Ellen DeGeneres is taking the heat for crossing picket lines to carry on with the taping of her show, especially when so many other shows have seen their actors joining the writers in their protest. Ellen stated that the reason she carried on was because of people who may have traveled long distances in order to be at the taping of her show and she didn’t want to let them down but the protesting writers are unimpressed.

Ellen tried to smooth ruffled feathers with this statement to her audience:

“I want to say I love my writers. I love them. In honor of them today, I’m not going to do a monologue. I support them and hope that they get everything they’re asking for. And I hope it works out soon. In the meantime, people have traveled across the country. They’ve made plans. They’re here. I want to do everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show.”

Grey’s Anatomy could be the next show to go off-air. They will be shooting footage for their last written show on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Meanwhile, cast members have joined in the Writer’s Guild’s strike.

Sandra Oh (Dr. Christina Yang) said, “This matter is way too important not only for our writers, but ultimately everyone who makes movies, everyone who makes entertainment here in this town and again for the rest of the world.”

Patrick Dempsey (Dr. Derek Shepherd) who admits to being upset about the strike – not for his own sake, but for the sake of the writers and the rest of the crew, who won’t be getting paid – said, “I do feel the writers deserver a better break on the deals they have been getting.”

And Katherine Heigl said it all, “You’ve got to have a story. You’ve got to have a story to perform anything.” So, so true.

I love Dick Van Dyke. It’s like he’s got the golden touch: everything he’s in is phenomenal. And I’m pretty sure shows that would otherwise be a bust, do a good job simply because Van Dyke sticks his nose in it. The movies (Mary Poppins), the TV shows (The Dick Van Dyke Show all the way through Murder 101). And even though most of his shows play on the Hallmark Channel now, that doesn’t mean they’re not still good.

But his murder mystery stories are definitely my favorite. Diagnosis Murder, Murder 101, Murder 101:If Wishes Were Horses, and Murder 101:College Can Be Murder, are easily my favorite. There’s just something about a murder mystery that can be solved by the viewers, but is still enjoyable, with good acting and lovable characters.

And for the sake of memories:

Have you ever seen TLC’s television show: “What Not to Wear”?

I have to say that I just adore this television show. For those who haven’t seen it, hosts and fashion gurus Stacey London and Clinton Kelly do an excellent job in helping people (mostly women) ditch their old wardrobes and finding something that is much more suitable to their profession and their shape. They give excellent style tips and advice, and literally throw their old clothing and help them get a new wardrobe with the $5000 credit card they provide. The contestants also get makeovers and a new do.

I also love that Stacey and Clinton never encourage women to wear something they might be uncomfortable in because of cut. I have to really admire that because it’s so easy to encourage lots of cleavage, when it’s totally not necessary to look nice.

Starring Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Smallville has pretty much been my favorite show since the first time I saw it. Not only are characters like Clark uber-hot, but Lana, Lois, and Chloe are all really pretty – and then can all act. Last night’s incredibly intense episode, Wrath, just goes to prove it.

In the beginning of the story, lightning strikes kryptonite while Lana and Clark are holding it, just after the couple are talking about the weirdness of their relationship. Like in Season One episode (Leech), Clark’s powers are transferred, this time to Lana, and this time, Clark still has them, too.

Clark warns her to be careful, while she zips around using her new powers. “Relax, Clark. You live with these powers every day. I think I can handle them.” Later, she adds, “I just wish this had happened a long time ago… No matter how hard I tried, I could never really know you. Not until now.” As the couple is kissing in the kitchen, a rather worried Chloe walks in on them.

When Lana leaves the room, Clark tells Chloe what happened. Chloe’s not thrilled, and for good reason. Lana has a tendency to go all “bad girl” whenever she has powers of any kind. But that’s not a reason Chloe sites. Instead, she points out that other humans who have lived with Clark’s power have either gone crazy or have died (like Jonathon Kent).

Later, Lana points out to Chloe that if she had the powers she would take advantage of them, too. In a line that sets the stage for the rest of the episode, she looks Chloe in the eyes and says, “I may not be a reporter, but I do have a story to tell.”

“Dust doesn’t just turn to liquid,” says Lex as the scene cuts to him and Dr. Jansen, who is holding a tube of Kryptonite bars, with a black gooey thing that’s trying to get out. Jansen explains, “It’s evolving. The metal is sentient. It’s alive.” Lana, who may or may not have seen what the project actually is, uses her newfound powers to steal it. She then brings it to Grant Gabriel, Lois’ boss in an attempt to convince him to publish it. He refuses, and Lana soccer kicks Lois and runs out.

First Lionel, then estranged former-friend Lex tell Clark that Lana’s not what she seems. Lionel challenged Clark, “Sampson trusted Delilah with the secret of his strength, but his trust didn’t keep Delilah from betraying him.”

An enraged Lana goes to kidnap Lex, so she can see where Project Sion is. Clark and Chloe use Lana’s own spy system to find them, and Clark busts in, saves Lex, and restores his powers. I think his eyes are opened a bit to how Lana has changed, and how maybe, she’s not longer his.

At the very end of the show, Clark and Lana are talking in the barn. Lana looks at him and says, “I have to live with the decisions that I’ve made. I just need to know that you love me. No matter what.”
Clark doesn’t say anything. Could this be the end for them? What do you think?

So, is Smallville in it’s last season? Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) is planning on leaving the show… and he’s kind of a main character. If it is the last season, the writers (you know, depending on what happens with the Strike) have to have something up their sleeves. There’s still the Clark-Lana thing going on, even though Lois is in the picture (and the two of them have gotten a little frisky). Some people are suggesting Chloe as a possible romantic interest.

And then, there’s the rumor that Clark might be joining the upcoming film “The Justice League.” We’ll see what happens, as no one’s talking offficially, and that films won’t be out until 2010… there’s some time there.

However, this is in an interview with Michael Rosenbaum about Smallville. Note his hair.

Late last night there was a back-to-back showing of “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” Seeing the listing for it while channel surfing got me thinking, “What has Little Lizzie been up to lately?”

I mean, I know Hilary Duff and ex-boyfriend Joel Madden broke up like a year ago, and she’s been dating some hockey star, and that her music careers been doing really well, but what else? She was in “Cheaper By the Dozen” of course. And a few days ago she gave her boyfriend a lap dance in a restaurant – uncool.

But career-wise, Hilary has definitely moved beyond television. Good-bye Lizzie, Hello Spotlight. In 2008, Hilary Duff has THREE movies coming out: Foodfight, Greta, and Safety Glass. It’s good to know that a Disney Star can get such a nice kick-off into the world of Hollywood. Even if it does take hard work and a lot of guts to get out there.

The TV show “The Office” is funny. I mean, Steve Carrel aka Michael, is a hilarious man, but I have to admit there are a few things that bug me about it.

First of all, I know the character Dwight, played by Rainn Wilson, is loved by everyone, but his know-it-all, you-will-never-be-as-good-as-I-am attitude makes me yell at my TV.

Second of all, I love the bits where characters interact, you know, sitcom-style. I hate the “Reality TV” bits, with the individual characters talking about their office life to the camera. It annoys me.

I do, however, love how hard Michael tries to be a good boss – and how annoyed his employees are by him. After last night’s episode, though, maybe they’ll realize he’s not as bad as they think.