Are Things Finally Looking Up for Our Picketing Entertainers?

After four miserable, non-entertaining weeks of endless chanting and sign-hoisting, might there finally be hope for resolution to the writers’ and stagehands’ strikes? Maybe! Talks between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are scheduled to resume today in Los Angeles, but, according to Nikki Finke, a deal may have already been struck. “It’s already done, basically,” says her inside source. Finke warns not to expect an official announcement this week, but speculates movie and TV writers could be back to fighting the War on Christmas by Christmas! Great news!

Things look good on this coast too; Broadway stagehands’ union Local One met with producers yesterday for twelve-hour marathon negotiating session beginning last night and lasting through this morning. Says a spokesman for the stagehands, “progress had been made,” meaning theatergoers may soon have more options than just Pygmalion and The Grinch. Excellent!

Even if both strikes should continue, though, don’t worry too much — according to this morning’s New York Times, picketing is awesome! At least as awesome as writing or stagehanding! There are assistants passing out free scones, and lowly TV scribes get to hang out with heavyweights like J.J. Abrams and Vulture strike mascot Tina Fey. So really, no matter what happens, everything will be totally fine.

Dare we hope a deal has been struck? [Deadline Hollywood Daily]
Broadway Talks to Take 12-Hour Break [AP]
A Jovial Air on Picket Lines for Hollywood Writers [NYT]