TV News
WGA Strike: Heroes Prepping Early Finale
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 4, 2007
The grim reality that will exist as a result of the impending Writers Guild of America strike is beginning to unfold this weekend as we begin to see reports that have much anticipated projects being put “on hold” (translation: canceled) and others being cut short. One project in particular was the upcoming NBC spin-off “Heroes: Origins”. The Hollywood Reporter said this week that “Origins” was being put on hold by NBC, mostly out of fear for the writer’s strike. They also speculated that lackluster ratings for the still young second season of the flagship show could have contributed as well, forcing NBC head Ben Silverman to pull it from the Spring lineup.
So after chalking up “Origins” as a strike victim, the news that “Heroes” itself is going to be adversely affected by the strike is simply compounding the issue. TV Guide reported Friday that show writers are prepping an alternate, early season finale that will run if the strike cuts the season short. Originally, the episode was only supposed to close out the current “Generations” story arc, but could serve as the end to the entire second season if an 11th hour solution to the WGA strike doesn’t come along. Should the strike be averted (say your nightly prayers, kids), the alternate footage would not run and the show would continue on as planned, with a short break in the spring and a second story arc to finish out the second season, leaving the alternate ending as nothing more than a faint memory of potential pain and suffering for “Heroes” fans and a solid addition to the second season’s DVD release.
Of course, we will all have our fingers crossed in hopes that bringing in a Federal Mediator will get this strike cleared up before it ever happens, but at this point it doesn’t look good.
Read more articles by Neil Miller
4 Comments
November 5th, 2007 at 1:38 am
I wrote a movie (I am a WGA member) and received a whole 4 cents per copy sold. Yes, I am not joking! That is about what a writer gets on a DVD sale. 4 pennies! The people who press the DVD make ten times that. This is one of the main issues the WGA strike is about. Please spread this info around to people so they realize the writers are not being greedy. If the studio sells a DVD for 12.99/copy, where does all the money go? Shouldn’t there be some fair % sharing?
November 5th, 2007 at 2:46 am
Steve — I’ve heard that this is what the strike is all about, and I can’t say that I disagree with the writers. It is a shame though, that the two sides can’t come to an agreement. The studios do make plenty of profit, and building a deal that addresses the present and future mediums (DVD and Online) is completely logical. Personally, I think that the ones who are really paying the price here are the fans, and that is truly sad.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:11 am
YOUBUNCH OF WGA’S ARE ALL SPOILT
4 CENT SIS A LOT.. WRITE BETTER MOVIES.. U FUCKS
IF U WANT TO MAKE MORE..
4 CENTS A COPY.. MAKES U WONDER WAT YOUR DO FOR ANOTHER HARRY POTTER STORY
FUCK U WGA FOR RUINING ALL THIS FOR THE FANS.
THANKS YOU.
GO TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES IF U BELEIV EYORU RIGTHS HERE ARE SO SCREWED.. UN GRATEFUL BRATS LIVNG THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE..
FUCK WGA
January 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
please dont call names.
No hate speech allowed, the sentence belows says. So please dont let your emotions cloud the reality of this.
Im sad too that this happens for all the fans.
But whats even more sad is that the people who write these shows are, when it comes down to it, doing it for themselfs. As all of us they’re just making some money. There doing this first for themself, second because the love their job.
And i agree, eventhough all my favorite shows are cancelling too, with their statement.
I truly support them, i hope the injustice will be set right.
Allthough its sad that all the shows will maybe get cancelled, it sucks, but we are just spoiled with all the very good series.
The people who make those series deserve credit, and most defenitly the writers. They make everything possible for us, so why should the get no respect?. They should get the money what they’re worth for!!