I considered not posting today, to show my solidarity with the striking Hollywood writers, whose demands include increased share of revenue from DVDs, increased residuals from internet distribution, and an end to their Dickensian working conditions.
But then I reconsidered… do I want to show solidarity, or should I turn scab and become a writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart? Since the quality of The Daily Show has dipped to the point where the loudest laughs are roused by Stewart flubbing a line or making a funny face, I think I can easily handle the snide absurdity… or, if needed, the absurd snideness.
In addition to talk shows, it was announced today that the strike has halted production of the three sit-coms: “Back to You,” “Til Death,” and “Rules of Engagement”. Since I’ve never seen or even heard of these shows, I don’t know if this development will spook the television studios into returning to the bargaining table. Like 99% of Americans, I’m waiting until the strike retroactively affects re-runs of “Seinfeld” and “Friends” — the last truly good sit-coms on TV — before I give a shit.
Les Moonves, the CEO of CBS, has said that he foresees “no material impact” from the strike on the network’s financials, which makes me wonder… if the writers aren’t making anybody richer, then why are they employed in the first place? Why not just continue to stock the airwaves with dance contests for fat people judged by former 1980s Glam Rock stars, who all confined to a haunted ranch and are in sub-contest to win the affections of Katie Couric?
