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« Today's News: Our Take
Gold or Guild? Globes Nominees Debate Attending
Glenn Close by Larry Riley/FX, Jon Hamm courtesy AMC, Katherine Heigl by Scott Garfield/ABC
Katherine Heigl is in good company. Damages' Glenn Close and Mad man Jon Hamm are among the latest Golden Globe nominees to come forth and say they will not cross the WGA picket line to attend the big show. "There's no way I would cross a picket line," Variety quotes Hamm as saying. "Not only in respect to [executive producer] Matt [Weiner], but I'm in 100 percent agreement with him in this fight. It would be a drag not to go, but you have to take a stand."
But will the Jan. 13 Globes ceremony actually be targeted by picketers? Hairspray helmer Adam Shankman tells Variety, "I think it would be a smack in the face if there was striking at the ceremony because it would be undermining the achievements of their own guild. I think it's a horribly counterintuitive idea to strike something that celebrates their own membership."
What's your take? Would the WGA be right to picket upcoming red-carpet events? Or should they, as has been discussed, grant waivers "allowing" stars and scribes to attend without guilt?
Related:
• Katherine Heigl Won't Cross Picket Line for Globes
• Golden Globe TV Nominations Come Up Daisies!
• Photo gallery: Globes nominees' reactions!
In TVGuide.com's Strike Watch blog:
• Rupert Murdoch: Strike Won't Last Long... Or Maybe it Will
• WGA Files Complaint with National Labor Relations Board
• Late-night Hosts to Return in Unison?
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Dec 14, 2007 11:08 AM
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I agree with Adam Shankman. It just doesn't make sense for them to strike at the GG, IMO and besides that its bad enough that all of us viewers are losing our regularly scheduled programming because of this strike, now they're going to basically ruin the Golden Globes (and most likely the Oscars too) if this keeps up and I'm sorry, but I'm one of those that throughly enjoys the awards shows.
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Dec 14, 2007 11:48 AM
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I don't think that anyone should allow the current dispute over future earnings to detract from the celebration of past accomplishments. I don't see any reason why there should be a strike at the Golden Globes, and I hope the program is allowed to proceed without a hitch.
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Dec 14, 2007 12:34 PM
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I don't understand how boycotting the Globes is "giving it to" the producers.
I also don't understand how attending the Globes equates to crossing the picket line.
Can someone explain?
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Dec 14, 2007 1:28 PM
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when i was 18 i got a job in a factory that was a closed shop. i joined the union because i had to in order to work there. thirty years later i'm still a union man. one of my sisters works in tv production as an ad. she currently has a job on some reality show which i will not watch. she's ok with my not seeing 'her' show. i'm 100% sure she would never cross a line. don't cross!!
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Dec 14, 2007 1:33 PM
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soleani - I think these stars anticipate that the strikers will be striking at the award ceremony, and they would not cross the picket line if that were the case. I think if the strikers were NOT there, everyone could, in good conscience, attend the ceremony; however, would the word be spread in advance one way or another? Since there are so many things to be done before the big day - dress/tux, jewelry, limos - the nominees and presenters couldn't wait until that day to see what the strikers would be doing...this is a real dilemma.
I hope that the strikers would not picket at this award ceremony, or any of them for that matter. These are accolades for work already done and much of the credit goes to them!
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Dec 14, 2007 1:54 PM
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Oh, come on-I can't believe these trolls who say "in good concience" that they won't cross the picket lines at the Golden Globes or the Oscars!
That's -a) giving the viewers the finger by saying they're not worth entertaining...and b) putting thousands more people out of work in the support industry! (Caterers,crew, salespeople, musicians,design staffs, waiters and waitresses, etc.).
It's bad enough my hours have been cut because there's not enough work, so now my Christmas is going to be lean, but what about those whose rent is due and they don't get unemployment?!!!
Spare me the "pro-union" preaching-they never helped me or my dad growing up, I don't see the leadership counting change for gas or deciding which bill to be late on! I think if you refuse to go-you don't deserve to win!
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Dec 14, 2007 2:54 PM
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So far the WGA has been very good about getting out to all of their members when and where they will be striking and I wouldn't think that if they decided to strike at the GG that would be any exception. As a matter of fact I think if they do decide to strike there that the WGA would go out of their way to notify people way in advance so that none of them prepare to go unnecessarily or so that none of them go and then get there and are faced with a "moral dilemma" of crossing a picket line. All that said, I still want to emphasize that it seems a bit ridicoulous for them to strike something where several of their own members have received nominations and that probably most people who are nominated (especially those that are more likely to win) would really like to attend, whether they admit or not. I mean after all, everyone knows that Hollywood loves a good party.
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Dec 14, 2007 2:57 PM
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I could care less...with the nominees and the shows that got snubbed (Greys nominated over lost??? ARE U KIDDING ME, Battlestar galactica, the office, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS...)...no way in hell i was gonna watch anyways...
This award show is a JOKE...when shows like BSG and FNL have recieved the MOST PRESTIGOUS television award possible (the peabody's)..yet cant get nominated for the emmys or the golden globes...you know there is a problem...
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Dec 14, 2007 3:04 PM
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personally, I think it would be incredibly stupid of the WGA to strike the globes. It would basically be spitting in the face of the fans and all the people that worked hard on the movies/shows nominated, not to mention the actors that are actually supporting their fight. It's not going to really affect the producers except to give them a real reason to complain about the WGA. I support the writers, but I think striking any of the awards would be shooting their cause in the foot and make them look very bad.
As I stated, I'm still supporting the writers, but I have noticed that the public stance is starting to shift. This would not help that. The WGA didn't win any points by filing their complaint with the NLRB because that is just going to drag this things out even longer. (And in my opinion, it seemed a little petty and childish, but that is just my opinion) The WGA, need to be careful when picking their battles and how they make their statements. If they keep jabbing at the wound, all it's going to do is stir up more anger with both the public and the producers and nothing is going to resolved. Both sides need to start finding ways the close the gap, not widen it.
Though to be honest, I've lost faith in the current negotiating teams on both sides, They both seem incapable of keeping this on a business level and keep wanting to make it personal. I think they need to bring in new people. (is that possible?)
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Dec 14, 2007 3:16 PM
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As p.o.'ed as I am about Lost and FNL not getting nominated, I would still watch, because there were other nominations that I was happy about (Big Love, Donald Sutherland in "DSM", Steve Carrell in "The Office", etc ...).
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Dec 14, 2007 3:17 PM
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personally, I think it would be incredibly stupid of the WGA to strike the globes. It would basically be spitting in the face of the fans and all the people that worked hard on the movies/shows nominated, not to mention the actors that are actually supporting their fight. It's not going to really affect the producers except to give them a real reason to complain about the WGA. I support the writers, but I think striking any of the awards would be shooting their cause in the foot and make them look very bad.
As I stated, I'm still supporting the writers, but I have noticed that the public stance is starting to shift. This would not help that. The WGA didn't win any points by filing their complaint with the NLRB because that is just going to drag this things out even longer. (And in my opinion, it seemed a little petty and childish, but that is just my opinion) The WGA, need to be careful when picking their battles and how they make their statements. If they keep jabbing at the wound, all it's going to do is stir up more anger with both the public and the producers and nothing is going to resolved. Both sides need to start finding ways the close the gap, not widen it.
Though to be honest, I've lost faith in the current negotiating teams on both sides, They both seem incapable of keeping this on a business level and keep wanting to make it personal. I think they need to bring in new people. (is that possible?)
Excellent post, koshi700 ... ICAM! Also, regarding your last sentence about bringing in new people ... they could choose to let arbitrators work this out and I think that's what they should do, because I think that both sides are beginning to take this very personally and that's not good for anyone, however, that said, I think both sides have let it be know that they are against having an arbitrator, but if that's the only way this is going to get resolved then I think they both just need to bite their tongues and deal with it.
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Dec 14, 2007 3:38 PM
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If the WGA grants the Globes a pass, it could actually work out in their favor. I'm sure many recipients of the awards would that the writers. they usually do and they could get an extra plug in, this way. It would be a smart PR move.
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Dec 14, 2007 3:55 PM
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The Globes are supposed to reward past work and I doubt the telecast will be rerun many times - who's going to make $$ off the show?
Let the producer of the Globes award presentation keep the show simple and short - who could object to that? The union can let their nominees attend in peace and get them - and everyone else - get their awards. The winners get their awards and the viewers get to see the winners - and losers. The parties can go on as usual.
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Dec 14, 2007 4:46 PM
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This whole strike is making me sick. I think that it's time for both sides to compromise, so that Hollywood can go back to work already!
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Dec 14, 2007 7:04 PM
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