Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. ET to break down the latest writers strike developments -- including a green light for the Grammys -- and analyzes "American Idol."

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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Alexandria, Va.: I know John Oliver had to resume working on "The Daily Show" because of his visa status, but is the Canadian Samantha Bee in the same boat?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. It's all getting pretty muddled on this show. I'm more perplexed to see Larry Wilmore back, given that -- last I heard -- he was a member of the WGA West Negotiating Committee.

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Houston: Is the fall season drastically affected by the strike yet?

Lisa de Moraes: The broadcast networks have cut back on the number of pilots they've ordered for next season, largely because it's become too late to order drama pilots and get them done in time if they hope to launch the 2008-2009 TV season in late September. Does that mean anything to viewers? Probably not...

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Rockville, Md.: Hi Lisa: I'm alarmed by the precipitous drop-off in viewership for my new favorite show, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." What threshold what it have to maintain for Fox to renew it for another season?

Lisa de Moraes: It needs to cling to every single viewer it has now. It has lost about 10 million viewers off its premiere. Given the pre-debut hype on this show it's understandable the premiere episode would do a bigger audience than the show was going to hang on to, particularly given its enormous football lead-in audience for that premiere. But these latest numbers have to be disappointing. I'm guessing we may see a couple episodes air after "American Idol" at some point...

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Arlington, Va.: Ick. Simply reading your column about "Moment of Truth" makes me want to take a shower. But thanks to your headline writers, I at least have "All the Young Dudes" stuck in my head now.

washingtonpost.com: All the Young Dudes Tune In for 'MOT,' the Hoopla (Post, Jan. 25)

Lisa de Moraes: I, on the other hand, had the urge to wash my eyes out with lye after watching the first episode. I still can't figure why someone would go on this show when the top prize is a lousy $500,000. Surely that first contestant, Personal Trainer Guy, thinks his possible loss of wife, definite loss of friends, and possible loss of career is worth at least $1,000,000.

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St. Petersburg, Fla.: Conan O'Brien is back to reruns after trying new shows with no writers. What gives?

Lisa de Moraes: Conan had been scheduled for repeats this week. Oddly no one at NBC thought that plan should be scrapped, given how long he was out on strike. On the other hand, he probably needs some down time in order to think up some more bits he's not writing down for future original episodes...

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Writer's Strike: What's your gut feeling, will they reach an agreement before the Academy Awards?

washingtonpost.com: Directors Guild Deal With Studios Could Point Way To Writers Pact (Post, Jan. 18)

Lisa de Moraes: I think that's what everyone's hoping, which means it's in the WGA's best interest to drag the talks out. The Oscars are the Guild's trump card -- a scrubbed Academy Awards broadcast would hurt all studios with nominations. I'm guessing here, but doesn't the guild have a stronger position at the bargaining table the closer it gets to Academy Awards night?

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Reston, Va.: Great lead sentence/paragraph re: "Moment of Truth" in your column today!

Lisa de Moraes: I wrote from experience...

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"Moment of Truth": I wouldn't have hated the show so much if it wasn't so boring. I hate to admit it, but if this actually had some real drama to it I too would tune in and therefore contribute to the decline of civilization. As it stands I didn't even make it all the way through the first dude.

Lisa de Moraes: The problem was Giant Disembodied Chick's ridiculously long pauses: "That answer is ... true!" (Zzzzzzzzzzz.)

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John Gibson/Heath Ledger: I can't believe he mocked Ledger's death. And that idiot non-apology: "I'm sorry that some gay groups and others took my comments as anti-gay and insensitive." Um, I don't think you have to be gay to be thoroughly offended by Gibson's making fun of someone who just died. Because you don't make fun of someone who just died! Idiot. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.

Lisa de Moraes: Frankly, it's just a sad attempt to get attention.

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"24": Was there any doubt that Kiefer would sneak out of prison undetected? The guy is a secret agent for goodness sakes ... I need my "24" fix...

Lisa de Moraes: Um, wasn't he released? Does that count as "escaped" on "24" ... 'cause that would explain so much...

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"Moment of Truth": That show is like a very gory car crash. I was ashamed to be staring, but couldn't bring myself to turn the TV off. But once was enough -- I won't be watching it again. What were the numbers for it? Do you think they'll drop drastically because people were just curious and now we know? My housemate thinks people won't want to watch it twice, but I think it will keep high numbers. It's not like there's much else to watch.

Lisa de Moraes: It does seem like something that would get old fast, but then so does NASCAR to me. Little cars going round and round and round ... and yet, NASCAR is wildly popular...

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Re: "The Daily Show": The Larry Wilmore bit from last night was swiped from an earlier episode this past fall.

Lisa de Moraes: Thank goodness...

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Washington: After watching "The Colbert Report," I wonder why he needs writers He's great without them

Lisa de Moraes: Don't you guess there are some suits at Comedy Central wondering why they're paying writing staffs on these shows when they look this good without them? Ditto NBC?

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Raleigh, N.C.: Is the two-hour "Lost" premiere that's being advertised two new hours, or is the first hour a recap show?

Lisa de Moraes: Thursday's return starts with a one-hour recap at 8 p.m., and the season debut at 9 p.m.. And, if you really need some catching up, the network is going to rerun last season's two-hour wrap-up episode at 9 p.m.

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Just "Moment of Truth": Lisa, I hate to be an old curmudgeon (hmm ... actually I think I kinda like being one) but aren't there really several shows where people expose their personal lives to public scrutiny, not just this horrible "Moment of Truth"? Half the people on Dr. Phil expose their personal lives so we the public can feel better about ourselves. People display their inability to control their kids on those nanny shows; hell, people are choosing their mates on those dating shows. And I won't even go into that show with Bret Michaels.

Lisa de Moraes: Point taken, but somehow this one seems to top the Skank-o-Meter. Possibly because, unlike, say Dr. Phil. it's lacking the pretense of "trying to help these people lead better lives." So, maybe it's actually more honest than the Dr. Phil-esque shows...

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Jackson, Mo.: I am excited about "Dexter" coming to CBS since I don't have Showtime. How much will it be chopped up from the original? Will it make the transition like "The Sopranos" did to A&E and "Sex and the City" to everywhere else, or is it too over-the-top for non-cable CBS. What is your guess?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm guessing there will have to be some pretty heavy language editing; because nothing can top "CSI" when it comes to gore, I'm thinking maybe it won't get so much editing for the murder scenes as people think...

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Washington: Even though it's been on the chopping block since its pilot, how has "Friday Night Lights" managed to be one of the few show with an entire season in the can? They consistently have been airing new episodes every week.

Lisa de Moraes: Because it's shot fast and cheap...

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Atlanta: How can you have a lie detector show and not show the lie detector?

Lisa de Moraes: I was surprised. I was looking forward to seeing people strapped into the gadget ... it was a big letdown...

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Washington: When do you think game shows will move past the super-slow, five-questions-in-an-hour style and back to a more fun, fast-paced lots-of-questions style? I hate all new game shows just because they are all boring as heck. Other than "Jeopardy!" ... I want to throw things at all the game shows.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm told the objective is to have only one contestant on per episode because, anytime you finish with one contestant and start with another -- which is what happened on the first episode of "Moment of Truth" -- you run the risk of having viewers tune out. Which is what happened on "Moment of Truth."

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Re: "Moment of Truth": At least they're getting money out of it. What do they get for being on "Jerry Springer"?

Lisa de Moraes: A chair in the face ... you can see why people are so anxious to sign up for that one...

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Washington: Do you know whether Max Weinberg will still be allowed to take time off to tour with Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band once he and Conan head out west for "The Tonight Show"?

Lisa de Moraes: I confess I have given it no thought. ... I'll pick Door No. 1: Yes ... "that answer is ... true!"

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Washington: Hi Lisa. I thought I would ask you this question because you work for a newspaper: On "The Wire" this week, the new reporter, Alma, got up in the middle of the night to go buy a paper to see her story. Wouldn't most reporters look up the story on the paper's Web site? At least before buying a paper?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, that would be very 1999 to get up in the middle of the night to go buy a newspaper to see your story...

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New York: Hi Lisa. Have you seen "In Treatment" yet? It sounds really good from the one advance review I read. ... Cheers.

Lisa de Moraes: ... and, the cast is tremendous ... I hope it works. HBO needs a hit...

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"The Wire": Lisa, I have a question about ratings and numbers, using "The Wire" as an example. For what it's worth, I don't have HBO, so I'm not a fanatical fan of the show -- although, I expect I would be were I able to view it regularly. ... Here goes: With all the talk of how the ratings are down and that the soundtrack sold very little, does that take into account not only DVR and burning a friend's CD, but also that the program is offered On Demand before it even airs? Will this change the way ratings are handled in the future?

Lisa de Moraes: When someone writes about "Wire" ratings, it does take into account anyone who DVRed the show and watched it that day, but the industry standard is now Live + 7 days, which means anyone who DVRed and watched up to seven days later. Sadly those numbers do not come out until a couple weeks after the telecast. Also, of course, HBO offers multiple plays of an episode across the week -- but the broadcast networks are starting to do more of that too. And of course you can't take into account, on Tuesday when the ratings column is written, someone who's watching the episode on Wednesday -- because it hasn't happened yet. Additionally, on-demand numbers are hard to come by, and the ratings would not take into account burning a friend's CD because that's, um, illegal ... I think I covered all your questions...

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Anonymous: So what are all these striking writers doing with their free time?

Lisa de Moraes: I see that some are writing children's books, some are writing plays, some are collecting residuals on the reruns the networks are airing in place of original episodes, some are picketing. And no doubt some are outlining their next series which they are not writing down, though there always are digital recorders...

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Reston, Va.: Re: "The Wire" -- the reporter wanted to actually see her first byline on a front page story. I don't think the Internet version provides that same view.

Lisa de Moraes: On our site, for instance, you can see the front pages as they appear in the paper, and a reporter would know that. Sorry, it's an out-of-date reference...

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Anonymous: There is no lie detector. You need to be hooked up to a polygraph machine. They aren't. The lie detector is that woman's voice who says "true" whenever they admit something and "false" when they deny.

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, so I'm sorry I didn't get to see the contestants hooked up to a "polygraph machine" ... now I feel better. We strive for accuracy on this chat...

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New York: I know this isn't TV related, but how much of a complete idiot must one be that when you see someone who looks to be dead, your first instinct is "call Mary Kate Olsen"?

Lisa de Moraes: Given that virtually every single "fact" re: this story seems to be proven to be "not true" by the next day -- except of course that Heath Ledger is, in fact, dead -- I'm waiting to make a call as to the idiot-ness of the masseuse, who may or may not have phoned Mary-Kate Olsen first...

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: Why don't the shows just hire scab writers? Every other striking industry has tried that. Where do I sign up? Someone needs to write "Entourage" so I can watch it. Might as well be me, don't you think?

Lisa de Moraes: You aren't, by any chance, a student at USC? ... I read somewhere early on in the strike, something written or blogged by someone who teaches there, who said students wanted to know how to scab. The teacher was suggesting that what the students needed was not classes in writing for film or TV but a class in ethics...

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Washington: Speaking of Colbert, I want to confirm that the portrait of him at the Smithsonian makes Gilbert Stuart's paintings look like they were done by a 3-year-old. Okay, not really, but you have to love that it's in the bathroom vestibule.

Lisa de Moraes: Speaking of people making fools of themselves for some TV exposure. ... I hope the Smithsonian is being well paid for allowing itself to become part of a publicity stunt for one of Sumner Redstone's networks...

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Washington: Maybe the reporter wants to see her name in print -- haven't you ever looked your name up in the new phone book?

Lisa de Moraes: Aren't phone books very 1999 too? Couldn't the reporter look it up on the paper's site and wait until 5 a.m. when the paper was delivered to the house? Does the reporter not subscribe to the paper? Does the paper not give the reporter the employee's discount? I hope they're going to address this in future episodes...

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Reston, Va.: So there are no more "30 Rocks" left because of the writers strike. A show about a writer. Given that Tina Fey is a writer, can't she just write the show herself? Or would it be bad form and hurt her career to cross the union? Also, why is that shows in the U.K. have one or two writers, while American shows have a whole team?

Lisa de Moraes: A question that, I'm sure, U.S. networks suits are asking themselves right now. Tina Fey is a WGA member -- surely you've seen pictures of her on the picket line -- and therefore cannot put pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard, lest she be slapped by the guild. On the other hand, she could, and did, go back to work in her capacity as show star. So maybe they could have an episode in which the star, Ms. Lemon, has to sit down and write an episode, which of course would be just "acting," and the script would be a made-for-TV script. I'm thinking if the suits at NBC were as creative as you, they'd have more episodes of "30 Rock" by now.

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Ethics Class for the Entertainment Industry: Hahahahahaha!

Lisa de Moraes: I know -- I laughed too, but inside I was crying...

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New York: Kiefer Sutherland would have to be released -- no way he could escape without having the man bag with him.

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, I have no idea what this means, but I'll take your word for it. No escaping without a purse ... got it.

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I've said it before, I'll say it again: New reality series idea: "Mary-Kate Olsen, Freelance Medical Examiner."

Lisa de Moraes: I think it should be scripted. "CSI: Mary Kate Olsen."

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Re: "Moment of Truth": As George Costanza once said, "it's not a lie if you believe it."

Lisa de Moraes: Works for me!

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Mary Kate, confirmed: Three calls before 911, one after. Already confirmed by phone records. Now what's the idiot level? Can we get them on "Moment of Truth"?

Lisa de Moraes: Had the housekeeper already called 911? Do we know? Is the masseuse an illegal immigrant and afraid to call the cops? Am I actually having this conversation?

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"Idol": Key guy and dance team virgin: After reading your blog the other day, I think MTV should send the creepy key guy and the abstinence preaching dance team member on a date together and have creepy key guy's father be the chaperone. It could be a pay-per-view event!

washingtonpost.com: 'American Idol': Hail, the Virgin Queen (washingtonpost.com, Jan. 24)

Lisa de Moraes: Honestly, it would have been brilliant TV. I'd watch an entire 13 episode series about them dating. What a squandered opportunity.

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New York: Isn't "Curb Your Enthusiasm" all ad-libbed? Does the writer's strike affect that show?

Lisa de Moraes: My understanding is that David writes a general outline of where he wants it to go and they do a lot of ad-libbing from there...

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Anon: "So maybe they could have an episode in which the star, Ms. Lemon, has to sit down and write an episode, which, of course, would be just 'acting' and the script would be a made-for-TV script."

Pookie, my head hurts just thinking about that one!

Lisa de Moraes: I know what you mean. Try to keep up with me. I'm onto a good idea here, honest...

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Reston, Va.: "I'm thinking if the suits at NBC were as creative as you, they'd have more episodes of "30 Rock" by now..." May I use you as a reference?

Lisa de Moraes: Certainly.

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Brooklyn: "You aren't, by any chance, a student at USC?" I don't like schlepping in to Manhattan, so I'm not going to commute to Los Angeles from here. This is New York. No ethics here, ma'am.

Lisa de Moraes: Ah, I was fooled by the "anonymous"...

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Washington: How does HBO determine what shows are a hit or not? They don't have advertising, so they don't do ratings, correct? Though I'm assuming they have their own numbers on viewership. I'm wondering how much of their decisions to drop or keep shows are based on viewership or the cost of show.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, they get Nielsen ratings, same as other networks with ads. HBO needs to see ratings because if the numbers are very low, it suggests their subscribers are not watching -- and if they're not watching, maybe they'll wonder why they're subscribing. ... But they get numbers on all their programs, not just the primetime scripted ones critics and columnists like to write about. And HBO does tend, more than commercial networks, to stick with lower-rated, well-done shows -- like "The Wire" -- if the reviews are terrific -- like for "The Wire" -- for the sake of the prestige, which makes sense for a network whose financial model is about subscribers.

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Can't believe I'm defending Mary-Kate, but:... reportedly her bodyguard, who was in the same building, was an EMT. Maybe the masseuse figured he might be able to arrive at Heath Ledger's place before 911 could get a rescue squad there (especially depending on traffic).

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, that was the story a couple days ago. Who knows if it's still "true."

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Winners/Losers: Borrowing your inimitable Winners/Losers feature, which shows (or performers) do you think have benefited from the WGA strike, and which have been harmed the most?

Lisa de Moraes: New series that were doing well out of the gate, like "Big Bang Theory" got hurt the most, because their viewers aren't as committed as someone who likes, say "Two and a Half Men" and may have moved on to something else they like in the time slot -- an audience "Big Bang Theory" never will get back. Helped most are the midseason shows that maybe would have faced stiffer competition and maybe would not have gotten as much of a promo push from the network, had so many other shows not been in reruns...

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New York: Shouldn't the writers picket the reality shows as well? Reality shows are de facto scabs, and the writers should be mad at the networks for going this route.

Lisa de Moraes: They can be mad, but surely they're not surprised. It always has been the networks' strike contingency plan to load up on reality programming. What must be unsettling to the writers is how well some of these reality series are doing. Fortunately for the writers, shows like "American Gladiator" and "Moment of Truth" have more downscale audiences...

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Re: "The Wire": Totally not an out-of-date reference. She wasn't looking at the paper to see the content of her story -- she already knows that. There's a different feeling from seeing it in print, just as there's a different feel to reading an actual newspaper vs. reading one online.

washingtonpost.com: Speaking as a journalist who graduated post-Internet, this is ridiculousness.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm with washingtonpost.com on this one ... sorry

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Seattle: Okay, let's drop the boring writers strike and talk "Project Runway" -- Ricky wins with that? Really?

Lisa de Moraes: Wasn't the whole season disappointing, fashionwise? I thought so...

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Fairfax, Va.: My husband and I love "October Road" (and did so before the strike). Is it getting better ratings now that it's one of the only shows with new episodes on?

Lisa de Moraes: Nope. It's one of the wonders of TV how this show is still on the air.

I'm out of time. Bye!...

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