Robert N EmersonLet My People Go: Writers' Strike Updates, and Colbert's Solidarity
January 24th 2008 05:43
Some good news concerning the Writers' Strike, with talks finally resuming between the WGA and the AMPTP. This comes on the heels of the deal struck by the Directors' Guild regarding their own contract, which many hope will serve as a template for media residual payments.
Of course, this can't be taken as a definite end to the dispute - most consider the DGA deal as far from perfect, and the writers have not spent months on strike simply to forgo their goals now. Still, we can only hope that it can be used as a building block upon which a resolution can be reached.
The late night talk show hosts that have been forced to return without their writers are possibly in one of the most difficult situations at the moment. They are in the unenviable situation of returning to save the jobs of their staff, while not 'writing' so as to show solidarity with their writers - and they still have to entertain their audience. It's a fine line, and the hosts have had differing degrees of success.
This rather unique situation allowed Stephen Colbert to air a rather unique programme last night (Tuesday night in the US), which was both funny, moving and inspiring. It dealt with an incident during the Civil Rights movement, in which the Charleston Hospital Workers went on strike in 1969. Stephen's guest, Reverend Andrew Young, and his father, James Colbert, were instrumental in working behind the scenes to end the strike. If you didn't see it, the Huffington Post has a great recap and clips of the episode.
To end the show, Stephen, his guests, and the Harlem Gospel Choir performed a lovely rendition of 'Let My People Go' as a tribute to and show of solidarity towards The Colbert Report's writers. Whatever criticism the hosts receive for returning to the screen, it's clear that Stephen supports and misses his writers. And although this amazing episode was made without them, it also made it clear just how important they are.
Of course, this can't be taken as a definite end to the dispute - most consider the DGA deal as far from perfect, and the writers have not spent months on strike simply to forgo their goals now. Still, we can only hope that it can be used as a building block upon which a resolution can be reached.
The late night talk show hosts that have been forced to return without their writers are possibly in one of the most difficult situations at the moment. They are in the unenviable situation of returning to save the jobs of their staff, while not 'writing' so as to show solidarity with their writers - and they still have to entertain their audience. It's a fine line, and the hosts have had differing degrees of success.
This rather unique situation allowed Stephen Colbert to air a rather unique programme last night (Tuesday night in the US), which was both funny, moving and inspiring. It dealt with an incident during the Civil Rights movement, in which the Charleston Hospital Workers went on strike in 1969. Stephen's guest, Reverend Andrew Young, and his father, James Colbert, were instrumental in working behind the scenes to end the strike. If you didn't see it, the Huffington Post has a great recap and clips of the episode.
To end the show, Stephen, his guests, and the Harlem Gospel Choir performed a lovely rendition of 'Let My People Go' as a tribute to and show of solidarity towards The Colbert Report's writers. Whatever criticism the hosts receive for returning to the screen, it's clear that Stephen supports and misses his writers. And although this amazing episode was made without them, it also made it clear just how important they are.
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