OpEdNews » Dear Jon and Stephen: We Wait With Unscabbing Breath: UPDATE:RON PAUL TO CROSS PICKET LINE AND APPEAR ON LENO TONIGHT!

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January 7, 2008 at 05:42:54

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Headlined on 1/7/08:
Dear Jon and Stephen: We Wait With Unscabbing Breath: UPDATE:RON PAUL TO CROSS PICKET LINE AND APPEAR ON LENO TONIGHT!

by steve young Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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Tonight's the night. If there's anyone on TV who might be able to do their show without actually defying the WGA strike, it would be you two. But short of having the shows go on without you two appearing, I'm not sure how you'll fill the hour without ridiculing your writers and the purpose of the strike.

I love your work to death. One more than the other though I'll never say which. But as you prepare to go on the air I would hope you take into consideration what crossing the writers' (your writers included) line means.

Despite what Jay and the NBC attorneys say, WGA writers writing for themselves on their own shows is against the WGA rules. So says the WGA.

Writing for others is obviously verboten. Any programming idea falls under WGA guidelines.
That includes actors, stagehands, office staff, et al who end up on screen performing your ideas.

Others, WGA or otherwise, writing for a WGA signatory (ex. The Daily Show and the Colbert Report) is also off limits.

Crossovers during the strike, such as what Jay is going to do with Jimmy or you to are known to do prior to The Colbert Report, are about one WGA member crossing the strike line to appear on another struck show. That is scabbing as sure as The Daily Show and Colbert Report - with their writers - are the best shows on TV (The Office isn't planning on returning until strike is over).

Remember back when affording today's health insurance was a luxury, but the WGA secured it for you.

There was a time before guaranteed minimum salaries and residual payments for a writers' work.

There was a time before writers received fair pay, before they even received credit for their work.

The WGA formed and fought for those benefits. Benefits both of you have profited from.

While there are others who are not writers or striking who lose during the strike, that is what a strike is about: revealing the effect - the entire effect of not having the writer on board. The people who are not writers but have their livelihood affected by the writers being on strike have been direct beneficiaries of the same writers' work.

Without the writer there is no show. Certainly not a good one. And that would include your shows. Afterall, you are writers. More so, you are WGA writers. And it was the WGA that gave you and all those who came before you the protections to receive fair treatment.

Going against the best interests of your brother writers would be like a poor person, sans health insurance with a son in the military, voting for George Bush in 2004. Worse, it would be like working for George Bush. Is that what you want...another George Bush?

So I urge you, before you pull that lever, think about what the election of George Bush begot this country.

Don't do the same to the writers. Otherwise you're just undermining the troops.

Break a leg.

WGA Member and award-winning TV writer, Steve Young, is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (www.greatfailure.com) doesn't expect to be hired on The Tonight Show, Daily Show or Colbert Report staffs...even after the strike.

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8 comments

Sandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Sandy SandSandy Sand began her writing career while raising three children and doing public relations work for Women's American ORT (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training). That led to a job as a reporter for the San Fernando Valley Chronicle, a weekly publication in Canoga Park, California. In conjunction with the Chronicle, she broadcast a tri-weekly, 10-minute newscast for KGOE AM. Following the closure of the Chronicle, Sand became the editor of the Tolucan Times and Canyon Crier newspapers...

to see more of bio, click on member name

More complicated than my messed up credit card

I have no more idea what they should do any more than they do. They're stuck between the a huge boulder and an even harder place.

Would this be a possible solution?

Jon, Steve, Jay et al were standups and should be able to vamp and ad lib with ease.

What if they turned their TV shows into radio-type call-in shows? Just sit there and take phone calls.

Personalities, pols, whoever could call in as well as the public, and that way no one would be crossing picket lines, only telephone lines and if they used cell phones, no lines would be crossed...only radio waves.

by Sandy Sand (175 articles, 0 quicklinks, 223 diaries, 1503 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 6:22:31 AM

A talk show host, author, columnist,award-winning television writer and filmmaker, his inspiring book, "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (Tallfellow Press) has been published internationally and has become required reading in the Wharton School of Business Masters Program. His "All The News That's Fit To Spoof " column appears every Sunday on the L.A. Daily News Oped Page.

Steve has appeared all over national TV and radio with his unique brand of satirical punditry and s...

to see more of bio, click on member name
steve youngA talk show host, author, columnist,award-winning television writer and filmmaker, his inspiring book, "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (Tallfellow Press) has been published internationally and has become required reading in the Wharton School of Business Masters Program. His "All The News That's Fit To Spoof " column appears every Sunday on the L.A. Daily News Oped Page.

Steve has appeared all over national TV and radio with his unique brand of satirical punditry and s...

to see more of bio, click on member name

TV/Radio

Then they should go on radio and do their shows.

by steve young (323 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 6:33:50 AM

Okay by me

At least the light from the radio doesn't bother my falling asleep to them the way the wavering, flickering light from the TV does.

by Sandy Sand (175 articles, 0 quicklinks, 223 diaries, 1503 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:15:31 AM

Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Rob KallRob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com and is a columnist with Northstarwriters.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump s...

to see more of bio, click on member name

There's another consideration

There are rules about Police going on strike because of the danger that it might put the community at risk for.

Jon and Stephen are policemen for the politics of America. They cast a light upon dark places, challenge what the rest of the media say and get the news to many, particularly the young, who would not see the news otherwise.

These are crucial times for all the light possible to be case, since the rest of the mainstream media, except Olbermann, are not to be trusted.

That creates a special situation-- not a financial one, like the golden globes, or some award ceremony, but one that impacts upon our futures. And that's worth weighing against a strike. The light these two guys cast, and their influence on elections could end up having more favorable effects upon union rights and power than their restraining from functioning in the days ahead.

by Rob Kall (869 articles, 4014 quicklinks, 345 diaries, 1846 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 9:18:57 AM

Strike Breaking Rationalizations

While I do believe the The Daily Show and Colbert Report are similar to police, except for the uniforms and the opportunity to place a gun in the grasp of an unarmed shooting victim, breaking a strike to further your political view, especially when I assume your political view includes protection for labor, which crossing the strike line is directly adverse to.

Other than that, I got your back, Rob.

by steve young (323 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 10:59:25 AM

Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."
John Sanchez Jr.Midwesterner, veteran of VietNam era naval service, I still feel an obligation to defend the Constitution against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."

If I recall correctly,

I heard that Jon Stuart owns and produces both the Daily Show and the Colbert Report. If this is indeed the case, I would think that he would have considerable leverage over Comedy Central, if not its owner, Viacom.

For instance, if Comedy Central said, "Go back on the air or we're dropping your shows," Stuart should be able to respond, "Hey, moron, I tell the jokes around here!", secure in the knowledge that it would take about one and a half seconds to secure a slot on any other outlet. Hell, I bet even Fox News would be slavering over the thought of getting those shows, and would gladly throw over their entire current line up to get them.

by John Sanchez Jr. (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 13 diaries, 1301 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 12:44:19 PM

I've been a musician for 40 years.married with 5 kids.
larry boothI've been a musician for 40 years.married with 5 kids.

And then there's lucky me.................

I don't care about this one way or the other. Until my favorite shows come back on( and I don't have that many) I'll just get more reading done. Win Win.

by larry booth (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 301 comments) on Monday, January 7, 2008 at 6:02:19 PM

The author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?
Tony ForestThe author lives in a small village in central Europe and has been active in the local workers movement for nearly 3 decades.

Globalism knows no borders, why should we ?

And then there's luckier me.................

I don't get US TV ...and I don't miss it one bit !

Har har hardy har har.

But, as a long time union member, one who has helped form more than just one picket line, all I gotta say is this ;

you cross the line, you undermine our efforts, which is more or less, a slap in the face for all our efforts. The picket line is like a bucket...it aint no good wid a hole in it.

by Tony Forest (7 articles, 18 quicklinks, 166 diaries, 1429 comments) on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 3:44:17 AM