Grey's Anatomy by Scott Garfield/ABC; 30 Rock by Chris Haston/NBC
Once the WGA strike order is lifted and writers can return to work, which shows can we expect to see back on the air first? How have summer series been affected? Might some programs (gulp) not return at all? You've got tons of questions, and in recent weeks TV Guide experts such as Matt Roush and Michael Ausiello have been trying to proactively answer them. For the past few days, for example, Ausiello has been painstakingly updating a "Strike Recovery Chart," detailing each show, its status, and how many fresh episodes you might expect during this crazy season. The URL is TVGuide.com/ShowStatus — easy enough to remember, easier to bookmark.
Still, you may have other, more basic questions. To that end, we've set up this "FAQ," serving up generalized answers about the obvious topics. If between this and Oz's "SRC" you still need some answers, give us a holler in the comments field. We got you through the strike, and we'll get you through this next seemingly endless slew of weeks!
When will established shows like CSI and Grey's be back on the air?
CSI is expected to shoot four to eight new episodes to air in March/April/May, while the Seattle Grace gang is aiming for four to seven, to air in April/May. In general, as reported in Ask Ausiello, established shows would likely go back into production later this month or early March on episodes to air in April/May, making a few new episodes for this season as well as some for next. Then they'll take a summer break before starting regular production on the fall season. The reason for this is twofold: They don't want to bail out on this season, but they also don't want to go to the expense of putting shows back into production for just two or three episodes. One industry observer describes this as "a smart plan," while acknowledging that there's another variable in all this — the actors. "The trouble is, a lot of actors schedule hiatus movies, or just elaborate vacations. And if they ask them to work through certain dates, that could trigger some contract issues." (For much more on the complicated matter of actors’ contracts, watch for the Feb. 13 Ask Ausiello.) Now, continue reading for the worst-case scenario....
What about newer shows, like Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money?
As Daisies creator Bryan Fuller told Ausiello weeks ago (and has since been confirmed), "It looks like they will scuttle the rest of the season. This is for many reasons. One is that it will be hard to launch a big promotional campaign for four or five episodes; it's just not cost-effective. Two is that if we did come back we would land right in the path of the American Idol juggernaut, and would likely be decimated. Three is if we came back in the fall with a full slate of episodes, then ABC could relaunch the show in a big way. But that's all tentative. We've talked about so many options since the strike began and they fluctuate on a weekly basis. But right now a shortened first season seems the most likely."
Did the WGA get everything they fought so ardently for?
Yes… and no. “We didn't get all we wanted in every category and there are some disappointments,” Battlestar Galactica writer-producer David Weddle told us after the WGA was briefed on the deal, “but I think in general we got much more than the companies ever said they would ever give us, so there's a sense that we achieved a lot, particularly for the future — establishing a precedent that we have a piece of new media going forward.” Perhaps the biggest “shortfall” of the new deal is that writers will not get paid for streamed-online content during a 17-day window after the first airing of a program. WGA East prez Michael Winship has said, "We would have liked to have closed that window completely. That is one of the things we did not achieve in this contract and something we will be working on going forward."
This is great and all, but aren't we going to have to go through this whole thing again in June, when the Screen Actors Guild’s contract ends?
Unlikely. Just like the DGA proved a catalyst to a WGA deal, the WGA deal similarly will serve as a blueprint for a SAG deal.
Will the networks hold upfronts in May?
Unclear. NBC has already hinted that it will back out of the annual dog and pony show, but the other nets have been mum.
Does this mean we'll get a real Oscars?
Lisa Rinna's likely at a dress-fitting as we write this. The WGA deal means an Oscar ceremony with all the trimmings. But really, you’re concerned about the Oscars when more 30 Rock is on the table?!
Use our Online Video Guide to catch up on the last-aired episodes of many strike-struck shows.
In TVGuide.com's Strike Watch blog:
• WGA Voting Tuesday on Lifting Strike Order; Hug Your TiVo!
• WGA Chiefs Analyze Tentative Deal
• WGA Boards Approve Deal: Showrunners Can Return to Work Monday
• Outside the WGA West Meeting: Writers React to New Deal
• Tentative Deal Struck: Writers Could Start Work by Wednesday
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