system under which they have been operating calls for them to be paid residuals when companies they are contracted with present a finished product to an audience, then they are owed residuals when a network presents a full episode of a show or telefilm to an audience, whether it's presented on a TV set or a computer screen, or an iPod or a white sheet stretched between two poles in a city park. Running full episodes of a series on a network's Web site -- with commercials -- and calling it a "promo" instead of an "episode" is pure hooey.

My beef is with the way the WGA sometimes has conducted itself during this strike. For instance, have you seen the "speechless" videos, and the essays they're writing on "Why We Write." Do they have any idea how patronizing they make them look? I think I've now seen three versions of the Speechless franchise in which a different actors gets up in front of the camera and says nothing but "waaa, waaa, waaa" and nothing else. Yeah, we get it, we're not idiots -- they don't have writers. Now how about spending an hour cleaning up a beach instead of producing another chapter in the "Law & Order: Waa, Waa Waa" series ... or better yet, spend that time raising money for the below-the-line people your strike has thrown out of work and who, by the way, unlike writers, are not getting the residuals for all those reruns the networks are using to fill their primetime schedules...

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Silver Spring, Md.: What "big guests" do you expect Letterman to get? January is a slow month for movie openings, and it's not like the stars are hanging out in New York in January. Nevertheless, he's had Howard Stern, Morgan Freeman and Tom Hanks, and he kicks Leno's behind night in and night out.

Lisa de Moraes: Oh, Pookster you could not be more wrong. With trophy season effectively nuked, you'd think stars -- or at least their studios' marketing operations -- would be dying to get them out on whatever show they could to hawk whatever flick they've been in that's about to come out on DVD or whatever...

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Alexandria, Va.: Has the writer's strike made you tired of being a hard-news reporter? How much to you miss talking about the future of "Lost" or "Grey's Anatomy"?

Lisa de Moraes: Funny, nobody has accused me of being a hard news reporter in years ... and, of course, the future of "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" are both very important to the bottom line of the Disney company. Which is all by way of pointing out that mine is a very difficult, very important, sometimes dangerous job and not for the faint of heart...

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Los Angeles: I heard an interesting story on NPR yesterday about the strike and it's aftereffects. Some industry guy said that new "Terminator" show costs $4 million an episode, and that that even pilots have become too expensive. He said there are networks that are thinking about approving shows by reading the scripts alone, without shooting pilots.

Lisa de Moraes: They'll do that as a last resort if they think it means they can salvage next season -- and yes, it's getting to the point where this is going to impact next season, or at least next fall. Yes, the "Sarah Connor Chronicles" pilot cost about that much, I'm told, though I'm not sure future episode do. Studios often spend boatloads on pilot episodes and you see special effects, etc., that you then don't see nearly as much of in ongoing episodes ... but yes, production costs in TV have gotten out of hand...

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Greencastle, Ind.: I wanted to see the Golden Globes go on with minimal participation for train wreck-like entertainment until I saw this year's version of the People's Choice Awards. That show made the jump from idiotic pandering to simply insufferable. Two hours of sheer pain -- and I only watched about twenty minutes. But I'll give it credit for being better than "American Gladiators."

washingtonpost.com: NBC Has 'News': Globes Nominee Interviews (Post, Jan. 10)

Lisa de Moraes: I think NBC was hoping to avoid the "People's Choice" train wreck by keeping it "live" if only as a news conference, as opposed to the pre-taped cable-access-y show that "People's Choice" became. For those of you who did not see CBS's broadcast of "People's Choice Awards" -- lucky you. ... Pre-taped: Queen Latifah locked in a studio talking hysterically about "the people" in between introducing canned acceptance speeches. Turns out lousy acceptance speeches are much better when delivered live in a yummy evening gown or tuxedo. ... Of course, when NBC announced its Golden Globes News Conference, they had hoped to somehow wrangle some celebs, which the WGA put the kibosh on when they announced they were going to still picket the news conference. ... I will of course watch Sunday's train wreck, starting with the two-hour -- two-hour! -- NBC News walkup special starring Matt Lauer and Kathy Griffin, who has been deputized by NBC's news division to provide commentary -- think of her as NBC News' Jack Cafferty...

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Frederick, Md.: I'm so confused! All of a sudden there are new "Ugly Betty" and "Grey's Anatomy" episodes last night, yet all I hear about is the writers strike. I almost missed my fave shows! What's the deal?

Lisa de Moraes: In the case of "Grey's Anatomy" it was the last original episode finished before the strike shut it down. You won't see any more until the strike is over. ... Frankly, I need the break -- "Grey's" is in such a rut, Meredith and McDreamy spinning madly in a little circle of makeup and breakup, etc. I'm hoping strike gives Shonda Rhimes time to rethink what she's doing on the series...

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Glenside, Pa.: I honestly often turn a deaf ear to strikes from "the arts," but isn't this really about a few pennies from digital media sales -- sales that weren't anticipated in previous contracts? And how far apart are the two sides ... a penny? To bring down the industry because of a penny seems really really dumb. Like what's spilled over from VH1 onto network TV.

Lisa de Moraes: It is virtually impossible to get any real numbers because bookkeeping is so gosh darned creative in the entertainment industry ... that's why people always are suing studios claiming they were not given their promised slice of the pie. Some of these suits get unintentionally hilarious when the studio bookkeepers show up to explain how a mega hit movie was actually a money-losing proposition because of runaway marketing costs, etc....

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Columbia, Md.: Have you heard anything about the new season of "Jericho"? It wasn't affected by the strike was it?

Lisa de Moraes: Those seven episodes CBS ordered in a moment of madness -- I think they'd ODed on peanuts -- were done before the strike kicked in. So it's airing as planned, starting Feb. 12, I think...

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Reston, Va.: Would the writers strike affect the Oscars show?

Lisa de Moraes: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is one of the gazillion "struck" companies on the Writers Guild of America's hit list, so yes, it could very well affect the Oscars. That's why Tom Hanks gave a statement yesterday imploring the studios to get back to the bargaining table with the writers guild in time to save his Academy Awards. He's on the board of the academy.

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Celebrity Superstars: I've never heard of half the "celebrity superstars" that are now on all the Hail-Mary reality shows. I'm wondering if I should scam up a head shot and resume (Girl Two, "Family Ties") and head to Hollywood and pass myself off as a "celebrity superstar." I figure people only have to think they should who I am. Might there be some easy money in this?

Lisa de Moraes: Absolutely. And, if that doesn't work, you need only make out with Tila Tequila for a while on her VH1 show to actually genuinely qualify as a "celebrity," and the whole world of primetime is open to you. The bar has been set pretty low on celebritude...

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Washington: Lisa -- any news on the writers' strike ending? I don't know what I'll do if "Lost" gets cancelled after only eight episodes.

Lisa de Moraes: Steel yourself, because the Directors Guild has delayed start of its talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and its widely has been presumed that the Directors Guild of America will be able to pound out a deal with the AMPTP much faster than the Writers Guild, and that the DGA deal will become a template for a WGA deal after which everyone will live happily ever after -- except, of course, the cameramen and production assistants who have lost their homes as a result of the strike...

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Boston: "Cashmere Mafia" or "Lipstick Jungle"?

Lisa de Moraes: "Cashmere Mafia" has better clothes. And it's Brooke Shields-free. It gets my vote...

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Arlington, Va.: Will you be blogging off the Golden Globes Train Wreck News Extravaganza show? Seems like it could be heaps o' fun.

Lisa de Moraes: I am going to be working with the fabulous Bill Booth on the paper's coverage of Sunday's Golden Globes News Conference. He will be there to witness the actual event in all its glory. I will be at home, watching the NBC extravaganza, starting with the "Dateline" two-hour walk up show ... and yes, I expect it to be heaps o' fun...

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Atlanta: Hi Lisa. I just read your wonderful "Grey's Anatomy" recap. I don't even watch the show and I read the recap. It's wonderful! I think I read all the questions and answers carefully but did you already answer this one: What is the point of no return on the season? That is, when will the networks throw in the towel and say, "American Gladiators" 24/7?

Lisa de Moraes: In about another month...

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Ashburn, Va.: When the WGA says that Leno can't write down the jokes he comes up with, doesn't that make them look silly?

Lisa de Moraes: What makes them look silly is putting out a press release scolding Leno for doing so and then not putting out a press release scolding Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for doing the same thing....

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Falls Church, Va.: Did you see VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" last night? Exploitative, sure, but also educational, and I'm totally in the tank for Dr. Drew.

Lisa de Moraes: Are you one of those people who bought into the idea that, as one network claimed, "GI Joe" was a Saturday morning educational show for children?

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Arlington, Va.: Would you expect some of the cable channels to get a boost after people get sick of watching network re-runs and the reality show crapfest that currently is airing?

Lisa de Moraes: You mean as opposed to Tila Tequila's sensational show on MTV? I know I keep picking on her show, but it's such an easy target ... paleeze, let's us not mistake the bulk of what's on cable for high art, folks. But it only stands to reason that some original cable programming will benefit from all the reruns on broadcast, not that there's going to be that much rerun programming on broadcast because it's being replace by original reality programming and midseason scripted material that some of the networks wisely stockpiled for the cold strike months....

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Midlothian, Va.: Will Tom Hanks's comments about how the strike is hurting so many people in the industry have any kind of traction with the union, or is the union just going to keep on strangling the industry?

Lisa de Moraes: Ah, but you could argue that it's not the guild (I assume you meant the writers guild when you said "union") but the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers -- aka evil media conglomerates -- that's strangling the industry. It's the AMPTP that's not returning to the bargaining table...

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Lost Springs, Wyo.: Burning question: Because there is no baseball on TV, I've been watching The Food Network. What happened to the "Emeril Live" show? Was under the impression that he and that ubiquitous babe Rachael Ray were the poster children of the Food Network. For what it's worth, you have the most entertaining chat in the lineup.

Lisa de Moraes: Aren't you nice. I think Emeril announced the show was ending. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of cooking shows. I know it's heresy to say so, but because I can't cook it's like watching a show in a foreign language without subtitles...

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Reston, Va.: If "Scrubs" is running on fumes, what is "ER" running on?

Lisa de Moraes: ... I'm guessing John Wells's compromising pictures of someone high up at NBC-parent General Electric...

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Washington:"Cashmere Mafia": Judging from the promos and reviews, I didn't expect much from the first show, but have been pleasantly surprised. The story lines are thin, but the acting is good and I like the look of the show. Your thoughts?

Lisa de Moraes: Love the clothes. Seriously, I love the clothes. And yes, I will watch a show based on its wardrobe -- I'm that superficial...

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"American Gladiators": The hokey personalities of the contestants and their train-wreck banter with Hulk Hogan had my wife and me cackling. Add to that the Saturday-morning-TV-nostalgia, and I was pretty entertained. I think it was a one-time deal though.

Lisa de Moraes: Oh no, you couldn't be more wrong. You're even more wrong than the earlier chatter who was wrong. "American Gladiators" is going to save NBC. "American Gladiators" is the future of NBC ... unless you meant by "one-time deal" that it was a "one-time deal" for entertaining you. If that's the case, never mind...

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Falls Church, Va.: Re: "Celebrity Rehab" -- Hey, I never knew that adult film stars were not allowed to keep their ... toys ... while in rehab. So that was educational!

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, I stand corrected. I too have just learned something.

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Buffalo, N.Y.: I'm guessing that Netflix is loving the strike. I know that I'm much more likely to get say, Season 1 of "The Wire" than to watch "American Gladiators" or "Supernanny Swap."

Lisa de Moraes: I'm sure Netflix is among the viewing alternatives that'd be dancing the happy dance these days ... which brings to mind that song about how while some flower wilts on the vine, another blooms in its stead...

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Vancouver: I'm surprised no one has thought to pack up their show and move it to union-free Canada. Granted, you'd have to hire Canadian writers, but I think a few "ehs" thrown into Meredith Grey's voice over could be quite whimsical.

Lisa de Moraes: The problem is they'd have to stay in Canada and never come back to Hollywood...

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Washington: So, how many hours of TV do you watch on a typical day?

Lisa de Moraes: I try hard not to keep track, because some day in a quiet moment, I might start thinking about it and all the other things I should be doing, like washing the dog and practicing the piano and learning to cook. Let's just say a lot ... a whole lot...

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Anonymous: I'm a bit surprised (shocked?) that NBC hired Kathy Griffin for their walk-up special. Now, I love her -- but seriously, she's not a family-network-friendly, celebrity-friendly kind of comedian generally. Are they hoping for a tame version or for a full-on Kathy?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm assuming they're hoping for a family-friendly Kathy, which is a shame...

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Bruno and Carrie Ann: Actually not as bad as I'd feared: Bruno was a bit less of his "Dancing With the Stars" caricature, while both seemed a lot nicer as judges than the ones on "American Idol." But I kept hoping they'd end the episode with the kids in metallic top-hats and tails singing/dancing to "One"! (Probably too much to hope for on a subsequent episode, I fear.)

Lisa de Moraes: I TiVoed it and haven't watched yet. You had me at "metallic top-hats." Isn't that painful?

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Anywhere in the U.S.: Lisa, surprisingly -- as a dedicated couch potato -- I haven't missed TV at all during the strike. Really, TV writing is rarely very good. I've found I'd rather be at the gym, dinner with friends or reading The Post. Aren't the writers worried that some of us might find out that life off the couch is pretty good? You're my favorite Post reporter -- keep it up!

Lisa de Moraes: See I had some cutting reply all ready, until I got to "or reading The Post." ... I know I'm wondering, after watching Jay Leno without his writing team, what he needs with a writing team ... and based on the sheer arrogance of the "Lost" executive producers' recent "Why I Write" essay, I'm guessing there's at least one writer out there who never has given it any thought

I'm out of time. Hope you'll join The Fabulous Mr. Bill Booth and I on Monday to chat about NBC's "Golden Globes News Conference," and on Wednesday I'll be back to chat about the return of "American Idol"...

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washingtonpost.com: Lisa de Moraes will be back on Monday at 1 p.m. ET with William Booth to discuss the Golden Globes telecast and the writers' strike, and again on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET to kick off "American Idol." There will be no On TV discussion next Friday.

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