Hollywood Writers' Strike

[Taualumna]

If this goes on long enough, we'll be watching movies and hey, maybe even get rights to air non-US shows (though I doubt that will happen, no matter what the Canadian newspapers are saying...Corner Gas (which I don't watch...kinda trashy, IMHO) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (which I like) on non-cable TV in the US? British shows like Coronation Street? Reruns of the British version of The Office? Doubt that'll ever happen....)

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

If this goes on long enough, we'll be watching movies and hey, maybe even get rights to air non-US shows (though I doubt that will happen, no matter what the Canadian newspapers are saying...Corner Gas (which I don't watch...kinda trashy, IMHO) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (which I like) on non-cable TV in the US? British shows like Coronation Street? Reruns of the British version of The Office? Doubt that'll ever happen....)

According to NPR, NBC is indeed considering airing the British "The Office."

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Conan, David, Jay, Jon, Stephen are ALL writers guild members. They can't/won't cross their own picket line.

It's not quite that simple. They are writers-producers, so while they are bound by the strike they are also under contract to come to work to produce the shows. When they wear their producer hats, they have to bear in mind all of the other workers on the show -- cameramen, techies, make-up people, etc. -- who can't afford to go without paychecks. I don't know if they will cross the line or not , but Johnny Carson did in 1988, and so did David Letterman.

[squirrely girl]

didn't the daily show and colbert report already go into reruns?

[honeychile]

I've heard that Tina Fey & Jay Leno have both walked the picket line. I'm hoping that David Letterman does, too. Almost every comic does start out writing his/her own material, after all.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

didn't the daily show and colbert report already go into reruns?

Originally Posted by honeychile

I've heard that Tina Fey & Jay Leno have both walked the picket line. I'm hoping that David Letterman does, too. Almost every comic does start out writing his/her own material, after all.

I think all of the late night shows have gone into reruns. But if this time mimics 1988 and the strike goes on too long, there well may come a time in a few weeks where Letterman, Leno and others feel like they have to resume production.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

didn't the daily show and colbert report already go into reruns?

Unfortunately.

*cries*

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

According to NPR, NBC is indeed considering airing the British "The Office."

It's not quite that simple. They are writers-producers, so while they are bound by the strike they are also under contract to come to work to produce the shows. When they wear their producer hats, they have to bear in mind all of the other workers on the show -- cameramen, techies, make-up people, etc. -- who can't afford to go without paychecks. I don't know if they will cross the line or not , but Johnny Carson did in 1988, and so did David Letterman.

True, although there's rumors that have gone back and forth about Jon Stewart paying his crew from his production company for the next few weeks. I think it's helping that the writers are picketing shows that are still taping as it will up the ante for the studios to deal with them instead of trying to wait them out. I was really reacting to the idea that Leno and Letterman, etc. should be able to write their own material night after night. It's just not that simple.

I do think that the studios are hoping people will get pissed at the lack of shows and blame the writers, when public opinion really seems to be swaying the writers' way.

Originally Posted by 33girl

They must REALLY be desperate then, because the British one is much better and I think it'd just completely show up the American version...IMO.

I like both, but Ricky Gervais' sense of awkwardness is painful to watch. Same thing with him in Extras. I just want it to stop! I love the US cast now and couldn't give them up. I agree w/ MC that quite a few Americans won't like or get the humor.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I like both, but Ricky Gervais' sense of awkwardness is painful to watch.

That's the whole point. Steve Carell is just too "cool" in the part for my tastes. But different strokes for different folks.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

According to NPR, NBC is indeed considering airing the British "The Office."

They must REALLY be desperate then, because the British one is much better and I think it'd just completely show up the American version...IMO.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

They must REALLY be desperate then, because the British one is much better and I think it'd just completely show up the American version...IMO.

I don't know. I like (love) them about the same, and I wonder how much of the British humor in the original might be lost on the average American.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I don't know. I like (love) them about the same, and I wonder how much of the British humor in the original might be lost on the average American.

That and also they're accents are really, really, really thick on the British one. Maybe it's just me (I do have a problem understanding people with thick accents) but when I watched the British version I maybe understood every fifth word or so. I felt like I was watching Trainspotting all over again....that movie needed subtitles for those of us who speak American English!

[nittanyalum]

Responding to 2 totally separate things in the thread so far:

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Maybe it's just me (I do have a problem understanding people with thick accents) but when I watched the British version I maybe understood every fifth word or so.

It's not just you, my husband and I had to watch the DVDs with the subtitles on to keep up!

Originally Posted by Taualumna

It doesn't look "nice", that's all. Anything like that is a form of protest. If you want to protest, do it silently. Don't gather with signs.

They also aren't just trying to get "the people's" attention, note where they are striking. They are at the entrances to the studios so the "suits" have to drive through them every morning/evening. I read one article where someone sent an intern out to ask the line to not shout so loud because they could hear them inside...

And I'm so befuddled by your "it doesn't look 'nice'" comment. There's nothing "nice" about this situation. You need to watch this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk. The studios sure as heck aren't being "nice", so why should the writers? And this isn't "like...a form of protest", this IS a protest. And they have a real point to protest about. The greed of the studios is shocking and despicable.

On yet another note, I was sorry to read that Ellen crossed the line -- I get her point that she feels she has an obligation to the people who fly in for her show, but an unfortunate side effect of strikes is that people get inconvenienced. Maybe her studio audience would get mad enough to yell at the studio heads and join the noise to get the thing to come to a close more quickly. She's written on her own shows before and as a stand-up has always written; she should be on line outside.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Responding to 2 totally separate things in the thread so far:


It's not just you, my husband and I had to watch the DVDs with the subtitles on to keep up!


They also aren't just trying to get "the people's" attention, note where they are striking. They are at the entrances to the studios so the "suits" have to drive through them every morning/evening. I read one article where someone sent an intern out to ask the line to not shout so loud because they could hear them inside...

And I'm so befuddled by your "it doesn't look 'nice'" comment. There's nothing "nice" about this situation. You need to watch this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ55Ir2jCxk. The studios sure as heck aren't being "nice", so why should the writers? And this isn't "like...a form of protest", this IS a protest. And they have a real point to protest about. The greed of the studios is shocking and despicable.

On yet another note, I was sorry to read that Ellen crossed the line -- I get her point that she feels she has an obligation to the people who fly in for her show, but an unfortunate side effect of strikes is that people get inconvenienced. Maybe her studio audience would get mad enough to yell at the studio heads and join the noise to get the thing to come to a close more quickly. She's written on her own shows before and as a stand-up has always written; she should be on line outside.

Good for Ellen to cross the line. Sorry, not a big union supporter. That's why I never became a teacher or a nurse. Like I said, protesting like this is not the most ladylike/gentlemanly thing to do.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

If this goes on long enough, we'll be watching movies and hey, maybe even get rights to air non-US shows (though I doubt that will happen, no matter what the Canadian newspapers are saying...Corner Gas (which I don't watch...kinda trashy, IMHO) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (which I like) on non-cable TV in the US? British shows like Coronation Street? Reruns of the British version of The Office? Doubt that'll ever happen....)

hijack

I am totally addicted to Little Mosque on the Prarie! Finally, the CBC has a good show to watch. It's about time they moved away from Anne Murray and Rita MacNeil specials.

/hijack

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

If this goes on long enough, we'll be watching movies and hey, maybe even get rights to air non-US shows (though I doubt that will happen, no matter what the Canadian newspapers are saying...Corner Gas (which I don't watch...kinda trashy, IMHO)

Kinda trashy? Like in production values or are you making a "class" judgement here?