The WGA strike may be over soon.
Over the weekend, the Writers Guild of America negotiating team struck a tentative deal with the producers on a new contract, which is set to end the 146-day WGA Strike. The proposed deal still has to be finalized, but there’s strong reason to believe that writers will be getting back to work sooner rather than later. What does this mean for your favorite soap operas — Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and Young and the Restless?
“The WGA and AMPTP [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers] have reached a tentative agreement,” the Writers Guild of America tweeted out on Sunday night. “This was made possible by the enduring solidarity of WGA members and extraordinary support of our union siblings who stood with us for over 146 days. More details coming after contract language is finalized. #WGAStrike.”
How will this affect the four soap operas? Two of the broadcast soap operas — Y&R and B&B — have fi-core writers on staff, which allowed them to remain with their shows and continue to write them. Presumably, once the new contract is signed, sealed, and delivered, members of those writing teams who did go on strike will return to their respective show’s teams.
“This is more emotional than I thought it would be,” posted B&B scribe Michel Val Jean, who shared that she’ll miss the team bonding she felt walking the line in Studio City. “RADFORD! From the hell that was Colfax to the main gate, it was my honor to walk with you. We went through it together. I’ll miss you guys, and I’ll never forget you #WGAStrong.”
Some feel that GH has picked up a faster pace during the strike. Spencer and Trina are set to make love later this week — but that could have been the show’s plan all along. Other GH fans believe that the show has not written Bobbie Spencer’s (Jackie Zeman) passing into the show (presumably, it will) because it was waiting for the show’s regular team to handle what will be particularly poignant.
DAYS strike-written material hasn’t even been seen yet by soap opera viewers. While some strike material on other shows began popping up onscreen during the summer, the Peacock streaming series shoots several months in advance. The strike will likely be officially over before strike-written material begins streaming.
The end of the strike means far more to the world of primetime, and there’s still the matter of the actors getting back to work. Again, that doesn’t affect soaps as the performers on daytime drama work under a different contract and were not asked to stop working once the actors officially hit the picket lines.
While the WGA is suspending writer picket lines in light of this development, scribes are being encouraged to still get out there and pick up signs in support of SAG-AFTRA performers who remain on strike. Soap Hub will continue to bring updates related to both strikes as they continue to develop.
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