TV writers strike...

[jaybird2001wi]

All Late Night shows are in reruns because of the television writers' strike and scripts have been stockpiled for this very reason. Apparently, the writers want more money in regards to percentage for DVD Sales, etc. and they feel that reality shows are not compensated enough.

Will this effect on of you folks in regards to viewing and what are your thoughts on this strike?

[JoeH33]

Pay the writers. The Writers got the shaft (although its partially their fault) on the last deal and are making approx. $0.02 per sale on DVD's. Now this time they don't want to lose out on internet revenue.

[burniebrewer]

I'm not missing anything. There's nothing on TV I watch that isn't live sports or a syndicated rerun.

[IslandsAC]

Yeah I'm kind of surprised that the Writers think that a strike will give them any leverage in the short run. Call me new fashioned, but the only new show I watch every week is the office, and I'd almost rather just watch the reruns they would show in its place.

[JoeH33]

I'm not missing anything. There's nothing on TV I watch that isn't live sports or a syndicated rerun.

 

Dude you're missing out, there's still some good TV programs out there you just have to look. Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, 24, Prison Break, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Wire, Entourage etc. are all good shows.

[Team Canada]

It's unfortunate as a view, but I don't really blame them.

 

24 was just postponed..

[JoeH33]

Yeah I'm kind of surprised that the Writers think that a strike will give them any leverage in the short run.

I dunno, I think the strike puts producers in a tight spot. When the scripts run out for all prime time shows in ~January/February, we'll have nothing but reality tv. I think thats not only a scary thought for TV viewers, but also studios looking to sustain ratings.

[bbrauch2000]

Lost will be pushed back as well...........

[JJHardy7]

24 is postponed? That's terrible news. That's what keeps my interest between the end of football and spring training.

[Paul77]

I think the writers are certainly entitled to more of the DVD profits. I'm not sure what kind of revenue is earned from the internet rebroadcasting of network shows (via itunes and such) but the WGA seems to think it's quite a bit, enough to make it a major sticking point. Making "reality show" scribes part of the WGA irks me for some reason and lessens any sympathy I might have for the writers.

 

Also, seeing network stars picketing and talking about "fighting for our pension" (I'm looking at you Tina Fey) makes me care even less. Just be honest about why you are out there - your industry is a huge money maker and you want a bigger piece of the pie. Nothing wrong with that. Pretending that your fighting for something more admirable is counter productive, IMO.

 

Stock piling scripts is only going to get us into about mid January. After that, welcome to reality show country. Goodbye. I'm disappointed 24 is being pushed back. I'm disappointed Heroes reshot the December 3rd episode (it's now the season finale), I'll miss the office, but of well. I've got a Tivo full of shows to watch. I've got 6 episodes of 24 from last season still!

 

I will say I'm going to miss the late night shows. I'm a Daily Show/Cobert Show/Jimmy Kimmel guy. While they are in reruns I'm watching Letterman & Conan again.

[Katuluu]

It actually gives them a lot of leverage in the short run. Though it isn't just television writers striking, it's the entire WGA.

 

All talk shows (Letterman, Colbert Report, Daily Show) and variety shows like SNL must immediately go dark as they rely on new scripts every day and must remain current with their new content. Daytime soaps will run out of scripts and go dark sometime in January, while all nighttime television shows have scripts to run them till February or March. At that point, all that would be on television is reruns and reality shows and the occasional animated show. The Writer's Guild is asking for an increase of 4 cents per every DVD sold, and they want residuals for any online content that is being distributed, which they currently receive nothing for. They are also trying to get writers for reality shows and animated work to be covered by the WGA, which would entitle them to health benefits. They aren't asking for very much, and what they are asking for is incredibly fair.

[JoeH33]

24 is postponed? That's terrible news. That's what keeps my interest between the end of football and spring training.

If this strike doesn't get resolved soon, they could even throw in the towel on this year and start over in '08-'09.

 

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975552.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1

[Paul77]

while all nighttime television shows have scripts to run them till February or March. At that point, all that would be on television is reruns and reality shows and the occasional animated show.

 

The best estimates I've heard so far put scripted shows into January. But that might not matter any way. Production on "The Office" already shut down even though they have several scripts in place because Steve Carrel is siding with the writers. Heroes has scripts also but choose to end production and close the season on December 3rd. Same thing for shows like 30 Rock and 24.

 

And on the subject of 24, is anyone else concerned that this season is going to suck? First they had to shoot scenes without Kiefer Sutherland while he was in jail, now a writers strike and finally halted production...

[JoeH33]

And on the subject of 24, is anyone else concerned that this season is going to suck? First they had to shoot scenes without Kiefer Sutherland while he was in jail, now a writers strike and finally halted production...

Maybe this strike is a blessing in disguise then. It gives them an excuse to scrap this season and start fresh next year.

[Katuluu]

Making "reality show" scribes part of the WGA irks me for some reason and lessens any sympathy I might have for the writers.

 

Also, seeing network stars picketing and talking about "fighting for our pension" (I'm looking at you Tina Fey) makes me care even less. Just be honest about why you are out there - your industry is a huge money maker and you want a bigger piece of the pie. Nothing wrong with that. Pretending that your fighting for something more admirable is counter productive, IMO.

Why would it irk you? Reality shows are heavily scripted and the writers for them receive no residuals and limited compensation for their work. Also, those writers don't receive any health benefits or pensions, as they aren't eligible for any guilds.

 

As for Network Stars and any other major celebrities, they are in the vast minority of the Writer's Guild. The average WGA member makes less then 20K a year (I believe it's around 14K). Writers are one of the most important parts of the entire process, yet typically receive less than gaffers or grips. "New media" is a prety big sticking point because they currently receive nothing for anything distributed that way. Any movies downloaded from your cable company, or Amazon or anywhere else means the writers don't receive a penny for it and since more and more places are trying to distribute digitally (as it is much much cheaper for them) that means writers could see even more of their income disappear.

[Jimbo]

24 is postponed? That's terrible news. That's what keeps my interest between the end of football and spring training.

 

The beat writer for the MJS was on WPR yesterday and she said the SoCal fires hurt production and now the strike.

 

[JJHardy7]

Sutherland was in jail? I didn't even know that. The trailer for 24 looks pretty good, but I guess I'm just hoping since I was disappointed last season.

[Team Canada]

while all nighttime television shows have scripts to run them till February or March. At that point, all that would be on television is reruns and reality shows and the occasional animated show.

 

The best estimates I've heard so far put scripted shows into January. But that might not matter any way. Production on "The Office" already shut down even though they have several scripts in place because Steve Carrel is siding with the writers. Heroes has scripts also but choose to end production and close the season on December 3rd. Same thing for shows like 30 Rock and 24.

 

The bigger problem isn't even the stars siding with the writers, it's that on a lot of shows, they're actually writer-producers, and many of them have decided that they won't do any non-writing tasks either. I think that's somewhat poor form, but whatever.

[Paul77]

Network Stars and any other major celebrities, they are in the vast minority of the Writer's Guild. The average WGA member makes less then 20K a year (I believe it's around 14K).

 

My point was that I think that having a "regular" person, that is not the star of a network show but a typical WGA member, explain their concerns might make them a more sympathetic bunch. Having celebrities do this you run the risk of people dismissing their concerns as greedy, even if thats not the case.

 

"New media" is a prety big sticking point because they currently receive nothing for anything distributed that way. Any movies downloaded from your cable company, or Amazon or anywhere else means the writers don't receive a penny for it and since more and more places are trying to distribute digitally (as it is much much cheaper for them) that means writers could see even more of their income disappear.

 

Fair enough. I didn't think it through that far. I was just thinking about itunes and ad revenue generated from the streaming webcasts at places like NBC.com

 

Why would it irk you? Reality shows are heavily scripted.

 

Everything about the reality genre irks me - perhaps for no good reason. I know (we all know by now don't we?) that they a heavily scripted and directed. I just hate reality shows and wish they would go away.

[Fatter than Joey]

heavily scripted and directed

 

You're telling me Kid Nation is scripted????

[MadtownTim]

Here's the question: will anyone notice?

 

With the exception of a couple shows, TV shows over the last 10 years have been abysmal. I've also gotten to the point where I rarely watch anything other than movies or sports broadcasts. Sure, I'll watch Kitchen Nightmares and Heroes, but when NBC can't get people excited about a show like Studio 60, I lose faith in networks entirely.

[Fatter than Joey]

Here's the question: will anyone notice?

 

Heroes ended prematurely, 24 has been delayed, The Office has been shut down, Lost has been delayed --

 

Yeah people will notice.

[MadtownTim]

Heroes ended prematurely, 24 has been delayed, The Office has been shut down, Lost has been delayed

 

Watch but won't miss, never liked, don't like and don't watch. --

 

Won't miss them

[endaround]

TV is the best its ever been. Anyone who says that TV nowadays sucks really has no idea how TV, especially drama were in the past.

[Paul77]

TV is the best its ever been. Anyone who says that TV nowadays sucks really has no idea how TV, especially drama were in the past.

The reality of the 200 channel lineup has brought more crap than ever before to the television but as endaround points out, we have some really great shows, particularly dramas on as well. It's like we're at both ends of the spectrum - the bad shows suck more than ever (and theres more of them) but at the same time the really good shows are better than ever.