FIRST OFF . . .

ABC Entertainment President Brandon Stoddard came under fire from the two largest actors unions Wednesday, following his statement earlier this week that ABC is preparing for a possible actors strike this summer. “Any discussion of a strike at this early date is irresponsible,” said Mark Locher, a spokesman for the 70,000-member Screen Actors Guild. He called Stoddard’s remarks premature. Dick Moore, a spokesman for the 68,000-member American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, whose members are also covered in the SAG contract that expires June 30, said “to even conceive of a strike at this point I think would be extremely unwise and very bad for the industry. I don’t see any reason to think that we’re not going to negotiate a contract (without a strike).” Stoddard told the winter TV press tour here that such a strike was a possibility, and said the network was proceeding as though a walkout might occur. SAG and AFTRA negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to open May 15.