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tv and movie writers on strike

With the writers’ strike, new episodes are dwindling but they aren’t all gone

http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/383743.html
The writers’ strike is in its fourth week, with chilly prospects for viewing ahead.
During December the schedule will be dominated by holiday specials and series repeats (like any other year).

But come January, a prolonged strike could be all too obvious to viewers, with continuing episodic reruns interspersed with new reality shows.

Even so, a few scripted dramas and comedies are warming up the schedule:

A FEW TO GO

•Fox aired a fresh “House” Tuesday; now only three more new episodes remain, slotted for January — one of them following Fox’s Super Bowl broadcast.

•ABC’s new hit comedy “Samantha Who?” has five more episodes in the can.

•Fox’s “Family Guy” has scheduled a normal mix of new and repeat episodes at least through January.

•The “Crime Scene Investigation” trio, “NCIS,”“Criminal Minds,”“Without a Trace” and “Cold Case” are down to four or fewer new episodes apiece on CBS.

END IN SIGHT

•ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” “Pushing Daisies” and “Grey’s Anatomy” each have one new episode to go.

•ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” airs the last of its current stock Sunday.

•The final new episode of NBC’s “Heroes” airs Monday.

•Fox’s “K-Ville” has one new episode left, with dim prospects for production to resume on this low-rated freshman drama.

STUCK IN REPEATS

•NBC’s “The Office” is closed for business until the strike’s end, with only reruns on deck.

•CBS’ new hit sitcom “Big Bang Theory” has similarly run dry, along with “How I Met Your Mother,” “Two and a Half Men” and “Rules of Engagement.”

WHO KNOWS WHEN?

•The planned January return of Fox’s “24” has been postponed indefinitely. Because only some of the series’ 24 episodes have been shot, Fox didn’t want to risk beginning a new season that might be interrupted.

MIDSEASON RELIEF

•Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” will have a two-night premiere Jan. 13-14. This new drama, a reinvention of the “Terminator” film franchise, arrives with 13 episodes completed.

•Also in January, NBC’s “Medium” will return with nine episodes in the can.

•CBS sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine” will be back with at least eight episodes, and the apocalyptic drama “Jericho” returns with seven episodes.

•“Cashmere Mafia,” ABC’s new comedy-drama starring Lucy Liu, will arrive with seven episodes completed.
 
and one more....
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007/12/01/writers-strike-obrien.html
TV talk show host Conan O'Brien will dig into his own pockets to pay the salaries of 75 production employees sidelined by the Hollywood writers strike while 80 employees of Jay Leno's late night show were let go.

NBC had pledged to pay staffers of Late Night With Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Last Call With Carson Daly until the end of November, according to trade paper The Hollywood Reporter.

Daly, who is not a member of the union, said this week he would re-start production and defended his position by say that he if didn't go back, "roughly 75 staff and crew would have lost their jobs."

He said he suspended production for a month to support the cause but that it was time he got back on air. New shows are expected to be broadcast next week.

David Letterman had already announced he would continue to pay the salaries of employees on the Late Show With David Letterman and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, both produced under his Worldwide Pants company.

Meanwhile, about 80 staffers on Leno's show were told Friday that they were being let go. The announcement caused outrage, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The source of the anger appears to be an announcement Leno made to his crew shortly after the writer's walked out.
 
That part about Leno's staff and crew really bugs the hell out of me. If Conan O'Brien can afford to pay his staff (and he likely makes less than Leno), why can't Leno do the same? Smells like bad eggs to me.

Either way, I'm with the writers (and soon to be actors and directors right?).
 
CalBoy said:
That part about Leno's staff and crew really bugs the hell out of me. If Conan O'Brien can afford to pay his staff (and he likely makes less than Leno), why can't Leno do the same? Smells like bad eggs to me.

Either way, I'm with the writers (and soon to be actors and directors right?).
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Don't forget that Leno will be off the air in 2 years when Conan takes over The Tonight Show. I don't think Leno cares anymore.
 
MacNut said:
Don't forget that Leno will be off the air in 2 years when Conan takes over The Tonight Show. I don't think Leno cares anymore.
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:mad: That's a horrible attitude for him to have. If anything, he should be saying, "F-you NBC" and help the writers get what they need.

Maybe it's because Conan was a writer for a while and he understands how they feel; I don't think Leno has ever been a writer.

And I thought he decided to stay longer recently?:confused:
 
It really wasn't his decision, NBC didn't want to loose Conan to another network so they offered him the job, They gave Leno a 5 year deal and after that deal they are just about pushing him out the door.

Via 3 years ago....
Jay Leno’s takeover as host of NBC’s “Tonight” show in 1992 was fraught with drama and bad feelings, but he’s assured the next transition will be as smooth as his nightly sign-off: “Stay tuned for Conan.”

The comedian and NBC on Monday chose the 50th anniversary of the first “Tonight” show to set a special date for the 55th — when Leno will step down and Conan O’Brien becomes the fifth host of the television institution.

Announcing a transition in five years is odd for any business, let alone one that frequently plans from day-to-day, but NBC was anxious not to lose O’Brien. The 41-year-old “Late Night” host was considered likely to jump to another network without a promise of advancement.

Leno beat out David Letterman for the “Tonight” job, sparking a feud that lives on and was even the subject of a book and movie, “The Late Shift.”

Leno recalled the animosity on his show Monday, saying “a lot of good friendships were permanently damaged.”

On his show Monday, Letterman wished O’Brien “all the best” and repeatedly mocked the idea of a 2009 changeover.

“I think he said he couldn’t take it another minute so he’s leaving in 2009,” Letterman said.

“I wonder if I can get a tape over there,” Letterman added.

Responded his sidekick, Paul Shaffer: “It may be a little late.”
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So come '09 Leno will retire right?

Well, that'll make things tougher...Letterman v O'Brien :p:D
 
CalBoy said:
Oh I know. Didn't Letterman come on as a guest star during Conan's early days?
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Yes, Conan's first season Letterman made an appearance to show support.

I pulled this from Wiki that might prove interesting.
Since the announcement of the 2009 move, Jay Leno has expressed an unwillingness to leave his spot. Sources say he could also move to ABC or FOX to host a new late-night show. NBC would be forced to pay Conan O'Brien about $40 million[2] if he is not given the Tonight Show in 2009.
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MacNut said:
Yes, Conan's first season Letterman made an appearance to show support.
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I've noticed though that both Conan and Letterman are better conversationalists/interviewers. Leno seems stiff a lot of the time (though he's gotten better recently).

Anyways, just give me my Office and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia back:eek: Please?:eek:
 
CalBoy said:
I've noticed though that both Conan and Letterman are better conversationalists/interviewers. Leno seems stiff a lot of the time (though he's gotten better recently).

Anyways, just give me my Office and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia back:eek: Please?:eek:
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Letterman started off doing a morning show, I think he is a better interviewer, Conan having writing for the Simpsons knows how to ad lib with the guests.
 
MacNut said:
Letterman started off doing a morning show, I think he is a better interviewer, Conan having writing for the Simpsons knows how to ad lib with the guests.
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"Who they were before they were who they are":p

*Sigh* I guess I'll just have to start buying stuff come January:p:eek::eek:
 
big brother is going to start on feb. 12th this year, a bit earlier than it's usual summer slot. cbs is going to release the rest of the winter schedule in a bit.
 
cbs winter 2008 schedule

You have a writers strike, you get Raquel Welch and “Big Brother.”

So there, writers!

CBS just announced its January-February 2008 lineup, and it includes a lot of reality, plus a couple of scripted-series returns and one new comedy.

Welch is in the last category, in “The Captain” (debuting Monday, Jan. 28 at 8:30 p.m.), “a comedy about a wildly eclectic group of people whose lives are intertwined through the place they all call home, a fabled Hollywood apartment building.” She’s joined by Chris Klein, Jeffrey Tambor, Joanna Garcia and other ensemble members. Also back that same night (at 9:30) is Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

“Jericho” – the canceled show saved by “nutty” fans – returns Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. (A bit too late at night, if you ask us.)

Summer stalwart “Big Brother” fills some winter primetime starting Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 9 p.m., also thereafter airing Wednesday and Sunday night at 8. “Survivor” starts its 16th competition Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.

Drew Carey overload officially hits the tube Wednesday, Jan. 2, when his nighttime polling game “Power of 10” returns. And CBS airs new outings of “48 Hours Mystery” on Tuesdays, Jan. 22 and 29, at 10 p.m.

Everything else stays where it’s already airing, no further shuffling.
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http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/2007/12/jericho_big_brother_back_in_fe.html

YES, we finally get a date for the return of Jericho and nuts!!!! been waiting for this show to come back since may and the unfair cancellation. time to get a countdown.
 
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