Strike Over - Its Official!

Mr E

Next step is the vote, but the terms of the deal are below, and its likely that the writers will agree.

According to the Writers Guild of America website, the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have ironed out the details of a tentative deal. The next step toward ending the writers' strike: The Guild's board will present the terms to its membership today, followed by an official vote to ratify the contract. Some of the details of the tentative deal:

-- In the third year of the contract, writers will receive 2 percent of distributor's gross receipts for ad-supported streaming of television after a promotional window.

-- On permanent downloads, writers will get .36 percent of distributor's gross receipts for the first 100,000 downloads of a television program and the first 50,000 of a feature film. After that, pay is increased to .7 percent and .65 percent, respectively.

-- The agreement defines what promotional use is. In a nutshell, clips can be "used without payment to promote theatrical, television or new media exhibition if the clip contains 'tune-in,' rental or purchase information." But writers do get paid for the use of clips if the "primary purpose of the exhibition is to permit viewing of archived clips," as on, say, www.thedailyshow.com.

-- Networks will consult the showrunner when a commercial product is to be integrated into the storyline of an episode of a dramatic series. (This has been somewhat of an important issue for the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild, as they have taken the issue up with the FCC in recent months.)

In an e-mail sent to Guild members, WGA West president Patric A. Verrone and WGA East president Michael Winship acknowledged that while the tentative deal ''is neither perfect nor perhaps all that we deserve,'' it ''establishes the principle that, 'When they get paid, we get paid.''' In their e-mail, Verrone and Winship also urged WGA members to vote to ratify the contract and end the four-month strike: ''An ongoing struggle against seven, multinational media conglomerates, no matter how successful, is exhausting, taking an enormous personal toll on our members and countless others. As such, we believe that continuing to strike now will not bring sufficient gains to outweigh the potential risks and that the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike.''

A spokesperson for the AMPTP had no immediate comment on the tentative deal.

EW Insider Article
A document of the terms (4 page PDF)

Sherifu

Good, almost over.

Jello

Great news.

User45701

Took its time, thank god but it will still be months before we see new episodes, have to write and film them...

Basq

User45701 wrote: »

Took its time, thank god but it will still be months before we see new episodes, have to write and film them...

Could be episodes out as early as April.. not exactly long to wait.

AdMMM

I've read certain sources who say the WGA are "shoving this deal down our throats" and that a lot of members aren't happy with the terms!

Harpy

woohoo hpefully it'll all be done and dusted with soon...

beanyb

The strike should be over officially on wednesday

From Deadline Hollywood:

SATURDAY 9:00 PM: I've received word from inside the Shrine Auditorium meeting that the WGA West membership was obviously "very positive" about resolving the writers strike as soon as possible and accepting the deal negotiated by the guild leadership with the Hollywood moguls. Also, the WGA governing bodies wisely decided to ensure that guild members be able to vote within the next 48 hours before the strike can be called off by leaders -- even though the AMPTP made the deal contingent on the writers going back to work immediatelt. Under this new end game, Hollywood could now get back to work by Wednesday at the earliest (not Monday as previously arranged). This also means the Academy Awards, just 14 days away, won't be picketed. A writer who just left the confab told me: "There was cheering for everything and standing ovation after standing ovation for all the leadership. There is no question in my mind that because of the atmosphere in that room this strike will be called off. There is no gearing for a fight. It's over."

User45701

sorry bascquill but another thread had a list of shows and most where listed as (the only one im 100% sure on is 30 Rock) it will be back writing in march and filming in april. I was not expecting them to air any episodes till may or june. And several shows still have decisions to be made if they are even going to make more like sarach conor chronicals and prison break both listed as TBD

Basq

User45701 wrote: »

another thread had a list of shows and most where listed as (the only one im 100% sure on is 30 Rock) it will be back writing in march and filming in april.

This thread here?

Loads of them have listed episodes due to air in April / May. Michael Ausiello over at TVGuide.com says all of the following are due to start writing / films episodes expected to air in April / May:

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Brothers & Sisters
Cold Case
Criminal Minds
CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Desperate Housewives
Gossip Girl
Grey's Anatomy
House
How I Met Your Mother
My Name Is Earl
The Office
Private Practice
Smallville
Supernatural
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty
Without a Trace

Basq

Hayden "Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmyy" Panetierre has indeed confirmed 'Heroes' is finished for the season.

See here!

Sherifu

Put it back in your pants basq I don't see any mention of Prison Break. Any word on if they'll finish the season or leave us with 13 eps?

kevmy

basquille wrote: »

Hayden "Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmyy" Panetierre has indeed confirmed 'Heroes' is finished for the season.

See here!

That was to be expected though surely. With the way they left it at a natural breakpoint in the season, throwing in 4 or 5 more episodes would do more harm than good not to mention a certain Mr Sylar busy running around the USS Enterprise

dulpit

Good news... Although how long is this contract for? 3/4 years? Will we have the same thing again then???

Mr E

Info on shows return schedule, straight from the showrunners' mouths.... Enjoy!

We've checked in with the show runners of some of the fans' favorite series (like Lost's Damon Lindelof, Friday Night Lights' Jason Katims, Pushing Daisies' Bryan Fuller and Gossip Girl and Chuck's Josh Schwartz) for their reaction to the strike's end and when we'll get more episodes.

Read on to get the scoop! (And check back for more updates on all our other favorite shows as we receive them.)

LOST

Executive Producer Damon Lindelof Says: "Indeed, it would appear that we are in the endgame of the strike. Personally, I couldn't be more psyched to be part of this union. Like any negotiation, some parts suck and some parts surpassed my wildest expectations for what we could accomplish, but most of all I'm left with a feeling of pride.

"As for Lost (pending the actual lifting of the strike, which we vote for on Tuesday), a game plan should begin to manifest by the end of the week. All I can say is that Carlton and I and the rest of the writers have every intention of making sure you guys get more episodes this season beyond the eight already completed. How many and how they will be aired is a conversation we'll be having with our bosses, but as soon as we've got a plan, we'll tell the fans first."

What We're Hearing: Lost's actors are on standby, and the show is expected to produce more episodes this season. Fingers crossed! The bigger question is who'll keep the golden Thursday at 9 p.m. time slot once those Seattle Grace docs also return...How 'bout we put Sawyer and McDreamy in a cage and let 'em duke it out? ('Cause we know who'd win...)

PUSHING DAISIES

Executive Producer Bryan Fuller Says: "We're all thrilled the strike is coming to a close and we can drop the politics and get back to the creativity. Many of the shows are getting 'return to work' letters this week from their studios, but we won't be one of them. Previously, Warner Brothers said they wanted us to start writing the moment the WGA allowed us to go back to work so we could get a jump start and begin stockpiling scripts for season two. But I got the call on Friday that they didn't want us to go back to work until March, regardless of the strike outcome.

"That's not to say there won't be some informal meetings with the writing staff beforehand to discuss arcs for season two, but we're essentially on hold until March (at least in an official capacity). The first order of business will be to sit down with ABC to discuss their thoughts on the nine completed episodes from what I like to call our 'teaser season'—what they liked and what they didn't—and then we'll set about crafting season two and continuing the adventures of the Pie Maker and friends."

What We're Hearing: Hear that? It's the sound of die-hard fans around the nation chanting "We want Daisies! We miss Chuck and Ned!" So, it seems we'll get a lesson in patience while we wait for more eps of this show that is made of all kinds of awesome.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Executive Producer Jason Katims Says: "We all really want to get back to work. Everybody does, but on this particular show, Friday Night Lights, it’s a passion for a lot of us who do it, it’s a labor of love, so we all want to come back to work to finish the season and tell the stories that we are dying to tell."

What We're Hearing: Peacock sources tell us it is not likely FNL will produce more episodes for the current season. However, with a huge fan campaign building to save this quality series (stand by for more deets!), anything is possible. Go Panthers!

(P.S.: As for Katims' other series, Bionic Woman, well, let's just say it's been hit by a truck and won't be coming back from the dead with new, fancy parts. Ever.)

CHUCK AND GOSSIP GIRL

Executive Producer Josh Schwartz: "If the strike is over, then on behalf of Chuck and Gossip Girl we are all thrilled to get back to work. Both shows will be back for more episodes—when, I can't quite say, though Gossip Girl will most likely be on as soon as possible. Chuck may not be back until fall to relaunch with Heroes, or it may be back sooner, but both will be back!"

What We're Hearing: Umm...Ditto what Schwartz says. Expect lots more Gossip Girl this season (the CW is crazy for this show and has requested an additional nine episodes to air this season), while Chuck is likely to return in the fall for its second season.

SUPERNATURAL

Executive Producer Erik Kripke Says: "I would say we can probably get three, maybe four episodes in the can. I think three is the safe number to say probably. So, I hope so...I just hope. Obviously we all love the show and want to get back to work!"

What We're Hearing: No firm decisions yet, but Supernatural is likely to resume production this season since it is one of the CW's highest-rated series.

HEROES

What We're Hearing: Though an official decision has not yet been made, the most likely scenario is that Heroes will not return to our small screens until this fall. We've heard from a few crew members that they've been told they are not likely to return to set this season. Word is, the writers want a bit of breathing room to get the storyline up and running. Stay tuned on this one...

BIG LOVE

Executive Producers Will Scheffer and Mark V. Olsen Say: "We apologize to our fans that they are the ones who always suffer the most when corporations forget they're just the conduit through which writers and audiences connect . Writers should always receive their fair share of the profits the studios make by delivering our original content to our audiences. And we thank our fans for sticking by us and supporting us in this generation-defining labor action. We look forward to getting back to work and getting new episodes of Big Love into production and on air ASAP!"

What We're Hearing: Big Love will go back into production in March and is likely to return on HBO sometime this summer.

GREY'S ANATOMY

What We're Hearing: Grey's will go back into production this season and is expected to produce a handful of new episodes to air in April and May. And yes, Josh Jackson is expected to finally fulfill his guest-spot duties as Cristina's love interest. So, yes, there is a god.

30 ROCK

What We're Hearing: Coming off its recent Golden Globe and SAG Award wins, NBC is hoping for as much as Tina Fey and friends can possibly deliver. According to one writer close to the series, that is expected to be five to nine additional episodes to air in April and May.

THE OFFICE

What We're Hearing: Expected to produce six to 10 new episodes this season. Praise Allah! And Jim and Pam. And Dwangela. Amen.

BONES

What We're Hearing: One Bones castmember tells us the strike was "very emotional and surreal" and that while they don't yet know how many more episodes they might produce this season, things look good for a return to the set. Another castmember tells us: "I would assume that production would start back in two weeks or so." However, sources tell us there is no decision yet on whether Bones will go back into production this season.

24

Writer-producer David Fury Says: "24 works best 24 hours in a row. I don't think we'll see it until 2009."

What We're Hearing: Production on this season of 24 stopped short at hour 12. It's not likely they'll finish the final 12 in time for us to get a full season this year. So, mark your calendars for January 2009.

SCRUBS

What We're Hearing: No matter what, creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence will write and produce the remaining six episodes of Scrubs' seventh season, but the open question is where will they air? Options include NBC, the show's home for seven years; ABC, since the show is produced by the ABC-Disney conglom; or even straight to DVD. NBC would be the obvious choice, but according to Lawrence, "It doesn't seem like NBC is superpsyched to air the finale, but we're trying to work something out."

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

What We're Hearing: The crown jewel of the Sci Fi Channel should finish out its fourth and final season, but per writer Jane Espenson, it's almost certain that, schedule-wise, the story will be split into two separate miniseasons. The show completed 14 episodes before the strike hit, and at least the first 10 will air beginning Apr. 4. The second batch could premiere in the fall or even sometime in 2009.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Executive Producer Marc Cherry Says: At the SAG Awards, Marc told us: "I think maybe I could cram in seven episodes [before the end of the season]. It would take us about two weeks to get back into production. I'm chomping at the bit. The moment the starting pistol is fired, I'm off and running. I'm ready to go, I just need the okay [from the union]."

What We're Hearing: At this point in time, six episodes is more likely than seven, but don't worry, there will be plenty of Wisteria Lane hijinks on your TV come May sweeps.

ONE TREE HILL

Executive Producer Mark Schwahn Says: "Although we have six new episodes left, no one is more excited about the end of the strike than we are at One Tree Hill. With our four-year jump ahead, we're having an outstanding year creatively, and despite standing alone on Tuesdays, our numbers are routinely second only to Smallville for scripted dramas at the CW. We'd love the opportunity to continue season five, and if the WGA's new contract is ratified, hopefully we'll be able to do just that. If not, we'll see you for season six."

What We're Hearing: The See-Dub has not yet decided if and when One Tree Hill will return. Time for a little fan love to remind them how much the viewers love this show!

Mr E

Another report here saying more or less the same stuff, but some extra tidbits:

Dead shows:
Big Shots
Cavemen
Cane
K-Ville
Bionic Woman
Journeyman (RIP, Dan Vasser)

Running on Fumes (probably dead after this season):
Prison Break
New Adventures of Old Christine
Friday Night Lights

iguana

Really glad it's over for my own sake as a bored individual but mostly for the tv crews and they're families. As crap as it has been not to get to watch the shows we've been missing the ones who've suffered most from this will have been the crews from these shows. The cameramen and women, the post-production staff, the wardrobe and make-up and hundreds of others who these shows wouldn't be possible without and who will never, ever get a single penny of any profits from repeat and online broadcasts. I don't disagree with the writers demands, but I hope nobody has lost their house, or worse, because of a strike they will never benefit from.

MayoForSam

Mr E wrote: »

Another report here saying more or less the same stuff, but some extra tidbits:

Dead shows:
Big Shots
Cavemen
Cane
K-Ville
Bionic Woman
Journeyman (RIP, Dan Vasser)

Running on Fumes (probably dead after this season):
Prison Break
New Adventures of Old Christine
Friday Night Lights

Real pity about Journeyman, I was really starting to enjoy that show, was going to be cancelled regardless but the strike didn't help. As for the rest, meh! PB has definitely outstayed its welcome.

Basq

Mr E wrote: »

Dead shows:
Bionic Woman

There is a God!

ixoy

basquille wrote: »

There is a God!

I gave up halfway through one episode and couldn't get any further. *Dances on its grave*

Basq

ixoy wrote:

I gave up halfway through one episode and couldn't get any further.

Lucky bastard.. my other half actually enjoyed it and continued to watch it week-in-week-out and actually enjoyed it! :eek:

I think I took a bit too much pleasure in revealing it was axed to her!

dulpit

Mr E wrote: »

Running on Fumes (probably dead after this season):
Prison Break
Friday Night Lights

Bummer on both accounts... Especially seen as how FNL didn't finish with a proper series finale...

Guy:Incognito

Any word of Entourage?

Mr E

Entourage is coming back, but next Autumn (it was due for the Summer, but its delayed)

Mr E

Its over (officially!)

The strike is officially over. On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guild of America voted to officially end their three-month-old strike, which began on Nov. 5; 92.5 percent of all votes cast were in favor of terminating the walkout, and writers are expected to return to work on Wednesday. Members will next vote by mail and at membership meetings on Feb. 25 to ratify their tentative three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

"Our membership has voted, and writers can go back to work," WGA West president Patric Verrone announced at a Beverly Hills press conference. "This was not a strike we wanted, but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet. Those advances now give us a foothold in the digital age. Rather than being shut out of the future of content creation and delivery, writers will lead the way as TV migrates to the Internet and platforms for new media are developed."

A joint statement signed by the Hollywood CEOs was also released. "This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry," it said. "We can now all get back to work, with the assurance that we have concluded two groundbreaking labor agreements — with our directors and writers — that establish a partnership through which our business can grow and prosper in the new digital age."

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/02/wga-goes-back-t.html?xid=rss-todayslatest-20080213-BREAKING+NEWS%3A+The+strike+is+over

Sherifu

That's great news.

ixoy

Good news in that my shows are coming back!

Bad news in that "The DaVinci Code" sequel can now go ahead

Kur4mA

w000t! They all better get the finger out sharpish.

Mr E

Ausiello's Post Strike Chart has been updated with some returning dates. I'm not going to print the whole frikkin' list again, so here are the key updates (actual return dates):

Bookmark this page for updates... (now updated hourly!!)

Cold Case
Expected to shoot 5 new episodes to begin airing on March 30.

Criminal Minds
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 2.

CSI
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 3.

CSI: Miami
Expected to shoot 8 new episodes to begin airing on March 24.

CSI: NY
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 7.

Ghost Whisperer
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 4.

How I Met Your Mother
Expected to shoot new episodes to begin airing on March 17.

Moonlight
Expected to shoot 4 new episodes to begin airing on April 11.

NCIS
Expected to shoot 7 new episodes to begin airing on April 8.

Numbers
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 4.

The Riches
Seven-episode second season kicks off March 18.

Rules of Engagement
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 14.

Saturday Night Live
Returns Feb. 23.

Two and a Half Men
Expected to shoot 9 new episodes to begin airing on March 17.

Without a Trace
Expected to shoot 6 new episodes to begin airing on April 3.

doh.ie

ixoy wrote: »

Good news in that my shows are coming back!

Bad news in that "The DaVinci Code" sequel can now go ahead

True. Not helped by continuing to film on it during the strike, warts and all, even if they found a plot point which didn't make sense...

(Also, I think it is technically a prequel?)

KevIRL

Journeyman:(

5starpool

I saw a story on bbc (i think) today that the actors guild contract is up on June 30th and they are being urged to sort it out quick. There better not be another strike!!!!!

Please let it not be so.

Edit:

Linky: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7244269.stm

Mr E

KevIRL wrote: »

Journeyman:(

A glimmer of hope (and its such a small glimmer that its only visible in a pitch black room while looking through a magnifying glass, but its still a glimmer)....

Also another bit of information is that Journeyman might have a chance at a few more episodes to close of their pre-strike finale. Although there is very little chance of it ever returning next season.

http://spoilertv.blogspot.com