Striking Writers' Hit The Office and Others Hard

Get your scorecards handy, because this is only the beginning of the strike-related fallout you'll wanna keep track of:

• Although a location manager for CBS' Cane hired two security guards to help out while the show shot scenes from a long-completed script at a Hollywood cafe, 20 angry writers who were yelling and using a bullhorn brought the production to a halt anyway.

• ABC has postponed the debut of its Sex and the City rip-off, Cashmere Mafia to sometime after Jan. 1. The Nov. 27 Dancing with the Stars finale is being expanded to two full hours to fill the void.

• Sometime-writer Steve Carell didn't report to The Office yesterday, Rainn Wilson called in sick, and B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling, who are members of the show's writing staff, were on strike. As a result, only two scenes managed to get shot.

• Ellen DeGeneres bailed on her show yesterday "in support of her writers," her publicist said. —Ben Katner

Leave a Comment

TVGuide Links:

Posted by

Matt Webb Mitovich

Nov 6, 2007 9:12 AM

Report Abuse

Any ideas on how this strike might effect Lost?
Posted by Bowmissy Nov 6, 2007 12:06 PM Report Abuse

I’m not an “industry insider” or anything but I’d imagine this will, at the very least, push the premier of Lost back. ABC certainly isn’t going to be stupid enough to split the season up again (that’s the whole point of the late debut) so that leaves out airing the episodes the have already been filmed.

The problem with Lost is that I don’t think ABC will waste new Lost episodes by airing them during the summer and the schedule already was set to run non-stop from its premier until the end of May. So right now I think even the best case scenario means either cutting the season in half or canceling it altogether and airing 32 episodes next season.

If I had to guess, I’d say we won’t be seeing new Lost episodes until September ’08.

Posted by ThomasC22

Nov 6, 2007 12:36 PM

Report Abuse

If I had to guess, I’d say we won’t be seeing new Lost episodes until September ’08. I agree ThomasC22 ... unless (and I'm not holding my breath even if I am crossing my fingers) the WGA and the AMPTP can reach an agreement much sooner rather than later.
Posted by Shannonm93 Nov 6, 2007 2:19 PM Report Abuse

crap! anyone know how far along they are in filming The Office? i know they've filmed at least up until their christmas episode, but does anyone know how far after that?
Posted by hotpinkheels Nov 6, 2007 5:43 PM Report Abuse

crap! anyone know how far along they are in filming The Office? They have completed 21 episodes, but I'm not sure if those hour long episodes counted as 1 episode or 2.
Posted by 525600min Nov 6, 2007 5:55 PM Report Abuse

Congratulations writers !! Keep fighting for what is yours !! Let it be known that without you and your ability the big executives would be totally LOST and BROKE !!
Posted by garfieldtracy Nov 6, 2007 5:56 PM Report Abuse

The Office's last episode of the season will be The Deposition, which airs next week. The show had a break last week, and they were planning on shooting a new one this week. But since the show shut down, that's not going to happen. So think of next week as a season finale.
Posted by immisterkevin Nov 7, 2007 1:55 AM Report Abuse

In This Section

TV Guide Spotlight

Also on TVGuide.com