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