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Where Are the A-Listers in Writers Strike?

Staying out of it—despite SAG's solidarity message

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 2, 2008 1:00 PM CST

(Newser) – Although the writers strike has drawn many B-list and small-screen actors to the picket lines, A-listers have nearly all avoided publicly taking sides, notes the Los Angeles Times. The big stars may be in the awkward position of working on movies, despite their union's pledge of solidarity with the Writers Guild of America. They may also be spending their time seeking new ways to promote their work while the late-night TV circuit is mostly shut down.

"They don't want to be branded hypocrites," said one manager-producer. "I think their publicists, smartly, are telling them to not take a side." Many stars are probably relieved that they'll once again be able to appear on David Letterman and Craig Ferguson's shows, which make their WGA-approved return to the airwaves tonight.

Actress Julia Roberts appears on the Today show in New York, Thursday Dec. 13, 2007. Roberts co-stars with Tom Hanks in the new movie Charlie Wilson's War. She and other A-listers have mostly avoided the issue of the WGA strike. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Actress Julia Roberts appears on the "Today" show in New York, Thursday Dec. 13, 2007. Roberts co-stars with Tom Hanks in the new movie "Charlie Wilson's War." She and other A-listers have mostly avoided...   (Associated Press)
Jay Leno of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno greets supporters of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and others on the picket line in front of Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., in this Nov. 13, 2007, file photo. Leno and Conan O'Brien's late-night shows will return to...
Jay Leno of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" greets supporters of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and others on the picket line in front of Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., in this...   (Associated Press)
Screenwriter Rafael Alvarez holds up a sign during a protest by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)
Screenwriter Rafael Alvarez holds up a sign during a protest by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) Thursday, Dec....   (Associated Press)
Craig Ferguson poses at the Primetime Emmy Awards in this  Aug. 27, 2006 file photo at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Thanks to an agreement with the Writers Guild of America forged just last week, Ferguson and  David Letterman will be supported by their writing teams, just like always,...
Craig Ferguson poses at the Primetime Emmy Awards in this Aug. 27, 2006 file photo at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Thanks to an agreement with the Writers Guild of America forged just last week,...   (Associated Press)
In this Oct. 8, 2007, file photo, provided by CBS, David Letterman talks a guest.  Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson will be back with their writers airing joke-filled new hours, the shows' production company, Worldwide Pants, announced Friday, Dec. 28, 2007.  (AP Photo/John...
In this Oct. 8, 2007, file photo, provided by CBS, David Letterman talks a guest. "Late Show with David Letterman" and "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" will be back with their writers airing joke-filled...   (Associated Press)
Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the premiere of Sweeney Todd. A-listers have mostly avoided the WGA strike altogether.
Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the premiere of "Sweeney Todd." A-listers have mostly avoided the WGA strike altogether.   (Associated Press)
American movie star, George Clooney, arrives at the opening ceremony of the 4th International Dubai Film festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. Clooney and other A-listers have mostly avoided the issue of the WGA strike. (AP Photo/Nousha Salimi)
American movie star, George Clooney, arrives at the opening ceremony of the 4th International Dubai Film festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007. Clooney and other A-listers have...   (Associated Press)
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