Writers Strike Affects Heroes

[ZariusTwo]

TV Guide reports that with the writers strike confirmed to start on Monday, "Heroes" is going back and shooting an alternate ending to the Dec. 3 episode that, if used, would allow the episode to function as a season finale.

The magazine says that originally, the episode was only supposed to serve as the conclusion of the current "Generations" arc.


http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6490

This is the first major strike since 1988, which saw the infamous second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation rehashing aborted scripts and using clip shows

[Cure]

Damn, that sucks. Well, sh*t happens. Hopefully they'll do good with what they'll have.

[ThirdMarioBro]

You guys are slow, and this thread is narrow minded.

The writer's strike looks to be huge. The last one in 1988 lasted five months, and the stakes then were not nearly as high. We wound up with shows getting canceled upon their return because the public had lost interest. Replacement shows such as Dateline and COPS filled time slots and never went away. Now I hear the major networks are talking to "reality" TV programmers who regularly do projects for VH1 (the bottom of the barrel) to create filler programming for scripted projects that will go on hiatus while the studios and writers stonewall each other for the next half year or more.

The late night shows are going black Monday and will probably stay that way for the duration of the strike. No more Daily Show, Colbert Report, Conan, Letterman, etc. That's all smoke until the picket lines clear. Daily soaps (which already hurt in ratings) will get replaced with morning news programming, and if the strike lasts long enough and ratings go up, it could be a permanent replacement.

During the last strike, television lost 10% of its audience. People got bored and left to do something else. To this day, television never regained that 10%, and that was 1988. This is 2007. Viewers have little patience anymore. If the strike goes on long enough, the industry could loose a massive chunk (30% or easily far worse) to new media (internet, youtube, video games, etc) and once again never regain that number. If gets bad enough, this could rush the convergence of internet and television. That would blow because nobody wants to watch crappy broadband video.


The stakes are high. Its disappointed me because I was enjoying this TV season for the fact that there were a ton of originals shows on the air and little to no new reality shows. Now the air waves are going to flood with it and likely we'll be stuck with it for two years or more now that studios will become gun shy to scripted programming. Half of the good series upon return could get the can due to a reduced audience and low ratings conjured from a lack of interest of the course of this strike.

I expect this to go on for months. The stakes are the profits from downloadable content, a medium in its infancy. Studios have already stonewalled the writers and writers are forming picket lines as we speak. Its going to be long, ugly, and disheartening. Enjoy your December season finales. Its the last you'll be seeing of your shows until next fall at best.

[Cure]

Uh...like I said, sh*t happens. If there's no good TV, I'll play GAMEZ. Nothin' else I could do.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

You guys are slow, and this thread is narrow minded.

In what part of my initial post did I say ANYTHING that made your southern mind think "this guy is underestimating the strike?", I just put down the details and talked about the last major strike, of COURSE this strike will be bigger.

The only "narrow minded" thing in this thread was your flame-bait. Everything else you pointed out was fine, constructive, but you took a shot at us for no reason

[愛]

I agree with Zarius, that was a terrible flame-bait. He didn't say anything narrow-minded at all. Thanks for the little history lesson, but it didn't need to be in a condescending manner.

[Jo Dawn]

Originally Posted by ThirdMarioBro

People got bored and left to do something else.

You mean, like... go OUTSIDE?

Hehe.

Eh, no skin off my back. I have about three to four shows I like, but if they go off, well... It's JUST tv. No big deal. People lived without it for centuries. Maybe people will start doing things aside from watching tv, as a family again.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Ai

I agree with Zarius, that was a terrible flame-bait. He didn't say anything narrow-minded at all. Thanks for the little history lesson, but it didn't need to be in a condescending manner.

Actually, it does seem a bit (of a narrow-minded way). Noting just one show out of the loads that the strike would affect.

At any rate, this strike is bad news plain-and-simple.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

TV Guide reports that with the writers strike confirmed to start on Monday, "Heroes" is going back and shooting an alternate ending to the Dec. 3 episode that, if used, would allow the episode to function as a season finale.

The magazine says that originally, the episode was only supposed to serve as the conclusion of the current "Generations" arc.

Ooh boy! A crappy rushed ending that wouldn't be thought out because a bunch of greedy writers aren't getting their demands from a bunch of even greedier tv Producers. These writers are completely stupid. Reality TV has proven that producers don't need to pay writers to come up with a reasonable excuse to get paid to show Coke ads in the middle of something. Now we're going to get blanketed with horrible shows. Shows that Fox will copy and rush out to be first to air, so the narrow minded public will believe they came up with first.

Thanks alot greedy baka writer s***s. Thanks even more Satan worshipping bloodsucking f**** producers.

[raphael_is_cool]

Originally Posted by Jon

Actually, it does seem a bit (of a narrow-minded way). Noting just one show out of the loads that the strike would affect.

Did you want Zarius to recite a whole news story to you? This is a messageboard not 'news central'. And, no, I'm not picking on anyone in particular. The quote just served my purpose.

'Narrow-minded' is the wrong word. 'Focused' or even 'relevant' may be more apt. Of course the strike is going to affect all sorts of productions. Surely we all knew that.

Either way, knowing what the Heroes producers are planning to do in response does sadden me. I guess they can try and pick up the stories at a later date, maybe in the same way season one took a short break after Peter 'saved the cheerleader'. Except this time perhaps a much longer break.

[Drtooth]

And then it will be cancelled and replaced by 15 cheaply produced shows that no one will watch. Way to go over their heads and get them even angrier.

[ZariusTwo]

Originally Posted by raphael_is_cool

Either way, knowing what the Heroes producers are planning to do in response does sadden me. I guess they can try and pick up the stories at a later date, maybe in the same way season one took a short break after Peter 'saved the cheerleader'. Except this time perhaps a much longer break.

Exactly, some people are more aware of the magnitude of what this means than others who dont see a lot of solid programming anyway presently, and like to rub people's faces in it, but some of us ARE aware, we simply dont think many of the shows affected are in as much danger as Heroes, which NEEDS the second half after sagging ratings and harsh criticisms.

Yes, there's Galactica, yes there's LOST, but according to the LOST writers, fourteen of the sixteen episodes required for the fourth season have been written and Galactica itself is well into production and will have enough for the first half of the final season, which NBC are going to split over two years anyway

[ThirdMarioBro]

I do apoligize for the appearant flame bait.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Originally Posted by ZariusTwo

Exactly, some people are more aware of the magnitude of what this means than others who dont see a lot of solid programming anyway presently, and like to rub people's faces in it, but some of us ARE aware, we simply dont think many of the shows affected are in as much danger as Heroes, which NEEDS the second half after sagging ratings and harsh criticisms.

Yes, there's Galactica, yes there's LOST, but according to the LOST writers, fourteen of the sixteen episodes required for the fourth season have been written and Galactica itself is well into production and will have enough for the first half of the final season, which NBC are going to split over two years anyway

So I guess that plan to split the season will work out after all.

I'll be bummed if Heroes gets canceled due to the strike. That and Lost are the only two network TV shows I've given a crap about in as long as I can remember. Everything else is either sitcoms or yet another medical or cop or criminal investigation drama.

The people in charge should just suck it up and give the writers the money they probably deserve as much as the actors do.

Also, as a whole, I think people's criticism of Heroes has been way too harsh. Some parts of the show have been slow, but a lot of people's standards are set impossibly high.

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Mr._Mutant_Man

The people in charge should just suck it up and give the writers the money they probably deserve as much as the actors do.

Well... the good ones anyway. Whoever wrote last nights Saturday Night Live deserves to eat generic Ramen for the rest of their miserable lives for that "publisher's Clearing House" skit alone.

Here's the entire script:

PCH woman: You just won money (giggles and squeaks loudly for 10 minutes)

END

Also, as a whole, I think people's criticism of Heroes has been way too harsh. Some parts of the show have been slow, but a lot of people's standards are set impossibly high.

The only reason I hate watching Heroes is that the show always ends just as something's going to happen, and you have to wait a week to get the entire story. I think it's ruthlessly brillaint. you have to watch EVERY EPISODE to get even the slightest subtile plot point. Now that's how to get viewers.

Unlike every single CSI clone that manages to find out the real killer 5 minutes before the show ends. That can only be endearing for so long. How they could milk that is beyond me.

But, I will say, we finally have decent programming and now the writers decide to strike. if they suggested this while "According to Jim" and "My Wife and Kids" was still in production, would anyone even care?

[Swany]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

Unlike every single CSI clone that manages to find out the real killer 5 minutes before the show ends. That can only be endearing for so long. How they could milk that is beyond me.

I've actually tired with CSI for that reason. Its too unrealistic for my liking now. (Now a floppy fringed power sponge, thats realistic!)

Originally Posted by Jo Dawn

You mean, like... go OUTSIDE?

Where is this "outside" of which you speak?

[Fledermaus]

Originally Posted by Drtooth

The only reason I hate watching Heroes is that the show always ends just as something's going to happen, and you have to wait a week to get the entire story. I think it's ruthlessly brillaint. you have to watch EVERY EPISODE to get even the slightest subtile plot point. Now that's how to get viewers.

Someone's been watching their Azn serials...

[Jo Dawn]

Originally Posted by Swany

Where is this "outside" of which you speak?

Somewhere... Far, far away there is a distant land that is surrounded by a great bright ball.

It is a brightness more intense than that of even your computer screen. Than your lightbulb, even.

But do not be afraid, for this great ball sleeps for hours a day, when a smaller, less bright ball comes out. The Great Ball of Light also fortifies your body with color and vitamin D.

But do not let the Great Bright Ball fortify you for too long or your skin grows hot and red.

In the presence of the Great Bright Ball, the air moves quickly around you and smells not of your house, but a pleasant blend of foreign smells. There is green foliage on the ground, soft to your feet, which you can romp upon.

I suggest experiencing the awesomeness of the Great Bright Ball more than once.

[BubblyShell22]

Well, I had a feeling the writers' strike would affect Heroes as well as some other shows that I enjoy. Oh well, I guess the best thing we can do is enjoy the new eps while we have them and just wait for this to end. I confess that it sucks though. I'm sure House will be affected too, which will also suck. Heroes and House are my two favorite shows that aren't even cartoons. As for reality shows, the only reality show that doesn't totally annoy me is The Amazing Race. I like that show because you can go around the world without leaving your home.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

Originally Posted by BubblyShell22

Well, I had a feeling the writers' strike would affect Heroes as well as some other shows that I enjoy. Oh well, I guess the best thing we can do is enjoy the new eps while we have them and just wait for this to end. I confess that it sucks though. I'm sure House will be affected too, which will also suck. Heroes and House are my two favorite shows that aren't even cartoons. As for reality shows, the only reality show that doesn't totally annoy me is The Amazing Race. I like that show because you can go around the world without leaving your home.

For me House is okay in moderation. I can't watch more than an episode at a time though, because his cynical jerk shtick to me gets old quick.