Writers Strike Officially Over

CNN is reporting that the 100-day Hollywood writers walkout is now officially over. The new contract managed to snag two of the three major points the Writers Guild was looking for. The writers will now have "jurisdiction" for content created especially for new media (Internet, cell phones, etc) and will get paid for the reuse of content on new media when the studios get paid. "Leslie Moonves, chief executive officer of CBS Corp., told The Associated Press, 'At the end of the day, everybody won. It was a fair deal and one that the companies can live with, and it recognizes the large contribution that writers have made to the industry. [...] It's unclear how soon new episodes of scripted programs will start appearing, because production won't begin until scripts are completed, the AP reported. It will take at least four weeks for producers to get the first post-strike episodes of comedies back on the air; dramas will take six to eight weeks, the AP said.'"

Re:No summer reruns?

[Mickyfin613]

You may see a few new episodes in the Spring, but the writers won't be able to churn out scripts over night. Not under the *new* collective agreement, anyhoo. From what I understand new episodes are written over the summer, so I would imagine you'll have reruns (for the most part) until next fall.

Re:YAY!

[Xentor]

Tonight? Can't help ya there...

Just wait for Heroes to come back. Only major show I still watch.

Re:YAY!

[Captain Splendid]

Well, seeing as its Wednesday, there's a fresh ep of Mythbusters on tonight. Does that help?

Oh, and you all should be watching Lost. It's one of the closest things we've got to Sci-Fi on a mainstream channel right now.

Bonus: The end of the series has been plotted out and sealed with the studio, so no inconclusive endings a la X-Files, no cancellations before the show ends a la Serenity. Just an interesting story, from beginning to end. When was the last time you had a guarantee like that from a network show?

Re:Journeyman

[tripmine]

Sorry bro, I think it's Canceled [hollywoodreporter.com]
Too bad. I really liked that show too.

Re:YAY!

[click2005]

OK Battlestar Galactica. No? How about Babylon...

I know you're trying to be funny but BSG returns April 4 with first half of 20-episode final season. Production on second half could start as early as March. Airdate for those TBD.

B5 The Lost Tales (DVD #2) - no idea.

Re:If only....

[Ma8thew]

Reality TV writers are given job titles by the networks which prevent them joining the WGA, like 'segment producer' or consultant. They are basically treated like dirt by them, despite writing being a large component of 'reality' TV, they aren't paid overtime, they don't have insurance and they have no leverage.

Re:Did they ditch the DVD demand?

[dghcasp]

From The Economist [economist.com]'s coverage:

The writers made other concessions too: they for instance dropped their demand for a higher share of money from DVDs. They also gave up trying to get reality television and animation covered by union terms.

HTH. HAND.

Re:First post

[Idiomatick]

Thats the only chance you get to use 99% of math. In made up scenarios where you fill all the blanks. Hell my math prof could only think of 1 actual use for sequences and it was a calculus aproximation method you don't actually use anyways. The mathies need to get it out somehow :( .... Also have you seen CSI before .... 'hey this smudge is yellow' ... 'i know who did it that yellow smudge could only mean one thing...'

Re:For true satisfaction, reality is better.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm a former political speechwriter, and the idea of just using talking points on the grounds that the politician will then speak better -- or from the heart -- often comes up.

The problem with talking points is this. The politician could well deliver a really great speech. But if the politician is feeling tired, or off color, or just doesn't care about the subject it's easy for the speech to become a complete disaster.

At least a written speech puts a floor under the quality. A speech delivered from a written document or an autocue is unlikely to be truly, truly awful, even if it's not going to be truly, truly great.

And believe me, President Bush's speeches are not the worst I've seen. I've seen politicians forget the main point they're supposed to deliver; I've seen them go blank and stand, blinking, at the lectern; I've seen them throw their talking points away -- usually with a flourish -- and then deliver a disastrous speech from the heart about something the audience doesn't care about.

A written speech minimises the chance of that happening.

And that's why speechwriters prepare complete speeches.

Posting as AC for obvious reasons