Well, it’s official… the three month long writer’s strike finally ended last month.

But where are all my shows?

The greater Los Angeles area cannot simply “take a break” while Jack Bauer’s writers get situated back in their offices. After all, the city IS in constant danger of terrorist attack, yet it must wait until the next television season for salvation to arrive.

And what about me?

Since the strike, I’ve been alienated from my television, forced to divert my attention to less meaningful pursuits such as spending time with friends and family, or studying for that final exam. I feel like I’ve lost a friend in that simple black box.

“24” was by no means the only show affected by the strike.

Many shows ended early because producers did not have enough material to fill the promised amount of episodes, such as “Heroes” or “House.”

Even though the writer’s are back to work, some shows, such as “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” along with other late-night shows returned immediately. Others, however, are delayed until next season, that is to say, if they weren’t already cancelled.

Although the strike overall ended in relative success, with the television networks agreeing with the Writer’s Guild of America’s demands for residual payment to writers for programs broadcast on the Internet, at what cost did this victory come? Furthermore, the strike put thousands more out of work, on and off the production lot. Cameramen, key grips, gaffers, makeup artists, and everyone else in the studio found themselves out of work and out of a paycheck. Unlike the rest of Hollywood, these people do not have the lavish mansions that have become synonymous with the town; instead they live the middle class lifestyle that we are accustomed to.

Off the lot, the strike was not without its victims, as well.

The multitudes of small business that serve the entertainment industry also took a tremendous financial hit, losing an estimated $981 million, according to the LA Times. These facts were widely reported by various news outlets during the strike, and it is always important to remember that strikes never have a true winner. In the end, everyone involved comes out behind, whether it be the multi-million dollar networks, the writers, those that serve Hollywood, or the innocent couch potato, such as myself.