Music and Movies (or in this case TV) sometimes meet up in the strangest of places. Tom Morello is apparently very concerned that he might not to get to see new episodes of “CSI” and “The Office” so he serenaded wealthy writers drinking lattes while picketing for the current WGA (Writers Guild Of America) strike with his unsubtle, salt of the earth protest songs.
From PR Inside: Campaigning rocker Morello performed to a group of about 3,000 protesters outside Fox studios in Century City, California in his solo guise as The Nightwatchman. Members of the Writers Guild Of America have been striking since last week after talks between the union and studio representatives failed to resolve a dispute over royalties.
Maybe Morello’s campaigning can convince the writers to bring “Joey” back. Tom you are a man of the TV people.
A little bit more seriously: our buddy and current Mayor of Comedy Judd Apatow has weighed in and he thinks that everybody should work it out in arbitration, but does side with the writers. “I do know that I agree with everything that the Writers Guild is trying to accomplish and it’s very important that this gets handled at this point in time,” he told IGN. “I don’t think people really understand the issues. It’s unfortunate that they don’t clearly understand what this fight is about.”
One of the main arguments is writers not receiving residuals from alternate new media broadcasts like digital downloads. Apatow explains the correlation in layman’s terms. “If you’re a teamster, you get paid to drive a truck. But if someone invents a new kind of truck, and you’re still driving it, you should still get paid.” Apatow noted that watching TV or movies online is becoming more and more common, remarking “We’re switching trucks at this point. But if someone comes up with a three wheel truck, you’re still driving!”
You know, I was a big fan until your anti-union remarks on this article. You should learn about the issues in this strike before making any rash statements. I am not a writer, just someone who knows enough about labor history to understand that workers, any worker, deserves what is owed. And don’t get me started on your Tom Morello comment, who has happened to visit other union struggles and lift the spirits of those on the line.
Fair enough, but c’mon man, sense of humor. Obviously this blog is written with lots of it.