It seems this week's rumors that the writers' strike is coming to an end may indeed be true. We are hearing from several sources that the WGA and the AMPTP are "very close" to a deal, which could be announced as early as later today.
According to reliable insiders who asked not to be named, the writers and producers were in talks for nine hours yesterday and made a "staggering amount of progress," as all of the major sticking points have been settled.
"We are 99.9 percent of the way there," one source inside the negotiations said. "As of late yesterday, just a few small issues remained."
The stickiest issue of all, compensation for new-media projects, has been agreed upon by both sides, according to sources. Said one: "There is most certainly light at the end of the tunnel, and we are rapidly approaching it."
Stay tuned, and keep those fingers crossed. An announcement could come any minute.
Originally posted by TravisYanan: Regarding the strike's end being perhaps imminent...
Everyone is in agreement on the basic terms of the deal, and an agreement is being drafted, it should be in by Tuesday. If there are no issues that come up based on that draft, the contract will be brought to the WGA board probably by Friday. If the leadership (Verrone, Bowman, and Young), the board and the negotiating committee are behind it, the feeling is that the general membership will ratify the contract.
This process could take up to three weeks, but writers could go back to work sooner than the contract being ratified.
Obviously, it's a wait-and-see time, and there's no guarantee that SAG will find the deal close-enough that they don't go out on strike in July.
And there's nothing saying this can't and won't blow up in our faces.
Blow up in whose faces? The WGA or SAG?
'us' possibly getting blown up = 'us' the viewers. Just because these people (WGA and AMPTP) are close to a deal doesn't mean that negotiations won't fall apart again and leave us with no new scripted TV all the way into next Fall.
Everyone keep their fingers crossed that negotiations lead to a complete and formal agreement soon. Then, keep fingers crossed that the writers can read fast so that it doesn't take the general members of the WGA a month to read over the contract and agree to it. Then, keep fingers crossed that the writers were busy during the strike (lots of new ideas in their heads) so that they will have lots of stuff to quickly put on paper in time for some new episodes of all our favorite shows by April/May.
Originally posted by Obveeus: Then, keep fingers crossed that the writers were busy during the strike (lots of new ideas in their heads) so that they will have lots of stuff to quickly put on paper in time for some new episodes of all our favorite shows by April/May.
And in case of a SAG strike?
Posts: 406 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 25 January 2008
Paging the cast of Grey's Anatomy... you're needed back on set, STAT!
With a tentative agreement between striking writers and Hollywood moguls expected to be announced sometime this week, my moles at Grey's tell me that production on the show is expected to resume in early March. The plan is to shoot four or five episodes to air in April/May.
A similar scenario is expected to play out at two other ABC hits, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. Conversely, freshman shows that have already been given full-season pickups (i.e. Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Samantha Who?) will likely restart production over the summer ahead of a fall relaunch. Expect a similar pattern to play out at CBS, NBC and Fox: Established shows returning in the spring; newer ones held till fall. The fate of heavily serialized shows like Lost, Heroes and 24 remains unclear.
Meanwhile, high-level sources close to the talks tell me that the WGA deal is close to the DGA deal, with a few exceptions — one of which represents a "major breakthrough."
Originally posted by Brent88: Expect a similar pattern to play out at CBS, NBC and Fox: Established shows returning in the spring; newer ones held till fall.
I'm not sure this is such a smart idea. basically, it means that the networks will be ordering up more episodes of less proven shows and hoping that they will still work after a LONG hiatus. Shows like Pushing Daisies were still shedding viewers each week. Wouldn't it be smarter to get the new shows back on the air for April/may and decide if they are strong enough to renew for Fall? Meanwhile, keep the 'extra' episodes of the established shows (whatever you can film before the actors have 'official' summertime off for other projects) just in case the SAG contract negotiations turn into another strike that eats into Fall?
Originally posted by Brent88: Expect a similar pattern to play out at CBS, NBC and Fox: Established shows returning in the spring; newer ones held till fall.
I'm not sure this is such a smart idea. basically, it means that the networks will be ordering up more episodes of less proven shows and hoping that they will still work after a LONG hiatus. Shows like Pushing Daisies were still shedding viewers each week. Wouldn't it be smarter to get the new shows back on the air for April/may and decide if they are strong enough to renew for Fall? Meanwhile, keep the 'extra' episodes of the established shows (whatever you can film before the actors have 'official' summertime off for other projects) just in case the SAG contract negotiations turn into another strike that eats into Fall?
I think whether this is a good idea depends on the show. I think shows like Chuck, Moonlight, BBT, and Private Practice which have been holding fairly steady in the ratings should go back into production so they don't loose their audience.
On the other hand, shows like Pushing Daisies, DSM, and Life have been bleeding viewers for months (though Life did turn that around toward the end). Even if they came back next week, they'd continue that drop. By holding them off until fall, the networks can do a full relauch complete with advertising push. That could help draw new viewers in during a time when people are looking for a new series to watch. (I doubt a lot of people will be picking up a new series for those last 4 episodes).
On a more pragmatic note, the break could allow the networks to re-evaluate the shows, see what they could do to bring in new viewers, or see if they have something else that will do better.
Originally posted by Brent88: Expect a similar pattern to play out at CBS, NBC and Fox: Established shows returning in the spring; newer ones held till fall.
I'm not sure this is such a smart idea. basically, it means that the networks will be ordering up more episodes of less proven shows and hoping that they will still work after a LONG hiatus. Shows like Pushing Daisies were still shedding viewers each week. Wouldn't it be smarter to get the new shows back on the air for April/may and decide if they are strong enough to renew for Fall? Meanwhile, keep the 'extra' episodes of the established shows (whatever you can film before the actors have 'official' summertime off for other projects) just in case the SAG contract negotiations turn into another strike that eats into Fall?
I think whether this is a good idea depends on the show. I think shows like Chuck, Moonlight, BBT, and Private Practice which have been holding fairly steady in the ratings should go back into production so they don't loose their audience.
On the other hand, shows like Pushing Daisies, DSM, and Life have been bleeding viewers for months (though Life did turn that around toward the end). Even if they came back next week, they'd continue that drop. By holding them off until fall, the networks can do a full relauch complete with advertising push. That could help draw new viewers in during a time when people are looking for a new series to watch. (I doubt a lot of people will be picking up a new series for those last 4 episodes).
On a more pragmatic note, the break could allow the networks to re-evaluate the shows, see what they could do to bring in new viewers, or see if they have something else that will do better.
I agree with Holly. In the case of NBC, not bringing back Chuck is a must due to lack of programs. Ditto probably for Life, which could grow imo on Fridays. ABC could probably bring back Samantha Who, but simply reairing the last 5 or 6 eps combined with extended Dancing and the Bachelor could also fill that hour. The last episodes of SW weren't viewed by many in first run and won't be if it airs after Dance Wars so I'm guessing it will be first run for most viewers. Big Bang Theory and Moonlight just as well return now too. In Moonlight's case, not returning means the end imo. That show hasn't even had a full season's order picked up if I recall. Private Practice could return but NOT on Wednesdays at 9 or on Wednesdays for that matter at all. Behind Greys or Dancing are the only slots acceptable right now and with Lost, Eli Stone, and the Bachelor around yet, that is not likely to happen. Women's Murder Club is another iffy one. Probably wouldn't hurt to return. Fox's only successful new show, Back to You could just as well return after Idol but its really not a major thing. The Monday lineup could use some extra Bones eps and House could just stay on Tuesdays, leaving Hell's Kitchen off for summer. The remaining 2 new dramas on Fox for this spring could just fill Monday at 9. Til Death could also plug holes with a couple new eps. The CW could probably use new episodes of everything imo even Gossip Girl and Reaper. So really its only the ABC shows that really need to be considered imo when being brought back or not. There was so much emphasis and stress put on them in the fall, a quick return could be deadly.
Any Ratings for Stargate Atlantis which aired on SCI FI @ 10/9C? I was hoping with lower network competition cable did better. Please anything would be very appreciated!
