Brian Williams/Feist

Brian Williams/Feist

The mood at work this week was dominated by the looming writer's strike. We also tried to ignore it a little so that we could at the very least write a good show.

Brian Williams is I guess what you'd call a friend of the show. His studio is right downstairs and he comes up to see the show with his family frequently. He is a comedy fan for sure and very naturally funny. Before the pitch meeting on Monday he was already asking about doing a "Bronx Beat". His role as a news anchor never went away though. There were some dramatic events that were going on in Pakistan and he was constantly being briefed about it during the read- through and rehearsals.

Horatio Sanz was written into a few pieces and it was so great to have him around. We have this joke we do when we see each other. We act like ex-cast members way way in the future, making a teary speech at a 75th anniversary reunion show.

Having Barack Obama there was incredible too. He was super polite and friendly and I noticed that he was laughing at the sketches. That cold open went through many changes before it aired. That costume party one. There were different politicians in it and different endings. There are changes right up to the minute they go on air. I loved Darrell as Clinton playing "Mystery".

Everyone including myself was really happy to see Feist perform. Brian Williams is a fan of hers too. We watched every rehearsal of those two songs. It was one of my favorite musical performances so far. Those banjo players are from NYC. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Maybe I'm bragging that I know them or something.

I want to explain that iPhone ad. It was done as two pieces, one with me, and one with Jason Sudeikis. We wrote them together and with Brian Tucker, one of our writers. Jason's had a really funny ending and was scheduled to air after a few sketches, but the show ran out of time.

This week we aren't doing a show because of the writer's strike. There is plenty to read about it online. It's been pretty dramatic and everyone at the show would love nothing more than to be back at work. Hopefully that can happen soon.