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Striking writers and supporters rally in Los Angeles
Striking writers and supporters rally in Los Angeles

The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike was a labor conflict that affected a large number of television shows that were due to be broadcast in the United States during the 2007-08 television season. Negotiators for the striking writers reached a tentative agreement on February 8, 2008, and the boards of both guilds unanimously approved the deal on February 10, 2008.[1] Striking writers voted on February 12, 2008, to end the strike immediately and will vote again later in February on whether to accept the new agreement itself.[2]

Contents

[edit] Effect on shows

[edit] Uneffected shows

Show Network Notes
Passions The 101 The DirectTV-exclusive soap opera (formerly aired on NBC) has an additional month of scripts, so they should air new episodes until February 2008.[3][4]
All My Children ABC Scripts completed through January 2008.
Eli Stone ABC 9 episodes left. All 13 ordered episodes were completed. Premiered January 31, 2008.[5]
General Hospital ABC Using financial core and strikebreaker material as of January 4, 2008. Writing led by non-striking guild member Garin Wolf. Head Writer Robert Guza Jr. and his team might not return after the strike.
October Road ABC 3 episodes unaired. All 13 ordered episodes were completed; no order given yet for additional episodes.[6].
One Life to Live ABC Scripts completed through January 2008.
The View ABC Continuing, with a statement by the network that "contingency plans have been made in the event of a strike."[7]
Show Network Remaining episodes Episodes completed Episodes ordered Notes
According to Jim ABC
3
 <centre>At least 11
18
 [8]

[edit] Shows delayed during the strike

Show Network Date stopped Date restarted Episodes made before strike Episodes ordered Episodes made after strike Notes
ABC Boston Legal to air in April/May
14
22
 Expected to shoot 8 additional episodes. [9]

[edit] Shows with shortened seasons

Show Network Date stopped Date restarted Episodes made before strike Episodes ordered Episodes made after strike Notes
Brothers & Sisters ABC to air in April/May.[5] 12 23 4 new episodes. [5] [10]
Desperate Housewives ABC to air in April/May.
10
23
 Expected to shoot 7 new episodes
Grey's Anatomy ABC to air in April/May[5]
11
23
 Expected to shoot 5 new episodes [5]
Lost ABC 5 episodes remain The last six episodes of the season will be aired starting on April 24.
8
16
[11]Premiered January 31, 2008.[12]		 An additional five episodes will be produced, for a total of 13 episodes.

[edit] Shows postponed

Show Network Date stopped Expected restart Episodes made and ordered Notes
Dirty Sexy Money ABC December 5, 2007 It was renewed for 2008-09 season with no new episodes set to air until then. Last three episodes pushed to beginning of next season. 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]

[edit] Shows cancelled during strike

Show Network Unaired Episodes Left Episodes made and ordered Notes
Big Shots ABC
0
 11 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed. [5] According to tvhell.org, Big Shots was cancelled in December.
Cavemen ABC
7
 All 13 ordered episodes were completed. Currently off the schedule.[5]
Men in Trees ABC
11
 19 out of 27 ordered episodes were completed (5 leftover from Season 1 and 14 from Season 2). [5]
TV Show Status
Network Show Unaired Episodes Left Notes
ABC Cashmere Mafia
0
 7 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed.[5][14]
Carpoolers
2
 Unaffected. All 13 ordered episodes were completed.[5]
Miss/Guided
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Notes From the Underbelly
N/A
 5 episodes (from the first season) have been shot, it is unknown how many second season episodes have been completed.[13]
Private Practice
0
 9 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[5]
Pushing Daisies
0
 9 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. [15]
Samantha Who?
3
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Ugly Betty
0
 13 out of 23 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Women's Murder Club
0
 10 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed[13]
ABC Family Greek
8
 18 out of 20 ordered episodes were completed. [16]
Kyle XY
4
 Unaffected. All 23 ordered episodes for Season 2 were completed. New episodes began airing January 14, 2008.[17] 10 more episodes ordered in October, before the strike. [18]
Lincoln Heights
N/A
 Has not yet been renewed for a third season. Not yet affected.
AMC Mad Men
0
 Lionsgate side deal made, production resumed on scripts for summer airing.[19]
Cartoon Network Out of Jimmy's Head
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
CBS The Amazing Race
0
 Originally only one series (The Amazing Race 12) was planned for the 2007-2008 season. A second series of the show (The Amazing Race 13) was greenlit shortly after the start of the strike, for airing in 2008.
As the World Turns
N/A
 Entire writing staff on strike. Material written by non-union writers airing as of January 25, 2008.
The Big Bang Theory
0
 8 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[20]
Big Brother
N/A
 Instead of its usual The ninth season premieres Tuesday, February 12, 2008 with subsequent episodes airing Wednesday, February 13, 2008 and Sunday, February 17, 2008[21][22][23]. CBS has confirmed that the next edition will follow the same format as previous seasons. [23]
The Bold and the Beautiful
N/A
 Scripts completed through January 2008.
Cane
0
 All 13 ordered episodes were completed.[24]
Cold Case
0
 13 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Criminal Minds
0
 13 out of 25 episodes were completed.[25]
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
0
 11 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
CSI: Miami
0
 13 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
CSI: New York
0
 14 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Ghost Whisperer
0
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes have been completed.[13]
Guiding Light
N/A
 Scripts completed through February 2008.
How I Met Your Mother
0
 11 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[5]
Jericho
5
 Unaffected. All 7 ordered episodes were completed. Premiered February 12.[24] [26]
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] New episodes began on January 2, 2008. David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, successfully negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement, so the show returned with its full complement of writing staff.[28]
Late Show with David Letterman
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] New shows began on January 2, 2008. Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, successfully negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement, so the show returned with its full complement of writing staff.[29]
Moonlight
0
 12 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed.[24]
NCIS
0
 11 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13] 7 episodes to be produced after the strike.[30]
The New Adventures of Old Christine
5
 8 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed before strike.[5] 2 more episodes are to be shot for a total of 10 episodes out of 13.
Numb3rs
0
 12 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[24]
The Price Is Right
N/A
 Six episodes of the prime-time version to be taped February 11-13, 2008 to help fill programming due to strike. Programs to air on Fridays until the start of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Regular daytime version is not affected.
Rules of Engagement
0
 9 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[5]
Shark
0
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Two and a Half Men
0
 10 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
The Unit
0
 11 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Welcome to The Captain
4
 Unaffected. All 6 ordered episodes were completed. Premiered February 4.[13]
Without a Trace
0
 12 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
The Young and the Restless
N/A
 Writing taken over by non-striking guild members. Josh Griffith and Maria Arena Bell (the daughter-in-law of the show's creator William J. Bell), among others. Griffith/Bell material airing since 12/26/07. Lynn Marie Latham and three of her writers have been terminated as of February 13, 2008.
Comedy Central The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] New shows began without writers on January 7, 2008.[31] The show was briefly renamed A Daily Show with Jon Stewart in honor of the strike.
The Colbert Report
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] New shows began without writers on January 7, 2008.[31]
The CW Aliens in America
8
 17 out of 22 ordered episodes will be completed. Still in production.[5] Expected to return March 2.[32]
Everybody Hates Chris
12
 All 22 ordered episodes were completed,[33] Expected to return March 3.[32]
The Game
0
 11 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[5] Expected to return March 23.[32]
Girlfriends
0
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[34]
Gossip Girl
0
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13] Expected to return April 21.[32]
Life is Wild
0
 All 13 ordered episodes were completed. May not be renewed. [5] [35]
One Tree Hill
4
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. Expected to return April 14.[32]
Reaper
3
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. Returns to the schedule February 28.[5]
Smallville
3
 15 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[36] Expected to produce 5 additional episodes to begin airing on April 17.[37]
Supernatural
0
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13] Expected to return April 24.[32]
Disney Channel Cory in the House
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Hannah Montana
10
 Second Season completed filming before the strike. Unknown how many episodes have been written for Season Three.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
6
 Writer David Kalis has stated that the scripting process has halted. [38]
Wizards of Waverly Place
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
FOX 24
8
 8 out of 24 ordered episodes have been completed;[39] the premiere has been delayed until January 2009.[40]
American Dad
N/A
 All 22 ordered episodes have been written. [13].
Back to You
3
 10 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed.[13] The show is currently on hiatus, but it will return with three original episodes airing on February 26, February 27, and March 25 then repeat episodes,[41] .
Bones
4
 13 out of 23 ordered episodes were completed.[42]
Canterbury's Law
6
 Unaffected. All 6 ordered episodes were completed. Premieres April 14, 2008.
Family Guy
1
 Show creator and voice actor Seth MacFarlane said the November 11th episode (Lois Kills Stewie) was the last episode produced under his watch and there were no more new episodes ready after that.[43] Fox, however, completed the last three episodes written, voiced and animated for the production cycle without MacFarlane's final approval and aired them through the remainder of November, which he termed "a colossal dick move" in an interview with Variety.
House
0
 12 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed. Last episode aired on February 5th, 2008.[13] Expected to produce 4 additional episodes to begin airing on April 28.[44]
K-Ville
1
 11 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed.[24] Production shut down and not present on Fox's spring schedule.[45]
King of the Hill
N/A
 21 of 22 episodes have been written.[13].
New Amsterdam
8
 Unaffected. All 8 ordered episodes were completed. Premieres March 4, 2008.[13]
Prison Break
0
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13] The status of the upcoming spin-off, Prison Break: Cherry Hill, is unknown.
The Return of Jezebel James
7
 Order changed to 7 episodes from original 13 in October 2007 in anticipation of the pending writers strike. All 7 episodes completed. Scheduled to premiere March 7, 2008.[13]
The Simpsons
10
 22 out of 23 ordered episodes will be completed.[46]
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
3
 9 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
'Til Death
3
 12 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13] New episodes from March 7, 2008.[47] airing encore episodes.
FX Damages
N/A
 No episodes have been written because the show was renewed the day after the strike began.
Dirt
7
 7 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed. Season 2 premieres March 2, 2008.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
N/A
 The show has not yet been renewed for a fourth season. Not yet affected.
Nip/Tuck
0
 14 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. [48]
Rescue Me
N/A
 No episodes have been written because the show was renewed the day after the strike began.
The Riches
7
 7 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed. Season 2 premieres March 18, 2008.
The Shield
13
 All 13 ordered episodes were completed.[49]
HBO Big Love
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
N/A
 Has not yet been renewed for a seventh season. Not yet affected.
Entourage
N/A
 Expected to return fall 2008 according to the NY Post.[50]
Real Time with Bill Maher
N/A
 Reruns began on November 9, 2007.[51] The sixth season premiered without writers on January 11, 2008.
Tell Me You Love Me
N/A
 Season one complete, DVD releasing February 12, 2008, second season renewed, but renewal was after strike began.
The Wire
3
 Unaffected. All 10 episodes were completed for final season.[52]
True Blood
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Lifetime Army Wives
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Blood Ties
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Cheerleader Nation
N/A
 Status is currently unknown.
Side Order of Life
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
State of Mind
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
The N About A Girl
1
 Unaffected. All 13 episodes were completed.
The Best Years
0
 Season one completed its run during the summer. No word on season two.
Beyond the Break
N/A
 Season 3 has been confirmed, but unknown how many episodes have been written.
Degrassi: The Next Generation
14
 Canadian program; unaffected. Returns February 4.
Instant Star
13
 Canadian program; unaffected. Premieres in June.
South of Nowhere
8
 All 16 episodes of season three have been written and filmed. Was set to air the final eight episodes starting in February, but was pushed back until April.
NBC 30 Rock
0
 10 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. [53] After the strike ended NBC ordered five new episodes to start airing April 10, 2008.[54]
Bionic Woman
0
 8 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed.[13] Although rumoured to be cancelled, new episodes ordered. According to tvhell.org, the show had been canceled in December due to ratings drop after the premiere episode.
Chuck
0
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[55]
Days of our Lives
N/A
 Scripts completed through January 2008.
ER
0
 13 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed. [56] [13]
Friday Night Lights
0
 15 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[33]
Heroes
0
 11 out of 24 ordered episodes were completed, ending the "Volume 2" story arc. NBC has stated that there will be no more episodes this season and the show will return in the fall of 2008.[57]
Heroes: Origins
N/A
 Production was postponed due to strike. No word yet on future plans for show. [58]
Journeyman
0
 13 episodes were completed and aired.[13] The series was not renewed by NBC. The final episode aired December 19, 2007.[59]
Las Vegas
0
 19 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] New episodes began without writers on January 2, 2008. [60]
Law & Order
1
 10 of the 22 ordered episodes were completed. Season premiered on January 2, 2008.[61], but production has been postponed.[62]
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
0
 14 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Life
0
 11 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
Lipstick Jungle
4
 7 out of 13 ordered episodes were completed. Premiered February 7, 2008.[13]
Medium
5
 9 out of 22 ordered episodes were completed.[24]
My Name is Earl
0
 13 out of 25 ordered episodes were completed. 14th episode will air 3rd April. [24]
The Office
0
 8 out of 25 ordered episodes were completed (counting hour-longs as only 1 episode). Greg Daniels announced that new episodes should be running again two or three weeks from the end of the strike. He also said there will be 6 new episodes produced. [63]
Poker After Dark
N/A
 Still in production and airing original episodes, unaffected. [64]
Scrubs
6
 12 out of 18 ordered episodes were completed. The final episodes are being produced, but it is unknown whether NBC will show them.[65]
Saturday Night Live
0
 Immediate reruns began November 10, 2007.[27] As of mid-November, most of the production staff has been laid off.[66] New episodes are set to begin on February 23, 2008. [67]
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
N/A
 Reruns began on November 5, 2007.[27] There were rumors that new episodes could return with guest hosts on November 19, 2007,[68] but this did not happen. New episodes began airing without writers on January 2, 2008. [69]
Nickelodeon Just Jordan
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
iCarly
11
 Writing halted. 40 episodes originally ordered for the first season cut to 26.[70]
Spongebob Squarepants
N/A
 Several writers fired. Speed of scripting slowed. [71]
Sci Fi Battlestar Galactica
N/A
 11 out of 20 episodes have been completed. Only the front half (first ten) were planned to be aired in Spring 2008 season with an indefinite time (now more so) for the back half.[72][73]
Eureka
N/A
 Will be affected.[74]
Stargate Atlantis
N/A
 Season 4 filmed, and in post production. Most writers are members of the Writers Guild of Canada. It is possible that the broadcast schedule will be affected because of the broader effects of the strike.[75]
Showtime Dexter
0
 All episodes of Season 2 were produced in anticipation of the strike.[76]
Weeds
0
 Weeds is not scheduled to start filming until April 2008 for a summer debut.[77] Lionsgate side deal mean the show will be unaffected by the strike and should air as usual in August.[78]
TBS 10 Items or Less
2
 Unaffected. All 8 ordered episodes were completed.[13]
The Bill Engvall Show
N/A
 10 episodes are to be produced, unknown how many are written.[13]
Frank TV
0
 5 episodes will be produced instead of 8.[79]
My Boys
N/A
 8 episodes are to be produced, unknown how many are written.[13]
TNT The Closer
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
USA Burn Notice
N/A
 Writing halted. Unknown how many episodes have been written.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
0
 All 10 completed episodes have aired. Currently being repurposed on NBC.[5]
Monk
0
 All 16 episodes of the current season will be produced.[5]
Psych
0
 All 16 episodes of the current season will be produced.[5]

[edit] Strike effect by type of show

[edit] Prime-time series

  • Mid-season shows, such as Dirt and The Riches, began production after most other TV shows, so they have completed fewer episodes to date. As a result, there will be fewer episodes to air for each of these shows. 24, also airing mid-season, will be postponed due to the serial nature of the show.
  • For shows without full-season pickups such as Moonlight and Cane, production on the first batch of shows has been completed.
  • Although seven scripts are in for ABC series Cashmere Mafia, the network has delayed the show's premiere date from the original late November premiere.[83]
  • Scrubs may not be able to air a series finale as only 12 of its 18 order episodes have been filmed.[84] Creator Bill Lawrence has stated he will either release the finale on DVD, as he said in an interview, or will post what would have happened in episodes 13 through 18 on the internet.[85]
  • During the strike, ABC's Dirty Sexy Money was given a full season order. NBC also gave full season orders to Life, and Chuck and also announced that, contrary to recurring rumor, Bionic Woman would also continue production after the strike.[87]
  • FX Network's The Shield is one of the few shows that will actually be able to air the entire season, as it was mostly wrapped before the strike started. Similarly, CBS's returning series, Jericho is scheduled to air midseason. Production of the full season was completed prior to the strike and it will not be affected by the work stoppage.

[edit] Talk shows

Late night comedy shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and Saturday Night Live began airing reruns immediately.[90] Last Call resumed airing on December 3, with host Carson Daly explaining that if he did not do so, his staff would have been fired. As of January 2, 2008, the Tonight Show and Late Night have returned on NBC with new episodes.[91] Conan O'Brien has stated "An unwritten version of 'Late Night,' though not desirable, is possible -- and no one has to be fired." [92]

2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
Articles
Actors' Responses
Effects on Television
Timeline
AMPTP  • WGAW  • WGAE
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On November 12, 2007, instead of a recent episode, NBC aired an episode of The Tonight Show from November 17, 2003.[93][94] Beginning the week of November 26, The Tonight Show began continuously airing "vintage" episodes.[95][96] The Tonight Show was reportedly planning to air new episodes beginning November 19, having guest hosts to fill in for Jay Leno.[68] This did not occur, however.

Several talk show hosts who have refused to do their shows have announced that they will pay non-striking staff members out of their own pockets through the end of the year, including David Letterman[97] and Conan O'Brien. Jay Leno was chided when NBC fired his non-striking staff, after he promised them they would not have to worry about their jobs. Leno has since announced that he will also pay his staff for the next 2 weeks starting December 2, 2007.

The striking writers of The Late Show have opened their own weblog, lateshowwritersonstrike.com, dealing with the strike and other events. In addition, the writers of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart scripted their own four-minute version of the show that dealt with the strike (they filmed it in front of one such demonstration) and posted it on YouTube.[98] The video also references the current Viacom vs. Google Inc. lawsuit.

David Letterman and his Worldwide Pants, Inc. production company broke ranks with the networks and negotiated its own independent contract with the WGA in late 2007. The deal is independent and only between the production company and the union, and allows the company to start new shows in 2008.[99]

[edit] Other

Although many animated series employ union writers, there is no requirement to do so. For instance, the writers of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are not union members, and the show remains in production.[100]

TV movies, such as High School Musical 3, are directly affected by the strike, including those filmed on location. However, the strike does not affect reality shows such as American Idol, whose episodes are unscripted, or news programs, whose writers belong to a different guild.[101] Nevertheless, newswriters at CBS News and at local CBS owned-and-operated television stations (as well as CBS Radio news entities) were subject to the threat of a different strike action by the WGA. CBS News writers under the WGA had been without a contract with the network since April 2005[102] until a contract was agreed to on January 9, 2008. [103]

Similarly, some game shows, such as Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and The Price Is Right, are not affected because they are unscripted, other than the questions and the prize descriptions; by contrast, Sony Pictures' Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and Disney's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire have their quiz questions researched and written by WGA writers under deals with their producers.[104] New versions of Password and American Gladiators, in addition to other game, contest and reality shows, may launch sooner than originally scheduled in order to minimize the amount of scripted-program reruns, and CBS announced on January 24, 2008, they have commissioned an order of six The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular episodes, the first in the primetime series with host Drew Carey.[105]

While the strike would obviously have no effect on sporting events (which are unscripted), the strike has no effect on scripted professional wrestling, as both World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling have in-house ununionized writers. WWE in fact, who has a contract with NBC, has offered the network additional wrestling shows for the main network if they need it.[106]


[edit] See also

Organized Labor Portal
Television Portal