Update: WGA Strike: What Happens Next?

By ALAN STANLEY BLAIR Feb-10-2008
Source: TV Guide Online

UPDATE: As reported by TVGuide.com, the WGA boards gave their blessings to the negotiated contract on Sunday. It was also decided that the Guild membership will vote on Tuesday about accepting the deal, thus ending the strike.

As early as Monday, showrunners are expected to return to work so they can prepare to get production teams at work again.

Approval of the deal seems very likely to happen. "This is the best deal this guild has bargained for in 30 years," said Patric Verrone, one of the WGA's leaders.

With word spreading of an end to the strike lurking just over the horizon, many viewers are desperate to know the status of their favorite shows.

TVGuide.com's Michael Ausiello has posted what he thinks will happen. Top of the list is the highly addictive "Lost," which is now only two episodes into its fourth season run. The show still has an additional six in the can and ready to be shown. However, if the strike does indeed end as now expected, the series will jump back into production to complete an additional six episodes to bring the season total to fourteen.

Meanwhile, over on The CW, "Smallville"? has prepared for the effects of the strike and the shows fifteenth episode, entitled "Veritas,"? has been set-up as a season finale. The episode will leave the complex character relationships behind and will instead mostly feature the rising Superman mythology. But if the strike does end, fans could expect to see the season extended with an additional three to five episodes.

So far this season, "Smallville"? has been holding its own in the ratings department and while they haven't been stellar they have remained stable when other shows have struggled.

Fans of "Supernatural"? have been divided over the direction the series has taken this season and whether they like it or not, they could potentially be seeing five more episodes.

As for those shows that have already wrapped up there current season (namely "Heroes," "Pushing Daisies"? and "Moonlight"?), it is unlikely that each show will produce additional episodes this season and instead will each have new seasons produced later in the fall. "Heroes"? has already completed its second volume with several scenes for volume three, "Villains,"? already shot.

ABC has also yet to confirm the fate of "Pushing Daisies,"? however it looks positive that the show will be given a second season. Likewise, it appears as though the CBS vampire series "Moonlight"? will also be getting a second chance later in the year, although the network has yet to comment on the shows future.

The second casualty of the season (the first being "Journeyman"?) is the re-vitalized "Bionic Woman." The series was expected to be among the top-hitters of the new television line-up, but following the pilot episode, viewership for the series declined rapidly. Not too long ago it looked like the "Battlestar Galactica"-inspired series would have a chance to prove itself after the picket lines dissipate but now all signs are pointing to the disassembly of all bionics.

Preliminary work has already begun on SciFi Channel's "Stargate: Atlantis" with the announcement that "Star Trek: Voyager's"? Robert Picardo will be joining the series in the wake of Amanda Tapping's departure. The "SG-1"? actress will again be heading to the CGI-front to chase down the weird and paranormal for the television-adaptation of her web series "Sanctuary."?

Of course, nothing is set in stone and this line-up will most likely change before the ink dries in the deal between the Writers Guild of American and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

About the Author: Alan Stanley Blair is the news editor for Airlock Alpha and assistant news editor for its sister site, Inside Blip. Contributing from his home in Scotland, he is currently studying for a diploma in freelance journalism and feature writing.
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