Hello, everybody. It's almost the end of Week 1 of the writers' strike, and already, things have already gotten a bit nasty as more shows are shutting down production.

What are they striking for, you ask? I forgot to mention that last blog, but compensation over new media such as webcasts and iTunes downloads as well as residuals from DVD sales are the reason why the picket lines continue to increase every day so far.

And it's not just the writers who are walking the lines; many stars of your favorite TV shows are stepping up the plate too. From the casts of ABC hits "Desperate Housewives", "Grey's Anatomy", and "Ugly Betty", to late night jokester Jay Leno, to even Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton in a brief "Everybody Loves Raymond" reunion, they have been doing everything in their power to make sure the 2007 strike won't be like 1988's (when it lasted five months) all over again. But so far, no talks have been scheduled and the forecast may call for the strike to head into 2008. Looks like it ain't going to be a very happy holidays after all.

The strike has also had an impact on the other side of the coast; in New York, Robin Williams, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, Julianne Moore, and Tina Fey are joining in.

But as we head into week two, a lot of shows have been shutting down production as a result. "24", "Back To You", "The Office", "Housewives", and "Grey's" are a growing number of them that have wrapped for the season with possibly more to come. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was supposed to host his third "Saturday Night Live" this weekend while his super-sexy "Southland Tales" co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar was due to appear on Letterman next week, but they'll have to do their promotions for the film somewhere else now (Ryan Seacrest's radio show?) as all the late night shows are relegated to reruns.

So, what now? Unlike the previous strikes I mentioned last time, we do have countless alternatives to tide us over this time around, from YouTube to our increasing DVD libraries. And while the writers and celebs continue to walk the picket lines, we'll be providing our own entertainment as well as cracking our own jokes of current events without the help of Leno, Letterman, Conan, SNL, or Jon Stewart. But if the strike goes on to New Year's Eve, it would be the picketers outnumbering the revelers in Times Square hoping and praying for a resolution.

Now...Britney Spears thought she had a #1 album with her make-or-break "Blackout"; but thanks to an eleventh-hour change by "Billboard" as well as the help of a certain retailer with a smiley face as their mascot, it's the Eagles who soared to the top of the charts.

The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" with 711,000 copies eclipsed "Blackout" to #2 with 290,000, and it's all due in part to that album being an exclusive to Wal-Mart. Yes...WAL-MART!! To me, that's pretty much a slap in the face to those who think that Britney should've deserved the top spot after all.

Just another reason as we inch closer to the holiday shopping season that I don't trust Wal-Mart at all, even if it's on the other side of town with Fred Meyer (where I shop all the time) being close to my house. At least the $5 DVD bin is the only thing good about them; everything else is pure shit. And oh yeah...they may dispute this claim all they want, but "Blackout" is the real #1.

"Save Money, Live Better" as their new slogan? More like "Waste Money, Live Cheap!" And with that...so long and stay strong.