Writers Strike

[Geekyfanboy]

Is Writers Strike Resolution Near?

By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: TV Guide
Jan-30-2008

Talk is starting to spread around Hollywood that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are close to signing a deal that would end the strike that has been ongoing since the beginning of November.

Whether it's true or not, we'll just have to wait and see. But if the strike were to end this week, what would happen with some of the seasons of shows that have been butchered so far? Can any of them be saved?

TV Guide columnist Michael Ausiello tackled that very question and decided to ask "Pushing Daisies" creator Bryan Fuller on what might happen.

"Even if the strike ends in the next week or two, it looks like they will scuttle the rest of the season" of "Pushing Daisies," Fuller said. "This is for many reasons. One is that it will be hard to launch a big promotional campaign for four or five episodes; it's just not cost effective. Two is that if we did come back, we would land right in the path of the 'American Idol' juggernaut, and would likely be decimated.

"Three is if we came back in the fall with a full slate of episodes, then ABC could relaunch the show in a big way."

Fuller said that if the strike were to end, the first order of business is to get the writers back to work and writing the second season and stockpile scripts for June.

"But that's all tentative," Fuller said. "We've talked about so many options since the strike began and they fluctuate on a weekly basis. But right now, a short first season seems the most likely."

Not for all shows, however. Ausiello said a source with one of the networks told him it's possible that shows could go back into production to not only produce a few more episodes for this season, but episodes for next season as well. This would not only give them a head start, but also justify the expense of resuming production this season. But even that plan has some drawbacks.

"The trouble is, a lot of actors schedule hiatus movies, or just elaborate vacations," a source told Ausiello. "And if they ask them to work through certain dates, that could trigger some contract issues."

So the strike may be coming close to an end, but there's still no word on how we'll get our favorite television shows back ... but at least they'll be back, right?

[lostrekkie]

I heard that even if the strike ended today, it wouldnt be till about the Fall that the shows would be back with new episodes.
O well, no Heroes...

But at least we will have Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who, Kyle XY, Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood, Terminator, and Lost, at least for a while.

[jedijeff]

"Even if the strike ends in the next week or two, it looks like they will scuttle the rest of the season" of "Pushing Daisies," Fuller said. "This is for many reasons. One is that it will be hard to launch a big promotional campaign for four or five episodes; it's just not cost effective. Two is that if we did come back, we would land right in the path of the 'American Idol' juggernaut, and would likely be decimated.

That kind of makes me a bit sad as well. I hope shows like American Idol do not prevent good shows from being aired just because it is on. I would hate to see in the future we have to go for months with out certain shows because American Idol is on. I guess for me, I am a bit biased, as the type of music American Idol showcases is usually the types I dislike, and I don't think I have ever watched more then 20 minutes of it. I kind of guessed that if this strike gets resolved in the next few weeks, that the remainder of this years TV season would be lost anyways. With Lost starting tonight, Terminator and BSG coming up, I think I will have enough to watch for the rest of the season, so I am hoping they gets things resolved so they are not delayed next season.

[Dan M]

American Idol has been steamrolling much better shows for years now.  I'm sure it's got some canceled and others' schedules changed.  The strike isn't really a factor there.

[Blackride]

American Idol has been steamrolling much better shows for years now.  I'm sure it's got some canceled and others' schedules changed.  The strike isn't really a factor there.

Cheers,Seinfeld and the Cosby shows were also goliaths of their times and people did want to go against them either.

[Geekyfanboy]

WGA/AMPTP Deal Days Away?
Source: Reuters
February 5, 2008

Negotiators for Hollywood studios and striking writers have agreed to terms of a new contract that could be presented to union leaders in days and, if approved, end their three-month-old labor clash later this week, two sources told Reuters on Monday.

While the outlines of an accord were reached over the weekend, the two sides still need to hammer out contract language before a deal is submitted for approval to the governing boards the East and West Coast branches of the Writers Guild of America, they said.

Those sources, who were briefed on the status of talks but were not authorized to speak publicly about them under a media blackout, said negotiators hoped action by the WGA boards on a deal could come as early as Friday.

An endorsement by WGA leaders presumably would be accompanied by a decision to call off the strike, but if the WGA boards were divided, the walkout might continue pending a ratification vote by rank-and-file members.

One source said the big breakthrough in the latest round of talks, which began January 23, came on the key sticking point of how much writers should be paid for advertising-supported Internet "streaming" of television shows.

That source also characterized the writers' agreement in principle as an improvement over the terms of an earlier, separate contract deal for Hollywood directors that helped pave the way for studios and the WGA to resume bargaining after weeks of stalemate.

"They reached agreement on the major terms, and now its a question of reducing it to (contract) language, which we're all hoping goes well and continues in the same spirit of progress that the talks have experienced so far," he said.

He cautioned, however, that the process of translating a deal into contract language has led to snags in previous labor negotiations.

[Rico]

I think there's one main reason this seems to finally be settling.  The Oscars.  There was very big concern over either canceling this due to no one basically showing up or delaying the show.  Even now if the strike settles not much will change as far as new TV.  At least until next fall.

[jedijeff]

Well it does seem hopeful that things will get resolved. Seems a bit ironic to me, that the Oscars might help it along, and that is one show I have little interest in watching. I agree that this season is a wash, as it would take them weeks to get scripts out, and by then, actors and other people might be off working on movies or other projects, since normally the shows productions would have been wrapping up by that time anyways. If this is resolved soon, then hopefully the writers can get to work on making sure that the fall shows will be really good.

[Darth Gaos]

Like Heroes, Moonlight and a second and a half season of Jericho.

Is Battlstar Galactica done?  I know they are premiering in March but did the whole season get in the can?

[Rico]

Like Heroes, Moonlight and a second and a half season of Jericho.

Is Battlstar Galactica done?  I know they are premiering in March but did the whole season get in the can?

No, it's not all done.  Only about half.  11 episodes filmed, 10 will be shown.  The plan was to make 22 total for season 4.  It will probably be a year before we get or see the rest.

[Rico]

Here's a really good source to know the status of all the TV shows and their status due to the strike, episodes left (if any) and so forth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_the_2007-08_Writers_Guild_of_America_strike_on_television

[Rico]

Looks like we will know in the next couple of days if the strike is over - or not.

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSHAR82772420080208

[Geekyfanboy]

Yep.. word around town is we will find out Monday.. but I don't want to get my hopes up.

[Geekyfanboy]

Got this from TVGuide.com

This is what they think will happen if the writers strike ends very soon.

After the Strike: When Your Favorites Will Return!

At long last, a strike chart you can get excited about!

With an end to the three-month-old WGA strike imminent (yay!), the networks have quietly begun outlining plans to salvage what's left of the current TV season. At the same time, I've been quietly picking at my moles to get a preview of those plans — the results of which appear in chart form below.

Keep in mind that the following information remains extremely tentative and is subject to change (and probably will). In other words, I strongly suggest you refresh your browser at least once an hour to ensure that you're getting the most up-to-date scoop possible.

24
Expected to return this fall or January '09.

30 Rock
Expected to shoot 5 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.

Back to You
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Future TBD*.

Bionic Woman
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Big Love
Expected to go into production on Season 3 in March. Airdate info is TBD.

Bones
Four pre-strike episodes left. Unclear whether additional episodes will be produced for this season.

Brothers & Sisters
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.

Chuck
No new episodes until fall.

Criminal Minds
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

CSI
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

CSI: Miami
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

CSI: NY
Expected to shoot 4 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

Desperate Housewives
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.

Dirty Sexy Money
No new episodes planned until fall; three remaining pre-strike episodes will undergo some tweaking and kick off fall run.

ER
TBD.

Everybody Hates Chris
Twelve pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Friday Night Lights
No new episodes expected for this season. Future TBD.

Gossip Girl
Expected to shoot up to 9 new episodes to air in April/May/June.

Grey's Anatomy
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May

Heroes
TBD.

House
Expected to shoot 4 to 6 new episodes to air in April/May.

How I Met Your Mother
Expected to shoot 5 to 7 new episodes to air in April/May.

Jericho
Seven episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Las Vegas
Three pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected for this season.

Law & Order: SVU
TBD.

Life
No new episodes expected until fall.

Life Is Wild
No new episodes expected. Ever.

Lost
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Six additional episodes could air this season.

Medium
Six pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected this season.

Men in Trees
Eleven pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected this season.

Moonlight
No new episodes expected until fall.

My Name Is Earl
Expected to shoot 8 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.

NCIS
Expected to shoot 5 to 7 new episodes, only three of which may air this season.

The New Adventures of Old Christine
Seven pre-strike episodes remain. No additional episodes expected this season.

Numbers
Expected to shoot 5 to 7 new episodes, only three of which may air this season.

October Road
Three pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

The Office
Expected to shoot 5 to 10 new episodes to air in April/May.

One Tree Hill
Six pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Prison Break
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Private Practice
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.

Pushing Daisies
No new episodes until fall.

Reaper
Three pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Samantha Who?
Three remaining pre-strike episodes could be held until fall (see Dirty Sexy Money).

Scrubs
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Four additional episodes will likely be shot; unclear whether they'll air on NBC or go straight to DVD.

Smallville
Four pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 3 to 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Supernatural
Two pre-strike episodes remain. Expected to shoot 3 to 5 additional episodes to air in April/May.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Five pre-strike episodes remain. Future beyond that TBD.

Ugly Betty
Expected to shoot 4 or 5 new episodes to air in April/May.

[Rico]

Wow!  I'm really surprised that so many shows will be adding a few more episodes before the end of the season.  That's cool news.  Hopefully the strike will end soon and all that will happen.