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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

TV Hot Spot: News





Writers Deny Award-Show Waivers!



Post by: Sal


Source: Zap2It

Oscars host Jon Stewart may not have a whole lot to say come Feb. 24.

The Writers Guild of America has told the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hands out the Golden Globes, that it won't grant waivers so that writers can contribute material to the two awards shows.

That means no monologue for Stewart -- himself a WGA member -- at the start of the Oscar telecast and no scripted banter among presenters. The guild also says it will organize black-tie pickets at the awards shows, which could create a dilemma for actors, directors and others who want to honor the writers' strike, which is now in its seventh week.

In a statement, Writers Guild of America, West President Patric Verrone says the guild has respect for both the academy and the Hollywood Foreign Press, but that granting waivers for the awards shows wouldn't further the union's case against the media conglomerates on the other side. "We must do everything we can to bring our negotiations to a swift and fair conclusion for the benefit of writers and all those who are being harmed by the companies' failure to engage in serious negotiations," Verrone says.

The Writers Guild has granted a waiver for members to work on the Screen Actors Guild Awards, as SAG has offered strong support for writers during the strike.

The Golden Globes are scheduled to air Sunday, Jan. 13 on NBC. Dick Clark Productions, which produces the Globes telecast, issued its own statement Monday night saying that, as an independent production company, it will seek its own agreement with the guild that could allow writers to work on the awards.



Take Care,

Sal

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