Strike While the Iron is Hot
Don't be surprised if your favorite TV shows are either put on hiatus or become drastically crappy:
All involved parties are doing what they can, but it doesn't look like it will be enough at this point:
Thank God for cable (and DVDs).
Networks and studios have started thinking about the unthinkable this week.
The harsh rhetoric surrounding the WGA negotiations plus the guild's recent move to seek strike authorization have convinced execs that the threat of a Nov. 1 strike may be very real. A possible lockout is also being discussed.
"We are trying to get as much stuff as possible shoved through," said one studio VP. "It's as hot as I've ever seen it. And whether or not they strike on Nov. 1, we have to act as if they will."
All involved parties are doing what they can, but it doesn't look like it will be enough at this point:
On the feature side, studios are no longer taking writing pitches and are pretty much limiting themselves to making deals on fully developed packages. Warner Bros. and Universal, for example, have put out the word to agents: Don't bring in any scripts until the situation resolves itself...
...On the TV side, the networks are scrambling to figure out how they'll fill primetime with no new scripted shows and trying to get pilot scripts completed as quickly as possible. There's also been a rash of series commitments in recent weeks, with networks handing out an unusually large number of six- and 13-episode orders.
Thank God for cable (and DVDs).
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