Strike almost over?

Report says a deal between WGA, AMPTP near done; WGA meeting scheduled for Saturday.

The writers' strike is pretty much over... Well, maybe.

The Associated Press today is reporting that sources close to the informal discussions between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have progressed to the point that an agreement could be reached later this week.

The two sides have been holding informal talks since late last month in an effort to settle the strike that has brought Hollywood to a halt since November. News has been scarce since the talks began, as a media blackout was implemented at their onset.

The AP cites a pair of anonymous sources as saying that both sides are now going back and forth over the final language of the agreement, but both sides are aiming to have things settled before the Academy Awards, which are scheduled to take place February 24. The Academy Awards ceremony will go on with or without a strike resolution, but an end to the strike would mean a much more star-studded event.

More proof of progress comes from the WGA itself, as the guild has scheduled a meeting this Saturday. Deadline Hollywood has a copy of a letter sent to WGA members from guild presidents that says, "We anticipate that we will be able to present the terms of [a tentative] agreement to you in the next few days."

At the heart of the strike were issues over revenues from digital media, such as online streaming of shows and sales of episodes over online stores such as iTunes. Writers are also asking for an increased share of DVD sales. Several small studios, including Lionsgate (which producesWeeds and Mad Men), have made independent interim agreements with the WGA, but none of the majors have budged.

Even with WGA heads penning a tentative agreement, the rest of the guild--which includes a faction that doesn't want to make any allowances--still needs to approve it.

It may not be a final resolution, but at least it is progress--and good news in an otherwise dreary strike.

Family Guy moving forward without creator

Fox will continue to produce hit animated comedy without striking Seth MacFarlane; showrunner calls it "a colossal dick move."

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane isn't your typical showrunner--he's much, much more. The outspoken producer is the lifeblood of the animated hit as he oversees its creation, writes episodes, and provides voices for several of the main characters, including Peter, Brian, Stewie, and Glen "Ohhhhhh yeah!" Quagmire.

The show will go on.

But now the Family is moving on without its patriarch. 20th Century Fox Television is proceeding with production of the hit show while Seth MacFarlane walks the picket lines of the Writers Guild of America strike.

Last week, MacFarlane told Variety that only one new episode of Family Guy was ready to go, and that several others were close to completion. However, he said that while the strike was ongoing, he wouldn't perform any of his duties (writing or nonwriting) on the show and that Fox would have to finish the episodes without him--something he jokingly said would make him "angry."

The words got a little more serious yesterday, as the possibility of Fox moving on with Family Guy without him inches closer to reality.

"It would be a colossal dick move if they did that," MacFarlane told Variety yesterday. He added: "It's going to be unfortunate and damaging to our relationship if they do."

Legally, 20th Century Fox Television is doing nothing wrong by finishing up the Family Guy episodes, as they produce the show. However, it will be doing so without MacFarlane's final nod of approval.

As for the voices on the show, a source close to the production of Family Guy confirmed to TV.com that there won't be any Seth MacFarlane impersonators voicing Peter or any of the other characters. The voice work was recorded by the original actors many moons ago.

Representatives from 20th Century Fox Television had no comment on the matter.

Strike Source: The Shows Must Go On!

Read the whos, whats, and whys of the strike, how your favorite show is affected, and what it's done to television in this one-stop feature.

Unless you've been living under a rock or simply prefer curling up to a book to following the unfolding events of the Dharma Initiative, the romances at Seattle Grace Hospital, or the news from Jon Stewart, you are aware of the current writers strike that has put a halt to the television industry.

This TV.com feature will include information for understanding the strike, a list of how shows have been affected and how many episodes they have left, strike-related news stories, and exclusive quotes from actors and writers (click on the appropriate tab above to navigate).

We'll start off with the basics: What is the strike, and why is it happening?

Introduction

Writers picket outside of Disney's studios just hours after the strike begins.

The entertainment industry is coping with evolving technology, and for those who have been involved with the business for a long time, the game is changing in a major way. The music, film, television, and games industries are seeing both positive and negative impacts from the digital age, and no one seems to be able to decide on a good way to sell goods that aren't physical products.

Corporations control the flow of money (yes--surprisingly, the entertainment industry is run by corporations), and now that the Internet is looking more and more like the way future generations will consume goods, things are getting a bit wacky.

Who is involved?

The Writers Guild of America (WGA)--The WGA is composed of two parts: The Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) and The Writers Guild of America, east (WGAe). The WGA represents film, television, and radio writers in the US. Most reality show writers are not considered to be part of the WGA, though it's a bit blurry.

The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP)--An organization founded in 1982 representing more than 350 movie and television production companies and studios in negotiations with entertainment industry unions such as the WGA, the Directors Guild of America, and Screen Actors Guild.

Why are the writers striking?

As pretty much with any strike, the main point of contention is the almighty dollar. The writers want more compensation on DVD sales and any compensation for profits made off of new media. Currently, writers don't see any financial compensation from shows purchased and downloaded onto iPods or any other handheld device, ad-supported episodes streamed online, or, except for a few rare cases, any unique "webisodes" made to promote a show.

Writers are asking for twice as much from DVD sales from their last contract; they want eight cents per DVD (note: per DVD, not dollar) as opposed to four cents. For digital sales, studios want to keep the same rate for residuals as DVD sales, even though digital sales require little to no production, shipping, and warehouse costs. Because new media has only really taken off in the last decade, the previous contract between the AMPTP and WGA didn't include it at all.

The AMPTP, on the other hand, says it is too early to establish a fair deal with regards to new media residuals. The group also says that streaming episodes are a form of promotion, and therefore writers aren't entitled to any profits from them. The WGA is quick to counter that idea by pointing out that ads are included in the stream, so that revenue must be made off them somehow.

Could it have been prevented?

The strike wasn't really a shock; the threat of a walkout had been looming for months before any scribe took to the picket lines. The two sides worked hard to avoid a strike, but in the end, neither could find any middle ground both could stand on.

When the contract between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expired on October 31, the two sides took a step back and television fans held their breath. The beginning of the following week, Monday, November 5, saw the strike official.

Has this happened before?

Yes, twice--and if history repeats itself, we're in for a long, dry winter. In 1960, writers walked the picket lines to establish residual payments, a practice that wasn't previously established. That is why studios do not have to pay writers on reruns of 1950s shows such as The Honeymoonersand I Love Lucy.

In 1988, writers went on strike over residuals again, this time for shows being broadcast in foreign countries and reduced residuals for some hour-long programs. That strike helped launch reality television and saw the demise of some of television's then-most popular shows, includingMoonlighting, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Both strikes lasted 22 weeks, with the 1988 strike outdoing the 1960 walkout by one day. If the current strike follows suit, television will be writer-free until the beginning of April 2008.

What's next?

Both sides have openly said they are ready for a long fight, and no one seems to have any real idea when a resolution may come. The Directors Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild may find themselves in a similar situation soon, as both organizations' contracts with the AMPTP are set to expire next year. The relationships between the DGA, SAG, and WGA are extremely tight-knit, and should all be unable to reach an agreement with the AMPTP, Hollywood could be shut down almost completely.