As the fall TV season arrives, viewers are left wondering where their favorite shows are. The ongoing writer’s strike and actor’s strike have brought Hollywood productions to a standstill, resulting in a lack of new scripted shows and no new episodes of network favorites.
The strikes, led by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), have disrupted the movie calendar, talk shows, and the fall network TV schedule. Popular shows like “Abbott Elementary,” “Chicago Fire,” “Young Sheldon,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” are without new episodes.
If the strikes are resolved soon, the second half of the TV season could be restored. However, if they drag on, the entire season, which officially begins on September 25, could be a complete wash.
Some networks have managed to find alternatives to fill the gaps in their schedules. Unscripted reality shows like “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” “The Masked Singer,” and “Dancing with the Stars” are set to return. Game shows like “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” will also have primetime editions.
While many scripted shows are affected, animated series and streaming shows tend to be less impacted by the strikes. Writers and voice actors of animated shows usually work well in advance, so these shows are largely unaffected. Streaming shows, whose production schedules are set far in advance, still have anticipated releases like the revival of “Frasier” on Paramount+.
Overall, the strikes have caused significant disruptions to the fall TV schedule, resulting in a reliance on reality shows and game shows to fill the void. Viewers are hopeful for a resolution to the strikes so that their favorite scripted shows can return to the screen.
Sources:
– USA TODAY (no URL)
– Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA)
– Writers Guild of America (WGA)