WGA Strike: where do we stand now ?
By fred | December 26, 2007
Christmas is now behind us, and with it all hopes that a Christmas miracle would have took place and somehow got this whole situation resolved are no more. No, we have to face the reality that is ours : writers are still striking, studios are still refusing to even go back to the table to talk, and things aren’t looking too good for the new year to come.
Late night talk shows are pretty much all planning to return in January, with or without writers. And expect, maybe, for Letterman and Ferguson, it will be without them, and crossing picket lines.
So what will happen in 2008 ? Is the strike going to last for months and months ?
Obviously, only time will tell, and I’m not one to pretend I have the answer to that question. But what I can do is report what’s going on, and let you know what I believe about the whole thing.
As I said, writers are willing to negotiate, but the AMPTP is not. Right now the problem isn’t that a deal can’t be found between the two parties, it’s not that they can’t come to an agreement, it is that they are not even trying to get there, because one side finds it better to not talk, not try to put an end to this whole mess, but instead lie and spread some more lies about how it’s not them, but the others who are refusing to everything and putting so much jobs in jeopardy.
Now I could go on and insult the AMPTP and how retarded that strategy is, but I’ve done that already in the past so let’s try something else this time. You see, right now studios and networks are all trying to act strong and united behind the AMPTP. They want to be seen are very strong in their position, and not willing to move. Reports and rumors are all out there to let everyone willing to hear that they will not cave in.
In fact, Nikki Finke even reported that she was told “the CEOs are determined to write off not just the rest of this TV season (including the Back 9 of scripted series), but also pilot season and the 2008/2009 schedule as well. Indeed, network orders for reality TV shows are pouring into the agencies right now.”
The idea is to get all viewers sick of the situation, and turn their back on writers. This idea is to get the writers to weaken as time goes by, because every day without working, and without pay, makes things harder to go by. The idea is to have everyone convinced that they, studios, are stronger and won’t cave in, and that for this to end the writers have to drop all their “dreams” of getting paid for their work.
I’m not really buying this.
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