TVSquad

The always lively ABC show-runner panel just ended. Included on the panel were Shonda Rhimes, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, Marc Cherry, Greg Berlanti and Silvio Horta. Lindelof made some jokes, and Cherry tried to translate sports metaphors to musical theater metaphors. But we knew one question would come up a few times: How Rhimes reacted to Katherine Heigl's remark about removing herself from Emmy consideration for her work on Grey's Anatomy this season.

What I didn't know was that the most interesting answers would come from my questions.

Your favorite, ever-expanding TV blog (no not that one, TV Squad!) is looking to add to its team of writers. Are you a TV junkie and interested in news of all-things TV? Do you have an RSS feed list for TV news in the double digits? Would you like to be paid to write about TV? Well, this may be your chance!

Read on for a few details about this new opening...

I know I have a problem. I don't need anyone to tell me that I was a child of television and it's been in my life all my life. Yes, I read. Yes, I listen to music. And, obviously I write.

But most of my writing these days is about television!

I recall the last writers strike. It was during that time that I wrote a really horrible horror novel to occupy my time outside of my day job. I'm not doing that again this time. I refuse to spend weeks writing dreck just because the television and film writers are on strike.

If you've been paying attention to the credits during the last few years of South Park, you'll notice that Trey Parker has directed and written every episode. I've noticed this, too, but in my reviews I've always mentioned the two men together because the show still feels very much like a joint venture to me.

The question remains, though: what is Stone's role if he's not writing the episodes? This article helps explain. It seems that Stone, in addition to serving as an executive producer, doing voices and contributing ideas, also serves as the mouthpiece for the show while Parker works on the creative side of things. Parker would rather create than have to deal with censors and network executives, so Stone steps in to fight those battles.

On the same day he shot 32 people to death on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Cho Seung-Hui sent a package to NBC News.

According to MSNBC, the package contained video, a photograph and a written communication. At one point in the video, Seung-Hui said, in reference to the massacre, "This didn't have to happen." The package was sent between the time he shot two people to death in a dormitory and before he killed thirty more in another building.

NBC News turned the contents over to the FBI, and in a blog post today anchor Brian Williams said that some of the contents of the package would be discussed on tonight's broadcast.

Dark Horse Comics, publisher of the forthcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic, is hosting a Buffy writing contest. In 250 words or less, describe how Buffy has changed your life. I know, I know, only 250 words. People have written entire treatise on the subject, but you're just going to have to embrace the pithy and make every syllable count. Joss Whedon will be selecting the winner and five runners-up himself. What will the numero uno winner receive? Oh, it's almost too cool for words. In addition to a Buffy lithograph and a signed copy of the first issue, you will appear in an upcoming issue of the comic. You - in comic form - with Buffy! Well, maybe, you'll be with Buffy. You might be in some vampire crowd shot or something. It's hard to say. What's the life of a comic book extra like anyway?

Entries are being accepted at Dark Horses' MySpace page from now until March 14th. Winners will be notified by April 4th. Happy slaying.

Jane Espenson has penned scripts for some of my favorite TV shows of all time. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Angel. Firefly. Not to mention other outstanding shows I don't watch personally, like Gilmore Girls, The O.C. and Tru Calling.

Now Jane's diving right into another one of my all-time favorite shows, having written the next episode of Battlestar Galactica. I've got this great opportunity to pick Jane Espenson's brain about her thoughts on this next episode, and I only thought it fitting to ask my fellow dedicated fans of the show for questions. Got anything you'd like to ask Jane regarding the next episode? Ask away in the comments below and I'll forward the best questions off to her later today. I'll also take questions after the episode airs, since you might have more pressing questions once you've seen it.

Check back on the Battlestar Galactica category here later this week for her answers.

Beloved actor and writer Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the original British offering The Office, will write an episode of the American version starring Steve Carell. The episode will be co-written by Stephen Merchant. While Gervais and Merchant have each served as an executive producer on the show, they have not yet written an episode. The news comes from Gervais' spokesman, and there's no word on what the episode will be about or when it will air just yet.