The Writer’s Guild of America strike that officially
started Monday, Nov. 7, will leave TV watchers of all
ages with a black screen for what could be months
to come. Already a majority of shows are starting
to shut down, and the damage stretches across the
board through all four major networks:
– NBC has halted production of its popular
worker-drone satire “The Office.” Actor and writer
Steve Carrell has vowed that the show will remain
off the air until the strike is resolved. Production
of “30 Rock” has also ceased, and talk shows with
Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are also in reruns
until things are settled. According to the producer
of “Scrubs,” the strike could prevent a series finale
from ever being filmed.
– ABC shows “Desperate Housewives” and
“Grey’s Anatomy” could indefinitely be on hiatus
if the strike isn’t ended soon. In an article online,
“Housewives” executive producer Mark Cherry
mentioned that there were enough episodes filmed
to last until the first week in December. As far as
“Anatomy” goes, star Patrick Dempsey said the
cast and crew are on hold. The futures of newest
hit “Pushing Daisies” and “Lost,” the latter of
which is supposed to return in February, are also
in jeopardy.
– CBS has been hit hard. Comedies “Two and a
Half Men,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,”
and newcomer “The Big Bang Theory” have all
stopped production effective immediately, along
with “The Late Show with David Letterman”.
– Fox has halted two shows, ” ‘Til Death”
and “Back to You.” However, the biggest blow came
when it announced that hit action show “24,” now
in its eighth season, would not air at all, revealing
that only eight of 24 episodes had been filmed. This
is particularly hurtful, as “24,” along with “House”
and “American Idol,” was the network’s driving
force in the ratings war.
– Comedy Central is also feeling the heat,
with two of its three staple shows – “The Daily
Show” and “The Colbert Report” – airing reruns
indefinitely. Speculation has the strike lasting for
weeks, if not months.