The Writers Strike Disrupts 2008/09 Season

The US 2007/08 TV season has been permanently disrupted by the writers strike which means that even if the writers strike winds up within the next 2-3 weeks, it is likely too late in the season to really ramp up production again for most shows. It is from this point in the year that pilots are being greenlit and script orders commissioned in order to prepare new programming for the next TV season (which usually kicks off circa September each year).

With writers striking, TV studios are in a quandary as to how to approach production for the next season. It’s doubtful the strike will last too much longer, so writers will be available, but not in time for series to go through the tried and tested method of filming a pilot and using the strength (or weakness) of that to determine whether a series will progress. Many shows will instead skip the pilot process and go straight to series, or backdoor pilots will become a familiar site on TV.

Many in the industry see the current pilot system as a financial burden, while others consider it a valuable (if expensive) methodology. Considering how few pilots actually show potential (nobody sets out to make a bad pilot, it just tends to happen. A lot.), it’ll be interesting to see how the 2008/09 US TV season will fare.

Bill Carter of the New York Times today offers this article on the situation.