I'm a sub-contractor with a company that's gotten behind on their payments. They figure out what I'm to be paid each week, but don't release the funds until later. Will my 1099-misc show what I should have been paid or what I actually was paid?

It should show what you were paid. Also what terms do you have with them, late fee and interest if not paid as scheduled

You are considered to be a cash-basis taxpayer (unless you have petitioned the IRS to be an accrual-basis taxpayer).

That being the case, you will be taxed on the money you actually received in 2008.