After several weeks of highly productive informal talks, insiders are optimistic that the Directors Guild of America will quickly hammer out a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers once the formal bargaining on a new master contract begins Saturday.
DGA talks have taken on heightened significance in the context of the 11-week-old strike by the Writers Guild of America. Perception in the biz is that DGA has become the de facto negotiator for the WGA given the lack of communication between WGA and AMPTP since the latter broke off the last round of talks with writers on Dec. 7.
Late Friday afternoon, the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild seemed to caution observers against placing too much weight on the DGA negotiations.
"We wish the DGA well and hope that they achieve a fair deal that incorporates principles that will benefit all creative artists," the guilds said in a statement. "The DGA has to do what is best for its membership, but it is important to remember that they do not represent actors and writers."
AMPTP and DGA announced in a joint statement Friday that the sides would hold its first formal session Saturday at AMPTP's HQ in Encino. The fact that talks are starting on a weekend is a sign of the urgency and the extra burden that the DGA has been saddled with in light of the deep freeze in relations between the WGA and AMPTP. The helmers' talks will also likely set the template for AMPTP's approach to SAG, with a contract expiring at the same time as the DGAs, on June 30.
AMERICAN IDOL IS BACK TO RESCUE TV
Having come to Fox's rescue on more than one occasion, "American Idol" this year faces a far tougher mission: keeping the lights on in TV land during one of the medium's darkest hours.
A one-two punch of lower fall ratings and a crippling writers strike has pretty much put the season in turnaround. Now, just like the return of the latenight talkers, industryites are praying the reappearance of "Idol" will be a shot in the arm for all the nets, not just Fox.
"It's important to show that network TV is still healthy and able to get through a strike," one wag says, noting that reality shows are already proving to be potent strike-contingency programming.
NBC, for example, has seen boffo numbers from "American Gladiators," "Deal or No Deal" and "The Biggest Loser." And ABC's Wednesday duo of "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" are doing as well or better than the scripted hits they replaced.
Of course, it's possible that the heretofore bullet-proof "Idol" may have finally met its match in the WGA strike. As scripted fare continues to disappear from the nets, viewers may flip away from all network television altogether -- impacting "Idol" in the process.
"I can look at it as glass half-empty: If all of a sudden broadcast viewership and HUT (homes using television) levels are down, could 'Idol' go down?" asks Fox Entertainment prexy Peter Liguori.
