Robert N EmersonAnd now, the thrilling conclusion: The Writers' Strike Is Over!
February 14th 2008 00:06
The Television Industry and aficionados can breath a collective sigh of relief - the Writers' Strike has official come to an end. After three long months, a deal has been reached between the WGA and the AMPTP, and 92.5% of guild members voted for an immediate end to the strike. A further vote to ratify the new contract will be held on February 25.
This means that the writers would have returned to work today (Wednesday in the US). The most immediate impact will be seen on the late night talk shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Colbert Report. Each of these hosts has had to struggle through writer-less since early January, with the results falling everywhere on the spectrum between 'hilarious and moving' and 'uncomfortable and awkward.'
The effect on scripted dramas and comedies is not quite as clear. Many shows are expected to resume filming quite promptly, which may mean more episodes to air this season (Lost, My Name Is Earl). For some, there is no word yet as to when new episodes will be made or aired (Heroes, House). Other programmes, that were already struggling, have become casualties of the strike and will not return (Bionic Woman).
It's too early to fully appreciate the impact that this strike has had on the television industry. So many people and companies that work within or rely on the entertainment business have been hit hard. Still, that's the way that the game has to be played, and the result is fair residuals for writers when their work is distributed via New Media. This was a fight that had to occur - this emerging market has been garnering enormous profits for the studios, and the writers were not receiving anything for it. The fact that the AMPTP walked away from the table and allowed this strike to go on for so long shows that the studios were desperate not to share even the smallest sliver of the pie, no matter what the impact on the industry.
So the strike is now a thing of the past, the WGA has struck a fair deal, and shows can now resume production. Utter a prayer of thanks to Seshat, Thoth, Nisaba, Nabu, or your writing deity of choice, for this wonderful event.
This means that the writers would have returned to work today (Wednesday in the US). The most immediate impact will be seen on the late night talk shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Colbert Report. Each of these hosts has had to struggle through writer-less since early January, with the results falling everywhere on the spectrum between 'hilarious and moving' and 'uncomfortable and awkward.'
The effect on scripted dramas and comedies is not quite as clear. Many shows are expected to resume filming quite promptly, which may mean more episodes to air this season (Lost, My Name Is Earl). For some, there is no word yet as to when new episodes will be made or aired (Heroes, House). Other programmes, that were already struggling, have become casualties of the strike and will not return (Bionic Woman).
It's too early to fully appreciate the impact that this strike has had on the television industry. So many people and companies that work within or rely on the entertainment business have been hit hard. Still, that's the way that the game has to be played, and the result is fair residuals for writers when their work is distributed via New Media. This was a fight that had to occur - this emerging market has been garnering enormous profits for the studios, and the writers were not receiving anything for it. The fact that the AMPTP walked away from the table and allowed this strike to go on for so long shows that the studios were desperate not to share even the smallest sliver of the pie, no matter what the impact on the industry.
So the strike is now a thing of the past, the WGA has struck a fair deal, and shows can now resume production. Utter a prayer of thanks to Seshat, Thoth, Nisaba, Nabu, or your writing deity of choice, for this wonderful event.
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