Dick Wolf is deeply troubled at a time when he should be very happy about the return of "Law & Order" to NBC next week in its familiar Wednesday 10 p.m. time slot after being exiled last season to badlands of Friday night.
Even though the fresh "Law & Order" segs -- nicely invigorated by new cast members Linus Roache and Jeremy Sisto -- will face lighter competition than it otherwise would with so many shows shuttered by the strike, Wolf isn't celebrating. The real-life drama engulfing the biz is too grim.
"The temporary advantage to 'Law & Order' is not worth on any level what the business is going through," he said. "This is the worst possible thing that could’ve happened to an already wounded business. This is a disaster of unprecedented proportions that will only get worse. My fondest hope is that people are going to quickly come to their senses and get back in a room."
Wolf hasn't been shy about letting people know that going on strike was a bad move -- something he was saying this time last year and before. Now that the work stoppage is in its second month, Wolf can't even talk about the situation without feeling his blood pressure rise. The blame, in his view, is shared on both sides.
"This is a pox on both houses. Everybody involved with this negotiation has handled it with such consummate unprofessionalism that it's staggering. I've been in this business for 32 years. I've never seen this kind of maelstrom of self-destruction on everybody's part. This never should've happened."
It's called a negotiating table, not a folding table. Dick Wolf Films can negotiate as an independent producer,just like WWP. So what's keeping you from sitting down with the WGA and making a deal to get back to work, Dick?
Posted by: Joe | January 02, 2008 at 08:14 AM