Ellen Degeneres

[december]

Oprah's writers are not union writers. I do not know about Tyra or Rachael Ray.

[Deleted]

Leela, I also don't quite understand all the hate. I've maybe seen her show 5-10 times. She has writers for a 5 minute monologue. Cancel her show because of a lack of 5 minutes? Now, she just doesn't do the monologue. It's her show, she can do what she likes.

As for the strike, I don't get it. If you're not happy at your job because you think you're being screwed over, join the real world, and find another job. There are millions out there. Just don't complain when you're ready to go back to work and there is no more work for you because the show was canceled or you were replaced, etc.

***runs for her life***

[zambambee]

The hate, for me, is because she is a member of the union that's striking. They are fighting for the benifits she will enjoy if they win, but she's not joining them. I'm a member of a union as well, and there's no way I would sit by while every one else was picketing.

[freelancergirl]

Yup, zambambee, that's it exactly. Ellen is in the WGA, and yet she's still working. Blech. I'll never look at her in the same way.

[Ginger]

She has writers for a 5 minute monologue. Cancel her show because of a lack of 5 minutes? Now, she just doesn't do the monologue.

I'm pretty sure Ellen's writers write a lot more than the monologue or else she wouldn't need to employ them in the first place. Ellen does a monologue and usually some kind of comedy segment (going into the audience, going door-to-door or whatever) and that's at least 20 minutes of show that her writers would write. And they probably write a lot of the funny guest questions that seem off-the cuff.

Oprah and Tyra, etc have straight talk shows that for the most part are not scripted, and their scripted stuff (intros & such) does not require creative writers. That is why they don't employ union writers & therefore don't have much to do with the strike.

But like I said above, I'm curious as to what Ellen's show is like these days without her writers.

If you're not happy at your job because you think you're being screwed over, join the real world, and find another job. There are millions out there.

Not to get into a big debate, but I think the unions (and I guess a lot of other people) would argue that the reason why there are so many jobs out there that pay halfway decent wages and don't require 14 hour workdays and don't force their employees to work in toxic workspaces is because of the unions & the collective bargaining that has helped us obtain such high working standards.

[Deleted]

You're right Ginger. I also don't want to get into a huge debate, but I think the points you listed were very correct, a long time ago. Since then, laws have been passed requiring safe work environments, required minimum wages, and overtime too.

I guess what I was trying to say so horribly, is that there are two sides to every story. The strikers are getting all the publicity and sympathy, but the owners are the ones that are actually trying to run a business.

I'll just be glad when both sides can come to an understanding and agreement, that's all.

[Ginger]

I also don't want to get into a huge debate, but I think the points you listed were very correct, a long time ago. Since then, laws have been passed requiring safe work environments, required minimum wages, and overtime too.

I agree, and I think one of the reasons this strike is not getting as much traction as it could is because the writers are striking from a position that is already very, very privileged. They aren't suffering. But the principle behind unions & collective bargaining is to keep maintaining and improving standards so that 30 years from now, people aren't still making 2007 wages.

[leela46]

Thanks for the information everyone. I really didn't know the difference regarding Ellen vs. the other syndicated talk shows. I'm surprised to hear that there are non-union writers on these other shows. I would have thought that a writer would have to belong to the WGA just to be hired in the first place. I wonder if Ellen will have a hard time getting people to write for her once the strike is over?

[zambambee]

I don't think this strike is so much about the network execs trying to run a business as it is about them trying to get as much money as possible for themselves, down to the very last penny. What they're doing is actually bad for business.

[freddydingo]

Since then, laws have been passed requiring safe work environments, required minimum wages, and overtime too.

None of which would have come to happen if it weren't for the unions whose strikes forced those laws and concessions long ago.
Uh, topic? Ellen still isn't funny.