So - the WGA strike is officially “over” and the writers have been back at work for at least a day now. Some of the showrunners went back to work on Monday, but most went back yesterday. Now that the excitement has cooled - here are a few links for you to peruse to see exactly what this all means for the average viewer and the shows you watch.

• Here’s an updated list of returning shows by Maureen Ryan (The Watcher). It’s pretty comprehensive, which also makes it a bit overwhelming. I had forgotten about some of those shows.
• “Lost” definitely returning to work and cranking out as many episodes as it can for the rest of the season.
• “Saturday Night Live” will return February 23rd with host being WGA member Tina Fey. It had better be good.
• CBS announces official return dates for many of their shows. Now I’m hoping the other networks follow suit.
• ABC does announce shows returning in 2008/09 season. I’m upset I have to wait that long for new episodes of “Pushing Daisies” - but I’m glad it’s at least coming back.

I finally caught up on my television this week. Last night I watched last week’s “Eli Stone” and I now feel like - after two episodes - I can profess my love for this quirky ABC drama. And now? It’s time for me to make sure you’re watching it.

The basic gist of the show is this: Eli Stone is a lawyer for a huge firm making good money, “making the rich get richer,” (as he puts it) when suddenly has visions of George Michael singing to him. Long story short…he finds out he has an inoperable brain aneurysm. This is probably causing the hallucinations. However, as his new spiritual guide/beer-drinking acupuncturist points out: It does not explain the weird coincidences pointing him in certain directions in association with the visions. By the end of the second episode, Eli is starting to believing listening to using these visions actually helps him help others. He is doing good and he decides that is what his life should be about. Visions or not.

The show is very funny…first and foremost. And lately - I like that in my dramas. I get enough of the serious from my CSIs and Law & Orders. This show makes me laugh but it’s not to over the top with the inspirational messages. It’s got a great cast led by Jonny Lee Miller. His assistant, the hysterical Loretta Devine, is fantastic. I’m not sure yet what I think of the actress or the character of his fiancé, but the rest I enjoy.

So - the new episode airs tonight at 10/9c. Why don’t you give it a try?

From what I understand, Dance War is not the show that everyone is watching. It is a show that I am watching, for some strange reason. But - I may have to stop if they do a repeat of what they did last night.

First of all - the thirty minute recap was completely annoying and unnecessary. The remaining hour was filled with the typical Dancing With The Stars type of filler, so if I’m complaining about the first thirty minutes, you know it must have been bad. Cut the recap to five minutes and take out five minutes of the annoying behind-the-scenes footage in the last hour and you can easily make this an hour-long show. Luckily, I watch it recorded so I was able to fast-forward a 90-minute show to about 30 minutes. That’s the only way.

Thoughts on last night’s episode after the jump.

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