Writers Strike

I don't know if I've always been a union girl. I never really had a reason to think about it. 

I lived in California during the public transportation strike and when the local grocery store workers were striking for better benefits. Despite the inconvenience, I found myself really pulling for these workers and hoping that by staying away (even though it meant spending way too much at the gorgeous Whole Foods and Trader Joe's), I was doing a good thing for their negotiations. 

Now that the Writers are striking, I am torn. I guess torn is not the right word, since I am 100% for the writers standing for their rights. There is no way in hell that internet downloads of shows should not be adding money to the pockets of the people who write them. Writers just want their fair share. As much as I want shows to continue, I want writers to get their fair share. As much as any of us can complain about content (or lack thereof), there are a lot of shows we like and anyone who's tried their hand at writing knows that it is hard work to come up with new content every week. 

I listen to ESPN Radio incessantly. It's almost an obsession. Colin Cowherd was talking about the WGA strike and how important writers were to the process. They are like the offensive line. The less you hear about the offensive lines, the more touchdown passes Brady has thrown was his example. If writers weren't important, he stated, then De Niro would win an Oscar every year. But good acting can be eclipsed by bad writing. Jon Stewart is funny, but his writers help make him brilliant. Pretty much every late night show is going to reruns because of the strike.

Anyway, just so you know the status of some of your shows, here's an abbreviated list:

* 30 Rock is shooting it's 10th episode for this season through November 9th and then will shut down

 

*Big Bang Theory, Carpoolers, Desperate Housewives, The Office, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Rules of Engagement, Samantha Who?, Two and  Half Men, and Without a Trace have shut down.

*Show runners that share writing duties for shows are also walking (Shonda Rhimes of Grey's Anatomy and many SAG members are also in support of the WGA strike). Studios are threatening the pay of anyone non-writing related or who have non-writerly duties who are stopping work in support of the striking writers.

There are plenty of video about people who are striking and why they are striking...

There are plenty of websites that are talking about the details of the strike...

While we, as tv viewers, won't miss much for the remainder of this month, we will start to feel the pinch, especially as the new year starts. First off, no 24 until the strike is over. The show runners don't want to run it if the episodes currently recorded will end before the strike does. Lost, however, will play their current 8 recorded shows starting in February. They realize that most of their fans are willing to wait for the remaining 8 shows. 

The thing I dread is that tv will become over populated with reality shows. What reality show would you like to see? Which show do you never hopes sees (or re-sees) the light of day?