Does it bother anyone else that the writers seem to be having such a great time? Like this is the best networking event/party of the century? Celebrities, musicians, free food...meanwhile a half-dozen of my non-writer friends have lost their jobs. Smile!

Is it in WGA guidelines to picket Starbucks?

@blackheartededitor: Having just returned from the 6 A.M. picketing shift at Sony, I can assure you that it was something less than a "party" atmosphere.

(What the hell was I thinking, doing the 6 A.M. shift?)

Isn't Patricia Heaton a major Republican? Glad to see she's in a Union, a distinctively Democratic institution. Good for her! What a good hypocrite.

Any writer worth the job description is still drinking at 6 a.m.

having children join a protest is pretty dangerous. a writer's foot was already run over... what if the writers sacrifice their children in front of cars? oh, the humanity!

@SinisterRouge: Speaking of hypocrisy, aren't the Democrats supposed to be the party with compassion?

Your comment makes it clear that you are far beyond the point of actually thinking issues through and comfortably ensconced in the Us vs. Them mindset. Good luck in your war with Oceana, Mr. Smith. Or is it easier for you to understand if I just Baa my response at you like the good sheep you are?

@metroville: Shoot! I wish I would have known! I read (and enjoy) your blog and would love to have met you.

Wait a minute, did I see you? Were you the one wearing a baseball hat, converse sneakers and jeans??

Missed connection indeed.

While the crews are laid off, the writers continue to receive their residual checks from the re-runs that now air. Who is really the financial victim here? The thousands of below the line workers that work 3x harder, 3x longer and make (on average) 3x less than the average writer. We all just want to go back to work, but the writers have deeper pockets and can weather the storm through the holidays while the rest of us just want jobs.

@blackheartededitor: Ugh, dude! So you're anti-union, fine. At least shake it up a little with the constant bitter comments. Maybe drop in and make fun of Britney or something, I don't know...

@thehmsbeagle: No one, no matter what sector of the entertainment industry they work in, should ever rely on having a paycheck every week.

I don't care if you are teamster further down on the call list hit by runaway productions, the writer between gigs, the agent with a cold client list, or a development exec who hasn't had a "win" in ages, or a musician who has been dropped by their label and cannot manage in the DIY world. The key is to make the most amount of money while you ARE working to make it through the down times.

If people wanted job security they could have become postal workers or math teachers.

@SinisterRouge: Coming from a large and economically diverse mixed party family, I can say the righties all come down on the side of the WGA and blame the conglomerates for the strike and the lefties are all pissed that they won't be able to see any new Office episodes and think the writers are all whiny Prius-driving bitches who live in Bel Air.

@Little Mintz Sunshine: ...but oddly all of them agree that "Taylor" is a girl's name.

@sirbarton: How long is your career, though? My salary may be "three times" what yours is (though I highly doubt it), but I'm definitely more than three times as likely to not get staffed next year as you are to not end up gaffing or editing or whatever it is you do. Residuals exist because our careers are short and/or have long gaps in them, not because we're greedy and horrible.

You have a trade, and get paid one way, I have a talent, and get paid another way. Do you also feel it's horribly wrong that waiters get tips while dishwashers don't?

@thehmsbeagle: OK, I get a little worked up. But check my comment profile, I keep the jokes coming. Or try to anyway. Incidentally, I'm not anti-union (I'm in the Editor's Guild) and I agree the writers deserve a better deal. I'm just anti-this strike for various reasons I won't waste space on. Also, I'll shutup about it now. Jokes n jokes n jokes.

@blackheartededitor: It's not like the writers are making money right now either. And trust me, the second week is less fun than the first so far. Nary a donut to be seen today. But it is fun for writers to be outside, and meeting other writers, because otherwise a lot of us slog away in isolation.

The writers have some pretty basic and pretty equitable demands. It might be nice if the AMTMP would, y'know, at least head back to the table. They seem quite content to fuck everyone and let this drag on.

@Little Mintz Sunshine: How great for your mixed family. You can tell the righties that they're supporting the wrong side if they like their unions. See: Reagan, Ronald.

@Chief Wahoo: How does that mean anything at all? Patricia Heaton is a well known, loud-ass Right wing asshole. Great to see that she supports a Union (shockingly, because she's in the SAG union) but not a woman's right to die peacefully.

@SinisterRouge: The righties are vehement in their support of the writers and their rights and I love them for that. Also, they know it's 2007, the congloms are using an outdated and bullshit-filled business model (i.e., "lying") and that Reagan is dead.

@Little Mintz Sunshine: and the lefties are spending their time red-lining their "corporate greed" talking points memos to include "yeah, well, but when they fuck with "Scrubs", they're fucking with me."

@Little Mintz Sunshine: What righties are you talking about? Please find me prominent republicans supporting a big bad union. Other than ones that directly benefit from it, like Heaton here. And tell them that Reagan is dead...since they're still sucking his dead ass.

@SinisterRouge: Ask yourself this, what party was Senator Joe McCarthy affiliated with? Because that's the path you are headed down here.

@sirbarton:
This is insulting. We *all* want to get back to work. You're not the only one who needs money. I'm getting really tired of the attitude that writers are rich brats putting people out of work. I'm middle class with a family to support. If the Teamsters were being offered a raw deal, they wouldn't hesitate to strike. It's the Companies that are keeping you out of work, pal. Y'know -- the ones who refuse to come to the bargaining table? If you want to get back to work, I hope you're showing up to picket.

And to BLACKHEARTEDEDITOR -- No, it's not a party out there. We make the best of it. It's nice being able to reconnect with people we've worked with at past jobs. If you really want to know whether it's a grind, though, don't take my word for it; come on out and see for yourself. As for your friends losing their jobs, read my comment to sirbarton.