On March 7, members of The Writers Guild of America (WGA) voted just short of 99% in favor of a list of new demands from The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – which represents Amazon/MGM, Apple, Disney/ABC/Fox, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount/CBS, Sony, Warner Bros., Discovery (HBO) and more. The demands are in pursuit of higher pay, adjusted residuals, new staffing requirements and protections from artificial intelligence (A.I.), amongst other concerns. 

Six months later, no agreement has been reached and the WGA is currently on strike, joined now by The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), marking the first joint strike between actors and writers in 63 years and the first joint walkout since 1980. With seemingly no end in sight, many actors, writers, unions, laborers and fans alike are left wondering what this strike could mean for the future of the entertainment industry.

The WGA is looking to address concerns within three main categories: compensation and residuals; pension plans and health funds; and professional standards and protection in the employment of writers. Their list of demands within these three categories is as follows:

Compensation and Residuals

• “Increase minimum compensation significantly to address the devaluation of writing in all areas of television, new media and feature”
• “Standardize compensation and residual terms for features whether released theatrically or on streaming”
• “Address the abuses of mini-rooms”
• “Ensure appropriate television series writing compensation throughout entire process of pre-production, production and post-production”
• “Expand span protections to cover all television writers”
• “Apply MBA minimums to comedy-variety programs made for new media”
• “Increase residuals for under-compensated reuse markets”
• “Restrict uncompensated use of excerpts”

Pension Plan and Health Fund

• “Increase contributions to Pension Plan and Health Fund”

Professional Standards and Protection in the Employment of Writers

• “For feature contracts in which compensation falls below a specified threshold, require weekly payment of compensation and a minimum of two steps”
• “Strengthen regulation of options and exclusivity in television writer employment contracts”
• “Regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies”
• “Enact measures to combat discrimination and harassment and to promote pay equity”
• “Revise and expand all arbitrator lists”

On March 20, negotiations between the WGA and AMPTP began but eventually stalled. Demands were not properly addressed before the set deadline of May 1, which provoked the WGA members to withhold labor starting May 2 after a nearly-98% vote in favor of a strike. As a direct result, many prominent late-night shows such as “The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” were shut down, along with “Saturday Night Live,” “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” 

As the strike continues, the list of projects that have halted production includes “Stranger Things” (Season Five), “Euphoria” (Season Three), “The Last of Us” (Season Two), “Abbott Elementary” (Season Three), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Season Six and Finale), “Severance” (Season Two), “Big Mouth” (Season Eight and Finale), “Cobra Kai” (Season Six), “The Penguin (Season One Debut), “Dune Part 2”, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” Marvel Studios’ fourth and untitled Spider-Man film, “Kraven the Hunter,” “Daredevil: Born Again” and “Deadpool 3,” among many others.

On June 5, SAG-AFTRA voted with nearly a 98% majority to strike if a deal could not be reached with the AMPTP by the end of the month, which would place them on the picket line alongside the WGA. SAG-AFTRA published a document detailing their positions, in which they explained they had already compromised during negotiations. However, according to this document, the AMPTP was not willing to meet the following demands:

• “Performers need minimum earnings to simply keep up with inflation”
• “Performers need the protection of our images and performances to prevent replacement of human performances by artificial intelligence technology”
• “Performers need qualified hair and makeup professionals as well as equipment to safely and effectively style a variety of hair textures/styles and skin tones”
• “Performers need compensation to reflect the value we bring to the streamers who profit from our labor”
• “All performers need support from our employers to keep our health and retirement funds sustainable”
• “Principal performers need to be able to work during hiatus and not be held captive by employers”
• “Principal performers need to be reimbursed for relocation expenses when they’re employed away from home”

According to the document, the AMPTP was only willing to agree to what SAG-AFTRA refers to as “simple basic issues of fairness and respect,” such as:

• “Access to reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care for performers working away from home in states that restrict medical access”
• “A consultation process to guard against racist and sexist “wiggings” and “paintdowns” of stunt performers”
• “Safety for performers working with animals on set”

In turn, SAG-AFTRA officially began their strike on July 13, which severely impacted the promotion of director Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and director Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Actors were unable to make media appearances pertaining to the release of either film, and the cast of “Oppenheimer” walked out of the premier of their own movie when the strike was announced. In spite of the clear negative impact on the two films, both Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwg expressed their support for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA.

On Aug. 4, representatives of the WGA met with studios but to no avail, reporting that the AMPTP was not open to engaging in screenwriters’ issues. Now, over three months into the strike, a growing list of delays and cancellations is the least of the problems. The result of 171,500 actors and writers on strike in Hollywood is a hit to local economies all across the U.S. including a $3 billion blow to California. Consequently, 1.7 million out-of-state industry workers have been negatively impacted.

Though neither the WGA nor SAG-AFTRA could reach an agreement, The Directors Guild of America (DGA) agreed to a new contract with the AMPTP on June 23, shortly before SAG-AFTRA went on strike. The agreement between the AMPTP and DGA secured wage increases, better residuals and some protections from AI for directors. DGA released a statement on their website the following month, affirming their support for the WGA and SAG-AFTRA during their respective strikes.

For the strike to end, an agreement must be reached by the AMPTP with both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. It is difficult to predict when this will happen, but, for now, an agreement seems unlikely in the near future. 

The Last of Us, both the video game and the TV show, have been a sensation in the entertainment industry. The game, released in 2013, was a critical and commercial success, due in part to its gripping story, intense action and compelling characters. The show, just recently premiering as of January, seeks to adapt the story of the 2013 game, in a mostly faithful fashion. The show is packed with an all-star cast, such as “Mandalorian” star Pedro Pascal as the lead role of Joell. It is also backed by an excellent narrative team with Neil Druckman, who directed the “original game” and Craig Mazin, who has had HBO success with hits like “Chernobyl”.

On the story side, both the game and the show serve as a gripping and emotional tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by the cordyceps infection. The main characters, Joel and Ellie, are both complex and likable. Their evolving relationship drives the story forward as they seek to travel across this new-world United States. The show builds on the game’s story by delving deeper into the characters and their relationships. The producers also introduced new characters and storylines to keep the audience hooked.

Despite the game already being very cinematic in its presentation, the live-action nature of the TV show makes the violence and drama even more visceral than before. The show’s visual effects are also impressive and create an immersive world, full of danger and excitement. Playstation and Naughty Dog, who are responsible for the development of the game, are bound to see lucrative  synergistic success from the show. Sales for The Last of Us Part 1 on PS5 have already gone up with the announcement of a season 2, which will adapt the events of the second game in the series. 

The Last of Us game and TV show are both incredible pieces of art that have captivated audiences. If the show is to maintain its faithful relationship to its source material, viewers are set for a heartbreaking yet warming journey that will produce lasting feelings. The show builds on what the game set up and is sure to be a hit for fans of the game. Both the game and show are must-sees, and it’s clear why The Last of Us saga is so beloved. As of date, four4 episodes have been released and five more are on the way. Episodes air at 8 P.M central every Sunday night on HBO Max.

A study conducted by the Sports Business Journal found that sports events dominated the top 100 telecasts of 2022. Of these sports events, the majority were games by the National Football League (NFL), as they  occupied 82 spots of the top 100 telecasts.

Starting with 2012, major US cable TV and satellite TV providers have lost a total of 25 million subscribers. The majority of these lost customers switched to streaming services. The domination of sports events on television – particularly the NFL – points to cable’s increasing reliance on sports telecasts in order to keep customers. 

Though streaming is certainly the hot-topic of the day, a 2021 Nielsen report indicated that streaming services like Youtube and Netflix account for just about a quarter of total US TV viewing times. In contrast, broadcast and cable accounted for 64% of viewing times. It is still the case that what is primarily propping up cable TV is sports. 

Should the NFL undertake new avenues in terms of media and media rights, this could spell a significant amount of lost revenue for cable companies. In fact, there have already been some signs of trouble for cable companies. For example, Amazon Prime has become the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football” for a price tag of a billion a year for 11 years. Previously through May of 2022, nearly 37%of Fox’s primetime viewership came from sports viewing, which included “Thursday Night Football.” 

The complete domination of streaming services in the industry seems a ways away. However, cable’s reliance on sports events for its returning viewership and revenue cannot be understated. 

Photo by Riley McCullough on Unsplash.

Social media has created a culture of frenzy around new media being released, and some TV shows get a lot of social media hype. Because of that hype, many people end up looking forward to shows before they have even seen them. For shows that have already been or are currently being released, the hype has a possibility to create disappointment if a show does not live up to its online persona. This social media culture fosters the idea of overrated TV shows. Some concerns of overrated-ness are valid while other shows deserve their respective audience of dedicated social media posters. Below is a list of four shows commonly considered to be overrated, but should they be?

“Game of Thrones”

After its premiere in 2011, “Game of Thrones” was the constant talk of the internet. Each new episode drew in millions of viewers, with Twitter following along with trending hashtags.

But besides being in the loop about one of the most-talked about TV shows, is “Game of Thrones” worth watching? I think so. 

The beginning seasons are arguably superior with their twisting storylines, loved and hated characters and brilliant acting. However, by the time you get to the later, lower quality seasons, you are already so enthralled that the declining quality is easy to overlook. It truly is a good show – its storyline is one that will most likely go unrivaled for a long time coming.  Even if you only watch it because of the hype, there will be something in it for you – plus the in-depth analysis conversations with your friends are always fun.

“Friends”

With a run time of 10 years, “Friends” gained fans during and after its airing. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t watched at least one episode of the show or at least knows one of the famous taglines.

While its following continues to grow and its old fans still hold strong, is “Friends” really worth watching, over 15 years after its finale? I would say it depends on what you are looking for. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed all of “Friends” during one of my summer binges, but for those who want their entertainment to be something intricate, this show isn’t the one. 

That being said, it is a perfect show for those who want a little bit of mindless humor that they are able to just sit and absorb, something we all need from time to time. Not to mention that, after watching “Friends,” you will finally understand all of the T-shirt references. 

“Stranger Things”

“Stranger Things,” a smash hit Netflix show after its 2016 debut, is one that garnered a substantial amount of hype for its first and sequential seasons. This show is one that is trying to prove Netflix’s ability to maintain a good TV show, which has proven successful. 

Even when separated from the positive social culture surrounding the show, it is still more than worth watching. With wonderful actors, many of them young and up-and-coming, along with a unique storyline and a blast from the past, “Stranger Things” is charming in its own right. 

For fans of the supernatural, it seems almost a no-brainer that this show is one that would be most enjoyable. For those a little skeptical of science fiction, it’s a good entry point with its quirky humor and simply stunning cinematography. “Stranger Things” is really a show that feels enjoyable to most everyone and with its fourth season in the works, now is a perfect time to catch up before it inevitably takes over the Twitter trends during its release. 

“The Walking Dead”

As TV’s biggest zombie show, “The Walking Dead” has been going strong for 10 years. Although it feels as if the hype surrounding the show has somewhat died down, many are still following the adventures of the ensemble crew. 

Personally, I think this show started out extremely strong but has failed to withstand against time and growing pressure for each season to be better than the last. The first seasons are excellent as the base of the story is one that everyone has considered at least once: a zombie apocalypse. The characters in the beginning of the show are wonderful and their relationships are fun to follow through the seasons.

That being said, I believe what has the ability to hook many viewers, including myself, is the introduction of new characters, especially those villainous in nature. Due to its copious amount of episodes, I would only recommend this show with a warning that some seasons fall flat. Overall it is an enjoyable show, especially if you enjoy dystopian stories.