WGA strike taking its toll

[-Jrabbit]

The Dresden Files are finally in reruns on SciFi. Sadly, looks like it will be a one-season wonder. If you've never seen it, do so now.

On topic: Union and management have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Nov. 26. It will be their first formal discussions since Nov. 4.

On topic:

5n its first dramatic move since the beginning of the Writers Guild strike, NBC has fired "nearly the entire production staff" of its struggling, late-night staple, "Saturday Night Live," the New York Post reported on Saturday.

"'SNL' laid off all their staff until further notice. Their production staff, even long-term employees, were let go," a source told the Post. Another source confirmed that "90 percent of the 'SNL' staff was fired."

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
The Dresden Files are finally in reruns on SciFi.

Sci-Fi stupidly canceled it earlier. Rumour has it that it was pulling in good ratings for the netowrk but not the right Demographics.

[-Jrabbit]

It's no rumor. Dresden Files ratings were basically as good as BSG (DF 1.37, BSG 1.39). Demographics were trending toward adult female. SciFi wants teenage boys. There's a big online campaign to get Lionsgate (the production house) to find a new home for it, and/or SciFi to renew it.

[DinoDoc]

I wish them all the best. The series got me interested enough to pick up the books.

[Zoid]

Well, at least there's some genuine talking going on...

WGA Strike: Writers bring counteroffer to talks

As pact talks resume today after a four-day respite, both writers and the AMPTP are curious -- but few are optimistic.

Exactly one month after the strike began, Writers Guild of America leaders are expected to deliver a counteroffer, with a focus on new-media issues, in response to the offer that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers presented Thursday.

WGA West president Patric Verrone, speaking at a picket line Monday at Paramount, underscored the guild's displeasure with the AMPTP's proposal for a fixed $250 annual residual on streaming video for one-hour network dramas -- without any additional compensation for use -- compared with the current $20,000 figure for TV reruns.

"We have to get a better proposal on the table," he added.

Today marks the first session since Thursday's talks adjourned amid a welter of accusations from both sides after the studios and nets offered a so-called New Economic Partnership that the WGA dismissed a few hours later as inadequate and insulting. Company execs went on the warpath over the next few days, privately characterizing the guild's tactics as indicative that the union is not interested in making a deal.

But that anger is notably absent from the AMPTP letter that will go out today and that's running as an ad in Daily Variety.
More than one option

* (Co) Daily Variety
Filmography, Year, Role
* (Co) Daily Variety

The AMPTP said that its latest proposal isn't a "take-it-or-leave-it offer." The org continues, "It is designed to allow both sides to engage in the kind of substantive give-and-take negotiation that can lead to common ground. The WGA leadership asked for five days to respond. So with the ball in the WGA's court, we look forward to what they have to say when we meet today."

The tone is markedly different from the hard-nosed stance the org used in its public letters prior to last week. There is a notable absence of finger-pointing, which marked company execs' reactions in previous missives. And the execs' private frustration at the writers is substituted with a benign "we look forward to what they have to say."

Clearly, company execs are eager to present a reasonable image given that the public is sympathizing with the writers rather than the companies.

The missive also took a conciliatory tone and stressed that the companies aren't trying to destroy the WGA.

"This is not a zero-sum campaign where there is one winner and one loser," it said. "We need the writers and the writers need us. And we need to work together if we are to navigate the rapids of this increasingly complex, high-tech economy."

Verrone's appearance at Par was part of his effort to visit every WGA picket line in Los Angeles. The guild had promised that every line would include members of the WGA negotiating committee or members of the WGA West board.

The guild also sent out an email from WGA West board member Tom Schulman predicting that the companies will continue to present a confusing picture to members. He urged members to stay united in the face of what he sees as efforts by the companies to "divide and conquer" the membership.

"They are putting us on an emotional roller coaster by raising and lowering our expectations, attacking our leaders, trying to pit the town against us, refusing to move on the issues that matter to us, bragging about their generosity when the opposite is true, fear mongering and claiming we're going to ruin this industry -- hoping we'll splinter, lose faith in and attack each other, negotiate against ourselves and cave," Schulman wrote.

Source: Variety.com

[Wezil]

Let's go for another month.

[-Jrabbit]

It's gonna be awhile.

[Zoid]

Something to smile about at least:

CBS late Monday unveiled its "revised programming schedule" for January and February, and the highlights include return dates for Jericho — the seven-episode Season 2 kicks off Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 10 pm/ET — and New Adventures of Old Christine (Mondays at 9:30, starting Jan. 28).

[Japher]

Maybe now would be a good time for me to pitch them some of my sitcom ideas!

[Zoid]

Better still make them yourself and sell them to the networks. Since they have nothing else to show, they might consider it...

[Japher]

Time to start editting all the footage I've retreived from spying on Jon Millar than!'

Jon, I'll need you to sign a release.

[MarkG]

arent there any writers that are not part of the guild? is there a law that says that you need to be part of a union or something?

[Japher]

I say, who cares? With American Gladiators coming back and the whole slew of reality tv out there that is just waiting to be made we don't need no writers. Here's some ideas:

Kid Office: from the makers of Kid Nation, a group of kids attempt to run a paper sales office!

Pimp my Daughter: a makeover show for preteens

Wife Swap, Streetwalker Edition: Prostitutes and housewives swap roles for one week!

Why You Suck: Simon Cowel and Gordon Ramsey host a show where they interview extrodinary and generous people to make you feel bad about yourself.



I'm sure there's more.

Also, at least we'll still have Heroes... right?

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by MarkG
arent there any writers that are not part of the guild? is there a law that says that you need to be part of a union or something?

I don't know if CA is open shop or not, but the unions would take it ... poorly, if strikebreakers were brought in. Among other things, they would never allow you into the union afterwards, which makes it impossible to get in once the strike is over.

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Japher
Pimp my Daughter: a makeover show for preteens

This can even have a valuable celebrity component to it since you could just do a documentary on Jessica Simpson or Beyonce.