In news that has TV addicts flocking from rehab facilities across the country, the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have reached a tentative deal that will put an end to the 3-month strike.

Here's what we know, according to the New York Times: "A memorandum sent to some writers guild members summarized a four-hour meeting on Friday in which union leaders briefed a group of 300 strike captains. According to the memorandum, the guild boards and negotiating committee are expected to recommend the tentative deal unanimously, but they are withholding action to end the walkout until after Saturday’s scheduled meetings."

Sunday, the WGA West board of directors and WGA East Council will meet to decide whether to take the deal to members for ratification or end the strike immediately.

Since ratification could take up to a month, WGA leaders will likely choose the option that will get the industry back to work — as soon as Monday. To which I say, yippee!

Variety has a summary of the terms of the tentative contract and, as always, AfterEllen.com will keep you apprised of details when we know more. … continue reading

Remember when we were all asking, "What will the networks do if the writers really do strike?" That question is sooooo last year. Now, a few detailed answers seem to be popping up. And the answers will continue to play out, over and over and over again in reruns, right there on the new 52-inch LCD big-screen TV your loved one gave you this holiday season. Fine, you bought it for yourself. Whatever; love is love.

Anyway, back on point, I have been mildly annoyed by the slew of teaser ads from the various networks touting "new" episodes of some of the top-rated shows. I've seen ads for Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and CSI, but of course the networks fail to mention that there really are only one or two new episodes of these shows left to air. OK, fine, they do say "a new episode," which implies one single episode, but wouldn't it be nice if they said, "the absolute last new episodes to be seen this season because we walked away from talks with the writers so if you miss this episode you ain't seeing a dang thing new from this show for quite awhile, suckers!" — or something like that? Is that asking too much?

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According to Yahoo TV, there will be a lot of new programs worth watching in the upcoming months.