Emmys: Scribes from "Lost," "Mad Men" and other nommed shows goof around with Rainn Wilson

What else? Jack Burditt of "30 Rock" did his best to puncture the myth that the show's writers are oh-so-smart and clever. "We're not that smart," he said.

"Simpsons" vet Ian Maxtone-Graham revealed that he once -- briefly -- considered chucking it all in to become a photographer in Japan. He also had a word of advice for aspiring comedy writers: Go try standup. It makes you funnier and tougher, all at the same time.

Billy Kimball, nommed for a "Simpsons" seg co-written with Maxtone-Graham, suggested that young writers would do well to learn how to write fast, as he did in an early job working on a VH1 game show.

Cuse quoted scribe sage David Milch: "Never judge yourself as a writer when you're not actually writing."

Rob Kutner, who's nommed for "The Daily Show" but now staying up later on "The Tonight Show," gave tips on how to get revenge on psycho assistants to executive producers: Ex-Lax laced frappuccinos, for starters.

Michael Sucsy, writer-director of HBO's "Grey Gardens," wowed the aud with his story of shepherding his tyro project for years and then finally hitting it out of the park with Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. He suggested writers should always set aside an "inviolable period of time" to write, when the Internet and email is turned off and "you force yourself to sit there even when things aren't coming." He admitted that he sometimes resorted to folding laundry during those hours but nevertheless ...

Lindelof was feeling magnanimous. When asked about the damage that can be done when a role is miscast, he observed: "Miscasting is sometimes a defense we use for shitty writing."

Moderator Wilson shared one profound insight: The WGA Award (he brought his along in a plastic shopping bag) looks a lot like a Romulan Bird of Prey.

Hard to believe but true: We got through the whole 90-minute panel without a single mention of the strike. Time sure is flying.