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I didn't cross any picket lines
Jan. 19th, 2008 05:46 pmBut the guilt is still festering. Quietly, subtly, but irritating.
The Writer's Guild of America, the screenwriter's union, has been on strike since last November. I don't watch much TV generally, but I habitually watch The Colbert Report, and usually the Daily Show as well, online. Since the 2006 White House Correspondents Association Dinner, I've had more respect for Stephen Colbert than for any other entertainer.
...Until earlier this month, when, along with Jon Stewart and other late night talk show hosts, he came back on the air, despite the strike. Which is where the guilt comes in: I've been watching them. I'm still not how I feel about this. I mean, I'm angry at them for scabbing, and at all of their guests, but a combination of habit/addiction and morbid curiosity keeps me watching (for the record: Colbert's actually doing pretty well; The Daily Show has devolved into an inanity of old clips, cheap shots and Jew jokes).
I'm pretty good at rationalising things, and with so much interest invested in this, I'm having trouble sorting out my bullshit from my reasoning. On the one hand, the dispute is over internet revenues, so by watching online I'm actually highlighting the WGA's case, strengthening their argument. I mean, it's not like people stop using coal when there's a miner's strike. (This, I think, is probably the bullshit.) On the other hand, the networks can point to ratings of late night shows sans writers to put pressure on the WGA to end the strike without giving in to their demands--and online hit counts are much easier to track, and track precisely, than are television ratings.
On a third hand, individual action is counterrevolutionary. Which is to say, I agree with Adam's argument that it ultimately doesn't really matter what we as individuals do--the real change is going to come at the system level, so that's what we should work towards. This is a Leftie sin on par with buying a kitkat, or using plastic carrier bags. Which is to day that it is ultimately only symbolic. But sometimes symbols are important.
Speaking of which, I'm really confused by Colbert's actions. Despite scabbing (or out of guilt?), he's been really nice to the protesters, giving them food, coffee, etc, and apparently a bouncy castle. Little hints in his public attitude--a few winks and nods, and the fact that he never attempted to provide any out-of-character justification for coming back on the air--has me suspecting that there's been some underhanded dealings at Comedy Central. That perhaps he was coerced into coming back on--though of course, that's probably just wishful thinking on my part.
ETA: Apparently not. According to this article about the WGA picketing the Daily Show and Colbert Report's returns to the air:
“These pickets will be against the media conglomerates – NBC and Viacom - and not the specific hosts, who we understand were forced to return to the air without their writers who remain on the picket lines,” WGA East spokesman Sherry Goldman said.
It eases my dismay considerably, but it doesn't help with my dilemma. To watch or not to watch? Comedy Central will be raking it in from the advertisement they play before every fucking clip, and the writers won't get a penny--but then, that's always been the case; that's why they're on strike. By not watching I will not only be denying them some of those revenues, I will support the idea (the fact) that the shows simply aren't as good without their writers, and cannot generate enough viewers to support themselves.
But... but... I wanna. Phoo.
The Writer's Guild of America, the screenwriter's union, has been on strike since last November. I don't watch much TV generally, but I habitually watch The Colbert Report, and usually the Daily Show as well, online. Since the 2006 White House Correspondents Association Dinner, I've had more respect for Stephen Colbert than for any other entertainer.
...Until earlier this month, when, along with Jon Stewart and other late night talk show hosts, he came back on the air, despite the strike. Which is where the guilt comes in: I've been watching them. I'm still not how I feel about this. I mean, I'm angry at them for scabbing, and at all of their guests, but a combination of habit/addiction and morbid curiosity keeps me watching (for the record: Colbert's actually doing pretty well; The Daily Show has devolved into an inanity of old clips, cheap shots and Jew jokes).
I'm pretty good at rationalising things, and with so much interest invested in this, I'm having trouble sorting out my bullshit from my reasoning. On the one hand, the dispute is over internet revenues, so by watching online I'm actually highlighting the WGA's case, strengthening their argument. I mean, it's not like people stop using coal when there's a miner's strike. (This, I think, is probably the bullshit.) On the other hand, the networks can point to ratings of late night shows sans writers to put pressure on the WGA to end the strike without giving in to their demands--and online hit counts are much easier to track, and track precisely, than are television ratings.
On a third hand, individual action is counterrevolutionary. Which is to say, I agree with Adam's argument that it ultimately doesn't really matter what we as individuals do--the real change is going to come at the system level, so that's what we should work towards. This is a Leftie sin on par with buying a kitkat, or using plastic carrier bags. Which is to day that it is ultimately only symbolic. But sometimes symbols are important.
Speaking of which, I'm really confused by Colbert's actions. Despite scabbing (or out of guilt?), he's been really nice to the protesters, giving them food, coffee, etc, and apparently a bouncy castle. Little hints in his public attitude--a few winks and nods, and the fact that he never attempted to provide any out-of-character justification for coming back on the air--has me suspecting that there's been some underhanded dealings at Comedy Central. That perhaps he was coerced into coming back on--though of course, that's probably just wishful thinking on my part.
ETA: Apparently not. According to this article about the WGA picketing the Daily Show and Colbert Report's returns to the air:
“These pickets will be against the media conglomerates – NBC and Viacom - and not the specific hosts, who we understand were forced to return to the air without their writers who remain on the picket lines,” WGA East spokesman Sherry Goldman said.
It eases my dismay considerably, but it doesn't help with my dilemma. To watch or not to watch? Comedy Central will be raking it in from the advertisement they play before every fucking clip, and the writers won't get a penny--but then, that's always been the case; that's why they're on strike. By not watching I will not only be denying them some of those revenues, I will support the idea (the fact) that the shows simply aren't as good without their writers, and cannot generate enough viewers to support themselves.
But... but... I wanna. Phoo.
