Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023
What if AI was negotiating for the studios?
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023.
WGA STRIKE TO ALSO IMPACT PROMOTIONAL ACTITIVIES BY UNION MEMBERS
While the WGA strike obviously has the effect of essentially shutting down scripted production in Hollywood (or internationally on shows covered by the WGA), one somewhat surprising consequence of the shutdown is that many writers are electing not to help promote their upcoming shows, even though they were completed well before the strike began.
That also extends to making appearance or otherwise participating in the industry's FYC events. Which is a big deal for trade publications such as The Hollywood Reporter, which makes a lot of money off of hosting various FYC and other promotional events and panels:
Certain rules of the strike are pretty straightforward: a member, or their representative working on behalf of that member, is not allowed to meet or negotiate with a struck company, and the member is not allowed to provide any writing services or sell or option any literary material to such a company.
There are also picket line rules, which prohibit members from entering any premises of a struck company as well as participating remotely in writing rooms or telecommunications like Zoom meetings with such companies.
Some companies, including Netflix, Amazon and Apple, have their own theaters and event spaces at which they hold FYC events, so campaigning at one of these sites is also considered “entering the premises of a struck company” under the strike rules, even without the updated rule.
People who work solely as TV writers are often not included in Emmy campaign events during the pre-nominations phase of the season. But many writers who pull double-or triple duty by also serving as a showrunner, producer, or director are asked to partake in panels and other activations. It remains unclear if the guild will give them special dispensation to do so.
Along those lines, another thing that seems likely to be endangered by a prolonged strike is the July/August gathering of TV critics in Pasadena. If the strike pushes out into June, its hard to imagine a scenario in which networks would be interested in the event.
MAYBE BINGE-RELEASING ISN'T SUCH A BAD IDEA
One of the arguments against binge-releasing streaming shows is that releasing shows one episode at a time allows for fan discussion and a sense of communal watching. But my argument has always been that while the weekly release schedule works for some high-profile shows, a lot of streaming series that have episodes released weekly end up being forgotten.
As a example of that, here are just some of the shows that are releasing new episodes this week and even if you're a TV super fan, you likely only remember some of them:
Wednesday, May 3rd:
Schmigadoon Season Two Finale (Apple TV+)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
The Big Door Prize (Apple TV+)
Thursday, May 4th:
Dave (Hulu)
Love & Death (HBO)
Mrs. Davis (Peacock)
Friday, May 5th:
Citadel (Prime Video)
The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple TV+)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
The Power (Prime Video)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Sunday, May 7th:
Barry (HBO)
Fatal Attraction (Paramount+)
From (MGM+)
Lucky Hank (AMC)
Rabbit Hole (Paramount+)
Somebody Somewhere (HBO)
Succession (HBO)
WHAT IF AI WAS NEGOTIATING FOR AMPTP?
After just the first twelve hours of this writers strike, my head is already spinning.
And somewhere my fourth cup of coffee and my seventh strike-related story, I was struck by the type of idea that only happens when your brain is churning like a hamster on crack. If the negotiating document released by the WGA last night is accurate, the studios seem to have a lot of faith in AI writing and want to retain the option of using the technology in any way possible. So what would happen if AMPTP decided to let AI negotiate for them?
So I decided to find out and asked ChatGPT this very simple question:
Imagine that you are a representative for the Hollywood studios. What offer would you make to the writers in order to end the current strike?
And here was the response. It was super specific, but at least in this case, AI sounds very pro-writer:
Fair compensation: Hollywood studios should be willing to offer writers a fair compensation for their work. This might include increased payment for streaming and other digital media platforms.
Transparency: Studios should provide transparency in the accounting process, making it clear how revenues are calculated and how writers are paid.
Residuals: Writers should be fairly compensated for their work, even after its initial release. Residuals are an important source of income for many writers, and studios should be willing to negotiate reasonable terms for these payments.
Health and safety: Studios should ensure the health and safety of all employees, including writers, while they are working on productions. This might include measures such as improved working conditions, better access to healthcare, and better safety protocols.
Creative control: Studios should respect the creative control of writers over their work. Writers should be able to have input on how their work is used and marketed, and studios should be willing to listen to their suggestions and concerns.
Collaboration: Both studios and writers should be willing to collaborate in order to create great content. This might involve working together to develop new ideas, taking feedback from each other, and finding ways to work together more efficiently.
Ultimately, the key to ending any strike is open communication and a willingness to compromise. Both studios and writers should be willing to listen to each other's concerns and work together to find a solution that is fair and equitable for all parties involved.
Hmm... maybe AI isn't that bad after all.
ALLYOURSCREENS COVERAGE OF THE WGA STRIKE
* Writers Strike 2023: How Will The Strike Affect Your Favorite Shows?
* Writers Strike 2023: What If ChatGPT Was Negotiating For AMPTP?
* Producers Guild statement regarding the Writers Guild strike
I'M NOT SURE THIS WOULD BE THE MONTH-OLD STORY I'D SPLASH ACROSS MY HOME PAGE TODAY, VARIETY
ODDS AND SODS
* Disney is moving Dancing With The Stars back to ABC after it was moved exclusively to Disney+ last season. The decision had apparently been in the works for awhile, so it wasn't a direct response to the writers strike. Although it certainly helps the network fill a likely gap. But it's also another way for the new Bob Iger administration to distance itself from the old crew and their pro-streaming decision-making process.
* The Washington Post is launching a free ad-supported video channel on Amazon Freevee called Washington Post Television.
* The Los Angeles School Teachers Union is encouraging its members to join on the WGA strike picket lines.
* SAG-AFTRA is calling on members to join WGA picketers today.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW FOR TUESDAY:
* Home In The Wild Series Premiere (NatGeo)
* Jimmy O. Yang: Guess How Much? (Prime Video)
* King Charles: The Boy Who Walked Alone (Paramount+)
* Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta - Run It Back (MTV)
* Love Village Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed (Peacock)
* MTV Couples Retreat Season Premiere (MTV)
* Nona And Her Daughters Series Premiere (MHz Choice)
* 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed (HBO Max)
* Thalia's Mixtape: El Soundtrack de mi Vida (Paramount+)
* The Rookie Season Finale (ABC)
* The Rookie: Feds Season Finale (ABC)
* The Tailor (Netflix)
* Will Trent Season One Finale (ABC)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY!
If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.
Hardly the most substantial of topics from this edition of the newsletter, but I do disagree with your point on dropping all episodes at once instead of weekly. While I realize that this is pure anecdote, I do see things the exact opposite way of you.
I think that the binge release is fine for bigger shows, but smaller ones tend to be forgotten. I tend to have just a couple binge release series going at once. With so much releasing, if I do not catch a smaller series right when it drops, there will be no additional reminders that it exists thereafter. Additionally, even when I am excited by a series, it is far more daunting to try to fit in a series which has all of its episodes ready to watch, than just to find time to watch one episode of a new series this week and hopefully find that time again each week after. Additionally, I use an app to tell me when new episodes are available of shows and it only displays them as new for the first week after release, so if I do not start them by that time, then they likely get lost. If I was able to find time to watch that one episode of a weekly release last week, then the next new one will pop up in the app and reduce the likelihood that I forget.