Thursday, November 29, 2007

Katie Couric complains about the writers strike

It was only a matter of time until the talent turned on the strikers. Katie Couric just penned an article on the "ungrateful" writers:
First they came for Ellen DeGeneres, and I said nothing. Then they came for the non-writing staff of The Office, and I said nothing. Now, they’ve come for me, and no one is left to stand up for my rights as a journalist.

Because of my lousy writer staff, which hasn’t turned in a good script since I moved to CBS (I mean, honestly, how many times must our show resort to the old “The President says we’ve turned a corner in Iraq” plot twist?), the DNC chose to cancel a televised debate I was to moderate on December 10th.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

If there are striking writers out there who want to try their hand at fake humor blogging, drop News Groper a line at hello@newsgroper.com. Maybe someone wants to write a "Nick Counter" blog?

ryanshaunkelly said...

HDNet Dec 1 DNC debate (Sat 7:30pm ET)
- all eight -

gravel kucinich paul nader

Anonymous said...

You know its just silly. Here is another example of nothing but GREED! Yes, everyone deserves a pay raise and wanting to make more something at something your doing is normal. But these people have just ruined other peoples lives. I am not talking about me or people like me who just watch that shows. Yes, I am disappointed that my shows are going to end, but I can do withouth it. But all the staff and everyone else who are loosing their jobs because of their greediness. The writer's aren't hurting. They can get by with the money you are making just fine. And if they want to try to complain about what they are making, my husband and I are trying to raise two kids on less than 30K a year and we both work 2 jobs! I hope they all sleep nicely in their beds and wake up on Christmas morning with their families and unwrap their presents, and then remember all the staff member of the shows you work for that won't be able to do that. All because they wanted to pad their wallets more. Those poor people had no control over what the writer's did. Especially to do this before the holidays. It is about time the actors get their butts on the right side of the line! I am happy with Ellen and all the rest.

Anonymous said...

@anonymous: Are you kidding? These guys have a great reason to strike. Previously, the networks and the union made an agreement for payment for VHS sales, which was quite low due to the tapes being so expensive to produce. DVDs were paid at the same scale, despite DVDs costing MUCH less to produce. OK.. But, now the networks are getting shows online as fast as possible due to it being a cash cow, while simultaneously claiming it's experimental and not making any money. These guys are striking because the networks plan to pay them NOTHING for shows streamed or even sold online. The writers simply want a fair cut of online revenues, not to particularly make more money, but so they can maintain their income in the future as more sales are online and fewer via DVD. This seems fair enough to me.

Anonymous said...

I realize that a writer created a story and possibly the screenplay to go with it, but when a strike affects as many people as this one does I would say it is time for the President to step in the way President Reagan did with the air traffic controllers. Yes, I do work in the motion picture industry and have for many years and no, I do not always agree with the Producers stance on negotiations. I am one of the "grunts" that are trying to save my family, life, and house because these writers want to play games. I am NOT saying that the writers shouldn't receive more residual or reuse payments. After all, that is about the only thing unions do for their members, but let's be real about the rest of the industry. We all want to make more money but I would hope not on someone elses demise. It doesn't matter at this point what has happened in the past as the union's agreed to the previous year's offers from the Producers. If they were "low balled" then the writers need to take that up with their union for not researching the problem before agreeing to the contract. What does matter is that with most contracts in the industry getting 2.5% to 3% increases why do the writers deserve more? If you tell me it is beacause they wrote the scripts then you have never been on a set where the Director or one of the top actors on the show change the script. Maybe the actors and directors should apply for part of the increases the writers are asking for. Finally, I do feel that if the Producer is streaming a show on the internet WITHOUT the ability to be downloaded I think that the writers should NOT receive any residual payments for the streaming, BUT if downloading is a possibility then there should be something in place to pay the writers.

Anonymous said...

The writers are already compensated for their work. They are paid for their scripts when they turn them in. What the studio does with it after they are paid is none of their business. Does Black and Decker get a penny for every nail I hammer with one of their hammers? No.

Anonymous said...

It's true that Black and Decker doesn't get a penny for every nail hammered with their tool, nor do the makers of thumb tacks get any extra every time you pin up a picture. However, every time a song is played on the radio, the writer and the singer of that song get a little extra, so why not screen writers? It's not as if it's the same 7 people writing every show, so a few extra cents on every dollar made from their imagination shouldn't be such a horrible idea. If we should be getting pissy as anyone, we should be getting pissy at the ones that are basically stealing from the writers who tell us our favorite stories every evening. If you were being treated unfairly at work, wouldn't you want something done about it, wouldn't you want to do something about it, or would you sit by while your boss took money you worked to earn out of your paycheck?

Anonymous said...

If the writers got even a small amount for everytime someone watched the show on the internet, they'd be millionares. Billions of people, including me, have busy lives and don't always have time to watch every show we want at the time they air. When I miss a show, I go to the shows website and watch it. Although I think they shouldnt be so demanding, I also would like this to be resolved as soon as possible. Its ruining the media industry and all of our favorite shows. Good shows don't just pop into a writers head overnight, which worries me. Since that means most shows wont be on for another month or so, starting AFTER they stop striking, which could go on forever it seems.

Anonymous said...

Is it ever appropriate to to use a quote from an event as horrific as the Holocaust (Niemoller)? I dislike Couric as much as the next guy, but really….