How will the writers’ strike affect all the upcoming movie awards shows? On the plus side, no groaner gag-lines ("Oprah, Obama. Obama, Oprah.") for returning Oscar host Jon Stewart. On the minus side, Stewart and most of the likely honorees may stay home rather than cross the picket lines. The only show that won’t be affected is the Screen Actors Guild awards, since the unionized writers have granted their fellow labor stalwarts a pass for that one. Still, the rest of the shows could look like those from previous strike years, such as the 1988 Oscars, when the presenters wrote their own painful gags, or the 1980 Emmys, when almost no one showed up to collect their trophies. Kinda ironic, since the 2007 Oscars made a point of celebrating the work of screenwriters.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Will you watch star-free or nearly star-free awards shows? Does the SAG awards ceremony suddenly loom large on your winter calendar? Should stars show up anyway on awards night to celebrate artistic achievements that should exist in a larger context than the current labor strife? Should the writers grant all the shows a waiver for the same reason? Or should the writers and actors stick to their guns and not help support events that are, essentially, a promotional tool for the producers the writers are striking against?
addCredit(“78th Oscars: Michael Caulfield Archive/WireImage.com”)
I rarely watch the broadcast shows anyway – why sit through four hours of painfully awkward pageantry when I can see the “good” four minuts of it the next day on YouTube? — so I don’t think this will cause me much grief. I think the WGA folks should stay home or out front with signs, and let the SAG members attend or not according to their own consciences.
I rarely watch the broadcast shows anyway – why sit through four hours of painfully awkward pageantry when I can see the “good” four minuts of it the next day on YouTube? — so I don’t think this will cause me much grief. I think the WGA folks should stay home or out front with signs, and let the SAG members attend or not according to their own consciences.
Of course they shouldn’t go, we want the strike to end some day…or you know they could end the strike before then. Whichever works.
i tape it and just fast-forward. but it would really bite for the newcomer who gets their first Oscar to not be there because of writers. the movie was already written anyway right? plus the awards aren’t a job, they’re a ceremony. however, i can see screenplay writers not showing up, that would make sense, but the actors don’t have to miss out on a pnce in a lifetime moment because of it.
I thought the strike wouldn’t really affect me, but now I am truly annoyed. I think that means I am a junkie and need help.
Thank you writers and producers of Hollywood. Not only have you ruined many of my favorite tv shows by iniating/instigating the strike, now you are going to ruin the award shows. Thank you so much. You have truly restored my faith in Hollywood.
It makes me mad, for I am a junkie. But I still support the writers.
I’m getting tired of the strike already. Can’t they just come to an agreement and get it over with already? Studios: Just give them a damn percentage and be done with it already!
Interesting sidenote, the first person to refuse an Oscar wasn’t George C Scott or Brando, but a screenwriter who was out on strike at the time.
You mean there may not be any uncomfortably bad banter, boringly drawn out acceptance speeches, and may not run into overtime? Oh! The horrors!
I love award shows more than I probably should and watch many film award shows every year. But I would be the first to applaud if the lame banter between presenters and bad jokes by the host became a thing of the past. Maybe something good can come out of this writers strike.
Let’s see. I am supposed to feel sorry for folks who work part time and get pai at least 5 times as much as me? No, I don’t think so. And to all those funny men and women out there. Apparently the emporor has no clothes. The only funny things that come out of your mouth are written by someone else.
paid emperor Sorry!!
The Oscars are my SuperBowl. I can see the writers not coming, but I agree with whoever wrote that others should still come. It’s not just actors, but also make-up artisits and set designers and cinematographers (aka the ones REALLY hurting from this strike) who are being honored. As for the lame jokes, eh…I always thought the two presenters could come up with something better backstage. Or just have Hugh Laurie present everything!
The Oscars are my SuperBowl. I can see the writers not coming, but I agree with whoever wrote that others should still come. It’s not just actors, but also make-up artisits and set designers and cinematographers (aka the ones REALLY hurting from this strike) who are being honored. As for the lame jokes, eh…I always thought the two presenters could come up with something better backstage. Or just have Hugh Laurie present everything!