Nonwriting staff members of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" became the latest casualties of the four-week Hollywood writers strike when they were laid off Friday.
NBC confirmed the layoffs at the show without providing further details. The show went into reruns when the strike began on Nov. 5 and Leno honored the picket lines.
NBC had been covering the salaries of the nonwriting staffers. Conan O'Brien has promised to cover the salaries of about 75 nonstriking "Late Night" staffers next week.
The layoffs came as the Writers Guild of America mulled a new contract offer. Negotiations were recessed until Tuesday.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said it was willing to offer $130 million in extra pay over the life of the proposed three-year deal in addition to the $1.3 billion that writers already receive each year.
The Writers Guild of America countered that the offer amounted to a "massive rollback."
Hollywood writers and below-the-line production staff may be suffering as the WGA strike rounds out its fourth week, but there appears to be one beneficiary of the labor stoppage: Hillary Rodham Clinton.
With the late-night talk shows forced into hiatus, the Democratic presidential candidate has been spared fresh swipes from the likes of Jay Leno and David Letterman. (Although, with their programs in reruns, viewers are getting plenty of opportunities to sample their old material.)
Clinton has been the top target of the late-night comedians among the White House hopefuls, spawning nearly as many jokes so far this year as all her Democratic rivals combined, according to a study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs.
Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 10, the New York senator was the butt of 186 jokes cracked by NBC’s Leno and Conan O’Brien, CBS’ David Letterman and Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. (The study examined just the hosts’ monologues, not the entire show.) The rest of the Democratic contenders were joked about a combined total of 197 times, with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama drawing 56 cracks, the second-largest number.
At the end of the fourth day of renewed negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the alliance issued a statement, which is posted below. The news is that, after what was reportedly three days of little progress, the studios' side has put forward new proposals for digital revenue. The WGA has asked for time to examine the proposals, and although the alliance "strongly" wished to continue negotiating, both sides agreed to meet again beginning Dec. 4.
Here's the full statement:
STATEMENT REGARDING AMPTP WGA NEGOTIATIONS
LOS ANGELES, November 29, 2007 -- "The AMPTP today unveiled a New Economic Partnership to the WGA, which includes groundbreaking moves in several areas of new media, including streaming, content made for new media and programming delivered over digital broadcast channels. The entire value of the New Economic Partnership will deliver more than $130 million in additional compensation above and beyond the more than $1.3 billion writers already receive each year. In response, the WGA has asked for time to study the proposals. While we strongly preferred to continue discussions, we respect and understand the WGA's desire to review the proposals. We look forward to resuming talks on Tuesday, December 4.
We continue to believe that there is common ground to be found between the two sides, and that our proposal for a New Economic Partnership offers the best chance to find it."
The menswear challenge, like a Salem witch trial, involved hysteria, accusations and boring, conservative clothes, but it had its purpose: With Darwinian cruelty, it separated the master designers from the lesser designers. In season 2, we saw promising Nick auf'd when he tried to make a suit for Daniel and this week's first official menswear challenge ever slapped down several well-meaning designers who actually thought they could make a suit -- ha ha! -- in a couple of days. What hubris! Isn't there folklore about tailors stooping over fabric for several weeks in some sort of Geppetto-like workshop? If there isn't, there should be.
I think most of the people who watch "Project Runway" are women and women who don't watch sports, so what was with the Tiki Barber guest spot? That's the best they could do, after the triumph of Sarah Jessica Parker? Who is this Tiki Barber, anyway? He was boring in person and he wanted them, shiver, to make boring clothes. I'm not impressed that he once served as running back for the New York Giants. I'm not even sure what a running back does. Runs? Backward?
Now, we all know that men drew the short stick when it comes to fashion and let's pity them for it. We might make 85 cents to their dollar or whatever, but at least we look good while doing it. On "Project Runway," I don't want to see the designers constrained to menswear, unless they get to make something fabulous and brave. But no one got to do that. Even Kit "Pistol" was reduced to generic sportswear ideas by creating a fleece jacket.
And Jack, the big winner, what did he do? Made some pinstriped pants and a pinstriped shirt. What a snooze.
The highlight of all this is that apparently, when pressed to make sucky clothes, designers become vicious and strange, like animals locked in a basement during a hurricane. Witness the swipes between Carmen and Ricky, who, not coincidentally, ended up on the chopping block together. There was also that weird, though somewhat endearing, shorts-sharing thing that happened with Jack and some of the others. And finally, Elisa's bizarre refusal to "intimately" fit the male model. I love Elisa, if only because I could have never predicted that she'd be the prude of the group. Handsy Isaac Mizrahi she is not.
As for Carmen, this week's sacrifice, I saw the Grim Reaper standing behind her sewing machine weeks ago. I dig the junk-store, Madonna-circa-"Desperately Seeking Susan" look, but she just didn't have it. Better luck elsewhere, Carmen.
-- Margaret Wappler
For the record: An earlier version of this Show Tracker said that "Project Runway" has had menswear challenges in the past. Though the show's designers have made menswear items on prior seasons, this was the show's first official challenge.
The Writers Guild of America, East announced Thursday it had reached a tentative labor agreement with ABC News on behalf of 250 news writers, editors and other staff members in the news division’s New York and Washington offices who have been working without a contract for almost three years.
The two-year contract, which will be voted on by the guild members Dec. 13, grants the employees 3.5% annual raises, along with a onetime $3,700 payment to settle outstanding National Labor Relations Board charges brought against ABC by the union. . The union agreed to a reduction in payments for network radio employees and other adjustments.
“We’re pleased to secure, finally, a fair contract for our members,” Mona Mangan, executive director of the Writers Guild of America, East, said in a statement. We expect the membership to ratify this contract, and we can now continue our work of delivering quality news to the public.”
In a separate statement, ABC said it was “pleased, after three long years of negotiation, to be able to make a deal. We value our WGA-represented employees, and we look forward to a positive ratification vote that will allow both sides to put this behind them."
Earlier this month, CBS News employees working under a WGA agreement voted to authorize a strike after negotiations broke down between the network and the union. It remains to be seen whether the guild will call for a labor stoppage.
Funnyordie.com has posted a laser-precise parody of MTV's not-really-reality show "The Hills." The clip, apparently Judd Apatow & Co.'s contribution to the temporary genre of writers strike comedy, features Mila Kunis as Audrina Patridge, engaged in a recreated "Hills" conversation (i.e. where plenty of words are exchanged but no information) with ex-bf Justin (James Franco).
"You gotta do the uh . . . rice with the fork," Justin advises Audrina as they eat Chinese food. But soon they delve into more personal territory, such as just how to categorize their relationship. Justin is, perhaps understandably, wary of commitment.
"It's like when you make -- when you put statements . . . you'll be gone," he explains solemnly. "Like, I don't like that."
The video ends with a sort of PSA message, reminding the public: "Without writers . . . there's only reality."
The almighty journal suggested that the districts study the history of Bonanza. Many kids came to get away from school, including Colton and Taylor, so this was not an enjoyable task for cerebrally challenged Blaine and the yellow district. The sunshine squad was in trouble.
The challenge? Pop balloons after guessing the correct answer to a trivia question on the town's history (knew it was coming). Of course, the smarties of the green district won the challenge, mostly thanks to Hunter's slingshot ability. He needs a star, and should've gotten one a couple of episodes ago.
The reward? Library vs. arcade. Hate to say it, but this was not even a choice at this point of the show. Dance Dance Revolution vs. an atlas?!? Time for Bonanza to boogie after 34 days -- all except Taylor, who was banned for inactivity. Finally she gets a real punishment, but too bad it took an arcade to force her to work.
But ... the arcade took over! Sophia commented that Bonanza was a "ghost town" as the kids spent all of their time there. So, at the town hall meeting, DK and the council recognized that the arcade was a big negative influence and decided to close it down until the pioneers finished their chores. To enforce the rule, Sophia was chosen sheriff.
Good choice, and good choice of another green team member, Hunter, as the gold star winner. We HAD to see Hunter's dad on the phone call home -- the guy who has been mentioned so much by his son as instilling in him a great work ethic and values. Hunter should be a highlight on what's good about the show.
The Democratic Party pulled the plug today on a CBS presidential candidate debate set to be held in Los Angeles on Dec. 10, citing the possibility of a strike by CBS News employees.
"Due to the uncertainty created by the ongoing labor dispute between CBS and the Writers Guild of America, the DNC has canceled the December 10th debate in Los Angeles,” Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney said in a statement. “There are no plans to reschedule.”
After going 2½ years without a contract, a majority of CBS’ 500 news writers and other local and network employees represented by the Writers Guild of America voted earlier this month to authorize a strike against the network.
The union had not yet decided whether to call for a labor stoppage, but the mere prospect of a walkout alarmed network and party officials, especially after the major Democratic candidates announced they would not cross a picket line to participate in the forum.
Even if the news writers stayed on the job, the WGA could have chosen to picket the debate as part of the ongoing film and television writers strike.
In a series of back-channel meetings, CBS sought to persuade the guild to refrain from picketing the event in the name of public interest, but were unsuccessful, according to people familiar with the discussions.
“CBS News regrets not being able to offer the Democratic presidential debate scheduled for Dec. 10 in Los Angeles,” the network said in a statement. “The possibility of picket lines set up by the Writers Guild of America and the unwillingness of many candidates to cross them made it necessary to allow the candidates to make other plans.”
The debate, which was set to be carried by CSPAN and some local CBS affiliates, would have offered moderator Katie Couric a forum to demonstrate her political chops as the campaign season swings into full gear.
“There’s disappointment,” said one newsroom staffer. “It was a big thing, and we were all excited to do it.”
For the record: An earlier version of this post said that the Democratic Party, along with CBS, tried to persuade the WGA not to picket the Dec. 10 debate. Although party officials checked in with guild leaders about their plans, they did not ask the union not to picket.
And then there were none. Well, two. Okay, actually three. The point is, the Great Race to reconfigure the diagnostics team on "House" is over and the winners are Dr. Kutner (Kal Penn), Dr. Straub (Peter Jacobson) and the mysterious Thirteen (Olivia Penn). How precisely the writers are going to keep them all busy while still throwing the old team enough work is a mystery, but one that will keep Avid Viewers like me tuned in.
In last night's episode, Dr. Lisa Cuddy finally drew herself to full administrative height and told House (Hugh Laurie) to pick two candidates and let the remaining two go. So when a punk rock musician with many addictions and few redeeming virtues pulls the typical "House" collapse -- sudden bout of coughing turns into bloody spew -- the case becomes make-or-break.
Now, the competition wasn't quite as intense as it seems, at least from the living room view. Kal Penn is a movie star, most recently seen in "The Namesake." So clearly he was staying. Jacobson has an IMDB list as long as your arm, and though some of the entries are along the lines of "man with the telephone," he was just seen in "Transformers" and did a very funny turn as the hateful ex-husband in "The Starter Wife." So smart money on him. The choice came down to the two women: the steely Amber (Anne Dudek) and the softer Thirteen (Olivia Penn). Both actors have done good work -- Dudek in high-profile shows like "Mad Men" and "Big Love," Penn in the unfortunate "Black Donnelly's" and, more successfully, "The O.C." But really there was no choice. Amber was too rough even for House, and romantic tension has been in short supply for a while, so the winner was Thirteen.
Yes, yes, there was a lot of cool medicine performed, tests and tubes and seizures, etc., and Drs. Wilson and Formen weighed in on how ridiculous House was to be caught up in his little games, but all of that was so much white noise as we waited to see why he would finally fire Amber and how he was going to keep three instead of two.
Amber revealed her near-pathological fear of losing anything, especially control, by her hatred of the druggie patient, and House finally had to concede that winning wasn't everything if fear of losing kept you hostage. Then he hired the two guys, knowing that that would never fly. Which it didn't; Cuddy told him to hire Thirteen (though why she didn't make him sacrifice one of the men is essentially what separates television from the reality of our lives).
And so the original team is nicely mirrored, two guys and a girl, though with Foreman, it's three guys and a girl. But hey, Amber's the sort who might just figure out a way to return.
Meanwhile, we can all get back to business: figuring out how to give all the old cast members a bit more screen time. I mean, they can't have colored Jennifer Morrison's hair for nothing, right?
In that it did not choose Marie Osmond as the "Dancing With the Stars" champion, America voted correctly.
However, after the tedious last dances and at least five recap/flashback montages, perhaps the most entertaining part of Tuesday's finale turned out not to be the winner, Helio Castroneves, but runner-up Melanie Brown and her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Maybe it was because Helio's grin started getting a little Joker-ish after two hours, maybe it was Osmond's sharp edge hidden behind her manic laughter, or maybe it was Samantha Harris chortling at her own goofy deliveries, but the only sincere thing of the night seemed to be the partnership between the Spice Girl and the professional.
In that it did not choose Marie Osmond as the "Dancing With the Stars" champion, America voted correctly.