Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Union officials representing striking Hollywood writers said Thursday they have filed an unfair labor practices complaint claiming studios violated federal law by breaking off negotiations.
The Writers Guild of America demanded in a statement that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers return to the bargaining so the six-week strike can be ended and thousands of workers idled by the walkout can return to their jobs.
It was the unions that wanted to strike, so why should they be complaining that their employers do not wish to cave to their demands? Seriously, someone explain this to me.
Originally posted by: cdmccool
Won't miss any of those shows. The strike could last forever for all I care.
LOS ANGELES - With "American Idol" and Jay Leno back on the air in January, it may seem that all is right with television. But the industry is facing its worst labor crisis in two decades, a crippling writers strike that's reshaping the business of TV and threatening to permanently shift the viewing habits of millions of Americans.
Now in its seventh week, the Writers Guild of America walkout has forced producers to reconsider how shows are developed, the type of shows produced and how they're sold to advertisers.
On the audience side of the equation, a flood of strike-induced reality series and truncated dramas may drive viewers toward alternate entertainment ? including Internet programming, which is at the heart of the contract dispute.
The walkout has halted production of most scripted and late-night shows, although Leno and Conan O'Brien are coming back to work next month on NBC, as is ABC's Jimmy Kimmel. CBS' David Letterman was considered likely to follow suit.
Talk of industry change is dismissed by some writers as spin designed to undermine union resolve on payment for streamed and downloaded distribution. But networks contend the strike has given a new urgency to the need to confront ballooning costs and an evolving marketplace.
"The strike is forcing us to look at the way we all do business and to make choices that were tough when business was as usual," said NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker. "This is allowing us to make the tougher choices."
With negotiations at a standstill, the impact is extending to the 2008-09 season, beginning with the typical first-quarter "pilot season" in which networks commission single episodes of potential series.
It's an unwieldy process that may have had its day, said two executives at a major network, speaking on condition of anonymity because their company had yet to officially detail its plans.
Pilots are more expensive than ever to produce, reaching $6 million or more for complex action dramas, but don't necessarily represent the series that are delivered, the executives said. This year's results were unimpressive, with a number of anticipated new series ? ranging from NBC's "Bionic Woman" to ABC's "Cavemen" ? failing to get ratings traction.
Instead, networks are considering taking pitches straight to series, especially when a show comes from road-tested producers. A prolonged strike would force the issue, pushing broadcasters up against the fall season production deadline.
To read full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22317516/
The People's Choice Awards had the red carpet yanked out from under it Wednesday as fallout from the Hollywood writers strike grew. The ceremony, which typically airs live, will be taped for a Jan. 8 telecast on CBS, a spokeswoman for the show said. Queen Latifah, who previously was announced as host, will be part of the new format.
The Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike for seven weeks, already had flexed its muscle by refusing to participate in the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, the ceremonies that represent Hollywood's biggest promotional showcases.
"We realize there are pressing issues facing the entertainment industry, including the WGA strike, and out of respect for everyone involved this provided an opportunity to pilot a new format this year," awards spokeswoman Jeannie Tharrington told The Associated Press.
The show will include pre-recorded acceptance speeches by winners as well as their responses to questions sent in by fans, according to a People's Choice statement.
The "new approach will give fans a more personal glimpse into the lives of their favorite actors and musicians," awards President Fred Nelson said in a statement.
Full article: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertai...t/wireStory?id=4030404
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NEW YORK - Leaders of striking television writers plan to meet Friday with David Letterman's production company in an attempt to reach a separate deal that could make the "Late Show" the only late-night TV program on the air with a writing staff.
The union's announcement last week that it would negotiate separately with production companies was seen as an indication that writers would work out something with Worldwide Pants, the Letterman-owned company that produces his show and Craig Ferguson's CBS talker.
It has not worked out that way, a sign that some in the Writer's Guild may be having second thoughts. Meanwhile, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel have all said they would resume their programs on Jan. 2 without their writing staffs.
Full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22343659/
"Late Show with David Letterman" and "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" will be back with their writers airing joke-filled new hours starting Wednesday, the shows' production company, Worldwide Pants, announced Friday.
An interim agreement between the Letterman-owned company and the Writers Guild of America will allow the full writing staffs for both shows to return to work, even as the Hollywood writers strike continues to shutter much TV and movie production. Both of those CBS late-night shows have been airing reruns since the strike began eight weeks ago.
A WGA executive, Jeff Hermanson, told Reuters that talks between the union and Letterman?s company had produced a ?full, binding, independent agreement? that includes provisions for paying writers for work distributed over the Internet.
Compensation for Internet content has been the main sticking point in talks aimed at ending the WGA strike, now in its eighth week.
Several other late-night television hosts, including Jay Leno and Conan O?Brien of NBC and Jimmy Kimmel of ABC, are planning to resume broadcasts of new episodes on Jan. 2 without their writers.
"I am grateful to the WGA for granting us this agreement," Letterman said. "This is not a solution to the strike, which unfortunately continues to disrupt the lives of thousands. But I hope it will be seen as a step in the right direction."
The deal, which restores the two shows to business as usual, gives them an enormous advantage over their competition.
NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" as well as ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" had already announced they would resume Wednesday without benefit of their writing teams. Similarly, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert" planned to return writer-less on Monday, Jan. 7.
Full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22421779/
Similarly, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert" planned to return writer-less on Monday, Jan. 7.
NEW YORK ? The striking writers union told member Jay Leno on Thursday that he violated its rules by penning and delivering punch lines in his first "Tonight" show monologue in two months on NBC the night before.
The union did not immediately say what, if anything, it intended to do about it.
The scolding came despite Leno's own public support for the union, including delivering doughnuts to a picket line. Leno also paid his employees' salaries ? except for the writers ? while he was off the air and "Tonight" writers were pointedly absent from a picket line outside his studio Wednesday.
Much of Leno's first monologue discussed the strike that kept him absent, and he poked fun at NBC Universal boss Jeff Zucker's "mansion." But there were also standard monologue jokes about Paul McCartney's divorce, the weather in Iowa and Britney Spears.
Leno said he wrote his own jokes and that he didn't turn to "outside guys."
"I'm doing what I did the day I started," he said. "I write jokes and wake my wife up in the middle of the night and say, `Honey, is this funny?' So if this monologue doesn't work it's my wife's fault."
He maintained: "We are following the guild thing. We can write for ourselves."
The East and West Coast chapters of the Writers Guild adopted strike rules that prohibit guild members from "performing any writing services during a strike for any and all struck companies." Leno's 19 writers remain on strike.
"This prohibition includes all writing by any guild member that would be performed on-air by that member, including monologues, characters and featured appearances, if any portion of that written material is customarily written by striking writers," the rules state.
Full article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320074,00.html
LOS ANGELES - Golden Globe-nominated actors are expected to snub the awards in support of striking Hollywood writers, the actors union said Friday, jeopardizing one of the entertainment industry's signature showcases.
owever, said it was sticking by its plans to air the Jan. 13 ceremony, despite the uncertainty about how much ? if any ? star power the Globes could muster.
"The network plans to move forward with the broadcast at this point," NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said, adding that it has yet to be determined which actors will participate.
Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg made the announcement after canvassing nominees during the past several weeks.
"There appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross" the picket lines to present or accept an award, he said in a prepared statement.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organizes the awards, said it was wrestling with the "unfortunate predicament."
"We are making every effort to work out a solution that will permit the Golden Globes to take place with the creative community present to participate," Jorge Camara, the group's president, said in a statement.
The association hoped to announce a resolution Monday, Camara said.
Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200..._en_tv/hollywood_labor
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
How exactly did Leno break the rules? I was on the writer's side in all of this, but the more I see how this thing is being handled, I'm equally disgusted with both sides.
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
How exactly did Leno break the rules? I was on the writer's side in all of this, but the more I see how this thing is being handled, I'm equally disgusted with both sides.
From my understanding Leno is a member of the guild. Since they are striking he is violating his membership agreement/contract by writing. It does not matter that he is the one delivering the lines, it is still breaking the rules.
And I really don't care for either side on this one, though I think the writers are acting more childish than the producers.
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
How exactly did Leno break the rules? I was on the writer's side in all of this, but the more I see how this thing is being handled, I'm equally disgusted with both sides.
From my understanding Leno is a member of the guild. Since they are striking he is violating his membership agreement/contract by writing. It does not matter that he is the one delivering the lines, it is still breaking the rules.
And I really don't care for either side on this one, though I think the writers are acting more childish than the producers.
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
How exactly did Leno break the rules? I was on the writer's side in all of this, but the more I see how this thing is being handled, I'm equally disgusted with both sides.
From my understanding Leno is a member of the guild. Since they are striking he is violating his membership agreement/contract by writing. It does not matter that he is the one delivering the lines, it is still breaking the rules.
And I really don't care for either side on this one, though I think the writers are acting more childish than the producers.
I agree. Americans are much too dependant on the idiot box these days. I left behind TV 10 years ago and havent missed it at all.Originally posted by: cdmccool
Won't miss any of those shows. The strike could last forever for all I care.
Originally posted by: shortylickens
I agree. Americans are much too dependant on the idiot box these days. I left behind TV 10 years ago and havent missed it at all.
I'm hoping at least one of the big networks goes out of business and the others get scared silly.
Most couch potato's would better to go outside once a day and breathe some fresh air and perhaps read a book.
In reality I think this will just increase the number of fools joining online forums. Now more than ever I am glad we have an army of Mods here at Anandtech.
As nicely worded as your post was, it had even less of a point than mine.Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: shortylickens
I agree. Americans are much too dependant on the idiot box these days. I left behind TV 10 years ago and havent missed it at all.
I'm hoping at least one of the big networks goes out of business and the others get scared silly.
Most couch potato's would better to go outside once a day and breathe some fresh air and perhaps read a book.
In reality I think this will just increase the number of fools joining online forums. Now more than ever I am glad we have an army of Mods here at Anandtech.
I'm glad you can have an opinion and I'm also glad I do not agree. Good day to you, sir.
NEW YORK - The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and NBC engaged in 11th-hour sessions Sunday to try to save the boycott-stricken Golden Globes, but the network apparently is poised to pull the telecast as a result of the Hollywood writers strike.
A source close to NBC told msnbc.com that the network has already made its decision to pull the Golden Globes telecast, and to expect an announcement confirming the telecast cancellation on Tuesday or Wednesday.
?NBC feels that it?s better to have an awards show with no one watching than have a show where no one shows up,? the source told msnbc.com. ?They decided this over the weekend, despite saying that they?re still negotiating. Now, what hasn?t been decided is what they?re going to do with all that airtime, and that?s why they haven?t made an announcement yet.?
The HFPA, whose 100-odd members organize the ceremony, is pushing NBC to pull the plug on the broadcast because that will prompt the Writers Guild of America to lift its pickets and enable stars to attend the January 13 event. On Friday, the Screen Actors Guild said its members would not cross picket lines to attend.
NBC and its chief Jeff Zucker had through the weekend maintained that it will broadcast the event. But one person with knowledge of the situation described NBC as trying to find ?a middle ground,? potentially including a scaled-back event or a postponement. As of late Sunday, NBC was said to be close to yielding to the HFPA?s request for the Globes to be taken off the air.
Were a postponement agreed upon, the Globes would likely have to occur before Oscar nominations are announced on January 22, which buy only a week or two, a very small amount of time for an interim agreement or larger strike resolution to take place. The Beverly Hilton may also not be available for the following Sunday, January 20.
Full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22537641/
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Roger Friedman of Fox News reports:
On Monday morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, desperate to retain an ounce of dignity but equally hard up for their $6 million fee from NBC, will make some kind of announcement about Sunday night?s Golden Globes telecast.
The latest I?ve heard is that the HFPA would give NBC a "clip" show with elements from past shows and currently nominated movies.
If, at the same time, they put on a non-televised event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, I suppose they could break in with the names of the winners in each category.
The prospect of a non-televised Globes dinner, meanwhile, is tantalizing to some actors.
"That will be some party," one of them laughed Sunday night. "Everyone will be drunk."
The Globes are already famous for supplying the dinner tables with magnums of Champagne and all the liquor that?s requested.
In any case, it?s a lose-lose situation. The Writers Guild of America is not going to permit a televised show or Internet Webcast or taped show to be broadcast at a future date. The Globes are seriously in trouble. And that $6 million fee, as I?ve discussed in prior columns, is making them sweat.
Meantime, other awards ceremonies are going forward. On Sunday night, the New York Film Critics ? a far more prestigious and reasonable group ? gave out their awards at a dinner at Spotlight restaurant in Times Square.
Full article: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320567,00.html