The Screenwriters' Strike (by Jim Wallis)

Friday, November 09, 2007
The 'Desperate' Consequences of the Writers' Strike (by Jim Wallis)

The evening news has been filled with tragic reminders of our broken world: continued violence in Iraq, bombings in Afghanistan, and political unrest in Pakistan.

But the most devastating news of all?

Due to Hollywood's ongoing screenwriters strike, Desperate Housewives may have to go into reruns this season. Terrible news, I know. My issue is not with the screenwriters themselves (I sympathize with their efforts to get an equitable share of corporate profits). As to the content of our media culture—now that's another story.

So what will be the consequences of our nation's restricted access to Housewives? Brace yourselves. This could get ugly.

America's appetite for the scandalous, seductive, and scintillating may have to be put on hold for a time. Adultery as entertainment may have to give way to long meals around the family dinner table. On cold, dark evenings we may have to fill the void reading books in front of the warm glow of fireplaces instead of catching up on Eva Longoria's most recent escapades with her pool boy. And rather than lying in bed channel surfing the for the latest television infidelity, we married couples may actually have to turn to one another and engage in meaningful conversations (or even in committed, marital sex).

What terrible, horrible, utterly rotten, no-good news indeed.