Happy New Year!!!

Best Wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year!

Dick Wolf on the WGA Strike

FlickFilosopher.com, 12.28.07
By MaryAnn Johanson

excerpted --

During the course of the conference, the inevitable topic of the writers’ strike came up. Here’s what Wolf, inarguably one of the most powerful people in television, had to say about it:

"I think the strike is the worst thing that’s happened to the community in 20 years, since the last strike. Nobody ever wins a strike. This is a disaster for the television business much more than the feature business. And my sincerest hope is that people get their heads on straight, lock themselves in a room, and come out with a deal. It’s an absolute necessity.
I have a horrifying feeling that it’s going to be a lot longer unless this is solved very, very quickly, in the next ten days or two weeks, which I don’t see in the cards right now. It could be a horrifically long strike. I mean the last one was five months and two weeks." Full article

forwarded by Lyn and Peachy, thanks!

"We Know Partners"

Ad placed in Variety, December 18th to the AMPTP, and signed
by Rene Balcer, Steven Bochco, Tom Fontana and more.

Thanks to Amy for the heads up and to SuperSam for scanning it for us.

Frances Goren Library project reaches goal

Law and Order: CI co-creator Rene Balcer announced today that The Frances Goren Library Project has reached its fansite goal of $7,000. With Mr. Balcer's $7,000 match, a new children's library bearing a plaque honoring character Bobby Goren's librarian-mother will open in Cambodia in 2008. It will be filled with 1,000 books which have the power to open up a new world of ideas and possibilities for Cambodian children.

In the spirit of this holiday season, Mr. Balcer wants all of the fans who supported this project to know about its success and to accept his gratitude on behalf of the international children's literacy charity, Room to Read.org.

Thank you to Annabelle Leigh

LO:CI producer on NPR

LOCI Supervising Producer Charlie Rubin, a co-writer or teleplay author of episodes:
"Untethered"
"Smile"
"Blind Spot"
"Brother's Keeper"
"Stress Position"

among others will take part in a live panel discussion of the WGA strike tomorrow -- Thursday, December 20th -- on National Public Radio's "The Diane Rehm Show."

For a list of the local stations carrying the show -- or to listen in via the Internet -- click here

The live Internet feed will be available at 10 AM ET. This is a call-in program, toll-free number is 1-800-433-8650.

International fans can submit questions (in advance as well as during the show) through the e-mail address at the link above. A podcast of the show will also be available.

Thank you to Annabelle Leigh

Audio

Audio 2

Writer's Guild Rally Video

From Insideronline.com, 12.18.07

CHRIS NOTH, EDIE FALCO and BLYTHE DANNER were just some of the actors who came out to be part of a massive rally in New York Tuesday in support of the striking Writers Guild of America television and film writers.

Video

Thank you to Denise and Peachybc

Writer's Guild Rally

sent in by Mr Balcer --

This is to let you know that there will be a rally for writers of crime and cop shows in Los Angeles and New York this Tuesday. See below for details, times and locations. Fans are invited to join, you can meet the writers of your favorite shows.

Here's the announcement that was sent to members of the Writers Guild --

Greetings –

Here’s the chance you’ve been waiting for.

On Tuesday December 18th , we are holding a bicoastal “Scene of the Crime” Rally for writers of crime and cop shows – that means you, my friend. Writers and stars of over 35 current and past crime/cop/law shows will be in attendance in Los Angeles and New York.

And here’s the best part – in Los Angeles, we’re holding the rally at the headquarters of the AMPTP. The Death Star itself.

In New York, the rally will be held at historic Foley Square downtown, in full view of the Federal and State Courthouses.

We’ll be reading a Bill of Indictment against the AMPTP issued by the “Criminal Writing Division” of the WGA. The AMPTP will be declared a crime scene and cordoned off with over a mile of yellow crime scene tape.

As crime writers, we know bad behavior when we see it – and this is our chance to let the AMPTP know what we think of their behavior these last six weeks.

Here are the details:

Los Angeles: December 18th, 10 am to 12 pm PST
AMPTP HQ, 15503 Ventura Blvd., Encino, a few blocks west of the 405 at the corner of Firmament.

New York: December 18th, 12 pm to 2 pm EST
Foley Square, Downtown NYC

Call your fellow crime writers, get your stars to join us, alert your fan sites and have your fans come out to support us. This is going to be a good one.

"The Equalizer" 1986

Vincent as 'Thomas Marley' in The Equalizer episode "Counterfire", 1986

Screen caps and video clip

Many thanks to Amy who provided us with a DVD copy of this episode.

Writers Guild Files Labor Complaint

Associated Press
By LYNN ELBER, 12.14.07

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Union officials representing striking Hollywood writers said Thursday they filed an unfair labor practices complaint claiming studios violated federal law by breaking off negotiations.

The Writers Guild of America also demanded that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers return to the bargaining so the six-week strike can be ended and thousands of workers idled by the walkout can return to their jobs.

excerpted...."But now the situation is dire. The WGA-AMPTP impasse has cost the jobs of tens of thousands of entertainment industry workers, including many of our own members, and more lose their jobs every day the strike continues," the statement said.

New York-based writer Warren Leight, executive producer of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," said he believes the studios would welcome a deal with directors as a way to force concessions from writers.

"We've always known the DGA was the alliance's fallback position," Leight said. "I hope it tells the DGA something that the studios are licking their chops to get into the negotiating room with them."

Full article

Women & Hollywood interviews Mary Rae Thewlis

From womenandhollywood.blogspot.com
12.13.07

Mary Rae Thewlis has spent the last seven years as a producer and production manager on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Before that she spent five years as an assistant director on Law & Order. She spoke with Women & Hollywood as her show ends the first half of its season tonight. Catch the episode on USA at 10pm.

Women & Hollywood: Can you explain exactly what you do.

Mary Rae Thewlis: It's not uncommon for a production manager to also be a producer. The production manager is more nuts and bolts - works with budgets, hires crews. As the producer I am on the set at all times for the Chris Noth shows. We scout the locations sit in on script meetings, actor read throughs, casting sessions. On the set I am there to assist the director where needed to help keep things running smoothly, to keep an eye on the budget and to make sure the standards are maintained.
More.

Thanks Peachybc, Majorcase-ci.com

THE BIG PICTURE: In the strike, the studios are playing to win

Los Angeles Times, 12.11.07
By Patrick Goldstein

While attention is focused on the writers strike, a bigger confrontation with the actors guild looms down the road.

DESPITE what they say about global warming, it's going to be a long, cold winter for the writers of Hollywood. The studios pretty much made it official Friday, when they walked away from the negotiating table after giving the Writers Guild an abrupt "put up or shut up" ultimatum. Considering that the studios were asking the writers to give up much of their core Internet residuals proposal, there was little left to negotiate.

The studios' message was obvious: They're going to play hardball. Believing they have comparatively little to lose by letting the strike drag on, the studios will try to weaken the guild by letting writers spend Christmas out of work while studio operatives sow seeds of discord among the membership, hoping to persuade some high-profile writers to cross the line and go back to work. Full article.

Thanks Linda

Blog Gives Fans Voice in Writers Strike

AWN Headline News
12.10.07

Leading progressive blog Firedoglake has launched a special website to give TV fans an opportunity to speak up for striking writers. At the Firedoglake.com site, viewers can select their favorite shows and send the studios and networks personal messages in support of the Writers Guild of America.

"We're delighted to be able to use our technology to help TV fans connect with the network executives responsible for their favorite shows," said Jane Hamsher, founder of Firedoglake. "It's wonderful that people who believe work should be rewarded are coming together to support the union and the writers."

Firedoglake has organized participation from other leading blogs and entertainment web sites including Daily Kos, Raw Story, Crooks and Liars, Democratic Underground, AlterNet, Down with Tyranny and Digby.

Strike talks halted

From Variety, 12.7.07
by Dave McNary

WGA accuses AMPTP of 'fake negotiations'

By DAVE MCNARYTalks between striking writers and the majors have collapsed, five weeks after scribes walked off the job - with no indication of when negotiations will resume.
Friday night's cratering of negotiations stemmed mostly from disagreements over how to pay writers in the new-media realm. It follows two weeks of bitter and unproductive negotiations and will probably open the door for the Directors Guild of America to launch talks with the AMPTP within the next month.

The strike’s already darkened many TV shows – putting most into re-runs -- and provoked a rain of pink slips. It’s now likely to turn pilot season into a shambles and provoke a round of “force majeure” terminations of deal by the majors. More.

Vincent on "Today Show"

“Law and Order” on the Plaza


Thanks Linda, Judy and Peachybc!

Daily Show video ~ August 2000

Video from "The Daily Show" - August 24, 2000



or this Link.

Many thanks to Dena Hughes!

Law & Order: CI's Vincent D'Onofrio Finally Goes Off the Deep End

Tv Guide Online, 12.6.07

Law & Order: CI's Vincent D'Onofrio Finally Goes Off the Deep End
by Nina Hämmerling Smith

Vincent D’Onofrio, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
There's never been a TV cop quite like Detective Bobby Goren on Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Thursdays at 10 pm/ET, USA). His investigative techniques and powers of observation are unparalleled, and his insights verge on the manic genius (with emphasis on the "manic"). Throughout the series' six-year run, the question has come up time and again whether or not Vincent D'Onofrio's character actually is bonkers. In tonight's "Untethered," one of Goren's most harrowing storylines to date, he gets himself admitted into a mental ward to investigate his nephew's allegations of torture and murder in an isolation room known as "Heaven"... and proves just how insane he can really be. More.

Thanks et_fan and PeachyBC!

Law And Order Saves Us From Reality

From CinemaBlend.com
By Kona Gallagher, 12.4.07

As you are all painfully aware, we are starting to run out of original programming. Heroes aired its season finale last night after only nine episodes, Grey’s Anatomy only has two left, and shows like The Office have already been gone for weeks. Luckily, in addition to the glut of game shows and reality programming that the networks are going to be rolling out in the coming months, there will still be some new scripted offerings.

excerpted ....... Now, NBC is trying to capitalize on the lack of scripted competition by giving L&O its original Wednesday night at 10 pm slot. NBC is also bringing in Law & Order: Criminal Intent as its 9 pm lead-in. New episodes of Criminal Intent’s seventh season have already been airing on NBC’s sister channel, USA.

I’m a Law & Order junkie, but even I have let the original iteration fall by the wayside for the past few years. This is a great chance for the series to get many of its wandering fans back as well as hook a whole new generation. People who may not have followed Criminal Intent over to USA will also get an opportunity to catch up. As much as I hate the writers strike, I’m never going to argue with a world in which Vincent D’Onofrio is on my television more often.
Full article.

Thanks to Linda

**Kona Gallagher shared her location photos with us in October.

Smart Strategies Drive Law & Order "Criminal Intent" (and Law & Order) to Return to NBC on Wed. 1/9/08

From The New Advertising Blog
By Scott Lackey, 12.4.07

Here's the result of Dick Wolf's perseverance and the value of great writing, direction and acting. And a very smart and unconventional programming strategy to move "Criminal Intent" to cable this fall (where it's done great for cable with 2-3 million viewers/episode). A local syndication juggernaut (great ratings) has also helped build momentum. Big news. I'm a huge Law & Order fan (especially "Criminal Intent"). Very positive news for the franchise and its fans (and boy have you tuned into my last posting on the program, thanks...please leave comments). This news gives both programs a chance to survive and fight again (more Vincent D'Onofrio, I hope). A lot more promotional spots on NBC for the shows. Of course, "Criminal Intent" will be reruns from the fall USA Network season. But new Law & Order shows.
More.

LO:CI returns to NBC in January

From Futon Critic -

'LAW & ORDER' AND 'LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT' RETURN TO NBC LINEUP ON WEDNESDAYS IN EARLY JANUARY

"Law & Order" Resumes with Two-hour Season Premiere on Wednesday, January 2 and Will Be Joined by "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" One Week Later on January 9

BURBANK - December 3, 2007 - NBC will lawyer-up on Wednesday nights as the Emmy Award-winning "Law & Order" resumes with a two-hour season premiere event on Wednesday, January 2 (9-11 p.m. ET), and will continue on Wednesdays starting January 9 (10-11 p.m. ET) preceded by this season's network broadcast premiere of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (9-10 p.m. ET) in its return to NBC that night.
More.

Thanks Linda
______________________________________________________

From Chicago Tribune, 12.03.07

CBS announces 'Jericho's' return and NBC shakes up 'L&O' franchise
by Maureen Ryan

Excerpted ~

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” left NBC and migrated to the USA Network a few months ago, but the strike by the Writers Guild of America, which began Nov. 5, has left NBC and other networks in need of fresh scripted programming. So “Criminal Intent” will return to NBC Jan. 9. Full article.
____________________________________________

Note: NBC will replace BIONIC WOMAN and LIFE with LAW AND ORDER
on January 2 starting at 9PM EST,
then by repeats of LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT starting on January 9 at 9PM EST.

Finding character in Intent

From BostonNow, 12.3.07
by Al Norton

Vincent D'Onofrio first burst onto the scene with his role in 1987's Full Metal Jacket and has been wowing critics and fans with his work from then on. Since 2001 he has played Detective Bobby Gorin on Law And Order: Criminal Intent. Recently Boston Now talked with him about the series, his career, and this Thursday's powerful new episode.

BostonNOW: Untethered is a very different kind of episode for Law And Order: Criminal Intent. What was your reaction when you got the script?

Vincent D'Onofrio: We had been talking about it for a long time. There was a show on 60 Minutes about something very similar and I had talked to Warren (Leight, the show runner) about it, conversations about how we might be able to do something like that, with me going into an institution of some kind undercover. Warren came up with the story about bringing my brother into it and turning it into a Criminal Intent. When I read the script it was great. It was great from the first draft, actually.
Full article.

Thanks to Linda P, Paula N, Majorcase-ci.com!

Keeping order, from first page to last

From Los Angeles Times, 12.2.07
by Susan King

The work of script supervisors is often only noticed when something goes wrong.

Barbara Stoia, Script Supervisor
Current credit: USA's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Previous credits: "The Equalizer," "Q&A," "The Bone Collector"

Job description: "A script supervisor is often referred to as continuity because a film or a television show more often than not is shot out of sequence. There are certain plot points and certain performance aspects that have to be kept consistent. You may shoot part of a scene one day and not finish the scene until two days later. Or people may be inside a restaurant and you'll shoot that part one day and then two days later you shoot them coming out of the restaurant. Among other responsibilities, a script supervisor has to make sure the order of when the people left the restaurant, who was laughing, who was crying, what their wardrobe looked like in terms of buttons, coats and gloves." Full article.

Thanks Amy!

Strike Updates

From VDO Vault - thank you!

I have done all kinds of updating to the CI strike related thread at: Fans For WGA

You will find all kinds of video links, photos and stories there. Feel free to repost any or all of them...and anyone can repost anything I've put there.

Things CI fans can do to support the strike:

Make a phone call to Jeff Zucker at NBC (his direct line in NYC: 1-212-664-4444) at least once this week Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm Eastern expressing your support of CI and your displeasure at the networks and studios not negotiating in good faith with the writers (USA Network is under NBC so that's why we're calling Jeff...however you can also call the president of USA Network Bonnie Hammer at the same number, praise them for how well USA promotes CI and treats its fans, but ask her nicely to exert pressure on Jeff Zucker to get the strike settled quickly and fairly) . A sample script you can follow for Zucker is here.

Check in here and write or email advertisers letters per their campaign.

Go to pencils3mediamoguls.com and buy a box (or more) of 12 pencils to be sent to Jeff Zucker...you can specify that the pencils are in support of either Criminal Intent or a particular writer or showrunner (Rene Balcer or Warren Leight or whomever your favorite writer might be).

A good article to read to catch up on general strike related history - Here.

Any questions on the strike can be emailed to vdovault.