Thursday, November 8, 2007
Show runners get nasty letters
According to an article in the New York Times, CBS and Fox have sent out letters to show runners informing them of a breach of contract for not continuing thier producing work on the TV series. What it does NOT include are the possible consequences for not showing up. The article only mentions no pay, which I assume they expected. If, however, they could be fired for this offense, that would change the landscape of television as we know it
Eisner calls strike "stupid"
For some reason, Michael Eisner is still giving speeches. He addressed the WGA strike in his latest speech, calling the strike stupid, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Not unexpected for a former studio head... but here's the twist: he blames Apple. It doesn't take a genius to connect the dots here. Eisner's exit from Disney was, in large part, due to his falling out with Pixar a company Apple head Steve Jobs founded. Eisner says that writers should "wait a few years" before asking for digital revenue. Maybe if they hadn't been screwed on home video sales by people like Eisner, they would have.
Some WGA members uneasy about Rule No. 8
A new story from Variety suggests that some WGA members may fall out of line--though not go back to work--Thursday. The WGA requires all writers to submit drafts of everything they were contracted to be working on for 'validation.' However, the networks could launch a lawsuit against the writers for handing over company property to the WGA. Most writers--and their lawyers--feel that the wrath of the WGA is better than lawsuits from the networks.
The most severe consequence would be expulsion--though if enough writers do it, it will likely be dealt with a slap on the wrist. Either way, the rule puts writers in an uncomfortable situation when they--well, are already pretty uncomfortable.
The most severe consequence would be expulsion--though if enough writers do it, it will likely be dealt with a slap on the wrist. Either way, the rule puts writers in an uncomfortable situation when they--well, are already pretty uncomfortable.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
News Roundup for 11/7/07
A show by show roundup of today's news involving popular TV shows:
24 became the first non-talk show to be officially delayed by the strike. According to a press release reported on in Broadcasting and Cable, "24" has been forced to delay its season premiere. Worse yet, ODI is reporting that, if the strike does not end by the end of this month, Season 7 could be canceled. Apparently, Janeane Garofalo is on the picket line and may not show up for work.
Meanwhile, B&C is also reporting that LOST will go ahead with a truncated eight episode season in 2008, much to displeasure of almost everyone involved on the show. Take this quote from Wednesday's Ask Ausiello:
Also, don't expect the web-comic to continue during the hiatus, either, says TVBlend.
Perhaps the worst news of all come from The Shield where The Mercury News is reporting that Shawn Ryan, the creative force behind the show, will not participate in the filming of the series finale due to the strike. Ryan, who also created The Unit, was a member of the WGA negotiation team.
Also on Day 3, show-runners of several hit shows including LOST, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Grey's, Law and Order: SVU, Six Feet Under--as well as Joss Whedon and and Ryan all joined the picket lines, according to Variety. The story also says that Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy is refusing to do any work on his show but Fox is trying to continue without him--which should be interesting as he does many of the voices on the show. (For you Grey's and PP fans, there are three or four episodes of each written and ready to shoot).
The Office also came to a halt because Steve Carrell refused to cross lines. (NC Times)
And producers looking for scabs won't be able to look to Canada. The WGC said it will not accept work on US productions, according to The Globe and Mail.
Meanwhile, Ellen will go back to work for her show, sans writers, EW reports. If there's anyone who could wing it, it'd be Ellen, but this will be a test for other daytime hosts to see if they can be successful without writers. Meanwhile, EW is also reporting that you should expect studios other than Paramount to stop renewing and ordering episodes of shows... which means that even when the strike is over, there will be a scramble to fill the schedule with something other than Big Brother and Skating With Celebrities.
24 became the first non-talk show to be officially delayed by the strike. According to a press release reported on in Broadcasting and Cable, "24" has been forced to delay its season premiere. Worse yet, ODI is reporting that, if the strike does not end by the end of this month, Season 7 could be canceled. Apparently, Janeane Garofalo is on the picket line and may not show up for work.
Meanwhile, B&C is also reporting that LOST will go ahead with a truncated eight episode season in 2008, much to displeasure of almost everyone involved on the show. Take this quote from Wednesday's Ask Ausiello:
"Damon [Lindelof] and my concern about running the [eight] episodes we will have made is that it will feel a little like reading half a Harry Potter novel, then having to put it down. There is a mini-cliff-hanger at the end of Episode 8, but it's like the end of an exciting book chapter; it's not the end of the novel. Damon and I didn't write [the ending of Episode 8] differently [with the looming strike in mind]. We wrote it to be the ending of Episode 8." - Carolton CuseWith that in mind, we turn to Heroes, which was planing on ending a 11-episode arc anyway. So will NBC be stopping the series there? No, says Greg Grunberg in an interview with BuddyTV. It seems that the scripts are 100% finished through episode 13, and that they are finishing 11 right now. While Grunberg says that the network has the choice when to show the next two episodes, but the last hiatus didn't do Heroes any favors...
Also, don't expect the web-comic to continue during the hiatus, either, says TVBlend.
Perhaps the worst news of all come from The Shield where The Mercury News is reporting that Shawn Ryan, the creative force behind the show, will not participate in the filming of the series finale due to the strike. Ryan, who also created The Unit, was a member of the WGA negotiation team.
Also on Day 3, show-runners of several hit shows including LOST, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Grey's, Law and Order: SVU, Six Feet Under--as well as Joss Whedon and and Ryan all joined the picket lines, according to Variety. The story also says that Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy is refusing to do any work on his show but Fox is trying to continue without him--which should be interesting as he does many of the voices on the show. (For you Grey's and PP fans, there are three or four episodes of each written and ready to shoot).
The Office also came to a halt because Steve Carrell refused to cross lines. (NC Times)
And producers looking for scabs won't be able to look to Canada. The WGC said it will not accept work on US productions, according to The Globe and Mail.
Meanwhile, Ellen will go back to work for her show, sans writers, EW reports. If there's anyone who could wing it, it'd be Ellen, but this will be a test for other daytime hosts to see if they can be successful without writers. Meanwhile, EW is also reporting that you should expect studios other than Paramount to stop renewing and ordering episodes of shows... which means that even when the strike is over, there will be a scramble to fill the schedule with something other than Big Brother and Skating With Celebrities.
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