TV shows impacted by the Writers' Strike: Stranger Things and Yellowjackets
Be ready for a potentially underwhelming lineup of fall TV shows! You probably heard the news, but it’s definitely worth mentioning the strike again, as it affects all tv lovers. With the current Writers Guild of America strike, which is the first in 15 years, the near future of some beloved content is unclear. The strike began during the first week of May following six weeks of intense negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, a trade group. The streaming era has left thousands of unionized writers feeling unfairly compensated, according to the Writers Guild of America (WGA). Additionally, it's worth noting that while the WGA represents some of NBCUniversal's news division employees, the trade group represents Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal.
During these days, the entertainment industry has been upended by the strike, with production on some broadcast programs and streaming shows coming to a standstill as this pause is necessary. However, viewers may not immediately notice a difference in programming, according to Oliver Mayer, a member of the WGA and a professor of dramatic writing at the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts. If the strike continues and expected premiere dates for shows or seasons pass without new episodes, there will likely be more reruns and a reduction in content. The professor predicts that it will only be a matter of weeks, rather than months, before viewers begin to notice the impact of the strike.
And if you haven’t noticed any changes yet, the fact is that the strike has already impacted the late-night shows - actually, the first to be affected. NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CBS' The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and even Jimmy Kimmel Live! or Last Week Tonight With John Oliver - they all went off the air as soon as the strike began. Additionally, "Saturday Night Live" on NBC paused its 48th season and will air reruns for the foreseeable future. Drew Barrymore, an actor, and talk show host, stepped down from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards show, which aired on Sunday.
According to updates from showrunners, the strike has also led to the halting of production on some returning shows. And there are plenty of such examples. For instance, the Duffer brothers, who are behind the hit and beloved Netflix series all over the world “Stranger Things,” announced that they had paused the production of season 5 of their show. In a tweet, they wrote that "Writing does not stop when filming begins," and expressed hope that a fair deal would be reached soon. Numerous TV showrunners have demonstrated support for their fellow writers and informed viewers about the status of their programs.
Another example is the production of "Hacks" on HBO which has been halted, according to a tweet from its creator Jen Statsky. She emphasized that writing is an essential part of every stage of the show-making process, including production and post-production, and is crucial for producing quality shows and movies. Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of the Emmy Award-winning sitcom "Abbott Elementary," has joined the WGA strike and is demanding fair compensation for writers. Co-creator Ashley Lyle announced on Twitter that the writing for season three of Showtime's "Yellowjackets" had been suspended after just one day. She expressed her desire to resume working with the writers once a fair agreement is reached.
Mayer suggested that the strike might impact the writing of viewers' favorite shows even if the guild reaches an agreement earlier than anticipated. He explained that writers would need to catch up on writing and adjust storylines to current events, such as politics. As for internationally-filmed shows, "House of the Dragon" creator George R.R. Martin confirmed that production on the second season of the spinoff has already begun in the United Kingdom and will continue despite the strike.
