Between this and the damn dog...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 7:53am

I think I have lost all respect for Ellen...

"We find it sad that Ellen spent an entire week crying and fighting for a dog that she gave away, yet she couldn't even stand by her writers for more than one day—writers who have helped make her extremely successful."

Ellen, shame on you.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 8:07am

oh leave the dyke alone seriously, people are getting all uppity and its stupid.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 8:19am

I am sure there are many who would agree with you. However, having the strength to stand by the people who made you what you are is a sign of true character. I hope she can sleep at night knowing that everyone who ever wrote for her probably will not ever do it again. Oh, and that girl STILL didn't get the freaking dog!

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 8:44am

This one is a tough call. You're right in saying that Ellen should show support for her writers. She is someone who is in a position to make a very clear, strong statement about the strike by discontinuing the taping of her show. On the other hand, the article does mention contractual obligations that some shows do not have. I wonder how much of an impact those obligations would have on the future of the show should she make the decision to fully support the strike.

I don't quite buy the altruistic statement about the impact it would have on the other, non-writing staff jobs. I could be wrong, but aren't most of the other jobs on a tv show unionized also? Wouldn't that provide them some income protection against her actions should she decide to suspend taping for a while?

[pab]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 8:44am

In response to a sharply worded rebuke from the Writers Guild of America to daytime talk show host Ellen Degeneres, representatives for the comedian released the following statement.

"It is unfair and incorrect to compare The Ellen DeGeneres Show to late night shows such as Leno, Letterman and Conan, all of which are late night network owned and controlled programming. Ellen is a daytime talk show carried on a syndicated basis across individual television stations, no different than, and in direct competition with, Oprah, [Rachael] Ray, Phil, Live with Regis and [Kelly], the View, Martha, Tyra, Jerry, [Maury], and Montel, all of which are in first run daytime syndication and are continuing in production.

"Ellen has not done anything in violation of the Writer's Guild of America agreement, or the WGA's internal 'Strike Rules'. Telepictures Productions, through its distributor Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, has contractual obligations to continue to deliver original programming to the 220 stations that carry the program.

"We have asked Ellen to come back to work to fulfill her contractual obligation as host of the show because without original programs the stations can move the show out of its time periods or ultimately hold the company in breach of contract. The company in turn expects Ellen not to breach her contract to host the show. We also wish to preserve the 135 jobs of the staff and the crew whose livelihoods depend on the show continuing. We regret the Writers Guild has chosen to strike and we wish for a quick resolution."
'Ellen' responds

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 9:12am

I may be wrong (okay, it happens from time to time) but isn't Ellen a member of the WGA? Is Dr. Phil or Rachel Ray? Maury?
No one ever said standing up for what you believe is easy. It just speaks volumes that she would continue with the show when the writing is such a major part of what she does.

And the argument about saving the jobs of her crew? Well, who is to say that they won't be out of work tomorrow anyway? There is very little job security in show business (unless you work on Law and Order or CSI which will NEVER DIE!) which makes these issues all the more important.

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 10:29am

You do make some very good points, Sueleen. Standing up for what you believe in is often hard. I don't defend her decision to continue her show and not give support to the strike, but I also wonder why the media focuses more on her show some of the others which have made the same decision.

It seems to be more wrong for Ellen than it is for, say, Regis and Kelly. I think some of the focus has to do with who she is.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 10:36am

I think it's because we expect Ellen, so outspoken on issues and so principaled, to do the right thing. Like Elton John singing with Eminem, it's disappointing to say the least!

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 10:46am

Yes, I guess that's true. You don't necessarily expect Kelly Rippa to make a strong statement about anything other than hair products.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:15am

To compare Ellen's show with Oprah and Dr. Phil (regardless of how you feel about them) is not really fair, either. Their shows can be considered more informational than entertaining, where as Ellen's is pure fluff.

Regis and Kelley, (and even Rachel Ray) as you noted, can't really be expected to even know there is a strike going on, but Ellen's image seems much more intelligent and compassionate. That is why it is more disappointing to me that she does not support the writers.

But you have to do what YOU think is right. And obviously Ellen is doing just that. I don't deny her that right, but she just slid into icky waters in my eyes.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:59am

mine too. If her talk show ever comes out on dvd, the writers will get screwed regardless of whether her show is comparable to Leno or Oprah.
And she always talks about how much she loves her crew (she even gave that dog to her dresser for christ's sake).

[chris d]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:03pm

people just want to bring her down again. they built her up, brought her down, built her up again. the bleedin stock market is more stable than this woman's career.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:05pm

Well that's true to a point chris, but this isn't the general public who's ragging on her. It's her own industry.

[jessica0414]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:07pm

She also mentioned on her show (I think it was yesterday) that many members of her audience have traveled cross-country JUST to attend a taping of her show, and that she felt it was somewhat unfair to stop production to disappoint her fans.

I don't really know how I feel about this either way, but that was one other thing she mentioned.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:12pm

People critized her for not abiding by her contract with the dog fiasco, now they are critizing her her sticking to a contract she signed with the show... I don't think she can win either way.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:18pm

She also mentioned on her show (I think it was yesterday) that many members of her audience have traveled cross-country JUST to attend a taping of her show, and that she felt it was somewhat unfair to stop production to disappoint her fans.

She could have just served them cake and coffee and done a meet and greet. I think a lot of fans would have preferred that.

And to compare how she violated the terms of her contract with a dog shelter with standing in solidarity with the people who put you where you are is ridiculous. One was her mistake (the dog) the other is taking a stand for what is right.

And for the record, I have always loved Ellen for her courage and strength of character, which is why this is kind of shocking to me.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:33pm

"I think it's because we expect Ellen, so outspoken on issues and so principaled, to do the right thing."

Really? Why would we expect that? When has she ever been outspoken on issues? I can think of no examples in this decade.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 3:50pm

Would you apply this same logic to the stagehands who are honoring their still valid contracts today? I mean , their brothers are on strike, shouldn't they walk too?

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 03:50 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:05pm

Yes, actually, I was wondering how that came to be. I know it is complicated and everyone must make their own decisions. I am more disappointed in her than appalled.

[DG]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:18pm

I'm with Namo - I always thought she went out of her way to avoid any kind of statement or position-taking.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:27pm

Oh, DG, you are such an ass kisser!
Seriously, perhaps you are right. Maybe, based solely on her coming out and the way she handled it, I had a higher regard for Ellen than she deserved.

[DG]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:40pm

"Ellen has not done anything in violation of the Writer's Guild of America agreement, or the WGA's internal 'Strike Rules'."

I don't even begin to have a clue how all this is supposed to work, but if that statement is true, what is she doing wrong?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:45pm

Well, if you noticed as soon as the strike started Jay Leno, the cast of The Office and 30 Rock were on the front of the picket lines (many refusing to show up to film episodes that had scripts). Not that they were required to do so, it just said a lot about who they are.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 8:53pm

How much of Ellen's show, other then the monologue is scripted?
I know Leno has a team of writers (Damned and he STILL isn't funny!). I don't hink he could handle the writing alone. Almost 1/3 of Late Night with Conan O'Brien is scripted, so the writers walking shut that show down.
I can see 30 Rock Folk and the Office taking a stand. They are completly script driven and it is their shows that are sold on DVD and the internet.
How is Ellen different from the View? I really don't consider that show a Newsprogram, just another gabfest. If Ellen is not directly breaking WGA strike rules why shoiuld she be held to a higher standard then the other gab shows or reality TV?

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/11/07 at 6:29pm

Isn't the difference the fact that Ellen is actually a MEMBER of the WGA?