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What does this mean for my favorite show?
Soap-opera writers have to produce around 250 episodes a year, with five original episodes airing most weeks.
During the 20078 WGA strike, eight soap operas were on the air.
In 2023, only four are still in production.
We spoke to soap-opera veterans on a picket line in Manhattan to hear how the strike is affecting them.
Our unique circumstance is our shows on every day of the year, he said.
So unlike a lot of these shows that arent in production, our show is in production right now.
And the shows dont stop.
Im being replaced on day one by other people.
This allows them to keep working during a strike instead of standing in solidarity with their colleagues.
But as they did in 2007, the shows have continued.
I watched his heart break in the first strike, she said.
He had just gotten the job.
He had a gazillion ideas.
The scabs were doing the work, and it was literally a shit show.
I think there were like 50 episodes of our show written during that time, said Carlivati.
And of course, they dont give them to you until the strike is over.
And then they hand you this pile.
And I had to read it to find out what was going on on my own show.
He added that the issues on the table this time are more pressing than ever.
Cascio started working on soaps because of the job security and protections for staff writers.
Prior to that, she worked in features development.
I finally said,You know what?
Im gonna go on a soap so I have a weekly paycheck.
And you think,Oh my god, theyre so successful!
Theyre on these great shows!
This is so cool!She shook her head: No, no.
I met Ron Carlivati on my first day onOne Life to Live.
He was our assistant, and I said, Hes gonna be my boss someday.
Cascio recounted an example from when Carlivati was headingOne Life to Livein 2013.
We were sitting in his apartment doing a Fourth of July episode.
Our fans love holidays.
And we had the evil woman come in, and she was trying to get the good guy.
And she holds the doll and goes, Ew!
It wet on me!
And she throws the doll on the grill and it explodes.
That was one of my favorites.
