This is probably covered in one of the other threads, but:
Why are some talk shows affected by the strike and others not? I get (I think I get) what the story is with WGA-belonging hosts (Jon Stewart, Ellen Degeneres), and why they’re back on – but others don’t seem to have been affected at all:
[ul]
[li]Oprah[/li][li]Rachael Ray[/li][li]The View[/li][li]Dr. Phil[/li][li]Regis and Kelly[/li][/ul]
Are there two “types” of talk shows, and these are some other “type” than the monologue-and-skit-plus-a-few-interviews shows? Or what?
twicks, who was home sick yesterday and watched a whole year’s worth of daytime TV
There are some talk show formats that don’t require a lot of writing, especially those that focus on live interaction with guests, such as interviews, panel discussions, and “Auntie Agony” style advice.
“Less” writing, or “a different kind of” writing – but not “no” writing. Are the shows I mentioned in the OP crossing the picket line or not?
I have not heard of any members of the Writers Guild crossing the picket line and I have not heard of major programs hiring scabs.
Whatever writing is done for these shows is not covered by the WGA contract. It’s the same with reality shows. The producers’ stance is that reality shows don’t have writers. The WGA would like to bring reality show workers into the bargaining group, but as of now, they are not considered writers.
None of which really answers my questions: are there two kinds of talk shows? And does one kind not have WGA members on staff? What is the difference between the two kinds of show, if there are two kinds, understood to be?
Shows either have union writers or they don’t. There aren’t two kinds of talk show or two kinds of anything else.
If the shows aren’t unionized then there’s no problem. If the shows are unionized then the host or management provide what little writing needs to be done.
Are the hosts crossing the picket lines if their writers are on strike? Yes. But as I emphasized in the other strike thread hosts are both union and management and they have conflicting ethical imperatives.
Okay, that makes sense. I guess what I’m wondering is why these other kinds of shows (traditionally?) don’t use WGA writers – esp. the “self-help/how-to” shows like Rachael Ray, Martha Steward, Oprah, Dr. Phil. You know that the shows are structured by someone other than the host in advance, and that various bits of banter or instruction have been put together as well.
Sorry, I’d ask the question more clearly if I were a little clearer myself about what I don’t undersant.
On the one hand, there’s a simple answer, and on the other, there’s no simple answer.
Simple answer: They don’t use union writers because the WGA has not been successful in organizing the staff or persuading the producer to agree to a collective contract.
More complicated answers:
Historically, these jobs have not been considered “writing” – this is where my example of reality shows is relevant. Yes, to some extent what they do might be considered writing, but it’s not the kind of writing that screenwriters have traditionally done. People who write copy for television news are also not members of the WGA, not because their work isn’t writing, but it hasn’t traditionally been classified as screenwriting by agreement between television producers, the WGA, and the writers themselves. These definitions are under tension. As I said, the WGA is trying to organize those who “write” for reality shows, but producers are resisting calling those people writers. Perhaps people who do support work for talk shows and news copy writers might also become WGA members some day, but they aren’t now, so they’re not part of the strike.
Thank you – that was very clear and helpful.