A Writers' Strike Is Looming

Negotiations are not going well, and plans are being made.

The contract between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) expired last night, and the two groups have been unable to work out a new contract so far. The WGA was asking for a larger portion of DVD and online sales, among other requests, and it is the DVD issue which has caused a great deal of problems. The AMPTP refused to go with the proposed increase, and neither side would back down. The WGA passed a strike ballot in October, and the 12,000 members of the guild can be ordered to strike at any time. It is believed that the WGA will continue to negotiate for a few more days and strike next week. At this point, the strike seems unavoidable. However, there is no indication of how long the strike would last.

Late night shows will be the first casualties of the strike, with programmes like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman going dark once the strike goes into effect since they rely on union writers for their sketches and monologues. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation actress Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) is scheduled to appear on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Monday, November 5. It isn't known at this time whether the episode will air as planned. But it won't just be guest appearances on late night shows that will affect the CSI franchise.

Primetime comedies and dramas, such as all three CSI series, will also be immediately affected. Most of these shows have four or five episodes completed in advance at this point, and they also have scripts for several more episodes. However, even if the actors agree to film the extra episodes, the writers will not be able to rewrite the scripts during production. Original episodes of series like CSI will probably run out around the beginning of 2008.

When the well of extra material runs out for the scripted shows, the networks will have to fill the space they leave behind. "The most likely outcome is more news and more reality," said NBC U entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman. Shows such as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars will help their respective networks retain viewers. Each network has a plan for when and if a strike occurs, and they must also decide how to proceed in the days or weeks leading up to a possible strike. Even so, there is no telling how this process will pan out. "We are as prepared as anyone, but that's really only good for so much," one broadcast topper said.

The strike could spell the end for shows like K-Ville and Life Is Wild, but it can also give ill-fated shows, such as Cavemen, a longer lifespan--networks are reluctant to let go of scripted shows that they might need for later. The talk of a strike has kept some shows from getting full-season orders, while other networks have ordered as many as possible just in case. The pinch from the strike will affect talent agencies as well. If the strike continues for a long period of time, there could be a large number of layoffs, salary deferments and other ways to cut costs. "We really don't want this to happen because of the macroeconomic issues facing our community," Silverman said. "It's disturbing and upsetting that it seems to be becoming a foregone conclusion."

You can read more about the strike and it's effect on the industry at Variety.com.

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