Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

I support the writers 100%. But mentioning their average salary and the median price of an LA house, in the light that the median US income is $50,000 is not going to help the cause.

Just call them hard working professionals, and don't mention what they earn.

And at least they have a union. It is too late for most other intellectual professionals to unionize.

Call me a sour puss. But middle America doesn't care about NYC or LA.

With all of the programming written to dumb down America, I don't have a lot of sympathy for them. If they were writing programs that encourage sheeple to think, I could change my mind. Daley and Colbert excluded.

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

They are NOT getting paid for their work. The studios want them to create free content for the internet and DVDs. And speaking as a friend of a couple of TV writers, these are hardly privileged people. The lucky ones making lots of bucks are a very small percentage, of whom I would guess HAVE an internet/DVD clause in their contracts. This strike is to protect the little guys.

DEMS CAVE AGAIN

Hill Close To Deal on War Funds
Democrats Would Drop Iraq Timeline

House Democratic leaders could complete work as soon as Monday on a half-trillion-dollar spending package that will include billions of dollars for the war effort in Iraq without the timelines for the withdrawal of combat forces that President Bush has refused to accept, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said yesterday.

In a complicated deal over the war funds, Democrats will include about $11 billion more in domestic spending than Bush has requested, emergency drought relief for the Southeast and legislation to address the subprime mortgage crisis, Hoyer told a meeting of the Washington Post editorial board.

this is actually a form of censorship......nice timing....Another way to try and steal an election..the corporate thugs knew the writers would walk out....this is working just as planned.

What would you do
If you were asked to give up your dreams for freedom
What would you do
If asked to make the ultimate sacrifice

Would you think about all them people
Who gave up everything they had.
Would you think about all them War Vets
And would you start to feel bad

Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
No, there's a hefty fuckin' fee.
And if you don't throw in your buck 'o five
Who will?

What would you do
If someone told you to fight for freedom.
Would you answer the call
Or run away like a little pussy
'Cause the only reason that you're here.
Is 'cause folks died for you in the past
So maybe now it's your turn
To die kicking some ass

Freedom isn't free
It costs folks like you and me
And if we don't all chip in
We'll never pay that bill
Freedom isn't free
Now there's a heavy fuckin' fee
And if you don't throw in your buck 'o five
Who will?

You don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?
Oooh buck 'o five
Freedom costs a buck 'o five

The previous writers' contract does not cover internet content, internet "broadcasting" of shows and movies or extra content that the producers have placed on the internet with advertising. The producers make more money off these revenue streams, but there is no language in the contract that covers these areas. The writers simply want langauage in the contract to cover these areas. And yes, they want a cut of the revenues generated by these new revenue streams. I don't have a problem with that. People seem to fail to realize that the language in a contract applies to both parties, not just the union members. In a capitalist system, it is perfectly right for the corporations to try and generate as much revenue as they can, with whatever new technology they can, but it is also right that they pay their workers compensatorially for the extra revenue they generate.

Mike Billson @ 12:

Nicole Belle @ 7:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

They are NOT getting paid for their work. The studios want them to create free content for the internet and DVDs. And speaking as a friend of a couple of TV writers, these are hardly privileged people. The lucky ones making lots of bucks are a very small percentage, of whom I would guess HAVE an internet/DVD clause in their contracts. This strike is to protect the little guys.

They are not asking them to create free content for the internet. They are using the writing already done and paid for on the internet. The writers have been paid already. Stop this crap they they are writing for free. THEY HAVE BEEN PAID. And oh god please stop this crap about how most writers don't make enough. You know what you or I would do if we weren't making enough money? We'd do whatever's necessary to make a living. We'd find another job. Thats what adults would do. What a luxury it must be to have access to a paycheck for something you did years ago. Not a luxury most of us little guys have. If the little guy can't make a living writing then maybe they should think about another vocation. Welcome to the harsh real world the rest of us live in.

I hear your comment. Is this an intellectual property thing? Internet and TV are too easily duplicated to "fairly" compensate writers for each instance of re-use. That is like a publisher and author demanding revenues from the sale of used books.

I have no more sympathy for copyright, trademark, or intellectual property laws. Times have changed.

bbob @ 15:

The previous writers' contract does not cover internet content, internet "broadcasting" of shows and movies or extra content that the producers have placed on the internet with advertising. The producers make more money off these revenue streams, but there is no language in the contract that covers these areas. The writers simply want langauage in the contract to cover these areas. And yes, they want a cut of the revenues generated by these new revenue streams. I don't have a problem with that. People seem to fail to realize that the language in a contract applies to both parties, not just the union members. In a capitalist system, it is perfectly right for the corporations to try and generate as much revenue as they can, with whatever new technology they can, but it is also right that they pay their workers compensatorially for the extra revenue they generate.

Once it hits the net, its share ware. Too bad on the advertising revenue. If the writers want, they can have their own website, produce and own their content, and collect all revenue from the advertising they sell on the web site. (ie Radiohead's latest album)

I used to be for the little guy too but unless you go to work for yourself, it is very difficult and rare to become wealthy in our economic culture.

Just so no one misunderstands I have a great disdain also for the greed of these companies too but when other union issues like the walmart unionization drive that was going on a couple of years ago it never got as much play here, as well as other places, as do these writer's strike people. Most workers aren't unionized and most don't have the option of striking to get more money for work already paid for and for compensation years and years into their lives.

curtilingus @ 19:

Once it hits the net, its share ware. Too bad on the advertising revenue. If the writers want, they can have their own website, produce and own their content, and collect all revenue from the advertising they sell on the web site. (ie Radiohead's latest album)

I used to be for the little guy too but unless you go to work for yourself, it is very difficult and rare to become wealthy in our economic culture.

Uh, no. The studios get advertising revenue from putting up content that they own (so the writers can't create their own website, as contractually, the intellectual property belongs to the producers) and then refuse to share such revenue with the writers of the content.

I can't believe how churlish some of you are. How would you feel to be obligated to create content that you don't get paid for? Would you be so dismissive? Most of these writers are NOT rolling in dough, they're middle class people. I thought that progressives were the champions of the middle class. Apparently, some of you think that the moguls need more money at their expense.

P.S. I'm not a socialist, only a believer in fair earnings for everyone who contributes. Writer's are one of the most important aspects, and they are struggling to barely stay afloat, while the producers and executives walk away with millions and millions of dollars. Yes I understand the principles of investment and return, but without writers, they're would be no return. 67,000 AVERAGE (key word as that means half the writers are making probably around 45k) is NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. All they want is a little credit for they're work if it sells well, a little gratuity, less then 1% of it no less, and that's too much to ask for? Jesus Christ, what a sad country.

Jake @ 22:

I love the mentality of some of the older generations here: The little guy is irrelevent, the little guy has always struggled, get with the times and become apathetic to the fact that wealth is trickling upwards and not downwards, you can't do anything about it. Jesus Christ, an entire era of lazy assholes only concerned with how much they can accumulate, and not about what's fair.

Somewhere along in the last 30 years, we were apparently taught that the people who control the money are more important then the people actually earning it for these controllers, and fortunantly for me, that goes against everything my teachers ever taught me. They're damn socialist commies though, what would they know.

Get a clue you idiots.

Not sure what you are saying but if you're talking about fair then you must mean that a walmart union workers should share in the benefits and success of walmart. I'm all for that. Whats not fair is when several writers strike videos are posted everyday for support and the rest of the non creative entertainment industry union workers out in the real world have no access to the residual money they are asking for. Fair is fair across the board. Tell me why the writers then aren't striking for better health care compensation for the writers who aren't fortunate enough to get things produced. Now that would be fair and a strike I could get behind the writers with. But what they're striking for is money for themselves not the rest of the union.

What's the big deal ? The writers see a spike in corporate profits and want a raise . They're gambling that they can garner public sympathy with the "intellectual property" argument but that train left town with the advent of file-sharing music on the 'net . So it's a classic "who can outlast who" collective bargaining stand-off . My guess is they'll settle before Christmas for a flat fee and no percentages , with an eye to doing it again next contract .
For those that rail that the writers are overpaid, there's no such thing . You fight for what you can get . Corporations do whatever they can to supress expenses, including using off-shore labor and collusion . Workers do whatever they can to increase salaries, including forming unions , going on strike and organizing boycotts . Does a major league ball player deserve 5 to 10 million a season ? You wouldn't think so but several somebodies out there are paying it and they don't have a gun to their head . ( Thanks to Marvin Miller. )

anon @ 28:

What are you talking about? It's hard to have a discussion with someone who doesn't understand the issues.

The issue is a percentage of ad revenue that the studios receive for internet/DVD content that they have as yet not agreed to compensate the writers for. You are complaining about 4 cents out of every dollar going to a writer from ad revenue, not something you're paying out of pocket.

Again, I find the discussion here bizarre and missing the point. But then again, when we posted on the nurses' strike and on a teachers' strike, we got similar anti-union sentiments.

As for those questioning why we're covering it, there's a multitude of reasons. One, we're an LA-based blog. These are our friends and neighbors involved. Writers are smart enough to use the medium to gain support and give us videos...we'd show Walmart union videos if they made them too (and I don't shop at Walmart, primarily because of their labor practices).

We're a progressive blog. We support unions. We champion the middle class. It's that simple.

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

I am pretty shocked that a fellow Union man would take time out to attack another Union out on strike. You don't know the in and outs or the nuances (or frankly, even the big picture, my friend) of what these people are fighting for and in my opinion, you should trust that they DO and have good reason to do what they are doing. I'll give you an example: my Union went out on strike about 12 years ago. We had a lot of support from the community, but many of the people who crossed our picket line spouted nonsense about us "getting paid to much already", calling us "greedy", and best of all, spat "why should YOU have benefits when I don't?? What makes you so special?" (oh yes, we had some real winners crawling out of the woodwork). The point is, these people didn't know that we hadn't had a cost of living raise in 18 years, the employers were trying to take dental away completely, fuck with our medical plan and if I remember correctly, they were hinting about getting us to work on Christmas day! There was lots more, but the laundry list of the strike is not the issue. The point is, the people that supported us trusted we were only doing what was best for our families. Is any of this resonating with you, sir?

Note:
I am no longer in a Union. However, I quit my job, not the Union and I will be a Union supporter for the rest of my life.

Mike Billson @ 21:

Just so no one misunderstands I have a great disdain also for the greed of these companies too but when other union issues like the walmart unionization drive that was going on a couple of years ago it never got as much play here, as well as other places, as do these writer's strike people. Most workers aren't unionized and most don't have the option of striking to get more money for work already paid for and for compensation years and years into their lives.

ok, but Mike, don't you think they should be unionized? Don't you have sympathy for them? And in the meantime, support, not blind support I will grant you, for the unions that remain is just that much more crucial, don't you think? I don't have the stats in front of me, but union membership has dropped from like 25% to 9% nationwide in the last 2 decades from a combination of union busting and more SUBTLE kinds of union busting.

anon @ 28:

Nicole Belle @ 7:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

They are NOT getting paid for their work. The studios want them to create free content for the internet and DVDs. And speaking as a friend of a couple of TV writers, these are hardly privileged people. The lucky ones making lots of bucks are a very small percentage, of whom I would guess HAVE an internet/DVD clause in their contracts. This strike is to protect the little guys.

This victimizes the public. The producers AND the writers are treating this as found money and are creating a 'gold rush' to divide the 'booty'. I object. They have BOTH been paid. GET OFF THE BACK OF THE PUBLIC.

If this is in fact additional income for already sold product, then it should either be free or the price to the public of first run product needs to be reduced.

I support their attempts to support IATSE and various retirement programs.

But Disney is WRONG to attempt to extend their rights into perpetuity and the writers are WRONG to attempt to jump on the gravy boat.

And the irony is they are looting (IMO) the public (producers AND writers etc) and expect the public to support them in this.

I dont. In this case, they are out of line. They expect the support of the public at the publics expense. This is wrong.

YOU feel victimized.

These people are out on strike during the holidays, not receiving paychecks, fighting for a better future and a better tomorrow, and YOU are being victimized. Oh, I'm sorry: your sympathies are with the public. Riiiight.

"I want you to pledge to yourselves in this convention to stand as one solid army against the foes of human labor. Think of the thousands who are killed every year and there is no redress for it. We will fight until the mines are made secure and human life valued more than props. Look things in the face. Don't' fear a governor; don't fear anybody. You pay the governor; he has the right to protect you. You are the biggest part of the population in the state. You create its wealth, so I say, "let the fight go on; if nobody else will keep on, I will." -Mother Jones, 1913

Maybe their union could get a contract that allows them to send their scripts by email and live wherever they want. Seems to me that writing is one of those things that the internet is perfect for.

As for them not getting paid over the holidays, who cares, it was their choice to go on strike. Maybe they need to draw back their demands. Either way, there is no need to paint these people like they are heroes.

Mike Billson @ 40:

I am a liberal I am middle class I am a progressive and I am a union member. As a union member I also have the right to voice my disdain for union practices from a union that never supported my union when we went on strike. That is my right as a union member.

Be as shocked as you like. Whats funny is you bring up striking yourself for not having a cost of living increase in 18years and that is so far from what is going on here you should be ashamed of yourself for blindly accepting any unions belief they are right and just. I work in the technical side of the entertainment industry. I work on those shows that those writers are striking on. I will not get any residual compensation, ever. The money i am losing now because of the strike will not come back to me, ever. When my union went on strike the writers never stopped writing to help support my union. Get a clue as to what this is all about.

If you're a member of a technical union, you receive residual payments into your union pension and health plan (to the tune of several hundred million dollars last year IIRC), and the payment schedule is keyed to... wait for it... the WGA contract. If the WGA is able to win residuals for streaming content, every union in the industy will benefit.

I don't care who's right or wrong in this situation. The only REAL losers are the PEOPLE!!!! Screw TV forever!!!! It's turned us into a bunch of dumbasses anyway!

Nicole Belle @ 7:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

They are NOT getting paid for their work. The studios want them to create free content for the internet and DVDs. And speaking as a friend of a couple of TV writers, these are hardly privileged people. The lucky ones making lots of bucks are a very small percentage, of whom I would guess HAVE an internet/DVD clause in their contracts. This strike is to protect the little guys.

Right you are, Nicole. And haven't we heard screaming from corporations who were taking teenagers to court to sue them for illegally sharing music with others over the past few years? The fatcats thought it was totally unfair for songs to be shared if they didn't get their cut for the content. Now, fatcat America wants to be able to not just "fileshare" but make money off of writers work, and that's okay. There seems to be a double standard here. If you think it's wrong for me to download copywrited material and not pay for it, then it's wrong for corporations to be able to re-use writers' work and not pay them for it.

A writer has a right to expect royalties, residuals on their work whenever it is used. It is his/her creation. No one has the right to steal his/her work for any reason.
Every time a play is put on, the producers must pay royalties to the author or whoever represents the author's work.
A song, once written is the property of the author. No one can claim ownership of that song.
A book, every time a copy is sold, the author gets a percentage. It is his/her intellectual property and creation.

I don't watch TV much but I support the union all the way. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that what is going on is an attempt to steal other people's creations.

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

Well, its all right to make a comment, its fine to have an opinion. It's more useful to make those when you actually have a feel for what is actually going on. The studios, networks, etc. using their power and their money and their connections convinced the government that they, not the creators, were the true owners of copyright of work in the film/tv industry. However, once they had done that, they were not prepared to pay the creators a large up-front fee for that work which is what they would have had to do in all cases (not just in the few cases you read about in the headlines) because it would not be worth the long hours and lost marriages to produce the quality of work out there (and that's fine to hate all TV or some TV, its of no value to any discussion) SO the studios were forced by the unions (be very clear about this fact: unions would not exist if there were no producers who were not fair) to negotiate deals that saw writer's rewarded for their loss of copyright by giving them money IF the show was successful. Actually not an unreasonable deal. So it is not about the principle of the thing, that's all ready been decided, its about how much is a fair deal. And that is much easier to have an opinion about. The studios are offering little or nothing in compensation for those rights that have been established. No one is turning back the clock, the writers are not now going to get copyright, however they want a fair deal, fair has never included working for nothing. Never, ever. Unless of course you are a migrant worker picking tomatoes for example for companies owned by Goldman Sachs and they refuse to give you a living wage. This battle is about much more than about the median wage of the writers, its about fair compensation and when the industry is grossing in the tens of billions of dollars, then the fair compensation for the creators is going to be more than fair compensation for the crew.

Then move out of LA, get into a different industry, don't have kids!! Don't have a lifestyle you can not support then demand someone else pay for it!

Anyone who has a 'favorite TV show', should get a life.

anon @ 56:

Bonkers @ 37:

anon @ 28:

Nicole Belle @ 7:

This victimizes the public. The producers AND the writers are treating this as found money and are creating a 'gold rush' to divide the 'booty'. I object. They have BOTH been paid. GET OFF THE BACK OF THE PUBLIC.

If this is in fact additional income for already sold product, then it should either be free or the price to the public of first run product needs to be reduced.

I support their attempts to support IATSE and various retirement programs.

But Disney is WRONG to attempt to extend their rights into perpetuity and the writers are WRONG to attempt to jump on the gravy boat.

And the irony is they are looting (IMO) the public (producers AND writers etc) and expect the public to support them in this.

I dont. In this case, they are out of line. They expect the support of the public at the publics expense. This is wrong.

YOU feel victimized.

These people are out on strike during the holidays, not receiving paychecks, fighting for a better future and a better tomorrow, and YOU are being victimized. Oh, I'm sorry: your sympathies are with the public. Riiiight.

The money comes from the money fairy. The writers deserve their cut. :(

Where is the publics cut? (I'm not addressing the issue of wages or lesser union benefits).

No: where's YOUR cut?

Mike Billson @ 40:

Bonkers @ 33:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

I am pretty shocked that a fellow Union man would take time out to attack another Union out on strike. You don't know the in and outs or the nuances (or frankly, even the big picture, my friend) of what these people are fighting for and in my opinion, you should trust that they DO and have good reason to do what they are doing. I'll give you an example: my Union went out on strike about 12 years ago. We had a lot of support from the community, but many of the people who crossed our picket line spouted nonsense about us "getting paid to much already", calling us "greedy", and best of all, spat "why should YOU have benefits when I don't?? What makes you so special?" (oh yes, we had some real winners crawling out of the woodwork). The point is, these people didn't know that we hadn't had a cost of living raise in 18 years, the employers were trying to take dental away completely, fuck with our medical plan and if I remember correctly, they were hinting about getting us to work on Christmas day! There was lots more, but the laundry list of the strike is not the issue. The point is, the people that supported us trusted we were only doing what was best for our families. Is any of this resonating with you, sir?

Note:
I am no longer in a Union. However, I quit my job, not the Union and I will be a Union supporter for the rest of my life.

I am a liberal I am middle class I am a progressive and I am a union member. As a union member I also have the right to voice my disdain for union practices from a union that never supported my union when we went on strike. That is my right as a union member.

Be as shocked as you like. Whats funny is you bring up striking yourself for not having a cost of living increase in 18years and that is so far from what is going on here you should be ashamed of yourself for blindly accepting any unions belief they are right and just. I work in the technical side of the entertainment industry. I work on those shows that those writers are striking on. I will not get any residual compensation, ever. The money i am losing now because of the strike will not come back to me, ever. When my union went on strike the writers never stopped writing to help support my union. Get a clue as to what this is all about.

I am not going to bother with how many ways you have already misrepresented my position, but I will say this:
Now I know where you are coming from. You are losing income on this fracas. Got it. This isn't about right or wrong, it's about your pocket book. At least that's honest.
/snark

And don't ever tell someone to "bet a clue" if you want to have a decent conversation. It's rude.

And please don't ever tell someone to "bet a clue" if you want to have a decent conversation. It's rude.

*get
(pardon me)

JohnnyBravo @ 50:

Timothy Rose @ 36:

1. If $62k isn't enough to live in Southern California, then $68k certainly isn't going to do it.
2. If it is too expensive to live where your profession requires you to live... move and change jobs. Somebody will eventually fill the void.
3. These TV show hosts should not be chastised if they don't pay their staffs during the strike. It is one of the consequenses of union bitching.
4. 45% unemployment rate??? Maybe the union reps should worry about getting their people some work.
5. Does anybody really miss them? Not me. Like someone said earlier, middle America couldn't care less about Hollywood now-a-days.

Timothy Rose, You hit the nail right on the head.

Do you know how many people in this day and age WISH they could make $62,000/year? I'll give you a hint: Me! I can't give support to these guys. Either the writers or the bosses. And yes, they do put garbage on TV. But there are many rare gems (Daily Show, Colbert Report, Family Guy, American Dad, Heroes)

Point blank:
They need to either stop the strike, stop whining about working in Hollywood (or the torture) and get paid.
OR
Continue the strike and lose their viewers and their paychecks. (Which would be the smart thing to do around the Christmas season) [sarcasm]

P.S. Do writers even deserve a union? If anyone needs a union is Walmart workers.

So anyone who makes more money than you do should just shut up and allow themselves to be ripped off? How much more money than you? What's the cut off? If somebody makes $5,000.00 more a year than you do and they are being abused by their employer they should just grin and bear it? I think we should all keep in mind that when workers unite and win back rights so that they are fairly compensated for their work, whether it's writers making $62k or NFL players making many times that amount, all workers win because it shows the disgustingly rich owners and managers who are living high off the hog on their workers' backs that we can stand up to them. Walmart workers win when a union anywhere wins.

Bonkers @ 60:

anon @ 54:

Nicole Belle @ 31:

anon @ 28:

What are you talking about? It's hard to have a discussion with someone who doesn't understand the issues.

The issue is a percentage of ad revenue that the studios receive for internet/DVD content that they have as yet not agreed to compensate the writers for. You are complaining about 4 cents out of every dollar going to a writer from ad revenue, not something you're paying out of pocket.

Again, I find the discussion here bizarre and missing the point. But then again, when we posted on the nurses' strike and on a teachers' strike, we got similar anti-union sentiments.

As for those questioning why we're covering it, there's a multitude of reasons. One, we're an LA-based blog. These are our friends and neighbors involved. Writers are smart enough to use the medium to gain support and give us videos...we'd show Walmart union videos if they made them too (and I don't shop at Walmart, primarily because of their labor practices).

We're a progressive blog. We support unions. We champion the middle class. It's that simple.

Clearly you havent read my posts.

I think you, like the writers just dont get it.

Where do you think that money comes from? Here is the way it works. You do something for me and I pay you. That isnt how it works in this case however. In this case, you do something for me and I pay you ... and I pay you ... and I pay you ... and I pay you. You and the production companies ... get off my back.

Not getting your fair share are you? Personally, not including wages, you and the production companies need to piss off with all this. Someone found a way to rebill the public and the writers want a share. None of you deserve to be paid multiple times for the same product/content.

And how dare you call me anti union.

I am for the public, common man, working class FIRST. This is an issue of division of funds from the public/workingclass. In that case, I'm with them, not you. Unless you think that money was left there by the money fairy. It comes from the public at the end of the day.

So now I'll accuse you of something - turn around being fairplay - you are anti-publc. You are not doing anything in the interest of the public yet you insist - through some illogic - that the public needs to support you.

Your fight is with those that are 'charging' the public for a share of the funds charged. You are with them not us in this. Dont expect me to be with you.

Mickey Mouse must die!!!!

You don't make any sense at all. You might as well have been flinging poo.

Should I expect more ad hominem humina humina?

liberalista @ 65:

JohnnyBravo @ 50:

Timothy Rose @ 36:

1. If $62k isn't enough to live in Southern California, then $68k certainly isn't going to do it.
2. If it is too expensive to live where your profession requires you to live... move and change jobs. Somebody will eventually fill the void.
3. These TV show hosts should not be chastised if they don't pay their staffs during the strike. It is one of the consequenses of union bitching.
4. 45% unemployment rate??? Maybe the union reps should worry about getting their people some work.
5. Does anybody really miss them? Not me. Like someone said earlier, middle America couldn't care less about Hollywood now-a-days.

Timothy Rose, You hit the nail right on the head.

Do you know how many people in this day and age WISH they could make $62,000/year? I'll give you a hint: Me! I can't give support to these guys. Either the writers or the bosses. And yes, they do put garbage on TV. But there are many rare gems (Daily Show, Colbert Report, Family Guy, American Dad, Heroes)

Point blank:
They need to either stop the strike, stop whining about working in Hollywood (or the torture) and get paid.
OR
Continue the strike and lose their viewers and their paychecks. (Which would be the smart thing to do around the Christmas season) [sarcasm]

P.S. Do writers even deserve a union? If anyone needs a union is Walmart workers.

So anyone who makes more money than you do should just shut up and allow themselves to be ripped off? How much more money than you? What's the cut off? If somebody makes $5,000.00 more a year than you do and they are being abused by their employer they should just grin and bear it? I think we should all keep in mind that when workers unite and win back rights so that they are fairly compensated for their work, whether it's writers making $62k or NFL players making many times that amount, all workers win because it shows the disgustingly rich owners and managers who are living high off the hog on their workers' backs that we can stand up to them. Walmart workers win when a union anywhere wins.

Both of these people seem to be just "hating on" people fighting for fair compensation. But what also appears to be happening is that A) they feel justified in attacking these union folk because they are "Hollywood" union folk, which makes them fair game, rather than treating them as just plain union folk with a grievance. Ewww, hollywood people! Let's throw rocks at them!

And B) they seek to further marginalize these people and stifle contrary points by pushing the Walmart employees in front of them, like what, we can only support one of the other? BOTH groups deserve a union if they want one. And trust me: Walmart employees and the communities that host a Walmart have my sympathies.

Isn't this the americon dream though ? A few getting rich of the masses ?

JohnnyBravo @ 50:
1. If $62k isn't enough to live in Southern California, then $68k certainly isn't going to do it.
2. If it is too expensive to live where your profession requires you to live... move and change jobs. Somebody will eventually fill the void.
3. These TV show hosts should not be chastised if they don't pay their staffs during the strike. It is one of the consequenses of union bitching.
4. 45% unemployment rate??? Maybe the union reps should worry about getting their people some work.
5. Does anybody really miss them? Not me. Like someone said earlier, middle America couldn't care less about Hollywood now-a-days.

There are several points that show that you don't really fully understand the situation.

First of all, the $62,000 is the MEDIAN income. There are writers who get paid over a $ million a year, so the actual median income is far less. One of the major components of a WGA member's income is residuals.

You only get paid when you work, and you only work when there is a project. You get laid off at the drop of a hat -- it's not like a regular job where even though they make more money at Christmas time they keep you employed the whole year.

When the season is done, there is no paycheck -- you're laid off. When the show gets canceled, there is no paycheck-- you're laid off. There is no job security -- even for this country. There are times when there are plenty of jobs -- leading into the fall season -- but there are other times when there is no work to be found because crews are full. Residuals not only allow people to make their mortgage payments, but they also prevent them from taking on government money that would strain the system.

Perhaps you don't care about Hollywood, but you should care about Unions. The only reason Americans enjoy any standard of living in this country is because of unions -- something many people can't seem to remember -- epsecially those who are actively trying to weaken Unions.

Sweatshops left this country because of Unions.
Americans previously had health care from employers because of Unions.
Pension plans? Unions again.

These 3 simple benefits were due to the strength of Unions, and as Union power has been curtailed over the past 20 years we have pretty much seen these benefits and more go away.

Maybe you don't think this strike concerns you because it's in Hollywood, but Unions should. If they don't, then you actually aren't concerned about yourself either.

Bill,

p.s. Just so you don't get your hackles up on this particular bit, in this sentence I was just trying to figure out if I was even using the right phrase, not accusing you of 'wailing' or anything else derogatory:
But you go ahead and whale away at it (’wail away’? Ahhh, moving on).

I really was just saying, "Let's hear more" or "have at it" or however you prefer it.

Mike Billson @ 40:

Bonkers @ 33:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

I am pretty shocked that a fellow Union man would take time out to attack another Union out on strike. You don't know the in and outs or the nuances (or frankly, even the big picture, my friend) of what these people are fighting for and in my opinion, you should trust that they DO and have good reason to do what they are doing. I'll give you an example: my Union went out on strike about 12 years ago. We had a lot of support from the community, but many of the people who crossed our picket line spouted nonsense about us "getting paid to much already", calling us "greedy", and best of all, spat "why should YOU have benefits when I don't?? What makes you so special?" (oh yes, we had some real winners crawling out of the woodwork). The point is, these people didn't know that we hadn't had a cost of living raise in 18 years, the employers were trying to take dental away completely, fuck with our medical plan and if I remember correctly, they were hinting about getting us to work on Christmas day! There was lots more, but the laundry list of the strike is not the issue. The point is, the people that supported us trusted we were only doing what was best for our families. Is any of this resonating with you, sir?

Note:
I am no longer in a Union. However, I quit my job, not the Union and I will be a Union supporter for the rest of my life.

I am a liberal I am middle class I am a progressive and I am a union member. As a union member I also have the right to voice my disdain for union practices from a union that never supported my union when we went on strike. That is my right as a union member.

Be as shocked as you like. Whats funny is you bring up striking yourself for not having a cost of living increase in 18years and that is so far from what is going on here you should be ashamed of yourself for blindly accepting any unions belief they are right and just. I work in the technical side of the entertainment industry. I work on those shows that those writers are striking on. I will not get any residual compensation, ever. The money i am losing now because of the strike will not come back to me, ever. When my union went on strike the writers never stopped writing to help support my union. Get a clue as to what this is all about.

Anim8rguy @ 78:

Mike Billson @ 40:

Bonkers @ 33:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Oops, sorry about the previous post.

I work in animation, and I will never see a cent in residual income. Still I make pretty good money and I know that it is because about 50 years ago there was major union action at some studios to bump up wages. The studios started paying more and other non union studios had to pay more in order to get talented people too.

I owe my income to Unions -- not the WGA -- but to Unions. When one union falters, Americans get hurt. Death by a thousand cuts.

I am pretty shocked that a fellow Union man would take time out to attack another Union out on strike. You don't know the in and outs or the nuances (or frankly, even the big picture, my friend) of what these people are fighting for and in my opinion, you should trust that they DO and have good reason to do what they are doing. I'll give you an example: my Union went out on strike about 12 years ago. We had a lot of support from the community, but many of the people who crossed our picket line spouted nonsense about us "getting paid to much already", calling us "greedy", and best of all, spat "why should YOU have benefits when I don't?? What makes you so special?" (oh yes, we had some real winners crawling out of the woodwork). The point is, these people didn't know that we hadn't had a cost of living raise in 18 years, the employers were trying to take dental away completely, fuck with our medical plan and if I remember correctly, they were hinting about getting us to work on Christmas day! There was lots more, but the laundry list of the strike is not the issue. The point is, the people that supported us trusted we were only doing what was best for our families. Is any of this resonating with you, sir?

Note:
I am no longer in a Union. However, I quit my job, not the Union and I will be a Union supporter for the rest of my life.

I am a liberal I am middle class I am a progressive and I am a union member. As a union member I also have the right to voice my disdain for union practices from a union that never supported my union when we went on strike. That is my right as a union member.

Be as shocked as you like. Whats funny is you bring up striking yourself for not having a cost of living increase in 18years and that is so far from what is going on here you should be ashamed of yourself for blindly accepting any unions belief they are right and just. I work in the technical side of the entertainment industry. I work on those shows that those writers are striking on. I will not get any residual compensation, ever. The money i am losing now because of the strike will not come back to me, ever. When my union went on strike the writers never stopped writing to help support my union. Get a clue as to what this is all about.

if you don't like the show you can call in or email the network executive and tell them to sack the writers?
i'm not especially supportive of this strike due to the havok it's caused in the support staff.

Arbitrator?
Can we link the quality of a piece of work to the amount of distribution and revenue it generates? That is not unlike a bonus concept. The better work you produce, the more widely it would be distributed the more revenue is generated.

A lot of you folks going down another blind alley. The writers are as responsible for the crap on TV as the Ford worker was responsible for the exploding Pinto.

Mike Billson @ 12:

Nicole Belle @ 7:

Mike Billson @ 1:

Again. How am I supposed to gather empathy for people that get paid for their work and want compensation for the same work again. I'm a union worker in the entertainment industry, my father was a union worker not in the entertainment industry. We did a job and got paid for it. Done. What other union workers besides entertainment industry creative people get paid again for the same work when they get paid very well to begin with. I'll tell you: None. Whats wrong with the person who pays for the writing to do whatever he wants with it. This is an example of a privileged class wanting more. Ohh the pain these poor writers are going through. Bullshit.

They are NOT getting paid for their work. The studios want them to create free content for the internet and DVDs. And speaking as a friend of a couple of TV writers, these are hardly privileged people. The lucky ones making lots of bucks are a very small percentage, of whom I would guess HAVE an internet/DVD clause in their contracts. This strike is to protect the little guys.

They are not asking them to create free content for the internet. They are using the writing already done and paid for on the internet. The writers have been paid already. Stop this crap they they are writing for free. THEY HAVE BEEN PAID. And oh god please stop this crap about how most writers don't make enough. You know what you or I would do if we weren't making enough money? We'd do whatever's necessary to make a living. We'd find another job. Thats what adults would do. What a luxury it must be to have access to a paycheck for something you did years ago. Not a luxury most of us little guys have. If the little guy can't make a living writing then maybe they should think about another vocation. Welcome to the harsh real world the rest of us live in.

not true mike...writers were asked to create original content for webisodes....which wouldve been unpaid, despite the fact that the studios were charging for commercials on the sites

if the wga loses this strike, and is effectively busted, how soon do you think they will be coming after you?

if you live in los angeles, have you been to any of the supermarkets since the end of their strike? the one they effectively lost?

check out who is working there now

BusterD @ 6:

In an amazing business turnabout, AMPTP president J. Nicholas Counter III has guaranteed the reduced potence of the WGA's one significant advantage over other labor unions, frequent and timely access to the public ear.

No The Daily Show with Jon Stewart until after the primaries.

No Colbert Report.

No Letterman.

No Weekend Update.

No Leno.

No Conan.

No Kimmel.

No political satire until after in the next few months we Americans decide which two human beings will contend for the leadership of the free world.

Unless we count Tucker Carlson and Bill O'Reilly.

Perhaps inadvertently, James Nicholas Counter III, president of The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since its inception in 1982, has almost singlehandedly silenced political satire for the duration of the primary season. If the Writers Guild strike continues as long as previous similar labor disputes, the United States will have settled on both major parties' presidential nominees by April with no nightly political fun being made about them.

By holding resolutely to a set of positions regarding guild members' rights to compensation for newer long-tail sources of revenue for his alliance, Counter has put the Writers Guild of America in a position that virtually guarantees the only daily media segment sympathetic to the writers' strike, the daily comedy shows, must remain silent. How long this silence will continue is up to exactly one person, Nick Counter.

The writers clearly would rather be working this holiday season, and while the networks' news divisions have been regurgitating alliance talking points verbatim, it's clear that producers would rather be producing too this Christmas. Seasonal advertising money will never get collected, the ads unplaced. But St. Nick Counter likely plans a private holiday this year.

It's not going to be a funny election season. Thanks St. Nick!

BusterD @ 6:

In an amazing business turnabout, AMPTP president J. Nicholas Counter III has guaranteed the reduced potence of the WGA's one significant advantage over other labor unions, frequent and timely access to the public ear.

No The Daily Show with Jon Stewart until after the primaries.

No Colbert Report.

No Letterman.

No Weekend Update.

No Leno.

No Conan.

No Kimmel.

No political satire until after in the next few months we Americans decide which two human beings will contend for the leadership of the free world.

Unless we count Tucker Carlson and Bill O'Reilly.

Perhaps inadvertently, James Nicholas Counter III, president of The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers since its inception in 1982, has almost singlehandedly silenced political satire for the duration of the primary season. If the Writers Guild strike continues as long as previous similar labor disputes, the United States will have settled on both major parties' presidential nominees by April with no nightly political fun being made about them.

By holding resolutely to a set of positions regarding guild members' rights to compensation for newer long-tail sources of revenue for his alliance, Counter has put the Writers Guild of America in a position that virtually guarantees the only daily media segment sympathetic to the writers' strike, the daily comedy shows, must remain silent. How long this silence will continue is up to exactly one person, Nick Counter.

The writers clearly would rather be working this holiday season, and while the networks' news divisions have been regurgitating alliance talking points verbatim, it's clear that producers would rather be producing too this Christmas. Seasonal advertising money will never get collected, the ads unplaced. But St. Nick Counter likely plans a private holiday this year.

It's not going to be a funny election season. Thanks St. Nick!

Let us all hope that some people, with a halfway descent brain on their shoulders who watching these tv shows are at least listening in the calm of the confetti wnich is the "rerun" and finally see that there is a world that is spinning around them that, if thet seek it, can affect change

With all the union hating garbage ('not earning enough to live there? MOVE!' 'why don't you just get another job' 'I have no idea what your salary is, but all I know is, IT'S TOO MUCH!!' 'stop whining and just work!' 'stop being so selfish!' 'I live in middle america and my cost of living is astronomically lower than yours, but I STILL think you earn too much!')...

Well, I thought I'd wondered onto FreeRepublic by mistake for a few moments there.

Honestly, you call yourselves progressives? No wonder why we've been unable to win any progressive causes in the last decade.

Oh, and as for this:
The first repeat showing he gets $20,000. More repeat showings he still gets money only less but it still keeps coming for years. Most of us would think this is more than fair. Now along comes the internet and the business man starts showing the show with commercials on it and makes some money. Writer says he's owed a piece too. Business man comes back and says $250 for one year use on the internet. Writer hits the streets with signs. Now this is what happens next when in collective bargaining they come to an agreement.

This would actually have relevance, Mike, if shows actually repeated anymore. They don't. Prime time shows like Heroes, Chuck, and Family Guy never repeat on air and late night shows like the Daily Show and the Colbert Report rarely do (and then only because Comedy Central doesn't have enough content to air in the blank spots when the shows take a break).

So most shows, especially the most popular ones, don't air repeats...ever...oh...EXCEPT for on the internet...but there's no money in that...and even if there were, 250 bucks a year is REAL generous. *eyeroll*

You DO also realize that, if the AMPTP screws over the writers this time around, they'll turn right back and use it as a precedent to screw YOUR union when the next negotiations come up?

anon @ 83:

Bonkers @ 70:

anon @ 67:

Bonkers @ 60:

Should I expect more ad hominem humina humina?

Well, ok, fair enough, but seriously, I understood none of that.

Jefferson didnt believe that copyright or patent should extend beyond a few years. I agree with jefferson. Disney believes that rights should extent to infinity - Mickey Mouse. All things come to an end. And in the case of copyright or patent, that should be several years until they transition to public domain. Otherwise, a product is developed, it is paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ad infinitum.

Writers should be paid for their work ... once. Owners of this material should sell their product ... once.

None of this money is found or from the money fairy. It all comes from the public. Get off the publics back.

Mickey Mouse shouldnt live forever ... MICKEY MOUSE MUST DIE!!!!!

Every time you bring in Mickey Mouse, you lose me.

Every time you say the writers should be paid once, it sounds more like your opinion rather than a point of contract negotiation or a reality of this particular industry.

Anyway.

uncle joe mccarthy @ 87:

anon @ 83:

Bonkers @ 70:

anon @ 67:

Well, ok, fair enough, but seriously, I understood none of that.

Jefferson didnt believe that copyright or patent should extend beyond a few years. I agree with jefferson. Disney believes that rights should extent to infinity - Mickey Mouse. All things come to an end. And in the case of copyright or patent, that should be several years until they transition to public domain. Otherwise, a product is developed, it is paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ad infinitum.

Writers should be paid for their work ... once. Owners of this material should sell their product ... once.

None of this money is found or from the money fairy. It all comes from the public. Get off the publics back.

Mickey Mouse shouldnt live forever ... MICKEY MOUSE MUST DIE!!!!!

well, if the dinasours in suits continue to fight progress, no one is gonna get paid.....ever

ergo, the proliferation of piracy

sorry, but i aint shelling out 13 bux to see a first run movie that i would rather watch from the comfort of my computer

i dont need tivo or a vcr, when i can watch streaming tv anytime i wish....from anywhere that i wish

eff em...and give the writers their due

although i cant really feel for them not being able to afford a home.....i work hard, and i will never be able to afford a home

Just a clarification.

I am pro union, but dont support the writers in this case. The issue of intellectual property is obscene in this country. It (copyrights and patents) need to revert to public domain within five years. Jerry Seinfeld, because this isnt the case, will never produce another program for TV. He doesnt need to. He will make billions reselling the same old crap repeatedly for the rest of his life.

The real issue here, in my opinion is the issue of create once resell forever and ever. This victimizes the public.

The net is seen as a new revenue stream. The writers want a piece. I want all of them to get out of my pocket.

Write once ... get paid once.
Create once ... get paid once (three to five year exclusive before public domain)

Seinfeld created once ... he will sell forever. Mickey Mouse will live forever.

JohnnyBravo @ 91:

If they hate their jobs and their pay so much, why did they become writers? They knew what they were getting into. When you accept a job, you know the pay and conditions. By the way, will these writers give paychecks to all the non-writing staff that they got fired?

when did they say that they hate their jobs??

when did they say that they hate their pay??

most writers know that they are lucky to be doing something that they love...they just want fair compensation in the face of the new media

now you and your el druggo talking points can leave this blog

Alex @ 90:

With all the union hating garbage ('not earning enough to live there? MOVE!' 'why don't you just get another job' 'I have no idea what your salary is, but all I know is, IT'S TOO MUCH!!' 'stop whining and just work!' 'stop being so selfish!' 'I live in middle america and my cost of living is astronomically lower than yours, but I STILL think you earn too much!')...

Well, I thought I'd wondered onto FreeRepublic by mistake for a few moments there.

Honestly, you call yourselves progressives? No wonder why we've been unable to win any progressive causes in the last decade.

Oh, and as for this:
The first repeat showing he gets $20,000. More repeat showings he still gets money only less but it still keeps coming for years. Most of us would think this is more than fair. Now along comes the internet and the business man starts showing the show with commercials on it and makes some money. Writer says he's owed a piece too. Business man comes back and says $250 for one year use on the internet. Writer hits the streets with signs. Now this is what happens next when in collective bargaining they come to an agreement.

This would actually have relevance, Mike, if shows actually repeated anymore. They don't. Prime time shows like Heroes, Chuck, and Family Guy never repeat on air and late night shows like the Daily Show and the Colbert Report rarely do (and then only because Comedy Central doesn't have enough content to air in the blank spots when the shows take a break).

So most shows, especially the most popular ones, don't air repeats...ever...oh...EXCEPT for on the internet...but there's no money in that...and even if there were, 250 bucks a year is REAL generous. *eyeroll*

You DO also realize that, if the AMPTP screws over the writers this time around, they'll turn right back and use it as a precedent to screw YOUR union when the next negotiations come up?

You've got to be kidding me right. I defy you to prove there are no repeats. Colbert, daily show, snl, letterman, leno I could go on and on are repeated. law and order? come on man.

anon @ 94:

uncle joe mccarthy @ 87:

anon @ 83:

Bonkers @ 70:

Jefferson didnt believe that copyright or patent should extend beyond a few years. I agree with jefferson. Disney believes that rights should extent to infinity - Mickey Mouse. All things come to an end. And in the case of copyright or patent, that should be several years until they transition to public domain. Otherwise, a product is developed, it is paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ... and paid for ad infinitum.

Writers should be paid for their work ... once. Owners of this material should sell their product ... once.

None of this money is found or from the money fairy. It all comes from the public. Get off the publics back.

Mickey Mouse shouldnt live forever ... MICKEY MOUSE MUST DIE!!!!!

well, if the dinasours in suits continue to fight progress, no one is gonna get paid.....ever

ergo, the proliferation of piracy

sorry, but i aint shelling out 13 bux to see a first run movie that i would rather watch from the comfort of my computer

i dont need tivo or a vcr, when i can watch streaming tv anytime i wish....from anywhere that i wish

eff em...and give the writers their due

although i cant really feel for them not being able to afford a home.....i work hard, and i will never be able to afford a home

Just a clarification.

I am pro union, but dont support the writers in this case. The issue of intellectual property is obscene in this country. It (copyrights and patents) need to revert to public domain within five years. Jerry Seinfeld, because this isnt the case, will never produce another program for TV. He doesnt need to. He will make billions reselling the same old crap repeatedly for the rest of his life.

The real issue here, in my opinion is the issue of create once resell forever and ever. This victimizes the public.

The net is seen as a new revenue stream. The writers want a piece. I want all of them to get out of my pocket.

Write once ... get paid once.
Create once ... get paid once (three to five year exclusive before public domain)

Seinfeld created once ... he will sell forever. Mickey Mouse will live forever.

if this were the case, i would agree with you

but the studios keep selling their stuff....it doesnt end up in the public domain after the first showing...nor, with their political power, will it

look what nbc did with, Its a wonderful life

it was in the public domain, shown everywhere....they reinstitued the copyright...now they show it once with commercials....not free

this is the way of the world, the writers just have to live in it

kinda hard to feel sorry for anyone making 62k a year. but then again, i live in arizona.

Not only do these writers need to get paid for the work they do, but so do the rest of American citizens deserve to be paid a decent livable salary.

We have these young people out here now, working two and three jobs and still not making enough to get buy.

How the hell do we expect them to manage their home life and they are working like dogs?

To those of you whining about how much 'crap' there is on TV and then saying 'Oh except for Family Guy': You sound like f'ing morons.

I like Family Guy just fine but it is just as crappy as any other show on TV. It is often funny but it is also often ridiculously stupid as well.

Seriously, get a grip.

uncle joe mccarthy @ 96:

JohnnyBravo @ 91:

If they hate their jobs and their pay so much, why did they become writers? They knew what they were getting into. When you accept a job, you know the pay and conditions. By the way, will these writers give paychecks to all the non-writing staff that they got fired?

when did they say that they hate their jobs??

when did they say that they hate their pay??

most writers know that they are lucky to be doing something that they love...they just want fair compensation in the face of the new media

now you and your el druggo talking points can leave this blog

When you go on strike, you're saying that you would rather not have a job than work. The writers get paid for their work. When you write, you get paid for that piece. When you write again, you get paid for that other piece. And so on, and so on. If I were to paint one house, I wouldn't go back to the owners of that same house later and say, "Pay me again."

As for the $500,000 to live in CA, rubbish. Get a cheaper house or an apartment. The writers want to show off to all their friends, so they buy stuff they CAN'T AFFORD to keep up appearances. "Look at me I work in Hollywood!"

The writers union is not a union. It's a gang of thugs, in pretty cars. This "union" should be dismantled. And STILL, no one has answered my question: Will the striking writers help the non-writing staff that gets laid off? Fine, I'll answer it: NO. The striking self-serving bastards should be fired and replaced.

Enjoy your weekend Uncle Joe. Oh, and please take your head out of your rear end.

JohnnyBravo @ 108:

uncle joe mccarthy @ 96:

JohnnyBravo @ 91:

If they hate their jobs and their pay so much, why did they become writers? They knew what they were getting into. When you accept a job, you know the pay and conditions. By the way, will these writers give paychecks to all the non-writing staff that they got fired?

when did they say that they hate their jobs??

when did they say that they hate their pay??

most writers know that they are lucky to be doing something that they love...they just want fair compensation in the face of the new media

now you and your el druggo talking points can leave this blog

When you go on strike, you're saying that you would rather not have a job than work. The writers get paid for their work. When you write, you get paid for that piece. When you write again, you get paid for that other piece. And so on, and so on. If I were to paint one house, I wouldn't go back to the owners of that same house later and say, "Pay me again."

As for the $500,000 to live in CA, rubbish. Get a cheaper house or an apartment. The writers want to show off to all their friends, so they buy stuff they CAN'T AFFORD to keep up appearances. "Look at me I work in Hollywood!"

The writers union is not a union. It's a gang of thugs, in pretty cars. This "union" should be dismantled. And STILL, no one has answered my question: Will the striking writers help the non-writing staff that gets laid off? Fine, I'll answer it: NO. The striking self-serving bastards should be fired and replaced.

Enjoy your weekend Uncle Joe. Oh, and please take your head out of your rear end.

Damn JohnnyBravo, you seem to know as much about this topic as your namesake would. Or did you name yourself after that cartoon due to its' incredible writing?

Pathetic.

Your comparison to what writers do or are being asked to do for free compared to painting a house is idiotic as well.

A more appropriate comparison would be if you painted someone's house and they asked you to paint it again later but, since you had already painted it once, they decided they shouldn't have to pay you the second time.

Maybe lay off the Family Guy episodes and check in with the non-animated world. Just a suggestion.