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« Bardicvoice's Supernatural Descant
Strike Survival Strategies – Save Our Shows!
Just say no ...
Icon by lexigeek
There’s not much that I, as just one viewer, can do to affect the writers’ strike or the networks’ decisions, but I intend to do everything that I can to fight for what I love. In case you would like to do the same, I thought I would share with you my strategy for attempting to help my favorite shows survive the strike.
Let me say up front: I support the writers’ strike. If you want to understand why, visit http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com and learn a lot. If you don’t have the time for that, sample this one account by Ron Moore of Battlestar Galactica that explains with a very concrete example why the writers are fighting: http://tv.ign.com/articles/833/833633p1.html
As a viewer, even though I support the writers, I fear the impact of the strike on my favorite shows. Supernatural tops that list by a staggering margin, but I also feel a lot particularly for Pushing Daisies, Numb3rs, Heroes, Chuck, Bones, Stargate: Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica, Jericho, and Friday Night Lights, among others. At best, the strike may throw delays into the production and airing of new episodes after the next couple of weeks. If the strike drags on, it could mean a shortened season, potentially as short as half of the 22 episodes that were planned for Supernatural, for example. At worst, it could see the CW and other networks canceling shows in favor of cheaper, non-scripted reality programming for next fall to avoid having to deal with the writers, or in the belief that an extended break in the show’s schedule caused by the strike would lead to the audience not coming back when the show eventually returned.
This is what I’m doing to put my mouth, my eyes, and my money where my heart is, to hopefully ease the impact of the strike on my favorite shows.
1. Show support for the writers. I’m doing what I can, as a fan, to tell the networks, the studios, and the writers that I support the writers, and that I want both parties to get their asses back to the negotiating table to get this strike fairly resolved. In that regard, I have:
– Signed the WGA support petition linked through the unitedhollywood website.
– Adopted and displayed icons and banners in my Internet presence showing support for the writers. (If you want to find some, I would recommend http://www.lexigeek.com/blog1/2007/11/06/119, http://community.livejournal.com/elliptica/67360.html and http://www.fans4writers.com/promote.shtml )
– Spread the word through my personal blog on LJ and on TVGuide.com.
As the strike continues, I may also donate through one of the groups providing support to the writers, for example, through the fans4writers site (organized by the Whedonverse).
2. Show support for my show. I’m committing to do the following:
-- Write a polite letter to the network (to Dawn Ostroff at the CW, in the case of Supernatural) indicating my love and support for the show, my commitment to watching it whenever it appears (including reruns), and expressing my desire that the networks and the studios engage in good faith negotiations with the writers to resolve the strike promptly and ensure the continuation of the shows that we love. My Supernatural letter will also note that the fanbase is passionate and committed and will be there for the show whenever it returns, even if the strike causes a shortened season and multiple reruns.
– Continue to blog the show whether new episodes are airing or not. Supernatural University will remain in session no matter how long the strike lasts. Continuing to blog the show and keep up the buzz about it in every possible forum is the best way I know to make certain that the network, the studio, and the beloved people who would be working on the show but for the strike are aware that the show is in demand and that the audience for it is still there, holding strong. Don’t let the show talk about your favorites die away! Keep your passions hot and your continuing interest in the public view. Heck, I’ll even comment in the CW Lounge, despite that forum being way too immature for me under normal circumstances – since it’s under the CW’s control, I can at least be sure that they’re aware of it, as they may not be of my LJ, the TVGuide.com community, or other sites.
3. Boycott alternative programming. If the networks introduce new unscripted reality programming to replace the scripted shows we love, DON’T GIVE THEM EYES. That’s no hardship for me, I’ll admit; “reality” programming does nothing for me, because what I want in entertainment is character, and drama, and stories, and people with whom I can become involved. But “reality” programming is a lot cheaper than scripted drama or comedy, and it doesn’t involve writers who are members of the Writers Guild of America, so it is likely to be an attractive alternative for the networks – unless we, as the audience, refuse to watch it. If the networks can’t point to eyes being on the screens, they can’t justify charging top dollar for advertising time, and that would cut the profits associated with having changed over to reality shows to replace the missing original dramas and comedies. Don’t let the networks fob off “reality” in place of the textured stories we really want!
4. Watch the reruns. Hey – the best way to keep demonstrating support for scripted drama and comedy programs is to keep watching them, even when they’re in reruns, particularly in preference to watching replacement “reality” programming. Watch your own skeins, and catch up on other scripted shows you’ve missed! Think of reruns as the opportunity to relive what you love and make new friends. And if the reruns go away, stick with DVDs rather than the alternative reality programming.
Those are my initial four basic principles for dealing with the writers’ strike and trying to keep my shows alive. I encourage you to try them, and to think of others. I will also be using letters to share my love with the casts and crews of the shows I’m rooting for, as they wind up out of work pending the resolution of the strike.
And support original scripted programming: watch Supernatural tonight at 9:00 on the CW! I will …
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Nov 8, 2007 8:12 PM
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Thank you Mary!! I was planning to say the same thing. You did wonderful.
For me ... I'll be doing my part as well - both here at TVG and on my Blogspot blog.
I also have the Season Two Re-Watch Rambles which were to begin during our regular hiatus anyway. We can definitely keep up our love for our beloved band of Supernatural Torture ... er, um WRITERS!! by continuing to discuss and examine the threads of the tapestry woven.
I also pledge to avoid those reality shows. Not a hardship for me as I detest most all of them anyway. Like you I prefer to for my intelligence to be spoken to with scripted drama.
To that end, consider what it would say to the studios if no one were to watch the lower cost shows, but yet there was an increase in dramatic DVD sales. I'd much rather rewatch the previous seasons of some of my favorites than watch drivel put on just to get by.
And I will be sure to add my voice to yours in a letter writing campaign.
We, the fans, can make a difference. We brought about Season Three for our boys.
Thanks again Bardic ... may yours, and ours, and the writers voices be heard by the networks!
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Nov 8, 2007 8:28 PM
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Thanks for the pep talk Mary. I don't think it will be hard to adapt your strategy. I'm already halfway there. I can't stand reality tv so I won't have a problem not watching. I'm not close to being as eloquent as you but I'll try my hand at writing. I'm here quite a bit so you know I'll keep the love for Supernatural alive.
I will show support where I can.
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Nov 8, 2007 8:32 PM
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Mary:
Great ideas and suggestions....I will do my part in every way possible. After tonight's episode, I will write a letter to Ms. Ostroff. It goes without saying that blogging for me is absolutely no problem! I will MAKE time for this worthy cause!
Like Cindy, I will avoid "reality" shows, since I cannot stand them either. I will never watch those.
I am going to read the article you linked since I have no idea what the writers' strike is about. Thank you for that, I would like to understand what's going on.
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Nov 8, 2007 8:36 PM
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(stands and applauds) - Bravo Bardicvoice. Thank you for the links, heading over now.
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Nov 8, 2007 8:43 PM
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All great suggestions. Thank for the links to those support icons and graphics. I'm putting one on my blog.
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Nov 8, 2007 8:51 PM
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Mary,
Another thoughtful post. I too support the writers strike,it never occurred to me that they don't get royalties for on line shows and so little from DVD sales.
You're correct in saying the networks may cancel scripted shows in favor of "reality" tv. I will never watch a "reality" show, I live reality.
My biggest concern is for a show like Jericho who fans fought hard to save,and for Supernatural who has always faced stiff competition. We have to remain loyal to these shows by watching them in reruns and keeping the blogs active,you are so right on that point.
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Nov 8, 2007 8:55 PM
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Thanks, Mary. With you 110% in support of the writers. Even if I end up having to buy duplicate copies of my S1 & S2 DVDs because I end up wearing out the ones I have re-watching in lieu of reality tv! 
But wait! wouldn't that just help further line the Corporate coffers?!
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Nov 8, 2007 8:58 PM
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Hi Mary:
Great ideas. I will have absolutely NO problem avoiding "reality" programs. I hate those stupid things anyway.
And I will watch the reruns and participate in blogs on SN and my other shows.
I'm not sure I'm polite enough right now to write a letter, though. My attitude these days tends to run towards "Did you have a big bowl of stupid for breakfast, or what?". I'll think about it.
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Nov 8, 2007 10:21 PM
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Thank you for your blog on this, Mary. I confess to having minimal knowledge about the strike, but I will follow your links and educate myself. And I will loyally blog, new episode or re-run!
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Nov 8, 2007 10:34 PM
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Thanks, Mary. I too support the writers.
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Nov 8, 2007 11:35 PM
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Me too!
Thanks for the links, Mary. I fully support the writers. They deserve to make money for their work just like everybody else.
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Nov 9, 2007 12:28 AM
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Mary: It's people like you who make me realize what a great fan community we have here.
Your blog is thought provoking and, more importantly, action provoking. I will also do my best to support the strike and I hope everyone who reads this will take some kind of action to save our shows.
Like you and many others here, I find reality tv to be dull and limited and have not found any of it worth watching. I dread that this is the direction networks are taking to try and fill up an hour of tv in order to see some profits. This shift would have people watching less tv, not more. Are they blind?
Anything of quality is worth the extra effort to acquire it. I hope that the networks and writers can continue their negotiations and resolve this.
By the way, I did watch the episode of Supernatural tonight and I would like to personally thank Laurence Andries for the incredible script. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode and the writing was a big reason why I did.
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Nov 9, 2007 12:49 AM
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I am with you Mary. I personally won't ever again watch any ABC daytime if it does as it plans and uses scab writers. We can impact this thing is we band together. We'll be okay if the shows are put on hiatus. Your suggestions are spot on. Thank you.
Anyone who doesn't understand the strike watch the video in Lynn's blog. It lays it out in simple terms.
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Nov 9, 2007 2:16 AM
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Hear hear, BardicMary! Well said. And thanks for the unitedhollywood.com and IGN love--both sites have really shared some good insight on the reality that is the strike. And they're more entertaining than most reality shows anyway!
I've done most of the things on your list and now I'm off to do the others!
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Nov 9, 2007 9:31 AM
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