One thing that Jennise and I share is a low-level burning anticipation of the next three to four weeks. We're both trying to focus, not fret, not get our hopes up...

...not call our managers seven times a day...

...while the networks decide the fates of their shows, and by association the potential fate of our writing careers (for this season). We're pros, we're ready, goshdarnit when's the phone gonna ring???

With The It Company, we know we're already leaps and bounds away from where we were last year. We're being read, they're getting our stuff out, people like what they see so far -- will it be enough?

Early reports indicate that NBC is going to pick up Fathom, which we should be read at, and probably approved by NBC to write at that studio. The rumor mill (as reported by the Hollywood Reporter) has noted several other shows that we've read and liked will be picked up as well. All rumor of course, but it's enough to quicken the heart just a bit.

Next week are the Upfronts, the glitzy presentations that the studios give to the advertisers to showcase the fall season. Now, however, the studios should be finalizing shows & showrunners. So, theoretically, things should start picking up with regards to reads and meet & greets and getting on staff.

We both feel (as do our managers) that something's going to happen, but it's a nebulous gut-instinct thing that's based on ether (or just our own wishful thinking). In a strange twist, I find myself trying to be pragmatic for once. Don't hope too much, don't think about it too much, don't expect too much -- the stats and odds and stories and experience all say that pragmatically, staffing might happen next year (or mid-season this year). Not this year. Not in June of 2005. We will get lots of reads, we will at least get a few meetings, and Ken and I will be able to go to Hawaii in June.

Who am I kidding? I was born an optimist, and I'll die one. Probably within the next three weeks. :-)