US writers will not block Grammys

personally I agree with jsburman in that I wish truthincomedy would direct some of that "truth in comedy" at those more-deserving bass-turdz, the studio execs...and the rest of insolent corporate pig america.

I can see 'em now in a huge growing pile of cash up to their necks, eating it with a blank stare..."but we haven't made *enough* money yet! we have more yachts, more mansions, more trips to europe to buy buy buy while you clean my toilets and water my grass, powder my actor-puppets, and write the scripts that a mindless public lacking savvy clamors for in the void of this total irresponsibility....whatever pays for my own greedy lifestyle!"

ok well maybe...it's not so funny, eh? and the context for humor doesn't exist because they run like cockroaches when the truth of light suddenly appears to expose them for the ugliness they truly are to the rest of the world.

but then i'm probably the harshest one here with not much prowess for writing funny scripts with the quality and "character" of the cast we have in government and corporate america today...

sorry to rant... (sigh)

The potential for malicious mischief in this WGA seige is limitless. Funny or not, the video clip could conceivably find itself in the middle of an unanticipated sh*tstorm, just when the WGA strike negotiations finally look like they've come to a "happy" resolution. Tell you what, I'll leave it alone if you do. Okay?

WE DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE WGA! (more on that later)

For the record, I too am in complete support for the WGA's ACTUAL demands. That said, without even trying I have been bombarded with viral campaigning for their cause, mostly with web videos. This onslaught (aimed at people who have no sway in the ongoing negotiations) seemed like a trend that was going uncommented on, and unsatarized. One day, after Heath Ledger's death was recieving a fever pitch of attention, and I got a dozen more WGA videos my brain collapsed the two and wanted to put it out to entertain those who would like it, and provoke a discussion with those who wouldn't.
That said - it has a mere 200 or so views - mostly from people I know. I don't think anyone actually believes we speak for the WGA. And if there is a person so unfortunate and undescerning, I doubt beyond all belief they have any sway whatsoever to damage the negotiations going on in Hollywood studios.

Though I appreciate your viewership, and would like you to compensate me for work as a writer.

Thank you.

Great! And granted there's lots of crap out there on the broadcast ethers. My take, for what it's worth, is not so much about the programming per se, but with the savvy of the audience. This ties into the John Edwards campaign, too. If there was a "critical mass" of Americans that understood and appreciated the value of a class-inspired criticism of the exagerated privileges of corporations, Edwards' campaign would have caught fire. He would have been unstopable. Instead, a campaign that in many ways focused on a roll-back of corporate power fell on deaf ears. That's where I make my criticism of popular culture. If you're old enough, you might remember the 60s and the 70s -- a time in which popular culture had lots more latitude. There were things like "protest songs" and a "counter culture." Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana and Dick Gregory. You know?

jsburman much grateful thanks for the context and background. I wish we could do more than merely "mock" crony capitalism in America...public humiliation as frequent to the degree others are unnecessarily and unreasonably (selfishly) constricted, deprived or otherwise defrauded, would be quite very nice.

and as for who bears the majority of the responsibility for the "dumbed" pop culture...maybe it's at least of some larger consequence to the same improper distribution of profits that you allude to. I guess I still tend to blame the people who have the power to potentially make it better and don't or won't.

for the record, I do honestly applaud the efforts of the WGA. it's funny though, that writers can, do and will by license of their profession, use any field or subject as unlimited "creative" fodder to make that buck (whether via satire or what-have-you) almost without impunity, but when the "creative" tables are turned...i guess it's suddenly somehow not so funny anymore??? =D

just my *humble* opinion

Glad you support the writers campaign. It's been a long, grinding siege. A strike is a cross between a political protest and a 100 year war. The casualties in this case aren't dead soldiers, but hard-working technicians who face lay-offs or slow-downs. Sometimes they're out of work long enough that they either have to leave their specialty or even lose their homes. Not a pretty picture. Most people who work in the film business are not fabulously wealthy. They're technicians who work from project to project. And to answer your criticism of popular culture -- it's just that. It wouldn't get produced unless it could make money. Plain and simple. If you consider television too low-brow, consider yourself blessed with a good education. Go out and see "There Will Be Blood," or read a good book. You want to mock a popular icon? Mock the studio executive who refuses to pay honest "creatives" their fair share of the wealth they help create! Why mock writers who are taking significant risks to improve the lot of everyone in the larger economic community?

hmmm...(echoz thinx imaginatively) =D maybe it's cuz of some of the dumb-me-down-too! crappy tv shows that're complicitly produced aired and jammed down our throats like we all really like it...like...for instance...the bleeding grammy's?! =D

sorry...couldn't resist my own attempt at "bad" humor either. bad taste aside there were a couple times i laughed in that video but like maybe I can put up a post that has even more use of the word 'like' ay? =D

save the hate, huh?...i'm not really bashing the fact that writers deserve some long over-due due, dudes. I just tend to think some issues are larger than even money could ever buy

I looked at the link. It's just aweful. You might want to take the WGA logo off the end. Why would you want to paint the Writers Guild as a bunch of homicidal, petty goof-balls?

Yup. The musicians, especially musicians in the union have it much worse than the writers do. Free downloads decimated musicians' incomes years ago. Unlike the case with film and TV writers, the "napster effect" hurt distributors as well as performers. WGA president Patric Verrone, in the press release announcing the waiver for the Grammy telecast, said it was an act of solidarity with musicians. Please bear in mind, the WGA interim agreement has nothing to do with the musical performances in the Grammy telecast, it's about the writing that TV shows need just to be intelligible.

indeed the strike continues, despite interim agreements. I read there they want 3X as much as directors were able to negotiate for DVDs and downloads...(maybe directors get a better deal on the front end?)

but.... but.... shouldn't the spectacular music be able to carry the show all by itself??? no???

Ha! does this mean the strike is over?
I need my Colbert Report!!! ( & not the awkward unscripted version)
LOL @ what Jsaraco wrote.

Thank Goodness! What would we have done without an awards show that has slathered nominations on T-Pain and Akon??

So far the only interesting announced performance looks like Rihanna with a reunited The Time, but they could go on Letterman for that performance, right?

Do we really need the Grammy's?

That's good.