Hollywood Actors On Strike

[Kevin Prather]

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/07/13/business/actors-strike-sag#sag-aftra-writers-strike

SAG-AFTRA has voted to go on strike tonight at midnight. They join the WGA on strike, making it the first double-walkout for the industry since 1960.

[JasonA1]

The one thing to be mindful of is that there could be multiple types of contracts at play. For instance, in the WGA strike, the contract at stake doesn't involve (some? all?) news people. So a SAG-AFTRA strike may or may not result in work stoppages in every avenue of entertainment, depending on specifics we may not be privy to.

-Jason

[SuperMatch93]

The one thing to be mindful of is that there could be multiple types of contracts at play. For instance, in the WGA strike, the contract at stake doesn't involve (some? all?) news people. So a SAG-AFTRA strike may or may not result in work stoppages in every avenue of entertainment, depending on specifics we may not be privy to.

-Jason

According to the SAG-AFTRA site, game shows may not be affected by this.

What productions would be affected if SAG-AFTRA goes on strike?

The affected productions include feature films, scripted dramatic television and scripted new media productions produced by AMPTP-represented employers and covered by the Codified Basic Agreement or Television Agreement.
 
Programs produced under the Network Code agreement would not be affected. This includes daytime serials (soap operas), talk shows, game shows, variety shows, award shows and other unscripted productions. Also unaffected are any productions that are not theatrical, new media or television-based in nature, such as commercials.
 
In the event of a strike, further information would be made available regarding how to determine if a particular production is subject to the strike.
 
Independent producers who are not represented by the AMPTP should expect further communication from the union in the event of a strike.
 

I had planned on going to LA in a few weeks to see Price, but I'll wait until I hear confirmation that they're taping before I book flights/a hotel stay.

[colonial]

Can't imagine Mayim Bialik going back to work as she already stepped away in solidarity with the writers.

I believe Jay Leno mentioned previously he would not record new episodes of YBYL given the WGA strike.

[Steve Gavazzi]

I believe Jay Leno mentioned previously he would not record new episodes of YBYL given the WGA strike.

I was genuinely not aware that "Will there be a third season of YBYL?" was a live question.

I don't even think I knew there was a second season of YBYL.

[JasonA1]

This post on SAG-AFTRA's Instagram makes it very clear. Click over to "what you CAN work on!" and you'll see that game shows are among the programming not affected by this current labor dispute, from a SAG-AFTRA standpoint.

-Jason

[trainman]

On one hand, they can say, "yes, you can work on a game show," but on the other hand, they can set up a picket line in front of the studio where the game show tapes, which fellow actors may be loath to cross.

[clemon79]

On one hand, they can say, "yes, you can work on a game show," but on the other hand, they can set up a picket line in front of the studio where the game show tapes, which fellow actors may be loath to cross.

It would be *really* interesting to see if Drew would cross such a picket line.

[Jimmy Owen]

On one hand, they can say, "yes, you can work on a game show," but on the other hand, they can set up a picket line in front of the studio where the game show tapes, which fellow actors may be loath to cross.

It would be *really* interesting to see if Drew would cross such a picket line.

Will actors and writers travel up to Glendale to protest?

[jjman920]

Can't imagine Mayim Bialik going back to work as she already stepped away in solidarity with the writers.

One also wonders if Ken would step in again after all the flack he got for doing so in May. It was one thing to help finish out the season with all the contestants in LA and material written, it's another to help start the season when they aren't in such a pinch.

And even beyond solidarity with the writers, what is Jeopardy specifically going to do without them? While I'm sure they were constantly pumping out content during the season, I highly doubt they've got a bank of material written to cover even half a season of syndicated shows *and* Celebrity Jeopardy.

[trainman]

And even beyond solidarity with the writers, what is Jeopardy specifically going to do without them? While I'm sure they were constantly pumping out content during the season, I highly doubt they've got a bank of material written to cover even half a season of syndicated shows *and* Celebrity Jeopardy.

During the 2007-08 writers' strike, once J! ran out of banked material, they reused still-relevant categories from previous shows (about 10 years prior). That was before there was an online archive of most of their past clues, though.

I'm honestly expecting to see both of these scenarios...

Syndicated version: "We threw a virtual dart at our content library, so please enjoy this encore presentation of the 2012 Teen Tournament."

Celebrity version: ABC releases a new fall schedule, from which "Celebrity Jeopardy!" is absent.

[MSTieScott]

Will actors and writers travel up to Glendale to protest?

Let's Make a Deal has been taping at the new studio since the first half of June; they have more tapings coming up this month. Anybody scheduled to be in the audience in the near future?

Syndicated version: "We threw a virtual dart at our content library, so please enjoy this encore presentation of the 2012 Teen Tournament."

Personally, I really enjoyed it when Jeopardy! filled out its truncated 2020 schedule by dipping deep into the vault.

Somebody alert me when the networks finally give up on trying to make their late night shows still feel timely by rerunning the most recent episodes (two months after the start of the writers' strike) and instead go to the effort of showcasing interesting moments from years past.

[SamPrainito]

Good point, Scott!

During the last strike, despite Leno’s promise NBC would never rerun shows produced by Helen Kushnick, they ran a show from his second week with Tom Hanks.

[Joe Mello]

On one hand, they can say, "yes, you can work on a game show," but on the other hand, they can set up a picket line in front of the studio where the game show tapes, which fellow actors may be loath to cross.

It would be *really* interesting to see if Drew would cross such a picket line.

According to one of the actors I follow, it's an NLRB violation to withhold work on a project that's not struck.

I trust this guy's knowledge of labor agreements but I feel like there's ways around that.

[Otm Shank]

According to one of the actors I follow, it's an NLRB violation to withhold work on a project that's not struck.

I trust this guy's knowledge of labor agreements but I feel like there's ways around that.

This is exactly what I thought of when Mayim said she would not finish the Jeopardy season, that she really is obligated to work. But I would guess that she reached an agreement with the producers that she be allowed to make a "statement" move, and since it didn't leave them in a lurch, they granted the request. The fact that Ken would catch flak for finishing the season was likely not anticipated. Then again, so much digital ink has been spilled in recent years on Jeopardy controversies that are nothingburgers.