Statement from Rob Burnett, president/CEO of Worldwide Pants and executive producer of The Late Show With David Letterman: "We are meeting with the Writer's Guild on Friday to discuss an interim agreement for Worldwide Pants. With the WGA now embracing a strategy of offering interim agreements to individual companies, it is inconceivable to us that there is any producing entity more deserving than Worldwide Pants, which has been and continues to be a staunch supporter of the Writer's Guild and its positions."
Give it up. If the post from someone who sounds like s/he is from the inner circle is to be believed, there’s nothing WWP can offer us, even a full agreement with a three year contract that stands regardless of the eventual strike settlement will apparently be rejected.
“Divide-and-conquer” apparently means we’re only interested in dealing separately with the Big 8, small companies are going to run up against vertical integration and limited distribution, so I hope the idea that one of them is ready to split off is more realistic than it seems right now.
Comment by applesandoranges — December 19, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Rob Burnett is a hugely talented writer and a hilarious one at that. But come on, Rob, let’s not position that WGA as the bad guys if they don’t give your production company an interim agreement. The Guild is out to help ALL it’s writers, and if the negotiating committee decides that giving Worldwide Pants an interim agreement doesn’t help bring pressure on other production companies to make a deal, then you won’t get a waiver.
The divide a conquer strategy isn’t one in which every production company who asks for it, gets it. Only when it will give the WGA leverage is it worth the risk of dividing our membership and allowing some writer back to work while others keep picketing.
If all the other networks were showing late night reruns and Dave came back and had new shows with writers, there would be leverage. But as Dave and the others all were planning to come back early January (with or without writers) then there is no leverage to be had.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize — getting the major studios to come back to the table and make a reasonable deal, and NOT bicker over why MY writers can’t go back yet.
Comment by WGA writer — December 19, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
I think our Negs exercized an error in judgment earlier when they told Dave it wasn’t enough leverage to make sense for us because then Dave would have been forced to go on air without Writers — and without an advantage of having them to produce a starkly superior show that was cool with us. This after our guys told Companies we would be willing to do Interim offers with them independent of AMPTP.
Also, if John Bowman does announce other interim deals have been reached with other Companies, which he said he might in the next few days, this would add to it.
So, if it’s still ON or can still happen, it gives us a little leverage in that we can then picket Jay, Jimmy and Conan, etc. It also gives SAG members every reason to choose Dave for their appearances without feeling as if they crossed the picket lines.
Further, it would show Dave is genuinely supportive of Writers. I think he must have been pissed the last few days and insisted that they meet with the WGA and work this out because that is who Dave is. He actually does support us in heart and mind and I doubt he feels right about putting on a show when the “weasels” would benefit and not the talent who enriches them.
Comment by PJ - Writer — December 19, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
I don’t doubt that Mr. Burnett and Worldwide Pants are deserving, but unfortunately that’s not the criterion for getting an interim agreement. The criterion is whether the deal is _strategic_. And I fear that allowing Worldwide Pants to supply quality content to CBS while CBS gives us nothing is not strategic. Quite the opposite, in fact — allowing Letterman to continue his show with good writing actually would help CBS withstand the strike longer.
Comment by ashley gable — December 19, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
I think the essential question is–
how can the WGA help Worldwide Pants without helping CBS? Is it possible?
Comment by Writer — December 19, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
I polled a few other writers on the picket line yesterday and the day before about how they feel about WW Pants trying to get Letterman back on the air. Everyone agrees this is good. I, do not! While I miss Letterman, this is ultimately good for producers b/c it says to them that we (the Guild) can be broken and splintered. It’s sad that it’s come to this but is not solidarity the only way we can get what we feel we deserve? This is the first step to other production companies doing the same. Blink, and we’re screwed. I wish the Guild would be firm with WW Pants and others that wanna get back to work. But alas it probably won’t be. Am I the only one that feels this way? Discuss!
Comment by Strike, Schmike — December 19, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I think an important question is, What can Dave do for the WGA? Can he lobby other signatories (including Les Moonves et al) to deal individually? Will that be part of the deal the WGA brokers w/ Worldwide Pants? I adore Dave, but if he doesn’t have anything to offer besides employing his own select writers, going back on the air & talking shit about the AMPTP, it’s not worth the deal.
Comment by e — December 19, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Why can’t the talk shows set up websites, financed by advertisers, and perform the shows on streaming video? Every theater in town has the lighting and sound equipment necessary for any monologue, interview, or sketch. Internet advertising dollars can be used to pay the shows’ employees, and the union guests have a non-struck forum to plug their wares. These aren’t sitcoms. They’re talk shows.
Comment by Anonymous — December 19, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Ahh, but Mr Schmike we can only be splintered by us, not the guild… so if the majority of writers see their peers getting to go back to work as good than we are not splintered.
Comment by Jerad — December 19, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Reward those who are trying to reward us.
Worldwide Pants deserves an interim agreement. Their writers will bring our issues to the viewing public. That is what we need - a public shaming of the AMPTP for refusing to negotiate. Dave’s the only one who is going to do it.
Comment by Anonymous — December 19, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
“I fear that allowing Worldwide Pants to supply quality content to CBS while CBS gives us nothing is not strategic.”
CBS isn’t giving nothing, the writers going back to work on these shows will be doing it under a contract that meets many of the writers demands. They’re giving the writers exactly what they want.
So are there any more details about the specifics of what sort of contract the writers would be working under? The big things seem to be online and DVD residuals, will the writers get residuals at the WGA’s proposed rate for any DVD or internet reuse of this “interim” material?
Comment by mike — December 19, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
I have to think that allowing an Interim Agreement would be beneficial in that SAG actors/celebrities will be more likely to shun the other talk shows and only go to Dave. This would hurt NBC. It might help CBS a little but these networks are competing with one another which I think would make them feel the pressure to step up to the plate. If all of the shows are back on, people may be more likely to go on the shows because they’re all in the same situation. I could be wrong but makes some sense to me…also, why not have Dave on our side? He’ll be more vocal about everything in OUR favor if he’s given a little, too.
Comment by stlouis89 — December 19, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
“If all the other networks were showing late night reruns and Dave came back and had new shows with writers, there would be leverage.”
No there wouldn’t. THAT would just be purely handing money to CBS when by keeping everyone off we could force both networks to lose money. What leverage would be gained there? The other shows could always come back scabbing at anytime anyway, it would be lunacy to assume that we could cut a deal with WWP and somehow keep the other guys from scabbing. If we were negotiating with WWP on the understanding that the other shows wouldn’t scab, something neither we nor they have any influence over, we’re nuts. That doesn’t make sense.
The leverage we have now, is we can announce publicly that we’ll be willing to allow Latterman and writers back ONLY if they agree to sign a three-year contract. Not a waiver, not an interim agreement, a CONTRACT. If he refuses, then he’s the bad guy instead of it looking like we don’t know what we’re doing, announcing we want to make deals and then refusing to do it. If he agrees, then we let him come back and do absolutely everything we possibly can to keep the big names off the scab shows and try to keep their ratings as close to rerun level as possible. Nobody’s going to be watching those shows if they can’t get guests while the WGA shows are the only place to go to see the big names. We can demonstrate that we do have support and we do have influence and we can make a difference.
Or we can throw up our hands and say some more nice things about how warmly we feel towards Conan and Jay.
“This is the first step to other production companies doing the same.”
strike schmike, we said publicly that we WANT other companies doing this. We really need to clarify our position here. Either we want to make deals or we don’t. I understand not everyone is on board with this strategy but we just can’t put out public statements and then act like “what? huh? we said it but we didn’t mean it.”
Comment by Anon — December 19, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
I think the thing is that individual deals would be great- if they could start a domino effect. As for WW Pants, awesome as it is, there’s also the threat of people just being pissed that their coworkers get to go back to their jobs while they’re stuck on the picket lines. But something has to give at some point. If the AMPTP is going to be a brick wall, we need to start breaking them down ourselves.
Comment by Caitlin — December 19, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
the guild says they are willing to negotiate individually with companies and sign interim agreements. WWP says let’s sign one. tell me how is this splintering?
the late show profits alone are not going to keep cbs afloat. but another way to look at it, perhaps if they do well in the ratings it might encourage other nets/companies to sign the same agreements. all these people understand or care about is profits. if they lose market share to dave, ge will start to notice. if ceos see that viewers will flock to original programming provided by professional writers, they will notice. the best way to splinter the studios is to get them worried about who is going to be last, not who was first.
Comment by tired of this shit — December 19, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Strike, Schmike,
I and many, many, writers believe that giving WWP any kind of agreement does more strategic damage than good. Maybe, the writers you’ve spoken to need to hear both sides of the argument before reaching a decision. I’m not saying they will change their minds, but they should hear everything first.
I was open to both sides of the argument and heard both sides in detail. The arguments have already been posted on these boards. The bottom line for me is:
If we give WWP an agreement, it’s clear that CBS benefits greatly without agreeing to any WGA proposals and it divides the writers by not employing enough of them to make a difference in overcoming that downside. It’s not even a “jump ball” situation where all of us have a shot at work, even though we can’t all get the jobs.
After speaking to John Bowman and Patric, I personally would feel betrayed if they gave any kind of agreement to WWP, which in turn means CBS gets a partial pass. The strategy that keeps me picketing right now doesn’t include helping CBS make money. That will prolong the strike.
Comment by Another Thought — December 19, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
I’m getting tired of the euphemistic use of “interim agreement.” Everyone is now using that term to describe extended strike waivers. Worldwide Pants has been using it, Variety is using it, and now the frickin’ guild is using it to describe extended strike waivers.
It’s weasel language. It’s the same as claiming to agree to WGA proposals “that are within [WWP’s] control.” That means agreeing to nothing. Even Variety states “CBS controls most of the new-media rights on those shows,” so the #1 issue in this strike wouldn’t be addressed in any type of agreement with Worldwide Pants.
I’m also annoyed about claims that Letterman is going to use the Late Show as some bully pulpit for the strike. His 30-seconds of support once or twice per week in banter with Paul Shaffer achieves nothing. His job is to entertain the public. He has ZERO INTEREST in using his hour for strike commentary. He only wants his writers back - AT ANY COST TO THIS STRIKE.
If Worldwide Pants gets their waiver, they’re out of the strike - and that is the ONLY goal of their waiver request.
The Late Show writers support going back to work without a contract to end the strike. They’re scabs, plain and simple, but scabs that may have a waiver for scabbing.
Comment by Interim Agreements Suck — December 19, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
What bothers me are the rumors I am hearing about how all of this went down. I’ve been told that the WGA approached and agreed to a deal with Letterman’s Production Company but then backed off when they started to get hear some dissenting voices in the crowd. This exactly the kind of thing that makes people doubt the WGA leadership. I believe in this strike, we are doing the right thing but we can’t be afraid to make gutsy decisions and we can’t afford to constantly second guess ourselves.
Bottom Line is that if Dave comes back WITH his writers and is able to book GOOD guests then he will beat the other “writer-less” shows. That will put a lot of pressure on the competition to get a deal worked out quickly and get back in the game. It is a smart move with very little downside.
Comment by Mike Baldwin — December 19, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Sometimes good things happen to bad people, but it seems to me that if well-written Letterman, Ferguson and CBS start overtaking Leno and O’Brien and whoever’s on ABC in the ratings, it will give NBC and ABC a good reason to spur negotiations with the WGA — particularly if picket lines can keep quality celebrities from appearing on the NBC and ABC shows. I’ve always thought that it was a good idea for unions to divide and conquer whenever possible — it certainly seems to work for the bosses!
Comment by Jim — December 19, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
most of you seem to forget how good dave is at blasting his corporate masters. If the waiver is granted, you can bet dave will shed more light on the strike to the general public, then any of the major news outlets are giving the writers’ plight.
I guarantee granting that in granting this waiver, Dave will make it worth the writers’ while.
Comment by Agentboy — December 19, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
If Letterman’s writers are able to earn a paycheck while everyone else in the guild can’t, then this “strike” is a mockery and I refuse to picket or do anything about this so-called strike again. And I’m not the only writer who feels this way. There are a lot of us. So, if that waiver (or whatever the hell you want to call it) is given, prepare to see a lot less writers on the picket lines. And a lot more members going fi-core.
Comment by Sandy Daley — December 19, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Having Letterman start up again on all cylinders puts a serious hurt on the ratings of it’s rivals. Plus these competing leaders in the arena of “Big Media” (being the dick measuring types that they are)are gonna feel well…diminished, and they will not stand for it long. Sure CBS gains a little, but overall the other less “vigorous” members in the AMPTP are gonna feel a lot of things - Envy, isolation, anger and ultimately impotence. (beat that theme to death didn’t I?)All because of their minders at the AMPTP and not the WGA.
I also love that the Golden Globes and Oscars are being thrown into this custody battle. Ego’s all over Hollywood will be more than bruised.
Comment by Agent Provocateur — December 19, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
Sandy - I heard that if anything is given a waiver, the writers going back will be tithing part of their income to the strike fund. The idea is not to divide us, but to do things that might give us a strategic advantage. Writers who get to work will continue to make an economic sacrifice to show solidarity with the rest of us.
Comment by Another Hyphenate — December 19, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
Any waivers given to anyone would be a smack in the face of solidarity. I’m glad I’m not the only striking writer who thinks so. And I’m optimistic our solidarity will prevail here.
Comment by WGAEESH — December 19, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
Mike Baldwin,
You’ve been told wrong. WWP approached the Guild right before the strike and afterwards. They’ve wanted an agreement all along. The Guild’s position was “no” and hasn’t changed as of this comment.
Letterman wants everyone to know that he “tried” before returning to the air. That’s what this is about and nothing more. He wants to look good before returning. So don’t listen to the rumors.
The Guild leadership has not waivered on this. They made their gutsy decision a long time ago and they’re sticking to it. They’re looking to sign an agreement that’s a win for us, not CBS. It’s CBS who needs to come to do table and bargain with us.
Sandy Daley,
You’re being heard loud and clear. The negatives outweigh the positives on this issue. Don’t be fooled by disinformation and don’t be upset by some dissent.
There are opposing views, but, on this issue, a decision was made and the Guild is sticking to it. Those who want us to grant the waiver/agreement have to be heard, but don’t question their resolve. I don’t and I respect their opposing views. But like you, I came down on the side of no waiver, agreement, or whatever they want to call it, for WWP.
Comment by Another Thought — December 19, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
What’s to stop writers from other shows going right to their studio or network bosses on their own? Why wait for the Guild to initiate these interim deals? You die hards can complain all you want and continue to picket. Just know that you are suckers if you do this. You other cowards can stay home and update your blogs.
The smart groups will realize they are being played for fools and make their own deals right now. The Letterman writers were smart they started a blog that was informative and entertaining and they got more publicity than any other team of writers. The rest of you should all be going back to work on January 2nd. If you’re not able to do so don’t blame Letterman or Verrone. Blame yourselves and start becoming masters of your own destiny.
Comment by Anonymous — December 19, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Sandy and some of our other members believe that no writers should be allowed to go back to work while others are still picketing. While understandable (we’re all in this together) this is a shortsighted view. If the Guild can make a deal, with let’s say ABC, and those writers go back to work and ABC then has new episodes– this puts tremendous financial pressure on the other networks. And that kind of pressure will cause the entire strike to end much faster and ALL writers to go back to work much faster. It’s a common and hugely effective way to end strikes, and to not use it will prolong the strike for months and months.
We are all in this together, without a doubt. But we’re in it together to get a fair deal and get back to work as fast as possible — not to stay on strike. Clearly your hearts are in the right place, but let’s keep focused on the end goal!
Comment by Bowman Booster — December 19, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Stop being childish! Stop being immature! I mean it -right now. All you purported “writers” who claim you won’t picket if Letterman cuts a deal just shut the fuck up. Do you realize how silly you sound? “I won’t picket because then we won’t have solidiarity.” It’s because of exactly that mentality that the WGA has gotten fucked in almost every negotiation for the last 30 years. Putting Letterman back to work, with writers, would create a huge disadvantage for NBC and ABC. The way you bring the companies around is very simple: YOU DIVIDE THEM AND YOU COST THEM MONEY. LOTS OF IT. If ABC and NBC are bleeding more than CBS they’re going to be much more likely to strike a deal.
Strikes are not meant to be fun. They’re not meant to be fair. It’s not fair that Dave’s writers get paid and you don’t. That’s too bad. This is what happens in a strike. It’s not all Tenacious D and meeting movie stars on picket lines. You gotta sacrifice.
Stop your whining, writers. Although I suspect many of you are just shills from Leno and Kimmel. I find it hard to believe people without a direct dog in this fight could sound so out of touch.
Comment by Jerry Arbuse — December 19, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
Giving back to the strike fund sounds nice… but what about the writers, the many writers, who aren’t insured, etc?
All of us don’t benefit from the strike fund the same way. If you’re saying health benefits would be extended to all the membership from the strike fund, I’d accept that answer… but I’m sure you can see why it’s a hollow compensation as that’s surely not going to happen.
Comment by WGAEESH — December 19, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
“I came down on the side of no waiver, agreement, or whatever they want to call it, for WWP.”
It’s not what we’re calling it, it’s what it IS, Another Thought. Last night, you said that Letterman isn’t going to get a waiver, an interim agreement OR a full agreement. So what we are all are entitled to know, is that the official position of the Guild? Is a FULL AGREEMENT on the table, has WWP agreed to it, and will the WGA not accept even that? Because while it’s very difficult for a lot of us to understand why we’re publicly condoning the scabs of NBC and not trying to undercut them and gain leverage with a competing WGA show, it would be almost impossible to understand how in the hell we can contradict our publicly announced position and reject a FULL AGREEMENT.
Comment by Anon — December 19, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
Letterman goes back with some kind of agreement and the shows look the same old Dave, movie stars appear, Top Tens get rattled off. Ratings: static.
Leno goes back without writers, does a monologue, a few man in the street segments, movie stars appear, Jay talks to people in the audience from Columbus, Ohio. (The movie stars appear — cross any picket lines — because it’s all gotten muddied by Letterman. Stars go on Ellen and Dave and The View and ET, what’s the difference?) Ratings: probably better than Dave’s because “writerless” Leno has been freshened up out of desperation. (Jay is still a scab.)
Sorry, Jerry Arbuse, but it won’t be us whiners who fuck things up.
And as for this “tithing” to the Strike Fund for Letterman writers, why shouldn’t they pledge to donate their entire salaries for the duration? Let’s make it really “strategic.”
Comment by Old Writer — December 19, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Make a deal with Dave. Put pressure on NBC. Make starts choose which show to go one, the one that made peace with our guild, or the one that will be using scab writers.
Make the deal.
Don’t tell the world you want to make interim deals, and then reneg. Show the world you are serious. Make the deal.
Make it. And if twelve or fifteen of our fellow writers go back to work, under a fair contract, be happy for them. And keep walking the line til other cracks emerge.
WGA East, on the line
Comment by Anonymous — December 19, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
I don’t think everyone is realizing how impotent we look right now. With Conan, Leno, Kimmel etc. all coming back unsanctioned the WGA is looking powerless. We aren’t even chastising them! What happens if ratings for those shows DON’T go down without writers? We need to have a “sanctioned alternative” to offer viewers and guests to go to. It is less about a forum for Dave to insult the AMPTP and more about dividing them.
Dave hasn’t beaten NBC in years… you think they want that to change now that they are about to pass the baton to Conan? Probably their worst fear…
Comment by Bob — December 19, 2007 @ 7:44 pm
“The Late Show writers support going back to work without a contract to end the strike. They’re scabs, pure and simple”
Who the hell do you think you are? If the Late Show is granted an agreement IT WILL BE GRANTED BY THE WGA. The Late Show writers don’t fucking control the WGA. They are not the ones who decide whether or not they go back to work. What would you have them do, leave the Guild rather than be forced to abide by the terms agreed to when when ordered to do so? They’re not fucking responsible for teh decisions made or the way this is being run. Blame the goddamn WGA, blame Letterman because he evilly wanted to negotiate with us instead of being the kind of personable scab whose desperate plight won the heart of “our” spokesperson. But to blame the goddamn writers is unconscionable.
It’s not the Late Show writers who are dividing us, it’s the whiny resentment of idiots who haven’t worked in 20 years and want to see us all suffer as much as they do. If we’re out until the next millenium, so much the better. (And no, I don’t write for the Late Show, I’m just not an ignorant POS too choked up with my own short sightendness and resentment to care that I can’t see straight).
Comment by Anon — December 19, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
I’m going on the assumption that if you sound like an AMPTP shill then the opposite of whatever you’re squawking about is the way the WGA ought to go.
If the WGA can sign a CONTRACT with Dave that addresses the same demands it is making of the AMPTP, then what possible reason is there to object?
As a striking writer, I’m going to piss and moan and stomp my feet about fellow writers going back to work even if what they are doing BENEFITS the WGA and puts pressure on the other companies to also cut a deal?
No writer I know is that much of a pussy.
The PR benefit alone would be worth it:
“Dave made the deal. Why can’t the rest of them?”
That’s why the AMPTP doesn’t want this to happen — the PR fallout is too heavy.
Comment by sen — December 19, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Hey “Jerry Arbuse” - You’re so wrong, it’s laughable. Letterman going back will not pressure NBC or ABC. It will only mean profits for CBS, a network that refuses to make a deal with us. Any positive affects of Letterman going back with writers would only be seen after many, many months if not at least a year. Why? Because Letterman does not appeal to majority of the country. As funny as we all know Letterman was… I mean, is… he’s not as marketable as Leno and (Johnny)Carson. Letterman’s attempt at a deal or waiver was turned down, because giving him a deal would not be in the best interest of the WGA. Reading your blog entry, it’s obvious you’re the one out of touch.
Comment by Writer — December 19, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
Wow, there sure is a wealth of misinformation in this thread.
First of all, for Burnett to declare, “It is inconceivable that there is any producing entity more deserving than Worldwide Pants,” smacks of supreme arrogance. Speaking for myself and my scribe friends who aren’t among the 30 or so who work for Dave or Craig, I’m offended.
Secondly, as has been noted by a minority here, WWP is not looking for a contract; they’re not prepared to give us what we want. They want a waiver which will ultimately bend to whatever the eventual outcome of the negotiations are. In short, they want a free pass. FYI, I am also sick of the meaningless phrase, “interim agreement.”
Bottom line, it’s already been decided (correctly) by the Guild reps to deny WWP’s request. It would provide no tangible leverage or reason, and is strategically inert.
Burnett knows this. His public statements are pure PR, attempting to make Dave look like he tried his best, before returning like the rest without his writers. In the meantime, his actions run the risk of placing the Guild in a negative light, which is completely undeserved. IMHO.
Comment by Max — December 19, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
So the WGA approached Dave’s company with the idea of granting him a waiver, only to back off when a few people complained.
Didn’t you guys just state a few days ago you wanted to strike deals with individual companies?
Jay & Conan announce they are coming back and also say that their guests could care less about crossing a picket line. And you guys respond to this by patting them on the back and stating you won’t picket them?
It seems to me you’re screwing the one host who is trying to work with you and supporting the two that could give two shits about your fight.
I get that Jay & Conan’s shows are owned by a network and they don’t own their shows like Dave does. So why don’t you give the waiver to the guy who owns his own show to put pressure on the other two networks?
The solution seems simple to me — give the waiver to the individual company (in this case, Dave) to put big-time pressure on the NBC and ABC. And then picket the HELL out of ABC and NBC to prevent guests from crossing a picket line!
Some people here bitch that giving Dave a waiver is akin to giving $ to CBS. Seems to me that if no one gets a waiver and you don’t picket any of the late-night shows, none of the guests are gonna give one shit about crossing a picket line and all 3 networks will make their $ in the end.
So the choice is simple: grant Dave a waiver and hurt 2 other networks, or grant no one a waiver and hurt none of the networks.
Comment by JGalt — December 19, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
writer, that’s nonsense. Nobody’s saying the late night audience overall has an incredible amount of taste, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is the #1 show for god’s sake, but they’re not so lacking in discernment that they’d rather watch interviews with Martin Scorcese’s former hairdresser than Martin Scorcese, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Whoever gets the talent owns the time slot, period. We think we can get enough support from SAG to cancel the Oscars, but we can’t get SAG members to refuse to promote their product on scab shows when we’re willing to offer an acceptable alternative?
“WWP is not looking for a contract”
That’s not clear either. There have been comments here to the effect of ‘I’ve spoken to Young and Verrone and we’re not willing to do any type of deal with WWP, ever, period, even if they agree to a contract.’ It would be nice if we could get some confirmation on whether or not that’s true.
“Speaking for myself and my scribe friends who aren’t among the 30 or so who work for Dave or Craig, I’m offended.”
*rolls eyes* Why? If you feel the producing entity you work for is more deserving than WWP, fantastic, encourage your boss to do a deal (or at least to offer up a deal for the negotiating committee to refuse). He didn’t say they’re deserving because they have the best writers or the only good writers, but because they seem to be one of the very few if not the only outfit at all interested in negotiating.
Comment by SweetJesus — December 19, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
Hey Writer,
who are you shilling for - NBC? I think it’s pretty much accepted that Letterman, with Rob Burnett’s guidance, has astutely positioned himself throughout the strike as the good guy. Dave’s won a lot of fans and a lot of hearts while the NBC scabs, jay and conan, have had their reputations severely impugned. Who is more “marketable” remains to be seen, but I think this strike will have a big effect on leno’s and conan’s legacy and ratings. I’ve actually become a fan of Jimmy Kimmel’s, a guy who nearly went broke paying his staff.
Comment by Michael Nash — December 19, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
Dave was the first to announce he was paying his staff through the new year…and that was FIVE weeks ago. It set a precedent for everyone else in late night.
Leno had to be publicly shamed into paying his staff by the Hollywood Reporter, TMZ, and DeadlineHollywood. Dave called the AMPTP “cutthroats and cowards” BEFORE this strike even began. He has been loyal all along and granting him a waiver will only hurt the other networks and hopefully be a nightly example of a quality, written show vs. a lame, non-written show.
Divide and conquer. Grant WWP the waiver. Dave is on our side.
Comment by Sean — December 19, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
“As a striking writer, I’m going to piss and moan and stomp my feet about fellow writers going back to work even if what they are doing BENEFITS the WGA and puts pressure on the other companies to also cut a deal?”
You’ve got to get the drill down. First you piss and moan about how you will NEVER EVER picket again unless every single writer in the Guild is out. If one person is making money while you’re not, you’re through! Forever! It’s hard enough to get through the day without thinking about the horrible possibility that our strategy might be working. Moreover, you’re going to go fi-core and so is everyone you know and we’ll all be SORRY when you start taking jobs, because that’s just how offended you are that we don’t have SOLIDARITY. Give me my solidarity or I’ll be scabbing in 10 seconds. And moreover, it’s all Letterman’s writers’ fault, they’re bastards and should be ashamed of themselves, they’re greedy and disgusting and buying lots of Xmas presents and I’m going to slap them next time I see them. They’re ABANDONING us, they hate us, and it’s just not right.
Of course, I laugh, but this pissing and moaning is apparently persuasive to the people who matter. Too bad stomping our feet and threatening to leave the Guild seems to be the only way to be heard, I don’t know anyone who’d sink that low.
Comment by SweetJesus — December 20, 2007 @ 12:06 am
There’s an important aspect to this I’ve not yet heard discussed.
I think it would be wise for all to keep in mind what they’re about to put the public through. We tune in to these late night shows for entertainment and to TAKE A BREAK from the stressful aspects of our lives.
If you choose to have a lovefest with Dave yet declare all out war on the others via picketing, guest wars, using it as a soapbox, or bad mouthing the hosts, it will inject a lot of tension into the equation and there’s likely to be a backlash.
Someone like myself who prefers Kimmel and Leno over Dave will be more likely to identify with their preferred host and take those attacks personally. Contrary to the idea I’ve often heard expressed I DON’T think viewers will abandon their favorite (I know I won’t) to follow the guests over to Letterman.
So before you set out on a course of action make sure you’re prepared to deal with the consequences.
Comment by Anonymous — December 20, 2007 @ 1:18 am
I have a friggin cold because I spent last week in freezing weather walking in circles. Stupid me, I thought there was brotherhood to protect here. Now I find out that Dave and Jay get jokes on the QT and pay people a pittance for it? Off the books, I would guess, with no bennies. They both have huge writing staffs. What do those people do? Do you really think those two will hold it against someone who sends them scabby jokes? No, they’ll reward them next time there’s an opening on their staff. I can’t believe they get away with this scam. I can’t believe the WGA lets it happen. These late night hosts need to get kicked out of the union. Or am I missing something? Maybe it’s the Nyquil talking…
Comment by Tom — December 20, 2007 @ 5:15 am
Hey Michael Nash,
Who’s shilling for whom? I’m only stating facts. You’re stating what you hope is the truth. Letterman has not been seen during the strike. He has not said anything. Yes, he paid his staff, which was cool. So did Leno, Conan and Kimmel. And just because Kimmel makes less than the other guys does not diminish the others’ generosity. Other than paying his staff, Letterman has done NOTHING.
Dear JGalt,
Worldwide Pants went to the WGA. Do your research, please.
Comment by Writer — December 20, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Seems like this a moot point anyway according to today’s New York Times:
“Certain guests said they wouldn’t come, certain guests said they would,” Jeff Ross, an executive producer of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” said in a conference call with reporters on Monday. “The temperature may be changing a little bit as we go forward.”
Debbie Vickers, an executive producer of “Tonight,” said in the same conference call that she too believed actors could be “warming to the idea” of crossing a picket line as “strike fatigue” sets in.
“January feels better than December did,” Ms. Vickers said. “I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but we will be able to do shows.”
Coupled with Vickers saying that leno might do a monologue since “Johnny did”. The average viewer isn’t even going to notice anything different.
Kudos all around
Comment by Billy Daniels — December 20, 2007 @ 6:55 am
This is not unlike the Quarterlife situation. Since CBS owns many of its own shows, those staffs will be deprived of the pressure the strike is putting on CBS via late night to reach our terms. The question is purely one of strategy to help the entire union. Our goals are one- a better deal for all our membership- and if the WGA leadership opts to try this, it will be a longview strategy for our collective good. And if so, we should maintain solidarity while their trolls, greedy PR firm and newspapers who shill for them try to claim otherwise.
Leno and Conan is coming back on without writers. If WWP signs a real contract favorable to the WGA and Leno and Conan are hit with pickets, you could have Letterman and Ferguson getting Hillary, Obama, Edwards, movie stars while the other shows limp.
Comment by Anonymous — December 20, 2007 @ 6:58 am
So, having a show go back on the air with a WGA contract with writers, create an unfair playing field and pit network against network is not nearly as preferable as waiting for the AMPTP to come back to the table when they feel like it. As long as we have this straight.
Just ask yourself. Are we closer to the end of the strike if Letterman goes back with the deal we all seek, or further away?
Comment by Fixit — December 20, 2007 @ 7:39 am
I see that the WGA’s divide and conquer strategy is working. It’s evident from the comments here that the WGA membership is well and truly divided.
Your Guild leadership seems to believe that leadership consists of announcing a strategy in haste and then relying on one faction of the membership to accuse any members who disagree of bad followership.
You need to send a clear instruction to Patric Verrone, David Young and John Bowman that they need to follow these steps in future:
1) AGREE on a clear, unambiguous strategy;
2) COMMIT to that strategy;
3) COMMUNICATE that strategy to the WGA membership and get the membership to commit to support that strategy;
and only THEN
4) ANNOUNCE that strategy to the world as the Guild’s official policy.
But don’t worry — I am sure that your leadership will eventually get the hang of this labor union thing.
Comment by Stuart Creque — December 20, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Don’t send a letter to your entire membership saying you are now willing to divide and conquer and grant interim agreements, and then when somebody wants to take you up on it, on your terms, say, “Oh, no. We didn’t mean you. We meant Disney.” That is not only pure fantasy, it makes you look like you don’t know what you’re doing.
This strategy has to start somewhere. Why not an influential voice that’s going to be on the air every night?
Comment by imhhho — December 20, 2007 @ 7:46 am
Tom,
yeah, but all those jokes are paid for “under the table” with no bennies so shhhhh, don’t tell anyone because we support the scabs. The WGA has been aware of this for years but has never had the balls to do anything about it. to their credit conan and kimmel don’t partake. Oh, and have you heard? Our guild is really getting tough now. On the night of the Oscar telecast we’re going to double our pickets - at the Carson Daly show.
Comment by Significant — December 20, 2007 @ 8:31 am
This is a joke. WWP going back on the air (why is everyone leaving out poor Craig) will have no real effect on CBS or NBC or ABC’s decision on this strike. In case you haven’t noticed these companies are doing what no one thought they would do: playing financial longball. This is not about a couple hundred million dollars lost anytime soon, or even a billion. This is about the billions that could be lost in the future when new media completely changes the landscape of domestic and international entertainment.
Rob Burnett should stop talking. Dave is not god, his anti-producer vitriol will alienate as many as it converts, and WWP is not a studio with new media at stake. Any deal WWP makes is irrelevant.
Comment by tf — December 20, 2007 @ 8:32 am
This is the most half-assed way to handle the strike situation possible. Make the deal with WWP already. Have Dave be the first stone to be pulled out of the dam of independent production entities– if he signs up (whether it’s with a contract or an interim agreement or whatever the hell you want to call it), others will follow. CBS might benefit, true– but NBC and ABC, writer-less, will be feeling the real pinch. Dave + writers = money that the other studios aren’t getting. Dave + writers = potential rethink of the profitablity of this strike. Dave + writers = great PR for us, both in and out of the show. He’s going back on the air, like it or not. Why not use this to our advantage?
Comment by Jack Burton — December 20, 2007 @ 8:55 am
Um, Stuart Creque, the Guild is following exactly the strategy they announced. The leadership has been meeting with production companies all over town.
At no point did they announce they would make a deal with EVERY production company that asks for it. That would be foolishness and leave them little room to work strategically.
You make deal with companies that can have an effect on getting the big studios back to the table. Worldwide Pants does not fit that criteria, no matter how “inconceivable” that is to Rob Burnett.
Comment by Jenny K — December 20, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Rob Burnett’s sole mission is now and has always been to beat Jay Leno, who passed Dave the night Hugh Grant was on back in the mid 90s and has never looked back. That’s what’s driving this. Painting WWP and Dave as somehow more supportive or deserving of a waiver is insulting to those of us who work and write on the other shows. Late Show has been planning to come back with or without writers all along and has been actively booking throughout the strike. How does that make them more supportive to the WGA?
Comment by flat top — December 20, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Look, I’m a fan with no dog in this fight other than my rather sad devotion to television, but I think you guys need to take a step back and look at this from the perspective of the average American–at least if you want them to keep supporting you.
When the WGA says you’re going to start negotiating with individual companies, a writer-friendly company approaches you, and you refuse to negotiate with them, then you give credence to the AMPTP spin-meisters who say you’re not organized/sincere/credible.
Let WWP be your first victory! And spin it that way! It will look to the public like the facade of the producers is cracking and you’re successfully dividing and conquering. It will be a GIANT public relations win.
Again, I’m not a writer or a producer. I’m an underpaid arts administrator from Baltimore who just wants to make sure the last 10 episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” get made eventually. I’m on your side. So are a lot of fans. But step back a minute and look at this situation rationally: you don’t need bargaining chips with a network that’s not bargaining. They’re already WILLING to lose a fortune to look united. Show the world you’ll pick them off one at a time if necessary. THERE’S where your power will come from.
No matter what, I wish you all a fair deal and good weather in which to picket. Don’t let them break you! But don’t shoot yourselves in the PR machine, either.
Barbara from Baltimore
Comment by Fan4TheWriters — December 20, 2007 @ 10:41 am
With the caveat that I am not a striking writer so none of this affects putting food in my family’s mouth:
If the UAW were to strike against Ford and GM simultaneously, and GM made a deal that the UAW agreed to and GM workers went back to the plant, how would that in any way be breaking the solidarity of the Ford workers on strike? Answer: It wouldn’t. If WWP makes a deal with the Guild on terms the Guild deems favorable, then the Guild has made a deal with an independent production company on terms that– by definition, since somebody agreed to a deal– are perfectly reasonable. Put aside the public perception and consider that if this goes to the NLRB or Congress, or through the courts, the Guild/WWP deal is very good evidence that there’s little validity to the AMPTP claims and that a deal could be made if they were only willing to actually sit down. Think strategically: yes, you will continue to be out of work and these guys won’t. But if it is all in service of the greater goal, that’s ultimately not a bad thing.
Comment by TC — December 20, 2007 @ 10:51 am
This is a chance for the WGA to show its good faith to those who are willing to meet our demands.
If the WGA gives Letterman an interim agreement, it might spur one of the networks that has been most damaged by the strike to follow suit and meet the WGA’s reasonable demands. And once one network has fresh content, the rest of the networks would fall like dominos…
Comment by Anonymous — December 20, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Make it all contingent on WWP establishing a new and improved web presence. One that, of course, WGA gets a new and improved piece of. Then that model can be used in negotiations. But don’t enter ANY deals until talks are scheduled and underway.
Comment by Eastgate — December 20, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
There is a risk that actors will start appearing on Jay and Conan if the actors’ resolve to observe the picket lines falters under the pressure to promote their projects or themselves. This would be awful for the WGA. Giving SAG and Letterman waivers gives actors some venues to promote themselves and puts the control over where actors can appear and where they can’t (without risking professional suicide) under the WGA’s control. That’s a big deal.
That’s the message you want the producers to get again - that if they want to put on a show in Hollywood then, they have to go through the WGA because otherwise no one decent is going to show up.
And in a town as shallow as Hollywood, it will eat away at the big egos at the AMPTP to see some people doing well because they’ve received the WGA’s blessing while their programming is suffering because they don’t have a deal with the WGA.
The WGA has to do something. Mainstream America isn’t hearing much about the writers’ strike and they won’t notice it much until February or March when their usual programming doesn’t return for sweeps. That’s months from now. And you know FOX won’t care. They’ve got Idol to carry them through. It’s ABC, NBC and CBS who will be hurting, bitter and resentful then.
If the WGA gives producers mostly at one network deals, that would tick off the people at the other ones and cause some real dissension among the AMPTP members.
I’d suggest the WGA play favorites big time. Nothing would upset the AMPTP more, imo.
Comment by Opinionated — December 20, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
The problem is, granting a waiver to WWP, even if they agree to all our terms, really doesn’t do much as a symbolic victory, because compared to what the strike is really about– scripted prime time shows– Letterman and the other late night shows have a TINY residual burden. They don’t repeat nearly as much as scripted shows. (How many weeks does Letterman take off a year? 4? 6? Compare that to most any full season prime time show in which all of 22 episodes are rerun at least once). Also, check the MBA, the writer residual formulae for these shows is much less generous than it is for scripted dramas/comedies. Moreover they don’t pay SAG residuals (since guest appearance aren’t covered) at nearly the same rate as scripted shows, so the pattern bargaining implications are tiny.
And to top it off, it’s unlikely that they will have a huge presence in new media reuse.
So, the point is, giving a waiver to Letterman would be nice for the writers who would go back to work. But it wouldn’t mean much in terms of a symbolic or political victory. AND it would give money to CBS. AND it would allow for a valuable platform for the Companies to promote its movie releases.
So, on balance, we cede more leverage than we would gain if Letterman gets a waiver.
Comment by Mike — December 20, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
I won’t believe any striker is serious until I read about them disrupting the Letterman show like they did Daly’s. You really mean what you say? Be willing to piss off Letterman in person.
Comment by Kenneth Yorke — December 20, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
I’m starting to wonder how many of these comments are coming from AMPTP Plants and Leno writers that are annoyed their competition will get a chance to go back to work.
Everyone seems to be missing the point. It isn’t about Letterman vs. Conan or Leno (and really do any of us care about that?) This COULD END THE STRIKE EARLY. Competition will drive the other studios to make a deal. Late Night is a cash cow for NBC they can’t risk losing it….
Comment by Fed Up — December 20, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Jenny K,
Here’s John Bowman quoted in Variety:
“The thing about interim agreements is that (then) there are a few writers writing, and it tends to affect our solidarity. If you get a critical mass of people going to back to business, then it puts pressure on the other companies,” Bowman said. “If it’s just a small number, all it does is create dissention in our ranks. Our strength as a guild is our unity and solidarity. Anything that weakens that is something we’d be reluctant to do.”
Bowman also conceded that the real crux of strike settlement remains cutting deals with the seven majors that dominate the AMPTP. “Interim agreements are fine, but what we really want is to get back to the table” with the majors, he said. That’s what’s going to end this strike.”
This just makes the WGA leadership sound inept. Is the divide-and-conquer strategy a bold masterstroke? Or is it potentially a source of blowback that could fracture the Guild?
I think Shakespeare illustrated this kind of bold leadership with his characters Hamlet and Macbeth. Someone should explain to Bowman what the phrase “screw your courage to the sticking point” means.
Comment by Stuart Creque — December 20, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
Fed Up, NBC won’t suffer at all over Late Night since that’s a CBS show.
I think we writers have to consider that the surrender by the late night shows has kicked the shins of all strikers. The hosts should have had the guts to support their fellow members (those who are WGA anyway) and let the staffers who are not in the guild collect unemployment. Either it’s a real strike or it isn’t.
By all the talk shows going back to work, the AMPTP can prove that business is usual on both coasts, and the precedent is set for all awards shows that matter to follow suit.
We’ve been screwed.
I find it hard to believe Jay and Dave have been using scabbers all along. There’s something really foul about that.
Comment by Fed Uppier — December 21, 2007 @ 2:45 am
Before we make him Saint Dave and annoint his show lets think about what serves us first. Only if it helps us is it good.
And while we are at it, yes Sean, Dave was the first to pay his staff but that didn’t include all his studio crew who aren’t staff, a large portion. I hear they were included by some of the other hosts.
Comment by bporter — December 21, 2007 @ 5:15 am
The fact of the matter is Leno and Conan and Kimmel (and now Colbert and Stewart) are all going back on the air without writers. That’s going to happen with or without an interim agreement for WWP. And a month from now, the the tremendous public apathy in the flyover states will have them watching each of these strike-breaking shows at the same numbers as before the strike. It might even be higher numbers, given that the talkers will be some of the only original content on TV that doesn’t involve rose ceremonies or torch snuffing or women marrying their cousins with live voting.
And when the rating for all those talkers are nearly as high or possibly higher than regular shows SANS writers, the studios will use those numbers to their advantage. And the movie studios, desperate to plug their films in a venue, will put their stars on those couches.
Letterman is a firebreak.
If the WGA waivers WWP, then there will be ONE quality show on the air that will be head and shoulders better than the other talkers. It will be the ONE place stars won’t get picketed if they sit down. It will draw HIGHER ratings than the other shows and be the most desirable place for studios to put their stars, not just because of the absence of backlash, but because of the better numbers.
Now will this put money in the hands of one network CBS? Yes. It will. But doing nothing will certainly put money in the hands of ABC, NBC and Comedy Central. Four networks. And putting it in the hands of CBS gets the WGA the tradeoff of showcasing real writer talent against shows with no writers at a time when the comparisons will never be more sharply drawn. And giving a forum for lots of big name stars to sit on the couch and tell everyone how important writers are. Because, quite honestly, Joe Sixpack and Sally Bakesale could care less most of the time a writer talks about the struggle. But get Brad Pitt to say it on their behalf and suddenly there’s renewed interest. You can look at this waiver opportunity as a glass half empty scenario, but by sucking it up and seeing the glass half full, you realize exactly how much more the WGA has to gain by waivering WWP.
It’s time to play the game of RealPolitik people. This is that point. Make the best of bad choices to get to the endgame necessary. Or, instead, the WGA can stick to it’s principles and watch as the numbed masses go back to Leno in a month without ever wondering why they were away.
Comment by Riley — December 21, 2007 @ 10:24 am
For the life of me, I cannot understand why a company that is willing to concede to every key demand we want would be turned down. What message does that send about our union? That we’re strong? That we want to end the strike? Or that we want to look self-defeating?
And for the record, the Late Show has been booking guests since the strike began, then canceling them, then rebooking them, then canceling them, then rebooking them, in the hope the strike would end. How you draw the conclusion that the first guy to pay his staff and support us was planning to return all along without writers is reckless at best.
Comment by Forthelifeofme — December 21, 2007 @ 11:21 am