What if writers go on strike ?
By fred | October 20, 2007
As you probably heard for a while now, there is a major risk that writers will go on strike starting as soon a November first if writers and producers do not come to an agreement on a new contract by the end of the month. As the risk grows every day, what could it mean for us viewers ?
Well, expect a lot more of reruns and reality shows.
But really, how about how favorite TV series ? Well… if depends. For example, while Family Guy fans are fine, because animated series such as this one or The Simpsons are completed up to a year in advance, and therefore are unaffected by any strike regardless of its length (well, for this season at least), fans of shows like 24 or Lost might very well be screwed!
As explained in this article from The New-York Times, new series as well as such serialized dramas are not done so far in advance. And when it comes to 24 or Lost, beginning in February and airing without repeats or any kind of break, comes the big question for networks : do they start airing the new season, episodes that are done, while risking - if not being certain - they’ll have to stop it right in the middle until after the strike is over, and new episodes are actually written, shot, produced, etc.
Or do they simply delay the season premiere ? Which IMO is a much better choice, obviously. Yet, it means that if they don’t work things out rapidly, we’re screwed!
Most shows are expected to film about 10 episodes until November 1st, or about 13-15 episodes until Christmas. Networks usually air about 10 episodes of shows till Christmas and 15 by the end of February sweeps.
Some network such as NBC, fearing the strike, already ordered 3 more episodes (going from 13 to 16) of all their new series (Life, Journeyman, Chuck and Bionic Woman) so that they could keep filming and airing episodes up to the end of February sweeps, hoping that if there’s a strike, it will by then be resolved and new episodes will be in the making, should they order more of them - of course.
But if the strike goes on for any longer, your favorite shows might simply go into long hiatus and/or repeats for weeks until new episodes can actually make it to the air. You can expect over a month once the strike is over until new episodes can actually find their way back.
The last time a WGA strike occurred, in March 1988, the 1987/88 season was cut short and the next season was delayed for more than a month. I’m all for the writers to get what they ask for, because they deserve it, and I hope they can work it out quick enough so that we aren’t affected by any of this.
