The Hollywood writers' strike entered its second week today, and so far, no new talks have been scheduled between the writers and producers. The industry buzz suggests we should get used to it: The strike could be even longer than the five-month strike in 1988. The walkout is hitting non-writing crew members, and the outcomes are starting to look bleak all around (except over at Fox, where executives believe the strike could be good for the network). Here are some of the headlines from the strike's second week:
- Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence refused to write an emergency series finale for his show, and it's not clear what would happen to the unwritten final seven episodes of the series if a strike continues.
- When The Office shut down production, 102 non-writing staff members were laid off.
- Meanwhile, the staffs of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will be laid off at the end of the week unless the strike ends or the shows decide to come back — either with their regular hosts or with guest hosts.
- Lost executive producer Damon Lindelof has witten an op-ed for the New York Times about the death of television.
- Gabrielle Union was working on a deal to play Wilhemina's sister on Ugly Betty before the strike scuttled those plans.
- Here's a very detailed list of how many episodes of various series are yet to air.
- Variety explains how the strike could affect next year's Emmy Awards.
Among the newest people trying to explain the issues behind the strike: Buffy creator Joss Whedon. Want to hear him try to make sense of things? Just read more
Meltin Pot
9monate
Too Faced
That's the thing that bothers me most about this with the networks. OK, people like Longoria and Hatcher make thousands and thousands of dollars and episode and can be off work for months at a time. But shows aren't only made up of the big stars: there are stylist, gaffers, grips and hundreds upon hundreds of other people who don't make that kind of money and they can't just sit on their asses for 5-months without working. But I guess when you're a multi-millionaire sitting in your big corner office, a grip is the last thing you're thinking about.
1Scrubs! i swear i died a little when i heard that! Scrubs!?? oh no! and the last season too!
2oh yeah and i agree with whatsername, what a bunch of babies.
3Pshh and over 5 months? this is going to be a season of re-runs!
I feel terrible for the non-writing workers who have been laid-off.
4Thanks for the updates and the great links, Buzz.
5I agree with the writers that they should make residuals from internet TV (because that's the way everything will go eventually; I already use my computer as my main television). On the other hand, when I saw that Pushing Daisies only has four episodes left... Yeah, there was a moment of panic. I wish there was some way to convince the production companies to resolve this quickly. I want my TV.
Oh, and I don't want hundreds of industry workers to be laid off and unable to get a job for months, too.
6I do believe the writers are due their residuals. That said it bothers me greatly that so many other folks who will see absolutely no increase in their bottom line impacted by the greed of two groups who can't work it out between themselves. We aren't talking horrible working conditions here...
7None of these people would have a job if the writers did not create.
It is only fair that they get paid a small fraction of what their creations make off "new media". The greedy, cruel ones here are the production companies. Give a little....get a little. When we have no new shows until 2009, blame the production companies.
When any union strikes, there are always non-union workers who get screwed. Janitors, food workers, secretaries, all the salespeople who make money off those union workers and their expenses, etc.
8I recommend reading Lindelof's op ed piece if you haven't.
9This sucks. The writers deserve their 2.5%.
10It seems as if the one that need a union are the non-writing staff that get laid off.
11http://www.thefanunion.com/index.php
buzz, have you heard about this site? i just stumbled onto it... thoughts?
anyway - i need the studios to get on the ball. the idea that next semester may be lived through my netflix cue is a little upsetting. it's like eternal summer and not in a good way.
12i echo LoneWolf's endorsement of the op-ed. Well argued and excellently articulated.
13i'm from europe and i'm totally depending on us-tv-shows. syncronised? no-way, it hurts too much... so please give them their 2.5 %!!! it won't hurt, hollywood...
14if LOST doesn't come back in february i will die.
15Such a bummer.
16:[
I am SO with you stephsharer, I WILL die if Lost doesn't come back. I just hope this all gets resolved soon.
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