This has been a bad few days for those scribes who cover the TV industry. Using the on-going writers strike for coverage, the networks first force the Television Critics Assoc. to cancel its Winter Press Tour, that January boondoggle held at the swank Ritz Carlton in Pasadena.

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If that wasn't enough, the strike has given the networks the excuse they've wanted for years to seriously consider canceling those annual swill fests known as the upfronts. That 's where the networks toss around hundreds of thousands of bucks at swank venues around Manhattan to introduce their upcoming fall slates to advertisers, the media buyers who represent them and the press. The goal is to give Madison Avenue enough from the groaning board of food and drink that they will be willing to plunk down millions on new shows, most of which are destined to fail.

Using the strike as cover, look for networks and studios alike to seek more ways to slash costs.