Impending WGA strike prompts CBS to consider UFC programming

by Jesse Holland on Nov 8, 2007 11:25 PM EST Comment 15 comments

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

CBS is finding that desperate times really do call for desperate measures as the soon to be writer-free network is considering producing one or more primetime UFC specials, according to Dave Meltzer.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) could strike as early as tomorrow to protest what they consider to be unfair compensation in a variety of mediums. That means most of television's landscape will be reduced to a barren wasteland of reruns and infomercials.

Now that I think of it, I probably won't even recognize the difference.

Anyway, I'm sure most of you will join me in mourning the loss of all those magnificent one-liners from such hit shows as Cavemen, but the absence of new programming is forcing networks to look outside their normal venues for original content.

Even to the once-taboo world of mixed martial arts.

Unfortunately, a deal like this could end before it even begins - all depending on the severity and duration of the WGA strike (which is projected to last well into 2008).

However, the chance to break into mainstream television could be the final frontier for a sport that has experienced unparalleled growth in the past few years.

Like they say in mixed martial arts: Anything can happen.

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put the ultimate fighter show on reruns and start showing old pay perview cards

by bryant on Nov 8, 2007 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This would be so huge words could not even describe it. BTW Mania could you find an older CBS logo?

by Beltstud on Nov 9, 2007 12:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This would be so huge words could not even describe it. BTW Mania could you find an older CBS logo?

Haha…my age is showing

by Jesse Holland on Nov 9, 2007 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This will make my Christmas

by LouisN on Nov 9, 2007 12:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

UFC in HD for me then. WOOOOOO

by DJ Pullout on Nov 9, 2007 7:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Haha…my age is showing

hahahaha, i was thinking the same thing, seem like that logo came from the Brady Bunch era……

by Shaolins Finest on Nov 9, 2007 8:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

LOL…I was thinking the exact same thing about the old logo. At least it’s not in black & white!

by Eric on Nov 9, 2007 8:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Will this cause any conflict with Spike? This will be a great way to give us more “free” events.

by delldog on Nov 9, 2007 9:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think they should do some cross-over promotion with CBS, like putting Arlovski in the ring that tool David Caruso from CSI Miami.

by pw on Nov 9, 2007 9:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Will this cause any conflict with Spike? This will be a great way to give us more “free” events.

Spike is owned by viacom, wich in turn is owned by CBS

by Ironic Sumo on Nov 9, 2007 10:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

There are a few TV shows that I really like to watch that will no longer be on, well new at least. These writers are a bunch of retards. Do they actually think they will make more money not working? If they strike thru 2008, that will give opportunities for such vocabularic geniuses as Jesse Holland to become writers of their very own television shows. Any group of morons can come up with a better show than Caveman and Pushing Daisies… (as a side note, I have NEVER seen either of those shows) I think we already have enough reality TV shows… What TV shows do I watch that will be effected? Heroes, Prison Break, Nip/Tuck and Law & Order SVU. This SUCKS. These writers better be back by February when the greatest show in the history of television, LOST, is planned to return.

by ViolentMike on Nov 9, 2007 10:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The writers can always apply for jobs at WWE. They pay pretty well.

by pw on Nov 9, 2007 11:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The writers can always apply for jobs at WWE. They pay pretty well.

I wish. I could write better fucking TV than WWE creative.

My brain when trying to sit through an episode of RAW or even worse, TNA: “NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGH UUUUUUUUUUUUUUH…………………………………..”.

by SixT-4 on Nov 9, 2007 4:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Being in the UK, i don’t know the details about this – but isn’t the strike already taking place? Hence a lot of shows are off (eg. daily show, colbert report etc)?