LYNDA HIRSCH ON TELEVISION -- GOSSIP

Lynda Hirsch
Fri, 21 Apr 2023 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

Earlier this week, the Writer's Guild of America voted to strike. It received support from over 97% of participating members. The last strike, which was in 2007, cost billions of dollars. (At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Writer's Guild did seek a vote to authorize a strike.) One of the big issues now is streaming. Writers complain that they receive a pittance, if anything, from streaming. Streaming has become a major way that studios reap money. Streaming platforms include Peacock, which carries "Days of Our Lives," the free site Pluto and Roku. With the last strike, daytime producers wrote the episodes. For now, daytime is OK. Most shows are six weeks in advance. During the 2007 strike, daytime was scripted on a daily basis. News and reality are not affected. They are handled by different areas of writers. The WGA is also upset that primetime TV has dropped the number of episodes. Many have gone from 22 to 18. Fewer episodes, less money. They are also upset by making less for residuals. The actors often say it is all about the script. No script, no show.

One thing about show business — everyone forgives and forgets, if it means more money. Producer/writer Chuck Lorre and actor Charlie Sheen had screaming matched, and Lorre was so upset he had Sheen's character on "Two and A Half Men" die when a piano fell on his head. John Cryer stayed on as Alan and Ashton Kutcher joined the show. Now, Lorre is creating a show for HBO Max. It is called "Bookie," and Sheen will be involved. Years ago, I was on a press tour, and Charlie's dad Martin Sheen was sharing an elevator with me. He mused: "I love my son. But it is not always easy." Sheen admitted he was part of the problem: "When he was a kid, he was never told 'no.' I also did that with Emilio (Estevez), but he was always a joy."

RAT TAT TAT. Steve Burton, who plays Harris Michaels on "Days of Our Lives," is now sporting a tattoo. It is a beaut with colorful swirling. He will have to battle with Greg Vaughan (Eric Brady on the show), who sports a soaring eagle on his back.
Updated: Sat Apr 22, 2023

Earlier this week, the Writer's Guild of America voted to strike. It received support from over 97% of participating members. The last strike, which was in 2007, cost billions of dollars. (At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Writer's Guild did seek a vote to authorize a strike.) One of the big issues now is streaming. Writers complain that they receive a pittance, if anything, from streaming. Streaming has become a major way that studios reap money. Streaming platforms include Peacock, which carries "Days of Our Lives," the free site Pluto and Roku. With the last strike, daytime producers wrote the episodes. For now, daytime is OK. Most shows are six weeks in advance. During the 2007 strike, daytime was scripted on a daily basis. News and reality are not affected. They are handled by different areas of writers. The WGA is also upset that primetime TV has dropped the number of episodes. Many have gone from 22 to 18. Fewer episodes, less money. They are also upset by making less for residuals. The actors often say it is all about the script. No script, no show.

One thing about show business — everyone forgives and forgets, if it means more money. Producer/writer Chuck Lorre and actor Charlie Sheen had screaming matched, and Lorre was so upset he had Sheen's character on "Two and A Half Men" die when a piano fell on his head. John Cryer stayed on as Alan and Ashton Kutcher joined the show. Now, Lorre is creating a show for HBO Max. It is called "Bookie," and Sheen will be involved. Years ago, I was on a press tour, and Charlie's dad Martin Sheen was sharing an elevator with me. He mused: "I love my son. But it is not always easy." Sheen admitted he was part of the problem: "When he was a kid, he was never told 'no.' I also did that with Emilio (Estevez), but he was always a joy."

RAT TAT TAT. Steve Burton, who plays Harris Michaels on "Days of Our Lives," is now sporting a tattoo. It is a beaut with colorful swirling. He will have to battle with Greg Vaughan (Eric Brady on the show), who sports a soaring eagle on his back.

It will be pillows and oversized handbags for Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy on "The Bold and the Beautiful") as she is expecting her fourth child. She shares three sons with her husband. Producers hate it when actresses get pregnant. They have to give maternity leave and change angles. One year, "Guiding Light" producer Allen Potter was crazed. The first actress who came in — he congratulated her. By the time the 10th actress came in — he was ready to scream. He realized it was a joke when 54-year-old Charita Bauer said she was pregnant.