NBC is maintaining that the show will go on January 13, but it looks like the Golden Globes will feature few, if any, of the movie and TV stars that make it worth watching. The major public relations firms that promote Hollywood’s elite are releasing the following statement:
“We represent the vast majority of the 2008 Golden Globe nominees and many of the actors who have been invited to appear as presenters on the Jan. 13 broadcast. After much discussion by our clients, we have concluded unanimously that the actors we represent WILL NOT cross the picket line out of respect for the WGA membership. Our clients are extremely grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press and would love the opportunity to be recognized for their work but will only do so in the event that NBC and Dick Clark Productions reach an interim agreement with the WGA for the Golden Globes.”
It is signed by companies 42 West, BWR, IDPR, Imagine Management, Patricola Lust, PMK/HBH, Seltzer and Associations, Stan Rosenfeld PR, Wolf Kasteler, BNC, and True Public Relations.
Given this development, it seems doubtful that NBC will broadcast the Globes, but stranger things have happened: During the 1980 actors’ strike, NBC aired the 32nd annual Emmys with just one winner present: Powers Boothe.
NBC insists it still intends to broadcast the Globes, and that means the WGA still intends to picket. “We have no indication that Golden Globes will not be televised,” said WGA spokesperson Jeffery Hermanson. “We are proceeding with our plans to picket, and we expect a large number of writers and many actors to be on the picket lines outside the Beverly Hilton on January 13.”
All of that, of course, presents the HFPA with a very big problem: How do you produce a show celebrating Hollywood if no stars show up? “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been placed in an extremely difficult position with the ongoing Writers Guild strike,” said HFPA president Jorge Camara in a statement released late Friday afternoon. “We are making every effort to work out a solution that will permit the Golden Globes to take place with the creative community present to participate. We hope to announce a resolution to this unfortunate predicament on Monday.”
Additional reporting by Lynette Rice
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I want to see Ellen Page win her much-deserved, first Golden Globe for Juno!
I’ve always been on the writer’s side…but to interfer deserving nominees to receive their awards is really, for the lack of a better term, stupid. Although I’m still for the writers, they are really starting to grate me the wrong way…and it’s not just cuz of the Awards hoo-ha either.
i also want to see Atonement win their
awards. Im all for James McAvoy!
im surprised the networks and studios havent got the hint yet. LA has lost over half a billion dollars so far, and instead of airing awesome shows like chuck, csi, pushing daises, the office, reaper or hereos they are bring bac american gladiators. Are u kidding me? Cmon nbc, cbs and others take a hint.
How sad. We writers are “starting to grate” tv viewers and filmgoers the wrong way. Folks, wake up: it isn’t us — we’ve been essentially locked out of our jobs at this point. All this is grating you the wrong way? US TOO. Complain to the fat, rich, uncaring network and film studio bosses to COME BACK to the negotiating table they walked away from last month, and talk to us! We can make a deal and end this thing if they’ll just bargain in good faith already.
I’m with the writers! The studio bosses are simply looking like fat cats at this point. I do have a few questions that I would love answering:
1) I am wondering how other award shows are being televised at this point? For example, the Critics Choice Awards will be televised next week…and the People’s Choice Awards as well…will these be unscripted shows? 2) Who is writing the promos for NBC, ABC, etc? (for example: the American Gladiator promos)
It just seems that there is still a lot of writing on TV these days, even with reality TV…who is doing this writing?
Any answers would be great!
Guess what writers? The studios will let you stay on strike ’til summer hiatus because this is a lost year. Your leadership grossly miscalculated your leverage and you will all pay the price for your decision to walk out. By the way, I personally want to thank the WGA for mindrot reality horse manure that is ready to hit the air. What am I supposed to do for entertainment now? Read a book, I guess….
Make it so if they don’t show…..they don’t get nominated or win the award.
I am soooooooooooooooooooo tired of this strike. Does anybody really sympathize with the writers anymore? Where do the writers get off on not allowing deserving actors and actresses (like Ellen Paige and James McAvoy) from recieving their much deserved praise? Seriously. The films and television shows that would be recieving Golden Globes (if it weren’t for the damn writers and producers) HAVE ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN. Just because the writers have their heads up their asses doesn’t mean that they should be allowed to prevent others in the creative industry from being honored. Both the writers and the producers are greedy, Hollywood a-holes as far as I’m concerned. How come they haven’t reschedule negotiation talks? Do they get some sort pleasure out of putting so many people out of work? I just don’t understand any of this and I’d love to see how many people (the public, not the snobby Hollywood elite) still actually support the writers, because I know I don’t.
Well, there’s no point in broadcasting the show if no or very few celebs show up. Either they all show up, or they should just announce the winners by press release. And what this mean for the Oscars? What a mess!!
There’s no point in watching if the actors aren’t going to be there.
I bet they would cross the picket line and show up if the golden globe included a check with the statue. I guess they just figure they’ll get the award whether they show up or not. This whole thing has just become beyond stupid. WAKE UP WRITERS… you’re losing support from the people who ultimately pay your salaries in the first place!
All I can think is that they’ll show 30 second clips of every nomination (which I actually wouldn’t mind). But with no one to receive… eh. Although, I’ll be honest, unless it’s the one I wanted to win, acceptance speeches are usually snack or toilet trips to me. (Hey, I don’t like my boy Steve Carrell being snubbed!)
who cares? A b.s. award from the “Hollywood Foreign Press”? I won’t be able to sleep for the next three weeks because of this.
Garbage award celebrating garbage. A fool proof way to end the strike: Stop watching TV and don’t go to the movies. That is it. The strike ends if no one watches the crap they have on.
Pia Zadora won a Golden Globe. Why would anyone want to watch a show that once upon a time gave Pia Zadora an award.
Hey, I’m as sick of this strike as anyone, but there IS a reason for this, and it’s not just to irritate you. Having worked in TV, both news and entertainment, I can tell you there is not as much money in it for the behind-the-scenes folks as everyone seems to think. My last TV job, I scraped by paycheck to paycheck while the boss had to choose which sportscar to drive to work each day. These writers are extremely talented and deserve to be recognized for their skills and effort, and that means actually receiving a portion of the BILLIONS of dollars the studios and networks are making off of online clips and downloads. I support the strike and also say kudos to David Letterman for making his own deal with the WGA- he’s clearly an honest and shrewd man – by distancing himself from the “fatcats,” Dave has his shows and writers back (LateLate w/ Craig Ferguson is a Worldwide Pants Show too)and guests don’t have to cross picket lines to show up. Let’s hope the other networks catch on soon!
Give out the Globes on Letterman and Craig Ferguson.
Thank you for your input, Alan. This average, mid-west, couch potato American is in full support of you and your colleagues. Good luck!
As much as I love TV & movies and hate to see this strike continue, I have to say that I still fully support the writers and hope they ultimately get what they are asking for. Sure, there may be a lot of crap on TV & movies now, but for every crappy show, there is a stellar show with awesome storylines and strong characters. And that is mainly due to the work of the writers and the actors. Hope the strike ends soon, but I don’t blame the writers one bit.
As an artist from Canada I support the writers in their fight for a fair contract.
To the ignorant moron who thinks that the WGA writers are preventing “deserving actors” from receiving their awards, remember this: if a writer hadn’t written the script, there would’ve been no role. Or do you live in fantasy land where the actors just get up in front of a camera and ad lib until they think they’ve got a good movie to show? Clearly you have no clue if you think that people are being “deprived.” Do you realize that the actors SUPPORT the WGA strike, that they are getting screwed over too? The SAG will be at the negotiations table next summer too, over the very same issues the WGA is fighting right now. Are you really so thick that you don’t understand that it benefits the SAG to support writers??? And what actor in his right mind values a stupid trophy more than the favorable negotiation of a contract that protects working people from the greed of big biz??
I also support the actors but SVB but I can’t agree with you. This strike has gone on way too long and the networks are already talking about reality shows. Reality shows are cheap to produce, they don’t need writers and the people seem to love them, except me! Yuk! I’m looking forward to catching up on my reading and videos. So look on the bright side, we’re saving all kinds of money on electricity by not turning the TV on. Al Gore will be ecstatic!!!
If the writer’s strike continues for much longer TV will be overrun by the reality shows that made it so hard for good shows to stay alive in the first place. As far as award shows are concerned, maybe this will give them the chance to reformat the way things are usually done to create something that isn’t as self-indulgently boring.
I too am sick of this whole writers strike thing and agree 100 percent that it has gone on entirely TOO LONG. I am sick of all the re-runs and other crap that is on tv right now. I miss the new episodes of all my fav. shows. Am glad to see shows like Lettermans back on the air even though I never been a fan of his. I hope that the writers can reach an agreement with the producers and other ppl soon. I know its not the writers fault this strike has gone on this long and I support the writers.Just sick of all the re-runs like I said and having to find something else to occupy my time sucks.
All these posts about being “sick of the writers” and them not “allowing” deserving stars to cross picket lines. You people realize the actors are so behind the writers because their contract negotiations are coming up very soon also and they want almost the exact same thing and might have to go on strike as well if the studios dont resolve this? It isnt the writers forcing them to do anything they have the same goals in the end and want to see it resolved not just for the writers but because it will benefit them at their time of negotiation
Thanks Allan for the intelligent comments regarding the strike. Most Americans think everyone in LA makes beaucoup bucks without understand where the majority of profits go among the studios. Yes, the actors get a lot of cash but what you don’t see are the execs who, for every rich actor, are raking in greater sums. And don’t forget, most actors would not be popular at all unless someone had the creative energy to produce the words for them to say. Left to their own devices, there are actually a minority of actors who can properly articulate their thoughts without pre-written remarks. Look at the lack of depth and pizazz on most award shows when these folks make it to the podium. The studios would like us-the public-to believe that the writers are being unreasonable but when you look at percentage points per DVD sold and download from the web, what they want is minimal compared to the magnanimous profits the studio will still make.
Thanks Allan for the intelligent comments regarding the strike. Most Americans think everyone in LA makes beaucoup bucks without understand where the majority of profits go among the studios. Yes, the actors get a lot of cash but what you don’t see are the execs who, for every rich actor, are raking in greater sums. And don’t forget, most actors would not be popular at all unless someone had the creative energy to produce the words for them to say. Left to their own devices, there are actually a minority of actors who can properly articulate their thoughts without pre-written remarks. Look at the lack of depth and pizazz on most award shows when these folks make it to the podium. The studios would like us-the public-to believe that the writers are being unreasonable but when you look at percentage points per DVD sold and download from the web, what they want is minimal compared to the magnanimous profits the studio will still make.
I am sorry, but I think everyone here missed the point of the press release. IT was not the WGA that released it, but rather the public relations firms that represent the actors (who are also in a union, and who are also preparing to take strike action in the late spring). The writer’s guild will be picketing the Golden Globes (as is their right) and the actor’s pr firms believe that the best course of action for their clients is to not cross that picket line. I believe actors will be feeling the pinch of this strike (if not already) as all ‘real’ TV production has been shut down and movie production is soon to follow. Anyone who sees this as a WGA conspiracy to prevent actors from being recognized for their work is delusional. If it is so important to see someone being recognized for their acting, bring two or three friends to the movies and let them gaze upon the stars.
>My last TV job, I scraped by paycheck to paycheck while the boss had to choose which sportscar to drive to work each day.<
Oh, so this is about envy? I thought it was about fair compensation.
Folks, don't let these WGA writers fool you. I work in the film/TV industry and make the money you refer to because I came up with the idea for the show. When the original idea is yours, you own what are called the rights. The real money in Hollywood goes to people who own the rights – not writers hired in who want to change everything you came up with, think they know more about your characters than you do, and put a sex scene and foul language in every other scene. If these writers want more money, let them come up with the actual idea for a show, risk their own money on it, and become producers. Finally, why defend unions? If your daughter wants to become a writer or actress, WGA and SAG will fight her tooth and nail to keep her out because she's not in "the club". Think about it.
The bottom line is, WGA’s battle is not America’s battle. America is suffering and fast dropping to lower class. WGA, SAG and other unions provide an upper-middle-class lifestyle to writers that Joe Sixpack is not even allowed to dream of. The unions want to nickel and dime their dreams off the air instead of being team players and waiting for new media revenue to come to us all – shared and fairly. Trying to make lower middle class America side with and join your little caviar struggle is a little disingenuous, WGA. Your “struggle” is not their battle – just surviving is – so you should stop target spreading and pretending it is. Your actions to keep America from seeing their shows, and us from providing them to them, are simply selfish: period. You’re all behaving like thugs. The studios need to break the unions in two like a Kit-Kat bar and outsource straight to non-shop (non union) from now on. Or do you like your all-look-the-same all sound-the-same sex/violence shows, America?