After three months (which felt like three years), the Hollywood writers' strike is over! Today, members of the Writers Guilds East and West voted by a 92.5% margin to lift the strike that started back on November 5th. So here are some details on the proposed deal: Unions will have jurisdiction over projects created for the Internet based on certain guidelines, and writers will see at least a 3% increase in residuals for downloaded movies and TV programs. And there's more, but bottom line...the internet will finally become profitable. The writers' deal is similar to one reached last month by the Directors Guild of America.
But this strike has definitely taken it's toll on Hollywood. According to Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, the strike has set Los Angeles County back by 3.2 billion dollars. It's been brutal...but tomorrow, many writers will be back at work. Time to start a new chapter in a book that's already half-read.
So what does this mean for TV viewers like you and me? Yep, we'll finally get to see new episodes of our favorite shows. But it's going to take awhile. New episodes of ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" and NBC's "Chuck," aren't expected until fall. As for other shows like Fox's "24", it most likely won't be back until early 2009. And the number of episodes will be cut short, since we're already so far in the season. Bummer.
The Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers released this statement: "This is a day of relief and optimism for everyone in the entertainment industry."
Amen to that.
