As may have read, for the first time since the strike began, the talks are back on.
Nikki Finke, who writes the indispensable, terrific, and utterly worthwhile Deadline Hollywood Daily (which is where all we writer-types go for our news during The Troubles), broke that this was facilitated by CAA’s Bryan Lourd. Another victory for bald men!
To me, it’s underreported that this was aided, I think, by the WGA and SAG presidents going to Washington this week and just… talking. To Henry Waxman and Barbara Boxer and other folk… shootin’ the breeze about various things, lots of stuff, really, random topics, like… f’rinstance… how the strike isn’t getting fair media coverage because the companies we’re striking against own the news media.
There ya go. The first truly Great Move of the strike. Even the shadow, the merest specter of the government waking up and taking a hard look at what consolidated media ownership is doing… that’ll send everyone scrambling back to the table.
In any case, it makes for at leaast a hopeful Thanksgiving. That and a turkey.
Fanny Roborat
36 comments
David
November 19, 2007 at 4:34 am
1“Even the shadow, the merest specter of the government waking up and taking a hard look at what consolidated media ownership is doing…”
If you guys are able to get movement in the halls of congress on this…wow!
dee
November 19, 2007 at 7:48 am
2I’d like to believe that, but given Congress’ indebtedness to those very media conglomerates, I doubt it. You can’t seriously believe that Senator Boxer and Rep Waxman, whom I’m sure get plenty o’ cash from studio bigwigs, are going to start hearings because a buncha not-so-rich writers show up on their doorsteps.
And as a child of union members (OCAW Local 7-627). I remember the union giving out turkeys at the holidays. Does the WGA have a similar plan?
{inset turkey and ham jokes here}
Adam Felber
November 19, 2007 at 10:01 am
3Dee - I absolutely do believe that a couple of congressmen could be pushed to open an investigation, or at least not stand in the way of one. Particularly if the next President is a Democrat, it’d be hard to imagine the Justice department NOT taking a look at media ownership. The studios don’t want anyone rattling the cages of the FCC, which is precisely what went on last week.
Not that I think it’ll go anywhere, but I think it’s enough to make the studios nervous. Keep this in mind: They’re already shocked and dismayed that Obama, Clinton, and Edwards - whom they’ve given LOTS of money too, have turned around and supported the writers in this strike.
When it comes to who politicians listen to, I’d place the ratio at 80% the Money and 10% What’s Right, with 10% unaccounted for. So yes, a bunch of poor writers (and actors) showing up in Washington don’t matter much. The thing to bear in mind is that these poor writers and actors are also there as part of the AFL/CIO.
Murray
November 19, 2007 at 2:41 pm
4Gee, I don’t know Adam. Is money 80% or 99%?
Maybe when Tony is in Congress we’ll have a person we can trust. (He’ll be the least rich person in office).
Gary
November 19, 2007 at 4:10 pm
5Adam — Of course the companies you’re striking against have a vested interest in under-reporting (if not completely blacking out) this particular news item. But many years of observing news reporting on labor disputes as a union member, organizer, leader and representative have shown me that the damage done by the news media failing to explain the issues in dispute while blathering on about all the harm those lousy, ingrate strikers are doing to the poor, inconvenienced public and other ‘victims’ of the strike can be even more damaging than withholding information from the public entirely.
Hopefully, the news media won’t embark on a full frontal assault against the writers. You may be better off with it continuing to pretend the strike doesn’t exist — as unfair as that is. Regardless of what they do, very soon the public’s going to notice there just doesn’t seem to be any entertainment out there anymore.
Keep your chin up brother!
dee
November 19, 2007 at 5:32 pm
6I guess no one at CBS news will be reporting on the strike
Vinnie
November 19, 2007 at 6:16 pm
7Yo. As I wuz walkin’ t’rough da Airport in Ibiza after flying in from New York, I felt like sumone wuz starin’g me. You evuh get dat feelin’? I looked around da crowd an’ I saw a face dat looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. I didn’t recognize da broad wit’ him neither. It’s really starting’ ta bother me. I t’ink he recognized me ’cause he immediately looked away, grabbed da broad by da elbow an’ walked off. Dat wuz a coupla days ago an’ I still haven’t remembered who he is. Maybe I saw him on TV once - yeah, dat’s prolly it.
SeattleTammy
November 19, 2007 at 8:13 pm
8Honk!
Came across this at Crooks n Liars: more reasons to get mad!
Dave von Ebers
November 20, 2007 at 10:06 am
9Adam, not that I put much stock in anecdotal evidence … it bein’, y’ know, anecdotal ’n all … but we were having pizza with my mother-in-law last Friday night (hey, pizza on Friday nights is right there in the goddam Constitution, goddamit), and she said she was on your side. Well, not yours, specifically; she didn’t say, “I’m with that Adam Felber” or anything. But she did say she thinks the writers are right on this one.
Not that my mother-in-law is some kinda crazy right-winger or anything, but I’d say she’s less liberal and more rational than I am (not that those things are mutually exclusive). So, I take it as a good sign when she and I agree on something. (Or possibly a very, very bad sign … but let’s not go there).
Anywho, if good, solid, honest citizens like my mother-in-law are starting to side with the writers, maybe there’s hope for this country yet. Or maybe not … but it might help the cause.
It's Pat!
November 20, 2007 at 2:11 pm
10Honk.
SeattleTammy, wow. A bit inflammatory, but right on the mark.
Adam, I’m with you too. But here’s the thing - a large majority of what I see (mostly as previews of stuff on TV, or movie previews) looks like crap. I want to know is….who really determines what is developed? I’m not a prude, but you know the old saying - if it looks like crap, smells like crap, then it probably is crap - what I have issues with has nothing to do with your labor dispute. For crying out loud - a 2% raise? But - at what point does a concept go to a higher level or a lower level?
The reason I ask is because the public (and of course, when I say “public”, I mean “me”, I think) ties this labor issue with the overall quality of what is “out there”, and does not like it. I think it’s difficult to get support from the general public because the quality of what people see is so poor. Does any of this make sense? If not, that’s because I’m drinking Wisconsin beer, since the Packers dominate Minne-so-loser-ta.
Murray
November 20, 2007 at 3:50 pm
11Say, is anyone familiar with Cormac McCarthy’s book “The Road”?
Seattle Dan, you got one on hand? I’ll contact you to get one.
I’m told that it is a love story told to Cormac’s son when he was born to allay Cormac’s fears of being a first time father. It chronocles the trials of a father and son as they move their belongings in a shopping cart from the mountains to the shore 8 years after the Apocalypse.
Harold? Ann? does an apocalyptic road look sound familiar?
So far it’s just talk, and who knows how long the strike will last, but I met with the “Location manager”, director, and some one else, last month, took them on the Pike 2 Bike, www.pike2bike.org and they called again this week to move ahead. It could be a big thing.
They have Viggo Mortensen (sp?) and Naomi Watts scheduled for it. (so far).
As the trail Chairman I’m looking for them to do a bunch of things for the trail that will help eliminate liability, enhance access, and get our original toll both erected. Anything beyond that is gravy.
It should be an interesting winter.
Oh yeah, HONK!
Lemuel
November 20, 2007 at 5:00 pm
12The next person that I hear say “It sure is a small world” will be getting a much deserved kick to the shin, just below the knee where it’s all skin, bone and nerve endings. I cannot believe this, but Rocio and I get off the airplane in Ibiza and we’re walking to Baggage Claim and I’ll be damned if I didn’t almost bump into one of Mr. DeLay’s many thick necked thugs - Virgil or Victor. Hell I can never keep those leg breakers straight. Anyway, I think he saw me but I don’t think it clicked in where he knew me from. I grabbed Rocio, turned around and walked off - he didn’t follow, so that was good. I gave Rocio $500.00 told her into go to the restroom, wait fifteen minutes and then exit from the other concourse, flag down a cab and go to the hotel. I’d follow later, after I was sure the coast was clear. I circled back and did the ol’ cliched spy trick of standing behind a potted palm and watched where he went. He met up with another of DeLay’s bruisers - dressed like a priest (what’s that about?) They gave each other a hug (held on a little too long, I thought) and headed for their car. I caught a cab myself and followed them back to their hotel. Fortunately it was on the other side of the island…
Hot Tub Tommy
November 20, 2007 at 6:38 pm
13Looks like I just missed Lemuel, the little shit! That’s okay. I’ve got two of my best men working on it, so I should be getting his head in the mail any day now.
What’s this world coming to? I come up with the mother of all one liners and all it gets me is the Bronze from Worst Person tonight? “I’d like to bitch-slap Paul Krugman.” That’s funny, right? Of course it is! Olbermann must need some more fiber in his diet. Hey, that’s funny, too. I’ll email that to Olbermann’s producers. They’ll love it! They need some help anyway with all those communista, Wobbly, pinko writers on strike. You want honk?!! I blow my nose in your general direction, Felber. HONK!!!
Kjell Mikkelsen
November 20, 2007 at 7:09 pm
14“…if it looks like crap, smells like crap, then it probably is crap.” Ja, It Is Pat, certainly it is amusing! But don’t be to drink Wisconsin beer. I mean, it sucks.
Dave von Ebers
November 20, 2007 at 7:35 pm
15Yes, some beer from Wisconsin sucks. But in a pinch, you can put Rhinelander on your corn flakes. So we got that goin’ for us. Which is nice.
gillian
November 20, 2007 at 7:38 pm
16Hot Tub Tommy, you are a disgusting human being!
On a happier note - Well, W did say it would be easier if America was a dictatorship.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_ main.html?name=Toles&date=11202007&type=c
And what would Tuesday night be without a word from Sparky’s friends?
http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2007/11/19/tomo/
Boomer
November 21, 2007 at 3:42 pm
17Whoa. Looks like everyone is in transit today. Well if that’s the case, please be careful. Happy Holiday.
SeattleDan
November 21, 2007 at 4:08 pm
18Happy Thanksgiving from the upper left hand corner, folks!
dee
November 21, 2007 at 5:28 pm
19Happy Thanksgiving, all. No travelling for me, thank Ceiling Cat, but if you’re up this way, cooper, drop by the fellowship tomorrow afternoon. Dinner starts at 4 — dessert to follow.
Of course, that invitation is open to any of you. I just figured cooper was closest.
Harold
November 21, 2007 at 6:04 pm
20Murray, the most amazing thing about the Pike2Bike - well, no, the whole thing is amazing, the beauty, the failed promise, the moment frozen in time, the magnificent desolation, but - well, there’s such a wonderful, exhilirating amount of effort that goes into riding it, and it really has a middle-of-nowhere feeling to it…and yet, so many kids (well, not necessarily kids, as such) have made the pilgrimage for the express purpose of smoking pot in the maintenance facilities in the tunnels, and then commemmorating the experience in spray paint. I mean, sheesh. Around here kids just head out into the woods for a quick doobie. Maybe they’re just a lot lazier here!
Harold
November 21, 2007 at 6:09 pm
21And Happy Turkey Day, everybody! For those of us who embrace your omnivorous nature, stop by my place for a recipe for Roast Turkey Soup - the perfect solution to Thanksgiving leftovers.
I’ve also once again posted “The Littlest Turkey”! Read it to your younglings and traumatize them for life! Well, slightly more than family get-togethers at holidays already do.
cooper
November 21, 2007 at 6:16 pm
22Thanks for the invitation, dee. I will be in WS tomorrow, but we eat the big meal at lunch and then scatter (most - not me - begin Xmas shopping as soon as the meal settles). Happy Thanksgiving! The millions of turkeys that will be consumed tomorrow did not die in vain.
your pal, cooper
becca (and brian)
November 21, 2007 at 9:01 pm
23Hey Felbernauts:
Just a quick note before we head down to the Bay Area for much turkey (and salmon for the veggies) festivities to say that I’m thankful you’re all out there. I so appreciate this virtual community; thank you Adam for providing the outlet and inspiration (and for being so cool in Portland). I appreciate the fact that we support each other in good times and hard times, that we check in on each other, that we provide a forum for discussion free of yelling and name calling, and that we refuse to accept what this country is becoming.
hope your weekends are full of laughter and pumpkin pie.
Becca (and Brian)
and thank you SeattleTammy and SeattleDan for fantastic book recommendations and Piglet and Capt Drew for becoming our partners in food and beverage consumption.
Dale
November 21, 2007 at 9:10 pm
24What Becca (and Brian) said. And thank you to Becca (and Brian) for saying it so nicely.
And thank you to Guido, Vinnie, and Ann for the most fun romances I never had (and there are a lot).
SeattleTammy
November 21, 2007 at 10:32 pm
25We are so thankfull for our friends here! It was so much fun to meet some of you at the Pre-Birthday Bash in Portland this year.
Here’s hoping y’all stuff yourself silly tomorrow!
oxo,
Tammy
David
November 22, 2007 at 7:52 am
26Uh, oh, does saying ditto to what I’ve jsut read make me a ditto head? At any rate, Happy Thanksgiving to all from the edge…
of the Green Swamp.
And a link to what I found to be most excellent thoughts for the day:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robbie-baitz/thanksgiving-2007-the-am_b_ 73582.html
Increase Mather
November 22, 2007 at 8:20 am
27The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Here on this day of remembrance, let us bow our heads in thankfulness for the many blessings the Lord hath showered upon us from on high……….
Cotton Mather
November 22, 2007 at 8:24 am
28Ah Geez, Pops, not this one!! I’ve heardeth it before and it goeth on for hours. Be thankful thou art elsewhere! (Shuteth up already, thou bag of wind!)
Murray
November 22, 2007 at 9:17 am
29We are just about ready to sit down for the TG meal. The turkey has been brined and grilled. Pumpkin pie, sweet potato wait and here I am typing away to say, happy holiday everyone.
Tomorrow at 5:00 AM we head to Staples, Best Buy, etc to get our new TV printer, external hard drive, phones, etc. (This is the real holiday).
Dave von Ebers
November 22, 2007 at 9:50 am
30Amen, brothers and sisters. Thanks for being around, and thanks for welcoming me here these past few months. It has been a real pleasure to join this group … one of the highlights of the fall.
Well, that and my, um, 9-and-3 Fighting Illini!!!
Sorry, I gets carried away at times.
Happy Thanksgiving, all!
hedera
November 22, 2007 at 10:31 am
31We’ll be eating later today (West Coast time here), but the pumpkin is in the oven (chicken goes in later; with only 3 of us at table, a turkey provides more leftovers than we want. If eternity is 2 people and a ham, what is 2 people and a turkey?), and I’m about to get on the exercise bicycle to work off a little of the meal in advance.
I am profoundly grateful for this community, and give thanks for all of you and best wishes to all of you. You started me blogging, an activity from which I take great solace. It’s very helpful to get out and rant sometimes, even if only 3 or 4 people are listening.
David, the saddest thing about the Huffington Post article is that, 250 plus years later, there are people who are still willing to burn a man alive because of their guess. I must go back and read Montaigne; amazingly, I never have.
Dale
November 22, 2007 at 12:01 pm
32Note to future self: do not schedule oral surgery day before Thanksgiving.
Mmmmm, more lukewarm pureed potatoes with codeine gravy.
hedera
November 22, 2007 at 12:32 pm
33Actually, dale, based on my experience with my last knee replacement, I would say don’t ever schedule ANY surgery around a major holiday, especially one which requires a hospital stay - let’s just say the nursing staff on my ward was way under strength.
Ann
November 22, 2007 at 4:54 pm
34Greetings from one who wandered into her office today. I live far from my family, I don’t eat turkey, and I don’t offer thanks to higher powers, so rather than impose my vegan self on my carnivorous friends, I thought I’d just come in and get some things done in peace and quiet.
I am thankful to all of you for being such an inspiring and entertaining set of online friends–even those of you I’ve never actually met!
The AnnFan Club
November 22, 2007 at 6:20 pm
35The AnnFan Club would like to wish each and everyone of you a happy holiday free of religious references.
(Hey, Jimmy, did you hear that? - Ann’s vegan. I guess we’ll all have to change our diets now. You ever eat tofu, Jimmy?)
(Shaddap, Mickey.)
(Hey, guys, she’s thankful for us.)
(That’s cause you one of those clowns she hasn’t met.)
David
November 22, 2007 at 10:04 pm
36“Mmmmm, more lukewarm pureed potatoes with codeine gravy.”
Enough for everyone, Dale? Just askin’.