The Writers' Contract Expired this Morning: What's Next?

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The 1988 Writers Guild against the Motion Picture and TV producers threw thousands of people out of work for more than 5 months.  It cost some $500 million dollars and ended with neither side a clear victor. This time, it’s all about iPods, DVD’s and the Internet. On Reporter’s Notebook, British novelist Will Self goes on a walking tour of Los Angeles to illustrate PsychoGeography.  

Main Topic

TV and Film Writers Threaten to Strike ()

If there’s a writers’ strike, this is the consensus on what would happen.  Leno, Letterman, Stewart and all the other late-night talk shows would go into reruns immediately.  By late November, the soap operas would run out of new episodes and be replaced by news programs.  By mid-January, prime time would be filled with reality shows, game shows, news magazines and some sporting events along with re-runs of popular dramas and comedies.  Talks between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of film and TV producers broke off last night and the writers’ contract expired at 12:01 this morning. Strike captains were told that members should clear out their offices by the end of the working day.    

Guests:

• Kim Masters: Entertainment-industry correspondent for National Public Radio
• John Ridley: Commentator, author and screenwriter

Links:

• Frustrated TV and Film Writers on Verge of Strike
• Will Self in The Guardian

Reporter's Notebook

The Psychogeography of LA ()

Will Self is a British novelist, whose books include “The Sweet Smell of Psychosis” and, recently, “The Book of Dave” about a London cab driver.  In Britain’s Independent newspaper he collaborates with the artist Ralph Steadman on a column called, “PsychoGeography.”  How he and Steadman have produced a book by the same name.  I’ll let him describe what PsychoGeography is as he tells us what it was like to get off an airplane at LAX yesterday and walk to the Watts Towers.     

Guests:

• Will Self: Author of Psychogeography: Disentangling the Modern Conundrum of Psyche and Place
• Don Waldie: Public Information Officer for the City of Lakewood and Historian of Los Angeles County

Host

Warren Olney

Considered the dean of Southern California broadcast journalists, Warren tackles the issues Southern Californians care about. Expanding that concept, To the Point deals with issues of national concern and is on air in most major metropolitan markets across the country. On any day, you’ll hear a fast-paced, news-based talk show featuring multiple perspectives on a single major issue, with Newsmaker and Reporters Notebook features, as well. 

Show Comments or Concerns?
Email Warren Olney

Air Date

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Produced by

Christian Bordal, Katie Cooper

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