TVSquad

Now that the strike is over, networks and the powers that be behind each shows are deciding how many episodes they can shoot in the coming two months or so to air by the end of May or early June. Their decision will be based on the storylines they can offer and wrap up in a small number of episodes as well as the production cost. Some series, like Heroes, that require more FX, flashy sets, more post-production time, may resume shooting in the coming weeks but those episodes will more than likely be for next season. But one thing most fans (I include myself in the lot) didn't consider in the equation to determine the number of new episodes will get are the actors' contracts.

In his latest edition of "Ask Ausiello", TV Guide's Michael Ausiello answers a question about how the actors' contracts will affect the number of episodes that are produced this spring (either for the current season or the next). "Are the actors legally obligated to return to work to complete whatever is left of the 22 episodes?," he is asked by a reader.

The TV gossip columnist admits up front that it's a complicated question. According to a TV talent agent Ausiello contacted, actors are obligated to go back to work to complete a few episodes. However, the number of "few episodes" will be affected by the actors' contracts because some of them include starting and end dates for shooting. Therefore, if shooting must take place after the "end" date, actors who have that clause in their contracts may either ask for extra money or just say they won't show up for work since it's not in their contract and that they have other projects to work on. What could also happen is that if it's only one actor or two of a series that can't show up for work because of such clause, they could be written off a few episodes so that production can move on without them.

There you have it, another reason why some of your favorite shows may either shoot a very small number of episodes to air this spring or will not return to the small screen until September!