Tee Vee

[MRW1215]

A week or two ago, Jericho was on this news program called The Daily Buzz. Problem is, The Daily Buzz is a three hour show, and my local network only shows the first two hours. So, right before the third hour was supposed to start (Jericho was supposed to open up the third hour), the announcers were hyping up the interview after the next commercial break, but then, due to my network, they never showed it... >_<

Also, in a totally unrelated note, I just heard that if the writers' strike continues too long, NBC won't air the final six episodes of Scrubs... Only good thing, though, is that later, they may film the final six episodes, and put them on the season seven DVD set. This sucks, though, because they almost didn't even get this last season, then they got cut to 18 episodes instead of the regular 22-24, and now they may get cut down to 12.

[motosada]

xparasite said:

Also, in a totally unrelated note, I just heard that if the writers' strike continues too long, NBC won't air the final six episodes of Scrubs... Only good thing, though, is that later, they may film the final six episodes, and put them on the season seven DVD set. This sucks, though, because they almost didn't even get this last season, then they got cut to 18 episodes instead of the regular 22-24, and now they may get cut down to 12.

So, wait. If they don't air the episodes, do the writers even get PAID?

But, seriously, that's bullshit. Fucking fuckers!

[orochigeese]

[MRW1215]

motosada said:

xparasite said:

Also, in a totally unrelated note, I just heard that if the writers' strike continues too long, NBC won't air the final six episodes of Scrubs... Only good thing, though, is that later, they may film the final six episodes, and put them on the season seven DVD set. This sucks, though, because they almost didn't even get this last season, then they got cut to 18 episodes instead of the regular 22-24, and now they may get cut down to 12.

So, wait. If they don't air the episodes, do the writers even get PAID?

But, seriously, that's bullshit. Fucking fuckers!

I don't know, to be honest; I guess if the writers "win" the strike, they'd get some money from DVD sales, if the last six episodes were straight-to-DVD, since that IS one of the things the writers want. Luckily, there's still nine or ten more episodes to air before that happens, but still... It's sad to see such a great show get fucked over so many times, especially if they don't even get to give the show, which they've all been devoted to for the last six or seven years, a proper send off.

[Joe Snack Road]

xparasite said:

motosada said:

So, wait. If they don't air the episodes, do the writers even get PAID?

But, seriously, that's bullshit. Fucking fuckers!

I don't know, to be honest; I guess if the writers "win" the strike, they'd get some money from DVD sales, if the last six episodes were straight-to-DVD, since that IS one of the things the writers want. Luckily, there's still nine or ten more episodes to air before that happens, but still... It's sad to see such a great show get fucked over so many times, especially if they don't even get to give the show, which they've all been devoted to for the last six or seven years, a proper send off.

As a writer myself, I've been following this issue very closely, and it boils down to this:

There are revenue streams coming in now that weren't even IMAGINABLE during the last contract agreement was set up.

DVD Season sets are relatively new for current, popular shows; as well as digital distribution plans through iTunes and its ilk. So, the studios get to charge their prices, and once they cover their various costs, its profit for THEM - the actors may have things in their YEARLY contracts that allow them to get a chunk of this revenue, maybe something like a quarter per DVD sale: Something small that gets FREAKING HUGE when you recognize that these are some of the consistent top selling DVDs. And the writing staff, the people pretty much the MOST IMPORTANT to developing your favorite TV shows, are getting nothing for it.

See where that's going then?

[orochigeese]

Yeah, I agree with that perspective...even if it may cost Scrubs the send-off it deserves

I think its totally fair to adjust the writers salaries up to meet the same % earning ratio with everyone else as it was before. Writers are usually shit on to begin with due to the MASSIVE attention that the actors, and even directors, often get. When a show or movie is good, its scary how often the writers are the ones passed over for the credit. So for them to also be earning less then their fair share in proportion, isn't good. So not only should they be earning more cause the studios are getting more, but also cause their counterparts (actors, directors, coffee-bringers) are getting more in proportion. It really IS only fair.

I wonder how many shows will try to go improv and hire the "Whose Line" people to stay afloat...

[Joe Snack Road]

orochigeese said:

Yeah, I agree with that perspective...even if it may cost Scrubs the send-off it deserves

I think its totally fair to adjust the writers salaries up to meet the same % earning ratio with everyone else as it was before. Writers are usually shit on to begin with due to the MASSIVE attention that the actors, and even directors, often get. When a show or movie is good, its scary how often the writers are the ones passed over for the credit. So for them to also be earning less then their fair share in proportion, isn't good. So not only should they be earning more cause the studios are getting more, but also cause their counterparts (actors, directors, coffee-bringers) are getting more in proportion. It really IS only fair.

I wonder how many shows will try to go improv and hire the "Whose Line" people to stay afloat...

I say, expect more documentary style shows - more like NBC's "To Catch A Predator" or "Cops" or something: even reality TVs writers went on strike, so... real reality or something.

[orochigeese]

Well that's fortunate cause we can't get enough of "How about you take a seat?", Chris Hansen style!!

And documentaries make sense. Maybe REAL reality as well (like animal concerts). And of course, sports are still there. Lucky for Fox too that football season is so prominent right now.

I know that South Park and some other animated shows (like Lucy...though that season is over now anyway) aren't hit by this, but I wonder about the Simpsons and American Family Dad.

But yeah, I think the writers are doing the right thing here. Sometimes entertainment sacrifices have to be made. (of course the fact that i'm inundated with new games is numbing the effect of tv issues!)

[MRW1215]

I had heard before that some of the animated shows like Simpsons and such, may not be affected much, because they're written almost a year in advance. But I also heard different for Family Guy; well, I don't know that I heard DIFFERENT, but Seth McFarlane is apparently striking as well, and I guess they're doing the episodes without him, which makes no sense, considering he voices so many of the (major) characters.

Anyway, I agree about the writers, hell, when I saw what they were asking for compared to what's being made, it didn't even seem like that big of an amount. I don't know why the higher-ups are being so resistant, especially if it may mean a decrease in ratings for them. I mean, yeah, I get that they want to keep every penny for themselves, but sheesh.

[orochigeese]

WOW, they are gonna do the episodes WITHOUT McFarlane?

Oh man, that will be worth watching just to see how weird it is. He voices like three of the major characters, and probably plenty of the minor ones. And I kinda thought he wrote all the episodes too.

Not to mention the irony of Fox now wanting Family Guy so much they'll have the shows written without him, despite freaking cancelling the show a few years ago

[Smacked Ass]

motosada said:

But, seriously, that's bullshit. Fucking fuckers!

Please tell me that when you typed that, you had Wee Man's voice saying it in your head! I leave that on EVERYONE'S voicel, much to their delight or disgust... ;D

[motosada]

Nope. No Wee Man. I just always say things like "fucking fuckers" and "shit fuckers" and the like.

[motosada]

Did anybody else catch South Park last night? It was brilliant.

[orochigeese]

motosada said:

Did anybody else catch South Park last night? It was brilliant.

Damn! I missed another good one!! What was it about? I'll catch it on reruns I'm sure.

[motosada]

The girls in the class'd made a list of the cutest boys in the class. But, there's something terrible about the list; a dark secret that will end up costing lives.


No, seriously.