STRIKE COVERAGE: AFTRA Backs Ellen
AFTRA's Hedgpeth Calls WGAE Attack on DeGeneres 'Stunning Breach of Basic Inter-Union Courtesy'
By Paige Albiniak & John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/10/2007 5:30:00 AM
The
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
late Friday stuck up for member Ellen DeGeneres after the
issued a press release
chastising the daytime talk-show host
and WGA member for working during the writers' strike.
“As you know, AFTRA members such as Ms. DeGeneres who are working under the AFTRA Network TV Code (which covers The Ellen DeGeneres Show) are legally required by the no-strike clause of that contract to report to work and perform their AFTRA-covered responsibilities,” wrote AFTRA national executive director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth in a letter addressed to Mona Mangan, WGAE’s executive director. “Ms. DeGeneres, along with thousands of entertainment-industry workers represented by AFTRA and other unions who are bound by similar no-strike clauses, are also reporting to work as legally required.”
DeGeneres incurred the WGA's wrath when she returned to work Tuesday after skipping Monday’s show in support of the strike. Although she opened Tuesday’s show with a statement of solidarity, saying that she would not perform a monologue, the guild lashed out in a release Friday, claiming that DeGeneres was continuing to perform comedy in violation of the WGA strike: “Ellen said she loves and supports her writers, but her actions prove otherwise.”
In her letter to Mangan, Hedgpeth criticized the WGA for spurning AFTRA’s overtures of support and for publicly attacking DeGeneres:
“Mona, members of AFTRA have been on the line and struggling to provide their support to WGA members despite the stony silence of the WGAWest in returning AFTRA’s calls to offer help. As you know, AFTRA members in particular … have been among the first affected, since they have been put out of work as AFTRA-covered programs have been among the first to shut down. Still, regardless of the institutional political constraints of WGAW, AFTRA members are showing their union solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the WGAW and WGAE who are standing tall in their struggle to achieve a fair contract -- as all union members should.
If WGAE had concerns about the activities of this AFTRA member, we cannot fathom why we did not receive so much as a courtesy heads-up to discuss the situation and see what we could do to work together in support of WGA’s members. Considering that you and I were together on a conference call less than 24 hours ago to discuss how AFTRA and other unions in the AFL-CIO could assist WGAE at this time, this is especially distressing.
“An AFTRA member was made the target of an ad hominem attack in a news release without any of the communication between us consistent with professional and inter-union courtesy. At a time when all unions should be standing together, this stunning breach of basic inter-union courtesy is the kind of misstep that threatens to frustrate the solidarity of organized labor on a cause that we should all stand together, and stand up, for.”
Early Saturday, Mangan responded. "I was sorry to learn that you believe that the Guild erred in not consulting AFTRA before releasing our statement concerning Ellen DeGeneres. I assure you that we have great respect for AFTRA, its members and staff, and we are deeply grateful for the generous support of the many AFTRA members supporting our strike by withholding their services and/or joining our picket lines and rallies."
Mangan said that while AFTRA had made a "spirited and deloquent defense" of DeGeneres' actions, it could not redeem DeGeneres' decision. "Beyond any issue of membership," she added, "there is the obvious ethical issue, which is clearly present in Ms. DeGeneres' decision to write and produce a show without writers in the face of an industrywide walkout by 12,000 writers." She pointed out that unions with narrower no-strike clauses had been able to help out. "As I indicated in the telephone conversation to which you referred," Mangan said, "it is not the Guild's intention to involve any union, such as your own, in our efforts to encourage individuals to withhold their services. What we ask of them are acts of individual conscience."
DeGeneres' producers, Telepictures Productions, defended her in a statement released late Friday: "It is unfair and incorrect to compare The Ellen DeGeneres Show to late night shows such as Leno, Letterman and Conan, all of which are late-night network owned and controlled programming.
"Ellen is a daytime talk show carried on a syndicated basis across individual television stations, no different than, and in direct competition with, Oprah, Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil, Live with Regis and Kelly, The View, Martha, Tyra, Jerry, Maury and Montel, all of which are in first run daytime syndication and are continuing in production.
"Ellen has not done anything in violation of the Writer's Guild of America agreement, or the WGA's internal 'strike rules.'
Telepictures, through its distributor, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, has contractual obligations to continue to deliver original programming to the 220 stations that carry the program.
"We have asked Ellen to come back to work to fulfill her contractual obligation as host of the show because without original programs, the stations can move the show out of its time periods or ultimately hold the company in breach of contract. The company, in turn, expects Ellen not to breach her contract to host the show. We also wish to preserve the 135 jobs of the staff and the crew whose livelihoods depend on the show continuing. We regret the Writer's Guild has chosen to strike and we wish for a quick resolution."
Warner Bros.’ Ellen and CBS’ Dr. Phil are the only syndicated shows that employ writers that are under guild contracts. Dr. Phil has not been affected by the strike. DeGeneres and Warner Bros. will have to make up Monday’s absence by delivering one original episode to TV stations.
For full coverage of the strike, click here.
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If the production of Ellen's show is managed by members of AFTRA, and only the writing of monologues and such is done by Ellen, the logical solution would be for Ellen to suspend her writing, which I understand she has done, but to continue the show, which she may be obligated to do under AFTRA rules. Just ad lib the opener. It seems that what one is contractually obligated to (abiding by a contract) trumps what one decides to do (going on strike) - I know the strikers feel that they have been pushed to the limit, but when they resolve it all, I am sure they will expect a deal to be a deal, just as Ellen does now with her AFTRA obligation.
Barbara L - 11/13/2007 6:27:00 AM EST -
If Ellen DeGeneres is in direct competition with Oprah, Rachael Ray, Dr. Phil, Live with Regis and Kelly, The View, Martha, Tyra, Jerry, Maury and Montel, all of which are in first run daytime syndication and are continuing in production -- and Ellen's show along with Dr. Phil's are the only syndicated shows that employ writers that are under guild contracts...I wonder why the WGA members are not picketing outside of Oprah, Rachael Ray, Live with Regis and Kelly, The View, Martha, Tyra, Jerry, Maury and Montel - rather than giving Ellen a hard time? These other shows may pay their writers less, which undermines each production company that competes directly with them...why are not these showrunners and writers that are non-union not being made aware for the duration of a week the overall impact they have? Why are they not being intived into the guild? For free? Today? Why is the focus on a woman whose show pays guilded writers, rather than those shows who do not? Are not the WGA members encouraging her to put her show in jeopardy which could indeed cost a number of WGA writers their future jobs, while those other shows will definitely continue with the non-union writers?
Sherry Moore - 11/13/2007 12:01:00 AM EST -
First off, Jenny, I''d like to point out that you are incorrect in your statement about Ellen. She is not a member of the WGA, and is not bound by their strike rules. They are upset because by writing for herself, she has become a "scab" for the show. Furthermore, by doing so, she has shown her lack of support, blah blah blah. Also, this is a technicality, but she was all upset about the family that lost the dog, not the dog itself. But I digress.
Now I''m all for the WGA getting a bigger piece of the pie. But they need to stop being idiots. There are a ton of people that work on the Ellen Show, Dr. Phil, the Tonight Show, the Late Show, Daily Show, Colbert Report, etc. who are getting screwed over because the writers are striking. I''m talking about the camera, lighting, teleprompter, switchboard, sound, operators, floor managers, studio managers, gms, producers, directors, ADs, PAs, interns, etc. All of these peole don''t get paid for the shows that aren''t being produced while the WGA fights for more cash. For them to simply demand that their fellow industry partners give absolute support is ridiculous. Also, if the WGA wants more support perhaps they should consider opening negotiations again. At least then they don''t look like pouting children.
Daren Gaskill - 11/12/2007 11:21:00 AM EST -
The sad fact is not being in the entertainment industry you do not realize its full of work for hire/freelance people who are VERY glad when they do get a job, have serious downtime and also do NOT enjoy any residuals for the work they perform. The writers are plain and simple asking for MORE and do not care who it effects. Sadly the writers have forgotten that when they last struck in 1988 once they achieved their goals they had ZERO problems crossing the teamsters picket lines to get to work...so much for union solidarity huh?
Look face it; NO one is non replaceable-ask the air traffic controllers and if this strike continues the work will get done.
tony heigel - 11/11/2007 8:25:00 PM EST -
AFTRA is full of it,DeGeneres wasn't criticized for her reporting to work under any AFTRA contract. She was criticized for violating her WGA contract, by writing for her show. As an WGA member she's aware that she is not supposed to violate the strike.
I'm not a WGA member, nor someone who works in the entertainment industry. I'm an average American who sees how corrupt the corporate elite have become, and see the pain that has spread across this country. Ms. DeGeneres is affluent, and not facing the same pain as the majority of WGA members, she should have a bit of compassion for them. She could appear on television crying crocodile tears over a puppy, but has failed to show even one tenth of the emotion on human beings who spend roughly half of each year unemployed. The four cents per download/dvd the WGA are asking for is little enough, and her solidarity would have meant a lot.
Perhaps she finds the fact that corporations who off shored the manufacture of pet food to China, and sold toxic pet food imported from their factories there, which killed dogs and cats, and sickened others acceptable as well? Or when toxic toothpaste, medicines, food, vitamins and children's toys are also imported in from China, sickens and kills innocent American citizens.. After all, principles clearly don't mean much to her.
Jenny Perrault - 11/10/2007 11:00:00 PM EST
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