A lot of casual television viewers might find the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, now entering its second week, little more than a rerun-filled nuisance. But the strike is having fast impact on a lot of shows, most notably talk shows.
Network run shows like Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson enter their second week of reruns, while syndicated programs - Oprah, Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil - continue seemingly unencumbered by the strike.
Those syndicated shows and, more specifically, their stars, are obligated under contract to provide content to hundreds of smaller TV stations across the country (the “local listings” in the phrase “check your local listings”).
One of those stars, Ellen DeGeneres, has come under fire for return to her stage. Ellen had stayed home on Monday last week in support of her WGA writers, but returned to work the very next day.
During her Tuesday monologue, of which there wasn’t one, Ellen explained that she was contractually obligated to do so and even mentioned Ellen fans who’d traveled great distances to see the show. (She cancelled her monologue as a show of support for her writers, still on the picket lines.)
But a number of writers took offense to Ellen’s return, saying she had no problem taking a few days off after fighting for the rights of Iggy, the tiny pooch she elected to give away after adopting him from a local L.A. puppy shelter, but couldn’t find it in her power to take more than a day to support her writers.
Hmmm. Good point.
But Ellen’s return to work also keeps the TV show’s staff – some 135 of them – working. That wasn’t an issue when the pressure of pet adoption kept the comedian at home for a long weekend. The show as sure to go on. No one is sure when the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers will enter into a new agreement.
And that uncertainty spells trouble for a number of talk show folks. At NBC, where Jay Leno, host of The Tonight Show, has refused to cross the picket line, producers may have to start laying off workers. That is, unless they can come up with a solution soon. One thought: guest hosts.
The same goes for staff of Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Last Call with Carson Daly.
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