Whither the waivers?

Try to keep up, OK?

The striking WGA has cancelled its awards show (or maybe it would've indignantly picketed its own soiree?) and the union has said "yeah" or "nay" with no consistency to requests for waivers for other groups' events.

Spirit Awards and SAG? Waiver granted. Globes? Nope. Grammys? Not looking good.

The latest, announced today, is that the NAACP can have a waiver for the Image Awards.

So, while the union leadership is in a decent mood, should Oscar come calling with its waiver request? THR recently reported that preparations have fallen weeks behind already, and there's no contingency plan if Jon Stewart refuses to cross a picket line (if one exists). Still, Gil Cates insists there will be an Academy Awards telecast.

The WGA begs to differ, showing that whatever goodwill it was doling out today was short-lived. Patric Verrone repeated his mantra (not once or twice, but thrice!) that the union will turn down a waiver request from the AMPTP.

Since both these guys can't be right, this might start getting really interesting now.

Comments

[Michael Heister]

Actually, the WGA has been rather consistent. From the start they said said their goal was hit the pocketbooks of the studios and networks. The SAG, Spirit, and Image Awards are not big moneymakers for the networks, so no real inconsistency there.

The WGA has signed interim agreements with a number of production companies now, in the worlds of television, film, and new media, proving the WGA's proposals are reasonable.

As for the Golden Globes' Dick Clark Productions requesting a waiver or an interim, the most laughable part of that debacle was Jeff Zucker actually having the temerity to suggest the WGA do for DCP as they did for WWP. If Zucker's position is that the WGA's deal is so good, why didn't NBC simply sign it themselves?

And let's be clear. The WGA does not have the power to cancel any of these awards shows, except its own. All it can do is boycott and picket. SAG can't shut them down either. All they can do is choose to not cross the picket line. AMPAS is free to do its Academy Awards; if there's no agreement they just have to do without a WGA-written script and the actors and others who choose to not cross the picket line.

[Eric Klein]

Some things are shall we say "sacrosanct"--not in the religious context but in the industry context. Decades of annual programs honoring our own for their achievements in this business.

Writer, director, producer, actor and tech achievements in the communal creation of a television episode or feature film is as evocative today as it was 100 years ago. Regardless of the events of the day, these programs are worthy of everyone putting down their swords and allowing them to go forward in a dignified way.

No matter what the disagreements are, the recognition of the dignity and commendation of those being recognized should take precedence. One day, the battles will be over, and some of the scars will be not only the embarrassment of not seeing that giving grace today to another may result in another giving grace to us tomorrow--its the shame that as a community, our personal need to harm others as a way to make a point deprives the world viewing population the pleasure of this programming.

Its embarrassing to speak to friends and family not in this business and try to explain why our community can't be adult enough to put their problems aside for a few things that are important on a more global level.

It also gives each side the opportunity to show its desire to work toward a solution.

Clearly, the loss of these award shows and their grace and dignity are a sign that resolution is not yet on everyones' mind.