It’s incredible, the speed with which a story travels around the Internet, morphing as it goes. The whole process reminds me a little a lot of the old game of “telephone” where a player begins with a one sentence and passes it, ear to ear, around the room, until it reaches the last person, who says it out loud. Of course the final utterance of the sentence sounds nothing at all like the original sentence. So it has been with the wonderfully optimistic news about the Writers Guild (WGA) strike. On Friday, Nikki Finke, arising from her sickbed at Deadline Hollywood Daily reported “A very productive day” of negotiations. Finke has been ahead of the curve every step of the way during the strike.

On Saturday, the New York Times broke something more specific than mere optimism. Citing anonymous sources (there is an official press blackout surrounding the informal negotiations) the Times’ story said: “Informal talks between representatives of Hollywood’s striking writers and production companies have eliminated the major roadblocks to a new contract, which could lead to a tentative agreement as early as next week”.

On her site, Finke reported that the WGA board will be briefed tomorrow (Monday) by the WGA negotiating team and that a draft of the agreement could be ready by next Friday, sending writers back to their word processors, and actors, directors, producers, and everyone else back to the set (after gearing up again). Those are the facts (as we know them).

Yesterday afternoon, Kristin at E!Online reported that a settlement “is imminent” giving a slightly different (and more optimistic) reporting of the facts. 

Last night, that became “LA Radio Reporting Writers Strike Deal” as reported by Wired. Telephone. Indeed. More like Internet. Or cell phone.

Everyone is optimistic, but jumping the gun only raises hopes when they have been dashed before. The WGA is urging caution.  A letter to the Guild membership from President Partric Verrone (WGA West) and Michael Winship (WGA East) clarified the issues, and while maintaining optimism, cautioned: "We are still in talks and do not yet have a contract…When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.”