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.

Depending on who you ask and how you define “Over” - it looks like the WGA strike may finally be ending as a tentative deal was reached last night and voted on by the WGAW and WGAE. It appears that the only think keeping the writers from writing is the “official” vote of the members that is supposed to be completed in 48 hours. Meaning that the writers could return to work as early was Wednesday, according to some sources.

Now - if you’re like me the important question is - When/If will my shows return? The best article I’ve found so far lining up the potential returns is here. It is broken down by network and by groups of shows that still have new episodes to air, shows that will definitely get back into production mode for this season, and shows that will probably still wait to return in the fall.

The Director’s Guild (DGA) has reached a tentative deal with the AMPTP in what looks like the first sign that this strike could end sometime before I’m committed to padded room somewhere. The DGA official statement outlines their agreement showing that they seem to have accepted less aggressive agreement for the world of New Media than what the WGA was hoping for. Clearly - the industry hopes that the WGA will lighten their demands a little in that arena as well. The New York Times states, “In the directors’ opinion, digital media revenues will become significant only after 2010.” This new contract will expire in three years, allowing the Directors to then reevaluate their New Media compensation. Whether or not the WGA will consider the same type of time line, remains to be seen.

However, it seems that several of the network leads have agreed to meet informally to resume negotiations with the WGA. Since they have barely glanced at each other in the recent weeks, this is a step in the right direction. With the DGA deal as a motivation, here’s to hoping the WGA and the AMPTP can finally reach an agreement before it’s too late for this television season.

• The strike is now getting violent as a FOX employee assaults a picketer. Classy.
• An interesting Op/Ed piece about the strike written in the LA Times. “Pain isn’t a byproduct of the walkout; it’s the whole point of it, and it should be what compels the negotiations to resume.”
• There is good news for a few members of the WGA as CBS makes a deal with their news writers.
• Ben Silverman (NBC Co-Chief) spoke so thoughtfully about the strike by referring to the striking writer’s blocking of the Golden Globes in this manner: “Sadly, it feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom. But NBC wants to try to keep that prom alive.” Some answered back.
• New videos up at Speechless Without Writers. Check out Zack Braff and his discussion with his typewriter about what “AmPuhTuhPuh” is doing to their relationship. (AMPTP: Alliance of Motion Picture And Television Producers.)

Comedy Central confirmed yesterday that The Daily Show With Jon Stewart will return to air on January 7th. The Colbert Report will return that night as well, both without their WGA writers. We’ve already heard this announcement for Leno and Letterman but I believe it’s easier to pull of in their formats by just increasing celebrity interviews and musical guests. With these two Comedy Central shows, there is a lot depending on the scripted pieces that go on surrounding the few interviews.

Colbert and Steward released a joint statement yesterday:

We would like to return to work with our writers. If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence.

I don’t know. These guys are still funny just on their own. If handled properly, the shows will continue to entertain. Maybe not to the level as they did before, but I think their loyal late-night viewers will stick with them regardless.

Just a quick note to say Leno has responded to the NBC announcement bringing back The Tonight Show in January.

“This has been a very difficult six weeks for everybody affected by the writers strike. I was, like most people, hoping for a quick resolution when this began. I remained positive during the talks and while they were still at the table discussing a solution “The Tonight Show” remained dark in support of our writing staff. Now that the talks have broken down and there are no further negotiations scheduled I feel it’s my responsibility to get my 100 non-writing staff, which were laid off, back to work. We fully support our writers and I think they understand my decision.”

return to their talk shows with new airings on January 2nd. There is no word yet whether this announcement indicates a deal made with the WGA or how the show will return without writers.

“Both Jay and Conan have supported their writers during the first two months of this WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike and will continue to support them,” said Rick Ludwin, executive vice president, late night and primetime series for NBC. “However, there are hundreds of people who will be able to return to work as a result of Jay’s and Conan’s decision.”

No word yet from the WGA about these announcements.

Worldwide Pants is David Letterman’s production company and produces both The Late Show with David Letterman as well as The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. Wordwide Pants has decided to offer up negotiations outside of the AMPTP to try to get writers back on the show and the shows back in production. This has been met with positive response from the reporting members of the WGA as it is a sign of progress and hopefully we’ll hear word on how the negotiations go sometime today. If they go well, it could motivate other groups to function independently of the AMPTP and we might see more shows back on the air after the new year.