AMPTP walked away from the negation table with SAG, which means a second strike could very well happen. Word on the street is that AMPTP doesn’t think SAG has the balls to strike after everything Hollywood had to deal with during the writers strike and apparently SAG and willing to call AMPTP’s bluff.

Ok one more clip from last night’s episode. In this one “South Park” totally knocks how the strike ended.

Last night’s “South Park” episode took on the WGA writer’s strike by having Canada strike when the world doesn’t give it respect.

Now that the strike has ended news is flying in about TV shows and movie updates, but instead of talking about all that jazz I want to take a moment and talk about the actual deal.

I’ve looked over the paperwork that was given to WGA members over the weekend and I spoke to two WGA members… basically in the short term the new deal sucks. Any mid-high level writer will be making less money. However, the hope is that new formula for determining online residuals will be worth it in the long run because not only are writers making money from online distribution but they made sure the old “DVD formula” wouldn’t be applied to it. So was it worth it? No one knows and if some one is saying they know then they are talking out of their butt. Its cliche’, but in this case true: Only time will tell if the strike was really worth it.

The writer’s strike is officially over and here is the announcement letter from the WGA:

On Tuesday, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the restraining order that was invoked on November 5th. The strike is over. Writing can resume immediately. If you were employed when the strike began, you should plan to report to work on Wednesday. If you’re not employed at an office or other work site, call or e-mail your employer that you are resuming work. If you have been told not to report to work or resume your services, we recommend that you still notify your employer in writing of your availability to do so. Questions concerning return-to-work issues should be directed to the WGAW legal department or the WGAE’s assistant executive director. (Read on …)

Everyone has their fingers crossed that the WGA members will approve of the deal thats on the table and that the strike will come to an end. The writers are being presented with the deal on Saturday and will then vote on if they like it or not. If they do then production on tv shows could start again as soon as Monday or it could be awhile longer while the “legal wording” of the deal is decided upon.

TV Guide, being very optimistic, has put together the following list determining when TV shows will return should the strike end this weekend: (Read on …)

The WGA sent out a press release regarding negotiation talks. They probbally did so becuase of all the “postive” press coverage that has been going around all weekend:

To Our Fellow Members,
While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing. The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.

Until we have reached an agreement with the AMPTP, it is essential that we continue to show our resolve, solidarity, and strength. Picketing will resume on Monday. Our leverage at the bargaining table is directly affected by your commitment to our cause. Please continue to show your support on the line. We are all in this together.

There is hope, but nothing is in stone yet so don’t get too excited. United Hollywood posted the following message:

UH has confirmed from off-the-record sources that progress is indeed being made in the informal talks, and that creative solutions to the biggest differences between the AMPTP and the WGA have gotten the tentative and cautious approval of both sides. This does not mean there is a deal in principle yet. It means we may, finally, be very close to one — as close as days away. And while we’re cautiously optimistic about what we’re hearing, it comes with a real caveat. Just as happened with the DGA deal, points that are agreed to in informal negotiation can be thought of as points on a deal memo — but it’s the drafting language that comes from hammering out those points that makes them legally binding. And our sources say that draft language doesn’t yet exist. That’s a big part of what will be happening in the next few days, as negotiations continue. Until the WGA and the companies have enshrined the deal points — whatever they are — into real draft language, those deal points can’t be thought of as final.

With all the discussions about the strike negations, I thought now would be the perfect time to check back in with the “Why We Write” blog. The except below was written by Jaime Paglia the co-creator and executive producer of “Eureka” (man I miss that show).

Plus, let’s be honest, it’s just a damn cool job. And fun. Okay, fun as in painful. Often, like getting root canal. Like writing this essay, which given that I’m on strike, is all I’ve written in over two months, and I’m convinced is pure crap. Honestly, I hate every word and will regret having written it the moment I send it out for public viewing. But that is the life I’ve chosen. I’m one of the few, incredibly fortunate, deeply pathological people who actually gets to make stuff up for a living.

E! has an interview with “Pushing Daisies’” creator Bryan Fuller who says that even if the strike ends this week we won’t get new episodes till next season.

Lots of talk has been going down this past week. Essentially, even if the strike is resolved in the next week or two, we wouldn’t be back until next season. There was a preliminary conversation that involved a plan to hit the ground running and try to get episodes on the air as soon as possible, but it no longer seems like that’s going to happen. It seems most likely that we will have a very short first season and then come back in the fall for a proper season two.

This sucks but don’t get too downhearted because not all shows are in the same situation as “Pushing Daises” and with most we could possibly get a good 4-6 episodes.

CBS has found a way around the writer’s strike. They just struck a deal with a Canadian company who will produce a TV show for them. Using a foreign production company and then buying the “American Distribution Rights” means they don’t have to worry about the WGA.

In another sign of how the WGA strike is reshaping network TV’s development process, CBS Paramount Network TV is planning to team with Canada’s CTV to produce at least 13 episodes of a police drama dubbed “Flashpoint.”

What the FUCK?! “Celebrity Apprentice” was renewed for another season. I’m not even joking. The ratings are horrible and the show is total crap, yet for some reason NBC is bringing it back. God damn you writer’s strike for making NBC renew it!

Conan shaved his “strike beard.” Could this mean the WGA Strike is ending? Does this mean he no longer supports the writers? What does it mean? Can nobody explain the madness?!

Lionsgate struck a deal with the WGA so that “Mad Men” and “Weeds” can go back to work. This means the next seasons of both shows shouldn’t face any delays since both series have been on their usual hiatus for the past few months. Also rumors are swirling that the strike MAY be resolved by the end of this week, but those are rumors and with the media blackout during this round of negotiations no one really knows what’s going on.

I received an email today and the email was blank but the subject line said “Where did all your spoilers go?” Then earlier in the week I received an email from a girl begging for spoilers on ABC Family’s “Wildfire.”

So I feel it’s necessary to remind everyone that there is this little thing called a “writers strike” that has caused all scripted shows to shut down. So even though some shows have new episodes airing, just about everything (except for “October Road) stopped production work back in December. So the reason I don’t have spoilers is because there is nothing to spoil. Scripts haven’t been written yet, so no one knows what’s going to happen.

Needless to say though, next week I should have some “Lost” “Kyle XY” and “Wildfire” spoilers.

Variety is reporting that if the writer strikes goes on till March it will have cost the industry a total of $3 billion dollars.

The study provided to Daily Variety on a confidential basis has calculated a cost of about $1.9 billion in lost episodic production for the more than 70 broadcast and cable primetime skeins, assuming no more segs are delivered for the 2007-08 season.

There math regarding the film industry is a little confusing but it basically says that so far it has cost movies a loss of $1.1 billion. The article also explains that if the strike does last into the spring it will start affecting non-industry buisnesses like lumber, paint, and odd things like that used for production.

“Inkheart” and its sequel were great books, so I was actually surprised when New Line said they were pushing back the Brendan Fraser helmed movie to January 2009 because I didn’t even realize they were making a movie. They are blaming the delay on the writers strike saying that they can’t properly promote the movie because with all the re-runs on TV ratings have dropped. Normally I wouldn’t be excited to see a Fraser movie but he did a great job reading the books on tape and I think its a roll he can pull off.

With the Directors Guild strike prevented The WGA and AMPTP are back at the negotiation table. The big change now is that The WGA dropped the proposal of unionizing Realty TV show writers and Animation writers. Here is a letter that WGA-W president Patric Verrone and WGAE president Michael Winship realsed about their desion to drop the proposal.

We have responded favorably to the invitation from the AMPTP to enter into informal talks that will help establish a reasonable basis for returning to negotiations. During this period we have agreed to a complete news blackout. We are grateful for this opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with industry leaders that we hope will lead to a contract. We ask that all members exercise restraint in their public statements during this critical period. (Read on …)

Because of the deal that the Weinstein Company struck with the WGA, Neil Gaiman is back to work on the “Neverwhere” movie.

The Writer’s Strike continues. I was delighted that the Weinstein Company has just made a deal with the WGA, agreeing to all the terms, as that means I can now go back to work on the Neverwhere movie. (A short history — I wrote about eight drafts of Neverwhere-the-movie between 1997 and 2000, and then retired. Other people came in and wrote scripts, some of which were hated and some of which weren’t, but it died. Last year my agents sent someone who asked about it the version of the script they had, which was the last draft script I did in 2000, and people read it, got excited and suddenly it came back to life, with the Hensons producing and doing it with the Weinstein Company. It needs to find a director, but at least I can work on it now.)

Normally I don’t like to the gossip in “Lying in The Gutters” but Rich Johnson’s recent column had a segment that made me burst out laughing:

Marvel’s Tom Brevoort publicly supports the demands of the Writers Guild of America from his Marvel blog. Yet Marvel have not yet agreed how or how much to pay creators for the internet publication of the work on the paid-for Marvel DCU and still don’t pay royalties from foreign publications. Mote and beam, Tom, mote and beam.

It’s such a great point because in a lot of ways the Big Two really stomp on creators. It’s a shame that its basically impossible for artist and writers to unionize.

The DGA and AMPTP announced that they have reached an agreement over digital media and as a result the Directors Guild will not be striking. The two parties have been negotiating for six days and this could pave the way for an end to the writers strike. As of now all parties are being quiet on what the terms of the deals were, but they should be announced over the next few days.

Apple announced a slew of new stuff today, including the world’s thinnest labtop, but what I found the most interesting is that iTunes will now offer movies and TV shows as rentals. The rentals will have to be watched within 24 hours of being downloaded and prices range from $2.99 to $4.99.  What’s important to remember is that WRITERS receive no residuals for media distributed digitally. So DO NOT rent anything off iTunes. Get netflix or go to blockbuster instead!

Talks between the Directors Guild and the AMPTP (corporate studios) begins today. They are attempting to solidify a deal before the DGA’s contract expire later this spring. If the Directors come to terms with the studios it will be a major blow to the striking writers. However if the Directors Guild also goes on strike then it will most likely lead to a quicker resolution with the writers strike.

Here is DGA President Michael Apted’s letter about it to members:

I am writing to inform you that with the unanimous agreement of the Negotiations Committee and the recommendation of Negotiations Chairman Gil Cates, I have authorized the start of formal negotiations with the AMPTP and we will begin our first negotiations session tomorrow. (Read on …)

“Why We Write” is a blog where striking writers explain the reasons they write. Sometimes the answers are straightforward and sometimes they are they humorous or crazy antidotes. For example, “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof starts off his post with this: 

I was listening to the news on NPR the other day and two things occurred to me.  First, only assholes feel the constant need to tell you they listen to NPR (does anyone ever say, “So I was watching the CW last night…”?) and I guess that makes me an asshole.  The second was that in the midst of listening to the story in question, I had finally figured out how to succinctly sum up why I write.  It goes a little something like this – 

What I find amusing is that I LOVE the CW and watch just about every show on it.

Did everyone else know that Mike Huckabee doesn’t believe in evolution? That’s EVOLUTION - The thing named by Darwin and proved by science.

This has me thinking. Maybe I should be covering the 2008 Presidential Election. I mean there is the writers strike so nothing to watch on TV. I could do a weekly post called “Undecided ’08” or something. I don’t know exactly what I would do in the post, but one idea I had was to interview writers and ask them who their characters would support. I mean how neat would it be to find out who JMS’s Married-Unmasked Spider-Man would vote for compared to Bendis’ teenage-masked Spider-Man? Shoot with the writers strike and the few contacts in LA, I may even be able to get a hold of TV writers.

I don’t know. …anyone got a better idea or suggestions?

Feeling nostalgic for the old NES “American Gladiators” game I decided to check out the new incarnation of the show. Boy was I surprised at just how fake the show was. Not only do the producers overly manipulate the editing, but they its obvious that the gladiators are coached on when to act tougher. (Read on …)

Without writers to write the show and actors to present/accept awards, NBC decided to cancel this year’s Golden Globes show. Instead the awards will be announced via a press conference and will be covered by NBC News. The statement from the official press release is as follows:

We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” said Jorge Camara, President of The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. “We take some comfort, however, in knowing that this year’s Golden Globe Award recipients will be announced on the date originally scheduled.

Since the news is not affiliated with the WGA and since the offical “show” has been cancled it is unsure if writers will picket the news conference or if actors might show up to receive awards.

What’s the point of Celebrity Apprentice? The last “celebrity” (I put the quotation marks because at most there is one or MAYBE two if you stretch it) standing gets to give $250,000 to a charity of their choice. However in the first challenge, the “celebrities” raised just under $70,000 by selling hot dogs. That’s right. HOT DOGS! If the Celebrities just worked together and said “F” the show, they’d be able to raise a lot more than just $250,000 bucks.

God dammit the Writers Strike needs to end! The studios need to stop being assholes.

“Bones” only has three new episodes left and Fox has decided to hold them until April. Clearly the network doesn’t expect the strike to end anytime soon and is hoping to use “Bones” to boost the ratings of its new show “Canterbury’s Law” which premiers on April 24^th.

I totally called this forever ago. NBC will start airing episodes of “Monk” and “Psych” in March. The shows will air on Sunday and these are probably the first of many cable shows that will soon be appearing on network TV.

“This is an excellent opportunity to showcase these two critically acclaimed cable hits,” NBC co-chairman Marc Graboff says. “It’s a win-win situation. The shows, both produced by our own Universal Media Studios, receive additional exposure while providing great programming for NBC.”

I honestly didn’t think the whole WGA Strike situation could get much worse. Boy was I wrong. The WGA complained to the National Labor Relations Board saying that the media companies violated federal law by ending contract negations. The WGA released a press

“It is a clear violation of federal law for the [studios] to issue an ultimatum and break off negotiations if we fail to cave to their illegal demands,” the Writers Guild said in a statement Thursday. “It is the height of irresponsibility and intransigence for the [studio alliance] to refuse to negotiate a fair agreement with the WGA.”

If the labor board opts to investigate the charge and file a formal complaint, it could take 45 days for a hearing to be scheduled before an administrative law judge. A ruling against the studios could prompt an appeal, potentially tying up the case for months.

With the strike situation getting more and more complicated, the Late Night hosts are expected to make a return to TV sometime in January. Updated at 2:15pm: Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien will return on Jan 2nd without their writing staff. Letterman is seeking a private deal with the WGA so that he can return sometime in January with his staff.

Scheft also thinks having his boss on the air could help the writers’ cause: “David Letterman, on the air without writers … is the greatest ally the writers would ever have, because he would rail nightly,” Scheft told the Times. “He could be more influential as an on-air stone in people’s shoes. The leverage for us might be him and Jon [Stewart] and Conan [O’Brien] talking trash.”

There is precedent for hosts returning to work during a writers’ strike. Johnny Carson returned to “The Tonight Show” about two months into the 1988 strike, citing concern for show staffers who were going without paychecks. Letterman followed suit and memorably spent most of one episode getting a shave.

Packing, driving, and heading home to the beach. Give me a day or two to get settled and then posting will resume! Though… I do have a question. Looking at all the post I did in the past year about 50% are TV related. However, with the strike I don’t have any TV stuff to post about. So what kind of posts would people like to see? Comment or email me at scottking@scottking.info

I tried preparing a post that explained why The WGA rejected the deal offered to them last week, but then I found this video which explains it better than I ever could.

Negotiations to end the WGA Strike have been ended. Don’t expect talks to resume until 2008.

Negotiation talks will commence again tomorrow between the media companies and The WGA. The trade papers are reporting that The WGA plans to put its own proposal on the table:

The WGA will respond to studio reps’ latest contract proposal on new-media pay by advancing its own new proposals. That’s the word from a source close to the guild negotiating team, which caucused on negotiating issues during the weekend before reconvening Tuesday with studio reps. It might prompt limited optimism that actual horse-trading seems finally in progress in the difficult contract talks between the guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. But anybody still inclined to forecast chances of an imminent deal between Hollywood writers and studio reps would be well advised to cool it for a while.

The talks last week ended with The WGA turning down an offer from the media companies, which would have given writers $130 millon dollars. Although that may seem like a lot of money keep in mind that it would be dived by thousands of writers and that the media companies are making BILLIONS by posting TV shows and films online.

Jay Leno is following in the steps of Conan O’Brien and David Letterman by agreeing to pay his non-writing staff during the WGA strike. All three late-night hosts are paying workers full wages out of pocket. In addition, Leno is offering each employee a $100 Christmas bonus for every year they’ve worked on the show.

Just like they did to “The Office” and “30 Rock,” NBC-Universal has fired the production staff of “Battlestart Galactica.” Not only that, but they have taken things a step further by suspended Galactica’s cast without pay. The cast isn’t fired, they are just on suspension and when the strike ends (if their contracts aren’t expired) they will be un-suspended.

On Ron Moore’s blog (creator of the show) he shares:

Galactica” showrunner Ron Moore revealed on his blog that production on episode 4.13 wrapped the previous night, there’s “no certain date to resume shooting. No more scripts exist. My office staff has been laid off. My cast has been suspended, without pay.

Although this may sound seriously scary to you Galactica fans, don’t worry. “Battlestar Galactica” is one of the Sci-Fi Channel’s babies and makes the network millions. The show WILL wrap up after the strike. Sci-Fi can’t afford it not to.

Good news! The WGA just posted on their site that will once again be meeting with media companies:

Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26. No other details or press statements will be issued.

Maybe the studios will give the writers what they deserve and the TV season won’t be over!

Variety Reports that top secret meetings have been taking place between the late night talk shows:

Reps for several of the major latenight skeins — including “Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”— have been engaging in secret backchannel conversations with each other about when it might be appropriate for their hosts to return to their studios. It’s unlikely anything will happen until after Thanksgiving, however–and even that could be optimistic. 

Still, according to several network execs with knowledge of the situation, there’s been talk of resuming production on some shows as early as next month, with Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 mentioned as possible return dates. The problem with locking in a date: “Nobody wants to be the first to go back,” says one wag.