What the writer’s strike might mean for TV
Imagine it. A television landscape full of reruns, reality TV, and bland news programs.
With most of the jokesters, creators, and snarksters on strike, this may be what TV looks like at this time next year.
In the movie realm, we may have low-budget indie type creations in about two years.
American Gladiators, American Idol, Big Brother.
No Heroes. No Ugly Betty. And, no Pushing Daisies, which is by far the most innovative and artistic television show I’ve ever seen.
If you’ve never seen Pushing Daisies, check out Pushing Daisies, the blog, which has write-ups of each episode.
The show centers around a pie maker who can raise the dead, for a minute at a time. If he goes over a minute, someone else dies in the deceased’s place. The show has lush photography, musical numbers, quirky characters, and superb writing.
But, who wants a masterpiece when they can watch female mud wrestling or a bunch of hopefuls compete to win some sort of nationwide singing title?
While TV will suffer, movies might get better. I’m very excited about the upcoming release of Sweeney Todd, but I love indie films more than most mainstream releases. If more indie writers got into the business of film writing, I would probably be happy with their diverse view of the world more than I am with explosions, bland sexual encounters, sappy romances, and trite, generic animation.
Many people probably believe the studios will eventually give into the writers and the world will be fine again. But, with the internet, hundreds of cable news channels, and video games taking up so much time, I have a feeling the average Joe out there isn’t too worried about the face of the nation without the striking writers. This is a horrible time for such a union, because they don’t hold as much power as they did before the cyber boom.
I know, I know, it’s all very depressing. Quick! Look! It’s a cat in a Christmas Tree!
