2008 Woodie Awards
Students tired of watching reruns
Aidan McGuire
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Voices & Times
As the writers' strike nears its third month, students are finding themselves reaching for other forms of entertainment during the times they normally would be enjoying their favorite television shows.
While some students are watching reruns, others have turned to surfing the Internet or even dabbling in the reality shows that aren't writer dependent. Whatever the case, it's evident that the writers' strike has affected the viewing habits of the Francis Marion community.
Senior Ben Rogers, who spent about four hours a day in front of the tube before the strike began, said he watches much less TV now. He spends more time on the computer or working, but said he sometimes does resort to watching reruns of his favorite show, "Two and a Half Men."
The strike, which began Nov. 2, is an effort by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to get compensation from film and television producers for their works that have been made into alternate forms of media.
In other words, WGA wants screenwriters to receive royalties for past DVD and Internet sales.
The nearly 11,000 members of the WGA-East and WGA-West unions have been out of work since the strike began. Writers, however, aren't the only ones affected by the strike.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is adamant about not crossing picket lines. Their support of WGA has resulted in monetary losses.
Most people involved - from the writers and actors to the custodians who clean the sets - have lost money. According to reports, the figure is nearing the $6 billion mark for the WGA and SAG alone.
Lost wages, however, are only one casualty of the strike. The Golden Globe Awards, which is usually a spectacular compilation of performances by musicians and actors, was diminished Jan. 13 to a mere news conference.
Since the strike, viewers who normally wouldn't spend a second watching reality television have caved.
"With the writers' strike, all that comes on is reality shows," Rogers said.
Students also have created groups on Facebook and MySpace to voice their frustrations about their favorite sitcoms.
There is light at the end of the picket line.
After much deliberation, WGA has waived its strike on the Grammys.
The Grammy Awards will celebrate 50 years Feb. 10 without a hitch.
Past reports have said the reason for the support of the Grammys by WGA is because the union feels that musicians have a commonality with writers when it comes to receiving adequate royalties for CD and Internet sales.
WGA's waiver of the Grammys is hope for many students.
It might mean their favorite shows once again will have new episodes for their viewing enjoyment.
If this is the case, they can soon delete their "sick of Grey's reruns" Facebook groups and settle down to relax in front of a nice new episode with Dr. McDreamy.
While some students are watching reruns, others have turned to surfing the Internet or even dabbling in the reality shows that aren't writer dependent. Whatever the case, it's evident that the writers' strike has affected the viewing habits of the Francis Marion community.
Senior Ben Rogers, who spent about four hours a day in front of the tube before the strike began, said he watches much less TV now. He spends more time on the computer or working, but said he sometimes does resort to watching reruns of his favorite show, "Two and a Half Men."
The strike, which began Nov. 2, is an effort by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to get compensation from film and television producers for their works that have been made into alternate forms of media.
In other words, WGA wants screenwriters to receive royalties for past DVD and Internet sales.
The nearly 11,000 members of the WGA-East and WGA-West unions have been out of work since the strike began. Writers, however, aren't the only ones affected by the strike.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is adamant about not crossing picket lines. Their support of WGA has resulted in monetary losses.
Most people involved - from the writers and actors to the custodians who clean the sets - have lost money. According to reports, the figure is nearing the $6 billion mark for the WGA and SAG alone.
Lost wages, however, are only one casualty of the strike. The Golden Globe Awards, which is usually a spectacular compilation of performances by musicians and actors, was diminished Jan. 13 to a mere news conference.
Since the strike, viewers who normally wouldn't spend a second watching reality television have caved.
"With the writers' strike, all that comes on is reality shows," Rogers said.
Students also have created groups on Facebook and MySpace to voice their frustrations about their favorite sitcoms.
There is light at the end of the picket line.
After much deliberation, WGA has waived its strike on the Grammys.
The Grammy Awards will celebrate 50 years Feb. 10 without a hitch.
Past reports have said the reason for the support of the Grammys by WGA is because the union feels that musicians have a commonality with writers when it comes to receiving adequate royalties for CD and Internet sales.
WGA's waiver of the Grammys is hope for many students.
It might mean their favorite shows once again will have new episodes for their viewing enjoyment.
If this is the case, they can soon delete their "sick of Grey's reruns" Facebook groups and settle down to relax in front of a nice new episode with Dr. McDreamy.
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