Celebrity

Late-Night TV Shows Go Dark As Writers Strike For Better Pay

Published

1 year ago

2023-05-02

NEW YORK — The first Hollywood strike in 15 years began Tuesday when the economic demands of the streaming era spurred unionized TV and film writers to picket outside major studios for better compensation, a work slowdown that has already forced most late-night shows to air reruns.

Members of the Writers Guild of America chanted outside the Manhattan headquarters where NBCUniversal was promoting their Peacock streaming service to advertisers, “No contracts, no content!”

After failing to agree on a new deal with the trade group representing Hollywood studios and production businesses, the union’s 11,500 film and television writers put down their pens and laptops.

The union is demanding greater minimum wages, more writers per program, and shorter exclusive contracts, among other things, all of which it claims have been eroded by the content explosion fueled by streaming.

“There’s too much work and not enough pay,” said demonstrator Sean Crespo, 46, a writer who worked on the former TBS show “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee.”

Depending on how long the strike lasts, the labor conflict could have a cascading effect on TV and film productions, and it comes at a time when streaming services are under increasing pressure from Wall Street to generate profitability.

Late-night television was the first to suffer the effects, just like during the 100-day writers’ strike 2007.

All the top late-night shows, staffed by writers who write monologues and jokes for their hosts, went dark immediately. Reruns were planned for NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” Comedy Central’s “Daily Show,” ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live,” CBS’s “The Late Show,” and NBC’s “Late Night” throughout the week.

NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” which was set to air a fresh episode on Saturday, will likewise go black and instead air reruns.

“This nation owes so much to unions,” Colbert stated. “Unions are why we have weekends; by extension, we have TGI Fridays.”

“Everyone, including myself, hopes both sides can agree.” “However, I believe the writers’ demands are reasonable,” presenter Stephen Colbert stated on Monday’s “Late Show.”

“This nation owes so much to unions,” Colbert stated. “Unions are why we have weekends; by extension, we have TGI Fridays.”

Tony Kushner (“The Fabelmans”) and Danny Strong (“Dopesick”) were among those protesting in New York on Tuesday.

The strike’s influence on scripted shows and films will become apparent. Fall TV schedules could be thrown off if the strike lasts all summer. Meanwhile, those with completed scripts are permitted to continue filming.

Late-night hosts eventually returned to the air during the 2007 strike and improvised through broadcasts. When “Tonight” show host Jay Leno began writing his monologues, he enraged WGA leadership.

One late-night show will remain on the air. The network announced Tuesday that Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” with Greg Gutfeld will continue to run new episodes.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing studios and production groups, said it proposed “generous increases in compensation for writers as well as improvements in streaming residuals.”

The trade group stated that it was willing to increase its offer “but was unwilling to do so because of the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the guild continues to insist upon.”

For months, many people have predicted a government shutdown. Last month, the writers unanimously voted to authorize a strike, with 98% of the membership in favor. Writers claim that income needs to keep up with inflation, that TV writer rooms have shrunk too much, and that the existing formula for calculating residuals must be redesigned.

Streaming has increased the number of series and films produced yearly, providing more opportunities for writers. However, writers claim they earn less than they used to while working under more stressful conditions. According to the WGA, “the companies’ behavior has created a gig economy inside a union workforce.”

Writers claim that income needs to keep up with inflation, that TV writer rooms have shrunk too much.

The union wants writers to be paid more in advance. This is because the advent of streaming has phased out many of the back-end fees that writers have historically profited from, such as syndication and international licensing.

According to the studios ‘ trade association, the main sticking points in reaching an agreement are so-called mini-rooms (the guild is seeking a minimum number of scribes per writer room) and the length of work contracts.

According to the writers’ organization, more flexibility is required for writers when they are contracted for series that are often shorter in duration than the once-standard 20-plus episode broadcast season. They also request stricter regulation over artificial intelligence, which authors believe might provide producers a faster way to complete a WGA writer’s work.

“Understand that our fight is the same fight that will be coming to your professional sector next: it’s the devaluing of human effort, skill, and talent in favor of automation and profits,” writer-director Justine Bateman stated.

Many studios and production companies are cutting back on their spending. The Walt Disney Company is laying off 7,000 people. Warner Bros. Discovery is lowering costs to reduce its debt. Netflix has put a damper on spending growth.

With a strike widely anticipated, writers have scrambled to get screenplays in, and studios have worked to prepare their pipelines to keep churning out content for the foreseeable future. However, the impact on local economies can be significant. Los Angeles lost $2.1 billion in economic production during the previous strike.

“From a business standpoint, we’re assuming the worst,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said last month. “We’ve prepared ourselves. There has been a lot of content produced.”

Overseas series could also help fill the void. “We have a large base of upcoming shows and films from around the world,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during the earnings call in April.

The WGA strike could be just the beginning. Both the Directors Guild of America and the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, have contracts that expire in June. Those bargaining sessions will discuss some of the same issues concerning the streaming business model.

On Tuesday, the actors’ union invited its members to join the writers’ picket lines in solidarity. ___

Aron Ranen and David Bauder contributed to this report.

SOURCE – (AP)

Related Topics:late night writers strike

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Kiara Grace

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Business

Ex-Nickelodeon Producer Schneider Sues ‘Quiet On Set’ Makers For Defamation And Sex Abuse Implications

Published

9 hours ago

2024-05-03

Kiara Grace

Los Angeles — Dan Schneider, a former Nickelodeon producer and writer, sued the makers of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” on Wednesday, claiming the documentary series falsely claimed that he sexually abused the child actors with whom he worked.

Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Warner Bros. Discovery and the other corporations involved in the series.

Schneider, a former teen actress, was a key figure in Nickelodeon’s dominance of youth culture in the 1990s and 2000s. She worked on sketch series “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” and “Kenan & Kel,” as well as as an executive producer on shows such as “Zoey 101,” “iCarly,” and “Victorious.”

The Sun – VOR News Image

Ex-Nickelodeon Producer Schneider Sues ‘Quiet On Set’ Makers For Defamation And Sex Abuse Implications

He is also a prominent figure in “Quiet on Set,” which premiered on true crime cable channel ID in March. It has since been streamed on Max, creating a big splash among Nickelodeon’s former stars and fans. It includes cast and crew interviews to expose the show’s sexualization of young teens, as well as a poisonous and abusive work climate that many blamed Schneider for. It also contains accounts of sexual assault of young performers, including “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh” star Drake Bell, by crew members who were eventually convicted.

Schneider, who left Nickelodeon in 2018, claimed in the lawsuit that the “Quiet on Set” trailer and episodes of the show purposefully mixed and juxtaposed images and mentions of him with criminal sexual abusers to imply he was complicit.

“The portrayal of Schneider in ‘Quiet on Set’ is a hit job,” according to the lawsuit. “While it is indisputable that two bona fide child sexual abusers worked on Nickelodeon shows, it is likewise indisputable that Schneider had no knowledge of their abuse, was not complicit in the abuse, condemned the abuse once it was discovered and, critically, was not a child sexual abuser himself.”

The lawsuit names Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of ID and Max, as defendants as well as the show’s producing firms, Sony Pictures Television and Maxine Productions.

Emails requesting comments from representatives of the three companies were not immediately replied.

The four-part series implies that Schneider’s shows had a tendency to place young women in funny situations with sexual connotations, and it portrays him as an angry and emotionally abusive boss.

Hollywood Reporter – VOR News Image

Ex-Nickelodeon Producer Schneider Sues ‘Quiet On Set’ Makers For Defamation And Sex Abuse Implications

It includes direct charges of sexual harassment and gender discrimination from women who worked as writers for him on “All That.” They claimed he exhibited pornography on his computer in their presence in the writers’ room and asked for massages, joking that they would lead to the women’s sketches appearing on the show, which Schneider denies.

It also includes an interview with Bell, who claims “extensive” and “brutal” sexual assault at the hands of a dialogue coach when he was 15, as well as an interview with the mother of another girl who was sexually abused by one of the crew members.

The Associated Press normally does not identify persons who claim to have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly, as Bell has.

Following the show’s release, Schneider apologized in a YouTube video for “past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret.”

However, the lawsuit claims that the show, particularly the trailer, unjustly implicates him in child sexual abuse by presenting photographs of him — including some with his arm around young actors — during discussions about an unsafe atmosphere for children.

The lawsuit seeks damages to be assessed at trial for “the destruction of Schneider’s reputation and legacy” caused by “false statements and implications.”

People – VOR News Image

Ex-Nickelodeon Producer Schneider Sues ‘Quiet On Set’ Makers For Defamation And Sex Abuse Implications

Nickelodeon, which is not involved in the lawsuit, stated in a statement about the series that it cannot “corroborate or negate” allegations made decades ago, but it investigates all formal complaints and has strict processes for working with minors.

“Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew but of all children,” a spokesperson for the network said in a statement. We have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Ambulance Called for Britney Spears at LA Chateau Marmont

Published

1 day ago

2024-05-02

Geoff Thomas

Britney Spears and her on-again, off-again boyfriend reportedly got into a “major fight” at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles early Thursday morning, prompting the dispatch of an ambulance.

The singer is claimed to be healthy and was not brought to the hospital, but the incident has raised concerns about her health.

Multiple media agencies published photos of Spears on Thursday, showing her barefoot and clutching a pillow next to Paul Richard Soliz, with whom she has been linked since late summer, while emergency responders appear to transport her possessions on a stretcher.

It’s unclear what transpired in the hours preceding the Los Angeles Fire Department call. Spears addressed “fake” news in a social media post shortly after the photos were released, claiming she “twisted” her ankle.

An LAFD representative confirmed that an ambulance was dispatched to an address that corresponds to the renowned Los Angeles hotel.

“The LAFD received a 911 call at around 12:42 a.m. this morning [Thursday] requesting aid for an injured adult female at [Chateau Marmont], but the caller did not offer any specifics regarding the injury,” Brian Humphrey said in a statement to Yahoo News.

“One LAFD paramedic ambulance responded to the scene. At this point, it is unclear whether the paramedics encountered the injured person or provided any medical aid. The paramedic ambulance left the scene at 1:17 a.m. without taking anyone to the hospital.”

Ambulance Called for Britney Spears: Yahoo Image

Reps for Britney Spears did not respond to Yahoo News request for comment.

An eyewitness told Entertainment Tonight, “Britney went out with Paul Richard Soliz and others. Someone handed her a blanket to throw over, and a cushion covered her front.

She moved a few feet, turned around, and returned without getting into the stretcher they had brought out.” According to the site, a member of Spears’ entourage spoke with paramedics.

Police responded earlier this evening to a probable assault with a deadly weapon.

The Los Angeles Police Department said that officers arrived at Chateau Marmont “around 10:30 [p.m. on Wednesday] for a possible ADW suspect.”

“It was secondhand information from the caller stating the suspect was threatening people at the location,” according to a press release. “When officers arrived, all parties had left, including the caller. Officers were unable to identify whether a crime had happened.

Brittney Spears is home safely.

As previously stated, the superstar did not travel by ambulance. CNN quotes a source close to the singer as saying she is “home and safe” after a “major fight” with Soliz.

Who is aul Richard Soliz?

Spears has been seeing her former housekeeper since the breakdown of her marriage to Sam Asghari in August 2023. According to reports from September, Spears and Soliz broke their relationship weeks after it began, due in part to his criminal history. They eventually reconciled, though.

“She’s a phenomenal woman,” he told US Weekly in September. “She’s a very good, positive person… “She is a good person.”

Spears claimed on social media that she “twisted my ankle last night” and called out paramedics who “showed up at my door illegally.”

“Just to let people know… the news is fake!!!” the caption said. “I would like respect at this time so that people understand I am growing stronger every day!!! Truth stinks, so can someone teach me how to lie?

Goddesses out there, I’m reaching my higher power, and I hope you are too!!! … I also twisted my ankle last night, and paramedics arrived at my door illegally. They never came into my room, but I felt completely harassed.

Celebrity

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion After Hitting Price Benchmarks

Published

2 days ago

2024-05-01

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Washington — Former President Donald Trump has purchased an extra $1.8 billion in shares of Trump Media, according to a regulatory filing this week.

Trump was granted an additional 36 million shares in the firm that controls his social media network, Truth Social, in exchange for the company’s stock meeting specific price targets. Based on Wednesday morning’s market price, this takes his overall holding to more than 114 million shares, valued at $5.7 billion.

CNN – VOR News Image

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion After Hitting Price Benchmarks

Trump, the probable Republican presidential nominee, now owns almost two-thirds of the company’s outstanding shares.

Trump Media & Technology Group shares have risen sharply recently, closing Tuesday at $49.93. To get the new shares, Trump merely needs the stock to trade over $17.50 for 20 consecutive trading days.

Trump Media joined the Nasdaq after merging with Digital World Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). These mergers provide emerging companies with a faster and easier path to publicly listing their shares.

AP – VOR News Image

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion After Hitting Price Benchmarks

On March 26, the first day of trading following Trump Media’s merger with Digital World Acquisition, shares of the newly combined business reached nearly $80 apiece in intraday trading before closing at $57.99.

Less than a week after its glitzy stock market debut, Trump Media revealed that it lost roughly $58.2 million last year, sending its stock down more than 21%. The $50.5 million profit the company reported in 2022 was significantly lower than the 2023 losses, according to a regulatory filing.

Mashable – VOR News Image

Trump Awarded 36 Million More Trump Media Shares Worth $1.8 Billion After Hitting Price Benchmarks

The company’s shares fell to roughly $22 in the following weeks before recovering in mid-April.Truth Social was created in February 2022, one year after Trump was barred from major social media platforms such as Facebook and X, previously Twitter, following the January 6 revolt at the US Capitol. He has been reinstated to both but has remained with Truth Social.

Trump Media’s stock sank 8.6% to $45.64 in morning trading on Wednesday.

SOURCE – (AP)