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What Does The WGA Strike Mean For TV?

by Kathryn Durfee
01/09/2008

As the WGA strike reaches the two month mark with no end in sight, networks are beginning to announce their plans for 2008 and beyond. With television shows available online, on torrent sites, and for purchase on DVD, the question of where prime time is going has been up in the air for awhile. In the long run, this strike may prove to be the push networks need to revamp the way things are done. Undoubtedly, severe changes will be made for future shows.

The 1988 strike cost the industry an estimated $500 million. Thus, when rumor of this strike began to spread in early fall of this year, it was reported that networks would be prepared this time around, squirreling away little television nuts for the winter, if you will. While some networks still have fresh episodes on hand, these will quickly run out while the networks scramble to keep screens from going black this winter. So, what can we expect to see at the start of the new year?

1. Early to bed Late-night talk shows have already suffered enormously. Monologues have been cut, and some shows aren't even currently in production. Variety has posted numerous articles about hosts like Letterman, Leno, and O'Brien paying writers and other staff out of their own pockets in order to keep the shows together. Another concern is scheduling. While scripted shows have actors waiting in the wings for the strike to end, talk shows have to remain ready to go back on the air when a settlement is reached. Guests have to be locked down weeks in advance, but the schedules continue to change as the strike goes on. Saturday Night Live, which hasn't produced a new episode since early November, has also made significant cut backs (upwards of 50 people) on their below-the-line staff. The actors themselves have not been terminated but have instead been placed on unpaid hiatus like those of many scripted shows.

NOTE: Though this was the case at the time the article was written, talk shows have since gone back on the air. The WGA is now focusing on making deals with individual studios.

2. Goodbye, Newbies Shows that made their debut this season may not see the new year. Since this is the time of year when pilot series that have not built up a strong enough following are considered for cancellation anyway, networks may decided not to waste time or money trying to renew weak series. For those viewers unaware of how it all works behind the curtain (or screen), networks rarely purchase an entire season at once. Generally, eight to ten episodes are ordered at first, with more requested after the first four or so air. At this point, NBC has announced that while Life has been renewed for a second season, it will probably be dumped for the duration of the strike. Word is still out on NBC's Bionic Woman, which has been under-performing. The network is optimistic in the long run, hoping to bring it back in the future, perhaps as Bionic Woman 2.0.

3. Who needs writers, anyway? The trend of increasing numbers of reality shows will most likely continue. Since they (allegedly) don't have scripts, they won't need writers. All of the major networks (NBC, FOX, ABC, and CBS) have announced new reality shows and renewals of current ones. Look forward to Big Brother 9, another round of Survivor, new versions of Deal of No Deals, The Apprentice, American Idol, and The Biggest Loser (whom I still say is the viewer), and new series American Gladitors, Baby Borrowers, and Dance Wars, ABC's spinoff of Dancing With the Stars. Rejoice, for there will be even more chances for Regular Joe's to make asses of themselves on national television.

4. Say 'Cheerio, imports!' As prime time winners shut down production, stateside networks may use imported shows to fill holes in the schedule. Either we'll start seeing the original version of The Office and other stolen series, or every night will start looking like Saturday nights on PBS.

5. And the award goes to... This may be the year for the first short Academy Awards telecast. Because all telecast award shows are scripted, writers are needed. There are rumors that a waiver might be issued for the awards show to use writers, but the word is still out. Jon Stewart is slated to host, but he hasn't even been showing up for The Daily Show.

6. Déja Vu The obvious solution for networks is reruns, reruns, reruns. With hit shows like Grey's Anatomy, House, and ER, why not just work with what you have? The problem here is that these are already available on DVD, so why would viewers choose to watch on the network schedule and have to sit through commercials over going at their own pace? ABC is keeping quiet about their schedule (remember, they still have the fourth season of Lost in the bag and waiting for a January premiere), but CBS is relying on reruns of all CSI spin-offs, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, and Shark. NBC will be adding even more hours of Law & Order series, and FOX will show old episodes of House and Family Guy. CBS has also announced plans to borrow shows such as Dexter and the mini-series The Tudors from its sister station Showtime.

7. Back from the dead Those shows we all thought were great but were cancelled anyway may get a second chance. NBC is bringing Medium back, and CBS is resurrecting Jericho to replace the disappointing Cane. Hopefully other great shows like Wonderfalls and Traveller will reappear.

In the end, this strike may be the catalyst for changes to be made to a system that hasn't changed in over fifteen years. Because no one knows quite when the strike will end, networks are even beginning to plan for the fall 2008 season. First, leftover episodes of current scripted shows may be aired in the summer months, outside of the standard September-May season. There might also be a push towards year-round scheduling, which is to say that pilots may be rolled out throughout the season instead of all at once, which requires a lot of money up-front for advertising. In addition, major networks may follow the cable station model: maintain only a few series, but devote more attention to them.

At this point, the fate for pilots for the 2008-2009 is unclear. It will most likely be scaled back to include only the "sure-thing" series, but it may be scrapped altogether. My guess is that DVD sales of old series from back when TV was decent will soar as viewers seek out worthwhile shows to watch. A word of advice: stretch out your viewings. Don't go on a Lost: Season Three bender this weekend; make it last as long as possible.

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