Jim Avila of ABC World News Webcast interviews Dade Hayes of Variety about the on-going writers strike in Hollywood:
So what does this tell viewers at this point about what they are going to see on television from now until possibly next Fall. Are we going to see any of those really good programs that are well written or are we going to be in the wasteland of reality TV?
Dade Hayes: Well, it's going to be reality heavy. They've predicted that since last fall when the strike was really taking shape. Shows like American Gladiator and American Idol are already happening now. The question is how much will they be scraping for reality concept as the Spring wears on. We don't really know that.
I mean it's a case where every viewer can cast their vote. If you're not interested in reality replacing your favorite scripted show, you can simply tune out or go to cable or go to the internet. It's basically that simple. The question now is whether the ratings on reality will be high enough to keep the engines running at the network.
Link [ABC World News Webcast, Flash video]
Let me ask you this:
[poll=5]
I don't have cable or anything, but I am rooting for the writers to get a decent agreement. I think the networks are pretty greedy. I really hope that the strike hits them where it hurts and forces them to give good deals to their writers.
So if the writers are striking, who makes their picket signs? ;o)
And really I only miss that because it means when it comes on again I won't be with the person I'm always with when I watch it.
That makes me pretty god damn sad.
I REALLY missed Jon and Stephen. I hope the writers get the deal they want (which still isn't as good a deal as they should have).
Or is there a Neatorama Editors' strike, too?
I want the writers to get a good deal and I think they're owed what they're asking for BUT they're hurting alot of innocent people (the florists, boom operators, caterers, etc, etc) when these shows are stopped and they have nothing to do with the disagreement. At least keep working and negotiating at the same time or something. The networks dont give a crap about these people so it wont get them to negotiate - the writers should be the bigger man on this one and end it so all these innocent workers arent hurt even more.
That may not be such a bad thing.
There's no need for a union if people are actually individually talented. Let them compete on an individual basis like the rest of us.