Let the Playhouse Burn

In a story in the Hollywood Reporter AMPTP mucka-mucks criticize WGAW president David Young, who, you'll recall, is new and already had a reputation for not being great at negotiation. Although nothing that comes from either side should be taken with anything less than a fistful of salt, sources are claiming that Young has "dug in [his] heels" too hard, refusing to negotiate from the AMPTP's initial offer, which was never intended to be final. WGA negotiators have rejected the idea that Young is too inexperienced to be involved in these kind of talks. Officially I have no opinion, but I wouldn't be shocked if Young isn't quite as skilled as you might want your chief negotiator to be.

Film legend Woody Allen has shot a "Speechless" video in support of striking writers, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily. I'm intrigued to see this one, because unlike the others I've seen, I expect it might have some artistic merit as well as propaganda value.

New York Times: As expected, non-writing staff for Conan and Leno have been laid off by NBC. Conan's production company will be paying staffers until they're re-hired, and Leno has promised a Christmas bonus, but has said nothing about salaries.

AP: ABC News has reached an agreement with its newswriters, who have been working without a contract for three years.

The really important news is that I'm still writing occasional recaps for Northern Attack, filling in gaps in back episodes. My recap of "The Alliance" should be up sometime today.

Bullets

I meant to post the first of my "Dramatis Personae" articles this afternoon, but instead found myself out for several hours attempting to secure repairs on my car. I swear, I'll do it tomorrow. Instead, a couple of links:

LA Times: Bullet pointed list of the issues at stake.
BBC: A quick Q&A on the players and issues at hand.
UPI: British Writers' Guild may use awards ceremony as a platform to express solidarity.
Washington Post: Children of writers on the picket lines.
AP: The AMPTP states its case in ads.

Strike Two

Another sector of the entertainment industry has been nailed by strike fever: Broadway shut down when stagehands went out on strike, according to AP reports. The rhetoric is similar, but he constituencies are very different, I'd suspect.

Ellen Degeneres has pissed off the head of WGA East by returning to work after honoring picket lines for a day. Degeneres is a member of the WGA, but also of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, which supported her move. Ellen's producers have sniped back, but ultimately this seems like small beer to me. It's the weekend, people, what do you want?

Not surprisingly, news has slowed somewhat since the first day of the strike. Next week, I'll be doing some research, and attempting to bring my three loyal readers a primer on the players: The American Motion Picture and Television Producers, WGA West, and the supposedly more-militant WGA East. Look for those (hopefully) Tuesday-Friday. Of course, I will continue to bring news updates as well.