TV shows dwindling as strike rolls on

updated 4:35 p.m. ET Nov. 16, 2007

NEW YORK - Don’t despair. Even with the writers strike at its two-week mark, most of your favorite comedy and drama series have a few fresh episodes to air.

Once December arrives, the picture could be very different. The schedule will be dominated by holiday specials and series repeats (come to think of it, not unlike most years). Then, in January, the impact of a prolonged strike could be clearly seen in a flurry of episodic reruns and new reality shows.

What’s new for now?

A few to go:

—“House,” with five episodes left, will be fresh through November, with the last few airing in January — one of them following Fox’s broadcast of the Super Bowl.

—“Samantha Who?”, ABC’s new hit comedy, has seven more episodes in the can.

—Fox’s “Family Guy” has scheduled a normal mix of new and repeat episodes at least through January.

—The “Crime Scene Investigation” trio, “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “Without a Trace” and “Cold Case” each have two to five more episodes to run on CBS.

End in sight:

—CBS comedies “How I Met Your Mother,” “Two And a Half Men” and “Rules of Engagement” will run dry by month’s end.

—ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” “Pushing Daisies” and “Grey’s Anatomy” each have three new episodes to go.

Slide show   Hollywood on strike Members of the Writers Guild of America are joined on the picket line by several of TV’s hottest stars. more photos

—ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” airs the last of its current stock of new episodes Dec. 2.

—The final new episode of NBC’s “Heroes” airs Dec. 3.

—Fox’s “K-Ville,” which shut down its New Orleans-based operation last week, has three new episodes left, with dim prospects for production to resume post-strike on this low-rated freshman drama.

Stuck in repeat mode:

—NBC’s “The Office” is closed for business until the strike’s end, with only reruns in store.

—CBS’ new hit sitcom “Big Bang Theory” has similarly run dry.

Whow knows when:

—The planned January return of Fox’s “24” has been postponed indefinitely. Since only some of the series’ 24 episodes have been shot, Fox didn’t want to risk beginning a new season that might be interrupted.

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