Matt Belloni: Here we are, Labor Day, and we’re entering Month Four of the strikes. I hate to say I’m not surprised, but I never thought there would be real movement until September. I am surprised, however, that the studios seem to be at a stalemate with the WGA and that they aren’t even talking to SAG-AFTRA.

Jonathan Handel: I can’t say I’m surprised, either—but I am disappointed that the C.E.O.s didn’t get involved until more than 100 days had elapsed. That’s key, because lead AMPTP negotiator Carol Lombardini and the company labor V.P.s are primarily empowered to say “No”—which Chris Keyser and the WGA negotiating committee knew, of course. The C.E.O.s have either learned nothing from the past or, more likely, thought the delay would wear down the writers’ resolve. Which also means they’ve learned nothing, since we saw recently how determined the writers were in their lengthy campaign against the talent agencies. And most actors are used to going months without work.

Matt: Everyone asks me what I’m hearing about the negotiations, so let’s get into it: The studios actually felt they got close to a deal in their last face-to-face with the WGA, where they said they were willing to give in a couple areas, as long as the union agreed to use the most recent studio proposal as a template. When the union said no, talks broke off and the studios decided to release the offer publicly, which pissed off the writers, and now we’re kinda nowhere. Do you know what the WGA’s counter is to “the underwhelming AMPTP offer”? Did they actually make one?