Television thread

[stray]

I just saw the first ep with her. Hot, squeeky little blonde. So umm.. Hell yeah.

Didn't see anything about red kryptonite yet though.

[Paelos]

So this means no more LOST for me huh? I always knew they'd just leave it with a bunch of questions to fuck us all over.

"The writers already know the ending"... my ass.

[Trippy]

Lost had a definite end date of 2010 (48 more episodes, 16 per season) so yeah the writers probably do know the ending in vague terms.

[schild]

Lost has been made up on the fly for 2-3 years now.

Why are people still watching it? It turned from awesomest show ever to horseshit in record time.

[DraconianOne]

Brian K. Vaughn talking about the Writer's Strike.

There's some seriously fucked up shit in there. The Writer's currently get 4 cents per DVD sold. 4 FUCKING CENTS. They were asking for 8 cents.

It just boggles my fucking mind. The creators of these things that sell for $100 box sets and they get 4 pennies and some asshead is bitching about giving them 8 pennies. That's fucking criminal.

Considering that I've been using the internet for longer than I've had a DVD player, it beggars belief that the AMPTP are still referring to the internet as "New Media" and trying to screw the writers over it just like they did with Home Video and DVDs 20 years ago. It beggars further belief that they are trying to claim that the DVD market is stagnating despite the fact that it is increasing by 4% each year and is bringing in over $16 billion a year (and that's a 2 year old figure). 

In percentage terms, the 4c increase that Haemish quoted relates to 0.3% of the profit made in a DVD sale.  The AMPTP are refusing this.

For this supposedly "new" media (i.e. downloadable or streaming content that's available over the internet and, in time, with the right technological advances, through your TV thereby meaning that it might well be the ONLY method of distribution in the future) the AMPTP want to pay the following percentage to writers as residual fees.  0 (Zero) %. 

It's totally fucked up.

The thing is that it's the tip of the iceberg.  If the writers cave then it gives the AMPTP leverage of the Actors and the Directors whose guild contracts are up for renewal next year.  While it's easy to say "Sure!  Why do Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt need to go on strike over money - they're fucking loaded!", it's the unknown actors and those trying to make a break into the industry who will be affected.  Just as it is with the writers and the directors.  If the newbies can't sustain a living because they don't get residual payments then the industry is going to suffer in the long term. 

[Paelos]

Lost has been made up on the fly for 2-3 years now.

Why are people still watching it? It turned from awesomest show ever to horseshit in record time.

Because there are no sports on Wednesdays that I give a shit about.

[Ookii]

Lost has been made up on the fly for 2-3 years now.

Why are people still watching it? It turned from awesomest show ever to horseshit in record time.

And it's also gone from horseshit to incredibly awesome in the same record time.  That last season finale pwned EVERYTHING else on television.

[HaemishM]

I still dig Lost, but I don't give up on shows as quick as some of you guys.

Yeah, not wanting to give writers residuals on "New Media?" FUCK YOU. Fuck you with a  hiding in your fucking closet, you taintscrubbers. The shitheels know that 10 years from now, DVD sales will be a pittance of what they get off of "New Media" downloads, Tivo just being the type of the iceberg. Not paying residuals on that shit is fucking highway robbery and the writers need to hang on to that point like grim fucking death. When the time comes, the directors and actors need to sink their teeth into it as well.

If all my shows went off the air tomorrow, at least I'd have football to watch, and watch it I will until the shows get back on the air. It'll suck, but I'm more than willing to side with the writers on this one, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because I'd one day love to be one of them.

[Bunk]

Hollywood is very highly regulated. It's really a marvel, especially compared to software engineering, how they can keep things largely on-time and on-budget while negotiating a morass of regulations.

Nobody is going to give me a "hell yeah" for the Sarah Carter eps of Smallville?

She also nearly made DoA the Movie worth watching 

Woot! My first reason to sue the smiley!

[Nevermore]

Netflix was invented to cover scenarios such as this.

[Riggswolfe]

She also nearly made DoA the Movie worth watching 

Woot! My first reason to sue the smiley!

First off,why sue the smiley? What did it do to you?

Secondly, I enjoyed DOA. Sad but true. Then again I went in expecting Uwe Boll bad so almost anything was a pleasant surprise. Besides, the woman from My Name Is Earl was actually funny in it.

[WayAbvPar]

My only concern is that an extended strike will lead to even more 'reality' programming, which will force me to go on an extended killing spree. I don't have that kind of time.

[Morat20]

I didn't know until now that writers were unionized.  Seems odd, given that shows can get cancelled at any time and the usual union restrictions about layoffs would be out the window.

Not all unions exist because of layoffs -- in fact, most don't, or at least didn't start that way.

Unions exist for a reason. I'm starting to suspect we might see a resurgence, in the strangest places, over the next few decades -- if not unions, then something equivilant. I wouldn't have thought that five years ago, but things are getting wonky enough in the white-collar world that they might start snagging more blue-collar concepts. I'm sure they'd call themselves something else, but it'd be the same thing.

I'm on the writer's side here, even if it means no good TV for awhile. And I hope it gets settled fast, because the last fucking strike led to reality TV which has haunted the world since.

[Margalis]

Most "reality TV" employs writers. They have the host, the narration, and a lot of them feed the contestants lines and do actual plotting as well.

In addition if people like editors are also striking then they are screwed anyway.

[Morat20]

Most "reality TV" employs writers. They have the host, the narration, and a lot of them feed the contestants lines and do actual plotting as well.

In addition if people like editors are also striking then they are screwed anyway.

Well, the writers voted like 90% in favor of the strike -- I'm not sure if they knew their guild had already compromised on DVD residuals (originally asking for a boost to 8 cents and then being willing to accept the current 4 cents, which was the sticking point according to 'management' -- obviously not the case), but if they hadn't that number would be higher.

Strike compliance is pretty close to 100%, and there's not going to be many scabs -- or anyone even willing to walk the line, because the Writer's Guild is threatening to blacklist anyone who does, and it's not something they have a real problem doing. It appears the talent is highly supportive of the strike -- I can't recall the proper term, but a lot are basically calling in sick or busy or whatnot. Not technically striking, but not working either. They're supportive, of course, because they ALSO want the same sorts of rediduals the writers are asking for, and their contract expires not too long from now. If the writers win, the actors probably won't even have to fight to get a similar deal.

It appears traditional unions -- teamsters and the like -- are being supportive as well, which doesn't really surprise me either. There's a lot of bad things about unions (about as many bad things as there are about companies, frankly) but they DO tend to be supportive of each other in general.

I have no idea how long the strike will go on, but my money's on the writers. They have a more sympathetic case, for one. They have the support of the actor's guild for two. And it's costing the companies god knows how much each day this goes on -- and while you can fill the gap with reality programming, the writers didn't give them a lot of lead time -- and you can't do a lot of reality movies.

[DraconianOne]

Most "reality TV" employs writers. They have the host, the narration, and a lot of them feed the contestants lines and do actual plotting as well.

In addition if people like editors are also striking then they are screwed anyway.

Reality TV, I believe, is currently one of the areas not covered under WGA contracts.  It was something else that they were trying to put on the table.

[Trippy]

Some reality TV shows like Dancing with the Stars use WGA writers. Most do not.

[voodoolily]

Tears, Shears and Beauty on BET is full of win.

[stray]

OK, so I saw the Red Kryptonite episode... In full agreement there.

I gotta say though, it kind of pisses me off too. I think I need to take a break from Smallville, just like Buffy. Clark's parents need to get smacked.

[edit] Or maybe I hate the Superman character more than I think. That little kid who played the Flash should have his own show instead..

[edit] Dude wtf? They killed her off? Bah

[Paelos]

You know what? Fuck the studios for this ever coming up. Writing makes or breaks entertainment, period. Be strong writers!

[Margalis]

I don't watch Smallville regularly, I just lucked out and happened to see that Red Kryptonite episode, one of the ten or so I've seen total. The other 9 sucked.

She did I good job playing the cool crazy chick in that episode...not that I care about her acting that much but whatever. 

[stray]

Pedobear isn't necessary. She's almost 30. ;)

[edit] Btw, she was actually hotter in the first episode. When she first started stalking Clark, she teleported into his bed in her panties. He wussed out as usual (well...his parents broke in, but still...).

[Margalis]

Yes but I'm 73.

[Trippy]

The Office writers on why they are striking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hqP0c0_gw

[Margalis]

That was pretty funny and sad. "Promos"...fucking lawyers...

[Abagadro]

Hey now, we just parrot what our sleazy clients come up with.

[DraconianOne]

Should probably start a new thread for this but as it's television.  Current status of (some) shows:

30 ROCK * Shooting #210 through November 9th. * No additional scripts have been written.

BIG BANG THEORY * Production shut down.

CAPTAIN, THE * Shooting #102 November 8th ­ 14th. * Have scripts for #103 and #104 (production will conclude 11/30).

CARPOOLERS * Production shut down 11/16

CAVEMEN * Shooting #113 November 7th ­ 13th. * No additional scripts had been ordered.

COLD CASE * Production shut down 11/16

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES * Production shut down.

DIRT * Prepping #206 for a November 20th ­ 30th shoot. * Script written for #207 (only).

DIRTY SEXY MONEY * Shooting #111 November 8th ­ 19th. * Prepping #112 next week. Shoots o/a 11/21. * There are other scripts written but it¹s unclear if production will continue.

ELI STONE * Prepping #111 now which shoots ~ 11/15­11/26. * Not clear if there¹s another script that¹s been written.

GHOST WHISPERER * Shooting #312 November 12th ­ 21st. * No additional scripts written.

GREEK * Shooting #1018 starting November 15th. * No additional scripts (20 episode order) written.

HEROES * Production shut down 11/9.

K-VILLE * Shot #110 October 28th ­ November 8th. * No update.

MEDIUM * Prepping 069-09 for a shoot November 15th ­ 28th. * No additional scripts have been written.

NUMBERS * Prepping #412 for a shoot November 19th ­ 30th. * No additional scripts have been written

OCTOBER ROAD * Shooting #210 November 9th ­ 21st. * Have scripts through #213

OFFICE, THE * Production shut down.

OLD CHRISTINE * Production shut down.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT * Canceled production on #210 (was meant to shoot 11/7-11/13) * No additional scripts written * Production shut down.

SAMANTHA WHO * Production shut down 11/12

SWINGTOWN * Shooting episode #103 11/9­11/21. * No additional scripts written.

ŒTIL DEATH * Episode #212 completes production on November 9th. * No answer at casting office

TWO AND A HALF MEN * Production shut down.

UGLY BETTY * Shooting ³Odor in the Court² 11/9 ­ 11/20 * Prepping ³A Thousand Words Before Friday² next week, starts o/a 11/21. * No additional scripts available after that.

WITHOUT A TRACE * Production shut down 11/22.

[Riggswolfe]

Damn it, what about Chuck, Reaper, and Supernatural? Those are the ones I really care about!

[Nevermore]

CAVEMEN * Shooting #113 November 7th ­ 13th. * No additional scripts had been ordered.

But can you really say that's because of the strike?

[HaemishM]

The Office writers on why they are striking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6hqP0c0_gw

7 Million Itunes downloads @ .04 cents per download = $280,000 that writers are owed. That's some serious cheddar. 

[stray]

OK, so I didn't totally give up on Smallville.. Michael Rosenbaum just went from OK to completely badass. Knowing the pacing of this show now though, he'll probably revert back to OK again.... But it was nice to see the REAL Lex Luthor for a change.

[Yegolev]

Hey now, we just parrot what our sleazy clients come up with.

I LOLed.

Been watching more It's Always Sunny.  Considering the three main actors are also the creators and writers, I'm assuming it will be safe from the strike.

[HaemishM]

I think Sunny has finished their season (or at least production) but I did see the Rob creator guy on a list of striking writers.

[Yegolev]

It's hard to know or care about seasons with TiVo.

[stray]

I have such a backlog of shit I haven't seen (and can download in their entirety) that I'm not losing anything out of this either.