Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Tuesday, July 11th, 2023
Notable actor: 'Why I voted to authorize a strike'
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Tuesday, July 11th, 2023.
THIS CERTAINLY MAKES THE PROSPECTS OF A SAG/AFTRA STRIKE SEEM PRETTY LIKELY
If you want a solid example of the information pipeline that exists between the studios and the trades, a good place to start is this "exclusive" from Variety. According to reporting from Gene Maddaus and Cynthia Littleton, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios, has requested assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service in order to help prevent a SAG-AFTRA strike:
A group of CEOs and senior executives, including Disney chief Bob Iger, Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, gathered by conference call Monday evening to discuss the urgent situation with SAG-AFTRA poised to go on strike as soon as Thursday. In addition to the executives discussing efforts to bring in a federal mediator, talent agency chieftains including Ari Emanuel of WME , Bryan Lourd of CAA and UTA’s Jeremy Zimmer have reached out to SAG-AFTRA leaders in recent days to offer assistance that could stave off a second Hollywood work stoppage this summer.
The timing of the article is notable, given that it is being published about 24 hours before the upcoming strike deadline. It is also worth mentioning the story obviously originated on the studio side, given this kicker paragraph:
Sources close to the negotiations say the AMPTP representatives and member company leaders are frustrated at what they see as SAG-AFTRA’s intransigence. There’s a strong feeling that a militant minority in the union is having outsize influence on the negotiating strategy, with no regard to the heavy toll that a strike would take on actors as well as other unions and myriad businesses that bank on production-related work.
“We’re negotiating with ourselves and we’re not getting anywhere,” the source said. “How can a mediator hurt?”
This is a framing we've frequently heard from the studio side when it comes to WGA. "Oh, it's just a small group of radicals that is unwilling to take a reasonable negotiating stance." And while every negotiation has its share of intransigence and unrealistic expectations, that doesn't appear to be the problem for the most part in the negotiations with either SAG-AFTRA or the WGA (whenever the latter picks up again). There are some core, fundamental problems that writers and actors consider to be a dealbreaker.
And I think it's interesting that the Variety piece doesn't highlight any specific issue SAG-AFTRA negotiators are being unreasonable about. Which makes the AMPTP complaints feel more like a Hollywood equivalent of "Hey kids, get off my lawn!"
I believe the last time both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA were on strike at the same time was 1960 and if it happens in 2023, no one really has a sense of how long it will last or what the short and long-term impacts might be to an already financially challenged industry.
One thing to watch if the actors go on strike are some of the smaller production companies that don't belong to AMPTP. There will be a lot of pressure on producers to present a united front. But there will also be an opportunity for some of these smaller players to cut their own deal with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, which would allow them to begin production immediately. That scenario is likely also a best-case situation for the unions, because it would put an even larger amount of pressure on the AMPTP-affiliated companies to settle for similar terms.
READER FEEDBACK: 'WHY I VOTED TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE'
I've published a number of pieces from both writers and studio executives in recent weeks, as well as pieces highlighting the problems that have come from streamers increasingly moving production overseas.
As the prospects of a SAG-AFTRA strike become more likely, I have begun hearing from actors who are sharing their concerns and the reasons why they believe a strike is the only way to protect their future.
This is a short piece from a discussion I had earlier today with an actor who wanted to talk about the reasons why he voted to authorize a strike and why he believes a strike is the only way actors can ensure their job protection. He is someone who would likely recognize. A talented, journeyman actor who told me that for the first time in his career, he wonders if he'll still be acting in five years:
"What tipped the discussion for me was YouTube. Or more specifically, seeing all of those 'deep fake' videos of Tom Cruise or Elvis. I'm not a star. But I have a recognizable face and a voice that is extremely marketable. And if studios can use AI to clone my voice or pay me once and then use my likeness forever, then how do I make a living? If I go in and voice the pilot of an animated show and then they can just create a copy to use for as long as they want, that's great for them. But that's turned me from a working, middle-class actor into a day player.
I've had managers or even executives laugh this off by saying "Oh, we'd never do that. We respect our talent too much." But I know that it's our talent that makes us the most vulnerable. The more they have to gain from screwing you over, the more they are motivated to do it. They might feel bad about it or tell themselves 'it's just business.' But when you're screwed, you're screwed. The motivation behind it is just an excuse.
I don't have any slick answers for this. I just know that I'll fight to the end so we can come up with a solution that protects myself and the next generations of actors. Don't tell me you respect my talent or appreciate my creativity. I don't care about our relationship right now or how long we've known each other. Give us what we deserve. What we need to survive. Otherwise, five years from now you'll be happily telling some computer 'Oh, I appreciate your talent and ability to give me X and ten percent of the cost."
If you have any comments or feedback, email me at rick@allyourscreens.com
TWEET OF THE DAY
NO, MAYBE *THIS* IS THE TWEET OF THE DAY
WHY LINEAR TV IS STRUGGLING, PART 254
As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, there are a depressing number of so-called "zombie" networks, which exist almost entirely only to suck up random ad dollars and the minimal subscriber fees that come with bundling them in with other cable networks that people actually want to see.
So it's not surprising to discover that - for instance - HLN is airing 202 episodes of Forensic Files over a seven-day period this week.
It's a bit more unexpected to see how even networks that have a modest original programming schedule are opting to also air some really low-cost reruns. As an example, Lifetime is airing a block of 2012 episodes of Property Virgins during its primetime block tonight. There is nothing wrong with reruns. But decade-plus old episodes of a low-budget home improvement series? That seems like setting the bar pretty low when you're programming for viewers.
AN UPDATE, EVEN THOUGH I'M PRETTY SURE I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT
I've written a couple of times since the end of June about the TCM Watch app and the fact that it hasn't been updated with new movies. A spokesperson for TCM has offered up the explanation that the lack of new movies was due to an engineering problem that would be resolved "shortly." I wrote about the problem again yesterday and today I'm happy to report that the app has apparently now been fixed.
I'm sure I had nothing to do with it, but I'd like to think I moved things along a bit.
WHAT'S NEW FOR TUESDAY:
* Betrayal: The Perfect Husband (Hulu)
* Caught In The Act: Unfaithful Season Premiere (MTV)
* Chopped All-American Showdown Premiere (Food)
* Everything But The House (Lifetime)
* How I Met Your Father Season Finale (Hulu)
* Iconic America: Our Symbols And Stories With David Rubinstein (PBS)
* Myth Of The Zodiac Killer (Peacock)
* Nineteen To Twenty (Netflix)
* Outdaughtered Season Premiere (TLC)
* Philosopher Of The Sea (Viaplay)
WHAT'S NEW FOR WEDNESDAY:
* Ana Season Three Premiere (Vix)
* Bungo Stray Cars (Crunchyroll)
* Mr. Car & The Knights Templar (Netflix)
* Platonic Season Finale (Apple TV+)
* Quarterback Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Record Of Ragnarok II (Netflix)
* Saint Cecilia & Pastor Lawrence (Crunchyroll)
* Sugar Rush: The Baking Point (Netflix)
* The Afterparty Season Two Premiere (Apple TV+)
* The 2023 ESPYs (ESPN)
* TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You (Crunchyroll)
* Turn To Me Mukai-kun Series Premiere (Netflix)
Click Here to see the list of all of the upcoming premiere dates for the next few months.
SEE YOU TUESDAY!
If you have any feedback, send it along to Rick@AllYourScreens.com and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.