Writers' Strike

[hideaway70]

Here's a thought...Is television so awful now that the writers' strike will go unnoticed? Just kidding (or am I?)

Actually, the comment that struck me is that the "reality" shows are being profoundly affected by the strike. "Ok, here's how your 'genuine' reaction should go"

[jennyk]

I haven't really noticed the writer's strike yet, but that's because the shows I watch still have some episodes left to run before they run out and can't have more because the writers are striking. I actually think it might be a welcome thing - it will give me more time to read books or, more likely, see more movies and watch DVDs!

[hideaway70]

it will give me more time to read books or, more likely, see more movies and watch DVDs!

That's a good point. In fact I have found myself increasingly opting to watch movies or series on DVD instead of first-run television. It's a nice alternative to be able to watch episodes in sequence without commercials. My wife has even tried to convince me that Gilmore Girls is tolerable when watched in such a way- not true by the way.

With the incredible volume of entertainment choices we have at our fingertips today, this writers' strike will have far less of an impact than would have been the case when the Big 3 dominated to a larger degree.

[Night Fire]

I actually think it might be a welcome thing - it will give me more time to read books or, more likely, see more movies and watch DVDs!

Personally, i decided to read a book that you suggested. That with the 800+ DVD's on the shelf, I don't think I will notice the strike.

BUT
While we are on the topic, i will state that I agree with the reasons for this strike. It is a case of we make these companies the big bucks, time for them to share some of it!

[jennyk]

In fact I have found myself increasingly opting to watch movies or series on DVD instead of first-run television. It's a nice alternative to be able to watch episodes in sequence without commercials. My wife has even tried to convince me that Gilmore Girls is tolerable when watched in such a way- not true by the way.

I love TV on DVD!!! Watching TV shows on DVD has spoiled me for regular TV. I love being able to sit down and watch an entire season of a show in a couple of weeks (or a weekend, if it's particularly rainy or snowy and I'm feeling particularly lazy). Unfortunately, I don't have the cash or time to buy or rent everything I want to watch. The easiest are the shows that only lasted a season or two, because then it isn't as much of a project to sit down and watch them. One of my favorites was "Sports Night," which lasted only two seasons. I'm in the midst of watching "Firefly" now, which only lasted 14 episodes.

Meanwhile, I do have five seasons of "24" I need to sit down and watch this winter, but since the new season is apparently being postponed because of the writer's strike, maybe I'll get that done.

I don't think "Gilmore Girls" would be tolerable in any format, but I've only seen one episode so I suppose I shouldn't judge. My sister, however, loves the show.

[hideaway70]

For us, a good way to watch a lot of TV on DVD is via Netflix. They have almost anything I have been able to come up with that I am interested in seeing.

It's nice in that it allows you to watch not only shows you would buy, but also some obscure shows that you might not necessarily want to see badly enough to purchase, but want to see out of curiosity or a sense of nostalgia.

This is how I watched all the old Wonder Woman episodes. By the way, my boyhood Lynda Carter crush was indeed well-founded.

Had we taken the Netflix plunge earlier, I could have saved the several hundred dollars I wasted on Gilmore Girls and Friends seasons. My wife could have gotten her fix and then we could have purged our home of them before they infected the other DVD's.

[jennyk]

I used to mooch off a friend in college who had Netflix, and she and I would watch awesome obscure TV shows and movies. I keep thinking about doing it, but I haven't taken the plunge yet. Maybe I'll ask for a Netflix subscription for Christmas this year - it would be the gift that keeps on giving!

[evilkumquat]

With the incredible volume of entertainment choices we have at our fingertips today, this writers' strike will have far less of an impact than would have been the case when the Big 3 dominated to a larger degree.

The Writer's Guild has striking members in many, many different areas of the entertainment industry, not just on regular network television.

Syndicated shows such as Jeopardy! often employ guild writers so the crunch may hit in unexpected ways.

Additionally, it is precisely the "incredible volume of choices" that precipitated the strike in the first place. The writers are currently asking for their fair share of the brand new markets being opened on the Internet with direct downloads and website syndication.

The same thing happened twenty years ago when Hollywood producers tried to cut the writers out of the emerging home video market.

I also read somewhere that the producers are approaching film students for possible submissions (i.e., soliciting scabs). I wonder if the students realize this could conceivably prevent them from getting work later on when they attempt to submit scripts to a guild-only series?

Evil Kumquat

[jennyk]

Ken Levine occasionally has interesting posts about the writer's strike on his blog (http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/). He's a writer living in L.A. who wrote for "M*A*S*H," "Cheers," "The Simpsons," and a host of other shows. He and his writing partner also wrote the screenplay to the movie "Volunteers." His blog is usually very interesting, but I will give you fair warning - the language can get a bit salty at times. Still, it's a great blog!

Evil Kumquat - I didn't think about Jeopardy and other shows like that! I had heard that all we'll have while the strike is going on is game shows. What will they do if they don't have game shows, either?

[evilkumquat]

What will they do if they don't have game shows, either?

Hopefully, settle!

*grin

Evil Kumquat

[hideaway70]

Additionally, it is precisely the "incredible volume of choices" that precipitated the strike in the first place. The writers are currently asking for their fair share of the brand new markets being opened on the Internet with direct downloads and website syndication.



Mr. Quat,
You make a vaild point here an I certainly didn't mean to dismiss the writers' grievances as being real. I fully support their right to be fairly compensated for the work they do. Well, maybe not the staff for The View, but certainly anyone else.

I also am not surprised to hear that scab writers are being solicited...If this thing does drag on, the negative effects of these potentially inferior writers will be felt at some point.

In some ways, I liken what's happening to the NFL strike of a few years ago. The talent pool is already spread rather thin, but when the first-string writers strike and those same slots are filled by lesser talent you get an inferior product.

[evilkumquat]

Well, maybe not the staff for The View, but certainly anyone else.

I think we all have our shows for which the strike is less than unwelcome! :)

Sadly, most of the shows I feel deserving of "indefinite hiatus" fall into the "reality" genre, which will probably take less of a hit than most during this time of upheaval.

Evil Kumquat