60% of Viewers Favor Writers Over Studios

Strike prompts switch to reality shows—and reading, sleeping
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:52 PM CST
60% of Viewers Favor Writers Over Studios
Writer Sherwood Schwartz, 91, center, who created, wrote and produced The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island, along with his children, Lloyd Schwartz, 61, Ross Schwartz, 58, right, Hope Juber, 51, background-center, and grandchild, Andy Schwartz, background-left, all writers, join striking film and television...   (Associated Press)

The sympathies of viewers affected by the Hollywood writers' strike lie squarely with the writers, not the studios, a new poll shows. USA Today reports that 60% of Americans side with the scribes, and only 14% with their erstwhile employers. Reactions to the strike are varied: Many viewers watch more reruns, more reality shows, and/or less TV in general.

Viewers of late-night shows, the first programs hit by the strike, were split in their reactions to the strike: Roughly equal numbers say they watch other shows, go to bed earlier, and read instead of watching TV. Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are set to return to air in January without their writing staffs, dealing a blow to the strike. (More Hollywood writers' strike stories.)

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