Writers Guild Strike: Crisis Point

by entertainmental | November 20th, 2007

the-office-michael-scott.jpgIf I was a big evil television executive I would be caving right now, because I just learned that “The Office” has no new episodes left. “30 Rock” still has four new episodes left, so we won’t give the evacuation order yet. Click here to see how many new episodes your favorite shows have left.

But don’t get me wrong, I’m supporting the writers on this one. One of the key issues, from what I understand, is that the writers get no share of online profits (as the striking Daily Show writers told us in the clip phoebems posted earlier). The networks claim that it’s too early in the life of this “internet” to properly value online shows. Of course recently Viacomm sued Google for $1 billion for copyright violation on YouTube, which seems like a valuation to most of us.

Then there’s Michael Eisner, former Disney C.E.O., who called the Writers Guild strike “stupid” and claims that the strike is about disputed revenue on made-for-internet shows that cost about $3000 per episode. Why do I have a hard time believing that’s what the writers are concerned about? Click here to read the interview.

So in solidarity (or solidarité, as the “we’ll-strike-for-anything French” say) I’m eschewing reality shows until the strike ends. Although I recently discovered “The Wire”, so don’t fret, I’m still entertainmental.

UPDATE: New York Times collection of articles and information on the Writers Guild strike

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