Week 2 of the WGA Strike is underway and there is no end in site. Week 1 by all accounts was a success, great turnouts on the picket lines, nice public support from some big name SAG members, and a large rally at Fox (over 4,000 strong) to cap off the week. Week 2 is considered by most the first real test, will the writers resolve hold up going into a new week? I don't think the AMPTP expects it to.
The weeks and weeks of stockpiled scripts and episodes the TV studios claimed to have seem to be drying up after 2 weeks. Shows like Family Guy, The Office, and Scrubs (to name a few) are all out of new episodes after this week. Speaking of The Office, NBC let go of over 100 "below the line" crew members, a sign that they are preparing for a long haul (and apparently trying to send a message to Steve Carrel and the other striking cast members). There is also word that some studios have begun to threaten legal action against show runners if they don't return to work in their producer capacity. Studios are going to have to come up with filler for shows as they run out of new episodes.They will have to make some tough decisions on what to do with new shows and the shows were on the cusp of getting new episode orders. Right now they can claim they are saving money by not ordering anything new or funding new pilots and just sit back and be content with not losing money, but eventually the demand for new creative product will outweigh the merits of a schedule full of reality TV (right?). The pressure is certainly going to be building on both sides, it will be interesting to see how it starts to play out.
To keep things fresh and interesting on the picket lines WGA-W has planned a few "theme" days this week (and they don't mean have a pimps and ho's party). Yesterday was Veterans day and schools were closed, so writers were encouraged to bring their kids and families to picket with them and show support. Today is "Picket with the Stars", SAG actors will be turning out in force to support the WGA. Here is a list of actors already committed to show up at picket lines:
(via United Hollywood)
Army Wives – Kim Delaney, Brian McNamara, Sally Pressman, Drew Fuller, Wendy Davis, Sterling K. Brown, Brigid Brannagh
The Big Bang Theory – Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons
Big Love – Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn
Brotherhood – Ethan Embry, Fionnula Flanagan, Kevin Chapman
Corey in the House – Rondell Sheridan, Madison Pettis, Lisa Arch, Maira Walsh
Cold Case – Thom Barry, John Finn, Tracie Thoms, Meredith Stiehm, Danny Pino
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Archie Kao, Marc Vann, Wallace Langham, Liz Vassey, David Berman, John Wellner
Desperate Housewives – Doug Savant, Nicollette Sheridan, Dana Delany, Tuc Watkins
Dexter – Keith Carradine, James Remar, C.S. Lee
Dirt – Ian Hurt, Josh Stewart
Everybody Loves Raymond – Ray Romano
The Game – Tia Mowry, Pooch Hall
George Lopez Show – George Lopez, Constance Marie, Valente Rodriguez
Grey's Anatomy – Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight, KaDee Stickland, Amy Brenneman, Justin Chambers
Jericho – Ashley Scott, Bob Stephenson
Kyle XY – Jamie Alexander, April Matson, Chris Olivero, Bruce Thomas
Las Vegas – Vanessa Marcil
Mad Men – January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Rich Sommer
My Boys – James Kaler
New Adventures of Old Christine – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Clark Gregg, Hamish Linklater, Alex Kapp Horner, Tricia O'Kelley
Numb3rs – Dylan Bruno, Diane Farr
Private Practice – Kate Walsh
The Riches – Minnie Driver
Rules of Engagement – Patrick Warburton, Megyn Price, Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajlich
'Til Death – Brad Garrett, Kat Foster
True Blood – Anna Paquin, Sam Trammell
Wildfire – Lori Loughlin
Without A Trace – Poppy Montgomery, Enrique Murciano
Women's Murder Club – Scott Gemmill, Paula Newsome, Laura Harris
Other celebrities slated attend to support the WGA include: Ben Stiller, Lisa Kudrow, Frances Fisher, Camryn Manheim, Edie McClurg, Susan Savage, and more.
Tia Mowry huh? What, is Tamera too busy or something? Or is she just too good for this? Bitch!
Pretty impressive list, this has got to be a tourists dream come true.
This video pretty much says it all about the strike...
Voices of Uncertainty
And this is just great...
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