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« Today's News: Our Take
NBC Refunds Golden Coin to Globes Sponsors
Now that coverage of the Golden Globes has been watered down to a one-hour NBC News special, the Peacock is angling to hold onto as much of the $20 million in revenue it stood to pocket from advertisers. While some spenders may still want their spots to be presented during the "news conference," others will have their investment (approximately $450,000 per 30-second commercial) refunded to them. "We're working with each client on a case-by-case basis," an NBC rep tells TV Week, "to come up with the best solution for everyone involved."
Advertisers who elect not to run their spots during Sunday's news conference will get first dibs on the 2009 Globes.
In our Strike Watch blog:
• Grey's Star: Producers "Need to Have a Heart"
• Golden Globes Officially Whittled Down to a One-hour Press Conference
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Jan 9, 2008 11:25 AM
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sucks to be NBC. Maybe Universal's managers will realize that sitting down to talk with the WGA was a good idea after all.
so how many of the big six are now looking to settle? I know that Universal was already having problems with the strike, but there were other ones to.
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Jan 9, 2008 2:48 PM
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EvilDemonCP, shove it! I'm sick to death of you and your WGA bullies. If there's any justice you and your kind will see viewership of your shows and movies dwindle to nothing and be out of jobs before the end of the year. Let's see who really has the power then? The WGA, the studios or the viewers who truly don't need you to survive.
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Jan 9, 2008 3:22 PM
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Wow, I can't get over the animosity. I for one stand behind the writers. I do feel terrible for all that are involved, especially those who can't afford to be out of work. I wonder how many of you would be willing to give up your rightful portion of the profits. Oh, o.k. I will work hard at my job and you just make all the money, I don't care. I do it for the love of it. I'm sure that they do love their job, but why shouldn't they be compensated for their work?
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Jan 9, 2008 3:29 PM
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Amen, Sweetpea!
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Jan 9, 2008 3:49 PM
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Justeace,
The WGA is paving the way for all of the other Hollywood unions. Its not just the high paid writers, directors and actors that will benefit. A settlement for any of those three will make it that much easier for the various crew unions to negotiate their piece of the pie. The "behind the scenes" people know this and are supportive of the higher profile unions, despite the fact that many of them are currently unemployed.
Lets face it, the studios are getting the most money for doing the least work and they also seem to know the least about what makes for truely good entertainment. They need to shut their mouths and open their checkbooks!
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Jan 9, 2008 3:51 PM
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Oh, that's wonderful. They are negotiating for everyone's future well being. Well Bravo to them. When everyone's savings runs out (and most people's have) and their houses are foreclosed on and the jobs they once had in the industry no longer exist (because the show they worked on has been canceled) and they find it hard to find any "regular" job because who is going to hire someone who might leave in the middle of fall, they will take comfort in the fact that at least the strikers were somehow thinking about their future. Even though the great majority of the other unions will never benefit from these negotiations is neither here nor there. I guess the principal of the thing will satisfy their families and fix the total disruption of their lives. So if that's your point, then let me stand back and give a standing ovation to all the strikers who are considering everyone's future and ignoring their present. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We can all chat face to face in the unemployment lines and do lunch at the soup kitchens.
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Jan 9, 2008 4:40 PM
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So when the other unions go on strike, will you be bemoaning the plight of the members of the WGA? Bet not.
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Jan 9, 2008 5:57 PM
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As a matter of fact I will. Because seeing anyone out of a job or losing their entire financial life over issues that could have been worked out before it came to a strike would make me mad no matter which union it was and not just artists unions, all unions. Will the WGA and SAG be giving up their jobs and salaries when the other unions go on strike? Will they be outside with picket signs, telling their agents they won't write another word or act another scene until all the unions get a better deal? Will they put a halt to the 2008 Oscars and 2009 Golden Globes if deals aren't worked out for everyone? If your going to show solidarity don't pay it lip service because you know full well members of the WGA and SAG will say they stand with you and then go back to the studio for their close-up. Then get on Extra or ET and say it's a shame that the other unions have to strike ( ) but hey at least I got some great stuff at the gift suite. Then of course the writers will agree yes solidarity as long as it doesn't mean some up and coming writer doesn't take my spot. So I guess the other union members will be SOL if they wait around for WGA and SAG to back them up publicly and behind the scenes. Yeah, I'll hold my breath and wait for them to lose their jobs to benefit someone else besides themselves. Sure that'll happen! 
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Jan 9, 2008 6:26 PM
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Ah! But it could not have been worked out beforehand. The AMPTP did not want to meet the WGAs new contract requirements. They demanded they work under their existing conditions. From their end, there was nothing to "work out".
Will the WGA and SAG be giving up their jobs when, say, the gaffer and grip union members go on strike? Yeah, they will because production will shut down! They will have to find other work as well. Will that put a halt to the Golden Globes? Yes. Unless you want to film the show in the dark! 
You want them to be heartless so you have a Justification to be heartless. But life isn't like that.
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Jan 9, 2008 6:41 PM
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Heartless? Me,oh, please. Plenty of unions have flexed their muscles without striking. How exactly am I being heartless? Asking for writers and actors that get paid enourmous amounts of money for what they do, to give some thought about the people that live paycheck to paycheck. Many of the vocal strikers have substantial savings and can withstand months of being on strike, what about those who have already exhasuted all other financial means. What about those who no longer have a place to live, no more anything to give. You want to keep your moral fortitude and principles, that's fine but it won't take care of the families and kids that are now suffering. It's great to plan and secure possible income for the future but taking care of the present makes the future possible. You say the WGA and SAG are sorry people have to suffer and everyone, because I assume you have polled every single member of the other unions, and they have assured you they are 100% behind you even though they are out of jobs. I don't recall being polled. I don't recall anyone offering to pay my bills, children's tuition and help put food on my table. Don't make some blanket statement unless you really know from up and close experience how this strike is effecting people on a personally level. Unfortunately, I've had to live it in an all too personal way. So don't give me WGA propaganda unless you are willing to switch places and live with the fear that now resides in my life.
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Jan 9, 2008 8:07 PM
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Writers do NOT get an enormous amount of money. Please, I beg you to look up the facts and not the AMPTP party line.
What is this polling every single member of anything business about? Not even every single member of the WGA is in support of a strike! No large union ever goes on strike with total support from every member.
Actually, there are resources set up to help those put out by the strike. Can they help everyone 100%? NO! But they don't have that responsibility. If you work in a volatile industry like Hollywood, that responsibility is YOURS! Step up to the plate like a man. There are those of us willing to console you, to care about you. But YOU have to take charge of the decisions you've made in YOUR life.
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Jan 9, 2008 8:29 PM
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I didn't say All writers or even actors for that matter make loads of money. I said many of the vocal strikers are the ones who have the finances to basically not give a bleep if their show is canceled. For the record since you seem to think anyone who doesn't agree with the WGA is on the side of AMPTP. I think both sides are a bunch of idiots. I'll find a way to take care of mine, but that doesn't negate the fear about the present reality. Exactly how is it my fault or somehow my decision that a bunch of babies decided to put a screeching halt to an entire industry (WGA, SAG, and AMPTP collectively). The WGA,SAG, and AMPTP beg people to watch and support everything they do but when it's time to put up or shut up for others they are no where to be found. Well at least you admit some WGA members think this strike is stupid because from your posts you'd swear everyone is just peachy keen with the WGA and SAG position. We shouldn't need resources to help anyone, this strike shouldn't be happening period! But I've had this discussion long enough with someone who seems to think everything the WGA and SAG has done is correct and one day far in the future everyone will thank them and the only evil parties are AMPTP and anyone who gets hurt in the process, well that's their own fault because they decided to work in Hollywood. That's like gang bangers blaming their victims for living/walking/breathing in their territory, "It's not my fault they got shot, they shouldn't be on my block." As for AMPTP party line, I don't need anyone to feed me a party line. I'm living this 24/7 and the excuses are old, the “I'm sorry” is just tired and in the end we all lose. AMPTP will lose revenue, WGA and SAG will and have lost the support of millions of viewers and all the rest of us will scramble to save our little lives that don't seem to be a concern to any of the parties involved.
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Jan 9, 2008 9:07 PM
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They are vocal because they care about everyone in their union, not just themselves. The whole point of this union is that the few who command million dollar paychecks are willing to stand proud next to those just getting their start.
What if your union decided to go on strike? Would you refuse because they would then be "a bunch of babies". Yes? Then what are you doing in a union? Not in a union, then you have little negotiating power. Maybe by teaming up with your fellow man you might find some and then you won't find yourself in such dire straits.
Do I think everything that the WGA and SAG does is correct just because they do it? No. Because I actually agree with it on a case by case basis. When they do something I don't agree with, I will say so. I just haven't seen it yet.
Equating someone's inability to plan ahead in the temperamental Hollywood workplace is not the same as homicide. It's a disgusting comparison.
You expect the WGA members to put your concerns above their own, but you don't put their concerns above yours. Makes no sense.
But I've had this discussion long enough with someone who seems to think everything the WGA and SAG has done is wrong because they expected to always have a paycheck just because they work in Hollywood.
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Jan 9, 2008 9:25 PM
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Don't think anyone owes me anything just respect my right to work as I respect theirs. I think your wrong, you think I'm wrong, I think your position and the WGA/SAG postition is ridiculous and selfish and you think I'm heartless. So there we are, a total stalemate. I am a member of a union and if they make dumb decisions like the WGA then I will no longer be apart of the union and happily, hop, skip, and jump right across the picket lines. By the way I never said anything about homicide, I said shot, that doesn't equal dead. It was an analogy, as in blaming someone stuck in the middle of two waring factions, for the misery caused by the war.
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Jan 9, 2008 10:03 PM
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