Comments on: Is Leno a scab? http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab musings of a wannabe comedy writer Thu, 03 May 2012 01:03:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rocklinshl http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-587 Rocklinshl Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:21:31 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-587 I've walked a picket line before. It's not fun. But if the business goes on and starts hiring only a portion of the employees back, those employees (who no longer honor the strike) just made it much harder for the people still on the strike line. How will the striking writers ever get what they are demanding if people keep walking right through their picket line everyday? That includes Jay Leno!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('587','Rocklinshl'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('587','Rocklinshl','I\'ve walked a picket line before. It\'s not fun. But if the business goes on and starts hiring only a portion of the employees back, those employees (who no longer honor the strike) just made it much harder for the people still on the strike line. How will the striking writers ever get what they are demanding if people keep walking right through their picket line everyday?\r\nThat includes Jay Leno!'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’ve walked a picket line before. It’s not fun. But if the business goes on and starts hiring only a portion of the employees back, those employees (who no longer honor the strike) just made it much harder for the people still on the strike line. How will the striking writers ever get what they are demanding if people keep walking right through their picket line everyday?
That includes Jay Leno!
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]]> By: Smith123344 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-583 Smith123344 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:48:00 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-583 Bill Hicks on Leno http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWB-kd09GXY<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('583','Smith123344'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('583','Smith123344','Bill Hicks on Leno\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DWB-kd09GXY'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Bill Hicks on Leno

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWB-kd09GXY

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]]> By: screenwriterguy http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-580 screenwriterguy Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:02:54 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-580 Leno writes for television. The guild currently on strike represents television writers, among others. The fact that he also delivers the work that his team writes doesn't make him less of a writer. I wouldn't argue that Tina Fey should keep writing just because she also performs the scripts she pens. Leno has been in the WGA for decades. I'm willing to bet he has enjoyed their cushy medical insurance and royalty management services. The trade-off for being part of a union whose collective bargaining ability creates benefits for you is that when it's time for bargaining, you have to be part of the collective. At least, that's how it works in my fantasy world.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('580','screenwriterguy'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('580','screenwriterguy','Leno writes for television. The guild currently on strike represents television writers, among others. The fact that he also delivers the work that his team writes doesn\'t make him less of a writer. I wouldn\'t argue that Tina Fey should keep writing just because she also performs the scripts she pens. \n\nLeno has been in the WGA for decades. I\'m willing to bet he has enjoyed their cushy medical insurance and royalty management services. The trade-off for being part of a union whose collective bargaining ability creates benefits for you is that when it\'s time for bargaining, you have to be part of the collective.\n\nAt least, that\'s how it works in my fantasy world.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Leno writes for television. The guild currently on strike represents television writers, among others. The fact that he also delivers the work that his team writes doesn’t make him less of a writer. I wouldn’t argue that Tina Fey should keep writing just because she also performs the scripts she pens.

Leno has been in the WGA for decades. I’m willing to bet he has enjoyed their cushy medical insurance and royalty management services. The trade-off for being part of a union whose collective bargaining ability creates benefits for you is that when it’s time for bargaining, you have to be part of the collective.

At least, that’s how it works in my fantasy world.

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]]> By: screenwriterguy http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-582 screenwriterguy Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:49:05 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-582 <p>If Leno were doing improv, or at least attempting to make it look the tiniest bit like he was doing something other than a pre-written monologue, then it would be sorta grey area. </p> <p>Conan has been telling jokes, and undoubtedly he or some producer had thought of some of them before air. However, he also has gone out of his way to avoid a monologue. On Friday, he sang a song with his band. He comes across as someone who, regardless of what he may want, has to come back. Heck, I'm sure he WANTS to be back. But he's clearly respecting those of his team currently in need of his support. Leno is doing the opposite, and blatantly.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Ask-a-Ninja is great. But can you fall asleep to it every night?</p> <div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('582','screenwriterguy'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('582','screenwriterguy','<p>If Leno were doing improv, or at least attempting to make it look the tiniest bit like he was doing something other than a pre-written monologue, then it would be sorta grey area. <\/p>\n<p>Conan has been telling jokes, and undoubtedly he or some producer had thought of some of them before air. However, he also has gone out of his way to avoid a monologue. On Friday, he sang a song with his band. He comes across as someone who, regardless of what he may want, has to come back. Heck, I\'m sure he WANTS to be back. But he\'s clearly respecting those of his team currently in need of his support. Leno is doing the opposite, and blatantly.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Ask-a-Ninja is great. But can you fall asleep to it every night?<\/p>\n'); return false;">Quote</a></div> If Leno were doing improv, or at least attempting to make it look the tiniest bit like he was doing something other than a pre-written monologue, then it would be sorta grey area.

Conan has been telling jokes, and undoubtedly he or some producer had thought of some of them before air. However, he also has gone out of his way to avoid a monologue. On Friday, he sang a song with his band. He comes across as someone who, regardless of what he may want, has to come back. Heck, I’m sure he WANTS to be back. But he’s clearly respecting those of his team currently in need of his support. Leno is doing the opposite, and blatantly.

Meanwhile, Ask-a-Ninja is great. But can you fall asleep to it every night?

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]]> By: StudioPicturesSuck http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-578 StudioPicturesSuck Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:53:07 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-578 ScreenwriterGuy, In what fantasy-world do you live in where the WGA is "Jay's union"? He is a talk-show host. Just because he owns a word-processor and once wrote jokes for somebody (or whatever) doesn't make the WGA "his union." Under your logic, many of the producers are scabs because they once owned typewriter... Jay tells jokes at 11:35PM to old people in their pajamas. He's not Aaron Sorkin.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('578','StudioPicturesSuck'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('578','StudioPicturesSuck','ScreenwriterGuy,\r\n\r\nIn what fantasy-world do you live in where the WGA is \"Jay\'s union\"? He is a talk-show host. Just because he owns a word-processor and once wrote jokes for somebody (or whatever) doesn\'t make the WGA \"his union.\" Under your logic, many of the producers are scabs because they once owned typewriter...\r\n\r\nJay tells jokes at 11:35PM to old people in their pajamas. He\'s not Aaron Sorkin.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> ScreenwriterGuy,

In what fantasy-world do you live in where the WGA is “Jay’s union”? He is a talk-show host. Just because he owns a word-processor and once wrote jokes for somebody (or whatever) doesn’t make the WGA “his union.” Under your logic, many of the producers are scabs because they once owned typewriter…

Jay tells jokes at 11:35PM to old people in their pajamas. He’s not Aaron Sorkin.

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]]> By: Monique http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-577 Monique Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:48:38 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-577 I didn't watch, but what if Leno were just doing improv? Does that count as writing? Also - how long can the strike go on before *business* goes on (for all the non writers on shows whose livelihoods are also in stasis, not by their own choosing...) and more...before people cease caring at all and it just becomes another line item in the TV Guide or the AskANinjas of the internet world become our primary entertainment. (Admittedly, it already is in our house...)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('577','Monique'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('577','Monique','I didn\'t watch, but what if Leno were just doing improv? Does that count as writing? Also - how long can the strike go on before *business* goes on (for all the non writers on shows whose livelihoods are also in stasis, not by their own choosing...) and more...before people cease caring at all and it just becomes another line item in the TV Guide or the AskANinjas of the internet world become our primary entertainment. (Admittedly, it already is in our house...)'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I didn’t watch, but what if Leno were just doing improv? Does that count as writing? Also – how long can the strike go on before *business* goes on (for all the non writers on shows whose livelihoods are also in stasis, not by their own choosing…) and more…before people cease caring at all and it just becomes another line item in the TV Guide or the AskANinjas of the internet world become our primary entertainment. (Admittedly, it already is in our house…)
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]]> By: screenwriterguy http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-576 screenwriterguy Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:01:58 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-576 Suzanne--Good point that NBC isn't doing Leno any favors by putting him in this position. It seems to me like his actions are those of a man who can see retirement coming and doesn't feel the need to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Conan has impressed me since returning, both as an entertainer and as a man of integrity. Leno would do well to follow that example. StudioPicturesSuck--So no big deal that Jay is scabbing on his union because at least he's being blatant that he's writing? How is that better? Good point that he's putting a bunch of people back to work, and of course returning to work is what everyone wants. However, keeping an industry from moving is exactly the point of a strike, however unfortunate the costs of exerting pressure may be. Leno is significant, because if he comes back with a show that's not suffering, the Letterman deal loses its weight. While Leno may have to deal with no SAG guests, it doesn't impact NBC's sponsor dollars. Naturally, that's the part that ultimately drives the engine. But hey, now there's the UA deal, so there's another crack showing.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('576','screenwriterguy'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('576','screenwriterguy','Suzanne--Good point that NBC isn\'t doing Leno any favors by putting him in this position. It seems to me like his actions are those of a man who can see retirement coming and doesn\'t feel the need to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Conan has impressed me since returning, both as an entertainer and as a man of integrity. Leno would do well to follow that example.\n\nStudioPicturesSuck--So no big deal that Jay is scabbing on his union because at least he\'s being blatant that he\'s writing? How is that better? \n\nGood point that he\'s putting a bunch of people back to work, and of course returning to work is what everyone wants. However, keeping an industry from moving is exactly the point of a strike, however unfortunate the costs of exerting pressure may be.\n\nLeno is significant, because if he comes back with a show that\'s not suffering, the Letterman deal loses its weight. While Leno may have to deal with no SAG guests, it doesn\'t impact NBC\'s sponsor dollars. Naturally, that\'s the part that ultimately drives the engine.\n\nBut hey, now there\'s the UA deal, so there\'s another crack showing.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Suzanne–Good point that NBC isn’t doing Leno any favors by putting him in this position. It seems to me like his actions are those of a man who can see retirement coming and doesn’t feel the need to rock the boat. Meanwhile, Conan has impressed me since returning, both as an entertainer and as a man of integrity. Leno would do well to follow that example.

StudioPicturesSuck–So no big deal that Jay is scabbing on his union because at least he’s being blatant that he’s writing? How is that better?

Good point that he’s putting a bunch of people back to work, and of course returning to work is what everyone wants. However, keeping an industry from moving is exactly the point of a strike, however unfortunate the costs of exerting pressure may be.

Leno is significant, because if he comes back with a show that’s not suffering, the Letterman deal loses its weight. While Leno may have to deal with no SAG guests, it doesn’t impact NBC’s sponsor dollars. Naturally, that’s the part that ultimately drives the engine.

But hey, now there’s the UA deal, so there’s another crack showing.

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]]> By: StudioPicturesSuck http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-575 StudioPicturesSuck Sat, 05 Jan 2008 18:14:47 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-575 I'm 100% in support of the writers, but the truth is that 160 people work for THE TONIGHT SHOW, only 19 of whom are writers. Jay's putting 141 people back to work, and not hiring scab writers. He's just telling lame one-liners and chatting with people. Are we going to picket Brian Williams and Ryan Seacrest, too? AND, Jay's not making a secret of it. If he were "pretending" the show is still written by writers and/or buying material written elsewhere, I'd be mad... but he's not. The problem comes when the actors just show up and improvise an episode of "Chuck." Until then...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('575','StudioPicturesSuck'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('575','StudioPicturesSuck','I\'m 100% in support of the writers, but the truth is that 160 people work for THE TONIGHT SHOW, only 19 of whom are writers. Jay\'s putting 141 people back to work, and not hiring scab writers. He\'s just telling lame one-liners and chatting with people. Are we going to picket Brian Williams and Ryan Seacrest, too?\r\n\r\nAND, Jay\'s not making a secret of it. If he were \"pretending\" the show is still written by writers and\/or buying material written elsewhere, I\'d be mad... but he\'s not.\r\n\r\nThe problem comes when the actors just show up and improvise an episode of \"Chuck.\" Until then...'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’m 100% in support of the writers, but the truth is that 160 people work for THE TONIGHT SHOW, only 19 of whom are writers. Jay’s putting 141 people back to work, and not hiring scab writers. He’s just telling lame one-liners and chatting with people. Are we going to picket Brian Williams and Ryan Seacrest, too?

AND, Jay’s not making a secret of it. If he were “pretending” the show is still written by writers and/or buying material written elsewhere, I’d be mad… but he’s not.

The problem comes when the actors just show up and improvise an episode of “Chuck.” Until then…

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]]> By: Suzanne http://www.screenwriterguy.com/entertainment-industry/is-leno-a-scab/comment-page-1#comment-574 Suzanne Sat, 05 Jan 2008 14:07:59 +0000 http://www.screenwriterguy.com/2008/01/04/is-leno-a-scab/#comment-574 Of course Leno is a scab. But my question is why he would want to side with NBC (and whatever megalith owns them) over the WGA. NBC has treated him abominably, squeezing him out in favor of Conan, and yet he's doing their bidding and thumbing his nose at his fellow writers. Assuming he wants a show on another network in 2009 that will be written by guild writers and have SAG actors as guests, why doesn't he just sit on camera and give NBC the finger for an hour every weeknight? His stance on this does not make sense to me at all.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('574','Suzanne'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('574','Suzanne','Of course Leno is a scab. But my question is why he would want to side with NBC (and whatever megalith owns them) over the WGA. NBC has treated him abominably, squeezing him out in favor of Conan, and yet he\'s doing their bidding and thumbing his nose at his fellow writers. Assuming he wants a show on another network in 2009 that will be written by guild writers and have SAG actors as guests, why doesn\'t he just sit on camera and give NBC the finger for an hour every weeknight? His stance on this does not make sense to me at all.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Of course Leno is a scab. But my question is why he would want to side with NBC (and whatever megalith owns them) over the WGA. NBC has treated him abominably, squeezing him out in favor of Conan, and yet he’s doing their bidding and thumbing his nose at his fellow writers. Assuming he wants a show on another network in 2009 that will be written by guild writers and have SAG actors as guests, why doesn’t he just sit on camera and give NBC the finger for an hour every weeknight? His stance on this does not make sense to me at all.
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