ABC Studios axes producers idled by strike

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC Studios on Friday became the first TV studio to terminate production deals as a result of the Hollywood writers strike.

"Force majeure" -- or act of God -- provisions in the contracts allow studios to cancel deals with writers and producers idled by the strike, which is now in its third month. These deals usually involve the supply of offices and staffers on the studio lot, and can be both costly and unproductive.

Close to 30 writing and nonwriting producers who don't have active projects have been axed, including the "That '70s Show" writing duo of Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, "Seinfeld" veteran Larry Charles, "Project Greenlight" producer Sean Bailey, and actor Taye Diggs, who landed a producing deal a year ago when he signed on to star in ABC's "Private Practice," a spinoff from "Grey's Anatomy."

"The ongoing strike has had a significant detrimental impact on development and production, so we are forced to make the difficult decision to release a number of talented, respected individuals from their development deals," an ABC Studios spokeswoman said late Friday.

While force majeure action by TV studios had been seen as inevitable, the extent of the ABC axings raised some eyebrows. Rumors abound that Warner Bros. TV will terminate about 5-6 pacts next week, with other TV studios expected to follow.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter