As writers on the Hollywood picket lines look to snag the eye of passing motorists, they'll soon stoop to donning Santa and Frosty costumes while the studios behind their foreboding walls put up their blinking holiday decorations. None of that will pep up a once-festive season as the experts I talk to now assume the strike won't be resolved until 2008.
As one rep at a "big house" agency told me today, "I can't see them bringing the writers back now, breaking for the holiday until next year, and then bringing them all back again under new contracts." This trashes the upbeat rumor I reported last week that whispers had the strike ending on Dec. 8.
The agent also pointed out that the studios already sent out their force majeur letters to end contracts around town and are now out from under any guaranteed money into 2008. Like Scrooge counting his gold sovereigns, execs might be willing to enjoy those savings into the New Year. "God help us – everyone."
To relieve your writer-less holiday blues, Conan O'Brien has a few words for you. Consider growing a "strike beard."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMSle00Nhms
