The Writers' Strike

[LurkerNan]

I read that CBS is ramping up for an off-season Big Brother, which explains the casting call commercials I've been seeing. No writers needed there, just some famewhores and a lot of free-flowing booze.

[PearlySweetcake]

More love for New York-based shows and artists: Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre holds benefit shows for laid-off staffers.

[polygal]

Since everyone is still shitting all over Ellen for being WGA and still taping her show, does anyone know if Whoopi Goldberg is a WGA member? She's hosted the Oscars and had a sitcom on NBC, but I'm not sure if she's a member. I've read that The View employs WGA writers, but no one's saying boo about them continuing to tape episodes. Although, if I was a View writer, I wouldn't want to admit it to anyone.

[zivvie]

Whoopi is a member of SAG/AFTRA/AEA, but I'm pretty sure she's not a member of the WGA. She may, however, be a member of the Dramatists Guild (which is a professional association, not a union), which is made up of playwrights, composers, and lyricists.

[InchoateDetails]

I hope the WGA and the networks have better luck at the bargaining table then the Stagehand Union did with NY Stage producers. They met this weekend but talks broke down again. That means that several Broadway musicals will most likely close this week, which would have been the most lucrative week of the year.

Didn't the WGA already concede something before they went to the bargaining table? What else will the AMPTP want them to give up?

[marywebgirl]

They conceded getting a bigger percentage of DVD sales, and they gave up trying to bring in reality show writers a long time ago. Pretty much the only thing they want now is residuals for online content (at least that's my understanding).

[InchoateDetails]

Thanks MaryWebGirl. I can't believe that the WGA gave up getting a bigger share of DVD sales (they could have really done well there) and the AMPTP still won't give them online residuals!! How greedy can they seriously be?

[zivvie]

{Jeremy Irons voice} You have no idea.{/JIv} Wait til the very-likely SAG/DGA strike next year.

[huntergrayson]

Nikki Finke says in her latest column that the strike is causing studios to break out the force majeure clause to screw over actors -- including the BSG cast. So they're suspended without pay yet still under contract, so they can't work elsewhere and are expected to show up when/if production starts.

Yeah, that's gonna make the SAG members real happy.

[zivvie]

Here's more about the force majeure ("greater force") clause from the SAG website. It's icky all the way around.