"It is unfortunate that the WGA is contemplating plans to 'investigate' Jay's authorship of his Tonight Show monologue. The WGA agreement clearly permits Jay to create and perform his own monologue. The enforcement of strike rules against Jay in these circumstances would violate the Federal labor laws," said a NBC spokesperson tonight.
This has really turned into an all-out WGA-NBC war! As well as a SAG-NBC war!
That's because Screen Actors Guild Prez Alan Rosenberg issued a statement today clarifying the thesp union's position re its stars appearing on network talk shows. "We urge our members to appear on the two programs that have independent agreements with the WGA, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. However, actors who are asked to appear on the struck network talk shows will have to cross WGA picket lines, creating the same situation that has led to the consensus among actors to skip the Golden Globes. As I have said since this strike began on November 5th, we must stand united with our brothers and sisters at the WGA.”
By the way: Letterman plans to shave off his strike beard on Monday's show.
NBC: Leno Can Write His Monologue; WGA: He Can't But We Don't Want War
NBC War Of Words With WGA Over Leno Writing His Own Monologue!
Lots Of On-Air WGA Support: A Sneak Peek At Late Night TV's Official Return
Does the NBC spokesperson have anything to say about it being almost a month since his bosses left the negotiating table and guaranteed that thousands would be out of work for the holidays? Anything? Hello?
Comment by george glass — January 4, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
I commented about this in the last thread. Since Day 1, NBC has been touting their ability to counteract WGA sanctions.
Comment by 40yearoldstitzer — January 4, 2008 @ 6:53 pm
Yeah, investigate. The arrogant SOB went on national television and admitted to performing struck work. Some “investigation,” it’s going to be difficult to get to the bottom of this one.
Comment by WTF? — January 4, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
I don’t know a single talk show comedy writer who thinks Leno is really writing all those jokes himself. It’s time for Leno to come clean about where those jokes are coming from and stop claiming that he wrote them all himself.
Comment by WGA member — January 4, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
I was all for Jay Leno and defending him to everyone because of his daily visits to the picket line. But now it is clear that when push comes to shove he has thrown the writers under the bus. (His WGA writers that is — not his scabs who are giving him these jokes.)
Comment by Leno is an asshole — January 4, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
And yet, Ellen continues to do a monologue every day as she has since Day 2 of the strike. All the while claiming ( through her reps) that “daytime is different” and she “has a contract”. Like no one else has a contract or a crew effected by the strike. No dougnuts either. No appearances on picket lines, not even a simple statement supporting the writers.
How has the WGA-W allowed this?
Comment by Peggy Lane O'Rourke — January 4, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
We’ve been focusing on Time-Warner as the big, bad mogul in charge of the moguls, but it would appear NBC is firing all the shots. They started the call-backs of their late night personnel, they are taking the front lines in fighting to keep monologues in clear violation of strike rules, and they are the ones editing transcripts to filter out Conan’s pro-WGA remarks. On the other hand, they are also the target in the sights of a WGA that’s making agreements to put David Letterman back on the air.
…stand by, kids, this is gonna get ugly.
Comment by Nicholas Eckert — January 4, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
SAG is just helping to muddy the waters. This is not about Leno and Letterman and which show the actors should appear on! The strike is primarily about writers being fairly compensated for their work appearing in new media forms. All that noble-sounding talk about SAG standing with their brothers and sisters at the WGA is just so much bs when they don’t keep the focus on the actual issues and, instead, contribute to the trivialities.
Comment by MGArnold — January 4, 2008 @ 7:11 pm
Bring on the Feds! They can investigate anti-trust issues, illegal accounting practices, collusion, and the list goes on.
Comment by Tod — January 4, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
Jay knows the right thing to do. He’s a member of the WGA, and as a writer, he’s supposed to be on strike. The Guild is being very understanding about his desire to get the employees of the Tonight Show back to work, something other shows aren’t allowed to do.
But Jay does not need to write a monologue–or anything else–to put on his show. If he does, then he’s a scab who’s keeping all of the other writers on strike longer.
I sympathize with his desire to do the best show he can, but he’s in a union, and that union is on strike. He’s hurting many more people than the 150+ employees of the Tonight Show by putting on any show at all.
Do the right thing, Jay. You’re a writer. And putting on the Tonight Show is a knife in the heart of every other writer in the WGA.
Comment by Stewart — January 4, 2008 @ 7:18 pm
Leno’s scheduled to leave The Tonight Show pretty soon as it is. Rumor has it NBC was pushing him out because they don’t want O’Brien to pull a Letterman.
If this is how Leno wants to go down - as a pro-corporate whore scabbing the very people who make him funny - that’s up to him.
Nothing he has done for the WGA up to Wednesday excuses his behavior, any more than all the devotion Judas showed made up for that little 30 pieces of silver incident.
Leno should realize that as far as his legacy is concerned, this is his Elia Kazan moment. He can’t have it both ways.
Comment by MHeister — January 4, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
It’s hilarious to see the self-described TV viewers get on these threads harumphing that the WGA strike interferes in “free markets” and applauding Leno for standing up to the “extortion” of the writers. I and everyone else in comedy always knew Jay Leno’s fans were stupid, bovine and on the down slope of their lifespans; it’s not so surprising that they’re also sour libertarians. They probably scream about building toll roads when they’re not moaning over their TV-time being interfered with.
Comment by actorjames — January 4, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
MGArnold -
With all due respect, sir or ma’am, my guild is not muddying the waters. Our leadership is making it quite clear that the morally correct and tactically advantageous thing to do is to NOT cross the WGA picket line to appear on a struck television program. Period.
The WGA’s fight is SAG’s fight. Everything we do to help the WGA is going to help us get a better deal as well. We may be two different unions, but we’re working in the same factory for the same managers.
Comment by mheister — January 4, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
Just wondering…have a question here…can somebody create a monologue without writing it down? (i.e. creating a monologue on the spot) Would that be considered a written service?
Comment by AC — January 4, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Jay has bragged about how he banks all his Tonight Show money and lives off the money he makes in clubs.
Bottom line - if he can even do that, he must have more money than God. What does he care about a WGA sanction? In his mind, he can do whatever he wants.
Comment by MildApplause — January 4, 2008 @ 7:54 pm
The start of The Tonight Show had a lot of “jump cuts” and “lock ups” during the monologue. Was that a sign that WGA members were disrupting the program and it had to be edited more or less on the fly?
Comment by Tom Carten — January 4, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
MildApplause wrote:
“Jay has bragged about how he banks all his Tonight Show money and lives off the money he makes in clubs.
Bottom line - if he can even do that, he must have more money than God. What does he care about a WGA sanction? In his mind, he can do whatever he wants.”
Yeah, he can do whatever he wants…like honor the picket lines instead of doing a show.
J
Comment by Jenny — January 4, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Leno’s dad was a working class guy, probably a union man, but apparently Leno had forgotten his roots and is now doing irreperable harm to the union.
It is an ugly fight now between Leno and the WGA but it is a fight the WGA must take on. There are strike rules. Jay is a WGA writer. He CAN NOT write for himself. BFD that NBC trots out some whore spokesperson to say Jay can legally do this. If Jay killed a baby NBC could fine some whore spokesperson or lawyer to say it was legal. NBC is a scummy company and always has been. Jeff Zucker is a bitter midget and is so short-sighted that he doesn’t realize this fight will do irreparable harm to the Tonight show brand and franchise.
I hope Leno sleeps well in his mansion while writers are losing their homes because of him.
Comment by Do the right thing, Jay — January 4, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
AC — Leno has admitted he is “writing” this monolog. He knows he is WGA. He knows he is a credited writer on the show. He knows the WGA is on strike and it has been made clear to him in no uncertain times that his writing for his show violates the strike rules.
He has chosen to hide behind NBC spokesmen spouting legal nonsense about how a contract that expired two months ago binds the WGA to a deal where they must permit Leno to be a scab. It’s nonsense.
Jay’s Mr. Everyman image will be gone forever. The WGA and its members will now see to that, and Leno will have no one to blame but himself. At a pivotal point in the strike, Leno has chosen to fuck over the writers for a network that has already fucked Leno over.
He is doing his monolog for one reason: he wants to win the ratings war and not fall behind Dave, and he knows with no monolog people will stop watching.
He’s a scab and a scumbag and no amount of donuts will make up for that.
Comment by Dollars to doughnuts — January 4, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
The Guild leadership lead us into this strike, not unlike Bush lead us into Iraq: without a plan.
Go after Leno?! That’s your plan?!
Verone has to go. And of course Bush too. Two boneheads duck-walked out the front door.
Comment by WGA Member — January 4, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
This shit is so much funnier than any of those late shows could be. They should read it out load on TV. Would that violate any Guild regulations? Probably not, since most of the people posting on this site are probably assistants working for the producers, hoping to make a name for themselves by stirring the shit.
Let the guild make a decision, and let the members abide by it. If only things were that clear these days, and if only we got our news from the guild leadership and not third party folks like Nikki.
Comment by Grendel's Brother — January 4, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
WGA Member (sic) wrote:
The Guild leadership lead us into this strike, not unlike Bush lead us into Iraq: without a plan.
Gee, nice original analogy on the Iraq thing.
The plan for the strike is to financially hurt your employer by withdrawing your employment services. TV is just about entirely shutdown. Movies are struggling. It seems like that has been executed about as well as possible. It’s all a matter of how much of a financial hit the employers are willing to take.
The WGA has a plan and are executing it better than anyone thought they would. But it takes time. You (if you’re really a member and not a paid shill) and Ridley can go feh-core if you want but it’s not like there’s an offer out there for you to accept. If you go back to work and cross the line you will be blackballed and never work again. And rightly so. So do what you want to. Asshole.
Comment by Real WGA member — January 4, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
I can only imagine how Leno must feel, after busting his ass for decades to reach the pinnacle of his career, to then have to seek work dispensation from the likes of a Patrick (Futurama) Verrone and his minions of red-shirted mediocrities. It must be galling.
I really hope Jay goes fi-core and leads the way to a mass exodus from this disgraceful organization.
Comment by thinkingficore — January 4, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
After reading all these posts it has become obvious that the members posting here are mainly concerned about a talk show host who is a member of the WGA (and AFTRA) doing a monologue.
I thought there were bigger issues but why bother with them when you can take out your anger on a talk show host. Easier than dealing with real issues.
Whatever happens with Leno, it doesn’t put a dent in your strike…….either way.
You keep taking your “eye off the ball”.
Leno is just an excuse for your frustration. Letterman is better because his “shell” company signed a deal that says whatever AMTPT agrees to he’ll agree to?
Halleluah!
Comment by independant producer — January 4, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
I do believe WGA Member @ 8:29 is embracing both definitions of “member.”
Comment by Steve — January 4, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
Thinking Ficore:
People under 35 and people with intelligent senses of humor recognize that Futurama is a vastly superior program to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. You look like an idiot when you claim otherwise.
Comment by actorjames — January 4, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
thinking ficore is such an obvious paid shill. first of all, i think real members know how to spell their president’s name by now. but if you’re a paid asswipe from d.c. who is clueless about showbiz then you make mistakes which give you away as an imposter.
plus, what does it mean: and leads a mass exodus away from this organization. a real member who was “thinking of going financial core” wouldn’t be hoping for the destruction of writers and the wga, which would mean the end of their healthcare and pension.
think of the implications of this: the amptp is paying people to post this shit here. it’s so fucking sad. these are such little-dicked people. they are destroying their businesses for their ego. look at their share prices. all the studios share prices are dropping much more rapidly than the overall market. they are going down their tubes, but will not cave because of their ego. they were beaten up every day in grammar school, but now they are tough and in charge. what a bunch of losers.
Comment by sick of shills — January 4, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
I just watched Leno. He was openly taunting and mocking the writers and the strike. It was sickening. He is also obviously using jokes that others are writing. He’s doing jokes off not only politics, but also obscure news stories. It takes the better part of a day to even find those stories yet alone write jokes off them. I know because I’ve done this job on the staffs of these shows. There is no doubt in my mind that others are scabbing for Jay. These jokes are written, BY OTHERS.
The truth will out soon, and the assistants and others will reveal where Jay is getting these jokes from. It is impossible that he is spending the eight hours a day required to come up with these jokes. Jay needs a dozen writers to come up with this stuff, and now we’re expected to believe that he is just doing it all himself, and still having time to prepare for the guests and do all the other things required to host an hour-long daily talk show? It just doesn’t wash.
Comment by Been on the inside and know — January 4, 2008 @ 11:11 pm
There’s nothing new here. Jay and Dave have both used scab joke writers for years. The WGA knows it and looks the other way. Why did they never try to organize all those dozens of joke writers? Jay and Dave have robbed the guild and its members. WHY?
Comment by Keep yer donuts — January 5, 2008 @ 2:33 am
Comment by Dollars to doughnuts — “He has chosen to hide behind NBC spokesmen spouting legal nonsense about how a contract that expired two months ago binds the WGA to a deal” –
It isn’t nonsense, I suggest asking your union legal beagles that very same question. Collective agreements that have expired, remain in force until a new collective agreement supercedes it. If this were not the case the studios would stop all residuals for the duration of the strike since they don’t have to honour this contract. For that matter they wouldn’t have to use WGA members at all since that contract no longer exists by your reasoning. Oh and all other benifits named therein.
Comment by Chips down — January 5, 2008 @ 3:13 am
actorjames wrote:
“It’s hilarious to see the self-described TV viewers get on these threads harumphing that the WGA strike interferes in “free markets” and applauding Leno for standing up to the “extortion” of the writers. I and everyone else in comedy always knew Jay Leno’s fans were stupid, bovine and on the down slope of their lifespans; it’s not so surprising that they’re also sour libertarians. They probably scream about building toll roads when they’re not moaning over their TV-time being interfered with.”
Thanks, as a member of the audience I appreciate your rare breath of honesty. I especially appreciate that you kept it to nice simple words so even us morons can understand you, although I did have to google bovine. Why can’t writers use plain simple language we mongoloids can figure out like ‘moo-moos’?
The more I hear writers real opinions the more I’m astounded you’re out of work by choice. If any employee of mine publicly insulted my customers they would be standing in an unemployment line instead of a strike line. On the bright side, the union looks to be so incompetent there’s a decent chance that’s exactly where you’ll end up.
Comment by What bovine mean? — January 5, 2008 @ 3:46 am
@Been on the inside and know: Some of the obscureness of the jokes he’s doing sounds strangely familiar though — could it just possibly be that his own (supposedly striking) writers are phoning or emailing in jokes? Shameful. I mean, to be working for a guy who surreptitiously listened in to a GE teleconference back in the 90’s and let Helen Kushnick run his career like he was a little boy is bad enough. But to be contributing to NBC’s bottom line by scabbing jokes in over the phone. I’m sure, though, that other writers will keep this in mind when choosing who to collaborate with after Jay gets kicked to the curb in ‘09. Unfortunately, the implications of this strike go far beyond if The Tonight Show keeps its ratings over The Late Show. (Which again only makes money for NBC; Jay makes pretty much what he makes regardless of whether he puts on a Conan-type (non-written) show or not.) The real implications of letting this strike fall apart by not penalizing anyone who fails to honor the rules of their Guild is going to be victory by the AMPTP. I’m glad the Guild has decided to show a little balls and start to stand up to Jay/Tonight Show. Now let’s see if they follow through or if those were just words to keep the rank-and-file off their asses. Time will tell if the WGA leadership is taking this seriously or not. If not, it’s invitation for other productions to start down the same line as Jay. If that happens the WGA rank-and-file will get completely screwed yet again! The viewing public understands strikes and understands scabs. Those scabs need to be highlighted and boycotted. Jay could, and should, put on an hour of dead air. That would be the best thing he could do to end the strike. Let his ratings lose for a few weeks …. Zucker will change his tune by February 1 if that happens. Otherwise, it’s smooth sailing for the AMPTP. The most unfair thing in the world. But those writers sending in HELPING Jay scab, they are a disgrace to the Guild. Jay could still show up and do a lousy show, fulfilling his obligations without writing. His 190 person staff would get paid. He’d get paid. NBC would lose ratings and money. Only then will they come to the table. Maybe Jay thinks if he pleases Zucker they’ll put off his retirement. Fat chance of that happening. Jay could have EASILY stood up (in actions, not words and donuts) for his own writers and fellow Guild members, instead he has and continues to stand up for the bottom line of GE. The Guild should boot him and those members of his writing team who are scabbing in material. Simple, clear cut decision. I’m sure it’s only a subset of his writers who are doing this. But the longer it goes on, the more will follow … sad situation. Then discussion can get back to the REAL issues of the strike, but first the AMPTP, and more importantly the networks who are members thereof, will be watching this situation closely to see if the Guild leadership follows through against Jay or not. If WGA leadership won’t fight hard on this obvious violation, AMPTP knows they’ll be able to game them when they do return to the table.
Comment by guildSupporter — January 5, 2008 @ 4:04 am
You writers are so full of yourselves. I’ve watched jay this week and he’s 5 times funnier without you guys. Letterman hasn’t been funny for over 15 years with or without you and his show is a real struggle to get through.
Anyway, why are you striking? I’m with the producers. You are hired to do a job. Do it. End of story. Why do you deserve residuals? You don’t! Anything you get after you’ve written your material and been paid is a gift. Be grateful. You don’t own the productions. You don’t like the deal, find another line of work. Its not likes there’s not thousands of people, most probably even more talented than you are, ready and willing to take over your jobs for less than you make. Get real.
Telling people to boycott the shows is a joke and just shows how out of touch you all are. Bt far, most of America sides with the networks.
LOL. Enjoy your donuts.
Comment by Splintering Heart — January 5, 2008 @ 6:09 am
everyone who has ever been in the tonight show office has seen jay’s fax machine spitting out jokes all day long, from his “freelance” writers who he pays $25 a joke. so now he’s probably buying more of them, or his writers are sending them in in their wives’ names, and everyone that knows jay knows he is home with writers in his kitchen in benedict canyon eating spaghetti with his writers every single night, and they are there with him every sunday at the comedy and music club trying out the monologue. if the wga wants to investigate, all they need to do is check jay’s driveway for scabs. but still he gets away with his bull, arrogantly announcing that he wrote the monologue himself. i guess if the costumers go out, he’ll grab a needle and whip up his own suits too. asshole.
Comment by wendoxia — January 5, 2008 @ 6:46 am
If you are so sure Jay is relying on his fax machine, why not anonymously fax him a great joke? Then if he uses it you’ve got all the proof you need…the smoking gun!
Comment by Splintering Heart — January 5, 2008 @ 7:32 am
If the UA deal goes thru, the WGA’s strategy to circumvent the AMPTP will go from vilified to vindicated in a heartbeat.
To further shore up their credibility, the WGA should then come down on Leno with the strongest sanctions available to them and do it quickly before he has chance to announce he’s going Fi-Core.
(In a whiney falsetto) “You can’t fire me, I quit”
Any “investigation” should be quick work.
HE’S A SCAB PAYING SCABS -
There are people posting here who know it for a fact.
Who’s going to be the first to display some testicular fortitude and eMail Nikki a scan of a joke payment check?
(Has to be someone who hasn’t been scabbing long enough to have set up direct deposit)
Leno could have chosen to go on the air and be a tremendous force in support of the WGA’s cause.
Not “tank” the show, but put on a show that would accentuate, even exaggerate the absence of the writers.
But he didn’t. Instead, in his closet-hiding insecurity, he has once again shown that his career, ratings, personal well being, and his future (at Fox) … his ego comes before anyone, any cause, and any Union affiliation.
He chose to say Fuck You WGA, look how good my ratings are, how good my show is…and I scabbed it together all by my little lonesome.
Come down HARD. Make an example of him.
Comment by timbrehse — January 5, 2008 @ 7:39 am
Hey Wendoxia - it’s so obvious you must be a bitter writer who was fired for being lame. And we all know who you are. How about getting a life? Moving on? Taking writing lessons?
Comment by WGA member — January 5, 2008 @ 8:16 am
If you are so certain his WGA writers are doing his monologue why not call out those writers?
If you think its true, members should file charges with the WGA against Joe and his gang for doing struck work.
Face it, the industry needs the Tonight Show to peddle its products.
Once this is settled, as a WGA member will you ask that a SAG member not talk about your show or movie on the Tonight Show. Not a chance.
Jay knows that and will keep the show with its audience intact until the strike is settled and guys like Tom Cruise comes back to push their movies.
Unfortunately Late Night is a necessary evil. Atleast until something new - probably on the internet - can be created to replace it. Its FREE advertising.
Put your eyes on the end result. Late night and Ellen are small distractions to a new contract. They have nothing to do with New Media.
Rather than harping on Jay you should be hiring a USC or Stanford New Media expert to support your claims about the profitability of the Internet.
Put an expert out in front of Patric to express and support your New Media contract claims.
Stop the infighting.
Comment by Late Night Watcher — January 5, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Hey wendoxia,
Someone should take a ride out near Leno’s house.
Change the signs to Benedict ARNOLD Canyon
Comment by timbrehse — January 5, 2008 @ 9:56 am
This is just a meaningless distraction because nothing will come of it. Jay is going to retire a very rich man in ‘09 no matter what. If the WGA puts pressure on him, he goes fi-core. There’s nothing we can do about it.
Let’s put our energies into more important things like getting interim agreements with as many companies as possible so the Big-8 will be forced to negotiate with us.
Comment by justanotherwriter — January 5, 2008 @ 10:07 am
“I can only imagine how Leno must feel, after busting his ass for decades to reach the pinnacle of his career”
Yeah, I can only imagine how Leno must feel after being unceremoniously dumped by NBC. It is kind of sad, because here’s a guy who’s desperate for respect and recognition from his peers. He finally has a chance to step up, shed his hapless hack, corporate suckup image and do the right thing. No risk to him, and a shot in the eye to the suits who screwed him over. His one moment, and he blows it. I guess lack of character will out every single time. He just doesn’t have it in him to rise above his own ample limitations.
Comment by anon — January 5, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Chips down said:
“Collective agreements that have expired, remain in force until a new collective agreement supercedes it. If this were not the case the studios would stop all residuals for the duration of the strike since they don’t have to honour this contract. For that matter they wouldn’t have to use WGA members at all since that contract no longer exists by your reasoning. Oh and all other benifits named therein.”
Chips down: you’re a moron. Residuals are from a past action from which a contract exacted. The others are for future actions, no longer covered by the contract. You should ask a lawyer, and if you are one, you should be disbarred for your ignorance or malfeasance.
Comment by Dollars to doughnuts — January 5, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Bovine wrote about actorjames
The more I hear writers real opinions the more I’m astounded you’re out of work by choice.
Bovine, don’t you think maybe he called himself “actorjames” because he’s an actor and not a writer? Kind of the way you should be calling yourself “paidshill” instead of fan?
Comment by "bovine" was kind — January 5, 2008 @ 10:34 am
“Splintering Heart” is my favorite poster on this blog ever. And this was their finest moment:
“Telling people to boycott the shows is a joke and just shows how out of touch you all are. Bt far, most of America sides with the networks.”
I went back through the blog and NO prior posts called for a boycott. And as for most of America siding with the network, Variety, the trade magazine of the industry, reported that 67 percent of Americans surveyed backed the writers and FOUR percent backed the networks.
Heart also says that Jay was funnier without the writers. Well, the studio audience last night sure didn’t think so. And Leno knew that, and kept commenting how much better the monolog is with real writers.
Heart is a paid shill, or even worse, a self-hating network exec gnashing their teeth and drooling over their laptop as they type this shit.
Comment by Heart Attack — January 5, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Hey Wendoxia - it’s so obvious you must be a bitter writer who was fired for being lame. And we all know who you are. How about getting a life? Moving on? Taking writing lessons?
Comment by WGA member
That’s the same Splintering Heart asshole pretending to be a WGA member.
Comment by Studio Chief — January 5, 2008 @ 10:44 am
I gotta commend jay actually. He’s funny for the first time since jimmy brogan left 10 years ago.
The Tom Cruise deal is encouraging, we can take heart from that. But the missteps taken by the guild are disheartening. let’s hope they stand up for themselves and the rank and file.
How about booking some comics, dave, on your show again? we don’t want to cross a picket line and are willing to appear for scale.
Comment by Brian Cushman — January 5, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Splintering Heart:
Do a little research next time before you make assumptions about an industry you don’t know anything about. Writers are compensated differently than you guys who are burger flippers. When we write books, we get royalties on each sale. When a magazine reprints our article, they have to pay us to use it again - even though they paid us to use it once before. Yes, sometimes we do a work-for-hire so only get paid once. But clearly, it’s not an unusual request for us to want residuals, particularly when you consider the number of other people (actors, producers, studios, etc) who also make money off the repeat showing of television shows and movies. And it certainly isn’t out of line for us to expect to get fairly compensated for our work in the new media. It’s a timely and appropriate demand the leadership of the WGA is making, and I applaud them.
As for those thousands of people you mentioned who are ready and willing to take our jobs for less than we make, thanks for the laugh. First, most of America thinks they can write because they know how to print their own name. Bravo. But GOOD writing takes far more skill and innate talent than most people ever dream of having. And secondly, few people would be willing to work for the low wages most of us make. We write because we love the craft.
So go ahead and side with the producers and do your LOL thing. Get your jollies out of being wrong - it won’t make any real difference to us.
Comment by MGArnold — January 5, 2008 @ 10:56 am
All the talk on hear about Leno scabbing is a waste of time. Money talks, bullshit walks. Last night, Friday, Jay Leno’s main guest was some animal trainer no one ever heard of. From Wednesday to Thursday, Leno lost TWO MILLION of his seven million viewers. The ratings from last night will be even worse.
By next week, when the bookings are even worse, the ratings will plummet as Letterman’s climb. The week after that Letterman will be drawing twice as many viewers, scabbed monolog or not.
What NBC is doing here is destroying the fifty year brand name of the Tonight show. It will come to be known as the place where you can go to see cable access quality guests.
Let Leno be a scumbag and lie about having written all the jokes about himself — and lie about having “tried them out on his wife.” I know someone who knows them and says he and his wife don’t even talk anymore. But who cares. The viewers are fleeing in droves.
Comment by Follow the money (to Letterman) — January 5, 2008 @ 10:57 am
“Anyway, why are you striking? I’m with the producers. You are hired to do a job. Do it. End of story.”
See… ummm.. if that’s what everyone thought, like, 100 years ago, nobody would have unionized and we’d have a legal 80 hour work week to this day.
Comment by MildApplause — January 5, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Meanwhile Jay must be grateful for the reality TV craze, because as of last night’s Tonight Show it seems like Jay’s only guests will be reality show contestants. A Larry the Cable guy wanna-be loser contestant from Last Comic Standing and an American Idol karaoke runner up. Oh yeah, and a monkey and an ocelot.
With the astonishing and unanimous show of SAG solidarity exhibited by the “A-list of the A-list” Golden Globe nominees, what potential A-listers will want to relegate themselves to this new Tonight Show D list of reality contestants who didn’t even WIN on their reality shows?
Ouch.
Comment by WGA Writer with Business Sense — January 5, 2008 @ 11:02 am
“If you are so certain his WGA writers are doing his monologue why not call out those writers?”
What the hell do you think we have been doing? This is a website owned by Nikki, not official WGA HQ. The only reason Verrone changed his tune is because so many members have been reporting Leno as if he’s just any other strikebreaker (which, btw, he is). I’m not going to call out any specific writer without evidence, but there is no way Leno is not using scab labor in addition to his own scab labor, which is in itself grounds for dismissal. We’re not even talking about talent right now, just think about the logistics, it’s a scramble every day to produce an hour long show with an entire team working together. It’s impossible to take all those people away and not have to sacrifice the show’s typical features, yet Jay somehow goes along as usual cranking out 10 minute monologues and bits that revolve around obscure news sources. He must be tired.
And as far as infighting, there is no infighting. The majority of writers want the strike rules enforced without regard to the violator’s identity or Q rating. The shills and fans and Drudgies posting here unfortunately don’t get a vote in guild matters. With respect to actual guild members who think this is a distraction and are afraid of what Leno will do to retaliate, sure, some exist, but even they will acknowledge that there’s a lot of anger at Leno’s utter disregard for the rules and the the perceived special treatment he’s received. The majority of writers united against a handful of strikebreakers, famous or not, doesn’t constitute infighting.
Comment by Rinserepeat — January 5, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Hey Jay !
Here’s an idea.
Screw the monologue.
At the top of the show, plop your fax machine down on your desk.
For the next hour, read the jokes as they’re spit out.
Then place each joke, in turn, on one of two piles - paid or unpaid.
Let your audience decide which of your lucky scabs gets their $25.
(The really good ones could get a “ta-da” from the band.)
Genius!
I shoulda gone into show biz
Comment by timbrehse — January 5, 2008 @ 11:43 am
Unfortunately for the WGA, their Letterman deal makes them look like whores. How is it reasonable for them to agree to a deal with Letterman, but refuse a similar deal offered by the Golden Glove producers. Such tactics make the union leadership look very unprincipled.
In addition, you WGA workers ask for Jay to do your bidding, but by cutting a deal with Letterman it directly hurt Jay and his show. Where is the fairness in that??? If union solidarity is so important, then the union should not have cut that deal at all.
Comment by Richard — January 5, 2008 @ 11:44 am
“it directly hurt Jay and his show.”
We’re on strike, every show is being hurt. especially the 90% of shows that aren’t actually on the air (you might have noticed?) because they can’t find scab writers to use since most WGA members, unlike Leno, honor their agreements and actually care about winning this thing. If you care so much about Jay, turn off his show, because that will hurt NBC, and you should be pretty angry at NBC for @#$%canning your hero. He humiliates and debases himself for them, and that’s how he gets repaid?
“Such tactics make the union leadership look very unprincipled.”
Yes, to idiots. Unfortunately, most Americans are not idiots, and they realize that if someone offers you a deal that benefits you, you take it, while if there’s no benefit, you refuse it. Weirdly, most Americans are perfectly capable of processing distinctions, saying “yes” when the Publisher’s Clearinghouse guy offers them $10 million dollars and “no” when some creepy guy asks if he can knock them down, touch them inappropriately and take all their money.
But I have a bone to pick with the WGA. I thought this strike was about the internet and the future of the industry. After reading all the crying and wailing and gnashing of teeth on here, I’ve come to the relaization that it should always and forever be all about Jay Leno, his happiness, his ratings, his vendetta against Letterman, whether we’re doing enough to help him get the ratings he wants. Whether he’s happy with his wife, hey, my wife’s great, do I have to take her up to his house and see if he’d rather be married to her, instead? Screw the future of the industry, if I’d realized that this strike might have caused one moment’s inconvenince to the great Jay Leno, I would never have voted for it. It’s one thing for the rest of us to have to sacrifice until this is over, but never, ever Jay. Shame on us all.
Comment by anon — January 5, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
Doughnuts writes “Chips down: you’re a moron. Residuals are from a past action from which a contract exacted. The others are for future actions, no longer covered by the contract. You should ask a lawyer, and if you are one, you should be disbarred for your ignorance or malfeasance.”
You guessed right, I am a labour lawyer, though you are oh so wrong about the moron part. Sorry to disappoint. Yup the residuals is indeed to past actions still based on that contract which BTW can be grandfathered easily, and yes even altered.
But it wasn’t the point I was making at all, the point is by law a collective agreement remains in force even beyond it’s expiry date up until the point in time it is superceded by a new collective agreement. I’m sure you have some more names to call me, feel free, I think it might be your calling, clearly law isn’t it.
Comment by Chips Down — January 5, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
It’s obvious that Splintering Heart a.k.a “WGA member” is either an AMPTP shill, or a scab Leno writer. Oh, wait, that’s pretty much the same thing now.
Tonight I’m gonna mellow out, have a glass of wine and toast the U.A. deal. And remember, troops: it’s always darkest before the dawn.
Comment by Bill A. — January 5, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Chips Down, you lose either way. If the MBA is still in effect then there is a provision in it allowing an AFTRA exemption for guests to write their own material, like if Tom Hanks is coming on as a guest to your show he can write some material to do. But this exemption does not apply to the full-time host of the show who is also a full-time credited writer on said show. In fact, as a WGA member, he is required to follow WGA rules and nothing in the MBA prohibits the WGA from defining such rules for its members and in fact, Mr. Leno’s personal services contract with NBC provides that where said contract conflicts with the MBA the terms of the MBA shall apply.
Comment by Dollars to doughnuts — January 5, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
>>I thought there were bigger issues but why bother with them when you can take out your anger on a talk show host. Easier than dealing with real issues.<<
If Jay Leno can openly flaunt on national television that he’s doing scab work five nights a week during a writers strike and the WGA doesn’t kick him out of the guild then every time the WGA goes after some nobody writer for some infraction, said nobody can point to Jay and say “You didn’t hassle him so get off my ass” which means the guild will be obsolete because they’ll have no control of ANY of their members.
Which may or may not be a good thing.
But the WGA can’t afford to play favorites with some members and let them do whatever the hell they want and then threaten to blacklist another member for the same thing.
Comment by Sherilyn — January 5, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Jay’s office and home faxes buzz all day and all night long with jokes offered from aspiring writers he knows from comedy clubs and WGA members who want to get a staff job on his show. Scabbing for Jay only makes him love you more.
He’s a cheap jerk. If people write a similar joke he doesn’t pay anyone. And if he uses the joke again he doesn’t pay again either.
WGA, why are you letting him do this?
Comment by Stussy — January 5, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
As a member of SAG, AFTRA and ACTOR’S EQUITY I do not understand how nightime television is such a different animal from primetime television.
If NBC/UNIVERSAL signed a deal with the WGA all the shows on NBC could return with union writers, as they were. So my much beloved 30 Rock could return, however that does not mean that that ABC’S roster could return.
How then is it possible that Leno and Conan can return as thought there isn’t a strike and the rules don’t apply to them?
I understand that only a small part of the nightime talk shows are actually scripted, but COME ON. One deal made ( and a tipping point I believed) does NOT grant permission to EVERYONE to return.
Especially when it is overwhelmingly clear that the Tonight Show is being written!
So now what, penalize Leno and the writing staff he continues to use? Or watch as he goes fi-core and many others follow, potentially busting the union?
Also, I’ve read some comments here made by disgruntled people who think that Letterman’s writers should not return while they are out of work. As an actor, is is my JOB to be out of work. If another actor gets a job, should I begrudge them? Or are they really showing me what’s possible?
Letterman should be applauded here for making the first deal with the WGA, the biggest step so far. How the WGA agreed to let Leno and Conan return is beyond me.
Peggy Lane O’Rourke
Comment by Peggy Lane O'Rourke — January 5, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Comment by Dollars to doughnuts “Chips Down, you lose either way. If the MBA is still in effect then there is a provision in it allowing an AFTRA exemption for guests to write their own material”
I don’t know where you think this is about winning or losing on my behalf. I simply pointed out that existing collective agreements apply until superceded even if they have expired. It’s the law, feel free to look it up, the laws are freely available on the internet. My comment had nothing to do with content of the MBA, it was a response to the suggestion that the collecive agreement was null and void because it expired. Continue the back peddaling, people easily see through it.
As for whether it says ‘guest hosts’ or not, no idea. According to the WGA that is the implication of the clause in question, according to NBC and others it doesn’t say guest host.
Comment by Chips Down — January 6, 2008 @ 2:26 am
As a casual observer and fan, a couple of thoughts about this situation jump to mind. First, since Letterman and his production company own his show, I would assume that some portion of the revenue generated is received by WWP. However, I would also assume that there is a portion that is received by CBS/Viacom (otherwise what incentive would they have to air the show?). IF that is the case, then it seems that the WGA undercut its postion and in fact is allowing CBS/Viacom to make money off of the fruits of its membership’s labor– exactly what a strike is supposed to stop. Perhaps someone with more knowledge about the revenue-sharing arrangement between WWP and CBS/Viacom can clarify?
Second, I fail to understand the different reactions to WWP versus Dick Clark Productions when each asked to negotiate a side deal. This site makes it seem as though the terms would have been identical (or close to), so politics, not the larger goal, appear to be driving the strike. Again, I welcome someone who can shed some light on the thinking behind these decisions.
To an outsider like me, the flurry of side deals and exceptions and willful ignorance paint the WGA and its demands in a poor light. If the WGA wants to strike, then STRIKE and shut the whole thing down. Let everyone suffer– the support staff, the fans, the HFPA, the MPAA, the SAG, the DGA, the advertisers. Let enough people suffer so that they pressure the producers (by taking their money elsewhere) into a deal. That’s how strikes work. What will not work is playing favorites by negotiating exceptions and trying to ameliorate the impact. The WGA is trying to have it both ways and will end up having neither.
Comment by sketchy9 — January 6, 2008 @ 9:11 am
Peggy, I’m with you on all you say, but the WGA did not “let” Leno and Conan return. They are performers as well as writers, and in fact, the WGA published a clear set of strike rules for comedy-variety saying the returning hosts could NOT write any part of the show that was even partially written by writers before the strike, such as the monolog.
Have you watched Conan since Wednesday? I think he has been incredibly supportive of the WGA position and has done nothing that violates the strike rules. Leno on the other hand has engaged in scabbing and strike-busting and has defied the Guild and written monolog jokes — and has openly said this on the program.
A nationwide union campaign is now being organized to boycott Leno, and hopefully through the AFL-CIO and other large umbrella unions like the UAW, a massive boycott of his show by the many unionized workers of this country will occur, permanently damaging his reputation and his self-created false image as a regular working stiff.
Comment by wga comedy writer — January 6, 2008 @ 9:27 am
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/business/media/06strike.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Fuck Leno and Fuck Kimmel, those strike-breaking anti-worker millionaire scumbags.
Comment by Hates Scabs — January 6, 2008 @ 9:51 am
I can’t believe Leno and Kimmel are going to cross the WGA picket line to be guests on each other’s shows.
Alan Rosenberg and SAG need to issue a statement condemning this. It’s one thing for them to host their own show, but when they appear as a guest on someone else’s show, then that’s no different than any other actor crossing the picket line to appear on a struck show.
They are now defying BOTH their unions, and are hurting both SAG and the WGA. They need to be expelled from both unions immediately.
Comment by I used to like these guys — January 6, 2008 @ 10:15 am
Comment by I used to like these guys–They are now defying BOTH their unions, and are hurting both SAG and the WGA. They need to be expelled from both unions immediately.
SAG has no cause for disciplining any of it’s members for crossing another union’s picket line. They can only suggest thier members don’t do so, it’s perfectly legal and thier right to cross any line they see fit except thier own.
Comment by Chips Down — January 6, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Leno and his writers need to hang. The guild ones who are scabbing, not the poor wannabes selling material for 25-50 bucks.
Comment by 20 Year Guild Member — January 6, 2008 @ 2:04 pm