David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. I will fight like hell to hide that I’ve given up:* More on the writers strike
As the writers strike prepares to conclude the second of its 48-week run, here’s the latest:
Item! Who knew? America loves its writers. Polls show an overwhelming majority support the striking writers – a Pepperdine poll found that a measly 4% were behind the producers. Another poll, underwritten by KABC Channel 7, found 8% sympathetic with the CEOs and titans of industry. (Who knew that 8% of America were CEOs and titans of industry?)
The bad news: It may not matter. “But how that [public relations] weapon might ultimately help the writers accomplish their strike goals is not completely clear. … (C)onsidering competing issues such as the war in Iraq, it may not be that easy to get the general public outside the Hollywood bubble to care.”
Item! Networks are, surprise surprise, tightening their belts. (Hey, if they want tips on how to squeeze blood from a stone, they should contact my bosses.)
Item! More back-channeling: Networks are cozying up to late-night hosts to try to get them to return to the air. No doubt this is because ABC's newsmagazine "Nightline" is beginning to dominate the late-night ratings. The big problem: “Nobody wants to be the first to go back.”
Item! Networks aren’t sure what to do about their idled actors, but SAG has a suggestion: Pay them.
“In SAG's view, studios have three basic options for dealing with TV series contracts under the force majeure rules: put actors on hold at full salary; put them on a five-week suspension at half their regular salary; or outright terminate them, though they can be recalled when production resumes. Complicating matters is that studios may deal with various shows and thesps in different ways.”
Given this, prepare to hear soon about the cancellation of a lot of the new series. Once all their original episodes have been burned off, that is.
Item! Considering life without TV, 42% told incredulous pollsters they’d spend those empty hours reading (subscription required). Then, they laughed and said, “Naw, man, just f@%&in’ with you. I’d probably just spark up some bud and stare at my lava lamp.”
Item! A new blog, Get Back in That Room, lists the people who have reported to the site that they’ve been laid off due to the strike. Total to date: More than 300. (And, given how slow the Daily News blogging system is these days, probably another 100 or so have been added since I initially tried to post this entry.)
Item! Boyoboy, does Judith Regan have some dirt on Fox News’ cozy relationship with Rudy 9iu11ani. (Yeah, I know it’s not a strike story, but it’s really hilariously juicy nonetheless.)
* A Bright Eyes lyric