State of the Unions

Leno, Conan to Return Jan. 2

CNN  |  Dec 17, 07 12:16 PM CST

(Newser) - “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” will return with new episodes on January 2 after 2 months off the air because of the Writers Guild strike, CNN reports. The shows will return without their usual writers, but "I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers," O'Brien said in a statement. More »

Striking Writers Turn to Web Biz

Los Angeles Times  |  Dec 17, 07 4:18 AM CST

(Newser) - Dozens of striking film and TV writers are creating new companies that would bypass Hollywood studios and present original video entertainment directly on the Internet. Three groups of writers are working on ventures similar to United Artists, the production company created by Charlie Chaplin and other stars who wanted to break from the studio system, the Los Angeles Times reports. More »

Scribe Strike May Shake Up TV Biz

Variety  |  Dec 16, 07 5:36 AM CST

(Newser) - TV bigwigs are looking on the bright side of the scribe strike, they say, vowing to finally make overdue changes to boost the bottom line. Slashing costs, staggering show debuts, and making network TV look and act more like cable are notions that have been kicked around for years. Now may be time to do them: "This is a great opportunity to come up with a model that makes television healthier," one exec told Variety . More »

Late-Night Hosts May Defy Strike

Variety  |  Dec 14, 07 2:57 PM CST

(Newser) - Late-night talk-show hosts are considering getting back on the air even as the writers' strike continues, Variety reports. Although Jay Leno, David Letterman, and others initially supported the strike, network sources say a breakdown in negotiations between writers and producers and late-night shows’ plunging ratings have the hosts planning a return to the airwaves Jan. 7 or earlier. More »

Writers Guild Files Complaint Against Studios

Associated Press  |  Dec 14, 07 7:30 AM CST

(Newser) - Striking Hollywood writers, charging that studios acted illegally when they broke off negotiations Dec. 7, yesterday filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. The goal is to force producers back to the table, reports the AP, but  experts say it could backfire, shutting down any back-channel talks that could help restart negotiations in the six-week-old strike. More »

Directors Hope to Call 'Cut!' on Strike

Associated Press  |  Dec 13, 07 4:15 PM CST

(Newser) - Hollywood directors will likely begin contract negotiations with studios in early January, a move that will put added pressure on writers to resolve their strike, the AP reports. The directors' guild had held off for two months in deference to the writers, but the latest collapse of talks has changed things. "We can no longer abdicate our responsibility to our own members," said the directors' guild chief. More »

Mitchell Report Will Be Flawed, Insiders Say

ESPN  |  Dec 12, 07 11:21 PM CST

(Newser) - George Mitchell is poised to release his long-awaited report on steroid use in baseball—but many of those interviewed by his investigators have serious doubts it will solve anything, reports ESPN's Howard Bryant. Players, trainers and managers say the 20-month investigation has been hamstrung by tension between owners and the players' union, Mitchell's lack of understanding of baseball culture, and his professional ties to MLB. More »

Strike Threatens Star Attraction at Golden Globes