Strike News…
By fred | November 12, 2007
* Apparently studios are really not willing to help the strike be over soon, they’re not even willing to negotiate. Instead, what they do is try to find other ways to get some shows back on. For instance, it’s been reported that NBC was looking for guest hosts to replace Leno starting on November 19th. It seems no one wants to be the one crossing the picket line, besides, what would they be saying ?? (I wonder if they asked Ellen though…)
* Rumors were that some networks (like Fox or CBS) had fired all of their showrunners, since they did not show up for work. This is not the case, but they did threaten to file lawsuits against their top show runners if they do not immediately go back to work and complete their non-writing duties. Showrunners have already explained that they were writers as well and supportive of the strike, and would not perform their non-writing duties as long as the strike was in effect, sending a clear message that they were all “united in the fight against corporate greed” and hoping it would make studios react.
They also said that if only one lawsuit was filed, none of them would return to work. All they’re asking is for the studios to come back to the negotiating table, so that a deal could be worked on. If the studios agreed, they would be willing to complete production on several already written episodes. Of course, studios are winning about money loss and other non-sense.
* There might be hope, a little, as it’s been reported that certain Hollywood agents were “really in the middle of this right now“. Read that those professionals whose job is to negotiate for writers and studios all the time are trying to speak to both sides and set up a meeting, so that negotiations can resume.
* And yes, while the Los Angeles Times might not find the strike worth mentioning, as illustrated above at least not everyone is keeping it silent. Entertainment Weekly’s cover features Grey’s Anatomy Katherine Heigl, Conan O’Brien and The Office’s Steve Carrel all three with ducktape on their mouths, as a symbol of the strike, asking “How Long Before The Writers’ Walkout Silences Your Favorite TV Shows ?
