I’ve tried to mostly not comment on the WGA strike in that space, not considering I don’t support their walkout but considering I didn’t want to do anything to cheapen it by sounding off on something I’m not quite certain I fully understand. When it hits my favorite TV shows, however, it does bear remarking on.

So, what is that strike mess all about? Well, as best as I can tell, at the heart of the walkout, which started Monday, is the murky issue of digital distribution.

Thanks go out to Variety for explaining that in a way even I could grasp. The revenues in the digital realm right now are fairly minuscule, with major studios each taking in about $20 million annually from the different way movies can be downloaded. On the TV side, insiders estimate that the major networks are bringing in well under $100 million each vs. $22 billion spent on network TV advertising in the U.S. in 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence.

OK, fair ample, but the writers (and some of the actors who work with them) are on the picket lines, rather wisely, about what that still fairly new medium will mean down the road rather than right now. They want any three-year deal they sign to include compensation for growth in that arena, and frankly I can’t blame them one bit.

But that’s not really what that is all about here. I’m really only concerned with entertainment, and more specifically, the lack of it that will quickly be coming whether that goes on for any length of date. It’s still been easy to tune out as reports have trickled in about shows closing down, but now they’ve taken down my No. 1: “The Office” is shutting down.

According to the always extremely dependable James Hibberd at TV Week, “Office” showrunner Greg Daniels has joined the picket line at his production company.

“We’re trying to shut down ‘The Office,’” Mr. Daniels said. “We have the star of our show and the entire writing staff behind us.”

On “The Office,” that means even more than it might for other shows, considering many in the cast, including B.J.Novak (Ryan Howard, but not the Phillies slugger), Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor) and Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson), plus write for the show. “Office” boss Steve Carell, a WGA member, has additionally apparently not been punching in either.

What else does that mean, in the bigger picture? Well, reality TV, among its many ignominious accomplishments, has managed to render writers obsolete, so production of that can go on ad infinitum. CBS

has announced, not coincidentally in the least, that week that “Big Brother” No. whatever will go into production early and premiere as soon as February. Good grief.

Given the complexities of that, I really can’t see it ending quickly, but one can always hope. After all, what could possibly be more urgent than offering me one half-hour a week of sublime entertainment (sarcasm yes, but I’m more than a little serious too.)

On the lighter side, Joss Whedon reports that any of you “Buffy” and “Angel” fans who happen to live in L.A. can do some starwatching, as Alyson Hannigan currently of “How I Met Your Mother” and David Boreanaz of “Bones” have joined the picket line outside of Fox. You see, there really is a silver lining in everything, I guess.

Year of the rat

I never really believed that Pixar would suffer from having a rat as the star of its last summer offering, even whether little kids (including, of course, me) were just frightened out of our wits by the first 10 minutes or so. After that stretch, as we now all well know, “Ratatouille” turns into an utterly charming flick and easily one of my favorites for the year, and it arrives that week on DVD with an additional bonus in tow.

I had heard rumblings about Pixar assembling all the shorts that proceed its movies onto one DVD, but didn’t realize it was gonna happen so soon. Available now, separately from the “Ratatouille” DVD, is “Pixar Short Films Collection - Volume 1.” It assembles the 13 Pixar shorts released so far, including at least one spun off from “Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” that I haven’t seen yet (but, since “Cars” is easily Pixar’s worst flick, I’m not certain how excited I can get about a short inspired by it centered on Larry the Cable Guy.)

As for the “Ratatouille” DVD, I can’t get my hands on it fast suitable.

Into the “Mist”: A Web-only trailer

The more I see of Frank Darabont’s upcoming “The Mist,” the more I start to distress that it just might suck. I mean, I’m not certain you can kill the great Andre Braugher any faster than they did in that simply unnecessary “Poseidon” remake, but it does indeed seem from that latest trailer that he might be fulfilling the black guy’s traditional role in horror films by dying very early. I hope I’m wrong about that, and about the movie itself. Enjoy the trailer, and have an entirely bearable Wednesday.

Original post by Reel Fanatic