US TV Writers Strike

It's really beginning to bite now:


Main developments:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a79461/us-strike-show-status-24-premiere-axed.html

- 24 postponed - likely to air in 2008/9 season
- Prison Break to go on hiatus with remaining episodes to screen in January. Total of 12 taped, so second half of season in doubt
- Desperate Housewives - 9 episodes taped, production shut down.
- Lost - likely to run 8 episodes as mini-season next year with remaining 8 (un-taped) to follow in 2008/9 season
- Heroes - 11 episodes taped, with final taped episode possibly serving as season finale and specials airing prior to 2008/9 season. Heroes: Origins axed for now
- The Daily Show off-air with immediate effect, but discussions about bringing it back on an ad-lib status if strike continues.



Anyone know what Plan B/C/D/E are?

I imagine if the strike concludes within the next couple of weeks there wouldn't be any major long term effects to the schedule - and I'd say even if they don't return till the New Year, they could probably still get out the second half of most shows seasons by the usual May sweeps period.


If it continued beyond that though till February/March would the networks just wipe off the second half of each season or would they go back into production but perhaps air over the summer instead - even if they are shortened runs.


And I'd guess if the strike lasts as long as the 22 weeks of the 1988 action the second half of each season would be written off completely.

Oh my god!!!!

I am absolutely gutted! I can't believe the amount of shows that are to stop! Unbelievable!

It's a shame - repercussions are looking grim. We're going to have to turn to ITV's "Gripping and Hard Hitting" psychological Drama's starring Bradley Walsh, Shane Ritchie and whoever else.

Letterman & Jon Stewart have said they'll be back in a few weeks with back up plans if the strike goes on - which is wise. it doesn't paint them in a very good light if they're seen to not be able to wing it by themselves. They are supposed to be comedians.

Also -as if things weren't bad enough for them - Big Brother is being rushed into production. Thank god our writers aren't on strike, though would we really notice?

They could always let the fans write them

Didn't Jon Stewart start as a writer before he turned to presenting?

This strike really highlights how quickly shows get to air in the US compared to the UK, where drama series are usually completely in the can before they debut and even the soaps usually film at least 4-6 weeks ahead of transmission.


So if the equivalent happened here (which I doubt is possible considering our trade union laws), apart from the soaps they'd be very little short term effect of even a fairly prolonged strike - with only the soaps having to be taken off air. Makes you think it might actually be worth it!



It'll be interesting to see in the US if any dumped series make it to air - so many shows in recent years have been swiftly it wouldn't surprise me if at least one is used to fill a slot and finds itself being recommissioned as a result.


From a UK point of view Sky One would seem to be the most affected - with their "no delay" policy looking set to backfire.

There are so many versions of CSI Five won't be running out of new episodes anytime soon - while I think even if Heroes is cut short the delay in transmission means BBC2 should be well prepared. I'm not even sure it's ever been confirmed series 2 would follow on from the first anyway.

Not sure how The Tudors would be affected - most cable series are made in a similar way to UK series and generally in the can long before they air - and The Tudors is made in Ireland anyway, presumably with a heavy British / Irish involvement.


C4 is the other main importer of course, but only Ugly Betty has gone out on a "no delay" basis, so they'll be out of episodes by Christmas. Desperate Housewives only has nine episodes so far - but with commissions such as Dirty Sexy Money it could be a blessing in freeing up half of it's usual slot to launch the series.

Without a Trace is about a year behind on C4 anyway, while holding back new series till January for E4 gives them some breathing space too. I expect some will be held back from a January premiere to debut later in the year once episodes from other series dry up - so they'll probably get away with it.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with ER - rumours suggest here that it'll be moved to More4 for the next season, though there are also rumours in the US this could be the last season, so whether they'd bother moving it for just one season remains to be seen - especially as with this strike E4 is going to suffer alot more than More4.

This looks like a disaster for Sky One early next year, with Prison Break, 24 and Lost likely to be missing or on shortened runs.

I guess there will just have to be more Simpsons marathons.

What are the US networks actually going to fill with ?

I'm guessing it's a case of repeats, digging up old programmes, reality shows and game shows. A Network's worst nightmare. Long wait for Ugly Betty and DH

Pushing Daisies is about to close production, because of the strike. I've erm...aquired it. I highly recommend it, when it premieres on ITV 1

E4 and Sky One doing no delay with some programmes is going to cause some problems...

Ugly Betty s2e7: 8/11/2007 on ABC, 21/11/2007 on E4 = 13 days between.
Prison Break s3e8: 12/11/2007 on Fox, 26/11/2007 on Sky One = 14 days between --- this is the last episode Fox will air before Christmas.

Noooooooooooooooooooo

So - Pushing Daisies, DH, Ugly Betty, Heroes my fav US shows are all abruptly shortened. Nightmare.

This could be a disaster for the Scrubs' series finale too. Apparently the final ever episode may not even be produced in time so a straight-to-DVD episode may have to be the only option.