Writer's Strike, would it affect you?

Greg

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071031/ts_alt_afp/entertainmentfilmtelevisionlaborstrike_071031195332

Since a number of media outlets could be affected by this I figured it would be a bit bigger than a typical news story.

I'm gonna be crushed if Lost suffers from this. A few years ago I don't think I would have given a damn if something like this happened. I probably would have cheered it on since television programming in the US was worthless. Below worthless even, except for South Park which I didn't care to set a schedule around.

On the plus side, I'd get guilty pleasure out of seeing The Daily Show and Colbert Report be put on hiatus.

"What?! You mean Jon Stewart isn't witty, intelligent and coy all by himself?"

Another plus is the number of Hollywood projects that have been greenlighted or at least had scripts worked up for in the past few months to have some material on the backburner should a long strike occur. I guess you could also say that would be a negative impact depending on the movie (Fast and Furious 4)

Ms. Suave Debonair

So they just go on strike until an agreement is formed?
Well, I suppose they have every right to go on strike, like the rest of us. It wouldn't be the end of the world though as there are plenty f other outlets we can focus on to pass the time in TV and what not's absence. If it goes on for 22 weeks like the last one though, that would really be a bummer. It seems hard to put a writers strike in context because I have absolutely no idea how long the process of writing a show takes. If somebody knows, please let me know.

I will kill if LOST gets delayed though.

Zeratanis

I'm going to cry in my pillow daily if a certain upcoming work by Sam Raimi is affected because of this. ;_;

-Zera

King Kobra

It was time they noticed how shitty their payment was for being forced to write the scripts of shitty movies….

Mr. Evil

I've become so disinterested in the media lately that it doesn't really affect me.

Cap'n Carter

Find entertainment other than television

everything's better now

Mr. All Sunday

But Jon Stewart is witty, funny, and coy by himself.

I don't really care, as I have a twelve book long series I'm immersed in, and therefore haven't had much time for the TV.

Komrade Korobooshi

It was time they noticed how shitty their payment was for being forced to write the scripts of shitty movies….

But, err, isn't it their fault for writing a sucky script?

Strange_One

I don't care if anyone else likes them, I'm a big fan of LOST and House and I'd be agrevated and sad if they halted.

Dunno if they'd be affected, but the thought alone…

Ubiq

Hard to say how it would affect me really as it really depends on how organizations react to the writers going on strike as well as the length of the strike.

Obviously, the first thing to happen would be whatever scripts that were cranked out prior to the strike are going to be filmed. If these need to be adjusted in some way, the studios will hire a scab to do that. So for at least a short while after the strike begins, we're still going to see original programming.

Now, say that it lasts long enough that scripts prepared before the strike run out. Then we're going to see networks scramble to sign up programming that doesn't involve writers who are on strike. So the first result is: far more airtime devoted to sporting events, news (Fox News in particular will be unaffected as the White House doesn't employ WGA members… well, to my knowledge anyway), and certain reality shows (depends on the shows though as many of those have WGA writers as well). We're also going to see a lot of repeats of current shows as well as _________ Night at Movies as a movie can fill several timeslots without having to show something from earlier in the season.

Depending on the length of the strike and how said repetition affects their ratings, we might see networks digging into the vaults and using older material to fill time. That could be a good thing in certain cases.

Mr. Luffy

Yeah, I can't see how it would affect me that much. Also I wouldn't really worry about it unless a compromise hasn't been struck by June 2008.

It would be very interesting to see how the film and television industry would react though.

Greg

All the scenarios of what could happen have already been covered to death in the press and….I could give a shit about 90% of it. But then there's stuff like LOST which would kill me.

There's a pleasant surprise for Prison Break fans. They completed through episode 13 which is the halfway point in the season anyway. Technically they could cut the season there which actually wouldn't be a bad idea considering the Scoffield story seems to be wrapping up.

Then Simpsons and Family Guy are mostly safe considering the overwhelming majority of their writing was completed long ago.

As Ubiq suggested this could create an influx of reality TV which...ew...

Really makes you respect Johnny Carson though. While they're saying Leno, Stewart, Colbert, etc. would shut down, freaking Carson got creative and did his own stuff even if it involved a slideshow. That's an entertainer, the show must freaking go on.

The funny part about the Hollywood connection is....the Director's Guild contract is set to expire in the not-too-distant future as well. A strike could have a devastating blow to that if it went on long enough, even if they returned.

Anyway, don't mean to make this sound like the most important thing ever, but it would suck for the shows I download from across the sea that really brighten my lonely evenings.

Guess I'll have to turn to my old friend, pornography.

Local-chan

I got worried for a moment there, but it seems it only affects American TV shows, guess it would suck a bit if there was no Scrubs…

Greg

But Jon Stewart is witty, funny, and coy by himself.

Yeah, especially when doing sketches created by a team of writers.

Local, regarding Scrubs, if something happens they've decided to finish the show via DVD releases.

goty

I'd be sad if Lost or The Office were affected…they're pretty much the only tv series i care enough to be worried right now, even though i follow Heroes, Prison Break, Simpsons and a couple others.
Talking about the big screen, maybe a strike would be good news

Roz

As long as Dexter is safe, I will be okay.

@Greg:

Really makes you respect Johnny Carson though. While they're saying Leno, Stewart, Colbert, etc. would shut down, freaking Carson got creative and did his own stuff even if it involved a slideshow. That's an entertainer, the show must freaking go on.

Really, would the strike be such a bad thing? Sure we would lose certain entertainers, but hey, if it got that freak off of network television, and brought Conan a year early, no one would complain (Conan is funniest when he improv's during interviews anyway, his opening monologues that are well thought out and planned tend to suck).

raj

@Crash:

(Conan is funniest when he improv's during interviews anyway, his opening monologues that are well thought out and planned tend to suck).

Yeah, I find it pretty funny when he improvises too. But if a massive strike somehow stagnates all television I'll probably just read more or something. I've never really been that big a fan of live action stuff (save for stuff like Conan, Colbert, etc.) so it's not like my world will come to an end.

Mr. All Sunday

@Greg:

Yeah, especially when doing sketches created by a team of writers.

I know he doesn't do all of the stuff on his show by himself (obviously), but that doesn't stop from being a pretty funny and witty guy.

Mumbo

I think Lost, The Office, Prison Break, and the Colbert Report are the only shows I watch that would be affected. I think I'd be maddest about Prison Break, though, because apparently this is the last season (before the presumedly shitty Cherry Hill or whatever it's called spinoff) and I want to watch it properly.

Ubiq

Well, the upside for The Colbert Report is that going on a hiatus during the strike would give him more time to campaign in South Carolina. I'd really, really like to see him get at least one delegate to each convention.

Battle Franky

SUNDAY AT 10:02 PM: ALL DAY TALKS HAVE COLLAPSED! NEGOTIATIONS ENDED WHEN WGA EAST REFUSED TO STOP STRIKE! An AMPTP insider just told me: "The WGA went out on strike at 12:01 AM Eastern. At about 9:30 PM Pacific they informed us they were on strike and left the hotel." Statements by both sides to follow.

Several marquee shows, including Fox's "24" and ABC's "Lost," were set to return in January and February, respectively. But "24" will have only eight or nine of the season's 24 episodes made, while "Lost" producers will have finished half of the 16 episodes ABC ordered.

"Last week we reported that NBC was delaying the Heroes spin-off Heroes: Origins, likely due to the upcoming Writers Guild Strike"

"It has also been reported that the second season of Heroes may be end much sooner than expected.

Sources have said that the show is shooting an alternative ending which could serve as the season finale on the December 3rd episode"

Greg

Just the fact that someone took the time to manipulate such an image in such a way is hysterical.

Bee's Wing

Well, it indeed looks as though Heroes is being affected. Yes, they'll probably rush the ending and it'll come out shitty.

But! In order to sell more Season 2 DVDs, they'll probably get the writers together at the end of the strike and shoot the intended series ending and label it as "Super Special Awesome DVD Extra!"

Or they'll just cut out early and pop it into a third. Yeah, I'm a huge Heroes fan but I'd feel rather hypocritical complaining about the strike. I come from a family of people in "the business", so to speak.

And who knows. Like Ubiq said, maybe being put on hiatus will let Colbert go campaign in South Carolina. I just want to see him get something, if only for the laughs.

Jay_n_Silentbob

@Ubiq:

Well, the upside for The Colbert Report is that going on a hiatus during the strike would give him more time to campaign in South Carolina. I'd really, really like to see him get at least one delegate to each convention.

He was rejected as a candidate last week.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he had this planned all along.

Greg

http://tv.ign.com/articles/832/832938p1.html

There it is.

Somehow, in a strange way…I'm happy. I was afraid we'd get nothing but this kind of makes my wish from the Lost thread come true about 'norma'/extended seasons. So, yeah, kinda happy actually. At least we get something!

Ms. Suave Debonair

@Greg:

http://tv.ign.com/articles/832/832938p1.html

There it is.

Somehow, in a strange way…I'm happy. I was afraid we'd get nothing but this kind of makes my wish from the Lost thread come true about 'norma'/extended seasons. So, yeah, kinda happy actually. At least we get something!

~~Greg just summed my feelings for me so I'm just quoting his post.~~

Battle Franky

Wow! Really doesn't bode well if Cuse isn't optimistic of a resolution in the writers strike, seeing a he's one of the chief negotiators for the WGA, which is sorta funny, 'cause he's also a producer on the show.

Looks like he's pretty much resigned to having an eight episode season, so things must be pretty damn bleak at the negotiating table.

Bee's Wing

Well, I heard on a news report this morning that the WGA was willing to compromise, and only get money from Direct Downloads instead of both DVDs and the downloads, and they were shot down.

So yeah, if one side is willing to compromise and the other isn't, it could negatively affect both sides and turn this into a long fight. I do hope the WGA wins out in the end. They just aren't getting a fair chunk of what's theirs :/.

amai-mikan

http://tv.ign.com/articles/832/832730p1.html

More info from IGN about how long other shows are expected to air until, it was posted the day before that announcement on Lost. It doesn't look too bad for most shows since they all appear to have a decent amount of script left for them to close the season off semi-cleanly. On the bright side South Park isn't being affected =P

Greg

On the bright side South Park isn't being affected =P

For all two weeks left of the season.

I hope they send up the whole thing in next week's episode.

My dream would be for the following:

Matt and Trey appear seated by a warm hearth in silk robes smoking pipes.

"Good evening America, feeling bored? Nothing new on the air? Well, no worries, we here at South Park are non-union and are happy to bring you the only original content on Comedy Central tonight. In fact, probably the only original content at 10PM on many other stations as well. So we figured since we're the only thing most of those people tuning into television would watch, we hold the responsibility of presenting an extra-special awesome episode of South Park. We logged many hours on this piece and hope you'll enjoy it."

Then they should just play the Terrance and Phillip special again with mustaches added to everyone's face making it 'new'.

That would be amazing.

Are Canadian shows being affected by this strike by the way?

Is "Who's line.." even still on the air? :wassat:

Impel Down

Yeah, I don't watch too many shows, but I'm a tad bummed that the Colbert Report is going to be off for a bit.

And someone told me that Scrubs wouldn't be affected. Is this true?

Battle Franky

24 becomes the first big network causality:

Nov 8, 2007
Fox became the first broadcast network Wednesday to announce a revised midseason schedule affected by the writers strike.

Faced with the possibility of a partial season seven of "24," the network has opted not to air the real-time drama at all this season.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i903d9ca529efbd330ec0f239548772dc

Greg

NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR 24!!!!!

Shall we review?

Season 6- Plummeted in ratings and critical evaluation.

Huge arcing storyline planned to come off the coat-tails of Season 6 filmed in Africa- Canned because deemed too expensive.

Keifer Sutherland- sentenced to jail time for 40 days which would occur during filming.

Season 7- Hiatus

Hawkeye

Bloody David Letterman re-runs.

taboo

@Jay_n_Silentbob:

He was rejected as a candidate last week.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he had this planned all along.

can't he still try for republican? he's supposedly running for both sides i heard

Jay_n_Silentbob

@taboo:

can't he still try for republican? he's supposedly running for both sides i heard

He was, but the fee (which is $32,000, mind you) was too much for him to pay.

It's a sad turn of events that Colbert was rejected…Makes you wonder why the democratic process exists...

I guess I'll just have to vote for Obama.

Impel Down

Well, in the vote to keep him on/off the ballot, it was like 12-1 or something. I'd like to know who that one is.

I don't really know who votes for that kind of thing, but if one of the candidates was the one, they will probably become the Democratic Primary Candidate.

The Dude

@Greg:

Then they should just play the Terrance and Phillip special again with mustaches added to everyone's face making it 'new'.

That would be fucking awesome. I LOVE the Terrence and Phillip special.

Also, bad news Office fans. It stopped filming. Hopefully the strike ceases soon.

CosmicDebris

This isn't affecting me at all since I don't watch TV, but I feel bad for you all following series…However, I'm in support of the writers as many times they get the shaft. I was shocked when I learned that Peter S. Beagle hasn't received a dime from the DVD releases of The Last Unicorn.

Bee's Wing

Yup. That's the reality of the strike.

Because apparently writers don't own much, if any, of the content once it's put onto a medium for sale >_>.

I like to use strikes like this to drive home the point of how closely knit acting communities are. Notice that hosts, actors and directors are picketing as well even though they aren't writers? They support the writers whose strike is putting them out of work because you really become close to the people you work with when filming something. Same goes for putting on a production.

Ters

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a79461/us-strike-show-status-24-premiere-axed.html

Bawwwwwww

Before I jumped on House and 24, I wasn't really following anything but anime. At least House is fine but still. Now I'll have less to look forward to to let me relax from school.

Caracal

The only series that I really care for at the moment is Heroes, and the BBC haven't finished showing season 1 yet and I doubt we'll be seeing season 2 any time soon, so hopefully by the time they'll get around to airing it everything will have been sorted.

Devilfruitgrower

has close relations to an Econ Prof

"Well Say I write a book that the publisher sells for 40 bucks. I'd be lucky to get 4 of that. The publishers are just dogs."

Since my aunt and uncle are both hollywood writers they aren't getting a steady income and are doing set work (which they won't get paid for after the movie is finished.) So I won't get to see them this year for thanksgiving.

SuperJew

@Greg:

Really makes you respect Johnny Carson though. While they're saying Leno, Stewart, Colbert, etc. would shut down, freaking Carson got creative and did his own stuff even if it involved a slideshow. That's an entertainer, the show must freaking go on.

ahem

The last time there was a writers strike, Johnny Carson and David Letterman eventually crossed the picket lines in order to do their respective late night talk shows. However, I don't think that they did a scripted monolouge that normally kicks off the show. It was mostly interviews with other celebrities that comprised and maybe a "Blue Man Group performs here!" skit.

Also, I think that Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are striking due to solidarity for their writers. Actually, it makes me sorta respect Carson even less for hanging his writers out to dry (see: DeGeneres, Ellen).

Greg

However, I don't think that they did a scripted monolouge that normally kicks off the show. It was mostly interviews with other celebrities that comprised and maybe a "Blue Man Group performs here!" skit.

Right, hence why I said:

Carson got creative and did his own stuff

Meaning as you described.

Also, I think that Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert are striking due to solidarity for their writers.

Yeah that…aaaaaaaaaaand the fact that they don't want to cross the picket line. With how everyone is so tight-knit today in the entertainment world, you can't hiccup without offending some group that's connected to a group, that's affiliated with another group, that has connections to another group, etc. all leading to you shooting yourself in the foot down the line.

And if their salary was suspended I'm sure they'd either be getting extremely vocal or back in the studio.

Which…btw, is the current plan if the strike goes on long enough. They're all going back you know. In which case the solidarity issue is baloney one way or the other.

I dunno why everyone's beating Ellen up. I'm not a fan of her more recent 'comedy' (although I did like her early 90's stand-up) I think it's professional that she isn't breaking contract.

That's not to say I don't support the writers whom, well, I'm not gonna buy the pity-party that they're starving artists, BUT I think they should get paid for the mediums in which their work appears.

Toshiya

Gah this strike just made me sad :< 2 of my favorite shows got affected by it. Scrubs and Heroes. Scrubs 18 episdes are now 12 episodes :< and it was the series finale ><

igalsfy

this strike is shitty for the tv series, but as for movies… hollywood movies have freshly made scenarios? since when?

anyway, that won't affect me at all.

Cap'n Carter

This cause was doomed as soon as Tom Arnold joined it