WGA STRIKE Options

[Gibby]

So the strike is official and I think it's time it had its own thread.

I went to the picket line in NY today at about 1:30 PM. It's on 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. It was semi-crowded, but compared to the crowds of tourists inside the plaza, it was kind of small. I saw Seth Meyers. He's taller than you'd think. Oddly, seven blocks east, there were bigger crowds outside of Abercrombie & Fitch. I don't know why. I think they're doing some kind of promotional thing. They were taking pictures of a shirtless dude in a parka at the entrance. There was no one in front of the GM building where they tape The Early Show, even though there's some good square footage there for picketing.

Deadline Hollywood Daily is the best site for information on the strike. Variety and the Hollywood Reporter seem to have been bought off by the moguls.

[eliesse]

I am happy about the strike in more ways than one. First, I support the writers and their position. Two, I believe that it makes Sara's departure more of a non-event than it otherwise would have been. If ongoing episodes of CSI would have ignored Sara/Sara's departure for the most part (which they would have), this would have been close to unbearable for any GSR fan continuing to watch CSI after Sara's departure. Also, the perceived length of time would have also been difficult to accept and OOC, as so many have mentioned, if Sara did not return until February, or worse, May. At this point in time, if we don't have many/any episodes between January and May, the perceived length of time for Sara being gone will be negligible. Thus, her departure will seem less far-fetched and will be much easier on us GSR fans. This is, of course, assuming that JF will return. I trust our spoiler queens on this one.

[idreamedmusic]

Deadline Hollywood Daily is the best site for information on the strike. Variety and the Hollywood Reporter seem to have been bought off by the moguls.

Oh, thank you for that link. I was getting frustrated with the usual suspects.

I can actually see both sides here, but that's neither here nor there. I'm more worried about what this will mean for shows that premiered this season and might get the axe if the strike goes on for a longer period of time, since ten eps total aren't all that marketable.
Looking at the eps of S8 of CSI and considering the upcoming ones, the strike should be a good thing. I will miss my Stephen Colbert, though.

[mystery]

Deadline Hollywood Daily is the best site for information on the strike. Variety and the Hollywood Reporter seem to have been bought off by the moguls.

Oh, thank you for that link. I was getting frustrated with the usual suspects.

I can actually see both sides here, but that's neither here nor there. I'm more worried about what this will mean for shows that premiered this season and might get the axe if the strike goes on for a longer period of time, since ten eps total aren't all that marketable.
Looking at the eps of S8 of CSI and considering the upcoming ones, the strike should be a good thing. I will miss my Stephen Colbert, though.

Nikki Finke is awesome. Period. Also, part of the reason the moguls want the strike is to let weak shows go under, and then they're just greedy bastards on top of it. In the 80s the writers wanted a bigger piece of the Home Video pie, and the moguls said it was too new, that it was in its infancy, little money would likely be made, etc. Yeah, right. The moguls are basically doing the same thing with new media in these negotiations, except the writers are much smarter this time around. Yesterday John Wells was brought in by AMPTP because he's a traitor and everyone knows it, and the moguls desperately needed some good PR. HR and Variety have been reporting on this, but it's obvious their sympathies lie with the moguls. I fully support the writers, but they must stand their ground and not be tricked into a lesser deal than they deserve, or all this will have pointless.

mystery

[btvsrocks]

Oddly, seven blocks east, there were bigger crowds outside of Abercrombie & Fitch. I don't know why. I think they're doing some kind of promotional thing. They were taking pictures of a shirtless dude in a parka at the entrance.

While I am sure hot shirtless A&F dudes are quite the crowd gathering spectacle, was it by any chance nearby this Borders? If so, the crowd could be there for the Stephen Colbert signing today. Though maybe a bit early but the Colbert Nation are rather rabid and eager bunch, and I know I'd be in lining up way early. (OH how I wish I lived in NYC. You guys get to go to 293872 Stephen book signings, can bump into Tina Fey/John Oliver/Seth Meyers on the picket line, catch SaTC being filmed, broadway, TDS/TCR show tapings.... )

Anyway I've also been reading The Huffington Post's section on the writers' strike. There are some interesting articles there.

And here's a nice FAQ for the strike. Includes a nice picture of John Oliver (TDS correspondent) and Tina Fey in the wee corner.
http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2007/11/even_more..._wanted_to.html

This post has been edited by btvsrocks: Nov 5 2007, 05:15 PM

[Gibby]

Oddly, seven blocks east, there were bigger crowds outside of Abercrombie & Fitch. I don't know why. I think they're doing some kind of promotional thing. They were taking pictures of a shirtless dude in a parka at the entrance.

While I am sure hot shirtless A&F dudes are quite the crowd gathering spectacle, was it by any chance nearby this Borders? If so, the crowd could be there for the Stephen Colbert signing today. Though maybe a bit early but the Colbert Nation are rather rabid and eager, and I know I'd be in lining up way early. (OH how I wish I lived in NYC. You guys get to go to 293872 Stephen book signings, can bump into Tina Fey/John Oliver/Seth Meyers on the picket line, catch SaTC being filmed, broadway, TDS/TCR show tapings.... )

Nope. Columbus Circle is on the west side and A&F is on the east side (well, that A&F is). I don't know what the crowd was for. But the model looked like Nigel Barker. It wasn't Nigel Barker, though. If it was, I would've chained myself to 56th and 5th.

It was a lovely day for picketing, though. The weather was gorgeous.

[velocity]

Yesterday John Wells was brought in by AMPTP because he's a traitor and everyone knows it, and the moguls desperately needed some good PR.

I actually laughed out loud when I read the first article about that, as if on any planet John Wells would be the unifying force to end the strike. For John Wells to ever be perceived as having one loyal bone in his body? He'd have to kill a loyal man for his bones, and then have one surgically implanted in himself first.

Also, he's a shit writer.

But as for CSI... the mere idea of this show trying to shoot scripts without writers on set and in the editing room is such a trainwreck waiting to happen, that a sick part of me is sort of looking forward to it. Like I look forward to episodes of Passions. Or the day when my stupid neighbor that always parks two feet from the curb and leaves his keys in the ignition finally gets his car stolen.

As for their competition, only expect a few new episodes of The Office before it goes into reruns, its showrunner and main star, along with others, have refused to cross the picket lines. And good for them, I say.

[mystery]

Yesterday John Wells was brought in by AMPTP because he's a traitor and everyone knows it, and the moguls desperately needed some good PR.

I actually laughed out loud when I read the first article about that, as if on any planet John Wells would be the unifying force to end the strike. For John Wells to ever be perceived as having one loyal bone in his body? He'd have to kill a loyal man for his bones, and then have one surgically implanted in himself first.

Also, he's a shit writer.

Buwhahahahahaha.

Seriously, he's the Benedict Arnold of the WGA, and he completely rolled on everyone the last time around. Only the moguls thought this was a good idea, and the whole fiasco yesterday was nothing but a PR publicity stunt by the moguls. I'm sure you know this, but the moguls actually want the strike, although they have to appear to not want it. Whatever, I think they're overestimating primetime viewer loyalty when this ends considering that viewers have more options than ever about how to be entertained.

But as for CSI... the mere idea of this show trying to shoot scripts without writers on set and in the editing room is such a trainwreck waiting to happen, that a sick part of me is sort of looking forward to it. Like I look forward to episodes of Passions. Or the day when my stupid neighbor that always parks two feet from the curb and leaves his keys in the ignition finally gets his car stolen.

ITA. This show thrives, even when it doesn't, on re-writes. CM and NS have already signed the initial pencils down ad, and so I doubt very seriously they will be doing showrunner work in any capacity, especially with CM being on the negotiating committee. The cast is already feeling the loss of JF, and then you've got the directors who are all difficult, in combination with a couple of really shitty scripts and the brouhaha with the WGA, and it's almost impossible to turn away. If either 8x10 or 8x11 make it through production, and both are in various stages, it should be interesting. And by interesting, I mean so bad that I'll have to watch just for a good laugh.

As for their competition, only expect a few new episodes of The Office before it goes into reruns, its showrunner and main star, along with others, have refused to cross the picket lines. And good for them, I say.

Awesomeness. On every level. I hope others follow their lead.

mystery

[LaneViperGurl]

I remember reading a list of showrunners that were going on strike (it included Hannah Montana), and now despite some searching I cannot find it. Does this sound familar to anyone?

ETA: My daughter found it.
Showrunners that pledged to strike.

This post has been edited by LaneViperGurl: Nov 5 2007, 06:10 PM

[Guest_kristy87_*]

If either 8x10 or 8x11 make it through production, and both are in various stages, it should be interesting. And by interesting, I mean so bad that I'll have to watch just for a good laugh.

this in connection with Passions made me think of a very very very bad thing in Passions..... they had a Gorilla that was supposed to be a REAL Gorilla but was played by a person in a very, seriously very bad Gorilla costume...

now since they don't have any animal trainers either since those are on strikes as well...

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

bring on the dog and bull costumes, I would actually PAY to see that happen on CSI, a person in a costume pretendeing to be a bull.... LMAO

[Bugeater]

Heh. On that Deadline Hollywood Daily site, it says that Marg Helgenberger is walking the picket line at the Universal Studios lot.

[mystery]

Woohoo, MH is walking the picket line, but I guess that kinda makes sense with AR being the pres. of SAG. Go, Marg! Anyway, I'm happy about it. Also, some stupid fucking driver ran over a writer, WTF?

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wga-...-as-it-happens/

mystery

eta: Ah well, Bugeater beat me to it.

This post has been edited by mystery: Nov 5 2007, 06:17 PM

[spuffy]

I'm just wondering, if Alan Rosenburg says SAG is supporting WGA, does that mean that the actors/actresses now have the option of not turning up for work?

[mystery]

I'm just wondering, if Alan Rosenburg says SAG is supporting WGA, does that mean that the actors/actresses now have the option of not turning up for work?

Technically, all actors must work if they are contractually obligated to do so, and SAG's support is in spirit in that regard. However, there are rumors of some actors making a choice to support the WGA in more than spirit, although they could be disciplined by SAG (and any other guild to which they belong) if the guild in question so chooses. In addition to that, the moguls want the actors to show up so that they have more first-run programming to air, so if an actor doesn't show up to work they could be fired by the studio. It's a very hairy, complicated situation for actors who feel the need to take a stand, but are legally obligated to act in opposition to the WGA whom they support.

mystery

This post has been edited by mystery: Nov 5 2007, 06:33 PM

[velocity]

Whatever, I think they're overestimating primetime viewer loyalty when this ends considering that viewers have more options than ever about how to be entertained.

ITA. Never doubt the entertainment industry's ability to cling to an out-of-date and unfair business model that sucked in the first place, I guess. It's baffling how such a large industry has managed to close its eyes and plug up its ears while pretending that it is still 1985 and yet hasn't suffered through a truly major correction. The Internet, home-delivery of DVDs by way of Netflix, hundreds of cable channels with films, news, reality programming... in an era where networks are struggling to stay relevant, no less.

I mean, I'm not going to be crying over the fact there will be no new episodes of Heroes or House or even CSI. I'll just watch more Discovery Channel and finally get around to those DVDs of Spaced I've been meaning to check out.

this in connection with Passions made me think of a very very very bad thing in Passions..... they had a Gorilla that was supposed to be a REAL Gorilla but was played by a person in a very, seriously very bad Gorilla costume...

You mean when Endora turned Mrs. Bradley into a (and I quote) "sexy gorilla"?



Oh man, I love it. Loooove it.