February 11, 2009 3:56 PM
- Text
Reruns Begin As Writers Strike Sinks In
(CBS/AP)
As television and film writers walked the picket lines, and the group representing movie and TV studios said it was prepared for a long strike, TV viewers got their first big hit of deja vu as writerless late night and other talk shows including "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" were forced to begin airing reruns.
Leno, who like most talk show hosts is a writer and former standup comic, dropped by NBC's studios in Burbank nonetheless Monday, riding up on a motorcycle with doughnuts for strikers on the picket line.
The first strike by Hollywood writers in nearly 20 years got under way with pickets on both coasts after last-minute negotiations on Sunday failed to produce a deal on payments to writers from shows offered on the Internet.
Right now, the writers get nothing and they want 2.5 percent of the profits, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker. The studios and producers are offering far less, claiming the technology is too new and their profits too slim.
Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said he expects a long standoff.
"We're hunkered down for a long one," he said. "From our standpoint, we made every good faith effort to negotiate a deal and they went on strike. At some point, conversations will take place. But not now."
The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.
Disruptions by strikers ended filming at a Studio City cafe being used as a location for the CBS show "Cane."
Tom Hogan, a location manager for the show, said he had hired two off-duty Los Angeles police officers in addition to five private security guards to maintain order during the shoot.
He said the filming began hours before the 20 picketers arrived and involved a script that was finished several weeks ago.
No other major problems were reported at studios or filming locations.
At the CBS lot in Studio City, about 40 people hoisted signs and applauded when picketing began.
"People seem pretty upbeat and determined for now," reported CBS Radio correspondent Claudia Peschiutta from the picket line outside the Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank.
"The question is, how will people feel if this strike drags on as long as the last one strike went on for in 1988? That one lasted for more than five months, and it would be difficult for some of these writers to be without a paycheck for that amount of time."
Leno, who like most talk show hosts is a writer and former standup comic, dropped by NBC's studios in Burbank nonetheless Monday, riding up on a motorcycle with doughnuts for strikers on the picket line.
The first strike by Hollywood writers in nearly 20 years got under way with pickets on both coasts after last-minute negotiations on Sunday failed to produce a deal on payments to writers from shows offered on the Internet.
Right now, the writers get nothing and they want 2.5 percent of the profits, reports CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker. The studios and producers are offering far less, claiming the technology is too new and their profits too slim.
No new negotiations were scheduled.
Photos: On The Picket Line
Nick Counter, chief negotiator for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, said he expects a long standoff.
"We're hunkered down for a long one," he said. "From our standpoint, we made every good faith effort to negotiate a deal and they went on strike. At some point, conversations will take place. But not now."
The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.
Disruptions by strikers ended filming at a Studio City cafe being used as a location for the CBS show "Cane."
Tom Hogan, a location manager for the show, said he had hired two off-duty Los Angeles police officers in addition to five private security guards to maintain order during the shoot.
He said the filming began hours before the 20 picketers arrived and involved a script that was finished several weeks ago.
No other major problems were reported at studios or filming locations.
At the CBS lot in Studio City, about 40 people hoisted signs and applauded when picketing began.
"People seem pretty upbeat and determined for now," reported CBS Radio correspondent Claudia Peschiutta from the picket line outside the Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank.
"The question is, how will people feel if this strike drags on as long as the last one strike went on for in 1988? That one lasted for more than five months, and it would be difficult for some of these writers to be without a paycheck for that amount of time."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next Page »
-
David Morgan David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.
Popular Now in Entertainment
- Beyonce, Jay-Z post photos of Blue Ivy Carter
- "Idol": Carrey's daughter out, and then disaster
- Zsa Zsa at 95: Husband releases birthday photos
- Leslie Carter dead at 25
- Gender-bending model a runway sensation
- Madonna stalker escapes from mental hospital
- Schwarzenegger, Stallone have hospital run-in
- Will Ferrell delivers hilarious NBA player intros
- Macaulay Culkin through the years
- Beyonce shows off her post-baby body
- Paul McCartney is a star in Hollywood
- "Jersey Shore" spinoff to shoot in Jersey City
- Target to release "Breaking Dawn" DVD at midnight
- Only Denzel can rescue "Safe House"
- Macaulay Culkin is in good health, says rep
- George Clooney on his longest practical joke
- "The Vow": What the critics are saying
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Crawford leads Trail Blazers past Hornets, 94-86
- Grizzlies upend Pacers 98-92
- Lin scores 38 to lead Knicks over Lakers 92-85
- Mavericks hold off T-wolves 104-97 behind Nowitzki
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News
