Holywood Left Again

[BeyGon]

John Cryer is living up to his name, he doesn't seem to mind Hillary being on TV, but look at this.

(Burbank, CA) -- GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee crossed the striking writers picket line yesterday to appear on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Actor John Cryer from CBS' "Two and a Half Men" was outside walking the picket line. Cryer said he's disappointed Huckabee chose to cross the picket line. Cryer criticized Huckabee, saying "this is a guy who's campaigning on his character and this isn't a good way to start it."

Was Hillary on Letterman?

[Rick Lee]

What does showing up on Leno have to do with character or lack thereof? Didn't the writers have some agreement with Leno to let the show go on? So wouldn't that be considered not crossing the picket line? Biggest disappointment for me was hearing Huckabee say he supported the strike. That was pandering and that is a character issue.

[MRM]

I think it was Letterman who got permission to enter into a special side deal with the writers' guild. I think Leno's trying to go back, either without writers or using nonunion ones.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by MRM

I think it was Letterman who got permission to enter into a special side deal with the writers' guild. I think Leno's trying to go back, either without writers or using nonunion ones.

Fine. What does it have to do with Huckabee or Clinton?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Who gives a crap? If Hollywood produces less of the same old drivel they've been producing for years because of the strike, I don't really see any big crushing cultural loss. So what?

Maybe people will get sick of the reruns and "reality" shows and start opening books again instead of turning on the idiot box. Maybe some good will come out of this.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Who gives a crap? If Hollywood produces less of the same old drivel they've been producing for years because of the strike, I don't really see any big crushing cultural loss. So what?

Maybe people will get sick of the reruns and "reality" shows and start opening books again instead of turning on the idiot box. Maybe some good will come out of this.

Yup. I had actually forgotten about the strike until I heard this Huckabee thing on the radio this morning. Since I never watch network tv anymore, although I liked Jay Leno when watched him many years ago, my life hasn't been affected at all by the strike. I usually flip between Fox and CNN, watch old Seinfeld reruns, Carl Sagan's Cosmos reruns and whatever cool documentary happens to be on the Military, History or Discovery Channels. I think I last watched Letterman in 8th grade when Eddie Van Halen made an appearance. I've never once laughed at someting Letterman has said. Why is he even considered funny? The jokes others write for him aren't even funny. But maybe that's changed in the 20 or so years since I watched him.

[frogger]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Didn't the writers have some agreement with Leno to let the show go on?

No, they didn't.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

So wouldn't that be considered not crossing the picket line?

No, not in the Huckabee case.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Biggest disappointment for me was hearing Huckabee say he supported the strike. That was pandering and that is a character issue.

A politician pandering? OMG!

[mikester]

Letterman and Leno are both writer's guild members. Letterman's production company did sign the contract the writer's guild wanted allowing its shows (Letterman's and Ferguson's late night show) to go on WITH writers.

Leno and Conan's shows are owned by NBC who has not entered into any agreement with the guild. I know Leno is a guild member and I'm pretty sure Conan is as well so I am surprised they crossed the lines to put their shows on the air. NBC has no agreement with the guild so those shows are going on the air and ad libbing without writers. Apparently since Leno is a member there is some question about if he can perform even his own work (crazy).

I'm not a big union guy myself so I don't much care. I like Letterman better anyway, Leno's a tool.

[MRM]

I guess the argument is that a politician should curry favor with the union and honor a picket line. Since Huckabee crossed the picket line, the union will naturally react unfavorably. It's much ado about nothing since everyone watching the show is also crossing the same picket line and Huckabee, as a Republican, does not count on any union support. Him crossing a picket line has about the same political impact as Reagan losing union support by firing the PATCO air traffic controlers. Which is probably what Huckabee is hoping for.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by MRM

I guess the argument is that a politician should curry favor with the union and honor a picket line. Since Huckabee crossed the picket line, the union will naturally react unfavorably. It's much ado about nothing since everyone watching the show is also crossing the same picket line and Huckabee, as a Republican, does not count on any union support. Him crossing a picket line has about the same political impact as Reagan losing union support by firing the PATCO air traffic controlers. Which is probably what Huckabee is hoping for.

Exactly. I just wish Huckabee hadn't said he supported the strike.

BTW, before Leno took over from Johnny Carson, he was a regular guest in the Tonight Show and did his own stand-up act. At the time I think he was pretty big in Vegas and did all his own stuff. And I thought he was pretty funny. So why does he need a whole staff of writers to do a three minute monologue each night?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Yup. I had actually forgotten about the strike until I heard this Huckabee thing on the radio this morning. Since I never watch network tv anymore, although I liked Jay Leno when watched him many years ago, my life hasn't been affected at all by the strike. I usually flip between Fox and CNN, watch old Seinfeld reruns, Carl Sagan's Cosmos reruns and whatever cool documentary happens to be on the Military, History or Discovery Channels. I think I last watched Letterman in 8th grade when Eddie Van Halen made an appearance. I've never once laughed at someting Letterman has said. Why is he even considered funny? The jokes others write for him aren't even funny. But maybe that's changed in the 20 or so years since I watched him.

+1, he's never been funny.

[legion]

Originally Posted by mikester

Leno and Conan's shows are owned by NBC who has not entered into any agreement with the guild. I know Leno is a guild member and I'm pretty sure Conan is as well so I am surprised they crossed the lines to put their shows on the air.

NBC told them they would be back or they were firing their whole staffs. Coming back is actually preserving jobs for the writers on strike. Too bad they won't see it that way.

[RickM]

I thought it was reported that Leno was paying the writers anyway (while on strike).

Personally I couldn't give two $hots either way.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Who gives a crap? If Hollywood produces less of the same old drivel they've been producing for years because of the strike, I don't really see any big crushing cultural loss. So what?

Maybe people will get sick of the reruns and "reality" shows and start opening books again instead of turning on the idiot box. Maybe some good will come out of this.