Another Alex Update!

Alex O'Loughlin has sent another new message to his fans. He really tries to keep us up to date on his busy life. Not only is he working on several projects, he mentions being asked to throw out the first pitch @ the Dodgers vs Pirates game (on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009). I hope some Moonlight fans in the area get to see him. Sounds like Alex is gaining a bit of the popularity he deserves.

Me Again

Dear All,

As I write this I am conscious of the fact that I feel like I say the same things in every blog I send out to you all... "Thank you-Thank you-Thank you". I haven't stopped for so long and it kind of seems like my birthday came and went really quickly this year. But it wasn't without THE most ridiculous influx of gifts, cards, and the usual, wonderful support I am slowly becoming accustomed to from all of you. My ever loyal and loving fans.

So I guess I'll just say it again..

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

Three Rivers has me very busy everyday and with the upcoming release of Whiteout I have found myself working every weekend too, busy with promotions & publicity in an attempt to launch the show and support the movie. I am very excited about both.

But the thing I am most excited about is the opportunity Three Rivers has presented for me to get back to some community service. I am now a spokesperson, and soon to start my training to become an ambassador for Donate Life America. It is such an important cause and one that so many of us could do with a little more information on.

I am now officially an organ, eye and tissue donor and have my little DLA card to keep in my wallet. (god forbid anything ever happen that would put it into action!) That being said, and again...touch wood...I now have the chance to give the gift of life, which I believe is the greatest gift of all.

On another note, and FYI, I will be doing the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson again on Labor Day (to air that night I think) and it looks like I'll pitch the first ball of the Dodgers-Pirates game on September 15th so wish me luck. I had some pitching practice today at the stadium and apparently I can throw a ball. Haha. Not at 100 MPH though. ;)

Guys, thanks for a really terrific birthday. You make me feel like I'm never alone.

Be well. Be safe.

All my love,
Alex. x

Photograph ~ Alex O'Loughlin from TV Guide's Sexiest TV Stars photo shoot ~ image by Rodolfo Martinez

Update message from Alex O'Loughlin

Hey all....... Alex O'Loughlin has sent a sweet new message to update all his fans :)

Its been a while

Hi everybody.

Well it certainly has been a minute since I last wrote you all, but I am glad to say that it's because I literally have not stopped working since we last spoke. I finished The Backup Plan a few days ago and flew straight back to LA to start production on Three Rivers, which is where I am now.

The film experence was wonderful! We were very lucky to have the team of producers & the director that we had and I would work with them all again tomorrow! It was nothing but positive.

Our director and leader, Alan Poul was as good as you can get. Very intelligent, funny, sensative to everyone's needs and a true visionary. I think we might just have a decent little film on our hands! ;)

Many of you have sent me messages full of questions about Jennifer and how I found working with her, and I appreciate your enthusiasm.

Jennifer is a very private person and I respect that, so what I will tell you is that she is all the good things you could possibly imagine her to be. Funny, smart, generous, always prepared, very professional, always punctual... and of course, beautiful.

Thank you all so much for the constant support. It can be difficult to reach you all personally and individually, but none of your love and hard work ever goes unnoticed or unappreciated. It is something in my life that helps me find the energy I don't always think I have, to get through another long work day and stay inspired. Without you all it would be kind of pointless so, again, thank you.

All my love
Alex O'Loughlin x

Photograph ~ Alex O'Loughlin in a behind the scenes picture from the TV Guide Sexiest stars photo shoot ~ image by Rodolfo Martinez

CBS adds a count down clock to Moonlight's official website

I hope you have been visiting the official CBS website for Moonlight every day. Remember, they track the hits each show's page receives. If you have been to our show's site, you must have been happy as I was to see that they have actually updated it. A count down clock has been added to let us know how much longer we have to wait for Moonlight to return.

"Lead me out of the dark and into the MOONLIGHT... MickBeth returns April 25th on CBS"

www.cbs.com/moonlight

Update ~ No new showrunner for Moonlight per the Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood Reporter has an update regarding the departure of Moonlight's showrunner, Chip Johannessen. According to their information, our show will not hire anyone to replace him unless it is renewed for the Fall 2008/2009 season.

Silver, scribes take over 'Moonlight'
by Nellie Andreeva

Executive producer Joel Silver and the writing team of CBS' "Moonlight" collectively will shepherd the four additional episodes of the freshman drama as showrunner/executive producer Chip Johannessen has exited.

The vampire drama is not expected to name a new showrunner for the four-episode order but will do so if the series is picked up for a second season.

"Moonlight," which has shown promise on Fridays and was the only CBS freshman series kept on the air throughout the strike, has had its share of behind-the-scenes shuffles, including the summer departure of executive producer/showrunner David Greenwalt.

http://tinyurl.com/22azah

Writer's Strike Update ~ It is all over, except for the voting!

Writer's Strike Update

After days of rumors and articles, it appears that the writer's strike is over! *cheer* Every news outlet is reporting it as a done deal. However, the Writer's Guild of America members still have to vote to accept the new contract. According to Deadline Hollywood Daily, the standing ovations seem to indicate the vote will be positive. Writers may be back at work by Wednesday :)

What does the end of the writer's strike mean for Moonlight? From everything I've heard, CBS is not planning to put our show back into production for the short time remaining in this season. BOO! Several sources ~ including the list I published earlier from TV Guide's Michael Ausiello ~ have said Moonlight will return with new episodes this Fall. While that is good news cuz we want a second season, I have been writing and calling CBS asking for the remaining episodes they ordered of Moonlight for this season! Our show is relatively inexpensive to produce.... and... it never hurts to ask, so I hope you are doing the same!

Deadline Hollywood Daily's info on the strike negotiations held Saturday, February 9th, 2008 ~

SATURDAY 9:00 PM: I've received word from inside the Shrine Auditorium meeting that the WGA West membership was obviously "very positive" about resolving the writers strike as soon as possible and accepting the deal negotiated by the guild leadership with the Hollywood moguls. Also, the WGA governing bodies wisely decided to ensure that guild members be able to vote within the next 48 hours before the strike can be called off by leaders -- even though the AMPTP made the deal contingent on the writers going back to work immediately. Under this new end game, Hollywood could now get back to work by Wednesday at the earliest (not Monday as previously arranged). This also means the Academy Awards, just 14 days away, won't be picketed. A writer who just left the confab told me: "There was cheering for everything and standing ovation after standing ovation for all the leadership. There is no question in my mind that because of the atmosphere in that room this strike will be called off. There is no gearing for a fight. It's over."

WGAW President Patric Verrone announced that there would be a vote by the membership over the next 48 hours on whether or not to lift the strike. I'm told Verrone said specifically that the decision to call off the strike, regardless of the WGA Negotiating Committee's or the WGAW Board's or WGAE Council's recommendation, was to be in the hands of the membership (which wasn't originally planned). Pending that outcome, the 10-day ballotting process for members to accept the tentative deal would begin. Since the moguls insisted that vote not delay the lifting of the strike, WGA leader Dave Young Young told the auditorium that the writers, and therefore all of Hollywood, could get back to work by Wednesday. That means Back 9 orders of some scripted TV series could be saved along with a no-frills pilot season with less scripted series ordered than ever before. (And expect the upfront presentations to advertisers to consist of a lot more pleading than preening.) Some of the force-majeured deals could be reinstated. (But it's important to remember that three times as many pacts would have been cancelled if the agents and lawyers hadn't lobbied the networks and studios.) Feature films that were halted could get going immediately.

About 25% of the attendees left the auditorium after Dave Young explained the deal points. But the meeting is still going on as members now ask questions about specific terms.

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/tick-tock-no-wga-deal-language-yet/

Michael Eisner declares that the writer's strike is over!

Writer's Strike Update ~ Michael Eisner, Disney's former CEO, made a live appearance on CNBC's show, Fast Money, this afternoon. During the chat, he declared that the writer's strike is over! Do we dare believe him?!?!? For several days, we have been hearing and reading rumors that the WGA and AMPTP were close to an agreement. Here is what Eisner had to say today........

Deal Has Been Reached to End Writers' Strike: Eisner

A deal has been struck between the major media companies and the Writers Guild of America to end the writers' strike, former Walt Disney chief executive Michael Eisner revealed on CNBC.

"It's over," Eisner said. "They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general."

Eisner, speaking live on CNBC's "Fast Money," seemed to hesitate initially about whether it was possible that the writers could still reject the agreement, but finally suggested the deal's acceptance was inevitable.

"A deal has been made, and they'll be back to work very soon," Eisner said, adding, "I know a deal's been made. I know it's over."

Eisner did not elaborate on terms of the agreement. He said he expects most of the media companies affected by the strike to have "small" write-downs as a result of the deal. Eisner said the deal was struck last Friday.

As a result of studio cutbacks, however, many of the writers who went on strike are unlikely to return to the same big-money contracts they'd had as individuals with the studios, Eisner said.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/23057002

TV Guide's Michael Ausiello comments on the Writer's Strike

Michael Ausiello, from TV Guide, received questions from viewers anxious for a Writer's Strike update... including a subject near and dear to Moonlight fan's hearts ~ if the strike ends soon, will tv shows begin airing new episodes or wait until the Fall season? He gave his comments and possible scoop in his Ask Ausiello column.

Question :

I hear that the strike is over! Is it true?— Danouk

Ausiello :

Nothing's official, but the buzz is that a tentative agreement has been reached, with an announcement coming as early as tomorrow. But it's hard to tell what's solid intel and what's just spin. To wit: In the past 24 hours, one source close to the negotiations insisted that talk of a resolution was way premature. "There's no deal," maintained my spy. "That's just misinformation put out by the AMPTP to pressure the WGA." But moments before I put this column to bed, I heard from another very plugged-in source that the deal is done. Short story shorter: There's cause for optimism, but not celebration. Yet.

Question :

If the strike ends in the next week or so, can the current TV season be salvaged? — Donald

Ausiello :

Depends on the network and the show. A source at one of the Big 4 tells me that should the strike end by mid-February, one best-case scenario being bandied about has established series going back into production and working through June, making more episodes for this season and some for next. Then they'll take a summer break before starting regular production on next season. The reason for this is twofold: They don't want to bail out on this season, but they also don't want to go to the expense of putting shows back into production for just two or three episodes. One industry observer describes this as "a smart plan," while acknowledging that there's another variable in all this: the actors. "The trouble is, a lot of actors schedule hiatus movies, or just elaborate vacations. And if they ask them to work through certain dates, that could trigger some contract issues." Now, continue reading for the worst-case scenario….

Question :

G'day, fellow Snapple lover! Pushing Daisies is my absolute favorite new show. Any scoop/news? — The Doctor

Ausiello :

I posed Donald's strike-aftermath Q to Daisies creator Bryan Fuller, and here's his sobering response. " Even if the strike ends in the next week or two, it looks like they will scuttle the rest of the season. This is for many reasons. One is that it will be hard to launch a big promotional campaign for four or five episodes; it's just not cost-effective. Two is that if we did come back we would land right in the path of the American Idol juggernaut, and would likely be decimated. Three is if we came back in the fall with a full slate of episodes, then ABC could relaunch the show in a big way. The tentative plan now is to start the writers immediately [after the strike is resolved] so we can get some scripts stockpiled, and then hit production in June. But that's all tentative. We've talked about so many options since the strike began and they fluctuate on a weekly basis. But right now a short first season seems the most likely."

ask_ausiello@tvguide.com

Writer's Strike News ~ WGA & United Artists Working on Agreement

Writer's Strike update..... Since the negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP have broken down, it appears that the writer's new strategy is to make separate deals with production companies. As you know, the first of such agreements just recently occurred with David Letterman's WorldWide Pants. According to The New York Post, they are currently in talks with United Artists. See the brief article below. Moonlight fans are more than ready to make a deal! :)

UNITED ARTISTS CLOSE TO DEAL WITH WRITERS GUILD
By HOLLY M. SANDERS and ZACHERY KOUWE

Tom Cruises' United Artists is close to a deal with the Writers Guild of America that would allow striking scribes to get back to work on projects commissioned by the studio, sources told The Post.

The tentative deal is said to mirror a similar pact David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company recently signed with the union, clearing the way for writers to work on talk-show host's "Late Show."

If a deal is reached, United Artists, a division of MGM, would become the first notable movie company to come to terms with the writers.

http://tinyurl.com/2d6fs3

Writer's Strike Update ~ David Letterman's show returns tonight

Writer's Strike Update ~ David Letterman's production company, WorldWide Pants, has reached a separate deal with the Writer's Guild. That means the Late Show with David Letterman and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson are returning with new shows. It is gonna be great after all these weeks of reruns. Stars can appear on both programs without crossing the picket line. Letterman's guests tonight will be Robin Williams and Lupe Fiasco.

Craig has had Alex O'Loughlin on his show previously. The interview took place right before Moonlight's premiere. I will post a video of it above. Unfortunately, the sound is out of synch but still enjoyable.

The other talk shows.... The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC), Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC), Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) are expected to return without their writers. Uh oh! The WGA plans to picket outside their studios. Any stars that appear on these programs will have to cross the picket line. :(

Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC) began airing and crossed the writer's line a few weeks ago.... which did not make the WGA happy at all.

Thus far, the strike has cost the entertainment industry an estimated $151 million dollars!

We need to continue contacting the late night talk shows to encourage them to book Alex, Sophia, Jason, Shannyn and Brian! The CBS guys (David & Craig) should want to feature Moonlight's actors because they share a network. Let's write to the other talkers too so they can be ready to book our stars once the strike is settled.

David Letterman : cbsmailbag@aol.com

Craig Ferguson : http://www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate/email/

Jay Leno : http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/about/contact.shtml#feedback

Conan O'Brien : http://www.myspace.com/conanshow

Carson Daly : www.myspace.com/carson_daly

CBS updates their official Moonlight site

CBS has updated the official Moonlight web page! It now has a link to the People's Choice Awards site for voting (only 5 days & 14 hours left for us to vote), and has a button to allow you to get a TIVO season pass for the show. Recently, they finally added promo photos from 12:04 (episode #1x08) and Fleur De Lis (episode #1x09). I try not to get my hopes up just because they made a few changes, but I can't help hoping it means they realize Moonlight deserves their attention. Join me in sending CBS feedback to thank them for the new content.

Writer's Strike News Update

Hi all..... As you know, the WGA and AMPTP resumed their talks to try resolving the writer's strike. They agreed not to speak to the media about the negotiations. However, rumors usually leak out. Nikki Finke's blog, Deadline Hollywood Daily, provided the following great info ~

...a very reliable source tells me that there appears to be a deal seemingly in place between both sides.

"It's already done, basically," the insider describes. That's because of the weeks worth of groundwork by the Hollywood agents working the writers guild leadership on one side, and the studio and network moguls on the other. I was told not to expect an agreement this week. But my source thought it was possible that the strike could be settled before Christmas.

Look, I don't want to raise false hope here. But this source has been very accurate in the past. The negotiations starting today will have a news blackout, so don't expect any significant leaks. But consider the real possibility there's been a breakthrough. Still, I must caution that this is Hollywood -- where defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory nearly every time.

Moonlight fans have been hoping for a quick end to the strike because that can help the chances of our show being picked up for a full season (& beyond) by CBS. *fingers crossed*

Writer's strike update regarding Moonlight

We've all been wondering how many shows we have left to sustain us through the writer's strike. According to the LA Times television business section ~ Moonlight is expected to have 11 of the 12 episodes that CBS has ordered thus far completed.