What a writers' strike means for your TV habit

October 31, 09:42 AM

The Writers Guild of America's contract with movie and TV producers expires at midnight Oct. 31, and barring a last-minute breakthrough in what have been singularly unproductive negotiations so far, a strike is a very real possibility.

Hollywood hasn't endured a writers strike in close to 20 years; the last one, in the spring summer of 1988, dragged on for five months and delayed the start of the 1988-89 TV season by several weeks.

The big sticking points this year are guild demands for an increase in residuals for home video and new media, and jurisdiction over work done specifically for non-traditional media (webisodes, cell-phone content and the like). The guild lays out its case here and here, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers offers up reasons why it's not willing to do those things here. You can get blow-by-blow coverage of the negotiations in this LA Times archive.

If a strike happens -- it could come as early as Thursday or a week to 10 days after that, according to various news reports -- production on most scripted TV series would probably shut down soon afterward. The flow of movies into theaters wouldn't be affected as much, as they have a longer lead time.

So, what does all this mean for you, the TV watcher? Probably something like this:

Right away: The first casualties would probably be late-night shows, ranging from Saturday Night Live to The Late Show to The Colbert Report. Since they rely on fresh material each day, there's no way those shows could function if its writers -- which usually include the host -- aren't working. Daytime soaps could also get hit relatively quickly if they run out of already-written scripts.

Primetime: In most cases, network shows have enough episodes finished to run through November sweeps and possibly a week or two into December, when they'd be going into holiday reruns anyway. That means serial shows like Heroes and Prison Break will likely reach the conclusion of their first story arcs. Most shows also have a couple of scripts in the bank -- strike fears are partly what prompted the rash of extra-script orders for new shows this fall -- but if they go into production, writers won't be around to make changes on the fly.

After that: Everyone has been predicting a schedule full of unscripted shows and newsmagazines if there's a prolonged strike -- writers for those shows aren't covered by the Writers Guild -- and that's probably what's going to happen. The CW has about a half-dozen shows in the pipeline, and everyone else has game shows or other reality ideas in development too. FOX, of course, has the biggest hammer in American Idol, which will be back in January as planned.

What about Lost and 24? Hard to say. Both series, which are scheduled to return early next year, have been in production for some time and will have several episodes ready to air, strike or no strike. But the whole reason they're held back until midseason is so they can air without interruption, and that'd be all but impossible if writers are out for more than a couple of weeks.

Comments

Announcer: Are you tired of reruns?
Letterman: We're not just tired of 'em! We're out of 'em!
--1988 promo for "Late Night with David Letterman"

In the shows produced during the 1988 strike, Letterman's Top Ten Lists usually included an item such as "Number six: No number six due to writers' strike." One programming solution the television industry came up with was to import shows produced overseas; another was to use old scripts. The "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Child" was adapted from a script written for the unrealized series "Star Trek: Phase II" and the 1988-1990 "Mission Impossible" series was, at first, intended to consist entirely of remakes of episodes of the original series.

Mike K. | Nov 1, 2007 1:27:53 AM | #

haha writers. You go on strike and I go buy a bunch of tv shows on dvd, for which you get only a few cents!

kirrra | Nov 1, 2007 7:02:47 AM | #

All I have to say is that my DVD Player will get a workout because Netflix doesn't strike. I love the idea of getting to watch my TV on DVD and some shows that I never saw before. I could use a break from the horrendousness that is Thursday night.

Buffybot | Nov 1, 2007 8:05:36 AM | #

I also recall a 1988 episode of MOONLIGHTING, where David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepherd) filled the last 10 minutes of the show with singning and dancing because they ran out of script, as the writers were on strike! It was a classy way to make fun of a bad situation!

Michael | Nov 1, 2007 8:37:31 AM | #

I cannot live without 24.

CW | Nov 1, 2007 9:06:17 AM | #

At this point it doesn't matter whos right - the writers have lost the PR war here - maybe they are getting shorted but they are looking like a bunch of whiners. Like someone said - Netflix, Blockbuster - they won't be on strike and theres my TBR pile - the authors arent on strike...and if this TV season is any indication of the talent pool, maybe its time they get drained!

Barb L | Nov 1, 2007 9:36:46 AM | #

What about cable shows like The Closer, Saving Grace, Kyle XY, Burn Notice, Mad Men, and Entourage!!! Will they be affected by the srike as well?!?

Chris | Nov 1, 2007 10:05:46 AM | #

Don't the "reality" shows have writers too?

amanda Black | Nov 1, 2007 10:09:44 AM | #

If this had been a couple of years ago, I'd really be worrying.

But now there are so few shows on that I care about that I'm not sure a strike will really bother me. I watch SVU and Ugly Betty/Grey's and those are the only shows I look forward to all week, so the only thing a strike will do for me is cause me to put in more DVDs and do a lot less channel surfing.

Jan | Nov 1, 2007 10:14:33 AM | #

Writers on cable shows are guild members, so they'd stop working as well. Not sure if any of the shows Chris mentioned are in production at the moment, but if they are, they'd stop. "Nip/Tuck" has a number of its episodes in the bank, so it's OK for a while, and "The Wire" has finished shooting its season.

Reality shows do have writers (sometimes they're called "story producers"), but they're not covered by the guild. That was one of the issues in the negotiations, but a lot of things I read said the WGA was willing to let that one go if it meant movement on the home-video and Internet fronts.

Rick | Nov 1, 2007 10:27:13 AM | #

basically, depending on when/if the strike starts and how long it lasts, we're all screwed until it's over and then some to provide for the writing and shooting of the new episodes.

we can hold our breath and cross our fingers but i think at this point it's prolly just a matter of time. the writers have dropped the ball with PR and are either going to suck it up and renegoitate quickly or strike and it take forever to get things going again.

ave | Nov 1, 2007 10:38:49 AM | #

I think the writers could be cutting their own throats if they strike. I think what they are asking for is completely reasonable. The problem for them is, it's not 1988. TV has lost viewers like crazy, the number of people going to the box office is way down (the money still being made is from outrageously high ticket prices, not # of tickets sold), and people are finding their entertainment elsewhere. The Hollywood establishment complained for the last few years about how many jobs were being lost to reality shows, and a strike would bring on more reality shows that could cost them spots for years if they catch on. I hope this can be resolved in a way that is fair to everyone, but I don't have much hope. I'll actually be glad for time to get caught up on back episodes and dvd sets I haven't had time to watch.

Julie | Nov 1, 2007 11:03:08 AM | #

And there is the whole ripple effect with those of us selling commercial time having so few rating points to sell in these reruns, thereby having us and tv stations make less money along with the writers.

adgirl007 | Nov 1, 2007 11:07:17 AM | #

lovely. i don't know which is worse, these crappy game shows or reality tv... and now there might be more of it? ugh.

washington | Nov 1, 2007 11:39:08 AM | #

Buffybot, I totally agree! I would actually love a break to catch up on some tv on dvd. For example, I decided I wanted to watch season 2 of Heroes b/c of David Anders and Kristin Bell, but have yet to finish season 1 on dvd. And trying some new shows would be fun! Let 'em strike! They'll eventually work it out - they have to, otherwise both would lose too much money!

Andrea | Nov 1, 2007 12:41:30 PM | #

adgirl007 is right, this strike will have a trickle down effect for anyone who works for a station. shows are already underdelivering and more reruns will hurt "the little people" all over the country.

Nel | Nov 1, 2007 2:02:17 PM | #

I'd be happy to be a scab writer. I think many fans would make better writers than the current ones!

Lisa | Nov 1, 2007 2:20:18 PM | #

Anyone here who is trying to say that a strike is O.K. didn't live through the 1988 writer's strike.

In a time when all the shows, new or returning, premiered in mid-September, not a single show was seen until November or later. Not only is this bad for viewers, but it can be disasterous for the fate of some shows. What if the audience doesn't come back for Pushing Daisies after the strike? Or any of the shows on air? Believe me, this is bad for everyone.

Eric | Nov 1, 2007 2:46:05 PM | #

It's a bad situation. The writers are completely and totally in the right in what they're asking for; that's what so sad. They'll end up getting screwed anyway because the networks know they can outlast them. The networks have the finances of the huge corporations that own them to carry them through (unlike in 1988). Also, even more significantly, the networks [i]know[/i] that the public will flock to American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Big Brother, Survivor, The Amazing Race, and other reality tripe like lemmings. The alternative programming is cheaper to produce, as are the newsmagazines that will be flooding the air. The networks will survive even though they don't have the moral high ground and the writers will be hurt because there will be less work available when it's all said and done. Several new shows this season will also be casualities.

You have a Nielsen box? You watch American Idol? You're helping the studios. The studios blame it all on the writers and then sit back and wait for financial despair to kick in.

galveston | Nov 1, 2007 5:03:31 PM | #

If the writers strike goes into next spring and summer it could be the longest writer's strike ever. and during the strike if reality shows are on the air which is non-union, viewers will turn away from reality shows and ratings will decline from there.
and reality could suffer if ratings decline during the strike.

Chris | Nov 2, 2007 2:01:11 AM | #

Back in the Norma Rae days the strikers were noble sufferers and the big, bad corporations finally caved because they needed the workers to put out the product. But since 1988 the corporations have figured that they dont have to negotiate - they can just go overseas where a lot of TV shows and movies are already being produced. For a few more crumbs on dvd sales the writers are willing to take work away from all of the people whose income depends on film and tv production - any many of them are in their own community. I live in a suburb of philadelphia and we lived thru the baseball strike of '94 - by the time it was resolved the ticket buyers were so mad they didnt go to the games and tickets were being passed out for free and the teams were begging for fans - took them years to get back. Whats to keep the studios from just hiring a new bunch of writers?

Amy | Nov 2, 2007 4:17:45 AM | #

Strike or no strike, it does not bother me. I watch very little television, as well new release movies. On the other hand, my wife is a little different. She will miss new episodes.

If I also remember, the last time they had a strike, they just run re-runs. Even David Letterman and other commendies ran re-runs.

Terry L. S. | Nov 2, 2007 10:01:55 AM | #

Don't worry America! Just look north. There are many excellent Canadian writers. Sure some shows have a distinct Cdn flavor but so
what that could be a good thing. Maybe we'll discover
some new talent and Tv we will come to like.

Callie | Nov 3, 2007 7:31:59 AM | #

Now I don't feel so bad that I had to take an extra night job for the holidays.

Dolores | Nov 3, 2007 8:14:20 AM | #

We have a 4-DVR-recording-with-external-hard-drive-storage-apability which we use to create a "Summer Season supplement" and a "rerun cycle supplement." So, as they run out of episodes due to the strike we'll fill in with unwatched episodes of:

5 Days
Cane
Damages
Dexter
K-Ville
L&O: SVU
Lincoln Heights
Prison Break
Tell Me You Love Me
The Unit

While our household is unusual now, this is the wave of the future, along with VOD, DVD's and the web. Of course, we may have to find some other stuff for the Summer Season supplement.

phrelin | Nov 3, 2007 2:27:45 PM | #

I'm with the writers on this one. The day it goes to picket is the day I turn off the television. I won't watch reality television or game shows. I won't watch the commercials. I'm going to be proving the Writer's point. I'll be hanging out on the internet or the library. I've my library of DVDs and I can pick my own reruns... Thanks.

Deb | Nov 3, 2007 8:07:09 PM | #

For a few more crumbs on dvd sales [that they could afford and the writers deserve] the *studios* are willing to take work away from all of the people whose income depends on film and tv production - any many of them are in their own community

galveston | Nov 4, 2007 1:52:49 AM | #

I'm not surprised they are striking tonight at 12:01 am
Now I can start buy some good TV DVDS, ha ha we are screwed for 25 weeks! or more knowing them idiots!!!!

DMC | Nov 4, 2007 4:36:24 PM | #

I am a strong supporter of any union, and while I will miss TV (since I am not a reality fan if the stike happens the TV goes off) I hope it does not hurt them more. As many people have already pointed out new shows and even serial shows will be hurt by long gaps. We have already had to wait like forever for Lost, and now it could be longer. I was already to let it go after the trauma of the flash foward, if I have to wait any longer for answers and improvements, I may let it go, and read about it later instead of watching it once it airs. I am glad though people are taking a stand and making the coporate greed machines share the wealth with the people who actually earned it.

Sarah | Nov 4, 2007 5:39:04 PM | #

Well I have my House and Brothers and Sisters DVDs, and all current episodes of both shows TiVo'd. Then there's YouTube, fanfiction, and fan forums.

I guess I won't be watching any live TV doing the writer's strike. PEOPLE FIGHT THE POWER AND WATCH YOUR FAV SHOWS ON DVD or TiVo. We'll show them whose really in CHARGE :)

Debbie | Nov 4, 2007 5:41:33 PM | #

I AM MAD, I heard that if you are a fan of such shows as office, desperate housewives or even csi:miami they could run out of episodes by early 2008, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS REALITY TV AND GAME SHOWS AND MAYBE RERUNS AND IMPORTS WILL TAKE OVER, but Bige NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
but Big Brother already casting for season 9, and Celebrity apprentice sound likes a real hoot, even American Gladitors could be kind of funny and cool.

DMC | Nov 5, 2007 4:43:57 AM | #

this is bad...the WGA should stop there whineing and resovld this issiue or else studio big wigs will hire scabs.........they got good writers up north in Canada and also some fan fiction writers.the WGA needs to get of there High Horse and resovled this issue and go back to work Pronto!!!!!!!!!!!

Matthew | Nov 5, 2007 7:58:28 AM | #

who cares. Since the only shows I watch is brothers and sisters.I have tried episodes of all the new shows and HAVE not found anything new to watch this season. Look around people: start looking at History channel. Biography Channel and great old movies on Turner Classic Movies and if you have not watched it already check out PBS and Ken Burn'S INCREDIBLE series The War.

anna | Nov 5, 2007 8:02:15 AM | #

told you strike was coming writers deserve more money just hope EVERYONE keeps in mind husband wife and kids lives in this to since a large % of writers dont have these things this strike doesnt hurt $$ as much compair to a traditional family in this biz ;)

| Nov 5, 2007 10:10:19 AM | #

What the writers and the producers both forget is that it is the audience that rules. If the writers write garbage we wont watch - if the networks go to crummy "reality" shows and reruns, we wont watch. And if it gets too expensive to pay the writers (the working ones make the equivalent of middle America's average wage on one script the non working ones dont sell anything to get paid for) not just pay for the script but for the writers benefits, etc, etc the studios will do what lots of companies that put out a product do - they will go overseas. They will make their movies in Mexico or Romania or China where a crew can be hired for a fraction of what a US unionized crew gets - if the writers went on strike, then the writers have to take responsibility for the work stoppage and what comes of it for themselves and the blue collar people who dress the sets and handle the lights and drive the equipment.

Barb L | Nov 5, 2007 12:58:15 PM | #

10 Things to Watch (Online) During the Writers Strike:http://tombomb.typepad.com/tombomb/2007/11/10-things-to-wa.html

Tombomb | Nov 5, 2007 1:30:56 PM | #

Just hope you know, these people have jobs and chose not to work . Do Not feel sorry for these guys. I know I don't.

Keith | Nov 6, 2007 6:01:01 AM | #

I agree the writers should get something with the new media that is available, however, all the networks (who make a lot more money) will do is put on reality and other unscripted shows in its place. They are already very popular. For the most part, audiences will pretty much watch whatever you put in front of us. I refuse to watch reality shows in the first place. I will NOT watch them now. I have quite a large movie collection that I can delve into. Netflix will get bumped up when the shows hit the reruns. I will do something really radical...read a book. The new shows people aren't emotionally invested in yet, may not return to them when the strike is over. Those writers who wrote those new shows just screwed themselves out of that job. The writers and their families and all the other people that have the trickle down affect are the ones that are going to be hurt the most. How sad.

JT | Nov 6, 2007 9:13:04 AM | #

I don't understand the animosity towards the writers, as opposed to the studio bosses who don't want to pay them as they should. There are a few well-paid writers and a lot of struggling ones...whereas all the executives are zillionaires.

STEVE77 | Nov 6, 2007 10:00:51 AM | #

Hey Zap2It- how long before you update your listings - you still show Tonight Show as new episodes - used to be we could count on you to be right up to the moment!

TVviewer73 | Nov 6, 2007 10:06:36 AM | #

I guess I will get caught up on all of the stuff I have on my DVR that I haven't watched yet.

DL | Nov 6, 2007 10:09:44 PM | #

One of the funniest shows I've seen will not be affected by writers strike. That is "Corner Gas" an import from Canada

Jim | Nov 7, 2007 7:27:31 AM | #

sooooo it won'tsuffer reality shows.... how about american gladiators? When will that show start this time around?

crazy me | Nov 7, 2007 11:48:26 AM | #

wow, there IS life beyond television... just to let you know.

impressed | Nov 7, 2007 5:11:57 PM | #

I agree with impressed, theres life beyond TV. Yeah i like my shows like Greys and House. But theres an outdoors that can be just as fun. Go out and live a little.

Hayley | Nov 8, 2007 7:37:49 AM | #

wake up writers go on strike the actors food staff, pages costume people make up people are also out of work and what does that mean sure you can run to the store buy up dvd's of shows and movies )but that tells those souls trying to fight for their families to have food on table and bills payed. people are under the impression it won't hurt but in the long run it will hurt us all. very few shows i do watch no reality tv ( bull) jerry springer can go forever i would be happy. informecials forget about it. books are good Stay off the internet i am trying to get online lol.

Johnny | Nov 8, 2007 7:42:24 AM | #

I support the writers for wanting to get their fair share of the 'pie'. I mean, a show is good/bad due mostly to the writing.
(Ex: I kept watching Heroes during season 1 because the storytelling was so well done that I was hooked despite the AWFUL acting.)
Too bad the writers didn't try this striking back when NBC Thursdays was must-see-tv and Friends was on (after that cast united to get higher salaries). THAT show is definitely a cash cow now, on DVD.

Cherie L. | Nov 9, 2007 6:58:02 AM | #

For those of you who support the writers, check this out.

http://www.fans4writers.com/participate.shtml

Spread the word! If the studios don't have writers or viewers then they have no power. The execs need to learn who is REALLY responsible for all that money they make. That would be us, the fans/consumers.

T.J. | Nov 10, 2007 5:28:10 PM | #

Why is ZAP2IT not covering that Ellen Degeneres crossed the picket line to do her show?

Lisa | Nov 13, 2007 8:00:03 AM | #

It's not the writers in charge. It's the fans. And IMO these writers are shooting themselves in the foot by acting like spoiled children. This strike (like most unions) is hurting the support staff at these shows. So how many union members will get together and buy Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner for Molly the hairdresser who's been laid off?
That's what unions do best. They hurt families, companies and the economy. It's no wonder jobs are moving overseas and companies here are recruiting illegal immigrants to do the jobs.

Lisa | Nov 19, 2007 4:05:20 PM | #

Lisa. Fair pay is just that fair pay. Before you comment on a situation educate yourself. I too feel for 'Molly' the hairdresser, however I do not blame to Writers for her plight. I blame the studios. Who's profits from the new media continues to pad studio executives bank accounts. Maybe a studio exec can afford to pay for 'Molly's' thanksgiving. Writers certainly can't their on STRIKE, and therefore are not getting paid. Actually event actors are being effected. However Studio Exec's still collected their holidays bonuses, some in excess of 5 millions dollars.

Ariel | Nov 24, 2007 12:16:48 PM | #

I found this list of shows affected, canceled or postponed due to this "Writers Strike" here:
http://www.listafterlist.com/ListAfterListcomListsAbout/tabid/57/ListID/9543/Default.aspx

from ListAfterList.com

Ryan | Nov 29, 2007 9:00:02 AM | #

I have a perfect solution for the writer strike for the studios. Outsource the jobs to Bollywood in India! Outsourcing the software writing to Bangalore sure worked and programmers had to take wage cuts like every factory worker whose job got outsourced to China.

India now has its own huge movie industry and people in India could sure write in English as India WAS a British colony. If outsourcing is good enough for factory workers and programmers (THAT takes talent!) it's plenty good enough for these script writers who output rubbish anyways.

I'm fully sure Indian writers will gladly work for less than a million bucks a year not including the residuals they are getting as they march around with the signs. What striking worker before these clowns EVER got a paycheck for picketing from their employer?

Cry me the Missippi River, writers. With more shows resorting to supernatural or religious themes we can do without these morons fanning the flames of religious stupidity and ignorance.

Ravi Patel | Nov 29, 2007 5:22:37 PM | #

TV as we know it will end in the next 10 years. You guys might as well find a new job now.

Jim | Nov 30, 2007 8:16:43 PM | #

To my Indian brother up there, Bollywood is great! I agree, we need more Bollywood in Vancouver. My favorite show is Kareena Kareena. Check it out!

http://www.india-forums.com/gallery/igallery.asp?d=\indian+tv+shows\kareena+kareena\

LOL...

Jim | Nov 30, 2007 8:19:28 PM | #

well this sucks. I'm with the Writers on this. I am sick of reruns, but I don't think that the AMPTP is being fair.
I do think that WGA should be getting payed better for Webisodes and the like. They'll still be getting loads less than they should be. (No show would be anywhere without it's writers. Hence the reruns.)
I might be the only person who thinks that the producers are being assholes, but it's true. They are.
I just hope that both the WGA and AMPTP can work it out. And sooner rather than later because I'm sick of reruns of the Colbert Report and all my favorite shows being pushed back. And the back again. And back. And farther back.
It's starting to get me mad.

Lee | Dec 8, 2007 2:14:11 AM | #

Two points -
I keep hearing that the writers "deserve" more money. Does anyone know how much a writer on a network television show makes? Especially since most writers on a television show also pull down a paycheck for "producing" as well? I think the answer would surprise most people.

As far as residuals go, television writers aren't novelists. They are important to the process of making a television show, but they aren't the entire process. Literally hundreds of people get a television show on the air, and key people make enormous creative contributions along the way, most of whom make their paycheck and nothing more. Is it more fair that a writer gets a percentage of profit when other creative staff do not? Especially when there is no risk if the show is a flop?

John | Dec 10, 2007 11:46:22 AM | #

I won't even BUY DVDs. I'll just borrow them from the local library. I need to watch less TV anyway.

Rick Evans | Jan 1, 2008 5:35:27 AM | #

This could be a good thing, getting our butts off the sofa and maybe go for a walk or some other form of exercise. Television has been going downhill for quite some time now anyway. With the money the shows cost to make their way to airtime we can't even surf the channels anymore without getting commercial after commercial after.....Know what I mean?

Al Mos | Jan 1, 2008 11:37:44 AM | #