Beginning this week, the major television networks will begin rolling out new episodes of regular series that have been on extended hiatus since the writers strike began last winter. TV fans can rejoice because this week, the 1-2 punch of The Office and 30 Rock returns to the air. I was not a fan from the get go of either show, but since the middle of both first seasons, I believe The Office and 30 Rock have become the standard of television comedy. Here’s why…

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COLUMN FOR THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Dear Screen Actors Guild,

As you prepare to open negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on April 15^th, I offer my humble plea as you consider the possibility of a strike: Don’t. Don’t do it, dudes. Going on strike will bring the film and television industry to another grinding halt and will cripple the economy in Los Angeles (which is still trying to recover from the writers strike). Pilot season, that time of the year when most actors are lining up for gigs on pilots, is pretty much been scrapped. The networks are going to be more selective about what they’re going to greenlight, and in the case of NBC, they aren’t even ordering pilots for next year, instead going straight to series with their new schedule.

The economics are something I don’t fully understand. I do get that you’re being ripped off over residuals from digital formats. It’s bullshit and the producers know it. When the writers went on strike, they had a list of demands that they eventually whittled down (resulting in animation writers STILL not getting the respect that they deserve) in order to get what they were asking for regarding digital media. The truth is, no matter how “hardline” you claim to be, the AMPTP isn’t going to give you everything you want. So I hope you keep that in mind when you sit down and begin your talks. Seriously, figure out what’s really important… based on what they gave to the writers and directors guilds, go in expecting the same and work something out fast.

Look, I’m not trying to be snarky here, but why make the industry and, let’s face it, the fans, suffer some more? I know, I know, we’re talking about your livelihood. Residuals for an actor are as important, sometimes more important, as their initial payment. But the truth is, if you strike again, you will drive away more fans. Fans are the ones who pay to see movies. Fans are the ones who tune into your television series and buy the DVD box sets. And fans are the ones who will find other means of entertainment should there be no more television to watch come September.

I’m sure that there are some actors out there who may be upset with my generalization of the seriousness of the SAG contact negotiations. I am not trying to make light of what the union is trying to achieve. However, I am not alone in believing that a strike is not the answer. Recently, important actors Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Robert DeNiro took out full page ads imploring the guild to get the job done sooner than later. Look, I may just be the TV writer for an awesome online pop culture magazine, but these four are respected veterans who people look up to. On top of that, they may have some idea what its like to be a working actor. So please, if you’re not going to listen to me, one of your fans, then listen to your own kind and get this contract done now. Thank you.

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE EDITORS OF POPDOSE.COM. WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COLUMN.

… And there you have it, my 256.5 reasons why The Office and 30 Rock are the best comedies on television. Thanks for reading!

Tags: Scott Malchus, Three Strike Rule

This entry was posted on Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am and is filed under Film/TV/Theatre, The Three Strike Rule. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.