Well the executives at the big networks are seeing the results of the Writer’s Strike now as many second-year shows are having a huge problem regaining their audiences. Most of the shows were put on early hiatus when the Writer’s Strike hit – even if the studios had ordered their “back 9″ episodes.

Shows like “Lipstick Jungle”, “Life, “Chuck”, and “Dirty Sexy Money” have lost over 1 million viewers upon their returns. While shows like “Private Practice” and “Pushing Daisies” are down by almost 3 million viewers.

Only “The Big Bang Theory” and “Gossip Girl” seem to be holding their audiences…and the question has to be asked. Why? What is causing these shows to fail to regain their viewership?

Well, it could be a lot of things. There are new shows this fall to grab viewers attentions – and we’ve already become accustomed to not having these other shows around. It could be that people are just DVRing more than they were last year, or that sites like Hulu.com have really taken away viewers…but I doubt that.

If you don’t have nielsen box in your home, you’re not contributing to the ratings anyway. So if you DO have one and you’re not watching your favorite shows on television – then shame on you. Everyone else – you’re probably doing MORE good by watching your shows online…at least then networks can see the traffic and views their shows bring in.

What I think the real reason here is…is that we’ve had plenty of time to get over these shows not coming back. Many great shows don’t come back for a second season, and while some of these are great – we’ve gotten used to them being out of our lives.

It may also be that many people have just found other things to do with their time. Months of not having new shows to watch sent me back to the DVD archives for old shows to watch, and out of the house for other things to do…and I must admit, television does not have the hold on me that it did before the strike.

In fact, without this blog, I would probably only watch about 3 shows a week.

What about you?