Writers' Strike---It's On

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Nov 2007 10:37 AM

I've been blogging about this inevitable strike for days now and it's finally underway.

Which means if you live in New York City and are interested in meeting actress/producer/writer Tina Fey, she's picketing outside of Rockefeller Center right now.

Fey is a member of the Writers Guild of America East and has joined about 40 other writers outside the NBC building carrying signs and chanting, ""No contract, no shows!"

I'm not sure the 30 Rock star is in the mood to sign autographs, but if you have ever wondered what she looked like in person now's your chance. You can't miss her---just look for the giant, inflated rat that's on display near the picket line.

The line Fey is picketing in is set up behind police barricades in an area adjacent to the NBC studios, where shows like "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" tape their daily episodes. Though, don't expect to see any new late-night talk shows until the strike is over. That means no new Leno tonight. The same goes for David Letterman, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert. And you can forget about seeing The Rock on "Saturday Night Live" this week unless writers and producers are able to hash out a deal in record time.

The last walkout by Hollywood writers took place about 20 years ago. Back then the strike lasted nearly 22 weeks and cost the industry more than $500 million.

Writers on the West Coast started picketing a couple of hours ago in Los Angeles outside 14 studio locations. Among the strikers is Regis Philbin's pregnant daughter who joins 10,000 other members of the Writers Guild of America who will be picketing in four-hour shifts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day until a new deal is reached.

According to reports from the front lines there, picketers are chanting this seven-word mantra: "When you get paid, we get paid."

Writers want studios to give them a bigger cut from video sales and shows sold or streamed over the Internet. So, yes, it's all about the Benjamin's, and I have a feeling this strike isn't going to end any time soon.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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