The writers' strike is still ongoing, and the people behind CBS' Criminal Minds have been quite open about their sentiments on the picketing, which threatens to continue on until next year.

"We are entering into the great unknown here and I really feel for our crew," AJ Cook, who plays Jennifer “JJ” Jareau on Criminal Minds, told The Press-Telegram during the first week of the strike.  "Many of them live paycheck to paycheck and can't afford to have a five- or six-month strike.  I support the writers and I understand; I just want it to be over quickly."

At the root of the strike is the Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA), a basic contract that is renewed every three years.  When negotiations fell through this year, the WGA called a strike, and on Monday, November 5, writers took to the streets and formed picket lines, protesting the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers (AMPTP).

During negotiations, many proposals were made regarding the new contract, but the main issues of contention were DVD residuals, union jurisdiction and new media, which includes downloadable content from the Internet.

Of the new media dispute, Criminal Minds writer Andrew Wilder said, “They call it airing promotional and they can show it beginning to end, the entire thing.  They can have paid advertising in it, they can charge viewing online and we don't get paid anything.  That would keep us out forever.”

Meanwhile, Criminal Minds executive producer Edward Allen Bernero has posted several entries regarding the strike on the blog, Criminal Minds Fanatic.  He said that although the writing staff wants to get back to work, they are taking part in a significant cause, claiming the proposals made by AMPTP “kills our industry now and for the future.”

“We love this show as much as you do and we feel a huge obligation to all of you to keep making it,” Bernero said, addressing fans of the show.  “If Criminal Minds runs out of new episodes, we're sorry.  Extremely sorry.  We already miss the writing room, already miss playing with the characters, already miss working with the most amazing crew in television…  But being sorry to all of you doesn't mean a lack of resolve.  This choice was made for us but we will see it through.”

The show's writers are not the only ones on the picket lines.  Series stars Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore have also been striking with the WGA, as well as co-executive producers Simon Mirren and Kris Campbell.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Press-Telegram, Criminal Minds Fanatic
(Image Courtesy of Criminal Minds Fanatic)