As an avid television viewer, I’m a little peeved that the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike is not over yet.
I wrote a similar piece on the issue in November, but I was under the assumption that the strike would be resolved by now.
Now we are in the month of January dealing with Florida’s bipolar weather, and the writers are still on the picket lines demanding more money.
As an entertainment junkie who tunes into “Desperate Housewives” on a weekly basis and never misses an episode of “Private Practice,” it’s safe to say that I’m a little angry.
As a matter of fact, I’m very angry. The current strike is now nearing 10 solid weeks and the WGA still has not received the desired compensation for its contributions to television and online motion pictures.
What is the holdup? Isn’t it obvious the writers are essential to TV shows?
Apparently not, so what does that mean for the devoted TV audience? No “CSI,” no “Law and Order,” and no “Ugly Betty.” The worst part of the whole ordeal for yours truly is that there will be no new episodes of “Desperate Housewives.”
Beyond the quality programming we have come to love, some of our favorite award shows may be affected by the strike.
The 65th annual Golden Globes, honoring the best in television and film, was scheduled to air Jan. 13th. However, because writers are no longer writing, the ceremony will not be taking place. Instead, the winners will be announced in a news conference that day.
If the strike continues to go on, the NAACP Awards may be next and then the possibility of a year without the prestigious Academy Awards.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the writers deserve to get paid. As a journalist and future screenwriter, I understand their plight.
Quite frankly, I don’t blame the WGA for striking. The writers deserve every single penny of what they are asking for.
I hope they’ll receive it soon and not just because I miss my weekly dose of “Housewives.” Production studios laid off hundreds of staff members.
This strike has undoubtedly affected the economy of California. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s governor, has been negotiating with both sides of the dispute in an attempt to resolve the issue.
The last strike took place in 1988 and lasted exactly 21 weeks and 9 days. It also cost the entertainment industry an estimated $500 million.
Some of the writers are positive that the current strike will not go on much longer and for my sake, I certainly hope not. What would we do with a year devoid of “Desperate Housewives?”
Jay Christie is a junior magazine production student from Tallahassee. He can be reached at jaylenchristie@aol.com.