Posted on 04/19/2017 7:25:52 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
With stinging criticisms cloaked in humor, late-night hosts Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee, Trevor Noah and the whole cast of “Saturday Night Live” have provided American audiences a way to laugh off their political anxiety. But on May 2, we may have to say goodbye to them for now.
That’s because the day before marks the expiration date for the current contract between the Writers Guild of America, the organization representing 12,000 Hollywood film and TV writers, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the writers’ employers. (The Huffington Post is unionized under the WGA-East.)
The current contract, a hefty 687-page document, specifies things like pay minimums and how disputes should be settled. If both sides don’t reach an agreement on a new contract in time, the WGA plans to strike, pending approval from its members. A vote currently underway online is widely expected to pass.
In the case of a strike, programs like “The Late Show,” “Full Frontal,” “The Daily Show” and “SNL,” that have voiced some of the toughest criticisms of President Donald Trump on national television, would face an immediate blackout, according to WGA-West executive director David Young. (Or rather, reruns, which are arguably even worse.)
Because they reflect the issues of the day ― from Trump’s Easter speech to his daughter’s ethically murky role in his administration to his press secretary’s combative demeanor with the media ― late-night programs don’t have a real stockpile of material like other scripted shows and are left with no other choice. It’s happened before, during the 100-day WGA strike that began in late 2007.
This time around, however, the dispute is a little different. Here’s a quick recap of what’s going on and how it might affect viewers....
(Excerpt) Read more at huffingtonpost.com ...
Just donated my TV’s to charity. They havent been hooked up to anything for 4 years.
Cc
Long and short of it is all the innovativation in television during the "Golden Age of Television aka now" is due to content - any technological innovatiation has been spill over from internet companies. The media companies tried to bring the high speed and netflix crap back in the early late 90 and failed I know as I worked on it .
This round of prosperity is due to many things but none of them having anything to do with the traditional partners in management - that also bargins collectively just like the unions
Distribution and production are increasing becoming commiditized leaving original content "good stories" - which we can binge with no commercials as the important thing.
As time goes on the fact you own several sound stages and have a rollo dex to the rest of the different unions is increasing irrelevant
The pendelumn has swung the writers are the makers and the management is the takers which if choosen by the public go the way fo the elevator opperator union - while ironically the commie drunken writers spin their yarns in to residues - wadda country
What does it take to qualify as a comedy writer?
I'm thinking . . are there certain personality traits that would be needed to get a union card?
Like, maybe, a demonstrated hatred for normal, ordinary Americans?
And, especially, a hatred for Americans who read the Bible and go to church on more occasions than Easter and Christmas?
With just 12,000 members, I'd say this union must be a pretty exclusive club.
Perhaps they could use some competition, some new blood, a different shtick, so to speak.
You know, like there's more than one cable network, more than one baseball league, more than one political party, etc.?
Go ahead and STRIKE, you dimwit jokesters!
Lotsa unemployed writers out there in the real world would be thrilled to take over the chore of writing lines for SNL and other late-night garbage shows.
On a permanent basis.
Wait .... those shows were supposed to be funny? They get paid to produce that bs?
Go for it, guys!
Stick it to those greedy hollywood bigshots who are getting rich off your labor.
Taking advantage, and paying you peanuts.
You know you deserve more more MORE!
Samantha Bee laughs at YOU, you idiot writers!
She and Colbert are in their mansions clinking glasses of champagne and cackling over the rubes who write their material.
They think they are so much better than you, and could do their shows without writers.
Oh, show them just how WRONG they are.
Chelsea Handler even thinks you are "right-wingers".
Are you writers going to sit there and take THAT?
Oh make them pay, yes make them pay indeed.
Oh what a shame
This is one of the only times that I support a strike. Then we won’t have the never Trumpers around.
If anything can take Samantha Bee off the air I’m for it.
How many writers do you need to call him names for 30 mins?
Never heard of them.
Their coverage viewed in that light might be illuminating
Prediction: Authorization vote at 87-90% my gut says higher logic says lower
Yup, I, too, am happy to say that this will have absolutely no impact upon my life.... except that I may get a few laughs if it goes on a long time and the “entertainment” press whines a lot about it.
The last time they did this the networks created reality TV shows, absolutely no writer talent required.
I see a perfect storm of awesomeness brewing.
I keep asking if there’s a funny version of Stephen Colbert. I never understood how he got to be a major comedian.
According to this page, a sense of humor is not a requirement. A chunk of cash is, though.
http://www.wga.org/the-guild/going-guild/join-the-guild
Oh no! That sucks! (It doesn’t)
Entertainment Obsolete as Millions Live Their Own Lives
Please, please, please, please go on strike forever.
Actually, given the *ahem* quality of television we see today, it appears as tho’ any legitimate writers went on strike a long time ago.
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