WGA (writers) Strike

pip08456 · 02-05-2023, 11:14

WGA strike has started today. Wonder how long it will last.

Mr K · 02-05-2023, 11:25

I'd be a bit more worried about the nurses strike if I were you.

Halcyon · 02-05-2023, 11:46

So another round of writers strikes begins. Am I bothered? Nope.

**Paul** · 02-05-2023, 18:37

US Late Night Shows will be the main effect, for now.

The Main US TV season wraps up in May, and they are all produced already.
Most of the shows set for the summer will also have been written and produced already.

Any effect on network shows is not likely to be seen until the new seasons are due (in Autumn).
If the strike lasts long enough, they may see a delay in production.

Streamers like Netflix/Amazon are also less likely to be affected as they produce shows well in advance of airing them.
They will have a backlog of shows already to show (and maybe they will slow down their release rate a little, esp Netflix).

pip08456 · 02-05-2023, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

I'd be a bit more worried about the nurses strike if I were you.

I'm not worried about either, I just posed a question.

Sephiroth · 02-05-2023, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by pip08456

I'm not worried about either, I just posed a question.

I didn't see a question posed by you.

pip08456 · 02-05-2023, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I didn't see a question posed by you.

How long will it last?

Itshim · 02-05-2023, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

US Late Night Shows will be the main effect, for now.

The Main US TV season wraps up in May, and they are all produced already.
Most of the shows set for the summer will also have been written and produced already.

Any effect on network shows is not likely to be seen until the new seasons are due (in Autumn).
If the strike lasts long enough, they may see a delay in production.

Streamers like Netflix/Amazon are also less likely to be affected as they produce shows well in advance of airing them.
They will have a backlog of shows already to show (and maybe they will slow down their release rate a little, esp Netflix).

If my memory serves me well ( it rarely does, but still) shows in the past have been cancelled and the reason offered was the strike.

OLD BOY · 02-05-2023, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

I'd be a bit more worried about the nurses strike if I were you.

Why? They currently don’t have any mandate to strike.

pip08456 · 02-05-2023, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

If my memory serves me well ( it rarely does, but still) shows in the past have been cancelled and the reason offered was the strike.

You are correct. Nothing wrong with your memory there.

**Paul** · 04-05-2023, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itshim

If my memory serves me well ( it rarely does, but still) shows in the past have been cancelled and the reason offered was the strike.

Did you mean episodes ?

AFAIK, No TV series was cancelled solely due to the previous strike (in 2007).
Many had their episode numbers reduced, and a small number were cancelled due to poor ratings (the strike was used as a part excuse for some of these).

The circumstances were very different then as well.
Shows from Streamers like Netflix, Prime etc didnt really exist.
The strike was also right in the middle of the main US TV season, this one is not.

**Chris** · 04-05-2023, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

I didn't see a question posed by you.

The question is in the OP, posed as a rhetorical wondering. Given the context (i.e. we’re on a discussion forum), I’m surprised you’re so easily flummoxed by a little linguistic subtlety.

Sephiroth · 04-05-2023, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The question is in the OP, posed as a rhetorical wondering. Given the context (i.e. we’re on a discussion forum), I’m surprised you’re so easily flummoxed by a little linguistic subtlety.

You're being as picky as I was!

pip08456 · 04-05-2023, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Did you mean episodes ?

AFAIK, No TV series was cancelled solely due to the previous strike (in 2007).
Many had their episode numbers reduced, and a small number were cancelled due to poor ratings (the strike was used as a part excuse for some of these).

The circumstances were very different then as well.
Shows from Streamers like Netflix, Prime etc didnt really exist.
The strike was also right in the middle of the main US TV season, this one is not.

Quote:

Will Shows Be Cancelled Due to the Strike?

That is very possible and we saw several genre entries get sent to the Network Executioner during the 2007-08 strike. Both Journeyman and the Bionic Woman reboot were cancelled after one season, and while neither pulled in great ratings, it’s not impossible that NBC would have given them more of a chance if the strike had not halted production. The first season of ABC’s Pushing Daisies was cut short and that led to a long hiatus before the second season started which may have killed the momentum from its promising start in the ratings (it was cancelled after a big drop in viewership in its second year). USA Network also cancelled both The 4400 and Dead Zone at that time and the strike has been cited as a strong influence on their decision.

If the current strike lasts longer than a few weeks, that will definitely start to make network and studio execs nervous. It will lead to a new round of production delays after things were only just starting to get back on track following the extended shutdowns caused by COVID. Once the strike is settled, there will be a rush back to production with top-performing and high-profile shows likely getting priority. And shows that may not have been strong performers could find themselves on the chopping block in order to free up time and resources. For example, Netflix would likely prioritize top-performer Wednesday over Cabinet of Curiosities (which pulled in moderate viewership) and possibly just cancel the latter show altogether because timelines will be tight following the production delays. (Though that is just hypothetical, I have no idea if those actually share the same studios and resources.)

https://www.cancelledscifi.com/2023/...i-fi-tv-shows/

**Paul** · 05-05-2023, 01:03

As I said, No TV series was cancelled solely due to the previous strike.
A small number were cancelled due to poor ratings (and the strike make a convienient excuse to halt production on them)

Bionic Woman stopped production because of the strike, it was not renewed because of poor ratings.
Journeyman had already been written and produced, in fact its last episode aired a few weeks after the strike started, it was also just not renewed due to low ratings.
Pushing Daisies Season 1 was cut short, but it still got renewed for a 13 episode Season 2 the year after the strike, it was not renewed again, also due to poor ratings.