People say we’re living in the golden age of television. Fans enjoy more high-quality choices than at any time in history. But this could all grind to a halt if the Writers Guild of America (WGA) follows through with authorizing a strike (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/writers-guild-promises-strike-may-2-no-deal-is-reached-991578), which would start May 2 barring any last-minute deals with the major studios.
In the short-term, late-night talk and sketch shows could go dark or resort to improvisation, and the fall broadcast schedule could be threatened. (The WGA covers screenwriters as well, but movies operate on such a long timeframe that a strike wouldn’t affect releases for over a year.) But more broadly, the battle would determine who benefits from the billions of dollars sloshing around Hollywood: well-off studio executives or the creators who bring unforgettable characters to life.
As Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner told colleagues (http://www.wga.org/members/membership-information/contract-2017/watch-vote-yes-strike-authorization) in recommending a strike, writers simply want “to participate in this windfall we created in the last five years.”


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