TVSquad

Have you seen all those feel-good commercials on CBS showing the actors returning to work after the WGA strike, the message promising us that good times -- and fresh new episodes -- would soon be on the air? Well, here comes the cold shower. The big story this morning out of L.A. is that Hollywood is shaking with fear that the actors will strike this summer if a new contract isn't hammered out before June 30.

Big names like George Clooney and Tom Hanks have been quietly urging Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg to commence negotiations now in hopes of averting another contentious battle. Even AFTRA (SAG's sister organization, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) reportedly wants to start formal talks.

Rosenberg, who won the presidency of his union by promising to be a tough negotiator, says the guild will not be prepared to open official talks until April. However, in a February 28 memo, Rosenberg did say some behind the scenes chats are taking place. We can only hope that they're doing more than just chatting and that something substantive is happening so that when the formal talks do begin, an agreement can be reached before the June deadline is reached.

Complicating matters is a petition signed by 1,000 guild members that was sent to Rosenberg which would put conditions on who gets to vote for a settlement deal; that is, only actors who've logged in enough working days over the past six years.

From a viewer's standpoint, another strike in Hollywood would be a disaster. It doesn't matter to us that the 120,000 guild members are ticked off about forced commercial product placement in their television and film work -- and their not being paid for those endorsements.

We want the SAG to get to the table and get the issues ironed out. Another protracted work stoppage that's a fight for pennies, winds up costing millions, and it's anathema to entertainment. Remember the old adage, actors, the show must go on. Before you organize a picket line, keep that in mind. Sure, negotiate hard for your fair share; just don't push it to a strike, please.