Search for TV Listings, Movies, Celebrities, Photos & More
| | |

In This Section
« WGA Post-Strike Watch: News About Returning Shows

Writers "Likely" to Picket Oscars

080116academyawards.jpg
Oscar statuette by Bob D'Amico/ABC
If the Oscars go as planned, it's "likely" that writers will picket the event, WGA West president Patric M. Verrone told Extra today — although nothing had yet been "decided affirmatively." Adding über-gravitas to his comments, he also noted that what the Oscars (and the Grammys) need most to get on the air "is a contract."

But whether the Oscars will happen at all is still up in the air. Verrone confirmed that the board had voted and did not grant the waiver that would have allowed the event to take place.

The prez's statements further highlight the seeming deadlock on the awards front, which means we can pretty much hang up our tuxes for a while. Do you think the Oscars will go on? Are waivers worth pursuing? Let us know. — Anna Dimond

Related:
• Strike May Cramp Grammys' Groove
• Strike Survival Guide: How to Make the Best of a Sad Situation

Leave a Comment
Posted by TV Guide News
Jan 15, 2008 8:31 PM
I hope the WGA does picket the Oscars. If the AMPTP can't be reasonable and try to negotiate in good faith, I say hit 'em where the live, in their pocketbook!!!
Posted by katepig
Jan 15, 2008 9:21 PM
I think the Academy should cancel the Oscars this year, period. No one should get awards since no one is trying hard enough to end the strike by negotiating! Why should any of them be rewarded with the biggest prize of all? Screw 'em all...including the coveted writing Oscars (it's not like the writers don't get awards too). My main beef is that all the "little people" in the industry (limo drivers, catering staff, fashion industry, production crew, etc) all get screwed out of a big paycheck due to the strike. It's disgusting for both parties in the strike to do this to those less fortunate, those who need the money more than anyone. I also think the WGA's tactic of picking and choosing which awards ceremony they'll picket is gross-- it comes off as arbitrary and unbecoming, and the fans suffer as a result. I think both the WGA and the producers need to hire new negotiating teams since clearly the ones in place now are incompetent.
Posted by vandl74
Jan 16, 2008 9:00 AM
I hope the Academy Awards goes on as scheduled. I don't care if the WGA pickets outside, I just hope they won't coerce the SAG to have actors boycott the ceremony. I felt bad that Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray wasn't able to attend the Golden Globes (her first nomiation) because of the strike. She commented that it was like buying a dress for the prom, then finding out the prom was cancelled.

The artists (and writers, producers, set designers, composers etc.) that will be nominated for an OSCAR is for work done in 2007 (before the strike had an effect). Why should the great movies of 2007 be discarded because the writers and producers of this season don't want to discuss the strike.

Also, the local TV stations that run these award shows will lose a dramatic amount of revenue if the shows are cancelled. That affects the pay of people in places like Bosie, Idaho who are local TV sales reps.

Just my $.02
Posted by Madge_Fan
Jan 16, 2008 10:32 AM
No one is being coerced into not attending the Oscars. SAG suggests, the actors themselves decide whether or not to attend. What many of you seem to be missing is the SAG contract is coming up for negotiations in the near future, and the same issues the writer's are striking for are the actors concern as well, which is a fair and equitable cut of the "1 billion+/yr" the producers are currently making off of new media among other things. So SAG supporting the WGA is not altruistic.

I find it interesting that the WGA is being blamed for not "negotiating", when it's the AMPTP that walked away from the bargaining table. What the AMPTP is basically saying is that we don't have to negotiate, you just take whatever we decide to give you, and if you don't like that then tough! That's not negotiating!

I completely understand why the WGA will picket the Oscars. It's about hitting the producers where the live, in an effort to get them back to the table.

If you want to blame someone for all this mess, then put the blame where it belongs on the greedy AMPTP. Start writing to the studios and tell them to get their butts back to the table and make a fair deal!
Posted by katepig
Jan 16, 2008 11:11 PM
If you want to blame someone for all this mess, then put the blame where it belongs on the greedy AMPTP. Start writing to the studios and tell them to get their butts back to the table and make a fair deal!

I can't actually do that because I think the AMPTP is right in requesting that they don't negotiate the Reality, Animation, and Strike Clause the WGA is DEMANDING on their part of the 'negotiation'.

The WGA is right in wanting residuals on DVD sales and new media - but I don't agree with their demand in a piece of the Reality or Animation pie.

Call me a corporate sponsor (which I'm not) but the reality is - its not just the AMPTP that are playing hard ball.
Posted by Madge_Fan
Jan 17, 2008 8:34 AM
Who cares which group walked away from the table.
Bottom line is they BOTH are a SELFISH bunch.
100's of people are being affected by the actions of these two groups. People that cannot defend themselves. They have no voice.
It's time they write themselves back in.
The public will not tolerate for much longer. Then what....maybe there want be a need for many writers at that point.
Posted by kvance
Jan 18, 2008 7:28 PM
I guess the WGA forgot to advertise or mention that the WGA East are holding their Writer's Guild Awards. It's a scaled down version but it's still being held as they said to honor those deserving individuals. They don't want anyone else to have an awards show or even attend the awards show but they have the nerve to hold their own awards show. Then you wonder why the public is not on your side.:-p
Posted by Justeace
Jan 18, 2008 10:09 PM
Search Community
Advertisement