So the writers strike has been going for awhile now. 2 of my favorite shows are on hiatus (Office, Heroes) and another one is about to begin a shortened season (Lost). What do you guys think? Is it even affecting you in any way?

I side with the writers on this, and I'm usually not a big union fan. It's pretty easy to see that they're getting paid jack, especially when it comes to digital media distribution. I'd just assume go without TV and movies for awhile to let Hollywood tank and realize they've been neglecting one of their foundations.

I'm siding with the writers as well.

It's effected 24 it was supposed to air this month but who knows now when it'll air because of this fucking strike. The writers do deserve to get paid for the online content since it's FULL episodes that are being shown. Even though the websites are saying their "promo" webisodes but everyone knows it's pure shit.

Writers for sure. Good to see they have enough clout to stand up to it as well.
That shit would never happen in here but I guess that's why Hollywood loves Australian studios and crew

I'd love to side with the writers, I really would. I think they're getting screwed ten ways from Sunday. But now that they've put these ultimatums on the table, showing that they're in for the long haul, I think they just screwed themselves. Strikes only work when popular support is with them....the longer a strike goes, the less popular it becomes. Now it's messing with awards shows and all that other good stuff, the populace will become restless, and when Americans start going through withdrawls....blood will be shed.

I hope they win, I really do, but it better happen soon, or we all get civil war!

Considering the amount of would-be writers dying to break into Hollywood, it's surprising to me that the studios haven't started hiring scab labor. And considering the general shitty state of TV writing, it's not even like the scabs would have to be particularly good. Really, what's keeping this strike going is the refusal of actors to cross the picket lines. But I wonder how long that will last.

I know it would be easy to say I stand with the writers. In the end, I suppose I do. But we have to admit that there is a lot of shit on tv nowadays and the movie business has been awful for many years.

I think that's why we're not hearing more outrage. It seems a lot of people are questioning whether we're really losing anything.

Now having said that, I am fucking pissed about 24 and Lost.

We're only getting like eight to ten episodes of Lost and I have a feeling that 24 is just going to bag the whole season and start fresh in 2009.

I side with the writers. If new income streams open up stemming from their work then they should get fair compensation.

The length of the strike doesn't really worry me. i don't watch a huge amount of TV, and the only current US show I watch is Heroes and that sucked arse last season anyway.

At least Jericho got it's second season filmed and finished before this strike happen. I can't wait for it to come back on next month (February 12th). I would have been REALLY pissed if it effect Jericho.

BTW Darth Hade I hope you're wrong about 24... I doubt they'll start fresh they'll probably end up showing the current Season 7 probably in 2009. I doubt they'd re-do the entire 7th season. I just hope we won't have to wait until 2009 to see it.

Well, what I'm really pissed about is BSG using the strike to their advantage, because they happened to have the first half of the final season complete and it looks like they're going to break up the final season into two parts, prolonging the pain even more!

Oh, I agree with that.

What I meant was that they won't bother showing us a truncated season of less than the full twenty-four episodes. They'll finish the remaining episodes that complete this year's storyline but won't run any of them till 2009.

I'm kind of ambiguous about this whole thing. The only current show I really give a rat's ass about is Heroes. And the entire second season was rushed and the ending damaged because of the strike, so in that way it bugs me. But having a few different Union officials in my family, I'm kind of biased towards always siding with organized labor.

I think it's kind of a tough call as to what they are complaining about, however. I get it, I just don't think they really thought the timing of it through. The networks have an advantage with this being an election year in the U.S., and pre-loaded with a healthy supply of interesting fill-in material. In that respect, I think a stoppage in the fictional diversion of Network television might actually be benifical, allowing people more oportunity to focus on the relevant issues, and possibly electing someone who isn't just another corporate cronie. But that might just be too much of a stretch in wishful thinking. The "team sports" mentality, having hijacked the political process and subverted the judgement of the people, seems to have long ago shut down the critical analysis function in most folks brains. Thinking that more and easier access to information is going to change this might just be a tad naive of me.

The other advantage the networks have here is the lack of empathy average folks feel for the writers themselves. I'd have to imagine a writer in television or movies pulls down a mean chunk of cake just for coming up with some witty banter or rehashing some character driven scenario with the stars of the moment. When the average person, barely making ends-meat, hears that some glorified typists are angry, they don't really give a shit. That's not to say I agree with the corporations, it's just part of the reality of the situation. People want thier electronic pacifiers back. Be damned, whoever is standing in the way. So hopefully the writiers can write up a way to overcome that hurdle to popular support. I wish them luck.

In the end, they just want to be treated fairly and better compensated. And I can't fault anyone for that. Hell, I'd do it if I could. I don't belong to a Union, though. So I'd just get fired (again).

I forgot Heroes was effected by this. It irritated me as well that the second season was rushed and the ending pretty much sucked. This writers strike does need to end soon though.

Here's an interesting article regarding possible ramifications regarding the strike ...

'Hollywood, rebuilt in Silicon Valley's image'

http://blog.pmarca.com/2007/11/rebuilding-holl.html

Not a bad blog post, they missed the disparity between Reality "writers" and regular "writers", something that is currently allowing many of the stations to fill our regularly scheduled programming with a ton of reality crap, since reality writers aren't on strike.

WGA wants them in the guild.

OVER: http://www.variety.com/article/VR111798 ... 3&cs=1&p=0

bout narfing time.

Damn, Topeka, who is that girl in your avatar?

Agreed. Now they need to get back to writing a full Season of Lost!!

I think that's the most asked question on the boards....and I don't think I've ever heard an answer....*snicker*

Iga Wyrwal.

Gracias.

Holy shit! Totally NSFW Iga fansite.

If you don't really like/want to keep your job, it might be worth clicking here anyways. It's a real treat for the eyeballs.

That is nice....Met Art is nice too.....if you get time, expand your search to other models in there.