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Hollywood Writers Going Back to Work

Could it be? Is it possible? Are striking Hollywood writers really putting down their picket signs and heading back to work… so we can finally learn what happens to the ladies on Wisteria Lane post tornado? Sort of. It appears as though the three-and-a-half-month-old work stoppage is finally coming to an end. Hollywood producers reportedly caved in and agreed to give striking writers a piece of the profit that their work might make over the Internet. In exchange, the Guild had to end their fight to have their membership include animators and reality television players. Hooray! Reruns be gone! Well… … Continue reading →

Pop Culture Updates: The Grammys Go On WITH Writers and Britney Speaks to Her Kids

In a previous blog I mentioned that the striking writers guild agreed that its members would not picket next month’s Grammy Awards. Now, there’s even more good news for the awards show that honors the country’s top musicians. Yesterday Writers Guild of America directors decided to grant an interim agreement for the February 10th ceremony. This means the Grammys will escape the blow that befell this month’s Golden Globe Awards. It also means that the stars will be out in full force and fans will be treated to a complete red carpet fashion show as celebs make their way into … Continue reading →

How the Writers’ Strike is Affecting Viewing Habits–The Truth About “The Moment of Truth”

Now that the writers’ strike has all but obliterated your regular TV viewing schedule (no need to get the kids in bed and laundry folded before “Desperate Housewives” comes on, no need to have dinner done and dishes washed before “The Office” airs) have you noticed that you’ve been spending less time in front of the boob tube? Or have you just altered what you watch? If you are like most Americans you’ve done the latter. Take a look at last week’s TV ratings and you might just be as surprised as I was to see that more than 23.2 … Continue reading →

What’s Going On with the Hollywood Writers Strike?

While Marcia Cross was lobbying Congress and Eva Longoria was fending off pregnancy rumors leaders from the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers finally began talking to each other again this week. Their informal meetings have not yielded much in the way of good news, but at least they’re talking. An announcement made a couple of days ago said the warring parties would begin with informal bargaining and work their way to “full negotiations” in hopes of ending the nearly 3-month-old strike. So where do fans of TV and TV award shows stand … Continue reading →

What Hollywood Stars Are Doing During the Writers’ Strike

We know they aren’t shooting new episodes of their hit shows so how are the stars of our favorite primetime series’ spending their time off? If you are Desperate Housewives’ star Marcia Cross you are spending time in Washington lobbying Congress to pass the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007. The 45-year-old mother of twins recently spent time on Capitol Hill voicing her opinion regarding “drive-through” mastectomies for women forced to leave the hospital hours after surgery. The actress tried to encourage lawmakers to give women the choice to recuperate for at least 48 hours following the invasive surgery. … Continue reading →

Striking Writers Looking to Head Back to the Bargaining Table

Thanks to Hollywood directors and their ability to reach a tentative agreement with producers striking Writers Guild of America members could soon be headed back to the bargaining table to negotiate their own deal. Last Friday the Directors Guild reached a tentative contract agreement with producers. The directors’ deal is similar to what the writers are seeking, involving pay for movie and TV content that is purchased over the Internet. So what’s the deal with the writers? According to news reports, top executives from eight major companies, including Fox, Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, CBS Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, … Continue reading →

TV Good News/Bad News: Oprah Winfrey Network and Another Hit to Striking Writers

Oprah Winfrey is taking over the world… If having a hit TV show, a magazine, multiple radio shows, a website, and a multi-media empire wasn’t enough now the billionaire is getting her own TV network. Winfrey just announced that she has entered into a deal with Discovery Communications where the Discovery Health network will be turned over to Winfrey next year, becoming OWN – the Oprah Winfrey Network. No money was exchanged; rather Winfrey says she plans to turn over her website to Discovery, and in turn the communications company will make her chairman of the network, which is currently … Continue reading →

David Letterman Strikes Deal with Writers

Unlike his late-night rivals, when David Letterman returns to the airwaves on Wednesday night he’ll do so with a band of writers backing him up. So does this mean the joke is on Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Kimmel? You’ll have to tune in to see, but as it stands now Letterman is the only late-night host who has finagled a way to get striking Writers Guild of America members back to their desks to crank out fresh material for his show. According to executives at Letterman-owned Worldwide Pants, an interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America will … Continue reading →

Ray of Hope Emerges for Striking Hollywood Writers

For the past six weeks members of the Writers Guild of America have been out of work and slowly running out of patience with the negotiation process. Two days ago the situation look even grimmer when the announcement came that talks had been indefinitely suspended. Then, just last night, a ray of hope emerged when the union representing the picketing writers said it would try to deal directly with Hollywood studios and production companies, bypassing the umbrella organization that has been representing them. That’s welcome news for companies like the one that produces David Letterman’s “Late Show.” Letterman’s Worldwide Pants … Continue reading →

The Continuing Writers Strike—What’s Happening with Your Favorite Shows?

It doesn’t look like striking Writers Guild of America members will be having a very merry Christmas this year. Prospects for a compromise came to an abrupt halt when talks collapsed last week. What’s more, no new negotiations are scheduled. So, now that we know that it is very, very unlikely that a new deal will be reached by the end of the year what does this all mean for your winter TV viewing? Most of the major networks are keeping tight-lipped about their plans for the first few months of 2008, except for ABC. Big wigs at the Disney … Continue reading →