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The TV Grid: Is your show coming back?

The writers' strike would take an immediate toll on television viewers' favorite programs, dealing a setback to shows that are written day-to-day. Prime-time scripted series have episodes through mid-January or early February, depending on how many reruns they space out in the next few months. Unscripted shows -- such as "Survivor," "The Amazing Race," and, when it returns in January, "American Idol" -- would continue uninterrupted. Here's a look at where many shows stand: "Colbert Report" and "The Daily Show," late night Would go into repeats immediately.
1/16
The writers’ strike would take an immediate toll on television viewers’ favorite programs, dealing a setback to shows that are written day-to-day.

Prime-time scripted series have episodes through mid-January or early February, depending on how many reruns they space out in the next few months. Unscripted shows -- such as “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” and, when it returns in January, “American Idol” -- would continue uninterrupted.

Here’s a look at where many shows stand:

“Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show,” late night

Would go into repeats immediately.  (Martin Crook / Comedy Central)
"Entourage" and "Big Love," HBO Are currently in the writing stages and were scheduled to air in the summer of 2008.
2/16
“Entourage” and “Big Love,” HBO

Are currently in the writing stages and were scheduled to air in the summer of 2008.  (HBO)
"Lost," ABC Expected to have eight out of 16 episodes ready. Midseason, none have aired yet.
3/16
“Lost,” ABC

Expected to have eight out of 16 episodes ready. Midseason, none have aired yet.  (ABC)
"Gossip Girl," CW Expected to complete 13 of 22 episodes.
4/16
“Gossip Girl,” CW

Expected to complete 13 of 22 episodes.  (KC Bailey / The CW)
"Scrubs" Expected to complete 12 of 18 episodes.
5/16
“Scrubs”

Expected to complete 12 of 18 episodes.  (Scott Garfield / NBC Universal)
"Jericho," CBS Will have seven of seven episodes.
6/16
“Jericho,” CBS

Will have seven of seven episodes.  (Robert Voets / NBC)
"Friday Night Lights," Expected to complete 15 of 22 episodes.
7/16
“Friday Night Lights,”

Expected to complete 15 of 22 episodes.  (Bill Records / NBC Universal)
"Battlestar Galactica," Sci Fi Has 10 hours of episodes, plus a two hour movie to air this Fall.
8/16
“Battlestar Galactica,” Sci Fi

Has 10 hours of episodes, plus a two hour movie to air this Fall.  (Carole Segal / Sci Fi Channel)
"Men in Trees," ABC Has five episodes left over from last season, 10 new episodes shot, four more scripts to shoot; adds up to 19 out of 27 for the season.
9/16
“Men in Trees,” ABC

Has five episodes left over from last season, 10 new episodes shot, four more scripts to shoot; adds up to 19 out of 27 for the season.  (ABC)
"Damages," FX No word yet on whether it would be picked up
10/16
“Damages,” FX

No word yet on whether it would be picked up  (FX)
"Monk" and "Psych," USA Enough scripts in hand to guarantee a full second half of each season.
11/16
“Monk” and “Psych,” USA

Enough scripts in hand to guarantee a full second half of each season.  (Carin Baer / USA Network)
"Nip/Tuck," FX 5th season, the 22 episodes were planned for two cycles: 14 to run from now to February and eight next year. All 14 in the first cycle have been written. So, only the second cycle could be affected.
12/16
“Nip/Tuck,” FX

5th season, the 22 episodes were planned for two cycles: 14 to run from now to February and eight next year. All 14 in the first cycle have been written. So, only the second cycle could be affected.  (Michael Becker / FX)
"The Shield," FX The final season is written, no date set for airing.
13/16
“The Shield,” FX

The final season is written, no date set for airing.  (Prashant Gupta / FX)
"The Wire," HBO Completed and will air as scheduled.
14/16
“The Wire,” HBO

Completed and will air as scheduled.  (Paul Schiraldi / HBO)
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent," USA Enough for first half of the season (10); the second half (12) will be affected (meaning not enough scripts to guarantee production start as scheduled.)
15/16
“Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” USA

Enough for first half of the season (10); the second half (12) will be affected (meaning not enough scripts to guarantee production start as scheduled.)  (Virginia Sherwood / NBC Universal)
"Cane" Expected to complete all 13 episodes.
16/16
“Cane”

Expected to complete all 13 episodes.  (Robert Voets / CBS)
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As the networks and cable channels figure out their post strike plans, anything's possible. CBS, for one, has announced the return dates for its top shows. Here's what we know so far.

ABC
Likely to be back with new episodes in the spring
 
Won't be back until next season
 
  • Private Practice
  • Pushing Daisies
  • Dirty Sexy Money
On the bubble
 
  • Women's Murder Club
  • Cashmere Mafia
  • Carpoolers
Dead?
 
  • Big Shots
  • Notes From the Underbelly
  • Cavemen
The rest
 
  • Lost
  • Eli Stone
  • October Road
  • Men in Trees
  • According to Jim
    All the above have multiple new episodes left.
  • Miss/Guided
    (seven episodes) hasn't yet premiered
NBC
Likely to be back with new episodes in the spring
 
  • The Office
  • 30 Rock
  • Law & Order
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  • My Name Is Earl
  • Medium
  • ER
Won't be back until next season
 
On the bubble
 
  • Friday Night Lights
Dead?
 
  • Bionic Woman
Definitely dead
 
  • Journeyman
We await details on...
 
  • Life
  • Las Vegas
  • Scrubs
  • Lipstick Jungle
CBS
The following will be back with new episodes, and here are return dates, and number of episodes to come:
 
  • Two and a Half Men, March 17, nine new episodes
  • How I Met Your Mother, March 17, nine new episodes
  • The Big Bang Theory, March 17, nine new episodes
  • NCIS, April 8, seven new episodes
  • Criminal Minds, April 2 with seven new episodes
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, April 3 with six new episodes
  • CSI: Miami, March 24 with eight new episodes
  • CSI: NY, April 2 with seven new episodes
  • Without a Trace, April 3 with six new episodes
  • Cold Case, March 30 with five new episodes
  • Ghost Whisperer, April 4 with six new episodes
  • Moonlight, April 11 with four new episodes
  • Rules of Engagement, April 14 with six new episodes
  • Numb3rs, April 4 with six new episodes
On the bubble
 
  • The Unit
  • Shark
Dead?
 
  • Cane
We await details on...
 
  • The New Adventures of Old Christine
  • Welcome to the Captain
  • Jericho (has multiple new episodes left)
  • Swingtown (hasn't aired yet)
  • Jericho
    (seven already shot episodes to air starting Tuesday)
  • Swingtown
    (hasn't yet aired)
Fox
Likely to be back with new episodes in the spring
 
  • Back to You
  • 'Til Death
  • Bones
Probably won't be back until next season
 
  • 24
On the bubble
 
Definitely dead:
 
  • K-Ville
We await details on...
 
  • House
  • Prison Break
  • And the yet-to-premiere series "Unhitched" (March 2), "New Amsterdam" (March 4), "The Return of Jezebel James" (March 14) and "Canterbury's Law" (April 14) all have multiple episodes
CW
Likely to be back with new episodes in the spring
 
  • Gossip Girl
  • Smallville
  • Supernatural
  • The Game
  • Reaper
  • One Tree Hill
    (multiple new episodes already shot, more probable)
On the bubble
 
  • Aliens in American and Everybody Hates Chris both have multiple new episodes left to air but more have not been ordered yet.
Dead?
 
  • Life Is Wild
Definitely dead
 
  • Girlfriends
HBO
Strike proof
 
  • In Treatment
    (First season airing now; all episodes were completed before the strike)
Likely to be back in late 2008/early 2009
 		 Writing to resume immediately after the strike ends on
  • Entourage
  • Big Love
  • Flight of the Conchords
  • Tell Me You Love Me
On the horizon
 
  • True Blood
    (Two episodes were completed before the strike; this series is expected to debut in the fall.)
  • 12 Miles of Bad Road
    (Five episodes shot on another new series; no air date scheduled yet.)
Showtime
Likely to be back in late spring/early summer
 
  • Weeds
    (Scheduled to go in production in April)
  • Secret Diaries of a Call Girl
    (Eight episodes of a new half-hour comedy series have already been shot)
  • The Tudors
    (Ten episodes of season 2 have been shot; season 2 is scheduled to debut March 30.)
  • State of the Union
    ( Tracey Ullman's new show, is set to premiere March 30 with five episodes.)
We await details on...
 		 Production schedules and debut dates unavailable.
  • Dexter
  • Californication
  • Brotherhood
FX
On next month
 
  • Dirt
    (The strike-shortened seven-episode season begins airing in March.)
  • The Riches
    (The strike-shortened season begins airing in March.)
Strike proof
 
  • 30 Days
    (The documentary show was unaffected by the strike; a six-episode season airs in early summer)
  • The Shield
    (Production on all 13 episodes of the seventh and final season are completed, but awaiting final edit. Will air sometime after the summer.)
Back in late 2008/early 2009
 		 Writing on all the shows is set to resume as soon as the strike ends.
  • Damages
  • Rescue Me
  • Nip/Tuck
  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
USA
Back this summer
 
  • Monk
  • Burn Notice
  • The Starter Wife
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent
  • In Plain Sight
  • Psych

--Los Angeles Times

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