I'm worried

I watch The Daily Show every night before going to bed. When the writers strike began, I was crushed. How would I get my nightly news? By watching a serious, non-satirical news program? I don't think so. So for the months of November and December, I knew nothing of the world around me. But in mid-January, The Daily Show began airing again. And much like other nighttime comedy shows that also returned to air, it was without the participation of writers. Jon Stewart had to perform script-less. And he nailed it. Sure, he occasionally filled empty seconds by drawing out a joke well past the point of being funny, but overall it seemed to be of the same pre-strike quality.

And now that the strike has ended and the writers have returned...it's not as good. That's right, with a full writing staff back at work, The Daily Show is less entertaining than when it was working without a safety net. I still watch it every night, but the jokes have gotten lamer, the delivery is stiff, and the whole thing feels like no one is trying. Has the strike drained the writers of their wit? Has picketing during the winter frozen their talent? Are the rest of my favorite shows going to return to the air with half-assed scripts? I'm worried that television's creative spirit has been broken.