Shrine time: The beginning of the end for the strike

It was a long night of waiting outside of the Shrine Auditorium tonight and tackling unsuspecting guild members as they walked out for their opinions, their thoughts and their perceptions of the deal. No exaggeration, the vibe was uniformly pro-guild, pro-guild leadership and pro-deal. (And pro-green. Observing the make and model of the cars of WGA members as they pulled into the Shrine lot, it was impossible not to notice the preponderance of Priuses._

"The strike was absolutely worth it -- look what we've acheived!?! -- but it's time to go back to work" was a common refrain heard members as they walked into and out of the meeting. We know the leadership got standing o's more than once, and the applause-o-meter was running on high, and that they got high marks for candidly assessing the pros and cons of the deal in light of the realpolitik of the industry today -- not at as it was 20 years ago, and not as it may (or may not) be in 20 more years, or even 10.

One guy you can always count on for a colorful comment that has some real substance to it as well is Matt Selman (pictured above) of "The Simpsons." In the feel-good, we-done-good moment immediately following the meeting, as small groups of scribes stood around outside the lobby of the Shrine, Selman took the long view of what they'd achieved with the Great Walkout of '07-08.

"People have crapped on this union as being about rich people trying to get richer," Selman said. "A lot of rich people, and medium-successful writers, of which I would count myself, gave up a huge amount of money so that writers who haven't even been born yet can make a decent wage."

-- Cynthia Littleton

Comments

[Bubbi]

So many of us viewers just do not care anymore. The writing now will have to be top notch to win viewers back.
No pressure..................

[Just the facts]

Really, Bubbi? Have you conducted sweeping, large-scale survey work to come to this definite "viewers don't care anymore"? Or is this just the opinion of yourself and some people you know? Most people I know are dying to get their scripted shows back, but I guess I'm wrong since, according to you, so many viewers don't care anymore.

The "absolute fact" that has been derived from isolated editorial opinion during the duration of this strike has been laughable. Anyway, thanks Bubbi, now we know the writing has to be really good or people won't watch anymore since you have deemed it so.

[b!X]

As Luke Skywalker once said, "I care."

I will go back to watching the shows whose writers I backed in this strike, some of whom I walked a picket line with to show that support.

That was, after all, the point: If one followed their shows, one followed them to the strike. Now one gets to follow them back to their shows again.

Pretty simple, really.

[Just the facts]

No, sorry, b!X, haven't you heard? You don't care anymore, it's a fact. Just ask Bubbi.

[kuddi]

Don't just throw away comments like Bubbi's. TV these days are more time filler than something "can't miss" for people who are busy with work, family and now elections... Do not expect viewers to come back in big numbers. I personally do not even remember characters names from shows I used to watch. With summer daylight coming in a month when viewership traditionally going down, it would be wise for networks to cancel this TV season and focus on next one. IMHO

and please, don't take us for granted! Do not think you can turn shows off and on and still all people are going to be there for you again. America is not a big Hollywood.

[Just the facts]

No one's taking anyone for granted, and no one's saying that viewers may be fickle for awhile. Bubbi's proclamation that viewers don't care anymore, as if she's called millions of them on the phone, and isn't just stating her opinion, or the collective opinions of her friends, is the notion that bristles.

[Bubbi]

Just the Facts,

Where did I say I have called a million people? Maybe if you had spent some time reading the reactions of viewers and polls conducted by legit news sources--you would not be so out of touch.

"You don't want viewers turning away from television, because it can be hard to get them to turn back," said Charles Floyd Johnson, an executive producer on "NCIS."
Viewers turned off by Hollywood writers' strike 'may never switch TV on again'

I realize you do not place much stock into statements like this but a little research will reveal that "so many of us viewers" (which is what I said) do not care anymore.

"American TV networks have lost almost a quarter of their audiences because of the Hollywood writers' strike, according to new figures, and executives fear that “orphaned” viewers may never return."
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3279454.ece

Here is a fact for you--10% of viewers never returned after the writers strike of 1988.

It is human nature--take away something long enough--people will move on.

[Just a viewer]

I used to be addicted to television. These days I only have a few favorite shows, and only one of them is "must see" and "must record." I also buy the DVDs, because I support my shows.

I've actually gotten a little apathetic about wanting new episodes of my must-see show. I'll probably get excited to see a new one come up, but the shine is gone. This is different from waiting for a summer to pass, which has always seemed like years, not months. I'm not sure why, but it is.

If next season's schedule has a line-up that contains a majority of "reality" shows and a minimum of good, scripted shows, I'll be sad, but not as upset as I would have been years ago. If that makes any sense at all.