The world of television in 2023 is facing a level of disruption that has not been seen in over sixty years. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) began their strike on May 3rd, following a dispute between screenwriters and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The dispute’s main points of conflict include wages, payment over residuals, and the use of AI.
The last WGA strike took place from 2007-2008, but this time they are joined by members of the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG), over similar labor disputes for actors working in film and television. The last time a double strike occurred was in 1960, underlining that the current labor disputes have reached a boiling point not seen in generations.
This exceptional halt in television production will leave a black hole in the schedule of many network TV channels and streamers, with no writers or actors working to create scripted shows. Reality shows, documenting real people and events, are an option many networks will reach for to fill the void — but it’s not as straightforward as it may seem.
What happened to reality shows during the 2007-08 Writers’ Strike?
To get an idea of how the 2023 Hollywood strikes will play out, we must look to history to see how networks filled the airtime. Between 2007 and 2008, an unprecedented number of reality TV shows were commissioned, due to their unscripted format. If you’re a fan of Celebrity Apprentice or Keeping Up With The Kardashians, you should thank the WGA — as these shows’ fast-tracked development to start in time to replace scripted shows going off the air.
Networks also ordered extra episodes of pre-existing reality shows, such as Big Brother, that were proven to be popular with viewers. Reality was a tried-and-tested hit with viewers before the strike, with American Idol being the most popular series on television before and during the strike. The boom in reality shows during the strike was a response to established viewing habits. Americans liked watching reality shows — and they certainly liked getting more of them.
It is also important to recognize how the reality TV boom shaped the culture of today. According to a Vox report from 2015, there were 83% more unscripted shows than scripted — and the number of reality shows had been steadily increasing for years. The WGA strike ensured viewers remained hooked on reality — and likely played a big role in its stars, such as the Kardashians, becoming household names. It was difficult for viewers to have their attention diverted from the unscripted shows when they were the only genre consistently airing.
Will there be more reality shows coming out, then?
The answer is a little more complicated than just yes or no. Streaming services did not exist at the same level in 2007 as they do in 2023, and viewers have much more opportunity to start pre-existing shows within easy reach. Major Netflix tentpoles, such as The Witcher, which wrapped production before the strikes, will still be released on schedule.
Viewing habits have certainly changed over the past 15 years, too. According to Forbes, 78% of American households are subscribed to at least one streaming service as of 2023. If viewers are not in the habit of checking out streamer reality shows like Selling Sunset or Love is Blind, it is more difficult to change viewing habits the way scheduled live television can.
Across streamers and traditional TV, all scripted shows with SAG actors — such as Abbott Elementary, Yellowjackets, and Wednesday — have suspended production entirely. This leaves a lot of room for reality shows to potentially be commissioned and produced to fill in these gaps and attract viewers’ attention — but it’s not as easy as it might have been in 2007.
Hit unscripted shows like The Masked Singer and Queer Eye will continue to be produced without much issue. For new reality shows, its a little stickier. According to Deadline, TV networks have no anticipated interruption for reality shows, but there is much “uncertainty” for shows that don’t follow a traditional script. Some reality shows that have question writers, like Jimmy Fallon’s Password quiz show, have recently halted production due to the strikes.
Do reality shows have writers like fictional shows do?
Again, the answer is complicated. Quiz shows like Jeopardy! are technically reality shows that nonetheless employ WGA writers, and question writing was completed ahead of the strikes, meaning production and airing are still on schedule. Commissioning new quiz shows and questions during the strike may not be possible.
Reality shows such as 90 Day Fiancé have been accused of having scripted scenes and hiring actors by their participants — but this has never been confirmed by its producers. If true, these shows cannot hire actors or direct their stars to follow written material without becoming a union violation, which could result in significant penalties for production companies and their crews.
Due to such complications, it is likely that reality shows will not be commissioned in droves as they were during the last WGA strike. Both streamers and networks will likely take it slower in order not to cause further labor disputes with unions. In terms of scheduling, however, many reality shows will face little interruption.