Hollywood Writers' Strike
 

Wasn't sure if anyone's started a thread on this yet, but 7 shows have already halted production.

Some of the shows include:

• Desperate Housewives (ABC)
• Rules of Engagement (CBS)
• The Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
• Big Bang Theory (CBS)
• Two and a Half Men (CBS)
• 'Til Death (FOX)
• Back To You (FOX)

I read that "Heroes" had to rewrite the ending of an episode airing in January (the last episode completed) in case it becomes the season finale.

I have a friend on the crew of L&O/CI and they have yet to let them know when it will halt production.

Will Saturday Night Live be a repeat?

And when will my soaps go into repeats? That will be AWFUL.

Unless they show "classic" episodes.

I think I read that Soaps usually have 30 days stockpiled, so you'll probably get another month.

I assume SNL will go into repeats since the late night shows already did.

They need to get it straight, Eva Longoria PARKER... as the credits say now. It doesn't quite rhyme in their chant though.

I honestly don't know what the writers make. I'd be curious to know. I have a feeling if I knew, I probably wouldn't be sympathetic to their cause, but maybe I'd be moreso.

Last week as I was driving home (from somewhere in Nebraska), they were interviewing a writer on NPR. The writer said that on a popular show, a writer can earn as much as $7500 per episode. So for a twenty episode show that's about $150,000/yr. And then they also earn something when the show goes into syndication - I didn't remember that part. He also pointed out that typically a popular show is only around for a few years (maybe 4-5).

ETA: I don't think it's unreasonable for them to want to a bigger chunk of the DVD sales. The stars sometimes make six digits per episode for some of these shows.

According to payscale.com, the median salary for screenwriters in LA is 130,000. I had seen higher salaries reported in recent articles about the strike.

There's only what, like 12,000 members of the Writer's Guild?

I do feel like their contract needs to evolve as new media has evolved. But I kinda want to know more.

Out of those, the only show that I watch is DH. If they run out of stuff to air, maybe they should bring LOST to the screen EARLY -- wouldn't that would be nice!?

If this goes on long enough, we'll be watching movies and hey, maybe even get rights to air non-US shows (though I doubt that will happen, no matter what the Canadian newspapers are saying...Corner Gas (which I don't watch...kinda trashy, IMHO) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (which I like) on non-cable TV in the US? British shows like Coronation Street? Reruns of the British version of The Office? Doubt that'll ever happen....)

Thank God South Park is still new. :D

If they don't resolve this soon, it will probably be Reality shows out the yin-yang...even more so than now.

I have been reading the Strike Blog on tvguide.com. Apparently, their are enough soaps to last till beginning of next year.

Big Brother has been rushed for a winter edition. Rumor has it that it will be a celebrity edition.

There are writers on reality shows, they're just not covered by the writers union.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2004Aug9.html

Yowza. I am in the wrong line of work. 'Course, with my lack of a network (a) in that field and (b) in LA, my chances of becoming a screenwriter are slim to none, and slim just left town.

Sorority Life 4, anyone??!?! :p;):p

I heard that the producers of Lost might not start the season in Feb 08 as planned, because they want the whole season at once, but in Feb 09 instead. I'll be super pissed if that happens.

Fox has cancelled "24" for the year. "The Office" has also shut down production, because several members of the cast (Steve Carrell included) would not cross the picket line to film the episodes they have scripts for.

YAGH!!! As in, no hope of having any 24 at all this year? Even if the strike is resolved? Still no 24??? :(

There are no shows without the writers. They are actually more important, in my mind, than the actors. Pay them the damn money. They sure earn it.

The Office is Closed :(

Who cares what it looks like to everyone else? These are creative people who put out a unique product. They are leveraging that in order to make a more fair cut on these other areas. Studios have started making money in different areas without considering the writers. Why shouldn't the writers get a cut?

Really good writers should be every bit as well compensated as really good actors.

And hair stylists? Makeup people? Completely interchangeable. Put out a want ad and 100 people will send resumés.

Boo!! Pay them! I want my Office back!!!! :mad::mad::mad:

This is a really good explanation of why the writers are striking -- it's not like they're asking for the world for heaven's sake, PAY THEM the stinkin' 4 more cents, stop robbing them on the DVDs AND GET OUR SHOWS BACK!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk

Exactly.

As for the "The Office" actors, I say good for them. I am seeing a lot of actors standing behind the writers. It could be because the actors know that the writers need support. Then again, I also think the actors know better than to bite the hand that feeds them. I agree that without the writers, there is no television.

I heard something silly on the news about reality shows. The hosts of "Dancing With The Stars" had to ad lib because there were no writers. *GASP* You mean reality shows may have to start being based on actual reality???:eek:

I think that is what is bugging me so much about the late night shows and reality shows during the strike. Conan, David and Jay are all comics. Do they really not have a big enough brain to WRITE THEIR OWN MATERIAL?!?!?

I have to agree with all the previous posters. This is beyond ridiculous. It is more than apparent that even with the best actors, the WRITERS are the ones who are more responsible for the success of the show.

On another note, I am not sorry to see SNL dark. That show has become painful to watch.

Most of the Office Actors are also writers. So they're nearly all on strike in the first place.
Conan, David, Jay, Jon, Stephen are ALL writers guild members. They can't/won't cross their own picket line. Add that into the idea that one person should come up with 45 minutes of new material a day all week? No one person can do that. Most stand up comics use the same routine(s) regularly with only small tweaks and changes

can't say i blame them. after watching the youtube video from the office writers i think its a bunch of bs that these writers aren't being appropriately compensated. that info 'bout the webisodes is complete hooey.

I support the strike... the way that people watch shows has changed (more people watch on the internet or by DVD/netflix), which affects the way studios make their money. The formulas and methods for writer compensation should change, accordingly, to keep up.

According to NPR, NBC is indeed considering airing the British "The Office."

It's not quite that simple. They are writers-producers, so while they are bound by the strike they are also under contract to come to work to produce the shows. When they wear their producer hats, they have to bear in mind all of the other workers on the show -- cameramen, techies, make-up people, etc. -- who can't afford to go without paychecks. I don't know if they will cross the line or not , but Johnny Carson did in 1988, and so did David Letterman.

didn't the daily show and colbert report already go into reruns?

I've heard that Tina Fey & Jay Leno have both walked the picket line. I'm hoping that David Letterman does, too. Almost every comic does start out writing his/her own material, after all.

I think all of the late night shows have gone into reruns. But if this time mimics 1988 and the strike goes on too long, there well may come a time in a few weeks where Letterman, Leno and others feel like they have to resume production.

They must REALLY be desperate then, because the British one is much better and I think it'd just completely show up the American version...IMO.

I don't know. I like (love) them about the same, and I wonder how much of the British humor in the original might be lost on the average American.

That and also they're accents are really, really, really thick on the British one. Maybe it's just me (I do have a problem understanding people with thick accents) but when I watched the British version I maybe understood every fifth word or so. I felt like I was watching Trainspotting all over again....that movie needed subtitles for those of us who speak American English!

Unfortunately.

*cries*

True, although there's rumors that have gone back and forth about Jon Stewart paying his crew from his production company for the next few weeks. I think it's helping that the writers are picketing shows that are still taping as it will up the ante for the studios to deal with them instead of trying to wait them out. I was really reacting to the idea that Leno and Letterman, etc. should be able to write their own material night after night. It's just not that simple.

I do think that the studios are hoping people will get pissed at the lack of shows and blame the writers, when public opinion really seems to be swaying the writers' way.
I like both, but Ricky Gervais' sense of awkwardness is painful to watch. Same thing with him in Extras. I just want it to stop! I love the US cast now and couldn't give them up. I agree w/ MC that quite a few Americans won't like or get the humor.

Jenna Fischer has a new blog post explaining some things about the strike up.