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Leno and O’Brien Go Back To Work
I have to admit I was naive in originally supporting the Writers Guild Strike in a knee jerk reaction to stick it to the man. Then I saw the thousands upon thousands of people who work behind the scenes who are ALSO out of work who are not pulling down the ridiculous salaries we like to pay our celebrities. Behind every star on the walk of fame there are thousands of average joes working paid jobs who put him there.
So now I tip my hat to those very few celebs who want to put on a brave face and show respect to their striking writers (who I also respect and agree with mostly).
CNN reports:
“During the 1988 writers strike, Johnny Carson reluctantly returned to ‘The Tonight Show’ without his writers after two months,” said NBC’s Executive Vice President for Late Night & Primetime Series, Rick Ludwin, in the statement. “Both Jay and Conan have supported their writers during the first two months of this WGA strike and will continue to support them. However, there are hundreds of people who will be able to return to work as a result of Jay’s and Conan’s decision.”
Hundreds of their staff members will be able to put food on their plates, pay their bills and carry on with their lives because these two had the balls to stand up for what is right and return to work. Giving their employees back their jobs.
Not surprising that if someone was crossing that line it would be these two. If I recall correctly, these guys were paying their staff even though they were not required at work.
Hopefully this will spawn others to return to work interim while a deal is being pounded out so that few others in the industry need to suffer the loss.
GOOD. I’m tired of this mess. These pouting little fucks on both sides need to be locked in a room with no food or water until they hammer out a deal. That’ll teach them. Hurry the hell up so I can get my 24 on.
How are the writers any more responsible for lost jobs than the studios. The writers maybe hurting peoples jobs in the short term but in the long term they’re standing up for a fair wage. Which even the anti-writers guild Movie Blog admits they’re not getting right now.
And this allegation that the online support for the writers is an effort to “stick it to the man” is just childish and stupid.
Katrina, I share your frustration.
I bet the studios and networks are happy that their movies and tv shows can now get plugged.
@Rusty
I agree that the writers deserve a fair wage. I have never denied that. EVERYTHING in Hollywood starts with the writer. But it is the writers that are holding the entire industry hostage by failing to compromise even a little. Some of their claims are unfair (asking for a cut of unproven internet sales etc) but most of what they ask for is just their due.
The studios take the risk and the writers still get paid. The day a writer gives money BACK for a failed movie, I will side with them.
“I agree that the writers deserve a fair wage. I have never denied that.”
Yes, I know you agree. That’s why I said “they’re standing up for a fair wage. Which even the anti-writers guild Movie Blog admits they’re not getting right now.”
see.
“it is the writers that are holding the entire industry hostage by failing to compromise even a little.”
I hate to break this to you Rodney but a “compromise” is by
definition the coming together of two opposing sides through MUTUAL CONCESSIONS.
So to say the writers aren’t compromising is ridiculous. One side can’t comprising, that would be called surrender.
“The day a writer gives money BACK for a failed movie, I will side with them.”
That would be a good point if anyone was suggesting writers deserve as much as the studio. But the controversy is about a fair wage which you agree they’re not getting.
You didn’t mention your ad hominem attack. I will take your silence as an apology which I accept.
rodney if studios don’t want to risk losing money then get out of the movie business.
sorry the studios entire reason for being is to fund and make movies.
that is their sole purpose. thats it.
and they still get the biggest slice of the pie and deservedly so but the writers are not asking for equal or more money than the studios but they want their fair share.
when you have the head of disney claiming pre-strike that they will make 1.5 billion from digital this year and now during strike all of sudden its the great unknown…its to new to say how much is being made…
well basically when they have to start lying they deserve to get fucked.
your argument that the day a writer gives back money when a film bombs is as ridiculous now as it was when john suggested a similar thing that brings me to my next point..
do you have an opinion of your own or do you just blindly follow john every time??
Variety has a great article right now on how the WGA is just using the whole “4 more cents” thing as a smoke screen to get what the heads of the union really want. More power, control over the Reality TV show market, and the ability to hold the studios hostage with animation and even non-producers association members and the ability force any writer who works in the industry to join the wga. They want to make it mandatory.
@Rusty James – You sound like a George Bush lacky. I’ve read tons of stuff on tmb that is very pro wga, but disagree on a couple of key issues, so like a Bush lacky you you come out and start calling them anti-wga ? Exact same as bush calling anyone who doesn’t support the Iraq war anti-freedom.
@Larry – “You sound like a George Bush lacky” wtf?!
I was unaware of W’s ardent WGA support.
LaRouche ‘08
Alfie? Do you really expect me to take you seriously when you don’t even read my posts and then make generalizations that I lack an opinion of my own?
I will say this again, to you.. again. You have used that generalization before and I clarified it before. John and I agree on a great many things, but we also disagree (get us talking about Blade Runner.. oh my) I am my own person. Do you have opinions of your own or do you blindly just disagree with anything we say?