The Scoop: The Writers' Strike and You
By Colleen Weiler
Last Updated:11:02 AM EST 11/6/07 Section: Blogs
- Page 1 of 1
Whether or not you've heard about it, the Writers Guild of America strike will affect you. For those of you not in the know, as of Monday, the WGA is on strike for an indefinite amount of time. They are at war with the producers over revenue from the sale of television DVDs and the broadcasting of shows streamed on the Internet. The writers feel they are not getting their share of the money, and when they couldn't come to a consensus during contract dealings with the producers, the WGA voted to go on strike.
How does this affect you, you might ask? Well, under the conditions of the strike, writers are ordered to stop writing immediately. This includes writers for all your favorites shows, like Grey's Anatomy, The Office, even Conan. And if there's no writers, that means there's no script, and if there's no script, that means there's no show. So a lot of shows are going to be going on hiatus for a while. Predicting the strike, most of the major sitcoms and dramas prepared extra scripts to last them through till around Christmas. After that, we'll being seeing lots of reruns. Talk shows, however, like Conan and The Daily Show and whatever else you may watch, started airing reruns today. Their topical content is prepared new each day, so if they have no writers, they're stuck. Daily soap operas will also suffer, but really, who cares?
Certain mid-season shows, like 24 and Lost, are also suffering. The new season premiere of 24 has been postponed, and rumor has it that the coming season of Lost may be shortened to just eight episodes! Not cool. But really, as long as they tell me Charlie's not dead, I don't really care.
Some interesting things are planned for the barren wasteland of reruns, however. Rumor has it, NBC will air reruns of the original British version of The Office, which I'd be excited to see. Less interesting? No scripted programs mean we're going to see a lot more reality television. Because clearly, that drama is not scripted at all *bleeds sarcasm*. So we lucky viewers can look forward to more craptastic hits as Supernanny, and anything involving Tila Tequila. Greeeat.
If only they'd fill the entire year with American Idol, I would be a happy girl.
Nobody really knows how long this strike will last, but sources say it could go on for months. So stock up on some really good DVDs, because rerun season is approaching.
Check out the link below to see Tina Fey, SNL alum, 30 Rock star, and a writer herself, talk to Pat O'Brien about the strike, while picketing in the street! With a sign!
http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2007/11/13874/index.html
In other news, if you haven't already, drop whatever you are doing and go see Gone Baby Gone. Seriously. Well, actually, finish reading this, leave a comment, and then immediately go to the nearest theater and see Gone Baby Gone. You will be doing yourself a favor, I assure you. It is by far the best movie I've seen in…. a long time. The shocking subject matter and the controversial situations stay in your head long after you leave the theater, and I don't think a movie can have a better effect than that. The Brothers Affleck both put in amazing performances: Casey with his acting and Ben with his directing. Both absolutely deserve the Oscar nominations that are being associated with this movie. The movie pulls you into the grimy side of Boston, and into the heart of a man who just wants to do the right thing, but knows that he still might end up in the wrong. It's amazing; I give it 10 stars and three thumbs up. It's that good, I assure you.
Next movie on my list to see: Lars and the Real Girl. Ryan Gosling is my favorite actor, and this yet another bizarrely fascinating role I can't wait to see him sink his teeth into. Oscar rumors are swirling around his head too, which would make it two nominations in a row for him. Three words that will make you want to go see it: blow up doll.
How does this affect you, you might ask? Well, under the conditions of the strike, writers are ordered to stop writing immediately. This includes writers for all your favorites shows, like Grey's Anatomy, The Office, even Conan. And if there's no writers, that means there's no script, and if there's no script, that means there's no show. So a lot of shows are going to be going on hiatus for a while. Predicting the strike, most of the major sitcoms and dramas prepared extra scripts to last them through till around Christmas. After that, we'll being seeing lots of reruns. Talk shows, however, like Conan and The Daily Show and whatever else you may watch, started airing reruns today. Their topical content is prepared new each day, so if they have no writers, they're stuck. Daily soap operas will also suffer, but really, who cares?
Certain mid-season shows, like 24 and Lost, are also suffering. The new season premiere of 24 has been postponed, and rumor has it that the coming season of Lost may be shortened to just eight episodes! Not cool. But really, as long as they tell me Charlie's not dead, I don't really care.
Some interesting things are planned for the barren wasteland of reruns, however. Rumor has it, NBC will air reruns of the original British version of The Office, which I'd be excited to see. Less interesting? No scripted programs mean we're going to see a lot more reality television. Because clearly, that drama is not scripted at all *bleeds sarcasm*. So we lucky viewers can look forward to more craptastic hits as Supernanny, and anything involving Tila Tequila. Greeeat.
If only they'd fill the entire year with American Idol, I would be a happy girl.
Nobody really knows how long this strike will last, but sources say it could go on for months. So stock up on some really good DVDs, because rerun season is approaching.
Check out the link below to see Tina Fey, SNL alum, 30 Rock star, and a writer herself, talk to Pat O'Brien about the strike, while picketing in the street! With a sign!
http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2007/11/13874/index.html
In other news, if you haven't already, drop whatever you are doing and go see Gone Baby Gone. Seriously. Well, actually, finish reading this, leave a comment, and then immediately go to the nearest theater and see Gone Baby Gone. You will be doing yourself a favor, I assure you. It is by far the best movie I've seen in…. a long time. The shocking subject matter and the controversial situations stay in your head long after you leave the theater, and I don't think a movie can have a better effect than that. The Brothers Affleck both put in amazing performances: Casey with his acting and Ben with his directing. Both absolutely deserve the Oscar nominations that are being associated with this movie. The movie pulls you into the grimy side of Boston, and into the heart of a man who just wants to do the right thing, but knows that he still might end up in the wrong. It's amazing; I give it 10 stars and three thumbs up. It's that good, I assure you.
Next movie on my list to see: Lars and the Real Girl. Ryan Gosling is my favorite actor, and this yet another bizarrely fascinating role I can't wait to see him sink his teeth into. Oscar rumors are swirling around his head too, which would make it two nominations in a row for him. Three words that will make you want to go see it: blow up doll.
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