Writers Strike Fallout Lingers Behind the Scenes

From election-night snafus to the WGA strike

(NEWSER) - It’s been an embarrassing decade for TV networks, as the Hollywood Reporter proves with its list of the aughties’ biggest industry mistakes:

1. Hollywood writers’ strike: It was unnecessary and “mutually destructive”—and for viewers, “has there ever been a longer 14 weeks?”
2. ABC’s rejection of CSI: The show has scored $6 billion for CBS and prompted spurned producer Jerry Bruckheimer to walk out on Disney.

Hollywood doesn't think union will really head for picket lines

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild’s contract has expired, but Hollywood remains strangely sublime, Variety reports. This isn’t like the writers strike, conventional wisdom has it, because actors don’t support a strike the way the writers did. “People who are working don't want to go out,” said one agent. After the WGA strike “there are too many people who are just desperate to get something going.” More»

Union schedules meeting to iron out division

(NEWSER) - Facing dissent in the rank-and-file, the Screen Actors Guild is delaying a member vote to authorize a strike, the Los Angeles Times reports. The union’s board will push back balloting slated to begin January 2 to “address the unfortunate division and restore consensus” at a special meeting January 12, said SAG’s executive director. "This will provide us with more time to conduct member education and outreach on the referendum before the balloting,” Douglas Allen wrote to members. More»

Most episodes are already filmed

(NEWSER) - No offense, actors, but TV viewers probably wouldn't notice a Screen Actors Guild strike if it happens. Production schedules will suffer, but not nearly like the disruption last year's writers strike caused, reports the Los Angeles Times. Many scripted series are almost done filming for the season, and more of them are now covered by AFTRA, a rival artists agency. More»

AFTRA approval weakens strike chance

(NEWSER) - Despite a campaign by the larger Screen Actors Guild to convince them otherwise, members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists yesterday approved a new contract with Hollywood studios, the Los Angeles Times reports. The ratification is seen as signaling weak support for an actors strike as SAG continues negotiations on its own deal with studios. More»