An interesting bit of speculation buried in today’s New York Times story on the writers’ strike: what if the strike, like many a TV show, went on hiatus?
Here’s the thinking. We’ve discussed the short-or-long theory of the strike before. The writers’ hope is that, by shutting down TV productions fast, they could hurt the studios more and quicker than expected, forcing their bosses to settle quickly. In that case, we might see a deal struck soon after talks start up again next week. That’s the best case for everyone, save maybe a couple CEOs who would need to shave a couple fewer truffles on the Christmas goose this year.
But if there’s no settlement quick? Then as far as the networks and studios are concerned, the strike may as well last through the spring, because you’re looking at truncated seasons regardless, and they may as well slog through with their cheaper replacement schedules.
That would mean a long winter and spring for the writers. But, the Times suggests, they could decide to go back to work without a contract and put the strike on hold… until June, when the Screen Actors’ Guild deal also comes up, and the studios could face a double whammy. (Which may have been a better strategy from the get-go, but that’s moot now.)
If none of this happens, though, the networks will have to program something in the cold months. They’ve already announced the first in a long line of game shows, but I think you can do better. So, a little game for your Thanksgiving weekend: You Are the Scab! What do you want the networks to program during the strike months? Here are a couple ideas for you to improve on:
* Time Machine Week. I’m not sure all the legal/rights hurdles here, but I’d love to see a network devote a week to rerunning its schedule, night for night, from, say, thirty years ago. Imagine turning on ABC some night and finding episodes of Three’s Company and Lucan from 1978. That’s some good watching!
* Pilot Burn-Off Theater. Again, probably legally impossible for all sorts of reasons, but I’ve long wished the networks would air all their rejected pilots to let us see all the mistakes they made, and avoided. CBS, unveil Babylon Fields!
God, these are awful ideas. And yet the networks may be planning something much, much worse yet. Have at it.