Comments on: Mothlight and the WGA Strike http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/ a cultural website in ever-shifting standing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim Winter http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240309 Jim Winter Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:50:46 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240309 This may be rumor, but I also understand the proverbial gun was put to Stewart and Colbert's heads by Viacom, that gun being the wholesale firing of the writing staff. I'd like to know if that's true, or at least from a reliable source. This may be rumor, but I also understand the proverbial gun was put to Stewart and Colbert’s heads by Viacom, that gun being the wholesale firing of the writing staff.

I’d like to know if that’s true, or at least from a reliable source.

]]> By: Susan http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240293 Susan Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:33:44 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240293 It's rather sad how apathetic the people waiting in line are. There seems to be a lot of people who watch these shows that get their sole political knowledge from these shows. Not a great message to be sending. I'm hoping that Stewart and Colbert really had no choice in this matter other than complete poverty due to lawsuits from breaking their contracts. Their going back to work is disappointing. Thanks for the report! It was an insightful read. It’s rather sad how apathetic the people waiting in line are. There seems to be a lot of people who watch these shows that get their sole political knowledge from these shows. Not a great message to be sending.

I’m hoping that Stewart and Colbert really had no choice in this matter other than complete poverty due to lawsuits from breaking their contracts. Their going back to work is disappointing.

Thanks for the report! It was an insightful read.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240191 Sarah Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:05:43 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240191 Some clarification: yes, Stewart said that he and Colbert tried to broker agreements with the WGA, but legally it wasn't up to them - both shows are owned by Comedy Central, which are owned by Viacom, one of the staunch members of the AMPTP. Letterman, on the other hand, owns his own show and Craig Ferguson's, too, through his production company Worldwide Pants. So negotiating a deal with Letterman was essentially a side deal. Two scenarios, two outcomes. So yes, the position Stewart/Colbert find themselves in, being WGA members but also at the behest of the companies that own their shows, is unfortunate. But the sheer apathy on display by those waiting in line, the shame on the face of the young man caught on camera at the Colbert line, speaks volumes far, far beyond the demands of striking writers. And that's what made me sad, if not outright angry. I never realized how pro-union I was until yesterday afternoon. Some clarification: yes, Stewart said that he and Colbert tried to broker agreements with the WGA, but legally it wasn’t up to them – both shows are owned by Comedy Central, which are owned by Viacom, one of the staunch members of the AMPTP. Letterman, on the other hand, owns his own show and Craig Ferguson’s, too, through his production company Worldwide Pants. So negotiating a deal with Letterman was essentially a side deal. Two scenarios, two outcomes.

So yes, the position Stewart/Colbert find themselves in, being WGA members but also at the behest of the companies that own their shows, is unfortunate. But the sheer apathy on display by those waiting in line, the shame on the face of the young man caught on camera at the Colbert line, speaks volumes far, far beyond the demands of striking writers. And that’s what made me sad, if not outright angry. I never realized how pro-union I was until yesterday afternoon.

]]> By: Michael Czobit http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240184 Michael Czobit Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:27:53 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240184 As far as I understand, representatives for Stewart's and Colbert's shows tried hard to sign a deal (the same as Letterman's) with the union to allow the writers to return. The union turned down their offer because the whole of Viacom wouldn't agree to the deal. For the writers to picket at Stewart's and Colbert's shows seems unfair. The hosts are on the side of the writers. They wanted to give the writers a fair deal. But the the union said no. What more can Stewart and Colbert do? As far as I understand, representatives for Stewart’s and Colbert’s shows tried hard to sign a deal (the same as Letterman’s) with the union to allow the writers to return. The union turned down their offer because the whole of Viacom wouldn’t agree to the deal.

For the writers to picket at Stewart’s and Colbert’s shows seems unfair. The hosts are on the side of the writers. They wanted to give the writers a fair deal. But the the union said no. What more can Stewart and Colbert do?

]]> By: Eric Rosenfield http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240183 Eric Rosenfield Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:15:54 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240183 At the same time as everyone's tut-tutting Jon and Stephen, let's not forget that there is a huge cadre of other employees of their shows left out on their ear by the strike. By going back to work all those PA's and cameramen and so on can start earning a living again. That's important, even if there is a writer's strike. At the same time as everyone’s tut-tutting Jon and Stephen, let’s not forget that there is a huge cadre of other employees of their shows left out on their ear by the strike. By going back to work all those PA’s and cameramen and so on can start earning a living again. That’s important, even if there is a writer’s strike.

]]> By: Angie Fran http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-240174 Angie Fran Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:22:12 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/mothlight-and-the-wga-strike/#comment-240174 Very interesting, but depressing on-site reporting. Stewart and Colbert will be displaying their fake leftist credentials tonight just as his fans displayed theirs today by ignoring the picket lines as even the few unenthusiastic picketing writers displayed theirs, none of whom even included the striking writers from these 2 shows! Stewart & Colbert can most afford not to cross-picket lines unlike others without cushions or fame who still do so for labor solidarity despite real hardships to them and their families. Stewart and Colbert could also easily afford to continue to pay ALL their staff as they have been doing even if the strike were extended for a very long time, even for YEARS, and they know it. For those desiring sarcastic commentary on the news, there are other options than watching scabs and their strike-breaking shows. You'll find such commentary on my website, for one example, http://WhatNewsShouldBe.com (First check out its main page, then see this sub-page which mocks a division of the United Nations as a sample, at http://mysite.verizon.net/vze25x9n/wnsb/id15.html ). When Colbert and Stewart mock the content of mainstream news, they don't mention what news the mainstream media generally omits. They're not commenting on what the real news is and should be if it weren't filled with the fluff they love to mock and that's why it is no surprise that they are scabs as this demonstrates the nature of their "dissent" and true lack thereof itself. The real news is what you can find on my non-scab site, the top stories which affect the largest number of people in the most serious way, you know, the REAL news. Angie http://www.WhatNewsShouldBe.com Very interesting, but depressing on-site reporting. Stewart and Colbert will be displaying their fake leftist credentials tonight just as his fans displayed theirs today by ignoring the picket lines as even the few unenthusiastic picketing writers displayed theirs, none of whom even included the striking writers from these 2 shows! Stewart & Colbert can most afford not to cross-picket lines unlike others without cushions or fame who still do so for labor solidarity despite real hardships to them and their families. Stewart and Colbert could also easily afford to continue to pay ALL their staff as they have been doing even if the strike were extended for a very long time, even for YEARS, and they know it. For those desiring sarcastic commentary on the news, there are other options than watching scabs and their strike-breaking shows. You’ll find such commentary on my website, for one example, http://WhatNewsShouldBe.com (First check out its main page, then see this sub-page which mocks a division of the United Nations as a sample, at http://mysite.verizon.net/vze25x9n/wnsb/id15.html ). When Colbert and Stewart mock the content of mainstream news, they don’t mention what news the mainstream media generally omits. They’re not commenting on what the real news is and should be if it weren’t filled with the fluff they love to mock and that’s why it is no surprise that they are scabs as this demonstrates the nature of their “dissent” and true lack thereof itself. The real news is what you can find on my non-scab site, the top stories which affect the largest number of people in the most serious way, you know, the REAL news.

Angie
http://www.WhatNewsShouldBe.com

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