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Writers' Block

Started by K Schwartz; Last updated by D Lim | View history

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Writers' Block

"Once it starts, it's going to get ugly." -LAT writer

The first Hollywood writers strike since 1988 was expected to be long, expensive and debilitating from the get-go...and a few months into it, that seems to be the case. Writers are demanding a bigger share of DVD and new-media profits.

Stories

Stories 41 - 60 of 98

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January 2008
- Stewart, Colbert Return to Late Night
  
  Chicago Tribune | Jan 8, 08 11:24 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Late-night TV hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert returned to the air last night, without writers or scripted material. In recognition of the WGA strike, both shows included commentary on the work stoppage, reports the Chicago Tribune. Stewart said, “From now on until the end of the strike, we will be doing ‘A Daily Show with Jon Stewart’ but not ‘The Daily Show.’” More »
- NBC Scraps Globes Gala Over Picketers
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Jan 7, 08 9:08 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association scuttled the Golden Globes today for a decidedly drab press conference, the Hollywood Reporter says. HFPA pressed NBC to let the gala run untelevised, to dissuade picketers and welcome stars, but NBC refused. "We are all very disappointed," the HFPA president said; the association will lose its $5 million licensing fee. More »
- Scribes Cut Deal With Tom Cruise's UA
  
  Variety | Jan 7, 08 7:14 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Striking scribes cut a deal with Tom Cruise's United Artists today, their first with a major studio since walking out in November, Variety reports. Terms were kept secret, but analysts say they likely match a deal struck with David Letterman's WorldWide Pants last week, including new media residuals. “United Artists has lived up to its name," WGA West president Patric Verrrone said. More »
- Writers, Studios Agree Only That Stakes Are High
  
  Washington Post | Jan 7, 08 1:00 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The $150 million or so the Writers Guild's demands would cost over the next 3 years is chump change by studio standards, but the long-term stakes in the deadlocked 2-month-old strike are high, reports the Washington Post. It's now or never for the writers to seal their piece of the nascent digital programming pie. More »
- Actors Won't Show for Golden Globes
  
  Variety | Jan 5, 08 8:49 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - None of the 70 actors nominated for a Golden Globe this year will cross a picket line to pick up their award, Variety reports. Striking writers have refused to grant a waiver to the Globes producers and will be picketing the Jan. 13 awards show instead; Screen Actors Guild president Alan Rosenberg said yesterday SAG members are behind the writers all the way. More »
- Writers Want Leno to Can the Jokes
  
  New York Times | Jan 4, 08 9:34 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Jay Leno is back on the air telling jokes, but striking writers want him to knock it off. Leno returned to TV—and the top of the ratings—Wednesday and yesterday with monologues he wrote. Writers say that violates strike rules and are trying to pressure him and NBC to scrap the stand-up bits, reports the New York Times . Leno, though, says he got permission from the guild and is holding firm. More »
- Writers' Union Nixes Waiver for Golden Globes
  
  E! Online | Jan 3, 08 4:03 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Writers Guild of America vowed it will picket the upcoming Golden Globes award ceremony, contradicting a producers' statement that an agreement was being worked out. Union officials said the guild will protest anything created by Dick Clark Productions, a struck company, although it has granted waivers allowing writers to work for the Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit awards. More »
- Late-Night Hosts Return With Laughs, Politics
  
  Associated Press | Jan 2, 08 11:19 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Late-night talk shows returned to the air tonight for the first time in two months with a dose of politics mixed among the laughs, the AP reports. Mike Huckabee appeared on Leno, apparently a bit confused by the status of the writers' strike, while Letterman got a taped intro from Hillary Clinton. Letterman and Conan O'Brien sported beards, having put their razors on strike, too. More »
- Dave, Jay, Conan Back Tonight
  
  Reuters | Jan 2, 08 5:27 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The nation's late-night hosts return tonight after a two-month hiatus because of the writers' strike, with a decided advantage going to David Letterman, reports Reuters. He will return with his writers and top 10 lists intact after negotiating his own deal. Not so for Jay and Conan, who also may struggle getting A-list celebrities. Hillary Clinton taped a cameo for Letterman tonight, while Mike Huckabee will make a full appearance on Leno. More »
- Where Are the A-Listers in Writers Strike?
  
  Los Angeles Times | Jan 2, 08 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. More »
December 2007
- A-Listers Don't Want to Be Like Mike
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Dec 31, 07 3:00 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Mike Huckabee will be Jay Leno’s first guest when the “Tonight Show" resumes for the first time since the writers strike began last month, the Hollywood Reporter says. The Republican presidential candidate will enjoy the spotlight on Wednesday, the eve of the Iowa caucuses. The late-night talkers have been scrambling to book guests as many A-listers refuse to cross picket lines. More »
- Studios Say Writers Out $151M So Far
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Dec 29, 07 6:02 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - As of Friday, Hollywood writers have lost more than they stand to gain—$151 million—in their eight-week strike for a new three-year deal, the studios allege in a video on their strike blog, the Hollywood Reporter reports. But the writers say the studios' current offer "would cause writers even more economic harm...than they claim this strike has caused." More »
- Stewart's Daily Show to Return
  
  Hollywood Reporter | Dec 20, 07 6:57 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Jon Stewart fans can rejoice. His Daily Show will return to the air Jan. 7, along with the Colbert Report , says the Hollywood Reporter . The two Comedy Central shows will return five days after Leno, Conan, and Jimmy Kimmel do the same, despite the writers' strike. Stewart and Colbert may be at a disadvantage because their shows rely more on writers and less on celebrity interviews. More »
- 60% of Viewers Favor Writers Over Studios
  
  USA Today | Dec 19, 07 1:52 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The sympathies of viewers affected by the Hollywood writers' strike lie squarely with the writers, not the studios, a new poll shows. USA Today reports that 60% of Americans side with the scribes, and only 14% with their erstwhile employers. Reactions to the strike are varied: Many viewers watch more reruns, more reality shows, and/or less TV in general. More »
- Kimmel Will Return to Air Next Month
  
  Associated Press | Dec 18, 07 9:08 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - ABC's Jimmy Kimmel will join his talk-show pals Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien in returning to the air Jan. 2, despite the ongoing