Writers(WGA) perpare for strike!

[genius]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071020/ap_en_tv/hollywood_labor

The union has give authorization to strike at the end of the month when their contracts expires.


And here is what may happen to the soap operas: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/arts/television/20cons.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Soap operas like The Young and the Restless, viewed by some six million people a day, typically have a monthlong backlog of episodes. Because of their serial nature, soap operas do not perform well in repeats. Networks say they would try to maintain ratings during the day in the event of a strike by substituting more news and sports programming.

Obviously far different from the strike of 1988 when "scab" writers were put in place of the soaps(much to the frustation of writers like Marland at As The World Turns and Labine at Ryan's Hope, though I think Bell and Y&R continued to write(uncredited, of course).

And in contrast to the strike of '88(which lasted five months and caused damage to broadcast network ratings and cause increased viewership with cable), there is now the internet.

Most interesting thing from that NYT article: NBC possibly importing the British version of The Office.

 

[azumanga]

Most interesting thing from that NYT article: NBC possibly importing the British version of The Office.

Just hope the strike doesn't last long -- The UK "Office" is only twelve episodes long, not counting the two Christmas episodes. Meaning that, if "Days" goes dark once the scripts run out, NBC only has a little over two weeks of the UK office to fall back on.

 

[JayR]

I like the list of possibilities I found in a Time article.

3) The British Invasion: The major U.S. networks may look more like BBC America as content from abroad fills the void. The U.K. version of The Office, with Ricky Gervais, is an obvious substitute for Steve Carell's NBC version. And Footballers' Wives would do for ABC's Desperate Housewives in a pinch.

What aboat Canada, eh? If such a strike should take place I would prefer to watch Canadian-made shows (even those no longer in production) on broadcast tv than British.

 

[azumanga]

If a strike does happen, maybe it'll be time to give Coronation Street another chance.

 

[jegrant]

Bring on the CanCon! US nets could do worse.

 

[pabsungenis]

What aboat Canada, eh? If such a strike should take place I would prefer to watch Canadian-made shows (even those no longer in production) on broadcast tv than British.

Well, isn't Corner Gas already syndicated in the US? And I wonder which network would be brave enough to buy Little Mosque On The Prairie.

 

[Vandelay]

I am hoping that someone would show The National.

 

[JayR]

What aboat Canada, eh? If such a strike should take place I would prefer to watch Canadian-made shows (even those no longer in production) on broadcast tv than British.

Well, isn't Corner Gas already syndicated in the US? And I wonder which network would be brave enough to buy Little Mosque On The Prairie.

Corner Gas is syndicated in the US. Superstation WGN airs the program nationally.

As for Little Mosque...I don't think even the premium networks would touch it.

There are many Canadian shows which have yet to air stateside. The Eleventh Hour comes to mind.

 

[genius]

DaVinci's Inquest is in syndication right now here in the US. It airs nationally on WGN I know.

 

[anotherguyTN]

I'd be for some network carrying Corner Gas. Also, this may be too far fetched, but I'd love it if some network (even cable) would pick up The Red Green Show.

 

[JayR]

I'd be for some network carrying Corner Gas.

Umm...

Corner Gas is syndicated in the US. Superstation WGN airs the program nationally.

 

[johnnya2k6]

I am hoping that someone would show The National.

Ugh...not again.

After talking about this many times, I don't think any U.S. outlet (C-SPAN3, PBS, even Superstation WGN) is ever interested in "The National."

Now if TBN can pick up "100 Huntley Street"...

Jonathan Allen

 

[SportsRadioDoc]

If there were a bunch of really great shows on TV right now, the writers may have more to hold over our heads, but if soap's, the Office, and Bionic Woman are the best offerings, I can just read.