Tuesday, November 06, 2007

And the list grows

More casualties of the Writers Guild strike.

Ain't It Cool News has something of a roundup of more shows, and especially showrunners who are picketing. Read their story with personal accounts here. Also check out this piece from EW and Comingsoon.net, as well as this great piece from Michael Ausiello at TV Guide.

Shows affected immediately should include The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Conan O'Brien, and all the other late night shows, as well as some game shows. I know the writers on Jeopardy were picketing yesterday. But Dancing With the Star this Week is relying on the improv skills of its hosts, so we'll see if that works out.

The Office has should have stopped production with many of its cast members of the WGA. Although NBC claims that work continues as usual. Rules of Engagement however has officially stopped filming. And Julia Louise Dreyfuss and Tina Fey are picketing their own shows, so those will have stopped as well. Writers alongside their respective showrunners are picketing Battlestar Gallactica, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Desperate Housewives, and Pushing Daisies. Also word on unrest from J.J. Abrams and the Lost producers. And Tim Kring of Heroes, who apparently wouldn't complete the last minute weekend rewrite for that final scene expected to round out the season in December. And even more with showrunners for Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, The Shield, The Oaks and The Unit all picketing.

Another casualty, possibly for good happened when ABC made the decision to remove their new show Cashmere Mafia from the schedule completely... is this the first of many?

These shows still may of course have a few episodes in the can. And some series will have scripts locked down so that they can shoot an additional episode or two, that is if the actors aren't picketing themselves. So its not exactly clear what the picketing will mean, it's being determined on a show by show basis for now. Eventually though even if the shows are filming one or two more episodes they will be forced to shut down. Most will be fine up through November sweeps, and probably last until at least mid December. After that though, who knows.

Variety has set up a strike blog. And so has TV Guide. Those alongside the LA Times strike news should keep us up to speed.

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