Television/Film Writers’ Strike

Well, I don’t think we can avoid having a specific thread about it any longer. Here’s what’s been scuttled so far, at least of what has any interest whatsoever to me:

Heroes – Volume Two ended in November. Heroes: Origins spin-off canceled.

Numb3rs – ran out of new episodes on Friday.

Without a Trace – ran out of new episodes on Thursday.

24 – Nine episodes filmed. FOX will not air due to fans preferring a continuous season-long weekly airing format. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles airing in its place.

Star Trek film – production cannot begin. Other films too are likely to be affected the longer it drags on.

Awards shows – Golden Globes shunted into a low-rated news announcement program, People’s Choice Awards live broadcast scuttled in favor of a taped program. Grammys are being targeted. Academy Awards still planning to air, using an improvised ceremony.

Here’s what’s currently on tap, some of which may or may not interest me:

Medium – Has aired two episodes so far. Has seven more in stock.

Prison Break – Has four episodes left, I believe.

The Mole – pulled from cancellation by ABC. Scheduled for a summer relaunch. Search for new contestants and new host (unfortunately still no Anderson Cooper, he’s too entrenched with his news work) is underway.

Paradise Hotel – pulled from cancellation. Second season being made to air on MyNetworkTV.

Survivor – new season "Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites" premieres in early February.

American Idol – currently airing, endlessly, on every available timeslot.

Oh, and for those that are interested, what’s your position on the strike? I personally support the writers. I think they do a good job, for the most part, and they’re reasonable to ask for a stake in the DVDs and the online "promotional" (if you search YouTube, you’ll find a video featuring staff from The Office that lampoons "promotional" online content with commercials) online content.

Edit – P.S.: The strike has now been going for about two months. So far the only real progress that has been made is that Letterman’s Worldwide Pants made a deal to get him back on the air with writers (and a wild beard, which was later shaved off on-air), while other late-night hosts went back to work without writers. Additionally, studios recently announced that some producers and other staff are being laid off. They’re also saying that if this goes on more than, oh, another month or so, pilot production won’t happen and that will jeopardize the fall season.

It’ll affect House pretty soon and then I’ll be unhappy about that, but I am 100% behind the writers.

you didn’t mention ugly betty or grey’s anatomy!

/me is angry and offended

also, when is this damn strike gonna end?! i want my shows back!

I support the writers and I think it is INSANE that the studios haven’t struck a deal with them yet, especially since I’ve looked back and seen how badly the studios were hurt by the last writers strike.

I’ve heard lots of rumors about there being talks soon, and I hope they’re true. Hopefully the Golden Globes being such a disaster will spur the studios to work something out with the writers before the Oscars.

how disasterous was it?

There was no ceremony. They just did a live read-off of the awards with no celebrity participation, and that didn’t even fill its scheduled timeslot.

i support the writers!

man, i was pissed when the second season of Heroes ended so abruptly. that’s the only thing i could really stand on TV.

Speaking of NBC, their president Jeff Zucker has just announced that they are very close to scuttling the usual "upfront" advertiser presentation and switching to some sort of informal / news format for that.

Scrubs season seven has been halted (episodes 1-6 have been aired.) Producers fear there might not be a proper ending for the entire series.. wahh

But I support the strike

I’ve never seen Scrubs, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Apparently it’s one of those generally low-rated critical darlings and fan favorites.

Scrubs season seven has been halted (episodes 1-6 have been aired.) Producers fear there might not be a proper ending for the entire series.. wahh

But I support the strike

Yeah, Scrubs is like the only show I follow, so it’s extra bittert for me that they might not produce the final episode.

Anyhoo, support the writers etc etc.

Well, I agree that the writers have the rights to ask for a raise- after all, they’re the true masterminds behind everything that happens on TV. Personally, I wouldn’t mind paying if there’s a slight increase in the price of DVDs.

Great news — a number of radio and online sources announced last night that the strike may be over within the week. I’m also now seeing unconfirmed reports that it has, in fact, ended.

Well, two of my favorite shows are heavily effected by it.

LOST only has 7 episodes in the can while Battlestar Galactica has 8.

I can only hope what Agent says is true because apart from wanting my favorite shows to go ahead I want the writers to get their due.

EDIT….

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-strike3feb03,1,5942307.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

I’m just going by what the news says, yeah. If you go to Google and search their news, you’ll get dozens or hundreds of hits from various sources reporting that they’re close to finalizing a contract.

does scrubs really have low ratings? everybody here seems to watch it and i think its a bit overrated or something but, yeah, i just thought it was really popular.

I can’t stand Scrubs tbh 🙁

I’ve never watched it. Yes, you’re correct, Bellel. Scrubs actually falls in the category of "low-rated critical/fan darling."

So what exactly are the writers asking for anyways? I remember trying to find out what they were asking for but i had not so great of luck.

Sure the actors are the face of the show/s but without the writers you just have pretty faces and no creativity or substance. Also some of the shows who continue without their writers seem to be lacking, well i saw the daily show and the colbert report and the daily show is just no longer funny and the colbert report seems like a terrible late night talk show now. Regardless actors/actresses get paid way too much anyways.

Also i did notice they’ve stopped playing scrubs 🙁 AND it’s in it’s last season!

Scrubs isn’t as good as it used to be. First season was superb, after that it went downhill. Doesn’t mean I still want to know how it all ends though.

Also, the writers strike is mostly about royalties. They’re stuck on the part about royalties for online content. Never an easy issue.

Well, it’s more like they don’t get paid at all for any of the stuff they write that goes online, and they want to get paid period for it.

They also want to get paid I think 2 cents more for tv shows on dvd sales.

is it really almost over? thank god. are they gonna go right to work and bringing back shows like heroes, grey’s anatomy, ugly betty, etc., or are they just gonna wait for next season?

We don’t know yet. The articles are still saying not definite at this point, but very likely.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/23057002

strike is officially over

Hrm. Still seems a bit dodgy, only Michael Eisner is saying it’s over. But given everything else, looks like it’s probably real. Awesome.

I am so happy!!! Finally our shows will start up again

YAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!! *takes out the bells and whistles and begins to celebrate*

Here’s info on when you can expect new episodes of a bunch of shows:

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Wga-Strike-Favorite/800032698

(sigh) TBD or not until fall or 2009 on most of the shows I like, another planning only three more for this season.

mine are only 3 or 4 are gonna be made. i swear, they better make the next fall season super long to make up for this.

4 possible extra episodes of Lost.

I bet they’ll all be about Jack though 🙁

Additional episodes of Lost is synonymous with filler, though. They should get as little episodes as necessary, then it’d be good all the time and not just when they decide to develop the story. Even the actors accepted that the third season was "slow".

Oh hey MossY I didn’t know you were dissatisfied with the state of Lost

Filler? That’s something I’ve never read in a post of yours! :rolleyes:

4 possible extra episodes of Lost.

I bet they’ll all be about Jack though 🙁

I guess it’s better than nothing though. I’m just glad it’s all done dusted.

I guess Battlestar Galactica is completely unaffected too. 🙂

Also, LOST is always awesome. Always.

Oh hey MossY I didn’t know you were dissatisfied with the state of Lost

Filler? That’s something I’ve never read in a post of yours! :rolleyes:

Hah, yeah, stating a basic opinion on the quality of something! MADNESS!

Lost was big-time loaded with filler crap, that’s one of the many reasons I stopped watching it. That, and that I realized I no longer gave a flying carrot what happened to the characters on it.

I’m still enjoying it very much, season 4 had a really nice start, will definitely be watching it.

And I’m glad the strike is coming to an end (if everything goes well).

It’s over because the oscars are coming up and the studios don’t want to lose the income that goes with winning film. Glad its over though

Too bad I have remotely zero interest in any of the upcoming shows, maybe except for the twelfth season of South Park, but we all knew that wasn’t going anywhere for a while.

uh-oh, i sense the workings of evil Queen Spama in this thread. i think the ponybutt zords need to be summoned!

Inb4mariashriver Zord go!

seeing as the strike is over i am going to unsticky this if that is ok with everyone!

it’s not ok with me