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Networks Have Their Plans In Place In Case Writers Union Goes On Strike

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2007

Couch potatoes could see more reality shows, more reruns, more game shows, more prime time news programs and possibly some European imports if the folks who write television scripts go on strike next week.

Imagine the horror of a world where we have to spend more time with the Howie Mandels, Drew Careys, Ryan Seacrests and Jeff Foxworthys of the entertainment industry.

Imagine more shows such as the return of 'American Gladiators,' with Hulk Hogan as host.

The good news is we probably won't notice this until January.

The networks reportedly have stockpiled enough drama and comedy episodes to get through the November sweeps. And December is traditionally filled with reruns and holiday specials anyway.

The impact on late night would be more immediate. David Letterman would have to write his own top 10 list; Jay Leno and Jon Stewart would be winging it without help; and 'Saturday Night Live' would go dark.

Most reality shows are unscripted, so they would continue. But some, such as ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars,' have guild contracts and might have to close shop.

Strike Expected Nov. 1

A strike is likely because the contract between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America expires at midnight Oct. 31, and the 12,000 members of the writers union are prepared to walk Nov. 1.

Reportedly, studio heads and network executives aren't rushing to settle. Apparently, some of the Hollywood suits think the fall season isn't going all that well anyway.

The strike includes script writers of feature films, but the movie industry has enough in production to fill theater screens through 2008.

If there is a prolonged strike, moviegoers might notice more foreign, independent and animated films come 2009. Some clunkers that would have gone straight to DVD will get theatrical releases.

The last time a writers strike occurred was in 1988. Lasting 22 weeks and costing the industry more than $500 million, it was over getting a piece of the action from the video rental business.

The reason for this impasse is the writers want more compensation from DVD sales as well as a cut of the income from online and on-demand distribution of TV series and movies.

Writers are usually the lowest paid creative creatures in the Hollywood food chain (until they become writer-producers), and they deserve a fair share as long as there is profit to be made from what they created.

Changing Technologies

No one knows for sure how emerging technologies will shake out. The video rental business, for example, isn't want it used to be.

Looking ahead, TV writers want to be covered in case we are headed toward a time more people are downloading 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Desperate Housewives' into iPods and laptops than watching them on broadcast television.

The possibility of a writers strike has been brewing since early summer. It has already kept some of the low-performing new series on the air. And there's a chance some of the underachievers, such as 'Cavemen' and 'K-ville,' will stick around longer because a strike prevents the development of replacements. It also will hamper the development of pilots for the 2008-09 TV season.

One series that won't survive is CBS' 'Viva Laughlin,' which was canceled Monday after dismal ratings for its debut last Thursday and a second episode on Sunday. The musical drama series, co-starring Tampa's Carter Jenkins, was met with universal disdain from TV critics.

Other filler possibilities during a possible strike are cable series such as 'Monk,' 'Psych,' 'The Closer,' 'Burn Notice' and 'The 4400.'

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