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As writers' strike lingers, the fate of popular shows is in limbo(Herald, The (Rock Hill, SC) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Nov. 23--First, the good news. The striking writers' union and the AMPTP (that's the group that represents the studios and networks) have agreed to resume negotiations on Monday. If we're lucky, the AMPTP will come prepared to offer a better deal to TV and movie writers, who are seeking a larger cut from DVD and online sales of their work. Still, while the two sides negotiate, the strike will continue, and more and more of your favorite shows are shutting down production every day. If the two sides can't come to an agreement soon, TV fans better ready themselves for disappointment down the road. Among the doomsday scenarios slowly taking shape are ... n "Scrubs" might never actually end. At least, not properly. The cast and crew of the NBC hospital comedy came into this season with the luxury of knowing it's the last year for J.D. and crew. The characters are slowly being pushed toward a season finale that will wrap up many of the show's longtime questions. Will J.D. finally earn Dr. Cox's respect and admiration? Will Elliott and J.D. end up as lovers or friends? What the heck is that janitor's name anyway? Unfortunately only 12 of the 18 episodes scheduled for this season have been completed, with the other six caught in limbo while the strike continues. If it drags on for months, those last half-dozen episodes might not be filmed and those questions may never be answered. "Scrubs" has been one of TV's most original comedies during the last seven years and deserves a showy sendoff, not a slow fadeout. n The Sci-Fi Channel's much-loved "Battlestar Galactica" is in a similar situation, with a handful of episodes for its final season not yet written. In a recent blog, executive producer Ronald D. Moore wrote, "I refuse to believe that we won't finish, that we won't be back to film our final stories, but I know and accept there is that possibility ... Galactica's coming back, I frakking promise you that. But I am ready to put the rest of the story on the table and take the risk that I'll never be able to tell it, in support of this strike." Moore seems to contradict himself a few times there, but "Galactica" fans -- and they are legion -- must be terrified of even the thought that the show might not go out on its own terms. n Terrorists can't stop Jack Bauer, but a writers' strike sure can. The seventh season of "24" was all set to go this January, with an online preview hinting that a rebirth is coming after the disappointment of season six. CTU is gone, and Jack's next bad day apparently starts with his brutal methods being questioned by a House subcommittee. Oh, and Tony Almeida's back from the dead! (And, for now, a bad guy!!) Unfortunately, the new season has been indefinitely postponed until the strike is resolved. Honestly, it's a smart move by FOX. The heavily serialized "24" works best when it runs every single week, no exceptions. Airing the eight hours that were completed before the strike and then going on hiatus would kill the show's momentum. Still, the wait may turn excruciating for fans hoping that season seven will be a return to form for Jack and company. (I know my fingers are crossed.) n Your favorite new shows might air a little longer thanks to the strike ... or they could be cancelled because of it. How a lengthy strike would affect freshman series is a bit complex and could vary wildly from show to show. In normal, non-strike years, when a network cancels a TV show, that show is usually yanked off the air immediately. That's why when you buy a DVD of a series cancelled in the middle of a season, it will often include episodes never originally broadcast. If the strike continues, however, networks will need as much original programming as they can muster. So with a low-rated show like NBC's "Journeyman" or FOX's "K-Ville," the network will likely air all episodes produced, giving fans more hours to watch and nonfans more chances to find the show. On the flip side, however, shows with so-so ratings, like ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money," may be more prone to cancellation than they otherwise would be because of the strike. Once all episodes are aired for a borderline show, the network might choose to cancel it outright rather than keep contracts active for actors and producers who can't show up for work because no scripts are written. It's a dicey situation for all new series, and the strike may end up playing a huge part in determining which ones will live on for season two. Write to TV critic Bob Taylor at [email protected]. Or, if you have a question for Bob, he may answer it in an upcoming column. If you want your e-mail to be considered for publication in this column, please include your name and the town you live in. To see more of The Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.heraldonline.com. Copyright (c) 2007, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |