Writers Strike and Gilmore Girls Actors

The Writers Guild Association (WGA) strike has caused a lot of disruptions to the television, both in the short and long term. While in the short term, it means projects are cut short or cancelled, in the long term it means that business will be done differently. Here are some updates on how our actors are affected. This will include updates for: Lauren Graham, Matt Czuchry, Scott Patterson, Jared Padalecki, Milo Ventimiglia, Melissa McCarthy, Scott Cohen and also Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Ausiello has a couple of updates for Gilmore Girls alumni Lauren Graham & Matt Czuchry. Neither piece of news can qualify as ‘good’. The first piece of news concerns the deal that Lauren Graham signed with NBC, and how that may just have been terminated due to the strike:

Question: I fear I already know the answer, but what does the strike mean for Lauren Graham and her deal with NBC? Now that other studios are getting rid of their development deals, does that mean no Lauren Graham on my television set next year? — Rachel
Ausiello: Technically, NBC has the right to suspend/terminate her deal via the force majeure provision. And I’m guessing they did one or the other, considering NBC issued me a cryptic "no comment." Equally worrisome: When I pressed Ben Silverman about it, he urged me to "start watching 30 Rock."

NBC has been one of the networks to rethink how they come up with new shows. The traditional method was to throw millions of dollars at 60+ pilots, then pick the good ones. Now they are considering choosing only the best scripts, 5 or 6, and running with those.

For Matt Czucrhy, it looks like we may not be seeing much more of him or any other Friday Night Lights cast members this season – or any other season, for that matter. Here are the two questions on that front:

Question: Will we see any new episodes of Friday Night Lights once the strike ends?— Dave
Ausiello: Nope. NBC confirmed as much when they leaked unofficially announced the news that the Season 2 DVD — featuring all 15 episodes — was being released on April 22. I don’t remember the last time a piece of DVD news left me so depressed. Oh, wait, yes I do.

Question: Did you read what Ben Silverman said about Friday Night Lights returning for a third season? Is it time for a fan campaign? — Elizabeth
Ausiello: I say we skip the campaign and go right to the ass-whoopin’. Does he have any idea who he’s messing with?!?! My last name is Ausiello, for chrissakes. And I grew up in Jersey. And my dad was in waste management.

The show has never pulled in very good ratings, so this just might be the end. Matt Czuchry was only supposed to be in there for a guest arc of at least 4 episodes, and it does not look promising that more will be shot. EW reports that they may shoot another 5-6 episodes of Friday Night Lights, if the strike resolves (as it may).

For the new comedy Samantha Who? (Melissa McCarthy), the news is good. If the strike resolves soon, it looks like Samantha Who? will return to film the remaining 9 episodes of its season and will get picked up for a second season. With the ratings and viewership, and the half hour timeslot, it is easier for Samantha Who? to pick up and recover from the strike. New episodes scheduled to air this Spring have been pushed back: new timeslots are not announced.

The fate specifically of Aliens in America (Scott Patterson) is unknown, as is the other CW show Supernatural (Jared Padalecki). CW as a network has been struggling, particularly this year with the added pressure of the strike. Ratings are down 21% among its target young adults versus last season. This viewership decline has meant that great new shows are simply going unnoticed by audiences. Will Aliens complete Season 1 or be renewed for a Season 2? It’s unknown. Supernatural will come back for a Season 4, but it’s not clear if additional Season 3 episodes will be produced for the Spring or Summer.

Heroes (Milo Ventimiglia), on the other hand, may not return until next season. Show creator Tim Kring had planned a second arc for season 2, but the fast resolution of the first arc when the strike hit means that there is not enough material for the show to return successfully. Tim Kring thinks that the arc, ‘Villians’, could be completed with 3 episodes, so coming back with just those episodes would not be smart. It will likely see a return to television next Fall.

The strike will also not help The Return of Jezebel James (Amy Sherman-Palladino and Scott Cohen), which already faces a shortened season 1. The ratings will soon determine the fate of that show.

Thanks Rob Tags: milo ventimiglia, scott patterson, jared padalecki, lauren graham, matt czuchry, friday night lights, aliens in america, supernatural, samantha who, heroes, melissa mccarthy, wga, wga strike