Commentary: The Writer's Strike

It has been less than a year since the writers went on strike curtailing all production of television programs and movies. In the months that droned on while highly paid members of the Hollywood crew tried to convince us all that they desperately needed more of what they already have too much of and most of do not have enough to pay the bills - money. In the process these writers managed to nearly cripple the economic structure in two major cities on each side of the country.

While television executives scrambled to find programming to fill the void that had been created by the loss of already contracted network programming, even more reality show programming filled the television airwaves. These programs are considered to be unscripted and require no writing and little or no "professional" acting to produce. While some television viewers greatly enjoy this type of programming and have made the shows a modicum of success; the network executives have seen what for them is an even bigger benefit - money. By not having to hire the high priced actors the networks have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars; dollars that go into their pockets.

Granted that the overall television ratings are down, but the current programming is attracting enough viewers that the executives are willing to continue the current trend. If there were to be an actor's strike, especially so close to the strike held by the writers, then there would be an even bigger slide in programming on the television and at the movies. If ratings were to continue to fall some of the current crop of actors will find themselves out of a job altogether. These overly greedy high priced "Hollywood celebrities" should also remember that they can be replaced and that for everyone of them there are another thousand waiting in the wings to step in. Not only will these wannabes and up and comers eagerly awaiting their turn at a shot in front of the camera and at stardom, and they will do so for far less than the current crop of so called stars.

There was a time when a group of workers going on strike was a necessary occurance in order to force unscrupulous business owners to treat their employees farily, but in this day and time a strike often causes more problems than it fixes. In an industry the size of the entertainment industry a strike among one particular group has devastating effects on the entire industry. When the writers decided to go on strike, they put thousands of workers out of work; many of whom could not afford to be out of work. By having to turn to loans or wiping out savings accounts in orderto survive during the strike these workers won nothing when the strike was settled; in fact they lost. Writers and actors who advocate a strike obviously only care for themselves and increasing their already greedy lifestyle.