Writers Not too Happy With Ellen DeGeneres

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Geez, just what does it take to get work done when some people make it impossible by not going to work unless they get paid more. Well, you do without.

This is what Ellen DeGeneres did during the fifth full day Nov 9 of the Writers Guild of America’s walkout and they are not too happy with it.

DeGeneres took Nov.5 off but then decided to continue to tape the talk show, albeit without a monologue and was back on the air Nov. 9 and had to watch the outpouring of dismay from the New York based WGA East, which stated they would protest when her show tapes in the Big Apple on Nov. 19-20 and have been urging the talk show celebrity to stop showing up for work immediately.

If they picket, it will make New York one long grid lock because the Broadway stagehands have also opted to strike, which means that shows such as Wicked, Jersey Boys and The Lion King will be dark. Young Frankenstein will still go on as they have a different union for their stagehands.

A WGAE statement allowed that Ellen said she loves and supports her writers, but her action prove otherwise. “We certainly intend to let Ellen know our dissatisfaction in person if she decided to proceed with the shows she has scheduled in New York. We find it sad that Ellen spent an entire week crying and fighting for a dog she gave away, yet she couldn’t even stand by her writers for more than one day—writers who have helped make her extremely successful,” the statement read, according to E! Online.

On the other hand, in a letter to WGAE executive, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists defended DeGeneres by stating she is legally required to keep working and that it is up to AFTRA to determine whether the comedian is performing writing duties that would normally be filled by WGA members.