Miscellaneous, etc.

I have yet to say anything about the Writer’s Guild of America strike, because of two key points:

1. I don’t watch a whole lot of TV any more that isn’t syndicated cooking shows, and
2. I don’t know anything about it.

Yes, I get that the key issue is residual payments for digitally-distributed content; yep, I’m up to speed on the fact that studios, producers and distributors have screwed writers on similar points in the past.  So the writers are out picketing, the studios are churning out reality and animated shows, and actors and politicians are on the news discussing the strike an awful lot.

But I can’t tell you why this is a more important strike than any other, unless you want to discuss the broad rightness-or-wrongness of organized labor — which experience has taught me is basically impossible.  Union conversations are a zesty mix of politics, economics and personality, with a time-to-faith interval (measuring the time between the start of the conversation and the use of the phrase, “I believe”) that is perilously short.

I will not even touch on the topic of sympathy, so popular among those who feel labor actions are only for coal-miners or auto workers or, say, Go Transit bus drivers – in other words, people whose work is visibly risky or unvalued, laborious or unglamourous.  Should hockey players or stage actors expect the same public regard as mine workers or firefighters?  Beats me, but I guess it all comes down to the theater of the strike — sure, Sandra Oh is out pounding her fist on a podium, but where are the inflatable rats? 

Perhaps now we’ll find out:  The late-night talk shows all went back on-air Wednesday, with generally un-exciting results.  Letterman’s production cut a deal with the WGA; Leno’s didn’t. Letterman’s show was more highly-produced and scripted, including a song-and-dance number about striking writers; Leno’s wasn’t.  Neither show was so spectacular that it would prompt a huge shift in audience, but the important thing appears to be that it’s given everyone one more thing to fight about: 

Leno revealed he had prepared a monologue he used on Wednesday night. The union says that’s in contravention of its strike rules as Leno himself is a member of the WGA.

That’s right, folks.  Leno’s a scab.  Sure, you thought he was all friendly with his super-softball interviews and his interest in classic cars, but now you see the truth.  If you’re looking for the giant inflatable strike rat in this affair, I think I’ve finally found you one:

Finally, I can take a side!