Screen Actors Guild Hopes to Avoid Strike Redux
Potentially bad news: the media buzz is about the pending actors' strike, so we hope you enjoyed your few months of new flicks and fresh TV.
If the Screen Actors Guild strikes and our favorite stars walk, you can say goodbye to new fare on the screen. The only place you'll be able to see A-listers like Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo will be the picket line.
To clarify, it's still possible to avert the strike. But we've already seen what happened to Grey's Anatomy the last time, with the WGA Strike.
On one side of the bargaining table is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. On the other: the Screen Actors Guild.
Will stars like Sandra Oh be involved in yet another work stoppage?
The issue at hand is once again money - residual payments for DVD sales, reimbursements for work-related trips and fees for Internet content.
Without an agreement, Hollywood's actors have two options: work without a contract or strike. Of course, in order to strike, the guild needs a 75 percent authorization vote, a process that may take up to three weeks.
Will this be a rerun of the 2007-2008 writers' strike that delayed last season's production of Grey's Anatomy and all our other favorite shows?
It's hard to believe either side wants a strike. After all, the 100-day writers' strike set Los Angeles County back more than $2 billion economically.
Hits like NBC's Heroes and ABC's Private Practice were forced to shutter production mid-season, and others like Fox' 24 never even made it to air.
Many of the TV shows that did come back never regained their full pre-strike audiences. It certainly didn't help Grey's Anatomy's ratings.
But the plot thickens this time around. Stay tuned.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Email him here.
More Grey's Anatomy News
Grey's Anatomy Caption Contest 300
Grey's Anatomy to Meet Private Practice: Crossover Event Promo!
Grey's Anatomy Review: A Heartbroken Hospital
New Grey's Anatomy Clip: Crash and Burn
Arizona: We really are camping.
July 7th, 2008 7:46 PM
I'd be really mad if the show does go on strike, but I read another article that said that the networks are trying to tape as many episodes as they can so there won't be any delay in the season. If the actors do go on strike, I'm really hoping that's true.
July 7th, 2008 1:50 AM
Seriously?! Are you shitting me?! Do you know how much the WGA strike cost the entertainment industry? It would be so dumb if they did strike. Like they would be out of their minds. The WGA strike was horrible. I did not like waiting for Grey's (they never regained the pre-strike audience again, which really is a shame since the post strike episodes were way better and Grey's "got its groove back"). Just be logical and don't make people go through a strike again. Writers I can understand more, but actors/actresses? This is frustrating. Seriousy!
July 2nd, 2008 10:42 PM
no.
July 2nd, 2008 5:03 PM
pardon me, but are you f*cking kidding me? is this really happening or am i dreaming? what the hell?!?!?!?! ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okay, ranting over. i just honestly thought that finally everything about strikes was over and that we would have a nice, extended greys season five. obviously not...
July 2nd, 2008 8:28 AM
You have got to be kidding me. Is this like a greed thing or what?
July 2nd, 2008 4:41 AM
No.. not another strike please, this series and all other series won't survive it. The last one alone was too long already.
A fan from Indonesia.
July 2nd, 2008 4:27 AM
you have got to be kidding me !!!! i am already out of patience ..i don't think the show will survive another strike ..just give them what they want already... i can't wait for season 5 and to see wht's gonna happen with mer/der... this is grey's chance to become wht it used to be in season 1 , 2 and having a strike at this time isn't gonna help in any way
i hope they don't get enough votes and i don't think they will cuz i don't think all the actors have problems with the salary
more mer/der i say :D !!
July 1st, 2008 8:46 PM
Dear
Shondra rhimes.My is Paul Birch Im a grey"s anatomy fan.And I hope there wont be a writing strike
because I like to watch grey"s anatomy every thursday
night.Your number one fan Paul Birch
July 1st, 2008 7:44 PM
Noooooooooooooooooo
...like they aren't making enough money already..
July 1st, 2008 6:05 PM
ARRRRGGGGGHHHH
I Think i'm seriously gonna kill some-one!!!!
I can't live with this stupid thing. I need Grey's to return to its usual self and if this happens then i might as well give up.
Why do they have to be so difficult.