Presenting clips from Comedy Central of late has got a few screeching SCAB at Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jay Leno and this blog. Maher, Leno, Colbert and Stewart going back on the air – no matter how persistent they promote the WGA on their shows – they have done the WGA poorly. But…
- SCAB is the wrong word. Scabs are those who cross a picket line to take the work and pay of those running the picket lines. Colbert and Stewart – both members of the WGA are not writers for their shows.
- If you run a blog or a webiste and use YOUTUBE videos you are well aware of the text on your dead video saying it has been removed by request from VIACOM – which I have never experienced that from any other company but VIACOM. They are the copyright monster of the net. Orthodox purists much akin to why the Republican Party is presently falling apart. A 30 second clip from 10 years ago and VIACOM has a fit, which they refuse to give writers a piece of. Neither Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert or Comedy Central can make a deal with the WGA as David Letterman has done, only VIACOM which is the problem.
- Consideration must also be given to the other 98% of the employees of these late night shows. They do not get union compensation when the show is not on.
- Consider all four shows in question have been relying more on unscripted interviews in lieu of monologues and skits. The subsequent and obvious lack of humor brings to the viewers mind how important the writers are.
- And most importantly, these three individuals; Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert (Jay Leno is very liberal only off screen) are the most watched (and just about only) shows on television that give conservatives a well deserved asskicking. The WGA chose to go on strike at the most politically charged months in recent memory, while who sits in the White House a year from now is more important than the WGA.
You are welcome to screech this out below! 🙂