The second season of Pushing Daisies, ABC's most visible wound from the Writers' Strike, finally bowed last night. If you like it I hope you had a DVR handy -- its sojourn on your screen may be painfully brief.The four-month strike caused weeks of repulsive reality re-runs and left thousands of below-the-line workers in financial distress, while their employers whined to every media outlet they could find or control about losing vast swathes of revenue that were, in truth, so insignificant they barely noticed the absence.
And it looks like we're in for a sequel.
SAG's fearless team of negotiating Ninjas have been grappling with the AMPTP for months, and their patience is virtually spent. Yesterday, they asked the National Board to call a vote for a strike. If 75% of the members say yes, the whole of Hollywood will shift into 'Neutral'...Again.
A 'Yes' would give SAG a ponderous weapon with which to do battle. But a 'No' would leave their negotiating strength - and possibly their entire reputation - publicly and enduringly shredded. The Actors would have to choose from two bitter pills: Accept the current offer, or go on fighting this intransigent hydra with no real weapons and 90% of your potency gone.
The Studios can afford every dime SAG wants, and ten times more on the top. Any studio exec offered a bonus of twice the amount would be almost incandescent with rage at the insult. But they think the SAG guys should accept a risible pittance and fall to their knees in respect. I disagree.
Whatever amount the bosses concede, they can and will easily replace. Probably with more 'reality' fare using non-union Actors. But SAG are not so fiscally strong. And to call a strike less than a year after one that left 1,000's without pay and could do that again right before Christmas would hardly invoke overwhelming support.
The Actors deserve better. But so do the Audience. Win them to your cause and your inevitable victory will expose to the world the greedy, malfeasant, mendacious ingrates the AMPTP have been since George Eastman gave them a job.
The vote is slated for October 18. Keep something crossed.
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