Television is changing...

Ever since the writers strike began, viewers were pleading for it to end. They wanted their favorite shows back so they could have some nightly entertainment. Finally the strike has ended, and fans should be excited, right? Well, not so fast. They are still going to have to play the waiting game because most shows will not return with new episodes until March or April. The worst part - shows like "24" and "Heroes" aren't coming back until 2009.

I can happily say that my favorite television shows will return in just shy of two months. It's a little known fact about me that I love crime dramas, so that will make the first week of April an exciting one for me. Criminal Minds, CSI, and Numb3rs (CBS) are all returning the 2nd through the 4th with at least a handful of new episodes for addicts like me.

Also, with an end to the strike, the Oscars will go on as normal with all the big stars on the red carpet. Viewers can expect to see Miley Cyrus, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, and Tom Hanks at the big event a week from today on ABC at 8 PM.

However, since shows will not return until at least next month, the networks' February Sweeps ratings will not see the benefits of original programming. However, I have to hand it to NBC for grabbing my attention during the strike with their reality shows Deal or No Deal and American Gladiators. By the way, did I mention the two-hour finale for Gladiators is tonight at 7?

This just goes to show that television has become a part of everyone's daily lives. And that means we as broadcasters should take our jobs very seriously. Viewers do watch primetime programming but they are still interested in what's going on in the real world. It's our responsibility to put on content that matters because those watching at home depend on us to feed them the facts.